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2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/3845	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. 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
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/3859	Western Highlands : Quetzaltenango Revision as of 17:23, 21 June 2012 by Angelmoorenj (Talk \| contribs) Get around Details See Historical Center Do Volunteering Get out Attractions The High Country Toward the Coast Pasaje Enrique in Parque Central Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela (pronounced SHAY-la) or Xelaju, is the second largest city in Guatemala. There are a number of attractions in town, and it's also a good base for exploring Guatemala's Western Highlands ("Los Altos"). Situated at the southwest of the country, the surrounding department has a variety of landscapes extending from the cold highlands to the warm Pacific coast. There are numerous volcanos, hot springs, valleys, mountains, rivers. The region provides a harvest of numerous products such as coffee, wheat, fruits and vegetables, as well as sheep and cattle breeding. The city of Quetzaltenango, the Department of the same name's capital and largest city, is situated on an extensive plain and surrounded by hills and volcanoes. The city of Quetzaltenango conserves the Maya-Quiche's old traditions and the colonial past, while maintaining the dynamism of modern life. The city's roots go back to the Pre-Columbian Maya era. The Mam authority, called Kulahá, reached its most important expansion. Later Quiches's Lords conquered the area, and founded the city of Xelajú here, moving it from a previous location at the base of the volcano Santa Maria. The city was already some 300 years old when Spanish Conquistadors came to conquer Guatemala in the early 1500s. Their native allies the Nahuas from Central Mexico called the city Quetzaltenango, meaning "the place of the Quetzal bird" in the Nahua language. The Spanish took the name from the Nahuas. It's still the city's official name, but locals are more apt to casually call it "Xela" from the the ancient name of Xelajú. It was the administrative capital of the Western Highland region in the Spanish Colonial period. With Central American independence from Spain in the 1820s it was part of the Central American Federation. Conflicts between the interests of Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City led to the creation of "Los Altos", the "Sixth State of the Central American Confederation ", consisting of Western Guatemala (and a slice of what is now part of Chiapas Mexico) with Quetzaltenango as its capital. When the Central American Federation fell apart in 1839-1840, Los Altos was briefly a de-facto independent state, until the army of Guatemalan dictator Carrera brutally conquered the city and hung its leaders. The city enjoyed prosperity with the boom in coffee production in the late 19th and start of the 20th century, when many of the city's "Belle Époque" style landmarks still seen were built. Plans for a railway to Quetzaltenango dated back to the 1890s, and construction was started in the 1920s and finally completed in 1930. The "Ferrocarril de los Altos" was proclaimed the engineering marvel of the age-- until it was destroyed by landslides in 1933. The fabled railroad is still remembered in local song and story, and there's a museum dedicated to it in town. Quetzaltenango's prosperity declined from the Great Depression through the Guatemalan Civil War in the later 20th century, and for a time much of the city looked on the scruffy side. With the new millenium, however, better times are back. The old landmarks have been refurbished and new ones added, and the city is more beautiful and vibrant than ever. Quetzaltecos are proud of their city, its distinct regional culture, and its rich heritage. Use the Panamerican Highway (CA-1) which crosses the High Lands or the International (CA-2), parallel to the Pacific Coast. You can take a bus from many cities, including Guatemala City or Antigua, into Xela. While the local buses (nicknamed "Chicken Buses" by visiting Yanquis), which are brightly painted old school buses, take these routes, they are long, bumpy, noisy and crowded, however they are cheaper (between Q.20 and Q.35 depending on the route). However, for a few dollars more ($7.50 US in the Summer of 2006 to travel from Guatemala City to Xela), ride one of the private bus companies, such as Galgos (Greyhound style), which offers luggage storage, nice seats and quicker routes. Galgos has two daily departures from Guatemala City: at 8:30AM (arriving at Xela around 12:30PM) and 2:30PM arriving at 6:30PM. Try to arrange to arrive in the city well before dark. If you are coming from Guatemala City the Linea Dorada is a great line, about US$9 gets you to Xela in about 4-4.5 hours with only one stop for lunch. Air-condition bus and movies included. This is a nice ride. Linea Dorada Guatemala City 16 Calle 10-03, Zona 1 Tel: 2415-8900 Guatemala City to Xela 8AM 3PM Use a taxi when you arrive in Xela if nothing else than to get to the parque... about 25-30Q Van shuttles are available to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico and worth it as a van will take you to the Guatemala boarder and a van will pick you up when you come out of immigration taking you to the Mexician Immigration and then on to San Cristóbal de las Casas. There is a 1 hours time change and you leave Xela 8-830 am and arrive in San Cristobal 330-600 pm. From San Cristóbal de las Casas there are buses [1] to Mexico City, 13 hours on the luxury bus for 77 US dollars 884 local money. They take dollars but they have to be perfect without tears or marks. The bus station in Mexico City is the TAPO and you can pay for and get an official taxi at a booth in the bus station. If you are headed to the airport it is 125P. Unofficial taxi may be less but may be more. An able-bodied person can walk from the center to any point in Xela in about 30 min . Minibus routes thread through all parts of the city and, although cramped, cost only 1.25Q. The bus costs less but is slower and less frequent. For travel around the countryside, the local buses are very reasonable. They can be entertaining and, at times, quite crowded. Do not plan on carrying much luggage with you on these: some buses have backpack storage above the seats, but most of the time you must store bags that do not fit on your lap on the top of the bus. While they are generally safe up there, they are at risk for weather. Taxis are relatively common around the city, especially around nightlife hot spots. At night, it is not safe to walk around, so taxis are highly recommended, especially if you are by yourself. Catch a taxi on a public square rather than on one of the side streets and note its number. Negotiate the cost of the ride before you leave. If the driver seems sketchy to you, make a reasonable excuse and do not take it. When using the minibus to get to Hiper Paiz (the large mall with a movie theatre as well as a supermarket) go to the back part of central park to catch the van. The guy will call, "Hiper Hiper Hiper" and it is 1.25Q in the day and 2Q at night. This same van also drops you at La Democracia Market and Paiz (a slightly smaller mall which also has a supermarket). This is also the van that you catch to get to the Chicken Bus terminal that takes you to Antigua or Panajachel. Most people tell you to get off at the Roman Columns-Minerva Terminal. You can ask someone where the bus station is or just walk down the street along side Hiper for 4-5 blocks. These second-class buses will leave at regular times, but if you load your things on the bus, do not get off as the driver may leave without warning. These buses at the main terminal do make other stops prior to leaving town (7th Street and 16th Avenue, for example). Details Guatemala City & Antigua - Every 15-30 min, 3am-5pm, you change buses in Chimaltenango. Panajachel - 9am-5pm hourly. This is the bus to the lake. 30-35Q for this trip. San Pedro la Laguna - 11:30, 12pm,1pm, 2pm,4pm San Marcos - 4am-8pm Frequent Cantel & Zunil - 6am-7pm Frequent buses Huehuetenango - 4am-6pm Freguent. La Mesilla border with Mexico at 7am, 8am, 10am, 2:15pm Retalhuleu & Champerico - 4:30am-7:30pm Santa Cruz del Quiché - Leaves hourly, 8am-4:30pm Coatapeque and Mexico border at Tecún Umán - 5am-7pm San Pedro la Laguna - 11:30am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm & 5:30pm The town conserves traces of the colonial period in its streets and avenues. The classical, neoclassical and Italian renaissance styles are evident in the buildings and the houses which have been built during the past century and the beginning of the 20th, with volcanic stones by artistic "Quetzalteco" masons. Some examples of architectural styles: Espiritu Santo Cathedral : Consist of two structures. The "Espiritu Santo" parish's ancient facade (1535/1896) and to the back the "Diócesis de los Altos" (1899). The Municipal Theatre is a very important Neoclassical work. The Central America park (known as "Parque Central): Situated in the centre of the town is also centre of cultural activities and amusements. The Enrique Passage : Commercial building from 1900 facing the central park. Gobernacion : one block from the central park. Also visit the Cerro del Baúl, where one can have a beautiful view of Quetzaltenango's valley, day or night (accessible by foot, car or taxi). Quetzaltenango has important cultural activities. There, you'll find the Occidental Cultural Centre (La Casa de la Cultura de Occidente), and Alliance Française de Quetzalteango, numerous activities are scheduled all year. The first Sunday of each month, the "Quetzaltecos" install the artisans' market in the central park where handcrafts from Quetzaltenago and surrounding villages are displayed. In September, the annual fair and festival is offered from the 12th to the 18th. There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities with organizations and groups in and around Xela, ranging from one day projects to long term placements. Non-profit organization Entremundos hosts a database of local opportunties, accessable for free at http://www.entremundos.org They offer an additional personalized volunteer service for a donation of Q25 ($3) which includes access to all of their 150 listings, a meeting with their volunteer coordinator to discuss possible opportunities for you, and use of internet and phone to contact organizations (and they can even do this for you) They also rent rooms to people studying or volunteering with local organizations (From Q750 a month). Entremundos, 6a calle, 7-31, Zona 1 For more info email volunteering@entremundos.org Many of the schools listed above offer opportunities for their students. For other volunteer opportunities, see the list below. Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano [2] Asociación Nuevos Horizontes, women's and children´s rights non-profit organization [3] El Nahual Community Center (non-profit) offers volunteer teaching opportunities in schools around Xela. All are welcome at the weekly organizational meeting held Monday at 5:30PM at the Blue Angel Café [4]. La Pedrera Community Project (non-profit) offers volunteer work and internships with an indigenous community [5]. http://www.entremundos.org/en/index.html Volunteers are always welcome. This is another site with opportunities Xela is also well-known for its abundance of volcanoes, mountains, and hot springs. Quetzaltrekkers [6] offers trips to local natural wonders at reasonable prices, as well as extended treks to Lago de Atitlan and the Cuchumatanes. All guides are either foreign volunteers or local Guatemalans. All profits go towards La Escuela de la Calle, a school in the poorest neighborhood of Xela. The salsa scene is also very active in Xela. Lessons are cheap and there are lots of clubs. Language Schools: Xela is an excellent place to take language lessons (both Spanish and some of the Mayan languages specific to the area). There are various schools and NGOs in the city most offer rates based on one week of instruction (approx. 5 hours per day). Some schools offer volunteer opportunities for an additional cost while others offer it for free. Most also offer home stay options, which is an excellent way to make sure you keep practicing at all times. One of the best reasons to learn in Xela is the price. You	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/4048	More to History of Oregon Coast's Peter Iredale Than Just a Shipwreck Published 11/07/2011 (Oregon Coast) - In late 1906, a four-masted steel barque called the Peter Iredale set out from Mexico on a long ocean voyage to Portland, Oregon. As the cliché goes, its final stretch on the ocean was a “dark and stormy night,” and the wee hours of October 25 were its last stint on the water, joining a long lineage of dozens and dozens of shipwrecks along this part of the north Oregon coast. Now, its rusted bones sit immersed in the sand and are one of the coast's biggest tourist attractions, and purportedly among the world's most photographed shipwrecks. The Iredale was built in 1890 by a British shipping firm called Iredale & Porter, which owned and operated it thereafter. Some historical documents even indicate their shipping business included some slave trading at one point. When the ship left Mexico in late September, under the command of Captain H. Lawrence, it purportedly had two stowaways, and it was to pick up a load of wheat in Portland for the U.K. In the middle of the night on October 25, it made it safely to the Columbia River Bar and was waiting for a bar pilot boat to haul it over the that bump in the river. At some point, a heavy wind picked up and strong currents took over. Before they knew it, the Iredale and her crew were taken a ways south and wound up in the breakers at Fort Stevens, not far from a huge concrete battlement built during the Civil War, called Battery Russell. It ran aground.	旅游
2014-35/4142/en_head.json.gz/33901	Bald Eagle State ForestThe Bald Eagle State Forest hosts all the major game species typically found in Pennsylvania, including deer, bear, wild turkey and other small game. There are thirteen streams within the Bald Eagle District totaling 47 miles that are stocked and fishable. Particularly noteworthy are Penns Creek ........more > Bald Eagle State Forest Ranger Station........more >Bald Eagle State ParkThe 5,900-acre park lies in the broad Bald Eagle Valley of northcentral Pennsylvania. Two geologic provinces create Bald Eagle's scenic beauty. The Allegheny Plateau to the north and west holds smooth, undulating uplands. The Ridge and Valley Province to the south and east contains numerous long, narrow ........more >Big Spring State ParkTucked in the side of Conococheague Mountain, Big Spring State Park is a quaint picnic and hiking area. A short loop trail leads to a partially completed railroad tunnel with historic interpretation at the trailhead. The park also provides access to the Iron Horse Trail for day and overnight hiking. ........more >Black Moshannon State ParkPerched on the top of the Allegheny Plateau, Black Moshannon State Park features the Black Moshannon Bog Natural Area. Trails and a boardwalk help people explore the birds and plants of the bog and surrounding forests. Stay overnight to extend your stay so you can explore the beautiful forests on the ........more >Hyner Run State ParkThe stream Hyner Run carves a small valley from the surrounding steep mountains, creating a cozy, quiet place for a family adventure. The park is entirely surrounded by Sproul State Forest, Pennsylvanias largest state forest. Hyner View State Park is nearby.........more >Kettle Creek State ParkKettle Creek State Park consists of 1,793 acres along Kettle Creek in western Clinton County. The park is in a valley surrounded by mountainous terrain and wilderness. Many of the existing recreational facilities arose from a joint flood control project developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ........more >Little Pine Creek State Park Reservoir........more >Little Pine State ParkThe 2,158-acre Little Pine State Park is in a beautiful mountain section of Tiadaghton State Forest in the Appalachian Mountain Region.........more >McCall Dam State ParkThe sound of White Deer Creek pervades the quiet, remote McCalls Dam Park. Majestic pines and hemlocks surround the cozy organized group tenting area. Maples and oaks reach for the sky around the small picnic area. Bald Eagle State Forest surrounds the eight-acre McCalls Dam State Park.........more >Milton State ParkMilton State Park is an 82-acre island on the West Branch Susquehanna River, between the Boroughs of Milton and West Milton. The northern half of the park has day use facilities and the southern half remains in a wooded state for hiking and nature study.........more >Moshannon State ForestMore and more people are making use of the Moshannon State Forest as their recreation outlet. In recent years there has been an increasing demand for types of recreation that only large tracts of forest lands can provide. Traditional outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing have been stable, but ........more >Penn Roosevelt State ParkThis 41-acre park is in an isolated area of the Seven Mountains region known as the Stone Creek Kettle. While this Centre County park is small in size, it is surrounded by an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. Penn-Roosevelt is a good base for those seeking low-density recreation on this vast ........more >Pleasant Gap State Fish Hatchery........more >Poe Paddy State ParkPoe Paddy State Park is located at the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek, a trout angler's paradise featuring the nationally recognized green drake mayfly hatch in June. Hikers also walk Mid State Trail through the 250-foot long Paddy Mountain Railroad Tunnel. Poe Valley State Park is nearby.........more >Poe Valley State ParkCozy Poe Valley State Park is nestled in a rugged mountain valley in Centre County. Seemingly endless forests surround the 25-acre Poe Lake. The 620-acre state park is surrounded by the 198,000-acre Bald Eagle State Forest. Poe Paddy State Park is nearby.........more >Ravensburg State ParkThe park lies in a cozy, steep-walled gorge carved by Rauchtown Run through the side of Nippenose Mountain. A northern hardwood forest blankets the bottomland along this spring-fed stream. Talus rock covered slopes and interesting rock formations are interspersed among a stunted oak forest growing on ........more >Raymond B Winter State ParkR. B. Winter State Park covers 695 acres of the Ridge and Valley Province in central Pennsylvania. Located within Bald Eagle State Forest, the park lies in a shallow basin surrounded by rocky ridges covered with an oak and pine forest. The focal point of the park is Halfway Lake which is filled by spring-fed ........more >Reeds Gap State ParkReeds Gap State Park is 220 acres of wilderness in the New Lancaster Valley of Mifflin County. Large Hemlocks and white pines cast cool shadows over Honey Creek, which flows through the park.........more >Sand Bridge State ParkRapid Run's lovely murmur and the sounds of birds pervade this lovely picnic spot. The three rustic picnic pavilions hug the side of Seven Notch Mountain, conveniently at the side of PA 192.........more >Shikellamy State ParkShikellamy State Park is in Union and Northumberland counties. The 78-acre Shikellamy Overlook section is on the western shore of the Susquehanna River and overlooks the confluence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River. The 54-acre Shikellamy Marina section is in Northumberland County, ........more >Snyder-Middleswarth State ParkThis National Natural Landmark is composed of 250 acres of old-growth hemlock, white pine, pitch pine and hardwoods within the larger 500-acre natural area. These 250 acres constitute a picturesque remnant of the original stream bottom forest along Swift Run. The hiking trail follows the grade up Swift ........more >Sproul State ForestSproul State Forest, situated north of the Allegheny front in the Allegheny Plateau region, itself was named in memory of William C. Sproul Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. Governor Sproul was best known for expansion of public education system in Pennsylvania. Today, the forest contains ........more >Susquehanna State ParkThis 20-acre riverfront recreational area is in the city of Williamsport. The Williamsport Chamber of Commerce operates this park in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks.........more >Thickhead State Wildlife Area........more >Tiadaghton State ForestThe Tiadaghton State Forest is one of twenty forest districts created for the protection and management of Pennsylvania's forest lands. Tiadaghton was the name the Iroquois gave to Pine Creek, the largest tributary of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. The exact meaning of Tiadaghton is a mystery ........more >Upper Pine Bottom State ParkSurrounded by the huge Tiadaghton State Forest, Upper Pine Bottom State Park provides visitors with a welcome rest area. Visitors often use the parking area of this small roadside picnic site for access to hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and hunting on forest land. Little Pine State Park ........more >Voneida State Forest Park........more >Jump to Another Pennsylvania RegionNorthwestNorth-CentralNortheastPittsburghSouthwestSouth-CentralSoutheast USA ParksPennsylvaniaPhoto GalleryFind A ParkResources	旅游
2014-35/4142/en_head.json.gz/34079	It has exclusive shops, fabulously luxurious homes and a glamorous cultural scene, but this is not what has made London the destination of choice for the world's multi-billionaires. For the ultra-rich few, this country is now a virtual tax haven, which is why more and more princes, tycoons and oligarchs are making it their home. James Meek sets out to uncover the secrets of Britain's seriously wealthy James Meek The Guardian, Sunday 16 April 2006 It would be only a year before anything resembling socialism in power vanished from Westminster. Yet to the guests gathered for the farewell garden party at 12 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, one day in 1978, such an outcome must have seemed unlikely. The aristocratic residents, the Cholmondeley family, hereditary Lord Great Chamberlains, were selling up and moving out after six decades. The future seemed to belong to the trade unions, to the Soviets - who had begun acquiring diplomatic premises in the street in the 1930s - to the Arabs and Iranians, squelching with money after the 1973 surge in oil prices, and to a horde of spotty, uppity, lefty graduates contemplating the staid notion of a mortgage in the dingy enclaves of Notting Hill, Camden and Islington.A generation later, the fact that the aristocrats had nothing to worry about is the least surprising aspect of what we know. What is remarkable is that the very manifestations of upper-class anxieties turned out to be the means which would not only secure the private possession of wealth in Britain but inflate it, in the early years of the 21st century, to staggering new levels.The trade unions, arguably, paved the way for Margaret Thatcher's wealth-friendly government in 1979. The oil money that began pouring out of Britain into Iran and the Gulf in 1973 began almost immediately to tip straight back: the buyers of 12 Kensington Palace Gardens from the Lord Great Chamberlain were the Saudi royal family, who still own it. The scary Soviets turned into free-spending Russians who, like the Arabs before them, are bringing the billions they earned from the west for their raw materials, back to the west. Those graduates turned into Blairites and Cameroons, stars of the bar, the arts and the media, with school fees and million-pound houses. As for the Marquess of Cholmondeley, he's still up there: number 666 on the Sunday Times Rich List last year. In other words, he's only borderline super-rich.London has attracted the extremely rich from all over the world as a place to live an	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/4277	Results tagged vanilla from David Lebovitz S’mores Ice Cream Marshmallows + chocolate + Graham crackers x ice cream = Bliss. A few people, including Deb, intimated that my beloved combination of marshmallows, chocolate and spiced crackers might be in danger of becoming passé, which was the first I’d heard of that. I don’t want to quibble with her, because she knows her cocktails, and dumplings. But on the other hand, I guess in the… 107 comments - 07.24.2015 One of the first books that made me fall in love with France, and French cuisine, was Roger Vergé’s Entertaining in the French Style. Vergé was the chef and owner of Moulin de Mougins, his world-famous restaurant on the Côte d’Azur, near Cannes. I never went, but used to page through the book, admiring the relaxed, friendly lifestyle that always seemed to revolve around a table,… Caramelized Pineapple One fruit that’s always in season is pineapple, and the spiky beauties really help to brighten up winter, especially when you’ve had your fill of apples and pears. I like eating fresh pineapple after a meal because not only is it refreshing, but it has a pleasant acidity that tends to make me feel good about eating it. Although not local (we wish! because that… Salon de l’Agriculture Every year, beginning in mid-February, thousands of farmers, wine makers, cheese makers, sausage makers, and an arks’-worth of animals, makes it way to Paris for the annual Salon de l’Agriculture. The salon began in 1870 in a country that was, and still is, justly fond of its agriculture, which is celebrated on tables, in steaming cauldrons, on picnic blankets, in restaurants, and ready-to-slice on cutting… Gooey Cinnamon Cake Who was more thrilled than I to find that Deb thanked me in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook for lugging a big sack of French cocoa powder to New York City for her? But just after I read that in the acknowledgements, my head started reeling, thinking that others would start asking me to bring them cocoa powder as well. That one time I did it,… L’Épicerie Breizh Café Sometimes I think I am living in the wrong département of France. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be able to walk out my door and get a baguette Parisienne or a sachet of les macarons, libremente (freely). But Breton food is all the flavors I crave: buckwheat, honey, sardines, oysters, fleur de sel, seaweed, and sparkling apple cider. Oh yes, and butter. The… Butterscotch Sauce Marion Cunningham was a big promoter of American food and cooking, which included some of the peculiarities of our style of eating. There was a funny story recounted by Kim Severson way back in 2001, that when Marion came to France, she insisted on having a cup of coffee before dinner at a three-star restaurant. Which, of course, perplexed the waiter. But Marion always insisted… Pineapple-Coconut Macaroons By now, just about everyone is familiar with Parisian macarons, those little almond meringue sandwiches pressed together with a creamy filling, which are now available far and wide. But if you go to neighborhood bakeries in Paris, you’ll find another kind of “macaroon” – Rochers à la noix de coco, which, because the French are fond of abbreviations, is often shortened to rochers coco. They’re… Brownie-Brown Sugar Parfaits When I lived in San Francisco, the baking community was a very friendly group and we all mingled easily. One of the people who I particularly admired and liked was Emily Luchetti, who was also a pastry chef and cookbook author. Her desserts were known for their stunning simplicity, which highlighted bold flavors as well as local ingredients, and whose recipes walked a balance between… Earlier posts »	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/4448	Re: Flake from London Ontario to Michigan/Mecosta Coun By Jodie Schram December 21, 2005 at 03:01:17 In reply to: Re: Flake from London Ontario to Michigan/Mecosta Coun Jodie Jenks Jenks 11/27/02 Hi Carolyn... I just reviewed the messages in this string and have a few ideas about them. I know it's been a while since it began but I hope you're still active in genealogy. I am now thinking the John Flake who is in the 1880 US census in Fork, Mecosta Co. and 1860 US census in Brockway, St. Clair Co., Michigan may be the son of my John Flake who married Margaret Davis. I just found John Flake's census information yesterday at the library. In 1880 it lists John, Morris and Margaret as his children. Among the names Catharine (my John Flake's daughter) and Peter G. Schram gave their children were John, Morris, Hugh, and Margaret. Does it sound familiar? Of course, Margaret was their mother's name. These names match the list in the census and your information in the string. I think I also found the 1890 census (but didn't copy) and there was a new child, Hugh. Your grandfather, I presume. My cousin, Carol, tells me John was living around Port Huron where Catharine and Peter lived for a while in the 1850's. I don't know where her information comes from and I will ask next time I talk to her. Another common point between the two is the census list John's his father's birth places as Ireland and mother's as New York. The same is true of Catharine's parents. Now there were a lot of Irish people around London because of the group of people that founded London were from there. However, I don't recall a Flake on the Founders list. I did research on the list because one of Peter Schram's sisters married a Levi Lewis and that name was on the list. Another reason I think we could have the same ancestor is that I found in 1860 that your John and family were censused (is that a verb??) in Brockway which in now called Yale in St. Clair county. This is where Catharine and Peter Schram lived. I've even visited their home and walk through it. What an experience. Do you know what happened to Christina she is not on the 1880 census? (My spellchecker tells me there is no word “censused”. What would you call that?) You said that John's dad was called John but his real name was James. The reason I call him John is because of genealogy that was made by my Great-Grandmother Schram and her daughter in the early 1950's. It was carried to several Schram family reunions and corrections were added. This is after my Great-Grandfather Schram died in 1924 so he had no input to it. You could very well be correct on that point. My John and Catharine had a sister, Eliza, who married an Ashton as I mentioned before. Apparently, after John (James) died his wife, Margaret Davis, married again to a Thomas McQuinnie, and they had two children. But other than the information on the 1950's chart I have no other information on her. There are names and a few date which I will share you if you want them. Of course, all of this could be purely coincidence. However, I hope to hear from you. Jodie P.S. I have been in contact with two fourth cousins who are descended from the Flake-Davis line in the London area. One of them, Sharon, has had little luck finding information about him either. But I haven't been in contact with the other one in a while. Hugh (there that name is again) is not well and Sharon called over the weekend and told me his son was murdered on the streets of London, ON (last Friday I think). This is such a terrible thing to happen and just before Christmas. I also did research on the Snowflake Flake's. One of their descendents is now in the U.S. Legislature so I have been curious to see if we are related. The founders of the city surnames were a Snow and a John Flake. They combined their names when they named the city. But I don't think they are related. Since Arizona didn't join the Union until around the 1910's there were no US census to consult. I guess you have to go back to the territorial records and Ancestry.com didn’t have them Re: Flake from London Ontario to Michigan/Mecosta Coun Jay Stein 3/27/06	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/4622	A two-week blitz through Ireland ANDREA M. MEEK The beauty of Inishmore Photo by: Andrea M. Meek That evening, before dragging my reluctant boyfriend to join the Music Pub Crawl starting at the tourist-friendly Oliver St. John Gogarty’s, we had a drink at Dawson Lounge, which purports to be the smallest pub in the world. We had some time to spare before our train the next day so we made our last stop in Dublin at the Guinness Storehouse, which takes you through the brewing process and the history of Guinness advertising before offering a free taste of the dark beer (and a great view of Dublin) at the Gravity Bar.The last couple of days were spent in the southwest of Ireland. We drove out to the Rock of Cashel. Once the seat of the Munster overkings, the Rock of Cashel was later given to the Church. The site, located in Tipperary, includes the remains of a round tower, a cathedral, a chapel and St. Patrick’s Cross.Overnight, a deluge of rain had resulted in terrible flooding in the area, barring passage to our planned drive through the Ring of Kerry, so we spent the day at Muckross House and Farm, which is part of the Killarney National Park. After taking a tour of the grand house we explored the extensive gardens and three working farms.Roads were clear by the next morning, our last and final day. We set out for the Ring of Kerry, beginning in Killorglin and ending in Killarney National Park. The views on the drive were as glorious as promised.By the end of the day, my two-week odyssey in Ireland was complete, and I was completely exhausted. True, I didn’t see all of Ireland, but I did manage to take in many of the well-known natural wonders, a lot of Irish history and culture, and a glimpse at both city and country life.I let it all soak in back home, where I slept for 24 hours. Local priests say rural Ireland suffering as communities die off Irish Passport Card launched for citizens of Ireland worldwide	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/4735	London attractions: View the capital's spectacular skyline from Wellington Arch Published: Monday 6th of August 2012 People viewing the London attractions of the capital's skyline will no doubt notice the stunning Wellington arch in and among the iconic landmarks of the city. A majestic bronze sculpture sits atop the attraction, and from this vantage point visitors are able to enjoy the glorious panoramas over London's Royal Parks and the Houses of Parliament. If they are lucky enough to be up there at a certain time, they will witness the tenacious ritual of the changing of the guards, in which the Household Cavalry parade on the mall resplendent in their red and black uniforms. Inside Wellington Arch, visitors will find a new exhibition about the history of the landmark, as well as other exhibitions exploring the history and heritage of England. The current display is entitled Blackpool: Wonderland of the World. People who want to explore the Arch in the evening should head there on a Friday before the end of August, when last admission is at 7.30pm. Discover more for less with a London sightseeing pass. Posted by Samantha ReedRelated articles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next Sherlock Holmes - the original Thursday 13th of March 2014 As the third series of the BBC Sherlock Holmes... Special events on at the Tower of London Tuesday 11th of March 2014 The Tower of London... Safari in the City at London ZooMonday 10th of March 2014 On May 21st, the city’s most unique fundraising event will be taking place at London... London attractions for those with disabilities Friday 7th of March 2014 Visitors to London with disabilities needn't miss out on the city’s top attractions, as... How to make the most of the city in one dayThursday 6th of March 2014 The English capital is such a big city that if you’ve only got one day here, it can be very... Visit museums and see glamour through the agesMonday 3rd of March 2014 If you’re looking for things to things... A history of Buckingham Palace Monday 24th of February 2014 Visitors to Buckingham Palace may know all about... King Henry VIII - the Tudor King Monday 17th of February 2014 So you’ve all learned about him at school, possibly seen the TV series and various movies about... Great ideas for a family day outMonday 10th of February 2014 The English capital is full of such a wide range of attractions that... Top five things to see at the Tower of LondonMonday 3rd of February 2014 The Tower of London is one of the capital’s... Royal Residences Monday 27th of January 2014 If you’re planning a London city break then Buckingham... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/5952	Carbon Canyon Chronicle This blog is about the unique setting of Carbon Canyon, a rural oasis lying between the suburban sprawl of Orange and San Bernardino counties. Here you'll find information about the canyon's history, beauty, communities and issues that threaten to affect its character and special qualities. Readers are encouraged to submit comments, explore links, and make suggestions to improve the blog. Thanks for checking out the Carbon Canyon Chronicle! La Vida Mineral Springs History from the Los Angeles Times Some digging around in the archives of the Los Angeles Times recently yielded some interesting material concerning the change in management of La Vida Mineral Springs in 1932 and an earlier indication as to why part of that change may have occurred.On 5 June 1932, under the column "Resort and Hotel Notes," there is a short piece with the subheading "New Management." The description is: Long famous for its hot soda water baths, the La Vida Mineral Springs has been taken over by new management. Every effort will be made to give the public the best possible service. Accomodations at La Vida consist of hotel rooms and completely furnished housekeeping cottages and cabins. There is an excellent cafe and a well-stocked store operated in connection with the establishent. Two bath-houses offer the guest a choice in the type of treatment taken. La Vida is located in Carbon Canyon thirty miles from Los Angeles via Telegraph Road, La Habra, Brea, and Olinda. It is worth noting that Telegraph Road, formerly the Los Angeles and Anaheim Road, was renamed simply because a telegraph line was strung along the historic route in the 1800s. It also was, from the 1920s onward, the historic Highway 101 coming from Los Angeles southward into Orange County (Interstate 5 largely paralleled the same path when it was built in the 1950s.) From there, there would be a turnoff to other roads once La Habra was reached and then drivers rode further east through Brea and Olinda.Five months later, on 27 November 1932, under the "Resort Notes" column and the "Healing Waters" subhead came this: One of the world's finest mineral waters bursts forth from its subterranean chambers along the hillsides of Carbon Canyon, a scant thirty miles from Los Angeles. La Vida Mineral Springs are noted for the wonderful healing qualities of their natural hot soda water. The soda water as contrasted with the more common iron or sulphur waters is especially recommended in the treatment of rheumatism, stomach trouble, neuritis, sciatica and kindred ailments. There are two bath-houses at the spring with ample facilities for the various types of baths. Guests at La Vida may stay in the hotel or in adjoining cottages and cabins which are equipped for housekeeping.There was another interesting article that year, from 17 June, that came under the "Vacationland" section with the title "Health-Giving Springs Abound in Southland: White Man's Luxurious Resorts Utilize Healing Waters Discovered by Indians." In this piece, reporter Lee Shippey wrote about the use of many mineral and hot springs by the native peoples of the area and not without utilizing some of the political incorrect (by our standards) viewpoints of the day. For example, Shippey asked "why was it that those untutored savages were taught a knowledge of healing far greater than the white man's and still copied by the white man?" Further on, he states that "winter was very hard on the Indians before the padres [Roman Catholic missionaries] rounded them up in missions and taught them how take care of themselves," as if the natives were unable to "take care of themselves" over the 10,000 or more years that they lived here before the Spanish arrived! Moreover, we learn (!), "they were anything but dietitians. They ate acorns, some roots and herbs and quantities of sundried meat." Still, in another back-handed compliment, Shippey intoned "but they had more sense then some of us who have succeeded them. They saw the gifts nature has provided and made use of them." One of these gifts was the presence of the hot and mineral springs found in the region, among many of which was La Vida, mentioned by name but without any elaboration in the article.Incidentally, there was an earlier clue as to why William Newton Miller, the founder of La Vida, may have decided to sell out. As has been amply documented, Carbon Canyon and its surrounding area has been subject to fire and flood, the latter often following the former. For example, there was a heavy rainfall in the winter of 1926-27. In an article from 17 February 1927 titled "Orange County Isolated," there was reference the "reports from Anaheim were to the effect that twenty blocks of the residence district of that town were under water and about three times that area in Fullerton, a few miles west, as a result of a cloudburst yesterday afternoon in Carbon Canyon, in the northeast corner of Orange County." A later paragraph noted that "the resort at La Vida Hot Springs in Carbon Canyon was reported destroyed by the cloudburst. Wires to the resort were down and the Carbon Canyon road closed." As stated in other posts in this blog, the paving of Carbon Canyon Road had just been completed in 1926. If the reports were true and La Vida was literally wiped out by the flooding of Carbon [Canyon] Creek, Miller may have rebuilt, but with the onset of the Great Depression three years or so later, it may have been a financial drain for him. Consequently, it is has been said, boxer Archie Rosenbaum came in, as the above 1932 articles indicate, and took over the resort.There were more severe floods in 1938, which prompted a major federal government effort to provide flood control throughout southern California. Plans for dams were put aside during World War II but revived again in the 1950s, leading to the completion of the Carbon Canyon Dam by the beginning of the next decade.Although oral histories from the 1970s included recollections from longtime Olinda oil field residents that La Vida was heavily used by locals and, in the 1930s and after, by Jews from Los Angeles, another interesting tidbit was discovered. The 28 February 1939 issue of the Times pointed out that the Portland Beavers, a professional baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, was conducting its spring (pre-season) training in Amerige Park in Fullerton. This park, opened in 1917 at 300 W. Commonwealth, a few blocks west of Harbor Boulevard (then Spadra Road, after its connection to a small town now part of Pomona), began to serve as a spring training site for Pacific Coast League teams in 1935, continuing to do so for twenty years until just before the demise of the league. Not only, however, did the team train in Fullerton but it also was "traveling daily to near-by La Vida Mineral Springs 'to boil out' aching muscles."The following year, the Beavers were back training at Amerige Park. In the 23 February 1940 issue of the Times it was reported that "Lavida [sic] Hot Springs, located near Brea, daily is helping to soothe the aching muscles of the Portland Beavers, who drill from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. [at Amerige] and then leave for the springs to soak out the soreness after a hard workout." The article also made sure to point out that "Skipper Frederick [manager John Frederick] and his Oregonians are well pleased with the combination Amerige Park-LaVida [sic--again] Hot Springs facilities and "Doc" Michel, veteran trainer of the club, calls the setup "one of the finest he has seen." It is worth noting that, just as Major League teams conduct their winter leagues and spring training in Florida, Arizona and the like, the reason for teams like Portland and Seattle to come south to Orange County (Seattle trained in Anaheim in 1939) was to avoid the heavier rains of the Pacific Northwest. Incidentally, the Sacramento Solons ("solons" being a term for lawmakers), the Hollywood Stars and the Los Angeles Angels also trained at different times at Amerige Park.Well, that will do it for now. At a future date, there'll be a post about the more recent history of La Vida, including some interesting uses of the site in the 1980s! Theresa Ullrich Thanks for your great blog! The article on La Vida is so interesting.We were just exploring the area today- trying to imagine where the pools and hotel were. Found the warm water too! Hello Theresa, what a coincidence that I saw your comment after just now posting something on La Vida and the images I took on the day the Brea side of Carbon Canyon was reopened, a month ago yesterday. If you check it out, you'll see a view looking east across Carbon [Canyon] Creek where the hotel and pool were. I wasn't able to get to that part of the property last month and want to go back there, if I can. Another view shows a steam vent I stumbled upon in the hillside.At any rate, thanks for visiting and please come back to see what's new. Very interesting, I spent most of my childhood at La Vida Hot Springs; thanks for the history lesson.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6140	Gateway To The Americas A first hand third-culture experience. Stories and anecdotes of a Canadian growing up with his family throughout South America and Canada. Travel Chronology A third-culture kid (TCK / 3CK) or trans-culture kid is "someone who, as a child, has spent a significant period of time in one or more cultures other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture, into a third culture." BLOG EN CASTELLANO <<<>>> BLOGUE EN FRANÇAIS Survivor: Parinacota Parinacota, the northernmost point of Chile, is slightly off the east of the Atacama Desert. The climate remains quite arid and barren yet, due to its high altitude, the soil receives more condensation and some humidity from cloud condensation. Our base during the Cordillera operations was situated in the commune of Putre, a tiny Andean village comprised of slightly less than 2000 inhabitants (apparently the population decreased by 29% from 1992 to 2002), and located at 3,500 m. Here, a major challenge I had never before encountered managed to overcome me: altitude sickness. Most people who suffer from altitude sickness or soroche begin to display symptoms starting at 2,400 m. The air pressure is significantly lower than at sea level. In my case, my skin becomes pale, my lips take on a purple colour and breathing becomes a difficult task. These side effects are sometimes compared to a harsh flu, carbon monoxide poisoning or even a severe hangover. In a worse case scenario, prolonged exposure to high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema, eventually leads to death. The Andean people combat soroche mainly chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea in order to stimulate the flow of oxygen. Another alternative to help stabilize your system is sucking on lemons or other citrus fruits. These villages are far from the luxuries of modern civilization, forcing the locals to ration food supplies, and their diet is basic. The main fauna consisted of vicuñas, alpacas and llamas. The llama was domesticated by the andinos and the animal’s meat is part of the regional cuisine. Chile had a signature sandwich called barros luco (named after the former President Ramón Barros Luco), using beef and melted cheese as the main ingredients. In Putre, the beef was substituted for llama and I thought the taste was quite exquisite. Llama sandwiches! Yummy. The main ingredient for Andean Barros Luco We valiantly ventured further into the mountains from Putre on day trips, travelling boldly where no Bickford had gone before. After a really slow 50 kms voyage - due to the rough terrain and limited road networks - we arrived to Lake Chungará. This lake sits comfortably at 4,517 m above sea level. You can imagine, based on the previous explanation, what colour my skin and face must have turned at this altitude. Behind the quiet idle lake stood the Parinacota volcano with an elevation of 6,348 m. I am still thankful we had no funny ideas of climbing to the top. I remember the natural beauty there but constantly felt ill due. The indigenous llamas would gallop gracefully around us yet I could barely walk a few feet. Most signs of human life we encountered along the way were living in small huts built out of rocks and straw. Locals were not accustomed to seeing people on a regular basis and would run for shelter when they would see us approaching at a distance. This made our adventures even further complicated, as we could not gather critical intelligence about our surroundings and points of interest. We had a road map but had not seen proper asphalt roads or any real settlements. Our plan was to reach the town of Visviri, a border town of 300 proud Chilean citizens sharing the area with Tripartito, Peru and Charaña, Bolivia. My Dad and Brian, having referenced the legend on our map, estimated that Visviri was not too far away and we could make it there and back to Putre long before nightfall. Our parliamentary committee weighted in and voted in favour of the aforementioned proposal, as this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many other trips would we make to this part of the Andes in the future? Dad drove along a flat portion of land between several mounds of sand and bush, convinced that this path was now the road and would lead us to our destination. None of us learned from the early explorers who carried a compass and there were no GPS gadgets for personal use at the time. We were on the right track, bouncing around in our Samurai accompanied by the soothing sounds of Roger Whittaker serenading through our car speakers. It was a new world in the Andes for him. After an eternity of shaking and bouncing, we were relieved to see at a distance a settlement. This was our final stretch to reach Visviri but a brave nemesis blocked our path: a small stream of water. This was by no means a regular puddle. We stopped for a moment to analyze this obstacle thoroughly, exhausting every option for tackling this roadblock and proceed to our promised land. Since there was no passing road traffic in e	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6246	Kathika Travel Website Follow me on TwitterKathika Travel Blog » Featured » Giant Statues of the WorldGiant Statues of the World Post Updated: April 18, 2013 - By Cocles Recently, movie theaters began exhibiting 3D digital cinema as the next big thing. But this is really just history repeating itself. It all goes back, ages ago, to when a caveman walked in with the world’s first sculpture to show off how much greater his work was than all of those old-fashioned cave paintings. Three dimensional art captures the world like nothing else. Statues, in particular, give us representations a people, creatures, and events. But, where as most art is created just “to be”, when statues are large enough they also gain a purpose. This has nothing to do with philosophy, it’s simply a matter of labor. The sheer difficulty of constructing a giant statue all but guarantees it will only be made to honor, appease, or memorialize something. Here are just a few of these amazing works of art. Photo credit: laverrueMiss Liberty It is arguably the most famous giant statue in the world, or at least the western world. As many already know, it was presented as a gift from France to the American people. The statue was dedicated in 1886 and commemorates the centennial anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. The Statue of Liberty also symbolizes the friendship established between the United States and France during the American Revolutionary War. Including its base, the statue is over 305 feet high. Photo credit: gotplaid?Sphinx - Landscape The Great Sphinx of Giza represents a lion (some argue a jackal) with a human head. It is possibly the largest monolith statue in the world measuring 241 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 65 feet high. It is also the oldest known giant statue; it is believed the Sphinx was constructed sometime around 2500 BC. The purpose of the Sphinx, what it symbolized, honored, or paid tribute to, has been lost to time. Until the 1920’s, the Sphinx spent most of the past several thousand years buried up to its neck in sand. During that time, it was seen as a human head rising mysteriously from the sand. Il Sancarlone Photo credit: mighell_xpColosso di San Carlo Borromeo The Colosso di San Borromeo located in the hamlet of San Carlo in Arona, Italy is a statue of Saint Charles Borromeo. Including its base, it is over 114 feet high. Borromeo was the nephew of Pope Pius IV, and arch-bishop of Milan. More impressive however, he is the only Cardinal to have ever refused the papacy when it was offered to him. In 1610 Borromeo was canonized by Pope Paul V. The date of his annual feast on the Roman Catholic calendar is November 4th, although the Milanese people had been celebrating him every year for decades before his sainthood. His statue was commissioned by his relative Federico Borromeo and a collection of admirers. It was completed in may of 1698. Buddhas of Bamyan These were two statues of Buddha built during the sixth century in Afghanistan. In 2001 they were both intentionally destroyed with dynamite by the Taliban, who believed they were idols. The act was condemned throughout the world and viewed as the epitome of intolerance by the Taliban and fundamentalist Islam. Various groups for governments have pledged their support for the statues to be rebuilt. Spring Temple Buddha Spring Temple Buddha image via wikipedia At 420 feet, including its base, this is currently the tallest statue in the world. It was completed in 2002 at a cost estimated to be around $55 million. It is located in Henan, China close to the Tianrui hot spring from which the statue gets its name. The statue itself may be a response by the Chinese to the destruction of the Bamyan Buddhas in Afghanistan. Christ Redeemer Photo credit: bossa67Cristo Redentor (Christ Redeemer) Located in Rio de Janeiro this is arguably the most famous statue of Jesus Christ in the world. While there are others that are slightly larger, none seem to be as iconic. This statue is located at the 2300 foot peak of Corcovado mountain where it looks over the city with its arms outstretched, giving Jesus a silhouette of the cross. It was finished in 1931 at a cost of $250,000. The Motherland Calls The Motherland Calls image via Wikipedia Measuring 279 feet high, The Motherland Calls is known by a number of names including Mother Motherland, and the Mamayev Monument. When it was finished in 1967, it was the tallest statue in the world. The statue wields an impressive 108 foot long steel sword and is a memorial to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Stalingrad, which is where the statue is located. It is currently, however, beginning to tilt. Gravity is all that holds the great statue to its foundation, so further tilting could cause it to collapse. Colossus of Rhodes It was lost to time over a thousand years ago, yet it is still one of the most famous giant statues in the world. The Colossus of Rhodes, built on the Greek island of Rhodes, was a statue of Helios, the Greek god signifying the sun. It towered over 107 feet high, an awe inspiring height today, let alone three centuries before the birth of Christ. It was built between 292-280 BC. Unfortunately the statue stood for only 56 years before an earthquake snapped it at the knees toppling it over in 226 BC. Its ruins laid on the ground for over 800 years, continuing to attract visitors throughout that time. In 654 AD an Arab force captured the island and it is said the remains of the statue were sold to a Jewish merchant of Edessa (though that story may be purely based on propaganda from the time). Whether it be in honor of a person, a location, or even just an ideal, giant statues embody a cause beyond simply just existing. Small wonder then why they are so revered even today and why we continue to create them. Photo credit: alan(ator) Filed Under: Featured, landmarks Tagged With: Buddhas of Bamyan, Christ Redeemer, Colossus of Rhodes, Il Sancarlone, social, Spring Temple Buddha, statue of liberty, statues, The Motherland Calls, The SphinxBook Travel Advertisments Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles – Travel Photo of the Moment How to Avoid Being Stranded at the Airport Travel Photo of the Moment Sunrise Off the Bow Shark on the Great Barrier Reef – Travel Photo of the Moment Etretat France – Travel Photo of the Moment Travel Photo of the Moment Mirror Lake in New Zealand The Travel Photo of the Moment is of Chateau de Chantilly Pearl Farm in French Polynesia – Travel Photo of the Moment Visiting the Pyramids at Giza Travel Sites and Cancellation Policies Return to top of page © 2015 · Sitemap · Log in	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6344	Summer Provides Reason For Guarded Optimism Posted on 09/09/2010 by DispatchAdmin OCEAN CITY – While the jury is still out for the most part and there is a good chunk of summer-like weekends on the calendar this month, Ocean City business leaders this week started tearing into some of the early numbers on the 2010 season and their general feeling appears to be one of “guarded optimism”. At their first meeting following the hectic summer months, the town’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) members asked Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones on Wednesday to provide a brief snapshot of some of the leading economic indicators in the resort. “I think the one thing we can all agree on is that we had amazing weather all summer,” she told EDC members on Wednesday. “Out of all of the other factors, the summer weather is probably the most important and we certainly benefited from that this year.” Jones said her conversations with business owners in the association revealed mixed reviews on the summer. As in most years, some said they thrived, others said they simply held their own and some said they continued to struggle. “Depending on who you talk to, some did better than others,” she said. “In a broad sense, I’d say most of the business owners have a sense of guarded optimism and many believe things have turned around and are heading back in the right direction.” Jones told EDC members certain truisms held up this summer as people continued to travel to the resort despite the still sluggish economy. She said the new breed of Ocean City vacationer is Internet savvy and thrift-minded, but the resort’s promotional and marketing teams were aware of than and prepared for it. “Value is going to remain in vogue,” she said. “People are waiting until things go on sale and they know how to shop around for it. It seems those who are doing better are taking a close look at their product and their price structure.” Jones said a key economic indicator for the summer season in Ocean City has always been the room tax totals. She said the numbers for June were “flat” and that July was “fantastic.” However, she tempered her enthusiasm for July by pointing out there were five weekends in the month this year compared to four last year. Jones said the final room tax numbers for August have not been finalized, although the early data suggests it will turn out considerably better than last year. Ocean City Tourism Director Deb Turk said the August room tax numbers would provide a clearer picture of how the summer went for most resort businesses. “The numbers are very strong indicators of what August will bring,” she said. “Once we get the August numbers, we’ll do a complete season survey. By that time, we’ll have a real sense of how the summer went.” Jones said one concerning trend that continued this summer was the shrinking average length of stay for vacationers visiting the resort. Long gone for most are the traditional Saturday-to-Saturday vacations and the recent trend of extended weekends appears to have continued this summer. She said the average reported stay this summer in the resort was 2.7 days. “That’s a trend we’ve been facing for some time now,” said Jones. “The booking window seems to keep shrinking, and it’s something we need to figure out how to address.” CUT IF NEEDEDJones said Ocean City continued to outpace the state average in lodging tax percentages. According to industry data, the demand for accommodations in Maryland increased by 7 percent across the state, but improved by 9 percent in the Ocean City-Chesapeake region, which includes Annapolis.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6384	Seattle Bites Food Tours Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington. It is just a hop skip and a jump from the border to this amazing experience from my home town. The Market opened 101 years ago in August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. In 2007 the market celebrated it's 100 year anniversary and is intenationally recognized as America's best farmers' market and the epicenter of Seattle's lively food culture. It is a place of business for many small farmers, artisans, antique dealers, theatres, small family-owned restaurants, fish mongers, fresh produce stands and merchants and remains one of Seattle's most popular tourist destinations. The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill where they have made good use of every inch of space. Local farmers and craftspeople sell year-round in the arcades from tables they rent from the Market on a daily basis. Pike Place Market is also home to nearly 500 low income residents who live in 8 different buildings throughout the Market. The Market sees 10 million visitors annually along with these local residents. As you know from my previous post I was lucky enough to join Jan Marie Johnson on her Seattle Bites Food Tours food tours of Pike Place Market. Like myself when travelling Jan wants the opportunity to meet locals and experience the culture and food sensations of a country first hand. While on vacation in Italy she searched for fellow foodies to give her tours of the bustling markets of Venice, Florence and Rome but cookng schools were more the norm. Once she arrived back home, she thought about Seattle’s Pike Place Market, where she had often shopped while attending culinary school at South Seattle Community College, and realized there could be a niche for food-oriented tours of the iconic nine-acre marketplace. She did some research, and was moved by Pike Place’s rich and colorful 101-year history. Jan says, “There’s more to the market than just food, fish and flowers,” she said. “It’s not only the culinary heartbeat, but it’s really the soul of what makes Seattle a great city.” Combining her experience in sales and marketing for the Disney Company and directing special events for Universal Studios Hollywood with her culinary background, Johnson decided to venture into personal group tours and created Seattle Bites Food Tours.” Jan Marie took us on a 3 hour tour of "discovery" of the market that gives out-of-towners and as well as locals a taste of market cuisine and a glimpse into Seattle’s storied past. It is interesting to hear snippets of history about the market and the buildings you are surrounded by as well as about the vendors and mom-and-pop operations contained within this diverse area. We learned the history of the market, including its populist founding, the internment of Japanese vendors following Pearl Harbor, and its hard-won achievement as a historical landmark in the 1970s after some city officials proposed its demolition. We walked away with not only enhanced knowledge, but also full tummies. The tour makes about about 10 tasting stops, where merchants share their own stories, as well as generous samples of their menus. We started our tour at the Seattle Art Museum where we were given a tour of TASTE which features simple yet upscale, reasonably priced foods created with “fresh from the market” ingredients. We sampled "Artworthy" Smoked Salmon Flatbread with Creme Fraiche. The salmon was even caught by one of the chefs for a true taste experience. The artwork above in the foyer of the museum is Inopportune: Stage One by Cai Guo-Qiangfrom which is a large-scale installation work consisting of a meticulous arrangement of life-size cars and multichannel tubes that seem to blow up in sequence, symbolizing a series of car explosions. Before the creation of the Pike Place Market in 1907, local Seattle area farmers sold their goods to the public in a three-square block area area called The Lots. Most farmers, due to the amount of time required to work their farms, were forced to sell their produce on consignment through the wholesalers . The farmers typically received a percentage of the final sale price for their goods. They would sell to the middleman on commission, as most farmers would often have no time to s	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6621	Staff Jennings Boating Centers Staff Jennings Boating Centers believes there is no better feeling than making a customer`s boating dreams come alive. When you buy a boat from Staff Jennings you`re not only getting a superb boat but a network of help, from Service, Parts and Accessories to fueling your boat at our docks, whenever you need it. Our History By age 17, Stafford �Staff� Jennings served with his father in the Merchant Marines; whereupon, off the coast of Guam his boat caught fire, the crew was evacuated before sinking. He drifted 1300 miles and finally landed on Samar in the Philippines. With little more than � rations, 33 men were crowded into a 20-man lifeboat to spend the next 26 days drifting on the open seas. Finally, 11 men of the 33 landed on Samar but 2 drowned when their boat turned over on the reef. Stafford�s father died of thirst on the 19th day out. Only 9 of the 33 survived the ordeal. Stafford �Staff� Jennings was among those fortunate and courageous few. He returned to Portland where he worked several years at a few different marine dealerships. In 1929 he contracted to have a small boathouse built on the Willammette River and started repairing outboard motors. This was soon outgrown and he contracted to have a 1726 sq. ft. boathouse built. He had living quarters built on the second floor where he and his family lived. With their help he would sometimes work three days and nights straight to get the repairs done for his fishing customers. The following year he expanded into sales and service. Staff Jennings, Inc. has operated continuously at the West End of the Sellwood Bridge in Portland for almost 75 years and is the third oldest marine dealership in the United States under the same management according to Boat & Motor Dealer Magazine. We have grown to our present size and position of respect and quality as a result of our commitment to excellence in our relationship with our customers, suppliers, and family of employees. Staff Jennings incorporated in 1951; however, it has always been a family business. In 1958, we opened a store in Eugene which has enjoyed almost 50 years of customer satisfaction. The philosophy of Staff Jennings is simple; Treat people the way you want to be treated and customers should always be happier when they leave than when they came in. 8240 SW Macadam Ave. Portland, OR 97219 Hours \| Contact Us \| Directions Copyright � 2005 Staff Jennings Boating Centers. All rights reserved. Trophy Copyright Notice	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/6798	Restaurant - Self Service Area 4 - Hotel Belroy - Four Stars - Close to the Beach in Benidorm Restaurant - Self Service.Hotel Belroy **** - Close to the Beach in Benidorm.www.belroy.es360º Spherical Panorama created by © Christian Kleiman.About the Photographer:www.christiankleiman.com personal website.www.360virtualtour.info for 360º Panoramic Photography.www.objetivoelevado.com for Aerial Photography.Personal projects:www.parisvirtualtour.comwww.benidormvirtualtour.comwww.newzealandvirtualtour.comSome more:www.aikidojapon.comwww.nauticorum.com Copyright: Christian Kleiman Tags: lodging; accommodation; hotel; four; stars; benidorm; costa; blanca; restaurant; self service More About Alicante The World : Europe : Spain : Alicante The area around Alicante has been inhabited for over 7000 years, with the first tribes of hunter gatherers moving down gradually from Central Europe between 5000 and 3000 BC. Some of the earliest settlements were made on the slopes of Mount Benacantil. By 1000 BC Greek and Phoenician traders had begun to visit the eastern coast of Spain, establishing small trading ports and introducing the native Iberian tribes to the alphabet, iron and the pottery wheel. By the 3rd century BC, the rival armies of Carthage and Rome began to invade and fight for control of the Iberian Peninsula. The Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca established the fortified settlement of Akra Leuka (Greek: Aκρα Λευκa, meaning "White Mountain" or "White Point"), where Alicante stands today. Archeological site of Tossal de Manises, ancient Iberian-Carthaginian-Roman city of "Akra-Leuke" or "Lucentum".Although the Carthaginians conquered much of the land around Alicante, the Romans would eventually rule Hispania Tarraconensis for over 700 years. By the 5th century AD, Rome was in decline; the Roman predecessor town of Alicante, known as Lucentum (Latin), was more or less under the control of the Visigothic warlord Theudimer. However neither the Romans nor the Goths put up much resistance to the Arab conquest of Medina Laqant in the 8th century. The Moors ruled southern and eastern Spain until the 11th century reconquista (reconquest). Alicante was finally taken in 1246 by the Castilian king Alfonso X, but it passed soon and definitely to the Kingdom of Valencia in 1298 with the King James II of Aragon. It gained the status of Royal Village (Vila Reial) with representation in the medieval Valencian Parliament.After several decades of being the battlefield where Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragón clashed, Alicante became a major Mediterranean trading station exporting rice, wine, olive oil, oranges and wool. But between 1609 and 1614 King Felipe III expelled thousands of moriscos who had remained in Valencia after the reconquista, due to their allegiance with Barbary pirates who continually attacked coastal cities and caused much harm to trade. This act cost the region dearly; with so many skilled artisans and agricultural labourers gone, the feudal nobility found itself sliding into bankruptcy. Things got worse in the early 18th century; after the War of Spanish Succession, Alicante went into a long, slow decline, surviving through the 18th and 19th centuries by making shoes and growing agricultural produce such as oranges and almonds, and thanks to its fisheries. The end of the 19th century witnessed a sharp recovery of the local economy with increasing international trade and the growth of the city harbour leading to increased exports of several products (particularly during World War I when Spain was a neutral country).During the early 20th century, Alicante was a minor capital which enjoyed the benefit of Spain's neutrality during World War I, which provided new opportunities for the local industry and agriculture. The Rif War in the 1920s saw numerous alicantinos drafted to fight in the long and bloody campaigns in the former Spanish protectorate (Northern Morocco) against the Rif rebels. The political unrest of the late 1920s led to the victory of republican candidates in local council elections throughout the country, and the abdication of King Alfonso XIII. The proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic was much celebrated in the city on 14 April 1931. The Spanish Civil War broke out on 17 July 1936. Alicante was the last city loyal to the Republican government to be occupied by dictator Franco's troops on 1 April 1939, and its harbour saw the last Republican government officials fleeing the country. Even if not as famous as the bombing of Guernica by the German Luftwaffe, Alicante was the target of some vicious air bombings during the three years of civil conflict, most remarkably the bombing by the Italian Aviazione Legionaria of the Mercado de Abastos in 25 May 1938 in which more than 300 civilians perished.The next 20 years under Franco's dictatorship were difficult for Alicante as it was for the entire country. However, the late 1950s and early 1960s saw the onset of a lasting transformation of the city due to tourism. Large buildings and complexes rose in nearby Albufereta and Playa de San Juan, with the benign climate being the best tool to bring prospective buyers and tourists who kept hotels reasonably busy. The tourist development, aside from construction, also brought numerous businesses such as restaurants, bars and other activities focused on visitors. Also, the old airfield at Rabasa was closed and air traffic moved to the new El Altet Airport, which made for a convenient facility for charter flights bringing tourists from northern European countries.When dictator Franco died in 1975, his successor Juan Carlos I oversaw the transition of Spain to a democratic constitutional monarchy. Governments of nationalities and regions were given more autonomy, including the Valencian region.Today, Alicante is one of the fastest-growing cities in Spain. The local economy is based upon tourism directed to the beaches of the Costa Blanca and particularly the second residence construction boom which started in the 1960s and reinvigorated again by the late 1990s.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicante	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/7324	Home >> UK and Ireland >> Scotland >> Kincardineshire >> Durris We are in the process of upgrading the site to implement a content management system. Durris CemeteriesChurchesChurch RecordsCivil Registration Description & TravelHistorical GeographyMaps "DURRIS, a parish in the county of Kincardine, Scotland, 7 miles N.W. of Stonehaven. It is situated on the river Dee, under the Grampians. The parish is traversed by the road from Aberdeen to Banchory, and is near the Deeside railway. At Cairnmonearn the land rises 1,020 feet above sea-level. The parish is in the presbytery and synod of Aberdeen. The minister's stipend is £158, in the patronage of A. Mactier, Esq., of Durris House. The village contains the parish church, a Free church, and a non-parochial school. On Castle Hill are the remains of an ancient fortification, and at Red Beard is a chalybeate spring. Three annual cattle fairs are held here."Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Cemeteries Monumental Inscriptions for the parish have been recorded in Pre-1855 Gravestone Inscriptions in Kincardineshire, edited by Alison Mitchell, Scottish Genealogy Society, 1986, ISBN 0 901061 29 8. Churches Durris Parish Church, AB31 6BU, Church of Scotland You can also perform a more selective search for churches in the Durris area that are recorded in the GENUKI church database. This will also help identify other churches in nearby townships and/or parishes. You also have the option to see the location of the churches marked on a map. Old Parish Records for the parish of Durris [256] are located in New Register House, Edinburgh.These have also been microfilmed by the LDS: BirthsQtyMarriagesQty256Durris6902890169028911 All records of Civil Registration are held at New Register House, Edinburgh. Microfilm copies of births, deaths and marriages for the years 1855 - 1875, 1881 and 1891 have been filmed by the LDS and can be ordered to any family history centre worldwide. Please check film numbers before ordering.YearBirthDeathMarriageYearBirthDeathMarriage185501033530103487010359518670350952034904403489961856025646302564120256518186803527280363249036320318570280426028026202801431869034031503841320384479185802804890280318028017918700352801038533303631421859028055202803710280220187102244690224595022454118600280616029281002927691872030007303003080300214186102240920224407022416518730300147030036603002611862029292502928660294870187403290220340253034792918630294804029474502949141875038439604129050363302186432119403236590323613188102326360234191023347718653212630330115033017418910255099025634902560841866033260303508920333286 Description and Travel You can see pictures of Durris which are provided by: You can see the administrative areas in which Durris has been placed at times in the past. You can see maps centred on OS grid reference NO798964 (Lat/Lon: 57.058274, -2.334653), Durris which are provided by: We are looking for somebody who can help with the maintenance of this page, which currently has a status of Care and maintenance - The section has a maintainer assigned who is correcting broken links, and staying in touch with the GENUKI system administrator and Trustees but is not active in updating the section's web pages. For more information about what helping us entails, look at our help wanted page.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/7481	How union minister made Sh3.1bn deal By Mwinyi Sadallah Minister Samia Suluhu Hassan A Zanzibar House of Representatives select committee report has revealed that Changuu tourist island was cheaply leased to a private firm, Leisure Hotel Limited, denying the government millions of shillings. According to the report, the 11.27- hectare island was leased in 2002 for a period of 30 years at a rate of $1000 a month. The report reveals further that the controversial leasing was effected in December 2002 by then Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment, Samia Suluhu Hassan, in collaboration with the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA). Samia Hassan is currently Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union affairs. The committee findings show that prior to leasing Changuu island, the Zanzibar Tourism Corporation (ZTC) was collecting $5,500 a month as government revenue through fees charged tourists who visited the island. “The Zanzibar Tourim Corporation was paid Sh 40million so as to release the island for the lease,” affirmed the report, which has sparked heated debate among Zanzibaris and members of the House of Representatives. The committee has made it clear in the report that the claimed little fee of $1000 a month was paid by the investor in 2004 when it was reviewed following complaints that the leasing agreement was not beneficial to the government. The report states: “The committee was not satisfied by the fee rate even after it was reviewed to $3,500 per month, which is the current operative rate.” When interrogated by the committee, ZTC manager Sabaha Salum said that when the island was under his office monthly revenue collection stood at $ 5,500. However Salum told the committee that ZTC’s role was confined to promoting tourism on the island, adding that the leasing of the island was effected by the Ministry of Lands in collaboration with ZIPA Commenting on tortoises which are the island’s major tourist attraction, Salum noted that they were also leased to the investor, Leisure Hotel Limited, under a special agreement which was approved by the government valuer. He also revealed that his corporation had planned to lease the tortoises to Zanzibar Parks, but the government put the plan on hold after it opposed by some sections of Zanzibaris. Information provided by ZIPA indicated that the investor was handed over Changuu island in August 2003 with a view to upgrading investment facilities on the island, a project which was expected to cost $ 1.1million. He said the investor had so far built a 27-bedroom complex for visitors . However, when quizzed by the committee, ZIPA accused the investor of not being forthcoming with regard to tourist statistics and revenue, contrary to the laws governing investments in Zanzibar which require an investor to provide such data every three months. “It is not clear how much revenue the investor collects from the business on Changuu island,” stated the report. The committee has recommended that the government takes appropriate measures, including ordering the investor to provide information on revenue and visitor statistics on tourists within three months from the date of tabling the report in the House of Representatives. It has also recommended that a new a valuation of land be conducted and a review of the land lease be made. “The government should ensure it properly supervises this investor so as to be compliant to the laws of the land. This should apply to all the investors,” recommended the report. However, the committee has registered its satisfaction over the manner the investor has preserved the island’s environment since taking it over. Changuu island has been a major tourist attraction in Zanzibar due to its history, including the fact that it was at some time used as a prison before the January 12, 1964 Zanzibar revolution.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/7516	Hilarious Pictures British HospitalityDate of Joke: Saturday, 18th April, 2009 An American tourist in London decides to skip his tour group and explore the city on his own. He wanders around, seeing the sights, occasionally stopping at a quaint pub to soak up the local culture, chat with the locals, and have a pint of stout. After a while, he finds himself in a very nice neighborhood with big, stately residences...no pubs, no stores, no restaurants, and worst of all NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. He really, really has to go, after all those Guinnesses. He finds a narrow side street, with high walls surrounding the adjacent buildings and decides to use the wall to solve his problem. As he is unzipping, he is tapped on the shoulder by a London police officer, who says, "I say, sir, you simply cannot do that here, you know." "I'm very sorry, officer," replies the American, "but I really, really have to go, and I just can't find a public restroom." "Ah, yes," said the policeman..."Just follow me". He leads the American to a back delivery alley to a gate, which he opens. "In there," points the policeman. "Go ahead sir, anywhere you like." The fellow enters and finds himself in the most beautiful garden he has ever seen. Manicured grass lawns, statuary, fountains, sculptured hedges, and huge beds of gorgeous flowers, all in perfect bloom. Since he has the policeman's blessing, he relieves himself and feels much more comfortable. As he goes back through the gate, he says to the police officer, "That was really decent of you... is that what you call English hospitality?" "No sir...", replied the police officer, "...that is what we call the French Embassy." To get jokes like this one in your email every day, sign up for our mailing list, in the top-right hand corner of this or any other page.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/8013	Donors of Longmen: Faith, Politics and Patronage in Medieval... Longmen Caves, Henan The Longmen Caves (or Longmen Grottoes) stretch for 1km along the west bank of the Yi River near Luoyang in Henan Province. The site includes some 1,350 caves and 40 pagodas, which are filled with thousands of Buddhist statues carved out of the hard limestone cliffs. The carving work began in 492 AD and continued for 500 years. The Longmen Caves were designated a World Heritage Site in 2000 for their spectacular works of Chinese art, especially of the Tang Dynasty. advertisement History of the Longmen Caves The carvings of the Longmen Caves were commissioned by emperors, members of the imperial family and other wealthy families, generals, and religious groups, all who hoped to earn good fortune through their donations. The site was "founded" by the Northern Wei dynasty in 492 AD, when they moved their capital to Luoyang from Datong (where they had carved the Yungang Caves). Three sets of caves - Guyang, Bingyang and Lianhua - date from this early period. Their art was similar to that at Datong but was adapted to the harder limestone surface of the Longmen Caves. Work continued under various patrons for 500 years and reached a second peak under the Tang, particularly under the devoted Buddhist Empress Wu Zetian. The caves have suffered from significant vandalism and looting over the years, beginning with the anti-Buddhist movement of the 9th century. Destruction continued at the hands of souvenir-hunting Westerners in the 19th and 20th centuries, and culminated in attacks by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. What to See at the Longmen Caves The Longmen Caves include an astonishing 1350 caves, 750 niches and 40 pagodas, which together contain some 110,000 sculptures. A clear progression in style can be seen over the half-millennium represented in the caves. The early caves have simple, rounded, formally modelled statues of Buddhist holy men, while those from the Tang dynasty are more complex and incorporate women and court figures as well. The caves been beautifully renovated and have English labelling throughout. They stretch for 1km along the west bank of the Yi River; entrance is at the northern end and moves south. The following summary is given in this order and includes the largest and most important carvings. The three Bingyang caves are among the earliest, carved by the Northern Wei in the Datong style. The middle Bingyang cave was commissioned by Emperor Xuan Wu to honor his parents and is said to have taken 800,000 men working from 500 to 523 AD to complete. The 11 statues of the Buddha show northern characteristics (long features, thin faces, fishtail robes) and traces of Greek influence. The side caves, completed under the Tang, are more natural and voluptuous in style. Wanfo or Wan Fo Dong (Cave of Ten Thousand Buddhas), just south, was built in 680 by Gao Zong and his empress Wu Zetian. It has 15,000 Buddhas carved in tiny niches, each one different. The smallest is just 2cm high. Another early cave is Lianhua (Lotus Flower Cave), dating from 527 and named for the beautifully carved lotus decorating its roof. Fengxian or Feng Xian Si (Ancestor Worshipping Cave), carved between 672 and 675 for Empress Wu Zetian, is the largest and most splendid of all the caves and considered the culmination of Tang carving. The monumental shrine has a square plan measuring about 30m (100 feet) on each side. It centers on a majestic seated figure of Vairocana Buddha on the back wall, 17m (56ft) high with 2m-long ears. On his left, a Bodhisattva wears a crown and pearls and a divine general treads an evil spirit underfoot. Inscriptions in the Medical Prescription Cave, dating from 575, detail hundreds of cures for everything from madness to the common cold. Some of the prescriptions are still used today. Further on is Guyang, the oldest cave at Longmen, begun in 495. It still has some traces of the paint that originally gave life to the carvings. There is a central Buddha and three tiers of niches on the northern and southern walls, which contain hundreds of statues. Most of the statues are engraved with the names of the artists, the dates and the reasons for carving them. There are also nineteen of the "Twenty Pieces," important examples of ancient calligraphy. From the end of the west bank, a bridge leads to the east bank for a fine view of the caves. Up the hill is the Tomb of Bai Juyi, the famous Tang poet, who spent his last years in Luoyang as the Retired Scholar of the Fragrant Hill. Quick Facts on the Longmen Caves Names:龍門石窟 · Dragon Gate Caves · Longmen Caves · Longmen Grottoes Categories:temples; caves; World Heritage Sites; rock-cut temples; cave architecture; rock-cut sculpture Faiths:Buddhism Styles:Tang Dynasty; Northern Wei Dates:492-1000 Status: museum Coordinates:34.552783° N, 112.470131° E Address:Near Luoyang, Henan Province, ChinaHenan, China Hours:Daily 7am-6:30pm Lodging:View hotels near the Longmen Caves The Rough Guide to China 4 (October 2005), 297-98. " Longmen caves" - Encyclopaedia Britannica Longmen Grottoes - UNESCO World Heritage List 360° Panography of Feng Xian Si and Wan Fo Dong - WHTour Photos of the Longmen Caves - here on Sacred Destinations © amygwen © Miss Mita © Jani © James Jin © Jani © Miss Mita Map of the Longmen Caves, Henan Below is a location map and aerial view of the Longmen Caves. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/8353	Washington, DC Map > Locator Map • National Mall Maps Only 61 square miles in size, Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States, and is also the political center of the country. Of the city's 610,000 residents, approximately two-thirds are employed by the government, or work as lobbyists or lawyers for large corporations. Washington, D.C. is located along the Potomac River, between southern Maryland and northern Virginia. It is located 35 miles west of Chesapeake Bay and 50 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Winters are cold without being severe, with an average yearly snowfall of 16 inches. Summers are hot and humid. The city is known for its striking Roman and Greek architecture, and also for its many museums, monuments, and public galleries. In the middle of Washington, D.C. is the National Mall, which comprises major monuments and open walking spaces, and is flanked by the Smithsonian Museum. Government offices and world-class hotels surround the Mall, making it an easy destination for visitors as well as those who work and live in the area. Most tourist destinations are accessible on foot. Washington Business Directory Civil Law Attorneys Health Care Consultants Health Clubs and Gyms Legal Consultants Parking Garages Steak Restaurants Tax Attorneys Television Stations Videotape Editing The city is divided into four quadrants from the Capitol building, with alphabetical streets running east to west and numbered streets running north to south in a grid pattern. Suburbs surround the city on all sides, including those located in Fairfax County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County. The commercial corridor of the city houses large-scale organizations including Nextel, AOL, Oracle, IBM, Siebel, and Accenture. Industrial areas are located east of the city. Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC Because of the prominence of the U.S. government, a well-educated citizenry has resulted in cultural assets including arts, entertainment, and dining. Georgetown University, one of the country's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, is located within city boundaries. However, there are areas of Washington, D.C., particularly those located in the north and east, that are economically disadvantaged. Washington, D.C. can be easily reached from anywhere in the world via Dulles Airport. There are many public transportation options, including the Metrorail, not only in the local area but also extending out into the suburbs. The I-495 freeway, also known as the "Beltway," makes it easy for drivers to navigate the downtown area. Washington, DC Information Directory Washington, DC Libraries Washington, DC Newspapers Copyright © 2009-2015 Washington-DC-Map.com. All rights reserved. About us. Washington DC Map - Washington, DC Travel Information	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/8395	Destinations Archive Europe Your Balance +tax Midnight in Paris still glitters like diamonds Trip offers romance, history and possibility By: Patti Nickell Posted: 08/18/2012 1:00 AM \| Comments: Tweet Post Reddit ShareThis Print Email Paris is a city where possibilities are endless, expectations are high, and no one doubts magic can happen. Anyone who saw Woody Allen's recent homage to the City of Lights, Midnight in Paris, knows what I'm talking about. Allen's protagonist, a Hollywood screenwriter who yearns to be a serious scribe, takes to wandering the rainy streets of Paris at night in search of a muse. On one such night, he accompanies a couple in 1920s dress to what he assumes is a costume party. Instead, he's transported back in time to Paris during the Jazz Age. It was a time when Gertrude Stein reigned over her famous salon and Cole Porter threw lavish soirees at his palatial mansion near Les Invalides; when Picasso and Dali sat for hours in Left Bank cafés discussing art; Josephine Baker lit up the stage of the Folies Bergère, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald knocked back martinis with Hemingway at the Ritz Hotel's bar. I've always thought if I could go back in time to any era, that would be the one. So, in the spirit of Allen, on my most recent trip to Paris in December, I spent a lot of time walking (in the rain, as it turned out) seeking places that have inspired me. After a particularly turbulent trans-Atlantic flight, I found myself happy to be in Shangri-La. It wasn't the mythical kingdom of James Hilton's novel, but the 1896 townhouse of Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon's grandnephew, in the fashionable 16th arrondissement, with the Seine River at the back door. Prince Roland is long gone, but his elegance and love of luxury lives on in his home's reincarnation as the first Shangri-La hotel in Europe. From the moment I arrived at the entrance, with its columned portico strung with twinkling lights for the holidays, I felt something special was about to happen. When I opened the drapes in my suite and saw the Eiffel Tower looming just beyond the windowsill, I knew it. If you're looking for inspiration in Paris, where better to start than with its incomparable museums? If the vast corridors of the Louvre seem a bit daunting, but you want the best art the city has to offer, opt instead for the Musée d'Orsay. Housed in the former Orsay railway station, just across from the Tuileries Garden, the building itself has been called the museum's first work of art. Arranged over three floors, it has the look of a Beaux Arts palace, with a central dome and large windows offering exquisite views across the city. My favourite is the view through the giant clock face, which offers a vista of Montmartre and the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. What's inside is equally spectacular, especially the galleries devoted to what is said to be the world's largest collections of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. Room after room is filled with the most famous works of Manet, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Sisley and Seurat. At the Musée d'Orsay, unlike the Louvre, you may walk right up to the art. The museum has more than 1,850 paintings, sculptures, photographs and other works, but don't leave without visiting the marvellous decorative-arts galleries. After the museums, it has to be the meals that provide the most inspiration to visitors in Paris, long known as the capital of haute cuisine. It would take many lifetimes to visit even a fraction of the city's eateries. For contrast, here are two of my favourites. Le Train Bleu could be your big splurge. Located in the Gare de Lyon train station, it is named after the Blue Train, which in the 1920s left the station en route to the French Riviera. The restaurant is a monument to Belle Époque splendour, with wood panelling, polished parquet floors, plush velvet draperies, massive chandeliers and 41 paintings on the walls and ceilings. Having a meal at Le Train Bleu is a bit like dining in the Sistine Chapel. For a complete contrast, spend an evening in one of Paris's bistros, which are becoming increasingly harder to find. You'll have to venture off the usual tourist route to get to Astier in the 11th arrondissement, but it's well worth the detour. With its red-and-white-checkered table linen and menus printed on the chalkboard, Astier is the personification of an intimate Parisian bistro. Owners Frédéric and Claudia Hubig-Schall are gracious hosts and offer a prix-fixe menu that at 35 euros (about $50) is a good value, particularly considering it includes the expansive cheese platter, with more than 15 varieties. What is Paris without nightlife? Before heading off to shows at the Moulin Rouge (Toulouse-Lautrec's favourite) or the rollicking Crazy Horse Cabaret, stop for a drink at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel on the fashionable Place Vend¥me. The bar's name perhaps results less from Hemingway's fame as a scribe than from the ruckus he created here Aug. 25, 1944. That was the night Ernest and a group of Allied soldiers, armed with machine guns, decided to "liberate" the Ritz from the Nazis. After climbing to the roof, where, instead of Germans, their gunfire succeeded in bringing down only a clothesline hung with the hotel's linen, the victorious troops retired to the bar for a round of dry martinis. That account has no doubt been embellished with each retelling, but there's no doubt of Hemingway's love for the iconic Paris landmark, as he noted, "When I dream of an afterlife in heaven, the action always takes place at the Ritz Paris." The bar named in his honour has changed little since that evening in 1944. Black-and-white photos of famous literary drinkers Marcel Proust, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Graham Greene and Noel Coward line the walls. If Hemingway was the past resident celebrity, today that honour goes to Colin Field, a Brit who conquered France with a shaker instead of a sabre. The Ritz's head bartender since 1994, Field has twice been named the best bartender in the world by Forbes Magazine. During my stay, Midnight in Paris became more than the title of Woody Allen's movie. It was the (be)witching hour, the last chance to see the nightly light show that takes place every hour at the Eiffel Tower. Standing at my window at the Shangri-La, I watched the glittering lights sparkle like diamonds up and down the length of the tower, and thought that Paris is indeed the stuff of which dreams are made. -- Postmedia News IF YOU GO WHERE TO STAY: The Shangri-La Hotel. One of the city's newest luxury hotels, it is ideally located near the Seine River and Eiffel Tower, and it's close to many of Paris's museums. Its 81 rooms and suites have been beautifully decorated by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The hotel's Shang Palace Restaurant, serving Cantonese cuisine, often requires a two-week wait for a reservation, but I preferred its other restaurant, L'Abeille, which is unabashedly French in style, service and cuisine. shangrila.com Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 18, 2012 D3	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/8554	Kieron's travel 'blog Around the world, around the world… Hué to Ho Chi Minh City The walls of the citadel in Hué In Hoi An we ate ‘white roses’ – tiny shrimp fried in thin rice paper parcels. In Saigon we had spring rolls, greasy and spicy and still-hot from the pan. In Hué a speciality was bahn xio – shrimp, beansprouts and shredded pork wrapped in a crispy, crèpe-like pancake, while in Hanoi, we ate pho bo – a spicy soup of beef and noodles – almost every day, while steering well clear of Dog Meat Alley. Vietnamese food is like that. As you travel from town to town you find that each place has its own repertoire of signature dishes, all made with ingredients fresh from the local market. And the towns themselves are like that too. The six or seven that we visited during our three weeks in the country all had a very different feel from one another, each with its own distinct identity, history and culture. Our first stop after Hanoi was Hué, the former capital city. From 1802 to 1945, emperors from the Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam from here, for much of that time under the supervision of the French colonial authorities. The citadel that the emperors built was also the scene of heavy fighting during the Tet Offensive of 1968, when American soldiers holed up inside against the Viet Cong advance. Hello moto. Rosie and driver. The citadel, then, was our first point of call in town, and it is indeed a good place to start. The war damage has been largely repaired, leaving an imposing, grandiose and, in places, still crumbling palace complex. The most obvious centre point is the throne room, from which the emperor issued orders to his generals and mandarins (but not apparently to his satsumas). There’s a lot of citadel to explore elsewhere though, with walled gardens, pagodas and a confusing array of palaces-within-palaces, so much so that it’s easy to find yourself suddenly wandering around on your own. The next day, we took a motorbike tour around town as part of a small group, with each tourist sitting on the back of their own driver’s mount. Once you get used to being out in the somewhat unpredictable Vietnamese traffic with absolutely no control over steering, braking, or whether you live or die, a motorbike tour is actually a pretty good way to see Hué. Our drivers took us first to a pagoda just outside town, where the monks were in full song at morning prayers. In the grounds, a couple of football nets gave an indication of how they spent their less contemplative hours. We also visited a ‘Vietnamese Colosseum’, where fights used to be staged between tigers and elephants, and one of the thirteen whacking great tombs that the emperors built for themselves along the banks of the Perfume River. At the Thien Mu Pagoda, we watched monks hard at work in the garden and admired the holy wedding cake-like architecture. Built in the 17th Century, this was the home of the monk Thich Quang Duc, who publicly burned himself to death in Saigon in 1963 to protest against the policies of the South Vietnamese Government. Also harking back to the Sixties was the American gun emplacement that we visited, set at a strategic point overlooking the river and the border with Laos. In the distance was ‘Hamburger Hill’ where heavy fighting in 1969 left hundreds of locals, Viet Cong and American troops dead. Our guide tells us that tribespeople in the area are still so angry about this – and who can blame them? – that anyone who looks American and wants to visit the hill has to travel with police protection. Our next stop, via train and taxi was Hoi An which, if anything, was even more laid-back than Hué. Hoi An used to be a thriving port town, and today gets by on its reputation as the tailoring capital of Vietnam. We tried very hard to do cultural things – visiting the nearby Cham ruins at My Son and a few of the town’s various temples and pagodas – but most of the time it was too hot and humid even to walk to the corner shop. The evenings were more bearable, and were spent sitting by the riverside, sipping a cold drink and watching the bright lights and crowds of the night market on the opposite bank. A little further down the coast is Nha Trang, which we travelled to by night bus. In theory, the rows of beds on the bus allow passengers to get a good night’s sleep while being whisked somnambulantly to their destination. In practice, unless you’re under 5′ 5” and can sleep through the regular honking of the driver’s horn, you’ll be sore and sleepy the next morning. Nha Trang was, to quote a maxim popular all over south-east Asia, ‘same-same but different’. It’s a nice enough place to spend a couple of days but is a little bit touristy, with pizzerias, burger bars and a strip of golden, cigarette-butt-strewn sand. Rosie crosses 'the bridge of death', near Dalat It was still ridiculously hot, so we did the only thing we could think of and headed for the hills. To be more precise, we headed to Dalat, or ‘Da Lat’ (it’s written both ways) in the Central Highlands. Dalat’s chief selling point is that it’s a good 10 degrees cooler than the coast, with temperatures rarely rising above 25 degrees C. The surrounding area is something of a veg basket for the rest of the country, with all manners of fruit, vegetables and coffee being grown on the cool upland slopes. There’s even wine made here although the results, based on the few tastings that we did, are not as yet fantastic. Dalat itself is not exactly Shangri La – it’s much bigger and noisier that we’d expected. The surrounding countryside is very pretty though, as we found out when we set out on an 18 kilometre trek one day. Our route took us up pine-covered hills, through coffee plantations and hill-tribe villages and across a couple of extremely rickety bridges. After Dalat, we headed to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City – the two names are used fairly interchangeably – which we reached after an inexplicably long bus journey (8 ½ hours to cover 200 kilometres!). Saigon is a less obviously charming city than Hanoi but less chaotic too, with wide boulevards in place of the capital’s network of tiny, twisting alleyways. It’s also more obviously a centre for commerce and business, with shopping malls and shiny new buildings dotted amongst the old. Public health posters in Saigon On our first day in town we went to visit Reunification Palace, formerly the seat of the South Vietnamese Government. An iconic moment came on 30th April 1975, when Viet Cong tanks broke through the palace gates forcing the final surrender of the South Vietnamese. We took a free English language tour with a family of corpulent, stair-avoiding Indians and saw, amongst other things, the operations bunkers where the South Vietnamese met and planned the war, the apartment where President Diem (assassinated in 1963) lived with his family and the rooms where foreign allies, including Henry Kissinger, were received. Given how much the Viet Cong and the Vietnamese in general suffered during the war, the tone of the tour and the exhibitions in the palace was surprisingly measured and non-aggressive. Next we headed to the War Remnants Museum, a collection of photos and artifacts from the American War, as ‘the Vietnam War’ is called here. There are some pretty horrific images, as there should be, of the effects of U.S. bombing and the use of Agent Orange, and of the massacre of civilians. A tourist ahead of me takes photos of the most harrowing images on his mobile ‘phone. Luckily for him there’s no-one around to administer a good kick up the backside. The next day we went to see the famous Cu Chi tunnels, 40 kilometres or so to the north of the city. The Cu Chi tunnels form part of an underground network that extends for 200km in the area, right to the Cambodian border. Construction was started during the war against the French and continued throughout the American war, with the network gradually expanding, giving the Vietnamese the ability to launch surprise attacks before disappearing without trace. The first tunnel that we take a look at has an entrance so small that only some of the Asian tourists and smaller European women can fit in. Later we have the opportunity to crawl along a 20 metre section of slightly (and I mean only slightly) larger tunnel. We’re on the topmost of a series of three descending levels, each hotter, darker and more cramped than the last. Nevertheless it’s pretty claustrophobic, and not a nice place to be. Although better than being shot at by Americans, I suppose… Point well made: a very nasty booby-trap, yesterday. We also saw some of the homemade booby traps that the V.C. used and had an opportunity to shoot an AK47 rifle on a nearby firing range, an opportunity that, in the end, I didn’t take. Something just doesn’t seem right about loosing off a few rounds for fun in the middle of a former war zone, no matter how enthusiastically you’re encouraged to do so. As if to underscore this, on the way back our tour bus stopped at a government-run craft centre for victims of Agent Orange, the chemical used by the U.S. to defoliate much of central and southern Vietnam. Physical and mental disabilities are still common among children born in the affected areas. The craft centres give working-age victims the change to earn a living by producing handicrafts for the tourist trade. We didn’t have room for any handicrafts in our backpacks, but we did buy a cold drink or two before heading back to town. In Saigon, the traffic whirred on regardless. Vietnam today is an overwhelmingly young country, with its eyes set firmly on the future rather than the past, or at least that’s the impression we had. The majority of the Vietnamese we met, at least in the towns, were born after the war. They owned scooters, dressed fashionably, used the internet, and worked long, long hours. In Hanoi we even saw a teenage girl wearing a top emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes. She didn’t seem to be trying to make a political point; it was just a nice design to wear. At the same time, in the countryside farmers work the land with the ox and the plough. And newspapers reported recently that a well-known Saigon lawyer had been arrested for ‘undermining the socialist system’ by openly criticising government policy. A country of contrasts then… and beyond that, I’ll say no more for now. Like this:Like Loading... « Hanoi Phnom Penh » Date : 7 July, 2009 Tags: blogsherpa, Dalat, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hué, Nha Trang, Saigon, Vietnam Categories : Travel Recent Posts London’s South Bank McLeod Ganj Three Days in Delhi The Angkor Temples and Battambang Broome to Perth Coober Pedy, Sydney, The Blue Mountains and Nimbin Simply Red – The Australian Centre Give Hoons a Fair Go: A Beginner’s Guide to Aussie English Art and Culture in Melbourne Things To Do in Ballarat When You’re Dead The Bush Fires Australia Day & The Great Ocean Road Working For The Man The Barber’s Queue Puppies, pies and Peace on Earth The Mornington Peninsula Melbourne – The Facts New Zealand – The South Island New Zealand – The North Island An A-Z of Americana He’s not from San Francisco, he’s from North Leverton with Habblesthorpe Vancouver and Seattle The Canadian Rocky Mountains Toronto & The Niagara Falls Follow “Kieron's travel 'blog”	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/8650	Research ResourcesCurrently selected Clarke Historical Library > Research Resources > Michigan Material: Statewide > Michigan Lighthouses > Michigan Lighthouses > History of Michigan Lighthouses History of Michigan Lighthouses Page ContentIntroduction In 1825 the first lighthouse was constructed in what would become the state of Michigan. Built on Lake Huron, the Fort Gratiot Light was named for a nearby military outpost, at the time one of the few European settlements north of Detroit. Over the next 170 years the nature of Great Lakes navigation, the kinds of ships on the lakes, the cargoes being hauled over water, and virtually everything else about the state would change in ways that would make the world of 1997 unrecognizable to George McDougall, Jr., the man who first lit the Fort Gratiot light. McDougall would, however, recognize one thing, the lights themselves; beacons in the night which from his day to ours aid sailors throughout the Great Lakes. Purpose and Administration From the earliest days of the Republic, the federal government has assumed responsibility for the construction, operation, and maintenance of America's lighthouses and other aids to navigation. Congress's intent has been to facilitate water-born commerce. Although the military occasionally raised national security concerns in an effort to assert greater control over navigational aids, Congress has consistently placed the needs of commerce above possible military needs. Throughout our nation's history lighthouses have been constructed and maintained to serve the needs of commercial sailors. From 1820 through 1852 responsibility for constructing and operating lighthouses was vested in the Fifth Auditor of the United State Treasury, who was given the title "General Superintendent of Lights." Stephen Pleasonton, who held the Fifth Auditor position from 1820 through 1852 was responsible not only for lighthouses but also audited the records of a half-dozen federal agencies. His time divided between many, generally unrelated tasks, Pleasanton proved not particularly insightful regarding the nation's lighthouses, who tended to emphasize economy over any other consideration. During his thirty-two years of responsibility for America's lighthouses, the physical structures housing the lights deteriorated while the lighting mechanisms themselves grew vastly inferior to more advanced, and more expensive, lights used by other nations. Over the years criticism of Pleasanton's administration of the lights grew and although Congress tinkered with the system at several points, little changed. Finally, in March 1851 Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a full-scale investigation of the nation's lighthouses. In January 1852 Congress received a 760 page report that, among other reforms, asked Congress to completely change lighthouse administration. Although Pleasanton attempted to defend himself, in October 1852 Congress enacted the reforms called for in the report, including the creation within the Treasury Department of a new, nine-member Lighthouse Board that took over administration of the nation's lighthouses. The Lighthouse Board quickly set about establishing much needed new lights, updating the decaying physical structures that housed existing lights, adopted newer and far more effective lighting technology, and attempted to reform the system used to select keepers. In the main the Lighthouse Board proved very successful. By the beginning of the twentieth century America's lighthouses and other aids to navigation were among the best in the world. Despite this success, as the new century began various critics of the Board began to call for a more streamlined agency run by a single executive officer. As a result of these criticisms in June 1910 Congress officially abolished the Lighthouse Board and replaced it with a Bureau of Lighthouses, commonly called the Lighthouse Service. The Lighthouse Service was to be run by a single officer, who reported to the Department of Commerce. George R. Putnam, a distinguished civil engineer, was appointed to head the new Service. During his twenty-five years in this post, Putnam the Service continued to expand and remained a world-wide leader in technological innovation. In 1912 the Service also introduced new accounting and inspection procedures that markedly improved the effectiveness of the Service. In 1939, in a governmental consolidation inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt, the Bureau of Lighthouses became of a part of the United States Coast Guard, which is, in turn, a part of the Treasury Department. The Coast Guard, created in 1915, had long been discussed as the "logical" home for the Lighthouse Service. Indeed, in 1912 President William Howard Taft had suggested to Congress that the Life Saving, Lighthouse, and Revenue Cutter Services be merged to form the Coast Guard. Although Congress, in 1915, merged only the Life Saving and Revenue Cutter Services while allowing the Lighthouse Service to remain independent, talk of uniting the Lighthouse Service with these other two agencies persisted. By merging the Lighthouse Service with the Coast Guard in 1939 Roosevelt essentially convinced Congress to complete the 1912 recommendations of President Taft. The Coast Guard continues to this day to be responsible for all navigational aids, including lighthouses, on the Great Lakes and throughout the country. Lighthouse Design and Construction Between 1852 and 1860 twenty-six new lights were erected on the Great Lakes. Although the Civil War and its aftermath greatly slowed construction of new lights during the 1860s, a dozen new lights were still lit. In 1870 the Board had again begun construction of new lights in earnest. Between 1870 and 1880 forty-three new lights were lit on the Lakes and in the next decade more than one hundred new lights appeared on the Great Lakes. By the beginning of the twentieth century the Lighthouse Board oversaw 334 major lights, 67 fog signals, and 563 buoys on the Great Lakes. During the nineteenth century the design of Great Lakes lights slowly evolved. Until 1870 the most common design was to build a keeper's dwelling and place the light either on the dwelling's roof or on a relatively small square tower attached to the dwelling. In the 1870's, in order to raise lights to a higher focal plane, conical brick towers, usually between eighty to one hundred feet in height, began to be constructed. In the 1890s steel framed towers began to replace the older generation of brick structures. Between 1870 and 1910 engineers also began to face challenges created by building lights on isolated islands, reefs, and shoals that posed significant hazards to passing ships. These remote lights often replaced lightships, which was the only practical way originally available to the Lighthouse Board to warn sailors away from dangerous underwater rock formations. Ships, however, proved difficult to maintain. They could not be put in place until after the start of navigation season and often had to be removed before the season's end. Worse, regardless of the type of anchors used lightships could be blown off their expected location in severe storms, making them a potential liability in the worst weather when captains would depend on the charted location of these lights to measure their own ship's distance from dangerous rocks. Usually built on underwater cribs, the first of these new generation of remote lights was constructed at Waugoshance Shoal in 1851. A new level of expertise, however, was reached with the construction of the Spectacle Shoal Light in 1874, the Stannard Rock Light in 1882 and the Detroit River Entrance Light in 1885. The long and expensive process of building lights in isolated or difficult locations ended in nationally publicized engineering projects that constructed the Rock of Ages (1908) and White Shoal Lights (1910). Throughout the early years of the twentieth century the Lighthouse Board and the new Lighthouse Service continued to build new lights. In 1925, 433 major lights existed on the lakes, ten lightships were still operational, 129 fog signals were maintained, as were about 1,000 buoys. Of these 1,771 navigational aids, in 1925 only about 160 stations had resident keepers. Even at this early date, the vast majority of navigational aids had been automated. By 1925 virtually all of the Great Lakes lighthouses that today exist had been constructed. In 1925 ten lightships were stationed on the lakes, however twenty years later only one ship, the Huron, was still in service. The Huron would remained stationed off Corsica Shoals in Lake Huron until 1970, when this last active lightship on the lakes was decommissioned. Automation also slowly changed the face of navigational aids. Throughout the twentieth century both the Lighthouse Service and the Coast Guard worked to eliminate the need for attended lights. In 1983 the last attended light station in Michigan, Point Betsie on Lake Michigan, was fully automated. Improved navigational aids, such as radio beacons, also supplanted some lights and led to the ongoing abandonment of no longer needed light stations. Although the number of navigational aids continued to grow, in 1986 there were almost 2,500 aids maintained by the Coast Guard, virtually all of the additions were buoys placed in the water while many venerable lights which no longer served commercial needs were extinguished. The Lights The keeper's residence, the tower, and all the other buildings and structures that were constructed at a light station existed to make visible and maintain one piece of equipment, the light itself. In the first half of the nineteenth century, under the administration of James Pleasanton, Michigan's lighthouses generally used a lighting system designed by Captain Winslow Lewis. The Lewis apparatus used a lightly silvered parabolic shaped reflector to amplify the light created by an Argand lamp that burned whale oil. In the field, the reflector in the Lewis apparatus warped very quickly and the lightly silvered surface was quickly abraded away by the tripoli powder, an abrasive of the day commonly used to clean brass, that was used to clean it. The result was that lights quickly grew dim and were of minimal help to sailors. A far superior apparatus was introduced by French physicist Augustin Fresnel in 1822. The Fresnel lens used a series of glass prisms that surrounded the light source in a lenticular (double convex) configuration. Looking a bit like a beehive the result was a bright, single beam of light that was far superior to anything else available in its day. Fresnel lens were classified into six "orders" based on the focal length of the lens, however seven sizes of light actually existed because a "third and a half" order lens was made. The largest, a first order lens, had a focal length of 36 inches, a lens diameter of six feet, and stood nearly twelve feet tall. In contrast a sixth order lens had a focal length of only 5.9 inches, a diameter of under one foot and was about two feet in height. The French and English quickly adopted this new lens for their lights and demonstrated the Fresnel lens superiority. Pleasanton, however, who had become close friends with Lewis and relied on him for technical advice, stubbornly refused to install the Fresnel lens in American lighthouses despite its obvious superiority. In 1851 Pleasanton oversaw over 300 lights nationwide of which only three had Fresnel lens, each installed because of direct congressional action. In 1852, with the establishment of the Lighthouse Board, the Fresnel lens became the preferred lighting apparatus in American lighthouses. By the late nineteenth century the Fresnel lens was in service throughout the Great Lakes. No first order lens was ever installed on the lakes, leaving the five second order lens placed on the lakes the brightest to be lit. By the 1920's Fresnel lens began to slowly give way to other forms of lighting apparatus, however as late as 1986 about one hundred Fresnel lens were still in use on the lakes. A variety of different lights replaced the Fresnel lens. Lenses similar to those used on train engines were often used as range lights. Self-contained lens-lantern lights, that relied on electricity for power, also were developed, and over time became the new standard light for light houses and other illuminated navigational aids. About the time that the Fresnel lens first began to appear on the Great Lakes new lamps were also being placed in service to replace the Argand lamp. Several lamps were used but all shared similar designs, using from one to four concentric wicks, depending upon the amount of light desired. Because of the near extinction of the sperm whale, new fuels were also required. After extensive experimentation the Lighthouse Board in the late 1850s decided to fuel its lights with colza (rapeseed) oil. This decision, however quickly proved impractical as the oil was manufactured from a plant rarely grown in the United States. In the 1860s preheated lard oil had become the most common fuel used in lighthouses. Preheating, however, was difficult and required keepers to somehow keep the oil warm as it was brought from a stove to the light. The development of the incandescent oil vapor lamp allowed the board in 1877 to adopt kerosene as the primary fuel for lights, and by 1889 incandescent oil vapor lamps fueled by kerosene were used in almost all the lights on the Great Lakes. As early as 1886 the Lighthouse Board conducted experiments using electricity. It would not be until the twentieth century, however, when the electric power distribution grid became widespread and reliable portable electric generators were readily available, that electricity would become the common way to illuminate lighthouses. In 1925 sixty-eight major and forty-five minor Great Lakes lights, or about one-quarter of the total in service, used electrical power. By the early 1940s virtually all the lights on the lakes were powered by electricity. The use of electricity also greatly facilitated the automation of the lights. As early as 1916 a device was introduced that could automatically replace a burned-out incandescent light bulb. Coupled with electrically run timers that turned the lights on and off, it became increasingly possible to run lighthouses with only an occasional visit for servicing and maintenance. Automation eventually replaced keepers and in 1983 Michigan's last keeper-tended light was automated. Today all the lights on the lakes are maintained through occasional visits by Coast Guard maintenance crews. Sources Information found in this history is largely drawn from Charles K. Hyde, The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of The Upper Great Lakes (Lansing: Two Peninsula Press, 1986). Michigan Lighthouses History of Michigan LighthousesCurrently selectedLife-in-a-LighthouseLighthouse Source MaterialWhitefish Point Light, original platWhite Shoal LightBeacons-in-the-Night-Michigan-Lighthouse-Chronology	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9202	Yosemite Half Dome cable permits will be required seven days a week during 2011 summer season Yosemite National Park officials announced Monday that day-use permits to climb the Half Dome cables will be required seven days a week for the 2011 summer season. An interim program that required permits on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays was implemented by the National Park Service in 2010 to better regulate the number of hikers using the cable system. Safety issues have arisen from crowding, which has also led to long waits on the popular hike. Although the interim program worked well on the permit days, visitor use on the cables during days when permits were not required reached peak weekend levels -- thus the change to a seven-day-per-week requirement for next year's summer season. The Half Dome day-use permits will be available starting March 1, 2011 for climbing the cables in May and June 2011. Subsequent permits will be available at the beginning of each month for permits three months in advance. Reservations for a permit can be made through www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Up to four permits may be obtained under one reservation, with each person climbing the Half Dome cables required to have their own. Permits are free, but there is a nonrefundable $1.50 service charge for each permit obtained. The Half Dome cables are generally in place from mid-May through mid-October, depending on snowpack and weather conditions. -- Kelly Burgesstwitter.com/latimesoutposts Photo: A view of Yosemite's Half Dome and climbers using the cable. Credit: Scott Gediman / National Park Service	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9264	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
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9275	HomeLeisure & OutdoorsUK / Ireland GuideTheatre / Musical NationalKing's Theatre (Glasgow) King's Theatre (Glasgow) Address: The Kings Theatre‎, 297 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JN, United Kingdom / Type: King's Theatre „ dbarcl10 Theatre fit for a King Glasgow used to have theatres aplenty, but the modern age of TV was a curse on theatre attendance in Glasgow, as in many other cities across the UK. Nowadays only 4 of these theatres remain in Glasgow, the Kings, Theatre Royal, Pavillion and the Citizens. I'd say the King's is the mid-market theatre of these four, pulling in most touring productions.The theatre itself opened in 1904, and is now owned by Glasgow City Council, although it is leased to the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG). The theatre is located to the west of the city centre, easily within walking distance of all the main city centre hotels and train stations. There's s multi storey car park behind the theatre if your travelling by car, and it's a flat rate of £1.50 after 6pm. From the exterior, the theatre is quite small and inconspicuous but once inside the grandeur of the theatre takes your breath away. The public areas such as the entrance lobby and the bars are small and often crowded but once you are seated, take a look at the spectacular, highly decorative ceiling, and take a moment to appreciate the history of this fantastic building.Being over 100 years old, the facilities aren't the most up to date; for example there are no lifts, so if your not seated in the stalls, be prepared for a climb! ATG have an ongoing refurbishment programme at this venue, such as recently improved seating, however I often find that theatre seats are far from comfy, and the legroom is often poor. The Kings Theatre is no exception to this!The staff at the front of the house are always friendly, checking tickets and directing patrons to the correct areas. When at the King's, we always go for stalls seats, so I'm not sure what the facilities are like upstairs, but the stalls toilets do leave a lot to desire, and are in urgent need of refurb. At the interval, there are the usual ice-cream sellers, who also often have wine and water for sale, although other drinks can be obtained from the bars. Over the last few years I've saw a great selection of shows including Cats, West Side Story, Evita, Sister Act, Avenue Q, All New People, I Dreamed A Dream, Whistle Down the Wind, The Steamie, Tell Me on a Sunday and many more, with Wicked, Shrek, Swan Lake and One Man, Two Guvnors coming over the next year. Tickets for shows at the Kings Theatre can be obtained at the theatre's box office, or through the ATG booking website (www.atgtickets.com). Overall, a great venue though it does need some work to modernise its facilities. Comments GuruOnAMountain City centre theatre in the heart of Glasgow. The King's Theatre is found at Bath Street (near Charing Cross) and is one of Glasgow's most famous venues. Glasgow, as a whole, is quite well provided with theatre and entertainment venues. From the Royal Concert Hall to the Theatre Royal to the SECC as well as many other, smaller venues in between, there is always somewhere to go to catch a show. Each theatre has its own character and tends to cater towards a specific audience: the Royal Concert hall tends to show a lot of orchestras and has a close knit relationship with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra whereas the Theatre Royal tends to play a lot of ballet. The King's, however, tends to focus more on musicals touring the UK.I have fond childhood memories of the King's as I used to go there with my Girl Guides to see the panto every year (as well as stand at the stage door hoping to catch a glimpse or get a kiss off one of the actors at the end). Ah, the joy of youth! I also went to a lot of musicals here as a youngster but hadn't been back in quite a few years until last night's visit to see Spamalot. History--------The King's opened in 1904 and is still going strong. It is now operated by the Ambassador Theatre Group and has been since 2002.Parking and Access----------------------It is, from the outside, at least, a relatively small theatre but its central location makes it very easy to access via public transport. Just behind it there is a public car park with swipe card entry so you know that your car will be secure there. From 6pm onwards, there is a flat rate fee of £1.50 for overnight parking so if you're going to see a show and are arriving after 6, that's all you'll have to pay. Bargain!I wasn't with a disabled person when I visited yesterday so didn't experience access problems first hand but I would imagine that it would be impossible to access any of the upper levels with a wheelchair. It is, as I said, a rather old theatre and I certainly didn't see any lifts. I would imagine that disabled visitors would need to be seated in the stalls.The King's Experience-------------------------If you enter through the main door, I doubt that you'll be overwhelmed. It isn't a particularly grand atrium when you enter. It is pretty small and relatively dingy. In contrast, when you enter the Edinburgh Playhouse, you feel like you're having a special night out from the minute you enter the door. However, the staff at the King's are very friendly and you feel very welcome.Last night, we were seated in the stalls. Our show started at 7.30 but we arrived early as we were driving there and had left a bit early in case of traffic. We ended up walking in about 6.40 so we had plenty of time to kill. The doors were open but the bar wasn't open yet and since there was nothing else to do to kill time, we crossed over the road and went to a cafe for a coffee before returning just after 7. The woman who took our ticket told us where to go but said that the doors to the theatre weren't quite open yet. Since it is a small atrium and then the corridor to the theatre from the atrium is relatively small and thin, it was a little bit cramped and busy with people waiting to get into the theatre. Luckily, the doors opened after a few minutes and we took our seats.There were plenty of people selling programmes for £4 a piece and they were cheerful and helpful. At the intermission, there were, of course, the mandatory ice cream sellers (£2.50 a tub for Beechdean's ice cream or £3 a tub for a small Haagan Dazs).Theatre Layout-----------------Considering it was built in 1904, this theatre is laid out in the way you might expect. It isn't modern at all but the old fashioned style of theatre with the red, covered seating and the thick red velvet curtains covering the stage with viewing boxes at the side of the stage. I happen to quite like old fashioned theatres like this better than more modern ones (I feel like they are more atmospheric) but the King's is showing its age a bit. It has recently underwent restoration, apparently, with stalls seating being replaced but I can't honestly say I noticed much of a difference personally.The one big niggle about the King's is the amount of leg room. Even in the stalls, the seats feel quite cramped. You are shoulder to shoulder with the people next to you but at least you have some degree of legroom in the stalls. Upstairs, however, it is very tight and actually quite uncomfortable. Considering I am only 5 foot and don't exactly need much leg room, I hate to think how uncomfortable it must be for anyone a bit taller. I have also been to see some shows where I was sitting in the gods and the view of the stage was actually obscured quite badly for people in the gods. When I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar, for example, quite a bit of the action happened on a platform that ran across near the top of the stage and if you were in some of the higher seats, all you could possibly see was some feet!Also, each tier of seats doesn't seem to be raised enough. As I say, I'm only a little one at 5 foot so going to the theatre is always a bit of a trial if you end up with a 6 footer sitting in front of you but most theatres are laid out well enough that even if that happens, your view isn't obscured too much but last night I had a relatively short woman sitting in front of me and I still couldn't see over her head.Is it worth it?---------------It is certainly handy for me as I live nearer Glasgow than Edinburgh but I would be reluctant to part with money to go to the King's if I was anywhere other than the stalls due to the discomfort of the upper levels. Last night's tickets weren't particularly cheap, either, although I suppose this varies from show to show. The staff are very friendly and helpful, though, which is a bonus but it definately isn't a particularly decadent theatre and doesn't feel as special as other theatres nearby. Comments great for adult or children shows King's Theatre was opened in 1904 and designed by Frank Matcham. The theatre is owned by Glasgow City Council though ran by Ambassador Theatre Group. Restoration of the stalls and grand circle was completed in 2009.~Location~The King's is located in the Charing Cross area of Glasgow. The red sandstone building is located at the far end of Bath Street. The nearest train station is Charing Cross which is a few hundred yards from the main entrance of the theatre. There is no immediate parking at the theatre but drop off is recommended. Buses 42, 57 and 18 run from Sauchiehall Street and stop at the theatre.King's TheatreBath StreetGlasgowG2 4JN0844 871 7648Guide dogs are welcome and the theatre welcomes disabled visitors. The theatre can hold over 1700 visitors and seating is arranged in individual stalls, grand circle, upper circle and the gallery with disabled seating at the front. Group bookings are welcome.~What's On~King's Theatre offers various shows, pantomines and performances throughout the year. The most popular shows are the pantomimes (Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Best are scheduled for 2011). The theatre offers performances for adults only, families etc and there is something for everyone. It is recommended that you book tickets in advance. Performances are currently listed up until April 2012.Booking can be done through www.atgtickets.com. Each performance may be an one off or there may be regular performances throughout that day or across a time period. The box office telephone number is shown in the contact information above and tickets can be collected at the entrance to the theatre. The price you pay for tickets will depend on what the performance is, where you want to sit and what time (peak/weekend etc) you want to visit.Current performances and scheduled performances include but are not limited to :Dirty Dancing - the first tour : 19th Oct - 12th November. Various performances with premium seating at nearly £80.00.Sleeping Beauty - one for the families : 2nd Dec - 8th January. Afternoon and evening performances. Approx £26.00 with a few pounds deduction for children.It is worth noting a booking charge is added to each ticket and is approx £1.25 per ticket. Major debit and credit cards are accepted. As well as pantomime and shows, performances from individual performers can be booked with the current schedule including Micky Flannigan, Dorothy Paul and Stewart Lee.~My Thoughts~I wouldn't say I am a massive fan of the theatre but pantomime trips at school were always enjoyable. Having visited King's Theatre as a child, I was quite excited about taking my son earlier in the year. We went for a Thomas the Tank performance. I booked my tickets through the booking website and received confirmation. I paid by debit card and on arrival, I only had to give my name and was presented with our tickets. I underestimated how far this theatre was from Central Station. Visiting on a cold, windy and very wet night, we weren't anticipating such a long walk. Luckily Ryan was in the buggy but we were like drowned rats! We knew where Bath Street was but we kept walking and walking fearing we had missed it. Near enough at the Hilton, we finally spotted it. Not ideal in the dark to be honest as it isn't very well lit up. On our arrival, the theatre was dangerously busy. I'm sure normal performances would allow for better organisation but with excited toddlers, buggies and parents trying to get sorted, it was mayhem! We were directed to a room to place our folded buggy in and got our tickets.~Layout and Staff~The building is simply beautiful inside and out. It is large, old fashioned and has an amazing, historical feel. The staff were pleasant from the booking office to the ticket checkers and were dressed smartly. They acted professionally at all times despite having hundreds of toddlers running around! As we were to be seated in the grand circle, we had to go up a few flights of stairs. The carpeted areas were very grand and decorated with posters of upcoming shows.The foyer could have been better arranged. There was a stall offering various Thomas merchandise at overinflated prices. We bought a light up stick and programme coming to an eyewatering £12.00. They were also offering a wide range of sweets and juice at extortionate prices. I can only assume this happens with many shows but more emphasis when children are involved. Luckily our son didn't appear too greedy! The downstairs area is quite cramped but as far as I am aware, disabled visitors are taken in through a ground floor door as are those sitting near the stage.The auditorium is very grand and everything you would expect a theatre to be. Red seating (we had 3 seats together), gold trim around the walls. Everywhere was very clean and the different seating options are raised. We had corner seats which weren't ideal but good enough. I wasn't prepared to pay a premium to be down the front to be honest. The grand circle is quite large and extends around the top of the auditorium. There are 2 entrances to this area. I am glad we weren't right at the front as it is high up and rather daunting looking down!The layout of the auditorium is pretty standard. The stage is of course located at the front and is large, floored and hidden behind large red curtains. It can be viewed from every angle giving everyone a chance. When the lights dim, the auditorium becomes quite dark which can be scary for young children. Of course every show is different but we had an excellent time at Thomas. It was very interactive, loud thanks to the speakers dotted around and bright. The performance was top class though not the best I have ever been too. My son thoroughly enjoyed it though despite being tired by the end. We were told off about taking pictures though as I didn't notice the sign. As far as I'm concerned, given the fact we paid over £50 to come here, we should be allow to take pictures!~Time For A Break~Many of the shows have intervals and I was happy Thomas did (approx half way through). Many had brought treats in with them though we hadn't. Ushers were selling small tubs of ice cream in the auditorium for around £2.50 which is far too much. A small hole in wall (literally) offered packs of sweets and juice. I bought a pack of Minstrels and Pringles costing £4.00. We went back and got a can of Irn Bru and a large Fruit Shoot coming to over £3.00. Expensive isn't the word and no sign of Milky Bars! This area did get very busy during the 15min break.I visited the ladies loos. They are dotted around the theatre and there were 4 upstairs. They were clean but old fashioned and with the amount of children and adults at the time, there was far from enough. On leaving, we made our way back downstairs and eventually got our buggy before heading home..in the dark and rain!~Conclusion~Booking was simple but I grudged paying more for myself and fiance than my son considering the show. Looking at the choice of shows, there are plenty but the price jumps are very high with some being near the £100 mark. Add on your transport, munchies and dinner and you have yourself one very expensive night or day out. Like I said, every show is different and we will return in future. I was supposed to book for Dirty Dancing as I think that would be an amazing show but we hope it will return. I am considering the pantomime though as a treat for my 5yr old niece as she would love that.A stunning, clean and well thought out theatre just don't expect to leave with much money!Thanks for reading :) Comments Whistle Down The Wind Comedy Clubs / Live Entertainment The Bodyguard at the Adelphi Theatre UK Pink Floyd Experience Madagascar Live	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9286	Visit Michigan's Thumb Lake Huron Circle Tour Attractions of the Thumb Area Towns Map of the Thumb Huron County Parks Shipwrecks of Lake Huron Videos of the area Museums and Historic Places Beaches and Camping Huron County Event Calendar Member's Page Michigan's Thumb is a peninsula and region of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten, and the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The counties which constitute the Thumb of Michigan area are those forming the extended peninsula that stretches into Lake Huron to the north and east and into Saginaw Bay to the west. There is no formal declaration for which of these counties are part of Michigan's Thumb. However, virtually all common definitions include the tri-counties of Huron County, Tuscola County, and Sanilac County. The definition is sometimes extended to include Lapeer County and St. Clair County as well. The fact that Lapeer and St. Clair counties are included in the Detroit Metropolitan Area also leads many to exclude them from the Thumb region. Michigan's Thumb region is very flat with lush, fertile farmland, which is the reason for its historical role as a chiefly agricultural area. Major agricultural products include sugar beets, grains, beans, corn, fruits, and fish from Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. The lush grass supports vast dairy herds and livestock. At the Lake Huron Shoreline, farming fields are separated from sandy beaches by deep, cool, forests. The Thumb has the loveliest countryside and lakeshore imaginable - all for your enjoyment. The Thumb Area is a travel destination rich in natural scenic beauty, strong cultural heritage, and plenty of all-season activities. With more than 150 miles of shoreline, 2,100 miles of rivers and streams, 51,000 acres of public recreation land, 49,000 acres of state game/wildlife areas and plenty of hometown festivals and events, there�s something to do and see for everyone. Towns, such as Sebewaing, Bay Port, Caseville, Port Austin, Port Hope, Harbor Beach, Lexington, and Port Sanilac enjoy seasonal tourism, due to their location on Lake Huron or Saginaw Bay. Michigan's Thumb lies within the east-central tourism region of the state. Michigan's Thumb is a short drive from most metropolitan areas in southeast Michigan, including Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, and Port Huron. In fact, most of Michigan's Thumb Area attractions can be enjoyed on one tank of gas! Brouse this site to discover thing to do in Michigan's Thumb. info@michigan-thumb.com Harbor Beach, MI 48441 Copyright � 2014,Visit Michigan's Thumb, All Rights Reserved.	旅游
2014-35/4142/en_head.json.gz/34193	www.TravelAndTourismInfo.com (Main Webite \| Visit Guest Articles ) SUBMIT YOUR TRAVEL ARTICLES Guest articles are published at Articles.TravelAndTourismInfo.com Table Mountain, Cape Town - South Africa MORE BOOKMARKS .. Popular Tourist Attractions � Blyde River Canyon � Cape Point Lighthouse � Drakensberg Mountains � Kruger National Park � Table Mountain � The Sun City � WineLands Advt. Table mountain is the biggest attraction of Cape Town, its 1086 meter high and offers breathtaking views over the city, beaches and offers many activities for the tourists. It is part of the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage site. While most of the people ride up in a Cable Car, few like to go up by the cable car and come down on foot and others like to go both ways on foot (not recommended for most people). The area around this is known as Table Mountain National Park which covers 17,000 ha, but this small area has over 1500 different plant species, 90 of them are unique to this area, including the rare Silver Tree and the wild orchid Disa Uniflora. The Table Mountain is made up of sandstone and its flat summit measures nearly 3 km from end to end. On the top of mountain there are several tourist facilities including a restaurant which seats 120 people, a souvenir shop and Cableway Cocktail Bar which is situated inside the top station building. Table Mountain overlooks the city of Cape Town. Over the centuries it has become one of South Africa's most famous landmarks. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops of the mountain play home to a number of plants and animals. There are hundreds of trails to the summit, some undemanding and others extremely difficult, so its advisable to take a guide or who knows the area well or contact the Mountain club of South Africa before going on a hike or climb. Get a good guide book and take food, water, warm clothes and mobile phone if possible. Platteklip Gorge, just east of the Cable Station is a good one, as you can walk one way and take the cable car the other. Kloof Nek is the easiest way out of the city, over Table Mountain, to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Kloof Nek is linked to the 669 meter Lion's Head. A spiral pathway up Lion's Head passes through silver trees and spring flowers and provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the Cape Town region. Along the way you can also visit an old Mosque. Other fun walks include the Pipe Track, to the west of the Lower Cable Station. Since the opening of Cable car (in 1929) 77 years ago, over 16 million people have taken the trip to the top of Table Mountain, about 600,000 people annually. The views in all directions are magnificent and the feeling of being on top of the world is what makes Table Mountain such a popular destination. It�s best to visit on a clear day, although clouds can descend at any time. Free parking is available along the road leading to the lower cable station. Tip of the day Tip 14#. Cell phone is probably your best friend in a new place. Get an unlocked cell phone which works with international frequencies. Your domestic phone company may sometime lock the phone so its good only in their network, sometimes your own phone company will have a international roaming, call them before you go. You may visit http://www.telestial.com to buy a SIM card of the country before you visit which is a cheaper option. Mostly you can buy a basic phone and sim card within $100-$150. Featured Country/City EgyptIt is among the most famous destinations of the world having abundance of historical treasures including temples, pyramids and museums.Great Sphinx of GizaA half human, half lion structure, 240 feet long and 66 feet high and located in Egypt's Giza plateau, west bank of Nile river. Copyright � 2007 Travel And Tourism Info.com \| Copying content from this website without written permission is strictly prohibited.	旅游
2014-35/4142/en_head.json.gz/34339	Search this site: Grant named Executive Director of Henricus Historical Park By Chesterfield \| Feb 29, 2012 The Henricus Foundation with Chesterfield and Henrico Counties are pleased to announce that Charles Lewis Grant has been named Executive Director of Henricus Historical Park after a nationwide search. Grant served as acting executive director since July 2010 and throughout the site’s 400th commemoration. He previously served as operations manager of the living history museum for two years. “It is an honor to represent the second successful English settlement in North America and educate visitors about the significance of the Citie of Henricus,” said Grant. “I’m proud of the diverse talent, rich history and beautiful natural surroundings at Henricus Historical Park and the Dutch Gap Conservation Area.” During his tenure, Grant directed and managed the planning, operation and coordination of programs, staff and facilities. Prior to Henricus Historical Park, Grant served as president of Custom Collectibles, Ltd., and senior project manager at The American Historical Foundation. Grant has undergraduate and master’s degrees in history from Radford University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, respectively. Henricus Historical Park is located on 32 acres along the scenic and historic James River and is surrounded by the 810-acre Dutch Gap Conservation Area. The park is located at 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester.	旅游
2014-35/4142/en_head.json.gz/34438	Railway carriage and pub for sale A UNIQUE pub which offers fine dining in a vintage railway carriage is up for sale. The Hound Inn, at Arlecdon, is on the market for £750,000 with Meridian Business Sales, after its landlords decided to move on because of “family commitments”.Its restaurant is housed in a 1954 railway carriage, installed in its grounds in 2000.The 37-ton coach, named Orchid, played a part in British political history when it was used to carry the body of Lord Mountbatten – killed by an IRA bomb – from Waterloo to Romsey in 1979 as a royal train.The 42-seater open coach was designed for first class passengers when it was built in Doncaster in 1955.It now offers dining for 30 people, complete with its own bar.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9697	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
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9715	Caribbean Honduras : Bay Islands : Roatan Revision as of 17:11, 30 March 2014 by Dsroatan (Talk \| contribs) Airlines and destinations [+] By boat By ferry Charter boat Get around Bus Do Diving Fishing/Boat Charters West End Village on Roatán Roatán is one of the Honduras Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea. Understand The island of Roatan is located 30 miles off the north coast of Honduras atop the worlds second largest coral reef. The reef attracts many fish, and is world known for scuba diving. It is approximately 77 kilometres (48 mi) long, and less than 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) across at its widest point. Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands at about 77 kilometres (48 mi) long, and less than 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) at its widest. The island has a number of beaches, all of which are public. Originally an English colony, and later ceded to Honduras, Roatan has a mixture of english and spanish speaking natives. With two cruise ship ports, Roatan has become a cruise destination, and roads and beaches can be busy when ships are in port. Prices for services may be higher when a ship is in. In recent years the island has experienced a lot of development and has a number of resorts along with more rustic accommodation as well. The western side of the island is the most populated and where most tourists stay, and the eastern side is more remote and isolated. Roatan has a warm climate with daytime temperatures between 80-90 year round. French Harbor, Roatan West Bay - is the furthest-west area of the island, has some good restaurants and places to stay, and several large resorts have been built on the beach. It's arguably the best stretch of beach in the western portion of the island - powder-white sand that is very well maintained. The reef is a short swim away for excellent snorkeling, especially near the west-most tip, also known as Tabyana Beach. West Bay is also home to some of the best sunsets. It is recommended to spend beach time in the West Bay and bar time in the West End. West End - has some good restaurants and places to stay, and it is definitely the most fun town on the island. There are bars, restaurants, live music, right on the Caribbean. West End is currently undergoing a major reconstruction project on its main street that will improve transportation and the sewage lines; however, it makes the street very difficult to travel by foot or car. The project has been completed, though small improvements are likely to be made sporadically throughout the year. Sandy Bay Coxen Hole - is where the airport is located, and most of life's necessities can be found here, including stores, restaurants, and banks. French Harbor - has some good restaurants and resorts and most tourists do not venture further east than French Harbor, which is at roughly the mid point of the island. Past this point are a few newer beach resorts, resort communities, and some private towns with beaches and resorts. Many of the resorts, restaurants and bars on this part of the island were in the past a secret of locals and expats but with the west end becoming more crowded the secret is out and more tourist are finding their way to the east end of the island. One point of interest would be Jonesville and the infamous Hole in the Wall restaurant reached by taking a small water taxi from Jonesville to reach it. Another is Camp Bay Beach Adventure Lodge and the Tasty Tarpon Restaurant located on Camp Bay Beach the largest of all the beaches of the Bay Islands and can be accessed by car or boat. Punta Gorda - Fishing community of the Garifuna. Oak Ridge Fishing community with few roads, and buildings on stilts over the water. Camp Bay - is a further on from Oak Ridge about 4.5 miles and home to the largest natural beach on all the Bay Islands - Camp Bay Beach, which you can gain free access to at a couple different locations and has a small beachfront resort and restaurant: Camp Bay Beach Adventure Lodge. Camp Bay is about the furthest you can go in a car. Past Camp Bay are the mangroves which are quite beautiful when navigated by boat and kayak. There are many tours through the mangroves which can be chartered from various points on the island. Port Royal Small community, originally founded by English pirates Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Manuel Gálvez) (IATA: RTB, ICAO: MHRO) is on the island of Roatán. Several US airlines offer non-stop flights to Roatan on weekends. American Airlines, flies non-stop from Miami (Saturdays only), and from Dallas. United Airlines, offers direct flights from Houston (Daily during high season, less often other times), and from Newark (weekend). Delta Airlines, flies non-stop from Atlanta (Saturdays only). American, Delta and Continental offer flights to San Pedro Sula's's Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Ramón Villeda Morales) (IATA:SAP, ICAO:MHLM), also known as La Mesa International Airport situated on the mainland, from which you can then get connecting services to Roatan. TACA, a group of five regional airlines, offers service from Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Dallas, Toronto, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC with connecting service to Roatan, including mid-week flights, plus flights from elsewhere in Central America. There are also local airlines such as SOSA, CM Airlines, air viva and Isleña (part of TACA's regional service) connecting the island with La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, and Tegucigalpa. Prices are all over the map due to fuel costs and inflation, but usually average in at about US$200 for a flight from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin to Roatan Airlines and destinations Aerolíneas Sosa La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa Domestic air viva La Ceiba, Utila,San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa Blue Panorama Airlines Milan-Malpensa International Houston-Intercontinental, Newark International Seasonal <	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9757	2010 04 03 Plaza Desconocida Copyright: Alex More About Argentina The World : South America : Argentina Argentina didn't get to be the second-largest country in South America overnight. Archaeological remains found here date to some 9,000 years BC, left by the ancient Mesoamerican civilization. Early inhabitants were nomads and hunters who followed prehistoric horses and llamas. By the year 1480 AD the Incan empire had stretched to reach northern Argentina and the stage was set for contact.The Europeans came in 1516 with Spanish explorer Juan Diaz do Solis, who claimed the area for Spain and tried to export a river of silver back to Europe. Wealth grew along with the cattle industry and after Napoleon conquered Spain, Argentina declared its independence and set up their own government. That was 1810 AD.Argentina stayed neutral in WWI and for most of WWII, declaring war on the Axis powers only in 1945. Following the war, the country entered into a long chain of military dictatorships with only brief forays into constitutional government. The current president is Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who's been in office since December 2007.Argentina is known for many things but the top of the list belongs to only two -- steak and the tango. Cattle graze on the abundant grasslands and produce some of the best beef in the world. The climate is well-suited for vineyards as well, and Argentina's wines make a fine companion to their steak.As for the tango, it has recently exploded to become a world famous dance with hotspots in every major city on the planet. It started in Buenos Aires in the middle of the nineteenth century, as the city was filling up with a mixture of European immigrants and porteños, people who were born in the port city. They melded their cultures of rhythm and harmony and came up with the tango, which has been described as the ultimate evolution of partnered dancing. And it's a great way to burn off your steak stupor. Food coma begone!Text by Steve Smith.	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/9767	A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail) Bryson, Bill Not the book you're looking for? Search for all books with this author and title Publisher: Broadway Books, 1999 ISBN 10: 0767902521 A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF ONE SUMMER Back in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The AT offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes —and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings. For a start there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa along for the walk. Despite Katz's overwhelming desire to find cozy restaurants, he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride, and while on the trail they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters. But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A Walk	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/10308	SK1789 : Hope Woodlands : Derwent Dam near to Fairholmes [other Features], Derbyshire, Great Britain Hope Woodlands : Derwent Dam Derwent Reservoir is the middle of three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley. It lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) from Glossop and 10 miles (16 km) from Sheffield. The River Derwent flows first through Howden Reservoir, then Derwent Reservoir, and finally through Ladybower Reservoir. Between them they provide practically all of Derbyshire's water, as well as supplying a large part of South Yorkshire, and as far afield as Nottingham and Leicester. Derwent Reservoir is around 1.5 miles (2 km) in length, running broadly north to south, with Howden Dam at the northern end, and Derwent Dam at the south. A small island lies near Howden Dam. Abbey Brook flows into the reservoir from the east. At its peak the reservoir covers an area of 70.8 hectares (175 acres) and at its deepest point is 34.7 metres deep. The Industrial Revolution and urbanisation of the 19th century created huge demand for water in the industrial cities of the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. Derwent Valley Water Board was created in 1899, to supply water to Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. The proximity of Sheffield, combined with high average rainfall and low population, made the case for reservoir construction. and the decision to dam the valley to create the Howden and Derwent reservoirs. The neo-Gothic solid masonry dam was begun in 1902, a year after Howden Dam was started, and proved a mammoth task. Between 1901 and 1903 a standard gauge railway of over 7 miles (11 km) was built from Bamford, to carry the thousands of tons of huge stones required for the construction of the two dams. Near to the southern end lay the newly opened quarry at Bole Hill. Remains of the railway can still be seen alongside Derwent Reservoir as well as at the western end of Ladybower Dam, where over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of cutting and trackway remain, and are known locally as 'The Route'. Between the Howden and Derwent dams, the present road was built over the railway. After supplying well over a million tons of stone Bole Hill Quarry was closed in September 1914, with the end of the railway following soon after. The section between the Hope Valley Line at Hope and Yorkshire Bridge was relaid in 1935 to aid the construction of Ladybower Dam, but closed again in 1946. Over 1,000 workers lived in the specially constructed self-contained village of Birchinlee, known as 'Tin Town', which consisted of well ordered corrugated iron homes along with shops, a school and a village hall. One of the metal huts was preserved and moved to Hope, where it is now a hairdressing salon. The workers that died during the construction of the dam were buried in Bamford churchyard. The reservoir began to fill in November 1914, and overflowed for the first time in January 1916, with the water almost immediately passing into supply. The dam can support a total of 9.64 million cubic metres of water. Only two years after the dam's completion in 1916, it was decided that the flow from the reservoir was insufficient to support the surrounding population. As a result, between 1920 and 1931 the River Alport and River Ashop were diverted from the Ashop Valley into the reservoir, using tunnels and a Venturi Flume. The diversion helped hold back water during the construction of Ladybower Reservoir. The majority of the land around the reservoir is owned by Severn Trent Water, and of that, around half is woodland. The woods consist predominantly of larch, pine, and spruce conifers, with the remaining third mainly sycamore, beech and oak. The hills are given over to sheep pasture, leased to local farmers. The moorlands and gritstone edges are criss-crossed by footpaths, closed only during selected shooting periods. During the Second World War, Derwent Reservoir was used by pilots of the Royal Air Force 617 Squadron for practising the low level flights needed for Operation Chastise, commonly known as the 'Dam Busters' raids. The valley was chosen due to its similarity to the Ruhr Valley dams, which were to be the target for the 'bouncing bombs' devised by Barnes Wallis. Today there is a commemorative plaque on the dam, and the west tower houses Derwent Dam Museum. The exhibition, owned and run by Vic Hallam, tells the tale of 617 Squadron; the making of the 1954 film; and contains an example of the 'bouncing bomb', along with a display on the history of the valley and the lost villages of Derwent and Ashopton. On 16 May 2008, a commemorative event to mark the 65th anniversary was held at Derwent Reservoir, including a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The event was attended by Les Munro, the only surviving pilot from the original raid, and Richard Todd, the actor who played Wing Commander Guy Gibson in the 1955 film, 'The Dam Busters'. At the western end of Derwent Dam stands a memorial to a sheepdog named Tip. Her master, Joseph Tagg, was a well known local sheep farmer who helped found Hope Valley Sheepdog Trials, and during his later years lived in Yorkshire Bridge. On 12 December 1953, Tagg, aged 85, went out for the last time with his faithful border collie, and vanished completely. Despite an exhaustive search neither he, nor his dog, could be found. It was not until 15 weeks later that Tagg�s remains were discovered, with Tip, now completely exhausted, lying about five metres away. Somehow, Tip had managed to survive heavy snow, biting winds and freezing temperatures on one of the most hostile stretches of moorland in the country. Tip was carried back to the rescuer�s lorry and later transferred to a caring home, where she was carefully nursed back to health. A year later, in May 1955, she died. However, the hearts of those familiar with the story were so greatly touched, that a memorial was erected in her memory. Derbyshire UK: Link Discover Derbyshire and the Peak District: Link Wikipedia: Link	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/11058	Appeal for Ilir Kelmend, in the far north of Albania, is one of the most remote and fascinating parts of Europe. The Terra Madre network extends even here, with two active food communities in the region: the Thethi producers, who make traditional products like honey, raki distilled from plums and other fruits and an unusual white flour ground using water mills from a local variety of corn; and the Lepushë producers, who make cheese and caj, infusions made from wild herbs and consumed throughout the year. These small gastronomic treasures are struggling to resist environmental degradation and rural abandonment, especially by young people, which is leaving its mark on the local communities. A few people are holding out, seeking to keep alive local traditions and reinterpret them in a way that makes sense today. One of them is Ilir, a young man who is fighting against the tide. He has chosen to stay, together with his family, and to unite traditional food production with a small tourism business, promoting Lepushë caj and making it known to the many who don’t even know it exists. Ilir now has a workshop for processing medicinal herbs, and was in the process of building a guesthouse so that he can host tourists interesting in discovering destinations completely off the beaten track. His dream was slowly coming together, but it has been brutally interrupted by a serious fall, from a height of 5 meters. Ilir risks losing the use of his legs unless he undergoes an operation only available at a private clinic. The Terra Madre network, conscious of the fact that helping him means helping the whole community, is mobilizing itself to raise the funds necessary to support the operation, which will cost €6,000. To help Ilir, his family and a community’s dream: VIS Albania account holder: Ambrosi Pier Paolo Address: Rruga Don Bosco, Tirana, Albania Bank: INTESA SANPAOLO BANK ALBANIA SH A 27 RRUGA ISMAIL QEMALI, TIRANA, Albania SWIFT code: USALALTR Bank code: 20811008 Account number: 40306738001 IBAN: AL32208110080000040306738001 Payment reference: Fundraising for Ilir	旅游
2015-40/3387/en_head.json.gz/11642	http://www.visitmtvernontx.com - Specification Required - In 1849, Stephen and Rebecca Keith donated land for a town site. The post office was called Keith and then Lone Star before taking the name Mount Vernon. Franklin County was formed from part of Red River County in 1875. This Texas Main Street City still offers a small-town feel. The central plaza has a gazebo and park benches. A Grecian-style 1912 gray limestone courthouse (undergoing renovation in 2014) with a chiming clock tower is on the north side of the square. More than 70 homes built before World War I are marked with signs designating the original owners and year of construction. Tour maps are available. The Cherokee Trace runs along the county's eastern edge, while the Choctaw Trail runs through town, and the Bankhead Highway (the first east-west transcontinental automobile route through the U.S., opened in 1916) remains the town's Main Street. #TexasToDo	旅游

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Industry models play a crucial role in driving enterprise intelligence transformation and innovative development. High-quality industry data is key to improving the performance of large models and realizing industry applications. However, datasets currently used for industry model training generally suffer from issues such as insufficient data volume, low quality, and lack of domain expertise.

To address these problems, we constructed and applied 22 industry data processing operators to clean and filter 3.4TB of high-quality multi-industry classified Chinese and English language pre-training datasets from over 100TB of open-source datasets including WuDaoCorpora, BAAI-CCI, redpajama, and SkyPile-150B. The filtered data consists of 1TB of Chinese data and 2.4TB of English data. To facilitate user utilization, we annotated the Chinese data with 12 types of labels including alphanumeric ratio, average line length, language confidence score, maximum line length, and perplexity.

Furthermore, to validate the dataset's performance, we conducted continued pre-training, SFT, and DPO training on a medical industry demonstration model. The results showed a 20% improvement in objective performance and a subjective win rate of 82%.

Industry categories: 18 categories including medical, education, literature, finance, travel, law, sports, automotive, news, etc. Rule-based filtering: Traditional Chinese conversion, email removal, IP address removal, link removal, Unicode repair, etc. Chinese data labels: Alphanumeric ratio, average line length, language confidence score, maximum line length, perplexity, toxicity character ratio, etc. Model-based filtering: Industry classification language model with 80% accuracy Data deduplication: MinHash document-level deduplication Data size: 1TB Chinese, 2.4TB English

Industry classification data size:

Industry Category	Data Size (GB)	Industry Category	Data Size (GB)
Programming	4.1	Politics	326.4
Law	274.6	Mathematics	5.9
Education	458.1	Sports	442
Finance	197.8	Literature	179.3
Computer Science	46.9	News	564.1
Technology	333.6	Film & TV	162.1
Travel	82.5	Medicine	189.4
Agriculture	41.6	Automotive	40.8
Emotion	31.7	Artificial Intelligence	5.6
Total (GB)	3386.5

For the convenience of users to download and use, we have split the large dataset into sub-datasets for 18 industries. The current one is the sub-dataset for the travel industry.

Data processing workflow:

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Size of the auto-converted Parquet files (First 5GB):

3.05 GB

Number of rows (First 5GB):

866,894

Estimated number of rows:

18,054,060

Collection including BAAI/IndustryCorpus_travel

IndustryCorpus

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