Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people who live in Hanover do for fun?

There are numerous activities in Hanover that locals enjoy, including surfing on the Leine River right in the heart of the Old Town district. A surfable wave has been created there by installing a hydraulically controllable system, allowing water sports enthusiasts to engage in ‘rapid surfing.’

During summer, the annual Maschsee Lake Festival transforms the promenades around the Maschsee shores into one of Northern Germany’s largest open-air parties, featuring various stages and a wide array of entertainment acts.

In the winter, locals and visitors come together and drink mulled wine at the Christmas market. There are more than 100 festively decorated stalls selling culinary delights, as well as local goods, such wooden toys from the Erzgebirge.

Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Hanover?

One lesser-known fact about Hanover is its status as one of Germany’s greenest cities. The capital of Lower Saxony boasts over 2,100 acres of public green spaces, including the ‘green lung’ of the city, the Eilenriede, which alone extends to about 1,600 acres in the city’s center, nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. The city center also features Maschpark and Maschsee Lake, along with historic parks like the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, which include a renowned baroque garden.”

A hidden gem of the city is the singing manhole cover in the city center. A Germany-wide unique piece surprises onlookers with unexpected music and adds a playful touch to the cityscape.

Question: What has Hanover contributed to the world?

Hanover has made significant contributions to the world, particularly in the realm of music technology. It is the birthplace of the first vinyl record, the production site of the first music cassette, and the location where the first CD was pressed. These innovations have played a crucial role in Hanover being designated a ‘UNESCO City of Music’ in December 2014, a title that celebrates the city’s ongoing influence on musicians and music technology.

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1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Quito do for fun?

Answer:

The classic South American tradition of enjoying restaurants and cafes is evident in Quito. The Quitenos with a vibrant dining scene enjoy time around the table, exploring the art of conversation and lingering over steaming coffee.

The city at a whopping 9,350-feet above sea level, surrounded by steep-sided hills, volcanoes, and the Andes Mountains, affords the opportunity for adventurous outings such as a ride on the teleferico cable car up Pichincha Volcano, or a hike to the summit of Pancillo that dominates the city, and is crowned with the statue of Virgin Mary. Other pleasures are drives into the countryside and to the indigenous craft and produce markets. Quitenos are avid soccer or football aficionados, and support the city’s ongoing festivals.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Quito?

Answer:

The official currency for Quito and Ecuador is the American dollar. All fees, charges, and store prices throughout the city are noted with United States currency. Quito does not acknowledge summer and winter, but goes by rainy and dry. The rainy season, roughly, December to April is a better time to visit, with warmer nights, sunny mornings, and easily avoidable afternoon rain showers. Quito has one of the largest and best preserved historic centers in Latin America, covering some 800 acres, and the first city in the world to be declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

3. Question: Share some aspect of what Quito has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Quito has impressive conservation agendas in place. In the northwest of the city there are several ecological reserves ideal for the observation of native and endemic birds, and is ranked among the most internationally recognized bird-watching area in the world. Quito was also honored by National Geographic in 2017 as among the 17 best nature destinations to visit.  Quito’s Festival of Lights in August, unique to South America, draws over a million visitors from throughout the world.  Quito is also noted as the world’s second largest rose producer, and near the top for variety.

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What are some of the “things” or activities that visitors do for fun?

ANSWER: There is so much to do while visiting Kaua’i depending on your interests. Some of the more popular activities are: Viewing the Napali cliffs from a boat tour, seeing Kaua’i from above in a helicopter or plane tour, kayaking the navigable rivers, take a zipline over the treetops, take an ATV tour, horseback riding in beautiful scenery, playing on golf courses with views that can distract you, enjoying a luau and the list goes on and on.

What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Kaua’i?

ANSWER: Kaua’i is nicknamed the “Garden Island” and in fact Kaua’i has many gardens to enjoy while visiting. Three of those gardens are part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG): Limahuli Garden, Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden. The National Tropical Botanical Garden is the only tropical botanical garden with a charter from the United States Congress. In the early 1960’s a group of forward-thinking individuals recognized the need for a tropical botanical garden on U.S. soil, and banded together to form a foundation with the purpose of ensuring such a garden was established. NTBG has the mission to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions. One of the most recent programs at NTBG is The Breadfruit Institute founded in 2003. The mission of the Breadfruit Institute is to promote the conservation and use of breadfruit for food and reforestation. The institute is taking a leading role in the conservation of breadfruit diversity and ethnobotanical research documenting traditional uses and cultural practices involving breadfruit.

What has Kaua’i contributed to the world?

ANSWER: Kaua’i has contributed millions of wonderful vacations, weddings, honeymoons and memories, as well as iconic images via the movies and television. From 1934 “White Heat” to 1958 “South Pacific” with Mitzi Gaynor to 1961 Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii PERIOD” Kaua’i has been immortalized in many blockbusters, including the recent “Jurassic Park” films, “6 Days / 7 Nights” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” to the Academy Award winning “The Descendants.”

For more on Kaua’i, visit

Kauai Official Travel Site: Find Vacation & Travel Information

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I have to address how serendipity and good fortune come together; When I was in Grade 11 (I am Canadian so ‘Grade 11′ is the nomenclature as opposed to the ’11th Grade’, which is how I hear my American cousins say it), I was selected for a special new course. Twenty select students were chosen from Grade 11 and Grade 12. It was called the Sooke River Course and we got to go out in the field and learn about our natural surroundings and our history. We became biologists, paleontologists, anthropologists and all-round explorers.

Assignments such as excavating, by hand, an indigenous native Indian midden, or wading out in teams, in the mouth of the Sooke River at low tide to measure out two-square-metre grids with string and spikes over a zone of sea grasses and other plants, then documenting and reporting everything we could see within our square, be it plants or other creatures. I remember there were large white fleas bouncing about that annoyed us on that sunny day.

The Sooke River Course only existed for the year 1979 and I was fortunate enough to be part of this fabulous experiment.

When I give thought about Three Things You Don’t Know About Sooke, British Columbia, I am compelled to share 3 things you really don’t know about Sooke and will never learn about on TripAdvisor. *I am not trying to insult users of TripAdvisor, of which I am one… I am just saying… you know what I mean.

First up: The Belvedere Hotel.

Up in the bush behind the Sooke River Hotel and Castle Pub (another establishment which is no longer there), I could never imagine there once stood a fancy hotel. I grew up in this village, how could I not know about it, nor my mother nor grandparents?!

As a class we walked a short single lane dirt road revealing two old tire lanes which rapidly vanished into bushes and trees. Our instructors guided us through the forest to the top of the hill where we came upon the stone and concrete foundation the old Belvedere Hotel. Mother Nature had aggressively taken it over. It was so dark in the forest that one could barely notice it.

We stood in the forest and got our history lesson. It was so powerful you wondered if there were ghosts here. Why had it never been part of the fascinating conversations of adults when I was growing up? Long gone? Out of sight, out of mind? What a discovery for me.

The hotel burned down in 1934. One of the first things we were told was about Emily Carr, staying here and painting. The hotel was visited by British Royalty, The Prince of Wales, powerful political players and famous personalities. Now the forest had grown back and you could no longer see the harbour nor the wharf. It was gone and lost in time. It was called the Belvedere Hotel.

Second up: Grouse Nest

Since childhood, Grouse Nest was always a well-known secret. An exclusive hideaway lodge resort. Not a place for us regular folk. It is rural and the big entrance is still hidden deep in the dark forest canopy. Recently, I was on Gillespie Road and I failed to find it – I was going by memory and hadn’t been there for 30 years so it too, may have been obscured by Mother Nature.

Grouse Nest is on private property so you certainly felt like you were trespassing if you entered. I once turned down the perfectly paved driveway back in the seventies but it only took 30 meters for me to feel like I was not where I was supposed to be. I got scared and backed up to Gillespie Road, which can be dangerous because Gillespie is one of those island roads that is tangled like a map of the brain. It may be rural and quiet but a car could still come around the bend and hit you.

I heard stories. Frank Sinatra stayed there. That one is confirmed … but Elvis Presley? … that could be a rumour. I heard one simple story of a brilliant teenage girl in a gathering of wealthy folks who failed to tell the chef that she was a vegetarian. She ate what was served and later, when asked why, she discreetly replied that she didn’t want to insult the chef.

For a time, when I was young, people would notice float planes landing at Grouse Next, which is in deep on the shore of the Sooke Basin, and speculation would abound as to whom it was. John Wayne, we heard.

By the late 70’s, activity at Grouse Nest went to sleep. How could they maintain the property and keep up with yearly property taxes? Grouse Nest is still there today and is still the biggest secret. I personally know nobody who can tell me anything about it, where I might trust I am getting first-hand knowledge. Visit, Mysterious East Sooke ‘Grouse Nest’ up for sale – Sooke News Mirror

Third up: The Sooke Potholes

Growing up in 1960s & 70s, Sooke was sweet and enchanting. No traffic lights, no McDonald’s restaurant, no bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Sooke Potholes swimming spot was alive every summer like our own private Six Flags Amusement Park. Nowadays it is a beautiful government controlled Provincial Park and as a local, to me at least, that’s a form of ruin. I got over it. Once again, I believe you understand.

1960’s – Chevy’s, Ford pickups, hot rods, station wagons. 1970’s – the AMC Gremlin, Ford Pinto, hot rods, Kawasaki motorcycles. Picture a dirt road that bumbles alongside the river where everybody clamors for a space on the shoulder to park their vehicle and the children tumble out of the car, excited to go swimming in their favourite pothole. My mother had a black and white Polaroid she enjoyed showing people of me, her fat little toddler, at the second pothole ‘eating the beach’ as she would say. Yep, that’s me in my diaper grabbing sand, pebbles and stones and putting it all in my mouth. I saw that picture many times throughout my life.

What I am about to tell you may now sound like folklore and is as real as I am. I recently traveled back to the potholes because I was researching ideas for the three things I might talk about. It’s been 40 years since I had been to the potholes, which is sad because we once lived on Sooke River Road about 2.5 kilometers from the potholes, which is at the end of Sooke River Road. I had never seen the provincial park that was built, but I had heard about it. Wow, nicely paved asphalt and dedicated parking lots at different elevations and stations. Public restrooms, information boards, bear and mountain lion caution signs.

The road never went that far when I lived in Sooke. My goodness, it goes all the way up to the falls. And groomed walking trails go much further. The potholes themselves seem to look much different than the way I remember them. Could it be erosion or drought? I don’t quite recognize the place we all went swimming and recreating for all of our young years until it was time for further education or career paths. It is still as beautiful as ever though. It even looks less trodden now.

However, it is the names of each pothole that is missing. The government abandoned them and to make my dream worse I could find absolutely nothing online that referred to the names of the potholes. The government instead gives no names to the potholes but rather gives names to the beaches: Crescent Beach, Sand Pebble Beach, Skipping Rock Beach, Ripple Rock Beach

It feels like a government conspiracy that the names we all knew them by have been erased from history. The Potholes is not something you didn’t know about Sooke. Everyone knows about the potholes. They might be the reason one bothers to travel to Sooke. What you don’t know is the names everyone, including our mayors, knew the potholes by and I fear that once our generation is gone so might be the real names.

I remembered two of them easily, but I was having trouble recalling all four of them, so I used Facebook Messenger to reach out to get help with my slipping memory. (My sincerest thanks to Eric Carlson, Laurie Vanderkerkhove and Carol Michaylenko for all coming to my aid.)

The first pothole, which appeared less like a pothole on my recent visit and more like a place in the river to simply go swimming, is called Bradley (Crescent Beach). The second pothole is called Little Lady (Sand Pebble Beach). That’s where I ate the beach. The third pothole is called Wielers (Skipping Rock Beach). There were never any signs to be found back in the old days. We just knew them by their names, so it is phonetical – which is why Eric, Laurie and Carol each came back with a different spelling; Wielers, Wylers, Whylers. This pothole has the best beach and it was my favourite one to swim in. Larger with deeper spots but in areas, shallow enough that the summer sun kept it at a nice temperature.

The potholes are geologically old so the rocks are all smooth. Nice to make slides with and nice to jump off of. The fourth pothole is called Beer Bottle (Ripple Rock Beach). Now, I never used to swim at Beer Bottle because it is where the older high school kids swam. They were cool. I felt too young and abided by the unwritten social rules. I could never see them from Wielers but I could hear them, jumping off the cliff edges and laughing and hooting. I remained in my station.

The potholes were a wonderful place to go growing up. It was thee place! In the off season we could go explore and feel like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Once I had reached high school age, my good friend John Jacobsen and I built rafts to go down the Sooke River, starting at the potholes. What a thrill. I wonder how much danger we were in? The currents and rapids can be pretty aggressive downstream. There have been drownings, unfortunately.

What you don’t know is the names everyone knew the potholes by and I fear that once our generation is gone so might be the real names. Visit and Swim at the Potholes and put it on your Vancouver Island Bucket List Swim At the Potholes – Vancouver Island Bucket List.

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Q one: What was your first memory of Seattle?

When my family arrived from Canada, I was eleven, and was very naïve and ignorant of the ways of the world that day. So, my first memory was moving into a small apartment on Lower Queen Anne Hill. Eventually I would become a high school student on the top its hill, the first place I met my lifelong friend, Ed Boitano, now an editor of www.TravelingBoy.com.

As we unloaded our baggage, though there wasn’t much, for the small apartment was fully furnished, I noticed there was a strange buzz in the air, unlike anything I had ever heard before.

Later, I learned it came from concert at the site of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, by a rock group from Liverpool, who had shockingly long hair. They were named the Beatles, and in a few years would have a great impact in my own life. Soon I transitioned to John Lennon government issued horn rimmed glasses and began to wear my hair long.

Q two: When you were young, how did your parents transition into a new life in Seattle?

My father was a Cockney Londoner, who was a boxer before joining the British Merchant Marines. One of the vessels took him to Winnipeg, where he met and married a 14-year-old Canadian farm girl, who gave birth to my brother and me.

My father, Peter, found a graveyard position as a security guard in downtown Seattle’s new 50 Story Bank Building. We were proud of his new tenure, though others though it was absurb to take pride in such a low profession. But we would remind them, it was an honest job, and he was in charge of protecting a high building, which was then the tallest throughout Seattle.

Q three. You speak with admiration about your father. You must have gotten along with him.

As I said, my father was a Cockney from London, and my brother and I would laugh, when others could not understand what he was saying. And sometimes we would laugh at ourselves, too; for we couldn’t understand a single word he was saying either, and were given a one-way ticket to be alone in our bedroom.

In the early morning, around 6 a.m., his night of work was over, and he would pack our family in a Studebaker for a trip to Seattle’s Green Lake.

And it was there that he taught me how to swim and dive. Due to the early morning hour, the area that surrounded Green Lake was empty of people, and we had the lake to ourselves. And I enjoyed the solitude, for no others would see me struggle and swim, and laugh at me as I crawled up to the shore.

Our high school on the top of Queen Anne Hill was famous for its setting and spectacular city views. But for us it was just an old building and we would barely notice the views. Ed Boitano had Norwegian uncles who were QA Grizzly graduates in the 1910s. Recently, he informed me that General Leslie Groves, who was played by Matt Damon in the 2023 film, Oppenheimer, was QA alumni of the class of 1914.

My Seattle friend, Ed, would boast that he could watch the Space Needle’s construction from his elementary school playground at the Seattle district of Magnolia. He would also boast that he was a native Seattleite, while I was only a mere transplant from distant Canada. These things have always been important to him… for he likes to be one up on the next guy.

The post Reflections of my Childhood on Seattle’s Queen Ann Hill appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Curated by Ed Boitano.

Question 1:

What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Tokyo?

Answer: Tropical islands.

You may think Tokyo is a  concrete jungle, but it contains  some subtropical islands famous for their stunning beaches and clear water. They are a paradise for divers! At night the starry skies explode with  heavenly beauty.

Read more about Tokyo’s subtropical islands:

• Planetarium Islands
• Tropical Islands of Tokyo
• 5 Best Tokyo Islands

Question 2:

What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Tokyo do for fun?

Answer: Viewing flowers and nature.

As you know, the Japanese are enthusiastic about viewing cherry blossom (locally called hanami) in the season  of late March to early April, but every month visitors flock to enjoy flowers and other natural beauties spread across Japan’s rich four seasons.

Read more about Tokyo’s seasonal flowers and natural attractions:

• May: Whisteria and Iris
• June: Hydrangea
• July: Sunflower
• August: Firefly
• September: Moon Viewing
• October – November: Foliage

Question 3:

What has Tokyo contributed to the world?

Answer: Nori, seaweed.

Since the end of 20th century, sushi has been a global food. And Nori, seaweed, is an indispensable element of any sushi meal. The thin Nori sheet was developed in Asakusa, where the Tokyo’s oldest temple is located. This method of producing Washi paper started in the Edo era.

As a result, you can preserve and handle seaweed much easier. And thanks to the ingenius inventors, we can eat sushi all over the earth.

Read more about Asakusa Nori.

For further information visit GO Tokyo, an official website of (TCVB Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau)

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This installment of Three Things is courtesy of Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people at Ka’anapali or Ka’anapali Resort do for fun?

Answer:

Ka’anapali is a diverse vacation destination that can appeal to any kind of traveler when it comes to activities. Not only have we been rated as a top beach in the world, which lends itself to multiple water activities, but the mountains behind us are also rich with things to do.

The beach is generous with sand, snorkeling opportunities, paddling canoe, stand up paddle, surfing, embarking and disembarking of luxury catamarans for snorkeling, whale watching (within season), dinner cruising or a cocktail sunset cruise. When the Humpback Whales are not visiting (May 15 – December 15), We have parasailing, jet skiing and small craft fishing. All of the activities mentioned can be accessed from the shoreline.

Ka’anapali is located at the foot of the West Maui Mountains, which has ziplining, quad riding and lots of fantastic hiking. A helicopter ride over the West Maui Mountains reveals the intricate network of natural fresh water flow that is captured at the top of the mountains, considered one of the second wettest places in the Hawaiian Islands.

Culture is also a big component of the Ka’anapali Beach Resort. Once a place rich in Hawaiian history, many properties offer cultural classes and ways to learn of this history over and above a simple hula lesson.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Ka’anapali?

It’s difficult to name just one thing when it comes to Ka’anapali’s mystery and secrets so I will list them below:

A. Ka’anapali Beach Resort is the original master planned resort in the Hawaiian Islands. After it was developed, it became the benchmark for all other self contained resort destinations.

B. Ka’anapali is rich in history because Historic Lahaina (1 mile away) was once the original capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, prior to well-known Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Because of Ka’anapali’s location, there are significant pieces of history and legends that center around this special location on Maui.

C. Ka’anapali Coffee, grown in this region on the side of the West Maui Mountains is the largest commercial coffee production in the United States and is shipped all over the world.

3. Question: What has Ka’anapali contributed to the world?

Regional Hawaiian Cuisine! While not the only birthplace in the Islands, HRC is available at all of our F&B outlets, expensive or otherwise. We continue to welcome global visitors and make them aware of the beauty of the culture through the amazing cuisine, which has change the way the world prepares food, by mixing traditional and inclusive combinations of flavors from a variety of cultural influences.

Ka’anapali has taught the world that it is possible to mix culture, recreation and community in a world class setting. Ka’anapali, Maui is an exotic location with a unique eco system and rich culture that you can experience without leaving the US.

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Question 1: What’s new with airberlin this year out of the U.S.?

Answer:

airberlin, Germany’s second largest airline strives to provide an extensive global route network for its flight guests in addition to convenience and flexibility by increasing efficiency in all areas of its operations. Berlin and Dusseldorf serve as the focal point of this route expansion and this year it strengthens its presence in the U.S. by offering additional service to Berlin from Chicago and New York. As of May 2014 airberlin operates ten weekly flights from John F. Kennedy airport to each of its main German hubs in Berlin and Dusseldorf. It has also increased service from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from five weekly flights to a daily connection to Berlin.

The airline operates from a total of five U.S. gateways that include: Chicago, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Miami and New York (JFK). Through its code share agreement with its oneworld® alliance partner American Airlines, airberlin also offers numerous connections from about 60 cities throughout North America to its five U.S. gateways. This provides additional convenience and seamless connectivity for all airberlin flight guests.

Question 2: Has airberlin made any changes in its flight service?

Answer:

New this year airberlin will equip the first aircraft with on-board Wi-Fi. This service will then be rolled out gradually over almost the whole airberlin fleet. In addition airberlin has completed a full refurbishment of its long-haul fleet offering guests optimum comfort in both economy and business class alike. The new airberlin business class configuration offers even more privacy providing direct aisle access from every seat. Each seat completely reclines into lie-flat beds and feature a power plug, a USB port, a 15-inch personal monitor and a massage function. Guests will enjoy state of the art on demand entertainment systems and comfortable seating in both economy and business class. In-flight service includes free beverage service throughout the entire flight and a selection of hot and cold meals.

Question 3: What does airberlin do differently from other airlines?

Answer:

One of the most important aspects of airberlin’s company philosophy has been the contributions made towards fuel effiency and developing measures that truly impact the aviation industry in the area of eco-efficiency. airberlin is working tirelessly to reduce its fuel consumption for the sake of the environment. airberlin has developed a comprehensive fuel efficiency program put together by airberlin experts, the airline is continually improving all the processes involved in flying and developing potential new areas of savings. airberlin’s team of experts has now come up with about 60 measures which offer potential savings. These concern areas such as flight planning, weight reduction, modernization of aircraft and flight operations. Through all the measures implemented last year, airberlin reduced its CO2 emissions by a total of more than 70,000 tons. That corresponds to around 4,700 flights from Munich to Palma de Mallorca. In the interim, airberlin aims to reduce its fuel consumption to 3 litres per 100 passenger kilometres. With its commitment to environmental efficiency, airberlin has received numerous awards over the past few years. In 2013 airberlin won the award, “Silver Eco-Airline of the Year” presented by the US industry magazine Air Transport World.

For more information on airberlin or to book a flight visit www.airberlin.com, or contact the call center at 1-866-266-5588 or your travel agent.

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Question 1: What are some of the “things” or activities that people in Ottawa do for fun?

Answer:

In summer, we love our music festivals (jazz, blues, folk, country, chamber music, etc., etc.) and riding our bikes along an excellent network of interconnected pathways, many of which meander along the Ottawa River, Rideau River or Rideau Canal. In winter, Ottawans skate to school and to work along the Rideau Canal Skateway, a 4.8-mile (7.8km) long frozen “highway” of ice. Most Ottawans have their own skates but there are rental huts at either end of the route and warm-up huts and places to buy hot chocolate and BeaverTails along the way. What’s a BeaverTail? Not what you think! It’s a hot wholewheat pastry treat, born in Ottawa, that is usually topped with cinnamon and sugar.

Question 2: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Ottawa?

Answer:

The Cold War started in Ottawa! In September 1945, a Soviet cipher clerk named Igor Gouzenko who worked at the embassy in Ottawa defected with proof that the Soviets were spying on their supposed allies in the West! You can learn more about the repercussions of the revelation at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

Question 3: Share some aspect of Ottawa as regards to what it has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Ottawa is:

• Home to what’s been called “the most beautiful room in Canada” – the Library of Parliament.
• The site of the world’s largest one-day beach volleyball tournament (HOPE Volleyball Summerfest) as well as the world’s largest naturally frozen ice rink (the Rideau Canal Skateway) – though not at the same time of year!
• The North American headquarters for Le Cordon Bleu, the famous French culinary institute.
• The only world capital with a working farm at its heart (the Canada Agriculture Museum).
• The best place to live in Canada (as judged by MoneySense magazine) for five of the last seven years.
• The home of SamBat (since 1997, this company has produced baseball bats made out of maple that are used by many stars of Major League Baseball).

For further information about Ottawa, click-on: www.ottawatourism.ca.

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By Eimear Quinn, Adventure Co-ordinator of Wilderness Ireland.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Connemara do for fun?

Answer:

Hiking the ‘terrible beauty’ (Oscar Wilde) of Connemara.

You can explore some of the best hiking in Connemara – and Ireland! – while immersing yourself in Ireland’s archaeology, geology and natural history. From a tiny shrine in the remote hills of Connemara to the summit of Ireland’s most famous pilgrimage mountain Croagh Patrick, your route will follow in the footsteps of Ireland’s famous patron saint, Saint Patrick.

You can tackle three of the highest mountains in the west of Ireland including Mweelrea, the highest peak in Connacht. At what feels like the edge of the world, breathe in the some of the freshest air in Europe as you take in stunning Atlantic views at every turn. Far from the traditional tourist track, you’ll explore a secret Ireland that few visitors will ever see. Hiking in Connemara and Mayo offers the best way to truly experience the wild landscapes of the west of Ireland.

Exploring the Irish Gaelic language of Connemara by bicycle.

Connemara is one of Ireland’s few remaining strongholds of the Irish Gaelic language and is commonly referred to as the largest Gaeltacht region in Ireland. You’ll know you’ve reached a Gaeltacht region on your travels throughout Éireann (Ireland) when the English translations on road-signs disappear. There have been many attempts throughout the ages to overthrow the Gaelic way of life, but each time, those who came to conquer, from the Vikings to the Viking-Normans, eventually assimilated. Unfortunately, at the turn of the 19th century, the Gaelic language went into rapid decline due to the harsh marginalization of the native Irish people and the state establishment of national schools, which placed emphasis on learning English over Irish Gaelic. After Irish independence, the Irish language has seen a resurgence in schools (it is considered a mandatory subject alongside English) but English is still the principle language.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Connemara?

Answer:

Pilgrimage Sites

The glorious Croagh Patrick, known locally as simply ‘The Reek’, is situated just 5 miles west of Westport in Co. Mayo. This pointed peak has been a location of pilgrimage for many centuries. In recent times, the sacred mountain of Croagh Patrick has been attributed to Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick. In a much earlier time than this, the mountain we call Croagh Patrick was originally known as Mons Egli, Croachan Aigli or Cruachan Aigli and is known to have been a highly revered place for the ancient polytheistic people of the country, who made the ascent in the name of the sun god, Crom Cruach. Since the time of St. Patrick when we supposedly made a pilgrimage to the summit to fast and pray, thousands of pilgrims has climbed Croagh Patrick each year. The most important day for these pilgrimages is Reek Sunday, the final Sunday of July.

3. Question: Share some aspect of what Connemara has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Flora & Fauna

In May 2010, Connemara National Park won a ‘Biodiversity Blitz’ wherein a total of 542 species of flora & fauna were recorded in 24hrs. Six wildlife sites across the country took part in a bid to categorize as many species as possible within a day. The following is but a sample of what was recorded: mountain hare, red deer, feral goat, four species of bat, seven species of butterfly, 51 species of macro-moth, 10 species of micro-moth, four species of dragonfly/damselfly, 46 other invertebrate species, 2 amphibian species, 55 bird species, 218 flowering plant species, 83 bryophytes, 17 lichens, 18 liverworts, and 18 algae. Connemara National Park itself encompasses part of the Twelve Bens mountain range, including the well-known Diamond Hill, a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. Your best bet to see the wildlife is by exploring Connemara’s rugged backcountry of the Twelve Bens with a local hiking guide and wildlife expert.

The Connemara Pony

The Connemara Pony is an internationally renowned breed of pony that is uniquely Irish and the largest of all pony breeds. The famously good-natured and tremendously hardworking Connemara Pony descends from the magnificent Andalusian horses of the Spanish Armada – a tragic fleet of 130 ships which fell foul of Ireland’s rough and rugged coastline in 1588 en route to invade England. The liberated team of Andalusian horses ran wild and began to breed with the Scandinavian ponies residing in the mountains of Connemara from the time of the Viking invasions between 800-1169, eventually creating what is known today as the Connemara Pony. The Connemara Pony Breeders Society was founded in Clifden in 1923 to protect and develop the breed – with the Pony becoming an official pedigree in 1926. The ponies can still be found throughout Connemara.

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