1. Cinderella: The popular fairy tale about Cinderella portrays a girl who suffers the wrath of her stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella is visited by her fairy godmother, who gives her a coach so that she can go to a masked ball. At the dance Cinderella meets a prince, but she leaves before he learns her name. The prince is so taken with Cinderella that he travels the countryside until he finds her. The web site http://www-dept.usm.edu/~engdept/cinderella/cinderella.html contains a dozen versions of the Cinderella story and an archive of images.
2. Reader’s Digest: The publishing of magazines composed of a variety of reading material is exemplified by the pocket-sized Reader’s Digest (1922). Since the 1950s, Reader’s Digest has had a monthly circulation in the millions. Numerous foreign-language editions, as well as a Braille edition, are published.
3. Finland: a republic in northern Europe, bounded on the north by Norway, the east by Russia, the south by Russia and the Gulf of Finland, the southwest by the Baltic Sea. Nearly one third of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle. The area of Finland, including 33,551 square kilometers (12,954 sq mi) of inland water, totals 338,145 square kilometers (130,559 sq mi). Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland. Please visit the web site http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vCOUNTRY=60, which offers a multimedia travel guide, with details on culture, attractions, accommodations, and restaurants.
4. Sacramento: the capital city of California and the seat of Sacramento County, located in the central part of the state in the fertile Sacramento Valley. Sacramento is situated at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River. The state's seventh largest city, Sacramento was the gateway to the mining regions during the California gold rush of 1849 and has long been one of the West’s leading commercial and transportation centers. The city takes its name from the Sacramento River, named by early Spanish explorers in honor of the Christian sacraments. More information about its history, government and events is available at the web site http://www.sacto.org/.
5. Nairobi: a city in south central Kenya, the capital of the country, located just south of the equator. The city’s name is derived from a Masai word meaning “place of cool waters”. One of the largest and fastest growing cities in Africa, Nairobi is Kenya’s principal economic and cultural center. You can get more information about its attractions, lodging and local culture at http://kenya.rcbowen.com.
6. Helsinki: the largest city, capital, and chief seaport of Finland. The city is located in southern Finland, on a small peninsula extending into the Gulf of Finland. Small islands fringe the peninsula, and the entrance to Helsinki Harbor is protected by the fortifications of Suomenlinna (Swedish Sveaborg), covering seven of the islands. Try the web site http://www.expedia.com/daily/wg/helsinki.asp, which offers a multimedia travel guide, featuring details on culture, attractions, accommodations, and restaurants.
7. London: the capital city of the United Kingdom. It is situated in southeastern England along the Thames River. With a population of about 7 million, this vast metropolis is by far the largest city in Europe, a distinction it has maintained since the 17th century. In the 19th century it was the largest and most influential city in the world, the center of a large and prosperous overseas empire. Although it no longer ranks among the world’s most populous cities, London is still one of the world’s major financial and cultural capitals. Please visit the web site http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vcountry=181. It offers a multimedia travel guide, with details on culture, attractions, and restaurants.
