Travel: 3 days on a train to Chiang Mai

By Detlef Berg

Chiang Mai, Thailand (dpa) ­ There may be faster and safer ways to travel around Thailand, but is there one more beautiful?

It takes three days for the Eastern & Oriental Express, one of the most exclusive trains in the world, to make the journey from Bangkok to Chang Mai in northern Thailand and back.

The dark green and yellow carriages are a dream come true for the American James B. Sherwood.

Sherwood bought the carriages in New Zealand and had them redecorated with expensive wood panelling, a lot of brass metal work and Asian décor.

Sherwood is a train fanatic and he is also the owner of the historic Orient Express in Europe. The E&O is purely a product of Sherwood's imagination.

Although the railway has not yet provided the backdrop for an Agatha Christie novel, it has managed to stake a place in the ranks of the world's luxury train journeys.

The train's regular route takes it from Singapore to Bangkok and back but several times a year it makes the journey to Chiang Mai.

With a sudden jolt, the train's 22 carriages roll out of Hualampong train station in Bangkok.

At first, the guests' view is of small houses with corrugated roofs nestled tightly along the railway line. Washing hangs from clotheslines and children wave to the passengers.

Later, that seemingly endless sea of houses gives way to the suburbs and half hour-an-hour later the train passes through rice paddies.

The last carriage in the train is an open-air viewing car designed like a veranda where passengers can take in the tropical air or photograph the Buddhist temples passing by.

The first stop is Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometres north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya was once the capital of Siam and passengers can take a tour of the city in air-conditioned busses.

Passengers who have opted to take the tour learn tidbits of information about the city such as "For 400 years Ayutthaya belonged to the wealthiest empire in the whole of Asia."

A million people lived here during the city's high point in the 17th century.

Merchants came from China, Japan and Europe to found trading posts. The city was built on an island and at the time was surrounded by a 12-kilometre long wall. It was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

In 1767, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese. Today, the ruins of the temples and palace complexes are still impressive, so much so that Unesco declared them part of the world's cultural heritage. The restored Wat Phra Si Sanphet is particularly well worth visiting.

Back aboard the train, it's time to enjoy a well-earned shower. The air-conditioned cabins are small and offer little space but they are luxuriously equipped.

There is a tiny living room with cherry wood panelling and intricate inlays. There's also a sofa that converts into a bed and a shower-closet. Two large windows open to the countryside passing outside. However, there's not much time to enjoy the view.

Ulf Buchert, the train's German manager, calls the guests to the diner with a reminder that formal dress is desired.

Dining is one of the highlights of the trip. The tables in the restaurant carriage have been laid for a festive occasion.

The train's chef, Kevin Cape, greets the passengers, indulges in small talk and gives advice on the menu and wines. Everything is fresh and the balancing act between European cuisine and Asian cooking is without doubt a success.

To close the evening, there are cocktails in the bar carriage while passengers discuss the day's events and listen to the pianist play As Time Goes By.

Meanwhile, the discreet staff have transformed the cabin into a bedroom. They are the same staff who serve breakfast in the morning in the cabin on a silver tray with fresh coffee, orange juice and warm croissants.

By then, the train has arrived at its destination, Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand.

Passengers have only four hours to familiarise themselves with the Rose of the North and of course the train sticks rigidly to the timetable. Not surprisingly, choosing one of the three excursions is difficult.

One of the tours takes passengers to the city's old centre.

There are 36 temples in one area surrounded by a moat filled with water ­ four of the temples are older than any in Bangkok. Chiang Mai has 80 temples in total to discover.

Those interested in traditional craft making should take the second tour.

In the village of Bo Sang at the edge of the city, tourists can observe silversmiths at work, see how colourful paper umbrellas are made starting with making the paper to the painting the umbrellas.

Other stops on the tour include a silk factory and a ceramic workshop where fine, green, shimmering celadon pottery is made.

The third group visits the elephants to see them paint with their trunks. There is also an opportunity to ride an elephant up a steep hill.

The next stop on the journey is Lampang, famous for the horse drawn carriages that are built here.

Another highlight of the trip is a stopover at the River Kwai bridge before the E&O returns to Bangkok around midday.

The path is quite clearly the way on this journey and the E&O plays the main role in that trip.

For more inforamtion, check www.orient-express.com.

Cruise through Europe with Cruise Express

Cruise express has introduced a package that give travellers a chance to experience the scenic, historical and cultural highlights of Europe with its new Cruise Express 20-day fly/cruise/tour package.

From just $8990, the package takes travellers from Amsterdam to Budapest, going through major cities such as Cologne, Mainz, Wertheim, Nuremberg, Passau, Linz, Durnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. On board the modern 132 metre Viking Pride cruise ship, travellers will be cruising through these cities, capturing all the castles, palaces and museums that make up a fantastically cultural travel experience.

The package includes 15-days sightseeing on the Rhine and Danube Rivers with all meals and itinerary sightseeing, return flights from Sydney, two nights at the five-star Radisson SAS Hotel in Prague and a Cruise Express escort.

Links, posts and archives

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Extra train allows Orkney-London travel in a day

Rail passengers travelling from the far north of Scotland into Inverness will have more opportunities to do so from today (Monday 11 December) as a result of the introduction of a fourth daily winter train from Wick.

The new service, which launches as part of train operator First ScotRail's winter timetable, will provide a connection at Thurso for customers travelling on the morning ferry from Orkney. This is the first time that a fourth daily train on the route has operated all year round.

Natalie Loughborough, First ScotRail's customer service director will be at Inverness railway station to welcome passengers travelling on the first service, and will meet local MSP Jamie Stone, Orkney Cllr Bob Sclater and Frank Roach, Rail development manager of the Highland Rail Partnership.

First ScotRail says the journey time of three and a half hours from Thurso to Inverness on the additional train is a new record, and with the ferry connection means it will now be possible to travel on public transport from Orkney to London in a day.

Since launching in December 2005, the Invernet rail service upgrade, which covers part of the Inverness to Wick route, has led to an increase in the number of people travelling in and out of the Highland capital from the south and north. Service monitoring indicates a 29% growth in passenger numbers journeys on the Far North Line compared to the same period the year before.

Natalie Loughborough said: "The provision of an additional service from Caithness is certain to be well received, increasing the travel opportunities for customers living in the far north of Scotland. Through continued working relationships with industry partners, we hope to encourage further rail travel in this area."

Time travel to beat Christmas crowds

By Kerrie Murphy

IT'S close to the time of year when Defrag turns our attention to Christmas shopping.

Actually, that's a lie. It's close to the time of year when Defrag thinks we should turn our attention to Christmas shopping, but with everything going on at the moment we won't get around to any attention turning until just before Christmas, as usual.

Then we'll decide the shops are too crowded to cope with, even with Defrag's excellent Christmas present-buying strategy of buying a gift for ourselves for every one we buy someone else. So we'll limit ourselves to things that can be purchased online, but with the increased demands on the postal service, a few items won't arrive until after Christmas, leaving us partly empty-handed on the big day.

You'd think Defrag would learn a lesson from this, but you are woefully underestimating Defrag's skill in non-lesson learning.

Without this attribute, Defrag's arms would boast considerably smaller amounts of scar tissue, because we would know better than to think dangerous thoughts such as: "Hey, let's pat the cat."

But still, it's pretty poor form to have to tell someone that they can't have their dream gift until after Christmas, unless of course it's someone who asked for a PlayStation 3, because that one is totally not Defrag's fault.

If they requested a Nintendo Wii, we would also feel on solid ground in turning up giftless, because we could simply explain that we were unable to say the name Wii without laughing and therefore were unable to ask for one at the shop. This is also on the list of things that aren't our fault, because seriously, Wii? They're just taking the, well, Wii with that name.

And although the (non-)recipient of the games console is not getting the item they wanted, Defrag feels that we're giving them a much more useful gift, which is a lesson about the fruitlessness of thinking you can somehow buy a games console at Christmas in the same month it has been released. That's the sort of gift you can't put a price on. Although if you had to, Defrag would say it's saving us $399.95.

It's also the sort of gift that might result in having the now-wiser person spit in your turkey, so perhaps Defrag should think a little harder about our present plan.

That's when it hit us: the present. Defrag's whole problem with presents is that it's the present, which is December 2006. If we could somehow arrange it so it wasn't, our problem would be solved. So instead of wasting our time and money ordering gifts online that won't arrive before Christmas or trying to get games consoles that aren't available, we should put all our energy into building a time machine that allows us to travel into the future, skipping Christmas entirely. For the price of a console, we're sure we could build a time machine with an impressive amount of levers, dials and valves. We could probably even afford to splash out on some furry dice.

Now at this point, some of you may be thinking: hang on a minute, Defrag. Isn't tinkering with the basic laws of the universe just to avoid Christmas shopping a little extreme? Especially when these days your average service station is open 24 hours a day and has a wide range of items, meaning you rarely, if ever, have to buy someone 4l of synthetic oil and one of those stinky tree-shaped air fresheners.

To which we say: we're wary of buying anything more sophisticated than chocolate and the newspaper from our local servo since we attempted to buy a birthday card there, only to be told that they don't come with envelopes.

For all we know, a DVD purchase would only net us the disc, or a teddy bear only the stuffing. Perhaps the drinks come sans bottle.

But we must confess that we have an ulterior motive when it comes to building a time machine. It would be killing two birds with one stone - if Defrag wasn't opposed to such senseless cruelty to animals.

According to Silicon.com, Google executive Nikesh Arora has predicted that in 12 years the capacity of an iPod will be so large it will hold all the television shows in the world.

"In 12 years, why not an iPod that can carry any video ever produced," he asked, which is all the convincing Defrag needs.

That's right, in the future, we'll be able to carry around all the television in a world. Even Hey Dad, which admittedly is an apocalyptic vision of a future dystopia even more terrifying than global warming and nuclear war.

Despite the bad-sitcom-related risks, this is a future of which Defrag wishes to be part.

Of course, the problem is that, should we be successful in our quest, we'll find ourselves in December 2018 and so we'll still have to buy Christmas presents.

And should we fail to live up to gift-giving expectations then by not purchasing a PlayStation 11, the disgruntled can do more than mess with our food. They can make us watch every episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"These devices are repositories for stolen music, and they all know it. So it's time to get paid for it.'' Universal Music Group chief executive Doug Morris on moves to get Apple to pay a royalty on each iPod sold. (Hey, Doug, you just called more than 42 million people thieves, and they all challenge you to a duel to defend their honour).

TOP 10 READER'S POLL
This week: Phishing emails are asking people for financial information and money in exchange for tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show. Here are the top 10 signs an offer of Oprah tickets is phoney.
10. The advertised guest is George Bush who will be "telling the truth about Iraq".
9. The offer is accompanied by an invitation to Tom Cruise's wedding.
8. You get exactly the same offer from 48 people in one day.
7. It asks you to include enough money to pay for the free cars given to audience members.
6. The episode you're invited to is called "Springer update: Steve and the pregnant hooker", followed by "Pimps, Hos and Hillbilly evildoers!"
5. The topic is Get Back in the Kitchen, why women shouldn't have it all.
4. According to the email, the show will be recorded in Broken Hill.
3. On the back of the tickets is a coupon for a free session with Dr Phil.
2. The featured Oprah is Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Nigeria.
1. Oprah's name is mentioned only once on the offer, there is no photo of her and no reference to her book of the month.
Contributors: Keith Cundale, Matt McCarthy, Tim Borten, Paul Hunt, Mark Simmons, Emma Crane, Kitty McGee
Next week: A US survey finds that one in five parents think their children spend too much time online. Send us the top 10 signs your child is spending too much time on the net. Answers before Thursday afternoon, please.

Animal Themes - Duck Types (then on to chickens, turkeys, geese, others)

Here a quack. Go to this site to find duckworld -- www.ansi.okstate.edu/poultry/ducks/index. Look each one up and marvel:

There are Muscovy ducks; Call ducks, usually in red-light ponds? and Cayuga ducks, seriously from Cayauag County, NY and isn't that also Cornell? And Khaki Campbells, Pekin ducks, and are these the restaurant variety? and Rouen ducks (did Joan of Arc recognize them?). They are a kind of hyper-mallard, and more. Site has most of these with pictures, some you have to look up further.

For songs and ditties about ducks that you may have tried to forget after elementary school, see England Road Ways . Then try to forget them again. Gotcha. In your ears.

There are posters abroad that we saw, and should have bought, that have species of goat, sheep, cattle.

Cattle, sheep, goats, horses - identifying breeds

Livestock breeds: You will see so many. See the variety of sheep, goats, cattle, horses: at www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/.

One of the most striking of the cattle we saw is the Belted Galloway, or "oreo" cattle breed. They are black with a wide, white belt around the middle. I believe they are being raised in Maine now, or New Hampshire. There was a newspaper article about someone buying a half of a Belted Galloway with a friend, who got the other half, and all the parts went into the freezer.

See Scotland Road Ways for the heavy-coated highland cattle, very long and shaggy coats. There are also wild donkeys in the Highlands there. See Ireland Road Ways for the brown and white, more familiar, cattle walking on the roadways. And for the sheep and goats also on the roads. They are identified by inked blotches, red, blue, yellow, known to the owners. Donegal sweaters? Is that where the blue and red flecks come from, in the wool?

Your spain travel

Spain is full of magical points of interest. Before you pack your bags and head off to Spain, here's some great travel information. Did you know that Spain's summers typically reach 90-100ºF? Key Travel Tip

Here's a great Spain travel tip for you. If you hate overcrowding and love the beaches, don't visit Spain in July or August. Spain offers many festivals throughout the year. A popular one is the Fiesta De San Fermin. The countless activities that Spain offers to its people, natives and guests alike and for every age are more than enough reason to make Spain one of the tope tourist destinations.

Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Salou, Alicante and Marbella are the most popular destinations in Spain. Each offers its own distinct flavor yet every one of them are quite popular since they meld both the richness of old Spain and the novelty of new Spain. Bullfights may be one of the most memorable events in your travel to Spain.

Caribbean travel

The Caribbean islands are a popular tourist destination situated east of Central America. There are a number of important airlines that offer flights to the Caribbean. Apart from the major flights that help people reach the Caribbean Islands there are numerous small Caribbean airlines that that help tourists travel between islands.

Vacationers may choose to make reservations through travel agents, online or directly with an airline service. A number of online air travel sites offer discounts on Caribbean flights and customers may need to bid for them. Certain online sites only cater to a tourist's reservation if they opt to become members.

People can elect from a wide range of Caribbean air travel. Travelers may choose to indulge in comparison-shopping. This helps them analyze price points and airline features. Roundtrip Caribbean flights prove to be the most economical and need to be reserved well in advance.

Before venturing to the airport it is advisable to enquire regarding flight delays. When people mention Caribbean, it refers to the region that consists of the Caribbean Sea, numerous islands within the area and the adjacent coasts. Home to reggae, Rasta, jazz, pop, white sandy beaches and warm waters, a Caribbean vacation proves to be popular amongst tourists. Apart from flight and cruise reservations, Caribbean vacation travel plans include other travel needs.

Numerous undiscovered beaches, rainforests, diving locations and Caribbean cruises form the crux of Caribbean vacation travel. Tourists may opt for travel packages that offer a wide range of adventure sports. Numerous travel plans include introductory Scuba lessons and other water sports that are conducted by resorts and hotels.

Caribbean vacation travel deals may be all inclusive packages or regular offers. Caribbean vacations could revolve around secluded beaches, natural reserves and fun filled pubs and discos. Before venturing out, tourists need to be attentive towards basic necessities of a Caribbean vacation. Caribbean travels plans are widely advertised online and through travel specials and deals.

Get the cheap airline tickets to Europe

Europe is the best place to travel for honeymoon, vacation or just for relaxation. Traveling to Europe can be quite interesting and easy when you have lot of money for air tickets and shopping. But getting a cheap airline ticket can save you some money which can be used for some other important things.

You cannot enjoy your vacation especially if you cannot do the things you like most. While bending a little, you can find cheap airline tickets to Europe even during peak seasons. To get the very cheap air tickets to Europe, Internet can be very helpful for you. You should go to some big travel sites and check out their offers. So by little search on the internet, you can get a cheap airline ticket even during the peak seasons.

You also need to compare the different travel dates. Cheap airline tickets to Europe may cost you less on some days while costing a leg on other days. Competition is also a high factor in determining the availability of cheap airline tickets for Europe which should be considered.

If an airline offers you those cheap airline tickets to Europe, chances are other airlines will follow suit. Every business needs to attract customers into their cheap airline ticket ad as an economic attraction.

Checking on smaller airlines could also help when they are still starting their business and trying to gain a foothold in the industry. Most likely they would be more than glad they might be able to offer you cheap airline tickets to Europe. Other airlines would want to gain a market share, so they use selling tickets at a discounted rate as a tactical maneuver to get that.

Of course, with these airlines you may have to sacrifice a bit as they are unlike the gigantic airlines. After all, this is the reason why they can offer you those cheap airline tickets to Europe.

Chartered flights also offer the lowest rates for cheap airline tickets to Europe, as they only operate during certain times of the year. Sure, if you can do away with some luxuries, and spend for comfort once in Europe, you only need to bend a little and find that the cheap airline tickets to Europe will be worth the compromise.

Thanksgiving travel tips

Logan International Airport will run 20 percent more Logan Express suburban shuttle buses during the busiest days before and after Thanksgiving, and extra on-airport shuttles from the MBTA Blue Line and water shuttles.

Don't forget that only one lane of Interstate 90 eastbound to the Ted Williams Tunnel and Logan is open because of the July tunnel ceiling collapse.

Demand for cabs at Logan Sunday night after Thanksgiving is likely to be double normal Sunday night levels.

Manchester Boston Regional Airport yesterday began offering an every-two-hours free shuttle bus from the Sullivan Square MBTA Orange Line stop and Woburn rail/bus station.

Consider arriving at the airport an extra 30 to 60 minutes earlier than normal -- in other words at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight.

Remember the new carry-on luggage restrictions: Liquids and gels can't be in containers bigger than 3 ounces, and what you carry must fit in one clear quart-sized plastic bag.

Holland America Line - 2007 Europe Cruise Specials

Book by 31 December 2006 and save up to $1,710 per person

Travel the World has announced an extended booking date for its 2007 Europe Early Advantage Specials on the premium Holland America Line. The cruise-only specials are available on new bookings made before 31 December 2006 on nine Europe itineraries covering spectacular Mediterranean ports in Italy, Spain, Portugal and France as well as the stunning Scandinavian peninsula and across the Atlantic to New York, New York!

Save as much as AU$1,710 per person, twin share on the early bird specials, with cruise-only prices starting from AU$2,361 per person, twin share.

The specials are available on Holland America Line’s most popular itineraries and on four of its luxury fleet; the 1,918 passenger ms Westerdam; the medium size ms Rotterdam and ms Veendam, and the smaller ms Prinsendam, which accommodates 793 passengers.

2007 Europe Early Advantage Specials

Athens to London cruise from AU$3,889

This 16-night cruise departs Athens on 14 May 2007 and sails to Turkey, Libya, Italy, Monaco, France, Spain and Portugal before arriving in London. Travelling on the 1,316 passenger ms Rotterdam, you’ll enjoy state of the art facilities including spacious accommodation, salon, gym and spa services and exceptional dining. Cruise-only prices start at AU$3,889 per person, twin share for a large outside stateroom, a saving of AU$1,336. Verandah suites start at AU$6,502 per person, twin share.

\London to Copenhagen cruise from AU$3,000

Departing London on 30 May 2007, the ms Rotterdam will take you to the best of the Baltic, visiting Norway, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark. The 12-day cruise starts at just AU$3,000 per person, twin share for an outside stateroom – a saving of $1,474 per person. Enjoy the reverse journey from Copenhagen to London on 10 August 2007 with prices starting from AU$2,638 per person, twin share for an Inside Stateroom.

Rotterdam to Copenhagen cruise from AU$2,694

The 12-night voyage from Rotterdam, The Netherlands to Copenhagen, Denmark includes eight ports. Among these; Norway, Germany, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden. ms Rotterdam departs on 29 July 2007, with cruise-only prices starting at AU$2,694 for an inside stateroom and $2,916 for a large outside stateroom. Or, enjoy the reverse journey, departing Copenhagen on 11 June 2007.

Venice to Venice cruise from AU$2,361

A true Italian experience awaits you on the Venice to Venice cruise, departing 29 April 2007. The 10-night cruise visits Sicily, Rome, Florence and Naples in Italy, as well as Monaco, Corsica and Croatia. You will love the 1,258 passenger ms Veendam, which also features the latest in cruising thanks to the fleet’s Signature of Excellence upgrade. Cruise only prices start at AU$2,361 per person, twin share for an inside stateroom, AU$2,638 per person for a large outside stateroom and AU$4,168 for a veranda suites – a saving of $1,625 per person!

Copenhagen to New York cruise from AU$4,445

Venture from Europe to North America, on an 18-night cruise on ms Veendam. Departing Copenhagen, on 22 August 2007, the cruise will take you to ports in Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland, before arriving in New York. Inside staterooms start at AU$4,445 per person, twin share and outside staterooms are priced from $5,001 per person, a saving of AU$1,405 per person.

Rome to Amsterdam cruise from AU$3,473

For more intimate cruising, board ms Prinsendam in Rome and sail for 14-nights to Amsterdam. Enjoy the best of the Mediterranean as you visit Monaco, La Rochelle and the Channel Islands. Cruise-only prices start at AU$3,473 per person, twin share for a large outside stateroom and AU$4,445 for a veranda suite – a massive saving of $1,710 per person. Prinsendam accommodates 793 guests in luxury staterooms and provides a full range of amenities including three restaurants, two swimming pools, an internet centre, golf center, beauty salon and health spa.

Rome to Rome cruising from AU$2,361

The ms Westerdam will take you to a selection of the most exotic ports in the Roman Empire over 10-nights. Departing Rome on two dates: 30 July 2007 and 19 August 2007, ms Westerdam will call at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca in Spain; Tunisia and Sicily and Naples in Italy, before returning to Rome. Inside staterooms start from AU$2,361 per person twin share and outside staterooms are priced from $2,889. Verandah suites are also available for $3,293 – a reduction of $1,446 on the standard cruise price.

Holland America Line 2007 Europe Early Advantage cruise-only price includes:

* European Cruise onboard Holland America Line’s ms Rotterdam, ms Veendam, ms Westerdam or ms Prinsendam

* All meals, entertainment and activities whilst cruising

* Non-discountable amount of between AU$347 and AU$493 (taxes are additional)

Holland America Line’s elite feet of shipsoffer the latest facilities to make you feel at home whilst at sea. The recent Signature of Excellence upgrade boasts premium accommodation facilities, an enhanced dining experience and excellence service.

To make your early bird booking today contact Travel the World before 31 December 2006 on telephone 02 8296 7072 or visit the website www.traveltheworld.com.au. Travel the World can also assist with a fly/cruise packages.

A Day In Our Life Over There - An Inconsequential Poem

We travel oddly, my son and I.
Pick country, cheap airfare, and rent-a-car.
EZ Pack: one for wash, wear, spare. Mostly.
Direction? Clockwise or not, depending.
Lost again? He decides. Elbows cross.
Fingers point both directions and we go.
No goals, nocall-aheads, hardly. Schmooze.
Find: Standing stones. Vikings. Crusades.
Castles. Family graves. Silent loud stories.
Rules: Ferry sign? Take it. Orkney, 5 A.M.
Sing the towns in songs. Fair Citee. Gra- nah-dah!
Volcano up close. El Greco hands. Bulls run.
Menu mystery: Pick the sixth. Bulls' ears?
And here lies the heart of Robert the Bruce.
Where is the rest? Fill in the gaps.
Personal best: Watch one parent, one child,
Now two adults. Joint venture.
Up-looking re-education with my Down son
Who is always Up. Hey, man. Who are we?
We are the Car-Dan Tour Company.
We master airports.
Thinking in the car.
Log on lap. Pencil.
My line of work ill-chosen for my kind.
A maze, unknowable turnings
With no-one at rest. Waiting for an outcome
From choices made, or found in the wood.
Who chose?
You get away, you think back.
Like after the push
When I went down the street.
Intentionally thrust
By the alien children
Abrupt, when I was four, and new
In the neighborhood.
Thought that long forgotten.
Right off the concrete stairs
Of the new addition.
They were silent after.
And my fingers sticky red running home.
The pitch. Again, there. Loud in its waiting.
The tolling. Ears ring ever after.
The mirror and the office.
Where the place.
All turnings. The mosaic reheaves.
Prom ball. Worldwide.
A technicolor ferris.
Fine ride. Next flight.


More blogs about Common Thread Road Ways.

Myths and Legends Sites - and Connections between Cultures

Reading myths can occupy an entire morning, at least, so do set aside the tme. We see statues of ancient gods and goddesses, references in the country's lore. Try this site before you leave for a country, to get a flavor of the old days - www.mythinglinks.org/euro%7Eeast%7EBalkans%7ERomania.

I especially enjoyed the sections with Romania and Central Europe, but just go to the home page (mythinglinks.org) for the best overall starting point. I am interested in the tree image that cultures use in creation stories and other purposes.

Weekend In Europe

It is quite simple and easy to plan weekend breaks in Europe. You don’t even have to go forth the place you are sitting on now to book a European trip. Just check up on out the websites of different travel federal agencies that offering weekend Europe packages. Soon you will be flying to Europe more frequently to pass your weekends.

A break from the hectic lifestyle is wanted for everyone. No one likes to retreat to the confines of their home. In fact they want to explore the whole world outside their offices. That is true; we are dealing with more than enough of pressure in our offices. We shall just make the most out of our off days. Getting away from the country literally turns to getting away from everything that puts you under pressure. Now weekend breaks in Europe are quite common.

What makes weekend breaks in Europe so common? It is the advancement in technology and opening up of newer aerial routes between US and European destinations that help one plan a short outing to Europe. The charm of Venice, London, Paris, among many others are a passion for people like me for unknown reasons. Some people may also have nostalgic feelings to visit the motherland of their parents. The idea of flying out of the country also is an inspiration for many.

Travel tips

Perhaps your hotel room was robbed. Here are ways to do certain that your trip is a success in malice of those obstacles. More volition is coming. While you don't have got to be too strict. You should have got a docket and go forth it with person at home.

Your loved will be able to have got a fairly good thought of where you are. You will minimize your losses. Another option is to take a preloaded credit card. Which is really more than like a debit entry card that you set money “on” so that if you stop up losing your billfold the thieves cannot wreck your recognition rating? Bring a telephone figure that volition call off your recognition card.

You'll desire to have got your travel coverage information. Brand certain that the medical information is translated into the primary linguistic communication of the topographic point you are going to so that non-English-speaking docs will have got no job apprehension the situation.

Know what sort of coverage is covered on your recognition card. If that is how you are using to paying for your trip. May not cover it in the state is you are going to. Be certain to cognize what coverage you have got before you leave. There are common sense travel tips. Then there are the tips that are more than along the line of "secrets.” These are the little-known tricks learned by experience. Here are some of the best of those.

The cheapest "tourist hotel" I could happen when in a vacation spot town in United Mexican States was $135. The room was spotless. I was there to travel. Negotiating room complaints is common in many countries. The fast one here is to be certain that there are other options. Most proprietors will name you back and less the price. This salvages you a batch if you are single. Hotels in the U.S. are less likely to negotiate. We have got done it. Most little concatenation motor hotels are not company-owned. So it is usually the proprietor behind the counter.

Travel is often only as inexpensive as your airplane tickets. Go to the cheapest one now - the others will be inexpensive another time. There are things you can make to maintain it cheaper. You might have got so much merriment that you'll never acquire around to doing the expensive things. Leave expensive clothes and jewelers at the hotel when you are just out for a walk. Safety fast ones are the most of import travel tips.

2-for-1 deals from APT World Discoveries on river cruises and free Europe airfares

Deals have just been released for specific departures of APT World Discoveries Europe river cruises next year. These include free return economy airfare to Europe flying Austrian Airlines and a two-for-one price for travellers.

The free airfare deal is for the March 18th 2007 departure of its 15-days Amsterdam-Budapest Magnificent Europe river cruise.

Priced from $4,345 per person twin share in outside stateroom on board the new luxury ms Amalgero, all meals, welcome dinner, cocktail reception and Captain’s Gala Dinner are inclusive.

Port charges, transfers and airfare taxes are approximately $985 extra.

The 2-for-1 offer is for the 11-days Legendary Danube which represents a saving of $2992 per couple. Departures for this offer is 5 April 07. Other charges are around $300 per person.

This tour includes a 3 night stay in Prague, seven night cruise aboard the ms Amalegro in an outside stateroom from Nuremberg to Budapest, 25 gourmet meals, cocktail reception and welcome dinner.

Travel advice given by private company

Just a year after the transportation departments of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey unveiled a Web site aimed at taking the mystery out of the region's public transit system, a private company has done the same thing.

But Marc Sellouk said his new business, Publicroutes.com, is more than just a way to navigate the complicated tri-state transportation system, it's a local business finder that not only shows you the address but also a step-by-step way to get there.

The region's DOTs unveiled Trips123.com in April 2005. That Web site tracks accidents, construction and delays on roads and public transportation routes throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region. You can plan a transit trip throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties and into the other states on the site.

Publicroutes.com went active in June of this year but is still adding communities to the service.

An attempt to plan a trip between Bridgeport and Ansonia failed on publicroutes.com Tuesday, but a trip from Bridgeport to Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan worked.

Trips123.com was able to produce directions to both locations.

But a key difference was getting the Katz's Deli information from publicroutes.com. One only has to type in Katz's Deli in New York and the Web site will track down the location. Then, the user can choose to find directions to the deli. This option is not available on Trips123.com.

A search for Japanese food in the Stratford area on publicroutes.com was also successful, producing a list of at least five restaurants in the area.

Sellouk said that's what he wants people to be able to do, type in a name or type of business for an area and find that business.

As for the problems with plotting out a trip in Connecticut, Sellouk said the bus schedules for Connecticut are still being loaded.

"It's very complex technology," Sellouk said, adding that the Web site is still being improved.

The company plans to make money by selling advertising, Sellouk said, so the more useful the site is the more chance there is of attracting more users, which should translate into profits.

James Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, said he was glad to hear a private company is doing this.

"People who want to do the right thing and leave their cars behind are often stymied because they can't find their way around," Cameron said. The system of buses, subways and railroads isn't always the easiest to understand and Cameron added that more established Web sites have virtually ignored public transit and instead only offered driving directions to locations. Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.

JetBlue inks deal with travel reservations firm

JetBlue Airways Corp. signed a deal with travel reservations system Worldspan, building on a shift in strategy that began two months ago when the airline signed deals with two travel agent systems.

The Queens-based airline had long eschewed the travel agents' networks in favor of its own Web site. But its reach was limited since JetBlue flights were "unsearchable" on various Internet travel search engines.

JetBlue signaled a change in strategy in August when it signed up with travel agent systems Sabre Travel Network and Gallileo.

Those deals gave thousands of travel agents on those networks access to JetBlue's inventory for the first time. With the addition of the Worldspan, JetBlue now has 85% of the North American market covered.

The agreements come at a time when JetBlue is furiously expanding its route map.

"We've added smaller markets like Columbus and Raleigh-Durham, which really cater only to business travelers -- and we wanted to make our systems available to corporate travel coordinators," said JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin.

It also means that customers who rely on the last-minute ease of the JetBlue Web site may be out of luck -- with all those travel agents in play, tickets are disappearing faster.

But the company took pains to say the best deals are still found on the JetBlue Web site since the travel distribution systems charge fees that increase ticket prices.

Best time to Europe travel

When planning your trip to Europe, just check out your coming, departure date and find out if they take in to peak period, off peak or shoulder travel periods. Peak periods are the periods when maximum of people travel around the world. These peak dates normally match with school holidays, New Year and Christmas.

The planned date varies from country to country where you are flying. If you travel there in the peak periods, flights and accommodation will be heavily booked and everything is going to be very expensive. The peak period is normally from December to January and June to august end. Traveling during the Christmas is going to be very costly as you are going to be overcharged for everything like tickets, hotels etc.

The "shoulder period" is in spring and autumn and the low or "off-peak" periods are usually in the remaining months and in the winter. If you have very little time to travel to Europe, best time for you will be during the shoulder period. At that time you are going to get everything cheaply and going to get the great conditions.

And you much time to travel, travel Europe in the low season when the fares are cheap so you can stay there for long with the money you are going to spend on your Europe travel. Start checking for the airfares and hotels etc 3 to 4 months before you travel Europe. Some airlines give you the rewards on early bookings. So book your hotel according to your arrival and departure dates.

It is always good to check the latest condition about the country you are visiting minutes before traveling. For most seasoned travelers, the best time to see Europe is from April to June and September to October when the weather is still warm, the holiday crowds have left and accommodation and transport are regularly priced.

Wars and War Crimes; Propaganda Techniques, And What Lack of Transparency Engenders

Here is Hitler's famous stadium in Nuremberg. See Germany Road Ways. The Nazi Documentation Center there is worth an entire day, if not more. Films, resources, guided seatings and transitions given for exhibits to alter your whole worldview. Things we don't want to acknowledge.

All over Europe are memorials and ruins remaining, statues and other strong reminders of conflict. From that, stems an interest in how governments get people to believe what the government wants them to believe, so the people will support them, and think they are making up their own minds. Not.

An overview of the techniques used to get people to support a cause, see www.propagandacritic.com/. Scroll to the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Set up in 1937 by our own government to educate us about such techniques, so we could protect ourselves, and before WWII even. Whether the cause is a good one or not, it is the fact that there are known techniques that is more important. We should be self-educating, so we can analyze before swallowing. Who else will do it? Not the persuaders, certainly.

For an overview of the overall war crimes topic, see www.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_warcrimes. The issue comes up in the world wars and the countries involved. Not all agree on who should be tarred and tried as a war criminal. In Bosnia, posters protest against the ongoing search for some people, while trials of others continue at The Hague. Evildoing: Many-sided issue.

Good site for WWI picture history: www.historypictures.com/home_wcppx_l.htm#contents.

This site seems to have it all - news, poetry, songs, and histories and audios: www.firstworldwar.com/index. For military history overviews, various campaigns, see www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/anzio. There are also sites where vets can add their recollections.

Good picture history at Western Civilization Picture Pack, WWII at www.historypictures.com/home_wcppx_n.htm#contents. As with any of these references, go to the home page at the dot com, then use the rest of the address only as needed.
................................................................................................................................................
Where to put people's views of "wars" propagated on us from within, or close to?
Or that show how, without governmental transparency, conclusions of what happened are easily skewed?
Why aren't all the counter-footages, or black boxes, or whatever, showing the areas that now are still withheld, put out there?

• Take your pick here, if you are inclined. These are long, so if you are going to delve in, set the time aside. Let me know of counter-sites that lay issues to rest for you.

• These sites came from a comment on a blog. I did not publish the entire comment.
  

• The sites here to films about these issues, of governmental transparency and remaining questions, are offered only to show a tally of what information is seen as most important by the film-makers, and do not represent a conclusion of the "best" or "right" ones because I am no expert. And, any film reflects the point of view of the film-maker. Do let me know of other film views we all should see for balance before coming to conclusions.

Controlled demolition? See video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6708190071483512003;
related movements at video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5948263607579389947; or
www.scholarsfor911truth.org/. Keep info, ideas flowing.
Already responses: As to 91truth, see a counter-site at 911research.wtc7.net/essays/st911/index.

Amnesia , Persuasion Techniques - and Lili Marlene (Lilli Marleen)

A side mini-rant.

Amnesia is the persuader's friend, all over the world. Represent what happened in a way to elicit certain emotions, perhaps change words, repeat, associate this with that, and people forget what was before, or the other side of the story.

This, in Cetinje, Montenegro. See Montenegro Road Ways.

Is there any country where critical thinking is encouraged, questions are solicited, to fill in details, or where visual and aural persuasion techniques are taught so people can defend against them? Or are persuasion techniques now used everywhere against them. Whether looking at war criminal posters in Bosnia, or seeing war memorials all over, or hearing political rally speakers and people rev up, or hearing war touted again as an answer, we may be at this point, all of us: we have to educate ourselves.

Look up the persuasion techniques listed from 1937 - now being used, at www.propagandacritic.com; and the great prophet of PR, he who could even "warm up" Calvin Coolidge - Edward Bernays from 1928 or so - see the Museum of Public Relations at http://www.prmuseum.com/bernays/bernays_1928.html,
You, too, can do it. Sell. Regardless. See www.aboutpublicrelations.net/. We deserve what we let happen.

Propaganda on a small scale: Lili Marlene. The torch song associated with World War II, both sides singing, hearing Marlene Dietrich's froggy voice, imagining the lamp post in Berlin.

This started with a protest poem by a German soldier in World War I - 1913 - on the way to the Russian front. See www.jazzprofessional.com/report/Norbert%20Schultze.htm#english. That site says that Ron Simmonds (the jazz trumpet player I think) translated the original from 1913. From the words to Lili, perhaps his girlfriend, and the Marleen maybe a nurse, Lili Marleen came about and herself may be already dead in that song. The waste of War. The blood. Who counts the bodies. Who names them. All from pride and greed. That is 1913. Lili Marleen.

But then, the song morphed into its opposite - a torch song in wartime in World War II, and even a Panzer Division marching song. See Germany Road Ways, Lili Marleen post.

So somehow war is not protested in Lili Marlene. It is just a love song. Go to the Germany Road Ways, Lili Marleen post and you can find the audio of the song, in its many variations, and the poem. Small example, but we can't seem to look at truth for long. War protest, too powerful, So turn it into nostalgia for war.

Historical periods, survey sites, UNESCO World Heritage

1. UNESCO World Heritage sites. See http://www.galenfrysinger.com/world_heritage.htm for World Heritage sites he has visited; then roam about his pages for photos all over the world - and organized, sometimes, into other categories than mere countries - the Roman World, for example. Also: UNESCO World Heritage sites: United Kingdom www.thesalmons.org/lynn/wh-england.

2. History.

2.1 Feudal societies, Roman Empire, overview of European migrations and those affecting Europe: see the History of Central Europe at //mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/misc/europe.htm#Mong.

2.2 Sites with different perspectives on history: This site says that our esteemed idea of Renaissance in the 15th century was nothing. Instead, look at the 12th Century. Names names. For an unusual topic, "The Renaissance Myth," see web.maths.unsw.edu.au/%7Ejim/renaissance. There are always new ways of sorting information.

2.3 Overall, for history go to the Internet History Sourcebook site at www.fordham.edu/halsall/. It includes film, everything you could want. You get lost in it, going from one link to another. I used the top menu rather than the side one.

2.4 Middle Ages: try www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/middleages.

2.5 Surveys and commentaries: www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/. See ancient world, voices, photos, Queen Victoria, the death of a child in 1890, and a red light district in 1843, and other focused (not just survey) topics; see also the World Association of International Studies on history at cgi.stanford.edu/group/wais/cgi-bin/index.php?p=587">WAIS on history. These are a series of brief commentaries.

3. Country-specific themes: English towns: see www.trytel.com/%7Etristan/towns/towns. [others are also listed, not in England; and other topics such as plague}

Electric Scotland: www.electricscotland.com/history/journey/jour21.


4. Where to go: Internet "hotlist" on middle ages: www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listthemiddel.

5. Myths - Forest myths around the world: at www.leaf-international.org/Leaf/myths.

6. Monasticism - at aggreen.net/monasteries/monastic.

Belfries and Keeps; Trees on roofs

See this World Heritage site for the role of belfries and keeps in medieval life. The belfry signified independence, the keep signified the power of the overlord, as a summary - and there are apparently 23 of them that are especially beautiful in France and Belgium. See whc.unesco.org/en/list/943 for Keeps and Belfries. We began sketching the different types - witches' hats, onion domes.

Tree-topping for luck. Here is an example of "tree-topping" at Prislop, the Gateway Pass, Romania. This U.S. site says the custom of "tree-topping" is Scandinavian, dating from the Vikings. See www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A225315%20">Trees on Rooftops. If the long address does not work to get yo to the specific section, start with the main dot-com and work your way. The site notes that ironworkers these days may all sign the beam before putting them in place. Then they often put it up with a flag and evergreen tree on it. The tree idea goes back to Scandinavians, Vikings, symbolizing work done well, and promoting good luck for those about to move in. It was American Norwegian ironworkers who added the American flag iere, putting their own touch on the tradition.

For steelworkers, it also signifies, says this next site, that the maximum height has been reached, and the last beam is now in place. And, it notes that the Scandinavians by 700 A.D. used the tree at the top to signal the beginning of the "completion party." Everybody come. See www.aisc.org/Content/ContentGroups/Modern_Steel_Construction3/December_2000/0012_05_christmas.pdf#search=%22luck%20tree%20on%20roof%22. That is a pdf file, at page 1 of 4. Go to the basic aisc.org if the later information does not help.

So much easier if we could link, and if the protections of copyright and intellectual property could still be offered.

In Romania, the trees are also found on reconstructions and on tops of gates leading to a family compound.

A Japanese site also seems to say that cut trees at the entrance are lucky. See www.hkjapaneseclub.org/english/message. Quote from that site: "Good Luck Tree.
We placed two good luck trees on our 38/F & 39/F at the main entrance. Member can hang your wish on the tree. It will all come truth!" Unquote.

Sheelanagigs, in cultures closer to nature

The Normans are also known as Northmen, the Vikings.

Among their conquest achievements is their invasion of England from Normandy, the area of France given to them to keep them from plundering up the Seine any longer. And, from England and Wales, on to Ireland.

After conversion to Christianity, the Normans built churches with distinguishing characteristics, see www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_church_architecture; and www.mondes-normands.caen.fr/angleterre/cultures/GB_FR/culture6_3.

The Normans built their churches wherever they went - see, for example, in Sicily, in the crusades era. See the Monreale post at Sicily Road Ways.

On many in the British Isles, you also will find - if your eyes will tell your brain, and your brain will let it through -- that there are unclothed forms on Norman churches. These are called sheelanagigs, and they can be either gender. They may be up high, as the first one we found at St. Clement's, Rodel, Harris, the Hebrides. The sheelanagig there is midway up the tower, and quite small, but intentionally placed on a course there. See Hebrides Road Ways

Some explanations say they are fertility symbols, some say they stem from old Celtic forms, as at crossroads or patted for luck or for children; others have no explanation. How they look: Some are dignified, some are exhibitionist, some are hag-ish, others are quite lovely. Here is a closeup of the one here at St. Clement's. Do visit this site for long descriptions and many pictures of sheelanagigs. www.sheelanagig.org.

Biography - Following People, Real or Fictional, and Songs

Here is a good overall biography resource: //www.biographybase.com/bio/a.

Follow signs for any real or fictional person. Or, you may just come upon one at a cafe. Here we found James Joyce, in Pula, Istria, Croatia - near the old Roman gate.

Spain. Ernest Hemingway was in Spain in the 1930's, among many other places. See www.timelesshemingway.com/thearoom/generalsec1. See the Hemingway post at
Spain Road Ways

France. Joan of Arc is over much of northern France. See www.archive.joan-of-arc.org; and
France Road Ways

Germany. The Brothers Grimm are centered in Germany. A fine museum is at Kassel. It was hard to find with our map, but we just parked finally, and walked through a large park rather than cope with one-way streets. The Brothers Grimm tales are the subject of www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/index2. Our culture waters them down ridiculously. Are our children so fragile that they can't hear the real thing? I have an old Grimm from the late 1800's, early 1900's, and Rapunzel becomes "with child," the young man falls off the ladder and is blinded in the briars, she wanders int he wilderness and has twins, and ultimately they meet up again.

Rome. The Romans were over most of southern and central Europe. See www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/; and Germany Road Ways. They knew that it is one thing to conquer, another to administer afterwards, and they did both well - for centuries.

We also dogged these characters, real and fictional - using England as an example of all the springboards:

England. Robin Hood's legacy or compulsory sharing has spawned a New York City anti-poverty effort at www.robinhood.org/home/home.cfm. See character overview at www.boldoutlaw.com/.You can give your opinions at the Robin Hood Society at www.robinhood.ltd.uk/robinhood/index.

England. Find more about King Arthur at www.kingarthursknights.com/.

England. Charles Dickens? see www.helsinki.fi/kasv/nokol/dickens.

England. Chaucer - this site includes music at www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.

England. Thomas a Becket. His life and murder at Canterbury Cathedral are described at www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/becket.

England. Peter Pan. Read the story version yourself at www.literature.org/authors/barrie-james-matthew/the-adventures-of-peter-pan/index.

Wales. And the castles regarding the Prince of Wales and Edward II in www.castlewales.com/caernarfon, and Wales Road Ways.

Scotland. There are Robert the Bruce, see www.magicdragon.com/Wallace/Bruce6. And
and William Wallace (Freedom!"); this site says it is getting at the truth: Wallace . The BBC also has a site: William Wallace overview

Nessie, see Loch Ness

and Rob Roy MacGregor in Scotland. See Rob Roy; Scotland Road Ways

Orkney, Ireland, Shakespeare. King Lot at Orkney. Early British Kingdoms

England and Scotland. Samuel Johnson at Dunvegan at Electric Scotland

The Huns, Huns. See the map of the migrations there. There are vestiges in Transylvania also. See Romania Road Ways

Everywhere. The Plague, www.themiddleages.net/plague.

Italy and France. Leonardo, www.mos.org/leonardo/bio.

England again. Dickens, www.online-literature.com/dickens/. Note to parents and teachers - educate yourself about what kind of term paper resource this is. I hadn't looked into them before. More traditional site is www.ontalink.com/literature/charlesdickens/index.

There will be plenty of signs for the other big sights as we go anywhere. We just don't focus on them. Sing whatever song you know about the place name or from the place as you go. Great for Paris and Ireland and Germany.

Brave people overcome: Marketgarden, Uskoks, Vinegar Hill, Templars, Heretics all over

Remember the overrun. Ours is a violent past. Look for this greed and power theme: Who lost out to history?

1. Operation Marketgarden, WWII in The Netherlands (A Bridge Too Far): Nijmegen and Arnhem. See www.rememberseptember44.com/. If the Allies had ultimately lost, what memorial would have lasted at these places for the people who died? History is told by the victors.

Is this true: Who gets in the books, and how, depends on the interest of the victor.

2. Croatia's Uskoks. Go to the city of Senj. See Croatia Road Ways That was an Uskok town, with their fortress at the top of the hill. I understand the Uskoks were refugees as the Turks pressed north and as the Ottoman Empire expanded on and on. The Uskoks settled at Senj and then assisted the Venetians and other Croatians against the Turks.

They were so successful, that the Turks were stopped, but then the Uskoks had to defend against their erstwhile allies, the Venetians, who turned against them, and ultimately demolished them. Greed and force.

3. Ireland and Vinegar Hill. See Ireland Road Ways Go up that hill, and feel how it was for farmboys with pitchforks to ascend against cannon. There is a statue in Wexford showing that. Vinegar Hill at least is remembered in folksong, however - remember Father Murphy. Next St. Patrick's Day. He was with the boys at Vinegar Hill, and was executed for it. Politics and force.

4. Here is a big one. The Knights Templar. Interest stems from seeing Templar castle, off on hill, inaccessible, Croatia. Misguided destruction; then the destruction of the destroyers. Tradition lives on. See the founding of the Knights Templar at users.1st.net/whitacre/templars. And at www.crystalinks.com/templars.

Find out for yourself what they did, what they learned and hid, if anything, and who did them in and why; and from as many sources as you can. Not just the movies or current novels.

Quotation attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux justifying Templar existence at the First Crusade by glorifying killing of non-Christians (in Berry, Steve, The Templar Legacy, Ballantine Books 2006 at p.353 (fiction):

"Neither dealing out death nor dying, when for Christ's sake, contains anything criminal but rather merits glorious reward. The soldier of Christ kills safely and dies the more sarely. Not without cause does he bear the sword. He is the instrument of God for the punishment of evildoers and for the defense of the just. When he kills evildoers it is not homicide,but malicide, and he is considered Christ's legal executioner."

Then the fate of the Templars themselves. Friday the 13th. Slaughter. Remnants? Great fun on internet.

Heretics. People who believed what they believed. See an overview of this concept of "heresy" at www2.kenyon.edu/Projects/Margin/heresy. Lions and tigers and bears? Ultimate issue seems to be the challenge to hierarchy. Gone.

Flags

Know the flag symbols and design before you go, and find out why they are as they are. There may be significant history there, and an excellent start for a conversation. Tell us about your flag.

There is a website on national flags, and how they came to be designed. See flags of the world at www.allstates-flag.com/. Click on the search menu at the top. Go to Serbia-Montenegro (Montenegro is now independent, however) and follow the clicks to its flag - a splendid double-headed gold eagle on a red ground.

Invasions: Crusades, Normans, Mongols, Magyars, Huns, Goths, Vandals, Ottomans, Turks, Persians, Invaders

Here is an excellent summary of the people invading other people: Crusades, Mongols, Khazars, the Rus, Ottomans, Turks, Persians, Mongols, almost you-name-it: at the History of Central Europe, at //mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/misc/europe.htm#Mong




Normans:
Here is the Cathedral at Palermo, in Sicily - Norman and Byzantine mix --and the area a crusader stop point.





Vikings:
The Vikings - Northmen- Normans - slid in their longboats rivers into Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the oceans between, and had more of a culture than you may think. Here is a large website on the topic of Vikings, including Video. See www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vikings/; and for Viking ships: www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/vikingships.htm#Construction; and for their religious beliefs: www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.

They attacked Irish monasteries in about 900, maybe earlier, and the French in Paris (was this at the same time or earlier?) bought them off by giving them Normandy -thus, the Normans. The Vikings then bypassed Paris, and attacked all the way to Burgundy.

For any of these site addresses, use the basic dot-org, and the rest to navigate to where I think the best part is.

Mysteries in photos

We always come home with some pictures we just can't put in a specific place.
Who is this unfortunate cleric, being pulled under by some kind of serpent, while the tall statue lady watches and mourns. It is Croatia somewhere, but we cannot find the story.




Bishop Gregor of Nin, at the left, 10th Century, is not a mystery. He used the local language in Roman Catholic church services, and sharply disputed Rome's position not to do so. See experts.about.com/e/n/ni/Nin. The mystery - or maybe not - is why people like him fail us. The power of a hierarchy, whether religious or political or any aspect of society, takes on a life of its own, and can be overwhelming - and not at all in line, necessarily, with the "founders." Power does what power does.


.................................................................................................................................
These are waiting to be put elsewhere. Just like stuff on the stairs to the second floor.
















Presidents, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, London; and knights preparing for battle, Leeds Castle, England.



William Wallace, Stirling, Scotland.





Joan of Arc, France.
















Guan Yu, China. He was a general, then became God of War. J's picture, his trip to China.
See Guan Yu

Castles

An overview of castles in Europe: go to www.3dphoto.net/world/topics/castles/castles.


Dubrovnik, Croatia. Many, many walled towns on peninsulas and islands along coast here.

Mont St. Michel, France. This has a car causeway now.

Mount St. Michael, near Cornwall, England. No causeway. Walk or boat out. Watch tides.

Bodiam Castle, England.

Castle Stalker, Scotland.

Following ethnic groups - Roma (Gypsies); Basques; Vlachs

Sibiu, Romania. I was uncomfortable taking pictures of Roma girls and women, or interrupting family groups, but they were easily seen, in doorways, with companions in the street, as couples, as families at the bus or anywhere. Brightly colored clothing, long full skirts, beautiful jewelry(for the well-to-do) -distinctive.

These men may not be Roma, but instead traveling merchants from an old tradition that may have begun in the age of the Templars - see Romania Road Ways.

We did see Roma in casual, traditional and formal dress, for some occasion. And families. Very visible.

There are wide misunderstandings about Roma customs, and their history has been extremely difficult, including (according to this site) 500 years of enslavement in Romania. See this government site on the Roma - use only the dot org if the rest is not helpful. Sometimes the sites are so big that you may want assurance that you got to the right place. See www.media-diversity.org/articles_publications/A%20Problem%20Brewing%20Media%20Coverage%20of%20Roma%20in%20Romania. Roma were also subject to the mass exterminations of the holocaust. See, e.g., www.romnews.com/4_6. on the genocide issue. Roma survived and are a growing population, and remain all over Europe. In Slovenia as other places, however, the tensions remain. See Slovenia Road Ways There, the family was forced out, and has not been allowed to return.+

Roma history overall: See www.geocities.com/~patrin/timeline.

Basques: apparently, the cheek samples for DNA link this Spanish group to Celts. And, the Basques were great navigators. See Spain Road Ways. The cheek DNA testing is fascinating - I just saw an account on the History Channel, I think it was, that found a match between a young girl in the mountains of Mongolia, with reddish hair and fair skin, and a burial site of a culture of warrior women in, I believe it was, Macedonia. DNA followed the migration of the group to Mongolia. Even the patterns on the yurt, and clothing and walls in Mongolia were close to those on fabrics in the burial site.

The Vlachs are an ancient sheep-herding, nomadic people found in Romania and Greece, and probably elsewhere. See Greece Road Ways; and Romania Road Ways.

Celebrating

At Salamanca, Spain. A little night music.











At Sighetu Marmetij, Romania. Folk singers at a banquet for town officials in the big old hotel. There also were dancers. This was the Festival of the Cows, when the herds are brought down in the autumn from the higher pastures.












More night music, at Bucharest, Romania. We did buy their CD.




















And at a banquet at Karlovac, Croatia- we were in a side booth, and suddenly music and a large group of people all appeared. Loved it. Much dancing. Also, American music along with the Croatian.

People's religions

Easter morning, Cathedral, Zadar, Croatia. Second largest city after Zagreb. Cosmopolitan. Renovations going on.



Father Stefan. You met him earlier, at the post on beards. We gave him a ride (he was hitchhiking) at Bistrita, Romania, and left him at Piatra Fantenele. He was headed for Vatra Dornei. Much talk along the way. Usually possible to cobble together what each wants to say. English is known well enough by many people, so you can get into discussions.


Horezu, Croatia, at left. Again, Orthodox Christian.





And Wittenburg, Germany, with Martin Luther.

Montenegro: the islands off the town of Perast, Our Lady (manmade, from 550 years of dropping rocks on an underwater ledge, and sinking captured ships and making the island) and St. George's, with the Benedictine monastery.









Schlosskirche, Martin Luther, Wittenberg, Germany, left.


Church, abandoned, near Bogomil graves, road from Sinj, Croatia, to Mostar, Bosnia, at left.




Pilgrimage site, Medjugorje, Bosnia.

Spring, spirits, beseaching ribbons, Ireland, at left.








Glendalough, Ireland.

Teaching by painting the stories. Croatia painted monasteries. Orthodox.

Games and sports - Chess and Soccer

Amsterdam, street chess, NL
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Street chess, life-sized, Amsterdam.

Salzburg street chess, Austria

Cetinje, Montenegro; soccer players
Soccer game in a city park, Cetinje, Montenegro, at left.

These boys stopped their game to help us find a hotel and their English was remarkably good. All had on American-logo shirts.
;
Tried to locate them afterwards to get them copies of their picture, but no answers from either the US consulate or the Cetinje school system.




Sandlot soccer, Amsterdam, NL
Sandlot soccer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, at left.

A whole city block is cleared and fenced in, and sand piled in.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, street soccer




Street soccer, Dubrovnik, Croatia, at left.

Just kids

Rural Romania.



Practicing at a martial arts school, China (J's picture from his trip)



China. J's picture.