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2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/7007 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Watchet
Watchet
Postcode for Sat Nav: TA23 0AU
Watchet Station has a Booking Office and prices from this station can be found on our fares pages.The shop has been extended and sells souveniers,cakes,biscuits,sweets and hot and cold drinks.There are toilets available,including a disabled facility.
A coal fire greets you on entering the booking hall.To the left of here there is a comprehensive secondhand book shop selling fiction and non-fiction books.
On the platform the Pagoda waiting room has a pictorial display of the history of the railway at Watchet.
Watchet Station is back on track with the return of the refurbished footbridge and a repaint of the station buildings. What to see and do nearby
Watchet is an ancient harbour town with a history of over 1000 years and still has a network of small streets and shops to be explored, including several pubs and cafes. The Star Inn in Watchet was Somerset CAMRA�s Pub of the Year for 2005. The station stands right in the middle of the town adjacent to the harbour which, since the end of commercial shipping calling in the mid-1990�s has begun a new lease of life as a Marina and is home currently to a 1950�s Vintage Motor Torpedo Boat.
The network of sidings that served the docks has gone and the former goods shed is now a Boat Museum. The town Museum is just off the esplanade and traces the history of the town through the ages and this includes the West Somerset Mineral Railway that once brought iron ore from the Brendon Hills for onward shipping to the furnaces at Ebbw Vale in South Wales. The trackbed of the Mineral Railway is now in use as a footpath.
Local Businesses helping promote the Railway include:
Bell Inn - 3 Market Street
The 16th Century Bell Inn is situated in Market Street, Watchet, a few yards from the marina and is a family run pub.
A warm welcome always awaits you from Paul, Gill, Adam and Clare, along with real ales, fine wines and good food.
Open all day every day, food is served lunchtime and evenings. (Food not served on a Tuesday).
History of Watchet Station
This was the original terminus of the West Somerset Railway in 1862, a fact which is reflected in the station building standing at right angles to the railway line.
For more information about things to see and do in Watchet as well as places to stay visit Visit Watchet. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/7264 | Rauner talks budget on tour ... Crews find missing plane ... Rauner talks budget on tour ... Crews find missing plane ... Interesting Ocean Facts
Only one ocean exists, but the seas are geographically divided into five primary ocean bodies. Boundaries were determined for historical, cultural, geographical and scientific reasons.
Containing more than half of the free water on Earth, the Pacific Ocean is by far the largest ocean body�and the oldest, holding rocks dated at 200 million years. The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest basin, followed by the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
The average ocean depth is 14,000 feet. The deepest part, at about 36,200 feet, is called the Challenger Deep, located beneath the western Pacific Ocean.
The ocean is the lifeblood of our world, covering almost 71 percent of the planet�s surface and supporting 50 percent of its species. Ninety-seven percent of the Earth�s water can be found in the ocean.
For all of our reliance on the ocean, 95 percent of this realm remains unexplored, unseen by human eyes.
One out of six U.S. jobs is marine-related�mostly through the fishing and boating industry, tourism and recreation, and ocean transport.
Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land, primarily from runoff sources such as septic tanks, vehicles, boats, farms, ranches and forest areas.
The ocean�s salty taste comes from rocks on land. As rain erodes the rock, acids in the rainwater break down the rock and send electrically charged atomic particles known as ions into streams and rivers and, ultimately, to the ocean. Many of the dissolved ions are used by organisms in the ocean and are removed from the water. Others are left for long periods where their concentrations increase over time. Two of the most prevalent ions in seawater are chloride and sodium, which together taste salty.
The ocean acts like a sunlight filter, making the water often appeal blue. Water absorbs colors in the red part of the light spectrum and, like a filter, leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see. The ocean may also take on green, red or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles. Most of the ocean, however, is completely dark. No light penetrates deeper than 3,280 feet.
Mostly underwater, the world�s longest mountain range is known as the mid-ocean ridge and spans 40,389 miles around the earth. It is a global landmark.
Besides seafood, many foods and products found in your local grocery store contain ingredients from the ocean. For example, peanut butter and toothpaste both contain carrageenan, which are compounds extracted from species of red algae. The carrageenan makes peanut butter more spreadable, gives toothpaste its consistency and is used in other cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and industrial products.
The ocean is not a still body of water. There is constant motion due to currents caused when cold, salty water sinks to the bottom of the ocean while warm water rises to the surface. Known as the global ocean conveyor belt, the cycle gets its �start� in the Norwegian Sea, where warm water from the Gulf Stream heats the atmosphere in the cold northern latitudes and eventually moves water around the globe. It takes almost 1,000 years for the conveyor belt to complete one �cycle.�
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/9084 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Washford Washford Postcode for Sat Nav: TA23 0PP
The station is now home to the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust who have set up a museum and workshop on the site of the old Goods shed and yard demolished by British Railways in the 1960s. The museum contains some wonderful artifacts of the S&DJR and is well worth a visit. The Museum
The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trusts museum at Washford contains relics from the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway which ran from Bath to Bournemouth with branchlines to Highbridge, Burnham on Sea, Wells and Bridgwater. All finally closing in 1966. Please note that the museum is not open every day. Please click here for opening dates.
A Railway Remembered
Explore the mass of exhibits, ponder on the old station names and soak up the evocative atmosphere.
Relics to be seen are station nameboards, lamps, tools, signalling equipment, tickets, photographs, handbills, rolling stock and steam locomotives.
Step back in time as you operate the levers in the reconstructed Midford Signal Box
Museum Admission Prices
Adults £2.00 Child £1.00 Family £5.00 Members Free Washford Station has toilet facilities and is accessible to disabled passengers but does not have a disabled toilet. Tickets are not sold at this station and passengers are asked to purchase their tickets on the trains from the Guard or ticket inspector.
Cleeve Abbey Special Offer to WSR Ticket Holders: A few minutes walk from the station brings you to Cleeve Abbey, a beautiful Cisterian Abbey, in the care of English Heritage and open from 29 March - 3 Nov, daily. Cleeve Abbey offers a 20% reduction on admission charges to those visitors who can show a same day dated WSR ticket on entry. [The offer is available between 29 March - 3 Nov, 7 days a week. Closing times may vary - visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/cleeve for details. The Abbey offers families a great chance to explore the history of the monks who lived at the Abbey with a fun story pack as well as providing visitors with the opportunity to wander around the grounds and Abbey buildings which remain at this peaceful site. Although the main abbey church is no more, the remaining outbuildings give a fascinating insight into monastic life. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing and encourages visitors to linger. Further on from the abbey is Torre cider farm where you can learn how Somerset cider is made and even sample some of the produce. There are also several pubs including the Washford Inn at the end of the Station ramp and The White Horse, near the abbey, which serve food.
History of Washford Station
Washford Station is the first station on the �extension� from Watchet to Minehead and is different in style from the buildings of the earlier line. The station opened in 1874 and unlike some of the other stations on the line is in the village it serves.
The Station is painted in Southern Region colours setting it apart from the other stations, painted in the colours of the Great Western Railway and its successor the Western Region of British Railways. The small wooden building next to the main building is the original signalbox which contains a set of levers. Although the �Midford� exhibit has been designed to represent an ex-S&DJR location, the lever-frame is in fact a part of one from the former signal-box at Woolston (near Southampton).
Find out more about the Somerset and Dorset Trust
Find out more about English Heritage's Cleeve Abbey. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/9291 | You are here: Main Page Edinburgh City Search Results The George Edinburgh
8.2/10 478 reviews The George Edinburgh 19 - 21 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PB, Scotland
Award-winning luxury hotel and conference venue in the heart of historic Edinburgh.
When it comes to hotels in Edinburgh, very few can compete with the style and sophistication of The George. None can compete according to the Scottish Hotel Awards 2011, which awarded The George the title of Best Hotel in Edinburgh.
The George belongs to the luxurious of Edinburgh’s hotels, from its fabulous 249 rooms and ample facilities to its ideal location in the centre of the city which is designated as a ‘World Heritage site”. The hotel is within easy reach of rail and air links and it is close to the city’s business district, plus a plethora of local attractions including the famous Castle, Princess Street Gardens and Holyrood Palace. A little further a field is Edinburgh Zoo and Leith Port which is now home to the Royal Yacht Britannia. The George is also famous for food and drink and are very proud to be associated with the Tempus Bar & Restaurant, an award winner itself. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/9310 | About China > Geography > Topography > Mountains
E-Mail This Article Print Friendly Format Taishan Mountain
The Eighteen Mountain BendaTaishan Mountain lies in central Shandong Province, spanning the ranges of Tai'an and Jinan cities. It covers an area of 550 square meters. It was regarded as preeminent among China's Five Sacred Mountains. 72 Chinese emperors of various dynasties made pilgrimages to Taishan Mountain for sacrificial and other ceremonial purposes, including Emperor Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC), Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Taishan Mountain is endowed with many scenic spots. A large number of them were given names in ancient times. They include 112 peaks, 98 precipices, 18 caves, 58 oddly shaped rocks, 102 streams and valleys, 56 pools and waterfalls, and 64 springs. Vegetation covers 79.9% of the area. The flora is known to comprise 989 species in 144 families. Azure Cloud TempleTaishan Mountain also boasts cultural heritage with an incessant history of several thousand years. Currently on the mountain, there are 22 ancient architectural complexes, 97 ruins, 819 stone tablets and 1,800 stone inscriptions, which provide a natural museum for the study of ancient history and calligraphy. Main sites of interest are the Tiankuang Temple, Nantian Gate, Azure Cloud Temple, Peak for Viewing the Sun, and Sutra Rock Valley, etc. Taishan Mountain is a mountain of outstanding value from the point of view of aesthetics, science, history and culture. Taishan Mountain was elected to the "World Heritage List" in 1987. Chinese people tend to describe a situation as being as stable as Taishan Mountain or a matter as being as weighty as Taishan Mountain, giving clear evidence of such an impression. Cultural Heritage Taishan Mountain is one of the birthplaces of the ancient Chinese civilization along the Yellow River. Evidence of human activities includes two flourishing cultures -- the Dawenkou Culture to the north and the Longshan Culture to the south of the mountain. During the Warring States Period, a 500-kilometer-long wall was built from Taishan Mountain to the Yellow Sea. Scenic spots related to the famous ancient sage Confucius are the Confucian Temple, places where Confucius climbed Taishan Mountain and viewed the scenery, etc.
Taishan Mountain has an extremely rich cultural heritage. It has always been regarded as pre-eminent among China's five sacred mountains. It was also a symbol of power. Emperors of different dynasties have made pilgrimages to it for sacrificial purposes shortly after they came to the throne or when the land enjoyed peaceful and prosperous times. Poets and literary scholars of each dynasty also visited Taishan Mountain. Numerous rock inscriptions and stone tablets bear testimony to such visits. Renowned scholars, including Confucius, Sima Qian, Cao Zhi, Li Bai, Du Fu, composed poetry and prose and left their calligraphy on the mountain. The currently preserved 97 sites and 22 ancient building complexes provide materials for research into China's ancient architecture.
Natural Heritage Taishan Mountain rises abruptly to 1,300 meters above the vast plain of north China. The sharp contrast between Taishan Mountain and its surrounding plain and hills makes it especially majestic.
Taishan Mountain rises from about 150 meters above sea level (north of Tai'an City), to the Middle Gate to Heaven at 847 meters, to the Southern Gate to Heaven at 1,460 meters, and finally to the Jade Emperor Peak at 1,545 meters. Standing in the central part of Shandong, the mountain stretches 100 kilometers. Its base covers an area of 426 square kilometers. The wide base and huge body of the mountain gives an impression of solidity and dignity. Taishan Mountain is a symbol of loftiness and grandeur, characterized by numerous old but still green pines and cypresses, towering precipices comprising metamorphic rock and granite, and ever-changing seas of clouds. Preeminent of the Five Sacred Mountains First of the Five Sacred MountainsTaishan Mountain is also called Daishan, Daizong or Taiyue. Taishan Mountain lies west of the Yellow Sea and east of the Yellow River, spanning Tai'an City in the south and Jinan City in the north. The scenic area covers 125 square kilometers. Its main peak (Jade Emperor Peak) is 1,545 meters high. It is 8.9 kilometers from the Temple of the God of Taishan Mountain at the foot of the mountain to the Jade Emperor Peak, with over 6,660 steps, 60 major scenic sites, and nearly 1,000 cliffside sculptures and over 200 stone tablets. Taishan Mountain is regarded as preeminent among the Five Sacred Mountains. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/9727 | Where to stay, but not necessarily play. Some people actually come to Vegas for peace and quiet. OK, maybe not. We're just saying it's possible. But new arrivals like Vdara and Rumor are proof that Vegas rocks, even with the volume turned down. Keyword
Alexis Park All Suite Resort
375 E. Harmon, Las Vegas, NV
Inside the art deco-style Artisan Hotel Boutique - a non-gaming boutique hotel located at I-15 and Sahara Avenue - you'll find a massive collection of art by contemporary pai... More
The resort's name and design were inspired by the age of Parisian Art Deco, which reached its height of popularity in 1936. From the outside in, Club 36's fun and funky color... More
Cabana Suites
651 Ogden Ave, Las Vegas, NV
The 65-room boutique hotel brings trendy design and modern amenities to historic downtown with its fresh blue facade, reminiscent of 1950s South Beach Miami and its Art Deco f... More
4034 S Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV
Not only is the Candlewood Suites on Paradise Road in a convenient spot - two blocks east of the Strip, a half-mile from the Las Vegas Convention Center and a mile north of Mc... More
Carriage House Deluxe Suite Hotel
The Carriage House is a comfortable, non-gaming suite hotel with easy access, quick check-in and an centralized location. Our guests enjoy all the comforts of a hotel includin... More
5051 Duke Ellington Way, Las Vegas, NV
Part of the largest all-suite hotel chain in the country, the Embassy Suites Convention Center is located in "the heart of all that's happening in Las Vegas." Within walking d... More
4315 Swenson St, Las Vegas, NV
Embassy Suites Las Vegas is your home away from home. This all-suite hotel is designed for those who love the excitement of Las Vegas but prefer to enjoy it in a comfortabl... More
Emerald Suites - Cameron
4777 Cameron St, Las Vegas, NV
The newest addition to the Emerald Suites family, the Emerald Suites Cameron is located across the street from the Orleans hotel and casino, just one mile west of the Las Vega... More
Fortune Hotel & Suites
4055 Palos Verdes St, Las Vegas, NV
Hip, wired, and always inspired - check in to the Four Points By Sheraton! The hot new choice in budget hotels is a short mile from the Las Vegas Strip. Check in, chill out... More | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/10604 | Philadelphia tourism guru to join Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association
Business News __Featured Slider — 05 October 2012
Patricia Washington will take the reins at the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association, agency officials announced Friday afternoon.
Washington, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp.’s current vice president of cultural tourism, will step into her new role November 13. She takes over as president and chief executive officer for Stephanie Brown, who left the city for Ashville, N.C., earlier this year.
“We are so pleased to welcome such a dynamic and innovative leader,” said Jody Manor, chairman of the ACVA Board of Governors, in a statement. “Patricia is joining a strong organization and a booming tourism economy — Alexandria has seen a 22 percent growth in visitor spending in the last five years. We know it will take a truly exceptional candidate to take the power of the ACVA to the next level, and Patricia showed us she has the fire to do it.”
Washington will serve as the 16-year-old city-funded agency’s third president and CEO. Over the course of a 12-year stint with GPTMC, Washington led several efforts to promote tourism in the City of Brotherly Love, including the $2.5 million Art Philadelphia initiative. As the organization’s foremost fundraiser, Washington brought in $12 million for special projects during her time with GPTMC.
The announcement of her selection came a little more than a week after ACVA officials touted impressive new tourist spending figures. Visitor spending in Alexandria exceeded $770 million last year and raised $23.1 million for city coffers. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/10986 | EDC Talks Summer Tourism
Posted on 09/08/2011 by DispatchAdmin OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) held its first meeting following the summer season this week, covering a wide range of topics from the handling of Hurricane Irene to the mid-summer boost from the Dew Tour to strategic planning for the future.
Perhaps because it was still fresh in everyone’s minds, the town’s handling of Hurricane Irene drew a considerable amount of attention during the EDC meeting on Wednesday. Ocean City officials ordered the evacuation of the town in advance of the arrival of the storm, no doubt costing resort businesses millions of dollars in the height of the summer season, and while no one doubted the wisdom of the evacuation, some questioned the timing and clarity of the orders.
“No one questions that the call to evacuate was needed,” said EDC Chairman and Carousel Hotel and Resort partner Michael James. “I’d really like some clarification, however. It was confusing on that day, and I’ve heard a strong difference of opinion on the language of the evacuation orders.”
James urged town officials to review the emergency preparedness plan, particularly how and when the order to evacuate is released.
“Maybe we needed to slow the process down a little and make sure the message that goes out is accurate,” he said. “There seemed to be a serious breakdown on how we prepared on Thursday and Friday.”
James also made a strong statement about the economic impact of the town’s decision to evacuate. While he didn’t question the decision, he said the storm in general, and the evacuation order specifically, was devastating economically.
“It was the single largest economic loss I can ever remember in my 30 years in this business,” he said.
Ocean City Councilwoman Mary Knight said town officials have already reviewed the hurricane preparedness plans.
“Immediately after Irene, we began critiquing what we did well and what we didn’t do so well,” she said. “I think there were lessons learned with this storm.”
Hurricane Irene blew through Ocean City in the midst of the town’s newest late summer promotion. Hotel Week, modeled after the successful Restaurant Week promotion, was hitting its stride when the storm arrived, said Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones.
“We were building a lot of momentum in late August with Hotel Week, but Irene kind of knocked the thunder out of it,” she said.
On a more positive subject, EDC members generally said the summer season was a successful one although the books are still not closed on 2011. The demoflush numbers were up for the most part including a near record Labor Day crowd.
Ocean City Tourism Director Deb Turk reported the town was staying the course with its “Rodney” marketing campaign next year.
“We will be bringing Rodney back,” she said. “We are planning to film new segments now. Rodney lives on. The research shows without a doubt it’s a proven campaign.”
Turk had high praise for the mid-summer Dew Tour in the resort, resulting in valuable national exposure for Ocean City.
“All I can say is ‘wow,’” she said. “Getting the Dew Tour was one of the highlights of my career. It was one of the most reputable organizations I have ever been involved with. They did everything they said they were going to do and more.”
Turk said it remained uncertain if the Dew Tour would return to Ocean City. A final decision would not likely be made until after the tour’s last event in Las Vegas, but all indications are the Dew Tour would like to return to Ocean City.
Turk said the Dew Tour was a financial coup for the city and pointed out what other jurisdictions pay for similar exposure. For example, she said the Grand Prix race in Baltimore last weekend cost that city $1 million and brought in 100,000 direct visitors, while the Dew Tour cost Ocean City nothing and brought in an estimated 73,000 direct visitors.
Turk said the town’s tourism department is hoping to capitalize on the momentum from the Dew Tour’s visit this summer. For example, she has already been contacted by representatives from a large music festival featuring front-line acts. In addition, she has been approached by a television program that takes NFL players to destinations around the world to go offshore fishing that wants to include Ocean City for white marlin fishing.
The EDC meeting covered the gamut of topics including the real estate market, which has been slow to recover in the still sluggish economy, according to Coastal Association of Realtors representative Joan Strang.
“We’re holding our own,” she said. “We haven’t gone up, but we haven’t gone down, which is a good thing. We’re kind of moving in a straight line. Condos are doing better than single family homes in Ocean City right now, while the opposite is true in the county.”
Strang said the National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire on Sept. 30 and Congress is currently working on another extension. The measure has cleared the House, but has not come up for a vote in the Senate. She said resort residents and business owners should be keeping a close eye on that vote.
“If it expires, we’re in big trouble,” she said. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/11581 | HomeLeisure & OutdoorsUK / Ireland GuideDestination NationalMiddlesbrough in General Middlesbrough in General
miss_shh
Not bad for a Northern Town I lived in Middlesbrough for a year or so when my (now ex) boyfriend was studying at the University there. It's not a bad town, contrary to popular opinion - it just has a bad reputation.They've done a lot to try and turn it around in the last few years with the additon of the MIMA gallery and the free music festival they now host in the city centre every year, which is great fun. There are plenty of restaurants and shops, with two main shopping centres and plenty of little local owned and run shops to give it a nice student vibe. The travel links could perhaps be better improved, but there is a train station, regular buses and coaches and is accessible from Durham Airport.The quality of houses in middlesbrough is slowly being regenerated by the council, knocking down the old terraces and starting again, and I for one think it all deserves a round of applause for the efforts :)[Originally posted on www.helphound.com] Comments
Modern nice looking town, if only it WAS as good as it looks. ~~Middlesbrough: A beginners guide~~Like many of those who have written an opinion on Middlesbrough, I have lived in Middlesbrough all my life - and boy, do I wish I hadn't had that misfortune! It's true that the town centre can be a good place to shop - all the shops are together, all the pubs are there, and there's plenty of variety; especially now, with Middlesbrough's new "updated" image - we now have trendy shops that we never had before - a virgin megastore, a schuh, designer shops, etc.There is quite an extensive and interesting history to Middlesbrough, but I'm only going to give you some basics here, otherwise you would be reading for hours. If you really are interested in looking into it in further detail, a good place to start is www.thenortheast.fsnet.co.uk/Middlesbrough.htm.Middlesbrough currently has a population of approximately 150,000. Middlesbrough's two main 'landmarks' are the Transporter Bridge and Roseberry Topping (which I will upload pics of). The Transporter Bridge came into being in 1911, and is now one of only two left. You may have seen it in Auf Wiedersehan Pet, when a series centered around it. Roseberry Topping is a natural landmark, essentially a 'funny shaped hill' that can be seen from many parts of the town, and from outside it.Captain Cook, who we have already mentioned a little was an explorer, who sailed his ship, The Endeavour, to explore Australia, among other places back in the 1700s. Middlesbrough remains one of the cheapest areas in which to live. This is probably because no-one wants to live in it. They should pay us to live here. Sorry...got a little personal again there. :)There is a lot more to the history of the area though, and it is quite interesting, so give it a look if you fancy it. ~~Housing and Regeneration~~Recently in the local news, there has been a lot of emphasis on the regeneration of the town. Houses in both Middlesbrough itself and the surrounding areas are being pulled down left right and centre. The most run-down estates have been getting 'regeneration budgets', aimed at improving the quality of life in these areas. This includes ripping down old terraced house, building new ones and...well, that's pretty much it. They don't move the scummy people out of the area, they just give them nice new houses. Big improvement. Not. Along this same thought pattern, the council has made Middlesbrough 'pretty' in the hope that people will stop beating each other up if they are in a nicer looking town. We now have town centre pavements covered in bonny blue and purple lights, some trees, some chrome benches and a modern sculpture or two. If Middlesbrough didn't have the worst people in the world living in it, it could be a lovely place to live. ~~The University of Teesside~~The University of Teesside has been around for a good while (I can't seem to find a date anywhere unfortunately), and blends traditional buildings with modern ones. Unlike most mixtures of this kind, however, the university looks excellent. Offering a wide range of courses (on which you can get more info on their website at www.tees.ac.uk), the university brings a massive wealth to Middlesbrough, providing lots of business to local pubs, shops and restaurants. ~~Middlesbrough for the alternative scene~~I'm sure many of the others who have written an opinion on Midlesbrough have said what a fantastic nightlife it has - but that would be the opinion of Middlesbrough's "trendy" people. From the point of view of someone like myself (myself being a person who likes rock music, not dance), there's now almost no nightlife at all. There is ONE rock-orientated club in M'bro now - The Arena - so if you don't like it there, you're scuppered. To compare, I recently went out on a night out in Newcastle - one of Middlesbrough's closest big cities. I went with a group of friends (7 of us in all) - all of whom are slightly "alternative" in one way or another. We went out, walked to the city centre, had a fantastic night out, got taxis back and then went shopping the next day. Now, the major difference is this - through that entire time, we felt safe! We didn't get even ONE comment on the way we looked for the entire weekend -which is extremely unusual when you're used to Middlesbrough.The last time I remember going out in Middlesbrough town, we were walking home, and some lads coming in the opposite direction decided that we were "freaks" - and apparently this means that at least one of your friends has to be hospitalised -this is the mentality of the Middlesbrough "townies".And this time was far from being the first occasion when something like it has happened to me and/or my friends - so you can see why I don't really go out anymore; or when I do, it's generally to a pretty quiet pub, and I (as unfortunate and unfair as it is) feel scared almost all of the time, even in daytime...I can't imagine how my friends feel, as I dress pretty "trendy" compared to them, I don't look alternative at all most of the time.As a result of constant abuse by 'neighbours' of a friend, I will now no longer visit my friends at their house unless I'm with someone else. ~~Famous People~~The thing many people in the town talk about, along with the 'fantastic' transporter bridge (which is the most famous landmark of the town, that and 'roseberry topping', a funny shaped hill), is Captain James Cook, who was born in Marton, a suburb of Middlesbrough, about 20 minutes walk from the town centre. People in Middlesbrough are immensely proud that the town is the birthplace of Captain Cook, to the extent that EVERYTHING is named after him, including the major hospital in the area, which is now called The James Cook University Hospital. Up until about three years ago, it was simply called South Cleveland. Other 'famous people' that Middlesbrough can lay a claim to are Roy 'Chubby' Brown and Bob Mortimer and Chris Rea. The only famous local that I am actually proud of is filmmaker Ridley Scott (Alien), who attended what is now Cleveland College of Art and Design (in Hartlepool) to study film (the same course that I do I think). Incidentally, it is said that Scott's inspiration for the industrial wasteland of Blade Runner was Middlesbrough, and I can well believe it. ~~Other Tidbits~~As I have mentioned the art college there, I should really go into a little detail on that, as it is unique. CCAD has been established for over 100 years, and remains the only specialist arts college in the North East of England. It offers a wide range of courses in all things art related. You can find out more information on their website at www.ccad.ac.uk. In the last couple of years, Middlesbrough has seen further improvements in the entertainment sector. A massive multiscreen UGC cinema was built a few minutes walk from the town centre, along with a new JJB Sports (including a large gym), McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Nandos (chicken) and Etsuko (Japanese food). Recently, the UGC was bought out by large chain Cineworld. Middlesbrough's dockland, Middlehaven, is set for a £500m transformation. This will see an essential wasteland being turned into a new area of attraction for both business and leisure.Overall, Middlesbrough would be an exciting and modern place to live, if it weren't for all the damn people. I hope this has been helpful to anyone who is thinking of visiting or moving to the area. Comments
tasb_uk
I have lived in Middlesbrough all my life and I quite like living here despite what most people think. Middlesbrough isnt massive but everything you need is in one place. Shops, parks, cinema, restaurants, car parking, train and bus station and pretty good night life. I have to admit there are better places to shop in the north east but Middlesbrough has many shops for all kind of tastes. What really gets me about M,bro is the fact that it has 4 different shopping centres in 1 minutes walking distance of each other. This means we have 2 WHSmiths, 2 Internationales, 2 Principles, 2 Barretts, 2 Bay Trading etc etc. If only they could think of something new to put in Middlesbrough I am sure there are some more shops, arent there? One tip dont go shopping in Middlesbrough when there is a home match on, the stadium is just outside the town. There is no chance of getting parked and the traffic is a nightmare. The restaurants in Middlesbrough are nice. They have a brilliant chinese called Peking Villa, its a family run business and it is a bit pricey but its well worth it. They have loads of pictures of all their customers including the funny Chubby Brown, and he likes his food so if he likes you will love it. Joe Rigatonnis (I think thats right) serve really nice Italian food and the restaurant is not right in the town centre so you dont get all the P**s heads coming in. They also employ alot of italian staff which can be a bit annoying because they do correct you if you pronounce the dish wrong. There are plenty more retaurants but I havent eaten in them put I've heard there all good. The nightlife in Middlesbrough is excellent. It does get a bit crammed on the weekend because you get people coming from all round the Teesside area. Middlesbrough is not the biggest town but its bigger than say Stockton and Redcar. The pubs in M'bro are all reasonably priced and there are always some kind of offers going on so i t can be a cheap night out. Most of the people in Middlesbrough are friendly and you are bound to meet someone new, there are the occasional fights but what town do you find where there isnt. A new UGC cinema has just been built in the town centre. Its really smart and cheap compared to the other showcase cinema. Its even got a bar which most of you probably wont find surprising but I've never seen a cinema like it. Its got 3 floors and the seating is really roomy and comfortable. There is a McDonalds and Pizza Hut right outside the cinema and also a Video rental store which I havent been in and I really dont know why its there but it looks cool so I will leave it at that. Middlesbrough also has a bit of history. You can find out all about Captain James Cook at Stuarts park which is a really nice quiet park. Its got a bit of wild life like peacocks and rabbits which are nice if you have children. Stuarts Park has no childrens playground because the person who built it said that there were to be no playground built I cant remember why, sorry, but it is nice for a quiet stroll on a Sunday afternoon. Well thats it, I think Middlesbrough is well worth at least one visit, dont you? Comments
mrdave2001
As there are no venues listed in the Nightclubs category and as I wanted to consider other aspects besides clubs, I felt this opinion should go here. Firstly, Middlesbrough is not one of the major places you would think of when looking for somewhere to go on a night out. However, there are some good places if you know where to look. The Empire in the centre of Middlesbrough is the town's biggest and best nightclub. Once a theatre amongst its many incarnations, it is now one of the most popular nightclubs in the region if not the North. You will find it listed in the Guide (published with the Guardian) every Saturday for its Sugershack nights, which attract some of the county's best DJ's (Judge Jules recently played there and I believe Fatboy Slim has too). It is built on two levels, with the main, large dancefloor downstairs, along with a small bar. The main bar is upstairs in the quieter area of the club, and being a former theatre, it all looks very grand and impressive, with a balcony looking out over the dancefloor. As well as Sugershack, on Thursday night there is Planet Pop for fans of cheesy pop music. Apart from the Empire, there are several other clubs worth a visit. My favourite is the Tuxedo Royale, a 'floating nightclub' on board a ship which is docked next to the Riverside Stadium (home of Middlesbrough Football Club). At night it looks brilliant, and you can go out on deck and look over the dock towards the lights of Middlesbrough. There are several rooms, over three levels. You come into the reception area, and I believe there is a small bar on this level, although I have never visited it. Upstairs is a medium sized room, with sofas and comfy seats and a bar. This is the place to come to relax after you've been to the bottom level, which is the main dance area. The room is large with two bars, lots of seating and best of all, a REVOLVING dancefloor. Different kinds of music are played in each room, an d there is something for everyone. The other major nightclub is Liquid. It is situated just off the centre and attracts a very young crowd (some might say TOO young) The dancefloor is quite big and the music is usually dance based. I must say I like Liquid the least out of the three mentioned. It's often quite empty, especially on a Friday and the atmosphere is much better at the other two. Away from the clubs, there is plenty more to do. There are several theatres in Middlesbrough, including Middlesbrough Little Theatre. There is also regular live music and comedy acts at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Recent visitors include Jack Dee and the Bootleg Beatles. A brand new UGC cinema has just opened in the centre of town, replacing the old Odeon cinema, which frankly was in need of closing. The cinema has 11 screens and a bar over 3 levels and has an usually large amount of legroom. However food and drink prices are EXTREMELY high-if you must eat, go to McDonalds next door, which opened at the same time as the cinema. The major eating place in Middlesbrough is the Purple Onion restaurant. The food is top-class, and the service is excellent. For Chinese food lovers, there is China Buffet King, which specialises in All You Can Eat deals-very good value. As well as the positives, there are few negatives about Middlesbrough at night. The crime rate in the town is always claimed to be high, although none of my friends or myself have never experienced any problems, apart from the tramps who often beg for money outside McDonalds. Also, the no-go area of Middlesbrough deserves its name. The area past the Albert Bridge is the town's red light zone, with all the trouble that comes with area's such as these. Apart from this minor problems, Middlesbrough is a good place to come for a night out, with a wide variety of things to do. Come and see for yourself. Comments
andrewlinsley
Well - I was born in Eston - which I still believe is a part of Middlesbrough. I now live in a small town in Middlesbrough which I have lived ever since. middlesbrough - with it being the most industrialised place in the country with polutioneverywhere is still my home and I have learned to like living here. In the town centre - theres many shops but one inparticular (not really a shop - its a café) is called Café Pronto in which they serve the best coffee around, not to mention the best Hot mixed rolls. Bacon and cheese - YUM - my favorite but best of all the company you get in there is excellent. So if you live here - visit CAFÉ PRONTO on Borough Road or if you're visiting Middlesbrough go there anyway - Its a new experience and a one stop shop for your best Coffee and snacks. Comments
SimonDouglass
It is spelled Middlesbrough yer know!! I was born in 'Boro and lived there until I was 23, I've spent the last year living in London which has been a bit of a culture shock. I left home because of the lack of quality jobs/careers in the area, I mean... there is nothing in 'Boro compared to London. I wanted to work on the internet in some capacity, but that just wasn't possible in my home town. Why do I miss middlesbrough, my family, friends, the socialising, the place itself. All of it really and sometimes the football team as well!! There are some great pubs/bars and places to eat and everything is so cheap. You can get a pint for as cheap as 80p in some pubs! The nightlife has gone down a bit in terms of nightclubs but there is always the Millenium in Stockton, and some good late bars in the town such as The Cornerhouse, and Chicargo Rock The town centre has seen some improvements in recent years which is good, and Middlesbrough almost got City Status, just getting beat narrowly by Wolverhampton. If you're going to Middlesbrough to study though, you're going to the right place, cheap beer, friendly people, and excellent university facilities. If you're heading up north for a job though, think again. Unemployment is one of middlesbrough's big let downs. Right thats it then, I'm off to find an 80p a pint night! Comments
mysticmaiden
I was born in Middlesbrough and lived here ever since, to be honest i dont think I ever want to leave. The people here are the friendliest, nicest around, say if you walk into a shop, they will open the door for you and hold it open even if they were 1st and that doesnt only apply to the "gentlemen". I work in Middlesbrough town centre part time and its the busiest day of the week, sometimes people have to stand in a queue for a really long time but they always find time to have a nice chat about the weather or how busy town is and when you're working it makes you smile that people you dont even know talk to you. I did go to London last year fo the 1st time in my life and when i got to Victoria Station, i noticed that people were so busy in theyre own lives that i immediately missed Middlesbrough. i think people from London and busy cities should try to visit the place, ok it isnt the most wonderful place in the world(after all we do have the highest unemployment and teenage pregnancies figures) but some of the people are, thats what makes it special. Oh and for a nice meal try Joe Rigatoni's, my favourite restaurant of all time. Lovely italian dishes, plenty of choice for vegetarians like me aswell. The layout is beautiful too, candles, low lighting, just perfect! Comments
skittle
OK, I've never actually lived in Middlesbrough, but I have visited friends at the University and stayed there for a couple of weeks in total and I think it's quite a nice place. Yes, Middlesbrough is polluted, it's got a reputation for being rough and it's obviously not the most affluent city in England, but it's really not that bad. The pollution in London is much worse. As for rough, in my experience the people in Middlesbrough are some of the nicest I've ever met, you can't go into a pub or nightclub without chatting to somebody you've never met before. The nightlife in Middlesbrough is great. Especially considering it's so close to Sunderland and Newcastle, which is so well known for it's nightlife. There are several decent sized nightclubs catering for all different sections of the community, and Middlesbrough people really know how to party! There are plenty of pubs and drinks are very reasonably priced. Also, the Student Union bar is one of the largest in the country! Another benefit of Middlesbrough is that everything is so close together and compact, it's a great city for students as you don't need to get a taxi anywhere, the halls of residence, pubs, nightclubs, town centre, train station and supermarkets are all within walking distance of the University. The range of shops is pretty good, although not the best I've ever seen most of the usual high street suspects are there. Yes, there are rough area's of Middlesbrough, I don't think I'd want to walk through Brambles Farm alone after dark, but the same could be said for any major town or city, this isn't something that’s peculiar to Middlesbrough. I think that Middlesbrough is judged quite unfairly, it's not a very pretty town, but the people are the best. Comments
simon murphy
Middlesbrough has in the press been portrayed as an ugly chemical works with the odd house in the middle of all the heavy industry. Whilst this is true to some degree, (heavy industry is what made Middlesbrough ever since iron ore was found in the Cleveland hills in the nineteenth century) it neglects to consider the beauty of the countryside in the surrounding area, the Cleveland hills are ten minutes away the Darlington Dales are within twenty minutes the coast is ten minutes away and cities like Durham and York are both within an hours travel. Having been born and raised in the Boro people may think that I have a biased opinion about the place but that is not so, it has to be said that there is more litter in Boro than any other place that I have been to especially in the parliament road area. It also has to be said that there are many areas of the town where you do not want to be by yourself after dark, Grove Hill, South Bank, Grangetown amongst others. It doesn’t alter the fact that I love the town and will always have deep feelings for the place. Where else do you get so see Captain Cooks heritage, the finest soccer team in the country, the best night out you can have (you start in Boro for a night out and you will not forget it), have the best designers clothes shops in Britain (psyche UK designer retailer for last few years) and the best restaurants (the purple onion) in such a small town. Visit Middlesbrough you will be surprised by what is behind the grime Comments
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2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/12386 | The Ship Inn
The Ship Inn, 120-122 Harbour Street, Irvine, KA12 8PZ
Tel:+44(0)1294 279722
Welcome to the oldest pub in Irvine. The Ship Inn is a family run pub restaurant providing traditional Scottish food to a high standard in a relaxed environment.
Built in 1567 of Dundonald whim stone and slate, the original cottage marked the northern boundary of Wallace's Lands. A large paddock was built in 1597 and an extension linking this to the cottage was added in 1650 (see gable above bar). From 1688 - 1707 it was the Burgage cottage collecting customs duty for the Royal Burgh.
After the union of Parliaments it became the Customs House and from 1745 was owned by Charles Hamilton.
In 1750 a new customs house was built further down the Harbour and after a 4 year battle "The Ship Inn" was finally licensed - with a monopoly of liquor sales this side of the river.
The owner Charles Hamilton became Provest of Irvine on six occasions between 1758 - 1786.
His son, John befriended Robert Burns during his stay in Irvine in 1781 and was a subscriber to his Kilmarnock edition of poems.
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2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/13698 | HomeLeisure & OutdoorsUK / Ireland GuideSightseeing NationalBurton Agnes Hall (Driffield, East Yorkshire) Burton Agnes Hall (Driffield, East Yorkshire)
Address: Driffield / East Yorkshire / YO25 4NB/ Telephone: 01262 490324 / Between Driffield and Bridlington on the A614. Burton Agnes Hall is an exquisite Elizabethan house filled with treasures from art to furniture and porcelain that has been collected by our family over five centuries. Beautiful gardens surround the Hall along with a jungle garden and more than four thousand plant species to admire. „
micksheff
Burton Agnes Hall is one of the finest English Country Houses I have seen the sign to Burton Agnes Hall every time that I have visited Bridlington or Flamborough Head over the years. It is a place that I had always thought that I would like to pay a visit too, but then the fleeting thought would be gone, and forgotten about until my next journey to the East Yorkshire coast. Maybe it is something to do with the lovely, picturesque village of Burton Agnes itself that stirs my imagination every time, for the Hall cannot be seen from the main road that passes close by at all.A few weeks ago I finally made this small detour off the main A165 Hull to Bridlingon road. My visit to Burton Agnes Hall was an interesting experience, albeit a somewhat sad one as this is a place that I always also promised to take my Grandmother too, but unfortunately she is no longer here for me to fulfil that promise. Instead I visited here with my partner and a couple of friends.Despite the fact that Burton Agnes Hall is not visible from the road it is only after about a hundred metres along a narrow driveway from the road before it comes into view. I have always believed in first impressions and this is one that will stay with you for quite some time. As far as grand English Country houses go this is about as grand as they get. It has been listed amongst the top twenty English houses alongside Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Chatsworth House and Blenheim Palace.Burton Agnes Hall dates from the early part of the 1600's when it was built for its first owner, Sir Henry Griffith. Robert Smythson, a leading architect of that time, designed it and it is built in a traditional Jacobean style. Robert Smythson was the Master mason to Queen Elizabeth 1 and is credited with the design of several prominent English buildings. If you consider that it took almost a decade to complete this should give you some idea of the scale of this house. Today this building is a Grade 1 listed building that is owned and managed by the present owner, Hon Elizabeth Susan Whitelaw, the daughter of the 1st Viscount Whitelaw and her son Simon.It is known that a much older building stood on this same spot and there are still a few remains of this original Norman building that can still be seen here. It is thought that the original Burton Agnes Hall was built in 1173 by Roger de Stuteville and that it took its name from one of his daughters, Agnes.This house is still lived in by the present occupiers so there are certain areas of the building that are out of bounds to the general public but approximately 50% of the house can be visited. The two areas of the house that I will always remember the most vividly are the main hall and the long gallery. The long gallery as its name suggests is where the majority of the large paintings can be found. These include several portraits of the prominent family members amongst other paintings that have been collected over the centuries. The ceilings of the long gallery are also noted for their magnificent chimney columns and their plaster ceilings. These original features have recently been restored twice, in 1951 and again in 1974.The main hall is the sort of place that makes you draw a deep breath as you step inside. Here there are more paintings and other works of art along with tapestries, carvings and contemporary furniture. The feel here however is much more modern than that of other areas of the house. As I stood at the entrance to this room I tried to work out how many times my own living room would fit into this vast space.As with most buildings of this age there are many tales associated with it from over the centuries and as you walk around the house there are information placards that tell the visitors of its rich life. One such story is that of Sir Henry Griffith's daughter, Anne who was promised the most beautiful house in England by her father. She spoke about this place constantly and dreamed of living here but just a few weeks before the final stones were laid she was brutally attacked and a few days later died from her injuries. It is said that as she lay on her death bed she made her sisters promise that if she died they would cut off her head and place it in the main hall. When Anne died she was initially buried in the churchyard here but soon afterwards strange things began to happen and it was all believed to be the doing of the unhappy ghost of Anne. Eventually her body was exhumed and her skull was put on display in the main hall. Almost immediately peace returned to Burton Agnes Hall. Eventually this skull was built into one of the walls in the hall where it still remains today.Once you have visited the house the gardens should not be overlooked. I was fortunate to visit on a warm, sunny day and the gardens were full of people just strolling around, enjoying the sunshine and the open spaces. Close to the house there is a walled garden, which originally provided a source of fresh fruit and vegetables for the house as well as a supply of fresh cut flowers. Today, this walled garden has been fully restored back to its former glory and it has recently won several awards. Also close to here there are many bushes where the topiary skills of the grounds men have been tested. There is also a maze and a jungle garden. The latter contains many exotic plants of over 4,000 different species.Burton Agnes Hall is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture but it is without doubt that it has survived in the condition that we see today because of the attitudes and efforts of the owners, who clearly have a vision and a belief that our heritage should be preserved. Various owners of this house have been avid collectors of paintings, furniture, porcelain and bronzes, all of which can found here. There are however much more modern pieces here too. In 1949 the ten owner, Marcus Wickham-Boynton made the decision to open up this house to the public. Following his death in 1989 care of the house and estate was handed over to his daughter, the Hon Elizabeth Susan Whitelaw who now takes care of things with assistance from her son, Simon. I am told that both of these characters can regularly be seen around the house and will often greet the guests, although there was no sign of either of them during my visit.I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Burton Agnes Hall and I would certainly recommend a visit here if you are in the area. It does however work out a little bit expensive. The current admission charges are:House & Gardens:Adult - £6.00 (9 Euros)Child - £3.00 (4.5 Euros)Concession - £5.50 (8.25 Euros)Gardens only:Adult - £3.00 (4.5 Euros)Child - £1.50 (2.25 Euros)Concession - £2.75 (4 Euros)The house and gardens are open at the following times:1st March - 31st March: Thursday through to Sunday from 11am until 4pm1st April - 31st October: Daily from 11am until 5pmGardens only:1st November - 23rd December: daily from 11am until 5pm.Burton Agnes HallBurton AgnesDriffieldEast Yorkshire YO25 4NB Telephone: 01262 490 324Fax: 01262 490 513Email: burton.agnes@farmline.com Comments
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2015-48/4470/en_head.json.gz/14341 | Tickets for events at Lyceum Theatre
Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, London, London, WC2E 7RQ Venue Info
Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, London, London, WC2E 7RQ General Information Transport Accessibility Venue Information
The Lyceum Theatre is a 2,000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street, just off the Strand. There has been a theatre with this name in the locality since 1765, and the present site opened on 14 July 1834 to a design by Samuel Beazley. The building was unique in that it had a balcony overhanging the dress circle. It was built by the partnership of Peto & Grissell.
The present building retains Beazley's facade and grand portico, but the theatre behind is substantially different from the 1904 design of Bertie Crewe, restored to theatrical use in 1996 by Holohan Architects, after a long period of use as a Mecca Ballroom.
The most recent shows at the theatre have been Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma! and The Lion King.
The Lyceum Theatre is located between Covent Garden (served by the Piccadilly Line) and Charing Cross (served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines) tube stations.
The nearest train station is Charing Cross.
The theatre is in central London so it is advised to use public transport where possible.
21 Wellington Street
WC2E 7RQ
Bus numbers 6, 11, 13, and 15.
The closest car park is NCP Parker Street, off Drury Lane.
The theatre's main entrance is up three steps to the lower foyer. From here there are 7 steps down to the Stalls and 12 steps up to the Royal Circle landing. The Grand Circle is up 83 steps.
The venue has wheelchair spaces and transfers are available too. Please call 0844 871 3006 to book.
The wheelchair accessible entrance is via a double EXIT door situated at the front of the theatre on Wellington Street, to the left of the five main doors. This is clearly marked and provides level access to the Accessible Toilets and the Stalls seating area. Upon arrival, please notify the Doorman who will open the doors for you. From the accessible entrance, a gentle slope leads past the Accessible Toilets to the Stalls seating area and the Stalls Bar, which is fully accessible.
There is a Infa-red loop system for the hard of hearing. There is also a induction loop in the box office.
Guide dogs are allowed into the auditorium by prior arrangement with the Box Office. Alternatively, the staff can dog-sit throughout the performance.
For special requirements and information please call 0844 871 3006 or email Lyceumboxoffice@theambassadors.com.
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/225 | Destinations Lucerne Suggested Itineraries
Located at the north end of the Lake Lucerne within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi, Lucerne is a beautiful small city in the heartland of Switzerland. It abounds in narrow cobblestone streets, covered bridges, frescoed houses, and fountains. The city became a center of Swiss history and legend, and is the setting for the most memorable part of the legend of William Tell who shot an apple off of his son's head. Lucerne is also a great base from which to explore other famous Swiss sites.
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Zurich is a stunningly beautiful with a charming old town where cobbled streets of the 12th-century Old Town are pristin and the blue trams run reliably. The avant-garde Dadaist movement started here in 1916. Zurich also attracted Irish author James Joyce. The city's extraordinary museums and galleries, confirm the city's position as Switzerland's spiritual, if not political, capital. There is also a hip, less conventional side to Zurich. Z�ri West, once the industrial section, has become the in spot over the last decade, with loft living, galleries, museums, experimental theater and clubs.
Chic Geneva, the soul of Switzerland's French speaking territory, is home to some of the world's most luxurious and exclusive stores and extravagant restaurants. Filled with parks and promenades, the city becomes a virtual garden in summer. At the heart of the city is the huge Cath�drale St-Pierre, and some of its top-class museums include Mus�e d'Art et d'Histoire and an impressive gallery of East Asian art. Last but not least, Geneva is home to dozens of international organizations among them the United Nations European headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Located at 570 metres above sea level, Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland and one of the most popular. It offers winter sport's lovers access to some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps, in an idyllic lakeside setting between the lakes Thun and Brienz. The main attraction for hiking is probably the mountain Jungfrau with the altitude of 4158m. The resort offers a variety of water-based activities, throughout the year.
Bern is one of the oldest and loveliest cities in Europe, with origins going back to the 12th century. It is on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage. There are many museums, theatres, landmarks, caf�s, restaurants and shops - not to mention the weekly market (and the lovely Christmas market) - all of which can be easily reached on foot. The Old Town of Bern has one of the longest "weatherproof" shopping malls in Europe under its six kilometers of covered arcades. The medieval atmosphere, with shops in the cellar vaults is unique. The modern mingles harmoniously with the old in this charming city, as in recent years residents have discreetly added contemporary-style homes and structures to the historic environment.
Dating back from the Stone Age, Lausanne flourished particularly in the Age of Enlightenment, when it was associated with the two leading writers of the 18th century Rousseau and Voltaire. Don't miss the famous Olympic Museum and the Gothic Cathedral. Built on three hills, Lausanne offers some astonishing views of the surroundings. Lausanne is the second-largest city on Lake Geneva. It'll only take a short walk to take a boat tour on the lake or a short ride to explore the great snowy outdoors.
Lugano is the third Swiss banking centre after Z�rich and Geneva. Its old alleys and winding lanes are full of commerce, with boutiques, villa-style hotels and apartment buildings. The main attractions are the ancient churches and a clutch of world-class art galleries, including the famous Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. Take a stroll under the lakeside palms alongside the shimmering lake. Both Monte Br� and San Salvatore are served by funiculars, and both give spectacular views over the Alps.
Located on the Lake Geneva, Montreux is considered the chief resort of the Swiss Riviera. The main sight is the Ch�teau de Chillon, a castle on a small island in Lake Geneva; Byron is said to have carved his name in one of the columns in the dungeon where Bonivard was detained during a few years. The city hosts several international events, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Film Festival. The mountains around Hauts de Montreux are threaded with forest trails, caves, grottos, and wildlife.
St Moritz
Originally known for its mineral springs, which were discovered, probably by the Celts, some 3,000 years ago, St. Moritz is nowadays the most fashionable resort in the world. Situated on the southern side of the Alps in the Upper Engadine, at an altitude of 6,000 ft., St Moritz is the mecca of skiing. It has been the host city for the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics. Other attractions are: The Segantini Museum, the olympic bob run - the last natural bob sleigh, and Glaciers landscape.
Located 5,315 fr above sea level, Zermatt is a car-free village at the base of the magnificent mountain Matterhorn. It is world-renowned resort for skiing and mountaineering. The town has one of the best networks of alpine cable cars, gondolas, and cog railways in Switzerland operating all year long. In Zermatt, falls more snow than on other winter resorts in Europe and that's way high-altitude skiing, especially at the Th�odul Pass continues throughout the spring and early summer.
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/435 | Visit Peru Why Peru Culture Nature Food Adventure Sponsors About the exhibition Open 6 December 2013 – 21 April 2014 Canberra only Gold and the Incas showcases the splendour of ancient cultures of Peru. Art made of gold, silver, precious stones, textiles and ceramics will excite our visitors and provide a new experience at the National Gallery of Australia. More than 200 objects are included, from gold regalia, intricate jewellery and striking vessels to elaborate embroidered and woven cloths. Australian audiences will encounter the aesthetic depth, drama and beauty of the famous Incan empire and its predecessors.
As well as being highly-skilled metalworkers, potters, carvers and weavers, the artisans of Peruvian civilisation incorporated religious and political ideas based on the natural world. Lively depictions of gods, animals, birds and fish decorate the works of art. Technological inventions such as the knotted string quipu provide a new outlook on the sophisticated world of ancient Peru. Chavín, Nazca, Huari and Moche cultures were succeeded by the Chimú, which was overcome by Incan warriors, themselves to be conquered by the Spanish in 1533. The works of art are lent by the Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú and its fraternal collections, the Fundacion Museo Amano, the Museo Larco and the Museo Oro del Perú, as well as the collection of the National Gallery of Australia. The exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of Australian-Peruvian diplomatic relations, and is organised in co-operation with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. It is also a key component of Canberra’s centenary celebrations in 2013. A major catalogue, consisting of essays, entries, maps and timeline and colour illustrations of each object, will accompany Gold and the Incas: Lost worlds of Peru. Map indicating the location of Peru | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/3742 | Conwy Area
Northern Region Isle of Anglesey
The Carneddau and the Glyderau
Map and Satellite
Northern Region Bangor
Caernarfon Castle
Cochwillan Old Hall
The Fun Centre
Greenwood Forest Park
Grey Mares Tail Waterfall
Gwydir Castle
Gwydir Uchaf Chapel
Llangelynnin Church
Llanrhychwyn
Llyn Crafnant
Llyn Geirionydd
Maen y Bardd
Melin Y Coed
Menai Strait
Penmachno
Penrhyn Castle
Segontium Roman Fort
Ty Mawr, Wybrant
Welsh HighlandRailway
OS Grid Ref:- SH 4762
The historic town of Caernarfon, or Carnarvon as it is known in English, lies on the west end of the Menai Strait, it is traditionally the county town of Caernarfonshire. Caernarfon stands in a magnificent position at the foot of the mountains overlooking Anglesey.
The River Seiont at Caernarfon
The name derives from the Welsh, Caer yn Arfon, meaning the Castle in Arfon, referring to the old Roman fort of Segontium. Little now remains of the fort but its foundations, there is a museum on the site,The Segontium Roman Museum which covers the history of the fort and related subjects.
The impressive Segontium Roman Fort was an auxiliary fort constructed by the Romans in around 77A.D. Although it was a remote outpost, it is one of the most well known Roman sites in the country and attracts thousands of visitors
each year. One of Caernarfon's Characterful streets
Caernarfon Castle dominates the town's main square, which is flanked on the other three sides by mainly Georgian buildings. There are two statues displayed in the square, the one at the castle end is of bronze and commemorates Sir Hugh Owen, noted philanthropist and tireless worker for the establishment of primary, secondary, college and university education in Wales. Nearby stands a further statue of Welsh born British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, which was unveiled in 1921 by Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia.
The town presents a variety of facilities for the visitor, including craft shops, restaurants, a wide range of accommodation, a fun centre for children, a golf course and indoor swimming and sports facilities at the leisure centre. The town Walls
Caernarfon's medieval town walls date from the same era as the castle, work commenced on them in June, 1284. A shipping quay was built outside the walls fronting onto the Menai Strait. The walls circle the old town of Caernarfon, originally linking to the castle at both ends. The projection on the Eagle Tower was built in preparation for a great water gate, allowing access to the castle at high tide, but plans for its construction were later abandoned. The town walls are maintained by CADW.
Magnificent Caernarfon Castle stands on the busy quayside at the mouth of the River Seiont. The castle was built by Edward I, after his conquest of Wales and can be fairly said to be one of the finest castles in Wales. Edward employed the services of his master mason James of St. George to design the castle.
More on Caernarfon Castle
Parts of the old Roman wall which once surrounded Caernarfon still survive. Nearby Foryd Bay offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching.
The famous Welsh Highland Railway runs from Caernarfon to Dinas, Waunfawr and Rhyd Ddu at the southern foot of Mount Snowdon. Caernarfon has a Saturday market, its population are largely Welsh speaking (92%) and the local dialect is distinctive and barely intelligible, even to other Welsh speakers.
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/4071 | The Natural History Museum of Utah is pleased to be open in our home, the Rio Tinto Center. Located in the foothills above Salt Lake City, the building is an accomplishment of the community and will serve to further the Museum's mission; to illuminate the natural world and humans place within it. Now offering Architecture Tours - Click here for more information!The Rio Tinto CenterNestled into the foothills of the Wasatch Mountain Range, the Rio Tinto Center rests on a series of terraces that follow the contours of the hillside, blending into the environment. The building is located along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, a popular location for hiking and mountain biking, which serves as the Museum's "main street". The building is immediately recognizable due to the 42,000 square feet of standing seam copper that wraps the exterior of the building. The copper, mined from Kennecott Utah Copper's Bingham Canyon Mine located across the Salt Lake Valley from the new Museum site, is installed in horizontal bands of various heights to represent the layered rock formations seen throughout Utah.Photos of the Rio Tinto Center are available on the Museum's Facebook page. These should be viewable whether or not you use Facebook. A Gathering PlaceVisitors enter the Level 1 Foyer to purchase admission and register for events. From there, they climb the main staircase, or take an elevator, to emerge in the main lobby area, which we call the Canyon. Three-stories high and featuring a Collections Wall displaying over 500 objects from the Museum's collection, the Canyon is our central public and gathering space. From the Canyon, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Salt Lake Valley, begin to explore the Museum's Trailhead to Utah system, enter the exhibit galleries, or enjoy the Museum Store and Cafe. Beyond the public areas of the Rio Tinto Center, the building provides advanced research and collection facilities for Museum scientists who oversee the care and curation of more than 1.5 million objects in the Museum's collection. The collections and research areas are the core of the institution and feature sophisticated climate control and other means of protecting the collection, and a venue for undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Utah. Case Study for Sustainable DevelopmentThe building and surrounding grounds have been designed and built according to the standards for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification. From the pervious pavement of the parking lot to solar photovoltaic panels on the rooftops, the Museum worked with our architecture and construction teams to incorporate green elements throughout the design, construction, and operations of the building.More About Sustainability at NHMUMore About the Design TeamSuccessful Community PartnershipConstruction of the Rio Tinto Center is a result of a successful public/private partnership to raise the total cost of $102.5 million for the project. The funding came from the federal government, the Utah State Legislature, a bond supported by the voters of Salt Lake County, and over $44 million raised through individual, corporate and foundation philanthropic support. The Museum's building is named the Rio Tinto Center due to the naming-level donation from Kennecott Utah Copper / Rio Tinto which included the donation of the copper used in the building's facade.Site and Trail AccessLocated on 17-acres adjacent to Red Butte Garden, the Natural History Museum of Utah serves as the trailhead to Utah for residents and visitors alike. The site overlooks the Salt Lake Valley and is a part of the University of Utah's Research Park. The site was chosen to: Physically represent the Museum's positioning at a junction of the urban and the natural worldDemonstrate our role as part of the University of Utah and of the statewide community at largeFulfill our mission to interpret the natural world for broad and diverse audiencesBonneville Shoreline Trail AccessAccess to the University of Utah portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is, literally, outside the Museum's front doors.The Trail, popular with hikers and mountain bikers, serves as the Museum's main street, adding vitality and energy to all hours of our day. Museum visitors are encouraged to come prepared to explore the trail around the building, if you choose. More About the Bonneville Shoreline TrailTrail users are welcome to take a break at the Museum. We offer two water fountains for people and dogs during warm seasons along the trail -- one at the top of the south parking lot, the other near the Museum's front door. Visit the Museum Cafe for beverages, lunch and snacks from 7:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Restrooms are also accessible to trail users on Level 1 and 2. Bike racks are available in front of the Museum. The Cafe and restrooms are accessible without admission or checking in at the Ticketing Desk.We ask trail users to take caution when passing by the Museum's driveway and entrance during operating hours for pedestrian and automobile traffic, especially when riding bikes. Parking is available for trail users along Colorow Road, where trail access points have been provided and are maintained by the Museum. Please do not park in the Museum's parking unless you plan on visiting the building during your stay.More About the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Parking and Access Points Plan a Visit | 旅游 |
2014-35/4143/en_head.json.gz/2962 | Print Email Font ResizeAs trend wanes, Vegas casinos fold on poker roomsBy HANNAH DREIER Associated PressPosted:
02/28/2013 10:13:31 AM MSTClick photo to enlargeFILE - In this May 31, 2011 file photo, players compete in a Heads-Up poker tournament during the World Series of Poker at the Rio hotel and casino in Las Vegas. At the height of the poker fad, Las Vegas couldn't get enough of poker rooms. Now some of those rooms are folding. Four casinos yanked their poker tables last year, including the Tropicana, and three other rooms closed shop in 2011. «1»LAS VEGAS—The Tropicana hoped to step back into the big leagues when it opened its poker room in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, touting it as the coolest in town. But that same morning, federal agents shut down the three biggest online poker sites on the Internet. Last September, less than a year and a half later, the iconic casino quietly swapped out its green felt tables for slot machines. It's a story that's become increasingly common as the crackdown on Internet gambling weakens poker's appeal, and the casinos that once competed to lure fans of Texas Hold 'Em abandon the waning game in favor of more lucrative alternatives. Poker has never been a big moneymaker like slot machines or roulette. But when the game's popularity soared during the 2000s, casinos were willing to forgo the extra dollars to get players inside their buildings. Now the calculus is shifting. In Sin City, epicenter of the poker craze, at least eight rooms have folded in the past two years. The trend is also playing out in Mississippi riverboats, Indian casinos and gambling halls near big cities from California to Florida. Poker's proponents insist the game remains as popular as ever, and some larger casinos say their rooms are bustling. In a statement this month announcing the World Series of Poker lineup, executive director Ty Stewart said the summer bonanza in Las Vegas would be an "affirmation about the strength and global appeal of the game." But the spate of poker room closures on the Strip has some wondering whether the largest gambling trend to sweep the country in 25 years may be losing momentum. "I just think the allure of poker is lessening," said William Thompson, author of the encyclopedia "Gambling in America" and professor of public administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "That's one reason the smaller casinos would just say, 'Hey it's not worth all the time to set everything up. A slot machine would do a lot better.'" Poker revenue has been falling in Nevada since 2007, the year after the federal government first cracked down on virtual gambling and forced online companies to close or relocate offshore. The recession hobbled casinos across the board, but while winnings from other games began to pick back up in 2010, poker revenue continues to slump by an average of 6 percent a year, according to annual reports from the state Gaming Control Board. Poker revenues stacked up to $123 million last year, down from a high of $168 million in 2007. Entries in the World Series of Poker's main event also took tumble in 2007, falling by 28 percent from a high of 8,773. Entries have only topped 7,000 once in the years since. On April 15, 2011, the federal government took its strongest stand yet against the semi-legal world of internet poker, blacking out three major sites on a date later dubbed "Black Friday." No longer could fresh crops of poker players develop their games online. The Tropicana hotel-resort, which was remaking itself with several major renovations at the time, opened its new poker room the same spring day. "Poker had gone through a dramatic popularity phase. It grew really quickly. And we jumped on board," said Fred Harmon, chief marketing officer for the casino that sits on a busy Strip intersection opposite the MGM Grand and New York New York. The decision to replace the room with slot machines last fall was pure economics, Harmon said. "I think every company over the last several years have had to look at what they do and what makes money," he said. Casinos across the country are making the same calculation. Sam's Town in Tunica, Mississippi, closed its poker room in January, citing the economy. The Seminole Casino Hollywood near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., replaced its room with slots in September. Indian casinos in states like Minnesota and the Dakotas are also pulling their rooms, according to marketing consultant Theron "Scarlet Raven" Thompson. "What you're seeing is the mom and pop-sized poker rooms are closing. The larger properties are monopolizing the poker crowd," he said. Several smaller Las Vegas casinos decided they no longer wanted to bet on the game in 2012, including Ellis Island, which closed its room just two months after opening it. Casino bosses also removed rooms from the Silverton south of the Strip, Aliante to the north, and Fitzgerald's, which eliminated its room when it rebranded as the D. The Gold Coast, the Plaza and Tuscany casinos closed their rooms in 2011. Poker has never been a high-profit game for casinos is because players exchange money with each other, not the house. Rooms must employ a dealer for every table and can only collect portion of what players put down, usually about 5 percent. Yet at the height of the craze, casinos scrambled to install rooms for a new generation of fans. The game's meteoric run is generally attributed to the rise of Internet gambling, new technology that let viewers see players' hidden cards in televised tournaments and a watershed moment during the 2003 World Series of Poker when an amateur with the unlikely name Chris Moneymaker claimed the $2.5 million first prize in front of a million television viewers. After Moneymaker's win, the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip reopened its poker room, which had been closed for years, and Caesars Palace announced plans to open its first room in more than a decade. The Venetian followed suit in 2006. Mega-casinos continue to invest in the game. The Venetian added 17 tables to its room in September, making it the biggest game in town, Caesars Entertainment added a slot-style progressive jackpot element to its games earlier this year, and the expansive room at the Bellagio is still packed most nights. Venetian poker director Kathy Raymond said the expansion, which was part of a larger casino floor renovation, has drawn more players to the already popular room. "I think that the love people have for poker hasn't subsided," she said. "It may be part of the economic environment, but I don't think the interest has subsided at all." She acknowledged that smaller casinos are struggling to claim their piece of the market. "You really need volume to operate a successful poker room," she said. "The overhead can't be absorbed by just a few tables." In the end, the very thing that made poker so appealing - its air of tradition and class - may be its undoing, at least on the gambling floor, William Thompson said. After all, casinos make their billions by giving people new and stimulating ways to lose money. While slot machine developers can roll out a new "Family Guy" or "oodles of poodles" game ever few months, poker remains unchanged. "With slot machines, you can keep reinventing them, so it's going to last longer. They're throwing new wrinkles in all the time," he said. ——— Hannah Dreier can be reached at http://twitter.com/hannahdreierPrint Email Font ResizeReturn to Top RELATED STORIES
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2014-35/4143/en_head.json.gz/2997 | Cheap Trick plans Chicago restaurant More Music stories
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CHICAGO — The band Cheap Trick plans to open a rock ’n’ roll-themed eatery and museum in a Chicago neighborhood that was once home to the city’s most famous and influential blues and R&B record labels.The band hopes to be an anchor tenant in an entertainment district being created on the stretch of S. Michigan Avenue, said Dave Frey, manager of the group.The area was the home of the Chess, Brunswick and Vee-Jay labels during their heyday — where musicians from Aretha Franklin to Muddy Waters recorded. The band’s proposed project, tentatively called Cheap Trick Chicago, would include a radio station, a performance space and an instrument museum as well as a restaurant, Frey said. The neighborhood, between downtown and the McCormick Place convention center, boasts formerly opulent but since-vacant auto showrooms from the golden age of U.S. automaking.Though often referred to as the city’s Motor Row District, the area is best-known as the center of the influential Chicago recording industry during the 1950s and ’60s.Cheap Trick was founded in the early 1970s in Rockford, Ill., about 60 miles west of Chicago.Its biggest hits include Surrender and I Want You To Want Me. Favorite | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/7173 | An historic fishing port, Provincetown is situated at the tip of Cape Cod in an area of spectacular natural beauty, surrounded by miles of dunes and beaches. Provincetown has a diverse and singular history. The Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown in 1620, and signed the Mayflower Compact, a declaration of self-determination and radical thought that characterizes the history and people of Provincetown, even today. Provincetown, Land's End or Hell Town as its been known, has been home to sailors, pirates, fisherman, painters and authors for centuries.
In the 1800's Provincetown, with the largest and safest natural harbor on the New England coast, was one of the greatest and busiest sea ports in the country. The fishing industry soon faltered and the Portland Gale of 1898 swept away half of the town's wharves. It was then that Provincetown turned to another fledging industry to fill the economic gap...tourism. The resort population that visited Provincetown every summer, provided jobs to take the place of those lost as more individuals and families discovered the magic of Provincetown and Cape Cod.
In the 1920's the artistic and literary productions of the town were of international repute and the abandoned sites of maritime businesses became the new homes of the seasonal visitor as sail lofts, warehouses and barns became studios, galleries and shops. During the 1920's and 1930's a gay & lesbian presence began to grow together with artists, writers, and playwrights from New York City and elsewhere. These newcomers found inspiration in the magical beauty of the "outer Cape" and the freedom to try new ideas. Gradually, contingents of poets, novelists, journalists, socialists, radicals and dilettantes began to visit Provincetown during the summer months. Later many of these visitors took up permanent residence.
Today, the wealth of preserved historic buildings combines with the lure of the sea to create a magical place. The rich texture of cultural, period and social influences has produced a sense of place that is uniquely Provincetown. These special qualities have, for over a century, attracted artists tourists and bohemians who have blended with the local population and produced the character of the community. Provincetown is truly like nowhere else. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/7602 | The LandThe Land
CommuniCoreCommuniCore
World of MotionWorld of Motion
ImaginationImagination
HorizonsHorizons
Spaceship EarthSpaceship Earth
Universe of EnergyUniverse of Energy
The Living SeasThe Living Seas
Wonders of LifeWonders of Life
World ShowcaseWorld Showcase
SouvenirsSouvenirs
River CountryRiver Country
More WDWMore WDW
TriviaTrivia
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Walt Disney World Books and Music on Amazon.com
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Beaver Tail Pics
El Rio del Tiempo Pics
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Norway Viking Ship Pics
"Back, back, over the falls!!"
World Showcase is the second themed area of Epcot, after Future World. Nine of the pavilions opened with the park's opening on October 1, 1982. Morocco opened in 1984, and Norway in 1988. Very few major changes have occured in World Showcase.
The Pavilions
The following is a breakdown of the eleven countries in World Showcase (starting clockwise from Mexico) and what changes they have gone through over the years.
Mexico's landmark is a Mesoamerican pyramid. Mexico's attraction El Rio del Tiempo had the working name "Las Tres Culturas de Mexico" ("The Three Cultures of Mexico") - representing those cultures found within the ride: ancient, colonial, and modern.
El Rio del Tiempo began in the ancient times with Aztec and other native rituals being played out on video screens. It then moved on to colonial times with many festive dolls singing. The song was carried over into the modern era where Mexican beach resorts are seen. Along the way, some eager merchants frantically try to sell you stuff. The final scene was a large fiesta under ceiling-projected fireworks, alongside a marionette carousel.
El Rio del Tiempo closed in January 2007. It reopened in April of that year as Gran Fiesta Tour - Boat Cruise Starring the Three Caballeros. The new ride differs with the original in a only few ways. All of the video screens now feature Donald, Jose, and Panchito, with their Mexican amigos. The section with the dolls remains very much the same. With the dolls, a Donald pinata can now be seen. The marionette carousel is now replaced by a large video screen showing the trio in concert.
Mexico opened with two restaurants in 1982: San Angel Inn and the outdoor Cantina De San Angel. In 2010, the Cantina went under reconstruction. In September of that year, it reopened as "La Cantina De San Angel" and "La Hacienda De San Angel." Like the old Cantina, La Cantina serves fast food, but has outdoor and indoor tables. For dinner, the building is also La Hacienda, a table-service restaurant.
Norway opened in May 1988 with its attraction Maelstrom opening later in July of that year. Its landmarks include a Stave Church and the Akershus fortress. In 1998, a wooden Viking Ship play area was added just outside the restrooms. The ship was dismantled in 2008. Pieces of it can still be seen in its old location. The exhibits in the Stave Church have changed from time to time.
Around 2005, the Akershus restaurant began to feature Princess Storybook Dining.
China's main landmark is the Temple of Heaven. China's attraction is a 360 degree film. It was originally "Wonders of China," but changed to a different film called "Reflections of China" in 2003. China has also had some different exhibits over the years including one on Hong Kong Disneyland.
Both of China's restaurants, Lotus Blossom Cafe and Nine Dragons Restaurant did not open until 1985, three years after the pavilion opened.
Germany is set in an old German town platz with a risen statue of St. George and the Dragon. Very little has changed at Germany over the years with the exception of some of the merchandise sold at its shops. At one time Disney PVC figures, such as Uncle Scrooge and Gyro Gearloose, were sold at its Der Teddybar shop.
A planned but never-built attraction for Germany was the River Ride. The ride would take guests on boats down rivers of Germany including the Rhine River. The boat ride would showcase elements of Germany's past and present.
Italy is set in the city of Venice with the Doge's Palace and campanile (bell tower). Italy's restaurant was originally L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante. It changed to Tutto Italia Ristorante around 2007.
In August 2010, Italy received another table-service eatery called Via Napoli. Situated at the back of the pavilion, it specializes in pizza.
An area themed after southern Italy and the Roman ruins was planned to be built by 1983, but never was.
The American Adventure
The American Adventure's landmark is a Georgian mansion, housing its attraction also called "The American Adventure." The film finale of the show was updated in 1992 and other years since.
Two of Japan's landmarks are the torii (gate of honor) and the goju-no-to (five-story pagoda). Its Bijutsu-kan Gallery has housed many exhibits including ones on carved miniatures, Samurai armor, puppets, baseball items, and tin toys.
A planned but never-built attraction for Japan was a film called "Meet the World." The film would introduce Japan with the formation of its islands through volcanoes. Along with an animated magical crane, Japanese children would discover the past of the Japanese people. Scenes in the film would include the Great Buddha at Nara and a scene from the twelfth-century "Tale of Genji." At the end, the crane and children would bid guests goodbye from a balloon's gondola.
Morocco opened in September 1984. Its landmarks include the Koutoubia Minaret of Marrakesh, the Nejjarine Fountain of Fez, and the Bells of Medersa. Unlike the other World Showcase pavilions, some of Morocco's detailed architecture was done by actual Moroccan artisans and craftsmen sent over by the Moroccan king at the time, Hassan II.
France's landmark is the Eiffel Tower, sitting beyond the entrance to the Palais du Cinema. The building houses France's attraction, a 180 degree show called "Impressions de France."
The United Kingdom is set along British streets: Tudor Lane, High Street, and Upper and Lower Regency streets, along with a waterside pub.
Canada's landmark is the Hotel du Canada's French Gothic, surrounded by the Victoria Gardens on one side and totem poles on the other. A new totem pole was carved for the pavilion in 1998.
Around the year 2004, Trapper Bob's closed down in the Canada area. Trapper Bob's featured the Beaver Tail, a flat doughnut-like pastry that could have multiple toppings. The small cabin that housed the tails remains, but does not sell them anymore.
The pavilion's 360 degree show, "O Canada!," was updated in 2007. The new version reuses some clips from the original show mixed in with new ones. Most notably, the new version is hosted by Canadian-born actor Martin Short. The song in the finale has been rerecorded with a new vocalist.
Unrealized Pavilions
Three pavilions were advertised in EPCOT Center books and other material, but never built: Spain, Israel, and Equatorial Africa. From those books, Equatorial Africa seemed to have the most developed plans. Israel would eventually be featured as one of the countries at the Millennium Village.
Spain was to have two attractions. The first attraction was a film on vacation spots in Spain. The second attraction was a ride themed around Spain's heritage and arts. Market places and a waterside restaurant serving tapas (a finger food found in Spain) would also be included in the pavilion.
Israel's landmark was to be a Menorah in the center of a courtyard. The buildings would be themed after old and new buildings from the area with ancient Jerusalem in mind. The attraction was to be an amphitheater with classical and folk music being performed. Olive and cypress trees would also be part of the pavilion. Food from the country would also be featured.
Equatorial Africa
Equatorial Africa refers to the group of African countries that lie along the equator. This pavilion was also referred to as the "African Nations pavilion" and the "Africa pavilion." Equatorial Africa was to be located between China and Germany, where the Outpost currently sits.
Equatorial Africa would have tree house-like architecture set in the dark jungle. Foliage, running water, and smells would be present, along with animals visiting a water hole. The animals would be created with rear-projected film.
The attractions would consist of two shows and the Heritage area. The first film, called "The Heartbeat of Africa," would show Equatorial Africa's past, present, and an idea of its future. Preceding the film was to be a preshow all about the significance and history of the drum in Africa. The finale of "The Heartbeat of Africa" would present a jazz concert in a modern African city. The climax would feature superimposed laser images coming out of the jazz instruments.
The second show, called "Africa Rediscovered," was to be hosted by the author of Roots Alex Haley. Preceding it would be a preshow with a giant relief map of Africa. The preshow would present Africa's natural wonders of flora, fauna, and climate.
The Heritage area was to be an African village with live entertainment consisting of traditional performances. The area was also planned to hold a museum of fine African art.
Other Areas on the Map
The Odyssey opened with the rest of the park in 1982 as a restaurant and complex. Technically part of Future World, it sits in the transition zone between Future World and World Showcase (between Test Track and Mexico).
The restaurant served hot dogs, hamburgers, and salads for lunch, and beef stew, fried clams, and sweet and sour chicken for dinner. During the late 80s and early 90s, there was also a live show with characters to entertain guests at the restaurant called "Mickey's Rockin' Celebration." The Odyssey also housed first aid, baby services, and lost children.
In July 1994, the Odyssey Restaurant closed, with the building only to be used for special events (the restrooms and services can still be used by everyday guests, though). Currently, the Odyssey is listed as the "Odyssey Center" on the Epcot guide map.
For some more information on the crowds, food, and atmosphere of the early days of the Odyssey, read our interview with an Odyssey Cast Member who worked there from 1982 to 1985.
Showcase Plaza
The two shops near the center of Showcase Plaza, Port of Entry and Disney Traders, both opened in spring 1987.
Refreshment Port
Found between Showcase Plaza and Canada, the Refreshment Port sells beverages, chicken nuggets and French fries. Between 2001 and 2009, it sold McDonald's items, such as Chicken McNuggets and McDonald's fries.
International Gateway
Situated between France and the UK, the International Gateway opened in early 1990. It allows park entry and exit to and from the Epcot resorts: the Boardwalk, the Yatch Club, and the Beach Club.
The Outpost sits beteen China and Germany and currently sells beverages and snacks, along with African souvenirs like those found at Animal Kingdom. It opened in 1983 as a placeholder for the Equatorial Africa pavilion.
Fireworks and Laser Shows
The first fireworks show was Carnival de Lumiere in October 1982. It was followed by New World Fantasy in 1983. In June 1984, Laserphonic Fantasy (also known simply as "Laserphonics") premiered. Laserphonics would last until IllumiNations premiered in January 1988 (presented by General Electric at the time).
IllumiNations would continue to be the name of the nighttime show, although it would go through a few different versions. To go with Disney World's 25th anniversary in 1996, IllumiNations 25 premiered. IllumiNations 25 would be shown until it switched to IllumiNations 98 in 1998. In 1999, it changed to IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth. After the Millennium celebration, the show would remain the same but the name would lose the "2000" and just be IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. It is currently presented by Sylvania, a Siemens company.
The Millennium Celebration
Beginning in fall 1999 and ending in early 2001, the Millennium Celebration spawned two attractions for World Showcase, aside from the new IllumiNations. They were the Millennium Village and the Tapestry of Nations parade.
Millennium Village
The Millennium Village, located between Canada and the UK, served as an exhibit area for countries not already in World Showcase. A Brazil rain forest playground and an Israel simulator were among the clustered attractions. After the celebration the Millennium Village was closed down and gutted. The inside now hosts conventions.
Tapestry of Nations/Dreams
The Tapestry of Nations parade was Epcot's first parade. It featured large puppets but lacked the Disney characters. The parade remained after the celebration and was rejuvenated for the 100 Years of Magic celebration in 2002, and it was renamed Tapestry of Dreams. When the 100 Years of Magic ended, Tapestry of Nations/Dreams finally came to a halt.
Prior to the Tapestry of Nations/Dreams parade, a parade called the Festival of Nations was planned to circle the World Showcase lagoon back in the 1980s. The Festival of Nations parade never occured.
Omnibuses
The omnibuses were open double-decker buses that guests could ride around World Showcase. For Mickey Mouse's 60th Birthday in 1988, the buses were decorated and loaded with characters.
The buses have not been in use for guests for some time now, and they only come out loaded with characters at certain times. Signs on the side on the buses now read "Characters on Holiday." For a few years, the buses would come with characters to entertain guests waiting for the park to open behind the rope in front of Spaceship Earth.
Kidcot Fun Stops
Sometime around the year 2000, Kidcot Fun Stops were added to each World Showcase pavilion. They would later spread to a few of the Future World pavilions. The Fun Stops were designed to amp up kids' interest in World Showcase where they could decorate a mask and receive a stamp on their mask handle from each country.
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
In early 2009, the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure launched. The Adventure allows guests to pick up cell phone "Kimmunicators" and use them to find clues and activate certain objects at seven of the World Showcase pavilions.
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Created April 2001
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This site is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company, for the official Disney site go to www.disney.com | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/8089 | Mountains - Official Travel Guide to Norway - visitnorway.com
<< Back to Experience mountains and wilderness
Mountain Guide
Find detailed information on the main mountain regions in Norway. Galdhøpiggen in Jotunheimen is the tallest mountain at 8,100 feet above sea level.
Skiing in Norway
More fun, more snow, more choice. The Norwegian ski season typically lasts for six months and usually offers good snow conditions throughout.
Mountains and Wilderness
Norway is mainly made of mountains and wilderness. You will find Northern Europe’s highest mountains, with craggy summits and rounded rock formations.
Norwegian nature is beautiful, wild and dramatic, but can surprise you in many ways, so take precautions and stay safe.
Ten recommended climbing places in Norway
Dag E. Hagen, editor of the Norwegian climbing magazine Klatring, gives you his top ten favourite places to climb.
Climbing in Norway
From vertiginous rock faces and frozen waterfalls to climbing parks and indoor centers, Norway has much to offer climbers of all levels.
Glaciers in Norway
Norway still shows traces of the Ice Age, when the entire country was covered by ice. Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier in Norway.
Safety in the Norwegian mountains
The Norwegian mountains can be spectacular and memorable, but the weather can change quickly, so prepare your trip well and stay safe.
National Parks in Norway
The national parks safeguard the rich diversity of Norway's natural heritage, for nature's sake, for our own and for future generations.
Ice climbing in Norway
Climbing a frozen waterfall in Norway is an exceptional experience.
Mountain bike trails in Norway Eastern Norway´s varied landscape around Lillehammer and Hemsedal offers gentle hills and forest tracks to mountain rides. Plan your day trip here.
Mountain bike trails in Norway Hiking from cabin to cabin
The Norwegian Trekking Association offers marked trails all over Norway. Stay at a new cabin or hotel each night, and explore large mountain areas. Hiking from cabin to cabin
Hiking and walking in Norway
There is a network of well-maintained, marked paths all over the country. If you want to see Norway at its best, put on your walking boots. Hiking and walking in Norway
Lyngsalpene (The Lyngen Alps)
The impressive Lyngsalpene are located above the Arctic Circle, not far from the city of Tromsø. Lyngsalpene (The Lyngen Alps)
Winter at Beitostølen
Beitostølen is a small mountain village offering lifts and slopes for alpine skiing and snowboarding, and trails for cross-country skiing.
beitostolen.com
Attractions in Jotunheimen
Visit Lom Stave Church, the Norwegian Mountain Museum in Lom or Gallery Jotunheimen to learn about local traditions and culture.
Hardangervidda Mountain Guiding
Bring your walking boots and join a guided hike on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau between Oslo and Bergen. Hardangervidda Mountain Guiding
Hiking in Ål in Hallingdal
Ål has more than 50 well marked hikes with detailed descriptions and maps. Most of them pass through mountainous terrain, but are easily accessible. Hiking in Ål in Hallingdal
Summer Skiing in Norway
Norway’s biggest summer ski center at Stryn is situated at the edge of the famous Jostedalsbreen Glacier.
Winter at Norefjell
Norefjell, only a 90-minute drive from Oslo, is the high mountain area closest to the Norwegian capital. It also boasts Scandinavia's highest drop.
Trollheimen, Home of the Trolls
Trollheimen is as rugged a mountain range as any in Norway, but with green, idyllic valleys interspersed in between the peaks.
Sunnmørsalpene
Majestic peaks and a rugged alpine massif distinguish Sunnmørsalpene from other mountain areas in Norway. Off-piste skiing is at its best here.
Winter in Geilo
Geilo offers a selection of family-friendly slopes, some of which are floodlit at night. Hundreds of kilometres of cross-country trails await.
Winter in Hemsedal
Hemsedal is one of the top ski resorts in Northern Europe. Snow conditions are stable, and the resort boasts plenty of ski lifts and slopes.
skistar.com
Attractions in Valdres
Valdres has a unique cultural heritage with six stave churches and one of Norway's largest open air museums, Valdres Folk Museum.
Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen has the largest concentration of mountains higher than 6,500 feet in Northern Europe.
What to do in Rondane National Park
Hiking in summer and skiing in the winter are favourite actvities. Rafting, horse riding, biking, hunting and fishing are other popular activities.
Winter in Valdres
With 932 miles of cross-country trails and seven alpine centers, Valdres is one of Norway’s most attractive winter destinations.
What to do in Valdres
In Valdres you can go hiking, fishing, cycling, golfing and rafting in summer, and dog sledding, cross-country and alpine skiing in winter. What to do in Valdres
Tour suggestions in Hemsedal
Hike one of Hemsedal’s top mountain peaks, enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your car, or take a trip on the mighty Sognefjord.
Hiking in the Jotunheimen National Park
- We are up for some real mountain hiking today, and hopefully we will do some glacier walking as well, says Anders Löwgren from Sweden.
Attractions in Hemsedal
Experience Rjukandefossen Waterfall or the Old King’s Road between Bjøberg and Hemsedal. Attractions in Hemsedal
Getting to Jotunheimen and around
Jotunheimen is centrally located in the heart of Norway between Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, and is easily reached by public transport.
Musk ox safaris in Norway
Dovrefjell National Park is the only place in Norway, and one of the few places on earth, where you can see the mighty musk oxen.
Vøringsfossen waterfall
Vøringsfossen in Måbødalen is Norway's most famous waterfall, and has a fall of 182 meters, of which 145 meters is a direct drop. Vøringsfossen waterfall
What to do in the Lillehammer Region
Enjoy the outdoor activities on offer – the Olympic bobsleigh track, rafting in Sjoa, downhill biking in Hafjell or guided walks in Rondane.
Attractions in the Lillehammer Region
Have fun in the Hunderfossen Family Park, explore the Olympic Museum and arenas or visit the Maihaugen open air museum.
Winter in the Lillehammer region
Lillehammer is one of the oldest winter sport destinations in Norway and offers excellent opportunities for alpine and cross-country skiing.
lillehammer.com
Finnmarksvidda
Finnmarksvidda is one of Norway’s largest mountain plateaus and the home of the Sami people.
Summer activities in Geilo
Hike from the top of Geilolia, join a riding trip, try river rafting in Numedalslågen or go off-road biking - all this is possible in the Geilo area.
What to do in Hemsedal
The Hemsila River offers top opportunities for fly-fishing. Hiking, cycling, horse-riding and golfing are other popular activities in Hemsedal.
Dovrefjell
The Dovrefjell mountain area is the home of the musk ox and the barrier between the southern and central regions of Norway.
Hardangervidda The vast mountain plateau of Hardangervidda is one of Europe's largest. It is also home to Northern Europe’s largest stock of reindeer.
Hardangervidda Map of | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/8377 | - Specification Required - Mercedes refers to itself as "Queen City of the Valley" or "La Reina del Valle." One of the oldest towns in the Rio Grande Valley, it celebrated its centennial in 2007. The original town site was two miles east of the present site. It was named Lonsboro by Lon C. Hill, who had been active in bringing financiers to the area to look into land and irrigation possibilities. The present site in southern Hidalgo County was part of the Capisallo Ranch. Today, Mercedes is a center for agriculture and varied industries, and it is well known for custom-made boots. The city's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico offer abundant recreational opportunities.The Fleet S. Lentz Native Plant Display features more than 100 native shrubs and trees. On the Mercedes Civic Center grounds, 530 E. Second St.Events include the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo--among the top 10 shows in the state--held the second week in March. Mercedes is home to the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlet Mall. Call 956/565-3900 or visit www.premiumoutlets.com/riograndevalley. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/9080 | Our Mexican Field Trip 2005
Day 24: Teotihuacan
Total Mileage: Approximately 8803 kms
Arrival: April 7, 2005 - 5:00 PM
Departure: April 9, 2005
Temperature High: 33 C From Acapulco we had earlier planned to take the Pacific coast up into Arizona, but the coastal roads are very windy and hilly and slow going, and Lori, Natara and Jessica were getting quite car sick, so we decided to head inland to Teotihuacan. We took the toll road which cost us about $40.00 Canadian, but we sure saved some time. We had to go through the center of Mexico city, which we had planned to stay out of, but it was not bad at all. It was much like one of our cities, only about 40 times bigger. There are apparently 25,000,000 people living here. It is one of the worlds largest cities (I think NYC and Tokyo are bigger) and one of the highest in altitude (over 7300 feet). There were not that many skyscrapers and when you moved to the rural areas, every hill unless it was too steep had houses such as this on it. To get here we had to go over the Sierra Madre Occidental which peaked out at about 3300 meters. I should have bought the premium gasoline before crossing this mountain range for the van was gutless and sputtering all the way. When we got to Teotihuacan we could not find any campgrounds so we had to hotel it, and it was fortunate that we found a site situated right at the Teotihuacan ruins site. Altar in front of the Temple of the Moon. Sacrifice is a common theme found among the ruins of Mexico with altars erected for that purpose. Sacrifice is also a common theme in the Bible. From the very beginning of the creation, man was given one command by God which he broke. The penalty for the transgression was death, but God in His mercy shed the blood of an animal (likely a lamb) instead of man to cover their sin. However, this could never take away man's sin for the blood of animals flows not in the veins of men. This of course was a forshadow of the spotless Lamb of God who would one day come with salvation to take away the sins of the world. He was God manifest in the flesh who would die for the sins of the world in substitution for mankind.
We can follow this pattern all the way through the Old Testament.
" Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21).
"And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect" (Genesis 4:3-4). "And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour..." (Genesis 8:20-22). We will find that all the Old Testament saints built altars to make offerings unto the Lord, even Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua etc...
If we would follow history aright, we would expect to find the theme of sacrifice around the globe, for from the beginning of the creation, and from the new world after the Flood starting with Noah, it was taught to all of mankind, and eventually brought throughout the whole world (however now perverted) when God scattered the rebels at Babel 101 years after the Flood. The Gentiles of the America's never knew that God had finally sent his only begotten Son in fulfillment of His promise in Genesis 3:15 to pay the penalty for sin, and so Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to go into the uttermost parts of the world and preach the gospel (good news).
Altar in front of the Temple of the Sun. The Lord taught man the only way to atone for their sins from the very beginning was through the blood of a spotless substitute, in faith looking ahead to the Messiah of whom these were but a type and a shadow. But Satan, as subtle as he is, contrived to pervert the way that God had set forth for man to come to Him. Satan was the master behind the fasle religion at Babel and here false gods were introduced and the people began to sacrifice to them, even the host of heaven and the images of the zodiac that were eventually translated into idols and temples made for them. This wicked religion was then brought into the whole world when the Lord confused the tongues of the rebellious families at Babel. "Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:9).
Pyramid of the Sun. This pyramid is quite large measuring about 200 meters at the base and 60 meters high not taking into account "the small temple which used to stand on top and housed a stone idol" (Teotihuacan, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, 1995), which was torn down in Colonial times. Again, this and all other pyramids with their temples on top is what we believe to be replicas of that original tower at Babel. "Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses (temples) of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt" (2 Kings 17:29).
The immensity of the Pyramid of the Sun is hard to fathom from these pictures. You have to stand quite far back to get the whole pyramid in the picture. This picture is taken from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Israel had adopted the wicked religion of the Cannanites (a post Babel culture) and began to worship the host of heaven. "Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD�S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them" (Ezekiel 8:15-18). In essence they "worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:23). A large portion of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic religion has become guilty of integrating and incorporating this same wicked practice of idolatry in their worship. In many of the cathedrals I have observed these same abominations being practiced. In several places I have witnessed the worship of a disk of bread called the "host" which they literally believe is made into a god by their priest and placed in what they call a "monstrace" (an ornament fashioned in the shape of the sun), and the masses bowing down and worshipping it. In Prescott's "Mexico", he recorded, as an eyewitness, the accounts of the early history of Mexico during the Spanish conquest. He said "they witnessed a religious rite which reminded them of Christian communion. On these occasions, an image of the tutelary diety of the Aztecs was made of the flour of maize, mixed with blood, and after consecration by the priests, was distributed among the people, who, as they ate it, "showed signs of humiliation and sorrow, declaring it was the flesh of the diety!" How could the Roman Catholic fail to recognize the awful ceremony of the Eucharist?"
The Bible tells us "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light ... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" ( Ephesians 5:11). The Bible clearly instructs us not only to shun this sort of pagan practice, but also to reprove them.
Their cathedrals are also full of idols of men and women (they call saints), and I have observed them loudly beckoning these stone idols to hear their prayers and intercede for them. I have talked to several of the Mexicans about this and they do not really differenciate between the worship of their pagan deities, and the idols of Catholicism. They observe them essentially as a greater host of "gods" within their pantheon, and they can both be called upon. It made it very easy for the Gentiles of Mexico to accept Catholicism because of the similar aspects of idolatry practiced. For the most part, they just changed the names of their idols to the names of "saints". "What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it" (Habakkuk 2:18). In the New Testament Paul told the descendants of Babel, "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led" (1 Corinthians 12:2).
The greatest "god" in their worship is the goddess they renamed "Mary", testified to by the tens of thousands of shrines along their hyways and in their city centers and in every shop and building and around every corner and in their cathedrals. This is the path that Israel has traveled, falling from the grace of God, and so too has the "church", adopting heathonism, idolatry and all sorts of superstition which is an abomination to God.
In Prescott's "Mexico" he records what commonly took place as the Conquisitors sought to purge the land of their idols, but sadly, he reports that it was only replaced with another evil. After conquering the people they would tumble their gods down the steps of the pyramids and burn them. "A procession was next formed, in which some of the principle Tononac priests, exchanging their dark mantles for robes of white, carried lighted candles in their hands; while an image of the Virgin, half smothered under the weight of flowers, was borne aloft, and, as the procession climbed the steps of the temple, was depositied above the altar." I do not point out these observations to "bash" Catholics as many Catholics would claim (for I am a former Catholic), but that they may awake from their deathly slumber, and repent of their false religion and believe the gospel and worship the one true God, the Creator, in sincerety and in TRUTH. In times past I have also observed their priests blessing idols, but listen to what the Lord says about them "that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not" (Isaiah 66:3-4).
Israel of old was caught up in this wicked practice also. �As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil� (Jeremiah 44:16-17). The "queen of heaven" is what the Roman Catholic religion calls this idol. Pope John Paul II's Last will and Testament was "I am completely in your hands", even his coffin was inscribed with the letter "M for Mary" (U.S. News and World Report).
The Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan is most certainly adopted from Babel. A temple to the moon god "Sin" still remains very much intact in the city of Ur (in modern day Iraq) which was the city that Abraham fled when he was called of God to go to the land of Canaan that He would give to him and his descendants for an everlasting possession.
Tower of the moon god Sin, located in Ur, Iraq.
These were apparently sacrificial victims found at Teotihuacan with their hands tied behind their backs. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:24-29).
Last Update : 4/8/2005
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/9108 | Home > Destinations in Argentina > Mendoza > Aconcagua Mountain and Park
Aconcagua Mountain and Park
Located in the far west of Mendoza province is the Parque Provincial Aconcagua, home to the tallest peak in not only Argentina and all of South America, but also the Western and Southern Hemispheres, Cerro Aconcagua. The park, which encompasses the mountain and its immediate surroundings, covers some 175,444 acres (71,000 hectares), protecting a crucial portion of the central Andes chain. Designed to conserve the pristine features of this beautiful landscape and its flora, fauna and aquatic life, the park is also a significant archeological site. Most visitors come for the fabled mountain, and for those attempting to reach the summit of Aconcagua, the park and its unspoiled beauty is an ideal base camp and starting point. http://www.allaboutar.com/ard_andes.htm
At 22,974 ft (6962 m), Aconcagua is one of the highest peaks in the world and the world's highest mountain outside of Asia. Created eons ago by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American plate, Aconcagua's name is derived from the Inca word ackon cahuak, meaning stone sentinel.
The park's main entry point at Laguna Horcones, very near the famous Puente del Inca, although the smaller Puente de la Vaca also serves as an entrance. It is bounded by the Valle de las Vacas (Valley of the Cows) on the north and east, and the Valle de los Horcones Inferior (Lower Valley of the Posts) on the west and south. As with many Andes peaks, Aconcagua itself contains within it glaciers, the most massive of which are the Polish and English glaciers.
Climbing the Mountain If approached from the north (also known as the Normal route), climbing Aconcagua is considered technically as an easy climb. By using this approach, intensive vertical climbing is not necessary, and the only effects presented to the climber are the challenges that accompany high-altitude activities. A trek via this route can be accomplished at an easy pace with three camps spread along the route for rest stops.
The next most common route is the Polish Glacier Traverse route. Ascending the base of the Polish Glacier, Aconcagua is approached from the Valle de las Vacas and the trail later joins with the Normal route for the final ascent to the summit. Routes from the southern and southwest ridges, which make substantially greater technical demands, are considered far more difficult.
The best time to mount an expedition is usually from December through February, and a permit is required. The permits are available in the city of Mendoza only, at the Visitors' Center at the Secretary of Tourism.
Aconcagua Further Information - (External Link)
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/10453 | Miami Travel Guide
wyntuition
Miami's cultural diversity is apparent from the moment you set foot on its soil and hear the rise and fall of a dozen different languages being spoken. It is an easygoing beach town, a refugee camp, and a 24-hour party all at once.
When talking about Miami, the beach is the best place to start. In the 1940s, when vacationers began to arrive, Miami Beach was the center of the action. Although years have passed and times have changed, the beach remains a perennial hot spot. Enormous luxury resorts such as Fontainebleau and Eden Roc rise majestically against the skyline. Shops and restaurants line the streets, and who could forget the miles of white sand beach!
Once home to a number of retired citizens and starving artists, South Beach has now risen to international fame as a popular vacation destination. Every block is packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and - of course - dance clubs, each trendier, more glamorous and cutting-edge than the last. One could spend days soaking in the sights and sounds of South Beach. Take a walking tour along Ocean Drive or down Lincoln Road, where the beautiful people come out to play. Whether it's three in the morning or three in the afternoon, there is bound to be plenty to do.
Located on the northern end of Miami Beach, Bal Harbour is the most exclusive neighborhood in Greater Miami. Luxury resorts sit serenely amid the lush foliage and palatial homes. No visit to this district is complete — or even begun — without a visit to the Bal Harbour Shops. Versace, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Prada are just a few of the fashion houses that have retail outlets in this shopping center. Plenty of fine dining can be found in Bal Harbour. (If you're on a budget, this isn't the place to dine or shop!)
Although primarily a business district, there's a lot to see and do downtown. Tour the design district between Northeast 36th and 41st Streets, or check out the museums in the Metro-Dade Cultural Center. Shoppers will delight in the Bayside Marketplace with its retail shops, open-air crafts market, half-dozen restaurants and pier. The Port of Miami is next to Bayside, where you can easily find a boat to take you on a tour around the bay.
Coral Gables is a gated enclave crisscrossed by canals, just a few minutes' drive from Downtown Miami. This small, tree-lined village is home to many of Miami's most famous attractions, including the Biltmore Hotel, Venetian Pool and Miracle Mile. Excellent shopping and dining can be found on the Miracle Mile as well as on the side streets surrounding it.
Although this bustling district is one of the oldest in Miami, it seems to just be hitting its prime. Full of energy and creativity, the Grove is as busy as South Beach, but in a different way. Instead of attracting models and body builders, it draws in artists, writers and patrons of the arts. There are hundreds of fabulous shops and restaurants crammed within this small area, most of them located on the CocoWalk or on the Streets of Mayfair. The Coconut Grove Playhouse is one of the best live theater venues in the southeastern United States.
Though located just over the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne might as well be a thousand miles away. Things are different on this peaceful tropical island: the pace slows down, people are friendly and matter-of-fact. If the marvelous white sand beaches and varied leisure sports aren't enough reason to go, consider the prospect of kissing a dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium!
This area is located west of Brickell Avenue and runs along the thoroughfare known as Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street). Many immigrants and refugees from Cuba have settled here, along with natives of Colombia, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. It is in this district that you can enjoy authentic salsa music, indulge in a complete Cuban meal for under USD10, or try a steaming cup of shockingly strong café cubano in an outdoor cafe.
West Miami is a quieter, more residential area. It's spread out and almost impossible to sightsee without a car. Hialeah and Miami Lakes, two residential communities, are located in this area. Miami International Airport is also situated here along with Hialeah Park Racetrack.
North Miami/Aventura
While it may be slightly out of the way, Aventura is easy to reach even without a car, thanks to the shuttle buses that run regularly from the major downtown hotels to the Aventura Mall. The mall is well worth a day trip, as it boasts over 250 shops, restaurants and attractions. This district is also home to dozens of excellent restaurants, many of them specializing in "Floribbean" cuisine.
Fort Lauderdale: Once upon a time, one could look down the road along Fort Lauderdale beach and inland along U.S. 1 and see flat land and the occasional scrubby palmetto as far as the eye could see. Now villages meld into adjoining towns, towns into cities, suburbs into each other and the entire county has become one sprawling megalopolis that stretches from the sea to the Everglades and from the northern border of Miami to the southern border of Palm Beach and beyond.
South of Fort Lauderdale is Hollywood, which has a small but significantly entertaining downtown area built around one of the several big traffic circles that characterize the city. Thanks to a redevelopment project that beautified downtown streets with intriguing architectural touches, trees and flowers, downtown Hollywood has become a popular. Restaurants like and , and shops like Sigrid Olsen are popular among visitors.
Not far away, the tiny town of Dania, founded by tomato farmers, has left its farms behind and is best known for a street lined on both sides by dozens of antique shops brimming with an eclectic array of collectibles. Parimutuel fans flock here to , where talented handball players compete, slamming a wooden ball around at speeds up to 100mph and catching it in a hand-held basket.
Beach enthusiasts will find some of the region's most intriguing sands here, many of them tucked away behind forests of palms, pines and palmetto bushes. The standout is , where you'll find many a sea turtle.
Traveling north of Fort Lauderdale, one wanders through a series of small towns including Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, which pretty much describes this tiny town that is home to a cluster of small inns and a few seaside cafes. The 180-acre is filled with animals and tall, lovely trees. Beyond lies the city of Pompano, which gets its name from a coveted fish found in abundance here. Pompano is particularly proud of its sportfishing options and is home to a number of fishing competitions, a big fishing pier and a popular . Hillsboro Beach, home to some of the region's most imposing seaside manses, is one of the loveliest parts of the drive, with the road rolling beneath massive trees and vegetation that must look much as it did a century ago when the fabled Barefoot Mailman strode the sand, armed with mail for the region's earliest settlers. Hillsboro Inlet is home to a fishing fleet so you can always find a fishing trip here and fresh-from-the-sea seafood at the .
Continuing northward, you pass through Deerfield Beach, home to a few small resorts, before you reach Boca Raton. Boca's love and lure is its historic and elegant , a creation of architect Addison Mizner, whose pseudo-Mediterranean architecture is a wonder to behold.
To the west of Fort Lauderdale lies a host of smaller cities that are the bedroom communities of the region, their residents working in municipalities throughout the area or in Miami. Among those are Sunrise, Plantation, Tamarac, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Margate, Lauderdale Lakes, Davie—which is particularly proud of its farmland and celebrates it with Western-style architectural touches—and the newest town of them all, Weston, a developer's dream just minutes from the Everglades. Broward County
While Broward County is not officially a part of Miami, it might as well be — it's less than a half hour away. The thriving art community of Hollywood, the outlets at Sawgrass Mills and, last but not least, the decadent little city of Fort Lauderdale are a few possible destinations in Broward. The pace is slightly more relaxed than in Miami, but people are here to have fun, make no mistake about it. Enjoy the shops on Las Olas or dine in a restaurant that has its own private boat dock for guests traveling by water.
Where to Go in Miami
Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
455 Grand Bay Dr
Resort and residences
Santa's Enchanted Forest
expert pick 7900 SW 40th Street Bird Road
Rides, games and much more
Joe's Stone Crab
expert pick 11 Washington Avenue
A Miami staple that's stone crab and side dish heaven
Marlin Bar
expert pick 1200 Collins Avenue
The Marlin Hotel
Caribbean food and music
Miami Blog Posts
Underwater Music Festival to Entice Divers and “Mermaids” The Florida Keys’ living coral reef is widely known for its marine diversity, not for subterranean music or seductive mermaids. Except, that is, during the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival.
Pelican Cafe in Miami Beach | People Watching & Fine Dining
South Beach's Ocean Drive is prime people-watching terrritory. And Pelican Cafe, which sits right on the strip, is one of the best places to catch an ever-changing glimpse of life in SoBe. Here, you'll see it all: bronzed beach babes ala Victoria Secret; hunky guys with sculpted physiques; swaggering... Read more
Jungle Island | Miami’s Top Family-Friendly Attraction
Visiting Miami and seeking the perfect place for family fun? Look no further than Jungle Island (formerly known as Parrot Jungle). Always a hit with kids, this must-see attraction has a beautiful aviary that is home to more than 200 parrots and and an assortment of 3,000 exotic creatures. Its resident... Read more | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/10479 | http://www.bastropmuseumandvisitorcenter.org
- Specification Required - This town, one of Texas' oldest settlements, was first called Mina. The name was changed around 1837 to honor Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, a prominent Dutch nobleman--or so the colonists thought. Actually, he was an impostor named Philip Hendrik Nering Bogel, born in Dutch Guiana to ordinary Dutch parents. Appearing in Texas as Baron de Bastrop in 1805, he obtained a colony grant, established a freight business and was appointed second alcalde of San Antonio in 1810. He was a primary negotiator with the government of Mexico for Stephen F. Austin's original Anglo-American colony, became an elected representative to the Mexican state of Coahuila (which included Texas) and helped establish the port of Galveston. The counterfeit baron's enterprises resulted in little profit, and when he died in 1827, fellow legislators covered the cost of his burial. It wasn't until more than a century later that records in the Netherlands revealed his identity. More than 130 historic structures in Bastrop are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, with 31 displaying a Texas Medallion. Main Street is lined with century-old structures housing shops and restaurants. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations in historic buildings are available. Main Street and Fisherman's Park on the Colorado River offer picnicking, fishing and boating. The historic Iron Bridge has been converted to a park above the Colorado River. For golfers, the city has three 18-hole courses. Horseback riding also is available. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/10756 | Privacy Policy Welcome to "Ask the White House" -- an online interactive forum where you can submit questions to Administration officials and friends of the White House. Visit the "Ask the White House" archives to read other discussions with White House officials.
Interior Secretary
Hi, I'm Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Many Americans are planning to take vacations this summer to our national parks. We are happy to be welcoming a million visitors a day to our national parks. Over the past three years, we have worked hard to improve the facilities and the overall visitor experience at our parks, committing more money per employee, per visitor and per park than at any other time in our nation's history. While there is still much work to be done, we are pleased with the progress Park Service employees have made in reducing a huge backlog of maintenance and repair projects that we inherited when we took office.
Yesterday I released a report describing our investments to improve parks. The future of our parks is bright. I am pleased to answer your questions now.
Lisa, from Alexandria writes: I think we are moving in the right direction Secretary Norton, but we
need more money. According to the Washington Post this morning, 85 percent of parks are receiving less money this year than last. Gale NortonOur critics have made the charge that Parks are receiving less money, but they are only looking at one part of our Parks budget. If you look at the overall budget for each Park, the budget has increased for almost every Park. Debi, from Ocala writes: Is it true that Park Rangers have to call budget cuts "service level adjustments"? Gale NortonNo one in Washington, DC ordered Park Rangers to use the phrase you mentioned. It came from a memo sent by someone in one of our regional offices. We have asked our employees to continue their tradition of providing high quality services to visitors, and most visitors to National Parks praise the work of our employees. Steve, from St. Petersburg, Florida
writes: According to our newspaper this morning, the Bush administration claims to have increased spending on national parks, but it counts money used
to respond to natural disasters such as fires and to beef up domestic security. Is that right? Gale NortonPark operating budgets have increased from $1.4 billion in 2001 to $1.63 billion in 2004. The President's 2005 park operating budget would climb to $1.8 billion. These amounts do not include special emergency funds for domestic security. NPS expenditures in fire fighting have remained relatively stable over the past four years. In addition to increases in the operating budget, the President's federal highway legislation would double funding for park roads. Construction spending has increased from $180 million in 2001 to nearly $330 million in 2005. Rod, from Nashville writes: It concerns me that my favorite Park -- the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park -- has been named the most polluted Park in America. What is being
done to turn this around? Gale NortonThe Bush Administration has proposed the Clear Skies Initiative that will improve air quality in our national parks. In April 2004, the Administration proposed a new rule on Regional Haze that will help improve visibility in parks by requiring the installation of best available retrofit technology on older facilities emitting harmful pollution. The air in our national parks will significantly benefit from these new regulations. For example, the regulation will reduce pollutants around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by 70 to 80 percent. According to a recent news interview by Jim Renfro, the Air Quality Specialist from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Clear Skies Initiative will be a positive overall step that should reduce pollutants in the park by 70 to 80 percent over the next 10 to 15 years. "These are large reductions no matter how you look at it," Renfro said. "The benefits are clearly there . . . We are in an area that will clearly benefit the most from the Clear Skies
Initiative. When those reductions start to occur, and most of the
improvements will be in the East, the Smokies will be downwind where those
improvements are going to happen." Steve, from Colorado writes: Isn't it really more fair to say that there has only been $662 million
in "new money?" Gale NortonThe NPS budget has grown over 20% since 2001 when the Bush Administration took office. For maintenance of facilities and roads, the NPS budget will have around a quarter-billion dollars per year more than it had in 2001. The President's budget, including spending on park roads, would bring over $1.5 billion in new funds to parks for maintenance improvements. We have cyclic ongoing routine maintenance funding, prioritized our construction funds toward the maintenance backlog, and NPS is now working smarter to achieve maintenance goals more efficiently. Together, these efforts enable us to meet the President's goal of investing $4.9 billion to address the maintenance backlog. Sandy, from Maine writes: What is being done about Acadia National Park's serious budget shortfall? Gale NortonThe budget for Acadia National Park has actually grown significantly since President Bush took office. In 2001, Acadia's base funding was $4.2 million. For 2004, Acadia's budget had climbed to $6.3 million. In addition, Acadia has received significant maintenance and construction increases. These funds have jumped from $185,000 in 2001 to funding in 2003 and 2004 for special projects totaling $15.6 million. The park also received over $2 million in recreation fee and concession funds. These significant increases are enabling Acadia to address long-standing goals to improve the visitor experience. Tobi, from Los Angeles writes: Secretary Norton, I read on a conservation website that only a handful of national parks have financial experts on hand. If there have been so
many problems with funding national parks, how can this be? Thank you for taking my question.
Gale NortonTraditionally, few parks had focused on enhancing financial or business management expertise. Because our 388 park units manage over 84 million acres and nearly 30,000 buildings and other infrastructure, they require sophisticated business management. A centerpiece of this Administration is to bring those skills and management excellence to our parks. We are preparing business plans for many parks. We have created, for the first-time ever, a full inventory of park facilities and now have an assessment of their condition. Using a state of the art facilities management system, for the first time ever park superintendents can track maintenance needs and plan for them. We have instituted better fleet management so dollars are not wasted on costly vehicles that don't meet park needs. All these efforts are part of our focus on results-making our parks outstanding places for visitor enjoyment and resource protection. David, from Alexandria, VA
writes: How is the park service addressing the growing problem of invasive and exotic species in national parks? Gale NortonThe National Park Service's Natural Resource Challenge seeks to restore natural ecosystems and wildlife. One way the park service accomplishes these goals is by preventing exotic plants and animals from crowding out native species. For example, we have been removing the invasive species of tamarisk and perennial pepperweed from the Green and Yampa Rivers in Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah. The National Park Service has deployed 16 exotic plant management teams to eradicate and monitor exotic plant species.
Jeff, from Colombus writes: What is your opinion on the bill in Congress which would make fees permanent and extend the option to charge for recreation on federal lands that now are free. Gale NortonWe strongly support continuation of the interagency recreation fee program that enables our land management agencies to re-invest recreation fees at recreation sites. The fee demonstration program provides Department of the Interior's agencies over $150 million each year. These funds go directly to enhancing visitor recreation services and opportunities. Our agencies have used recreation fees to expand trails, build boat ramps, create new and better campgrounds, upgrade visitor centers, and improve many other recreation services. New bills in Congress would not impose fees on lands that are now free. Land management agencies currently have authority to charge fees for recreation activities that directly benefit individual users at sites with recreation related infrastructure. The proposed bills would continue this focus but would ensure that agencies can retain fees to make improvements rather than having revenues go to the federal treasury. Markie, from Beaverton writes: Crater Lake has $245,000 less to spend than it did two years ago, not counting inflation. Crater Lake needs MORE money Gale NortonWhen this Administration took office, the Crater Lake National Park base operating budget was $3.9 million. In the President's 2005 budget, Crater Lake would receive $4.1 million. In addition, Crater Lake has received significant new funds for construction and maintenance. In 2001, Crater Lake received $521,000 for these purposes. In 2003 and 2004 the park received over $2 million, with another $1 million scheduled for 2005. The Park will also receive a major influx of repaid and rehabilitation money, rising from $149,000 in 2001 to $1.2 million in 2005.
Thank you for all your good questions. Our parks are cherished and will always need our care. I know the President and First Lady greatly enjoy the national parks. Our National Park Service employees welcome all Americans to come enjoy our parks. Whether you want to learn about our nation's patriotic history, or see our most magnificent vistas--our national parks can offer a special opportunity. We look forward to seeing you! | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/11142 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Crowcombe Heathfield Crowcombe Heathfield Postcode for Sat Nav: TA4 4PA
Crowcombe Heathfield Station was built in 1862 when the line was opened and stands at the highest point on the line, just under 400ft. above the sea. The station is surrounded by lovely scenic countryside and a network of lanes, bridle ways and footpaths offering walking, cycling and horse riding. A leaflet (obtained from the stations) prepared jointly between Crowcombe Heathfield and Stogumber Stations shows the lanes and footpath routes in the area and there is a web site www.fochs.org.uk which is well worth a visit. The visual charm of the station and surroundings has caught the eye of several TV and film directors leading to scenes being shot at the station for "The Flockton Flyer", The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "Land Girls", and The Beatles film "A Hard Days Night".
The station has a booking office and prices from this Station can be found on our Fares Pages. There is also a small shop and toilet facilities as well as a disabled persons accessable toilet on the station. During operating days the station is open for hot and cold drinks, cakes and famous "Bread Pudding" and you can be assured a warm welcome awaits you. On Gala days this is widened to include hot savoury snacks, soups and a coal fire to welcome you during the cold weather!
Why not do the 'One Mile Walk'? Enjoy a very gentle and easy 1 mile circular walk from
the station in either direction. The walk gives some lovely views of the line, �The
Avenue� with its beech trees and crossed two railway bridges.
The station is the ideal start/end point for a walk on the Quantock Hills or a cycle ride round Somerset�s country lanes.
History of Crowcombe Heathfield Station
The first sod on the original West Somerset Railway was lifted as part of the cutting at the tranquil wayside station which is a perfect spot to relax and watch the world go by, or for the more energetic to start or conclude a walk in the Quantock Hills.
The station is not close to any major settlement and this has made it popular with film crews in the past. Sequences that feature Crowcombe Heathfield include Ringo Starr riding a bicycle down the platform in A Hard Days Night and in the opening sequence of Land Girls. The main station building dates from the 1860s whilst the wooden building on the opposite platform is a replacement for an earlier structure demolished by British Railways.
Similarly the signal box dates from the preservation era. Its brick built base was built new by the West Somerset Railway whilst the wooden top comes from Ebbw Vale in South Wales.
Please visit the Crowcombe Heathfield Station Website. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/11651 | Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa
Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa
Yoga Retreats 2015
4 dates available in 2015
You will be guided through your retreat by Sal for more infomation contact Jennie Rickards
Explore Ockenden ManorA Brief History of Ockenden ManorAround and About Ockenden Manor A Brief History of Ockenden Manor
The first recorded owners of Ockenden were the Michel family in the mid-1500's and John Michel lived there and survived when the house burnt down on 8 September 1608. In 1658, John Burrell who had grown rich on the Sussex iron industry, bought the manor, extending it and adding what is now the oak panelled Burrell Room.
The property remained in the Burrell family until the early 20th century and was for a time in the 1760's owned by the fourth Duke of Marlborough, whose mother Elizabeth Burrell had married the third Duke.
In the early 1900's Ockenden was home to a Jewish Boys School and at the start of the Second World War it housed Canadian troops. After the war Mr and Mrs Eggars opened it as a restaurant and guest house, starting another chapter in the long history of what is now Ockenden Manor Hotel.
View our TripAdvisor reviews Share this page:
Around and About Ockenden Manor | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/11670 | Home > Ski Resorts > French Ski Resorts > Val d'Isere
Val d'Isere,
ski holidays in Val d'isereSki holidays in Val d'IsereVal d'Isere resortval d'isere ski holidayval d'isere ski holidayval d'isere ski holidaysval d'isere ski holidaysVal d'Isere Birds Eye ViewVal d'Isere ski resortval d'isere ski holidaysVal d'Isere at Nightval d'isere ski holidaysval d'isere ski holidayVal d'Isere ski holidaysval d'isere ski holidaysVal d'Isere Solaise Fireworksval d'isere ski holidaysval d'isere ski holidaysSki holidays in Val d'Isere
Ski Holidays in Val d'Isère, France Val d’Isère is thought by many to be one top winter sports resorts in Europe. The sophisticated and charming village teamed with world class ski terrain attracts devoted ski, snowboard and party enthusiasts year after year. Being part of the Espace Killy ski area that boasts excellent snow records, Val d’Isère has smooth links to Tignes, making it an even more attractive holiday location. Historically Val d’Isere has mainly been suited for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders, but a new 2 year project starting in early 2015 aims to redevelop the Solaise area that’ll improve the terrain for beginners and families. New additions include a gondola with heated seats and Wi-Fi, a giant magic carpet, reduced slope gradient and a new day lodge. Conditions in Val d’Isère The snow conditions in Val d’Isère are difficult to beat, wherever you go. Even in bad snow years, Val d’Isère remains accessible in most places due to the high altitude. A big plus point is the fact that all runs back into the town stay open almost all of the time, because of how high the town is. The majority of the runs are above mid-mountain, ensuring long-term accessibility. Val d’Isere has one main village centre and most of the accommodation is close to the lifts and shops. Loads of... read fullAfter good snow fall head to Le Fornet region and take the signal drag lift to experience great off-piste in the... read fullAvg User Review Score: from 15 Val d'Isere reviews
Review this Resort Val d’Isere’s snowmaking facility is the largest in Europe, and this year it has been improved to provide guaranteed snow-cover from November until May. The artificial snow will play a key role in keeping the 300km in pristine condition even in a dry winter. Take a look at the Val d’Isère Snow History, where you can also check the current snow report, forecast and webcams. Val d'Isère Ski Resort Val d'Isere is a lively town packed with bars, restaurants and upmarket shops. You won't have to go far to hear English voices as Val is full of chalets which, in turn, are full of Brits. It's a great place to ski with 300km of slopes linking with Tignes and its glacier. Lifts fan out from the centre of town although many take the free bus to La Daille with its funicular offering swift access to Tignes. Buses between La Daille and Val d’Isere centre take 7 minutes, or it’s a 15 minute flat walk. Skiing in Val d’isere The village of Val d’Isere sits at 1850m and the ski area peaks at 3350m on the Glacier Du Pissaillas. Together with Tignes there is a vast 300km of varied, world class pistes that attract holiday makers and seasoned skiers from all around the globe. Intermediates will enjoy the extensive blue and red ski runs that span across Espace Killy; this ski area is perfect for cruising and clocking up the ski miles on the long wide pistes. There's plenty of difficult terrain on offer (especially back into the centre of town, particularly the mogul-packed Face run) but equally lots for the whole family to discover and love. Accommodation in Val d’Isère Accommodation in town is mostly traditional but there's a lot of new development near the lifts in the Solaise and Bellevarde areas, plus modern blocks at the base of La Daille. La Daille is where the majority of self-catering apartments are located. There is a large selection of chalets located throughout the resort that cater for all budgets and group sizes, which is one of the reasons why Val d’Isere is so popular. Browse through Chalets in Val d’Isere. If you prefer staying in hotels there is an abundance of choices including the new luxury Chalet Hotel Le Savoie and the All Inclusive Club Med Val d’Isere. Après-ski, Restaurants and Activities in Val d’Isère Après ski is big, notably the Folie Douce at the top of the La Daille gondola with its live music, DJs and crowds in late afternoon, and the veteran Dick's Tea Bar disco in town. Prices are expensive in this neck of the woods, but worth every penny. Val d’Isere is one of the top après spots in Europe with countless bars across the resort. Other notable hot spots include The Morris Bar, Cocoricos, Petit Danois, The Underground and Bar La Rosee. View more information about the nightlife here in our best après ski guide. Other activities in resort include: Aqua Leisure ComplexSports centre with gym, sports hall and climbing wallSledgingIce rinkParaglidingIce drivingSnowmobilingHusky sleigh ridesIce climbingSnowshoeing Transfer Times and Airports Used for Val d’Isère Chambery Airport: approx. 2h 15min Geneva Airport: approx. 3h 00min Grenoble Airport: approx. 2h 45min Lyon Airport: approx. 4h 00min Take a look at the full list of airports and transfer times for Val d’Isère. Lift Pass/Resort Prices in Val d’Isère Val d’Isère ski passes cost around 250 € for an adult for 7 days, and 200 € for a child for 7 days. However, it is suggested that you book tickets for the Espace Killy ski area (linking to Tignes), as prices are only about 10 € extra for any type of pass.
20/12/2006 Val d’Isere has one main village centre and most of the accommodation is close to the lifts and shops. Loads of places in Val d’Isere to go have a few drinks and have a boogie - very much a party resort, the ski area is amazing.
12/12/2005 After good snow fall head to Le Fornet region and take the signal drag lift to experience great off-piste in the sunny bowl and Le Grand Vallon. Lots of powder, but you'll need to get there early.
Check out The Couloirs De Pisteurs for a real challenge - the name says it all - in the Bellevarde region.
Nice place! Very young and not as expensive as other french resorts. Very pretty and good snow as its high. Loads to do at night, bars, resturants, clubs, shops etc.......... lots of British people... its a young resort.
10/01/2006 I LOVED Val d'Isere.. absolutely stunning town, huge ski area, lifts and runs right in the centre of the resort, great night life.. what more could you ask for? I fell in love with the place and can't wait to go back.
08/01/2006 What a fantastic place Val d'Isere is. Beautiful scenery, wide slopes and lots for everyone. If you fancy an interesting route back at the end of the day try Piste 'L'. It's a blue but is plenty of fun as parts of it bear resemblance to a half pipe!!!
23/04/2007 Fantastic ski area. We went very late in the season, so the runs back to the resort were not good, but still no shortage of skiing as you can easily link in to higher pistes at Tignes. Much nicer to stay in Val d'Isere than Tignes however as there is a proper village feel and atmosphere to Val d'Isere.
13/03/2008 Val D'Isere is a great all around resort. It is very traditional and beautiful with striking scenery. Snow sure, fantastic restaurants, market on a Monday night and great après! Some really good Djs from the UK were out there while we were visiting too!
18/04/2008 Val d'Isere is a fantastic skiing area with an excellent lift system so there is virtually no queuing. There are also some very good restaurants for long lunches. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/11756 | When you think of Las Vegas, you think of Las Vegas casinos. They've been glorified in films and on the small screen. And for good reason. They're everything you've been told and more. more... The lights. The sounds. The pulsating energy. You'll love every second of it.There are more games than ever. And if you're not sure you know what you're doing, the dealers are happy to help teach you. So go on. Let the cards, chips and dice fall where they may. Win more with progressive slots and multi-property jackpots. If you're looking for penny slots, they're just about everywhere. If you're playing for higher stakes, you'll have no trouble finding just the accommodations. Most casinos have a high-limit room where you can throw down bigger bucks. And if you're feeling especially big-time, resorts like Bellagio, Wynn and Aria will bring the game right to you, with tables and dealers dispatched right to your room. In the summer, you can swim right up to the tables and keep playing at Palms and Caesars Palace, among other Las Vegas casinos. Today, you can play blackjack just steps from a go-go dancer. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Planet Hollywood offer sections dedicated to aficionados of gaming, music and beautiful women. And the cocktail waitresses are as pretty as you've heard. What are you waiting for? The Las Vegas casinos are everything you've heard and even more. They're spacious, inviting, clean and ready to welcome you with open arms. Prepare for thrills, excitement and high energy when you belly up to the table or the slots. Be sure to visit the players' club desk to get the reward card. It will track your gaming and make sure you receive the most perks available. And you'll enjoy the rewards that keep rolling in visit after visit. Type
Casino Only
Sports Book
200 North Main St., Las Vegas, NV
Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino
O'Sheas Las Vegas
3535 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV
Type: Casino Only
Close your eyes and go to your Las Vegas happy spot. What do you see? O’Sheas Casino is located in the heart of Las Vegas, attached to the Linq Hotel & Casino. The gaming ac... More
Oasis at Gold Spike
217 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV
1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV
Poker Palace
2757 N Las Vegas Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV
You'll find both smoking and non-smoking rooms at the Poker Palace, which has been a fixture in North Las Vegas for more than 30 years.
Primm Valley Resort & Casino
31900 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Jean, NV | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/11786 | The day trips from Paris and Paris tours company.
Phone: 1-866-996-9727 | All About Brittany, France One of France's most rugged and friendly regions, Brittany is a fascinating mix of spectacular coastline, medieval towns, magical islands and inland woods. A Celtic duchy for more than one thousand years before its annexation to France in 1532, it is a land rich in culture, tradition and history. When you journey through Brittany, you'll discover a people whose language, customs and dress remain a vivid homage to their past.
Check out our one day trip from Paris to Brittany and Mont St. Michel. Visit Dinan, St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.
A short video showing the beautiful character and enchanting sites of Brittany:
The fastest tides in all of Europe can be found in Brittany. Be careful! When the tide comes in, it really comes in fast.
In French "Brittany" is spelled "Bretagne". Great Britain is known as "Grande Bretagne".
The capital of Brittany is the city of Rennes. Rennes has a population of just over 200,000 people.
Pink Granite Coast - Sunset is the best time to explore the headland of Arcouest and the island of Brehat and admire the expanses of sandy beaches and the rusty rock formations in splendid hues of pink which give this coast its name.
Saint Malo - Built in granite rock in the English Channel, the bathing resort of Saint Malo is known for its castle, the cathedral of Saint Vincent, and its 14th century ramparts which overlook the sea. Saint Malo is the birthplace of famous French writer and statesman, Chateaubriand. St. Malo is a great town to spend a few days by the sea. The Parish Closes - The parish closes of St. Thegonnec, Guimiliau and Lampaul-Guimiliau, which were built as early as 1532, are symbols of Brittany's Catholic and Celtic heritage. These granite religious structures are an intricate mesh of skilled of craftsmanship and imagery. Churches, altarpieces and crosses are adorned with elves, gods and fairies carved in wood.
Quimper and Pont-Aven
Located in the heart of traditional Brittany and flanked by the Odet and Steir rivers, Quimper is famous for its furnace ceramics which have been produced by skilled craftsmen since the 17th century. The Gothic Cathedral of Saint Corentin has exceptional 15th century stained glass windows. Pont-Aven, home to a former artist colony known as the "School of Pont-Aven" led by the painter Paul Gauguin, is a pretty market village of white houses and sloping riverbanks. Carnac, Gulf of Morbihan - One of the foremost prehistoric centers, the seaside resort of Carnac is famed for its megalithic remains from the Neolithic period. In addition to 2792 menhirs, massive stones erected by tribes who inhabited the region before the arrival of the Gauls, the area is studded with burial places, semicircles, and tumuli. Located ten miles off the southern coast of Brittany, Belle Ile ("Beautiful Island") is Brittany's largest. Buffeted by storms and fringed by rocky cliffs, it is an isolated natural paradise whose inhabitants are known | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/12156 | A Comfort Inn catering to business travelers will join the Patel portfolio.
By PAUL SWIDER
ST. PETERSBURG - Expanding on its existing investments, the owners of three hotels in the city will build a fourth, aimed at corporate clients in the Gateway area."We are targeting that clientele in the new hotel," said Paul Patel, who, with his extended family, owns the 75-room Comfort Inn & Suites at 1400 34th St. N, the 50-room Budget Inn at 800 34th St. N, and the 150-room Days Inn at 2595 54th Ave N. The new hotel at 94th Avenue N and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street will also be a Comfort Inn, with 47 rooms.Patel said the family bought the three hotels it currently owns over the past several years, paying $3.5-million, $1.3-million and $3.6-million, respectively, for the Comfort, Budget and Days Inn properties. The new hotel, the first one the family will have built, will cost about $4-million."We like hotels," said Patel, 25. "But we're not just buying them to buy them. We don't just buy and sell. We keep."Patel said his family runs the hotels it owns and has renovated most of them considerably. He said his family is not related to Dr. Kiran C. Patel of Tampa, whose family also has development and community interests. Paul Patel said his last name is, in his home city of Gujarat, India, as common as "Smith" or "Jones" would be in the United States.The new hotel will create about 15 full-time jobs, Patel said, and should begin construction in the next few months. He said the building will not contain meeting rooms but will have a spa, pool and fitness center on its 1.3-acre parcel. It will also provide wireless Internet access to all facilities, as do the Comfort and Days inns the family already runs.Patel said the new building will be set well off the street with ample landscaping, will sit on a corner and not abut any residential property. The site had been a gas station, Patel said, but the family is taking steps to make sure the soil is clean for its new development. The new hotel is aimed at the business sector, Patel said. It is surrounded by office parks and located within easy distance to downtown St. Petersburg, Clearwater or Tampa. The family's existing properties cater to a more mixed clientele, including many seasonal tourists, Patel said. Those hotels are in the city's core, but still have strong occupancy rates because of their central location and close proximity to downtown and the beaches. Patel said the two properties along 34th Street have average annual occupancies of 80 percent, while the larger Days Inn tallies 65 percent occupancy.Patel said the 34th Street corridor is changing because of investments like those of his family and because of the efforts of the city, which has cooperated with his family's work. Still, he said, there are some older hotels that charge low rates and cater to a transient clientele. He said advertisements for $30 hotel rooms discourage further development because his clients see that as a sign of a poor area."It just looks so bad," he said.Patel said his family has no plans for new investments elsewhere in the area, but is always exploring options. He said that when his family started buying properties five years ago, there was little competition, but now there are more investors looking at hotels.Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com or by participating in itsyourtimes.com. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/13697 | You are here: HomePlaces to goMuseumsThe Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Palace is one of the most loved monuments of Florence. Commissioned by Cosimo I, it was designed by Giorgio Vasari around the middle of the 16th century. In order to realize the project, Vasari had some of the buildings surrounding the area demolished. The intention of Cosimo I was to build a palace that could host the thirteen administrative and judicial Magistrature or Uffizi, from which the palace will get its name. When Vasari died, the construction of the Uffizi was handed over to Buontalenti and to Alfonso Parigi. Buontalenti projected the Teatro Mediceo according to the will of Francesco I, the son of Cosimo I, in 1586. When Florence was the capital of Italy the theatre was the seat of the Senate. The building has the unusual and singular horseshoe shape, also called U shape, which opens towards the Arno River. The two bodies of the building are parallel and conjoined by a connecting corridor that has six big arched windows that open over the courtyard of the palace and over the Arno River. The two floors of the building, divided by stringcourses, stand over a portico that runs along the whole length of the palace and is sustained by pillars. In the niches of the portico are the statues of the Florentines who distinguished themselves from the middle Ages until the 19th century. At the present day the Palazzo degli Uffizi hosts one of the most admired and visited museums in the world for the quality of its artworks and the history that accompanies them from the 13th century to the 18th century: the Uffizi Gallery. In 1993 the Palace was involved in the bombing attack at the Accademia dei Gergofili undergoing damages and loses of inestimable value; another act of vandalism against a patrimony of the world that managed to resist and to win returning, after a long restoration work, to its original splendour. The Uffizi Gallery, founded by Francesco de' Medici to delight himself during his walks, has become through the centuries one of the most famous and admired museums in the world. It was Francesco I de' Medici who created an art Gallery on the second floor of the Palazzo degli Uffizi to delight himself, during his walks, with the collection of paintings, sculptures and arrases belonging to the Medici family. Thanks to Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici the Gallery became a "public and inalienable good": the Duchess, in fact, handed it over to the Lorena family providing that it would remain open to the public. At the present day the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous and celebrated museums in the world, the symbol of the vocation for collecting and to patronage. An interesting group is represented by the artworks commissioned by the corporations of arts and trades thanks to their economical, cultural and artistic exchanges, Florence has become the world capital of art and, especially a meeting and exchanging landmark for the most important Italian and foreign artists. Other artworks come from private donations, from diplomatic exchanges, from antique convents and dynastic inheritance. Currently 2,000 works of art are on display, while another 1,800 pieces lie in storage. The entrance is located the beginning of the east loggia. On the ground floor, in the rooms originally forming the church of S. Pier Scheraggio, which was incorporated into the palazzo by Vasari, is the series of frescoes of Famous Men by Andrea del Castagno as well as an Annunciation by Botticelli (1481), a fresco detached from the church of S. Martino alla Scala. A large staircase, built by Vasari, leads to the second floor, were the Medici theatre once stood. This area now contains the Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe, exceptional graphic collection comprising more than 100,000 sheets, from the 14th to the 20th c. If you continue along the large staircase you will reach the third floor, where there are two vestibules, which lead into the gallery and which contain a collection of busts of grand dukes and Roman statues. The visit begins with a walk through the corridors that correspond to the three wings of the buildings.
First corridor
In the first corridor the examples of sacred art, of the Renaissance and the artworks by Flemish artists narrate a nostalgic and enlightened past through the alliance between art and spirituality. The entrance hall to the Uffizi Gallery hosts Roman age sculptures belonging to the Medicean collection: plaster moulds and copies which serve as an anti-room to the museum. The first museum serves as an access to the rooms that expose artworks belonging to the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Along the perimeter of the corridor is the Medicean collection of head moulds and sculptures placed at regular intervals with one statue and two head moulds. On the vaults are frescoes that represent animals, imaginary monsters, satyrs and feats and Medicean achievements. Under the vaults are the portraits of famous men and rulers from all over the world. The first rooms are dedicated to the art of the 13th and 14th centuries. Here we find examples of sacred art among which the Madonna d'Ognissanti by Giotto, the Maestà di Santa Trinita by Cimabue and the Maestà by Duccio di Buoninsegna. From the 14th century in Florence and Siena the Triptych of San Matteo by Andrea di Cione, the Polyptych of San Pancrazio by Bernardo Daddi and the Presentation to the Temple by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (rooms 3-4). The rooms 5-6 are dedicated to the international Gothic: by Lorenzo Monaco the Adoration of the Magi. Among the artworks of the early Renaissance the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin by Beato Angelico, the Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello, Portrait of the Dukes of Urbino by Piero della Francesca (room 7). In the rooms 8 and 9 are the artworks by artists such as Filippo Lippi: the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, the Adoration of the Magi, by Antonio del Pollaiolo A Female Portrait, Hercules and Antes. Followed by the masterpieces by Botticelli: La calunnia, Primavera, the Birth of Venus, Adoration of the Magi, Madonna della Melagrana, and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. The Renaissance is celebrated by the paintings by Leonardo among which l'Adorazione dei Magi and the Annunciation and by Perugino la Pietà, (room 15). In the Tribune is the 16th century in Florence with Medicean portraits by Pontormo, By Rosso Fiorentino ‘l'Angiolino musicante’ and by Andrea del Sarto ‘la Dama col Petrarchino’. In a series of adjoining rooms are the works belonging to German art of the 15th and 16th century and paintings from Lombardia and Emilia that evoke mythological tales and detailed Flemish landscapes (rooms 19 -23). Among them you can admire: Adam and Eve by Lukas Cranack, Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Mantegna and the Blessed Virgin adoring the Child by Correggio. Second Corridor
In the second corridor, with wide windows, is disclosed an impressive foreshortened view over the city which narrates itself through art. The second corridor, also called 'midday corridor', is certainly one of the most enthralling places of the whole Palazzo degli Uffizi. It's the connecting corridor between the two wings or structures which give the palace its unusual horse-shape. The impressiveness derives from its long windows that enlighten it and from which you can catch a glimpse at some views of Florence: the Ponte Vecchio, the Vasari Corridor, the Arno River, the hills: live postcards flow under the enthusiast eyes of those observing the harmony of the hilly landscapes and the serene gayness of the streets and of the elegant bridges of Florence. On the vaults are the precious grotesque frescoes: among them a painting representing a pergola with birds, flowers and plants and the Virtues of the Medicean Grand Dukes by Nasini. Only the Miniature Cabinet opens on this corridor, originally called Camera degli Idoli (the Room of the Idols) and afterwards Camera di Madama (the Madam Room) since at first it hosted a collection of bronze statues and then the jewels of Cristina di Lorena. On the vault you can admire the Allegory of fame by Filippo Lucci. In the oval room is kept the collection of miniature portraits most of which come from the collection of Leopoldo de' Medici. Very characteristic is the marble pavement. The inlaid marble creates an image of a big carpet. Along the entire corridor, under the frescoed vaults, are the portraits of the rulers from all over the world. Among the sculptures is a Roman copy of Love and Psiche and numerous sculptures from the Roman age: flexuous female bodies and the powerful muscles of heroes and divinities. Third Corridor
The 16th century artworks by artists famous worldwide such as Michelangelo, Raffaello Sanzio and Rosso Fiorentino open the collections of the third corridor. Like the two previous ones, the third corridor has grotesque frescoed vaults which depict animals, famous personalities and Medicean achievements. Here as well there are the portraits of the 'Jovian series' with the royalties from all around the world and the Roman statues. The museum's pathway starts again with the rooms 25- 27, which host the Florentine painters of the 16th century: by Michelangelo Buonarroti the Tondo Doni or Sacra Famiglia con San Giovannino; by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio la Coperta di ritratto; by Raffaello Sanzio la Madonna del cardellino; by Andrea del Sarto la Madonna delle Arpie; by Pontormo Cena in Emmaus and by Rosso Fiorentino la Madonna col Bambino e Santi. In room 28 you can admire Tiziano which is represented as the most illustrious exponent of 16th century Venetian art: by the artist there's la Venere d'Urbino, Flora. Among the examples of Italian painting in Europe in the 16th century (rooms 29-34): by Tintoretto Leda e il cigno (Leda and the swan), by Parmigianino Madonna dal collo lungo (Blessed Mary with a long neck), by Giorgio Vasari La fucina di Vulcano (the furnace of Volcano). Other examples from the 17th century: Rubens with the portrait of Isabella Brandt and Diego Velasquez with Filippo IV of Spain riding a horse. Followed by the room named after the queen Niobe: sculptures based on a mythological theme portraying the woman trying to protect her children from the deadly rage of Apollo and Diana who are shooting fatal arrows against them (room 42). Following there are the 17th century collections through the examples of the Bacchus, The sacrifice of Isaac and Medusa by Caravaggio; by Rembrandt the Juvenile self-portrait and the Venetian foreshortenings and views by Canaletto (room 44). Next to this last room is located the entrance to the bar and to the terrace of the Gallery where you can admire the architectural masterpieces of the city such as the Tower by Arnolfo di Cambio which towers over Palazzo Vecchio and the Cupola by Brunelleschi. For any information:
Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 (055 2388651). Open 8.15am-6.50pm. Closed on Mon. Admission: 6,50 euro. Advance booking: Firenze Musei (055 294883).
50 Days of Cinema 2015
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2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/14117 | Home > National Parks of Canada > Nahanni National Park Reserve > Park Management > 2010 Management Plan
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Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada
2010 Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada Management Plan
Parks Canada is responsible for administering a system of world-renowned national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas. These protected areas showcase our country's natural, cultural and historic treasures, and are a living legacy of our heritage. Parks Canada's goal is to ensure that Canadians have a strong sense of connection through meaningful experiences and that these protected places are enjoyed in ways that leave them unimpaired for present and future generations.
Naha Dehé is the traditional name for Nahanni National Park Reserve, reflecting its Dene heritage. The park was established in 1976 to protect the South Nahanni River from hydroelectric development. It was expanded in 2009, and now includes a diverse array of unique landforms and important wildlife habitat. The park protects a significant portion of the Naha Dehé watershed, a traditional homeland of the Dene. As such, cooperative management is at the heart of operations for the park. Dehcho First Nations and Parks Canada work together on park management issues through the Naha Dehé Consensus Team.
This management plan was developed by the Naha Dehé Consensus Team, with community, stakeholder and public involvement. It will be the primary reference document for decision-making and accountability for the park. Building on the foundation of previous plans and amendments and the strengths and challenges presented in the 2009 State of the Park Report, this management plan contains twelve objectives and more than eighty-five actions designed to improve and monitor the state of the park, address needs and opportunities, and focus efforts and resources towards achieving the park vision. The plan sets the foundation to:
Protect the Naha Dehé watershed and respect the wilderness character of the park; Become a centre for northern mountain research; Encourage exploration and discovery of Naha Dehé by visitors and others; Expand visitor experience opportunities and products; Build training, employment and business opportunities for Dehcho First Nations; Develop operational infrastructure in Fort Simpson and Nahanni Butte; and Create a zoning plan for the park expansion area.
The plan integrates the three elements of the Parks Canada's mandate - the protection of heritage resources, the facilitation of visitor experiences and the provision of public outreach education - into a new park vision, three key strategies and three area management approaches.
Key Strategy #1: Taking Care of Naha Dehé
The Northwest Territories' highest mountains, largest glaciers and some of Canada's deepest canyons are all found in Naha Dehé. The park includes a Canadian Heritage River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nahanni National Park Reserve must work with others to help maintain the highest possible standards of quality for the waters, lands, air and wildlife of Naha Dehé. Understanding this area is a big task which is best undertaken through cooperative monitoring and research. Parks Canada works in partnership with Dehcho First Nations, traditional users, academic institutions, government agencies, environmental non-governmental organizations and independent researchers to fulfill this task. The scientific work conducted in Naha Dehé presents exciting opportunities to enhance management, stewardship, education and visitor programs.
Key Strategy #2: Naha Dehé - A Gift to be Shared
For many, dreams of dipping a paddle in the waters of the South Nahanni River, listening to the roar of Náįlįcho (Virginia Falls) or feeling the rough granite of Lotus Flower Tower in the Cirque of the Unclimbables may remain just a dream. People who come for the wilderness or the challenge of adventure, leave with fond memories of their interactions with Dehcho people and culture. With park expansion, there are many new opportunities for discovery which will be developed in conjunction with partners. Ensuring that Naha Dehé is in the hearts and minds of Canadians and people around the world is key for continued support.
Key Strategy #3: Waters for Life
The threat of hydroelectric development was the catalyst for the creation of Nahanni National Park Reserve in the 1970s. Dehcho First Nations' desire to ensure clean water for current and future generations served as the impetus for park expansion. Water is important for the people, wildlife and plants that live in and are connected to Naha Dehé. Water quality continues to be of great importance, given that the primary recreational experience is travelling the South Nahanni River and that there is regional industrial development in close proximity to the park.
To support the key strategies, the management plan includes three area management approaches: Gahnihthah (Rabbitkettle), Nailicho (Virginia Falls) and the Expansion Area.
Gahnihthah: Rabbitkettle Area
The Gahnihthah Area includes a place of great cultural and geological significance, and a nearby lake which is an overnight access and registration point for park visitors. Focussing on this area will allow the park to examine, consider and improve public safety, the visitor offer, and monitoring programs while respecting cultural values. This will ensure the continuation of a low-impact, quality overnight visitor experience, while assessing the potential for different opportunities around Gahnihthah Mie (Rabbitkettle Lake). By 2013 an area plan will be developed to provide detailed guidance for this key visitor hub.
Nailicho: Virginia Falls Area
The Nailicho Area is at the heart of the visitor experience, paddlers on the South Nahanni River either start or pass through here; campers have access to several hikes; and day users fly in to see the falls. This area needs to meet expectations of a wide variety of visitors; infrastructure, programs and visitor opportunities will be assessed and improved.
Expansion Area
New partnerships and environmental remediation are required for the expansion area. In addition, new research and guidance needs to be developed for cultural resources, ecological integrity, public safety, environmental hazards and appropriate zoning. Over the next five years Nahanni National Park Reserve will develop a better understanding of the expansion area so detailed management direction and zoning can be included in the next management plan. In the interim, decisions will be based on the precautionary principle and adaptive management.
This management plan includes targets that will be used to measure and annually report on progress in achieving the objectives and the vision. In accordance with the Canada National Parks Act, this plan and its implementation will be formally reviewed five years after its tabling to ensure that it remains relevant and effective for the management of Nahanni National Park Reserve.
In an effort to make this information available to you in a timely manner, the complete plan is currently only available in PDF format. Should you require an alternate format or a hard copy please contact us by e-mailing nahanni.info@pc.gc.ca 2010 Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada Management Plan (PDF, 3.3 MB)
Note: To read the PDF version you need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system.
If the Adobe download site is not accessible to you, you can download Acrobat Reader from an accessible page.
If you choose not to use Acrobat Reader you can have the PDF file converted to HTML or ASCII text by using one of the conversion services offered by Adobe. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/15397 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Stogumber
Stogumber
Postcode for Sat Nav: TA4 3TR
Passengers can buy their tickets in the Refreshment Room (the old station office). Furthermore you can partake of one of the station�s now famous cream teas. On gala days bacon rolls, sausage rolls and pasties are always popular and in the colder weather tea and crumpets are served.
Opened in May 2011 was the new waiting room. The Friends of Stogumber Station (FoSS) have been rebuilt the waiting room as closely to the original as is possible by the RAMs (restoration and Maintenance) team at Bishops Lydeard. So why not visit the station, enjoy a hot drink and some of the splendid food served by the cheerful station staff. Relax in the garden or simply soak up the old world charm.
Stogumber is a picturesque but thriving village set in a valley between the Quantock and Brendon Hills. The main enterprise is agriculture and the village is surrounded by rolling farmland. The Parish comprises the village itself and several hamlets, including Vellow, Capton, Kingswood, Coleford Water and the "Vexfords�. The focal point of the village is the Square, which contains the pub shop and St. Mary�s Church, a large Norman church with an interesting William Morris style ceiling. The street leading up to the Square, High Street, is the most photographed part of the village, with its mix of colour-washed and thatched properties.
History of Stogumber Station
Since its construction in 1862 the station has seen many changes. Initially the small platform had a waiting room and signalbox while on the other side of the line there was sufficient space for a large goods shed and a spur which terminated at a cattle dock. The goods facilities fell into disuse by the 1950s and the dilapidated goods shed was demolished late in British Railways ownership. Also on the north side of the line was another small building serving as a goods lockup. This little building was constructed from the local red sandstone and was demolished before the railway was obtained by the WSR plc. The cattle dock had its bars and uprights cut away and the stable blocks which made the surface to the access ramp seem to have been �robbed out� many years ago. The signal box was demolished in the 1920s and was replaced by a ground frame which was removed later with the goods facilities in the 1960s.
For a time Stogumber played host to a camping coach. Water for this coach was stored in a tank wagon that was replenished weekly via a Taunton train. However this last vestige of any sidings at SR was removed in the early 60s when the camping coach was removed. Stogumber�s buildings then fell into general disrepair and the waiting room, that was now considerably rotten, was demolished soon after the WSR plc took over.For a time Stogumber was managed by Harry Horn, the Station Master and a small group of volunteers known as the Friends of Stogumber. However time told and this band of volunteers dissipated into other railway work.
Following the death of Harry in 2000, his wife Iris, carried on as Station Master and kept the station and its gardens in very good order. However Iris was not getting any younger and in 2009 she was admitted to hospital and the station team at Bishops Lydeard was asked, by the Company, to ensure that the station remained open.
A small group of volunteers came together and Friends of Stogumber Station was reformed. Sadly Iris passed away in the autumn of 2009. Jenny Davidge is the Station Master.
The fledgling FoSS started to grow almost as soon as it was created and it now stands at 34 members. There are 17 staff working on the station and between them they manage the buildings, gardens and platform.
FoSS is also holding a large donation that will be used to finish off the inside of this building.
There are plans to completely refurbish the cattle dock and open this area as a viewing gallery with disabled access so that visitors to the station can enjoy a cup of tea and watch the trains go by.
Whilst on the subject of trains it will soon be seen that the stopping pattern for Stogumber will change for the galas. All down trains will stop but every other up train will pass straight through the station. From an operational view point this will save on coal as the heavy gala trains will not have to work very hard to get away from the station. The bonus for Stogumber will be that photographers and customers in the garden will be treated to the sight of trains working hard right through the station. The new viewing gallery on the cattle dock (when it is complete) will give an unrivalled view that will probably be one of the best on the whole line.
Why not join the Friends of Stogumber Station (FoSS)?
Visit the Stogumber Village Website. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/16387 | Map of Argyll and Bute
Gare Loch
A sea loch which flows south to open onto the Firth of Clyde, the Gare Loch is located 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Glasgow. The loch is 7 miles (11 km) in length and 1 mile (1.5 km) in width. It is separated from Loch Long to the west by the Rosneath Peninsula. The town of Helensburgh lies at its mouth, Greenock lies opposite and around the loch are the villages of Rhu, Shandon, Faslane, Garelochhead, Clynder and Rosneath.The deep water of Gare Loch has been associated with the navy since World War II, when a major base was developed at Rosneath and used by the Americans to train for landings in North Africa and on D-Day. In the 1950s British battleships were mothballed in the loch and by the 1960s it became the principal base for the UK's submarine-borne nuclear deterrent. Trident submarines remain berthed at HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane), the locus for regular peace protests. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4471/en_head.json.gz/16672 | The Culture of Food and Drink
Zester Daily
Travel By Mouth
Q&A: Claus Henriksen of Denmark’s Dragsholm Slot
by: Jody Eddy
in: Travel
An hour west of the thriving culinary mecca of Copenhagen is an 800-year-old castle clinging to the shore of the frigid North Sea. Unlike so many of the country’s castles that have been transformed into museum pieces, the fortified white walls of Dragsholm Slot envelope a thriving industry that includes a hotel and two restaurants.
One restaurant is a casual bistro called The Eatery that serves traditional Danish fare, the other is a fine dining establishment overlooking acres of land from which nearly all of the tasting menu’s ingredients are sourced. It’s an idyllic place for chef Claus Henriksen, 31 and the former sous chef of Noma. There he oversees both restaurants and the castle’s robust catering and events division.
Henriksen eschews meat-heavy dishes in order to showcase the intensely flavored vegetables he harvests from his garden each day: Grilled asparagus and garden sorrel with crispy rye bread croutons and garden herbs; glazed lamb brains and new potatoes with onions, pickled tapioca and lovage; and thyme and mint granita with fresh goat cheese meringue strike a perfect balance between protein and produce.
The extraordinary surroundings of electric green hills spilling into rich fields, ancient orchards and hedgerows populated with beehives sustain his frenetic seven-day work week and remind him to slow down and absorb the sublime energy reverberating around him. In this interview with Henriksen, we discover why visitors to Copenhagen who invest the time to journey to Dragsholm are justly rewarded by an experience that not only stimulates their palettes, but ignites their spirits.
What do you like most about working at Dragsholm Slot? It’s the quietness. If you have free time here you can walk outside and enjoy everything that’s around you. The only thing you can do in the middle of a city is step out your door and drink. If you need ten carrots here, you can go and get ten carrots instead of calling a producer and telling them you need ten carrots.
Where do you think this New Nordic obsession came from?
Until around twelve years ago the only thing Danish chefs desired was to purchase everything from France. It’s the way the chef was brought up. We didn’t understand the meaning and significance of our own surroundings. And then we started to look more internally. When you’re growing, there comes a point when you want to do something different than what you’re parents are doing. That’s what happened to Danish chefs. We wanted to rebel against the status-quo and use Danish products instead of imports. A lot of our chefs went out in the 90s and the beginning of the 2000’s to work abroad. They started to see that in other areas of the world, chefs only used local products and we started to think that we could do the same thing. [Chefs cooking] New Nordic cuisine focus on the ingredients and listen to the environment in order to truly understand it. These principles can be applied anywhere in the world.
I asked a chef many years ago why we were using asparagus and cherries all year long. He said, “I don’t care. It’s in season somewhere in the world.” Twenty years ago that was the philosophy. I think this is what inspired Danish chefs to cook differently. The way we cook now in Scandinavia is fresher and more thoughtful. Twenty years ago everything revolved around a prime piece of meat such as tenderloin, and supporting it were truffles, foie gras, lobster, langoustines. Now we are more focused on flavors. If you spend more time coaxing out the flavor of something simple, you will be rewarded. It’s more challenging to do this, but it’s more fulfilling too.
Is it an exciting time to be a chef in Denmark at the moment? If you don’t look at it as an exciting time, you might as well quit. You have to appreciate the challenges and the virtues in every season and find virtue in your work each and every day. If your interest wanes, stop and reassess. If you’re happy, then your guest will be happy, because your happiness comes through in your cuisine.
What are the fundamental principles that guide you when cooking? For me the most important thing is to have a contented guest who understands what I’m doing. If my cuisine sometimes get a little too crazy, I will dial-it back and begin all over again. You have to be willing to do this. I think that one problem in kitchens all over the world is that people are afraid to start over.
The cooking here is very personal. It’s about integrity. It’s about using, producing, showing the produce in its best light ,and then you can always add something for a final flourish. I want it to be balanced. Sometimes people say it’s a little too powerful and that’s true, because it’s filled with flavor. This doesn’t mean that we’re adding a lot of elements, it tastes so intense because the natural flavors are so fresh. We are showing here the best of what the farmers and fishermen are doing. You can do fancy things but if you don’t have the best ingredients, it won’t work. And vice versa. There has to be a balance and this balance must include the best of everything.
Top photo: Claus Henriksen of Dragsholm Slot. Credit: Sandeep Patwal
Slide show credit: Sandeep Patwal
Zester Daily contributor Jody Eddy is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan and former executive editor of Art Culinaire magazine. She cooked at restaurants in America and Europe including Jean Georges, Tabla and The Fat Duck in Bray, England. Her cookbook "Come In, We're Closed: An Invitation to Staff Meals at the World's Best Restaurants" was published in late 2012, and she also wrote a cookbook with Icelandic chef Gunnar Karl Gislason called "North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland," that will be published in September 2014.
Trine Hahnemann
on: 8/16/12 I had dinner at Dragsholm 4 weeks ago, with a big group of friends, we had a great time. I think especially the vegetable dishes and the salad from Søren Wiullf (local farmer) was out standing. We had a small poached red summer cabbage, so simple and jet to tasty and Danish. Add a comment Cancel reply
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/1625 | New Jersey Shore Guide For All Your Seaside Fun! Find Your Favorite Seaside Heights Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfast And Jersey Shore Businesses!
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"I'm From New Jersey" is the only state song that is adaptable to any municipality with a two or three syllable name. New Jersey has the highest population density in the U.S. An average 1,030 people per sq. mi., which is 13 times the national average. New Jersey has the highest percent urban population in the U.S. with about 90% of the people living in an urban area. In November of 1914, the New York Tribune, cooperating with Mr. Bertram Chapman Mayo (founder of Beachwood) issued an "Extra" announcing: "Subscribe to the New York Tribune and secure a lot at Beautiful Beachwood. Act at once, secure your lot in this Summer Paradise now!" This was the greatest premium offered by a newspaper - nothing equal to it was ever attempted in the United States. New Jersey is the only state where all its counties are classified as metropolitan areas. North Jersey is the car theft capital of the world, with more cars stolen in Newark then any other city. Even the 2 largest cities, NYC and LA put together. New Jersey has the most dense system of highways and railroads in the U.S. Picturesque Cape May holds the distinction of being the oldest seashore resort in the United States and one of the most unique.
In order to meet the increasing demand for his wire rope John Roebling opened a factory in Trenton, New Jersey in 1848. John Roebling, along with his two sons, Washington and Ferdinand, built a suspension bridge across the gorge of the Niagara River. They then built the Brooklyn Bridge plus many other suspension bridges in the United States. New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the diner capital of the world. North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world with seven major shopping malls in a 25 sq. mile radius.
New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Passaic river was the site to the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland. New Jersey has over 50 resort cities and towns, some of the nations most famous, Asbury park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside heights, Cape May. New Jersey is a leading industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation. New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the U.S. located in Elizabeth. Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Redman, Das EFX, Naughty by Nature, Sugar Hill Gang, Lords of the Underground, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifa, Shaq, Judy Blume, Arron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Frank Sinatra, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, all New Jersey natives. The light bulb, phonograph (record player), motion picture projector were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park laboratory. New Jersey is home to the Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City. Atlantic City is where the street names came from for the game monopoly Fort Dix is named for Major General John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the Civil War. During his distinguished public career, he was a United States Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, Minister to France and Governor of New York. Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world. New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries. The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey. New Jersey has the tallest water tower in the world. The first tin-foil phonograph developed by Thomas Edison was crude, but it proved his point-- that sound could be recorded and played back. Thomas Edison had phonograph demonstrations and became world-renowned as the "Wizard of Menlo Park" for this invention. New Jersey is the only state in the nation which offers child abuse prevention workshops to every public school. The first baseball game was played in Hoboken. The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick, in 1869. Rutgers College played Princeton. Rutgers won. The first Drive-In Movie theatre was opened in Camden. New Jersey has 108 toxic waste dumps. Which is the most in any one state in the nation. New Jersey has a spoon museum featuring over 5,400 spoons from every state and almost every country. Origin of name: From the Channel Isle of Jersey. Tourism is the second-largest industry in New Jersey. In 1977, New Jersey voters approved legislation allowing legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City. New Jersey has 21 counties. Although the Borough of Ship Bottom was incorporated in 1925, the name dates back to a shipwreck that occurred in March 1817, when Captain Stephen Willets of Tuckerton rescued a young woman from the hull of a ship overturned in the shoals. The rescue became known as "Ship Bottom." State motto is liberty and prosperity. The honeybee, apis mellifera, is the New Jersey state bug. The state seashell is the knobbed whelk, busycon carica gmelin, it is found on all beaches and bays of New Jersey. Modern paleontology, the science of studying dinosaur fossils, began in 1858 with the discovery of the first nearly complete skeleton of a dinosaur in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The Hadrosaurus is the official New Jersey state dinosaur. Atlantic City's original summer visitors were the Absegami Indians of the Lenni Lenape tribe. Fair Haven is believed to have been seasonally inhabited by native Indians prior to the coming of European settlers in the 1660's Parsippany has been named Tree City USA for 24 consecutive years. New Jersey's state seal was designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and presented in May 1777. Software and software related companies account for nearly 2,700 companies in New Jersey. The Statue, "Soldier At Rest" was dedicated to New Jersey Civil War veterans on June 28, 1875. It was purchased by the New Jersey State Legislature for $10,000. General Philip Kearny had a New Jersey town and 2 military decorations named after him. The Borough of Roosevelt is the only municipality in New Jersey that is, in its entirety, a registered National Historic Site
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/1817 | History of Dumfries & Galloway
Explore the history of Dumfries & Galloway first-hand by visiting museums and former homes to hear tales of romance, triumph, beginnings and ends.
In the small but beautiful town of Whithorn, uncover connections to the beginning of Christianity in Scotland. The bishop and missionary, St Ninian, is said to have founded the first Christian church here in the fifth century. Explore St Ninian’s Chapel on the coast near the Isle of Whithorn and find out more about the saint in Whithorn Priory Museum, which houses a collection of ancient stones. Imagine life as a young Scottish poet and learn about Robert Burns, who spent his final years in Dumfries & Galloway writing ballads and folk songs. Before his death in 1796, Burns spent three years at Ellisland Farm and five years in Dumfries - you can visit the farm, his former home and other museums to appreciate the life and works of Scotland’s National Bard, still heard and loved across the world today. Discover the sweeter side of Dumfries & Galloway’s history at two cherished monuments - the Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop at Gretna Green and Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey. Gretna Green is famous for weddings, as due to the more relaxed laws in Scotland, many couples throughout history eloped here to wed. Enter the ancient black and white building with the cottage and workshop and see letters, telegrams and marriage certificates of people from all ages who defied their friends and family to tie the knot in Scotland, and stand in the actual room where they were married. The splendid ruin of Sweetheart Abbey was built by Lady Devorgilla in memory of her late husband, John Balliol, and is thought to have inspired the creation of the word ‘sweetheart’ after she became known for carrying her lovers’ heart around in a casket. See two sites of triumph at Glentrool and Raploch Moss, where Robert the Bruce had his first victories in battle as king. It was in Dumfries that he had became King of Scotland after murdering John Comyn, his chief rival for the throne in the town’s Greyfriars monastery in 1306. Enjoy exploring the region’s other historical connections such as at Keir Mill, birthplace of the inventor of the world’s first pedal-powered bicycle, and enchanting buildings, such as the unique triangular castle of Caerlaverock. Bruce's Stone above Loch Trool in the Galloway Forest Park
Isle of Whithorn harbour
Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries
The ruins of Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey
Follow this historical timeline of Dumfries & Galloway and discover connections with some of Scotland’s most fascinating people.
St Ninian Find out about St Ninian, who has connections with the beginning of Christianity in Scotland back in the fifth century.
Romantic itinerary
Follow this romantic itinerary of Dumfries & Galloway and discover the sweet side of the region’s history.
Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Bard, is revered the world over for the creativity and humanity he poured into his poetry.
Robert the Bruce
Experience the story of Robert the Bruce by visiting buildings, fields and caves which played an important role in his life.
Explore the historic attractions of Dumfries & Galloway to gain a great insight into how people lived in the past. Print | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/1840 | Pinellas County's earliest visitors were Panfilo de Narvaez (1528)
and Hernando DeSoto (1539). They reported the area to be inhabited by the
Tocobagan Tribe. After enslaving the natives and setting dogs on them, the Spanish
asked if there was any gold around. the Tocobagan told the Spanish to go North.
This sent the Spaniards into the territory of the ferocious Creeks of Georgia
and Alabama. So few Conquistadors survived the experience that "Punta Pinal"
(Point of Pines) remained shrouded in mystery for another two hundred years.
By the time Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1821, the Tocobagans died
and were replaced by the Seminole Indians. The Seminoles settled largely north
and east of Tampa Bay. What is now Pinellas County remained largely uninhabited
with the exception of camps of American and Cuban Fishermen.
Around 1832, Count Odet Philippe of France abandoned a settlement on Florida's
East Coast in the face of hostile natives and moved to what is now Safety Harbor.
Philippe introduced citrus to the area and persuaded a few more settlers to move
here. The area was then part of Hillsborough County.
But, by 1880, despite the establishment of Fort Harrison in what was then called
Clear Water, there were only about 50 families. Three events conspired to dramatically
change all that in the next decade.
First was a report to the American Medical Convention in 1885 the Pinellas Peninsula
was "The Healthiest Spot on Earth".
Second a land developer named John Constantine Williams wanted to create a city in the Southern
part of the peninsula. Pyotr Dementyev, a Russian immigrant turned entrepreneur, agreed to run
his Orange Belt Railroad from Central Florida to Williams' holdings. Legend has it that the two
men flipped a coin to see what the name of the new town would be. Dementyev won, and named the
town St. Petersburg, after his home town in Russia. Williams settled for naming the
largest hotel for his home town of Detroit.
Clearwater, with its high bluffs overlooking a deep harbor on the Gulf, had grown too. And when
the county was split away from Hillsborough in 1911, Clearwater was named the County Seat. Other
residents began to pour in, attracted by the balmy climate, (the peninsula is always cooler
in the summer and warmer in the winter than Tampa).
Other immigrants came. Tarpon Springs attracted Greek sponge fishermen and today
has a thriving Greek culture. Safety Harbor grew up around its world famous spa.
The offshore beaches were then settled.
Today, Pinellas County offers visitors and residents alike a cultural atmosphere,
a stable economy and weather that is envied by even fellow Floridians.
The first settlers of what is now known as Tarpon Springs were A.W. Ormond and his daughter, Mary, who came to Florida from Ninety-Six, South Carolina , in 1876. They built a cabin near Spring Bayou. A year later, J.C. Boyer, an adventurer from Nassau sailed into the bayou. He and Mary were married and the first family in Tarpon Springs began.
In 1879, Mary named her small settlement Tarpon Springs after the great tarpon that inhabited the bayou. It has been noted that the fish Mary saw were really mullet. Hamilton Disston, a wealthy saw manufacturer from Philadelphia, bought four million acres of central westcoast Florida land from Governor W.D. Bloxom, paying 25 cents an acre and saving the state from bankruptcy.
Anson P.K. Safford, the first territorial governor of Arizona, who came here as a land agent for the Disston Corporation, founded the city in 1882. Another associate of Disston, John K. Cheney, studied the area carefully and proceeded to promote the area as an exclusive winter resort after Safford's death. The townsite was carefully laid out by W.J. Marks and surveyed by John C. Jones. In 1884, a post office was established and a railroad survey by Granville Noblit was done. It paved the way for a railroad depot to be built.
Tarpon Springs was incorporated on February 12, 1887, just 11 years after it was first settled, with a population of 52 residents. A man named Wilber F. DeGolier was its first mayor. In 1890, Cheyney discovered much money could be made by harvesting sponges growing in the Gulf of Mexico. John Cocoris was the first Greek to settle in Tarpon Springs, and soon brought many sponge divers from the islands of Greece to harvest the sponge beds.
Tarpon Springs still maintains its reputation as the largest natural sponge market in the world with annual revenue in excess of $5,000,000. Commercial sponges come chiefly from the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida and the Mediterranean Sea. There are some 9,300 square miles of sponge yielding bottom in the Gulf of Mexico yielding four varieties of sponge. Sponge auctions are usually held on Tuesday and Thursday.
Peaceful Spring Bayou, the site of the first settlement, today is the site of the annual church observance, Epiphany. It is celebrated every January 6th (the date is always the same). It commemorates the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, when the holy spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. The officiating clergyman is always the Archbishop or a distinguished Bishop assisted by the priest of the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Tarpon Springs. Following the liturgy comes the blessing of the waters, when the Archbishop and the clergy adjourn to a marble kiosk in the courtyard. Making a sign of the cross over a symbolic bowl of water, the priest then prays for calm seas and the safety of all sailors, and for blessings on the faithful.
Clergy and congregation then form a procession to Spring Bayou .The ecclesiatics, from Archbishop to alter boy wear embroidered robes of gold and crimson and bear jeweled crosses and croziers. With them is a young woman in white , bearing a white dove which symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
After the invocation, the dove is released to fly over the bayou. The Archbishop casts a white cross into the bayou and about 50 youths leap out of a semicircle of small boats and scramble to retrieve it. The one who brings it back to the Archbishop kneels for a blessing and is assured of good fortune for the coming year.
The shores of the bayou are lined with spectators for the "cross diving". After the ceremony, the crowd drifts to the Sponge Docks for a Glendi- an afternoon of feasting on Greek food and a festival of dancing. The celebration ends in the evening with the formal Epiphany Ball.
It should be emphasized that the Epiphany celebration is a serious religious observance reverently performed.
The above is from the book, "Tarpon Springs, Florida- the Early Years" by Gertrude K. Stoughton.
When this area was known only to the native Indians (Timucuan, Calusa and Appalachia tribes), clear springs gurgled from the banks into the bay. The springs, long since gone, were located along the high bluffs upon which City Hall and downtown Clearwater are now situated. Early settlers called it Clear Water Harbor until 1895 ,then Clearwater became one word and in 1906 Harbor was dropped.
Florida became a territory in 1822 and during the Seminole Indian Wars of 1835, the government built the original Fort Harrison located on the bluffs where Harbor Oaks is now. The fort was abandoned in 1841 and is commemorated by a plaque on Druid Road in downtown Clearwater.
The first Blacks came to the area with the Spanish explorer, Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528. The first white settler was French Dr. Odet Phillippe. He established St. Helena Plantation in what is now Safety Harbor and raised citrus. His daughter married Richard Booth, and these pioneering families' names are still well known in Clearwater.
The Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 gave 160 acres to any head of family or single man over 18 who would bear arms and cultivate the land. The "father of Clearwater", James Stevens and Samuel Stevenson were among the first settlers. After a visit in 1841, James Parramore McMullen and his 6 brothers settled in the Clearwater area.
The first settlers who farmed mostly vegetables and cotton faced hardships such as the 1846 Hurricane and a viscious storm in 1848 also.
The first paper "The Clear Water Times" was established by Rev. C.S. Reynolds. When the first narrow gauge railroad was built in 1888, the Clear Water Harbor community had about 18 families. Later, Henry Plant, the foremost Central and West Florida developer of the time, built a standard gauge railroad through Pinellas County. To boost his passenger business, he built several grand hotels including the Belleview Biltmore in 1897. The Florida real estate boom began in earnest in 1921 and peaked in 1925. The bottom fell out in the bust of 1927, foreshadowing the 1929 market crash and nationwide depression.
When "Pinellas Point" was first settled it was Western Hillsborough County. It was a long day trip to travel to the courthouse in Tampa, so by act of legislature, Pinellas County was created on January, 1912, with Clearwater as the county seat.
The City of Clearwater was incorporated on May 27, 1915.That same year the city built the first wooden bridge to Clearwater Beach.
The Philadelphia Phillies professional baseball team began spring training in the 1940's. For more information, please refer to "Yesterday's Clearwater" by Hampton Dunn and "Clearwater: A Pictorial History " by Michael Sanders in the Clearwater Public Library.
Dunedin is the oldest city on the west coast of Florida south of Cedar Key. In 1852, the first deed was recorded in the Hillsborough County courthouse ( Pinellas was a part of Hillsborough until 1912). Right after the Civil War, settlers started coming. The first recorded settler was Richard L. Garrison who received a government grant for 160 acres on Curlew Creek in 1852. Early Dunedin residents were boating enthusiasts. Around 1870, John L. Branch, proprietor of Dunedin's first store, built a dock somewhere between Sunset Point and Main Street for the purpose of unloading supplies from sailing vessels. Dunedin soon became the trading center for the entire area because it was a seaport. Two Scots, J.O. Douglas and James Somerville, built a general store on the waterfront. The only way to get here at that time was by boat from Cedar Key or by horseback.
George L. Jones from Marietta, Georgia built another general store across from Douglas & Somerville's and put up a sign "Jonesboro". The 2 Scots thought that Jones might get more business that way so they decided to put up the name DUNEDIN, which was gaelic for their hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland to compete with him. The settlers preferred Dunedin over Jonesboro so the canny Scots petitioned the federal government for a post office. They got it in their store, put up the name Dunedin over their store and outfoxed Mr. Jones. This was in 1878.
In 1888, the first railroad came here from around Ocala, through Tarpon Springs and down to St. Petersburg. It was built by Peter Demens, the man who gave St. Petersburg it's name after his hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia. He went broke and later the Atlantic- Coastline Railroad acquired his railroad.
In 1884, the West Hillsborough Times, the first area newspaper, was printed. According to the Dunedin Historical Society, the newspaper " was printed in Dunedin for a few months, then sold to A.C. Turner in Clearwater. In 1892 it was sold to Rev. R.J. Morgan of St. Petersburg for $1200.00 and renamed the St. Petersburg Times". The Dunedin Yacht Club and Skating Rink building was built in the early 1880's.
In 1899 Dunedin incorporated with the Mayor/Council form of government and in 1926 a new charter was secured using the Commission/Manager form of government.
By 1920 the population had reached 642 persons. The city has continued to grow primarily as a residential area, with an estimated 1994 permanent population of 34,857. The peak season, November to March, sees an additional 1,500 winter residents and tourists.
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/1933 | London River Services
This article is about the governmental body responsible for public transport services on the River Thames. For the organisation responsible for canals in London, see British Waterways.
Waterway
River Thames
Transit type
Commuter boats, ferries and tourist/leisure services
Various boat companies
Began operation
25 (8 managed by TfL)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river
London River Services Limited is a division of Transport for London (TfL), which manages passenger transport—leisure-oriented tourist services and commuter services—on the River Thames in London, UK. They do not own or operate any boats but license the services of operators.[1]
The River Thames is generally no more than 300m wide as it runs through central London, and is crossed by many bridges and tunnels. River boat services in London therefore mostly travel east or west along the Thames rather than across it; the only major cross-river ferry services are to be found outside London further downstream where the river is wider.
London's river service network is not as extensive as those of Hong Kong or Sydney, but with recent investment in river public transport and the creation of London River Services, water transport in the British capital is experiencing a revival. More than 2,000 commuters a day travelled by river in 2007,[2] a figure that increased by tourist traffic during the 2012 Olympics games.
1.3 Revival of passenger services
2 21st century
3 Branding
4.1 Commuter services
4.2 Ferry services
4.3 Leisure services
5 Operators
6 Piers
6.1 Millennium Piers
6.2 List of piers
7 Fares and ticketing
Before the construction of London's bridges and the Underground, the River Thames had served as a major thoroughfare for centuries. Attempts to regulate the transport of passengers and goods began in 1197, when King Richard I sold the Crown's rights over the Thames to the City of London Corporation, which then attempted to license boats on the river. In 1510 Henry VIII granted a licence to watermen that gave exclusive rights to carry passengers on the river,[3] and in 1555 an Act of Parliament set up the Company of Watermen and Lightermen to control traffic on the Thames.
For centuries the only bridge across the Thames was London Bridge. Crossing the river by wherry (small wooden rowing boat) was a common mode of transport.[4]
Steamers on the Thames in 1841
Passenger steamboats were introduced in 1815 and the use of the river as a means of public transport increased greatly. River services ran from Gravesend, Margate and Ramsgate via Greenwich and Woolwich into central London. By the mid-1850s about 15,000 people per day travelled to work on steamboat services – twice the number of passengers on the newly emerging railways.[5] With increased congestion on the river, collisions and other accidents became correspondingly more frequent, most notably with the Princess Alice disaster at Woolwich in 1878.[6]
While the introduction of large steamboats and bridge construction had taken business from the Thames watermen, the growth of the railways took passengers away from the steamboat services and the use of the river for public transport began a steady decline. River service companies struggled financially, and in 1876 the five main boat companies merged to form the London Steamboat Company. The company ran a half-hourly service from Chelsea to Greenwich for eight years until it went bankrupt in 1884. Nevertheless, river services continued under different management into the next century. Many of the Thames paddle steamers around this time were built by the Thames Ironworks at Bow Creek.[7]
In 1905 the London County Council launched its own public river transport service to complement its new tram network, acquiring piers and investing in a large fleet of 30 paddle-steamers.[8] Frequent services operated from Hammersmith to Greenwich. The LCC river service was not a success; in the first year it ran up debts of £30,000. It was shut down in 1907 after only two years' service.[9][10]
Numerous proposals for "river bus" services were considered throughout the 20th century, although the few that were realised were cancelled after a short time in service.[11] In 1940, a temporary wartime river bus service was introduced using commandeered pleasure cruisers to replace train and tram services which were disrupted by the bombing of the Blitz.[12]
With the move of the Port of London downstream in the 1960s, regular river transport was limited to a few sightseeing boats.
Revival of passenger services[edit]
In 1997 Secretary of State for Transport John Prescott launched Thames 2000, a £21-million project to regenerate the River Thames in time for the Millennium Celebrations and boost new passenger transport services on the Thames.[13] The centrepiece of these celebrations was to be the Millennium Dome, but there was also a plan to provide a longer-term legacy of public transport boat services and piers on the river.
River traffic around Waterloo Pier in 2008
The Cross-River Partnership, a consortium of local authorities, private sector organisations and voluntary bodies, recommended the creation of a public body to co-ordinate and promote river services. This agency, provisionally titled the Thames Piers Agency, would integrate boat services into other modes of public transport, take control of Thames piers from the Port of London Authority, and commission the construction of new piers.[14]
The result was the formation in 1999 of London River Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London.
Mayor Ken Livingstone's Transport Strategy for London 2005 stated that: The safe use of the Thames for passenger and freight services should be developed. Passenger services will be encouraged, particularly services that relate to its cultural and architectural excellence and tourism. Use of London's other navigable waterways for freight, consistent with their roles for leisure use and as ecosystems, will be encouraged.[15]
Greenwich Pier with TfL branding
LRS is responsible for integrating river transport with the rest of the public transport network, such as the Tube and buses. It promotes boat services under the London River Services brand, issuing timetables and river maps.
LRS is also responsible for directly managing eight piers on the river, and invested in LRS-branded signage and passenger information.
Following its launch the service was criticised for its lack of subsidy for private boat operators.[16] LRS supports the Thames Clipper commuter service financially and increased the peak service frequency to a boat every 15 minutes.[14] In April 2009 the signing of a "River Concordat" by London’s pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London was announced, committing the various parties to improving ticketing, piers and passenger information, and to closer integration into the transport network.[17]
London River Services is not responsible for maintaining the river itself; the Port of London Authority takes care of river traffic control, security, navigational safety (including buoys, beacons, bridge lights and channel surveys),[18] and the RNLI operates Thames lifeboat services.
Branding[edit]
The public presentation of London River Services is visually associated with existing TfL design standards, using identical graphic design elements to those used on London Underground publicity, signage and other elements, drawing on the design heritage of Harry Beck.
The London River Services brand is a sub-brand of TfL which uses the familiar Tube roundel, originally devised for London Underground and now established as the corporate branding for all TfL services. The River Services roundel is a dark blue (Pantone 072) bar on pale blue (Pantone 299) circle.
The corporate signage, stationery and literature of TfL services, including LRS, use the New Johnston typeface.[19]
LRS publishes diagrammatic river maps in the style of Harry Beck's iconic Tube map. Tube maps published by TfL since 2000 denote river interchange stations with a boat symbol.
Services[edit]
The service patterns advertised by TfL can vary according to season. They are divided into three main types:[20]
Commuter services[edit | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/3811 | Buildings & Monuments - Official Travel Guide to Norway - visitnorway.com
<< Back to Bryggen - the Hanseatic wharf in Bergen
The stave churches are Norway's contribution to the history of world architecture. Snøhetta is one of the modern firms with international attention.
Fortresses
The most famous of all the Norwegian fortresses, is Akershus Fortress and Castle in Oslo city centre. Fortresses
Stave churches
Stave churches are an important part of Norway's architectural heritage. Urnes Stave Church in the Sognefjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attractions in Nordland
Cross the Arctic Circle, visit Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom, and head out to the internationally acclaimed Lofoten Islands. Attractions in Nordland
11 Attractions in Hedmark
Hedmark offers a wide range of sights and attractions that give you a genuine insight into the exciting cultural history of the region. 11 Attractions in Hedmark
Attractions in Troms
The Polar Zoo and the three national parks of Reisa, Øvre Dividal and Ånderdalen are popular attractions in Troms.
Norway is "the Greatest Place on Earth"
The international online news outlet, the Huffington Post, is charmed by the beauty of Norway's fjords, islands, midnight sun and the northern lights.
Urnes Stave Church in Luster, beside the Sognefjord, is the only stave church in the world to be included on UNESCO´s World Heritage List. Urnes Stave Church
Attractions in Tromsø
Tromsø’s numerous sights offer history, daring architecture, wildlife, science, culture and impressive vistas.
Attractions in Jotunheimen
Visit Lom Stave Church, the Norwegian Mountain Museum in Lom or Gallery Jotunheimen to learn about local traditions and culture.
Attractions in Indre Østfold
Take a trip on the Halden Canal, Norway's oldest man-made waterway. Or visit the country's largest inland fortress in Mysen.
Attractions in the Drammen Region
Enjoy a show in beautiful Drammen Theater or challenge yourself with contemporary art at the Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium art center.
Oscarsborg Fortress
Oscarsborg Fortress is situated on a peaceful islet of natural beauty in the straits of the Oslofjord, just outside the cosy seaside town of Drøbak.
Attractions in Ringerike
Ringerike is a popular recreation area all year round and an eldorado for those who enjoy fishing, especially for trout and whitefish.
Top attractions in Oslo include Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, the Opera House, Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Viking Ship Museum. Top 10 attractions in Oslo
Kristiansten Fortress towers above Trondheim city centre, and is one of the most popular recreational areas in town. The view from here is great.
A stay in Oslo doesn't have to cost a fortune. In fact there is a lot you can do for free in the Norwegian capital. Free Things to Do in Oslo
Oslo's Funky New Landmarks
The downtown waterfront area in Oslo is reborn as a neighborhood blending museums, restaurants and chic urban living.
Attractions in Bjorli and Lesja
Lesja Bygdetun, the ironworks at Lesjaverk and the watermill at Sagelva are among the many attractions you can visit when visiting our beautiful area.
Attractions in Sarpsborg
Visit the Medieval church in Skjeberg, see the powerful Sarpsfossen Waterfall and go for a walk in the English garden at Hafslund Manor.
Attractions in Follo
20 minutes from Oslo and you are in a region full of adventures. Attractions in Follo
Attractions in Fredrikstad
Explore the well-kept fortress and Old Town. You can also visit the birthplace of the famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen and the Soccer Museum.
Attractions in Sirdal
The annual sheep fair is a popular event in Sirdal. But there are many other attractions, natural or man-made, worth visiting in the area.
Attractions in Halden
Fredriksten Fortress in Halden is one of Norway's most visited tourist attractions. You can also experience Northern Europe's highest locks at Brekke.
Attractions in Harstad
Harstad has a mix of contemporary and old architecture which, in combination with its waterfront location, provides a good atmosphere.
Akershus Fortress Akershus Fortress in Oslo is one of the oldest and finest cultural heritage sites in Norway.
Akershus Fortress Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral is Norway's national sanctuary, and was built over the grave of St. Olav, Norway's patron saint.
Nidaros Cathedral is the most important of the many historical attractions in Trondheim.
Attractions in Moss
Relax at one of the many beaches or enjoy art at the famous Galleri F15. Attractions in Moss
Experience Geilo as it used to be century ago. Visit stave churches, local museums and learn about the knife and tool manufacturing in the area. Attractions in Geilo
Attractions in Voss
Stalheimskleiva Mountain Road, Tvindefossen Waterfall and the panoramic view from Hanguren are popular attractions among visitors to Voss.
What to do in Kristiansand
Take a stroll through Kristiansand's charming old town, go on a boat trip to picturesque Lillesand, or visit the former naval base at Odderøya. What to do in Kristiansand
Top attractions in Telemark
Enjoy a cruise on the Telemark Canal, visit Norway's largest stave church, or hike to the top of Telemark's highest mountain, Gaustatoppen. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/4398 | Ice Castles Become Tourist Attractions in 3 States
Updated: 01/13/2014 12:23 PM KSTP.com By: Jennie Olson In this photo taken Wednesday Jan. 8, 2014 patrons tour an ice castle at the base of the Loon Mountain ski resort in Lincoln, N.H.
Photo: Photo: AP/Jim Cole
Farming is tough during a New Hampshire winter - unless you're growing icicles.
At the base of Loon Mountain in Lincoln, an ice castle not unlike the frosty palace in the Disney movie "Frozen" is rising from the ground, one icicle at a time. It's one of three ice castles being built by the same company - the others are in Breckenridge, Colo., and Midway, Utah - this winter.
Brent Christensen, who now lives in Hawaii, started his Ice Castles company a few years ago after spending several winters building elaborate slides and ice towers for his kids in his backyard in Utah. He initially sprayed water onto wooden frames, only to be left with a tangled mess of splintered wood in spring. The next year, he experimented with blocks of ice, building a small igloo to which he added chunks of snow and ice.
"During that process, I almost accidentally started thinking about icicles," he said. "At first it was just for cosmetics. I thought, 'This will look really cool.' And then, with time, I stumbled on the idea of crisscrossing the icicles, and that's when I found ... you can actually grow them in certain ways."
Eventually, he approached ski areas about building larger structures that could serve as temporary art installations and tourist attractions, and the idea took off. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to build the castles, the largest of which spans about an acre, and visitors pay $8 to $10 to walk through them. About 8,000 people have visited the New Hampshire castle since it opened Dec. 27.
Matt Brown, of Somerville, Mass., who toured the castle last week, said he recently saw "Frozen" and was curious to see how a real ice castle compared to the movie version.
"I obviously knew it wouldn't be quite like that because that's an animated thing, and it's a lot easier to animate things than make them in real life, but I thought it would be an interesting way to spend 30 or 60 minutes," he said. "It's really neat."
The castles will continue growing during the season, until they melt in March. Walls that stand 8 to 20 feet could reach 40 to 60 feet in the next month or so, and icicles placed along the tops of walls will become ceilings. But it takes a lot of work, said Cory Livingood, foreman of the New Hampshire castle's crew.
The process starts in the fall, with the installation of elaborate sprinkler systems. When the weather turns cold, water is sprayed onto metal racks to produce thousands of icicles that are harvested and stuck to the ground around sprinkler heads. The icicles are then drenched in water and, depending on the temperature and wind, grow in various shapes and formations. Over the course of a few weeks, towers, tunnels, archways and caves emerge.
"We're technically farmers," Livingood said. "We grow icicles, we handpick them, harvest them, take them out and hand place them around sprinklers, and then we turn on those sprinklers and they grow more."
There are 58 towers on the Lincoln castle, plus a waterfall and an enclosed slide. At night, the castles are lit by color-changing LED lights embedded in the ice. Sara Bookin-Weiner, also of Somerville, said she appreciates the beauty of the ice at a time of year when "things are so dead and dark."
"Especially now that the holidays are over, in the Northeast we're looking forward to lots of months of blah, and it's really wonderful to have something so creative and artistic and delightful," she said.
Christensen, who also runs a small-engine repair business, said there's a significant amount of mechanical work and engineering involved in designing the castles and setting them up. But Mother Nature handles the artistic side.
"The real artistic part isn't done by us. When you spray water in the middle of the night, and you have icicles that catch the water, that's when the art happens," he said.
Christensen has been in Utah overseeing the project there this winter but will head home to Hawaii soon. He laughed when asked if he'll miss the ice.
"I think about it a lot, but I don't long for it by any stretch," he said. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/5391 | Valley of Fire brings the drama.
Valley of Fire State Park is one of the places Southern Nevadans are most proud of - it's as spectacular during the day as the Strip is at night. more...Whether you've been there or not, you've likely seen it dozens of times. Its vivid red formations have proven irresistible for photographers and movie directors alike; a scene-stealing backdrop for countless films and TV commercials. Valley of Fire's spectacular red rocks have even doubled for Mars in numerous sci-fi flicks.The movies first came to Valley of Fire in 1966, when Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin rolled in to shoot The Professionals. In the mid-'90s, it was here that Star Trek's Captain Kirk fell to his death, with Lake Mead clearly visible in the background.More recently, Michael Bay's Transformers filmed a scene where the autobots are driving along the valley with other military vehicles during sunset. And even the video game "Need for Speed: The Run," features a pivotal scene shot here.Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest state park in Nevada and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great, shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs, 150 million years ago. These bright, red features were often said to appear almost "on fire," especially at sunrise or sunset.As far as tours, Valley of Fire adventures run the gamut: You can hike, ride the bus or even see much of its beauty from your car. So whether you're driving or hiking, Valley of Fire knows how to bring the drama. Keyword
BobCat Off Road Tours
Location: Red Rock,Valley of Fire,Other
BobCat Tours is a great Hummer 4X4 Off Road scenic adventure tour experience. These tours are perfect for travelers, families with children, grandparents, newlyweds and corpo... More
Love Hikes
Type: Hike/Walk,Other
Valley of Fire Motorcycle Tour | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/5507 | T e m p l e s
F e s t i v a l s
G u e s t P o s t s
F e a t h e r s
T h a n k Y o u R e a d e r s
Introduction to Uttarakhand and the Char Dhams
Before starting the Char Dham Yatra, first let us briefly know about Uttarakhand and the Yatra…Introduction to UttarakhandThe state of Uttarakhand is also known as Dev Bhoomi meaning the Land of the Gods as there are numerous pilgrimage sites in this region none more important than the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib. The Pandavas are associated with the place and the epic Mahabharata is also said to have been written here.Uttrakhand is divided into two regions, Garhwal in west and Kumaon in east. The Kumaon region covers places like Nainital, Almora, Binsar, Ranikhet, Pithoragarh etc… while the Garhwal region covers Mussoorie, Dehradun, Valley of flowers, The Char Dham etc…Introduction to Char Dham YatraThe Char Dham Yatra is traditionally always done clockwise, from west to east, starting from Yamunotri then proceeding to Gangotri before moving on towards Kedarnath and finally concluding at Badrinath.The pilgrimage can commence either from the religious town of Haridwar (from where we started ours) or from the capital of Uttarakhand, the queen of the hills, Dehradun.Yamunotri
(image courtesy google images)
Situated at an elevation of over 10000 feet and perched on the Bander Poonch Peak, Yamunotri is the place of origin of the second most sacred river of India – The Yamuna. The Temple can be reached after a tiring trek of 14 kms from Hanumanchatti or 5 kms from Jankichatti. The main Temple here is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. A dip here is believed to defend a person of untimely death as Yamuna is the sister of Yama, the God of death.KedarnathOne of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Kedarnath shrine is situated at a height of 3584 metres or 11800 feet above sea level amidst the majestic Kedarnath range. I had visited Kedarnath in 1996 and I can tell you that the weather there is most fickle of all the four Dhams. It was snowing there in the middle of the summer season!!
(image courtesy www.columbia.edu)
Situated at the source of the River Mandakini and dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is one of the most important temples in India. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandava brothers to atone for their sins after the battle of Mahabharata. Devotees are required to trek the last 15 kms to reach the shrine from Gaurikund onwards. Behind the Kedarnath shrine lies the samadhi (final resting place) of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the 8th century reformer and philosopher from Kerela who established the Char Dhams.Gangotri and BadrinathAs I have travelled to Gangotri and Badrinath, I will describe them in the due course of time as we move along.All the four temples close down in the winter season (October/November) due to the heavy snowfall and extremely dangerous terrain and open in the summers (May/June). Thus all the temples remain closed for about six months and entire towns from the upper regions shift to lower places during this time. Even the deities are relocated to their assigned winter homes during that time.These four different pilgrim destinations, the Char Dhams, situated in the magical Himalayas, joined by mysticism and spirituality, sometimes done together and sometimes in various combinations, beckon millions of visitors every year for a voyage into the unknown, for a flight towards the heavens, for a journey into the self…Tips for Travellers- When the temples open in May/June, there is a heavy pilgrim rush and if you want to evade the crowd, the best time to visit would be Mid September/November when the rush is less which keeps declining as the temple closing dates appear closer.
- You can also do a search on the internet and further extend your holidays beyond Uttarakhand by visiting enchanting destinations that are located on the northern side. There are many customized packages available today to help your planning (see this for example - Sikkim Honeymoon Package) or you can make one on your own!
For Accommodation and other tips Click Here Would you like to share this article with your friends? | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/6144 | GSLEP
Brine Shrimp harvest
Brine shrimp
Brine flies
Activities Brine shrimp
Brine shrimp in the North Arm
The original Southern-Pacific Railroad trestle (see History section) allowed for water movement and circulation throughout the lake; the filling of the causeway in 1959 all but sealed off the North Arm from the South Arm of the Great Salt Lake, creating two very different habitats. The North Arm has very little freshwater inflow, except for precipitation and a few small springs located around the lake. In fact, about 90% of the freshwater inflow to the lake occurs in the South Arm. The causeway has a small number of culverts and a narrow breach for boat passage, but water flow from the South Arm to the North Arm is restricted. As a result, the North Arm has a lower elevation compared to that of the South Arm. This restriction and variable freshwater inflow also affects mineral concentrations in the two different arms. Since 1980, salinity of the South Arm has ranged from 3-16%, while the North Arm has stayed between 16-28%.
The constant presence of Artemia in the North Arm is a mystery because conditions are so inhospitable. Brine shrimp flow from the South Arm through the breaks in the causeway to the North Arm, but little is known of their survival. Salt levels are near saturation level for sodium chloride, and lab tests have been unable to hatch cysts in North Arm water. During other tests, all adult individuals placed in North Arm water died within 48 hours.
However, populations are regularly found concentrated around D. salina algal blooms, and researchers have attempted to determine if North Arm brine shrimp have evolved capabilities to withstand high salinity and low oxygen, such as increased hemoglobin levels. In 1998, the Division of Wildlife Resources built two "limnocorrals" to test shrimp in the North Arm. The first enclosed around 7,200 liters of water and was placed in a deep portion of the bay, while the second, smaller one was in a shallow portion of the bay. Live brine shrimp captured from the corral sites were placed inside the corral, and researchers kept track of the small population to see how they fared. Very few survived, but it was not determined what caused the die-off. More research is needed to determine whether there is a self-sustaining population.
Copyright © State of Utah | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/7184 | Not a Bad Seat in the House:
A Design History of Cincinnati's Emery Theatre Robert Howes
Excerpted by the author with permission from Queen City Heritage, the Journal of the Cincinnati Historical Society, originally published in the Fall issue 1988, Volume 46, Number 3, pages 51-61. Excerpt printed by Emery Center Corporation. 100 East Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 in 1992. The Emery Theatre, or Auditorium as it was originally known, was the third in a series of four theatre-style concert halls whose design was derived from Adler and Sullivan's Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, and that were specifically built for the symphony orchestras of their respective cities. The four halls were Carnegie Hall in New York City (1892), Orchestra Hall in Chicago (1904), Emery Auditorium in Cincinnati (1911), and Orchestra Hall in Detroit (1919). Unlike its three sister halls, the Emery Theatre is not freestanding, but is part of a school building. The school was the Ohio Mechanics Institute (OMI), later known as the Ohio College of Applied science.
By the early 1900's, the OMI's need for a new and larger building was imperative. The OMI Board of Directors investigated this need as early as 1903, and a "Special Committee on New Quarters" was formed in June 1904. One of its members was Harvey E. Hannaford, Treasurer of the OMI Board, elder son of Samuel Hannaford, and managing director of Samuel Hannaford and Sons, Architects.
In September 1905, the "new Quarters" committee officially recommended that the property on the northeast corner of Walnut and Canal streets (now Central Parkway) be purchased. Actually, prospects for the purchase of land just north of the old canal were so well along by that spring, Hannaford was authorized to prepare plans for the new building. OMI Superintendent John L. Shearer might have seen preliminary plans as early as June 1905, but the OMI board probably saw the plans for the first time in January 1906. These plans were first made public in a promotional brochure which appeared in the spring of 1906.
The 1906 brochure shows a four-story building closely resembling the old Woodward High School on Sycamore Street, now the School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Although its auditorium was intended from the beginning to be available to the public, the small stage, limited backstage facilities, and seating capacity of 1,280 precluded its use by any large scale theatrical or concert productions. Without outside influence the OMI's concept of a public auditorium might not have departed from the simple requirements of a school assembly hall. However, outside influence was soon felt, in the form of Mrs. Mary M. Emery's philanthropy, and in Cincinnati's desire to build a special home for its orchestra. On July 20, 1907, Mrs. Emery made a substantial offer:
... I hereby offer to furnish the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars...for the erection of that part of your proposed new buildings [sic] to be known as the "Shop Building" on condition that by the 1st day of April A. D. 1908 you procure subscriptions for the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars...If you succeed within the time named...I will further agree on the completion of your building... to endow your institution with the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars...The "Shop Building"... I would desire to be considered as a gift in memory of Thomas J. Emery, the building to be known as "The Thomas J. Emery Building." In July 1908, Shearer induced Mrs. Emery to take on the entire cost of the project and make the whole building a memorial to her husband. Mrs. Emery's second offer, dated October 10, 1908, enumerated special purposes for the auditorium of the new OMI building. Besides being "primarily for the use of your school," she wished that the auditorium be "so constructed as to be serviceable for public and private lectures, entertainments, symphony and other concerts, May Festival rehearsals, and for such other entertainment as in the judgement of the Trustees of your institution may be proper" She avoided mention of the Cincinnati Symphony, which she hoped would be the new hall's main tenant.
Founded in 1895, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra played its first two seasons in the Pike Opera House on Fourth Street. The success of those concerts underscored a need Cincinnati had been feeling for a number of years, the adaptation of Music Hall into a more theatre-like facility. When first built in 1878, Music Hall was simply a long, high-ceilinged room with a platform, choir stalls, and pipe organ at one end, a three-sided gallery, a second gallery at the end opposite the platform, and large windows on both sides. This was an eminently logical design for the May Festival performances and for conventions, exhibitions, and banquets.
However, by the early 1890's Cincinnati wanted to produce opera, which requires elaborate stage facilities and an orchestra pit. She also wanted her own symphony orchestra, but orchestral sound would have been depleted by the immense volume of the original Music Hall. So, in 1895 Samuel Hannaford, Music Hall's architect, was hired to adapt the hall to Cincinnati's diversifying musical needs.
Hannaford's primary task was to shorten Music Hall's length to bring the entire audience visually and aurally closer to the performers. He designed a permanent stage and proscenium well forward of the original platform. As necessary as this was, it made Music Hall a bit too wide for its length, and the resulting acoustical problems exist to this day. Orchestral sound in Music Hall tends to spread laterally, causing it to "thin out" in the middle frequencies. Sound heard from the extreme sides of both stage and house contains an appreciable amount of indirect or reverberative sound. This makes precision ensemble playing more difficult for the orchestra, and the audience on the sides of the main floor is prone to hear an even thinner, lopsided orchestral sound which can be plagued with echoes.
These acoustical problems would also exist in the center of the hall had not Hannaford designed an elliptical crest over the proscenium. At first glance, this crest appears to be decorative. However, it serves an important acoustical function. The crest reflects sound from the apron of the stage, customarily occupied by the string sections of an orchestra, to the center portion of the first balcony, and the main floor directly in front of the balcony, giving sound from the stage a fullness and presence it otherwise would not have.
Hannaford knew what he was doing when he designed Music Hall's elliptical crest. By 1895 the use of elliptical ceiling configurations for acoustical purposes was established by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan's Auditorium Theatre, built in Chicago in 1889, and William B. Tuthill's Carnegie Hall in New York City, for which Adler served as consultant.
Adler used the principle of the "isacoustic curve" first described by John Scott Russell in 1836 not only to calculate the best placement of the Auditorium's main floor and its three balconies, but also to design a series of terraced ellipses which form the ceiling in the front part of the hall. These ellipses helped direct sound evenly throughout the hall. They serve the added function of lessening the over-all volume so sound in this large hall is not boomy or cavernous but still resonant, especially for the audience in the second and third balconies. The Auditorium Theatre was the paradigm for the theatre-style concert hall in the United States for about thirty years. Its influence was strongest in Cincinnati. Adler's design helped Harvey Hannaford with the design problems of the Emery Auditorium. For the Cincinnati symphony in remodeled Music Hall, economic problems were of great importance. The orchestra's finances were precarious for its first twelve seasons. It almost ceased operations in 1901. Deficits were routinely covered at the end of each season by wealthy patrons, but this was a makeshift way of operating. The symphony needed to develop a more secure and organized source of revenue at the beginning of each season. Season ticket sales rarely exceeded $2,600, and most of those were for cheaper seats. Also, the symphony never filled Music Hall to capacity. For its first six seasons the symphony relied on the considerable prestige of its music director, Frank Van der Stucken, to generate revenue. This strategy began changing after Mrs. Christian R. Holmes was elected President of the Symphony Association Board in 1900. As early as 1903 Mrs. Holmes started agitating for a home for the Cincinnati symphony, and by the symphony's two-season interregnum, 1907-1909, Cincinnati's need for a smaller concert hall was firmly established. A Cincinnati Times-Star article of April 8, 1907, stated that "...a need of a hall for concert purposes, seating about 2,500 in no way impairs the usefulness of Music Hall, which is daily required for large gatherings and for the May festivals ... and it is trusted that some public-spirited man may arise and offer a solution of the problem." A new concert hall was not all Cincinnati needed to get its orchestra operating again. The Symphony Association needed a $50,000 guarantee fund and a new conductor, both of which were still wanting in the fall of 1908. This is why Mrs. Emery did not specifically mention the Cincinnati symphony in her bequest. However, a day or two after the OMI accepted her bequest, she offered the "Emery Auditorium" to the Cincinnati symphony. Leopold Stokowski Mrs. Emery told the Symphony Association that the new hall would have about 1,500 seats. The Association decided that was "too small" and should be increased by 500. Within a month Charles Livingood, Mrs. Emery's secretary, informed the Association that the capacity of the hall would be increased as much as possible"
The CSO's new conductor was the virtually unknown twenty-seven-year-old Leopold Stokowski. Besides Stokowski's marginal experience in symphonic conducting, he had no formal training in acoustics, but his intuitive genius for orchestras included a similar genius for concert halls. We will probably never know when or how Stokowski first learned of the Emery Auditorium, but we can reasonably assume he knew of it by January 1910, and that he was not entirely pleased with the hall's design. However, he was not the only one who was worried for Mrs. Emery and the Symphony Association were again concerned about the hall's seating capacity. The great public interest in a new orchestra in a forthcoming new hall under a young and glamorous new conductor generated the purchase of 2,500 season tickets and over-all ticket revenues of almost $25,000. By the end of 1909, Mrs. Holmes and the Symphony Association were regretting they acquiesced to the 1,800 seating capacity and wished they had held out for more. Moving the orchestra into an 1,800 seat hall looked more and more like economic suicide. By the end of 1909 the footings for the auditorium were poured and the concrete and steel frame for the building was being put up. Something had to be done, and fast. In early January 1910, Harvey Hannaford was informed, probably through Mr. Livingood, that the Symphony Association desired a larger seating capacity. Hannaford had no choice but to add a second balcony.
At a special meeting of the OMI board on February 14, Shearer asked Mr. Hannaford to present "the whole proposition from his standpoint" After a "very full discussion... in which every member took part," the board drew up the following preamble and resolution.
Whereas, the Board of Directors of the Ohio Mechanics Institute... having fully discussed the question of the seating capacity of the Emery Auditorium, and Whereas, it is the opinion of every member of the Board that a seating capacity of 1800 as originally designed was entirely satisfactory and sufficiently large for all practical purposes of the Institute, and for all other purposes, and further believing that a hall of 1800 seating capacity could be maintained at a minimum expense and yield a maximum revenue, but Whereas Mrs. Emery has made an earnest request for a hall having a minimum of 2200 seating capacity and has agreed to bear the entire cost of any changes involved, it is moved by Mr. Hobart and seconded by Mr. Hannaford as follows: Having a full appreciation of the generosity which prompted the gift of Mrs. Emery of $500,000 for the erection of the new Ohio Mechanics Institute, and desiring that when completed the building shall fully meet her idea of what it should be, it is the sense of the Board of Directors that this seating capacity be increased to a minimum of 2200, in accordance with Mrs. Emery s expressed wish... The OMI Board was obviously upset that the design of their hall was no longer in its control. In stating that the 1,800 seating capacity was sufficient for the Institute "and for all other purposes," they, in effect, dismissed the demands of the Symphony Association. But that dismissal was only for their private satisfaction. The resolution itself was more diplomatic. It distilled an increasingly fractious situation into a formula which everyone could accept and allowed the project to proceed. Mrs. Emery no doubt understood the position she was putting the OMI in, and she accepted the responsibility.
The contributions of Mrs. Emery and the Symphony Association committee to the final design helped to make the Emery the first concert hall in the United States to have no obstructed seats. Also, the relationship of seating capacity and comfort with building expense was very favorable. When we consider that the entire building complex ended up costing about $630,000, the Emery was a bargain. However, Mr. Hannaford still had Leopold Stokowski to contend with.
At the March 8 Symphony Association meeting the minutes state: "... Mr. Stokowski found upon investigation that the stage would not be large enough for the orchestra and the Proscenium Arch would be far too low for good effect—it was decided that it was absolutely necessary to have a 54 foot stage and a much higher arch. Mr. Livingood felt that both...would be impossible but finally agreed to have Mr. Stokowski confer with the architect and report later upon the subject, all work on the hall to await his decision" The final 1911 Emery Auditorium design is derived from the 1909 design. Hannaford made the ellipse shallower, shifted the three coffered ceiling segments toward the stage, and added in the back of the hall a smooth ceiling which is rounded in the front. The ellipse was now the same as Music Hall's ellipse. The two massive balconies are the most wonderful structural aspects of the 1911 design. Viewed from the stage, the balconies appear to be strung effortlessly between the walls of the hall. Their "secret" lies in two I-beams of structural steel, one for each balcony, over eighty-nine feet long and weighing thirty-three tons each, running the width of the hall. The balconies rest largely on these beams. The beam for the second balcony is tied directly into the back pair of the hall's four main support columns. The anchorage for the lower balcony's beam is less obvious. It appears to float above the main floor because it enters the walls immediately above two sets of exit doors. Actually, it is riveted at both ends into plate girders which span the doors like lintels, and in turn are attached to the support columns. These plate girders are completely covered over by masonry. An intricate system of cantilever trusses extend out from these I-beams to form the front part of the balconies. This method of balcony construction was relatively new in 1910, and had, to the author's knowledge, never been used in a concert hall in the United States prior to the Emery Auditorium. Its use in two balconies adds further precedent to the Emery's design.
The Emery was originally painted in various shades of fawns and creams, and the raised plaster work was rendered in antique gold. A photograph of the interior from about 1925 shows how these various shadings enhanced the rather spartan interior. The plaster work was much simpler compared to the 1909 design, probably for economic reasons. However, the simpler decoration was more congruent with the functional nature of the school's design.
In regard to the all important matter of acoustics, Stokowski commented on the hall's excellent combination of clarity and blend, and the effective increase in the orchestra's power. Individual instrumental colors could now be heard with greater resolution because of the greater logistical intimacy between audience and orchestra, and because the hall's shape and dimensions created a less diffuse sound, while at the same time creating resonance which blended the clearer, more powerful sound into a well balanced whole. Unfortunately, the Cincinnati symphony made no commercial recordings in the Emery, and no radio broadcast transcription disks are known to exist from the period the orchestra performed there. Therefore, we have no record of the symphony's sound in the Emery. After the CSO's return to Music Hall in 1936, symphony concerts were no longer heard in the Emery. The Emery's sound became a legend, especially among musicians. The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra's performances in the Emery in the late 1970's verified the legend to some extent, but memories of a symphony orchestra's sound in the hall were fast slipping into the dim reaches of history. In an effort to rekindle the Emery's legendary symphonic sound, the Emery Theatre Restoration Association sponsored an orchestra concert given in the Emery on September 27, 1987. The sound had a "shining" clarity along with full resonance that was evident even at the softest sound levels. Hopefully, this sound will be the acoustical standard during the Emery Auditorium's probable renovation.
The history of the theatre-style concert hall in the United States did not stop with the Emery. Evidence, which at present is only circumstantial, indicates that the Emery influenced the design of Detroit's Orchestra Hall, considered by musicians and audiophiles to be the finest theatre-style concert hall in the world. Saved from destruction in 1970, Orchestra Hall in Detroit once again is setting the highest standard for orchestral sound. Severance Hall in Cleveland was the next theatre-style hall built expressly for a symphony orchestra in the United States. Built in 1930, Severance's design was based on acoustical concepts which emphasized clarity at the expense of resonance. Even though subsequent renovation has improved Severance's resonance, the "unresonant" approach to concert hall design has been the dominant philosophy ever since, and orchestral sound has suffered as a consequence. Severance Hall marked the end of a highly successful era in concert hall design. A rebirth of the Emery hopefully will also be a rebirth of the acoustical concepts the Emery Theatre epitomizes. Back To The Top | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/7686 | Tickets for Ultra Music Festival 2014 Can Be Found on Whiztix.com
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Tickets to this three day festival can be purchased in a variety of ways, but most will be sold as three day passes. Besides this fans can buy single day passes. This gives fans some freedom when buying tickets. Millions of people from around the world travel to Ultra Music Festival every year. Every artist that performs is extremely talented. There’s nothing better than attending a live festival picking the DJ’s which you would love to listen to live. Ultra 2014 is going to be one of the best events of the year.
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Whiztixsince: 07/2012 | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/7773 | The Natural Georgia Series: The Flint River
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The Flint River Valley: Shaped by Indians, Agriculture, War, and Industry
by Sherri M. L. Smith
The land between the Flint River and the river it historically fed into, the Chattahoochee, is a region that is tightly intertwined with the history of Georgia and America. Within these natural boundaries sprang events with national scope. What was occurring in America was reflected in what was happening in the region, and events that occurred in the region greatly affected the policies of an emerging nation.
Some of the first European explorers to come to America made their way up the Flint River and found a society of people who had been inhabiting this land for thousands of years-cutting paths through the forests, canoeing the waters, and planting the fields. George Washington sent Benjamin Hawkins to serve as Indian Agent when the clash of these two cultures seemed imminent, but Hawkins could not ward off the inevitable. This part of the country was necessary to the manifest destiny of Thomas Jefferson, and was the proving ground for the fierce nationalism of Andrew Jackson.
The stories here are woven into an intricate tapestry: a story of the American frontier and a general, Jackson, who brutally and methodically moved a nation out so that another nation might survive. A story of the antebellum South where cotton was king. Here was one of the largest slaveholding regions of the country, and the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. A story of rivers, and of water power, and of mills and industry.
The Native Americans
It is estimated that at the time of first European contact, more than 90 million people inhabited North and South America. Anthropologists have grouped these Native American Societies, or American Indians, as they are known, into several culture areas. The Indian societies occupying land from the Atlantic coast west to central Texas were dubbed the Southeastern culture and included the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Creek people-the Creeks being the Indians who lived in the valleys and river bottoms of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers.
The Creeks, like all other Native Americans, appear to have descended from Asian peoples who migrated across the Bering Strait, a 50-mile-long land bridge between Asia and Alaska, created during the Ice Age about 30,000 to 50,000 years ago. Those who made the crossing were not explorers or settlers or adventurers. They were simply hungry men and women following the game on which their livelihood depended. Over the centuries, their descendants spread out over the two continents, from Alaska to the tip of South America, from the Arctic Circle to the subtropics. People had to learn to live on frozen tundra, in forests, on grassy plains, and in arid deserts, in high mountains and in deep canyons, along rugged coastlines and lakeshores, and in fertile river valleys.
Some of these explorers ended up in the fertile valleys of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers about 10,000 years ago. Known as the Paleo Indians, they were nomadic hunters of large mammals who roamed the region looking for food in a time when ice still covered much of the earth. Their daily routine centered on hunting. They traveled in small bands, or families, searching for the large animals of their day-mastodon, the giant bison, the mammoth. These animals provided them with meat and fat for food, skins for clothing, and bones for tools. The Indians stayed in one place for only a few days, eating the animals and plants in the area and moving on. They built shelters only if they found enough food in an area to last a few weeks or months.
By the Archaic Period, from 8000 b.c. to 1000 b.c., the ice had retreated, the climate had gradually warmed, and the large animals roaming the region between the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers had disappeared. White-tailed deer, boars, black bear, and many small animals, which can still be found today, became food sources. At this time Indians in the region were hunters and gatherers who utilized the new foods as well as shellfish and seasonal plants. They became dependent on rivers and their rich food sources. Nut-bearing trees were probably of great importance to these people, providing them with needed protein and fatty acids. The large stands of hickory and oak trees growing in the region were probably as important a food source as the abundant game.
The first steps to farming were taken when hunters began to understand more about the plants and animals they used for food. They possibly noticed that a plant would grow where seeds had fallen on the ground, or learned how to raise animals by taking care of young animals whose mothers they had killed. In the region between the Flint and Chattahoochee, it is known that during the Woodland Period, 1000 b.c. to a.d. 900, people planted sunflower, marsh elder, and goosefeet-plants considered weeds today. Eventually, squash and gourds and later corn and beans were cultivated. The Indians also learned to make pottery, which was a monumental step, as it was used to cook and store food and transport water. People began to live in villages at least part of the year. After thousands of years as hunters, these Woodland people no longer had to roam to obtain food. Farmers settled in one area for several years at a time and built villages near their cropland, living there as long as the crops grew well and the firewood lasted. Once the land became unproductive, the Indians moved to a new area.
During the Mississippian Period, a.d. 900 to European contact in the mid-1500s, the Indians built large villages, usually on rivers or steams, using the rich bottomlands for farming and the rivers and streams for transportation. Village areas surrounded huge, flat-topped temple mounds where social and religious ceremonies took place. The Mississippian Indians still hunted and gathered, but this culture discovered that the bottomland soils produced better crops and the periodic flooding that occurred restored the nutrients in the soil. They cultivated seed plants, pumpkins, beans and squash, probably tobacco, and especially corn. So important was the staple corn that the Mississippians gave it religious significance, connecting it to the king-gods, who led them. The great mounds they built, full of burial plots and artifacts, still stand, some protected as public property. The decade that followed their contact with Europeans brought cultural devastation to the native people of the Southeast. The earliest known meeting between Southeastern Indians and Europeans occurred in 1513 when a Spaniard name Juan Ponce de Leon landed with his ship on the coast of Florida. Other Europeans followed. Hernando de Soto and his band of Spanish explorers first set foot into the Flint River Valley in 1540. These explorers were surprised to find an established culture of people. But with these explorers came measles, tuberculosis, typhus, smallpox, and other old world diseases, far worse than anything that could have been inflicted upon the Indians with mere weapons or military force. Despite the tragic consequences of disease, the survivors persevered and so began a 300-year-era of Indian, black, and white interactions in the region.
The Creeks
The Creek people are believed to be the southeastern descendants of the Moundbuilders of the Mississippian Period. These indigenous people of composite origin spoke a family of related languages referred to as Muskogean. They called themselves the Muskogee Nation-Muskogees or Muscogulges. (The word Muskogee, or Muscogee, signifies land that is wet or prone to flooding; "ulge" designates a nation or people.) But English-speaking white men called them Creeks because they lived and roamed the many rivers, streams, and swamps that ran through their territory-a territory that extended from the Atlantic to the Tombigbee River, through parts of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
By the eighteenth century the Creeks were the dominant tribe in a confederacy with a membership of about 30,000. The confederacy occupied most of what are now the states of Georgia and Alabama. After the Cherokee, the Creeks were the most powerful grouping of Native Americans south of New York.
The Creek Nation included approximately 60 towns and was divided into two geopolitical divisions, which the Europeans called the Upper Towns and Lower Towns. Forty Upper Towns lay along the Tallapoosa-Coosa-Alabama River System and 20 Lower Towns were scattered on the Ocmulgee, Flint, and Chattahoochee rivers of Georgia. This division predated trading relations between the Creeks and the British Colonies, but it originated with the relative position of the two main trading paths that linked the Creeks with South Carolina: the Upper Creek Trading Path and the Lower Creek Trading Path. These two divisions differed not only geographically, but also politically. The Creeks respected their kinship with each other but held separate councils, claimed separated territories, and very often pursued different foreign policy-a difference that would ultimately effect their survival. Besides that, Creeks also divided their towns into two types-red, or war towns, and white, or peace towns.
After the American Revolution (1775-1783), the Creeks, who had supported the British, were faced with land-hungry American settlers eager to push into Creek territory and an American government somewhat intent on manifest destiny. In 1796, President George Washington appointed Colonel Benjamin Hawkins as Indian Agent on the Flint River. Hawkins's philosophy to integrate the Indians into the white culture by teaching them the skills of modern farming and industry was noble but difficult to implement. Some Creeks, mostly in the Lower Towns, realized the advantages of cooperating with the Americans, but other, younger Creeks, mostly living in the Upper Towns, rejected contact with whites and the consequent abandonment of their Indian culture.
All Creeks resented the relentless encroachment on their land. Encouraged by the Spanish in Florida and the British in Canada, who promised to provide arms and supplies, many Creeks prepared for war against the United States, which was now building roads from Georgia into the Alabama settlements. Tecumseh, a Shawnee Indian chieftain from the northern tribes, conceived a plan to organize all tribes from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico and force out the white man. In 1811, he visited the Creeks, including Red Eagle, leader of the militant Red Sticks (named as such because they painted their war sticks a bright red) to recruit warriors and gain support for his campaign. As Tecumseh stirred their fears and hatreds, the Creek Nation became more divided and the threat of civil war loomed between the Upper and Lower tribes.
Desultory raids on white settlements along the American border by the Upper tribes widened the split within the Creek Nation. Finally, on August 30, 1813, Red Eagle and 1,000 Creek followers of Tecumseh descended upon Fort Mims, a white stronghold located about 40 miles from Mobile, butchering about 500 men, women, and children.
So began the Creek War of 1813-1814. In the long history of Indians in North America, the Creek War was the turning point in their ultimate destruction. The irreversible step toward obliterating tribes as sovereign entities within the United States now commenced. The Creek Nation would be irreparably shattered. All other tribes would soon experience the same melancholy fate.
Andrew Jackson and Indian Conflict
As the Creek warriors descended upon Fort Mims little did they know that this would be the death knell of the Creek Confederacy, for it set U.S. General Andrew Jackson on his course to enlarge the territory of his newly found nation while annihilating that of the Creek Indians.
Jackson was a child of the American Revolution. Born in 1767, he was a veteran of the war and the victim of intense personal suffering by the time he reached the age of 15. He grew up with a loathing of the British, a determination that America would prosper, a hatred of the Spanish, and a paternalistic attitude towards the Indians.
With the massacre at Fort Mims, Jackson recognized that his long-awaited opportunity for military glory had arrived. With 2,500 volunteers and militia authorized by Governor William Blount of Tennessee, Jackson set out from Nashville with one of four armies that would enter the Creek Nation. The strategy was to kill the Red Sticks, burn their villages, and destroy their crops. As they marched south, the army would build forts about one day's march apart in order to divide the Creek Nation.
Although plagued by desertions, lack of food and supplies, and demands from Governor Blount to abandon the expedition, Jackson drove forward. By the close of 1813, he had battled twice with the Creeks. On March 27, 1814, on the Tallapoosa, where the winding river sweeps in a great loop at Horseshoe Bend, he struck them with fury. By Jackson's side were Indian fighter Davy Crockett and a young officer named Sam Houston. When the battle ended, U.S. troops had slain more than 700 warriors, breaking the spirit of Creek resistance. Creek prophets had said they could never be driven from the ground at Horseshoe Bend. But most of the defenders were dead and the homeplace lay in ruins.
After Horseshoe Bend, the Creek War was all but over. Although the federal government sent army General Thomas Pinckney and Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins to arrange a peace treaty with the Creeks, Jackson dictated the terms at the negotiations. From them, he demanded the equivalent of all expenses incurred by the United States in prosecuting the war. By Jackson's calculation this came to 23 million acres of land-more than half of the old Creek domain, and roughly three-fifths of the present state of Alabama and one-fifth of Georgia.
By this treaty, the entire Creek Nation, even the Indians who had fought on Jackson's side, had to pay the enormous indemnity. All were required to remove themselves from their land and become wards of the federal government. The treaty removed the threat of attack from the borders of Tennessee and Georgia. It also confined the Creeks to a manageable area where they could be watched and guarded and where they were separated geographically from the evil influence of the Spanish in Florida and Indians who had fled.
At Jackson's urging, the boundaries were drawn and the land sold to settlers as quickly as possible-a measure that would ensure the security of the frontier.
Horseshoe Bend was not the end of Jackson's conflict with Indians, for now he would go after the Seminoles in Florida. But the Creek War and the Treaty of Fort Jackson set up a pattern of land seizure and removal that ensured the ultimate destruction of not only the Creek Nation, but of all Indians throughout the South. And the man responsible was Andrew Jackson.
White Towns and Settlements
With the land cessions and subsequent removal of the Creeks, settlers rushed in, many times establishing a white settlement around what had been a frontier fort or on or near the location of what was once an Indian town. Most settlements grew up along the banks where river crossings were easier, or at an intersection where major Indian paths converged. No matter what the culture or purpose people tend to look for the same traits in settling a village or town: land near water, land on high ground for protection, land with good fertile soil for growing crops. The Indian town of Chehaw became Albany. Pucknawhitla became Burgess Town, which became Fort Hughes, which became Bainbridge. Chemocheechobee became Fort Gaines the fort, which later became Fort Gaines the town.
But white settlers were more industrial-minded than the Creeks. Towns grew up around the gristmills that were built on rocky streams. Towns grew up around river landings where area farmers brought their cotton for shipment to Apalachicola. Towns grew up wherever the tracks of a railroad terminated.
The destiny of much of the Flint and Chattahoochee river valleys was bound in cotton. King Cotton. In fact, cotton was one of the first crops specified to be grown in the Georgia colony when James Oglethorpe and the colonists first arrived at Yamacraw Bluff in 1733. And cotton was the reason planters and farmers flocked to the Flint River Valley as soon as the Indian threat lessened. Cotton had sorely depleted the soils in the eastern part of the state and beyond in the Carolinas. The Flint River Valley was land that had never been touched by cotton. At first, cotton, which was labor intensive, was only profitable for the very large planters who owned hundreds of slaves supplying the labor needed to plant, pick, and hand remove the seeds from the short staple fiber. But after Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793, the economics changed. The gin cleaned cotton as fast as 50 persons. Cotton became profitable to produce on small farms as well as large slaveholding plantations. Both types of farmers grabbed up the "Land Between the Rivers," and by 1860 Georgia was the world's largest producer of cotton, with much of that production coming from the Flint River Valley.
But the Civil War did much to change the agricultural economy of the region. Plantations were divided into tenant farms. Farmers were growing corn, tobacco, and peanuts, but cotton still ruled. Farmers ignored agrarian leaders across the South who warned of cotton's effect on the soil and the farmer's dependency on cash crops.
By the 1920s, severe erosion, soil depletion, the boll weevil menace, and the Depression wreaked havoc on the state's agricultural economy. Between 1920 and 1925, 3.5 million acres of cotton land were abandoned throughout Georgia and the number of farms fell from 310,132 to 249,095. It would take new ways of farming, new farm programs resulting from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Programs, and a world war to turn the agricultural economy around in the region, as well as in the rest of the South.
By the time Plains peanut farmer Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States in 1976, peanuts and soybeans-combined with traditional row crops, such as corn, cotton, wheat, and vegetables-were important crops grown in southwest Georgia. Dairying as well as cattle, hogs, and pigs also became important to the area's agricultural economy.
Along the Flint River and its tributaries settlers built gristmills, the first real industries of the area. Until the early twentieth century, most mills used water from nearby streams to power gears and machinery. The hilly Piedmont of the fall line section of the river, where the water rushes over rock outcroppings and shoals, created ideal locations for mills. Today, many times only place names, such as Lee's Mill, Terrell Mill, and Mundy's Mill in Clayton County, remain. In some places, such as Flat Shoals, ruins can be spotted. At a few sites, a structure may still stand, such as Starr's Mill in Fayette County. At one time all of these mills were important community centers. Farmers traveled for miles to the nearest mill to grind grain, saw timber, hull rice, or gin cotton. They fished the pond, swapped news and stories, or picked up some supplies as they waited their turn to grind their corn. Many times a town grew up around the mill itself.
Where there was water power and plenty of cotton, it was only natural that textile mills would be built. A number of settlers came to Upson County from northern states for the express purpose of establishing textile mills. The first cotton mill in Upson County, Franklin Factory, was built on Tobler Creek in 1833. A total of four textile mills, all water-powered, were built before the Civil War, making Upson the center of the textile industry in middle Georgia.
The textile mills in Thomaston, as well as the mills in Columbus on the Chattahoochee, were extremely important to the Confederacy during the Civil War, making such items as gray uniform tweed, osnaburg cloth, cotton duck for tents, and cotton jeans. One of the goals of the Union Army as it swept through Georgia in the waning days of the Civil War was to destroy as many mill sites as possible. On April 16, 1865, in one of the last major land battles of the war, 13,000 Federal calvalry troops invaded Columbus from Alabama and burned all of the war-related mills, warehouses, and foundries. They then moved across the land-burning plantations and destroying railroads-to the Flint, crossed it via the old Double Bridges and completely destroyed all four textile plants and several gristmills in Upson Country.
The textile industry, however, was one of the few industries in the South to rebound quickly after the war. New mills were built in both Columbus and Thomaston. As the technology of mill building changed-turbines connected to mechanical gears-the mills no longer had to be close to the rivers to receive their energy supply.
The Flint River
More than 300 years ago a Creek Indian village existed near what is now Albany. It was called Thronateeska. The word in the Creek language means "flint picking up place" and, over time, the name came to be applied to the river that ran by the village. This river, its watershed, its physical alliance with the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola rivers, and its history all combine to tell a fascinating story with universal themes-a story of people, of Georgia, and of America.
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/7775 | Telephone: 01728 660337 Email: info@sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk
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Southwold, Aldeburgh, Dunwich & Orford - Just a Short Drive Away
A 15 Minute Drive to Minsmere - the RSPB's Largest Bird Reserve
Framlingham, Halesworth & Saxmundham - All 10 minutes Away
The pretty village of Sibton sits in the triangle created by three small market towns; Framlingham, Halesworth and Saxmundham are all a short drive away. Dunwich is the nearest coastal point, just nine miles, whilst Southwold and Aldeburgh are both a twenty five minute drive.
Sibton is an unusual layout with no real centre of settlement; in the shape of a horseshoe it spreads itself narrowly around the village of Peasenhall. Both villages form a close integrated community with a history going back over 2000 years. The first accurate census of the sizes of the villages was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1068. In Roman times, Peasenhall lay on the intersection of two main roads with a settlement on each side of the river which then ran through the village. Many of the properties today were built during Tudor times with many fine timber frame buildings to be seen including the White Horse.
On entering Sibton the village sign clearly shows two monks, a reminder of the Cistercian Abbey that was built in the village by William de Chesney in 1150. Today the remains of the abbey are on private land but can clearly be seen from the road side. Peasenhall’s history lies with James Josiah Smyth who invented the ingenious Suffolk Seed Drill which is also featured on the village sign. The Seed Drill revolutionised the agricultural industry and what started as a small family operation in Peasenhall expanded with production in both London and Paris.
The Sibton White Horse is the only pub and serves as the ‘local’ for both villages, despite Peasenhall once having had three pubs of its own. Peasenhall is a fifteen minute stroll for guests staying at the White Horse, where a small number of shops can be found, including Weaver’s tea room, a general post office store and the renowned Emmet’s food store, a ‘Rick Stein Hero’ where hams and bacon are cured and smoked on site. The 12th century was the golden age of church building, St Peter’s was built in Sibton and a little later St Michael’s at Peasenhall, both churches contain much interest and are well worth a visit.
Click on the links below for further information.
http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/SibtonPC/ http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/PeasenhallPC/ http://www.emmettsham.co.uk/ HOW TO FIND US
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The Sibton White Horse Inn, Halesworth Road, Sibton, Nr Saxmundham, Suffolk. IP17 2JJ
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The Sibton White Horse Inn is a 16th century inn providing award winning accommodation, great pub food and real ales located in the heart of the Suffolk countryside near Yoxford and close to Southwold, Aldeburgh, Orford, Minsmere and other tourist attractions on the Suffolk heritage coast of East Anglia. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/7958 | Victorian Heritage Trail
The Victorian Heritage Trail
Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail ››
Discover the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail and learn about the picturesque attractions you can see with this four day itinerary. Scotland's Castle Trail ››
Follow Scotland’s dedicated trail to discover dramatic stories behind 18 of Aberdeenshire’s castles.
Royal Deeside has been Scotland’s crowning glory ever since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited and fell in love with the Balmoral Estate in 1848. Since then successive generations of the Royal family have adopted the area as their tranquil retreat. The Victorian Heritage Trail pinpoints many of the historic places that make the picturesque Dee and Don Valleys, in the north east of Scotland, a truly majestic place.
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The Braemar Gathering
Cambus o'May Suspension Bridge
The Old Royal Station
Begin the trail just outside of Aberdeen at the spectacular Drum Castle. The combination of a 13th century tower, a Jacobean mansion house and Victorian architecture make Drum Castle one of the most unusual and unique pieces of historical architecture in Scotland. Take a tour of the castle and marvel at the fascinating combination of Scottish history and Victorian fashion, and then wander the grounds and the magnificent historic rose garden. Continue just 10 minutes down the A93 and arrive at the Royal Deeside Railway Station. This line was regularly patronised by the Royal Family and their guests to the Balmoral Estate. Visitors can experience a real, royal journey by travelling by steam train along the original track, just as Queen Victoria would have done on her visits. On arrival back at the station, enjoy a light lunch or high tea and marvel at the glorious views over Royal Deeside from the Carriage Tearoom. Pick up the trail again and head on a five minute drive to the spooky Crathes Castle, a favourite place of Queen Victoria and one where she often stayed. Famed for being allegedly haunted, Queen Victoria herself witnessed the resident ghost of the Green Lady and her infant child. With spectacular grounds and fairytale turrets, there are far more than spectres to attract the eye at Crathes, wile away a few hours exploring the wonderland style grounds and marvel at the ornate gargoyles. Finish your day with a leisurely stroll around the spectacular Finzean Estate the home of the Farquharson family for over 400 years. The ancestral home of Victorian painter Joseph Farquharson or ‘the Painting Laird’, Finzean Estate has an incredible collection of Victorian Art. Sample local treats at the Farm Shop or enjoy supper in the award-winning Tearoom. Outdoor enthusiasts can take part in a host of traditional estate activities including clay pigeon shooting and salmon fishing. Stay overnight in one of the delightful estate cottages, for a truly royal experience, or head back to Banchory for a great selection of B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels. On your second day, enjoy the natural splendour of Royal Deeside with a trip to some of the favourite beauty spots of the Royal Family. Begin your day with a stunning drive along the A93, following the River Dee and passing through the Glen Tanar Forest. Your first stop is the Glen Tanar Estate, situated in the heart of Royal Deeside and within the Cairngorms National Park. Immerse yourself in Victorian splendour as you stroll around the private Loch or enjoy the view from the beautifully restored Victorian Boathouse. Visitors can tour the house, including the ballroom and Tower of Ess or can simply enjoy a turn around the finely landscaped Victorian gardens. For those feeling more energetic there are a variety of country activities to choose from including cycling, horse riding and fishing.
Continue on the A93 heading for Cambus o’May, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and with a beautiful example of Victorian architect. Originally built in 1905, the Cambus o’May Suspension Bridge was famously re-opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 1988 and stands as a monument to Victorian architecture and design. Take a stroll through the magnificent Scots pine and across the bridge, one of the finest examples of Victorian ironwork in Europe.
Continue on the A93 for five minutes and then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the lovely burgh of Ballater. Begin by exploring the Old Royal Train Station and Visitor Centre in the heart of the burgh. Step back in time as you board a replica Victorian train and experience the luxury that Queen Victoria would have travelled in. This visitor centre has information and exhibitions about the many royal visitors and important guests who frequented the station. Wander around the burgh, perusing the shops, many of which proudly display Royal Warrants. In the evening relax and enjoy a fine meal and drink in one of Ballater’s many restaurants and enjoy a wide selection from gourmet dine dining, cosy cafes and traditional pubs.
Continue your journey down the A93 on the short but beautiful drive to Balmoral Estate. Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1848, the Balmoral Estate has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family ever since. Often called the ‘heart of Royal Deeside’ the Balmoral Estate covers 50,000 acres of heather-clad hills, ancient woodland and stunning gardens. The castle sits proudly amidst the Scots pines, a firm favourite with visitors and royalty alike. Queen Victoria described Balmoral as ‘my dear paradise in the Highlands’ and the castle has remained a firm favourite through many generations of the Royal Family. Balmoral Castle has remained a favourite residence for Her Majesty the Queen and her family who are in residence during the summer period of August and September. The grounds, gardens and castle ballroom are open to the public when the Royal Family are not in residence and the stunning scenery and magnificent architecture make for a wonderful way to spend a morning. Take a stroll by the peaceful Loch Muick, situated on the border of the Balmoral Estate and the surrounding forest. A wide variety of bird and animal life can be found around the loch, including red squirrel, red deer and oyster catchers. Follow the path down the Lochside to the spectacular royal bothy of Glas-allt-Shiel, which was built for Queen Victoria and became her much loved respite. Now the bothy is a popular retreat for Prince Charles. Head down the road to pay a visit to another place which was dear to the heart of Queen Victoria, the Royal Lochnagar Distillery. In 1848 the owner of Lochnagar Distillery invited Prince Albert, who was an enthusiast of mechanics to visit and inspect the premises. Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their three eldest children attended and were so impressed they bestowed a ‘By Royal Appointment’ warrant on the distillery. Now the Royal Lochnagar Distillery is open to visitors throughout the year, offering guided tours of the traditional distillation process and, of course, a dram of the award-winning Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old Single Highland Malt. Finish the day with a short drive to the village of Braemar and was a popular relaxation spot for Queen Victoria who visited the village regularly. Have a drink in one of the traditional pubs of Braemar or enjoy delectable local cuisine at a wide variety of traditional Scottish restaurants.
Take the day to explore the bustling centre of Braemar, a popular tourist spot and a traditional Scottish village. There is a variety of local shops and a Highland Heritage Centre with exhibitions featuring Braemar’s many royal connections. There are two castles built in the village which stand as tribute to Braemar’s long history and connections with royalty dating back almost 1,000 years. Braemar is probably best known for its Highland games, the annual Braemar Gathering which takes place on the first Saturday in September. The games date back over 900 years, to the time when an annual contest between local clans was watched by King Malcolm III. The tradition of royal involvement was resumed by Queen Victoria after her purchase of the nearby Balmoral Estate, and successive generations of royals have maintained that tradition ever since. A trip to the gathering is a fantastic way to spend the day, with displays and competitions in highland dancing, bag piping, caber tossing and many other traditional Scottish activities. It is also a wonderful opportunity to see the Royal Family enjoying a day of leisure. Braemar is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts and is situated in some excellent climbing country. Why not try the easy ascent of Braemar's own mountain, Morrone and take in spectacular views of Royal Deeside. Further afield is the more challenging Lochnagar, whose north peak, the White Mount, is said to have been the inspiration for The Old Man of Lochnagar, a children's story written by Prince Charles. Finish the Victorian Heritage Trail with a guided tour of Braemar Castle where Queen Victoria visited in 1849 to attend and patron the Braemar Gatherings, held in the grounds. It was here she is said to have developed her love for the area and for the gathering, which she continued to patron throughout her life. Print | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/8128 | Top Stock Insights
Revealed: George W. Bush’s Secret South American Land Grab
298,840 acres of one small country are now under his control…a plot to profit from the “Paramount Megatrend of our Time”
It’s one of the largest and hottest regions on the South American continent.
It’s the last frontier of unexplored wilderness.
Spanish explorers, finding no gold or silver, moved on and never returned.
An arid land of spiny brush, dust and armadillos, this sparsely populated flatland is home to nomadic hunters whose way of life remains unchanged since the first humans set foot here.
Crops find it difficult to grow in the hard clay soil.
Uninviting and unforgiving, the Gran Chaco spans 400,000 sq. miles across parts of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.
It’s not on the radar of any sensible tourist…and most travel guides will intentionally avoid the entire area.
Yet what few realize is that this brutal no-man’s holds the key to an epic fortune.
And it’s right in the crosshairs of one of the world’s most powerful dynasties…
The Bush family.
The name connotes power, politics and connections.
The kind of connections they’ve used for decades to make themselves rich in industries including oil, finance and banking… even professional sports.
But what few realize is that there’s another “industry” they’re cornering quickly and decisively.
One that stands to make them far, far richer.
To understand why, you have to go back nearly ten years, deep into the heart of the Paraguayan Chaco…
It was in 2006 that Jenna Bush, daughter of then-President George W. Bush, flew to Paraguay for 10-days.
The “official” story was that she was on a mission with UNICEF.
But that wasn’t the real reason for her trip to the southern hemisphere…
Because while she was there, Jenna met with Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte and U.S. ambassador James Cason.
Paraguay President Duarte Visits George W. Bush at the White House
Nothing is known about what was said between them.
But what we do know is this: by the time Jenna Bush left the country, the Bush family had bought ownership of 298,840 acres of Paraguayan land…
Near the Brazilian border…and right in the heart of the Chaco.
Why on earth would the Bush family choose to purchase nearly 300,000 acres of land in this desolate region?
There’s no oil here, that’s for sure.
Conspiracy theories abounded…
One popular theory was that the Bush family needs a getaway in case their political fortunes in the U.S. go south.
But the truth is altogether different – and far more sinister.
The real reason is this:
Lying within the Paraguayan Chaco is a natural resource so immense that it could soon turn the Bush family from mere millionaires into billionaires.
The fight for control of this natural resource is so huge that Credit Suisse calls it the “Paramount Megatrend of our Time.”
The Bush family realizes the huge potential…and is making a big investment to control this opportunity.
But they’re not alone.
As I’ll show you today, other wealthy insiders are quickly moving to shore up control of this crucial resource.
They include billionaire investor T. Boone Pickens…Warren Buffett…Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.
These investors are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into this timely opportunity...right now.
The scarcity of this resource has made it a primary cause of wars around the world.
This one resource has caused more than 500 conflict-related events...11 of which have turned violent.
Over the past 15 years, there have been armed conflicts over this resource in Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Yugoslavia, East Timor, Malaysia, Peru, Ecuador, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Angola.
In fact the British non-profit International Alert estimates that there could be 46 conflicts within the next 10 years…all related to this scarce resource.
This resource is so precious that people are willing to die for it.
And so profitable, that the world’s most powerful insiders are quickly trying to take control of the market.
So what is this resource?
The answer may surprise you. It’s not oil or gold.
It’s water.
Which brings me right back to the Paraguayan Chaco:
Underneath this desolate region lays one of the world’s largest freshwater aquifers.
It’s called the Acuifero Guarani.
Covering parts of Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Acuifero Guarani is estimated to hold 8,900 cubic miles of fresh water – nearly three times the size of California.
Why did the Bush family buy 298,840 acres of land in the Paraguay’s Gran Chaco?
It wasn’t to start up a ranching operation in South America…
To search for oil in this desolate region…
Or to build a family compound outside of the U.S…
The only reason the Bush family bought land in Paraguay is because of the Acuifero Guarani.
This aquifer is the largest single body of groundwater in the world…
With enough drinking water to supply the entire world population for more than 200 years.
The Bush property in Paraguay is right in the middle of this huge water supply…
Giving them a unique opportunity to profit from shrinking water supplies.
As the chief economist at Citigroup says, water will become “the single most important physical-commodity based asset class, dwarfing oil, copper, agricultural commodities and precious metals.”
And an economist at the New York Board of Trade says it “is not only the most vital commodity – it is also the most undervalued.”
Here’s why…
The scarcest resource…is becoming even scarcer
It’s a supremely cruel irony:
Though two-thirds of the world is covered in water, only 2% of it is fit for human consumption.
And 87% of this “good water” is trapped within glaciers.
This means that only 0.25% of accessible water is fresh water.
The simple fact is that there isn’t enough water in this world.
More than 780 million people still lack access to it, according to the World Health Organization.
This alone is sobering enough.
But the situation becomes even more stark when you realize that the world’s fresh water supply is about to become a lot scarcer.
According to a report from IBM, a growing number of people live in places where water demand greatly exceeds the available supply.
In fact, the number of people living in these areas could jump by 40% by the year 2030.*
To give you an idea why, consider the case of just one country: China.
Thirty years ago, most of the country was a backwater. The people here lived on a diet of mostly of rice, porridge and cabbage.
How things have changed…
Due to rapid economic growth, China has experienced a radical shift in its diet, now consisting of eggs, meat and dairy products.
In the last 25 years, meat consumption alone has skyrocketed 150%.
The problem is, it takes an awful lot of water to produce the grains that feed their cows, pigs, and chicken.
Take pork, the favorite meat in China.
To produce one kilo of pork requires 4,800 liters of water and two kilos of water-intensive feed.
All that for just one kilo of pork!
Because of this change, the fresh water under the North China plain – which harvests half of the country’s wheat and a third of its corn crop – is now being rapidly depleted.
Of course, China isn’t the only country where diets are rapidly changing.
According to the USDA, meat consumption throughout the entire developing world is expected to grow an average of 2.4% each year over the next decade.
Lest you think water scarcity is just a problem for developing countries, think again:
As I write this, California is in the midst of a historic drought that could cost its farmers nearly $3 billion this year.
As California goes…
Of course, water is an issue throughout the U.S.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, water managers in 36 U.S. states expect severe water shortages in the near future.
Nothing illustrates this better than the situation facing Lake Mead, which supplies water to multiple states via the Hoover Dam.
Filled in the 1930s, it plunged to its lowest levels ever last year.
In fact, since 1998 its capacity has dropped by more than 5.6 trillion gallons.
That’s one of the key reasons that the Interior Department warns there is a 20% chance of water shortages for Arizona and Nevada next year if the lake maintains current levels.
As dire as the prospects for Lake Mead sound, it’s nothing compared to the entire Colorado River Basin, which has lost 17 trillion gallons of water over the last decade, according to a joint study by NASA and the University of California, Irvine.
Colorado River: 1999 vs. 2014
That decline is significant.
It’s enough water to supply more than 50 million households for a year!
And now that it’s gone, those 50 million households need to find another source of water.
As the study’s lead author says, “We thought the picture could be pretty bad, but this was shocking.” In California, water reservoirs are literally drying up.
The state’s largest reservoir is at just 40% capacity. And the state’s second largest reservoir – Lake Oroville – has sunk 70%.
These pictures tell the full story of the California drought.
Lake Oroville Reservoir in 2011
Municipal water prices are already spiking throughout America.
Cities including San Antonio are seeing rate hikes of 20% since 2011.
Forbes says, “ Even relatively water-abundant cities on the east coast such as Baltimore and Philadelphia have raised water prices by magnitudes over the past decade.” And in water-rich New Orleans, average household rates are scheduled to more than double from 2012 to 2020.
All of this is why IBM believes that the United States will need to grow its water supply 165% above 2000 levels by 2025.
Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Warren Buffett
are betting big on water opportunities The writing is clearly on the wall…
That’s why some of the world’s premier investors are quickly moving to profit from this worldwide water crisis:
Take T. Boone Pickens, the oil billionaire from Texas. His company Mesa Water owns 200,000 acres of land sitting atop the Ogallala Aquifer – the largest aquifer in North America, spread across eight states. Mesa Water has permits for 65 billion gallons of water a year –meaning Pickens now owns more water than any other person in the U.S.
In 2003, Goldman Sachs purchases Ondeo Nalco (NLC), the world’s leading producer of water treatment technologies. Warren Buffett is the company’s largest shareholder.
In October 2007, JP Morgan acquires utility Southern Water, which provides water to 2.3 million people.
The next month, Citigroup partners with HSBC Bank and Prudential to acquire European water utility Kelda for $6.3 billion.
In 2010, J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Water Asset Management leads a $275 million buyout bid for SouthWest Water in England.
In 2011, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing buys Northumbrian Water, serving 2.6 million people.
In March 2012, Goldman Sachs buys Veolia Water, serving 3.5 million people, for £1.1 billion.
In 2012 Filipino tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan announces a deal to buy a 49% stake in Vietnam’s Kenh Dong Water Supply Joint Stock Co.
“If you can find ways to invest in water, you will be extremely rich.” Jim Rogers, legendary billionaire investor
There’s no question about it: water is set to be the hottest commodity of the 21st century.
As a fund manager in London says, “We can’t live without water, we can live without gold. Water is about as attractive as it gets.”
And it’s why Forbes claims, “By some estimates, water-related infrastructure improvements will require $22 trillion in investment worldwide over the next two decades.” That’s a lot of money.
And it provides a timely opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Those who place their bets now can make huge returns investing in the water sector.*
The good news is, I’ve found a simple way you can do just this.
There is one company that’s created a wide range of water treatment technologies to help solve the world’s water scarcity issues.
This innovative company’s high capacity filters eliminate minerals, odors and bacteria…allowing people to quickly obtain clean water from less than pristine sources.
Its products are already sold in 60 countries around the world, with large manufacturing outfits in China and India – two major countries with significant water scarcity and quality issues.
What’s more, it has only begun to tap the huge potential of its water treatment technologies in these countries…an open road for decades of future growth and sales.
This company is also one of the most shareholder-friendly companies I’ve come
across.
In fact, it’s already doubled its dividend in the last six years…and I expect bigger payments will be coming soon.
Already a major player on the scene, this dynamo is about to get a lot bigger as the desperate demand for more clean water skyrockets even higher.
As one analyst says, “If you want a retirement stock that you don't have to worry overly much about, this may be the stock for you.”
It’s the next-best thing to owning land above a giant aquifer…
That’s why I’ve got all the details on this must-have innovator for you in a special new report, Torrential Returns: The Single Best Way to Profit from the World’s Most Valuable Commodity.
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/9078 | coming to the Canaries Specialists in Airport Transfers Check our prices & services Playa de las Americas
Playa de las Americas Playa de Las Americas started life around 30 years ago as a handful of hotels set around a man-made beach with sand imported from the Sahara. Since then, it's grown to be one of the largest holiday resorts in Europe once combined with the suburbs of San Eugenio, Fañabe, Torviscas and Costa Adeje. It's grown as far as it can to the east as Los Cristianos is now blocking it's way in that direction. So the developement is well underway to the west and upwards towards the TF1 motorway that takes you up to the north of the island. Situated at the southern end of the west coast where the climate is the best on the whole island. There are several, blue-flag beaches along the coast, watersports, a vast choice of restaurants and bars and arguably the best nightlife in the Canaries. There's the Octopus Water Park and dolphinarium, crazy golf, 10-pin bowling, a nearby zoo There is now also a big balloon that takes you high up in the air and gives you an aerial view of the coastline.
There is a new golf course open between Playa de Las Americas and neighbouring Los Cristianos - "Golf Las Americas". A part of Las Americas pleasant to visit is Puerto Colon, the boating marina. It's a modern, purpose-built harbour with a selection of shops and restaurants and of course, some nice yachts.
Night time is an experience in "Las Americas" where just about anything goes, especially in the summer months from mid June to mid September. The place to head (or avoid - depending on what you're looking for) is the central stretch of "Veronicas". this is where you'll find the best club nights and streets packed solid with huge crowds of revellers until the early hours of every morning. Internationally renowned DJs are flown in for special club nights hosted by such greats as Clockwork Orange, Cream and Miss Moneypenny's. Top tunes are played in all the bars there as well as the clubs. Hold on to your wallet though and make sure you can hold your booze as it really can get very rowdy. Start off in the area known as "The Patch" until you're ready for clubbing then a couple more drinks at Veronicas.
Away from Veronicas there's no shortage of bars offering more family-orientated entertainment. I started to count how many impersonators were performing to give you an idea and lost count after about 50, some are pretty good actually but the atmosphere makes it worth while too. Plenty of karaoke places by the way too.
There are also shows to go and see and enjoy such as the medieval night (knights, jousting, sword-fighting etc), the Spanish ballet and flamenco extravaganzas, a classy soul and Motown night with excellent American singers and two casinos are other alternatives to boozing.
Check our travel services web site - Islas Canarias Tours - www.islascanariastours.com | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/9444 | Carnival Cruise Lines Cancels 12 Voyages
Posted: Wed 1:47 PM, Feb 13, 2013
/ Article Carnival Cruise Lines cancelled 12 additional voyages of the cruise ship Triumph after an engine fire disabled the ship and stranded thousands of passengers.
The cancelled cruises, which include sailings from Feb. 21 through April 13, are in addition to two previously cancelled voyages departing from Galveston on Feb. 11 and Feb. 16.
The head of Carnival Cruise Lines said Tuesday his company was working hard to ensure the thousands of passengers stranded on the disabled ship in the Gulf of Mexico were as comfortable as possible while the vessel was being towed to port in Alabama.
The reassurances made by Carnival Cruise Lines President and CEO Gerry Cahill were in sharp contrast to what some passengers have told relatives about dirty and hot conditions aboard the ship, including overflowing toilets and limited access to food.
Cahill said the ship has running water and most of its 23 public restrooms and some of the guest cabin bathrooms are working. He downplayed the possibility of an outbreak of disease from unsanitary conditions, saying the ship hasn't seen an abnormal number of people reporting to the infirmary as being ill.
"No one here from Carnival is happy about the conditions on board the ship," Cahill said at a news conference in Miami. "We obviously are very, very sorry about what is taking place."
The Carnival Triumph left Galveston on Thursday and was supposed to return on Monday, but a fire broke out in an engine room on Sunday morning when it was about 150 miles away from the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The ship's automatic fire extinguishing systems kicked in and the fire was extinguished, officials said. None of the 3,143 passengers or 1,086 crew members were hurt.
Carnival officials said the ship does not have propulsion and was about 250 miles south of Mobile as of Tuesday afternoon. Two tugboats are towing the disabled ship to Mobile. The Triumph was being towed at 8 mph and is expected to arrive in Alabama on Thursday. Officials originally planned to tow the ship to Progreso, Mexico, but the ship drifted about 90 miles north due to strong currents.
The National Transportation Safety Board is headed to Mobile to investigate why the fire started and work to find ways to prevent it from happening again.
"Because the Carnival Triumph is a Bahamian flagged vessel, the Bahamas Maritime Authority is the primary investigative agency," a statement from the NTSB read. "In accordance with international guidelines, the U.S. will participate in this investigation as a Marine Safety Investigative State."
After the ship gets to Mobile on Thursday, passengers will stay in either Mobile or New Orleans before they are flown to Houston on Friday. They will then be transported to the Galveston, where their vehicles are parked.
The ship has been operating on generator power. The Carnival Elation rendezvoused with the Triumph on Sunday to provide dinners, and the Carnival Legend did the same thing on Monday. Passengers are sleeping on the deck. Some of the toilets on the ship are functional, but there is no hot water for showers. Passenger Donna Gutzman said living conditions on board the ship are becoming unbearable. "The worst part is the bathrooms," said Gutzman. "(There's) no water and you can't flush, so everyone is going in little plastic baggies and putting it outside their room." Gutzman also said the ship is leaning, so she is worried it could flip over.
A.J. Jones' wife is on the Triumph. She called home when she was able to use a nearby boat's WiFi signal.
"She said they were actually having them urinate in a cup and pour it in the shower, or urinate in the shower," Jones said. "For bigger business, they're having them go in trash bags. Now what they're doing with the trash bags after that, I don't know."
Julie Kuzin said her sister is on the Carnival Triumph. "They've been told they can't offload the ship to other ships because of conditions out in the water," Kuzin said. "I called Carnival to find out about that and they just said they don't have ships available to do that. That's not part of their plan."
Brent Nutt said he heard similar complaints from his wife who is on board. "It smells and there is water all over the floor," Nutt said. "Water is seeping out of the walls. There's feces on the floor." | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/9469 | National Atomic Testing Museum
The National Atomic Testing Museum, the first museum of its kind in the nation. An invaluable resource, the museum provides multiple viewpoints on the work conducted at the... More
Neon Museum
The Neon Museum was established as a non-profit organization in 1996 to collect and exhibit neon signs, the classic Las Vegas art form. Dedicated individuals from the priva... More
Nevada State Museum
309 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV
On October 31, 1864, after thousands of years as a sacred home to indigenous people, Nevada became the 36th state to enter the union. At the time of its statehood, Nevada boom... More
New York-New York Hotel & Casino Pool
Nestled in an intimate setting with views of the New York-New York skyline as well as the excitement and thrill of The Roller Coaster whizzing overhead, the pool at New Yor... More
Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park
500 E Washington, Las Vegas, NV
Old Vegas Mormon State Historic Park is located in downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. The park and visitor center is open Tu... More | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/9873 | Market Street Railway
We keep San Francisco's Vintage Streetcars on Track
Streetcars & Cable Cars
Trolley Tours
San Francisco's World Famous Cable Cars
Richard Panse photo.
The cable cars were invented here in 1873, dominated the city’s transit scene for more than 30 years, were almost extinguished by the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, soldiered on through two World Wars as a quaint relic (even then), survived an assassination attempt by misguided (or malicious) politicians in the late 1940s, were wounded in a follow-up assault in the 1950s, but survived it all to become a worldwide symbol of San Francisco.
In 1964, they were named the first moving National Historic Landmark. Today, both their continued operation and minimum level of service are locked into San Francisco’s City Charter. Their history is a fascinating amalgam of technology, politics, and passion. Here, we concentrate on the basics of the current system.
Two types of cable cars
Today, there are two types of cable cars in regular service. Though they differ in appearance, their operation is almost identical (see ‘How they work’ below).
The California Street cable car line uses twelve larger, maroon cable cars which have an open seating section at each end and a closed section in the middle. These cars can be operated from either end, and turn around by means of a simple switch at the end of the line.
The two Powell Street lines (Powell-Hyde & Powell-Mason) use smaller cable cars, operable from only one end. They thus require turntables to reverse direction at the ends of the line. There are 28 Powell cars kept on the roster at any given time. Several sport historic liveries recapturing the look of the cars at various points in the twelve-decade history of the service.
Additionally, there are unique cable cars from now-vanished lines which Market Street Railway and the Cable Car Museum are working to return to service in the future.
How Cable Cars Work The Cable car fleet 1888-1893
1946-early 1960s
1960s-1982
Full cable car fleet roster
Destinations Share
Fleet Updates
Muni News
© 2015 - San Francisco Market Street Railway | All Rights Reserved | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/10926 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Stogumber
Stogumber
Postcode for Sat Nav: TA4 3TR
Passengers can buy their tickets in the Refreshment Room (the old station office). Furthermore you can partake of one of the station�s now famous cream teas. On gala days bacon rolls, sausage rolls and pasties are always popular and in the colder weather tea and crumpets are served.
Opened in May 2011 was the new waiting room. The Friends of Stogumber Station (FoSS) have been rebuilt the waiting room as closely to the original as is possible by the RAMs (restoration and Maintenance) team at Bishops Lydeard. So why not visit the station, enjoy a hot drink and some of the splendid food served by the cheerful station staff. Relax in the garden or simply soak up the old world charm.
Stogumber is a picturesque but thriving village set in a valley between the Quantock and Brendon Hills. The main enterprise is agriculture and the village is surrounded by rolling farmland. The Parish comprises the village itself and several hamlets, including Vellow, Capton, Kingswood, Coleford Water and the "Vexfords�. The focal point of the village is the Square, which contains the pub shop and St. Mary�s Church, a large Norman church with an interesting William Morris style ceiling. The street leading up to the Square, High Street, is the most photographed part of the village, with its mix of colour-washed and thatched properties.
History of Stogumber Station
Since its construction in 1862 the station has seen many changes. Initially the small platform had a waiting room and signalbox while on the other side of the line there was sufficient space for a large goods shed and a spur which terminated at a cattle dock. The goods facilities fell into disuse by the 1950s and the dilapidated goods shed was demolished late in British Railways ownership. Also on the north side of the line was another small building serving as a goods lockup. This little building was constructed from the local red sandstone and was demolished before the railway was obtained by the WSR plc. The cattle dock had its bars and uprights cut away and the stable blocks which made the surface to the access ramp seem to have been �robbed out� many years ago. The signal box was demolished in the 1920s and was replaced by a ground frame which was removed later with the goods facilities in the 1960s.
For a time Stogumber played host to a camping coach. Water for this coach was stored in a tank wagon that was replenished weekly via a Taunton train. However this last vestige of any sidings at SR was removed in the early 60s when the camping coach was removed. Stogumber�s buildings then fell into general disrepair and the waiting room, that was now considerably rotten, was demolished soon after the WSR plc took over.For a time Stogumber was managed by Harry Horn, the Station Master and a small group of volunteers known as the Friends of Stogumber. However time told and this band of volunteers dissipated into other railway work.
Following the death of Harry in 2000, his wife Iris, carried on as Station Master and kept the station and its gardens in very good order. However Iris was not getting any younger and in 2009 she was admitted to hospital and the station team at Bishops Lydeard was asked, by the Company, to ensure that the station remained open.
A small group of volunteers came together and Friends of Stogumber Station was reformed. Sadly Iris passed away in the autumn of 2009. Jenny Davidge is the Station Master.
The fledgling FoSS started to grow almost as soon as it was created and it now stands at 34 members. There are 17 staff working on the station and between them they manage the buildings, gardens and platform.
FoSS is also holding a large donation that will be used to finish off the inside of this building.
There are plans to completely refurbish the cattle dock and open this area as a viewing gallery with disabled access so that visitors to the station can enjoy a cup of tea and watch the trains go by.
Whilst on the subject of trains it will soon be seen that the stopping pattern for Stogumber will change for the galas. All down trains will stop but every other up train will pass straight through the station. From an operational view point this will save on coal as the heavy gala trains will not have to work very hard to get away from the station. The bonus for Stogumber will be that photographers and customers in the garden will be treated to the sight of trains working hard right through the station. The new viewing gallery on the cattle dock (when it is complete) will give an unrivalled view that will probably be one of the best on the whole line.
Why not join the Friends of Stogumber Station (FoSS)?
Visit the Stogumber Village Website. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/10927 | Home » Your Visit » Stations » Washford Washford Postcode for Sat Nav: TA23 0PP
The station is now home to the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust who have set up a museum and workshop on the site of the old Goods shed and yard demolished by British Railways in the 1960s. The museum contains some wonderful artifacts of the S&DJR and is well worth a visit. The Museum
The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trusts museum at Washford contains relics from the former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway which ran from Bath to Bournemouth with branchlines to Highbridge, Burnham on Sea, Wells and Bridgwater. All finally closing in 1966. Please note that the museum is not open every day. Please click here for opening dates.
A Railway Remembered
Explore the mass of exhibits, ponder on the old station names and soak up the evocative atmosphere.
Relics to be seen are station nameboards, lamps, tools, signalling equipment, tickets, photographs, handbills, rolling stock and steam locomotives.
Step back in time as you operate the levers in the reconstructed Midford Signal Box
Museum Admission Prices
Adults £2.00 Child £1.00 Family £5.00 Members Free Washford Station has toilet facilities and is accessible to disabled passengers but does not have a disabled toilet. Tickets are not sold at this station and passengers are asked to purchase their tickets on the trains from the Guard or ticket inspector.
Cleeve Abbey Special Offer to WSR Ticket Holders: A few minutes walk from the station brings you to Cleeve Abbey, a beautiful Cisterian Abbey, in the care of English Heritage and open from 29 March - 3 Nov, daily. Cleeve Abbey offers a 20% reduction on admission charges to those visitors who can show a same day dated WSR ticket on entry. [The offer is available between 29 March - 3 Nov, 7 days a week. Closing times may vary - visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/cleeve for details. The Abbey offers families a great chance to explore the history of the monks who lived at the Abbey with a fun story pack as well as providing visitors with the opportunity to wander around the grounds and Abbey buildings which remain at this peaceful site. Although the main abbey church is no more, the remaining outbuildings give a fascinating insight into monastic life. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing and encourages visitors to linger. Further on from the abbey is Torre cider farm where you can learn how Somerset cider is made and even sample some of the produce. There are also several pubs including the Washford Inn at the end of the Station ramp and The White Horse, near the abbey, which serve food.
History of Washford Station
Washford Station is the first station on the �extension� from Watchet to Minehead and is different in style from the buildings of the earlier line. The station opened in 1874 and unlike some of the other stations on the line is in the village it serves.
The Station is painted in Southern Region colours setting it apart from the other stations, painted in the colours of the Great Western Railway and its successor the Western Region of British Railways. The small wooden building next to the main building is the original signalbox which contains a set of levers. Although the �Midford� exhibit has been designed to represent an ex-S&DJR location, the lever-frame is in fact a part of one from the former signal-box at Woolston (near Southampton).
Find out more about the Somerset and Dorset Trust
Find out more about English Heritage's Cleeve Abbey. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/11454 | Stirling Castle goes online
NEW WEBSITE FOR ONE OF SCOTLAND’S GREAT HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
A lively and informative new website has been launched to let visitors know about everything that’s going on at Stirling Castle.
The castle is among the best historic attractions in Scotland and right now there are a series of exciting projects underway to make it even better.
The website will keep people up to date with the latest developments in the £12 million Stirling Castle Palace Project, which is returning the royal palace to how it may have looked in the mid-16th century.
It is also full of historical information about the castle, its past and its place in Scottish history.
Gillian MacDonald, Historic Scotland’s manager of Stirling Castle, said: “It’s great that the castle is going online with its own website.
“It’s a really exciting time at the moment with the palace project and the weaving of the Stirling tapestries, so we really want to keep people in touch with what’s going on.
“And we also want to make sure that people who are thinking about visiting the castle have an easy way to find out about its past, and all the things there are to see and do.”
The website is now live at www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk.
It features the castle’s attractive new branding – including the distinctive unicorn logo – which are all designed to raise the castle’s public profile as a great Scottish visitor attraction.
Features of the website include:
A timeline of Scottish history
Information on tickets and opening times
News and events A choice of free ecards to send to friends and relatives
A regular staff blog.
There is also information about holding weddings or corporate events at the castle, plus the opportunities to hire Argyll’s Lodging – the nearby 17th-century townhouse of the earls of Argyll. Notes for editors
Stirling Castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town off the M9 at junctions nine or 10. Telephone 01786 450000. Tickets are £8.50 for adults, £6.50 concessions and £4.25 for children.
Historic Scotland has 345 historic properties and sites in its care. These include some of the leading tourism attractions in the country, including Edinburgh, Stirling, and Urquhart Castles, Fort George, Linlithgow Palace, the Border Abbeys, and Skara Brae. For further details visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places.
Historic Scotland’s Mission is to safeguard Scotland’s historic environment and to promote its understanding and enjoyment.
Historic Scotland is delighted to be supporting the 2009 Year of Homecoming with a series of initiatives including family trails, spectacular events and the creation of a Homecoming Pass for heritage attractions in association with other heritage organisations. The journey planning form requires javascript, which is unsupported by your browser.For your journey planning needs use the main journey planner.
Rebecca Hamilton
Marketing and Media Manager
Marketing and Media
rebecca.hamilton@scotland.gsi.gov.uk | 旅游 |
2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/14022 | Home → Columns → The Ten Tenors Guide to the Land Down Under Search Donovan’s Steakhouse Cover StoryRecent ARCHITECT-IN-CHIEF
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29 May, 2013 Latest Tweets The Ten Tenors Guide to the Land Down Under Written by sandiegometro in Columns, Travel
By Kris Grant
So you think you’d fancy yourself a trip to Australia, do you? Just what does that mean to you? The Sydney Opera House and a tangle with a crocodile?
The Ten Tenors — the internationally renowned Australian singing group who will perform Dec. 8-12 at the San Diego Civic Theatre — have another itinerary for you…you might call it the ultimate insider’s guide to the Land Down Under. While on a promotional tour last September, we turned the tables on the tenors, asking them to share their “Top Ten Tenor” recommendations for a visit to their homeland.
This is a group that has traveled the world many times over for nearly a decade, but their Australian blood runs deep in their veins and they’re as proud to talk about their homeland as they are to promote their upcoming concert. With an early morning arrival from Las Vegas where they had just performed in the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon following a trip to Lima, Peru where they were (happily) besieged by 6,000 fans, the Tenors had no shortage of passionate suggestions for the Australian-bound traveler.
Graham Foote is the musical director of the Tenors. “My favorite part of the continent is the Great Ocean Road,” Foote says. It’s a drive that extends for about 200 miles and is an hour and a half southwest of Melbourne. The best way to see it is on the back of a Harley, he insists. “There are great seaside stops with bed and breakfasts and organic agricultural retreats along the way.” Along the road you’ll find an incredible range of scenery, including the Twelve Apostles, craggy limestone stacks that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean. You’ll also see migrating whales, koalas, kangaroos, emus and water birds roaming freely at Tower Hill State Game Reserve. Aboriginal culture is found along the Great Ocean Road as well, including tastes of “bush tucker,” boomerang throwing and playing of the didgeridoo in the town of Geelong.
Luke Kennedy hails from Queensland and he recommends a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. “You’ve got to get a boat to get out there,” he advises. “You’ll see some spectacular fish life and coral and get some sunshine.” But then he points Americans to a lesser known spot: Magnetic Island, “an island off the coast of Townsville, my home town.” The island has an untouched National Park, a resident population of only 2,500 “but there’s still lots to do there,” he says, including visits to secluded beaches, many of which are only reachable by water. There are jet ski and kayak tours and lots of catamarans, sailboards, surf skis, canoes and aqua bikes, and some of the most beautiful aqua marine waters in the world.
Dion Molinas is the Tenors’ chief choreographer and has been traveling the world with the Ten Tenors for over ten years but still resides in Brisbane. He recommends at trip further up the coast in Queensland to the Daintree Rain Forest. “You’ll need a four-wheel drive because the roads are basically rocks and mud, but it is the most beautiful, beautiful place. We’d holiday there every year,” he said of his family vacations. Approximately 430 species of birds live among the trees here, and, yes, if you want to get up close and friendly with Mr. Crocodile, then the rivers of this oldest rainforest in the world, dating back some 250 million years, are the place to visit on a real life Jungle Boat cruise.
Stewart Morris made his debut with the Ten Tenors in 2001. Hailing from Southeast Queensland, he recommends the Scenic Rim, a thriving rural paradise set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by world heritage-listed national parks. Here there are horse farms, wineries and art galleries and “gorgeous places (called bushwhacking tracks) to go hiking, with streams and waterfalls,” says Morris. Supported by a thriving economy, the Scenic Rim has a strong community spirit and friendly locals (which could be said for all Australia, come to think of it). Lamington National Park, dedicated in 1915, boasts extensive walking tracks allowing visitors to explore the largest preserved stand of rainforest in Australia.
Boyd Owen says the Yarra Valley has taken its rightful place among the fraternity of the eight great wine regions in the world that also includes Napa Valley and Argentina. “A lot of famous wines are based there and it’s right at the foot of the Yarra Ranges,” he says. “There are plains with vineyards and amazing restaurants. You’ll find everything you’d possibly like in a wine country adventure from little cafés, cheese shops, antique stores and crafts stores, right up to five-star retreats on the mountains. But the great thing is it’s only an hour’s drive from Melbourne.” Great times all year round, Owen advises.
Tod Strike, after having gained his bachelors of arts in music, moved quickly into the professional performance arena with appearances in the State Opera of Queensland’s productions of Turandot and Othello and played Goro in Madame Butterfly. But he advises Australian visitors to go west…way out to Western Australia. “If you want to do something different, you must visit the outback and the beaches. Cable Beach up in Broome is unparalled for its beauty. Or you can jump in a helicopter and do The Kimberleys.” The Kimberleys National Parks consist mainly of ancient, steep-sided mountain ranges. “You’ll see colors there you won’t see anywhere else,” Strike shares.
Jeff Teale, as a young lad, was more interested in sports than singing,
particularly the Australian Football League. But at age 19, he began exploring music and singing and was even known to busk with his guitar on the streets of Brisbane. His recommended destination for visitors is only an hour from Brisbane: North Stradbroke Isle, one of the world’s largest sand islands. “You take a vehicle ferry (called a barge) and you can do so many things there — snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing. It’s a hidden wonderland that hasn’t been overpopulated. And there’s a big fresh water lake on the island’s interior, which is clear blue and surrounded by wildflowers of the Australian bush.”
Benjamin Clark is a country boy and proud of it. “My dad owns a pub in the country,” says Clark, who grew up in the rural town of Memda on the outskirts of Melbourne. “Don’t overlook the niceness and beauty of small Australian towns. Stop at any pub that has a $12 pot of beer and a dinner like chicken parmigiana. You won’t meet nicer people in the world.”
Dominic Smith advises that you can go straight to the heart of the country by plane, to Alice Springs, and just north is Uluru, one of the country’s most recognizable natural icons. The sandstone formations stand 1,142 feet high and measure 5.8 miles in circumference. “You have to get up in morning, before the sun comes up because as the sun hits the rock, it changes colors. It’s amazing,” says Smith. “And the same thing happens at sunset, when it briefly glows red. And at night the stars are spectacular.” Although the local Anangu do not climb Uluru because of its great spiritual significance, climbing is a popular attraction for visitors. But Smith advises that climbing may no longer be allowed. The government’s “Draft Management Plan, 2009–2019” under submission to the Minister of the Environment, may soon curtail the activity.
Steven Sowden, the newest member of the Tenors, joining in 2007, hails from Queensland, “where we have a lot of beautiful rainforest,” he says. “I recommend the Bunya Mountains in Queensland; a national park named after the Bunya Pine trees. I go there with my wife and we have a quiet weekend with beautiful protective rainforests and limitless bush walks. There are all sorts of wildlife and we just go and relax. It’s about two hours northwest of Brisbane.”
And then there’s the food.
“You can’t surpass the seafood,” said Smith. “It comes in fresh off the boats every morning. Many cities have fish markets.”
“And we’re also famous for our cattle,” Smith added. “Great beef, great steaks and we’re getting inventive on sausages, like garlic sausage.”
Molinas relished an Aussie meat pie, “a crust pastry baked with our finest beef on the inside. You can get it with steak and mushrooms and mashed peas,” he said. “And my second favorite thing is Vegemite. It’s a black paste made from yeast extract and high in vitamin C and we eat it with anything and everything. The mistake people make is they spread it like jam and it’s very salty. It takes some getting used to.” But he admitted that “most of us pile it on nice and thick.”
Speaking of meat pies, Foote advised travelers to try a pie floater. “It’s a meat pie inverted in a plate of thick green soup; perfect if you are hung over at 4:30 a.m.”
Another Tenor chimed in with his love of “a hamburger with a fried egg, beet slice and pineapple. As a kid I could go down and spend a $1.50 and have a terrific meal.”
Teale said he was partial to caramel Tim Tams biscuits, and Violet Crumble, which is a honeycombed confection covered with chocolate, while Strike said Aussie desserts can’t be beat. “Pavlova with fresh fruit,” he said with affection, “and our Bowen mangos are the best, and a thing called Lemonettes — a sponge cake covered in chocolate and coconut.”
Fortunately, the Tenors had just finished lunch, but as they spoke about Australian places and foods, an undeniable wistfulness grew over the group and this interviewer had to apologize for possibly churning up a bit of homesickness. No worries, they said, they were soon headed south.
“We spend so much time away from home, but when we go home we cherish it,” said Smith. “Australia is still the best country in the world.” z
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2015-48/4472/en_head.json.gz/14050 | 1. US States Level 1
3. Europe Level 1
4. USA Caps Level 1
Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee,
From thy Southern shores where groweth,
By the sea thy orange tree.
To thy Northern vale where floweth,
Deep blue the Tennessee,
Alabama, Alabama, we will aye be true to thee!
Alabama State Song Alabama has an interesting history. During the Civil War, Montgomery, the state capital, was the capital of the Confederate States of America. Because of this, Montgomery is known as the "Cradle of the Confederacy." It is also the birthplace of the Confederate Constitution, and where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederacy in Alabama. In fact, because of the state's Civil War history and central location in the Deep South, Alabama is known as the "Heart of Dixie."
Another of Alabama's nicknames is the "Yellowhammer State." The state probably got this nickname because its Confederate troops placed yellow trimmings on their uniforms during the Civil War. Yellowhammers are birds with yellow patches under their wings.
Alabama is an East South Central state bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. The state has a panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico and boasts a subtropical climate with long, hot summers and mild winters. Mobile, the state's only seaport, is a major United States seaport; Alabama has one of the best water-transportation systems in the South. Alabama's landscape includes forest-covered hills and ridges in the north and dense pine forests, rolling grasslands, and low croplands in the south. The Mobile Delta region in the southern area of the state has numerous swamps and bayous, which are shallow channels filled with slow-moving water. Beaches border Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico at the state's southern tip.
Huge cotton plantations using slave labor were once common in Alabama. Today, cotton is no longer the basis of the state's economy, even though it is still a chief producer of the crop. However, more of the state's land is now used to grow soybeans and corn. Peanuts and melons are other important crops grown in Alabama. Livestock is also raised in the state. In addition to being an agricultural state, Alabama has emerged as an industrial state. Its rivers are important for flood control and hydroelectric power. The construction and manufacturing industries employ more than a quarter of the state's workers. Alabama also has a prosperous textile industry and about 22 million acres of commercial forestland. Alabama has rich deposits of iron ore, coal, and limestone. This has helped make the state a leader in steel production. Birmingham (seen above), Alabama's largest city, is the greatest producer of steel in the South.
Alabama is also important to the space industry. Huntsville is known as "Rocket City U.S.A." because it is the site of Redstone Arsenal, Marshall Space Flight Center, and the United States Space and Rocket Center. Go to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center to see a large collection of spacecraft and rockets. While you're there, experience the hands-on astronaut training exhibits. If you want to see where the Saturn 5 rocket system, which carried the first astronauts to the moon, was created, go to Huntsville. Scientists have developed many important rockets and spacecraft there.
Alabama is also famous for the people who have lived and worked in the state. Martin Luther King, Jr. began his career as a local pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery. After Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat in the front of a bus to a white man, King led an important bus boycott in Montgomery during 1955 and 1956. Parks' actions may have sparked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. King led African American voter-registration drives throughout Alabama in the early 1960s. After he was arrested during his campaign to desegregate public facilities in 1963, King wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail." Governor George Wallace was among the many people who opposed racial integration in the state. In spite of considerable opposition, King continued his struggle for social justice. His efforts played a major role in the passage of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Other famous people who lived in Alabama include George Washington Carver and Helen Keller. Carver discovered hundreds of new uses for peanuts and sweet potatoes at the Tuskegee Institute. Keller was a famous author and lecturer who showed the world that a blind, deaf person was capable of great accomplishments. State Flag Capital...Montgomery
Largest City...Birmingham
Population...4,447,100
Statehood...1819 (22nd) Area...ranked 30th Motto...We Dare Defend Our Rights
Nickname...Yellowhammer State, Heart of Dixie | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/27 | "Real Life Real Time History"By Jerry GriffinGranville, OHMay 11, 2004
I had a most extraordinary experience when I traveled recently to Taiwan with my wife, Judith Thomas. I learned of her courage in an earlier part of her life and was introduced in one fascinating week to a portion of the drama and excitement of recent Chinese history and culture.
Judith and I traveled to Taiwan, along with Judith's three adult children and their father [Judith's ex-husband] Milo Thornberry. We went as guests of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, a private organization funded by the Taiwan government. The TFD hosted a weeklong program honoring "Foreigners Who Made a Difference in the Democratization of Taiwan." I went along to carry the luggage and be helpful, and ended up with a new view of my wife of twenty-two years.
The trip came at an especially interesting time: the simultaneous beginning of the run-up to the Taiwan Presidential election in March 2004; the dust-up over the proposed referendums for that election accompanied by another round of military threats to Taiwan from Beijing; plus the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Washington seeking the U.S. government's support for the mainland's continuing effort to assert its sovereignty over the island of Taiwan.
Let me begin the story with excerpts from a letter that Judith wrote to our friends shortly after our return from Taiwan.
Milo and I spent five years in Taiwan from 1966-1971 as Methodist missionaries. We were assigned to teach at Taiwan Theological College, a school founded by the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan. At that time, the government was ruled by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, headed by Chiang Kai-shek, the general who lost the Chinese Civil War to the Communists in 1949. After the loss, he and his armies retreated to Taiwan, where he continued to claim himself head of all of China. This fiction enabled the government to put off the democratic elections called for by the 1947 Constitution and to maintain a state of martial law for 38 years (1949 to 1987), a period longer than that of any other country post-WWII. That period is now referred to by the Taiwanese as the "White Terror," a time when anyone could be arrested at will by the authorities, tortured, tried in secret, and executed or sentenced to a long jail term.
Milo, Judith and Peng Ming-min
When Milo and I arrived in Taiwan, we already knew something about the oppressive nature of the government. Seeing it up close was another matter. Over time, Milo and I worked with a few other like-minded people on two important projects: (1) We put together a packet of information about Taiwan to give to visiting foreigners who wanted to hear other than the government view of things. We also opened our home for meetings between such foreigners and Taiwanese dissidents who were willing to talk about their views on Taiwan. (2) We set up a project to identify political prisoners and get their names to Amnesty International for follow-up on their cases. We also collected money from various sources, including the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker Organization. These we distributed to the families of political prisoners, who were typically cut off from any financial aid or legitimate means of making a living. I was involved in one other rather dramatic activity: Milo and I coordinated the escape of Dr. Peng Ming-min, a prominent legal scholar and professor at the National University, who was arrested as a dissident in 1964 and released after six months because of protests from scholars around the world. We became good friends shortly after our arrival in Taiwan, even though he was still under a form of house arrest that meant he was followed by secret police whenever he went out. After he came under intense pressure from the police in 1969, including threats on his life, we urged him to consider leaving Taiwan and he agreed. There was no hope that the government would allow him to leave legally; the only recourse was some kind of clandestine departure. We had no experience with such an undertaking, but we ultimately were able to come up with a plan to help him leave Taiwan safely. So far as we know, the KMT government knew nothing about this activity until the mid-1990s, when I acknowledged it publicly just before Peng returned to Taiwan for the first time since his escape.
In early March of 1971, we were arrested by the Foreign Affairs Police and deported on order of the KMT-controlled government. The charges against us were not specified; rather, the arresting officers said we were accused of an "unfriendly attitude and actions" toward the government. We were given 48 hours to leave the country, were forbidden contact with anyone other than the mission representatives who needed to arrange for our departure, and had four guards (two men and two women) sitting in our living room the entire time until we left for the airport.
Having to leave Taiwan so abruptly changed the course of my life significantly. Working in China was not an option in 1971, and neither was Hong Kong, whose government was inclined to view me as a troublemaker this was during the Vietnam War, when HK was struggling with US student dissidents there. My Chinese language ability languished, and I started graduate school at Columbia in a sociology program that focused on other issues. It was as if one pathway ended abruptly, forcing my feet onto a new and very different one. That break was reinforced when Milo and I ended our marriage five years after our deportation.
Then, more than 30 years later, I received the invitation to return to Taiwan with all expenses paid. The TDF invited about 30 persons from the US, Canada, England, Japan, and Holland to return for a weeklong celebration of the same activities that had resulted in many of us being asked to leave or denied reentry to the country. It was an opportunity to come round full circle."
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Yale '62 Home | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/384 | Pending Visa Expiration Concerns OC Businesses
Posted on 10/04/2007 by DispatchAdmin OCEAN CITY – Resort business leaders this week bemoaned the expiration of a crucial exemption for certain seasonal immigrant workers, citing its potential impact on the town’s hospitality industry.
The discussion arose during the town’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting on Wednesday when Phillips Seafood Restaurant Vice President Paul Wall pointed out the all-important non-skilled seasonal worker visas, called H2B visas, expired on Sunday. Among other things, the H2B visas separate returning workers in seasonal industries from their full-time immigrant worker brethren and do not count them against a national cap of 66,000 immigrant workers.
The cap exemption provides significant relief to seasonal businesses, such as the hospitality industry in Ocean City and Maryland’s seafood and cannery industries, which often hire the same dependable workers year after year. Wall said on Wednesday, resort business leaders should pay close attention to the law change, which could dramatically affect their workforces. The exemption was extended last year thanks largely to Senator Barbara Mikulski’s efforts but expired last Sunday.
“We will not have the luxury in the future of rehiring these employees year after year,” he said. “I know many of us in this room count on them year after year for our hotels and restaurants,”
EDC Chairman Dr. Lenny Berger, owner of the Clarion Hotel, agreed the H2B visa situation merited close monitoring and urged fellow members to contact their senators and congressional representatives about the gravity of the situation. “I don’t know how we could operate without them,” he said. “We bring a big group up every year from Mexico and they are wonderful employees.”
Mikulski has been on the front edge of the fight to get the exemption for H2B workers extended, and this week vowed to continue the fight despite the expiration of the exemption last Sunday.
“The H2B expiration will not stop my fight for the small businesses at risk without this critical provision,” she said. “Without these seasonal workers, many businesses would not survive- forced to limit services, lay off permanent U.S. workers or, worse yet, close their doors.”
The H2B visa issue was just one of the many topics discussed during Wednesday’s EDC meeting, which was all over the map covering a wide variety of issue facing the resort business community. The following includes some of the highlights of the issues discussed:
— The current real estate slump in the resort continued to be a hot topic for the EDC and some statistics presented on Wednesday illustrate how dire it has become. For example, the total number of homes and condos active for sale in Ocean City and Ocean Pines combined now stands at 2,437 as of last Sunday. The total number of condos and single-family homes closed in the resort area in 2007 as of Sunday stands at 1,007, compared to 1,209 closings last year. As recently as 2004, at the height of the real estate boom, the number of closings in one year totaled 2,025. Despite the gloomy statistics, Coastal Association of Realtors spokeswoman Kathy Panco told the EDC it might soon be time to turn the corner.
“As you can see, we’re down about 50 percent from just three years ago,” she said. “What goes down has to come up, and hopefully, we’ll be able to get some momentum going and create a domino effect.”
— Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones encouraged all EDC members to attend a public hearing on the proposed room tax hike for Worcester County in Snow Hill on Oct. 16. Ocean City has proposed a one half percent hike in the room tax in the resort and throughout the county with half of the increase dedicated to marketing the resort. The decision will ultimately be made by the County Commissioners, who will host the public hearing on Oct. 16. Jones also encouraged EDC members to participate in the Tourism Summit set for Oct. 15.
— Ocean City Development Corporation Executive Director Glen Irwin informed the EDC the completion of a renovation at the Ambassador Inn on 5th Street represented the milestone 40th project in the downtown area’s façade program. All in all, over $2 million in private money has now been invested in the façade program. In addition, Irwin told EDC members the first summer for the town-owned Tarry-A-While project was highly successful and the partnership with the Ocean City Beach Patrol “worked out perfectly,”
— Ocean City Chamber of Commerce officials told the EDC the first year with a satellite U.S. Post Office branch at the Chamber’s headquarters in West Ocean City has been a huge success. Just last week alone, the post office in the Chamber building generated $5,000 in sales and the year-to-date total in sales has topped $65,000.
— With major events scheduled for just about every weekend throughout the fall in Ocean City, business has been brisk at the convention center, according to Fred Wise, who said there were 1,200 guests registered for this weekend’s Endless Summer Cruisin’ event and another 7,000 registered for the Octoberfest event. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/578 | Vol. I, No. 4, Spring 1988
The Ozarks as a Region
A Geographer's Description
by Milton Rafferty A region is a portion of the earth's surface that has one or more elements of homogeneity
distributed somewhat evenly throughout the area. The Ozarks is one of America's great regions,
set apart physically by rugged terrain and sociologically by inhabitants who profess political
conservatism, religious conservatism and sectarianism, and strong belief in the values of rural
living. This popular image of the Ozarks, though widely accepted, is poorly understood in
geographical terms. In a word, the boundaries of the Ozarks are vague to most people and subject
to interpretation and disagreement by the experts. As delimited by geographers, the Ozark region extends over all or part of 93 counties in four
states: Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas (Map 1 ). The total area is approximately
50,000 square miles, an area the size of Florida. Sometimes the Shawnee-town Hills, which
stretch across southern Illinois, are included in the Ozarks, but more often they are linked to the
limestone Iowa-plateau country that extends through southern Indiana and central Kentucky and
into Tennessee. The boundaries of the Ozarks are marked in a general way by major rivers: the Mississippi River
on the east, the Missouri River on the north, and the Grand River on the southwest (Map 2).
Most of the western boundary follows a line where rocks of the Pennsylvanian period overlap
those of the Mississippian period. Several geographic features tend to distinguish the Ozark Plateau as a region. Surface rocks are
older than those exposed in surrounding areas. For example, the granites in the Elephant Rocks in
the Saint Francois Mountains are believed to be more than a billion years old. Great relief and
steep slopes are typical of the rugged knobs in the Saint Francois Mountains in eastern Missouri,
the flat-topped summits and steep valleys in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas, and the rugged,
dissected terrain in the White River Hills, Osage-Gasconade Hills and Courtois Hills. The region
is heavily mantled with oak-hickory-pine forests and cedar glades. Limestone bluffs along the Buffalo River in Arkansas typify the erosion and deep entrenchment of Ozarks river valleys.
(Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.)
[1] The Ozark Plateau is distinguished from the Ouachitas by a less disturbed rock strata and a
profusion of limestone and dolomite. Chert (flint) is in great abundance. The resistant chert, when
weathered from the dolomite in which it is embedded, accumulates at the surface and must be
cleared from fields. Stream beds are choked with chert gravel washed from steep hillsides. The
Ozark region is known for its great abundance of karstic landforms (springs, caves, sinks, etc.)
including such features as Alum Cove Natural Bridge near Jasper, Arkansas; Grand Gulf, a
spectacular collapsed cavern near Koshkonong, Missouri; and Big Spring near Van Buren,
Missouri, the largest single-opening spring in the United States. There are hundreds of caves and
caverns, some of them quite large. Spectacular Blanchard Springs Caverns near Mountain View,
Arkansas, is one of more than forty developed caverns. These unusual features are formed by the
solution of the limestones and dolomites as the groundwater percolates through them. The region
also possesses exceptional water resources in the form of man-made reservoirs, including large
lakes such as Lake of the Ozarks, Lake of the Cherokees, Table Rock Lake, and Greers Ferry
Lake. The Ozark region and its borders boast 18 reservoirs covering more than 534,000 acres,
with a combined shoreline of 7,350 miles. Some fast flowing rivers, including the Current, Jacks
Fork, and Buffalo, have been designated protected scenic rivers. More than fifty streams provide fast clear waters for canoeing and float fishing. The bedrock is domed upward elliptically, being highest along the central line running from a
point near Ste. Genevieve, beside the Mississippi River, to the Missouri state line near the
southwestern corner of Stone County. The highest elevations in the region are found in the
Boston Mountains of Arkansas, where there are extensive uplands of more than 2,000 feet
elevation in Madison, Newton, Washington, Franklin, Johnson, and Pope counties. A few summit
areas in extreme western Newton County exceed 2,500 feet. The central Ozarks is lower than the
southern and western rimlands, but elevations in the St. Francois Mountains generally exceed
1,600 feet and the highest elevation in Missouri (1,778 feet) is the summit of Taum Sauk
Mountain in Iron County. Elevations nearly as high are reached on the western rimlands in
western Wright County, Missouri, where the summits near the hamlet of Cedar Gap reach 1,728
feet above sea level. The variegated landforms and relief are the result of several factors: different resistance to
weathering and erosion of any two adjoining rock masses, the structure (tilt) of the rock layers,
the porosity of the rocks, and the work of streams. For some readers it may be helpful to visualize
the Ozarks as a huge layer cake in which the center has been eaten out. In-facing cuestas (hills
with steep scarp slopes and gentle back slopes) mark layers of resistant rock that are underlain by
weaker rocks. The region and its parts have been named carelessly; established use takes precedence over
definitive labels. Thus the region is variously called the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Plateau, Ozark
Plateaus, Ozark Upland, Ozark Hill Country, and Ozark Highland. Because the region is neither
very high nor mountainous, the terms "plateau" or "upland" seem best to apply. Elephant Rocks State Park near Graniteville, Mo., is located in the St. Francois Mountains sub-region. (Photo courtesy
of Walker, Missouri Division of Tourism.)
[2] The Ozarks has the general shape of a parallelogram. The region is part of the Interior Highlands
Province, which includes the tightly folded and strongly faulted rocks of the Arkansas Valley and
Ouachita Mountains. The Ozarks may be divided into several topographic subregions: the Saint
Francois Mountains, the Boston Mountains, the Springfield Plain, the White River Hills, the
Osage Gasconade Hills, the Courtois Hills, and two loess-covered border areas along the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers (Map 1). The Missouri River Border is a transitional area to the glacial plains of northern Missouri.
Included is a narrow band of hills north of the Missouri River. River bottom farms are flooded
frequently. Limestone bluffs, undercut by the river and faceted into pyramidal forms by tributary
valleys, are bare of vegetation except for a few hardy cedars (junipers) that cling to precarious
ledges. Most of the rolling upland is covered with rich loessal soils suitable for farming, making
this region one of the Ozarks most productive agricultural areas. The Mississippi River Border consists of a narrow strip along the Mississippi River. Hilly belts
extend back from the Mississippi River and its tributary streams; an extensive hill belt in the drainage area of the River Aux Vases is known as the Becket Hills. The most extensive
upland area is the Barrens in Perry County, where large sinkholes are more numerous than in any
other section of the Ozarks. Both the upland and bottomland soils are rich. German immigrants
laid out production farms on the upland soils during 19th century settlement. The Springfield Plain is a gently sloping surface that forms the western border of the Ozarks.
Relief is less and soils are nearly as fertile as those bordering the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Much of the upland originally was in prairie grass and resembled the plains region in eastern
Kansas. The St. Francois (pronounced "Francis'') Mountains lie in the eastern Ozarks, but they are
geologically and physiographically the center of the region. The knobs of granite and felsites are
slowly being exhumed by weathering and erosion. The relief in the igneous rocks was etched in
ancient times and is slowly being uncovered as the overlying sedimentary rocks are removed.
Some of the mountains, such as Buford Mountain, Bono Mountain, Taum Sauk Mountain, Black
Mountain, Mudlick Mountain and Profitt Mountain are linear in shape. Others such as Shepherd
Mountain and Pilot Knob are cone shaped. Deep gorges, called shut-ins, have been carved in the
resistant igneous rocks. Fertile basins in the mountain region were among the first permanent
settlements in the Ozarks and became prosperous farming communities. The Courtois Hills Region (pronounced "Cote-o-way" or "Curt-o-way") has the steepest
average slopes and wildest terrain of any part of the Missouri Ozarks. Although it does not have
the greatest relief, it is the most rugged district in Missouri, consisting of a maze of deep, confined
valleys and sharp ridges. The region is named after Courtois Creek in Crawford County, one of
the earliest valleys to be settled but only one of several streams in the district with steep valley
walls and chert-clogged channels. "Down in the hills and hollers" applies to this region more than
any other section. Map 1. The sub-regions of the Ozarks (from Rafferty, The Ozarks: land and life.)
[3] Greer Spring is only one of several spectacular springs in this region. Others are Round Spring
and Alley Spring near Eminence and Big Spring near Van Buren. Caves, sinkholes, and solution
valleys are also quite characteristic of the region. The Sinks and Natural Tunnel on Sinking Creek,
a tributary of the Current River, are spectacular solution landforms. Historically, timber was the main source of income. In recent years, rich lead deposits were
discovered in ancient coastal reef deposits buried more than 900 feet beneath the surface. Lead
and zinc ores from the New Lead Belt, or Viburnum Trend, have brought new income into one of
the poorest districts in the Ozarks. Agriculture possibilities are very limited. Population is mainly confined to the valleys, where soils,
terrain, and excellent springs provided settlement niches. Because it is the largest area of severely
dissected country, the Courtois Hills ranks with the Boston Mountains of Arkansas as a region of
isolation and limited agricultural possibilities. Many unsurfaced roads can be traveled only in a
pickup truck, and even the best bituminous-surface roads wind along ridgetops and descend into
valleys on steep grades. The White River Hills lie at and beyond the margin of the Burlington limestone in Arkansas and
southwest Missouri. The hills are nearly as rugged as the Osage-Gasconade Hills and the Courtois
Hills, and the scenery is even more attractive. Forested slopes, bold limestone cliffs, and park like
cedar glades combine with lobate caves, streams and springs. Several large lakes--Beaver, Table
Rock, Taneycomo, Bull Shoals, and Norfolk--have been impounded along the White River. The
result is a scene that combines splendor, variety, and charm. The Osage-Gasconade Hills region includes the ridges and steep tributary valleys along the
Osage and Gasconade rivers and their larger tributaries. In no other place in the Ozarks are the
large streams so deeply entrenched into the upland. The dam at Bagnell on the Osage River
formed Lake of the Ozarks in spectacular meander loops. In Pulaski County, the Gasconade River
has created eight-mile Moccasin Bend, which brings the river back to within a thousand feet of
the beginning of the loop. The region is also known for its karst features, notably springs, caves,
sinks, and natural bridges. Hahatonka Spring near Lake of the Ozarks and Stark Caverns near
Eldon are two of the most publicized scenic attractions. Map 2. The river borders and river systems of the Ozarks. (from Rafferty's The Ozarks: Land and Life) (Below)
Fletcher mine, near Bunker, Mo., is typical of recent, modern lead-zinc mines of the Courtois Hills sub-region. (Photo
courtesy of St. Joe Minerals Corp. Now Doe Run Minerals Corp.)
[4] The Central Plateau is surrounded on three sides by rugged hill districts. The plateau and the
Springfield Plain are the only parts of the Ozarks Plateau that have not been dissected thoroughly.
However, portions of the plateau, where streams cross the region, show extreme dissection. The
best agricultural land is on the uplands, which are extensive in some areas. The larger upland
tracts were named at an early date and always have been known as productive agricultural islands
in the forested interior Ozarks. The larger tracts are the Salem, Licking, and Summersville
uplands; the Lebanon and West Plains prairies; and Buffalo Head Prairie in Dallas County,
Missouri. The Boston Mountains lie in northern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma. The northern
boundary, the Boston Mountain Front (or escarpment), marks a sharp change in topography,
rocks, and soils from the country north of it. The boundary is a definite line, easily identified and
traced on the ground. South of Harrison the Boston Mountain Escarpment stands more than
1,000 feet above the Springfield Plain, and mountain outliers comprised of sandstone and shale
have been detached from the main upland during millions of years of erosion. The most prominent
of these isolated mountains, the Boat Mountain group, eight miles southeast of Harrison, stands in
splendid isolation 1,000 feet above the Springfield Plain and about eight miles away from the
front. The valleys were once more heavily settled; brush and scrub timber choke fields that
formerly grew crops of corn and cotton. Agriculture has declined over the years because of
isolation, poor road, long distances to markets, and the small amount of level land and fertile soils. Many distinctive events have shaped the human geography of the Ozarks. A great deal of trial and
error experimentation has been involved in the economic development of the region. Although
crop agriculture is greatly diminished from former times, the Ozark region's resources are being
exploited in new ways. The combination of heavily forested mountains, cascading creeks and
rivers, eighteen large reservoirs, and a reputation for bucolic, "down home," low-cost vacations
has made the region an increasing popular tourist destination. The region also benefits from its
strategic location in the central agricultural heartland of the United States, making it easily
accessible to large numbers of people who wish to experience the Ozarks many natural and
man-made attractions. Since about 1965, population has grown very fast. The most substantial
increases have occurred in the larger towns, but the most rapid rates of growth have taken place
in counties that border the large reservoirs. For many years the Ozarks was a backwater area effected only marginally by growth and
development in the rest of the country. Some sections of the Ozarks have been better suited over
time than others to adapt to the forces of change, but today, when scenery, water, and
recreational potential are increasingly valuable resources, the Ozarks is experiencing rapid growth
and development. It is in many ways a region whose time has come. Grand Falls on Shoal Creek near Joplin, Mo., is located in the Springfield Plain sub-region. (Photo courtesy of Walker,
Missouri Division of Tourism)
Milton Rafferty is Head of the Department of Geosciences at Southwest Missouri State University,
and the author of several Ozarks and Missouri publications, including The Ozarks: Land and Life;
Historical Atlas of Missouri; Missouri: A Geography; and, The Ozarks Outdoors, A Guidebook for
Fishermen, Hunters, and Tourists.
[5] Copyright -- OzarksWatch Next Article | Table of Contents | Other Issues | Keyword Search Local History Home | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/1131 | Holyrood Park road traffic closures announced
Visitors to Holyrood Park in Edinburgh will be able to enjoy a safe, traffic-free environment during four days of road closures over the festive season.
There will be road closures on December 25th, December 26th 2012, January 1st and January 2nd 2013.
There will also be additional road closures on Saturday January 5th and Sunday January 6th for the International Cross Country races and 5 Km public races.
The closures, which operate from 8am till 4pm on the 25th and 26th and 8am till 5pm on the 1st and 2nd, will be put in place at Queen’s Drive and Duddingston Low Road.
Martin Gray, Ranger and Visitors Services Manager for Historic Scotland at Holyrood Park, said : “These closures follow on from the success of previous years closures, encouraging people to use the Park in a safer, traffic-free environment and to take their new bikes and other Christmas presents outside for the first time. “The closures will also allow us to welcome back several popular events as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations including Dogmanay and the Tri-athlon. In addition we are also closing the Park over the weekend of Saturday 5th January to accommodate the International Cross Country and public 5km race. “We would like to thank drivers for their understanding, particularly during the festive season when the Park is so busy.”
The High Road loop will remain open to cars on the 25th, 26th and 2nd, weather permitting, and drivers can leave their vehicles as usual at the Park’s Holyrood Palace, Meadowbank and Duddingston car parks which are free of charge on these dates.
Holyrood Park in Edinburgh contains a wealth of archaeological and historical remains. Arthur’s Seat is one of four hill forts, and St Anthony’s Chapel stands on a spur overlooking the River Forth. In addition to its rich cultural heritage, the Park offers a wide range of flora and fauna, and volcanic geology, as well as many path walks with spectacular vistas over the city of Edinburgh.
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. Register for media release email alerts from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email hs.website@scotland.gsi.gov.uk The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and will spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL. More information and resources to help businesses engage with Year of Creative Scotland are available at www.visitscotland.org/yearofcreativescotland-toolkit
Jennifer Johnston-Watt
jennifer.johnstonwatt@scotland.gsi.gov.uk | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/1749 | Travelers Inn and Suites Houston 15831 2nd Street Channelview, TX 77530 Tel. (281) 862-0222
ROOMS & AMENITIES
Channelview Vacation Rentals
Historical Landmarks The North Channel area holds a special place in Texas' rich history. At one time Texas claimed independence from Spain as its own sovereign nation. While the reign of the Republic of Texas was brief – 1836 to 1848 – many of the state's earliest historic sites are located within minutes of the North Channel area. The San Jacinto Battleground, located nearby, marks where Texas won independence from Spanish rule in 1836. Here, Sam Houston's rag-tag army defeated Mexican General Santa Anna's superior forces. The 570-foot San Jacinto Monument, with the San Jacinto Museum at its base, is the largest masonry monument in the world. Nearby, the Battleship Texas is moored on the San Jacinto Monument grounds. Commissioned before World War I, this U.S. Navy warship is one of the few remaining ships of its kind. It is open to the public for daily tours. The San Jacinto Monument Museum is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, with the elevator and observation deck open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm. The Battleship Texas is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, contact the San Jacinto Monument, located on Texas 225 East at Battleground Road, (281) 479-2421. Other historic battle sites are in the area. The site of Santa Anna's capture on the Houston Ship Channel next to the Washburn Tunnel, is marked by a monument and park. Nearby, the site of the destruction of Vince's Bridge has also been preserved. Located on South Richey Road in Pasadena, history holds the site as the place where Deaf Smith, Sam Houston's chief scout, destroyed the bridge at Vince's Bayou and ensured the beleaguered Texas Army victory over Santa Anna's superior army. Houston Parks Houston rates first among the nation's 10 most populous cities in total acreage of parkland and second behind only San Diego in park acreage per capita, according to a 2007 study by The Trust for Public Land. Houston has 56,405 acres of total park space, with 27.2 acres per 1,000 residents. The national average is 18.8 acres per 1,000 residents. Alexander Deussen Park 12303 Sonnier Street Houston TX, 77044 Alexander Deussen (1882-1959), a petroleum geologist, donated a 309-acre site on Lake Houston to Harris County in 1956. The site was converted into a public park and named the Alexander Deussen Park. The highlight of the park is a herd of buffalo, giving visitors the opportunity to view these large and beautiful creatures in a natural setting. There is no charge to use the boat ramps at Alexander Deussen Park, and fishing is permitted from piers. The 2.5-mile jogging trail has an asphalt surface with exercise equipment along the trail. There are 3 multi-purpose fields located in this park. These fields can be used for baseball/softball, football and/or soccer. The fields can be reserved, however reservations are not required. Lighting is not available. Reservations of 150 people or more is required for the use of the Open Air Pavilion. Kitchen facilities, lights, and electrical outlets are available. Wood and charcoal barbeque grilling is also available. Seating capacity for the Open Air Pavilion is 400. Volleyball poles are available for use. Nets and balls not provided. There are 230 cement picnic tables available, in which some are handicap accessible. New play structures with shade canopies were recently installed. Amenities/Activities: Boat ramps/piers Duck pond Jogging trail Multi-purpose fields Open air pavilion Picnic areas Playgrounds Restrooms Senior Center with daily activities Shelters Water Gazebo Wildlife (buffalo) exhibit Allen's Landing 1001 Commerce Street Houston TX, 77002 Often described as “Houston's heart” and Houston's “Plymouth Rock,” Allen's Landing is an area that truly defines Houston. It was here in 1836 that August C. and John K. Allen stepped ashore and claimed Houston as their own. The confluence of Buffalo and White Oak bayous also became Houston's first port and a thriving commercial hub. After years of deterioration and numerous planning efforts, Allen's Landing is undergoing major revitalization and rejuvenation. Already completed is a concrete paved wharf designed to replicate the original port, a promenade, terrace overlooking the bayou, trail/walkway, entry plaza at intersection of Commerce and Main, terraced grass lawn, and text-based Public Artwork. Improvements are being made west and east of the existing park, including the downtown streetscape enhancement project, which will feature pedestrian connections from Commerce Street to the bayou. Four major entryways will also include stairs, ramps, landscaping, signage, and public art. Amenities : * Benches * Trash Receptacles * Drinking Fountain * Bike Rack * Decorative Lighting Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge Anahuac NWR P.O. Box 278 Anahuac TX, 77514 In Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge, the chorus of thousands of waterfowl, wind moving through the coastal prairie, the splash of an alligator going for a swim, and a high-pitched call of a fulvous whistling duck are heard during visits. The meandering bayous of Anahuac NWR cut through ancient flood plains, creating expanses of coastal marsh and prairie bordering Galveston Bay in southeast Texas. These coastal marshes and prairies are host or home to an abundance of wildlife, from migratory birds to alligators to bobcats and more. Flora/Fauna : The park features, a coastal prairie and marsh, are home to many migratory birds and alligators such as muskrat, nutria, opossum, skunk, raccoon, and coyotes with characteristics of red wolves. Between October and March, there are as many as 27 species of duck present in refuge, including green-winged teal, gadwall, shoveler, ruddy duck, and northern pintail. Huge groups of snow geese, sometimes in excess of 80,000, feed on rice fields near Shoveler Pond; secretive yellow rails usually live in refuge, also roseate spoonbill, ibis, egrets. Activities : * Boardwalk * Outdoor educational programming (free, K-5th) * Photography * Birding * Canoeing * Wildlife observation Armand Bayou Nature Center 8500 Bay Area Blvd. Pasadena TX, 77507 Armand Bayou Nature Center is one of the largest urban wilderness preserve in the U.S., protecting 2,500 acres of natural wetlands, forest, prairie, and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston/Galveston area. ABNC is home to more than 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, along with thousands of native plants. Reconnect with nature at this remarkable part of the Texas Gulf Coast. Recognized as one of the top birding locations in the Galveston Bay area, ABNC attracts visitors from around the world. Hiking and paddle trails provide easy public access to unique outdoor experiences. Turn the clock back at the restored 1890's Martyn Family Farm site. Or consider a bayou cruise, canoe trip or night owl prowl. See native wildlife including American alligators, hawks, river otters, white-tail deer, several turtle species and much more. Visit with the resident bison that graze one of the center's prairies. For an up-close look, visit the facility's education center, home to animals including snakes and spiders. Amenities/Activities: Accessible hiking trails Live exhibits and wildlife viewing platforms World-class birding Guided boat and canoe tours Martyn Family Farm demonstrations Arthur Storey Park 7400 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. South Houston TX, 77072 Arthur Storey Park, blends the importance of storm water detention with a park environment that includes amenities provided through a local initiative. Every weekend, hundreds of Harris County residents enjoy all that Arthur Storey Park has to offer. Amenities/Activities: Restrooms Picnic pavilions Observation Ponds Visually Impaired Running Tai Chi court Bird watching Walking Trail Nature Trail Playground Barbara Jordan Park 6400 Winfield Road Houston TX, 77050 Dedicated to the memory of Barbara Jordan, an unforgettable force in Civil Rights for African-Americans and a hero to women and Americans with disabilities, the 6-acre Barbara Jordan Park features basketball courts, a community center, picnic areas and more. The .5-mile jogging trail has an asphalt surface with exercise equipment along the trail. Picnic areas are available with concrete tables. Some of the picnic tables are handicap accessible. There are 2 tennis courts available with lighting. Reservations not required. Open everyday from 6:00am to 10:00pm. There is one sand volleyball court available, net provided. Reservations not required. There is one meeting room with full kitchen facilities available for public use in the Barbara Jordan Community Center. Reservations are required before use. For more information or to make reservations, please call the Northside Park Reservation Office at 281.591.6951. The seating capacity of this facility is 75-100 people. Amenities/Activites: Basketball courts Community center with a meeting room Jogging trail Picnic areas Playground Shelters Tennis courts Volleyball court Bay Area Park 7500 Bay Area Blvd. Houston TX, 77058 With an average of only 18 days per year with temperatures below freezing and 99.6 days with high temperatures falling in the 90s, Houston's nature enthusiasts know that there's no better city to soak up the great outdoors. Located southeast of downtown Houston—between Space Center Boulevard and Red Bluff Road, along the shores of Armand Bayou— Bay Area Park offers visitors and their four-legged friends a vibrant green space to enjoy 365 days a year. Head to the area and enjoy a variety of playground structures, picnic tables and barbecue pits, as well as a botanical garden and hiking trails that wind through lush oak trees. Tennis courts, baseball, softball fields and canoe ramps are also key highlights at Bay Area Park. Bring your pup, too, and let ‘em loose at the precinct's first dog park, which is fenced in and divided into two sections—one for small (under 20 pounds) and another for large dogs. The facility features wash bays, trails, fountains and plenty of open space for pups to explore. Bay Area Park is open daily from 7AM to 10PM. Bear Creek Pioneers Park 3535 War Memorial Drive Houston TX, 77084 The history Bear Creek Pioneers Park was created in the 1940s by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to prevent the repetition of flooding that occurred in Houston in 1935. Bear Creek Pioneers Park occupies a portion of the Addicks Reservoir, which was previously a land that was occupied for 100 years by farmers that were mostly German immigrants and their descendants. In 1965, Harris County leased 2,154 acres (8.72 km2) of the reservoir and started the park development. Bear Creek Pioneers Park is 2,168 acres in size and has paved roads and parking for visitors. The park also features walking trails, an equestrian trail, a small zoo (including buffalos, an ostrich, and emus) and aviary, playgrounds, soccer fields, little league and softball fields, four lighted tennis courts, eight picnic pavilions, horseshoe courts, and hundreds of picnic tables and grills. Near the aviary ducks can been seen walking freely around a pond. The park also has restrooms all around the park and drinking water fountains. There is no cost to enter the park but pavilions must be reserved before use. Picnic tables and grills do not need to be reserved. The park has no stores and visitors must bring their own food if they plan on eating or drinking. The Harris County War Memorial is found in this park, next to the Eldridge Parkway entrance. The Memorial was built in 1985 to honor known residents who lost their lives in World War I and the wars ever since. Memorial services are held at the War Memorial every Memorial Day at 2:00 p.m. The wildlife habitat located in the park consists of a duck and goose pond, an aviary, and exhibits for various animals including birds of prey, peacocks, bison, emus, pot bellied pigs, white-tailed deer, donkeys, sheep and goats. Amenities/Activities: Restrooms Observation Pond Equestrian trail Small Zoo Baseball field Horseshoe court Soccer field Softball field Tennis Volleyball Walking trails Pavilion Picnic Playground Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge Brazoria NWR County Road 227 Freeport TX, 77541 Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, a freshwater slough winding through salt marshes, offers rare, native bluestem prairie that graces the uplands. Brazoria NWR is on a key location on the Texas Gulf, which helps Freeport draw one of the highest Audubon Christmas bird counts in the nation--more than 200 species. In winter, more than 100,000 snow geese, Canada geese, pintail, northern shoveler, teal, gadwall, American wigeon, and mottled ducks fill the plentiful ponds and sloughs to capacity. Sandhill cranes join in, too. In summer, birds that nest on the refuge include ten species of herons and egrets, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, mottled duck, white-tailed kite, clapper rail, horned lark, seaside sparrow, black skimmer, and scissor-tailed flycatcher. Look for alligators year-round on Big Slough and in refuge ponds. In dry seasons, their trails thorough the mud and excavated gator holes are easy to spot. Roseate spoonbills capture the pink glow of sunrise in their wings in flight. Those same rosy feathers proved a near death sentence when demand for feather hats decimated spoonbills, great egrets, and other fine-feathered fowl until plume hunting ended before World War I. Flora/Fauna : More than 300 bird species, central flyaway migratory waterfowl in winter and neotropical migratory songbirds, create one of the highest audubon bird counts in the nation in freshwater marshes, sloughs, and ponds. There are four thousand acres of native coastal bluestem prairie, designated an internationally significant shorebird site by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, with birds including roseate spoonbills, herons, yellow rails, ibis, and other wading and shorebirds. There are also alligators, upland birds, coyotes, and armadillos. Activities : Waterfowl hunting is permitted on Christmas Point and Middle Bayou. Fishing is available year round, and bank fishing for redfish, spotted sea trout, black drum, and flounder is found at Clay Banks and salt lake area. During the winter, wildlife observation is popular for Audubon/Freeport bird count of Teal Pond, Rogers Pond, Middle Bayou, Big Slough, and Mottled Duck Marsh. * Photography * Visitor Center/Environmental Education Center * Birding * 2 Boat ramps * Fishing * Hiking * Visitor Center/Environmental Education Center * Wildlife observation * TEKS-aligned lessons. Buffalo Bayou 1113 Vine Street Houston TX, 77002 Buffalo Bayou, the 52-mile slow-moving waterway that was the site of Houston's founding in 1836, has become a destination for outdoor recreation near downtown Houston. It is one of the few bayous left in central Houston which was not reconstructed with concrete in the 1960s and 1970s. It contains an incredibly diverse urban ecosystem supporting dozens of native species of flora and fauna. Trinity National Wildlife Refuge Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect a remnant of the bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity River. The refuge is currently at 18,500 acres and continues to grow. This Refuge is located within the Lower Mississippi Joint Venture Project Area of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and, as such, is highly valuable habitat for a diversity of waterfowl species. A highly valuable habitat, it is used during migration or nesting by nearly 50 percent of the neotropical migratory bird species listed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Although not fully surveyed, the refuge contains more than 620 plant species and 400 vertebrate species. Champion Lake (public use area) includes a bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem (one of 14 priority-one bottomland sites identified for protection in the Texas Bottomland Protection Plan), bottomland hardwood forested swamps, open water, wet pastures, upland cultivated pastures, natural pine forests, and mixed pine-hardwood forests sheltering a diversity of waterfowl species. Flora/Fauna : The refuge is home to white-tailed deer, squirrels, numerous other furbearers, freshwater turtles, alligators, snakes, river otters, and bald eagles. Activities : Only small groups may use this site as restroom facilities are extremely limited. Guided tours are not available. * Birding * Hunting * Fishing * Photography * Wildlife viewing Waterborne Education Center The Waterborne Education Center's (WEC) homeport is Anahuac Harbor, located at the mouth of the Trinity where the river meets the bay. Field labs also take place regularly on the Houston Ship Channel and occasionally on the Sabine and Neches rivers. The Waterborne Education Center (WEC) provides hands-on learning opportunities in science, ecology and other topics. Field labs are conducted aboard two renovated Coast Guard buoy tenders. The vessels have classroom space below deck, where microscopes and viewing monitors can be set up to enhance learning experiences. Passengers are encouraged to disembark in the marsh to engage all of their senses in the exciting environment. Activities : * Field labs * History Trips * Seining * Wildlife viewing * TEKS-aligned lessons Terry Hershey Park Hike & Bike Trail 152000 Memorial Houston TX, 77079 The land occupied by Terry Hershey Park was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s. Located along the banks of Buffalo Bayou and South Mayde Creek, the park spans 500 acres and features some of the nicest on and off-road bike trails in Texas. There is a walk-in sundial where your shadow will tell you the time if you stand on the appropriate stone (and if the sun is shining). Amenities/Activities: 12 -1.2 miles of side trails Restrooms Gazebos Lighted walking trail Exercise stations Playground Picnic sites Hours of Operation: 7:00 am until 10:00 pm for lighted sections of the trail Dawn to dusk for the unlit sections of the trail Park Rules: No alcoholic beverages allowed Pets are allowed (on leash) Designed by Myeres.com
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American Irish Historical Society
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American Irish Historical Society & hotels near
Originally founded in Boston in 1897, the American Irish Historical Society, now located on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, dedicates itself to celebrating and preserving Irish American history. The society’s current townhouse location has been the official headquarters since 1940, although it was closed during a two-year period for extensive building renovations completed in March of 2008. The Society offers a range of cultural and historical events in the form of lectures, concerts, art exhibits, and a literary journal it publishes called The Recorder. As a non-partisan, non-sectarian organization the Society’s extensive Library & Archives and many events are open to the public. The American Irish Historical Society is located directly across Fifth Avenue from the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Central Park’s Great Lawn. Other nearby attractions include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Central Park Zoo, the Whitney Museum of American Art, shopping legends Bloomingdales and Barney’s, Gracie Mansion and the Museum of the City of New York. Area hotels include the Plaza Hotel, the Carlyle Hotel, the Pierre Hotel, the New York Palace Hotel, the Pickwick Arms Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. For more information and the complete list of upcoming events, visit the American Irish Historical Society’s official webpage, at: www.aihs.org. Top New York Attractions
American Folk Art MuseumAmerican Girl PlaceAmerican Indian MuseumAmerican Irish Historical SocietyAmerican Museum of Natural History (AMNH)Apollo TheaterBarneys New YorkBattery ParkBattery Park CityBeacon TheatreBelmont ParkBelvedere CastleBethesda FountainBig Onion Walking ToursBloomingdale's New York
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2014-35/4143/en_head.json.gz/3506 | History.UK.com
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Beaulieu, Hampshire
Lord Montagu's family has owned the Beaulieu estate, Hampshire, since the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the Sixteenth century. Today, Lord Montagu opens his home and grounds at Beaulieu to the public. The experience includes access to ancient Abbey ruins, an aristocratic home and an automobile collection.
Margaret Rowles, public relations officer, said: "Beaulieu was one of the first stately homes in the country to open its doors to visitors and in 2002 celebrated it's 50th anniversary. In all that time, Lord Montagu has been personally involved with developing the modern estate and displaying the wide ranging history readily available here."
The estate stands on the remains of a Cistercian Abbey, founded at the start of the Thirteenth century. Margaret said: "We are now preparing for our 800th anniversary next year. We can trace the story of Beaulieu back to when King John gave the land to the monks in 1204. The monastery built here by the Cistercians was of considerable size and importance. It was 336 feet long, that is ten feet longer than Winchester Cathedral."
The monastery was mostly torn down during the Dissolution. Two non-secular buildings remained untouched – the lay brothers' dormitory, know as the Domus, and the priests' refectory.
Margaret said: "There is a real sense of peace and tranquillity in the Domus. Looking up at its beautiful high-vaulted wooden ceilings, it is easy to imagine how the monks must have felt living in such a place." Both buildings still stand today. The Domus houses an exhibition of how life was for the monks at Beaulieu. The priests' refectory became the Parish Church.
Margaret said: "As well as the undamaged buildings, some other parts of the Abbey also remain. You can see the walls of the cloister, the outer gatehouse and the great gatehouse which forms part of the current stately home, Palace House."
In 1538, the year the monastery was dissolved, Henry VIII sold the grounds to Thomas Wriothesley for £1,340. Wriothesley used the Abbey gatehouse as a hunting lodge. He held estates elsewhere in the county and Beaulieu was not his main base.
www.beaulieu.co.uk Palace House, Beaulieu Abbeyand the National Motor Museum Beaulieu, Hampshire, SO42 7ZN
Many generations later, in the Eighteenth century, the gatehouse was expanded to become a Victorian country house and has been a family home ever since.
Margaret said: "The estate has been passed down by Wriothesley's descendants, twice through the female line, to the present day. The current owner, Lord Montagu, born in 1926, has lived here all his life. When Lord Montagu decided to open his home in 1952, he wanted to give visitors a glimpse of Victorian life in a stately home. Palace House has been furnished and styled to appear as it would in 1899."
Palace House guides adopt the costume and character of the Victorian house staff know to have worked for the family. Margaret said: "We have Mrs Hale the cook in the kitchen. For each corresponding day from 1899, she writes the planned menu on a chalkboard, using information found in records from the era. It is fascinating to see the variety of food offered to guests in comparison to the simpler fare eaten by the staff."
Lord Montagu then stamped a very personal impression on the Beaulieu experience. He began a motorcar collection in memory of his father who died when he was just two and a half. Lord Montagu's father, John, was a motoring pioneer – the first Englishman to race a British-made car on the Continent. He also used his influence as an MP to promote the cause of the motorist. He introduced the 1903 Motor Car Bill, which made number plates compulsory and raised the speed limit to 20 miles per hour. In the Fifties, five vehicles were put on display in the front hall of Palace House. Margaret said: "The collection quickly expanded and outgrew the available space in the house. Not to mention making the whole house smell of oil. So in 1956, the vehicles were moved to wooden buildings near the house."
In 1972, the cars were relocated to purpose built accommodation in the grounds and renamed the National Motor Museum. The collection is administered by a charitable Trust and now contains vehicles from every decade of motoring.
The estate is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day.
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]please wait...Rating: 8.3/10 (3 votes cast)VN:F [1.9.22_1171]Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)Beaulieu, Hampshire, 8.3 out of 10 based on 3 ratings Articles
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2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/4606 | Disney's Hollywood Studios » Columns » Why it's there » A net full of jello
A net full of jello
The sad news of Disney legend Annette Funicello passing earlier this week has lots of fans reflecting on her career and how much she will be missed. This week, I wanted to highlight a tribute to Annette in Disney's Hollywood Studios that we've featured as part of other columns in the past, but never on its own.
In the Muppetvision 3D preshow area is a large net that is filled with large blocks of jello. So basically, it's a net full of jello. Say it fast enough and it sounds a lot like "Annette Funicello".
Funicello was an original Mouseketeer and the only one to be hand selected for the club by Walt Disney himself. Following her success as a Mousketeer, Funicello went on to appear in a number of movies, but she may be best known for starring in the ”Beach Party” movies with Frankie Avalon.
The play on words is a tribute to Annette and her work for the Disney company. It's sad to hear of her passing but it's wonderful that this tribute to her remains in the park today.
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Ever seen something in Hollywood Studios and wondered why it was placed there by Disney's Imagineers? Matt Hochberg leads you on a regular look at the hidden details in Hollywood Studios and explains why it's there.
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Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2013 by Matt Hochberg
Matt HochbergMatt operates Studios Central along with it’s sister sites RocknRollerCoaster.com and TowerOfTerror.org. Matt also hosts the WDW Today podcast, which is an internet radio show covering topics about Walt Disney World. You can reach Matt at quickgold@studioscentral.com. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/5578 | Port of Inverness
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The City of Inverness is the economic and administrative capital of the Highlands; over recent years it has become one of the most vibrant and successful commercial centres in the UK.
The Port of Inverness has been at the heart of the city’s growth and expansion and is one of Scotland’s most sheltered and natural deep water ports.
Trading with the rest of the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the Baltics and the European Union, the port handles a diverse range of cargoes including oil/fuel, packaged timber, round logs, sterling board, woodchips, coal, salt, animal feeds, frozen fish and a diverse range of other goods. The port has recently undergone considerable expansion and can now offer modern facilities to companies including extensive laydown areas, covered storage, and a brand new entrance designed to accommodate extra long loads of up to 50m turbine blade length. Easy access to the A9 for both north and south bound traffic and the surrounding hinterland is a considerable advantage.
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2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/9448 | Want to see the big picture of Idaho?
Fly throughout Idaho, over the Craters of the Moon
and get a bird's eye view of Yellowstone
By Tim Wright
From AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Pilot, June 2005
Contrary to popular perception, there is more to Idaho than potatoes and ski bums who answer to the name Muffy or Biff. And an airplane is a great way to prove it in this airplane-friendly state.
If you're a history buff, a fishing fanatic, a science whiz, a friend of critters, or just somebody who likes to play outdoors, you've come to a good spot. If geology is your thing, you might just giggle out loud because Idaho, also known as The Gem State, is the site of some of the most fantastic volcanic activity found anywhere in the world.
For the sake of discussion, let me suggest making your base of operations in Idaho Falls. Now I admit that Idaho Falls isn't exactly a name that springs to mind as a prime vacation destination, but it's a nice town, centrally located in the region, and it has a good airport, Idaho Falls Regional Airport, offering paved runways, mechanics, and lots of gas. For accommodations, I suggest one of the upper floors of the Red Lion Inn. The hotel is in the heart of town and stands next to the Snake River. From your balcony, you can gaze out over the river to watch folks stroll up and down the delightful tree-lined banks or watch the sun set on distant hills.
When you get hungry, you can walk down the street to the Brownstone Restaurant and Brewhouse for good food and fresh beer that's brewed on site. Afterward, you can stumble back to your room or, if you're up for dessert, walk a little farther downstream and down the street to The Bistro Off Broadway for an espresso. The Bistro offers small outdoor tables, free wireless Internet access, and delicious pasta.
So now you're fat and happy and ready to go exploring. If you need suggestions or directions, don't hesitate to ask a local. You'll be hard-pressed to find a nicer bunch of folks anywhere. The pace of life is a little slower here and the reduced stress is reflected in the patience and helpfulness you'll find in folks living in the area. When I asked for directions for fishing, the bartender at the Brownstone drew three highly detailed maps to some of his favorite nearby fishing holes.
Fishing is a major industry for the state, and you shouldn't have much trouble finding someone to guide you in the mountains or paddle the boat for you as you cast into the fast-running tributaries of the Snake River. In the mountains of central and northern Idaho, there are lots of airstrips that are so close to streams and rivers that you can almost cast from the cockpit after you land. I suggest you get a hold of Galen Hanselman's flying guide, Fly Idaho! I picked up my copy at Aero Mark, an FBO at Idaho Falls, for $40.
It's a great little book about Idaho's off-the-beaten-track airstrips and it's filled with valuable information, wit, wisdom, and history. Even though it's entertaining enough to read for entertainment's sake, its most important feature is the system Hanselman has developed to rate the risk of each airstrip in the book. Hanselman's assessment is based on field elevation, runway length, runway hazards, mountain hazards, and a whole slew of factors a stranger is probably unaware of. Bottom line: The higher the score, the riskier the airstrip.
To give his words and scores more meaning, each listing includes a photograph of the airstrip. If you're not convinced when he says, "Don't even consider landing here without a local professional pilot and even then, be damn choosey!" then the photograph may help you to heed his words.
While most folks purchase Hanselman's book for its mountain information, it also has a lot of information about airstrips in the Snake River plain, such as the Arco Desert, not far from Idaho Falls. The Arco Desert represents some of the most empty and inhospitable terrain you can imagine. Its emptiness is one reason it was chosen as the site for the INEEL, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab, now the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The INL, being a government nuclear research facility, is not someplace one strolls into casually. The Salt Lake City Sectional even lists the airspace over it as a National Security Area, but tours are available and worth the time. One tour pilots should enjoy is the EBR-1 reactor site.
The EBR-1 is the first nuclear reactor to generate electricity for commercial use. When it was running, power lines stretched to the nearby small town of Arco, making it the first town in the world to be lit with nuclear power. The EBR-1 was shut down years ago and thoroughly cleaned up. It may now be the only nuclear power plant that civilians can tour completely.
But the attraction for pilots is what sits beside the EBR-1 parking lot.
Surrounded by chain-link fences topped by barbwire stand two massive collections of rusting pipes and tubes adorned with radiological warning signs. From a distance, it's impossible to tell what they are. It isn't until you get up close that some of the elements within the structures become somewhat familiar, but you'll probably be stumped until you read the plaques nearby. These are nuclear aircraft engines!
Back in the glory days of atomic energy, when anything nuclear was good and exciting, the Pentagon investigated the possibility of building nuclear-powered bombers. The first bomber was to be built and based at the INL. Other than these two engines, and a massive hangar that still stands, nothing else survives. The project died when it was determined that the radiation shielding needed to keep the crews alive during a mission made the aircraft too heavy to fly. The history of the project, which reads like a 1950s science fiction novel, is well worth the few minutes it takes to peruse.
Another fascinating area is the Craters of the Moon Monument. The monument protects a series of volcanic vents that gave birth to massive lava flows that have covered huge chunks of the Snake River plain. Oozing from the base of a hill, one lava flow stretches more than 20 miles to the south.
The monument is about a 35-minute flight in a Cessna 182 due west from Idaho Falls. The flight will take you past the INL and three large volcanic buttes that sprout from the plain. If you want to get a view from the ground, the Idaho state airport directory says fuel and a courtesy car are available 20 miles away at Arco-Butte County Airport, but Arco is a small community of about 2,000 souls so I suggest you call ahead to see what is available — the number (208/527-3261) is listed in AOPA's Airport Directory and any updates may be found in AOPA's Airport Directory online (www.aopa.org/members/airports/).
If a car at Arco isn't available, and you're determined to see what a lava flow looks like, you can test your skills with the dirt airstrip at Hollow Top Airport in Martin, Idaho. Hollow Top lies just a short walk from one of the youngest lava flows in the United States. Hanselman scores Hollow Top at a relatively easy 8, with its biggest concerns being the field elevation of 5,359 feet and a dirt runway 2,500 feet long bedeviled by burrowing animals and cattle.
There's no fuel here or facilities or buildings of any kind. There isn't even a road. If you decide to land and make the hike to the lava, keep in mind that, according to Hanselman, "rattlesnakes are more common than grasshoppers."
Hollow Top takes its name from the hollow-topped volcanic butte just east of the airstrip. Idaho's volcanic past is astounding. The reason the Snake River plain is so flat is because of hundreds of massive volcanic eruptions, each one greater than anything man has ever witnessed. The plain is covered with lava that is literally miles deep. Sixteen million years ago a geological "hot spot" entered the state from the southwest and exited out the northeast. As it drove through the state, it took out mountains and reshaped the land.
Today, the hotspot is known as Yellowstone National Park and it's one of the largest living volcanoes in the world. When Yellowstone blows again, the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 will have seemed like an after-dinner burp.
Speaking of Yellowstone, the same number of air miles from Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon will put you inside the park. Yellowstone from above is almost as amazing a sight as it is from the ground. Only from the air can you truly appreciate just how much wilderness is there. As for landing at Yellowstone, your best bet is probably the paved airstrip at Yellowstone Airport, which is just outside the park and across the Idaho border into Montana. But activity there is seasonal, so you could find yourself all alone. Rental hotels and cars are available in the area if you want to drive in the park.
If you were over Yellowstone, and heading back to Idaho Falls, you'd be remiss if you didn't head south to fly over Jackson Hole and past the magnificent Tetons. Seeing these incredible blocks of granite rising into the sky is nothing short of inspiring. But if the wind is up, they can be killers. Stay in the area long enough, and sooner or later you'll hear tales of airplanes having their wings folded by violent turbulence. If the winds weren't enough, icing in the area can be treacherous. Exercise extreme caution when you swing west to cross the Tetons on your way back to Idaho Falls.
Once on the Idaho side of the Teton summits, you might want to drop down and visit the airport in Driggs, Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport, with its 7,300 feet of asphalt. Driggs boasts ultralight and glider action and has become a home away from home for many pilots who feel driven away from Jackson Hole by the costs and hassles of operating there. As one émigré told me, "In the summertime, if you're not a [Gulfstream] GV, they won't even talk to you."
Because Driggs has drawn pilots from Jackson Hole, it's a lot bigger than it would be if it only drew local Idaho pilots. It's the kind of place that has become a destination in its own right, especially on warm Sundays when the numerous warbirds are pulled out of their hangars for all to admire and the restaurant is in full swing.
I hear the food is so good that it's reason enough to drop in and refill the tanks. If you're there on an off day like I was, go inside the main building at the FBO. You'll find a stairway leading upward with a window at the top looking into the attached hangar. Trust me, if you love warbirds, you'll find the view into the hangar worthwhile.
From Driggs, Idaho Falls is less than 50 nm away. If you've got restless teenagers along, there are two other trips to consider that the whole family may also enjoy. One trip would be St. Anthony, 30 nm northeast of Idaho Falls off Highway 20. Here you'll find the oddity of miles of massive sand dunes. The area is a magnet for dirt bikes, dune buggies, and all sorts of potential insanities involving speed and sand. Even if you don't join in, it's lots of fun to watch the activity. Since there isn't much chance of transportation at the local airport, Standford Field, and because it's so close by, it would be best to get a car in Idaho Falls.
Another trip to consider would be Lava Hot Springs, 50 nm due south of Idaho Falls. While the kids enjoy rented inner tubes coursing through the heart of town on the Portneuf River, mom and dad can enjoy a long, hot soak in outdoor, spring-fed, sandy-bottomed, concrete-lined pools. The facility is run by the state and you can even take a massage after sharing the waters with busloads of Japanese.
You can land at the Lava Hot Springs Airpark and its 3,500-foot-long dirt airstrip. Officially, the airport is still restricted so you need to call Reed White at (877) 360-2582 for permission and to learn runway conditions. If he isn't busy, when you get there he'll give you a ride into town.
Otherwise, it's a good two-mile walk. If you're lucky and respectful, one of the locals may offer to give a ride if you put out a thumb. If you decide to make it an overnight trip, the area hotels will pick you up and drop you off at the airstrip. One thing to keep in mind — the airstrip sits in a valley bowl and atop a small mesa. The north end of the runway has a 500-foot displaced threshold because of a noncompliant structure near the runway, and 20-knot winds from the south are not uncommon.
After traveling all over southeastern Idaho, you'll find it to be one of the most airplane-friendly regions in the lower-48 states. The flying here is spectacular, the scenery inspiring, and you'll find some of the most challenging flying anywhere. From highland to flatland, there's something in Idaho for just about everyone. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/9541 | LitSite Alaska
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Circle Hot Springs
Page 1 of 2 Next » The naturally heated mineral waters of Circle Hot Springs had cleansed and comforted Athabascan Indians for generations before prospector William Greats stumbled upon the location in 1893. With hot spring water available year-round, it soon became a favorite overwintering spot for local miners. The earliest bathhouses were tents; however, ice build-up on tent flaps was always a problem. If someone wanted in or out of the tent, the flap had to be chipped. The large pool, formed from a constant flow of 138-degree water, developed from a natural pond, to a somewhat improved outdoor pool, to a modern, poured-cement swimming pool with changing rooms and a snack bar.
By the time it closed in 2002, Circle Hot Springs Resort had gained statewide as well as national and international attention for its aurora-viewing opportunities, its Olympic-sized outdoor pool, and the funky, old-time atmosphere that owners wisely protected through the years. At its heart was a grand, three-story hotel that has hosted thousands since it first opened in 1930. The hotel became famous for the mineralized water that heated it, the log cabins that surrounded it, and for the ghost that -- perhaps -- haunted it.
Back in 1909, Franklin and Emma Leach bought the 106-acre homestead from Cassius Monohan. Their garden flourished in the Interior's sun-soaked days, the soil warmed by spring water. In 1930, the couple decided to build a hotel on the site, and they hired a local gold miner and trapper, a sourdough named Billy Bowers, to oversee the project. Early in the century, Bowers, whose birth name was Bigger John Bower (without the "s"), had mined claims on Cleary Creek, Ruby, Iditarod, and elsewhere in the Interior, earning a reputation as an honest, hard-working man. Sometime before Emma Leach died in 1974, she allowed journalist Ms. Mike Dalton to tape-record her as she reminisced about the early days of the springs. Mrs. Leach remembered Bowers as "an elderly man" by then -- he would have been about 63 -- and that under his direction, work was done efficiently. They began building in March and opened by fall 1930.
According to some accounts, most of the building materials were brought up the Yukon River to Circle City, then moved to the hot springs by horse-drawn wagon. However, in Mrs. Leach's taped recollection, she said the men logged trees not far from home, by a lake a few miles northeast of Circle Hot Springs. The trail they likely used to haul in the logs is still marked on contemporary maps, a dotted red line between the hot springs and the expansive lake. "My husband brought most of the lumber from Medicine Lake," she said. "There were a lot of big trees down there. Oh, we also had lumber from Fairbanks, of course."
Circle Hot Springs lies at the end of an eight-mile spur road off the Steese Highway at the town of Central. Further down the highway, another 34 miles, the town of Circle City sits on the banks of the Yukon River. Circle was named in error -- the miners mistakenly thought the town was on the Arctic Circle, another 40 miles north. In earlier days, driving the Steese Highway was the only way that motorists could reach the Yukon River. That changed with the building of the Dalton Highway, commonly known as the Haul Road, during construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the early 1970s.
With Frank's death in 1955, Emma oversaw the resort until she passed away in 1974 and was buried next to her husband on a hill near the hotel. In Emma's later years, she was more reclusive, living alone in one of the cabins. For the taped interview with Dalton, some of Emma's oldest friends came to visit and remember their youth in this remote part of the country. Dalton's final remarks concerned how rare it was that Emma received any guests at all, yet she agreed to visit a friend's house in Central for a tea party and conversation that was recorded with her permission. As of late 2006, current owners Bobby and LaVerna Miller were keeping the hotel and hot springs property maintained, but had it up for sale. Even at age 89, Bobby Miller wasn't selling because of his age. "Truthfully, my body feels like it's 20 years old," he said. "I've never had a headache in my life, and I've been under pressure something terrible. . . . I've never even had high blood pressure. One of the reasons I'm so healthy is I've worked outdoors all of my life, until it was 40 below. And I had a policy: if it was 40 below, I worked indoors in my brother's shop."
Miller had bought the hot springs in 1980, remembering it fondly from his days when he labored at a bulldozer and dragline operation on a local creek.
"I worked up there before the war -- worked in 1937-38 on Deadwood Creek," he said. "The hot springs was 15 miles away. We were up there seven nights a week. It was a real nice place -- all the cabins had families in it. I always liked it."
As for the rumors of a resident ghost, Miller has a ready answer.
"Yes. That's Mrs. Leach," he said. "I heard rumors, I couldn't prove it, but one of my best friends, an elderly fellow was up there. He's real hard-headed, very honest. He was up there once and he says he saw it."
With or without a ghost, the hot springs will remain closed, he said, until he finds a buyer willing to pay his $6.25 million price tag. If not, it doesn't matter to Miller. He'll stay busy keeping the place in shape.
"I'll go to my grave with it," he said. "They can lay me out in the lobby."
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2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/11495 | Edinburgh Castle reports best August for four years
Edinburgh Castle has reported its best August for four years.
190,266 visitors passed through the castle’s doors in August, a 6.1% increase on this time last year.
The castle also experienced one of its busiest days for seven years. 7,911 were recorded on the first Tuesday of this year’s festival (10th August), closely rivalling the most recent daily record of 8,047 in 2007-2008 - a difference of just 136.
Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said;
“Edinburgh Castle is often regarded as a barometer for Scotland’s tourism industry, so it is extremely encouraging to see these figures.
“Scotland continues to be a must see destination, with both domestic and international visitors growing last year, whilst many other markets have experienced a decline. “Within this, Scotland’s heritage sector has a huge role to play – both culturally and economically, and the appeal of this most iconic of buildings continues to be far reaching – providing a shop window for Scotland to the rest of the world.”
The figures reinforce an impressive performance for the capital this summer. Figures released by the City of Edinburgh Council saw the Royal Mile experience its busiest ever week during the festival, with footfall up by more than a third on last year in the first three weeks of August. Record breaking figures for the festivals have also been recorded.
Barbara Smith, Executive Manager for Historic Scotland at Edinburgh Castle, who manage the property said; “We have had a fantastic August.
“The city is certainly benefiting from low cost flights from Europe, and we are seeing a direct correlation in the origin of visitors at the castle. Meanwhile the cruise ship market has certainly increased this year, with more cruise groups visiting the castle than ever before. But we have also seen a marked increase in walk up visitors to the castle which is great.
“We are hugely aware that the castle can often be a visitor’s first experience of Scotland – so we are focussed on providing a world class welcome and building a platform for demonstrating Scottish hospitality at its very best.”
EndsSeptember 2010
Notes for editors
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. For more information visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk .Register for media release email alerts from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email hs.website@scotland.gsi.gov.uk The journey planning form requires javascript, which is unsupported by your browser.For your journey planning needs use the main journey planner. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/11768 | language French
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Nikko Bali News - December 2009
FRESH, RELAXED AND DELICIOUSLY ITALIAN AT LA TERRAZA
As an addition to the culinary experience offered by Nikko Bali Resort and Spa, the resort recently launched a laid back, authentic Italian cuisine outlet, La Terraza.
Located on the lower lobby level of the resort, the restaurant offers an extensive selection of pastas, pizzas, salads and soups, prepared with the freshest ingredients and served in a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere, overlooking the magnificent view of the Indian Ocean. Open daily for dinner, La Terraza will be the perfect little Italian getaway in the heart of Nikko Bali Resort and Spa.
WOKING “THE WOK” AT NIKKO BALI RESORT AND SPA
Another STEP UP made by Nikko Bali Resort and Spa will be by bringing the best of Asia to its guests in a traditional hawker style, with “The Wok”, opening this December. Located on the lower lobby level of the resort, The Wok offers a variety of soul satisfying Asian food such as noodle dishes, Laksa, fried rice and more. The Wok will surely offer a different culinary experience where guests can taste different Asia’s best cuisine and find something new every day. This little Asian corner will be an addition to the resort’s existing culinary experiences such as the latest authentic Japanese restaurant, Benkay and a beachfront restaurant, The Shore.
FUN FAMILY DAY OUT FOR NIKKO ASSOCIATES 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF NIKKO BALI RESORT AND SPA
As part of the 13th anniversary celebration of Nikko Bali Resort and Spa on December 14th, the associates of Nikko Bali Resort and Spa were treated to a fun day out with their families at Bali Safari and Marine Park, Gianyar on November 22 and 29. This event was a token of gratitude from Nikko Bali to its family that has been supporting the resort for the past 13 years. Arriving with a big smile on their faces, all Nikko associates had the chance of enjoy the scenery and amusement park that Bali Safari has to offer. Starting with a guided tour onboard the bus around the park to see the wildlife collection and ending with selection of fun rides at the amusement park after a lunch gathering. Recently Nikko Bali Resort and Spa has also invited their partners and their families to a fun day out on November 15th with “Nikko and I” featuring a well-known comedian magician Uya Kuya and his daughter Cinta Kuya.
WORLD AIDS DAY – DECEMBER 1
World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS). Dr. Mann liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 1 December, 1988.
Bunn suggested the date of December 1st to ensure coverage by western news media, something he believed was vital to the success of World AIDS Day. He felt that because 1988 was an election year in the U.S. media outlets would be weary of their post-election coverage and eager to find a fresh story to cover. Bunn and Netter felt that December 1 was long enough after the election and soon enough before the Christmas holidays that it was, in effect, a dead spot in the news calendar and thus perfect timing for World AIDS Day.
Bunn, originally a reporter covering the epidemic for KPIX-TV in San Francisco, along with producer Nancy Saslow, also conceived and initiated “AIDS Lifeline” – a public awareness and health education campaign that was syndicated to television stations in the U.S. "AIDS Lifeline" was honored with a Peabody Award, a local Emmy, and the first National Emmy ever awarded to a local station in the U.S.
On 18 June, 1986 the “AIDS Lifeline” project was honored with a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives, presented by President Ronald Reagan. Bunn was then asked by Dr. Mann, on behalf of the U.S. government, to take a two-year leave-of-absence from his reporting duties to join Dr. Mann (an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control) and assist in the creation of the Global Programme on AIDS. Mr. Bunn accepted and was named the first Public Information Officer for the Global Programme on AIDS. Along with Mr. Netter he created, designed, and implemented the inaugural World AIDS Day observance – now the longest-running disease awareness and prevention initiative of its kind in the history of public health.)
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) became operational in 1996, and it took over the planning and promotion of World AIDS Day. Rather than focus on a single day, UNAIDS created the World AIDS Campaign in 1997 to focus on year-round communications, prevention and education. In its first two years, the theme of World AIDS Day focused on children and young people. These themes were strongly criticized at the time for ignoring the fact that people of all ages may become infected with HIV and suffer from AIDS. But the themes drew attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, helped alleviate some of the stigma surrounding the disease, and helped boost recognition of the problem as a family disease.
In 2004, the World AIDS Campaign became an independent organization.
Each year, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have released a greeting message for patients and doctors on World AIDS Day.
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR – DECEMBER 18
The Islamic New Year is a cultural event which Muslims observe on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims use the day to remember the significance of this month, and the Hijra, or migration, Islamic prophet Muhammad made to the city now known as Medina. Recently, in many areas of Muslim population, people have begun exchanging cards and gifts on this day, though this is not commonly done. For Shia Muslims, Muharram is the month grief and sorrow because they mourn the death of Imam Hussain and his companions on the day of Ashura.
Ras as-Sana is the Islamic celebration of the new Hijri year. The term is similarly used in the Arabic language to mark the start of the new Gregorian year. The word literally means "Head of the year," and is cognate to the Hebrew term Rosh Hashanah.
CHRISTMAS DAY – DECEMBER 25
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in most countries of the world, even in many which are not majority Christian. In some non-Christian countries periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration, in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to take it up. Major exceptions, where Christmas is not a formal public holiday, include China, (excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea.
While most countries celebrate Christmas on December 25 each year, some national churches including those of Russia, Georgia, Egypt, Armenia, the Ukraine and Serbia celebrate on January 7. This is because of their use of the traditional Julian Calendar, under which December 25 falls on January 7 as measured by the standard Gregorian Calendar.
Around the world, Christmas celebrations can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions. Countries like Japan and Korea where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, adopt many of the secular trappings of Christmas such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.
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2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/12391 | New York, New York: There's truly no other city in the world like it. The city reaches far and wide with neighborhoods and people changing at every block you cross. Don't let the Big Apple intimidate you though, it's got a little bit of everything for travelers of all kinds to enjoy. Shopaholics and fashionistas roam the pricey boutiques of Soho while downtown locals flock to the street food of Chinatown. View stately museums of the Upper East Side or challenge your knowledge of art browsing Chelsea, this sprawling metropolis offers the best of all worlds…and that's just the big city of Manhattan. Here's an overview of some of that island's noteworthy neighborhoods, as well as the basics on the outer boroughs, too - Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. To dig deeper on any of these destinations, check out the relevant Neighborhood Information section. Midtown
This is the beating heart of the Big Apple, complete with towering skyscrapers, packed streets, and many of the city's top destinations for sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment, including Times Square, the United Nations, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. This is must-see New York, but make sure to spend some time outside this neighborhood if you want to breathe a bit more freely. Central Park Nestled between the Upper West and Upper East Sides, this 843-acre oasis is the most visited urban park in the country. Among its many charms are miles of winding pathways, several lakes and ponds, two skating rinks, a zoo, and a conservatory. Visit in the summer if you can, when the park hosts free concerts and plays. Times Square/Theater District/Hell's Kitchen
The once seedy Times Square zone is all cleaned up and packed full of chain restaurants and other tourist-friendly attractions. Catch a Broadway show in the Theater District, or head west to Hell's Kitchen, also cleaned up from its seedier days and full of dining and nightlife options.
Chelsea Chelsea has been the center of the city's art scene since the mid-1990s, with more than 200 galleries centered mostly in its western reaches (near 10th and 11th Avenues). In addition to the High Line, a newly opened public space along an old elevated railway, it also boasts some of the city's hottest nightclubs, is chock-full of busy restaurants and bars, and has long been seen as the heart of gay-friendly New York. Gramercy/Flatiron/Union Square
This central neighborhood has a little of everything, from pedigreed Gramercy Park to bustling Union Square (site of the city's largest greenmarket). It's also home to a number of the city's most popular restaurants, and the dining options abound on Park Avenue South and the area around Madison Square Park, near the iconic Flatiron Building. Greenwich Village/West Village
With its labyrinthine (compared to the Midtown grid) streets and historic townhouses, the Village is classic New York. Its eastern region contains Washington Square Park and New York University, while the charming, formerly bohemian West Village is home to increasingly upscale shopping and restaurants. Head further west to the Meatpacking District, now a mecca of expensive dining/nightlife options. East Village The East Village stands out for its young, arty, funky (though nowhere near as edgy as in years past) vibe, on display in its many shopping, dining and nightlife options. History buffs will appreciate landmarks like St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery Church, while a cleaned-up Tompkins Square Park offers great people-watching. Lower East Side Go below Houston Street on the east side and you'll find even more restaurants, boutiques and bars lining the streets of the ever-more-upscale Lower East Side. Though this area was once home to some of the city's worst slums, its gritty past has made way for a vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife scene. Learn about the neighborhood's past at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (it's free!) or check out the historic Orchard Street Shopping District.
Though many galleries have moved to Chelsea, Soho still boasts its own art scene. Shopping is the real draw in this neighborhood, however, from high-fashion boutiques to the chain stores that line Broadway. At the eastern end of Soho, Nolita is perfect for shoppers who favor smaller, more unique stores. A plethora of kitschy Italian restaurants still draw tourists to the lively neighborhood of Little Italy, around Mulberry Street, including the throngs attracted by the annual San Gennaro Festival.
Lower Manhattan This diverse zone encompasses Chinatown (with its designer knock-offs and dim sum), swanky Tribeca, family-friendly Battery Park City, and the bustling (at least during the week) Financial District. Must-see spots include South Street Seaport, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, and the World Trade Center site.
Upper East Side The Metropolitan, the Whitney, and the Guggenheim are only the biggest players in this stately, museum-filled neighborhood, which also boasts some of the city's best high-end shopping (Madison Avenue) and some of its highest-priced real estate (Fifth Avenue along Central Park, Park Avenue). Upper West Side The beautiful Upper West Side, historically a mecca for New York City artists, writers and intellectuals, is also one of the city's most family-friendly neighborhoods, with brownstone-lined streets, brunch spots, shops galore, and easy access to Central Park. It's also home to Lincoln Center, the Museum of Natural History, architectural gems like the Ansonia and the Dakota, and (a bit further north) Columbia University.
Harlem Long a vibrant center of African-American history, music and culture, Harlem has changed a lot in recent years, as a diverse new crowd of residents have started calling its stately old brownstones home. It's still a great destination for soul food (try stalwarts like Sylvia's) as well as live jazz and nightlife at historic spots like the Cotton Club or the Lenox Lounge. Brooklyn From the galleries of Williamsburg to the brownstones of Brooklyn Heights, from family-friendly Park Slope to kitschy Coney Island, devotees of this borough wouldn't live anywhere else. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and check out the views from the Promenade, or stroll in Prospect Park, for just a taste of what Brooklyn has to offer. But don't neglect this outerborough on your next visit, there's plenty reason for Brooklyn to be worth your while.
Queens The largest borough, Queens is also the most ethnically diverse, boasting arguably the best food in the city, from Greek in Astoria, to Indian in Jackson Heights, to Chinese and Korean in Flushing. It is also a popular destination for sports (Citi Field--new home to the New York Mets--and U.S. Open tennis) and culture (check out P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City).
Though New York's northernmost borough is best known to many as the home of Yankee Stadium, the Bronx offers a good deal more than meets the eye. Explore its beaches and museums, its world-famous zoo and botanical garden, its own Little Italy, quaint City Island, and more parkland than any other borough.
The breathtaking views from the free Staten Island Ferry are just the beginning of this borough's charms. With a more suburban feel than any of the other boroughs, Staten Island boasts a number of parks, as well as a zoo, a children's museum, a botanical garden, a minor league baseball stadium, and a restored colonial village.
Where to Go in New York City
expert pick 2 East 55th St
At 5th Avenue
Luxurious Fifth Avenue lodgings
expert pick 49th Avenue
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Tennis tournament, final Grand Slam title of the year
Al di Là Trattoria
expert pick 248 5th Avenue (Carroll Street)
Homey Italian trattoria
expert pick 20 7th Ave South (at Leroy St)
Subterranean cocktail club
New York City Blog Posts
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Visitors may rave of our world-renowned hotels like Trump Tower and the W Hotel, but there are alternative lodging options that provide a unique New York experience all their own - hostels. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/12700 | India North Manali
Darjeeling Uttarakhand
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Kerala Tourist Places Located in the tropical Malabar Coast in Southern India, Kerala is a beautiful tour destination with many splendid and interesting tourist places. The state has innumerable number of exquisite places including the waterfalls, backwaters, hill stations, tea gardens, beaches, wildlife parks, cities and town, historical forts and palaces, temples, churches, lakes, artifacts, handicrafts, heritage hotels and resorts, Ayurveda therapy centers, dance forms, cultural fairs and festivals and many more. Kerala is truly one such state in Kerala which you cannot miss to visit once in your lifetime. Some of the important Kerala tourist places to visitare highlighted as below: Munnar: Known for its splendid location and refreshing natural beauty, surrounded with sprawling tea gardens, Munnar is a renowned hill station that makes to the list of the top tourist places in Kerala. It has many interesting attractions and some of the few that are highly visited by tourists are CSI CHURCH, Echo Point, Marayoor, Chithirapuram, Mattupetty Dam, Tata Tea Museum, Attukal Waterfalls, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Cheeyappara Waterfalls, Kundala Lake, Pothamedu View Point, Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Power House Waterfalls, Lakkam Waterfalls and Nyayamkadu Waterfalls. Thekkady: Thekkady is delightfully located in the Idduki district and is a famous stopover for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The place is renowned for its rich flora and fauna, thus it tops the list of the wildlife parks and sanctuaries in Kerala. Other interesting attractions to visit here in Thekkady are Kumily, Murikkady, Pandikuzhi, Mangala Devi Temple, Vandiperiyar, Chellarkovil, The Sanctuary Watch Towers, etc. It is also known for boat trip, where one can enjoy the magnifying glory of the nature and the wildlife view from close point. Cochin: Nestled in the South west coast of Indian Peninsula it is the gorgeous state in the god’s own country, Kerala. It is also called as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and referred as the gateway to Kerala. Located on the southwest coast of India it covers an area about 36.63 sq ml and most of the city is nearby the sea. As we all know that Kerala is a paradise to the south, being such it offers numerous attractions and breathe taking views all around. So do not be indecisive in making the right choice infact, grab one of the packages that fit your budget and step in to such a wonderful place. Alleppey: Alleppey or Allappuzha is a popular picturesque tourist place in Kerala known for its exquisite tourism attractions. Alleppey also known as the Venice of the East is an enchanting destination in the South Indian state of Kerala. It is immensely blessed with tranquil backwaters and lakes, scenic beaches, blue lagoons and lush green paddy fields and swaying coconut and palm trees. Kuttanad is an interesting tour place and some of the alluring attractions to visit here are Alleppey backwaters, Mullackal Temple, Krishnapuram Palace and Aruthunkal. Kumarakom: Kumarakom is one of the well known backwater destination in kerala, god’s own country. Addressed near the city of Kottayam at a distance of 16 km it is famous for its backwater tourism. It is a holidayer’s paradise and the place offers its own beauty and charm. It is a great place of tourist interest especially for the romantic couples. Kumarakom is known as a honeymoon destination and of course a dream destination for newly married brides. It is a small cluster of Islands on the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is a part of Kuttanad region and it is the most visited place in Kerala. It is an enchanting backwater destination offering boating facilities and other activities. Kovalam: Kovalam is a renowned beach town located at a distance of 14 kms from Trivandrum City, the capital of Kerala, India. It is a world famous for its azure beaches where tourists come to bask in the glory of the sun or enjoy fun-filled moments to take pleasure or the heavenly atmosphere or soak in pristine water of the beach taking on adventurous as well as exciting aqua sports. Kovalam is truly an amazing beach resort where one can enjoy moments of lifetime with full of joy and bliss. Trivandrum: Trivandrum is a capital city of Kerala beautifully located in the southernmost tip of Indian. It covers an area about 2192 sq. km and bounded by the Western Ghats in the east and Arabian Sea on the west. It is one of the tourist spot andregarded as the most populous city of the god’s own country. Being such an attractive destination it captivates more than thousands of tourist from the entire world through the weekend. The word Thiruvananthapuram has a great meaning that is “Abode of Lord Ananta”. Trivandrum is well known as a home of various educational institutions and also declared to be one among the greenest cities in India. Trivandrum is also a home to rich cultures, traditions and scientific institutions. It is a worth visiting place once in your lifetime. Wayanad: Beautifully snuggled in between deep valleys and lofty ridges, Wayanad offers you some cozy moments in the arms of nature. Guruvayoor: Guruvayoor is one of the popular pilgrimage destinations for Hindus in South India. Located in the Thrissur district in kerala state of India it is highly known for its unique tourism. The word Guruvayoor is derived from Sanskrit meaning a bustling pilgrim town. Nestled in the state of god’s own country it is really a captivating and hot spot for the tourists. We all know that Kerala is referred as the paradise to the south and it never fails in presenting such paradise around the place among which these destinations are the best examples of the place. Guruvayoor is also known as the Dwaraka of the south and one of the attractive forms of Lord Vishnu.
Athirappilly: Athirappally is one of the best places to visit in the god’s own country. It is a land of lush green forests, exhilarating rivers and thrilling waterfalls. The place holds the largest waterfalls in the south Indian state Kerala. It is a great place of tourist interest and it’s a perfect place where you can get close with the nature. Athirappally is a finest spot to be in kerala tourism and it is an all season destination. It is located about 60 away from Thrissur, 55 km from Cochin International Airport, and 30 km from Chalakudy town and 70 km from north east of Kochi. It is nestled in Thrissur district and the most scenic place to visit. Varkala: Varkala is a quiet beach resort on the outskirts of Thiruvanthapuram. It has admirable virgin beaches that are its USP, making it an adopted destination for those absent to stay away from the crowds at Kovalam. There are more attractions apart from its attractive beaches. This temple town has a 2000 year old Vishnu Temple and the acclaimed ashram- Sivagiri Mutt, which draws bags of admirer’s every year making it an accepted pious destination. Nearest Places
Munnar Thekkady
Guruvayoor Athirappilly
Kumarakom Kovalam Varkala Trivandrum
Darjeeling Rajasthan
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2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/13817 | Village Tour - 1
St Laud's
MKHA
The Knoll
Sherington's village green or The Knoll is one of the centres of outdoor activity within the village. This triangular shaped area has seen numerous May Day celebrations, with maypole dancing and sideshows. Parts of the various Sherington Feast days have centred around The Knoll for their daytime activities. The communal village pump is here. Water from this was condemned by the water authority in the 1970's, maybe they couldn�t put a water meter on it.
The famous hatchet was buried here by the Oxford and Cambridge Universities in 1935. The bus stop is situated on the western edge of The Knoll with direct through routes to London and Rugby as well as local destinations. The site of Sherington�s only public telephone box is situated next to the Parish Council notice board situated on the southeast corner of The Knoll.
To the south of the green is the village garage. Once a typical country garage selling petrol and all the services needed to keep a car on the road, now only offering car repairs and servicing. Founded by Tom Haynes in 1923, it is now in the hands of the third generation of Haynes's to own and run the garage. The current building is built on the site of Hines's wheelwright and coachworks.
The haulage company next door to the garage was founded by Tom Haynes�s father and transports goods all over Europe. The big red brick garage was built in 1937-38. The Haynes haulage/engineering was founded in the early 1920s. This was added to with the big storage depot was built in the late 1960's. It also houses a small engineering company owned by a relation of the Haynes' family.
To the north of the Knoll are older residential houses. No. 1 The Knoll has an inscription over the front door licensing it to sell..., what, we do not know.
No. 2 and No 3 The Knoll is a larger 2 storey building of similar age. This is an 'L' shaped property which was once a single dwelling, but has now been split into two.
No 4 The Knoll is a new chalet bungalow. This was built in 1984 (at the same time as Knoll Close). It was designed by John Fielding who at the time lived in No. 3 The Knoll in an attempt to show how a new house can be designed to blend with the older properties.
To the east of No. 4 The Knoll, lies a development of houses called Knoll Close. Before the close was built this was the site of the village Saw mill. The Saw mill was owned and operated by the Line family for many years. Next to the saw mill, on Church Road stood George James Hine's wheelwrights.
Knoll Close was built in two phases. The first phase included the connection of bungalows that face the road, these were built in the 1970's. The second phase was built between 1983/4 and has a selection of properties with executive houses at the same time as No.4 The Knoll.
In the 1891 census Mr and Mrs Oldham lived in Knoll Cottage, he was down as being a coach builder and she was down as being a baker. The house still contains the baker's oven. Since that time the property is just purely residential, but two of the older village family names have lived there: firstly the Simco family who continued to bake until the middle of the 20th century, and more latterly the Hickson family lived here.
The Chapel on The Knoll is an redundant Wesleyan Chapel. It was deconsecrated in the early 1970's and now has been converted to a private residence. At one time this was one of four places of worship in the village.
The old thatched cottage, 8 The Knoll, is a Grade 2 Listed Building.
Archive photographs of The Knoll: click on the photo to view full size
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Latest Revision: 29 December 2011 | 旅游 |
2015-48/4473/en_head.json.gz/13881 | adomass
The outspoken Katharine Hepburn once called Monaco "a pimple on the chin of the south of France." She wasn't referring to the principality's lack of beauty, but rather to the preposterous idea of having a little country, a feudal anomaly, taking up some of the Riviera's best coastline. Hemmed in by France on three sides and facing the Mediterranean, tiny Monaco staunchly maintains its independence. Even Charles de Gaulle couldn't force the late Prince Rainier to do away with his tax-free policy. As almost everybody in an overburdened world knows by now, the Monégasques do not pay taxes. Nearly all their country's revenue comes from tourism and gambling. Monaco -- or rather, its capital of Monte Carlo -- has for a century been a symbol of glamour. Its legend was further enhanced by the 1956 marriage of the man who was at that time the world's most eligible bachelor, Prince Rainier III, to the American actress Grace Kelly. Ms. Kelly met the prince when she was in Cannes for the film festival to promote To Catch a Thief, the Hitchcock movie she made with Cary Grant. A journalist friend arranged a Paris Match photo shoot with the prince -- and the rest is history.
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/580 | New Nordic Food Gods Loosen Up On Strictly Local Cuisine By Sidsel Overgaard
Jan 15, 2014 ShareTwitter Facebook Google+ Email The Nordic Food Lab in Copenhagen is where chefs and social scientists explore the raw materials and flavors of Scandinavia.
Courtesy of the Nordic Food Lab
This story begins with a lemon. It appeared not long ago on a houseboat-cum-food lab docked outside Scandinavia's temple of local food, the restaurant noma, in Copenhagen. "Isn't that, like, the forbidden fruit?," I ask. "Are you allowed to have a lemon here?" "I don't know why that's sitting there," says Ben Reade, the lab's head of culinary research and development, looking perplexed. An anthropologist, Mark Emil Tholstrup Hermansen, pipes in, "We have an Italian on the boat." Reade concurs: "He needs a lemon every so often for staff food." Hermansen remembers the lemon had actually been requested by the boat's resident flavor chemist for an experiment. "I went to the restaurant and said 'do you have any lemons?' ... 'Yeah, we have Swedish lemons, you can have two of those.'" (Later, Hermansen admitted he may have been duped about the lemon's provenance.) Here in the Nordic Food Lab, chefs, chemists and social scientists spend their days amid high tech equipment and old wooden barrels to find innovative ways to distill and enhance the flavors of Scandinavia. For the last several years this tight clique has helped make these flavors — from reindeer to foraged funghi — among the most revered and emanated in the food world. It all started with the Manifesto of the New Nordic Kitchen, drafted ten years ago by a handful of regional chefs. While none of its ten points explicitly reads "no imports," the overarching emphasis is on local ingredients. Once noma, with it's rigorous locavore philosophy, became the de facto poster child for the movement, this emerging style of cooking seemed to be less inclusive of morsels from far-flung corners of the world. That may be why several star chefs in the region recently declared to the Danish newspaper Politiken that it's time to evolve — maybe even throw in a lemon here or there. "For me, the words 'New Nordic cuisine' are totally dead," noma's René Redzepi told the paper. "And I've never liked it because it strips chefs in the region of their personality and puts them under the umbrella of 'New Nordic.' That's wrong, and many successful chefs around the Nordic region hate the label. They're sick of it." Even Claus Meyer, perhaps the movement's most vocal champion, now co-owns a Copenhagen eatery featuring Singaporean street food. He tells Politiken, "The time has come to meet the world with open eyes. Now we know where we come from, who we are, and that we have something to offer. And that's why we can lift our gaze out of the furrows and use a little curry or a sliver of foie gras without being afraid of losing ourselves in the process." Or even a lemon. Perhaps it's no surprise that these creative minds, a decade in, would be ready to push ahead to new frontiers. But you might expect a little resistance from tourism officials. After all, Copenhagen has seen a significant growth in tourism over the last few years, especially when compared to the European average. Emil Spangenberg with Wonderful Copenhagen says the city's food festival, Copenhagen Cooking has doubled in size in just a few years and is now the largest in Northern Europe. In 2012, a full fifth of foreign articles on Denmark were about plate-gazing. But officials like Christina Heinze Johansson with VisitDenmark seem to be reacting with typical Danish cool. "When noma was breaking out I got a lot of calls from journalists all wanting to get a table." That would have been during the three years noma held the title of "world's best restaurant." In 2013 it slipped to number two. But she says that while the requests — and her pitches — have gotten more nuanced, the journalists haven't stopped calling. Change, she says, is making the Scandinavian food scene stronger. And meanwhile, the fundamentals of the New Nordic kitchen (local produce, foraging, vegetables) are still cropping up on plenty of "hot for 2014" lists (including our own). As Johansson sees it, the most essential quality of New Nordic as a concept (in food, architecture or film) is the ability to find luxury in simple things. That, she says, is something Scandinavians are inherently good at, and it's not something that's going to disappear even as the local restaurant scene evolves.Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. View the discussion thread. © 2015 Rhode Island Public Radio | 旅游 |
2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/2769 | Search 2012 edition of the program "Tourism, Heritage and School" 22-23 March 2012
Los Glaciares © Evergreen In the Framework of the 40th anniversary, the Argentinian National Office of Tourism Quality Management organizes the 2012 edition of the Tourism, Heritage and School Program that will be developed at El Calafate with the collaboration of Los Glaciares National Park Administration.
The Tourism, Heritage and School Program is a training proposal focused on tourism and heritage concepts. It will be divided into two stages: the capacity-building workshops to specific target groups (education, tourism, national parks and protected areas focal points of local communities); and as second phase, the implementation of the Program with the participation of senior primary school students from El Calafate. The first stage will start with a local capacity-building and awareness training workshop, from 22 to 23 March, 2012.
Argentina Activities (1)
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/4364 | b&b broadway cotswolds
Cowley House b&b broadway
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You may find this information helpful when researching the area prior to your visit
Roman Cotswolds
When the M5 motorway was built through Gloucestershire, skirting the River Severn on one side and the Cotswold Edge on the other, a large number of hitherto unsuspected Romano-British sites were discovered. On the basis of this (very linear!) sample, archeologists have conjectured that there are 4,500 Romano-British sites in the Severn Vale, of which 4,400 remain to be discovered!
It is believed that the Cotswold area was heavily farmed at that time. Some of the finest remains are of large country villas, with finely crafted mosaic floors and pavements, and it is possible to view several sites such as Chedworth and Great Witcombe. See our list of the more popular Roman Sites in the Cotswolds.
Cirencester (Corinium) was the largest Romano-British town outside of London and the remains of part of the city wall and the amphitheatre can still be seen. There are also fine displays of Romano-British life in the Corinium Museum. Gloucester (Glevum) was an early fortress town on the Welsh border, and second to Corinium in size.
A very visible remnant of the Roman occupation is the pattern of roads which converges on Cirencester: the Fosse Way, which forms the backbone of the Cotswolds and runs in a straight line for almost 400 kms; Ermin Street, which runs to Gloucester, and Akeman Street, which no longer goes anywhere in particular. Sections of these old roads are by-passed by modern roads and provide the basis for an extended ramble through the countryside.
Anglo-Saxon Cotswolds
The Romans were in Britain for nearly four hundred years, and while that may seem like a long time, Anglo-Saxon culture lasted for even longer, almost 500 years from the time when they entered British history until the downfall of the Saxon kingdom of Britain at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
When the Romans abandoned Britain, their towns and villas became ruins inhabited by ghosts and wild animals.It was the invading Saxons who laid the foundations for most of the communities which still exist in the Cotswolds, and in many cases the Saxon charters describing these ancient grants of land still exist. The Saxons founded the majority of the great monasteries which dominated the area until their dissolution several hundred years later. Most of the Cotswold churches are on Saxon sites, many have Saxon foundations, and a few are still substantially Saxon churches. There are inns, such as the Royalist in Stow which date back to Saxon times.
The most important Cotswold town in Saxon times was Winchcombe. Another site of great historical importance was Malmesbury, famous in Saxon times for its abbey, part of which still stands.
Medieval Cotswolds
Medieval stuff is common enough to be genuinely surprising. A house you have walked past a dozen times turns out to have been built in the thirteenth century. The brass lectern in the local church was made before Christopher Columbus set sail for the Indies. A farmer's barn was built for a Norman abbot. The mausoleum in the local church is 700 years old and depicts a knight in full armour who might have shaken hands with Richard the Lionheart. It is surprising because you don't expect it
Churches are the best place to start, because most of them are 1000 year-old community museums. All sorts of things end up in churches, like the Viking gravestone cemented into the wall of the (heavily Saxon) church at Bibury. You might find a very early example of a clock built by a village blacksmith, as you can in Castle Combe. The finest churches were adorned like grand ladies in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, using money earned from the wool trade, and the best examples of these magnificent "wool churches" are at Chipping Campden, Northleach, and Cirencester.
www.cowleyhouse-broadway.co.uk
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/5686 | Nova Scotia Vacation Rentals
31 Nova Scotia Vacation Rentals were found matching your criteria. These vacation rentals are presented by their owners or managers. Please click on the photos or links below, then contact them directly with your inquiries. Use the search criteria box on the left of the page to refine your search within Nova Scotia, Canada.We have Nova Scotia cottage rentals in a variety of locations. You'll also find the Perfect Places has hundreds of Canada vacation rentals.
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Nova Scotia Guides & Tips
Oceanfront Cottage Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Location: Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: PORT MEDWAY OCEANFRONT COTTAGE with privacy.We have weeks and weekends available(2 night minimum for weekends Spring and Fall $500.00) Relax on you...
Larinda's Landing Oceanfront Cottages Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Location: St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Larinda's Landing Oceanfront Cottages has six (6) gorgeous, well-appointed cottages, situated on the famous lighthouse route and beautiful St. Marg...
Lakefront Exec. Cottage - Ponhook Lake, N. S. Cottage: 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, Sleeps 8
Location: Labelle, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Ponhook Lake, Nova Scotia. Available by week or month. Located 90 minutes from Halifax on one of Nova Scotia's largest and most popular lakes. The ...
Charming Loft with Spectacular Ocean View Apartment: Studio, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 2
Location: Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Sit back & relax while the sun pours in to this cozy, open-concept loft on the shores of Mahone Bay. You’ll have a hard time finding a more charmin...
Stillwater Lake Cottage - Ideal Location Cottage: 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 5
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Beautiful 2 bedroom cottage on secluded one acre of land with over 100 ft of frontage on pristine Stillwater Lake. Ideal location only 13 minutes ...
Oceanview cottage in Ballantynes Cove, Antigonish County Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 5
Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: COME AND STAY IN COTTAGE COUNTRY!! You will be cozy and comfortable while staying in this privately owned 3 bedroom cottage. The cottage is very cl...
4 Star Canada Select Lakefront Cottage Home: 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, Sleeps 9
Description: CANADA SELECT 4 STAR COTTAGE There is nothing quite like Mill Lake Getaway! Relax and enjoy the beauty and charm of life in the country. You are...
Spectacular Green Bay Views Oceanfront Cottage Cottage: 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 5
Location: Green Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Gloriously bright oceanfront cottage with some of the best views in Green Bay. Start your morning with a stroll on the beach or swim in the ocean. ...
Oceanview 4 bedroom cottage in beautiful Green Bay Cottage: 4 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6
Description: Beautiful cottage with great decks just steps from the beach and the canteen which has the best ice crean and lobster chowder in the world. The cot...
Antigonish Ocean View Cottage - Cozy Cape George Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Description: "Shoemakers Cottage" is an original house built in the early 1900's for a Cape George fisherman. It has been renovated over the years by his family...
"See by Sea" Beachouse with Spectacular Panoramic View Cottage: 4 Bedroom, 1.5 Bathroom, Sleeps 8
Description: For sale or rent! The See By Sea Cottage is a gorgeous four-bedroom beachfront vacation home situated just steps away from a lovely miles-long beac...
Your cottage on the beach Cottage: Studio, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 2
Description: Looking for that ideal vacation spot for 2016? Want to get away from the hectic pace? Green Bay on Nova Scotia' scenic South Shore is just the spot...
Cottage on the Cove Cottage: 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6
Location: Guysborough, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Serene, secluded, relaxing location in Guysborough, Nova Scotia. A hidden gem, just minutes of HWY 16 but surrounded by trees and ocean to allow fo...
Private Cottage on Northumberland Strait Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Location: Lismore, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Private ocean view cottage with beach frontage. Enjoy the sunset from your private verandah or have a campfire on the beach. 30 minutes from both...
Beautiful rustic log cabin Home: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Location: Antihonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Looking for a peaceful quiet getaway. We are located 5min from the beach & close to many walking trails along the scenic sunrise trail. For your e...
Halifax Harbour Oceanfront Boutique Home Home: 1 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom, Sleeps 2
Location: Dartmouth - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Executive furnished home for rent (one bedroom available). Excellent for one person or couple. Phenomenal view of Halifax Harbour. Parking, heat, ...
Prince William House; Digby Ns Home: 4 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 8
Location: Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: A charming 1840s 16 room home, located on a hill overlooking the Annapolis Basin and the Raquette. This large clapboard and gingerbread house, with...
Awesome Private Nova Scotia Ocean Front Vacation Cottage Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 10
Location: Parrsboro (Fox River), Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Contact owner for very special rates related to global economic crises. This secluded ocean, beachfront luxury vacation rental house, cottage is ...
Sunfish Cottage Cottage: 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 4
Description: If you're looking for a romantic waterfront getaway for two, "Sunfish" is the place for you. Located right on the shores of St. Margarets Bay, it f...
Maggie Bay Vacation Estate Cottage/House Rental Bay of Fundy Cottage: 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 8
Location: Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: The beautiful Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley area is a slower-paced friendly place to relax, hike, fish, golf and play. Enjoy the big Chalet-sty...
West Arm Tracadie Oceanfront Cottage, Antigonish County Cottage: 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 4
Description: Serene, private, 2.2 acre waterfront property located on Benoit Island. Fully accessible by car. Close to the Town of Antigonish - “The Highland ...
Private Cottage on the Ocean Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Sleeps 6
Description: Ray of Sunshine cottage is located at West Arm Tracadie in a private lot 20 minutes from the quaint town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. There are num...
Beautiful Shoreline and Ocean View Cottage in Georgeville Cottage: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 7
Description: This cottage is in a very private location overlooking the Northhumberland Strait. Located at Georgeville between Arisaig and Cape George on Rte#24...
Luxury and elegance on the shores of St. Margarets Bay Home: 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 2
Description: Seahorse Cottage is a comfortable, beautifully decorated seaside home. With hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplace, 5 piece bath, well-equipped ki...
Nova Scotia, Private 3Br oceanfront home near Yarmouth Home: 3 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 6
Location: Yarmouth Tusket Islands, Nova Scotia, Canada
Description: Adorable, one-storey vacation home surrounded by wildflower gardens and lawn with 200 ft of oceanfront nestled in the picturesque and peaceful Tusk...
History of Nova Scotia History buffs seeking Nova Scotia cottage rentals will find a vacation home destination with a fascinating history.
Early Colonial History
Although “Nova Scotia” means “New Scotland,” the first Europeans to establish a permanent settlement were the French at Port Royal in 1605, naming their colony “Acadia” and eventually making their capital at Annapolis Royal in the southwest. Acadia consisted not just of modern-day Nova Scotia, but the entire peninsula, including what is now the province of New Brunswick. On their arrival, the French encountered the native Mi’kmaq Indians, most of whom they converted to Catholicism.
The French were driven out of Nova Scotia proper by the British in 1710 as part of Queen Anne’s War, which culminated in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 that left New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island (Ile Royale) to the Acadians, while giving the British a permanent colony. The year after King George’s War (1744-1748) ended, Edward Cornwallis (uncle of General Charles Cornwallis, whose defeat at Yorktown marked the climactic battle of the American Revolution) founded the city of Halifax as the new capital of Nova Scotia with a group of English and German settlers, touching off Father Le Loutre’s War. This war ended in 1755 with the expulsion of the Acadians from the entire peninsula, and a new group of colonists, known as the New England Planters, brought in. (The displaced Acadians would join fellow French colonists in Louisiana; the word “Cajun” is a corruption of “Acadian.”) The end of the French and Indian War in 1763 formally added New Brunswick to the Nova Scotia colony, along with Cape Breton Island and St. John’s Island (later renamed Prince Edward Island, which became a separate colony in 1769).
Connections to American History
During the American Revolution, Nova Scotia was both a frequent target of American privateers and regarded as the “14th colony” by patriots seeking to have it join in rebelling against the British. Nova Scotia remained a British colony, however, and became a settlement for exiled Loyalists, some 3,000 of whom were African-Americans. The increase in the number of colonists led to the partitioning of New Brunswick as a separate colony in 1784.
Perhaps in retaliation for having been visited by pirates during the American Revolution, Nova Scotia became a haven and source of funds and equipment for British privateers during the War of 1812. Deadman’s island off the coast of Halifax served as a prisoner-of-war camp for the crew of the USS Chesapeake when it was captured in 1813 by the HMS Shannon and taken into Halifax Harbor.
Nova Scotia had established representative government in 1758, which led to self-governance within the British Empire by 1848. Although it, like the rest of the Empire, was officially neutral during the Civil War, thousands of Nova Scotians fought for the North during the Civil War, although the colony continued to trade equally with both sides during the conflict and profited handsomely.
Joining the Canadian Confederation
Two years after the American Civil War ended, Nova Scotia premier Charles Tupper led his people to join with New Brunswick and the province of Canada (now the modern provinces of Ontario and Quebec) to form the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867. The merger was not immediately popular; Nova Scotia’s Anti-Confederation Party, led by Joseph Howe, who had been responsible 20 years earlier for Nova Scotia’s achievement of self-governance, saw his party take 36 of the provincial legislature’s 38 seats and 18 of the available 19 seats in the Canadian Parliament.
While Nova Scotia has previously focused primarily on telling the story of its Scottish forebears in deference to its name, in recent years, it has broadened its approach, allowing tourists seeking Nova Scotia cottage rentals a better understanding of the history behind its present cultural diversity.
Nova Scotia Destinations There are lots of places to see and things to do in Nova Scotia. As a guide, here are tips for travelers seeking Nova Scotia cottage rentals or other attractions within the province (you can check out even more at the Perfect Places Vacation Rentals blog):
Halifax Metro Area
Capital and largest city of the province, Halifax mixes its maritime history with the bustle of a modern-day urban environment. You can cruise along Halifax Harbour or walk the length of it and see a display of tall ships interspersed with a number of maritime museums. You can watch the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site or be entertained at the International Busker Festival.
If you’re more of a landlubber, you can hit the art galleries, boutiques, theaters, and museums of downtown Halifax, or take in a live music show at any of the pubs in town. If you take a smartphone with you when you travel, you can download an app to provide you with information on Halifax places and events. Eastern Shore
Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore runs from the outskirts of Halifax north to Canso. Visitors can stop anywhere along the Marine Drive that connects Halifax with the Canso Causeway to view stretches of rugged Atlantic coastline or to enjoy any of the activities available on its beaches. The provincial beaches at Lawrencetown and Martinique are famous for their surfing, with an assortment of schools to help the novice hang five or ten alongside more experienced surfers, who can compete in Lawrencetown’s September Storm Classic. For those who prefer to show off their construction skills instead of their surfing skills, the Clam Harbour Beach Sand Castle Competition lets them pit their silica structures against those of other competitors.
The Eastern Shore also offers two living history villages, Sherbrooke Village and Memory Lane Heritage Village. If music festivals strike a chord with you, attend the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, which offers a mix of blues, bluegrass, Celtic, country, and rock with the folk music its namesake was noted for.
Cape Breton Island
Nova Scotia cottage rentals on Cape Breton Island provide access to some of the greatest natural scenery the province has to offer. Such vistas as the Highlands Mountains, the Bras d’Or Lakes in the island’s center, and the Margaree River Valley are available on the island four scenic trails: the Cabot Trail, the Ceilidh Trail, the Bras d’Or Scenic Drive, and the Fleur-de-lis/Marconi/Sydney Trails.
If drinking in the scenic views isn’t enough, you can drink in the island’s Celtic heritage at Iona’s Highland Village, where you can learn to pronounce the names on the signs that dot the island, as well as crafts, tales, and songs. Ceilidhs (“KAY-lees”) throughout the summer and the International Celtic Colours Festival in the fall further extend the Celtic culture. You can also visit the Fortress of Louisbourg and Alexander Graham Bell Historic Sites if you prefer to imbibe in military or scientific history.
Northumberland Shore
Landing place of the first Scotsmen to settle in Nova Scotia, the Northumberland Shore region honors the people the province was named for at the Antigonish Highland Games and the Hector Festival, each featuring traditional Scottish dress, activities, and music. If the skirl of bagpipes grates on your ears, you may prefer the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee or the Pictou Lobster Carnival.
The Northumberland Shore also holds the distinction of having more warm-water ocean beaches than anywhere else in Nova Scotia or the other maritime provinces. You can experience other outdoor vistas by kayaking in Antigonish Harbor, going birding on the Wallace Bay Wildlife Trail, or going for the complete range of farmland, beach fronts, and salt marshes the region has to offer by traveling the length of the Sunrise Trail from Amherst to Auld’s Cove.
Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley
The fjord-like Bay of Fundy features the greatest tides anywhere on planet Earth, swelling up to 54 feet (16.5 meters). This high/low tide cycle has created dramatic seascapes along Nova Scotia’s west coast, which can be seen close-up by hiking or kayaking along the water’s edge. The wave cycle also creates a tidal bore with rapids that can be rafted like those of a whitewater river. The Bay of Fundy also abounds in marine mammals, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, and seals, as well as hosting a variety of bird life. The bay has long been a home to a variety of sea life; at low tide, you can examine the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features fossils that date back 350 million years.
The Annapolis Valley was the home of Nova Scotia’s earliest residents, the Mi’kmaq Indians, and was where explorer Samuel de Champlain brought the first colonists from France, the Acadians, to settle. Historic sites such as the Grand Pre-National and those at Port-Royal and Fort Anne tell their story. A statue of Evangeline, heroine of Longfellow’s poem, can be found at Grand Pre-National, while the Glooscap Trail that runs from Windsor to Amherst tells the story of the legendary Mi’kmaq shaman said to have mastered the Bay of Fundy’s tides and created the nearby Five Islands.
Yarmouth and Acadian Shores
Choosing a Nova Scotia cottage rental on the southwestern-most tip of the peninsula puts you in the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores region, whose Evangeline and Lighthouse Trails link this region to the adjacent Bay of Fundy/Annapolis Valley and South Shore regions. As the region’s name implies, it is steeped in Acadian culture, as evidenced by the village of Pubnico, which boasts a history and genealogy museum and an annual Acadian culture festival. The region also boasts both the massive Cape Forchu Lighstation in Yarmouth, the venerable Argyle Township Courthouse in Tusket, and St. Mary’s Church, the largest church in North America made of wood.
The South Shore region is dotted with over 20 lighthouses, the most famous being the granite stone lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, with the Fort Point Lighthouse in LaHave another popular photo op. The South Shore was also a frequent target of American privateers near the end of the Revolutionary War; Liverpool’s Privateer Days re-enacts these battles for tourists fascinated with pirate lore. Other festivals include Shelburne’s Whirligig and Weathervane Festival and Mahone Bay’s Great Scarecrow Festival and Antique Fair.
Nova Scotia cottage rentals are available in each of the province’s regions. When choosing the right rental for you, consider the activities you enjoy and which region offers the most of those activities closest to where you want to be.
Food and Wine Foodies who seek Nova Scotia cottage rentals will find the province has much to offer them during their stay.
As can be expected from a maritime province, Nova Scotia abounds in seafood. The Northumberland Shore and Yarmouth areas are both renowned for lobster, with West Pubnico’s Acadian Festival incorporating a lobster crate run for visitors to take part in. The Annapolis Valley is famous for its Digby scallops, and visitors to the Eastern Shore can enjoy smoked salmon by J. Willy Krauch & Sons hot or cold, infused with flavorings such as garlic, lemon, or maple.
Other good places to dine on the Eastern Shore are the MacDonald House Team Room in Lawrencetown and the Cheer Tea Room in Sherbrooke. The Press Gang in Halifax mixes local food items with exotic meats like kangaroo and ostrich. If you have special dietary requirements, try the Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet near Mahone Bay. To sample a number of good restaurant offerings at once, consider visiting Slow Food Nova Scotia’s Spring Supper, which features samples of a dozen restaurants, including Chives Canadian Bistro, Chanterelle Country Inn, and Le Caveau.
Nova Scotia is also home to fine wine. The Annapolis Valley region boasts to 11 wineries alone, with varieties such as Marchael Foch and L’Acadie Blanc, and the Jost Vineyards in Malagash in the Northumberland Shore is noted for its ice wine. If you prefer beer to wine, you can enjoy a mug of microbrew at one of the brew pubs in Halifax, while whiskey connoisseurs will appreciate the single-malt Scotch from the Glenora Distillery on Cape Breton Island.
Visitors who enjoy eating local produce can choose from a variety of items at the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market. Those who want to learn more about where their food comes from can visit Sugar Moon Farm in the Northumberland Shore region to learn more of how maple sap is turned into maple syrup, while dairy aficionados can visit the Farmer’s Dairy Cooperative Ltd. in Windsor.
Travel Tips Nova Scotia cottage rentals are equipped with the same 110-volt two- or three-prong outlets you’ll find in the United States. You won’t need special adapters unless you bring along 220-volt equipment or equipment that uses a different plug style, although travel surge protectors for your electronics are recommended. You should also pack appropriate clothing, such as a sweater and light raincoat for the Nova Scotia summer and suitable clothing for subfreezing to subzero winter temperatures, as well as proper footwear if you plan to hike one of the province’s many trails.
Most places accept major credit cards such as American Express, MasterCard, and Visa, with ATMs located at banks, shopping centers, and elsewhere. For cash purchases, however, you’ll need to exchange your American dollars for Canadian dollars; the best place to exchange currency in Nova Scotia is the Bank of Nova Scotia. The Canadian money system is structured the same as the American, except that Canadians use $1 and $2 coins instead of paper $1 and $2 bills. For security, you can obtain traveler’s checks in Canadian currency. Expect to pay a 15% Harmonized Sales Tax on each purchase in Nova Scotia and to tip from 12 to 15% for a restaurant meal.
Both English and French are official languages in all of Canada, but you’ll see most Nova Scotia signs in English – with British spellings, such as “harbour” instead of “harbor” and “theatre” instead of “theater.” Measurements are in the metric system, with distance in kilometers, weight in grams or kilograms, and gasoline sold by the liter. Speeds are posted in kilometers per hour, with the usual maximum speed limit in cities being 50 km/hr and 80 km/hr on the highway.
You’ll need a valid U.S. passport or other proof of citizenship to enter Canada, but not a visa unless you plan to visit for 180 days or more. (You must have a valid passport to return to the United States by air.) If you have any criminal convictions on your record, however, you may need to obtain a waiver before being allowed to cross the border. Before departing, you can register yourself and the address of your Nova Scotia cottage rental with the U.S. Consulate General in Halifax or the main U.S. Embassy in Ottawa in case of emergency. (For the most current information, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Travel.State.Gov website.)
Climate Travelers considering Nova Scotia cottage rentals should first familiarize themselves with the weather and climate conditions for the province in general and the area in which they plan to rent.
Although one of Canada’s maritime provinces, Nova Scotia has a climate closer to that of one of the inland provinces, except for the greater humidity. Average summer temperatures range from 58 to 82 °F (14 to 28 °C) and winter temperatures range from -5 to 40 °F (-20 to 5 °C), with spring and fall temperatures ranging from 34 to 68 °F (1 to 20 °C). The depth of the Bay of Fundy to the west and Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, along with the presence of the Gulf Stream, moderates the climate in those areas, but increases the average annual rainfall in the south (55 inches or 140 cm, as opposed to 40 inches or 100 cm elsewhere). In contrast, the relative shallowness of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the north accounts for the winter and summer extremes in that portion of the province.
However, because the province projects into the Atlantic Ocean, anyone seeking Nova Scotia cottage rentals should be prepared for the possibility of a hurricane during the summer or fall, as the province has been hit by 33 tropical storms since 1871, including Category-1 Hurricane Earl in September 2010 and the more destructive Hurricane Juan in 2003. The cooler waters of the mid-temperate zone Atlantic usually significantly weaken approaching tropical storms, however.
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The territory of present-day Tajikistan was a crossroads for the passage of the many different tribes and ethnic groups that controlled Central Asia over the past 3000 years. Cimmerian and Scythian tribes, several Persian dynasties, Macedonian/Greek armies under Alexander the Great, Parthians, Bactrian Kushan, Huns, Hephtalites, Mongol hordes, Nestorian Christians, Arabs, Russians, even British - all left their mark on the region. Gold amulet from the Bactrian Kushan period 1st-3rd centuries CE (Greek goddess Demeter?) - note the similarity to contemporary Gandharan representations of Buddha
From about 500 BCE until the Arab invasions, beginning in the 7th century CE, shortly after the death of the prophet Mohamed, most of Central Asia was under Persian influence or control. Bactria (today Balkh in Northern Afghanistan) on the banks of the Oxus (now called the Amu Darya) was the centre of Persian civilisation in Eastern Iran. The Persians displaced the Scythian and Cimmerian nomadic tribes in the region. Afrosiab (now Samarcand) was the centre of the region known as Sogdiana that covered what is today Southern Uzbekistan and much of Tajikistan. The cities of Samarcand and Boukhara, although today in the territory of Uzbekistan, are centres of Tajik/Persian culture. Alexander the Great
Alexander of Macedonia defeated the armies of the Persian Emperor Darius II between 336-323 BCE and brought about the fall of the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander subjugated Sogdiana but, in order to promote the pacification of the conquered peoples, married Roxane, daughter of a local chieftain. When Alexander died in 323 BE, the Macedonian Empire broke up. After a long period during which Bactria was ruled by Graeco-Macedonian satraps and subjected to frequent invasions by nomadic Turkic hordes, the area fell under the control of the Yuchi from what is now the Gansu region in Western China (Kushan Empire) from the second century BE to the third century CE. The Persian Sasanids (224-642 CE) destroyed the Kushan Empire and the region reverted to Persian control.
White Huns
In 400 CE a new wave of Central Asian nomads under the Hephthalites took control of the region. According to Procopius' History of the Wars, written in the mid 6th century, the Hephthalites or �White Huns�, �are of the stock of the Huns in fact as well as in name: however they do not mingle with any of the Huns known to us. They are the only ones among the Huns who have white bodies....� If Procopius� description is correct (and this is disputed by the accounts of other travellers), the relatively large number of inhabitants of Gorno-Badakhshan with blond hair and blue eyes may be related to this ethnic ancestry, although other theories link these features with Scythian, Macedonian and Russian ethnic stock.
The Hephthalites were defeated in 565 CE by a coalition of Sasanids and Western Turks. The Sasanids took Bactria and the Western Turks ruled over Sogdiana.
Arab invasions
Soon after the death of the prophet Mohammed, Central Asia was invaded
successively by the Arabs of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. These conquests brought a flowering of Islamic thought, philosophy and mysticism and stemmed Chinese expansion in Central Asia. However, Persian influence remained strong, and new Islamic Persian dynasties sprang up, of which the most important was that of the Samanids (875 to 999). The Samanid period, marked by the scientific work of Muhammad al-Khorezmi, Abu-Nasr al-Farabi, Zakariya al-Razi (Razes), Abu Ali Ibn Sino (Avicenna), Abu Reikhan al-Biruni and the poetry of Abu Abdullak Rudaki and Abdulkosim Firdousi, made a major contribution to the development of the cultural identity of the peoples that were subsequently to call themselves Tajiks. The defeat of the Samanids by the Turkic Ghaznavid dynasty in 999 marked the beginning of the decline in Persian influence in Central Asia. From the end of the first century CE, there had been sporadic westward movements of nomadic Turkic peoples from the area of what is now Mongolia: the massive military invasions under the leadership of Genghis Khan (Temujin - 1167?-1227) and Tamerlane (Timur-Lang - 1336?-1405) ended Persian dominance in the region. Largely due to the protection provided by the mountainous terrain, the peoples of what is now Tajikistan were better able to preserve their society and Persian culture. While the languages of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan all have Turkic roots, Tajikistan is the only former Soviet Republic with an Iranian language; music, dance and poetry in the Persian tradition play a major role in Tajik society.
The �Great Game�
Until the Soviet period, the territory of what is now Tajikistan was part of the Emirate of Boukhara. In the latter part of the 19th century, because of its geographical location at the confines of the Russian Empire and contiguous to China and British India, the territory of Tajikistan � especially the Pamir region of Gorno-Badakhshan � had considerable strategic importance. The �Great Game�, between Russian and British adventurers, soldiers and diplomats � staking the limits of the respective Empires � was largely played out in the mountains of the Pamir and the Hindu Kush. Subsequently, at the time of the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989), the Pamir region again assumed strategic importance for the Soviet Union as one of the main supply routes for the logistic support of Soviet military operations in Afghanistan.
My Pamirs section of the Odyssey guidebook Tajikistan and the High Pamirs
deals extensively with the period of the Great Game. Two sample chapters can be downloaded:
The Great Game - Myth or Reality: here.
The Earl of Dunmore - Travel in the Pamirs 1892-93: here.
See also the interesting story of the Sumantash stone: here.
After the 1917 Bolshevik coup d��tat, communist power in Central Asia was challenged by the remnants of the White Army and a strong resistance movement organised by indigenous tribes (the so-called �Basmachi� revolt); moreover, the embryonic Soviet state was faced with vigorous opposition (including more or less covert support to the Basmachis) from Britain, with imperial interests to defend in the region. These concerns led to the determined military subjugation and forced sovietisation of the native peoples of �Turkestan� in the 1920s. Under Stalin, the region � in particular the Fergana Valley, the most fertile area in Central Asia � was divided in 1924 between separate Soviet Republics in such a way as to maintain a mix of ethnic groups, the tensions between which could be exploited to justify the necessity of the strong centralising influence of the Soviet system. Tajikistan, initially an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, became a federated Soviet Socialist Republic in 1929. Main square in Khorog: statue of Lenin opposite the University
The sovietisation of Central Asia, while imposing a degree of communist orthodoxy, did not lead to the total destruction of local culture and religion: the region was far from the centre, it comprised a large number of backward rural communities where traditions remained strong and, in addition, the government in Moscow found it politically advantageous to pay a certain amount of lip service to the concept of the �multicultural identity� of the Soviet Union. Soviet rule brought economic and social benefits for the Republics of Central Asia. Universal education and health services achieved a level of literacy and public health far superior to that achieved in the former British Empire just across the Wakhan Corridor to the South. Subsidies from Moscow maintained a standard of living and social services that bore little relationship to the actual economic development of the region.
In November 2009 the Tajik media group ASIA-Plus published a nostalgic collection of photos of Dushanbe and its people during the late Soviet period. See here. I like especially
the two photos of the bridge over the Dushanbe river in 1930 and 1980. Independence and civil war
Tajikistan was the poorest of the Soviet Republics. When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Tajikistan became an independent state but was immediately faced with the economic problems associated with the breakdown of the centrally planned Soviet economy: withdrawal of subsidies, disruption of former guaranteed markets, exchange instability etc. Today Tajikistan ranks as one of the poorest countries of the world.
In 1992 civil war broke out. Its causes are complex and relate to some extent to the previously mentioned ethnic (and regional) tensions that were the legacy of the boundaries attributed to the new Soviet Republics in 1924, but also to premature attempts - imitating the policies implemented under Gorbachev in Russia - to liberalise the Tajik political system. At the end of the Soviet period, power in Tajikistan was tightly guarded by representatives of the Leninabad district in the North. Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost led to demands in Tajikistan that other regions of the country should also participate on equal terms in the political process and that the communist party should abandon its monopoly of political power in favour of a multiparty system. 1991 Presidential elections
In 1991, Tajikistan was the first ex-Soviet Republic to hold free elections: not totally free, of course, and probably subject to some manipulation, but, in comparison with experience under the Soviet regime, nevertheless free. The new "Democratic Party" had formed an alliance against the ruling Communists with the "Popular Front" (Rastokhez) and the "Islamic Renaissance Party", a moderate Islamic organisation that did not at the time agitate for Sharia law or the introduction of "Islamic values" in society. The opposition presidential candidate - Davlat Khudonazarov, a popular film-maker with origins in Gorno-Badakhshan - was beaten by the communist candidate, but his score of some 30% of votes put pressure on the government to open the country to a multi-party system.
Refusal of power-sharing
Despite the moderating influence of Gorbachev, the Tajik regime was not ready to face up to the profound changes implicit in the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and refused power-sharing. This inflexibility led to civil war. With support from the southern region of Kulyab (and, it is claimed, of the Russian military forces stationed in Tajikistan), the leaders of the government faction defeated the opposition coalition forces recruited essentially from fighters of Pamiri (Gorno-Badakhshan) and Garmi (Karategin/Rasht) origin. Large numbers of people from these mountainous regions had been relocated in the 1950s to the cotton-growing areas of the south-west (Kurgan-Tyube); in Dushanbe, the capital, many of the intellectual elite were of Pamiri origin. Exactions against these ethnic groups in the aftermath of the civil war forced large numbers to return to their traditional homeland. Many fighters fled to Afghanistan and subsequently returned with fundamentalist ideas gained there in the refugee camps, mainly to the Karategin valley but also to a few predominantly Sunni areas in the North of Gorno-Badakhshan. The result was a sharp polarisation of national politics and the radicalisation of the Islamic Renaissance Party.
Humanitarian crisis
The civil war compounded the economic disruption caused by the break-up of the Soviet system and the people of Gorno-Badakhshan and the Karategin/Rasht valley found themselves virtually isolated. This national crisis was largely ignored by the international community: few had even heard of Tajikistan, fewer still knew where it was located, and most considered that it was a problem in Russia�s backyard of little relevance to the West. Those few serious newspapers that reported a little of what was going on too easily adopted the clich� of a conflict between former hard-line communists and Islamic fundamentalists.
Peace Agreement
The civil war continued at relatively low intensity � mainly through sporadic cross-border incursions from Afghanistan � until June 1997, when a peace agreement was signed between the government of Tajikistan and the United Tajik Opposition. This agreement opened the way for an interim �power-sharing� government and Presidential and Parliamentary elections; it provided also for the integration of opposition forces into the regular armed forces of Tajikistan. In November, President Emomali Rahmon was re-elected for a seven-year term, and, in March 2000, elections were held for the upper and lower houses of parliament, in which the former opposition parties did not make a strong showing (around 10% of votes).
Although the speed in reaching agreement was undoubtedly influenced by the unstable situation in Afghanistan, the peace accord was nevertheless a remarkable achievement; its subsequent relatively problem-free implementation is even more remarkable. After a civil war characterised in its opening stages by extreme brutality (cf the Amnesty International report Tadzhikistan � Hidden terror: political killings, �disappearances� and torture since December 1992, May 1993) the integration of former fighters in the national armed forces and in civil life has been exceptionally smooth: the process can indeed be held up as a model for other inter-community or ethnic conflicts in countries with considerably higher economic and social resources than Tajikistan. Despite occasional �incidents�, the peace process has so far been remarkably successful and the former opposition seems to have accepted its poor electoral showing without protest. Tajikistan today offers one of the few examples in the modern world of the full integration of opposition fighters into regular armed forces.
Tank in riverbed near Kalaihussain � the furthest point in Gorno-Badakhshan reached by government troops during the civil war: a symbol of futility
The Tajik civil war resulted directly from laudable efforts to promote pluralism and was not � as a reading of the contemporary Western press might have led readers to conclude � a conflict between neo-communists and Islamic fundamentalists. The eyes of Western journalists were turned towards other man-made tragedies closer to home in Bosnia and Somalia: Tajikistan was described in simplistic clich�s for readers already saturated with disasters. Moreover, then as today, the clich� of the threat of Islamic fundamentalism served the interests of those major powers that wished to maintain or extend their power and influence in Central Asia.
Regrettably, much of the world press continues to be obsessed with fears of Islamic fundamentalism in the whole of Central Asia without distinguishing between the very different situations of each Republic. While the economic situation in Tajikistan remains probably more precarious than in any other former Soviet Republic, the exceptionally high level of literacy and secular education achieved under the Soviet Union and the political maturity shown by leaders of both government and opposition give ground for some optimism that Tajikistan may ultimately prove more stable than its neighbours. If, on the other hand, the international community withdraws from engagement in the development of the country and its institutions from fear of Islamic fundamentalism, this fear may become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Contrary to many people's expectations, President Rahmon has brought
a remarkable degree of stability to Tajikistan and has so far succeeded in
balancing (and outmanoevering) the various factions and interest groups. However, the International Crisis Group (ICG), which reports regularly on the political situation in Tajikistan, points in its report of May 2004 ("Tajikistan's Politics: Confrontation or Consolidation") to signs that this balance may now be precarious and suggests that there is an imminent danger of a return to factionalism. For this and other excellent reports on Central Asia, see the ICG website http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1255&l=1. HISTORY OF GORNO-BADAKHSHAN Badakhshan, sometimes spelled "Badakshan", was known by medieval Arab and European writers as "Balascian"; the name "balas" ruby, mentioned by Marco Polo, is still found in gemmology and defines the "lale badakhshan" that was then considered the finest form of ruby (technically spinel) and is still mined in Gorno-Badakhshan. In his book Marco Polo (Faber 1959) Maurice Collis writes of Marco Polo�s visit to Badakhshan, where he recuperated from an illness: �Balkh, besides being a symbol of the extreme limit of Greek civilization, was a place beyond which there came a geographical change. The tangled mass of mountains, called the Roof of the World and which includes the Pamirs and the Hindukush, towered up to the east of it, and to cross them was a greater undertaking than anything the travellers had faced as yet. But among the mountains they found a tableland called Badakhshan which was a delightful place. �It�s a hard day�s work to get to the top,� writes Polo, �and there you find a wide plain covered with grass and trees.� Through this parkland flowed streams of sparkling water full of trout. The air was so pure that the plateau was regarded as a sanatorium by those living in the valleys, and a visit there cured you of a fever. �I have proved this by experience,� Polo continues, �for when in those parts I had been ill for about year, but on visiting the plateau, as I was advised to do, I recovered at once.�
The Pamir region (Gorno-Badakhshan) was incorporated into the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) in 1925. Prior to this it had been de jure under the Emirate of Boukhara but � since the end of the 19th century - de facto under direct Russian rule.
�Politically, the Pamir peoples have always been heterogenous. Formerly the Yazgulami, for example, were connected with Darvaz through Vandzh, belonging, as did the latter, to the state of Darvaz. The speakers of the Shughni-Roshani languages constituted the states of Shughnan and Roshan. In the 18th century Roshan became a vassal to the Shughnan, both contending against their closer neighbours, Badakhshan and Darvaz and alternately falling under the supremacy of one or the other. Bartang, at the time, was part of the state of Roshan. Shughnan and Vakhan were constantly at war with each other over Ishkashim where ruby deposits are to BCE found. From the late 16th century the small Pamir states were occasionally vassal-states to Bukhara. In the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century the nomadic Kirgiz tribes caused the Pamir peoples hardship, cutting them off from the cultural and trade centres in the Kashgar and Fergana valleys. In the second half of the 18th century Afghanistan's interest in the Pamir began to grow. In 1883 the Emir of Afghanistan, supported by the British, seized Vakhan, Shughnan and Roshan. By the second half of the 19th century Russia had seized most of Central Asia, including the East Pamir. In 1868 Russia established a protectorate over the Bukhara Khanate. In 1895 Russia and Britain came to an agreement over the border in the Pamir, according to which the left banks of the Roshan, the Shughnan and the Vakhan went to Afghanistan. The right banks were ceded nominally to the vassal of Russia, the Emir of Bukhara. The border divided the ethnic territories between two countries. In 1905, real power went to the commander of the local Russian military force. Soviet power was wholly established by the end of 1921. In 1925 a Pamir District was established in Badakhshan, an area that had been left to the U.S.S.R. Later in the same year this area was renamed the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and placed under the jurisdiction of the Tadzhik SSR, with Khorog as the administrative centre.� (From
http://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/pamir_peoples.shtml )
Within the Tajik SSR, Gorno-Badakhshan became an autonomous Oblast (province). At the height of the civil war in 1993, the Gorno-Badakhshan parliament decided to declare the Oblast an independent Republic and seek re-incorporation in Russia.
Visiting card from 1993 of the Chairman of the Council of People�s Deputies of �the Autonomous Republic of Badakhshan�
Contrary to misleading press reports that continue to today, Gorno-Badakhshan was not at any time since 1992 a home or hotbed of hardline Islamic opposition. Some parts of Gorno-Badakhshan were indeed occupied by armed opposition groups until the Peace Agreement was signed (Sagridasht and the Vanch and Yazgulom Valleys) but did not serve as a base for launching attacks either on government troops or Russian border guards: most such attacks came from across the frontier in Afghanistan. Many Pamiris fought in the civil war alongside the followers of the Islamic Renaissance Party and created their own militia. In 1995, however, the leaders of the Pamiri militia gave a solemn undertaking to His Highness the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of a large number of Pamiris, that they would never initiate hostilities against the State or the Russian forces. Despite much provocation � including the poisoning of their leader, Majnoon Palaev, in June 1996 � this undertaking was respected.
The website of the Aga Khan Development Network
www.akdn.org gives examples of development activities that have contributed to stability in the Pamir region and helped to prevent a slide into �warlordism� and drug dependence. Under these programmes many former fighters have been successfully re-integrated into civil society as farmers or small businessmen � AKDN can claim with some justification that Pamiri society has witnessed the conversion of �kalashnikovs into ploughshares�.
2012 Unrest and military invasion of GBAO
On 24 July 2012 the Tajik government sent heavily armed troops (from the
Presidential Guard, the Interior Ministry, the State Committee for National Security
GKNB - formerly the KGB - and the elite �Alfa� commando unit - according to a
government statement), armoured vehicles and helicopter gunships to Khorog, the
capital of the Pamirs region (autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan - GBAO)
nominally to apprehend the alleged murderers of Abdullo Nazarov, head of the
regional branch of the GKNB. Nazarov died in unauthenticated circumstances near
Khorog on 22 July. The government accused Tolib Ayombekov, a local border guard
officer, and others connected to him, of the alleged murder.
A full-scale assault, with snipers posted on high ground around the town was
launched on Khorog districts in which the alleged murderers were suspected to be
hiding.
For a summary of events during this period see
here and here.
As a co-author, I am of course bound to recommend Tajikistan and the High Pamirs - a Companion and Guide, the second edition of which was published by Odyssey Publications in September 2011. It is today the only
English-language guide devoted exclusively to Tajikistan produced for the international market - see here.
My Bibliography for the Odyssey book can be downloaded here.
See also my section on Archaeology. By far the best Internet resource for historical research on Central Asia is the "Silk Road Seattle" project at the University of Washington http://depts.washington.edu/uwch/silkroad.
The site includes digitized historical texts and very useful overview maps.
Perhaps surprisingly, the US Defense Department has an impressive website on the history and archaeology of Afghanistan, much of which is valid for Tajikistan. The site is part of a project for the safeguarding of cultural property - cynics may say too little too late, but the information given on the site is concise and serious, and the intention excellent. http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/afgh02-01enl.html.
The French Soci�t� de G�ographie has also digitized a number of their 19th century Proceedings that deal with the exploration of the Pamirs. These can be researched and downloaded (pdf format) from http://gallica.bnf.fr/. Click on the button "Recherche" and enter "Pamir" in the box labelled "Recherche libre".
In addition to web searches on historical references in this summary, the following books are useful: History of Civilizations of Central Asia, UNESCO, Paris 1996; The Resurgence of Central Asia, Ahmed Rashid, Zed Books, London 1994; Samanid Renaissance and Establishment of Tajik Identity, Iraj Bashri, 1997,
www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Samanid/Samanid.html; The Great Game, Peter Hopkirk, London 1990; Tajikistan: Disintegration or Reconciliation? Shirin Akiner, London 2001; Rand Corporation, US and Russian Policymaking with Respect to the Use of Force, California 1996 � Chapter 3 Tajikistan by Arkady Dubnov www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF129/CF-129.chapter3.html ; Aid to Tajikistan, Ernest Greene, Central Asia Monitor 4/1993.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ti.html
http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/tj.html http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/tajikist.htm http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108024.html
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ta/Tajikist.html
http://ancienthistory.about.com
http://www.parstimes.com/library/brief_history_of_persian_empire
http://www.iranian.com/History/2001/July/Sogdiana/ Alexander the Great / Kushan Empire
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/alexander
http://www.kushan.org/
White Huns / Hephthalites / Sassanids
http://www.livius.org/sao-sd/sassanids/sassanids.htm http://spotlightongames.com/variant/maharaja/eph.html http://www.silk-road.com/artl/heph.shtml All text and photographs (c) Robert Middleton 2002
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/7642 | School data shows ‘transient’ city ... 'Johnny' Majors Gives Thanks ... ‘We’re all just a step away’ from homelessness ... School data shows ‘transient’ city ... 'Johnny' Majors Gives Thanks ... ‘We’re all just a step away’ from homelessness ... Heritage tourism, historic preservation & economic growth
As we continue to look at the potential for heritage tourism in Oak Ridge, the 2007 Heritage Tourism Plan remains the key strategic document guiding our implementation.
Comment By D. Ray Smith/Historically Speaking (865) 482-4224
By D. Ray Smith/Historically Speaking (865) 482-4224
As we continue to look at the potential for heritage tourism in Oak Ridge, the 2007 Heritage Tourism Plan remains the key strategic document guiding our implementation.I asked Katy Brown, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau (ORCVB) president, to provide an update on the status of implementing of the 2007 Heritage Tourism Plan. She cited several things that have been accomplished, including informative wayfinding signs and the upgrade of the Oak Ridge room of the American Museum of Science and Energy; the Preserve America grant that supported the touch-screen informational kiosks that guide visitors looking for more information while in our city, along with the concrete markers outside of the Municipal Building that tell the story of the community as our city transitioned from a government town to a thriving municipality. The city also used a portion of the Preserve America grant to archive an important piece of our history — our earliest records.Katy mentioned the decision some years ago to feature the brand “Unlock the Secrets of America’s Secret City.” As an entire campaign, from business cards and advertising, to packaging, events and brochures, this has been a popular brand. With the popularity of the Secret City Festival, and since this branding came into use, other community organizations and businesses have been seen to embrace the “Secret City” name, as well.In consultation with Katy and editing by me, I believe the following provides as accurate an update as can easily be made to the Eight Key Strategies of Creating the Living story of “The Secret City:”1. Upgrade Signage and Wayfinding — The city of Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the ORCVB and Akins Crisp Public Strategies partnered with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to produce new wayfinding signage on major interstates, exits and access roads directing visitors to the federal facilities. The ORCVB and the Oak Ridge Heritage & Preservation Association have also explored using interpretive signage for an historic walking trail around Jackson Square and also designating specific signage for historic homes and buildings. Some of these signs have been posted on historic buildings recently.2. Focus on the American Museum of Science and Energy and Historic Jackson Square — It was noted in the plan that both AMSE and Jackson Square were in need of renovation and upgrading. Several years ago, AMSE updated its entire history room that tells the story of Oak Ridge to visitors from across the country. Jackson Square has been the topic of much discussion over the years. From master’s degree students at the University of Tennessee, to the Oak Ridge Revitalization Efforts, much emphasis has been put on the importance of revitalizing this area.With the recent grant given to the city, and a boom in new businesses, the bustle of Jackson Square is growing. The Department of Energy grant of $500,000 to stabilize The Guest House/Alexander Inn will add to the authentic historic structures preserved in the historic Jackson Square area.Page 2 of 3 - Along with the Chapel on the Hill, this historic structure and the Jackson Square commercial district with its exceptionally well supported restaurants, the Oak Ridge Playhouse and the unique shops and recent addition of the CapitalMark Bank in the historic first bank building in Oak Ridge makes this area a prime heritage tourism location, as well as a key center for commerce in Oak Ridge.3. Showcase the Manhattan Project and Oak Ridge Heritage Assets — The Manhattan Project is one of several focuses the ORCVB use to promote our city to visitors. Much of our branding and marketing efforts relate to our history and heritage. The ORCVB has also supported and partnered with organizations whose efforts focus on revitalization and preservation.4. Develop “Secret City” branding and marketing — Several years ago, the ORCVB began using the brand “Unlock the Secrets of America’s Secret City.” This was described in my introductory remarks in this column.5. Create a more robust ORCVB — While it would be nice to report that the ORCVB has received 100 percent of the hotel/motel taxes that have been generated in the last five years, the staff is very aware of the reality of the city’s financial situation. What we have done is focus on better ways to promote our history by carving out more niche advertising opportunities, educating the public on our history, and staying on top of the latest trends like social media and online promotion.6. Determine the most appropriate National Park Service (NPS) designation for Oak Ridge — the ORCVB supports the designation of a Manhattan Project National Historic Park. The NPS is a tried and true organization that tells the complete story within the park system. We have an opportunity to work with the “Nation’s Storyteller,” interpreting and communicating our story with the world. We are poised to benefit, if nothing more than being a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the No. 1 visited national park in the United States with approximately 9 million visitors in 2010. According to the NPS website, nps.gov, the Smoky Mountains National Park generated $718 million in economic impact for surrounding communities. Imagine if Oak Ridge could capture only 1 percent of either of those numbers.7. Highlight the Signature Facilities — Our signature facilities are keys to telling the complete story of Oak Ridge. If we can provide tours, interactions with those who worked there, or retell stories via recorded accounts of what it was like to work there, our visitors can experience these “Signature Facilities” first hand.8. Undertake a Strategic Outreach Campaign — The tourism industry has seen a shift in focus to more generating editorial and public relations opportunities rather than mostly paid advertising, and for a place like Oak Ridge, telling the story goes a lot farther than just looking at a third page ad that stands alone. Working diligently to introduce travel writers to our history, we’ve been able to put them in a room with those who tell our story best. People like Bill Wilcox, Margene Lyon, Colleen Black, and others have joined us for interviews for major publications and networks from across the world.Page 3 of 3 - Our community can continue to stay ahead of the heritage tourism game by keeping our experience authentic. Visitors want to feel as if they are living the experience. Several years ago, a small group proposed that a village of sorts, complete with various style housing and living quarters equipped with furnishings and style of the Manhattan Project era Oak Ridge, be built for visitors to tour while here.There would be a “Williamsburg-style” staff available, who could present the story of Oak Ridge as if they were there. Imagine someone dressed in a 1940s’ Army uniform and playing the role of Gen. Leslie Groves picking your brain on the best location for this East Tennessee portion of the project, or someone playing the role of military police stopping you at the gate upon arrival. Those would surely be memorable experiences to add to the authenticity of Oak Ridge’s heritage.If the Manhattan Project National Historic Park becomes a reality, there will be doors that will open to us. However, we cannot sit back and expect the people to just flow into the city. There will still be much to do in partnership with the NPS and the Department of Energy to promote our community and attract more visitors.As a closing thought on the Creating the Living Story of “The Secret City” Heritage Tourism Plan he helped create, I asked Darrell Akins for his observation at this time. Here is what he said, “I am glad there is continuing interest in the suggestions we made a few years ago about taking fuller advantage of our community’s heritage tourism potential. As we think about ‘telling the Oak Ridge story’ today, we should also think about how we can unify marketing ourselves for economic and community development, as well as to tourists. We have maintained local control of marketing to tourists, which is good, but we’ve ‘out-sourced’ the rest to regional groups. If we pull it all together and take responsibility here, Oak Ridge will be much better off. And that will be particularly true for our heritage tourism program." | 旅游 |
2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/7839 | War's impact on tourism hard to gauge Some business owners say tourists are not willing to spend money. Others blame the economy for the downturn.
By CANDACE RONDEAUX, Times Staff Writer
TARPON SPRINGS -- The war in Iraq has shown that on any given day it can unsettle investors on Wall Street, but it's not as clear what effect it has for tourists on Dodecanese Boulevard.
What is clear, say Sponge Docks merchants, is that business in their corner of Florida's tourist economy has dropped this year.
Kleopatra Georgiou and her husband have sold seashells and spanakopita on the Sponge Docks for almost 20 years and have seen their share of ups and downs. But these days, she said, business could not be worse.
"People don't want to spend money," said Georgiou, who owns a restaurant and neighboring gift shop just off Dodecanese.
Georgiou, 57, is one of several Tarpon Springs business owners interviewed last week who worry that a protracted conflict in the Middle East could have a serious effect on the city's vital tourism economy.
Though Pinellas County tourism officials say the Tampa Bay area's tourism economy remains strong despite war tremors, some local business owners were ruffled by recent projections that Florida could lose $3.9-billion in tourism dollars during the conflict with Iraq.
On a good day, Georgiou brings in about $800 from customers at her Greek restaurant Opa!. On those days the flow of Sponge Docks traffic is thick with snowbirds and vacationing Canadians and Germans looking to spend. Lately, however, the crowds have been thin and Georgiou said she's lucky to average $200 a day.
"We have to stand outside and have to beg people to come into the shop," she said.
Like other shop owners near the Sponge Docks, city Commissioner Peter Nehr said sales at his three stores there have fallen off this spring.
"It's not nearly like it should be," Nehr said. "The streets are about half as full as they normally are."
Nehr said sales were down by about 35 percent and echoed other business owners' view that tourists were less willing to part with large amounts of cash. Despite a seeming upswing in patriotism brought on by the war with Iraq, sales at his flag shop on Dodecanese are not nearly as high as they were in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Instead of buying four flags maybe they'll buy two," Nehr said. "Even during the first Gulf War we did tremendously better."
The commissioner blamed people's poor perception of the economy for the downturn in sales, not the war.
Carole Ketterhagen, executive director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, agreed that perceptions, not reality, are the biggest concern for the area's tourism economy. March tourism figures compiled by the Pinellas County tourism marketing agency Ketterhagen works for were not yet available, she said, but the bureau has received few reports of cancellations from hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend on tourism.
"So far, our numbers for the county seem to be holding strong," Ketterhagen said, "Anecdotally, we're hearing from most of the proprietors that they're doing very well."
The Tampa Bay area receives an average of 5-million visitors a year. The annual economic impact for tourism in Pinellas County is about $5.5-billion, Ketterhagen said. The number of overnight visitors to the area is not broken down by city, but much like the area's sugar-sand beaches, Tarpon Springs is a significant draw for many tourists, she said.
The number of overnight visitors to Pinellas County in January, the midway point in Tampa Bay's four- to five-month-long tourist season, was down slightly this year. The county saw an estimated 232,527 overnight visitors in January, compared to 235,034 the same month last year.
For Sponge Dock boat tour owner John Billiris, these days there are still plenty of customers, but he has had other problems. He blames sluggish winter business on a string of weekends ruined by bad weather. On Wednesday, dozens of tourists lined up in front of Billiris, 82, to buy tickets for his 90-minute tour. Attracting customers is no problem, he said. But keeping up with skyrocketing fuel prices is another story. A few weeks before the war, Billiris paid about 98 cents for a gallon of diesel fuel. Now he pays $1.68 a gallon.
"It was a little bit of a shock when the fuel bill came and it was $400 for two days," Billiris said.
The tour boat owner was forced to raise ticket prices from $5 to $7, he said.
Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce president Richard O'Neil doubts the war has much to do with business owners' complaints about tourism. The overall economic slowdown after Sept. 11 events is the real culprit behind any flagging of the tourism economy, he said.
"Some of the merchants say (tourists are) walking down the street but they're not buying anything," O'Neil said.
Call volume to the chamber of commerce, often a central source of information for many tourists, has taken a precipitous drop this year with just 791 calls received in January, compared to 1,336 calls in January 2002. However, the number of walk-in visits rose with 3,169 visits this February compared to 2,572 in February 2002.
The fluctuation in numbers demonstrates the mixed bag of successes and failures local merchants are bound to feel at any given time, let alone during a time of war, O'Neil said.
"Some people are saying business has slowed down," he said, "others are saying it's picked up."
A little less than a mile away from the Sponge Docks, in downtown Tarpon Springs, business is still good, but not quite as good as it used to be, say many shop owners there. Antique store owner John Tarapani says tourists and visitors still arrive in a steady stream at his Tarpon Avenue shop but they're not as eager to spend on big-ticket items. Antique knickknacks such as china or candelabras are far more likely to sell.
"It was actually slower before," Tarapani said. "People were hesitant to buy anything when it was uncertain what would happen" with the war.
-- Candace Rondeaux can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or rondeaux@sptimes.com.
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/8803 | Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is the large bay shared by the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia (north central Australia). The Gulf is separated from the Coral Sea on the northeast by the 12-m-deep Torres Strait and from the Arafura Sea on the
northwest by the Arafura Sill, which lies about 53 m below the sea surface. The Gulf is a macrotidal, drowned river valley, and a mature estuary that is relatively shallow and flat-floored. The maximum water depth is about 70 m. It is about 480 kilometers (300 miles) wide and 640 kilometers (400 miles) long. The waters are shallow in most areas. Mudflats and mangrove swamps lie along its shores. It has a tidal range variation of 600-1600 m. Numerous creeks and rivers drain into the Gulf.
(Photo by Ludo Kuipers © OzOutback Internet Services, http://ozoutback.com.au/)
One of the remotest areas of Australia, the coastline surrounding the Gulf is virtually all Aboriginal land. Blackrocks Landing at Batten Point, near Borroloola at the mouth of the Macarthur River, is a popular spot for fishermen who may camp there and launch their boats, but the wide beaches at Wiyayi and Malagayangu near Numbulwar are on Aboriginal land in south eastern Arnhem Land and favoured spots for the Nunggubuyu people who come to fish and look for turtle eggs here.
An interesting cloud phenomenon occurs over the Gulf of Carpentaria that has intrigued scientists, particularly meterologists. This phenomenon is called the Morning Glory of the Gulf of Carpentaria . Unique on Earth and not very well understood, the Morning Glory wave cloud arrives regularly each spring. Dynamic waves of this type occur unheralded everywhere and at all altitudes, and are the cause of much of the clear air turbulence which so disrupts commercial air travel. Those waves, however, are usually invisible, infrequent and currently all but unpredictable. Morning Glory waves sometimes exceed 1000 km in length and 10,000 feet in height. These enormous waves are believed to contain the energy equivalent of several nuclear devices.
The Gulf of Carpentaria harbors two species of crocodiles, the man eating Crocodylus porosus (saltwater crocodile) and the relatively harmless freshwater variety. Useful Gulf of Carpentaria Web Sites:
Gulf of Carpentaria Inshore Finfish
The Gulf of Carpentaria: Discovery and Exploration
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2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/9034 | Home > Species and Habitats
Wildlife-viewing Area Details < BackName:Lake Maumelle/Maumelle River WMA Nature TrailsType:Hiking TrailCounty Coverage:PulaskiAccess:Lake Maumelle’s eastern edge lies about eight miles west of the junction of Interstate 430 and Arkansas Highway 10 in Little Rock. The three trailhead parking areas are to the west along Highway 10. Description:Lake Maumelle, created in 1958, is a major source of drinking water for about 400,000 people in and around Little Rock. Central Arkansas water owns the lake, which covers 8,900 acres (about 14 square miles), and about 9,000 acres of land around it. Because the lake supplies drinking water, Central Arkansas Water limits recreational use, although it encourages activities that promote environmental awareness and conservation. Visit http://www.carkw.com/ for more lake rules and regulations as well as fishing hot spots. Lake Maumelle sometimes draws huge concentrations of wintering bald eagles, which attract many birding enthusiasts. Sometimes the eagles and other birds such as diving ducks and loons can be seen from one of the birding trails along the south side of the lake. Also, consider launching a boat from the Jolly Roger’s Public Launch Ramp or join the interpreters at nearby Pinnacle Mountain State Park, who often lead winter barge cruises on the lake to observe the eagles. Scan the open water of the main lake for many species of water birds that often visit. Common loons turn up, as well as a variety of diving ducks such as lesser scaup, common goldeneyes and buffleheads. Three species of mergansers have been reported – hooded, red-breasted and common and four species of grebes – pied-billed, eared, horned and western. Watch the skies for gulls (Franklin’s and ring-billed frequent the area), and shoreline pines for eagles. Rarities seen here include red-throated loons, red-necked phalaropes, long-tailed ducks, white winged scoters and black scoters. Bufflehead Bay Trail: This is a 0.2 miles one way, out-and-back hike with views of Lake Maumelle. Click to open trail map.
Loon Point/Farkleberry Trail: This is a 0.13 miles one way, out-and-back hike with views of Lake Maumelle. Click to open trail map.
Vista Park/Ouachita National Recreation Trail: This trail begins at Pinnacle Mountain State Park just east of the lake, follows the north shore of Lake Maumelle for 22 miles, providing good access for viewing wildlife in the upland woods adjoining the lake. For more information on this trail, which traverses across Arkansas to Oklahoma, visit http://friendsot.org/. The trail crosses Highway 10 on the west side of Lake Maumelle near Vista Park. WMA Info:Link to Details | 旅游 |
2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/9092 | 12 Things to Do in Orlando with Kids
Melinda Carstensen Summer days spent with my toes in the sand, grade-school field trips to see world-renowned performers, weekend visits to see Mickey Mouse, my childhood was filled with incredible, fun memories I consider myself lucky to have. Although I’ve since left Orlando and taken root in The Big Apple, I still have a strong appreciation for my hometown, and when I visit, I’m reminded of the variety of things the city has to offer.
While Orlando may be synonymous with Disney (and of course, that’s a huge part of it — and was a big part of my childhood), it’s actually true there are oodles of other things to do. For instance, why not sit in the splash zone at Orlando’s SeaWorld, or swim with sea critters and slide down an awesome water slide at one of Disney’s water parks? Theme parks not your thing? Shop at one of Orlando’s outlet malls, or dine and see a show in downtown Orlando instead. Click through to find out why this may be the Sunshine State’s most family-friendly city ever.
Here are 12 things to do in Orlando with kids!
12 Things to Do in Orlando with Kids 1 of 13 Share Soak up the Sun at One of Florida’s Beaches 2 of 13 Share Even though Orlando is in Central Florida, the coastline's a mere hour or so away. Take a family road trip, and dip your toes into the Atlantic Ocean at Cocoa Beach (be sure to stop by the original Ron Jon Surf Shop) or at Daytona Beach (famous for the Daytona 500)! For calmer waves and clearer water, head to the Gulf! My all-time favorite spot is Siesta Key, which seems to always make the top 10 beach lists for its soft sand and serene vibe, or the equally popular beach next door, Clearwater. Of course, there are tons of other beaches you can access from Orlando, but these are some of my favorites. Visit International Drive 3 of 13 Share One of Orlando's most popular tourist spots is International Drive — and it's no surprise why. Oodles of fun, kid-friendly attractions are packed onto this vibrant and bustling street. Test your kids' senses of fact versus fiction at Ripley's Believe it or Not, and then pop over next door to WonderWorks (an upside-down building your kids will go gaga over) for laser tag and other fun activities. When you're done, give your feet a rest while treating your eyes to a flick at Regal Pointe Orlando 20 & IMAX. Next, grab a bite at Taverna Opa for some yummy Greek food, or enjoy some mouth-watering BBQ at B.B. King's Blues Club, both of which are in the same pavilion. Cool Down at an Orlando Water Park 4 of 13 Share Having access to top-notch water parks is one of the best things about Orlando. (If you didn't know, Florida's hot, folks!) Slide on down Summit Plummet, a breathtaking 120-foot water slide, at Disney's Blizzard Beach, or float around the lazy river at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. (You can also go snorkeling with sea critters at the latter!) On International Drive there's also Wet 'n Wild, for which you can nab a ticket for $55 max. Have a marine life lover in the family? Check out Sea World's Aquatica, where they can slide through a water tube that doubles as an aquarium. I haven't been myself, but I've heard it's amazing! Take a Dip in one of Florida’s Springs 5 of 13 Share Just like beaches, there are a handful of springs within miles of Orlando. If you're not from Florida, you likely haven't been to one, so if you travel to Orlando definitely take advantage of the opportunity to go! On a hot summer day, taking a dip in a spring is just about the most refreshing thing you can do. Float downstream with your tush in an inflatable tube at Blue Springs State Park (where you can also see manatees — a must!) or at Kelly Park and State Reserve, or go canoeing or kayaking at Wekiwa Springs State Park. Sit in the Splash Zone at SeaWorld 6 of 13 Share If your kids are animal or ocean lovers to any extent, be sure to swing by SeaWorld, which has rides, shows, and marine animals galore. Sit in the Splash Zone at the famous Shamu "Believe" show, feed dolphins and pet stingrays (and sharks!), or, if your kids like roller coasters, hop onto one of the park's two options, Manta and Kraken. If your kids really want to get up close and personal with marine life, pop over to one of SeaWorld's sister parks, Discovery Cove, where they can swim with dolphins! Check Out Universal Studios Orlando 7 of 13 Share Universal Studios and Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure are super-fun spots for kids and adults of all ages. If you're a roller-coaster junkie, the latter's for you. Ride on the park's famous Hulk, which takes off from a tunnel at 60 mph in just over 2 seconds flat (read: amazing), and, of course, if you're a Harry Potter lover, check out the new Wizarding World. Make sure you get a butter beer (which are kid-friendly as they aren't alcoholic), and check out Ollivanders Wand Shop. Just as much fun is Universal Studios, which has the awesome Twister ride as well as the newly added Simpsons Ride, which is a simulated roller coaster. Afterward, relax after a day on your feet, and grab a bite to eat at Universal Hard Rock Cafe or Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville at Universal CityWalk. Build Something Awesome at LEGOLAND Orlando 8 of 13 Share Although I haven't been myself, LEGOLAND's got to be one of the most buzzed-about (and, from the looks of it, coolest) theme parks in Central Florida. I mean, come on, there's a roller coaster made of LEGOs, for Pete's sake. The entire park's made of this kid-favorite toy! Even though the park is about an hour-long drive from Orlando, in Winter Haven, I'd say if your little guy or gal is a fan of the classic toy, it's a must-see. Take a Walk in Downtown Orlando 9 of 13 Share Believe it or not, downtown Orlando has a bunch of fun, kid-friendly things to do! Have a picnic, take a walk, or hop into a swan paddleboat at Lake Eola. If you're more of a foodie, pop on over to Thornton Park, where you can nosh at top-rated restaurants. For some of the city's cultural happenings, check out the Bob Carr for the Performing Arts, where the Orlando Philharmonic play and off-Broadway touring companies often stop by to perform. And, if you're into comedy, catch a stand-up act at the SAK Comedy Lab, located on Orange Avenue, downtown's main street. Dine at a Medieval Times Dinner Show 10 of 13 Share I know, I know, dinner shows are cheesy. But this one's cool, I promise! Take a trip back in time with Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, where you and your family will be assigned a certain knight that you'll cheer on as he jousts. The best part of all? While you're sitting ringside for this awesome tournament, you get to chow down on a full-course meal. (Yum.) Everyone in the family will love it, trust me. Put the Pedal to the Metal at Fun Spot Orlando 11 of 13 Share Tell me: WHO doesn't love go-kart racing? I don't care what age you are — a little friendly competition in the form of a high-speed race is always fun. In Orlando, you can do just that at Fun Spot, which basically is like a carnival in theme-park form, complete with four go-kart tracks (all based on levels of expertise), a Ferris Wheel, bumper cars, and all the greasy-good food you can find at the county fair. Fun fact: The Orlando location just opened a new roller coaster, too! Shop at One of Orlando’s Outlet Malls 12 of 13 Share OK, so this may not be unique to Orlando, but let me tell you: There are deals to be snagged at this city's outlet malls. For Michael Kors, J. Crew, and more, head to Orlando Premium Outlets, and for the Nike Factory Outlet and The North Face, among other stores, pop over to Prime Outlets International. Also near the Prime Outlets is the Festival Bay mall, which has Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and a Ron Jon Surf Shop location. When all is said and done, what's a vacation without some swag to show for it? Throw in Some Magic at Walt Disney World 13 of 13 Share No Orlando vacation can be complete without a trip to Walt Disney World. When I was a kid, my family had park-hopper passes, but that was before Animal Kingdom opened and the Magic Kingdom's new Fantasyland had even been put in the works. Some must-dos? See the fireworks above Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom (I'm 23, and I still get chills), give your kids a taste of international culture by visiting the different country pavilions at Epcot, go on a safari at Animal Kingdom, and make 'em feel like stars at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Afterward, head to Downtown Disney to catch a movie at AMC Downtown Disney 24, dine and bowl at Splitsville, stimulate your senses at Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba, or grab a bite to eat at the House of Blues. No matter which attractions you indulge, a visit to Disney should truly put the finishing touches on a totally magical family vacation. More Great Things on Lifestyle Restart Gallery Article Posted 2 years Ago share this article | 旅游 |
2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/9238 | 0000 About Cobble House
We purchased our Cobble Hill property in 1992 after we fell in love with Vancouver Island and the Cowichan Valley while visiting friends in Victoria and exploring the southern Island. On October 2, 1993 we arrived on the property in an old airstream trailer which was to be our temporary home . We awoke the next morning to the sound of trucks ready to pour the foundations of the house. As we were building over the winter, we were very lucky that it was a particularly dry winter that year, which is definitely not always the case here on the BC Coast! We had operated a small Bed & Breakfast in Richmond, in the Metro Vancouver region, and had designed our new home with Bed & Breakfast in mind based on six years of B&B experience. Simon was the general contractor and we did a lot of the finishing work ourselves. We moved into our new home on our anniversary in May, and welcomed our first guests to Cobble House Bed & Breakfast on July 3, 1994.
Ingrid is the innkeeper at Cobble House while Simon has recently retired from his second career at Brentwood College School, where he’s become a masters rower as well as a rowing coach. He is both enjoying more free time for his many interests, and doing small jobs on the side. He retired from his first career as an Executive Chef when we moved to Vancouver Island. Ingrid’s passion is the sport of curling, and you’ll find her on the ice twice a week during fall and winter, or on her walks down Cameron-Taggart Road. Her other passion is the Bed & Breakfast industry and she’s been a volunteer Board member for both the local B&B association but especially for the BC Innkeepers Guild, including being its President for many years. With Cobble House now in its 22nd year of operation, she continues to learn new things about the Bed & Breakfast profession, the whole online marketing world, the many wonderful guests we’ve hosted, and the great folks who are part of the hospitality industry.
We’ve never regretted moving to Vancouver Island and love living in the Cowichan Valley. We love having nature immediately around us, and the wildlife that’s so much part of our daily lives (even though they present a big challenge in regards to gardening!). The Cowichan Valley is a lovely rural area, yet centrally located halfway between Victoria and Nanaimo, both of which are about an hour away. With several private boarding schools, wineries and a cidery, top notch restaurants, specialty food producers, artisans and interesting attractions, it’s a region full of creativity and opportunities that we love to share with our guests.
In 2012 Cobble House B&B innkeeper Ingrid was recognized with the Moyra Turner Hospitality Award at the Annual General Meeting of the BC Innkeepers Guild. This award is the Guild’s highest honor and is awarded annually to a member innkeeper who best exhibits hospitality and who best promotes the concept of hospitality on an ongoing basis. | 旅游 |
2015-48/4474/en_head.json.gz/9343 | History Menu
Home Page History of Bridlington Rudston Monolith Carnaby Temple Another Lost Church
Bridlington Harbour
The Hudson Way Winter of 1947
Wold Newton Stone
The Brontës in Brid
The Old Brid Baths (on Brian Gautier's site)
Flamborough Lighthouse
1888 Bridlington Directory
The history of bridlington
The market town and port of Bridlington is situated on the Northeast coast of England, near where the promontory known as Flamborough Head juts out into the North Sea. The sheltered spot below the promontory has become known as Bridlington Bay.
The Name
A likely origin of the town's name is suggested in a 19th century letter from the historian Thomas Wright to Edward Tindall, of the High Street, Bridlington. Wright says: "In the Anglo-Saxon, the sons and descendants of a man or his family, taken in the widest sense of the word, were distinguished by adding 'ing' to the end of his name; thus, a son or descendant of Alfred would be Alfreding, and his family or descendants by blood would be spoken of generally as the Alfredings. In the same way the Bridlings would be the sons or descendants of a man called Bridla. Bridlingtun would be the chief residence of these Bridlings, who were no doubt the family or clan of one of the chiefs whose name was Bridla, who came over in the Saxon invasion, and obtaining this district by his arms, established here the chief settlement of his family." (A more recent and more likely explanation is that it derives its name from an Angle named Bretel who settled in the Old Town and called it Bretelston.) In the Domesday Survey the place is called Bretlington. It has also been known at various times as Berlington, Brellington, and Britlington. Many locals called it Burlington well into the 19th century, when Government authorities were insisting that it was Bridlington.
The manor of Bridlington was presented by William the Conqueror firstly to Earl Morcar, and then to Gilbert de Gaunt, who had come over with the Norman invasion force. Gilbert's son, Walter, inherited the estate and it was he who established Bridlington Priory. During the dissolution of the monasteries, the Crown took the manor and rectory of Bridlington from the Priory. The manor was leased by Elizabeth I in 1566 to 12 local inhabitants for 40 years. However after 25 years, they did not keep up the rent and the lordship passed to John Stanhope, and thence to another group of locals. Again the lease was forfeited, presumably for non-payment of rent, and in 1624 James I gave it to Sir J. Ramsey, Earl of Holderness. When his son inherited it, he sold it in 1663 to William Corbett and 12 other inhabitants, to administer on behalf of all the other freeholders of the manor. A deed declared these citizens of the manor to be "Lords-Feoffees of the Manor of Bridlington", and were empowered to enrol 12 more to help them administer the affairs of the town. Rules were set up to elect new Feoffees and helpers as vacancies arose, and this system continues up to the present day.
There was a church in Bridlington at the time of the Domesday Survey. Also the survey of monastic buildings undertaken as part of the dissolution mentions a building to the South of the monastery, used for baking and brewing, but thought to have once been a nunnery. This suggests that a convent had been there even before the Norman Conquest. Perhaps most of it had been destroyed by the Danes, leaving only the Saxon church mentioned in the Domesday Book. However, another theory states that this building had been a hospital. During the reign of Henry I, Walter de Gaunt greatly improved the town, and endowed the church of St. Mary with enough property to support a body of "Canons Regular" of the order of St. Augustine. This order had been introduced into England about the year 1114. The endowment was of his own land and that of certain neighbouring vassals, some mills and some other churches, from as far away as Filey and South Ferriby. Later, the possessions of the Priory became even greater, with land from all over Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Charter of King Stephen gave the Canons "the port and harbour of Bridlington, with all kinds of the wreck of the sea which shall in future happen, or issue, in all places within the dykes called Earl Dyke and Flaynburgh Dyke." In 1200, King John granted them a fair to be held every year on the eve and feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, and a market to be held every Saturday. There is still a fair every year and a market every Saturday. In the British Museum, there is an imperfect impression of the common seal of the Priory and its counter seal. The former exhibits figures of Christ and the Virgin, and the latter shows the Virgin and Child. The Priory is supposed to have had very fine buildings. It had a fine view of the sea, but this rendered it vulnerable to attack. So in 1388, Richard II gave permission to build fortifications. Of these only the arched gateway, known as the Bayle Gate remains today. It is an interesting building, and houses a small local museum nowadays. The names of all the Priors of Bridlington were listed in Burton's Monasticon Eboracense, from Wikeman in 1112, up to William Wode. He was installed in 1531, but took part in Aske's rebellion and was arrested for high treason and executed in 1537. The King claimed the possessions of the monastery, dissolved it in 1538, and then demolished the Priory and its buildings, leaving only the church. As mentioned above, the Crown leased the manor back to local people in 1566.
The most famous Prior was John Twenge, who was made a Saint. (More about him here)
There were some rather strange Priors, such as George Ripley, who dabbled in alchemy (More about him here) The parish church of St. Mary was left as the only remnant of the original Priory. Still known as Priory Church, its old magnificence declined for many years, but much hard work and dedication has recently paid off, and much of the former glory has been recovered. It is well worth a visit. Bridlington Quay had its own district church built in 1840, and enlarged in 1851. Known as Christ Church, it is also very fine. There were many Methodist chapels in all parts of Bridlington, but some have now been lost. With many, the shell of the building survives with another use. Central Primitive Chapel was demolished and has become the Iceland store, and St John's Primitive Methodist Church has become the Co-op, but retains the original shape above. One outstanding building remained until recently in the aptly named Chapel Street but became too big to maintain as a chapel and while awaiting another use, it collapsed. Another that is beautifully decorated inside and out is in St. John Street, and this is still in use. "History of Bridlington Priory" by Marmaduke Prickett, written in 1836 - Read or download it from here.
The present town of Bridlington was once two separate towns that have now grown together. The original Bridlington was about a mile from the sea, and this part is now referred to as the Old Town. Bridlington Quay was the name of the port area. Trade in corn was once substantial, and the site of the 1826 Corn Exchange building can still be found in the old Market Place. There were windmills and water mills for corn grinding, and in 1837 a steam mill was erected at the Quay. This trade in corn led to malt and beer production in the 19th century, but this declined. Nowadays, there is still some fishing carried out from the harbour at Bridlington, and the surrounding villages still produce corn, some of which is malted locally. During the 20th century, tourism developed into the principal trade of the town, as workers from the industrial towns of Yorkshire began to seek holidays at the seaside. Much of this trade continues now though it has declined in parallel with the decline in industry. William Hustler founded the town's Grammar School around 1637. It was refounded in its current location by Thomas Harland in 1899. It is now Bridlington School Sports College, one of two large schools in the town, the other being Headlands School and Community Science College. The harbour was originally a wooden structure, which gradually gave way to stonework. Several acts of parliament have been obtained through the centuries to improve it. New and longer North and South piers were constructed in the 1840's. Only recently, urgent repairs have had to be carried out to prevent wave damage to the North pier. The harbour is nearly dry at low tide, but still offers some shelter in bad weather. It is used by fishing boats, pleasure boats that visit the seabird colonies on nearby cliffs, and by the yacht club. Bridlington Bay itself is a comparatively safe place in high winds, and for centuries ships have sought its shelter. This is only a very brief look at the history of Bridlington. Any comments on it would be welcome. Michael Thornton
Photos of places mentioned in the text
Click for a bigger image
Extra column
The source of most of the above is:
"The History and Topography of the City of York, the Ainsty Wapentake and the East Riding of Yorkshire"
by J. J. Sheahan and T. Whellan (1856). See part of the chapter about this part of the East Riding here.
All of Part 1 of the book (PDF - 35Mb) (Contains North Riding bits)
All of Part II of the book (PDF - 31Mb) (Contains East Riding bits)
Searchable versions are available on Google Books
Bridlington School Sixth Form in 1961 - not a pretty sight! Click here | 旅游 |
2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5063 | HomeRegionsMapWeather
ITALY THIS WAY
Carini travel guide and tourism
You are here: Visit ItalySicily guideCarini
Visit Carini (Sicily, Italy )
The town of Carini is in north-east Sicily and located on a hill about 170 meters above sea level, within the chain of the Mounts Ericini and just a few kilometers from Palermo, with a territory that extends to the sea.
Carini: the Castle, catacombs of Villagrazia and beaches
Although the main highlight for visitors are the beaches and the castle, there are several other places of interest to discover in and around Carini so allow time for a visit when you are staying on the coast nearby. Carini is also visited for its shopping and has several large shopping centres and malls.
Carini castle
Your visit can begin from Carini castle, built by the Bonello family in 1094. Excavations here confirm that the oldest parts of the castle date back to Norman times (the Norman origin of the castle is also confirmed by Al Idrisi, who spoke of "a fortress of new construction" in the 11th century). However the current castle dates from the 16th century.
The earlier castle certainly had a less imposing structure, and was described as having "a few and vaulted rooms" (called 'dammusi', houses excavated in the rock).
The ground floor of Carini castle is the Food Hall, later transformed into a library, where there are two stone arches dating from the 15th century, supported by a solid pillar.
On the upper floor in the Festival Hall, also 15th century, there is a coffered wood ceiling, embellished with decorations typical of the Catalan-Gothic style. From here you can access the massive square tower, crowned by a double lancet window.
In the eastern section there is a chapel frescoed around the end of the 17th century and a marble statue depicting the "Madonna di Trapani", attributed to G. Mancino, a 16th century sculptor.
Inside the chapel is a wooden tabernacle of the 17th century with Corinthian columns. Outside the chapel, a small door leads to to the ramparts, where you can see the ruins of a perimeter wall.
A large courtyard opens on to a view of the inner façade, renovated in the Renaissance style, in which the portals are based. The portals are surmounted by the coats of arms of the La Grua Family, depicting a crane surrounded by quatrefoils ('luck symbols'). Upstairs there are two rampant lions symbolizing the arms of the Lanza.
Other Carini highlights
The works of artistic and historical interest in and near Carini are significant and numerous.
The Mother Church was built in the late 15th century and completed in the late 18th century. It has a loggia on the side, a façade with flat pilasters and two lateral towers. Radically altered in the 18th century, it has a porch on the right side and tiled panels depicting the Crucifixion, the Assumption, Saint Rosalia and Saint Vito (1715).
Inside is a valuable painting of the 'Adoration of the Magi' by the Tuscan artist Alessandro Allori (1535-1607) and, in the chapel, a precious 17th century wooden crucifix with a silver crown, placed on an altar flanked by huge stucco statues by Procopio Serpotta (1679-1756).
The Oratory of the SS. Sacramento was built next to the Mother Church in the mid-16th century, and has an 18th century interior completely covered with stucco, by Vincenzo Messina and representing Faith, Charity, Fortitude and Penance, Hope, Justice and Divine Grace, and also smaller figures, resting on brackets below the windows, depicting scenes connected with the mystery of the Eucharist.
The collection is further enriched by the decorative motifs (in the style of Procopio Serpotta) of cherubs, garlands of flowers and fruit, coats of arms and grotesques. On the roof is a fresco depicting the "Triumph of the Faith".
The Church of St. Mary of the Angels, located behind the Mother Church, has a single nave with side chapels in carved wood paneling. To admire in the church is a wooden crucifix by Fra’ Benedetto Valenza (18th century), who also worked on the decoration of the Rococo chapel.
Places to visit near Carini
The Catacombs of Villagrazia are nearby and worth visiting, while for sea lovers there are the beaches of Carini - although these can be very busy and the coast here is rather overdeveloped. Personally we would probably head for one of the beaches near Terrasini, a short distnce west of Carini.
Eating out in Carini
The local Carini restaurants have menus offering meat and fish, good traditional Sicilian cuisine. At lunchtime you might try the "maglie siciliane" with garlic, olive oil, red pepper and a sprinkling of "ricotta", while those who enjoy fried foods will enjoy the "rice croquettes."
As a second course we recommend the grilled swordfish or the classic Sicilian sausage, with a side-dish of local cheeses (such as the cheese with pepper). For dessert we suggest the "cannoli" of Sicily, the Sicilian "cassata", “mustaccioli”, pistachio nougat, biscuits with sesame, Buccellato and the "nucatoli". Finally, for those who love pizza, we highly recommend the "sfincione" of Palermo.
See also Carini history and etymology.
See also: Hotels in and near Carini
Map of Carini sightseeing & popular sights
Address: Carini, Sicily, Italy || GPS: latitude 38.133333, longitude 13.183333
Selected places to visit near Carini, Italy
CinisiTerrasiniMonrealePartinicoSan Giuseppe JatoAlcamoBagheriaCastellammare del Golfo
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2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5138 | Victorian homes, San Francisco
Practical info San Francisco, USA
The public transport system in San Francisco is known as MUNI and operates buses, electric trolley buses and the famous cable cars as well as metro streetcars (underground trains that become street cars when they emerge above ground). MUNI offers access to all parts of the city; exact change is required, and the same fare applies to all services except the cable cars, which are more expensive. Note that the cable cars are a moving National Monument and hence are very popular and crowded. They can be tough to get onto, and slow in getting to your destination. MUNI trains and buses run 24-hours a day, with a more limited service after midnight; buses late at night are not always safe to use. The other transport system, known as BART, is a fast and economical subway/rail network that connects the city to the East Bay as well as the airport. Taxis are also available in the city but can be hard to find, especially during peak hours. During the day the best option is often to walk, as many of the locals do. However, be prepared to climb a few hills.
GMT –8 (GMT –7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
120 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the type with two flat pins, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter.
The official currency is the US Dollar (USD), which is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
The international country dialling code for the United States is +1. Mobile networks cover most of the country, including all urban areas, however unless you have a tri-band phone it is likely your cellular phone from home will not work in the United States. Internet cafes are prevalent in most towns and cities.
Emergencies: 911
4 Jul
The weather in San Francisco is cool to mild throughout the year, with foggy summers and wet winters. The climate is influenced by the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean surrounding the city, which in conflict with the Californian mainland's summer heat, creates foggy conditions that blanket the city during summer and early autumn. This ensures summers in San Francisco are cooler than inland California. Winters are mild during the day, with temperatures seldom dropping below 60°F (15°C), but nights are cold and rain is common. Rain in summer is rare.
www.flysfo.com
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Rapid Rail service connects the airport to the city centre, and provides a connection to the Caltrain commuter rail service at Milbrae Station, from where trains leave regularly to downtown San Francisco and San Jose. SamTrans Service, bus 292, leaves every 30 minutes for the city centre and suburbs. There are also shared vans, which provide a door-to-door service and are cheaper than taxis. Reservations are sometimes needed for service after 11pm.
The AirTrain links the terminals to the rental car centre. Car rental companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, National, Thrifty and Hertz.
Taxis cost about $45 for an hour's ride to the city centre, very dependant on traffic. Airport employees are available at the taxi pick up area, outside all terminals, to help passengers. Taxi drivers will expect a tip of $4-5.
The AirTrain light rail service operates on two lines: the Red Line connects all terminals, garages and the BART Station; and the Blue Line connects to the rental car centre. However, the AirTrain does not provide service to the airport's long-term parking lot.
There are banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available. Facilities for the disabled are very good. Other facilities include baggage storage, a medical clinic, bars and restaurants, duty-free, shops, childcare and baby changing facilities, a post office, wifi, tourist information and hotel reservations. There is also a museum, library, art gallery and an aviation history museum within the terminal.
Rates for short-term parking start at $2 per 20 minutes and increase to $36 per 24 hours. Other daily rates available range from $28 per day in the international parking area or $18 per day in the long-term lot.
All four terminals have free wifi on offer. | 旅游 |
2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5274 | Gear Lab Food & Drink Travel Adventure Health & Fitness Style SUBSCRIBE How to Handle Danger Without Fear
By Laird Hamilton May 2013
Laird Hamilton on managing risk and embracing the danger. Facebook just added to your Activity: This Article
Credit: Photograph by Ture Lillegraven
Over the years, I've learned that two distinct forces lead people to put themselves in dangerous situations: ignorance and experience. When a seasoned veteran approaches a precarious situation on a mountain or in the ocean, he usually knows what he's getting into and understands how to assess the risk. The other side of the coin is ignorance – when people just don't know enough to understand that they're getting themselves into trouble.
Obviously, I've paid enough attention to risk so that I'm still here. I think I've always been scared enough to make it through. The majority of my most death-defying episodes weren't anywhere near the water. I once fell through a cornice in Russia riding behind these crazy French snowboarders who had warned us about the danger beforehand. And just as I was getting ready to yell to the guy in front, "Hey, I think we're on the wrong side of the rocks!" I fell into a hole in the cornice and landed down inside it, on a ledge.
Complacency is your enemy. Just because you think you can handle a situation, don't disrespect the fact that it can hit you hard or that you can be the first to fall.
When we first started riding Jaws, Maui's monster break called Peahi by the locals, all the best surfers, the guys who had the skill and experience to handle it, were the most conservative. In fact, the more skilled the surfer, the more cautious he was. It was all these less skilled yee-haw guys who would go out and throw themselves into these situations that they really didn't understand. It was a certain kind of ignorance – they didn't have the experience to know exactly what they were getting into. Watching these guys can make it feel like the angels are busy protecting all the fools. That's why if you know what you're doing, you have to be really smart.
When I'm going into a situation I don't understand or have experience with, I find somebody who knows what he's doing, and I hang next to him. I watch, I listen, I study, and I take advantage of his time, because even though I might not have the luxury of having his experience, if I'm smart, I can benefit from him and use him as an adviser.
Anyone who knows what he's doing takes a serious attitude toward a risky situation and doesn't take it lightly. You know that saying "There's bold pilots, and old pilots, but there's no old, bold pilots." There's a certain truth to that. It's a traumatic experience getting caught in an avalanche or getting held down by a wave, and often the punishment is more emotional than physical. Even before something happens, our minds can become a source of irrational fear – when imagination is more powerful than reality. All the people I know who have been bitten by sharks are less afraid of sharks now. Every one of them. I think they imagined being attacked by a shark would be so much worse than it actually was.
Of course, you will fail. But if you can endure the punishment when you get in over your head, you'll benefit and be able to apply the experience to other situations. This makes it less scary: You've watched, learned, tried, and survived it – and it wasn't as bad as you thought it would be.
Risk has been exponentially accelerated because of the internet and the notoriety that comes from all the daredevil videos. When you see guys jumping from outer space, riding 100-foot waves, and doing triple backflips on dirt bikes, you're kind of like, "OK, now what am I going to do?" Remember, these phenoms are one in a million. The rest of the guys are all being hauled away on gurneys.
When it comes to risk, a good rule of thumb is: "Would you do it if no one was watching?" I have to ask myself that. Maybe I need at least one buddy to see me, though, so I can ask him how it looks! Get the latest in gear, fitness, travel & more delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up now for the Men’s Journal newsletter.
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2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5430 | Salt Fork proves to be a great place to de-stress
Michael Allen Blair/MBlair@News-Herald.com
A swim in the outdoor pool at Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center provides a grand view of the massive pine beam and stone lodge located in Cambridge, Ohio.
By Tracey Read
No worries if you forget your fishing poles and tackles boxes. You can sign them out at the front desk of Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center, within easy walking distance from Salt Fork Lake.
It was Labor Day weekend, and we had just lost our beloved 10-year-old Australian shepherd, Scooter.
My husband and I wanted to take our children's mind off their loss, and we couldn't yet face the thought of sleeping in our house without the dog that had been a constant presence in our lives.
So we packed up the car and headed to Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center in Cambridge for a two-day mental health break.
Although just a two-hour drive from Willoughby, Salt Fork feels like an entirely different universe.
Surrounded by 20,000 acres in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio, Salt Fork is our largest state park. Boats with unlimited horsepower are allowed on the nearly 3,000-acre lake, and there is also a 400-foot swimming beach.
We rarely had a need or desire to leave the lodge during our long weekend.
Although the rainy weather meant only one long hike in the woods, we could also de-stress in both indoor and outdoor pools.
We also used the lodge's fitness center a couple times and played basketball outside.
But it was the lodge's indoor family activities that made me feel as if we were spending old-fashioned, quality family time together.
The game room does not have the typical violent video games that are popular today. Instead, activity center staff supervises air hockey and table tennis tournaments, or you can just play on your own.
Each day there are different special events. While we were there, the choices included family bingo, cane pole fishing, soap making, sack races, water balloon games, paintball and discounted one-hour pontoon tours.
One night, one of my sons and I got to know the lodge a lot better by taking part in a very challenging scavenger hunt.
Although we didn't win, we learned interesting trivia about the pine beam and stone hotel, which has 148 guestrooms with private balconies.
The area has quite an eclectic history.
Salt Fork was one of the first areas in the state to be settled by pioneers emigrating from the eastern seaboard.
In 1837, Benjamin Kennedy, one of the early Guernsey County residents, built a home from locally quarried stone cut into 3-foot-by-1-foot-by-1 foot blocks. The Stone House was home to several generations of Scots-Irish Kennedy descendants until 1966, when the home and surrounding area were bought by the state of Ohio. The Kennedy Stone House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Morgan's Raiders, a small group of Confederate Soldiers, went to Salt Fork -- which was named from a salt well used by American Indians -- while being pursued by Union troops.
During the 19th century, the area became known as a major producer of coal. The reservoir was originally supposed to be a water source for the city of Cambridge, but instead land was bought to create a state park.
Besides its thriving forest and appeal for avid birdwatchers, Salt Fork is also known for numerous Bigfoot sightings. The lodge has hosted all but one of 24 annual Ohio Bigfoot Conferences.
Travelers' checks
U.S. Route 22 East
Cambridge, OH 43725
saltforkstateparklodge.com; 740-435-9000
The 148-room lodge also has 53 cottages. There is also an 18-hole championship golf course, indoor/outdoor pools, tennis, volleyball, paintball, boat rentals and theme weekends.
Kennedy Stone House
14755 Cadiz Road
Lore City, OH 43755
wwwkennedystonehouse.org; 740-439-3521
In the middle of Salt Fork State Park, the Kennedy Stone House's blocks were quarried on the property and finely crafted in 1837. The house and nearby root cellar cost just $600 to build back then. The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975. | 旅游 |
2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5894 | Eat, Drink, Play: A sweet tooth's guide to Summit County
ALL | Summit Daily/Caddie Nath
The Boston cream pie, carrot cake and raspberry coconut bar are three of the top picks among dozens of choices at the Blue Moon Bakery in Silverthorne. Blue Moon is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. «
Related Media Wise was the person who said, "Life is short. Eat dessert first." That person's name may have been lost to history, but their message is immortal, living on in the hearts of children and chocoholics the world over. But for those stuck in the "not until your plate is clean," mentality, there may be no better place to reform than Summit County. It boasts almost as many dessert locales, specialty sweet shops and bakeries as it does traditional restaurants, featuring everything from cupcakes to crepes to original recipes. So yeah, dinner can wait. Breckenridge is arguably the hub of dessert commerce in Summit County. There are dozens of options, from incredible last course menus at dine-in restaurants to candy shops tucked at the back of toy stores. Mary's Mountain Cookies and Rocky Mountain Cupcakes are among my favorites. They know their trades and they don't mess around. If you're in the mood for a cookie or a cupcake, these will be among the best you've ever tasted. But the true taste of Breckenridge when it comes to dessert is Crepes A La Carte. I won't pretend it's a locals' secret or a gem hidden off the beaten path. It's right there on Main Street, usually with a line around the corner. But the trussed-up little vendor cart is popular for a good reason. The thin pancakes are oversized and made-to-order, iced with the customer's choice of toppings. Options include cinnamon, lemon, maple, chocolate, fruit, sugar, Grand Marnier, cream, walnuts and caramel. I take mine with Nutella and banana slices. But come prepared: the crepes are big (and expensive) enough to share and A La Cart only takes cash. When on the hunt for a sugar fix in Frisco, it is tempting to beeline for the Butterhorn Bakery, one of the more prominent and well-known establishments on Main Street. It certainly wouldn't be a mistake to do so; the display cases inside are stocked with gorgeous pastries. But the bakery's bread and butter (pun intended) is breakfast and it closes up shop around 2 p.m. Still, for those who didn't eat dessert first, all is not lost. There are a number of other dessert options in Frisco, including Foote's Rest Sweet Shoppe, a new house of indulgence that opened up shop this month in a historic building that was once a post office, general store and home to the current owner's ancestors. Foote's Rest offers all the nibble-worthy fare necessary for a leisurely stroll down the main street of a little destination town: bulk candy, ice cream and fudge. The treats are homemade from family recipes, and kids can watch their creation through an old post office window into the fudge kitchen. Blue Moon Bakery in Silverthorne is like a candy store for grown ups. Flashbacks to the childhood ecstasy of finding walls lined with sweets and the wonderful feeling that it might be impossible to choose just one thing are unavoidable entering the unlikely storefront tucked into a shopping center just off I-70. Display cases dominate the lobby, stocked with every baked good and pastry imaginable, including cookies, brownies, blondies, cupcakes, eclairs, bars, rum rolls and cakes. The staff says customers' pick is the carrot cake, a full flavored dessert topped with uncharacteristically light cream frosting. The head baker prefers the raspberry coconut bar, despite her usual tendency toward chocolate. My top choice is the lemon bar, although I sampled all three and more and can safely say it's hard to go wrong. The sweet standard among the variety of options is that they all have the traditional, homemade character of comfort food. And the prices are even sweeter: baked goods generally run in the neighborhood of $3-$4. Join the Conversation | 旅游 |
2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/5964 | Inn at Mystic unveils new restaurant
Mystic — An extensive renovation of the former Flood Tide Restaurant culminated Monday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that unveiled the Inn at Mystic’s newly opened Harbour House restaurant that is part of a nearly $1 million restoration of the landmark property.
About 100 people walked past three penguins from Mystic Aquarium that greeted them just inside the Harbour House doors following the official opening, which featured a ribbon cutting by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. Inside the new 160-seat Harbour House, where a deck area is still under construction, they enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres as they commented about the lightened up space that takes full advantage of breathtaking water views.
“I really get the feeling that this will appeal to all kinds of visitors,” said Ed Dombroskas, executive director of the Eastern Connecticut Regional Tourism District. “It’s great, because this is an icon of the region.”
“I’m highly impressed and excited that this facility is back in the game,” added Tony Sheridan, chief executive and president of the chamber.
Co-owner Timothy J. Brown of Noank, who is the resort’s president and general manager, said he has been dreaming of owning the 14-acre Inn at Mystic property ever since he moved to the area more than two decades ago to become vice president of hotel operations for Foxwoods Resort Casino. He considered buying the resort a year and a half ago when it went on the market at $8.5 million, but waited until the price dropped substantially before closing on the property in March for $5.35 million.
Brown, at the ribbon cutting, recalled sitting with business partner Michael D’Amato in Miami when they hatched plans to make a bid on the Inn at Mystic.
“We’re going to bring this place back to the glory it deserves,” Brown said during the ceremony.
D’Amato, a Niantic resident and local builder, said he and Brown had expected it would take four to six months to reopen the restaurant, but thanks to the hard work of local contractors — including D’Amato Builders and Advisors LLC of Norwich — the timeline was sped up considerably, to less than three months.
“It took a lot of local support,” he said.
Brown said the restaurant, closed since November, will be open for lunch and dinner initially. Within about a week, it will begin serving breakfast as well, he added, and a Sunday brunch is being planned in the near future.
The restaurant is divided into three sections: the main lounge area that features 24 beers on tap, a smaller formal dining room and a more casual room overlooking the property’s 20-foot by 40-foot pool. The lounge’s mahogany bar was painstakingly restored to its original finish, and the ceilings sport a luxurious beadboard and copper combination.
Executive Chef Barry Correia, an award-winning culinary professional most recently with the Green Valley Country Club in Portsmouth, R.I., has designed a menu emphasizing seafood but carefully balancing moderately priced offerings ranging from steak to pasta to wood-fired flatbread pizzas.
“Everyone should find something they like about the place,” Brown said.
In addition to work on the restaurant, which eventually will include a new 50-seat deck, Brown said he is managing renovation of the inn’s 60 rooms. He expects once the inn is fully up and running that the location will require about 80 employees.
Renovations of the inn’s rooms will be done in stages, Brown said, approximately 20 units at a time. Rooms are being rented at the site, but numbers will be limited until all the renovation work is complete.
Accommodations encompass four structures: the Main Building, with 39 guestrooms; Harley Mansion, with five rooms; East Wing, with 12 rooms, and Gate House, four rooms. The mansion in the back of the property has been historically underutilized, but Brown hopes to promote it as a great place for corporate retreats, weddings and private parties.
Brown has additional plans for installing a fire pit, rehabbing the putting green, perhaps replacing the tennis court with beach volleyball and introducing canoe and kayak rentals that could be launched from the inn’s dock.
“No place else has the same view,” Brown said. “Name another property that sits on a hill and looks out to Fishers Island. It reminds me of Maine — Bar Harbor.”
l.howard@theday.com | 旅游 |
2016-07/0836/en_head.json.gz/6001 | The Asamkirche in Munich
Photos Video
Best Places to Visit in Munich, Germany
The Asamkirche in Munich, Germany The Asam Church (Asamkircke) in Munich was built by the Asam brothers in the 18th century as their private church connected to their home (the Asamhaus). The interior of this small church is stunning, complex and an amazing example of late Baroque architecture. The church was dedicated to St. Johann Nepomuk and bears that name, although it is popularly known as the Asam Church. We thought that the best way to convey the beauty of the Asamkirche was to show you. If you mouse the photos, captions will appear for each image.
In addition to photographing the church, we experienced one of those moments that makes travel so rewarding. As we were trying to position for some photos in the nearly empty church, a crowd came in and began moving towards the altar. It was impossible to ignore them, as they barreled by everyone, like the incoming tide. I thought, "Oh great, a tour!" However, a moment later someone produced a pitch pipe, the hymnals opened and the concert was on. We grabbed our video camera to record the sound, but decided to scan the church at the same time. Later, when viewing the film we realized that the moment was even more magical than we had thought. Take a look and a listen.
If you want to see the video above in higher resolution, click on it and you will be taken to YouTube. Once there, at the bottom right, just below the image of the video, will be a link labeled "high quality" that shows the video at a higher resolution.
Return to our description of the Marienplatz in Munich.
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2014-35/4143/en_head.json.gz/3809 | Merida About this blog
A few years ago, we visited Merida, Yucatan. Neither of us speaks Spanish, but communication also occurs with eyes, hands, nodding, and a few basic words of greeting come quickly. We were warned about being "targets" in Mexico of beggars, pickpockets, and dangerous characters. But with a bit of research, we learned that people in the Yucatan consider themselved Yucatecans, not Mexicans, and Merida is proud of its low crime rate and clean city. We flew in late at night and took a cab to our hotel, which was very nice and clean. After a fabulous breakfast buffet we walked a few blocks to the town square where vendors sell mostly hand crafted items. Some of the vendors do not speak Spanish. They speak Mayan, as their ancestors did. Vendors and nearby cafes serve tasty local cuisine, much like you can buy in Los Angeles. But don't drink the water or drinks made with local water! Big mistake.
The Cathedral was built in the late 1500's by the Spanish conquerors of the Maya. The Spanish destroyed the sacred sites of the Maya, and used the stones to build a Catholic cathedral, saints and all. It is a beautiful building, but I found the destruction of the Mayan temples and then using that material to construct the cathedral very insulting and disturbing.
The town square is a beautiful park, surrounded by lovely buildings from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, some of which were build by Italian businessmen. One huge and gorgeous home is now a museum with marble staircases, mummies, and skeletons. The skulls of children were shaped into a point by attaching boards on the baby's head. How that must have hurt.
I was impressed by the friendliness and courtesy of the Meridians. As I descended the huge marble staircase of the museum, clinging to the marble banister and using a cane, a mother noticed and told her son, about 8, to "help the lady," so he offered his hand although he was obviously embarrassed to take my hand. The side walks are narrow in Merida, and each day we met up with teens from a nearby school. They wore uniforms---boys in white shirts and dark trousers; girls in jumpers over blouses. They stepped off the sidewalks to let us "old folks" pass and many of them smiled shyly and said, "Olla." They seemed to be about 13 or 14. I remembered a parade in Devils Lake when boys of that age were standing in a gang on the sidewalk. Older ladies walking in front of me, saw them, hesitated, and crossed the street. I knew the boys, and walked right into their "mob," and they all backed up, smiled sheepishly and as if at attention, said, "Hi, Missus Light." Why are so many adults leery of kids?
While in Merida, most days we took tours of ancient ruins: Chichen Itza, Tulum, and others. We signed up for the tours at a table in the hotel. Very interesting to see the craftsmanship and the knowldge of the stars the ancients had learned as they watched the stars from their observatories. I sat down to rest on a rock pile and soon I had company. Within moments Iguanas, some little and some as long as four feet, began coming out of the rocks to see who was sitting on their homel They were as interested in me as I was in them. The earth, ground rocks, is white around Merida. It was once sea bottom, and is now made of billions of shells, so it is calcium and white. Our hotel was constructed of large white cubes of this rock, and with careful examination, you can see the shells of the ancient mollusks. The rural area is called a "jungle." it is dense shrubs, no tall palms. There are no rivers or lakes, no surface water. All water is all underground. The depressions are deep holes, deep enough to contain water falls, draping vines, and even trees. They are called cenotes (Sen-no-tay). Some you can get down into and even swim in the emerald water. People are always interesting. The Mayans are short and agile. I suppose they had to be to build those huge observatories. We met a photographer who teaches in Texas. He is a Cuban and came here via immigrating first to Italy, then to the US as an Italian. An older gentleman from Australia befriended us. His family lived in Holland when World Word II began. Even though he is not Jewish, his entire familly was sent to a Concentration Camp and killed. To escape the Germans, he walked all the way to Portugal, sleeping in fields and eating whatever he could find on the way. He was fourteen! From Portugal he was hired to work on a ship and did so the entire war. At the end of the war, he had no family and no home, so the captain suggested he go to Australia. He did, married, and ran a restaurant and had one daughter--both now dead. In spite of all the losses in his life, (or perhaps becasue of his suffering?) he was one of the kindest people I have ever met. Although he was denied formal education because of the war, he is a great reader and a wise man. I met two women from the south of France, who were astouded to meet a person from North Dakota and very curious about life on the Prairie. They live in the coastal sun, and were quite complimentary about my Swedish, winter pallor! While we were in Merida, George W Bush arrived to have talks with Vincente Fox. They met in a beautiful old building right off the square. We saw the presidential plane at the airport and we witnesses a parade in protest of Bush---with hand made signs in English. (They knew how to swear in English and did NOT like Dubya). Everywhere we looked were armed police---should we feel safe or afraid?
We went in February and the weather was beautiful. Wherever we have be fortunate enough to go, we research in advance, pay attention to the weather and local attractions, and appreciate the history, the people, the foods, the countryside. Who knew there are entire villages where the language is still Mayan? And there are still people whose profiles look just like the people carved on the stones of the ancient sites. | 旅游 |