Monday, May 18, 2009

Nova Scotia and the Fortress of Louisbourg - A Fun-Filled Trip Into the Past

A popular tourist attraction located just 25 minutes from Sydney streamyx down 2008 Cape Breton Island, is broadband bandwidth National Historic Site streamyx online the Fortress of Louisbourg.

The present day Fortress is actually dial-up service reconstruction of the French town and fortress built in the early 18th century, that the French built to protect their remaining holdings in Nova Scotia and Quebec from the neighboring British, as well as to protect their fishing and trade routes with the West Indies and France proper.

But it was to no avail, as a combination force of New England colonists and British soldiers attacked and overran the Fortress in 1746.

The Fortress was returned to the French as a result of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle just 3 years later, only to be defeated again by the British twenty years later.

It was after this second and final defeat, that the British totally decimated the town, tearing down all the buildings and structures, leaving not one stone unturned.

And so high speed internet phone over 200 years the area remained an empty field, as the wild grasses grew over the fallen rocks and beams.

Then in the 1960's, as the Canadian Government closed down the area's coal mines, they proposed a multi-million plan to reconstruct the Fortress of Louisbourg. And after some twenty years of construction, the Fortress stands today as it did in 1742, although only one quarter of the original walled town was reconstructed.(There are no plans to finish building out the size of the fortress, as the cost to do so would be prohibitive.)

Authenticity to the time period and location is strictly adhered to, and the population of the fortress is occupied with costumed interpreters, dressed as bakers, merchants, cooks, seamstresses, bar maids , soldiers and others who will gladly answer your questions (but remember the year is 1742, so don't ask them about cell phones or sewing machines, as they weren't yet invented).

And you are allowed to roam the site, with its carefully restored buildings such as the bakery, local pub, the King's Bastion barracks and chapel.

Even the local pub, when serving meals, gives the patron only a large spoon in which to eat with, just as it was the custom of the Fortress in the 18th century.

Live performances are held throughout the day, such as the cannon salute to mark the new hour, as well as dances, singing and games of gambling.

The Fortress of Louisbourg is open from tmnet streamyx email to mid-October. There is an entrance fee. Arrive early, as there is much to see and do.

To find out more about the Fortress of Louisbourg and other Nova Scotia destinations, visit my broadband free phone internet express http://www.nova-scotia-vacation-guide.com. Enjoy.

Great Escapes, a travel advisory firm based out of Bangalore has launched a unique Photography Expedition in association with Pixetra Club & Wildlife Photographer Amoghavarsha. This 2 day camp for select photo enthusiasts will be held in the heart of Agumbe forest in the Western Ghats on the 30th & 31st of May.On this expedition, photography buffs will be treated to some of the most beautiful scenery they can capture on camera - waterfalls, landscapes, and truly rare wildlife ?all the while learning the finer nuances on wildlife photography from ace photographer Amoghavarsha. The team will be based at The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station and expert researcher Gowrishankar will walk the participants through the Agumbe topography, unique endemic species found here and most importantly ?Radio Telemetry Tracking of King Cobras. Participants will also get to work closely with local trackers and go on trekking trails abundant with wildlife sightings at this time of the year.Talking about this unique experience, Wildlife Photographer Amoghavarsha says Ive always been on the look out for unique opportunities to capture wildlife on camera and Agumbe has never disappointed me. The bio-diversity in this region is very rich and is home to some of the rarest plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else on the planet.?A unique aspect to this expedition is a pre-expedition workshop on the weekend before the actual expedition. During this 2-hour workshop, Amogh will demonstrate basic functions of a camera (analog / digital), explain common terminologies and will provide tips on how to get the best out of a camera be it a basic digital or high end SLRs.For more details & complete itinerary, kindly log on to www.greatescapes.co.in or call Mr Ajay Salanky on +91-9844161733 / +91-9886101005. You can also mail your details to info@greatescapes.co.inAbout Agumbe Rainforest:Agumbe is a small town located in Shimoga district in the state of Karnataka, India. Agumbe is among the few places in India that internet speed very heavy rainfall earning it the title, Cherrapunji of the South? It receives a mean annual rainfall of 7640 mm ?the second highest in India. Agumbe is today, fast gaining recognition world over for being home to a large number of King Cobras and other rare species that have recently been discovered. Many episodes of the popular tele serial Malgudi Days were shot in Agumbe.For more info on Agumbe, you can visit this wiki link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgumbeAbout GreatEscapes:Started by a bunch of youngsters who are passionate about traveling, GreatEscapes is a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs- be it short-listing ideal locations, taking care of travel and stay arrangements and even giving you useful tips on travel must-haves- all at no extra cost to you. With an aim to promote tourism in South India, GE is marketed exclusively through its website & blog. Log on to www.greatescapes.co.in and get ready to discover the magic of South India.For details please contact:Ajay Salanky - Ph: +91-9844161733EscapistGreatEscapes Indiaajaysalanky@greatescapes.co.inTrip Itinerary:Day 1 ?Saturday 30th MayDepart from Bangalore previous nite to reach Agumbe in the morning and have breakfast at the Rainforest Research Station. A brief introduction to ARRS would be presented by Researcher Gowrishankar followed by a tour of the base camp. Relax for a short while, have lunch and then head to the King Cobra tracking site, after which head to the famous Kundadri hills to photograph in the lovely evening light. Return to base camp, have tea followed by a photo review session and talk by Amoghavarsha. Have dinner and head out on a night trail to photograph some interesting nocturnal animals.Day 2 ?Sunday 31st MayWake up early in the morning and embark on a bird trail. Return to base camp for breakfast and head to shoot Jogigundi waterfalls. Lunch at base camp and relax for a while. Head to the famous sunset point after tea. Depart from Agumbe on the same night to reach Bangalore on Monday morning.*This schedule is tentative and might change depending on weather and other conditions. Higher enthusiasm levels would help in packing in more activities!