Making life a holiday with interesting vacation and adventure ideas.

Today we celebrate our 1000th post. I began writing Tales from here and there about this and that around five and a half years ago, as an online notebook that did not have to be written up as formal articles. Over the years, some posts have been quite extensive, while other posts have been little more than one liners but I like to think that my ramblings have always been interesting. It is my hope that readers have been inspired to check out some of the activity holiday ideas, that the blog has resulted in them buying into the concept of making life a holiday and that every now and then a post has come along that has caused people to smile.

I was asked to compile a list of my favourite posts, 10 out of 1000! and in truth it merely became a representative sample of the many and varied topics that have been covered in this blog since 2004.

• Truffles, wine and the ultimate activity vacation
  A gourmets delight.
• Earthly Pleasures
  Religious brewing on the banks of the Danube. Part of a series of posts, following the great European river from its source to the Black Sea.
• Medoc Marathon
  Last runner to finish gets the prize. Another great activity holiday idea!
• Om mani peme hung
  The mantra of Compassion sung by Dechen Shak-Da.
Haunting, calming, astounding.
• New Year around the World
  Following the midnight hour around the world.
• Tomash
  An April Fool's Day spoof about a genetically modified Tomato. Complete with photographic evidence.
• Bed Bugs
  Advice about how to deal with a global epidemic. Useful information for travelers.
• Dummy Jim
  An incredible story of a pioneering adventure traveler.
• Anniversaries in 2012
  2012 is London Olympic year but it turns out that the year has some interesting anniversaries.
• Micro Philanthropy
  Restores your faith in human beings.

Labels: 1000, 2004, 2009, anniversary, blog

February 3, 2009 is the 200 th anniversary of the birth of the great Romantic period composer, Felix Mendelssohn, so there will be a lot of celebratory concerts around the world.

A much travelled composer, he was born in Hamburg, Germany and people are often familiar with pieces of his work, without knowing what they are called or who composed them. Popular pieces like his E minor Violin Concerto and Italian Symphony, the Hebrides Overture and the ever popular Wedding March.

Labels: 200, anniversary, Mendelssohn, music

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns on 25 January 1759, so Burns Suppers will this year take on a special significance.

Burns enthusiasts around the world always celebrate the poet's life and genius, with traditional 'Burns Suppers' held around his birth date. Some of the events are marked by a degree of formality, but many take the opportunity to simply enjoy haggis, whisky, the pipes, traditional Scottish music and the poetry of Robert Burns.

Labels: 2009, 250, anniversary, Burns, Burns night

2009 is a big year for anniversaries, amongst many, the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

It is America's most visited national park and a hiker's paradise with over 800 miles of trails that range from short walks to strenuous overnight treks. The park is also renowned for its wildlife, being regarded as the world's most biologically diverse temperate zone, which includes a population of about 1,500 bears.

The 75th anniversary site offers information about the history of the Great Smokies, plus information about a wide array of activities and events being organized to celebrate the anniversary. A 75th Anniversary Weekend Celebration is planned for June 13-15, 2009.

Labels: 2009, 75, anniversary, Great Smoky Mountains, National Park, U.S.A.

With the New Year, Cuba celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Revolution, overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista.

The revolution, headed by Fidel Castro, developed education and universal healthcare systems that are admired throughout the world. Unfortunately, there have also been some spectacular shortcomings, there is a very bad housing shortage, exacerbated by the very system that was meant to eliminate high prices and scarcity, and personal freedom has been severely limited. Arguably, this has not been helped by the champion of freedom, the US, who decided that it did not like Fidel Castro as much as Fulgencio Batista and promptly imposed an infamous embargo.

Let us hope that the incoming administration of US President Barack Obama sees sense and at long last, lifts the embargo. Cuba has wonderful cultural traditions and is a great destination for all manner of activity holidays.

Labels: 2009, 50th, anniversary, Cuba

The PSP Southampton Boat Show begins its 40th year tomorrow, 12 September and runs through to 21 September 2008. Last year more than 127,000 visitors attended this popular boating show, which takes place next door to Lymington, home base for many of Britian's sailing stars.
UK sailors have returned from Qingdao, China, with the best Olympic medal haul for over a century and gold medal winners Ben Ainslie, Paul Goodison, Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson, Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, will arrive on Mike Golding's yacht Ecover 3, at 10am tomorrow, together with other Skandia Team GBR members, to formally open the show.

They will be joined by boating legends and television personalities from the past 40 years to celebrate the Southampton Boat Show's forty year history.

Labels: 2008, 40, anniversary, England, exhibition, sailing, show, Southampton, Southampton boat show, UK

I have just noticed that we have achieved 750 posts to this blog, which is a timely reminder that 2008 is the 750th anniversary of the publication of Guan Hanqing's Dramatic Works.

Most western students of English Literature will probably be saying Guan who but Chinese speakers will recognise Guan Hanqing as the Chinese Shakespeare.

Labels: 750, anniversary, Guan Hanqing

This is a holiday weekend in the UK and a two-day show is taking place at the Heritage Motor Centre, in Gaydon, Warwickshire, to celebrate 60 years of the Land Rover.
Sunday, features the Classic Run, when over 100 classic Land Rovers from the Association of Land Rover Clubs will travel from the Solihull Land Rover factory to the Heritage Motor Centre. Thanks to Karl from dnadublin.com for the pic.

4x4 enthusiasts might also be interested in Jeremy Clarkson Collection DVD from the BBC.

Labels: 2008, anniversary, car, Land Rover, Shows, UK

Lucca in Tuscany, Italy, birthplace and home of the great operatic composer Giacomo Puccini, is organising a rich calendar of events celebrating his birth, 150 years ago.

Many arias from Puccini's operas are enjoyed daily, throughout the world, for example the moving Nessun Dorma and the haunting O Mio Babbino Caro, making him the world's most performed composer.

Lucca, enjoys an excellent geographical position, just 20 km from Pisa, 70 km from Florence, 25 km from Viareggio and approximately 100 km from Massa. It boasts mountains and lakes, beaches, wetlands, underground grottoes and thermal springs. The region offers tourists an infinite variety of landscapes and activities, not least, renowned food and wine to accompany great music. No wonder Puccini was never short of inspiration.

Labels: 150, 2008, anniversary, Italy, music, Puccini

This year, England's famous Salisbury Cathedral will be celebrating the 750th anniversary of its consecration which was completed in 1258. There is a full programme of celebration events and activities including a Medieval Fair, Flower Festival and Organ Recitals, a series of seven monthly recitals by leading organists, running April through October, 2008.

The Medieval Fair, 4th and 5th May 2008, features Living History Encampments, Man at Arms displays, led by the spectacular Paladins of Chivalry, along with medieval music, dance, falconry, court entertainers, costumes, food, ales, Medieval crafts and stalls.

Then, for five days over 17th-21st June 2008, a spectacular festival of flowers, designed by internationally renowned floral judge and arranger Michael Bowyer, will fill Salisbury Cathedral with an exuberance of colour and fragrance.

Labels: 2008, anniversary, England, Salisbury Cathedral

To mark 50 years of NASA, together with the first US satellite and coincidentally, the 40th anniversary of the day the Beatles recorded 'Across the Universe', the song is to be beamed directly into space. Many years from now, alien researchers scanning space for the evidence of intelligent life, will decode the lines: 'nothing's going to change my world'.

To make an even bigger bang, fans around the world are invited to simultaneously play a recording of 'Across the Universe' at midnight GMT on Monday 4 February, 2008.

There is a nice video including archival pictures of the Beatles, with an early, pre-recording arrangement of the song, posted on YouTube by Anourag.

Labels: 2008, Across the Universe, anniversary, Beatles, music, NASA

After enjoying a Burns' night supper in Scotland, why not travel across the Irish sea to Dublin? Then you can celebrate the birthday of another Celtic icon, James Joyce. It is James Joyce's birthday on 2nd February and it is being celebrated with a dramatised reading by the Balloonatics Theatre Company, of some of his greatest works.

The venue is The Teacher's Club, Parnell Square, Dublin, on 2 February, 2008. More information.

Labels: anniversary, Ireland, James Joyce, poetry

February 6, 2008, is the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster when the plane carrying the Manchester United soccer team back from a European Cup football match in Belgrade, crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop in Munich. The crash took the lives of 23 people, including eight members of the brilliant young team and also a number of football journalists, striking at the heart of British soccer.

To mark the occasion, Manchester City football club will join Manchester United in a special commemoration when they visit Old Trafford next month for a local derby, Premier League fixture.

Labels: anniversary, Manchester, Munich, Munich air disaster, soccer

The 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, takes place in 2008 (July 3rd). The year long celebrations are expected to draw many visitors to Québec, since besides anniversary celebrations, the region plays host to the World Men's Hockey Championship, the 49th Eucharistic Congress, the 4th World Youth Congress, the 73rd World Library and Information Congress, and the 12th Sommet de la Francophonie.

More info.

Labels: 2008, 400, anniversary, Canada, Quebec

November 28, 2007 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Englishman, William Blake, the son of a draper who became a visionary, artist, engraver and poet. Not given the recognition he deserved in his lifetime, one of his most famous works is 'Jerusalem', indeed some would now like it to become a new English national anthem, all of which gives me an excuse to reproduce it here.

And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England's mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:

'Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England's green and pleasant Land.

William Blake (1804).

It is surprising that in those days, some amateur archaeologist didn't think it would be a good idea to ship it back brick by brick! - Just joking :-)

Labels: 2007, anniversary, England, Jerusalem, William Blake

Canada's Québec City celebrates its 400th anniversary, January to October, 2008.

A colorful series of unique exhibitions, shows, and prestigious international gatherings are planned throughout the region. The anniversary date of the city's founding is July 3 and the beginning of July will see particularly spectacular celebrations.

Labels: 2008, anniversary, Canada, celebrations, Quebec