FAR AWAY PLACES WITH STRANGE SOUNDING NAMES

BY JANET STEINBERG

PART ONE

You have probably never heard of these places, but trust me, once you’ve been there you will not forget these far away places with strange sounding names that hover below the average traveler’s radar.

Now let’s have some fun and test your knowledge of geography.  Before you read beyond the name of each place, see if you can name what country it is in.  The country’s name is included in the text that follows each name!

LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH: Absolutely no place on earth can top this one for being a far away place with a strange sounding name. Every place after this will be downhill. 

Yes, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is truly the name of a town in Anglesy, Wales.  With a name made up of 58 letters, it is indisputably the longest valid domain name in the world.  The English translation of the name is Saint Mary's Church In The Hollow Of The White Hazel Near A Rapid Whirlpool And The Church Of St. Tysilio Of The Red Cave.

It Is worth going to this town just to say you have been there…that is if you know how to say it.  In case you don’t, I’ll give you a pronunciation lesson: Clan vire pulth gwinn gith gor gerrick win drob uth clan tay see lee oh go go gogch.  The town’s historic railway station is the most popular destination because of the photo opportunities at the inevitably long station name sign.  Wherever you go in Wales, I can guarantee you that, at some point in time, you will end up having your picture taken in front of the railroad station-house sign. 

THE HISTORIC RAILWAY STATION IN LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH, WALES

TWELVE IN TWELVE

BY: JANET STEINBERG

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”  Susan Sontag said it first, but I have to agree with Susan, I haven’t been everywhere, but everywhere is certainly on my list.

As a young widow many years ago, I learned that a single journey could change the course of a life.  I have since come to realize that my first trip alone truly changed my life.  I fell in love with travel and that love affair has continued for four decades.

Come along with me and share some of my favorite 2012 memories that will remain with me forever.

1. CRUISE: Silversea’s Silver Whisper is elegant, yet casually sophisticated.  She lavishes her guests with the luxuries of a private yacht, the amenities of a country club, and the fine services of an exclusive hotel.  Silver Whisper sailed me some 1418 nautical miles from Lisbon, Portugal to Southampton, UK with five fascinating ports in-between.  Highlights included shore excursions to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the sobering beaches of Normandy, France; and the fascinating Mont St. Michel in Saint-Malo, France.

SILVERSEA'S SILVER WHISPER IN ST. MALO, FRANCE