St. Petersburg was built as Russia’s “Window to the West,” and it remains perhaps the most “European” part of this enormous nation.

Tree-lined avenues, charming bridges, elegant architecture and a network of canals that rivals Amsterdam and Venice make this the perfect walking city. Even under Soviet oppression, St. Petersburg managed to keep a lightness and an air about it that other parts of the country simply could not manage.

The City

The overnight bullet train pulls into the station and several hundred passengers pour out into the station. A logjam forms at the exit as attendants ask to see tickets. This first experience with Beijing traffic is followed quickly by a taxi line of more than 100 people, which leads you into morning rush-hour traffic on one of Beijing’s four ring roads.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) The U.S. government today lifted the HIV travel ban, which had prohibited HIV positive visitors and immigrants from entering the country. The ban was established in 1987.

The regulation promulgated by the Obama administration last summer and finalized in November went into effect today, removing HIV from the list of communicable diseases that bar foreign nationals from entering the United States.

(SAN DIEGO) Last year voters in California expressed their support for high-speed rail by passing a $10 billion bond measure that will build lines across the state. Now, the State of California is seeking an additional $4.7 billion in federal stimulus funds for the project. While several states are vying for this funding, California may be better positioned because of its voter support.

Even though construction is years away, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is already planning for where such a high-speed rail line would run in San Diego County.