Quaint Setting

Inishmore (The Big Island), County Galway in Ireland is quite a special community and quaint location.  It is the largest of the Aran Isles in Galway Bay, boasting it's rugged windswept landscape, pre-Christian and early Christian ruins as well as a strong and vibrant Gaelic community.  It's a great place to help you slow down and relax; and if you are more ambitious, there are a number of bed and breakfast opportunities should you wish to spend a more significant amount of time exploring the island.  Make sure you get a good pint of Guinness at one of the pubs when you sit down to appreciate the seascape and pick up a warm Aran knit sweater to remember your trip.

Mini-Vans for hire, Bikes or horse-drawn carriages are the most common modes of transportation on the island.

 

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Pining

I just found this picture and thought... I should post it.  So now, I've posted it!  There is nothing really all that special about it however I do like the texture and the colour contrast between the browns and the greens.  Sure it's simple and really not that great of a shot from an artistic or creative point of view but I did take it with my daughter.

She loves pine cones for some reason!

 

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Fit Right In !

From this...       along with a little editing,         to this!

 

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Old Town Shanghai

The Old City in Huangpu makes for an interesting day of exploration.  As you wander through it's streets you'll discover much of the city's historical structures.  Great effort has been made to preserve much of the original wooden architecture and provides a beautiful glimpse into the city's past.
 
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Maglev

Shanghai's Maglev is an amazingly smooth ride especially when you consider that you accelerate up to 431 km per hour.  It is the first of its kind in commercial operation and has been running since January 2004.

 

The magnetic suspension train runs from Longyang stop of the No. 2 subway in the west of Pu Dong to the International Airport in the east which is approximately a 30 km trek.  This is definitely the way to go!

 

Tickets are priced at 50 Yuan for a one way and 80 for a round trip, with VIP passes coming in at 80 or 160 Yuan respectively.  There were discounts in 2006 when we took it for a spin so long as you could produce a ticket for a flight leaving Pu Dong International on the day of your travel.  We were impressed with how smooth, quiet and comfortable the train was, not to mention how convenient, inexpensive and fast it is for getting out to the airport.

 

Mega A+ on this one China!

 

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