Travel

The story of the doomed ocean liner Titanic has captured the imagination of people all over the world since the day it sank.  Halifax, in Nova Scotia, Canada is a largely unknown part of Titanic history.

After the Titanic sank, the White Star Line chartered four ships from Canada to search for survivors.  Two of them, the MacKay-Bennett and the Minia, were from Halifax.

Of the 328 bodies recovered from the disaster site, 119 were so badly damaged or deteriorated they were buried at sea.  The remaining 209 were brought to Halifax for identification, where possible.  150 of those people were buried in one of three Halifax cemeteries, based on religion (Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish), giving Halifax one of the largest concentrations of Titanic passenger burials in the world.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax houses the largest collection of wooden Titanic artifacts in the world in their permanent exhibit, Titanic: The unsinkable ship and Halifax, which opened in 1998.

One of the centerpieces of the collection is a wooden deck chair, one of the only intact ones in the world known to match those in photos of the ship.  A grandchild of Reverend Henry W. Cunningham gave the chair to the museum. Reverend Cunningham received the chair in recognition for his services in conducting many of the sea burials for Titanic victims.

One of the most moving items on display is the log of wireless operator Robert Hunston, from Cape Race, Newfoundland.  It is a condensed log of all the distress calls from the ocean liner the night it sank.  Reading the log brings home the reality of the disaster and the amazingly short time in which it occurred.

If your travels take you anywhere near Grand Junction or Fruita, Colorado, then make sure you take the time to visit the Colorado National Monument.  Compared with the larger canyon type national parks, the Colorado National Monument is small, but this makes the experience less impersonal.  It also means that it’s less likely to be overflowing with other tourists – making it a great “get away from it all” retreat for anyone needing a little solitude.

What the semi-desert Colorado National monument lacks in overall size, it makes up for in content.  Packed within its boundaries are some of America’s most impressive hoodoos, whose vibrant colors are hard to match anywhere.  Alongside the geological wonders and juniper trees, is a spectrum of wildlife that includes golden eagles and desert bighorns.  The Monument Canyon is the monument’s largest feature as it covers the entire length of the park and holds incredible rock formations.  Return to various observation points throughout the day, particular sunset and sunrise, to see how the light reflects across the canyon’s natural structures.

For any couple with a passion for the great outdoors, or an interest in geology, or even just a desire to organize a wedding with a difference, the Colorado National Monument allows couples to be married at certain locations within its boundaries – remember to allow 14 days for the processing of your special use permit application.  Choose your location well to have wedding photos that will be second to none as regards the spectacular backdrop provided by nature.

Close the world’s largest flat topped mountain, Grand Mesa, the Colorado National Monument allows activities such as horse riding, biking, and of course hiking.  It’s also possible to camp in the area at the Saddlehorn Campground if you wish to spend longer in the park.

If you want to travel to the Caribbean, you certainly have no shortage of wonderful destinations from which to choose. One of the most popular places for tourists in the Caribbean, however, is Jamaica. The country of Jamaica is about 150 miles long and 50 miles wide, so it isn’t huge, but it is mighty in the world of tourism, and is actually the third largest island in the Caribbean. It is found less than 100 miles south of Cuba and a little over 100 miles from Hispaniola, the island on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic as found. It was formally a possession of Spain, and late of the United Kingdom, but is now its own nation.

Although Jamaica is small, it has had a large cultural influence on the world. Reggae, ska, dancehall, and ragga are just a few of the many musical genres that originated in Jamaica. Jungle music in the United Kingdom and hip-hop in the United States are also largely accredited to the Jamaican immigrant population. The Rastafari movement also began in Jamaica.

When you are visiting Jamaica, there are a number of fun activities for you to do. Of course, like most other Caribbean islands, Jamaica is home to a number of beautiful beaches, so it is a real island paradise. While there, you can try diving, parasailing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, jet and water skiing, and surfing. Fishing is also very popular in the Jamaica, and you can see a variety of great planets and animals when you are visiting this island.

For those who are not interested in fun in the sun, the nightlife in Jamaica is also great. You can dance the night away in a number of clubs and visit bars to try some of the local drinks. The restaurants here serve both foreign and cultural cuisine, and shopping is great for tourists who want to pick up lots of gifts to take home.

If you plan to go to Jamaica on your next vacation, you can fly directly there or you can take a cruise through Caribbean islands. Make sure that you check with your airport to see what kinds of travel paperwork are required to visit Jamaica from your country and be prepared to experience this fun island culture by reading up on the many things you can see and do while there. Jamaica can be your own island paradise when you visit, so the vacation is definitely worth making the travel plans.