A great idea: Celebrating teachers

Today, Beijing officially unveiled its National Aquatics Center, dubbed the "Water Cube." This is the building where Americans will hopefully win some gold medals during the swimming competitions of the Summer Olympics. The building has a bubbly surface, made of transparent cushions. Here's a close-up of the surface, shot by Tony Law for BudgetTravel.com. According to Reuters, "The building will perhaps be at its best at night when an LED system with 16.7 million tones will turn the arena into a vibrant kaleidoscope of color both inside and out." For more details on this and other new attractions in Beijing, see our Web-exclusive coverage.

Russian literature got its start in St. Petersburg, and Elaine Blair's new pocket-size book, Literary St. Petersburg, pays tribute to 15 writers—from Alexander Pushkin to Joseph Brodsky—whose lives and stories are indelibly linked to the city. We've reprinted a chapter on Fyodor Dostoevsky that includes the spectacular blue-domed cathedral where he married, the site of his mock execution, and the garret apartment that housed Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Crime and Punishment. Click here for the book excerpt and city map. IMAGE: The book cover depicts a view of the Neva and the Admiralteyskaya Embankment by Moonlight, 1882, by Aleksandr Karlovich Beggrov (cover designed by Louise Fili Ltd; image courtesy of Stage Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia/The Bridgeman Art Library). MORE LITERARY TRAVEL: Basilica: A Walking Tour of Papal Rome, Golden Boy: Growing Up in 1950s Hong Kong, and A Late Dinner: Culinary Travels in Catalonia.

You can win a DVD of 2 Days in Paris—the compelling story of how a couple (played by Julie Delpy and Adam Goldberg) hit the rocks in their relationship during a visit to her hometown of Paris. Have you ever broken up—or nearly broken up—while traveling? Then post your story as a comment below. The ten best stories will win a DVD of 2 Days in Paris. If you've posted a winning story, we'll contact you by February 14, 2008 (using the email address you provide when you post). The movie is both funny and sad. The characters of Marion's parents are played by Delpy's real-life French parents. One of the funniest parts of the movie is a recurring encounter with a pixie-like Frenchman, played by Daniel Brühl, who likes to blow up restaurants that serve genetically-modified foods. Credit: ‘Fox Home Entertainment.’ EXPERT ADVICE Eight couples share ideas on how to make the most of traveling together—and avoid big fights on the road. CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO POSTED A STORY. Winning entries can be found in our story, 10 Amazing Fights Between Lovers on the Road

The 16th president's newly restored summer cottage, located roughly 3 miles north of downtown D.C., is almost ready for its inaugural public viewing. James Buchanan was the first president to spend time at the residence, but I guess even the folks at the august National Trust for Historic Preservation, who oversaw the renovation, knew enough to lead with the star attraction. The 34-room cottage retains the name of its more famous occupant, Abraham Lincoln, who summered there regularly with wife Mary Todd and family, riding his horse to work at the White House in the mornings. By most reports, his unusual height and bearing made him comical in the saddle—and large enough, portentously, to attract early assassination attempts, including one on an evening journey to the cottage that left a bullethole in his famous top hat. Originally constructed in the 1840's, the cottage became part of a mid-19th century federal estate featuring an infirmary and numerous other residences for disabled soldiers. Lincoln Cottage has just undergone an extensive, 7-year renovation costing some $15m. Opening day ceremonies are scheduled for President's Day, February 18. General admission tickets are available the next day. Apparently, visitors will not have free reign, so you'll have to join the small, hourly tours. If the thrill of walking the same floors as this titanic moral force in American history isn't enough, the first exhibition at the cottage will feature a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation-- which Lincoln deliberated at the retreat-- plus the pen the president used to sign the document, and a signed copy of the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. In the event you're already planning a trip to D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival (this year it runs from March 29-April 13, official website) you might want to add Lincoln's Cottage to your itinerary—and book your lodging soon, since it's a perfect madhouse in D.C. during the festival. It'll be nice to get out of the city proper, and you'll have bragging rights as one of the first to see the cottage in its restored condition. Tickets are $12. For more information, go to www.lincolncottage.org. (Photo: President Lincoln's Cottage. COPYRIGHT 2006 National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, 1785 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036, U.S.A. All rights reserved.)