Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

Last night the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train came to Calgary. Every year CP employees decorate a CP train with Christmas lights and it travels across the country. This year, the train travelled from Montreal, QC and will end in Port Coquitlam, BC at the end of next week. There is also a train that travels across the United States.

The event is free, the public is asked to bring a food donation. CP Rail collects donations of food and money at every stop, and these donations are given to the local food bank in each community.

The CP Holiday Train comes in blowing its horn.

Lights decorate the train.

Lights decorate the train.

The event includes performances by Canadian musicians who perform in different cities and towns. This year, the headlining talent was Jim Cuddy, one of the lead singers for the Canadian band "Blue Rodeo". He also has a few solo albums and is one of my favourite artists. It was very cool to be able to see him perform live and for free! Jim Cuddy was joined by the Canadian band "The Odds" who had a hit featured a few years ago on the Canadian hit sitcom Corner Gas. This was a very cool event. (No pun intended!)

Anne Lindsay, Jim Cuddy & Craig Northey

I am glad I got this opportunity. I had never gone before, so it was neat to see what it was like. The weather cooperated too, it was a balmy 5 degrees celsius last night.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train runs every year in December. For more information, go to:
http://www.cpr.ca/en/community/holiday-train/schedule

~Angie

The Alhambra: A Visual Tour

 The Alhambra, in Granada, Spain, is a complex consisting of both Moorish and Roman palaces. The tour takes about three hours and is very interesting. I particularly liked the Moorish architecture. Very beautiful! Historical records indicate that the Alhambra dates from the 9th century AD.

Plaque on the outside wall.

View of the entrance to the complex from above.

The entrance into the complex.

Entrance to the Palacio del Generalife.

Window looking over the servant's passageway is the Palacio del Generalife.

Islamic writing was everywhere throughout the complex. The writing says: "No one wins but God".

The entrance to the Roman Theatre.

The Roman Theatre. Concerts are held here.

The Roman Bathhouse. These are the showers.

The showers. Water would pour through these holes in the roof to create the shower.

The Palacio del Generalife.

Mini aqueducts carry water down the staircases throughout the gardens.

These photos show only a small portion of what can be seen on a tour of the Alhambra. It is a very interesting complex to visit. If you are in Granada, this is one tour not to be missed!

~Angie

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a great option for a day trip from Bath, England. 

Stonehenge is an ancient megalithic stone circle in England, located north of Salisbury in the Wiltshire countryside. It is believed to date back around 5000 years to circa 3000 BC. 

It is a pilgrimage and spiritual site for modern Druids. A rope marks a path around the stones that visitors can follow. However, on the Summer and Winter Solstice, the site is opened so that Druids can worship there. On those days, the site is also open to the public so that they can walk amongst the stones and observe the Druids' ritual.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stonehenge

The stones at Stonehenge are impressive. I was surprised at how small the actual circle is in which the stones were placed. I always thought the circle of stones was really large. 

Audio tours are provided and tourists can walk around the circle of stones at their leisure. There are spots in which photo opportunities are provided. 

For more information: (http://www.scarpertours.com/stonehenge-tour.php)

~Angie

A Ghost Tour of Edinburgh's Underground Vaults

When I was In Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2009, I didn't have a lot of time to look around or do see anything in the city. I arrived in late afternoon and was leaving the next morning again on a tour, so I needed to find something that was quick and available for the evening. I had wanted to do a ghost tour of the underground vaults, and fortunately a roommate at the hostel did too.

We left to meet up with our tour on the High Street around 7pm. I didn't have a ticket yet, but was able to buy one from the guide.

There are lots of options for tours of Edinburgh, including: historical tours of the underground vaults, Edinburgh Castle, the old town and the new town, walking or bus tours. My tour was a walking tour that included the underground vaults and alleyways off the High Street. It was very interesting.

The first thing our group was told before we started was that there was a particularly aggressive ghost called "The Watcher" who followed groups through the vaults. Apparently he was aggressive to the point where he was pushing people on the tours. I decided to stay near the front of the pack upon hearing this bit of information!

We were led through the underground vaults and told stories about the ghosts that haunted each area. One room was noticeably colder than the others. When I commented on this, the guide said that it was because there were two ghosts in this room - a cobbler and a little boy. The little boy sometimes held the hand of blond females in the group. My roommate and I, both blond, looked at each other and I asked: "Do you feel anything?" She didn't and neither did I. Maybe he wasn't active at that moment. Our guide also mentioned that because these two ghosts were good, "the Watcher" did not enter that particular room.

The doorway into the main room of underground vaults

The underground vaults

At the last room on the tour, our guide told us to go inside the room. Then she said: "You notice that I am not in there with you? That is because this is the most haunted room in the vaults." This room was where it was discovered that the underground vaults were haunted. The tours of these vaults were originally historical only. One day, while a tour was taking place, in this particular room a girl was standing at the back. She became increasingly agitated and eventually ran screaming out of the room and then outside. When a guide ran after her to ask what was wrong, she told him that someone had been moving around her whispering in her ear and blowing on her neck. Someone invisible...

We were led outside and told stories of Burke and Hare, a famous murderous duo from the 19th century and shown the side streets and alleyways. Our tour ended with a drink in a pub.

It was very interesting to see the underground vaults of Edinburgh. They left quite an impression on me! I am glad I had the opportunity to do this tour and I highly recommend taking a ghost tour of the vaults if you are in Edinburgh.

For more information, go to: http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp

~Angie

Westminster Abbey

A church of some variety has stood on the grounds at Westminster, London, by the Thames for over one thousand years. It has been the location for coronations since 1066. The current church has been standing since 1245 and is built in the Gothic style of architecture. Seventeen kings and queens are buried there. It has been featured in films including The Da Vinci Code and The Stone of Destiny, a film about the heist of 1950 when Scottish students stole the Stone of Scone and took it back to Scotland.

Westmister Abbey

Current admission fees, as of today's date, are:

• Adults £18.00
• Concessions £15.00 (Over 18 students (on production of a valid student card) and 60+) 
• Schoolchildren (11 - 18 years) £8
• Child under 11 free accompanied by an adult 
• Family £36.00 (2 adults and 1 child)
  £44.00 (2 adults and 2 children)
• Entry for all the above includes a free audio-guide each

I was really excited to see Westminster Abbey because of my interest in Queen Elizabeth I, and because it was where Princess Diana's funeral was held. It was very interesting to walk around. I did an audio tour so that I could wander around the abbey at my own pace. I was also excited to see Charles Dickens' grave. More recently, it was the location for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding.

More information can be found at: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/

~Angie

Things To Do In Valencia, Spain

I recently traveled to Spain. One place I visited was Valencia, where there were a lot of attractions to choose from. Some of the main attractions in Valencia are:

The Cathedral

The Cathedral of Valencia is an interesting place to visit. When you go, there are two activities of note. Climb the bell tower (2€), which was formerly Moorish but was "Christianized" and offers great views of the city, or tour the cathedral and see a holy relic (5€).

I had limited time, so I chose the tour to see the holy relic. This was an audio tour that could be done at your own pace. It was very interesting and took the listener around the inside of the Cathedral, then to the back galleries which hold museum pieces and offer quite a bit of information about the cathedral.

The Cathedral of Valencia

Two items of note to see:

1. La Capilla de la Resurrection - This is a display behind the main altar that holds the intact arm of Saint Vincent, the martyr.
2. Capilla del Santo Caliz - This is a chapel designed in the Gothic style of architecture. It holds a Holy Relic, one of the cups that was used at the Last Supper by one of Jesus' disciples. Apparently it has been authenticated.

The City of Arts and Sciences

The City of Arts and Sciences is a multi-complex that includes a planetarium, an aquarium, and IMAX theatre, and a Science Museum. Just walking around the outside is interesting due to the unique styles of architecture that are displayed. I arrived a bit late in the day, so decided not to go in due to the pricing and time restraints. I would suggest going early in the day to fit in all in.

The City of Arts and Sciences

More information can be found at: http://www.cac.es/

The Beach

Valencia is located on the Mediterranean Sea. The beach itself was long, it stretched for miles. It was not clean, there were various items of garbage including a broken and uneaten watermelon, a dirty diaper and cans strewn about, which is unfortunate. Therefore it was important to pick your spot with care. Several sections spread along the beach offered shelter and were fairly clean. The water was warm, though.

The beach in Valencia

~Angie

The Old City & The Colosseum

The "Old City" of Rome sits 7m below the city that is modern day Rome. The Romans kept building on top of what was already there. The original city of Rome is 18m below the present day city.

These photos show how Rome was during the time of Julius Caesar.

The Old City

The Old City

The Forum

The Old City

The Colosseum was used for sporting events. The remains are quite fascinating to see in person.

The Colosseum

What is left of the seats.

The floor. This is where the animals were kept for the fights.

~Angie

Harry Potter: The Exhibition

"Harry Potter: The Exhibition" is a special exhibit of props and costumes used in all eight "Harry Potter" films. It is currently being shown in Edmonton, Canada. This is the last time the exhibition will be shown in North America. It was previously shown in Sydney, Australia, Chicago and New York City, USA, and Toronto, Canada. It will go on to be shown in Europe and Asia beginning in April 2014.

It is a timed entry to get into the exhibition. You can buy tickets online or at the venue, but you can only enter at the specific time on your ticket.

"Harry Potter: The Exhibition" begins with a small group of guests gathered in a room. "Professor McGonagall" picks a few people to be sorted into houses with the Sorting Hat. The people who did this in my group were all kids who had a specific house that was their favourite. None were Slytherin! They were, of course, sorted into the house that they wanted. I would be interested to know if you did not name a house before-hand, if you would be sorted into the house you wanted. I didn't have the opportunity to try though.

After that we were ushered through a dark room with the Hogwart's Express stationed in the corner. I would have liked to have spent a bit more time looking at the train, but was rushed through to the beginning of the exhibition.

After that I could take my time. The exhibition is separated into different sections. The first section was about Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had the lady in the door to get into Gryffindor Common Room. Then the first three displays were about Harry, Ron, and Hermione. A set was displayed showing Harry and Ron's beds, bedside tables, and trunks in Gryffindor Tower. Each character had a display case showing items pertaining to that specific character. For example, Harmione's time changer and some books; Ron's howler from his mom and a shirt; Harry's glasses and the Marauder's Map.

Every character's wand was also on display throughout the exhibit.

As you move through this section, you see several items pertaining to some of the main professors including: Snape, Lupin, Slughorn, and Sprout. It was interesting to see the detail in Potions textbooks, liquids in beakers, and the wardrobe in Professor Lupin's classroom.

The next section had an entrance set up to look like a tent. This section was about Quiddich and the Quiddich World Cup. It had costumes on display representing all the countries that took part in the Quiddich World Cup. Also, newspapers about the events that took place, the Golden Snitch, the Nimbus 2000, and a section where you could try your hand at Quiddich (without the broomstick). The far end of this section was about Buckbeak, including a model of Buckbeak that was used in the films.

The next section was about Hagrid's Hut. It included an oversized chair that you could sit in. Then came the Forbidden Forest. This included the Centaur and Aragog, the spider (which was huge!).

The next section dealt with the Death Eaters and Voldemort. It was interesting to see the gravestone from the Goblet of Fire and there was a life-size Dementor hovering just out of sight (at first). It was rather large and loomed above you once you noticed that it was there.

Umbridge's notices from the Order of the Phoenix were on display just outside the door leading to the Great Hall. The Great Hall section had a lot on display. The Goblet of Fire was there along with costumes for the different characters who participated - Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Viktor Krum, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione as well. There was a section in the middle showing various foods that were on the tables in the Great Hall. The last section dealt with the Deathly Hallows and included Ron's Deluminator, and of course the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand. I was surprised at the details on the Elder Wand because you can't see them on screen, but it is really cool to see in person.

There was a lot to see and I went through again twice more. I still could have seen more, I'm sure.

It was very interesting to see everything. I was amazed at the details - books, chemical beakers, models and the wands. Every wand is different. It was very cool to see it.

If you have the opportunity to go, I highly recommend it. Photographs are understandably not allowed, but you can buy items from the gift shop including a book about the exhibition.

For information about "Harry Potter: the Exhibition", visit: www.harrypotterexhibition.com

Five Attractions In Wellington, New Zealand

Here are five attractions in Wellington, New Zealand:

1) Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The Te Papa Museum in Wellington is New Zealand's National Museum. Admission is free, but an admission fee is charged for special short term exhibits.

Attractions at Te Papa include:

• Mana Whenua (Māori cultural exhibit)
• The giant squid
• New Zealand art works
• Tours of the museum
• The transformation of Aotearoa New Zealand

An overview of Wellington City Square with Te Papa in the centre
(It is the brown building by the water)

2) Mount Victoria

Mount Victoria is located just South of the CBD (Central Business District) and Te Aro. It is within walking distance of the CBD and Oriental Parade. It can also be reached by vehicle and public transport. Mount Victoria is a large hill that is a great place to go on short hikes. There are lots of hiking trails leading to the summit. Scenes from the Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring were filmed on Mount Victoria. 

Oriental Bay with Mount Victoria in the background

A Māori totem pole at the top of Mount Victoria

3) The Film Archives

The New Zealand Film Archives are located in Wellington's Te Aro community. The public can watch any New Zealand-made film that is on DVD or video for free. Upstairs, the Film Archive has films and special events that the public can attend. Some events have an entrance fee.

4) Courtenay Place

Courtenay Place in Te Aro is the cultural centre of Wellington. There are three movie theatres in Courtenay Place: Reading Theatre, for blockbuster and mainstream movies; The Paramount, for foreign language and independent films; and the Embassy Theatre hosted the world premieres of The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Theatres hosting stage productions include: The Saint James Theatre, BATS Theatre and Downstage Theatre. Courtenay Place has a lot of restaurants and cafés as well.

5) Kaitoke Regional Park

Located outside the city, Kaitoke Regional Park is parkland with lots to offer. Rainforest, walking and biking trails, and campsites offer visitors a variety of opportunities to explore. The Rivendell scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in Kaitoke Regional Park.

Suspension Bridge over the Hutt River, Kaitoke Regional Park

~Angie