Washington
Extracts of the guide of voyage Ulysses Washington, D.C., by Lorette Pierson
Few cities throughout the world and the history had this chance to be intended to be used as receptacle for the capacity of a nation, even with the destiny of an empire. And even less had the privilege to preserve this vocation other than very other. However, precisely, Washington never served of other intentions but that being the capital of the United States of America.
Geographical overflight
The town of Washington, D.C. is located on Potomac, where the Anacostia river joined it, that is to say to some 120 km of its mouth on bay of Chesapeake and to 220 km of the opening on the ocean. The great area of the capital can conveniently be divided into three sectors: the coastal plain, the plate of Piedmont and the Appalachian Mountains.

Attractions

Capitol Hill
Capitole, which throne at the top of Jenkins Hill, constitutes one of the most visible bench marks of Washington. The architect Pierre Charles the Child, to which was entrusted the plans of Washington, decided to make of Jenkins Hill, modest 27 height m headland, the point of convergence of all the new city.

Washington

The largest library of the world, is Library of Congress, cabin in a building whose frontage points out the Opera of Paris curiously. Thomas Jefferson had one day declared that a member of the Congress was to always be in measurement to consult reference works on any subject. Of which act.

White marble the neo-classic building of Vermont which resembles a Roman temple is the Supreme Court, the supreme Court of the United States. Frame in 1935, this imposing building wants to be undoubtedly the symbol of the great power of highest the Court of Justice of the country.

Downtown area
The National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of American Art is presented as a monument of Greek inspiration in a city where Roman architecture is posted sometimes with excess.

Surroundings of the White House
Each year, more than one million and half of people is had a presentiment of with the doors of White house, celebrates it White House become a symbol of the United States. The French architect Pierre Charles the Child had, in the plans of the city which it had drawn for Washington, considered the construction of an imposing palate intended to accomodate the American presidents.

In the beginning intended to present works of art American, Corcoran Gallery of Art, one of the largest museums of Washington which does not form part of Smithsonian Institute, also have a very beautiful European collection.

Mall
The National Air and Space Museum invites the visitors, impassioned or not aeronautics, with living a single and unforgettable experiment. This museum exposes an impressive collection of planes.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden was baptized in the honor of Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1899-1981), an American collector which bequeathed to the United States of America more than 12 000 works coming from its personal collection.

The National Museum of African Art presents arts and the ages of Africa at the south of the Sahara. It is besides the only museum of the United States of America to be exclusively devoted to these cultures resulting from sub-Saharan regions.

InArthur Mr. Sackler Gallery, the visitors will be able to plunge themselves in the evolution of the art of Asia and the Middle East, of Antiquity at our days. The museum was created thanks to a gift of more than 1 000 remarkable works of Arthur Mr. Sackler (1913-1987).

Very beautiful traditional building of Renaissance style florentine builds out of marble and out of granite, Freer Gallery of Art opened its doors with the public in 1923. The Freer gallery is the work of Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), one impassioned of Asian art and American art of its time.

US Holocaust Memorial Museum returns vibrating and moving homage to the six million Jews, like with the people gypsy, the handicapped people, homosexual, the witnesses of Jéhovah, the communist political prisoners and the Soviet prisoners of war, exterminated in the madness of the Nazi Germany.

One of the most famous images of Washington is undoubtedly the open rotunda of Jefferson Memorial, which is surrounded of ionic columns and is surmounted by a dome. These columns protect a statue from Jefferson (1743-1826), the third American president.

Washington Monument became one of the most recognized symbols of Washington. It will have been necessary nearly 40 years to complete this white marble obelisk perched on a small hill vis-a-vis in the White House, in full medium of this majestic esplanade which form Mall.

Inspired of the Greek Parthenon, Lincoln Memorial plays a key part in the architectural composition of Washington. Drawing up in an Olympian way at the western end of Mall, this monument faces Capitole.

Revive the great moments of the American history by the evolution of technology and the impact of science on the company with the National Museum of American History. The contents and the diversity of the exposures are quite simply confusing.

The National Museum of Natural History is the third museum of the Smithsonian institute to be built. The imperial aspect of the neo-classic building of style sied perfectly to an imposing collection of more than 121 million specimens.

The National Gallery of Art shelters one of the most beautiful collections in the world of pictorial and sculptural masterpieces dating from the Middle Ages until the modern time. This art gallery is made up of two buildings: West Building and East Building.

Dupont Circle
Phillips Collection was the first American museum devoted to the modern art to open its doors, that is to say in 1921, and this, in the house of a collector impassioned, Duncan Phillips (1886-1966), eight years before the opening of the museum of modern art of New York.

Foggy Bottom
The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in spite of criticisms addressed to the place of the architecture of the building and of his site, without question largely contributed to give in Washington a cultural life of international reputation.

Arlington
You will have to cross the Potomac river byArlington Memorial Bridge to return to you in famous Arlington National Cemetery, where the American heroes on a property are buried which belonged formerly to the families Custis and Lee.

Posted: April 28th, 2008 under Travel in North America.
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I admit it: child, I dreamed of the castle of Beautiful with wood sleeping and of the charming prince. Twenty years later, the castle was transformed into 6 1/2, and the fair prince as a king of the jungle with dreads. But can I still let me gain by “the magic of Disney”?
TUESDAY
Let us regulate something immediately: “I hated” fireworks, and the Americans énaaarvent me! On the other hand, I like the strong feelings and I have weak for Goofy. Here me is thus in Orlando, Florida, the USA… I Locate Rene, G.R.A. (”Nice Acadian Relationniste”) of Disney, which invited me to take share with the voyage. Around me, ten representatives of the media accompanied by their offspring. Hold, here is one which seems kid free. She is called Jaishree and worked for a magazine intended for the Toronto-native banked-up beds. It is decided: we will be girlfriend! We arrive at the hotel, Pop Century. Mowgli and Baloo giants any smile accomodate us. In what I still did embark?…

One hour and a shower later, I make the knowledge of Michelle, my Disney’ S reference mark, in the lobby of the hotel. Michelle, it is representing it perfect, such as one thinks it. It has “banana permanently” and says all the time “yes”. Jaishree and me let us be in the same group. First park which we visit: Disney-MGM Studios, where one turns regularly of films and the series. Jaishree wants absolutely to go in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. No way, I do not go in this thing. We visit some tricks and it repeats. “Go!” I throw a glance with the tower. Appears that one assembles all in top out of elevator there, then that one drops to us there from a blow. Ouch! I abdicate… It is told us that strange things occur there… The elevator goes up, goes up… The weather is black, I want already to shout, I will have an attack, mom come me to seek, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Free fall (attached well, fortunately). The elevator stops violently, goes up, goes down again and so on. I howl, I laugh, I cry, I have badly with the belly, I have badly with the cheeks, I have to laugh too much badly everywhere, of too brailler, to shout too much… I have the impression that that lasts 10 years. In fact, that lasts less than one minute. I go down after a fashion, staggering as if I had drunk two beers (that me takes of them just two to transform me into Goofy). Ouf!

It is time to go to break the crust. I am still sounded. Appointment with the 50′ S Precedes Time Café, where we are catapulted around fifty of years behind. We taste an excellent foam trout entry. I choose then a large steak accompanied by vegetables. Succulent (I swear you). The waitress notices that a colleague of the Newspaper of Montreal put his elbows on the table. First warning. Then, it remakes the large eyes to him before summoning it, at the third warning, to copy the sentence “I will not put more my elbows on the table” ten time. I bidonne. At this point in time it decides to attach me a flap around the neck. “You did not eat all your vegetables”, thunders me it at the end of the meal. It seizure my fork, the plant in the French bean mountain and lines me in the mouth. Obviously, my colleagues laugh. The day ends in a “dessert party” and a spectacle (Fantasmic) mixing pyrotechny and other imaginations.

WEDNESDAY
On the way for Kingdom Animal. We have the breakfast in Restaurantasaurus, where the characters of Disney dance with the tables “gratis”. I collect my first autographs of Donald, Pluto and Goofy. As long as with being to go there there, as well à.fond, not? Thus posing here me is with Donald, Pluto, then Goofy… And you know what? I have fun. I want to say, really, of the fun. A little as if I played “you are not game” with myself.

Direction Africa! We go up on board a jeep-bus for a safari in savanna (savanna?). There are elephants, birds… A little shopping to forget such an amount of setting in scene. I crack for a small dress with the streaked printed papers form which “will be écrapoutira” perfectly in my back bag (number one criterion for the purchase of a clothing of voyage) and a black cap carrying the Princess inscription in silver plated letters. Finely midday: fried chicken, quite fatty fried potatos and chocolate cake.

THURSDAY
It is the day of the watery parks. Jaishree and me let us put the course on Typhoon Lagoon. Imagine the scene: an American horde slightly wet vêtus, hair and pads with the wind… We are under the shock. There is beautiful knowledge which the Americans are largest of the world, that always surprises. Us seams with Shark Reef, where it is possible to make diving in apnea. The environment is perhaps as fake as everywhere else in Disney, the fish, them, are quite alive (I like them, me, the fish, Na!). I did not even adjust yet my mask which a line passes beside me. I am with the angel fish… We pataugeons during good half an hour in the basin, then go on the side of the swimming pool to waves. Buffet time: chips, still of chips! Stop with the shop of surfing, close to the exit (I buy a pink wheel little skirt who passes the test of “écrapoutissement perfectly”) and we will join Rene. He understood that it was time for us to go to seek the magic elsewhere. It is in the spa Saratoga Springs that we find it. He then leads us to eat in Citricos, in Disney’ S Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This evening, not of chips! Here, one is useful of Sautéed shrimps (sic) and a crowd of other French dishes. A true treat. Us seams then to join the others to look at fires of artifices (No how).

FRIDAY
We go in Magic Kingdom, where the castle is which “haunted” my dreams of small girl. At this precise moment, I am seven years old and I want frencher a clamping plate. It is beautiful, the castle. I photograph it from every angle. I specify with all the witnesses of my moment of madness that it is for my article, of course.

Rene, Jaishree and me let us leave the group to turn over to MGM Studios. Objective: to test Rock’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, a Russian super-mountain that abundantly praised me Laurent, nine years, and Léonard, almost-seven-years. Woooooow! That goes quickly! I have once again badly with the cheeks, badly with the belly… and more voice. In my turn to have “banana” in the face.

Rene, maintaining our driver appointed (it is adored!), us leads to Epcot. Jaishree and me let us leave to discovered the surroundings. We see a tent under which are djembés. Nobody in the neighbourhoods. Show tiiime! Not a cat does not come to require of us to stop, then we beat the drums… until having enough of it. They are where, the guards of safety? For the thrill, it is missed. Not average to even smell itself delinquent, in Disney! Nail of our afternoon: Space mission, which makes it possible to have an outline of the feelings felt during one strolls in space.

A party of Halloween awaits us Magic Kingdom. The first procession starts. We benefit from it to go to make some horse-gears, Jaishree, Michelle and me. We go on the side of Splash Mountain, version giant of the pitoune of the Round. Once all in top, the lights ignites. “Oh-oh”, made Michelle. Jaishree and me let us exchange a panicked glance. “That wants to say that there is a technical problem.” We set out again 20-25 minutes later. The emotions, that digs! With the menu: burgers… and chips. We join the others for the fireworks (sigh). Then, we will collect some candies and will discover other horse-gears.

Not question of leaving from here without to have made the round of the bars of Pleasure Island. Jaishree wants to go with the Study Bureau SoundStage Club (hip-hop); I want to go to the 8Trax (hits of the Seventies and Eighties). We divide pear in two. Bye bye in Jaishree, which leaves the following day to 5 a.m. (I leave 24 later H).

SATURDAY
I spend the day to half deadened. I make some horse-gears with Martin, it journalist-which-put-its-elbow-on-the-table, and Laurent, his son. Then, a little shopping with Disney Downtown, where one finds tens of shops in all kinds, after the spree, very good spectacle (like always!) Circus of the Sun.

Assessment of these five days? Much pleasure, finally, of the hundreds of dollars spent in “cossins” of all kinds (impossible to stick to the drawn up budget) - and two kilo-memories!

Thank you in Disney, thanks to which this voyage was made possible.

Disney World, it is:

4 parks sets of themes: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studio and Disney’ S Animal Kingdom.
2 watery parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
32 hotels, of which 22 are operated by Walt Disney World.
8 night clubs sets of themes being in Pleasure Island.
6 golf courses.
2 spas.
More than 300 restaurants (without counting the small kiosks).
51 000 employees.
My impressions
Which parks are coolest for the adults? My evaluation! (* = punt with death!, ** = correct, *** = that made the job, **** = not badly of the whole! and ***** = cool full!)

MGM-Disney Studios: ****
+ in addition to the horse-gears, I grant a special mention to the “detonators” in rollerblades of the spectacle of Tarzan (that is worth the sorrow to type all the songs of the Disney repertory to only see them with work).
- I wanted to see the slides of “truths” studios!

Typhoon Lagoon: ***
+ for the aquarium in which one can patauger with fish!
- one quickly made the turn of “adult” attractions more.

Kingdom Animal: **
+ It’ S tough to Be has bug, excel film in 3d.
- Disney shouts in vain on the roofs that Animal Kingdom is not a zoo, it has all the good sides… and the bad ones. The children adore.

Magic Kingdom: ****
+ traditional attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and, of course, the castle.
- why not more Russian mountains?

Epcot: *** 1/2 (difficult to evaluate, since I spent only two hours there)
+ Mission Space and the 1 001 interactive plays.
- nothing to announce.

You knew that…

At the time of their training, the employees who incarnate the characters of Disney learn how how to give the autographs in a uniform way, so that each character always has the same signature?
One does not sell a chewing gum in Disney? The reason is simple: one day, Walt Disney was trotted quietly and went on a gum. It was then sworn that that would not occur in its parks of attraction.
Do the visitors eat each year more than 9,7 million hamburgers, 7,7 million hot-dogs and 9,3 million books (4 million kilos) of chips?
Does a ticket for one day (for the most 10 years) in only one of the parks of Disney cost 54,75 #?… (note: price in 2004)

Posted: January 11th, 2008 under Travel in North America.
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The fabulous chain of the Rocky Mountains is reproduced naturally on any route of voyage in this corner of country. But such a tour would remain incomplete without the visit of Calgary and its famous Stampede; undulating plains of the south of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; splendid lakes and rivers of the north of these provinces; metropolis of the coast of the Pacific (Vancouver) or dazzling littoral, of the GULF Islands and the fruit-bearing valleys of the south of the Colombia-British.
GEOGRAPHICAL OVERFLIGHT

The Colombia-British, at the edge of the Pacific, is primarily occupied by important assembly lines. Alberta starts on the Eastern slope of Rock and extends towards the east along the large Canadian central meadow to the close province: Saskatchewan. Lastly, always towards the east, Manitoba is wedged between Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Climate
The Canadian West offers a climate which varies area in area largely. Thus, the area of Vancouver profits, to some extent, of a microclimate due to its geographical situation between the Pacific and the Rock ones. The temperature of Vancouver oscillates between 0oC and 15oC in winter, and the summer sees mercury assembling few degrees. The remainder of the Canadian West, because of altitude of Rock and the wind of the Meadows, has a very varied climate. The winters are cold and dry, whereas mercury can reach 40oC below zero, but the average is of 20oC under the freezing point. The summers are dry everywhere, whereas the temperature plank the 25oC in the plain and is maintained lower in altitude.

Time shift
The Canadian West covers four different time zones. As a Colombia-British, it is nine hours earlier than in Western Europe, while in Alberta it is eight hours earlier. When it is midday in Montreal, for example, it is 9h in Vancouver and 10h in Calgary.

ATTRACTIONS

Canadian west

The Colombia-British
The imposing landscapes of the Colombia-British are hustled in front of our eyes dazzled by the sea, the eternal snow and the colors of the spring, which starts very early in this area. The appointment with nature is memorable; the rivers which wet the deserted beaches invite to the relaxation and the daydream. The majestic forests take care of the serenity of the inviolate places by the forestry development. Rich person of several national parks and provincial, the Colombia-British offers a landscape very varied, since the eternal snow, while passing by rivers which abound with fish, to the desert valleys. The province is considered, for a long time, for its varied and unexpected activities of full air. The mountains, often covered of eternal snow or glaciers, occupy 80% of the territory there. The lakes which collect the glacial silt relative of iridescent colors. As for the forests, they form part of most prestigious world.

The Rock Ones
The Rock ones, this chain of high mountains at the tops varying between 3 000 m and 4 000 m, are formed old crystalline and metamorphic rocks raised, rocked then modelled by the glaciers. Directed north in the south and located at horse on the provinces of Alberta and the Colombia-British, they cover the Yukon Territory. Extending more than 22 000 km2, this vast area, recognized in the whole world for its natural beauties out of the commun run, accomodates million visitors each year. Landscapes of high mountains of a rare beauty, unchained rivers on which the amateurs of descent of rapids are given some to heart joy, of the lakes slacks whose color of water varies green emerald with turquoise blue, a fauna diversified and omnipresent in the parks, of the ski resorts famous and a hotel park of a great quality, all contributes to make the stay unforgettable.

Alberta
Vast wide that you will cross while traversing southernmost Alberta of west in east contrast hard with the high snow-covered tops of the Rocky Mountains culminating behind you. Rows of corn and the other graminaceous ones carefully aligned, balls of hay of a studied roundness, hills slightly undulating subjected to so to speak desert and lifting conditions of scattered grains are about all the distractions to which you will have right in this part of the province. The center of Alberta covers a vast side of the province which includes Canadian Badlands, the buttresses and Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve just as the central grounds, that is to say an area which conceals a priceless quantity of natural resources. The vast back-country of North albertain offers excellent occasions of activities of full air, but also the chance to discover some of the cultural communities of Alberta, as well as the national park Wood Buffalo and Mackenzie Highway.

Saskatchewan
The spectacular valley of Which Calls extends on about two thirds of the width of the province by digging in the plain a broad punctuated furrow of deep glacial depressions which cut through a path to the river. You in north venture a little more, to the two principal cities of Saskatchewan, and astonishing architectural accents will be offered to your glance. In other areas, it is the preponderance of the Eastern-European churches which jumps to the eyes with their painted domes, such of sumptuous and delicate Easter eggs, which rise above the meadow, vibrating testimonys with the impossible to circumvent Ukrainian influence. More to north, the meadows abruptly yield the step to the hills, then with the mountains, the forests and the lakes, attenuating the surprise somewhat to learn that here, the wooded grounds cover half of the province and occupy more space that the cultivated grounds! In the final analysis, time runs out always also slowly in Saskatchewan.

Manitoba
Flattened by the large glaciers of the last diluvial period, the southern part of Manitoba does not comprise any unevenness. Where thousands of square kilometres of high uninterrupted meadows undulated formerly under the effect of the wind, covered coloured fields of durum wheat, flax, canola and sunflower push today. And in the wet areas, of the thousands of small marshes accomodate a variety of watery species from here and besides. However, the topography of the province presents also fertile arable lands and immense lakes around whose innumerable birds elected residence. Actually, the part planes province counts only for 40% of its total surface; the remainder is composed of hills and rivers carved in the Canadian Shield, this immense hard and old stone ring which surrounds Hudson Bay and which is done more visible here and in the north of Ontario.

Posted: January 7th, 2008 under Travel in North America.
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To strike the small ball in full desert, with 830 meters of altitude, grounds where the turfed parts seem to be cut out then assembled like the parts of a puzzle in a decoration naked and stony, here what awaits the golfor who wants to live an adventure as marvellous as dépaysante. *** total Dépaysement the desert is not a mirage when it is a question of golf with Tucson, in Arizona. The amateurs of golf saw all with television the decorations enchanters of the courses of Arizona. The panorama quite simply makes dream. As of our arrival on the spot, one realizes quickly whom our imagination had not been able to return the beauty of the decorations that one discovers. It was neither more nor less one total expatriation. The Vistoso course constitutes a true oasis. It would be said that the turfed parts are true parts of puzzle which were cut out to be literally placed in this desert vegetation. On the first starting hillock, one notes quickly that one finds oneself in foreign ground. One is surrounded of exotic cacti and other plants. These desert spaces will quickly become familiar during our stay. This small normal four of 341 rods of the Vistoso club made us open wide the eyes, but we were only at the beginning of a tour where we went from discovered in discovery. As of our first dash, we lived a very new experiment. What a beautiful feeling to see small ball white to go up towards sky blue omnipresent, then to see to go down again in assemblies of ground reddish - mountains which will be used to us as back scene on almost all the holes - and to note that our Titleist fell down in the right center of the green alley! Only one dash and we were already filled! A succession of colors, a true kaleidoscope! After having withdrawn our ball of the cut, when one looks in direction of the starting hillock, amazement is complete. Our bogey was already forgotten, because the beauty of the decoration makes us leave the green with a great smile fixed on the lips. Optical illusions Tucson is located at 2740 feet of altitude (835 meters) and one realizes quickly that the ball travels much more than to Quebec. One should not all the same overestimate its forces and choose more distant stakes. It would be to make a coarse error since several starting blows must cross long desert zones. One thinks that one must spring of all our forces to send our ball in the alley, but one realizes quickly that it is not the case. With the wire of the holes, one will note that these spaces are often optical illusions. In addition to this warning, the principal council to retain when one presses a course in Arizona is not related to the golf to be strictly accurate. In the coach which carries out us to Vistoso, our accompanying, Eve, opinion us that one never should venture in the desert zones to seek there our ball without a stick in the hands. If by pure bad luck (!) you dispatch your ball in the exotic cacti or other plants, it is recommended to type on the ground with your feet and a stick in order to make flee the crotales. Our group was lucky, because none among us saw only one of these rattlesnakes during our stay.

Posted: January 6th, 2008 under Travel in North America.
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When we’re on project we all go to the hosting church the first Sunday, and then we’re free to go to any church the rest of the time. This morning most of us went to the Country Cowboy Church…you wear jeans and boots, and can leave your cowboy hat on until the service starts! It is very down to earth. It’s a small church building, capacity 240, and it was full, with a few people standing. And they were ENTHUSIASTIC…boot stomping to make a point, clapping for nearly everything, and lots (way too much) hugging! The band had a base fiddle,two banjos, a guitar and a tambourine. Of course a piano, but big deal on that, it was the rest that was exciting! And a terrific message. The art work was definitely religious (for lack of a better word), but they were all cowboy, and very fitting. The cross was made of horseshoes, and the collection baskets were rope, wrapped into a basket shape! (I thought of Gail Smith, and how much she and her guys would enjoy it!) I guess they have these churches all over the country; they said they just opened one outside of Missoula.

Another thing

These are in front of the lodge

that made us laugh: the restrooms are at the front, on either side of the pulpit…tell you what, that cuts down on foot traffic during the service! When you come out you’re facing the entire congregation!! I could wait!

Sunday School is over at the Watering Hole. We didn’t go over, but I’m hoping it isn’t a bar. Probably is, but that doesn’t seem quite right, does it? I wonder how they take communion!

I don’t mean to be disrespectful, because the message was very good, and obviously it works without all the fluff of most churches. And I would recommend all churches consider moving their restrooms! It was interesting, but I don’t think I’m in favor of going again next week. I kind of got saddle sores from this one time!

Knot interesting!

Another interesting one
Hey, what do you expect? You think I took pictures in church????

This looks like Oregon,
but it’s a tree up the hill from us. This isn’t common here, but most of the tree are green on at least one side.

A left over picture from Yosemite.

Posted: October 21st, 2007 under Travel in North America.
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