Abigail’s: No Ghosts Here!
November 30, 2007
Abigail’s: No Ghosts Here!
by: Ron Kirstein
Many of the older restaurants and accommodations in Victoria, and even the Royal Victoria Golf Course have ghost stories attached to them. Guests of Abigail’s Hotel often ask for the ghost story and the incredibly accommodating staff would love to tell them one. Unfortunately, the ghosts have not been forthcoming.
Abigail’s Hotel is perched on the edge of downtown Victoria, just a stone’s throw from the Inner Harbour and it is truly one of Victoria’s best kept secrets. Well not any more! I am letting the cat out of the bag! I have lived here for over 20 years and driven by countless times, each time wondering what it was like. I have been in a number of stately old hotels and they were all nice, but often disappointing. Not so with Abigail’s.
When we drive past the entrance to the hotel, we immediately notice the well-kept English gardens. Passing between the Coach House and the Inn, both buildings look very similar. At first glance, we could not tell that they were built 50 years apart. We park and are immediately greeted by Tomas, the super friendly front-desk attendant. He guides us to our room and fully informs us about the hotel and the services. Breakfast in bed sounds appealing, but we opt for breakfast with the other guests.
The Cathedral of Seville
November 29, 2007
The Cathedral of Seville
by: Michael Coy
Here it is, the third-largest church in Christendom (only St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London can claim to be bigger). We’re going to content ourselves today with a slow, leisurely tour of the cathedral’s outer walls - we´ll save the interior for another day. The thing which strikes us as we gaze on this profusion of carved stone is the fantastic mix of building styles. Seville’s cathedral is virtually an encyclopaedia of architectural history.
Let’s start with the easiest landmark to find, the mighty “Giralda” tower. It gets its name from the huge metal weather vane, a female form (supposed to represent Fate). She is on bearings, and swings around as the wind changes direction - hence the name, ‘giro’ meaning a turn or revolving motion. This tower is Seville’s greatest glory. Time and time again, as we become more familiar with the city’s layout, we will spot the Giralda looming over rooftops as we make our way through outlying neighbourhoods, always there to guide us back to the centre.
Saint Clement of Ochrida
November 28, 2007
Saint Clement of Ochrida
by: Michael Coy
November 25 is celebrated as Saint Clement’s Day in Bulgaria, the occasion for honouring a founding father of the nation’s culture. Clement was undoubtedly a good, holy man, but he was also much more than that: in his hands, the awakening of Bulgarian nationhood was given strength and nurture.
Orthodox Christianity loves nothing as much as a good schism. For those who may be new to the subject, a schism is a split between two groups of believers, caused by a difference in interpretation of the Bible. Back in Clement’s day, the great controversy was the so-called “trilingual schism”, some church elders holding that only Hebrew, Greek and Latin could be used in church.
Clement was completely opposed to this, arguing that God has given each people its own tongue, and therefore it can’t be wrong to praise Him in the beautiful Bulgarian language. As a bishop, Clement preached and conducted services in Bulgarian, in the process doing much to forge a sense of national identity.
Aberdeen (The Granite Cite) - A City Guide
November 27, 2007
Aberdeen (The Granite Cite) - A City Guide
by: Maria Williams
Introduction
Aberdeen (The Granite City) is Scotland’s third largest city. Aberdeen is the chief commercial centre and seaport in the north-east of Scotland. It boasts the title of Oil Capital of Europe thanks to the plentiful supply of crude oil in the North Sea, and stands on a bay of the North Sea, between the mouths of the rivers Don and Dee.
History
Antietam National Battlefield
November 26, 2007
Antietam National Battlefield
by: Rick Chapo
If you’re a history buff, Antietam National Battlefield is a national park you have to see. Antietam, of course, is a major civil war site.
Antietam National Battlefield is simply huge. Located in the middle of Maryland, the national park is made up of over 3,255 acres of land. The geography of the area evolves from flat lands used for agriculture to heavily forested areas.
Antietam National Battlefield is an incredibly important historical location. In 1863, the battlefield was the site of the first invasion of the north by the Confederate Army. The battle was simply brutal with over 23,000 soldiers killed or wounded. The battle is known for being the bloodiest one-day event in the history of our nation. As a result of the Confederate invasion, President Lincoln issued his now famous emancipation proclamation
In 1934, Antietam was established as a National Park. In light of its historical importance, it is a major tourist destination with over 300,000 visitors annually visiting the park.
Gold Coast Accommodation and Information for Families
November 26, 2007
Gold Coast Accommodation and Information for Families
by: Rebecca Greg
What does the Gold Coast have to offer?
The Gold Coast has absolutely everything a family could need for the perfect holiday.
Great stretches of golden sands and rolling waves as the Pacific Ocean greets Queenslands playground - the Gold Coast. World famous beaches such as Surfers Paradise, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach, Mermaid Waters, Nobby Beach and not to forget the beautiful South Stradbroke Island.
How to get to the Gold Coast
The Gold coast is easily accessible by air, with major airports at Coolangatta (at the southern end of the Gold Coast strip) and Brisbane. Brisbane is only 1 hours drive north of the Gold Coast. There is plenty of parking and things to do, hire a car at the Gold Coast and be free to see the sights.
Shopping
Oxford- A City Guide
November 25, 2007
Oxford- A City Guide
by: Maria Williams
Introduction
Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). It is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is known as the “city of dreaming spires”, a term coined by Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture of the university buildings. The Oxford suburb of Cowley has a long history of carmaking, and still produces BMW MINIs.
History
Oxford was first occupied in Saxon times, and was initially known as “Oxenaforda”. It began with the foundations of St Frideswide’s nunnery in the 8th century. The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th century records. Oxford’s earliest colleges were University College (1249), Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264).
During the English Civil War, Oxford housed the court of Charles I in 1642, after the king was expelled from London, although there was strong support in the town for the Parliamentarian cause. In the 19th century the controversy surrounding the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church drew attention to the city as a focus of theological thought. Oxford’s Town Hall was built by Henry T. Hare, the foundation stone was laid on 6 July 1893 and opened by the future King Edward VII on 12 May 1897. By the early 20th century Oxford was experiencing rapid industrial and population growth, with the printing and publishing industries becoming well established by the 1920s.
Interesting Things to do in Key West Florida
November 24, 2007
Interesting Things to do in Key West Florida
by: Scott Thompson
When people think of a vacation in Key West, Florida they rarely realize that there is so much to do other than drinking and playing on the water. In fact, Key West is an old historic town that will appeal to anyone interested in history or architecture. Of course, there are still plenty of fun things to do on the water, but in the Florida Keys many of those activities are as unique as the islands.
With history comes ghost so while visiting Key West make sure to go on a ghost tour. This author has experienced one ghost tour in Key West and it was a blast. Our guide made the tour worth every penny. The stories were not only scary, but entertaining and informative as well. Of course, there is much more to do and see in Key West from historic tours to enjoying the natural environment.
Hawaii Vacations
November 23, 2007
Hawaii Vacations
by: Sara Chambers
One of the most popular tourist destinations in both the United States and throughout the world is Hawaii. Hawaii is a state consisting of islands. These include Hawaii, known as the Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai. The attractions available on these six islands range from adventure attractions and ecotourism, to historical places to see and wild nightlife.
Another great reason to go to the beautiful State of Hawaii is the gorgeous beaches available. Maui itself offers 80 beaches sitting 120 miles of coastline. The southwest region of Maui includes lovely white beaches. Oahu, on the other hand, offers 130 beaches. Sandy Beach is a great place to enjoy sand and sun, while Hanauma Bay offers a great place to snorkel.
One of the most fascinating attractions to see on the ecotourism front of Hawaii’s Big Island is Mount Kilauea and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Visiting this National Park will put you face to face with the elements. Hiking, walking, and driving through this Park, you will see Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Within the state park, you can enjoy the Crater Rim Drive, stopping at Steaming Bluff, the Halemaumau Overlook, the Devastation Trail and many more enticing monuments of Mother Nature.
Cruising To Alaska - A Trip To Remember
November 22, 2007
Cruising To Alaska - A Trip To Remember
by: Ron Richards
Visiting Alaska by cruise ship has become one of the most popular ways to experience Alaska’s breathtaking beauty and diverse culture. Cruises incorporate all that Alaska has to offer including glaciers, wildlife, exotic ports of call, entertainment and fine dining.
Some of the most popular Alaskan cruises are glacier cruises. Much of the Alaskan terrain consists of gorgeous, formidable glaciers and ice fields which cover over 5% of Alaska’s land surface. This natural beauty can be seen from many top tourist destinations of Alaska including Juneau, Valdez, Seward and the Matanuska Valley, but is usually only fully appreciated with an up close and personal view that only a cruise can afford. From this vantage point you will stand spellbound by tidewater glaciers that reach over 100 ft. in height and the antics of wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, dolphins, brown bears and bald eagles.
The Gulf of Alaska is also a popular cruise option. Many cruise lines offer week-long cruises from Seward to Vancouver or vice versa. Along the way you can take in such highlights as Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord and interesting ports of call including Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. At each port you can take advantage of unique and exciting land activities such as helicopter glacier landing, guided tours, and sightseeing, just to name a few.
