The Franciscan Missions Of Texas Including The San Antonio Missions Tour

By Marci Glover The City of San Antonio, Texas, was founded largely by the efforts of Antonio Olivares, a Spanish monk born in 1630, known colloquially as simply San Antonio. San Antonio is also responsible for celebrating the first Roman Catholic mass in Texas. He was instrumental in founding the institutions behind the San Antonio Missions tour. The largest of the missions, regarded as the "Queen of the Missions, " is San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, now known more informally as Mission San Jose. Work began on its construction in 1720 and the mission was completed in 1782. In 1874, both the dome and the roof collapsed. The year 1928 saw the collapse of the church tower. The church itself is constructed of brightly colored stucco and Texas limestone. Spectators on the tour should watch out for features such as intricate carvings, quatrefoil patterns, flying buttresses and the famous Rose Window. The choir loft is formed from a total of 25 risers, all of which were carved by hand from the same log. The structure contains no nails or pegs. A person could be forgiven for expecting the Rose Window to follow the pattern of other similarly-named features of its kind. The traditional rose window, or Catherine Window, is a generic term applied to a window in the form of a circle. The structure is divided by "spokes" using tracery and mullions, earning it the alternative name, "wheel window." Although completely different from the traditional rose windows of Europe, this particular specimen was no less grandiose. It has its own folklore, although nobody can say for sure how it acquired its name. The structure is close to the ground at only 4.5 feet and stands a full seven feet tall. The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park encompasses three other Franciscan edifices. These are Mission San Francisco de la Espada (Mission Espada), Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna (Mission Concepcion), dedicated in 1755, and Mission San Juan de Capistrano, which was completed in 1756. The latter, Mission San Juan Capistrano, should not be mixed up with the mission in California, which is famous for the return of hoards of swallows each year during the month of March. The fifth Spanish mission located in San Antonio, The Alamo, was the site of one of the defining battles in Texas history during the Texas War of Independence (otherwise known as the Texas Revolution). The war, lasting six months, was between the Mexican government and the colonists of Texas. That particular conflict ended with the formation of the Texan republic. Prior to the Mexican-American War that took place in 1848, Texas was formally entered into the union as the 28th state. No longer a Roman Catholic church, the mission at The Alamo is now a museum in downtown San Antonio as part of the Alamo Plaza District. A viewing of each of the other Franciscan missions, located in the National Historical park, can be completed in roughly two to four hours per site. In total, the park is home to more than 180 species of bird. Admission to the park is free, as are the guided tours.

This Floating Palace Hotel Is All We Ever Wanted And "Moore"

Bond, played by Roger Moore, used the Taj Lake Palace as a beautiful backdrop for beating bad guys in 1983's Octopussy. But forget 007, the only number you need to remember here is "5," for 5-star service and amenities.

This "shimmering jewel" is located on Lake Pichola, and the palace is part of a secluded four-acre estate in Udaipur, India. Guests reach the private palace by boat, and from there they are guided to one of the gorgeous 66 rooms -- 17 of which are suites.

Though the palace is a bit pricey, the experiences are well worth it. Indulgences include having dinner in the middle of a lake, having an escort follow you around with sparkling wine, or exploring India with your own royal butler. Sounds like a posh palace experience to us!

The History Of Theater Arts

By Minnie Whitley Phoenix is a city which enjoys a vibrant mix of arts and culture. Artists from different genre and scenes have a lot of opportunity to share their talents and crafts. A large number of cultural facilities and public art displays can be found in the city. They also offer scholarship grants for talented young artists in the community. Theater Phoenix is one outlet for artists to develop their acting skills and creativity. A local agency takes care of the management of some important cultural facilities in the city. The Phoenix Convention Center Department looks after the famous Orpheum Theatre, Herberger Theater, Executive Conference Center, Symphony Hall and the Convention Center itself. Local and international tourists are attracted to cultural events, which in turn has greatly helped in the economy of Phoenix and the Arizona state. Theater has played an important role in the daily lives of people. Actors and artists believe that it is one form to express their selves. Everyday is treated important, like it would be their last performance. The Herberger Theater is a huge part of the performance arts of the city. Live performers present before a live audience in an auditorium or in a wide open space. A combination of gesture, song, speech, music and dance is used to better express the expression needed in a play. The stage or platform where they perform is ornamented with crafts and designs to best enhance the visual experience of the audience. The history of the word, would take you to ancient Greece, where the word theatron, is used to describe a place of viewing. It also came from theaomai which means to watch, or to see, or observe. The Modern play of the West that you see today has been greatly influenced by Ancient Greek dramas. Characters and settings, themes, genres and even the technical aspects of theatre were borrowed from old Greek dramas. Theatre performances can be classified according to its components and how it is being executed. One type is the drama, which depicts a certain mood of fiction in a presentation. A musical play is a combination of speech, music and dance. Comedy, incorporates humor in telling a story, which most people liked. There is tragedy, a different kind of drama which shows representation of any event in history. Experience Broadway shows, concerts and operas at the newly renovated, historic Orpheum Theater. Located on West Adams Street, it is one of the most historic places in Phoenix. The last remaining example of a theatre palace type of architecture in Phoenix was originally built in 1929. It happens to be the only theatre in the greater Phoenix area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was closed for some time for renovation, and has just been operational in the 1997. Its total seating capacity is around one thousand three sixty people combined in the orchestra and balcony levels. Free tour inside is offered occasionally by a docent. Any form of art is an expression of yourself. Being creative is always good. Some people are born with this special talent. And some discover their inner artist by study and practice. Always remember that your actions can be a reflection of what you feel. Most importantly, the performing arts are considered a part of what you are, cherish it.

All Eyes On Charm City

All eyes are on Baltimore this weekend as Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome hits the ground running (see what we did there?) to keep the dreams of a Triple Crown alive at the 139th Running of the Preakness Stakes. And while this famous horse race is sandwiched in between two other uber-famous derby days, some of us would like to argue this one's the best.

The host city has a little something for every type of traveler. Bonus: There's nothing like Baltimore in May.

So come to Charm City for Preakness, but stay for all of this...

Spirit of Baltimore Dinner Cruise

A DJ on board and delightful ride around the beautiful Inner Harbor while you dine on a delicious 3-course meal? Sounds like a no-brainer to us.

139th Running of the Preakness Stakes

Avoid the craziness of Pimlico on raceday and head over a day early for Black-Eyed Susan day. If you're interested in the real deal and want to experience Infieldfest at its very best, buy your tickets and get ready for some serious fun.

Crab Feasts, Crab Feasts and More Crab Feasts

To come to Baltimore and not have crab should be a crime. Crab feasts are, of course, the most authentic ways to dive in headfirst to some Old Bay-covered steamed crabs, but if the timing isn't right, it just isn't right. There are plenty of spots around town that take their crabs very seriously, so you won't miss out even if there is no feast to be found. A few places we'd recommend... Faidley Seafood in Lexington Market, theRusty Scupper and of course, the infamous Phillips Seafood.

Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar 

You'll find Baltimore's best-of-just-about-anything at this Sunday-only bazaar. From fruits and veggies, to seafood (hello again crabs!), baked goods and multicultural cuisine, your tastebuds will get a serious workout. If you're not an adventurous foodie, there are plenty of other shopping opportunities at the market, don't you worry.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Arguably one of the best ballparks in the whole country, Camden Yards really is spectacular. Although there aren't any home games during Preakness weekend, we'd recommend heading down to the park to have a look anyway. It's only a short walk from the Inner Harbor and you'll get a "two for the price of one" feel, as M&T Bank Stadium (where the Ravens play) is right next door. Pop into Pickles Pub for a drink and a bite to eat to really fill out your Baltimore Orioles experience.