Beat the Caribbean Blues in the Tropical Oasis that is Key West

This 7-square-mile island feels like a beautiful tropical oasis. It’s allure stems not just from beautiful beaches and palm trees, but from the classical Caribbean homes and its eccentric vibes. It’s easy to find your groove in Key West—no matter where your interests lie. As in other parts of the Keys, nature plays a starring role here, with some breathtaking sunsets—cause for nightly celebration down on Mallory Square. Download the Key West Travel Guide and Offline Map and prepare for your trip down Highway One!

1.     Mallory Square

The fun begins in the hours leading to dusk where you’ll witness every single oddity and eccentric character on the island. Have a beer. And a conch fritter, and take a front-row seat to the music-filled mayhem. Once sunset arrives, all eyes turn to the water; and the showing comes crashing to an end shortly after the streaks of post-sunset gold, amber and lilac light up the evening sky.

2.     Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

“America’s Southernmost State Park” is home to an impressive fort, built in the mid-1800s that played roles in the American Civil War and in the Spanish-American War. The beach here is the best one Key West has to offer – it has white sand to lounge on (but is rocky in parts), water deep enough to swim in and tropical fish under the waves.

3.     Hemingway House

Key West’s biggest darling, Ernest Hemingway, lived in this gorgeous Spanish Colonial house from 1931 to 1940. Papa moved here in his early 1930s with wife No 2, a Vogue fashion editor and (former) friend of wife No 1 (he left the house when he ran off with wife No 3). The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber and The Green Hills of Africa were produced here, as well as many six-toed cats, whose descendants basically run the grounds.

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Outstanding Reasons to Visit the Hermitage Museum in Russia

The Hermitage Museum does not disappoint and it certainly lives up to its reputation. You can get lost for days just soaking up all the treasures in its 360 rooms. And to think what's on display is a mere fraction of over three million items in their collection--this amounts to a comprehensive history of Western European art. Catherine the Great, one of the greatest art collectors of all time, began the collection. Visiting the museum requires planning so download the Hermitage Museum Travel Guide and Offline Map and start now!

1. Portrait of Soler

One of the most emotive paintings from Picasso’s ‘Blue Period’, Portrait of Soler is a picture of a young man sitting alone in a café, and is widely considered a comment on loneliness and isolation within the artist’s own life. Painted in 1903, using his good friend and patron, Soleras as his model, Picasso expresses melancholy through a powerful use of color, expression, and lighting – or lack thereof.

2. St. Luke Drawing the Virgin

A significant artwork by Belgian painter Rogier van der Weyden, St Luke Drawing the Virgin portrays an artist--perhaps a self-portrait of van der Weyden himself--sketching the Virgin Mary as she cradles baby Jesus. Interestingly, the canvas was initially two separate pieces, one half owned by Tsar Nicholas I, and the other by Alexander III. If you look closely, you can still see the vertical join.

3. Head of Athena

There are a number of sculptures of Greek Goddess Athena throughout the State Hermitage Museum, but the Head of Athena is arguably the most captivating. Dating back to the 2nd century, the marble is immaculately preserved, so her powerful and wise gaze continues to be as striking as it would have been when it was created.

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Top 3 Must-sees in Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy

The U-shaped Palazzo degli Uffizi was built between 1560 to 1580 that was used to house government offices. Today, it houses the world's greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art. The collection, which was originally the Medici family's private collection, was bequeathed to the city in 1743. The expansive collection contains some of Italy's best-known paintings. Download the Uffizi Gallery Travel Guide and Offline Map and discover art at its finest.

1.     Tuscan Masters: 13th to 14th Centuries

As you arrive in the Primo Corridoio on the second floor, you will be greeted by Rooms 2 to 7, which are dedicated to pre- and early Renaissance Tuscan art. Among the 13th-century Sienese works displayed in Room 2 are three large altarpieces from Florentine churches by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Cimabue, and Giotto. These clearly reflect the transition from the Gothic to the nascent Renaissance style.

2.      Renaissance Pioneers

Florence's victory over the Sienese at the Battle of San Romano, near Pisa, in 1432, is brought to life with outstanding realism and increased use of perspective in Paolo Uccello's magnificent Battaglia di San Romano in Room 8. In the same room, don't miss the notable Madonna con Bambino e due angeli (Madonna and Child with Two Angels) by Fra' Filippo Lippi, a scandalous Carmelite monk who married a nun from Prato.

3.     Botticelli Room

The spectacular Sala del Botticelli is one of the Uffizi's most visited rooms. Of the 18 Botticelli works displayed in the Uffizi in all, the iconic La nascita di Venere (The Birth of Venus), Primavera (Spring) and Madonna del Magnificat (Madonna of the Magnificat) are the best known by the Renaissance master known for his ethereal figures.

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Why You Must Visit Siena, the Epitome of Tuscan Culture

The city of Siena is where architecture shines most in Tuscany. Everywhere you look you'll be greeted by great Gothic architecture, spectacular secular monuments from the medieval times, and extraordinary art collection from the same period. As one of the most well-preserved 17th-century villages, you can expect it to be as colorful and vibrant as it once was. Explore the beautiful city of Siena with the Siena Travel Guide and Offline Map.

1.     Duomo

Built over a former Roman temple in 1179, Siena's iconic Duomo was constructed over the 13th and 14th centuries. The majestic cathedral showcases the talents of great medieval and Renaissance architects and artists. From Giovanni Pisano who designed its intricate white, green and red marble facade to Nicola Pisano who carved the elaborate pulpit just to name a few. Its intricate flooring took over 200 years to finish with 40 artists working on the depiction of the historical and biblical scenes.

2.      Piazza del Campo

Popular known as "Il Campo", the sloping piazza has been the city's civic and social center since the mid-12th century. What once was a Roman marketplace is now divided into nine sectors representing the number of members of the consiglio and these days acts as a carpet on which young locals meet and relax. Enjoy the view and marvel in its grandness by sitting in one of its cafes and have some popular Italian coffee or apertivi.

3.     Libreria Piccolomini

Commisioned by Cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, archbishop of Siena who later on became Pope Pius III, in 1492, it houses books of his uncle, Enea Silvio Piccolomini Pope Pius II. But the books aren't the only things that draw in the crowds. Its vividly colored narrative frescoes by Pinturicchio that depict the life of Pius II is a thing to behold. In the center of the hall is a group of statues known as the Tre Grazie (Three Graces), a 3rd-century Roman copy of an earlier Hellenistic work.

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Adventures in Santiago de Compostela, Spain's Famed Pilgrimage Site

Situated in the far north-west of Spain in the region of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela is a famous pilgrimage site. It symbolizes the Spanish Christian's struggle against Islam. At the end of the 10th century, the Muslims destroyed the city and was later rebuilt in the following century. It is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site not only for its rich history but also for its Gothic and Baroque architecture. Pack your bags and head over there with the Santiago de Compostela Travel Guide and Offline Map.

1.     Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

The city's cathedral plays an important role in Christianity. It is said to be the burial place of Saint James the Great himself, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage since the early Middle Ages and marks the end of the pilgrimage route. The architecture itself is marvellous in its own right with a Romanesque structure, with later Gothic and Baroque additions.

2.      Museum of Galician People

The former 17th to 18th-century Convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval house the Museum of Galician People that opened in 1977. The museum showcases the Galician culture with different rooms dedicated to the sea, trades, the land, clothes, music, the living environment, and architecture. It also has two sections dedicated to archaeology, painting, and sculpture. The museum owns a great collection of traditional costumes, laces, even musical instruments.

3.     Monte do Gozo

The Hill of Joy or what locals call Monte do Gozo is a hill in Santiago de Compostela and it is the first place where pilgrims get their first view of the spires of their final destination--the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. By tradition, this is also where the pilgrims cry out in rapture upon seeing their final destination. Monte de Gozo is about three kilometers outside the city and you may hike up to the top or alternatively and the more popular choice among visitors, cycle to the top.

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Corsica, the French Island of City Breakers

Dubbed as one of the pearls of the Mediterranean, Corsica Island has quite an animated history. Known to be "often conquered, never subdued" the island has been successively Pisan and Genovese and now French since 1768. The diversity of the island's scenery is outstanding and contributes to the multitudes of activities you can do. You can go sunbathing by the beach, scuba diving, and even sailing at sea or if you're the mountain adventurer type you can also go hiking on the infamous G20. Download the Corsica Island Travel Guide and Offline Map to help you map out your Corsica trip.

1.     G20

Infamously known as the toughest long distance trail in Europe, the G20 is not for the faint hearted. It traverses Corsica diagonally from north to south and is also one of the most beautiful mountain trails. It's 180 kilometers long with variations in heights of about 10,000 meters and can be walked in a whopping 15 days. The GR20 doesn't necessarily require any climbing techniques or perfect fitness level, but it does require a whole lot of confidence to walk over a variety of rugged terrain.

2.      The Ruins of Aleria

The capital of ancient Corsica was established in the 6th century B.C. by the Phocians after they were chased from the homeland by the Persians. They were subsequently conquered by the Romans in 259 B.C.; an easy feat considering the site is directly across the sea from Rome itself. In 1730 the city was captured by the troops of Pascal Paoli, who landed here in 1936 and crowned himself King of Corsica. The city was then lost and would only be rediscovered again between 1920 and 1951; archaeological digs continue to this day and have led to the discovery of a great many everyday objects: weapons, crockery, Etruscan vases, and money.

3.     Pinia

Known for its calm seas all year-long, Pinia is a famous spot for families to relax and enjoy the sun without much worry for their younger children frolicking by the beach. Surrounded by pine trees of the forest that is also named Pinia, the fine sandy beach stretches out over several kilometers. When you find the beach all too crowded for your liking during high season it's easy to escape by disappearing into the neighboring forest and taking a walk over to the lake.

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Exploring the Old World in Savannah, the Oldest City in Georgia State

The coastal city of Savannah is separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. It’s known for manicured parks, horse-drawn carriages, and antebellum architecture. As the oldest city in the state of Georgia, its historic district is filled with cobblestoned squares and parks such as Forsyth Park shaded by oak trees covered with Spanish moss. At the center of this picturesque district is the iconic, Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Download the Savannah Travel Guide and Offline Map to help you on your visit to Savannah.

1.      Forsyth Park

In the historic district of Savannah, you'll find the Forsyth Park. The large city park of 30 acres contains walking paths, a café, a children's play area, a Fragrant Garden for the blind, a large fountain, tennis courts, basketball courts, areas for soccer and Frisbee, and home field for Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club. Standing in the middle of Forsyth Park with the pathway wrapping around it lies the Confederate Memorial Statue.

2.      Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist

The church was dedicated on its current site on April 30, 1876. A fire in 1898 destroyed much of the structure. It was rebuilt quickly and re-opened in 1900. The Cathedral represents historically noteworthy architecture as well as over a century of faith and civic traditions in Savannah. The Cathedral is open to the community of Savannah as well as to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The Cathedral remains in the top 10 historic sites to visit in the United States.

3.      Savannah Historic District

The largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States, The Historic District of Savannah is more than twenty city squares filled with picturesque cobblestone streets, manicured gardens, and oak-shaded parks drizzling with silvery Spanish Moss. It's abuzz with art, culture, festivals, concerts, live theater, outdoor cafes, gourmet restaurants, and true Southern hospitality. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and around its museums, churches, mansions, monuments and famous forts of the Revolutionary & Civil War eras.

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Best Reasons to Visit Vienna, the World’s Number One City to Live in

Vienna has topped Mercer’s Quality of Living Rankings seven times and is expected to top the list again this 2017. If this hasn’t gotten your attention, the city also has a plethora of attractions that will definitely make you want to visit Viena. Before you read on more below have this app handy when touring Vienna, Vienna Travel Guide and Offline City Map & Metro.

Jazz

Vienna is known the world over as a city of classical music with a remarkably stellar jazz scene. You will hear music playing in every square, park, and café. You can just spend the entire day strolling and listening to the music but if you want to indulge your ears with the best jazz music in the world, go visit one of the jazz clubs such as:

• Porgy & Bess, one of the best jazz clubs in Europe.
• Jazzland, the oldest jazz club in Austria.

Schönbrunn Palace

The fact that the Schönbrunn Palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site already makes it a must-visit when in Vienna. The marvelous structure was designed by architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach as an imperial hunting lodge for his son and crown prince Joseph. It was eventually transformed into an imperial summer residence. If you opt for the imperial tour package, you will be able to go inside the palace’s grand state rooms and royal apartments.

Impressive Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

Art at the Belvedere Palaces

There is also ample reason for art enthusiast to go and visit Vienna. The two Belvedere Palaces that were the masterpieces of Baroque architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. The structures were built to serve as royal summer residence. Housed in the Belvedere Palaces is the largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings consisting of 24 artworks. Paintings for Egon Schiele are also on display. Taking photos is not allowed which makes viewing these invaluable pieces of art really special.

Awesome rainbow in Belvedere palace

On a separate section of the Palaces you can find the biggest collection of Austrian art with some pieces dating as far back as the Middle Ages. Famous artists responsible for these priceless works of genius include:

• Claude Monet
• Vincent van Gogh
• Max Beckmann
• Ai Wei Wei

There are countless more reasons to visit Vienna. To know the rest, check out eTips.