Danube is a second longest river in the world. It flows through 10 countries: Germany, Austia, Hungary, Serbia,  Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine. On the rivers banks are located 4 european capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. Danube's delta has been UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.

Danube starts in the Black Forest (Germany) from the two smaller rivers: Brigach and Breg. And it flows into Black Sea in Romania and Ukraine.

To be continued...

Wikipedia

The fisrt plantations of coffee trees were in Arabian penisola. And first coffee shop opened it's doors in Constantinople in 1475. In Europe coffee was introduced via Venice and first coffee house was opened in Italy in 1645.

In modern days, coffe in its wide varieties are used all around the world. The largest market of coffee is Unated States, following by Germany and Japan.

In many countries coffee drinking is connected with social rituals. In some countries of Northern Europe coffee parties are popular, where besides the coffee are being offered also pastries and snacks.

In Canada, a retail coffee chain - Tim Hortons - has become a Canadian cultural icon. The locations of the chain serve as community hubs, much as a pub would in the U.K.

Also in Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraina, Double Coffee chain has became very popular. You can get there several kinds of coffee, milk shakes, tea and not only, you can also have lunch.


Interesting fact is that first Double Coffee opened in Riga, Stabu street, the same street where I lived in Latvia.

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Tokyo originally was called Edo, the name of city was changed when it became of capital de facto of Japan in 1868. And the name means Eastern Capital. Tokyo was left twice in ruins by earthquake and bombarbement, because of this it is modern city with few old buildings left intact. In foto - beautiful Rainbow Bridge build in 1993, 570 meters long.

The city's current name - Seoul - means Capital City. City itslef has appeared in 18 BC. The heart of Seoul is old Joseon Dynasty city, where are situated most governent offices, palaces etc. In photo Gyeongbok Palace or Kyongbok Palace is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. It was the main and largest palace of the Joseon Dynasty and one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty.

3. Mexico City - capital of Mexico (popolation: 22,400,000).

Mexico was fouinded as Mexico-Tenochtitlan on 18, 1325 by the Nahua Aztec. The famous sites are historical centre of the city, "floating gardens", and also Metropolian Chatedral (in photo).

4. New York (population: 21,900,000) in USA.

New York was born as Dutch fur trading settlement - New Amsterdam. In 1664 English conquered the city and renamed it New York. In ourdays New York is big culture center, famose with art galleries and theaters. The simbol of New York and whole America is Statue of Liberty (in photo) stands on Lyberty island. Statue's classical appearence derives from Libertas, ancient roman's goddess of freedom from slavery, oppression and tyranny.

5. Mumbai formely known as Bombay (popolation: 21,600,000) in India.

The city is very old. Artefacts found near Kandivali in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Documented evidence of human habitation dates back to 250 BC, when it was known as Heptanesia. One of the monuments of Mumbai - Flora Fontain (in photo) was built in 1864. It represents roman goddess Flora and is now a heritage structure.

6. Delhi (popolation: 21,500,000) - India.



Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. Today Los Angeles is ther second largest city in USA and major world culture centre.Hollywood sigh (in photo) has become the simbol of the city in the whole world. It was build as an advertisement in 1923.

9. Shangai (popolation: 17,500,000)


Shangai is a largest city of China. A city wall has been buid in AD 1553 and this date is considerated as a foundation of Shangai. However, before the 19th century Shangai was not considered major city and therefore this is a modern city with little ancient landmarks. Jing'an Temple (in photo) is a buddhist temple and was build in 247 AD, during the Three Kingdoms period.

10. Osaka (popolation: 16,700,000) - Japan.

Under the rule of Ptolemy city florished and soon needed not only a symbol but also entirely practical building to guide ships into harbour. So Ptolemy authorised construction of Pharos and twenty years later it was finished. Pharos of Alexandria was first lighthouse in the world. And pharos (the name of island it was constructed) became the rooth for word lighthouse.

The lighthouse seems to have been a great tourist attraction. It is not fully clear how it was destroyed, but probably, as for many ancient buildings, it was an earthquake.