Lagos, with all of its charm and allure to both residents and tourists, is nowhere more unique and picturesque in the oldest section of the city where history meets modern day in a well preserved yet well appointed pedestrian only section of this ancient city.

Just a short five minute walk from the marina, the old town of Lagos is enclosed by 5th century walls and while the earthquake of 1755 caused much damage there are still stunning examples of faithfully preserved and reconditioned buildings complete with Moorish architecture. The entire area is accessible only to pedestrian traffic and this makes residential properties inside the old town both more and less attractive depending on your situation.

Long, narrow and cobblestoned streets meander through the oldest section of Lagos, and even if armed with a map you may find that not all streets are listed on it. These beautiful streets are lined with cafйs, bars and restaurants as well as quaint boutiques and shops providing a wide range of goods.

The atmosphere of Lagos Town by day is relaxed and peaceful; sitting enjoying a beverage on the patio of a cafй watching the people walk by and just soaking up the sunshine is commonplace. By night Lagos Town transforms into an area infused with a festival-like mood as happy people spill out from bars and restaurants to watch street performers or to enjoy the local musicians as they ply their trade in one of the many nightlife venues.

Culturally Lagos Town has much to offer. There is a great museum as well as art galleries and a cultural center. In addition, during the summer months there are open air concerts to be enjoyed or just lazy days on the lawns of the nearby City Park. The 18th century fort is a stunning example of preserved history as is the magnificent baroque church.

Property in the Old Town of Lagos is wonderfully close to beaches, golf, markets, mountains, historical points of interest as well as all that the Algarve region has to offer. And Lagos Town property is as varied as the available activities in the area: from renovated apartments to traditional charming homes, there is something for every taste in this area.

Until they travel there, few people realize that Berlin is one of the continent’s greenest capitals. The expansive Tiergarten, the one-time hunting reserve, lies in the heart of the city, but Berlin’s various districts also boast exquisite gardens and parks infused with scenic beauty such as rivers, lakes, and forest trails. Although Berlin offers many metropolitan and cultural sites and attractions, it has a natural side that should not be missed.

The Tiergarten, with its nearly five hundred acres, is Berlin’s largest park. Historically this small forest was used as hunting grounds for the Electors of Brandenburg. However, it was redesigned in the 1830s into a park by the landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenne. WWII inflicted considerable damage on the park, but new plantings around the surviving monuments form the basis of the lovely area it is today. Visitors should be sure to see its Neue Partie pond, the natural environment of Langgraswiese, and the Victory Column.

The garden and grounds of Charlottenburg Palace, located in the Charlottenburg district, is a popular Berlin attraction. Designed in the French Baroque style, the palace and its gardens are important city attractions. Simeon Godeau designed the grounds in 1697 and it became famous for its avenues, moats, and geometric patterns. Other notable features of the park include a Doric temple, the palace mausoleum, and a teahouse that was added by Friedrich Wilhelm II in 1790.

The city’s best-loved site by children is also the oldest and most popular zoo in Germany. Berlin’s Zoologischer Garten, located in the city’s Tiergarten section, is home to more than 14,000 animals that represent nearly 1,500 species making it one of the most revered collections in the world. The zoo also boasts an aquarium that was built in 1913. Approximately three million people from all across the world visit the zoo each year. The zoo is located upon eighty-six acres and designed in keeping with the animals’ natural habitats.

The city’s botanical garden, or Botanischer Garten as it is known in Berlin, is regarded as one of the world’s most important. The garden boasts 22,000 different plant species and spans more than one hundred acres. Associated with the Free University of Berlin, the garden also has a botanical museum, herbarium, and a library. Beautiful glass houses dot the garden and are filled with botanicals; the Cactus Pavilion is a popular house in the garden. The Pavilion Victoria features giant water lilies and is a main garden attraction. Of course, the star pavilion is the Great Pavilion which is the world’s largest glass house and home to giant bamboo.

Designed by Peter Joseph Lenne and Prince von Puckler-Muskau, the Babelsberg Park (of Babelsberg Palace) offers extraordinary views of the Havel River, Jungfernsee Lakes, and Glienicker Brucke Bridge. Once the summer home of Emperor Wilhelm I, the whole of the grounds lie within the Potsdam city limits. The towers and pavilions that dot the park offer romantic views of the enchanting landscape.

Located in the Kreuzberg district, Viktoriapark is noted for its exquisite waterfalls and vineyard. The vineyard produces roughly six hundred bottles of wine (Kreuz-Neroberger) annually. Designed by Hermann Machtig and completed in 1894, the sprawling park is also popular for its short trails and its unsurpassed views of central and southern Berlin. A famous Prussian monument commemorating victory against Napoleon’s army is also located in Viktoriapark.

Britzer Garten is located toward the south of Berlin and is more than 220 acres. The lovely park with its lakes and hills surrounds the Schloss Britz, a palace that houses a present-day museum and also a venue for concerts and special events. The park’s playgrounds are appealing to children while the rose garden is one of its most attractive features of the landscape. The Karl Foerster Pavilion is one of the architectural highlights of the park. All of these parks are easily accessible to travelers and are highly popular among Berliners themselves.

As I was preparing for my return trip to Acapulco, I made a visit to a message board on the internet to gather information. It was then that I remembered what was so special about that place. It's not the beach or the weather; it's the people.

It didn't matter what I asked for on the message board, "Zzaa" was happy to comply. After I mentioned this was going to be my parents' last trip to Acapulco due to my father's once ailing heart, Zzaa offered up phone numbers and names for doctors and hospitals. After I asked for the Spanish translation of "Epi-Pen" which my son, Mike, needs for his bee sting allergy, Zzaa provided it with her pediatrician's phone number. Whatever I needed, I knew I could count on her.

But Zzaa wasn't the only Acapulco native to impress me before we even landed in the city. There was also a mother and daughter we encountered on a bus we had to take in the Mexico City airport to board our plane. Sitting next to the little girl I started to smell something unpleasant, and when I turned around I realized she was vomiting. Her mother was very apologetic and looking for tissue to clean her daughter. I fished out a small package of tissues and a wet wipe for her and heard "gracias" and "muy apesadumbrado" many times.

As we reached the plane, the mother took the plastic bag full of vomit and tucked it away in her purse, not knowing what else to do with it. Waiting to leave the bus she asked my daughter, Lizzie, if she spoke Spanish, which of course she didn't. A shame really, as we discovered both girls were nine years old and sat only a few rows apart on the plane. We discovered the mother and daughter were from Acapulco and returning home. I should have known because of her unassuming nature and friendliness.

We, of course, assumed that with a different condominium than we had five years ago we wouldn't have the same problem with running water. We were wrong. The first person to try to fix it couldn't get it working, but Daniel at the front desk knew exactly who to send up to fix it. When he saw my mother a few days later, he remembered the problem and asked how the water in 1704 was working. Assured that he had properly taken care of the problem, he told her if any more problems came up, to let him know right away. "Call and ask for Danny." Being taken care of in that manner, it didn't seem to matter so much the time spent without running water.