Like many Eastern European countries, St. Petersburg struggled for much of the 20th century (mostly while known as Petrograd or Leningrad). It witnessed most of the Russian Revolution in the early part of the century and went on to be devastated by a lengthy Nazi siege during World War II. After the war, the city continued to struggle under the stress of political and economic forces. Still, St. Petersburg is a beautiful city with a unique skyline and many historical and architectural sights. One of the most distinctive, featured in this video, is the spire of the the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the oldest landmark in the city and the resting place of nearly all Russia’s

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

At night, Dubai might be a spectacle of exciting nightlife, but early in the day, the desert city moves a calmer, more relaxing pace. As the sun rises over the Persian Gulf, there’s a clear contrast between the modern skyscrapers of downtown Dubai and the quiet desert on the outskirts. One of the unique sights of Dubai– seen in this video– is the great number of auras— traditional wooden water taxis that ferry locals and tourists across the Dubai Creek. An interesting feature of these boats is their rustic steering method: many are guided by a simple wooden rudder controlled by ropes and pulleys. Nils is a Munich-born guitarist, producer, and composer. Though most comfortable playing

Long Beach, California (Rainbow Harbor)

Long Beach, California, just south of Los Angeles, is named for the five miles of beaches that run along its coast. Very much a marine city, Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport in the United States, a popular cruise ship port (and home port to Carnival Cruise Lines) and offers thousands of marina slips, a strong fishing culture, and was the site of a naval shipyard for 55 years. Visitors can even spend on the night on a historic ocean liner: the RMS Queen Mary, now converted to a hotel. This eScapes video features a nighttime panorama of the Long Beach waterfront, starting at the colorfully-lit Queensway Bridge and spanning the entire skyline, including the Pike

Shanghai, China (Riverfront at Day)

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Old and new come together along Shanghai’s Huangpu Riverfront. The Bund, a historic district with a limit on building heights, sits opposite the Pudong district, full of towering skyscrapers and commercial development. These skyscrapers are symbolic of Shanghai’s modern economic prosperity as the commerce capital of mainland China. Visitors and residents fatigued by the city’s booming activities can find relaxation in city parks such as the Lujiazui Central Green, featured in this video. Bob James is recognized for his role in establishing smooth jazz music. His influence on the genre is unmatched and extends into hip-hop, where his work is often sampled. A keyboardist, James may be best known for “Angela,” the theme from the TV

Detroit, Michigan (Skyline at Dusk)

Detroit, Michigan is known as the “Motor City” so it may be appropriate that the standout on its skyline is the Renaissance Center housing the headquarters of General Motors. In this relaxing view from across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario, the glossy dark facade of the Renaissance Center is a sharp contrast to the older buildings that make up the rest of downtown. Other landmarks visible in this video include Cobo Center on the far left, and the Detroit Princess, a riverboat offering dinner and entertainment cruises on the Detroit River since 2005. Marion Meadows is a smooth jazz saxophonist and composer. Skilled with both the tenor and soprano saxophones, Meadows has collaborated with jazz

Charlotte Amalie Cruise Harbor

Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, is known for its many historical attractions and also for being the busiest cruise port of call in the islands. Millions of cruise passengers arrive at this port every year from various lines including Celebrity and Disney. In this eScapes video, a Celebrity Cruise ship heads out of the port city as a relaxing sunset provides a brilliant backdrop. Earl Klugh is contemporary jazz guitarist originally from Detroit, Michigan. Since his first album in 1976, Klugh has received twelve career Grammy nominations and produced more than twenty albums– five of them reaching No. 1 on the jazz charts. Klugh is a favorite of

San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge)

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is instantly recognizable and a symbol of the entire city. Almost as famous (and seen in the foreground of this video) is the frequent ocean fog that blankets the city and the bridge. San Francisco Bay’s fog is one of the reasons for the bright red/orange color of the bridge, formally called “International Orange.” The distinctive color is more apparent to passing boats and ships and also complements the surrounding landscape. The bridge and other San Francisco landmarks can be seen from Pier 39, a popular destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The 300-berth Pier 39 Marina serves boaters of all kinds, and offers relaxing boat tours of the bay. Nestor

Port of Los Angeles

The port of Los Angeles began as a small port used by Spanish traders. Over the centuries, it has developed into what is now the largest shipping port in the United States. This eScapes video features an APL shipping vessel making its way out to sea, loaded with containers. Freighters like this are a common sight in the port, but it also serves recreational boaters and is one of the largest cruise ship ports in the country, providing homeport to Carnival, Disney, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines. Andy Snitzer is a jazz saxophonist who has toured with many popular artists including the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon. Also an accomplished producer, his solo work blends a

Las Vegas Strip

Known today as one of the world’s major resort and gambling cities, Las Vegas has long specialized in offering adult entertainment. For much of Vegas’s early history as a railroad boomtown, gambling (and alcohol, under Prohibition) was illegal in the State of Nevada. That was only a minor setback, however: gaming was still active on a small scale in the city’s many speakeasies. Recognizing opportunity in the influx of workers arriving to construct the Hoover Dam, Nevada legalized gambling and Las Vegas’ most famous industry took off. In only a few decades, Vegas had eclipsed the West’s other resort towns (like Galveston, Texas) and become known for its casinos, restaurants, and live entertainment. Today, Las Vegas

Cathedral of Arequipa, Peru

The Cathedral of Arequipa, Peru illustrates the natural setting of Peru along the world’s “Ring of Fire,” the belt around the Pacific Ocean known for its high frequency of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Peru, affected by the Nazca Plate under the Pacific Ocean subjecting beneath the South American plate, lies in an active volcanic zone and experiences frequent earthquakes. This beautiful cathedral was first built in 1540, from sillar, a white volcanic rock common in the area. However, in 1583, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake. The cathedral was rebuilt by 1600 only to be completely destroyed by 1604 by both an earthquake and a volcanic eruption. Since its second rebuilding in 1656, the church