Updates from April, 2008

  • The Rosslyn Code

    Kat 5:12 pm on April 30, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’ illicits strong feelings from most people and our newest expert, Bill Mcdonnell is no exception. His first review for us is of Rosslyn Chapel, which you probably already know features in the book, and if you like the book you probably shouldn’t read our review because he’s debunked some of Dan’s code… He, like Dan’s characters, was fascinated by the intricate carvings.

    I visited Rosslyn on a chilly, grey afternoon in 2006 and was totally charmed by the detailed stories crawling all over the walls. I was also lucky enough to attend a service there, something I would add to Bill’s recommendation. I would also advise going late in the day (apparently the Dan Brown buses are there in the mornings… you can probably guess which way my feelings for the book tend.).

     
  • Anzac Day

    Kat 11:00 am on April 25, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Today, the 25th of April 2008, is the 93rd anniversary of the landing of Commonwealth forces on the beaches at Gallipoli where for the next nine months they would fight one of World War I’s bloodiest campaigns.   Australia and New Zealand commemorate the occasion annually as ANZAC Day (referring to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps).  The beaches and quiet green cemeteries around Anzac Cove, Turkey have become a popular pilgrimage at this time of year and attending one of the services here is definitely a unique and moving travel experience.

    Keeping to the somber war time tone, Gerald Foe, one the latest people to share expertise and travel stories with us has written a review of Sandakan, another spot historically sullied by the suffering of Commonwealth forces.  Once a notorious Prisoner of War camp, there is now a beautiful, peaceful natural park here, with a walk approaching a wooden cabin which has photos and stories from the camp (I went with my Mum in 2004 and we both appreciated the calm reverence of the surroundings.).

    Another new expert with similar interests is Trent Rex who’s latest review for us is of The Bridge over the River Kwai.

     
  • Travolution Awards 2008

    Kat 9:30 am on April 25, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Winner of Best New Online Travel Company at the Travolution Awards 2008 is Worldreviewer.com

    Thanks Travolution!

    Announced at a dinner last night, they say: “In a market increasingly crowded with new content and experience-led sites, Worldreviewer stands out a mile. It has used exclusive editorial and excellent tools to wonderful effect and ensured its commercial partnerships are relevant to the target market.”

    Our office has a healthy glow about it and I have displayed our awards (Yahoo and Travolution) along side each other (this one is classy perspex, photo to follow…) on our little bookcase…one more and I think we’ll need a bigger bookcase.

    For background of the event and the Travolution summit check out our sister blog at: http://traveltelegraph.com/

     
  • Hot chocolate at the top

    Kat 6:28 pm on April 1, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    Today I learned about the highest (and longest) cable car in the world which dangles precariously up the slopes of Venezuela’s highest mountain, Pico Bolivar.  That sounds fairly cool but what I was really interested in was the bit at the end when they mention there is a cafe selling hot chocolate at the top…  When I was a kid my Dad used a similar ploy to get me up Uluru and considering what day it is I can’t help but wonder if this is not a ploy…  Still I suppose there is a cable car station up there so from there a cafe isn’t so far fetched.  (Just in case you’re wondering there isn’t an ice cream shop up the top of Uluru - and I was 8 Dad…  )

     
  • April Fools...

    Kat 12:44 pm on April 1, 2008 | 0 Permalink | Reply

    We can’t resist prodding at Terminal 5 a bit more can we - still, it’s all in good fun and the spirit of the day.  No one picked it up but we had a few chuckles ourselves and were commended for trying

     
  • Mithraic Temple Discovered under Terminal 5

    Kat 9:29 am on April 1, 2008 | 1 Permalink | Reply

    Worldreviewer archeological expert Professor Avril Buffon from the Institute of Classical Archaeology at the University of Nantes announced today that formal excavations will start next month on a Mithraic Temple complex discovered during the construction of Heathrow’s Terminal Five. The remains include a number of funerary monuments, as well as a likeness of the Roman God Valigia, a little known deity who was worshipped by the messenger corp of the Roman Army.
    These messengers customarily carried their dispatches in sturdy leather pouches called Valigie, which gave us the modern French word ‘valise’, meaning suitcase. A large number were unearthed during preliminary construction work, which led directly to the discovery of the temple. The site was secured pending completion of the terminal, and kept under wraps until now.

    The remains were discovered in the path of the 11 mile underground baggage conveyor complex, which had to be re-routed by several hundred yards as a result. BAA have denied that the resulting kink in the path of the conveyor belts – as well as an unusual zig-zag section to skirt a series of massive marble columns - contributed to the recent baggage problems at the new
    Terminal.  During the planned excavations a number of flights are expected to be re-routed to a sixth, temporary Terminal, on the far perimeter of the airport. When asked about the impact on planning for a possible third runway, Professor Buffon said ‘Mithraic Temples are seldom found in isolation. We would not be surprised if there was a whole town under there.

     
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