San Francisco is the financial center of the West, and the largest port on the Pacific coast. It is America's most international city speaking in more than 30 languages. San Francisco is called "the Paris of the West", and "Gateway to the Orient". It is hometown of the famous American author Jack London. There are two Bay Bridges built in the 1930s. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge built in 1936 is over 14 km long. The Golden Bay Bridge built in 1937 is shorter
but more impressive.

New York City is the nation's largest city and richest port. It is the national leader in business and art. New York consists of five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens,
Brooklyn and Richmond.

The United States of America, commonly called the United
States or simply America, is a federal republic comprising fifty states, the District of Columbia, and six territories and dependencies. The part of the country constituting the states and the District of Columbia consists of three distinct geographical areas: the older 48 states and the District of Columbia, bounded by the Pacific Ocean in the west, Canada in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico in the south; the state of Alaska, with Canada along its eastern border and otherwise bounded (in a clockwise direction, from south to north) by the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the Bering Strait, and the Arctic Ocean; and the state of Hawaii, an island group in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The older 48 states and the District of Columbia are collectively referred to as the conterminous United States; the conterminous United States and the state of Alaska are
collectively referred to as the continental United States.

Belfast is the capital and a chief port of Northern Ireland. Belfast is a modern city situated in a district of mountains and rivers. City Hall is marked by a copper dome and sculptured pediment. Inside is a fresco depicting the city's
history. University of Belfast was founded in 1908.

Cardiff has been the country's capital only since 1955. It is a major coal-shipping port and manufacturing center. Visitors enjoy the broad tree-lined streets, National Museum of Wales, Civic Center and City Hall, the Cardiff Market and
the New Theatre.

Edinburgh is the administrative and cultural capital of Scotland. In the 18th century Edinburgh began to emerge as
an intellectual capital of Europe.

Bath is a county borough with population of 80,000 in Somerset, England. It has been noted since Roman times for its medicinal springs. Roman colonists built large pools to take advantage of the curative hot springs around Bath. Today visitors flock to see the baths, which are among the finest remains in Britain. The Roman baths were first discovered in the 19th century, lying 20 feet below street level. Two miles away from town American Museum is housed. It contains
American decorative arts.

London's largest parks are the royal parks: St. James's Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens, and Regent's Park. St. James's Park and Green Park are noted for their shade trees and walking paths. St. James's Park is famous for the variety of birds. Duck Island is a heaven for ducks and pelicans. Green Park is indeed a green park. There are no
flowerbeds but many crocuses and daffodils.

London is famous for its splendid palaces. Whitehall Palace was the main residence of the royal family from 1529 to 1698. The Banqueting House of the Palace was completed in 1622 by the famous architect Inigo Jones for King James.
Today it is preserved as a showplace.

One of my favourite parts of London is Soho, which is right in the centre, and includes Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury
Avenue, and Leicester Square.