Canal du Midi

Advantages: architectural wonder
Disadvantages: cost many human lives to build

...The Canal du Midi, is a man dug canal, situated in the south of France, and joins the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean sea, via the Canal Garonne. The water sources which allow the canal to be constantly navigable, come from the Montagne Noire, (situated in the south west of the Massif Central, near Mazamet, in the Tarn area), by three lakes, and the Saint Ferréol dam. This technical challenge, first imagined in 1539, stayed a project on paper for almost a century, until 1636. ¤ø,¸¸,◊,¸¸ ,ø It was Paul Riquet, an ingenious engineer, born in Béziers in 1604, who started the first portion of the Canal in 1636, under the reign of Louis XIV. The Saint Ferréol dam was built in 1667, and in 1680, the locks at Béziers, called "Les écluses de Fonseranne" were built. Pierre Paul Riquet died that year, and the very first navigation...

bodsquidge 25.06.2007 (09.06.2007) · Read review
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Review of Canal du Midi, Languedoc

Cruisin' - THE GRAND CANAL

Advantages: An amazing sight
Disadvantages: Venice is SO expensive

...When visiting Venice, it's hard, if not impossible, to not come into contact with the Canalasso. Well when I say come into contact, most people don't actually do that - they'd end up a trifle wet if they did. More accurately, it's nigh impossible to not see, or travel upon the said waterway. The Grand Canal (to give it it's English name), is one of the first things most visitors see when they arrive in the city, leading as it does, from the lagoon at Santa Lucia Railway station and the huge, and hugely expensive, car parks. It snakes through the city in a giant back-to-front S shape from here to the St Mark Basin at the opposite end of town. At 3800m long and varying widths of between 30-90m, it's said to be one of the few man-made structure visible from space...although I'm not sure it was so much man-made as 'enhanced', and I...

proxam 24.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Grand Canal, Venice

Root Canal? Where abouts is that then?

Advantages: gets rid of pain and infection
Disadvantages: uncomfortable at times

...When I found out that I needed to have a root canal treatment I nearly had a heart attack. I hate anything to do with needles and having had no surgery whatsoever, I am absolutely petrified of the thought of undergoing any procedure whether it's major or minor. However the most important reason for not liking the whole root canal idea was that I absolutely hate the dentist! I know for a fact that I'm not alone when I say that I hate the dentist as most people admit to having an extreme phobia of getting in that chair. Maybe it's the thought of not being in control or maybe it's the lovely array of the dentist's torture equipment that practically stares you right in the face once you're in there that does it? Whatever it is, it is enough to put people off going until it is absolutely necessary, until the pain is just too unbearable...

AimeeLouise18 13.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of member advice on Root Canals

Take a canal tour and get an overview of Amsterdam

Advantages: You get a leisurely cruise through the canals, and the guides are excellent at telling you the history of Amsterdam and pointing out interesting places and architecture
Disadvantages: bit blowy outside in cooler weather if youre on one of the open ones

...also told that just because the front is old doe not mean the rest of the house is. When the foundations fail, the houses are rebuilt, but the front has to remain! Who'd have thought it? We enjoyed our daytime trip immensely, but for sheer beauty ... We also took a candlelit cruise - ah, romance in this city of extremes. Champagne and hor dóevres, and a couple of candle bowls flickering at each table. We sailed the same maze of canals, but the buildings were aglow from within, the bridges ablaze with hundreds of coloured lights. It was magical. the same city as we'd passed through in the day, but looking magical in the dark night. I'd advise couples to take both cruises, they are so different and give you a chance to see a different side of the city. Families with school age children would enjoy the daytime trip, as there was...

poet831 21.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Canal Tours, Amsterdam

Grand Canal Hotel Dublin

Advantages: Good restraunt, good location
Disadvantages: bathroom fan has no 'off' switch

...First the advice. If you are going to use this hotel (a 3* hotel) the best way to get to it is using the air-coach which goes from Dublin airport every 20 min or so. The stop you want is the 'school house hotel' The grand canal hotel is then just a short walk away. The air coach is far cheaper than taking a taxi (could be as much as ?30 cheaper) and it's quicker. One of the hotels big advantages (could be seen as a disadvantage by some). It is about a 15 - 20 min walk from the main shoping area of the city, so this means it is fairly quiet at night. However this also means that it is quite a distance from the big tourist attractins such as the Guinnes store house and the Jameson distillery. The rooms are large, well decorated, double glazed, clean, are all on suite and as you would expect are serviced daily. The only problem...

mjc121 02.07.2007 (12.05.2008) · Read review
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Review of McEniff Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin

The body in the canal

Advantages: Great second story, excellent characters
Disadvantages: First story was slow and boring

...?s death, after years in a home he is dealing with feeling of guilt and letter her down. After a few days the Priest who conducted the service visits him in the office. He has been a family friend for many years and is concerned that a Christian Group called ?The Children of Jesus Christ? are swindling the most vulnerable people in their society out of the savings. As Brunetti starts his investigation, he is called to the Grand Canal where a young girl?s body is washed up. She had drowned and the only identity she has is a gold wedding ring and a broach. Despite the papers covering this no one admits to missing their young daughter. Brunetti is astonished and disappointed by this. He finds it easier to track down the jewellery?s owners than find her parents. They are surprised to receive the items back especially as they had never missed...

CPTDANIELS 25.07.2009 (26.07.2009) · Read review
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Review of The Girl of His Dreams - Donna Leon

The Mill Inn - - the inn on the canal

Advantages: Lovely location, comfortable and friendly
Disadvantages: None that I can see

...the picturesque Lancaster canal in Conder Green, close to of Glasson Dock - the canal tow path actually runs along the back of the pub. The Mill Inn is a popular stop for walkers and boat owners, who can pullup outside the pub and moor for the night or a good meal. Within the grounds of the pub there is a lovely children's play area and large beer garden - both very poplular in the summer. The pub has facilities for the disabled, as well as a lift with access to all floors. As well as being an excellent pub offering great meals the Mill Inn also has 15 en suite bedrooms, each reflecting the style and character of the original mill. The food at the Mill Inn is really very good, to prove this they have been recently been awarded the 'Taste Lancashire Quality Assured' award from the Lancashire & Blackpool Tourist Board. You can enjoy...

oldchem 30.05.2009 (31.05.2009) · Read review
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Review of The Mill Inn, Lancaster

Countryside Canal Cruising

Advantages: A relaxing and good value holiday
Disadvantages: Problems on the last day of the trip

...Last summer my partner and I undertook a week cruise along the French rivers/canals as part of a group of 8 which was organized by some friends of ours through the company Crown Blue Line. I?m not sure why it has taken me so long to write about the cruise which was great until the company spoilt things on the last day of our trip. Crown Blue Line organizes canal cruises in France, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Holland, although the highest concentration of routes is in France. The cruises can be undertaken for 3, 4 or 5 nights in addition to 1 or 2 week options and the boats will sleep between 6-12 people. We personally chose a one week cruise in France from Fontenoy le Chateau, which is near Dijon in Burgendy, down river to a small town called St John de Losne. The cruises all have set routes...

nickyturnill 18.06.2007 (06.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Crown Blue Line

A Cruise Ship Photographer's Experience In Panama

Advantages: An amazing experience
Disadvantages: Very, very humid!

...Whilst travel potential aboard any one of the many cruise liners afloat these days is extensive, thorough exploration of any of these increasingly exotic ports is limited. For a cruise ship photographer, however, the situation is very different. As a crew member it is always a joy to disembark, and on Panama Canal Day it's a James Bond style start to the morning followed by a series of unique experiences! With the ship passing the small town of Christobal close to the Gatun Locks, a succession of pilot boats approach, and with both vessels in motion, various personnel are embarked to take the ship through the Canal. The disembarkation procedure is the same, we don a lifejacket attached to a pulley connected to the ship and climb down a rope ladder to the pilot boat, which in rough weather is fun to say the least. Ashore, a local...

findyourfoto 27.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Panama Canal (Panama)

Building the Panama Canal

Advantages: An Absorbing Story
Disadvantages: None

...Suez Canal builder fails miserably in Panama. High ranking officials accused of taking bribes. French government brought down by financial scandal. Small investors loose millions in abortive venture in the jungle. 20,000 people die of malaria and yellow fever ? for nothing? US uses gunboat diplomacy to install friendly government in Panama. Legitimate government in Columbia sends in ground troops. US ignores international law to protect its interests. Major advances in controlling malaria and yellow fever US brings in Railroad pioneer to build its canal US gives white workers substantially better facilities and benefits than its black workers. US government places the Army in charge of building the canal These are just a few of the headlines that could have been published during the building...

confusion 02.01.2004 (18.02.2004) · Read review
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Review of The Path Between the Seas - David McCullough