Chiloe Island

Chiloe is the second largest island in South America.The Chilotes (as its inhabitants are called) enjoy a maritime climate, which means wet and rainy. Each side of the island enjoys its own particular microclimate, however. The western side of the island has wild, changeable weather, whereas the landward side has much milder weather and supports the farming, fishing, and ranching population.Industry is limited, but tourists have taken notice of the area and are charmed by its Jesuit buildings (the order took special interest in the island), natural beauty, and nearly untouched national parks. The colorful palafitos in which the populace lives make for cheerful photo ops.Charles Darwin's coment on this island was "In winter the climate is detestable, and in summer it is only a little better. I should think there are few parts of the world, within the temperate regions, where so much rain falls. The winds are very boisterous, and the sky almost always clouded: to have a week of fine weather is something wonderful." According to the GoSouthAmerica.about.com website, summer is the time to visit, but make sure to bring rain gear and dry clothes.

Dresden

Dresden's name comes from an Old Sorbian word which means people of the riverside forest. It is the capitol of the German state of Saxony.It's one of the ten fastest growing cities in Germany, yet there have been efforts to retain a quaint, old-world feel. 63% of the city is green areas and forest, and while myriad architectural styles are reflected throughout the city, there is great interest in preserving the past.Dresden was destroyed by Allied bombing towards the end of WWII. The RAF and USAF dropped "650,000 incendiaries and 8,000 pounds of high explosives and hundreds of 4,000 pounds bombs in three waves of attacks." Thousands were killed, mostly civilians as it had become a haven for refugees toward the end of the war.After the war's end, Dresden was occupied by the red army and then became a major industrial center for East Germany. With the breakdown of the wall separating the DDR from the BRD, though, it has been emerging again as a cultural center. Ironically, it seems as though the communist occupation preserved many of the older buildings as proportionately more have been saved and rebuilt (like the Frauenkirche) than in West Germany.Dresden lies right on the border of the Elbe, making it a picturesque spot for visitors and a delight for shutterbugs.

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Meroe

Meroe was the capital of the Kushite kingdom for centuries - from about 800 BC to 350 AD. Now all that is left of it is pyramids poking up out of the sand (more than 200 of them).It was a major center of the iron industry and conducted a thriving trade with India and China.There are legends about Meroe and its rulers. This is Queen Candace, who allegedly repulsed an invasion by Alexander. (The story has no substantiation at all, though, so most believe it didn't happen.)There have been attempts to excavate at Meroe for many years, the heyday apparently being the 19th and early 20th (as in 1905) centuries. Nowadays, the civil war in the Sudan has precluded much archaeological activity. Still, if they ever achieve peace there in the Sudan, imagine what we might find at the site!

Warsaw

Warsaw was founded in 1300 AD and is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is the 9th largest in the EU (by population), making it an "Alpha City."Warsaw Centrum
This city straddles the Vistula River, and is a curious mix of the very old and the very new.
Barbican CastleThe reason for much of its architectural diversity of course is World War II and Hitler's planned bombings and razing of the city.One of its nicknames is the Phoenix City because it has come back from the ashes.
Warsaw Monument to the Ghetto HeroesIt is a city with planned greenspace, including The Royal Baths Park with its pavilions, sculptures, briges, cascades, and ponds, as well as its pheasants, peacocks and royal carps in the ponds. It is a nice place for a stroll.
Royal Baths ParkThe Mermaid (syrenka)is the symbol of Warsaw. Wikipedia lists two legends for the mermaid symbol. I like the second one better, which says that "a mermaid once swam to Warsaw from the Baltic Sea for the love of the Griffin, the ancient defender of the city, who was killed in a struggle against the Swedish invasions of the 17th century. The mermaid, wishing to avenge his death, took the position of defender of Warsaw, becoming the symbol of the city."Famous people from Warsaw include Marie Curie, Wladyslaw Szpilman, and Fryderyk Chopin. It seems nearly a magical place. In my imagination it is filled with culture and beauty and is inconquerable.