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All through the 16th century, several different types of world map projections were created with some configurations that were more distinguished by their artistic eloquence rather than their geographical usefulness. A projection map is a projection of the globe onto a flat map using a grid of lines of latitude and longitude. Guillaume Postel, created a unique woodcut, measuring 120 x 90 centimeters, which combined cartographic and decorative interest. Paris was the first to issue the map, titled ‘Polo Aptata Nova Charta Universi, in 1581 and again in 1589. But, the 1621 issuance is the only surviving copy impression, which is now being preserved by the Bibliotheque Service Historique de la Marine. The Polo Aptata Nove Charta Universi, shows two divided southern hemispheres with reduced-scale quarters and in the top corners, mirror-images. Postel’s map, with its striking decorations and its exquisite and exacting geographical information was a tour-de-force of its time and reveals a strong influence of De Jode of the late 16th century Antwerp school.

In 1691, Moxon, a map seller in England, devised an interesting map that contained not only the terrestrial hemispheres, but celestial as well. Moxon’s family advertised similar maps in a catalogue, stating that these world maps could be bound up with Bibles. In 1671, Moxon’s father, Joseph prepared a set of biblical maps to be combined with Moxons’ that contained a map where the terrestrial hemisphere stretches as far as the equator with the southern sections of America and Africa extending into two of the corners; there are 14 biblical scenes surrounding both hemispheres of Moxon’s more commonly found world map on an oval projection map.

Giovanni Domenico Cassini’s polar projection map of Jupiter is the most celebrated. Giovanni collected astronomical observations of the satellites of Jupiter by the Paris Observatory between the years of 1676 and 1683. Cassini’s map of 1696 was considered the first printed representation of a very large circular map, 8 meters in diameter located on the floor of the Observatory. There were other maps, like the giant de Fer-van Loon double-hemispherical world map of 1694 that also used the Academy’s observations, unfortunately, with Cassini’s maps, which were published in Paris, and despite its importance as a record for scientific geography, there are only 2 copies left, one with the signature of Cassini’s son and the other dating back to 1712.

Polar projection maps are specialised examples of cartographic art, map makers experimented with many kinds of map projections: oval, polar, planispherical and cordiform, but by the 18th century,the maps with a single polar projection became extremely rare due to the popularity of the cylindrical projections and the more widely accepted stereographic projection on two hemispheres.

Gramercy Park, a large private park in Manhattan and a historical site surrounded by famous historical sites, was swamp land when the original Dutch settlers founded New York. In 1831 Samuel B. Ruggles bought the property and spent $180,000 completely draining and filling the swamp, historians estimated this took about a million horse-cart loads of earth to moved. Once Completed, he began the process of laying out “Gramercy Square”. It was the second private square to be designed in the city, after Hudson Square, aka St. John’s Park, was laid out by the parish of Trinity Church. Once the square was built he deeded it to the owners of the 60 parcels of land he’d sold surrounding the park. In 1833 Gramercy Park was enclosed by a fence; however, construction on the surrounding lots did not begin until nearly a decade later. Situated in the center of the park is a statue of Edwin Booth, one of the most famous residents of the surrounding area. As well as being the brother of the notorious John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Abraham Lincoln , Booth was one of the great Shakespearean actors of America in the 19th Century. His mansion is the home of the Players’ Club and still stands at, “No. 16″ today .

Though the tradition of allowing caroling in the park on Christmas Eve is expected to continue, in 2007, the trustees of Gramercy Park announced that it would no longer open the park to the public on Gramercy Day, traditionally the first day in May. Residents living in buildings that face the park may buy a key to the park, which is changed annually. Guests of the nearby hotels like the Gramercy Park Hotel have key access as well as members of the Players Club and the National Arts Club too.

Over looking the park, The Gramercy Park Hotel’s reputation for discretion has attracted and played host to many musicians and famous media figures. Such as Bob Marley and Bob Dylan in the 1970s and in later years played host to the Clash, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and David Bowie. Some popular media figures even took up residence here. Among them famous actress Margaret Hamilton, actor Matt Dillon, and playwright David Mamet, writer S. J. Perelman, and actor James Cagney. During the show’s premiere the Canadian and Chicago part of the first cast of Saturday Night Live stayed in The Gramercy Park Hotel. Paul Shaffer, the show’s original bandleader, continued to live in the annex for another 16 years after the start of Saturday Night Live.

There are many things to do while visiting Honolulu Hawaii. The fact that this island is made from volcanic activity gives it some unique natural sights such as the volcanic cones. The Punchbowl crater is the home of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific . This is were the United States honors the men and women who served in WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The remains of soldiers have been relocated to this site from places like Guam, Wake Island and even some POW camps from Japan. They are home again in their own country were they belong.  

Diamond Head is another volcanic cone near Honolulu that is estimated to be 150,000 years old and has not erupted in since it was formed. It is close to many honolulu luxury hotels so it is well visited. There are some great hikes that go along the rim of the crater it takes almost 2 hours to get around. Bring lots of water and enjoy the amazing views and fresh air while exploring this massive crater.  

For more volcanic view check out Koko Head which is a volcano that created couple cones. One is Koko Crater which has a spectacular well formed and high crater and the other makes up the Hanauma Bay that is a cone filled with ocean water. Whether you see the crater by boat, land or plane it is really beautiful. There are some areas to explore such as the Lanai Lookout which gives distant views across the Kaiwi Channel, the Halona Blowhole along the rocky shore and Sandy Beach were one might catch a good wave or fly a kite. Halona Cove is a film site were Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr filmed a famous love scene. The area is all around romantic.