| Washington DC |
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That the marshy swamp where WASHINGTON
DC now stands was chosen as the site of the capital
of the newly independent United States of America says a
lot about then-prevalent attitudes toward government.
Washington, District of Columbia (the boundaries of the
two are identical) - also known as " DC
" and " The District " - can be
unbearably hot and humid in summer, and bitterly cold in
winter. Such an unpleasant climate, it was hoped, would
discourage elected leaders from making government a
full-time job. This disdain for politics is still
apparent: DC is run as a virtual colony of Congress,
where residents have just one, nonvoting representative
and couldn't vote in presidential elections until the
23rd Amendment was passed in 1961.
Other than the federal government, tourism is
DC's biggest industry. The city attracts almost twenty
million visitors each year. Conveniently, most arrive in
midsummer, when the lawmakers have gone home, so
overcrowding is rarely a problem. The nation's showcase
puts on quite a display for its guests, and admission to
virtually all major attractions is free. The most famous
sites are concentrated along the central Mall ,
including the White House, individual memorials to four
of the greatest presidents, and the superb museums of
the Smithsonian Institution. Downtown, however (broadly
speaking the area immediately north of the Mall, between
the White House and the Capitol), can seem very empty,
even intimidating, at night, and you're more likely to
spend your evenings in the hotels and restaurants of the
city's more motherly neighborhoods, such as historic Georgetown
, arty Dupont Circle and the funkier Adams
-Morgan district.
The City
Because the city was built from scratch, Washington's
regular town plan is easy to grasp. Centered on Capitol
Hill and its governmental monoliths, the District is
divided into four quadrants - northeast, northwest,
southeast and...
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Copyright
Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by
Rough Guides. All rights reserved.The Rough Guides name is
a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd.
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Vietnam to be discovered
What is generally known for its past turbolent events is
now one of the most under-estimated beauties of the
world with its diverse countryside, beaches, amazing
monuments and buildibgs, rich history, fresh delicious
food, cafes, colonial wonders and immense spiritual
enlightment. Discover Vietnam with our guides kindly
provided by Rough Guides Ltd., plan your trip and find
amazing offers.
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Reality matches the myths
in many ways, though. In the middle of the state, Orlando
stands as the undisputed capital of the theme park.
Along the Atlantic coast, Miami simmers with Caribbean
and Latin American flair, and sights such as alligators
in the Everglades and the space shuttle at the Kennedy
Space Center allow you to enjoyably combine education
with vacation.
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