BOSTON

The town was named Boston (Native Americans had called it Shawmut)after the town of the same name in England, which had been named after St. Botolph, the patron saint of fishing. Boston, first incorporated as a town in 1630, and as a city in 1822, is one of America's oldest cities, with a rich economic and social history. What began as a homesteading community eventually evolved into a center for social and political change. Boston has since become the economic and cultural hub of New England.
Boston is home to the nation's first public park (The Boston Commons 1640), the first public library (1653) and the first subway (1897).

Custom House Clock Tower
Boston, Massachusetts

The Custom House Tower is a 29-story skyscraper that is a masterful blending of two very discrete styles. The original building was built in 1847 in the Greek Revival style in a crucifix shape that featured 36 Doric granite columns (only 1/2 of which actually supported the structure) and which weighed some 42 tons each. Each of these columns was carved from a single piece of granite. Atop this original structure was also a magnificent dome reminiscent of the Pantheon.

Postcrossing Postcard US-959207

ROTHIEMURCHUS

Hidden in the forest of Rothiemurchus, this beautiful place is one of the most loved in the UK.  Rothiemurchus is a special place at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands.
The Cairngorms is the collective name for the high plateau to the south of Aviemore and which have four of the five highest mountains in Scotland.

ROTHIEMURCHUS, CAIRNGORM MOUNTAINS, HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Loch an Eilein Castle: www.rothiemurchus.net

The Rothiemurchus Estate includes Loch an Eilein Castle, an exceptionally lovely loch, surrounded by pines below a mountain backdrop and with an island castle, started in the 15C by Lachlan of Mackintosh but later enlarged and passing, as part of the estate, to the Gordons and then the Grants. Until the loch was dammed during the 18C  the castle could be reached by causeway.

Received from Hazel

OTTAWA

Ottawa is Canada's capital city. Perched on the border between Ontario and Quebec, it combines the best of both cultures - with a few others thrown in for good measure. Ottawa charms you with its natural beauty, graceful architecture, fine museums and simple pleasures. It blends urban sophistication, natural beauty and joie de vivre. Year round, it's a destination like no other.

The gothic Parliament Buildings, set on a bluff high above the Ottawa River, dominate the skyline. Three Gothic stone buildings roofed with green copper form Canada's seat of government. The centre block is crowned by the 92 m Peace tower with a carillon of 53 bells. A white light burns on top of the tower when Parliament is in session, and an eternal flame burns in front of the buildings as a symbol of Canada's 100 years of nationhood. For one thing, it's the highest point for miles and the view from behind Parliament House is excellent.

 

 

Ottawa Tourism

 

BRISBANE

Brisbane is Australia's third largest city, with 1.2 million residents living beside the Brisbane River as it flows into Moreton Bay. It is a busy and optimistic place. It is hard to believe that it was once regarded as little more than a dull, provincial backwater. The city's quintessential architecture, designed for the heat of the tropics, sees many of the houses elevated on stilts to take advantage of cooling breezes. Brisbane is Queensland's cosmopolitan capital, sparkling in sunshine by day and with myriad lights reflecting on the river by night.

 

Brisbane, capital of Queensland. Left to right: The beach at inner city South Bank Parklands; the city on the Town Reach of the Brisbane River; Brisbane City Hall.

 

Completed in 1930, the Neo-Classical City Hall is home to Brisbane City Council, the largest council in Australia, and the Museum of Brisbane. City Hall’s 92-m Italian Renaissance-style tower gives a panoramic view of the city from a platform at its top.

Visit Brisbane

Received from Penny

 

MADISON

 The Borough of Madison is located in southeast Morris County, New Jersey, about 22 miles due west of New York City’s Times Square. Sometimes called “The Rose City” and “Bottle Hill”. It is a beautiful community overflowing with colonial and Victorian architecture. Madison, named after President James Madison, was nicknamed the Rose City because of a 19th-century rose-growing industry started by wealthy residents drawn to Madison by its location on the Morris & Essex train line. Today, Madison consists of an area of 4.2 square miles, has a population of approximately 16,000 and remains a diverse community. Drew University, which lies on a 186-acre deciduous forest in the community, truly encompasses the heritage of the town and is a reflection of it’s 147-year existence. Main Street, or Route 124, is the borough’s distinct artery for shopping and dining. 

An aerial of this Morris town shows the many fine shops located on Main Street (RT. 24) and the train station nearby. Home to Drew University

BARRIE

Barrie is located at the heart of it all, central to Toronto, cottage-country, unbeatable skiing and picturesque wilderness, and a half hour from some of Ontario's most sought-after destinations.  Today Barrie stands at a population of about 130,000 and continues to be one of Canada's fastest growing and dynamic cities. The gateway to Cottage country. Lots of outdoors activities boating, swimming, camping in summer, ice fishing, skiing and snowmobiling in winter. Barrie is a beautiful city offering lots to do.

Barrie, Ontario. This growing city is alive with entertainmnent and recreational opportunities on Lake Simcoe's Kempenfelt Bay.  

Centennial Beach Park. Beautiful sand beach with picnicking facilities on western tip on Kempenfelt Bay. Home of "Kempenfest," annual civic holiday weekend celebration in August.

Simcoe County Museum. A large museum complex with several pioneer buildings and a modern display centre which contains an 1840s shopping street. The museum traces the human history of the area from 5000 B.C. to the present.

Destination Ontario: Barrie

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Location North-eastern corner of the Transvaal, stretches from the Mozambique border in the north to Malelane in the south. The only National Park in the Transvaal. About 400 km north-east of Johannesburg.
Size Just under 2 000 000 ha - roughly the size of Wales.

This internationally renowned game and nature reserve supports the greatest variety of wildlife species found on the African continent.

Giraffes at a watering hole.

The park supports more species of wildlife than any other African game sanctuary: 137 mammal species, 49 fish species, 112 reptile species, 493 bird species. The park has the highest density of birds of prey in the world, including 15 eagle species. Mammals include lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, impala and zebra.

Guided wilderness trails are offered, facilitating closer contact with the untamed beauty of the bush. More than half a million wildlife enthusiasts visit the Kruger National Park each year throughout the year.