BLUE MOUNTAINS

The Blue Mountains is a national Park and a World Heritage Site. The rugged Blue Mountains, so called because the air in the region often appears to be a bluish colour (a phenomen caused by the evaporation of eucalyptus oil from the gum tree forests). This wilderness is popular with bushwalkers, and the area is home to swamp  wallabies, possums, wombats and an incredible range of colourful birdlife. Distinguished by escarpments, forested valleys and spectacular rock features like this at Hanging Rock, which frustrated many early explorers in their search for a route over the mountains. Many species of flora and fauna that are unique to Australia can be easily seen in the Blue Mountains. In 1959, the Blue Mountains National Park was gazetted, ensuring the preservation of the large tracts of remaining wilderness.

The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, were carved from sandstone by rivers rushing to the ocean. There, spectacular scenery and wild places can be found, such as Hanging Rock jutting out of the golden sandstone walls of the Grose Valley.

Received from Don

QUEBEC

Canada's largest province has fjords, mountains, sea-lashed cliffs, wildlife, and adventure - all within easy reach of cosmopolitan Montreal and charming Old Quebec City, the provincial capital. The vibrant cities blend the best of Europe with the best of North America - easy going hospitality, fabulous cuisine, elegant hotels, cosy inns, nightlife with flair, unique museums and lively festivals of international theatre, comedy, film, fireworks and music.

Quebec and its regions - its motto "I remember"

From the silken sands and blood-red cliffs of the Magdalen Islands, to the wind-blown Arctic tundra of the Far North, to the flaming maple countryside and French-style manor houses of the Charlevoix region and the festive streets of Montreal, Quebec is a land of dazzling variety.

From whale watching to maple-sugar tasting, sand castle building to museum hopping, Canada's "Belle Province" has something for every fancy. 

Postcrossing Postcard: DE-720537

CAPE TOWN

In 1652 Jan van Riebeeck sailed into Table Bay and laid the foundations of South Africa's oldest city. With its  majestic Table Mountain backdrop, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 

 

Cape Town, an aerial view showing the harbour with the new extensions left  foreground

  An eclectic mix of architectural styles reflects the tastes and dictates of the past - and the more functional demands of  the 20th century. The city's Edwardian and Victorian buildings have been meticulously preserved, and many outstanding examples of Cape Dutch architecture are found in the city and its environs. Cobblestoned streets, mosques and the flat-roofed pastel homes of the Malay Quarter enhance a cosmopolitan ambience.

The  Republic's oldest city nestling beneath Table Mountain (1086-m) - is noted for its fine monuments and historical buildings

Take a trip to the top of Table Mountain and you will be rewarded with the most breathtaking panoramas imaginable - The thrill of a lifetime and an experience you will remember long after your holiday is over! This familiar landmark may be explored either on foot along one of the many pathways or by cable car from the Lower Cable Station in Table Mountain Road, Kloofnek.

 

 

A journey by cable car to the summit... dassies (rock rabbits) and wild flowers... a restaurant, and magnificent views all make for a memorable trip up the mountain

 

Cape Town's shopping options invite you to endlessly browse - and buy. Elegant shopping malls, department stores, antique shops and art galleries abound. Specialist boutiques in Long Street and the narrow little alleys intersecting it offer an enticing array of unusual articles not obtainable elsewhere.

"ROOM WITH A VIEW" Victoria & Alfred Hotel - Waterfront, Cape Town.

Received from Odette, Lynne and Chantal, Cape Town

CHARLOTTE

 Charlotte location gives you the best of both worlds. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are two hours to the west and the Atlantic beaches are three-and-a-half hours to the east. Charlotte is one of America's fastest growing metro regions with 430,430 people in the city limits and 1,230,805 in the metro area.
Wonderful museums, beautiful parks,a variety of attractions and great amusement all combined with high percentage of cheerful, sunlit  days make Charlotte the perfect place for a big-city getaway.

Charlotte, North Carolina was named in honour of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III and referred to as  the Queen City. Charlotte is a city with abundance of parks, shopping, sports and entertainment.

About 250 years ago Scotch/Irish settlers were following a pair of old Catawba Indian trading routes. Where the paths crossed, the settlers stopped and that's where Charlotte began.  In 1768, Charlotte was incorporate and named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.

Charlotte's climate is moderate, sunny, pleasant and produces four distinct seasons, each with its own particular wonders. 

 

Received from Caroline

STONEHENGE

The circle of vast, standing stones in the midst of the chalk downlands of Salisbury Plain is probably the most famous prehistoric monument in Europe.
It certainly does have a particular grandeur, which has been unfortunately marred by the way the site is managed.
The sheer size of Stonehenge can only really be appreciated up close. The stones weigh around 4 tonnes each and the gigantic sarsen stones weigh between 25 to 50 tonnes! How they got there is anybody's guess!

Stonhenge, Wiltshire. This property is cared for by English Heritage.

The site aligns with the midsummer sunrise, suggesting it had astronomical and calendrical significance, while the many nearby burial mounds attest to its sacredness.

Despite a plethora of theories to explain the stones' significance - more fanciful ones suggests a bird trap, a model of the solar system or an inspiration from outer space - Stonehenge remains a mystery.

TASMANIA

 Tasmania has certainly won many more hearts than it can claim square kilometres. It has only 68,000 of the latter, but it crams into them its rugged west, a central plateau broken by steep mountains and narrow river valley, and an eastern coastal region offering a soft 'English' pastoral beauty. Its diverse charms have made it a popular tourist attraction. 

The Nut, Historic Stanley Tasmania. The township of Stanley nestles under the massive headland called the Nut. Many old historic sights can be seen, including Joe Lyons' Cottage, Poets' Cottage, Plough Inn and the original Bluestone Grain Store - each with its own unique history.

First sighted by Abel Tasman in 1624, it was later claimed by Capitain Cook for the English and was first settled in 1803. Tasmania was first called Van Diemen's Land; these days it is known as the'heritage island', 'treasure island' or the 'apple isle'. Its economy is basically agricultural, but secondary industries such as tourism and minining are gradually taking over.

TABLE CAPE NORTH WEST TASMANIA Tasmania has some of the most spectacular rural scenery in the world and this region contains features of astonishing beauty

TASMANIAN DEVIL

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is noisy, fierce, potentially vicious and one of only three marsupial carnivores that inhabit the island. Now exclusive to the island state of Tasmania. These animals are adept at climbing, sleeping by day in well hidden dens and emerging at night as efficient scavengers and hunters.

JOHANNESBURG

Gold was the catalyst which brought Johannesburg into being and the city's identity will always be closely linked with gold. Today, Johannesburg is a city contrasts. In the heart of the city, the mine dumps and headgear, ideally viewed from the top of the Carlton Centre, one of the highest buildings in the city, still serve as symbols of Johannesburg's boisterous past. The 202 m high observation deck on the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre provides breathtaking views.

Evening view of the 269 M Srtijdom Tower and of Hillbrow, the most cosmopolitan, bustling and populated square kilometre in South Africa. Hillbrow is famous for its multi-racial society where everyone enjoys themselves at the many restaurants, discos and night life goes on to the early hours of the morning.   

Johannesburg glass and concrete skyline symbolises the country's escalating industrial and urban thrust. Golf courses, botanic gardens and parks are dotted among the high-rise buildings. The modern, cosmopolitan metropolis of Johannesburg, packed with vitality and verve, offers an exciting pleasure repertoire, superb hotels, five star restaurants and excellent shopping centre. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the only one in the country, is filled with the tumult of financial negotiations.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

• Motto: Parva sub ingenti (The small under the protection of the great)
• Flower: Lady's Slipper
• Provincial bird: Blue Jay
• Provincial tree: Red Oak

Prince Edward Island, one of Canada's four Atlantic Provinces, is the smallest of the ten provinces in both size and population. The island is crescent shaped. It is situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Northumberland Strait. 
Prince Edward Island is the Birthplace of Confederation - Canada was born here. PEI was approved as the colony's name, in honour of Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.

Contrasting view of PEI's rich rolling farmland and the Confederation Bridge linking the island to New Brunswick.

Prince Edward Island is meant to be enjoyed. No need to rush. It is scenic, compact and uncrowded. PEI is the most relaxed place in North America.

Cavendish Beach. Just one of many beautiful beaches on Prince Edward Island. The Island shoreline is made up mainly of fragile coastal dunes, beautiful pristine and red sandstone cliffs. The roots of marram grass helps hold the delicate dunes in place.

Near Cavendish, Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote her famous first novel about a feisty, red-haired orphan. Anne of Green Gables has taken on a life of her own, and her vivid imagination and romantic attitude appeal to fans around the world. "Anne of Green Gables" still lives on the island in her beloved "Avonlea" (Cavendish).

LONDON

London is the capital of Great Britain. It's in the south-east of England on the River Thames. London - described by many as one of the most exciting cities in the world - has something to suit all tastes. The city has an amazing variety of historic buildings, museums and art galleries, parks and gardens, as well as restaurants serving food from all corners of the globe. There are hundreds of great pubs, bars and nightclubs to enjoy, and London's theatreland is world famous, as is its department stores and shopping streets.

'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.' said Dr Samuel Johnson. Over two hundred years later, Dr Johnson is still right! London is the place to be, with so many different things to do and places to visit. The city's outstanding museums, palaces, churches, and first-rate music and theater offer endless entertainment.
London's center is fairly compact and covers the financial district (called the City), the entertainment and shopping area (called West End), and Westminster, seat of Parliament and home of royalty. The very center, from which distances are measured, is Trafalgar Square.

Pigeons, demonstrators and New Year's Eve revelers flock to London's most famous square. One-armed and one-eyed, Admiral Lord Nelson stands loftily above the pigeons on his 172-foot column in the middle of Trafalgar Square, named for his famous victory. 

London is an attractive city with great character. It changes as the centuries pass, but its ceremonies stay the same. Why not come here and see it all for yourself?

NEW YORK

New York is often called 'The Big Apple' to describe something which is ultimate in size, excitement and achievement. With over seven million inhabitants it is the largest city in the USA and the sixth largest in the world. This population is concentrated in an area of 800 sq km, and makes enormous demand on the city's services.

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, Upper New York Harbor, with the Manhattan Island skyline. Dedicated in 1886, this 305-feet high monument was a gift from France commemorating the 100th anniversary of American independence.

There are over a hundred hospitals and medical centers,  over 2 thousand primary and secondary schools, and 91 colleges, universities and technical schools.

The roads get extremely congested, but there is an extensive subway system which carries one and a half billion passengers annually. Entertainment is provided by 15 TV stations, 39 radio stations, theaters, cinemas, ballet and concert halls. There are 65 museums, 5 zoos, an aquarium and a planetarium.

 

The Prometheus Fountain in the Lower Plaza of Rockefeller Center is one of the most impressive sights in New York City.

'Greater New York' is made up of five boroughs - Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island - but when most people talk of New York they mean Manhattan, the island between the Hudson and East river. Manhattan is the business and entertainment center of the city. It is not very large, so it has to grow upwards, with many skyscrapers. If you are fit you can easily walk across it.