Tagged With "English and Gaelic"
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Re: Lunenberg, Nova Scotia (Where Gumbo Was #244)
The Ship "Picton Castle" was constructed for a company in Swansea - Wales. It was the first Ship to arrive in Norway near the end of WW2 and was known as the "Liberator of Norway"
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
You must be civilised in Canada too - cricket ! The original design for Central Park NY was made here - near Liverpool UK Birkenhead Park. Same guy did both. Just a bit smaller. We're a bit pushed for space over here !
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
We are indeed very civilized here, but in full disclosure, cricket is just a footnote sport. Not played by many. There is only one sport in Canada and that is hockey. Every other sport combined would not equal half the popularity of ice hockey.
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
I guessed that DrF - that guy is way too close to the parked cars !
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
Close but no cigar on Central Park's designer (who also did my backyard, Brooklyn's Prospect Park). Birkenhead was the work of Joseph Paxton, while the other two were done by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Olmsted visited Birkenhead in 1850, three years after it opened, and while he was already thinking about Central Park, which opened in 1858. In his book "Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England, Olmsted wrote about Birkenhead: "five minutes of admiration, and a few more...
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted won a design competition to improve and expand Central Park with a plan he entitled the Greensward Plan . 8 years AFTER Olmsted visited the Peoples Garden - Birkenhead Park England. He said "that in democratic America there was nothing to be thought of as comparable with this People’s Garden" So he took the plans back to New York. Entered the Central Park competition 8 years later. And won using Paxton plans from the Peoples Garden in England as a guide.
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
Garry, no one doubts Paxton's influence on Olmsted, and on generations of others (as Olmsted influenced those who came after him), but surely there's a vast difference between learning from a master and applying similar ideas to different terrain on the one hand, and "plagiarism" of any sort on the other. That's especially so when we see how fully and publicly Olmsted acknowledged the model!
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Re: Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
Apr 13, 2013 The boss of New York’s Central Park hailed his first visit to Birkenhead Park which inspired its design as “a dream come true” Doug Blonsky, president and chief executive of the New York Central Park said: “You drive around Birkenhead Park and there is no question that the physical similarities between here and Central Park are there" “To come here and take a look at it is a dream come true for me."
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day: April 15th, 2014. Deck Chairs in Hyde Park
I, too, am tempted to stretch out and take a nap. Fond memories of Hyde Park. My wife and I stayed within a block of this great park during our honeymoon some years ago.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day: April 15th, 2014. Deck Chairs in Hyde Park
It will be very nice to see those chairs in our central park in my county, maybe someday.
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
The buses ,like Megabus ,sometimes use the ferries as well and it's a great way to break up a bus trip. They make you disembark the bus for safety reasons while the ferry is moving and you can watch the view and get something to eat.
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Re: Channel ferries: more than a nostalgia trip
A timely post, PHeymont. Trying to simplify a proposed trip to the UK and Portugal, and also slip in a bit of Spain along the way, I'm seriously considering the ferries from the south coast of England to Bilbao & environs, then train down to Portugal. I'm sure it will save me money, as opposed to trains, using the ferries, most of which I wasn't aware of until I took a good look at the broken lines showing ferry routes on Google maps.
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Re: May 31, 2016. The Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver
What an interesting place. All my trips to Vancouver in recent years yet I never made it to English Bay. Top spot on the itinerary next trip there. Thanks.
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Re: May 31, 2016. The Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver
Wow,what a great place! I hope my friends Sonny and Marine are seeing this as thy are new residents of the city!
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Re: Ethiopia Musings: 4)The Food
Thanks,I love injera and it was nice to learn more about it. Great photos!
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Re: Ethiopia Musings: 4)The Food
Ethiopia was always on the TV News as millions were starving - and died. Their drought continued for many years. But thanks to "climate change" the rains returned and Ethiopia is now self sufficient in it's own food supply. It exports much of its produce to neighbouring countries too. Climate change isn't all bad news!
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A Visit to Ireland: Part 1) An overview of the Country and its People
I remember being in Wales several times and looking across the sea to the west, thinking that I needed to get to Ireland. Well I finally made it, completing this journey with my brother on our annual "getaway trip"! It was a trip we really...
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March 22, 2020: Lady in the Park, Winnipeg
DrFumblefinger visits a popular statue in Winnipeg, situated in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park.
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Does your healthcare cover you on the road? Most don't know!
Health insurance can be confusing enough, and overseas travel just adds complications to it. Enough that, according to a survey sponsored by travel-insurance broker InsureMyTrip, over 60% of travelers either don't know, or believe their insurance...
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Paris bridges language gap with new app
Paris is consistently the world's most-visited city, and while it's fairly easy for English-speakers to get what they need, it's harder for speakers of many other languages. Paris has just rolled out a new app called "Yes, I speak touriste?" to help...
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English as a second language: Who's best?
Among the things you probably never wondered is "Has someone ever ranked the world's countries that don't speak English by how proficiently their residents speak English?" Now you don't have to wonder; the answer is YES! and we have the list. ...
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May 4, 2018: Glencoe Massacre Monument, Scotland
Ian Cook shares a detailed history of the story of the Massacre in Glencoe Scotland, whose monument we visit in our Pic of the Day.
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Glenfinnan Monument, Scotland
Ian Cook shares the story behind the Glenfinnan Monument in the Highlands of Scotland. It was here in 1745 that Bonnie Prince Charles planted his banner and claimed the throne of Scotland.
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Dunstaffnage Castle, Scotland
Ian Cook shares beautiful images and a detailed history of Dunstaffnage Castle. Built in the 13th century, it is one of the oldest castles in Scotland and has stood witness to many of the country's key historic events.
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Lunenberg, Nova Scotia (Where Gumbo Was #244)
Gumbo was visiting the coastal town of Lunenberg in Nova Scotia. Lunenberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the best preserved example of a British-planned community in Canada. It is a great spot to spend a day.
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Dec. 28, 2017: A Small Scottish Church on a Hill
Ian Cook's Pic of the Day -- a picturesque small church and its cemetery on a Scottish hillside.
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February 16, 2018: Loch Leven, Glencoe, Scotland
Ian Cook shares photos of the area around Glencoe, which lies on the southern bank of the River Coe by its entry to Loch Leven, a salt-water lake.
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April 13, 2018: Loch Shiel, Glenfinnan, Scotland.
Ian Cooks shares images of Loch Shiel, a lovely lake in the Scottish Highlands!
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Steall Waterfall, Glen Nevis, Scotland.
Ian Cook shares a visit to Steall Waterfall, a lovely waterfall situated in the Scottish Highlands. It is the second highest waterfall in Scotland.
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Castle Stalker, Scotland
A medieval castle in one of the most picturesque settings in Europe, Ian Cook shares the story and beautiful photo-essay of Castle Stalker.
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The Pap of Glencoe, Scotland.
Ian Cook shares a photo essay of a hike up the Pap in Glencoe. The views are breathtaking!
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Jersey, The Channel Isles.
Paul Hunter shares some brilliant images of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands between England and France.
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May 11, 2018: Carrbridge
Like a scene from the set of the Lord of the Rings, Carrbridge is memorable. It is the oldest stone bridge in the Scottish Highllands.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day: April 15th, 2014. Deck Chairs in Hyde Park
On a past trip to London (England that is), we stayed at a hotel in South Kensington which was only a short walk to Hyde Park. On a sunny Autumn morning we were taking a morning stroll and noticed these deck chairs set up by the banks of the...
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Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg, Canada. Where Gumbo Was #36
Gumbo was enjoying a stroll in Winnipeg's largest park, Assiniboine Park. Established in 1904 the park covers 1100 acres (450 ha); almost half the park's design is styled after an English park (which is quite common in Canada). Big...
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England's Heritage at Risk, Group Reports
Time, decay and rising costs are putting some of England's best-known or historic sites at risk.
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August 29, 2016: Moated site at Arley Hall, Haigh near Wigan
Today Ian Cook shares some images of the English landscape, this the moated site at Arley Hall, Haigh near Wigan.
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Going for a (83 km) swim in the lake...
Spanish open-water swimmer Jaime Caballero set a new world record for speed in swimming the 83 km (over 50-mile) length of Lake Geneva.
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August 3, 2016: Tynemouth Priory, England
View from the Chair photography shares the history of Tynemouth Priory in North East England, which dates to the 8th century AD.
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A Visit to Ireland: Part 3) Kenmare, Gateway to the Ring of Kerry
Western Ireland was the most beautiful and scenic part of our journey. It has a lovely, rugged coastline -- harshly beautiful! There are hundreds of ancient stone forts, stone circles and stone dwellings (it's a rocky land!), and its...
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A Visit to Ireland (Part 5): the town of Dingle
Dingle (in Irish, An Daingean ) is the main town on the Dingle peninsula in County Kerry, with a population of around 1500 people. The Dingle Peninsula sits on Ireland's west coast just north of the Ivernaugh Peninsula (i.e. Ring of...
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A Visit to Ireland: Part 4) the Ring of Kerry; exploring the Ivernaugh Peninsula
The Ring of Kerry is a loop drive that circles the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It's just 110 miles (176 km) long but is not a fast drive as it's narrow and winding. And there's lots of beautiful scenery and historic...
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London's tiny landmarks celebrate 150 years
London celebrates the 150th anniversary of its littlest—and most numerous—landmarks, the more than 900 'little blue plaques.'
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May 31, 2016. The Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver
An historic hotel in Vancouver, situated on English Bay, Sylvia Hotel is a great place to stay or get something to eat or drink.
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Italian village celebrates its Scottish ancestors
A small village in the mountains above Lake Maggiore traces its roots to Scottish mercenaries who wintered there in 1525 and never went home.
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Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, Baddeck, Nova Scotia
Travel Rob takes you to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, Nova Scotia
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Loch Broom Log Church, Nova Scotia
Travel Rob visits the Loch Broom Log Church in Nova Scotia
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Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Canada
Travel Rob shows the Cabot Trail, one of the most scenic road trips of the world.
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A Country Lane in Ireland
Sometimes the best trip is to a place that's just to be seen and experienced for itself, with no special history or features.