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A Walk on the Pier – Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles
Manhattan Pier, Los Angeles
Live Rural Newfoundland Author visited the other West Coast at the edge of the Pacific Ocean as he walked along Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles.
After a few days in Las Vegas with friends, he decided to take a cheap Spirit Airlines flight to Los Angeles for just $55 CDN. I recommend and support the low-cost airlines and utilized them throughout my time in Europe. One may wish to visit www.skyscanner.net to search the skies for the cheapest flights. You may even find one to the other west coast to Deer Lake Regional Airport.
Fishing from the Pier
The Ocean Trolley brought me to Manhattan Beach a return trip for just $5.00. It was a great business model of one fee to pick up visitors and have a great circle route.
The sun was beaming, as I walked to the pier. I saw a couple of people fishing from the pier. There was a place to get ice-cream and cafe with an amazing view at the end of the pier. As well, there were a number of volleyball nets and a lifeguard tower with yellow truck. It brought me back to the Baywatch years. The streets were filled with small business, local restaurants and shops.
The second stop on the trolley stopped at a larger commercial area for extended shopping. However, I liked the previous streets of unique proprietors. The final stop was filled with rows of restaurants. One could pick and choose the taste desired.
- Seagull on the pier
A quiet evening at the Pub – Cork, Ireland
The Corner House The decor
The decor
Enjoying a Pint of Beamish!
Another Pub...one promoting Guinness
Good music, good grub, good company and good drink in a comfortable space. It is time for Rural Newfoundland & Labrador to embrace pub culture. Pubs feel like a local kitchen party, once a common past-time. The local lounge, club and bar should consider adapting to be more generationally friendly, especially with a rural aging population.
Related Articles
- Ireland’s Pubs Becoming Endangered Species (newser.com)
- Ireland – Cork, Ireland (travelpod.com)
- Travel Cork (hotelscork.wordpress.com)
Experiencing the Newfoundland – Ireland Connection
I visited Ireland in 2007. We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin with local Irish men. This happened because the week before Jen and I were in Stockholm, Sweden and starting talking to them in the street. I am glad she did, because we had a truly authentic Irish Paddy’s Day experience with the kitchen party at an Irish residence, to whirly burgers and more. Thank you James, Elmo and others. Jen & I will never forget the times at McGowens.
We returned again in April, after missing our cheap flights with both of us over sleeping; as we all celebrated the end of the semester the night before. This resulted in us taking multiple trains, underground, bus, ferry, shuttle and tram. We travelled from England to Wales to Ireland to dock in Dublin, Ireland 12 hours later than expected, but we made it. My final visit to the island was in December 2007 when I flew to Edinburgh alone prior to Christmas. There I met the Dodgemeister and a Swedish Princess. After a couple of days I took the train to Glasgow and the ferry to Belfast, Northern Ireland. On the ferry, I watched Meet the Robinson’s, one of Pixar’s excellent movies. It is right up there with Despicable Me. After arriving in Belfast, I was able to experience the Christmas Markets around city hall and enjoy many hours of excellent shopping.
As you can see, my previous trips to Ireland and Northern Ireland resulted in multiple forms of transit. Never though, did I ever rent a car and attempt to drive on the left hand side of the road, until November 2010.
Hyundai Getz
My mother must have been very trusting or scared for her life constantly. After we landed at the Cork airport, I picked up my rental car from the Budget Kiosk desk. After getting in and driving one car it had an incredible beeping noise that would not go away. I check all doors, windows, handbreak, but nothing seemed to stop it. So back to the Kiosk and they exchanged my Nissan for a little Hyundai Getz.
Side View of the Hyundai Getz Street In Ireland
Our flight was delayed from Paris, coupled with the delay with changing the rental car pitted me in the second largest city in Ireland during rush hour traffic with no experience driving on the left. I have to say it was quite the daunting driving experience, but after getting parked that night each successive day seemed like a breeze.
I love Ireland, it is like a second homecoming, as the beauty of the land reminds me of being in rural Newfoundland, only the grass in Ireland is Emerald Green, even in November. In 2007, I made multiple trips, but never really experienced Ireland, as I did not venture outside capital cities. Therefore, I decided it was important to see the countryside and the best way to achieve this was to rent a car, as it allowed me the freedom to explore the tiny villages and rural castles.
Prior to leaving I downloaded maps on my GPS (Gertrude Prudence Spencer, I mean Global Positioning System) as I felt that getting use to the narrow roads, new landscape and driving on the left would be enough for me to manage without having to find my destination. It would have been almost impossible to manage without the GPS, driving as much time would have been lost trying to find locations.
Street In Ireland
I enjoyed taking “roundabouts” (traffic circles), claiming to be “roundabout king”. I am sure though maybe I received a horn once or twice.
CNA: Heritage Training Available at Plum Point
Tourism Related Training Plum Point Flyer Print March 2011[1]
The link above is a flyer for a heritage training course to be offered in the region. It can be of value to individuals working in the tourism industry and businesses employing people.
This session would be of great value to interpreters at tourism attractions.
If you need more information please contact Joan Kinden or the St. Anthony Campus of CNA.
Interesting Facts About Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland & Labrador, one of the first places discovered in the New World, boasts a rich history. St. John’s is considered to be the oldest city in English-speaking North America. With Cupids, being the oldest English Colony in North America, celebrating 400 years in 2010.
I’ve received this in an email forward and felt compelled to share. Here are some interesting facts about Newfoundland & Labrador…
WERE…
The first province to Respond to Titanic distress signal.
The first to vaccinate for smallpox.
The first host a trans-Atlantic flight.
The first to have a wireless communication in the world.
The first place to discover proof of the theory of continental drift.
WE HAVE…
The oldest street in North America.
The oldest city in North America.
The oldest rock in the world.
The oldest continuous sporting event ( Regatta Day rules! )
The largest university in Atlantic Canada.
The most pubs rep square foot in Canada ( George Street in St. John’s)
The longest running radio program in North America.
Caught the world’s largest invertebrate ( giant squid )
WE ARE…
The finest people in Canada ( ask anybody )
The Sexiest people in Canada ( MacLean’s magazine survey )
The only Province that has four identifiable flags.
The only Province to be able to land the Space-Shuttle ( Stephenville )
The most giving people in Canada ( Stats Canada )
The most sexually active people in Canada.
A NEWFOUNDLANDER…
build the world’s first artificial ice arena.
invented the gas mask
was once governor of northern Rhodesia
was with Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg
WE ARE THE ONLY PROVINCE TO HAVE…
it’s own “encyclopedia”
it’s own “dictionary”
is own “pony”
it’s own “dog”
Our beautiful province is unique, as with any place. The dynamic people that live and populate this island enhance the natural beauty and add to the extensive culture, heritage that has been in existence for more than 5,000 years.
Think about where you live and consider some of the interesting facts and reasons you choose to live and experience your province, state or country.
Live Rural NL – CCM
