Bostons Faneuil Hall, which has been nicknamed The Cradle of Liberty, hosted Americas first political town meeting. Since its construction by French Huguenot merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742, the hall has served as a shelter for sheep, a lively marketplace, and a center for free speech. From the start, the halls activities have been divided by floor. The first floor briefly held African sheep herded from New Hampshire; a sheep shortage soon brought that program to a halt. Since 1748, the first floor has served as a public marketplace; Peter Faneuil encouraged pushcart vendors to permanently set up shop. The…
Olvera Street, or La Placita Olvera, is the quaint birthplace of modern Los Angeles. This block-long street has now been restored to an old-fashioned marketplace and plaza reminiscent of early Mexico. The street and plaza were designated El Pueblo Historic Monument in 1953. Olvera Street attracts two million tourists every year. The area is blocked to automobiles so pedestrians can easily explore the streets 27 historic buildings. These include a range of authentic Mexican eateries, including the citys oldest Mexican restaurant, La Golondrina Caf. Some of the buildings are rented to merchants selling Mexican goods. Some stores stock inexpensive souvenirs…
No Hawaiian vacation would be complete without attending a luau. The word luau really just means a party or a celebration. Typically in ancient Hawaiian culture luaus were given to celebrate the birth of a child or a wedding. These days the word luau has become a household name all across the United States. When we think of a luau today, we think of those cheap plastic lays and those silly plastic tiki cups. Oh, but a luau is so much more. In Hawaii there are two basic types of luau. The first type closely resembles that of the original…
