Mount Snowdon, Wales. Interesting Information For Visitors

Mount Snowdon, Wales. Interesting Information For Visitors By Pat Ransom
If you plan to visit Snowdon in Wales this summer, here is someinteresting information about the mountain that you might liketo know.
Snowdon, in Welsh, is Yr Wyddfa, which means tomb or monument.Legend has it that it is the tomb of Rhita Gawr, an ogre whowould kill kings and make cloaks out of their beards. Hesupposedly met his end when King Arthur climbed to the top ofMount Snowdon and killed him.
No one knows who first conquered Snowdon, but ascents of themountain became popular when Thomas Pennant published 'Tours'in 1781 and included his visit to the summit.
Snowdon, as indeed the surrounding area, has been mined sincethe Bronze Age, and evidence of copper mining can be seen allover the mountain, from old mine buildings, to old tramways.Care should be taken around these old buildings.
Facts and Figures of Snowdon
Snowdon stands 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) high. Each year350,000 people reach the summit, some on foot and some bytrain. The summit has 200 inches(508 cm) of rain per year, andcan reach temperatures of 30 centigrade in high summer, andplummet to - 20 centigrade in the winter. Add to this winds ofup to 150 mph and the temperature can feel more like - 50. Thesummit buildings at the top can by covered by ice and snowbetween November and April.
Snowdon Mountain Railway
Before the railway, ponies used to take tourists to the summitof Snowdon. Sir Richard Moon and Mr George Assheton Smith wereresponsible for the idea of the Snowdon Railway - Sir Moon as away of boosting tourists using his standard gauge lines, and MrSmith as he realised that tourist cash may compensate him fromthe loss of income from his declining mines.
They imported a fully working 800mm gauge mountain railway fromSwitzerland. The railway remains the only rack and pinionrailway in the UK. It has tooted racks in the centre of thetrack that engage with cogs under the carriages.
The only accident on the railway occurred on the day it openedto the public in 1896. Engine #1, Ladas, derailed and plummeteddown a slope. The crew jumped from the engine and survived, andthe guard applied the hand brake to the carriages and broughtthem to a halt. Unfortunately, one of the passengers panickedand jumped from the carriage, falling onto the tracks and underthe wheels. He later died from his injuries. The saga wasn'tquite over, as just as the carriages stopped, the enginefollowing behind (Enid - still operating today) hit them frombehind!
The railway was closed. Since it reopened the following yearthere have been no further accidents! And since that date therehas never been another Engine #1 on the Snowdon Railway!
The cost of the train trip is not cheap (apart from being agood walk in itself, another reason for trying to make thesummit on foot!), but is a great way for those who cannot makethe climb to travel to the top. However, good weather cannot beguaranteed, and you may start the trip on a clear day, only tofind yourself in cloud as you reach the top.
If you choose to take the train up Mount Snowdon, you can walkback down via the Llanberis Path. You can get some wonderfulviews of the trains puffing their way up and down from thepath. Not all trains are steam - there are also diesel engines.
If you plan to take the train up to the top of Snowdon bewarethat the trains get very crowded in the summer, and it is bestto arrive early or even more advisable to book in advance byringing 0870 458 0033 at least the day before. If you don't youmay have a long wait. A board by the ticket office will tell youwhich is the next train with available seats. You can buy areturn, or a single to the top. Single tickets for the journeydown are sold on standby basis only.
Weather permitting the trains run from mid May to the end ofOctober right to the summit, but from mid March, and a littleway into November, stop at Clogwyn. Trains start running at 9amand continue until late afternoon.
Buildings on Snowdon Summit
In 1820 the first stone shelter was built at the summit by aguide named Lloyd. A copper miner, William Morris, had the ideaof selling refreshments from the shelter - an idea whichcontinues to the present day. Having walked up the mountain itis probably as welcome today, as it was to the earlier tourist,to be able to have something to eat and drink before tacklingthe descent.
Two hotels were opened on the summit, one called Roberts Hotel,the other the Cold Club. Both were in fierce competition witheach other. There were often more visitors then beds though,and conditions were not the best. By 1898 the Snowdon MountainRailway and Hotels Company had taken over the hotels, andstarted to rebuild them - the fierce conditions on the top ofMount Snowdon means that any building had a limited live. Bythe 1930s it was decided to replace the summit buildings with amultipurpose hotel, cafe and station. With little regard toconservation, the builders simply pushed the derelict old hutsover the side of the mountain to make way for the new build(imagine the uproar today!). Sir Clough William-Ellis, thearchitect and designer of nearby Portmerion, designed the newbuilding, complete with huge picture windows so visitors couldbest enjoy the panoramic views. Unfortunately the windowslasted only six months before they were blown in and had to bereplaced with much smaller ones.
During the war years the summit buildings were used by theMinistry of Supply for experimental radio work, andsubsequently by Air Ministry, Admiralty and Armed forces, andthe mountain top was closed to tourists. The hotel did notreopen to tourists after the war.
In 2004 it was agreed that the summit buildings would undergo atotal refurbishment. Demolition is due to start in the autumn of2006, with the new centre being ready in 2007. There has beenmuch debate about the form of the new buildings, but one thingis certain - whatever the new buildings look like, they willalways be a welcome sight to walkers who have struggled theirway to the top of the mountain!
About the Author: If you are going on holiday in North Walesyou may well wish to ascend to the summit of Snowdon, either onfoot or by the Snowdon Mountain Railway. This article gives youinteresting information about the mountain, railway and thebuildings on the summit. http://www.mountainwalk.co.uk

Old Sturbridge Village Is A Dose Of Yankee Hospitality

Old Sturbridge Village Is A Dose Of Yankee Hospitality By Cliff Calderwood
Old Sturbridge Village has both feet planted firmly in 19thcentury New England. You’ll experience the dawn of prosperityand modern commerce and what life was like in a typical NewEngland village of the time. Role playing staff in periodcostumes recreate authentic discussions, and demonstrations ofthoughts and skills, found during this exciting era in Americanhistory.
Once described in a 1950 article as "The Town That Wants to BeOut of Date," Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge,Massachusetts is a lovingly recreated village of early 19thcentury New England. The Village opened to the public in 1946and received 5,000 visitors in its first year of operation.Today nearly half a million visitors a year experience theauthentic buildings and wonderful collections of artifacts ondisplay.
OSV has been a survivor. New England weather and accidents canbe destructive to outdoor museums and Old Sturbridge Villagehas seen blizzards, hurricanes, flooding, and the occasionalfire. Look for the high water mark notched on Gristmill on themillpond from Hurricane Diane.
Located 60 miles west of Boston off exit 9 on Route 90,Sturbridge Village is set among 200 acres of rural CentralMassachusetts. Many of the structures are original and movedhere from villages in Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.Reconstructed and restored with painstaking care they tingleyour senses with their rustic charm, and simple Yankee designs.
Unpaved country roads lead you around the common and tooutlying areas of inviting barns and craftsmen establishments,such as the shoe and tin shops. Here you’ll see and talk torole-playing 19th century craftsmen. Marvel as they skillfullyproduce goods using only the tools and resources available inthe 1830s. Take the opportunity to discuss with them theirskill and work and what they think about life - just remembertheir response will be from a 19th century viewpoint.
Both a museum and educational resource, Old Sturbridge Villageis primarily a place to explore for all ages. The centerpieceis the recreated New England town and outlying areas containingmore than 40 buildings to visit, experience, and enjoy.
Sturbridge Village contains residential homes, a printingoffice, a bank, and stores and shops. You’ll learn why banksdidn’t do personal loans in those days - but who did. And whythe buildings called Meetinghouses, weren’t called churches -even though each Sunday most villagers spent four hoursworshipping in them.
Stop by the Salem household in their handsome Towne House, andthen visit and have tea at the Parsonage before calling on theFenno and Fitch dwellings. These residential homes on thecommon in Sturbridge Village are full of surprises and homelycomforts. And they’re always open and welcoming to you.
And if you need to stop for refreshment, Sturbridge Village hasplenty of picnic areas if you’ve brought your own food, or youcan purchase hot and cold fare at Bullard Tavern, or treats atLittle Cakes. Options to eat change with the seasons so be sureto check the guide the day you visit.
The vision of the original founders of Old Sturbridge Villagewas for a place to learn by doing and direct experience - anactive outdoors museum. I’ve always found Sturbridge Village awelcome change of pace and reminder that quality of life hasnothing to do with the latest wide screen TV or iPod.
Plan to spend at least 3-4 enjoyable hours at Old SturbridgeVillage. Remember a ticket to Sturbridge Village is good fortwo days within a 10-day period.
Old Sturbridge Village is one of my favorite three livingmuseums in New England. The other two are Plimoth Plantation inPlymouth, eastern Massachusetts, and Mystic Seaport in Mystic,Connecticut. All three for different reasons are marvelousexperiences of New England’s contribution to American history.To discover more about each visit my web site atwww.new-england-vacations-guide.com/
About the Author: For more details on these and otherattractions on Massachusetts vacations and to pick up your freevacation reports go to Cliff Calderwood's online New EnglandVacations site at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/

Leave Your Fondue Pot At Home: Travel To Switzerland

Leave Your Fondue Pot At Home: Travel To Switzerland By Frank Johnson
Switzerland, formally known as The Confederation Helvetica, isa landlocked mountainous haven in the heart of Europe.Partially due to the isolating geography, the Swiss people havemaintained a strong commitment to tradition, independence andthe preservation of their long-established way of life. Hence,it is very important for the traveler to note that Switzerlandis not a member of the European Union and uses the Swiss Francas their form of currency.
An incredible benefit of Switzerland's independence is a clean,speedy and reliable train system and public transportationnetwork, including the new Rail 2000 program that offersregular half-hourly service between all major cities.
The thought of Switzerland strikes up images of enchantingcastles, milk chocolate, fine cheese speckled with holes,sturdy watches and the Matterhorn. Don't be fooled by thissimplicity or the precision and just-so design of Swiss townsand get ready to discover a society far more rich, worldly anddynamic than you had ever imagined when you travel Switzerland!As homogenous as the nation might appear, Switzerland is dividedinto very diverse regions with four national languages: German,French, Italian and Romansch (a Latin derivative). English isalso spoken widely. The fusion of these cultures adds a zest offlavor that complements the serenely picturesque landscape.
Four Seasons to Travel to Switzerland
Unlike many other European destinations, it is wonderful totravel to Switzerland any time of year! Switzerland iscentrally located on the European continent and consequentlyenjoys moderate and consistent weather for each season. Skiingis by far the best excuse to travel Switzerland in the winter,but make sure not to miss the splendor of cities like Genevacovered in a blanket of snow. Geneva, the second-largest city,is close to the Swiss Alps and the French border and alsoboasts an international history of its own. The municipalityhas been central to European affairs for centuries, mostnotably including the Geneva Convention. Interlaken should be apart of a summer and winter itinerary as well. The pristinesetting among some of the tallest and fiercest alpine peaksmakes Interlaken a sanctuary for skiers and hikers alike. Thetown is small and limited on lodging so make reservationsearly.
In addition to the most popular destinations, such as Zurichand the Alps, the Swiss traveler is encouraged to leave thebeaten path behind to discover the true beauty of the countryand meet the resilient and warm people who define a nation thatis over 700 years old. Remember that traditional does nottranslate into old-fashioned or archaic in Switzerland. TheSwiss society stands out among European nations as anextraordinarily progressive and cutting-edge standard ofmodernity.
About the Author: For more information on travel to Switzerlandand other destinations in Europe, and discount airfare toSwitzerland, visit http://www.cfares.com.

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The Province Of Ontario

The Province Of Ontario By Dave Lympany
The name Ontario is said to come from the Iroquoian (firstnation) word meaning "vast body of water". It is the secondlargest Province in Canada, spanning approximately one millionsquare kilometers. It stretches all the way from the GreatLakes to the frozen shores of Hudson Bay in the North. Situatedbetween the provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to theEast, the Province borders the USA to the South.
It is home to 6 National and 280 Provincial Parks which givethe Province a virtually endless array of RecreationalPossibilities. The largest and probably most famous is theAlgonquin Park which is home to Black Bears and the trademarkCanadian Beaver and has amazing scenery. Most of the Provinceis in the Eastern Time Zone, which is GMT -5 hours, howeversome of Western and Northern Ontario is in the Central timezone, which is GMT -6 hours. Between the months of April andOctober Daylight Saving is in effect. Ontario has very definedseasons, the summer months can be very hot and the wintermonths extremely cold with a lot of snow. Spring and fall tendto have a lot of rain.
The Southwestern part of Ontario is normally milder than therest of Southern Ontario. Northern Ontario is generally a lotcolder due to the winds blown in from the Artic. Northern Ontario is mostly occupied by forests and rockyoutcrops, part of the Canadian Shield. Four of the five Greatlakes and the St. Lawrence River form the southern boundary ofOntario. One of the most famous landmarks of Ontario (and allof Canada) is the majestic Niagara Falls, which are locatedsouth of Toronto near the city of St.Catherines on the US –Canada border. Thousands of tourists from around the worldflock to see the falls which can be viewed from the USA side aswell.
Ontario's Cities
Ontario has one of the largest populations and is home toCanada's capital city, Ottawa, which is located in theSouth-East of the Province. The Greater Toronto Area isCanada's industrial, economic and population centre, home tothe Provincial capital (Toronto) and is also located in thesouth. The vast majority of Ontario's population (11.4 millionin 2001 census) lives in the South of the Province. The LesterPearson International airport in Toronto is by far the largestairport in Canada and a major hub for airlines.
Also, the cities of Hamilton, London, Kingston and Windsor arelarge settlements with over a million residents between themand continue to grow. Auto manufacturing and aerospace havelong been the largest employers in Ontario with several hugecar plants in the region. The big 3 North Americanmanufacturers Ford, GM and Dodge/Chrysler are represented inthe region.
Thunder Bay is the largest port on Lake Superior and is a verycommercial and industrial area.
Provincial Government
The Government of Ontario is administered by Premier DaltonMcGuinty's Liberal party. As with all the Provinces andTerritories, the Provincial Government is responsible forHealthcare, all aspects of vehicle registration and DriverLicensing, Education and Welfare assistance.
The Province has a Sales Tax (PST) rate of 8% on top of the 7%Federal GST, Hotel room tax at 5% and also collects ProvincialIncome Tax.
As one of the main entry points along the St.Lawrence River,Ontario has a full history, especially since the Westernsettlers arrived with Confederation taking place in 1867. TheAlgonquian and Iroquoian native peoples lived off the land inSouthern Ontario for generations prior to the arrival of thewesterners – with the French explorers being the first. Ontariowas originally known as Upper Canada and was settled extensivelyby English, Scottish and Irish immigrants along with theloyalists from the USA who arrived after the war ofindependence there.
The initial source of prosperity was the fur trading which waseventually surpassed by the discovery of massive mineraldeposits such as gold, nickel and iron ore.
The Province of Ontario is an exceptional place to live orvisit so for more information please go tohttp://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com/ontario.html
About the Author: The author immigrated to Canada in 2003 andhas constructed a free information websitehttp://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com about CanadianImmigration and life in Canada based on his family’sexperiences.

Want To Start Your Own Business In 2006? Get Into The TravelIndustry

Want To Start Your Own Business In 2006? Get Into The TravelIndustry By Ron Holmes
While the economy has been good to some people, it has beenless than stellar for others. Many people are feeling squeezedbetween high energy prices and jobs that are always cuttingback.
NOW may be exactly the right time to start your own home-basedbusiness. Unlike a traditional brick and mortar business, youdon't need to borrow thousands to get your home-based businessstarted. You won't need to rent an office, hire employees, oreven pay much tax.
The next question is, what kind of business should I get into?Let me suggest you take a good, hard look at the travelindustry. It's simply the largest business in the world,accounting for more than $5 TRILLIION in sales each year -- andgrowing by a whopping 25% annually.
Now it doesn't take a CPA to know you can make a greathome-based income even you just get the crumbs off that $5Trillion table. And new developments in the travel industry aremaking that easier than ever.
Vast groups of vacationers are joining together to createunprecedented bargaining power. Airlines, hotels, resorts, andgolf courses are always in hot competition with each other.When a large association of vacationers shows interest, thesevacation companies offer their best deals.
The association will say "We'll tell our members to buy fromyou -- IF you'll give us your best deal." A luxury hotel, forexample, will often let members stay for just $200 to $400 PERWEEK.
Combine those super low travel rates with the vast number ofpeople who are vacation these days, then mix in all the coldweather we've been seeing nationwide, and you've got a stampedeof new prospects to tropical vacation destinations.
Base your new home-based business on that huge trend and you'llearn some serious cash in 2006.
About the Author: Ron Holmes is a home business consultantbased in Minnesota. See his movie illustrating how you can getbig discounts on vacations athttp://www.coastal-call-center-sales.com See his businessopportunity that lets you travel for FREE athttp://www.SuccessWithCoastal.com. ron@successandtravel.com

The Province Of Alberta

The Province Of Alberta By Dave Lympany
The Province of Alberta is approximately 255,200 square milesin size and boasts incredible scenery and abundant naturalresources. It is situated between the provinces of Saskatchewanto the East and British Columbia to the west, with NorthwestTerritories to the North and the state of Montana, USAbordering the south.
Alberta is in the Mountain Time Zone which is GreenwichMeantime -7 hours. Between the months of April and OctoberDaylight Saving is in effect and the difference is GMT -6hours.
There are two main cities, Edmonton (The Provincial Capital) inthe north and Calgary in the south. Edmonton is locatedapproximately 300 kilometers north of Calgary, with a healthyrivalry between the sports teams and the populations ingeneral. There are several other Towns and Cities that have alot to offer including Lethbridge, Red Deer, Brooks, MedicineHat and Fort McMurray to the far north.
The Provinces landscape is extremely varied and provides amultitude of Recreational Possibilities. From flat openprairies, raging rivers, turquoise lakes and majestic glaciersto the awesome beauty of the magnificent Canadian Rockies.
Not surprisingly, the most prized assets of the province arethe Banff and Jasper National Parks, coupled with the pristineKananaskis Country. Banff is by far the more commercial withthe Mount Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise ski hills close by.The town is a beautiful place but becomes fairly crowded duringthe summer and winter with tourist/skiers flocking to the town.Bears are a fairly common sight all around the area and thereare often deer roaming around.
The world famous Ice field Parkway offers one of the mostbreathtaking drives in the world as it winds through mountainpasses and past enormous Glaciers and emerald blue lakes. Bewarned, photographs and video’s do not do justice to thescenery as to appreciate the enormity of the area you have tostand there and take it all in. Once you complete the drive,you will have passed the Columbia ice field where snow coacheswill take you for tours on the Glacier. The Town site of Jasperawaits at the end of the parkway and offers a lesscommercialised mountain town experience. The stunning MaligneLake and Maligne Canyon are a must see and there are sightseeing tours up the Jasper Tramway to the Whistlers summit(2470m high). Please note that you will need a valid park passto stop in any national park or to drive on the Ice FieldParkway.
Alberta has the lowest overall taxes in Canada (Provincial taxrate is 10%) and is the only province that doesn't have aprovincial sales tax. It boasts one of the worlds most vibrantand competitive economies that thrives on the back of massiveoil and gas resources with the massive Oil sands projects inthe far north promising more Oil than Saudi Arabia! The recentmad cow crisis has damaged the famous Beef industry though thiswill hopefully be resolved soon. The Provincial Governmentactively encourages Business Development and investment; thisin turn fosters the economic growth and performance that isleading Canada's economic recovery. Alberta is now debt free asa Province after paying off over $20 Billion mainly due to themassive oil and gas revenues.
As with all the Provinces, Alberta regulates its own EducationSystem. Currently, the education budget is receiving a greatdeal of attention from Albertans who are pushing hard for moreinvestment. Also, the money previously used for debt servicingwill now be made available for infrastructure investment –billions of dollars have been allocated to this.
The Provincial agency for assessment of foreign qualificationsis The Edmonton based International Qualification AssessmentService (IQAS). This service is critical to enable Canadianemployers assess your education and was also a requirement forthe visa application when we applied.
Also on the self regulation list are Driver Licensing, WorkersCompensation Board, Social Welfare Program and a ProvincialNominee Immigration Program. Professional regulation is alsogoverned at a Provincial level - all the information can befound through our "Job search" pages.
The major political concern for the Alberta Government (headedby long serving Premier Ralph Klein and his conservative party)is the Provincial Healthcare system. All Canadians want extrafunding to forestall what is perceived as a deterioratingservice. I must admit that it is definitely better funded percapita than the UK for instance. The Federal Government ispaying out several billion dollars to help out over the nextfew years and the Provincial Government is making it a priorityas well.
Alberta has a rich history from the prehistoric days of thedinosaurs, the time of the first nations ruling the land,through western settlement and the journey towardsindependence. There are several world heritage sites in Albertawith the main two being the very impressive Royal TyrellPaleontology museum near Drumheller and the Head Smashed InBuffalo Jump site near Lethbridge.
The Tyrell museum is a world leader on Dinosaurs with somefantastic displays that are a treat for any family. The HeadSmashed in Buffalo Jump is an amazing interpretive centre thatdemonstrates how the native Indians joined together at certaintimes of the year for the big buffalo jump where theyskillfully drove herds of buffalo over a cliff. When successfulenough food was gathered for the participants to get themthrough the winter and all parts of the buffalo were used.Unfortunately, the arrival of the western settlers destroyedthis way of life with the buffalo hunted to near extinction.
Alberta is a fantastic place to live or visit and the sheernumber of Canadian s moving to the Province is testimony to thelifestyles on offer. With the future promising increasingrevenue’s from the Oil and Gas industry and massive investmentAlberta is the place to be. The majestic rockie mountainsprovide fantastic recreational possibilities that are virtuallyunsurpassed anywhere else in the world.
More information on living and visiting Alberta can be found athttp://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com/alberta.html
About the Author: The author immigrated to Canada in 2003 andhas constructed a free information websitehttp://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com about CanadianImmigration and life in Canada based on his family’sexperiences.