Showing posts with label ATLANTIC OCEAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ATLANTIC OCEAN. Show all posts
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Typical house of Santana, northern Madeira Island, Portugal
Santana is a city located in the northern part of the Madeira Islands, Portugal. It is located north of Funchal, northwest of the Machico, east of São Vicente and northeast of Câmara de Lobos.
The main sources of industry are agriculture and tourism, and a small number of businesses are in the downtown area. A large theme park is also located in the center of town, which includes some exhibits about the island and its culture. The Madeira Theme Park is an ample space on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land, where visitors of all ages can embark on a voyage of discovery throughout Madeira and Porto Santo. Visitors can learn about the island's history, familiarize themselves with the local traditions and culture, vibrate with the exceptional beauty of the landscapes, explore an immense park-garden and feel the unique force of nature.
Santana is famous for its traditional homes with bungalow rooftops that are made out of straw that extend down to the ground, making them triangular in shape. They are mainly rural houses, used by farmers in the past. These houses have white walls with red doors and windows and blue trim. Most of these houses are tourist attractions. The straw roofs are renovated every four to five years.
These strawroofed houses are disappearing, replaced by those made of concrete according to current tastes.
The roof covers the house to the ground in order to protect it from the strong cold winds of the Northern Atlantic.
Flowers in small garden patches in front of each house add even more colour to the scenery.
source: wikipedia
more info @ : http://www.cm-santana.com/cmsantana/
The main sources of industry are agriculture and tourism, and a small number of businesses are in the downtown area. A large theme park is also located in the center of town, which includes some exhibits about the island and its culture. The Madeira Theme Park is an ample space on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land, where visitors of all ages can embark on a voyage of discovery throughout Madeira and Porto Santo. Visitors can learn about the island's history, familiarize themselves with the local traditions and culture, vibrate with the exceptional beauty of the landscapes, explore an immense park-garden and feel the unique force of nature.
Santana is famous for its traditional homes with bungalow rooftops that are made out of straw that extend down to the ground, making them triangular in shape. They are mainly rural houses, used by farmers in the past. These houses have white walls with red doors and windows and blue trim. Most of these houses are tourist attractions. The straw roofs are renovated every four to five years.
These strawroofed houses are disappearing, replaced by those made of concrete according to current tastes.
The roof covers the house to the ground in order to protect it from the strong cold winds of the Northern Atlantic.
Flowers in small garden patches in front of each house add even more colour to the scenery.
source: wikipedia
more info @ : http://www.cm-santana.com/cmsantana/
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Bay of Laig, Isle of Eigg, Scotland
Something that strikes you when you are on Eigg is the large number of non-Scottish accents, ok I'll say it, there are a lot of English accents. Indeed Karen the owner of our bunkhouse was certainly not a native of the island.
I later discovered that actually there were only two indigenous families left on Eigg. In some ways this makes me kinda sad. Indigenous families believed there was nothing there for their kids, they were encouraged to leave to make a better life. How things have changed, how many of us now see island life as an idyl and if we had the cohones would love to live that existance?
I think there is a deeper question though. Why aren't Scottish people embracing their own country, more welcoming to outsiders and more capable of providing the hospitality that tourism demands ? It seems to me that the settlers throughout the H & I and very often these are English families are far more geared up to doing this successfully.
After initially being slightly perturbed at the Scots/English mix living and owning Eigg, I soon realised something. People on Eigg, NEVER walk past you, everyone waves as they go past, everyone has a decent word to say to visitors, they genuinely seem to want to share their little spot of paradise with you or if thats not the case, they at least appreciate your tourism dollars, either way your made to feel welcomed. This sadly is not always the case in many of the more Scottish tourist spots in the highlands/Islands. I think you can often feel like your not wanted, almost a hinderance. I've certainly experienced this on Skye and I love Skye BTW.
What makes Eigg that wee bit extra special is that the community that now own it, are in my opinion mindful, that they too were once outsiders.
more @ http://wikitravel.org/en/Eigg
I later discovered that actually there were only two indigenous families left on Eigg. In some ways this makes me kinda sad. Indigenous families believed there was nothing there for their kids, they were encouraged to leave to make a better life. How things have changed, how many of us now see island life as an idyl and if we had the cohones would love to live that existance?
I think there is a deeper question though. Why aren't Scottish people embracing their own country, more welcoming to outsiders and more capable of providing the hospitality that tourism demands ? It seems to me that the settlers throughout the H & I and very often these are English families are far more geared up to doing this successfully.
After initially being slightly perturbed at the Scots/English mix living and owning Eigg, I soon realised something. People on Eigg, NEVER walk past you, everyone waves as they go past, everyone has a decent word to say to visitors, they genuinely seem to want to share their little spot of paradise with you or if thats not the case, they at least appreciate your tourism dollars, either way your made to feel welcomed. This sadly is not always the case in many of the more Scottish tourist spots in the highlands/Islands. I think you can often feel like your not wanted, almost a hinderance. I've certainly experienced this on Skye and I love Skye BTW.
What makes Eigg that wee bit extra special is that the community that now own it, are in my opinion mindful, that they too were once outsiders.
more @ http://wikitravel.org/en/Eigg
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
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The harbour, formerly important to the local fishing industry, is now essentially a yacht port. Remaining of the fishery is an oyster farm, in which the delicacy can be bought.
Along the harbour stretches the town's main shopping area with its cafés, bars and restaurants, crêperies, boutiques, estate agents and holiday agencies, the town hall, the tourism office, and the regional bus stop. On Saturday mornings there is a farmers' market, which serves as a meeting place for natives and tourists alike.
Audierne is twinned with Penryn, Cornwall.
source and more info @: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audierne
and @ the official site: http://www.audierne.fr/