A hundred thousand Welcomes

"You might as well be whistling jigs to a milestone"

We've discovered small islands we've discovered large islands. There are islands in the sea, and no man is an island. This island is though, is mystical, magical, musical and AWESOME. On my list of places to go, this one is so up there. So here I am soaking up the magic.

This island was the ground for many invasions and wars (apparently I'm not the only one who wanted to be here) The history here is rich and full. Old castles and ruins dot the island. The locals are fiercely proud of their heritage and try to hang on to it as much as possible. Who can blame them. As they say, “the Craic is mighty"

They have had not only one but TWO women presidents! We here in the US celebrate their culture once a year. One of the largest and most famous festivals in the world starts here when over 500,00 people will throng the streets of to watch the Parade and festivities.

The magic flows heavily into the Arts. Music and dance are prevalent. People world wide admire the dance styles and everyone wants to dance a little jig to the musical lyrics that flow from the island. As for literature not one but four authors from here have claimed the Nobel prize.

Get this the police force doesn't carry weapons, only the detectives. And here's a reason alone to come here... there are no snakes!

This is one of my favorite places. It is just one of those natural wonders that everyone has to see. An area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Legend has it that the the warrior Finn built the causeway to walk to the ajoining island to fight his counterpart. One version of the legend tells that Finn fell asleep before he got to there. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Finn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. In a variation, Finn fled after seeing Benandonner's great bulk, and asked his wife to disguise him as the baby. In both versions, when Benandonner saw the size of the 'infant', he assumed the alleged father, Finn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Finn.

AND you have to cross this majorly awesome suspension bridge to get there. I get a twinkling in my eye just thinking about it.

The island is covered in castles and ruins. Some modern, some ancient, some famous and some haunted. One has a lady ghost who plays tricks on guests by knocking on bedroom doors at the dead of night. And one is considered so haunted that people come from all over to do research and film movies.

Not in Kansas anymore

Unless you visit, there is simply no way to describe this world giant. To give you some perspective, consider their little sister....Canada This area has more natural resources than any area of the world and spans many multiple time zones. The name of this area means 'the sleeping land'.

One of the best ways to give you an impression of the size is to discuss the infamous gulag system. When one thinks of a gulag or prison, visions of guards with guns, electrified fences and so on come to mind. Here most of the gulags did not have fences or any kind of barrier to keep people in. With freezing temperatures in the winter, huge rivers of mud and water in the summer, the land formed a natural gulag for many of the prisoners. If a prisoner escaped from a gulag, there was simply nowhere to go. The gulags were not even heavily guarded. In fact, many gulags in remote areas didn’t even have fences. The closest population center might be 1,000 miles away. In the 1700's, this area became a place of exile. It continued to be "the last stop" for criminals and political exiles throughout much of the 20th century. There is even a city that is in fact known as the “City of Exiles.”

But don't think that's all the locals have to offer. There are many who work on the Railway or in the massive natural resource industries. Here you can find tremendously large oil, gold, timber and diamond deposits. With the turn to capitalism, the country is making a major effort to take advantage of such resources. This has led to a population explosion in cities. The diamond deposits here are so extensive, other countries pay them not to mine because of a fear the diamond market would collapse. Gold is so plentiful that a $2,000 gold bracelet costs about $35 in local cities as of 2004.

Most people, when the think of this area, they think of nothing but the freezing cold, I can tell you it does get “Oh, my goodness” cold in the winter. Temperatures can drop into the –40s. In the spring and summer, however, temperatures can reach as high as 110 degrees. Bet you didn't know that. With such a massive area, the climates and temperatures fall all over the map. Think about how many different temps the US has. This places has more.

If you thought everything was big in Texas.... you don't know big. Big Lake B is the largest fresh water lake in the world. Fed by over 300 rivers, the lake is really an inland sea. The lake has over 30 islands. If you drained all of the water from lakes Superior, Erie, Huron, Michigan and Ontario, you still couldn’t fill Lake Baikal. Standing on one shore, you cannot see the other side. It is simply huge.

This is one of the few locations in the world still considered to be an untamed adventure travel destination. You can fish, hike, camp, hunt, drink vodka, ski, swim, take in a spa and do just about anything you like. The locals are universally friendly and can tell one heck of a story.

When we were in Estonia we talked about meteors. Here with some of the largest plains, your going to find some massive meteor impact that flattened trees for hundreds of mile, but the fun part is that it takes almost five years to investigate because officials could not get to the remote locations.

Now Tigger, we all know is a cute cuddle and bouncy friend of Winney the Pooh. But here you find a tiger more regal and less bouncy. These burly creatures can weigh up to 850 pounds and are about 10 to 12 feet in length. That's one big kitty. These kitties need up to 20lbs of meat a day to survive. They primarily eat deer, elk, and wild pigs and Monkeys, fowls, frogs and fish if they are on hard times. but I wouldn't press your luck, you are nothing but fast food to them.

I've dived in many areas, but to say you've dived in such a remote place, is something for your journal. Two thirds of the plants and animals found here are found no where else in the world. We've all ready talked about this lake being the largest, but it is also the deepest and the oldest Scientists determine the age of 25 – 30 million years old, is one of the oldest lakes in the world.

aaaaaand one of the most seismically active intercontinental regions of the globe. Strong earthquake in 7 points occur with a periodicity of 1-2 years.

I think I can I think I can

Don't get me wrong, I love doing JTW, but I'm feeling a little burned out. So I did a little soul searching. I discovered the thing I'm most burned out of is printing the answers. Mostly because that takes the most work. So unless one of you wants to volunteer as answer page.... I think I'm going to just give the answers and focus more on doing the clues.

the last three answers were... Tonga, Luxembourg & our surprise guest was Delaware. Watch for guest appearance.

We're #1

Because I can, I'm mixing it up AGAIN! Last week we had a guest blogger, who did a fab job. This week I'm going off the ranch. Where I am this week is NOT a country. So... where am I?

I'm in a country that is relativly young, but this particular area claims they are the first when it came to colonizing. Their rich history surrounds this claim. From ships to mansions to forts there is always a story to tell. Also for such a small size, there are beaches almost at every turn. Some more 'libral' than others, so make sure to check before you go.

One rare instnace here is the number of PHd's. According to a survey by the National Science Foundation, there are more doctoral-level (Ph.D.) scientists and engineer per capita. Add to that this area is home to Eldridge who invented the phonograph and was the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, today known as RCA.

The longest twin span suspension bridge in the world is here, for a place only a hundred miles long and less than fifty miles across at its widest point, this is quite an accomplishment. The C&D Canal, which bisects this area two-thirds of the way up, serves as a sort of internal Mason-Dixon Line, separating the more urban and industrialized northern portion from the more rural "slower, lower" southern part.

Peach farming is an important part of the agricultural heritage, as the peach was introduced in Colonial times and expanded as an industry in the nineteenth century. It was the country's leading producer of peaches for part of the nineteenth century, at its peak, shipping 6 million baskets to market in 1875. The fifth and sixth grade students of St. John's Lutheran School, with the support of the entire student body, suggested that peach pie be adopted as official dessert because of the historical and agricultural significance of the peach farming industry.

Punkin Chunkin, a popular sport, where specially grown pumpkins are shot from devices such as air-powered cannons, trebuchets, catapults, and various other contraptions. The goal is to see which device can hurl a pumpkin the greatest distance, with some currently reaching distances of almost a mile. The carnival atmosphere is themed in pumpkins with more and more attractions added each year.

Bucks Deluxe

I am roughly triangular in shape

My people are of Celtic, French, and German ancestry.

The majority of my population is Roman Catholic; there are Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim minorities.

I am a landlocked country.

I am one of the smallest countries in the world (I am smaller than Rhode Island).

I have the highest GDP (gross domestic product) per capita in the world.

Beneath my mighty fortress, I have around 21 kilometers of hidden underground passages.

I am the only Grand Duchy in the World. Here is my Grand Ducal

A movie based on this painting was mostly filmed here.

My residents rank No. 2 in the world in their standard of living and per capita income.

I lead the world in mobile telephone access. In 2003, I had more cell phones than total inhabitants.

I rank as the world’s top city for personal safety and security.

Who am I?

I challenge you

So I have recently been accused of 'making it to easy.

Rude

So, you want hard.

I'll give you hard.

The following information comes from a 1959 New Word Book Encyclopedia - find THAT on the Internet.

I am more of a fair weather traveler, I like to wear capri's but on top I'd prefer to wear a sweater rather than sweat. But oceanic adventure is some of my favorite plus, there are so many tropic and warm places to visit. Today is no different. Another Island Nation. Sometimes called the Friendly Isles because of their happy and carefree way of life.

There are about 160 islands in all and most are made of raised coal limestone built by volcanoes, some of which are still active. The encyclopedia says and this is a direct quote "they are good looking and very intelligent".

I have to agree the men here are beautiful (I'm not checking out the women duh) More famous for their coconut and banana crop, but don't think that is all there are sweet potatoes aplenty. And don't forget the Taro and breadfruit...

I didn't know what it was either. But it has a pleasant sweet taste, and hence its name, has the texture of bread, though more moist. The leaves have even been known to cure headaches. Utilizing the crop to the fullest, a common product is a mixture of cooked or fermented breadfruit mash mixed with coconut milk and baked in banana leaves.

Captain Jimmy Cook explored these islands in the 1770's, actually he was the one to name them the Friendly Ilands, because of the friendly reception accorded to him on his first visit. He happened to arrive at the time of the ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga, the islands' paramount chief, and received an invitation to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but could not agree on a plan... whoops.

This nation is ruled by a Queen, who can trace her ancestry back through generations of kings and rulers. (remember this is info from 1959).


That's all you get.
It's up to you to fill out the rest!

Venezuela

God and Federation

BZ - 25

- Elder Pino of the 70 is a Venezuelan native. (and my mission president)

- Venezuela signed agreements with Russia to buy weapons recently.

- The large rodents -- capybara -- can weigh up to 100lbs.

- Street food stands are very common in Venezuela. They often group together to form a Calle del Hambre or a "Street of Hunger."

MoMa/MS - 20

Kerepakupai-Meru is the native name for Angel Falls.

Angel Falls was the inspiration for Paradise Falls in the 2009 Walt Disney full-length animated movie Up.

Venezuela, which sits at the crossroads of South America and the Caribbean, has a wonderful and varied cuisine. Especially Arepas, Empanadas and Pabellon Criollo - the national dish.Pabellón criollo is a plate containing seasoned shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans (see below) and rice. The meat is slow cooked until tender, shredded and then cooked again in a tasty sauce that includes any combination of onions, garlic, peppers, tomato and spices. It’s available at most restaurants and should not be missed!YUM!!!From drumming with its roots in Africa, to Spanish-influenced guitar and harp music and the indigenous contribution of maracas, Venezuelan music is largely unknown outside the country.DID I WIN!!!!

DP - 20
- Was once a country called Gran Colobia that incompassed Columbia, Ecuador, and Panama as well.

- About 30 % of the population of the country live on less than US$ 2 per day. Yeikes I say Yeikes.

- Their second largest national park (Canaima) is as large as maryland

MP - 20

- I had no idea that it was named after Venice. Cool.

- Their Orinoco crocodiles can get up to 22 ft in length. Look out Dundee!

-The Joropo: As the national dance of Venezuela it is performed throughout the country. Lively, merry and syncopated, it is Spanish in origin and Venezuelan in feeling. It is a dance for couples and has as many as thirty-six variants of the basic steps. The musical accompaniment is provided by the cuatro, maracas and counter pointed by a harp.-The arepa is perhaps the most popular food in Venezuela. It is eaten hot as a kind of bread to accompany a meal, or by itself, stuffed with meat, bologna, cheese, scrambled eggs, or anything one wishes. It is old days, arepas were prepared from freshly husked and ground corn, but today, the pre-cooked white corn flour has eliminated this lengthy process.Ingredients:2 teaspoons of salt2 cups of corn flour2 ½ cups of warm waterPreparation:Put the corn flour in a bowl and add the salted water little by little, mixing with the flour until has become a dough. Let it rest for five minutes. Now, shape the dough into round rolls about 3 inches in diameter and 1-2 inches thick. In a lightly greased skillet, slowly cook the arepas until a crust forms on each side. Now place them into a casserole and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, until the arepas sound hollow when tapped.