Immigration in Canada

Each year about 200 000 people from around the world is moving to permanent residence in Canada.  Potential immigrants annually submit documents to the Canadian embassies around the world trying to get the right to move to the country of the maple leaf. What causes them to immigrate to Canada?

Life quality in Canada, its economic health, the rapid growth of modern industries, advances in human rights protection in combination with the amazing beauty of nature, clean air and friendly people from around the world attract millions of people. Canada - a country that was being built by immigrants. Attracting immigrants is a policy of the state.

For many years, Canada is recognized as one of the best countries in the world for quality of life. The health, education and social protection in this country provides you a peaceful and stable life. Free medical care and education, special public subsidies automatically covered by each student up to 80% of the cost of education in colleges and universities, numerous, from subsidized housing to the reduced fare on public transport, programs for seniors and the disabled, a widely developed system of financial support for people who temporarily left without income (velfer) and many other things, allow yourself to feel every person in Canada with confidence and calm. Economic growth in Canada, the opportunity to develop your own business in Canada, little inflation and unemployment, low crime, open, multicultural society ensures great prospects for those who lead immigration to Canada. Life expectancy - one of the most important indicators of the state of society - the average was equal to 78.29 years for men - 74.93, for women - 81.81 per year (according to June 1995 data). This is a very high rate, allowing Canada to take 4 th place in the world after Japan, Iceland and Switzerland, overtaking the U.S. by an average of 1.2 years.

The living standard of Canada stands in 6 th place in the world: it overtake the United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany and Japan. Canada overtake the United States for life expectancy, and Japan - on the level of education.

Canadian immigration legislation designed to attract highly skilled professionals, businessmen and investors.

Christmas in New York...Enjoy it...

Christmas is a great time to visit New York City. Whether you're looking to experience the tree lighting, department store lights, holiday events, see a Broadway show, a romantic getaway, or a place to enjoy your Christmas dinner, you will find the resources for planning your Christmas in New York City here.
New York City hosts many different Christmas shows and events throughout the Christmas season. From the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to Messiah sings at New York City Churches, these Christmas shows and events are sure to entertain you and fill you with holiday spirit. There is no where in the world that offers the array of shopping opportunities that New York City does.

Window shopping takes on a whole new meaning as Manhattan's most celebrated department stores unveil their annual Holiday Windows. From Macys and Lord & Taylor to Bloomingdale's and Barneys, Christmas in New York City would not be complete without a visit to these windows decorated for the holidays.
New York is famous for shopping and the incredible window displays that many of our larger Department Stores unveil every holiday season. The following list highlights the windows you will not want to miss. We recommend that you start at the first store on the list, Barney's, as you will find that most of these stores are a short walking distance from there.

As Manhattan's stores deck up themselves for the holidays, window displays take on a new meaning. What were once merely opportunities to look at the goods transform into beautiful, magical places. The annual Holiday Windows of stores like Macys and Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale's and Barneys are something you cannot miss. Christmas in New York City can never be considered complete without a visit to the holiday windows decked up for the holidays.

The beautiful Saks Window Displays are generally unveiled in late November every year. If you have kids, you should check out the holiday window displays of Saks Fifth Avenue. They tend to be centered and designed around a seasonal book for children. They also feature playful animations which kids usually love. Another advantage is that Saks Fifth Avenue's windows are very conveniently located near the Rockefeller Center promenade.

Traditional Cuban Sandwich

The Cuban sandwich, also known as the cubano, is a popular meal in south Florida where many Cubans have settled since the early 20th century. These tasty, toasted Cuban sandwiches are definitely Tampa and Miami, Florida's favorite snack. These treats can be found in most restaurants in these cities, but the best places to buy them are from the street corner-snack bars, called loncherias.
No one is certain exactly where and when the Cuban sandwich was invented. A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese originally created by Cuban workers, either in Cuba or in the Cuban immigrant communities of Florida, most likely Ybor City in Tampa, Florida, though there are also accounts of a similar dish being served in Key West during the 1870's. Later on, Cuban immigrants and expatriates brought it to Miami where it is also still very popular.

As with Cuban bread, the origin of the Cuban sandwich (sometimes called a "Cuban mix", "mixto sandwich", or "Cuban Pressed Sandwich") is somewhat murky. The sandwich became a common lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba and the cigar factories of Ybor City around 1900.

At that time, travel between Cuba and Florida was easy, and Cubans frequently sailed back and forth for employment, pleasure, and family visits. Because of this constant and largely undocumented movement of people and culture and ideas, it’s impossible to say exactly when and where the Cuban sandwich first became a common worker’s meal.  By around 1910, however, workers’ cafés in Ybor City, Key West, and Cuba were serving many such sandwiches daily.

In Cuba (where it is more commonly known as a mixto), the sandwich was served in kiosks, coffee bars and casual restaurants, especially in the big cities such as Havana or Santiago de Cuba. By the 1960s, Cuban sandwiches were also common on Miami cafeteria and restaurant menus, as the city had gained a large influx of Cuban residents after the Fidel Castro's 1959 rise to power in their native land.

The Communist Revolution caused a wave of Cuban expatriates to settle in other locations as well, and they brought their culture and cuisine with them. Cuban sandwiches are now served in various Cuban exile communities in places such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Puerto Rico, among others.
While there is some debate as to the contents of a “true” Cuban sandwich, most are generally agreed upon. The traditional Cuban sandwich starts with Cuban bread. The loaf is sliced into lengths of 8-12 inches (20-30 cm), lightly buttered on the crust, and cut in half horizontally. A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly-sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo and slow roasted.

The main regional disagreement about the sandwich’s recipe is whether or not to include salami. In Tampa, Genoa salami is traditionally layered in with the other meats, probably due to influence of Italian immigrants who lived side-by-side with Cubans and Spaniards in Ybor City. In Miami, salami is left out.
In South Florida, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato are usually added. These additions are often available in restaurants in Tampa, but are frowned upon by traditionalists there.

When assembled, the sandwich is lightly toasted in a sandwich press called a plancha, which is somewhat similar to a panini press but without grooved surfaces. The plancha both heats and compresses the sandwich, which remains in the press until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted. It is usually cut into diagonal halves before serving.

To make 4 generous sandwiches:

Preheat a pancake griddle or large fry pan. Cut the bread into sections about 8 inches long. Cut these in half and spread butter on both halves (inside). Make each sandwich with the ingredients in this order: pickles, roasted pork, ham, and cheese. Be generous! Most people use a sweet cured ham (jamón dulce) or bolo ham for Cuban sandwiches. If you can find these hams in your area, great. Otherwise, look for a slightly sweet, soft textured ham with a mild taste.  Also, never use shaved ham or pork in a Cuban sandwich.

Place the sandwich on the hot griddle (fry pan) sprayed with a little "Pam" or lightly greased. Place a heavy iron skillet or bacon press on top of the sandwich to flatten.  Grill the sandwiches for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden. Make sure your griddle or fry pan is not too hot. Otherwise, the crust will burn before the cheese melts. Slice the sandwich in half diagonally and serve.

Every Cuban sandwich aficionado believes in their own version of this sandwich. In fact, they're usually passionate about this and will readily debate among themselves the finer point of how to make a Cuban sandwich. No visit to Tampa or Miami would be complete without sampling the cities claim to fame - the Cuban sandwich.

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco

Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.
At the time of its completion in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Subsequently, when World War II happened, many American sailors, soldiers, and marines shipped out overseas via San Francisco, which meant the last piece of the U.S. they saw was the Golden Gate and it was the first thing they saw when they came back.

The bridge is one of the architectural marvels of the 20 th Century and a testament to human strife, as it was constructed during the years of the Great Depression. For years, the Golden Gate Bridge held the title as the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build, due to persistently foggy weather, 60-mile-per-hour winds, and strong ocean currents, which whipped through a deep canyon below. In fact, the bridge is commonly known as the "Bridge that couldn't be built." Despite these unforgiving natural elements, the bridge was constructed in a little more than 4 years. The total cost was $35 million. The total length of the bridge spans 1.2 miles. 11 men lost their lives during the construction of the bridge.

Even today, the massive spans of the bridge are often shrouded in fog. The bridge sways 27 feet to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour. International Orange was the color chosen for the bridge because it blended well with the bridge's natural surroundings. The 2 great cables extending from the bridge contain 80,000 miles of steel wire, which is enough to circle the equator 3 times. The concrete poured to cement the bridge into the stormy waters below could have also been used to pave a 5-foot sidewalk from New York to San Francisco.

The bridge is nothing short of a powerful force meant to combat nature. The often mighty winds from the Pacific Ocean are sustained by a mid span swing of 27 feet. The 2 towers of the bridge rise an impressive 746 feet, which is 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument. The pier of the bridge is only 1,215 feet from the shore, the distance between the 2 towers that support the cables, which in turn, support the floor of the bridge is 4,200 feet. These two cables are the largest bridge cables ever made at a little over 361 feet in diameter.

Today, pedestrians and bicyclists are still allowed to cross the bridge on pathways with breathtaking views of the city, Alcatraz, and the Marin Headlands. The bridge toll for vehicles is $3 when entering San Francisco. The first exit of the Marin side of the bridge is Visa Point, which provides a magnificent view of the San Francisco skyline. But, the best way to view the bridge is to walk across. This usually takes about an hour.
The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world, as well as being one of the most popular for suicides. An average of 19 people per year leap from the bridge.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

The canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of over a mile (1.83 km) (6000 feet).  Nearly 2 billion years of the Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted.  While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists,  recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to the point we see it as today.

Before European immigration, the area was inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ("Ongtupqa" in Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.

Exploring the Grand Canyon

There are many overlooks accessible by car that offer spectacular views of the canyon. Desert View Drive (Highway 64) follows the canyon rim for 26 miles/42 km east of Grand Canyon Village to Desert View - the east entrance to the park. Desert View Drive is open to private vehicles throughout the year. Hermit Road follows the rim for 8 miles/13 km west from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles much of the year, but the park runs a free shuttle bus to provide transportation to overlooks.

A hiking trail, known as the Rim Trail, follows the rim from Pipe Creek Vista to Hermits Rest. The section of the Rim Trail between Pipe Creek Vista and Maricopa Point is paved, and mostly wheelchair accessible. Unpaved portions of the trail, between Maricopa Point and Hermits Rest, are narrow and close to the edge. Bicycles are not permitted on the Rim Trail.

Yavapai Observation Station at Yavapai Point offers panoramic views of the canyon, including the Colorado River and Phantom Ranch. The Yavapai Observation Station is located in close proximity to the Grand Canyon lodging on the rim.

For viewing and photographing the canyon, the best light is early or late in the day. Mid-day sun tends to flatten the view and soften the colors. Remember that days are short in the winter and long in the summer. If you plan to see the canyon at sunrise or sunset, it is recommended that you be on the rim at least an hour before.

The Colorado River flows along the bottom of the canyon, 5000 feet/1524 m below the rim. Because of the enormous depth of Grand Canyon, the river is visible only from certain viewpoints. It is a two-day hike to the river and back from the South Rim. It's a longer trip from the North Rim. It is possible to drive to the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (near Marble Canyon, Arizona), a 2.5 hour drive (one way) from the South Rim. Lees Ferry marks the official beginning of Grand Canyon.

Most visitors make a stop at Bright Angel Point, at the southern end of the entrance road. From the parking area it is a short, easy walk to Grand Canyon Lodge and a classic view of the canyon. This facility is wheelchair accessible. A paved, half-mile (round-trip) trail leads from the lodge, out the spine of the ridge, to the point. This trail is steep in places, with drop-offs and stairs, but provides dramatic views into Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons.

The Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.


Historically, the Niagara Region is one of the richest areas in all of Canada and much of that history has been preserved and is available to the visitor.
While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.

The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest  falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over  the falls. The water flow on the American side of the falls is much less in strength because of Goat Island,  whereas Horseshoe Falls has no obstruction to divert it. It should be noted that a third much narrower falls exists. Over the years these falls have been  called at different times; Luna Falls, Iris Falls and is currently named Bridal Veil Falls.

The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing,  However, the falling water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river. This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet. If the Winter is cold for long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what is known as the "ice bridge".  This ice bridge can extend for several miles down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids.  Until 1912,visitors were allowed to actually walk out on the ice bridge and  view the Falls from below. February 24th of 1888 the local newspaper reported that at least 20,000 people watched or tobogganed on the ice. Shanties selling liquor, photographs and curiosities abounded. On February 4th 1912 the ice bridge broke up and 3 tourists lives were lost.

Alaska History

During the most recent ice age, about 15,000 years ago, much of the water covering Earth's surface was in the form of ice and snow.  Great land masses, which today are under water, were then exposed. One such land mass connected Alaska to Siberia.

Anthropologists now believe that most of Alaska's native people are descended from these nomadic hunters and gatherers who crossed from Siberia to North America.

These first Alaskans developed into 3 distinct groups: Eskimos, Aleuts, and Indians. The Eskimos scattered throughout the northern and western regions of Alaska, while the Aleuts settled mainly on the islands which now bear their name--the Aleutians.

In June 1741, Russian sailors led by Danish explorer Vitus Bering sailed from Siberia in search of whatever lands lay to the east. On July 16, Bering sighted Alaska's mainland.

The Russians were soon followed by British, Spanish, and American explorers and adventurers. But it was Russians who stayed and had the greatest impact on Alaska. In 1784, they established their first permanent settlement on Kodiak Island and by 1799 expanded their reach all the way to Sitka on Alaska's southeast coast. Russia's claim to Alaska was now firmly established. Whalers and fur traders from other nations began to move into the North American territories claimed by Russia. As the profits from the fur trade declined, Russian interest in Alaska faded.

William H. Seward, Secretary of State under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, offered Russia $7,200,000 or 2 cents per acre, for Alaska at the end of the American Civil War. The offer was accepted, but many Americans scoffed at the purchase calling Alaska "Seward's Icebox," and "Seward Folly." Nevertheless on October 18, 1867 the Stars and Stripes flew for the first time over Alaska.

Throughout the following decades the distant federal government was preoccupied with a war in Europe, and a depression at home. But when America declared war on Japan in 1941, the nation was suddenly aware of Alaska's strategic position. When Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands in 1943, more than 140,000 military personnel were stationed in Alaska. The Aleutian campaign, known as the "One Thousand Mile War," was the first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War.

Since early territorial days, many Alaskans had favored statehood. But Congress was initially reluctant to act on the request of this vast, sparsely settled territory. Alaskans would not give up, however, and on June 30, 1958, Congress finally approved the Alaska Statehood Act.

North America

North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass, and it is generally called as a New World. North America is connected to South America by an only land connection at the narrow Isthmus of Panama.

North America can be divided into 4 great regions: the Great Plains; the mountainous west that includes the Great Basin, the Rocky Mountains, Alaska and California; in the northeast, the plateau of the Canadian Shield; and the eastern region, which embraces the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico is the part of the western region, with its long plateaus and cordilleras.

Some of the popular tourist attractions in North America are Cleveland Museum of Art, Grant's Farm, West Side Market, Children's Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Graceland Cemetery, Stanley Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Ford's Theatre, Museum of Science & Industry and Denali, the highest peak located in Alaska.

Great Lakes is the most popular choice of tourists as it offers all kinds of outdoor sports, which include swimming, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, golfing, dog skiing sledding, and sailing. If you are among those who do not like to have so physical activities, you can go shopping, enjoy yourself in jazz and blues festivals, take pleasure in the best of auto racing, sunbathe on the mesmerizing sandy beaches, watch out the romantic sunset and sunrise, enjoy your bed tea, breakfast or lunch in a stylish resort and go for sightseeing in the vibrant of all cities.

Your trip in North America offers you incomparable variety. North America is a New World that represents blend of cultures, which is only one of its kind, when compared from everywhere else in the world. On your North America tour, you are sure to enjoy both the colorful scenery and friendly people who are native to this new world.

When seen economically, North America is considered as one of the wealthiest regions of the world. It is also rich in tourism attractions such as natural wonders like, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountains, which draw both local and international tourists in great deal. North America is named after the famous discoverer Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to put forward the idea that America is not the part of East Indies. It is a formerly undiscovered new world.

Some Considerable Facts...Lincoln and Kennedy

• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846


• John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.


• Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.


• John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.


• The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain 7 letters.


• Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.


• Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.


• Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.


• Both Presidents were shot in the head.


• Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.


• Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.


• Both were assassinated by Southerners.


• Both were succeeded by Southerners.


• Both successors were named Johnson.


• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.


• Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.


• John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born! in 1839.


• Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.


• Both assassins were known by their three names.


• Both names are composed of 15 letters.


• Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Kennedy.'


• Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln.'


• Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.


• Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.


• Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.


• A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.


• A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.