Why You Have to Pee in the Middle of the Night

That glass of water you guzzled before bed isn’t the only reason you’re making a beeline for bathroom at night. Turns out, your genes are to blame, too.

ByDeborah Dunham

Let’s face it, nothing is more annoying than being woken up mid-slumber because you have to go to the bathroom. While you may chastise yourself for drinking too much wine with dinner and vow never to do that again, your urgency to pee may have more to do with your genes than how much you drank before bed.

MORE: Four Ways to Prevent a UTI

A team of Japanese researchers looked at the urination patterns of mice. What they found was that bladder muscle cells are often regulated by circadian rhythms, which is our internal sleep/wake cycle that can be influenced by our genes. A person with a normal circadian rhythm pees less at night so their body has time to rest and restore without being disturbed. But mice with an abnormal circadian rhythm peed just as much during the day as they did at night, according to the research published in Nature Communications.

The researchers also found that a specific protein, Cx43, which is found in bladder muscle cells and largely controlled by our genes, can determine how much urine your bladder can hold and how often you have to pee. The mice with lower levels of the Cx43 protein had to pee more frequently during the night, leading some to believe that our genes could very well be responsible for those annoying, have-to-pee 2am awakenings. Thanks, mom and dad!

Occasionally having to pee at night or even having to go once a night isn’t considered to be much of an issue, according to Beri Ridgeway, M.D., a urogynecologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “The issue becomes problematic when that happens two or more times a night—that’s called nocturia [or nocturnal polyuria],” she explains. “It’s waking with the need to urinate, and it’s so strong that you can’t go back to sleep until you empty your bladder.”

And while our bladder strength and capacity does change as we age, it’s important to find out what is causing those midnight disruptions. Dr. Ridgeway says that can range from sleep apnea to a small bladder, and yes, possibly, our genes.

COLUMN: Is It Just Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

“Down the road, we may be able to harness the [Cx43 protein] idea as a treatment,” says Ridgeway, “by regulating those genes to produce more or less of that protein, which can change the amount of urine that the bladder can hold.”

In the meantime, if your doctor has ruled out any medical issues, here are some tips that may help you get a good—and uninterrupted—night’s sleep:

1. Put down that drink. Reducing the amount of fluid you drink before you hit the hay is an obvious solution to urinating less during the night. In particular, watch out for diuretics such as alcohol and caffeine, which can actually increase the urgency to pee. Avoid them starting four hours before bedtime.

2. Alleviate leg swelling. Believe it or not, elevating swollen legs so they’re level with your heart a couple of hours before bedtime can reduce the urgency to urinate during the night. “When we lie down, we absorb all of the fluid from those swollen tissues, which then goes to the kidneys for urine production,” explains Ridgeway. By releasing that extra fluid before bedtime, you can reduce the likelihood of having to use the bathroom later on.

3. Get checked out. If you suspect that you have an overactive bladder, talk to your doctor. There are medications and even physical therapy that can reduce the frequent urgency to go.

4. Reset your internal clock. By adjusting your circadian rhythms to a normal and predictable sleep/wake cycle each day, you may be able to limit nighttime urination.

5. Step away from the salt shaker. Loading up on salt and eating foods that are heavy in sodium  (think: frozen meals, cured meats and soy sauce) as well as protein and potassium can cause your body to store extra fluid and increase urine production during the night, according to Ridgeway. Your best bet? Avoid heavily salted foods, particularly at night, which is smart to do anyway.

6. Work it out. Exercise helps regulate your circadian rhythms, which is part of the equation for getting a good night’s sleep, notes Ridgeway. Working out also helps you lose any excess weight. That’s important since obesity is linked to poor sleep and sleep apnea.

Dos and don'ts at the Great Wall of China

By Mark Orwoll, International Editor, Travel + Leisure

(CNN) -- One of the oldest existing man-made structures, more than 2,000 years old and a world-travel icon that ranks alongside the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge -- the Great Wall of China should be on every traveler's bucket list.

To make the most of your visit, take some advice from these dos and don'ts.

DO choose a section of the wall that's right for you.

Most travelers visit one of these sections from their hotel base in Beijing: Juyongguan (closest to Beijing but less interesting than most other sections); Badaling (close but crowded); Mutianyu (farther away but less crowded and set among gorgeous mountains); and Jinshanling and Simatai (farther away still, but perfect for adventurers). Note: Simatai is currently closed for site improvements.

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DON'T spend less than two or three hours exploring the wall. You'll need at least that much time to get the true flavor of the centuries-old structure.

DO go in the spring or fall, when the weather is fine and the crowds are few. Summertime is often too hot, and winter can be treacherous.

DON'T forget plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat if you visit during the blazing summer. You'll need it all.

Great Wall much longer than previously thought

DO consider signing up for a day tour at your hotel's activities desk. It's the simplest way to go. Tours cost around $30 per person and include mini-bus transportation with an English-speaking guide and driver.

DON'T visit the wall on weekends or holidays, when it is most crowded. Remember, it's not just foreigners who tour the Great Wall. Chinese love to visit as well on their days off.

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DO visit either Badaling or Mutianyu if you have mobility concerns; they both have aerial cable cars. Mutianyu also has a ski lift, but only Badaling is wheelchair accessible.

DON'T expect clear skies. The awful smog that often afflicts Beijing can spread to the wall itself, lending a dull haze to the surroundings. If possible, do try to visit on a breezy day or after a rainstorm.

DO take a ride on the wild, mile-long toboggan track that leads down from the wall at Mutianyu to the village at the base of the wall.

DON'T believe that you can see the wall from space. Apollo astronaut Alan Bean said he tried to spot it, but that no man-made object is visible once you leave the Earth's orbit.

Florida's tourism gets a boost from a Brazilian invasion

By John Couwels, CNN

Orlando (CNN) -- "Oi -- Sejam bem-vindos!" -- meaning "Hi, welcome!" -- is a Portuguese phrase heard more and more these days at Florida's tourist spots.

That's because Florida is the top U.S. vacation destination for Brazilians, who are taking advantage of a favorable exchange rate and low prices. Brazilians outnumbered all other international travelers to Florida in 2011, up 41% from the previous year, according to state tourism officials.

And there's no sign of this Brazilian invasion slowing down: The U.S. Commerce Department projects 1.5 million Brazilians will visit the United States in 2012 -- and most of them will head to Florida.

Floridians are used to seeing Brazilian tour groups marching through outlet malls and theme parks, usually dressed in matching T-shirts in single-file lines behind their leader. These Brazilian tourists are usually loaded with cash and ready to clear the shelves of the name-brand outlets. That's because even at regular price, many goods and services in the United States are much cheaper than in Brazil, where tariffs, taxes and transportation costs can mean higher prices.

"We [took] about 15,000 passengers on shopping tours, and they on average spend about $300 to $400 each person," said Claudia Menezes, vice president of Pegasus Transportation. And those were just the Brazilian tour groups visiting outlet malls and theme parks in South Florida and Orlando.

Menezes says she expects her business to double in 2012. That could be a conservative estimate as the United States plans to expand its global entry program, which aims to speed up the visa approval process for international visitors.

President Obama announced the expansion of the plan last week at a news conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He said he hopes to make it easier for visitors from countries "with rapidly growing economies, huge populations and emerging middle classes" like Brazil and China to visit the United States. He said he wants the plan expanded "this year."

He said Brazil was "especially important for Florida" because it has "a huge population that loves to come to Florida ... but we make it too hard for them."

"We want them spending money here, in Orlando, in Florida in the United States of America, which will boost our businesses and our economy," he said.

It's a long process for many Brazilians to get to the United States: On average, people have to wait 76 days just to get an interview at the largest U.S. consulate in Brazil, in Sao Paulo. And with only four U.S. consular offices in a country that is bigger than the continental United States, a lot of Brazilians trying to visit the U.S. must travel long distances for their interview. As a result, many are opting to travel to Europe because the visa process is easier.

Menezes says her tour business depends on the United States improving its visa process:

"If they make it easier, it would be even more people coming here," she said.

On a recent afternoon at the Orlando Premium Outlets near Disney World, one of the hottest-selling items among the Brazilian tourists is luggage. They buy the suitcases, then stuff them with recently purchased shoes, clothing, bags and electronics until the luggage is almost bursting at the seams.

That kind of spending has translated into billions of dollars in revenue for the United States. In 2010, Brazilian visitors spent nearly $6 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services, nearly 30% more than the prior year, according to a report from the U.S. Commerce Department. It's a trend that has been going on since 2003 and has, according to the report, "propelled Brazil up the rankings to become the fifth largest international market for U.S. travel and tourism-related exports."

Florida's retailers aren't the only ones getting an economic boost: Many of Central Florida's numerous theme parks have also seen a large increase in Brazilian tourists. Disney World says 2011 was a record-breaking year for Brazilian guests at its parks.

As a result, Disney hired 54 Portuguese-speaking "Super Greeters," most of them from Brazil, to assist Brazilian tour groups throughout Disney's parks.

SeaWorld Orlando has seen a steady increase in guests from Brazil over the past five years, says Peter Frey, senior marketing officer with SeaWorld Parks.

As a result, SeaWorld recently launched a website in Portuguese, and Frey says the company is looking to expand its Portuguese-speaking employees.

"We are offering classes for employees to learn the basics of Portuguese," he said.

Brazil's economy is booming after a quick recovery from the global economic downturn, and a new class of Brazilians is traveling and spending money, giving Florida a much-needed economic shot in the arm, according to Sean Snaith, an economics expert at the University of Central Florida.

"There is an emerging middle class [in Brazil] who has disposable income," he said.

Only a few years ago, Brazilian tourists were not always welcomed by shop owners in Central and South Florida, a tour guide said. Today, businesses are catering to these cash-laden Brazilian tourists.

Brazilians are also investing in Florida's sagging real estate market, particularly in South Florida, either for a vacation home or just as an investment. The prices in Miami are a bargain, compared with the prices in Brazil, according to Miami Realtor Cristiano Piquet.

"In Brazil or Rio, high-end real estate is around $1,000 per square foot, while in Miami, you can find high-end oceanfront property, like the Trump Towers, for only $500 per square foot," said Piquet, who gets 80% of his business from Brazilians. He has 75 agents.

"Brazilians love Miami, the weather is similar to Brazil, [it's] very safe ... [and there are] daily flights from Brazil to Miami," he said.

Diego Gasques from Rio de Janeiro, who owns two condominiums in Miami, agrees.

"It's kind of a vacation place for us," he said. "Of course Miami is a beautiful place, a lot of nice people around -- a lot of bodies ... it's a nice place to hang out to have some fun."

While Spanish is still the most popular second language in most South Florida businesses, these days it's becoming more common to hear, "Obrigada e volte sempre!" -- Portuguese for " Thank you, come again!"

CNN's Shasta Darlington and John Zarrella contributed to this report.

Rebels burn Timbuktu tomb listed as U.N. World Heritage site

By the CNN Wire Staff

Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Elderly men were keeping watch Saturday over Timbuktu's main library after Islamists burned a tomb listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The attacks Friday were blamed on Ansar Dine, a militant group that seeks to impose strict Sharia law.

The ancient city in Mali was captured by at least two separatist Tuareg rebel groups -- one of which is Ansar Dine -- in an anti-government uprising in the northern part of the country that began in January.

The rebels burned the tomb of a Sufi saint where people come to pray, said Sankoum Sissoko, a tour guide familiar with the place. He said the library and other heritage sites remained under threat.

Baba Haidara, a member of the National Assembly, called for UNESCO and the greater international community's help restoring the shrine and freeing the city.

"They attacked the grave, broke the doors and windows and ripped and burned pieces of white clothing that surrounded the tomb of the saint in front of everyone," said Haidara, who is from the central Mali city. "With their attack, the militants touched the heart of Timbuktu. They picked Friday because they know many people visit the shrines on this day."

Sufism is a mystical dimension of Islam, and Islamists believe Sufi shrines are sacrilegious. As such, they have mounted attacks against Sufi sites in several nations.

Sissoko said the attackers were dressed in signature Ansar Dine black robes and turbans. Timbuktu residents, he said, were ready to take up arms against the rebels, who have been linked to al Qaeda.

Religious leader Baba Cheick Sekou said the occupying rebel groups have no respect for Timbuktu's religious and historic importance.

Sekou said he feared for the protection of the prestigious Koranic Sankore University and ancient manuscripts that are kept there, as well as other tombs and mosques of historic significance.

"All Muslims know the tomb is a holy place," he said. "It's not something you attack and destroy. It's anti-Islamic. People in the community are angry."

Haidara described the shrine situation as bad.

Read also: Mali's treasure at risk from uprising

"The young people of Timbuktu have started training to resist the militants, and I fear people will seek revenge," he said.

Timbuktu Mayor Ousmane Halle said the attackers tore down windows and wooden gates at the grave sites and burned them. Tensions were high in the city, he said.

"People are angry, and for a good reason," Halle said.

"So far there's been no response from the central government condemning the attack," he said. "I'm still waiting for them to give a declaration. That's what they would have done if it happened in (Mali's capital city of) Bamako."

To many, Timbuktu conjures a distant and exotic place due its location on the southern edge of the vast Sahara and accounts of great material and scholarly wealth.

Known as the "city of 333 saints" for the Sufi imams, sheiks and scholars buried there, Timbuktu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. UNESCO is a United Nations cultural organization.

See the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites

After the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi, armed Tuaregs who had been fighting in Libya streamed back across the border into Mali. In March, the ongoing Tuareg revolt sparked a military coup against Mali President Amadou Toumani Toure by officers unhappy with the government's handling of the rebellion.

The rebels capitalized on the chaos in Bamako, in southern Mali, and usurped large swaths of territory in the north. UNESCO grew gravely concerned about the protection of heritage sites.

UNESCO chief Irina Bokova has called for all groups to respect and protect the city's history.

"Timbuktu's outstanding earthen architectural wonders that are the great mosques of Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia must be safeguarded," she said.

"Along with the sites' 16 cemeteries and mausolea, they are essential to the preservation of the identity of the people of Mali and of our universal heritage."

Islamists destroyed another world heritage site in 2001 when the Taliban used dynamite to blow up two giant 6th century statues of Buddha carved into the cliffs of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan.

In a recent report, Human Rights Watch accused the Tuareg rebels of war crimes, including rape, use of child soldiers, summary executions and pillaging of hospitals, schools, aid agencies and government buildings.

Journalist Katarina Hoije contributed to this report.

Best affordable beach resorts

Travel + Leisure

Escapism looks a little different for everyone, but we can all agree that a reasonable price tag spells relaxation almost as much as a hammock and a cold one. So we've rounded up our favorite affordable beach resorts worldwide, each checking in between $50 and $250 per night.

After all, a beach vacation isn't rocket science. The three key ingredients are simple: sun, sand, surf. It's not all about the tanning butlers or 12-course molecular gastronomy tasting menus or the flat-screen pool-cabana entertainment systems. And it certainly isn't about watching your bank account wash out to sea.

See more affordable beach resorts

B Ocean, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Free iPad rentals, white-on-white leather furnishings, cute naming conventions (B Active gym, B Nourished restaurant)—sound familiar? If it weren't for the rates, you could mistake this hotel for a pricer single-letter chain (cough, W, cough). But we love how the 240-room B Ocean does affordable without nickel-and-diming guests. Wi-Fi is free, ocean views are standard, and spa services are a bargain.

Cost: From $189.

Don't miss: The self-serve Enomatic wine machine lets guests sample their way through a number of vintages. -- Colleen Clark

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Fishing Lodge Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

Just 10 minutes from Punta Cana airport on the new 33,000-acre Cap Cana development, this hotel is the ideal family getaway. You can swim right out of many of the 299 Mediterranean-style villas, which all have kitchens, sofa beds, and either a balcony or patio. Horseback riding, paintball, sailing, fishing, and the Jack Nicklaus--designed Punta Espada Golf Course are in easy reach.

Cost: From $198.

Don't miss: There's no direct beach access because the lodge is situated around a marina. The upside is that you get to take a fun, two-minute boat ride to reach a private stretch of sand. -- Colleen Clark

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Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, Tobago

Although it's situated in a gated luxury community of golf courses and vacation homes, there's an untouched beauty to the surrounding nature trails and mangrove forests. That means guests at Magdalena Grand Beach Resort enjoy the thrills of back-to-nature adventure combined with the perks of a large resort development. All 178 rooms have marble baths, high-def flat screens, and ocean-view balconies.

Cost: From $210.

Don't miss: Little ones can learn about Tobago's leatherback, hawskbill, and green turtles at the complimentary Kids Club, while parents score downtime at the adults-only pool. -- Colleen Clark

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Mancora Marina Hotel, Peru

Mention Peru, and most people think of Machu Picchu. But the country's northern Pacific coast beaches are becoming hot spots for surfers and sun-worshippers. Many congregate at this new hotel from architect Jordi Puig. In the main building's stacked wooden cubes, floor-to-ceiling glass walls bring light and views of the vibrant landscape in to stark white modernist rooms. Steps lead down to a 90-foot infinity pool stretching toward the ocean.

Cost: From $185.

Don't miss: Go whale- and dolphin-watching or deep-sea fishing on the hotel's private yacht. -- Colleen Clark

Stokkoya Sjosenter, Norway

Husband-and-wife sheep farmers converted this windswept curve of the Norwegian coast into an architectural landmark. Domes light underground bunkers carved into the landscape, each decorated with modern and vintage pieces, hand-painted murals, and art installations. Floor-to-ceiling glass entrances look out on Hosnasand Beach and the distant Halten lighthouse. And most days end with a soak in the barrel-like, wood-heated hot tubs.

Cost: From $112.

Don't miss: The catch of the day. Co-owner Roar Svenning used to be a scallop and sea urchin diver; he sources quality seafood for shockingly reasonable prices in the glass-fronted Beach Bar. -- Colleen Clark

Le Rêve, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

An unpaved maze of roads leads the way to Le Rêve, an intimate, 25-suite boutique property with more romance and charm than its neighboring mega-resorts combined. Couples hang out in private hammocks by the garden suites, accented with colorful, locally sourced Mexican tiles. Bungalows come with private plunge pools overlooking a generous stretch of ocean. Snorkeling gear is on the house.

Cost: From $210.

Don't miss: Chef Mario Kauil offers a Mayan tasting menu that must be booked one night in advance. Give him your preferences, and Kauil will head for the farmers' markets to create a one-of-a-kind meal. -- Nikki Goldstein

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El Sitio Hotel, Panama

Surfers are no longer the only ones lured to Panama's Pacific beaches. Boldface names like Angelina Jolie have been spotted in the Pacific village of Pedasí, four hours from Panama City. That's where you'll find the rustic-but-stylish El Sitio Hotel. Accommodations range from rooms with bunk beds to oceanfront suites with private balconies; whitewashed walls, ceiling fans, and dark wood furnishings are a theme throughout.

Cost: From $99.

Don't miss: Surfing at Playa Venao, where conditions favor even beginners, and snorkeling around the marine park of Isla Iguana.

Pousada Patacho, Porto de Pedras, Brazil

Visiting the rustic beach towns in Brazil's northeastern state of Alagoas feels like uncovering a fantastic secret (most tourists still head south to Bahia). Around São Miguel dos Milagres, the white-sand beaches are dotted with crystalline tide pools. The nearby light-filled Pousada Patacho beckons with five intimate, whitewashed rooms amid coconut palms and vine-draped terraces.

Cost: From $190.

Don't miss: Day-tripping throughout Alagoas. In the oyster-farming community of Vila Palateia, you can try bivalves plucked straight from the mangrove lagoon. -- Kevin Raub

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Akaryn Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand

There's a gentle elegance to Akaryn Samui's villas. Four-poster beds with 400-thread-count linens rest beneath whirring vintage-style fans. Sea breezes drift off of Hanuman Bay to your private garden and plunge pool. If you can rouse yourself from your outdoor daybed, there are sunrise and sunset yoga classes, a holistic spa, a boutique, and a tea salon.

Cost: From $208.

Don't miss: Head to a local market with the chef and learn how to shop for and cook some of the hotel's Thai specialties. -- Colleen Clark

Travel + Leisure: See more affordable beach resorts

Nora Ephron, RIP: Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Billy Crystal and More Mourn Writer-Director's Death Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/nora_ephron_rip_tom_hanks_nicole_kidman/326263#ixzz1yyeL4Fnm

by NATALIE FINN

Nora Ephron directed, produced and wrote for some of Hollywood's most beloved entertainers—and she was just as beloved in return.

"I am very sad to learn of Nora's passing," Billy Crystal said upon learning of the prolific writer-filmmaker's death today from cancer at 71. "She was a brilliant writer and humorist. Being her Harry to Meg's Sally will always have a special place in my heart. I was very lucky to get to say her words."

Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail star Tom Hanks offered a similar sentiment—as have so many others.

MORE: Nora Ephron, Sleepless in Seattle Director, Dead at 71

"Nora Ephron was a journalist/artist who knew what was important to know; how things really worked, what was worthwhile, who was fascinating and why," Hanks and wife Rita Wilson said in a statement to E! News.  "At a dinner table and on a film set she lifted us all with wisdom and wit mixed with love for us and love for life. Rita and I are so very sad to lose our friend who brought so much joy to all who were lucky enough to know her..."

Nicole Kidman, who starred in the Ephron-directed Bewitched, stated that her late friend was a "joy to be around."

"She was so smart, warm and funny," she continued. "I am so grateful that she was my friend and we had the opportunity to work together. My thoughts and love are with her family at this time. I will never forget the dinners, games and laughter we all shared."

"Nora just looked at every situation and cocked her head and thought, ‘Hmmmm, how can I make this more fun?' " Meryl Streep wrote in an email to the New York Times. "You could call on her for anything: doctors, restaurants, recipes, speeches, or just a few jokes, and we all did it, constantly. She was an expert in all the departments of living well."

And, of course, the tributes have been pouring in via Twitter.

MORE: Original Goodfella Henry Hill Dead at 69

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/nora_ephron_rip_tom_hanks_nicole_kidman/326263#ixzz1yyeUsdkQ

Alan Cumming: "So sad to hear about the death of Nora Ephron. I worked with her recently and she was kind and funny and fascinating."

Sarah Silverman: "I just heard about Nora Ephron. I'm so sad. A great & prolific writer, a warm & kind soul. Gone just like that."

Kerry Washington: "@thinkprogress: "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim" — Nora Ephron ‪#rip."

Kevin Nealon: "Auditioned for Nora Ephron 20 yrs ago. Didn't get the part but she sent me a thank you note. I'll always remember that and you, Nora."

Kelly Ripa: "RIP Nora Ephron. You will be missed."

Albert Brooks: R.I.P Nora Ephron. A witty, charming, lovely person.

Elijah Wood: "terrible to hear of Nora Ephron's passing. may she rest in peace."

Joe Mantegna: "My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Nora Ephron at the news of her passing. Especially to her husband and my friend Nick." (Ephron was married to Wise Guy author Nick Pileggi.)

MORE: Paris, La Toya, Randy Jackson tweet Michael Jackson memories on anniversary of his death

Juliette Lewis: "So sad to hear bout Nora Ephron. We did a movie called 'Mixed Nuts' when I was 20. She was funny intelligent and loving. One of a kind."

Shonda Rhimes: "'I try to write parts for women that are as complicated and interesting as women actually are.' —Nora Ephron"

Colin Hanks: Nora Ephron was devastatingly funny, extremely witty, and was ALWAYS one of the kindest people I have ever met.

Soleil Moon Frye: "'I always read the last page of a book first so that if I die before I finish I'll know how it turned out.' RIP Nora Ephron."

Ron Howard: "RIP Nora Ephron brilliant gracious and FUNNY"

Justin Timberlake: "R.I.P. Nora Ephron... Funny, charming, witty, full of heart, and one of the greatest who put it all down in timeless, quotable classics."

Bette Middler: "Nora Ephron. The Hostess with the Mostest on the Ball. A brilliant soul, and we will all miss her so...."

Kristen Schaal: "Nora Ephron was wonderful. She was kind to me and she will be missed."

Andie MacDowell: "In my sex fantasy nobody ever loves me for my mind....'Nora Ephron ' NORA we loved everything about you and we will miss you."

Steve Martin: "She was the one you wanted to read, to listen to, to be in the company of. Nora Ephron. Incomparable wit; delightful friend. Sadness reigns."

GALLERY: Nora Ephron's Movies

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/news/nora_ephron_rip_tom_hanks_nicole_kidman/326263#ixzz1yyeZI3y7

10 MOST HATED CITY

They're not the worst cities in the world, they're the best at bugging people. Introducing the places guaranteed to swing your mood southward

By Jordan Rane 

Last week we got all loved-up with our ranking of the most loved cities in the world. This week we're feeling cranky. However, the worst thing that could ever be said about a city is not that it merits “top 10 most hated” status.No, the worst thing that could ever be said about a city is that it’s not even worth discussing.Say what you like about these 10 places (and lots of people do), they all prompt conversation. OK, plenty of critical conversation according to our findings, but we mean that in the most positive light.So let’s re-name this one “10 cities travelers most love to hate” -- and secretly hope that they remain, if not “awfully beautiful,” at least “beautifully awful” to some degree.Because who really wants a world full of Vancouvers and Stockholms? 

10. Belize City, Belize

Hate Belize? No no no. I'd just prefer to be somewhere else.

Few tropical outposts less than a three-hour flight from Dallas have spawned as many alluring Sunday travel section taglines as Belize -- a diving and cruise ship magnet that has been dubbed “Central America Lite,” “theother Caribbean” and “the gateway to the world’s second largest barrier reef.”With all that warm press and tourist traffic passing through, you’d expect Belize City to have kicked its nagging reputation as the sorriest port o’ call on either edge of the Caribbean.Crime. Drugs. Dilapidation. Welcoming committees of bored, desperate touts. A vibe that screams avoid-being-out-after-dark-and-wait-for-your-real-itinerary-to-begin. Belize City has it all.When your own Director of Tourism owns that Belize’s main transport hub is “consistently rated as the worst destination” among cruise passengers, something more than the city’s famous swing bridge may need adjusting.Until then, it’s full speed to the puddle jumpers and water taxis.Also on CNNGo: 10 of the world's most hated airports

9. Cairo, Egypt

Not good enough to like, not bad enough to avoid.

There are other cities coping with even more crippling air pollution, maniacal driving, ridiculous traffic, overpopulation and post-revolution stress -- though not too many, and none we can think of that travelers would ever put very high on a sightseeing list.Cairo, of course, impels us to come anyway -- which naturally breeds some resentment.Home of the world’s last remaining ancient Wonder and an incomparable wealth of history and antiquities that rank high on any serious globetrotter’s bucket list, visitors these days are forced to turn more than just a blind lung to a recent World Health Organization report that equates breathing in this city with smoking a pack a day. “Avoid the crowds and protests and it should be fine otherwise,” advises one recent visitor on Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree.“We can't predict what will happen, but keep your ear to the ground and you should be OK,” hedges another.It needs to be asked: Was modern Cairo really what Pharaoh Khufu had in mind in his 5,000 Year Plan?

8. New Delhi, India

These guys aren't even the hawkers -- they're the hawkees.

Travel scams happen everywhere. But few cities fuel as much lengthy discussion and strategizing about them as India’s sprawling capital -- arguably the world’s favorite place for travel forum junkies to dish on their favorite travel forum topic:How to avoid getting fleeced outside the airport, at the train station, at your hotel and everywhere in between.“There are plenty of cons to be aware of,” blogs TravBuddy in a post entitled "Scam City: Delhi’s Tourist Hustles and How To Avoid Them," which lists several popular ones by name: The "Government Tourist Office" scam; The "Hotel Commission" scam; The "Fake Train Station" scam; The "Airport Transfer" scam, etc.Learn these. Commit them to memory. Then go out and freely soak in the opulence of New Delhi, the breathless chaos of Old Delhi -- the otherworldly extremeness of it all, knowing that your street savvy is really no match for a place that makes New York look prenatal.“Avoiding scams and touts in Delhi,” posts travel community site, traveldudes.org, “the chances are really high that you will be scammed anyway.”

7. Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta: great, if frustration is your favorite emotion.

Jakarta isn’t nicknamed “The Big Durian” (thorny, odorous fruit you might actually enjoy if you give it a chance) for nothing.“It is a very demanding city from a traveler’s perspective, full of surprises and awaiting difficulties,” notes one TripAdvisor expat who came to love Jakarta after six months. “Once you get to know it, you can’t have enough of it.”The obvious snag. Indonesia’s 8 million annual tourists arriving at this springboard to Bali, Yogyakarta, Sumatra -- anywhere but here -- spend on average 7.84 days in Indonesia according to a 2011 study by the country’s Central Bureau for Statistics.How long will it take most visitors to decide they haven’t enough time to gain an insider’s appreciation about this sprawling city choked with traffic, pollution, poverty and tourist “draws” largely revolving around random street adventures and an epidemic of malls?About 7.84 seconds.

6. Lima, Peru

Lima: world's biggest victim of faint praise.

Latin America’s fifth-largest metropolis may be marginally cleaner than Mexico City, somewhat safer than Sao Paulo and way more beach-friendly than La Paz, yet Lima continues to quietly suffer from the worst, if well-meaning, curse in travel circles: being constantly described as a place that’s not nearly as dull as everyone else keeps saying it is.“If you’re prepared to delve into the nooks and crannies of this massive city, then you can find plenty to admire,”blogs one Lima supporter, after delivering the mortal blow that “most people that I’ve spoken to about Peru don’t really rate Lima. It’s ugly, it’s boring, it’s not traditional enough, are the main complaints I’ve heard.”“Who knew we'd love Lima so much?” opines another blogger. “My Spanish teacher said it was boring. Lonely Planet didn't make it sound exciting. Others yawned through it -- but four times wasn't enough Lima for me!”“For much of the year, a smog hangs over Lima. The city looks washed out and monochrome. When you combine this with years of news (and rumors) about Lima being unsafe, shabby or just plain boring,” opines Time Out in itsdefense of Lima, it’s no wonder people overlook “Latin America’s best-kept secret.”Blame it on that herd mentality, but until Lima’s staunchest fanbase stops going on about how everyone else mistakenly finds the place insufferable, it’s a one-way ticket to Machu Picchu, please.

5. Los Angeles, United States

Los Angeles. Or should that be Lots Angry?

To clarify, we’re talking about the one in California. Not Los Angeles, Texas (pop. 20), a little spot near San Antonio that adopted the name in 1923 as an unsuccessful promotional stunt. Nobody you know has anything bad to say about that place.Not so for this center-less megalopolis sloppily carved into about 90 sub-cities, over 20 ailing freeways, countless area codes and a half-million strip malls with mediocre Thai food. How did a semi-arid desert without a decent water supply get so huge -- and so hugely disliked?Stealing water didn’t help, but that was a long time ago.“When you get there, there is no there, there,” says one of many underwhelmed L.A. bashers on quora.com, who adds that tourist traps like Hollywood are a total bummer.So are earthquakes, race riots, traffic pileups, smog reports, constant sirens and the irksome sense that people who live here are okay with all of that because the weather’s nicer than wherever they moved from.However it happened, “I hate L.A.” has evolved into a kneejerk not just for obvious rivals like San Francisco but virtually every other American city full of folks who may never have actually been to L.A. but can just imagine.Not even Randy Newman can sing over a PR mudslide like that.

4. Timbuktu, Mali

Nice weather for camels.

A century ago, the world’s most tenacious travelers may have been awarded a brief thrill upon reaching this legendary trans-Saharan trading center hiding in the middle of nowhere.But even then, Timbuktu was nearly half-a-millennium past its golden years and largely relying on the travel industry’s most dubious selling point: being so ridiculously remote and unspectacular that even the dictionary references you as “any extremely distant place.”Today, according to a recent British survey, a third of the public doesn’t believe that Timbuktu actually exists.Among the remaining two-thirds are those romantic, off-the-beaten-path travelers who’ve fought tooth and claw to get all the way out here only to find a stifling, sand-strewn cluster of shabby buildings staving off desertification.

3. Paris, France

Maybe if I don't look, this "French breakfast" will taste bigger.

Paris inspires a certain love-hate relationship.Not just for fans of old Renoir or Chevy Chase movies, but for travelers too -- who inspired us to feature this singular place twice. Here and in last week’s column: “World's most loved cities.”What do people love about Paris? If you don’t already know, click the link to find out.In the meantime, what do people not love about Paris, aside from the usual rude waiter stereotypes, crazy lines at the Louvre and the city’s knack for rekindling long-kicked smoking habits about 10 minutes after landing?“I was wondering what was so special about the 'French Breakfast' that I saw advertised everywhere we went,”comments a frequent Paris traveler on VirtualTourist, who sat down and ordered one during his first visit to the city. “For 20 euros you get a croissant, butter, three ounces of hot chocolate, three ounces of orange juice and a small baguette. Are you kidding??”“Don’t be too easily flattered as you approach the Place du Tertre in Montmartre,” another visitor warns aboutplatoons of starving artists bombarding first-timers to have their portrait done. “I've now lost count of the number of times we've been told that [my husband] has 'interesting hair.’”“I just read of someone’s four-hour wait to ascend the Eiffel Tower and recalled the coldest I had ever been -- the day I waited atop the platform on the Eiffel Tower, waiting to go to the next level.”“We made our way to the catacombs hoping to find an extraordinary sight,” says another. “Unfortunately, it was nothing but rooms and rooms and rooms full of bones.”Every legendary city suffers some degree of overhype. About the food, the views, the charming street scene, the faint possibility of jumping into a car at the stroke of midnight and riding into a more exciting era with Ernest Hemingway & friends, etc.But the dreamy expectations reserved for Paris -- propagated by generations of writers who haven’t been here in awhile -- are in their own league.What first-timer here isn’t going to be a little disillusioned after wandering around for hours with checklists, arrondissement maps and dog-poop-soiled shoes without finding a decent place for a quick bite?  

2. Sydney & Melbourne (or Melbourne & Sydney), Australia

Like looking in the mirror and snarling.



Australia’s top two cities would be nowhere near this list if it weren’t for the 177 straight years of utter hatred they’ve reserved for each other.
Since the founding of Melbourne in 1835 (by exactly the kind of pennywise, do-gooder farmboys that Sydney’s felon founders had no patience for), Sydneysiders and Melburnians have been loathingly distinguishing themselves from each other in ways that would make Toronto and Montreal blush. 
Still, they may have overlooked the greatest source of antipathy of all, notes Anthony Sharwood in The Punch.“Sydney and Melbourne have much, much more in common than either of them ever care to admit.” In fact, “Melbourne is the city in the world most similar to Sydney.”About 4 million multicultural residents spread across a trendy downtown area with sprawling suburbs, high home prices, a vibrant food and arts scene, Australian TV and radio stations, the occasional bushfire and an intense repugnance for a certain unspeakable place 720 kilometers away.Which city are we talking about here? Either Melbourne or Sydney, perhaps?But wait. There is a startling difference. Last year, The Economist ranked Melbourne the “World’s Most Livable City” with 97.5 points. Sydney came in sixth in this same survey with 96.1 points. Do the math. These places are like fire and ice.

1. Tijuana, Mexico

Sign reads "No more kidnappings." Need we say more?