Blog

Let’s talk about the first of the really well known explorers:
Christopher Columbus, whose name can be seen all around Central and South
America as Cristóbal Colón. Although Columbus was born an
Italian, in Genoa, he obtained sponsorship from the rulers of both Portugal
and Spain and made four trips to the New World. He was amongst those who
believed that the world was round – not a widely held view at the
time – and he longed to sail west to the Azores and further, to the legendary
lands described by Marco Polo.

As every schoolchild in the UK knows, “In fourteen hundred and
ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Even though the Scandinavians
had reached North America a long time before Columbus, Columbus’
trip was important in that he was amongst the first Europeans to set foot
on so many islands in the Caribbean, and land masses in Central and the
northern part of South America. The sad thing is that Columbus thought
he had reached the East Indies and that the islands of the Caribbean were
in islands off mainland China.

Of course, there were commercial motives in all these great ocean-going
trips, which often took years to undertake and in dreadful conditions
on board. These lay in buying new and exotic spices, although Columbus
was not too successful in this – he found capsicums and is also
attributed as having bought back tobacco, known locally as a “bewitching
vegetable” from the West Indies in 1496. On the one hand, he is believed
to have possessed great courage and explored parts of the world that were
completely chartered territory – his crew were in constant fear of toppling
over the edge of the world. On the other, historians reckon that he was
really quite greedy, constantly looking for increased wealth and a terrible
administrator (although a fearless explorer) and was cruel to the local
people he found in these new territories.

Next month: Vasco da Gama

Regents Park

Now that the Summer is almost upon us here in the UK, the Beetle thought
she would share her favourite London park: Regents Park – an oasis
of green and tranquility in the heart of London. Architect John Nash landscaped
the park and designed many of the buildings in the area (also worth a
stroll around) in the 18^thCentury. The park is within walking
distance of the following tubes: Marylebone, Baker St, Regents Park and
Camden Town up in the North. Within Regent’s Park, you have Queen
Mary’s Flower Gardens, where there are often band concerts in the
Summer months, the Boating Lake, the Zoological Gardens, one of the oldest
zoos in the world and the Open Air Theatre which often stages Shakespeare
in the Summer months. A nice day out could be to visit the weekend market
at Camden Lock then head south to the park, have a picnic and watch a
play in the evening. The cafes are surprisingly good and not too expensive
either.

Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is probably most famous for having the Greenwich Meridian
passing through it, and being home to Greenwich Meantime (GMT). The Beetle’s
favourite scuttling route to get to Greenwich is to take the Docklands
Light Railway (DLR) to Island River Gardens, and to walk to the river
and take the path that goes under the Thames to the other side. Before
you take the footpath, stop to admire the view across the river of Greenwich
and the fabulous stately buildings including the Old Royal Observatory,
designed by Sir Christopher Wren (he of St Pauls), the National Maritime
Museum and the Queens House, and not least the Cutty Sark. A good day
out would be to take the DLR to Island River Gardens, cross over to Greenwich,
take a picnic lunch, wander around and then take a boat back to West London
– to Blackfriars or Embankment or Westminster.

Hyde Park

The convenient thing about Hyde park is that is it close to some of
the best shopping areas in London. The park is within walking distance
of the following tubes: South Kensington, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner
in the South and Marble Arch in the north East and Lancaster Gate in the
North West. Henry VIII used Hyde Park for hunting in the 16^th
Century! In 1851, Prince Albert redesigned it for the Great Exhibition.
An absolute must is Speaker’s Corner, especially on a Sunday is
an example of freedom of speech, where you can witness impassioned individuals,
literally on their soapboxes in some cases, espousing some cause close
to their own heart!

For the hardy, there’s the Serpentine Lake where you can hire
a boat or even go swimming! There’s also a very good art gallery
at the Serpentine. Close by is the Lido, a place to have a drink or snack
and in Summer months, there is often a jazz band or a poetry reading.
A good day out would be to visit the shops in Knightsbridge, then on to
the Victoria and Albert Museum and then over to Hyde park with a picnic
lunch.

Next month: Iceland

Please contactBeetle@globetrotters.co.uk
for your suggested country itinerary

Norway , in a cocktail lounge: LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE
CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

Hungary , at a Budapest zoo, PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF
YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.

Italy , in a doctor’s office, Rome: SPECIALIST IN WOMEN
AND OTHER DISEASES.

Mexico , in a hotel in Acapulco: THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED
ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE.

Japan , in an information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner:
COOLES AND HEATES: IF YOU WANT CONDITION OF WARM AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE
CONTROL YOURSELF.

If you have seen any funny signs, let the Beetle know! Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Sanjay, one of our regular readers in India is justifiably proud of
Puri, the area in which he lives. He wants to tell us about the Chariot
Festival: Puri, on the shores of the bay of Bengal is one of the holiest
places in India. It was “discovered” by pot smoking backpackers
in the early 1960s. The Jagannath Temple at Puri comprises one of the
four dhams (holy places) for Hindus and is on India’s pilgrimage
circuit. The temple, built in the 12th century stands 65m high and is
in the heart of the town. The temple complex contains over 100 other smaller
temples of different Gods and Goddesses. You can also find one of the
finest beaches in India in Puri where beautiful and complex sand statues
are constructed from sand, on the beach.

The chariot festival is an annual event, attracting many thousands of
pilgrims and tourists and takes place during the early monsoon season.
This year, it fell on June 23rd. It is an amazing spectacle: the God of
the Universe, together with his brother and sister ride along the road
in a chariot in three chariots. The procession starts from the Jagannath
Temple and continues to another temple where it stays for eight days before
setting off back to their own temples.

Puri is connected by train and by road. There are also flights from
Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Bangalore. There is accommodation for everyone,
ranging from $4 a night to over $100 a night. Sanjay in Puri tells us
that he has recently formed a backpackers community club in Puri called
Rangers where rooms/dorms cost from US $ 4 a night.To get in touch
with Sanjay, contact the Beetle:Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

Next month: hiking in the Grand Canyon

That the combined age of our two oldest Globetrotter members is 174
years!

Robert from the US says he is going to St Petersburg in early September
this year and wants to know what ballet performances are on during this
time.

After a good deal of investigation, and surfing of very of Russian websites,
the Beetle says that she has news that the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly
the Kirov) will be closed between August 13th and October 5th, but that
the Mussorgorsky Opera and Ballet Theatre will be showing Swan Lake over
the period including 6th September.

The Beetle says – where are you all!!! Are you all on holiday?

Christina in Texas is to hold her second Globetrotter meeting at the
at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common Street in New Braunfels,
Texas. from 3 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2001.

Gerri Wright , from Hastings Book Store will present a review
of Travel Books and Tour Guide Books and Trish Ross will discuss
Practical Pre-Trip Planning Tips.

Christina’s advice is to come early so you won't be late!
The Beetle’s is – come early and eat all the cookies! Handouts
and refreshments will be available. Anybody want to help Christina or
enquire about meetings, please contact her on:texas@globetrotters.co.uk

A quick reminder that theGlobetrottersannual picnic
is at Meaford, Ont. (on Georgian Bay), it will be held at Vera Blowers'
on Saturday, August 11, 2001. Arrive on Saturday (August 11) around 10:30-11
am. You are welcome to stay over till Sunday & camp in her huge backyard.
For the less hardy, Vera has a couple of spare beds.

All are welcome! Car pools will be arranged.

If you would like more information on the picnic, car pools and Ontario
meetings, please contact: Svatka Hermanek:shermanek@schulich.yorku.ca
tel. 416-503-2933, Bruce Weber: tel. 416-203-0911, or Paul Webb: tel.
416-694-8259.

Meetings are held on the third Friday of September and November,January,
March, May (with the next meeting on September 21) Usually at the Woodsworth
Co-op, Penthouse, 133, Wilton Street in downtown Toronto at 8.00 p.m.