Australians abbreviate! University has 4 syllables and this is much too long for the average Aussie so it becomes Uni. To understand it in a conversation you can discern it from the context. If an Aussie says I got a Science degree at Uni it is fairly obvious that University is meant. Another common abbreviation is "The protestors were rallying at the Demo." This is the Australian form of demonstration. If an Australian tells you that something is suss, then he/she means that it is of questionable value, or ‘suspect' or ‘suspicious'. Or an Aussie will suss something out, this means checking it to see if it checks out ok.

Master the abbreviations then you can move on to the Aussie Expressions. These are turns of phrase meant to evoke an image that generally shows its meaning. Aussies will say having a bash at something and this means that they will have a go or try at something. Don't come the raw prawn means to warn someone off when they try to make unrealistic demands, or tell a fish story (pun not intended). These can be interpreted by understanding the imagery of the phrase, who wants a raw prawn (shrimp).

Continue to interpret the image. If someone has a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock, it means that they are a bit wacky, or weird, strange acting. When an Aussie tells you to Pull your head in, he means you have made an unbelievable suggestion and you should be silent. If an Australian tells you that Bob's your uncle, it doesn't mean that Robert is your father's brother, but that everything will be alright. This was originally a British term, referring to Bob Salisbury, uncle of then British Prime Minister Balfour 1902-05, and has been adopted into Australian vernacular.

Australians also use rhyming slang and the key to understanding it is to work it out from the context. I have to go home to my trouble and strife, means going home to my wife. Get your plates of meat off the table, means get your feet off the table. To hit the frog and toad means to hit the road, and to have a Captain Cook means to have a look. So the things to remember are that Aussie slang can usually be interpreted from the context, or from its rhyme with a common word. There are numerous websites that feature dictionaries of Australian slang. For more ‘Strine' and explanations of colloquialisms see this.

When we arrived the weather was rather good- sun shining, puffy white clouds and a comfortable 75 degrees or so. I was anxious for my husband to have his first British Beach Experience, so we headed down to the front looked for a good spot to settle.

Now in the UK the weather is rather unpredictable and as I mentioned on this day it was particularly pleasant. At least, when we started down to the beach. By the time we were nestled into our deckchairs, it was already looking a bit like rain and once the sun goes in in England, that's usually the last one sees of it for the day. Brits, however, are undeterred by the weather and don't let it interfere with their planned activities unless, of course, Monsoonal conditions prevail. We always have hope, you see, that the sun will shine again.

As we sat on the beach and observed the other sunbathers around us, I mentioned to my husband that he was about to witness some quintessential British beach behavior. He was curious to know more. I told him to just watch.

After about 10 minutes the skies became even darker and I felt one or two spots of rain on my arm-in the US, surely enough to clear the beach. We would see frantic mothers yelling for everyone to get out of the water, scooping up armfuls of kids, and rummaging in their bags for car keys. My husband turned to me as if to say, let's go!

Just watch, I said. We watched and waited and at first nothing happened. It was as if no-one had noticed the rain. As the drops fell a little faster, one or two blokes looked up to the sky and fished out a newspaper from under their deckchair and placed it on their heads. More newspapers, handbags, towels, t-shirts came out and up onto the heads of men, women and children all around. A couple of youngsters even crawled under a deckchair to wait it out.

However, eventually, it began to pour and with sad resignation the British beachgoers had to admit defeat. Not before they were completely soaked mind you. They began to pack up, one by one. The sense of communal surrender was almost palpable with feeble smiles all around. Maybe it will brighten up later.

Dale and I packed up too. Even the donkeys went home (I'll explain later) which is truly a sad sight. We trundled to the car and drove to a nice little teashop and consoled ourselves with a lovely cream tea.

So how does one deal with a British beach anyway? There are many beaches around England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and Here are a few tips on surviving at the beach in the UK.

Tips for Surviving an English Beach

When to Go

July and August. All beaches in the UK have one major problem and that is the weather. Temperatures in the summer usually reach around 75 degrees for at least some days. However, they may not be the days you are there. For the best weather, July and August are the best beach months although spring and autumn can have some very unpredictably pleasant days. Sunny days in England are the best sunny days on the planet. The air is clean, fresh and breezy, and the sun is hot. If you do find a run of them on your trip, soak it up.

Where to Go

Beaches in the UK are very diverse. Below is a general list of where you want to go for various activities. This is not exclusive but just a representation of the diversity.

• Devon on the South coast: great for sailing and windsurfing
• North Wales: Good for rock-pools and poking at sea anemones
• Cornwall in the extreme Southwest: Atlantic ocean makes for good surfing waves. Crystal clear sea.
• Brighton just south of London: Pebbly beach, great shops and seaside atmosphere. Trendy spot.
• Norfolk Broads: No, not ladies from Norfolk, but a series of rivers that wind their way to the English Channel on the East coast. Very soft, white sand, and great boating holidays on the Broads
• Scotland: Amazingly beautiful beaches of all type, but frigid water temperatures
• Skegness (East), Blackpool (Northwest), Margate (Southeast), Scarborough (Northeast): All fine examples of old-fashioned British Seaside culture
• Isle of Wight: Small island off the South coast. Famous for its colored sands.
• Isle of Mann: Small island off between Wales and Ireland. Famous for its cats with no tails (Manx cats)

What to Do When You Get There

Depending on where you go you can do pretty much anything on or around a British beach (even swim if you are brave enough for the cold water). Here's what you do on British Beach.

• Sunbathe: Most people rent a deckchair and a windbreaker and settle for a few relaxing hours in the sun (we are being optimistic that you hit a good patch of weather). You need a windbreaker because the breeze is always present and often cool.
• Dig in the sand, or poke around in risk-pools: Kids will need a bucket and spade and perhaps a net to catch crabs and starfish. Starfish do not sting and can be plentiful in the pools left by the tide when it goes out.
• Collect stones and fossils: British beaches have plenty of semi-precious stone and fossils. Look out for the orange, translucent Carnelian, a type of agate, and a long, carrot-like fossil called a belemnite. Occasionally ammonite (nautilus-like) fossils can be found on the East coast.
• Ride donkeys: ALL beaches have donkeys unless you are far from civilization. These will give kids rides up and down the beach in packs until you run out of money to fund it
• Drink tea: There are always tea vendors close to the beach and you can take a mug onto the beach with you, on a nice little tray. Why don't people steal them? I don't know. They just don't. If you really want coffee, you can get that too, but it will be the instant kind

After the Beach

You are toasted nicely after a day in the sun, and you are now starving for sustenance so it's time to taste some typical British seaside fare.

• To eat: Fish and chips, mushy peas and chips, chip butties, battered sausages, Cornish pasties (my favorite!). Fish and chips are common in the US now but mushy peas are a particularly English treat. They are large, marrowfat, peas cooked and served with vinegar, mint and sugar and they are delicious! In chips shops beware the curry sauce-a bizarre yellow, sweet concoction that will stain your clothes and your insides for life. Cornish pasties are pastry patties with a spicy mix of beef and vegetables inside. They defy description-you just have to try one.
• Snackin': Cockles and mussels, oysters, prawns. Yech, not my favorite, except for the prawns which are shrimp. Curiously, in the UK, regular and large sized shrimp are the same as prawns. Very small prawns are called shrimp. So if it looks like shrimp but if it's big, it's a prawn. If it's small, then it's a shrimp. Confused? Cockles and mussels are things from shells that are pickled and eaten in little pots. I avoid them, but unless you are allergic, you must give them a try.
• For dessert: donuts-fresh cooked and hot. Also, British ice-cream is delicious. Mr Whippy is the best soft-serve while Cornish is the best vanilla hard ice-cream. There is a bewildering array of packaged ice-cream, all ridiculously tasty. "Walls" is the best brand.
• Entertainment (apart from watching a loved one gag on a cockle): Many seaside resorts still have piers that run out into the sea. There are nightly shows on or around the pier as well as old-fashioned amusement arcades that will strip you of your pennies in a heart-beat. There are also amusement parks with roller coaster, fun-houses, Waltzers, more fish and chips, and the occasional MacDonalds. Some still have ghost trains and fortune tellers. The parks are loud and crowded but are part of the experience. And anyway, it's better than fretting over your sun-burn in a pokey guest house masquerading as a hotel.

Where to Stay at the Beach

So many choices of where to stay but your best bet is usually a bed and breakfast on the seafront. They are small and personable and reasonably priced. You can also camp in a caravan (like a mobile home but fixed at a site) for a cheaper stay. These sites usually have showers and restroom, teashop (of course), and a convenience store on the premises. I have spent many a happy summer is such accommodations when I was a child.

Glossary of Terms

UK USA

The Front: The seafront.

The Prom: The walkway along the top of the beach.

Lolly: Ice pop

99: Soft serve ice cream in a cone with a chocolate "flake" stuck in it

Tub: A small pot of ice-cream

Choc-ice: Like a rectangular Klondike Bar

Prawn: Shrimp

Cockle: Pickled sea snail snack

Deckchair: Lawn chair

White Horses: The white tops on the waves in the sea

Chip Butty: French fry sandwich (on thickly buttered white bread)

Jacket potato: Baked potato

One-armed bandit: Slot machine

Sweets: Candies

Rock: Stick of hard candy

Loo: Toilet

Pay and Display: Tickets you buy and out in car windows in the parking lot

Brolly: Umbrella-have one with you AT ALL TIMES!

'Let's get a move on it,' yells the coach driver. "Get out of the way and let the paying customers on." Other passengers rush by until Shawn, my newly wed husband scurries frantically across the road while freeing the straps of a scantily loaded camping bag off my back. The bus conductor holds out his hand and demands thirty five rupees for an hours drive aboard his vehicle en route Murree via Islamabad. His Weather worn face and piercing glare makes me wonder since when transport had become so inexpensive. As if reading my thoughts, he immediately demands another thirty five rupees to accommodate both me and my better half in his wooden slated, barred windowed, decorative coach.

As our means of transportation soared rapidly away from the hustled norm of Pakistan's capital to high mountainous peaks of Murree, We leisurely engross in the surrounding lush forestry portraying huge pine trees. The scenery reflected every travelers delight and inviting valley's swarmed with natural springs at an altitude of 2,240 Meters (7,400 feet) nurtured a sense of adventure and free will opposing my mayhem packed customary urban life.

Upon arrival in the rural city, we were caught up with hawkers competing between themselves and targeting us as potential customers seeking lodging. Tanned, toiling and weather beaten citizenry earned their means of living as shepherds, horse and cattle breeders and within busy market places sold jewelery, medicines, clothes, artifacts, air fares and decorations. Many also ran general stores, banks, churches and schools besides offering tourists rides to attractive sight-seeing places.

Best visited in April- May and September- October, Murree displayed the best of nature with white clouds graciously engulfing mountain crests and towering over green valleys below.

We booked a two-bedroom at the economical President Hills hotel, checked for hot water supply and operational heaters and after unpacking, headed towards a restaurant below to relish on famous local fast food burgers, Shammi kebabs and omelets.

After a hearty brunch, we inquired for camera batteries from a local shopkeeper and were suggested Mall Road as a famous market place above Murree hill tops, between Kashmir and Pindi Point. We decided to hike uphill and paused at a miniature roadside eatery sheltered beside a steel sheeted hut to buy 2 plates full of a locally preferred Chana Chaat. Just as we had begun to enjoy the spicy aromatic savory, a tremendous thunderous blast above our heads made our spines quiver. Our shocked facade brought a smile to the roadside hawker as he coyly informed us that a huge horse chestnut had fallen from a surrounding tree on the steel sheeted hut below which we stood.

At Mall Road, we were greeted by a variety of shops, book stores, souvenir kiosks, internet cafes, pharmacies, banks, post offices and cinemas. Renowned Pakistani restaurants crowded either sides of a lengthy narrow street and the enclosure evoked the British Raj, with its Christian churches, cemetery, spacious bungalows, clubs, cricket grounds and colonial-style hotels. The heart of the bazaar continued further along Kashmir Road and Massey Gate. Numerous routes departed outwards and either followed the contours of the ridge or descended to the principal road. After some necessary purchases, we headed back to our abode to doze away our aching weary limbs.

Awakening to a chirpy cold morning, we freshened up and hastily threw on our garbs to visit Pindi point, a famous tourist spot for riding chair-lifts passing down 1.5 km into the wadis. Upon arrival, our minicab driver bellowed to the chair-lift operator who was none the less pleased to welcome us. Chair lifts from Pindi Point travel from Bansara Gali (below Murree) to Pindi Point or to the top of Patriata Hill (on the road to Karor). Both rides cost approximately rupees fifty and take half an hour with a change from open chair-lift to the enclosed bubble in the middle. Once air bourne, strong fragrance from huge blue pine trees inflated the ambience and breath-taking views with crossroads and vast landscapes enthralled our observance. At our descent we were greeted with shopping kiosks and a children's play area apart from another astounding view of the lush Patriata Hills.

My interest in the eminent Convent of Jesus and Mary failed to seize. We planned to visit it as our last quest but primarily revisited Mall Road to purchase customary souvenirs for our loved ones. After purchases, we once again embarked uphill to discover the extraordinary beauty of the Convent of Jesus and Mary. We swiftly snapped some spell-bounding pictures of the convent and rushed back to the hotel to pack our bags.

Murree is a writer's muse, a city packed with undiscovered and wild adventures. Our journey had been eventful and our overall budget, amazingly inexpensive.

Recalling our hiking in the wilderness when we had painstakingly etched our names on a downwards sloping chestnut tree trunk, we hastly promised to return in winter and unravel our name imprints from the same truck. Our next visit however amidst the winter's snow, would portray a different picturesque of Murree altogether. An adventure not to missed.

 

In addition to traditional foods of ancient origins, such as bread and cheese, meat roasted or stewed, meat pies and game, freshwater fish or saltwater, are therefore also very popular foods such as potato, tomato and chili from Americas, spices and curry from India and from Bangladesh and fried dishes based on Chinese cuisine and that Thai. Even recipes from French and Italian, once considered alien, are now much admired and imitated. Britain has also adopted quickly the novelty of fast food from the United States and continues to absorb ideas from all over the culinary world.

Dishes of the Industrial Age

The industrial revolution that began in Britain in the eighteenth century is responsible for the very poor reputation of British dishes. Unlike the populations of most other countries, starting from mid-nineteenth century the majority of the British population worked in factories lived in cities and poor housing. The new working classes had lost contact with the earth and with the standard of cuisine that was subsequently dropped.

At home the food was, in fact, frequently reduced to "meat and two vegetables", perhaps with stews and soups. The rationing of most food during the Second World War (and even for a few years later) has not helped improve the situation, but has increased the nutritional standards of the population at levels never previously achieved. The movements after the war, tourism abroad and immigration in the United Kingdom have led to an absorbing influences from the colonies (e.g. India) and Europe, particularly France and Italy. The books by Elizabeth David introduced many new recipes and ingredients from the Mediterranean Sea. The influence Italo-American is now ubiquitous and pasta and pizza are a significant contribution to many diets. The Berni Inn have introduced customer British cocktail shrimp and steak, chips and peas, while the Wimpy Bar did the same with the burgers.

These trends are illustrated by the ubiquitous spaghetti alla Bolognese (known colloquially as Spanish or Spanish Bol Bog), which are a common dish familiar to many British at least since the Sixties. More recently there has been a massive growth in the popularity of dishes such as chicken Tikka Masala and chicken with lemon, respectively dishes of Indian origin and Chinese, although modified according to British tastes. Indeed, the chicken Tikka Masala was prepared for the first time in Britain rather than in India. The British curry, essentially a legacy of the times of the British (and subsequently developed by immigrants) is much more piquant and spicy variety of traditional northern India, although the Indians of southern provinces find it insipid. The introduction of post-war refrigeration, in parallel with the growth of supermarket led the availability of ready for the oven foods, often cooked in a microwave oven, have now replaced the "meat and two vegetables" menu in many homes. Consequently, college students living away from home for the first time unable to afford ready-made food (which tend to be rather expensive), can often be seen with a copy of a cookbook as a basis for beginners (usually a book of Delia Smith), which includes some recipes with eggs.

Take Away

The advent of the industrial revolution coincided with the birth of food in "take-away" form as the "fish and chips" (fried fish served with fries), the mashed peas, and the cake stuffed with beef accompanied by mashed potatoes. These were considered the dishes typical of take-away in the UK for many years, despite the emergence and spread of take-away food mostly from certain ethnic influence of foreign cuisines, such as Indian food and Chinese cuisine. In the eighties, in the Birmingham born a new variant of curry, "balti", which then rapidly spreads to other parts of the country. In urban areas also become very popular kebab shops and chains of American style with sales of fried chicken, perfect for a "snack" for late at night.

Modern Kitchen

The growing popularity of famous chefs on television led to the increasing attention to good food, so in recent decades, modern British cuisine has attempted to free from the fish and chips. The best restaurants in London can now compete with any other locale in the world, both in terms of quality and price, and this trend is spreading elsewhere in the country. There are even some chefs who struggle to support the greatness of classical rustic British cuisine, such as Fergus Henderson of St.. John Restaurant in London.

It should also be noted that the number of restaurants has grown considerably in the face of renewed interest in the quality of food, probably determined by the growing possibility of traveling abroad at very cheap prices. Even organic products are becoming increasingly popular, especially after the crisis in agriculture such as that caused by the spread of mad cow disease.

A significant change is also both in number and in quality of many restaurants in Britain, especially of small Public House that have been completely transformed over the last twenty years. Many have risen from local low reputation to direct rivals of the best restaurants, are called Gastropub and very often in small countries are even the best restaurants. The term "Pub Grub" (literally "pub food"),, is now also used for sales of quality food. The merit for this U-turn goes to the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale - literally "Campaign for real beer"), which has helped to improve the quality of pubs and more generally of their products and, secondly the process of privatization of breweries, which led many pubs to diversify and to open the restaurant, both to survive as activity is in response to considerable demand from consumers.

Traditional Cuisine

Despite the spread of fast-food, traditional British cuisine has survived, mostly in rural areas and among those who belong to social classes higher.

The Sunday roast, typical for British families, is perhaps the greatest symbol of a kitchen linked strongly to tradition. The Sunday lunch usually includes a Yorkshire pudding (Yorkshire pudding), a kind of cake made with wheat flour and cooked in the oven, accompanied, or sometimes followed by a combination of meat and assorted vegetables served generally roasts or boiled. Combinations of meat are more common beef, lamb or pork and chicken is quite popular. The typical choice for the Christmas roast is represented by turkey, especially as a result of its widespread use after the Second World War. The game meat, such as that of deer, is particularly consumed by the higher classes; game, even if maintained in the classical tradition culinary English is not a food typically consumed by the average household.

At home many Britons prepare homemade desserts originals, as sweet rhubarb (rhubarb crumble), pudding bread and butter, spotted dick and trifle. The traditional accompaniment is the cream English. The dishes are simple and traditional, with recipes passed from generation to generation. The maximum exponent between puddings is without doubt the Christmas pudding (Christmas pudding).
The Sunday roast is a combination of roast beef, potatoes arroste, vegetables and Yorkshire pudding.

Tea are served with butter, jam and whipped cream or assorted biscuits and sandwiches. A single type of sandwich is certainly the one with marmite, a spreadable cream salty dark brown color that acquired from yeast, with very pronounced flavor. One of preparations housewives typical is the butterfly cake (literally cake butterfly). Some schools teach how to cook these cakes during cooking classes.

The tea is consumed during the whole day long and occasionally drunk even during meals. Coffee is perhaps less common in continental Europe and usually served long and with milk. The preparations Italian coffee, espresso and cappuccino, are still growing in popularity is that quality, while the tea, although still considered an essential part in the life of an Englishman, is losing its predominance. In recent years the teas were popular. During lunches or elegant formal wine is usually served while in most occasions informal lunch is accompanied by beer or cider.

The full English breakfast remains a culinary classic. William Somerset Maugham quoted: "To eat well in England, you should have breakfast three times a day.". Fortunately, today it is no longer the case.

In the Victorian, during the British Raj, the United Kingdom "borrowed" many Indian dishes, thus creating the Anglo-Indian cuisine. Some of these are still prepared today, although many of the dishes Anglo-Indians once very popular, such as kedgeree, are now almost disappeared.

Another British culinary tradition is a particularly tasty dish, such as Welsh rarebit,. Today many of the main meals end with sweet dessert, although sometimes cheese and snacks can be an alternative.

 

Some of the best places to visit in London are the London Bridge to start. I took photographs near the bridge by a park and up on the bridge. There is even a tour that will take you up into the bridge itself where you can look out into the ocean and the city.

Buckingham Palace is a must-see. The beautiful architecture is a sight to behold. The black and gold gates are striking especially when the bobbies stand next to them. I had a picture taken with one. The guards are also switched out every couple of hours and it is intriguing. Many people will stand outside the gates to try to get a glimpse of royalty.

Abbey Road Studios is located off St. John's Wood and isn't open to the public but you can take photos there. You can check out the place where the Beatles crossed the street for their album cover Abbey Road.

St. Paul's Cathedral is an amazing Catholic Cathedral to take a tour in. It has several sections. The first section reaches a walkway called Whispering Gallery. The next section is an outdoor walk. These sections continue to go into higher levels and eventually you will get a spectacular view of London.

Portobello Road is opened daily and it is a type of flea market that sells antiques. It is a cool place to visit when you are looking for a bargain.

The National Gallery in Trafalgo Square is a good museum for those that enjoy going to museums on vacations. They display works of Leonardo De Vinci and have several Egyptian artifacts and antiques as well as Ancient Greek sculptures. It is one of the better museums in London.

Finally, there are a few more places to visit while in London. Take a walk to the West End where you can catch a show. It is considered the Theatre District. Go to the Tower of London which is best seen at night. If you have a chance to do so go visit the Big Ben and take a bus tour around the city.

Valid 10 Year Passport

American tourists visiting the UK will need to hold a valid American passport that will not expire during their trip. A passport with a 6 month validity still left is usually required when visiting the UK. The UK has an agreement with the United States that allows visitors to enter the UK on a visa waiver programme for a visit up to 3 months in duration. If you intend to stay for a longer period of time, you will need to obtain the correct visa prior to your arrival in the UK, not after you get there.

The Weather

The British weather is very temperamental and hard to predict. It is possible that a bright, sunny day will soon turn cloudy and then rainy. Or a rainy day may quickly brighten up. The best way to tackle the British weather is to dress in layers. When packing, do not just keep up to date with what the weather is like two weeks or even a week prior to travel. Pack appropriately for every eventuality so that you can be prepared for quick changes in weather. Do not assume that the summer will be sunny everyday. The summer of 2007 saw torrential floods and very little sunshine across parts of the UK.

British English

The British and Americans share a basic common language, but there will be times that you will encounter some awkward situations if you are not conversant in a few words and phrases in British English. Pick up a good British travel guide for extra advice on British English, watch BBC America or visit British English websites that are designed to help prepare Americans for their trip across The Pond.

Travel Insurance

Are you prepared for every eventuality? Have you planned on what to do if your luggage is lost or stolen or you are seriously injured in the UK? It is wise to consider taking out travel insurance prior to your trip to the UK. While hospitals will not turn anyone away who has been seriously injured, hospitals will not treat you for free as they would if you were a British resident.

Approximately fifty kilometers to the East of said cairn is the city of Prince George.

In the early 1800's, Simon Fraser, a partner in the North West Company, thinking he was on the Columbia River, followed the river, which now bears his name. In 1807, on the West bank of said river, just South of where it is joined by the Nechako River, he erected a trading post. Mr. Fraser, in honour of King George III, named the post, Fort George.

Now known as Prince George, this city is, literally, the heart of B.C. Located amongst millions of hectares of spruce trees it is known as the Spruce Capital of the World because of its economic base in the logging, and pulping, of spruce.

Small, in comparison to most cities, its population ranges from eighty thousand to one hundred twenty thousand, depending on the economy. It is the commercial hub for the Northern half of the province and people move out, when times are lean, as fast as they moved in, when work was plentiful.

Currently, the economy is on the rise as the new container port in Prince Rupert begins development. As level land is scarce between the steep mountains of the West Coast, containers, once they are unloaded from the ships, will move, from Prince Rupert, by train, to be sorted in Prince George.

The, current, ten hour, drive from Vancouver to Prince George will probably become a, twelve hour, commute with the increase in truck traffic.

Prince George is noted as a summer and winter playground: twenty minutes from downtown will see you; swimming in the summer, hunting in the fall, skiing in the winter, or fishing, any time of the year.

This summer while visiting friends in PG, we were discussing work. My friend had just started driving taxi and one of her first fares had time to kill before catching a flight, the next day. “What is there to do, what is there to see?”, they asked her. She was stumped. She has lived in PG for over thirty years. I had lived there for ten years and I was just as stumped, even though I had, also, driven taxi for a while.

What do Prince Georgians do? Like everyone else they work, they eat, they sleep. For those who live downtown they breath an atmosphere that is not all that pleasant. When visitors ask, they reply, “Ah, that! That is the smell of money!” The perfume from the pulp mills, a byproduct of the chlorine, acid, bleaching process tends to drift down the valley into the bowl.

Prince George is located in the bottom of a bowl. It is often referred to as a giant beach looking for an ocean. The entire area is sand. Consequently the Fraser river turns a dark colour and when it gets to Vancouver the environmentalists blame the logging industry for polluting the river. In truth it is only discolouration, courtesy of Mother Nature.

Gold can be found in the sand, in too small a quantity to be profitable to pan. The loose sand also makes it difficult to build, particularly near the edge of the bowl. The construction of the new university was an engineers' nightmare. Rumours continue to claim that, soon, students won't have to commute to the top of the hill, as the university is gong to slide down to the bottom of the bowl.

`Ones man's garbage is another man's gold', as the saying goes. While the sand may cause problems for some, it provides pleasure for others. The Sand Banks, along the North Nechako River provide skiers one last kick at the cat, come spring. When they have worn out their skis on the two local ski hills, Mt. Tabor, and Purden Mountain, they tune them up for the `Sand Blast'. A yearly event when mayhem overcomes common sense and the skiers fly down the steep sand banks and try to stop before they stumble across the road, into the river.

NIGHTLIFE:

Several neighbourhood pubs, some with live music, several nightclubs, a few with live bands. Live theatre, cinematic theatres, hockey, PG is the home of the Prince George Spruce Kings, the host team for the 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup, a casino or two, bingo, and my all time favourite, roller skating. Although that will soon come to pass. The fad has worn off over the years and the building is now doomed.

Along with the neighbouring Golf and Curling club, the land has been sold to a developer. Over the next few years the PG Golf and Curling Club will move to a new location along the Nechako River. In its place will be a new hotel and residential subdivision. And lets not forget the newest addition to the PG nightlife, a drive in theatre, which is also home to; a mini golf, and a go cart track.

• Prince George Spruce Kings
• Prince George Golf and Curling
• Prince George Park Drive-In Theatre

DAYTIME:

4X4ing, art galleries, bicycling, bowling, curling, fishing, golfing, at least 5 golf courses, hang gliding, hunting, museums, parks, shopping, ski-dooing, skiing, swimming, tennis, touring the pulp mills, wildlife viewing. Wow! Prince George has all the attractions of a major city, without the commuter hassle, plus all the benefits of a small town.

Oh, did I mention the higher average wage, compared to the city, and the lower average cost of rent, or home purchase.

Excuse me, this narrative will now pause while the narrator packs his bags and moves out of the din of traffic in the big city to the peace and quiet of the Cariboo Valley.

• Prince George Pulp Tours
• Prince George Recreational
• Tabor Mt. Skiing
• Wildlife Viewing

SHOPPING:

Prince George is home to one major shopping plaza and two major malls, in the bowl. Other shopping centers can be found on the North, and the West rims of the bowl. Several super, destination, stores; Canadian Tire, Home Depot, London Drugs, Real Canadian Superstore, Staples, Wal-Mart, etc. can be found; downtown, at the foot of Peden Hill, and near the entrance to College Heights.

College heights, a residential district in the South West corner of the city has, over the past few years, expanded further to the West as the city enjoys an increase in property values as construction expands.

Prince George Shopping

EDUCATION:

Prince George hosts four colleges and a University. CNC, the College of New Caledonia, has branch colleges in many of the towns in Northern B. C. UNBC, the university of Northern B. C., is a satellite of UBC, the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.

• Prince George Education
• CNC
• UNBC

MEALTIME:

Restaurants of most ethnicities, abound, as do smצrgוsbords (Buffets to Americans). Culinary delights for all tastes, and budgets.

Though I can no longer do justice to a smצrgוsbord, smצrgוsbords in Prince George used to close their doors when they saw me coming, I still enjoy the variety of choice that is offered. One of my favourites is The Caribou Steak and Seafood Restaurant. Always a great selection of; roast beef, ham, mashed potatoes, pirogies, etc. a great salad bar, desert bar, pleasant atmosphere, and great service. I invariably meet friends there whenever I visit Prince George.

One of my favourites was the Hart Wheel Inn truck stop on the Hart Highway. In the late 80's there were four, really good, Chinese, smorgs, daily. Each of them had a nice selection at noon, a larger selection in the evening, and, on weekends, would add a roast of beef, or ham, or a turkey; and some Canadian style potatoes, and salad.

I haven't been up to the Hart in a while as my friend, Chung, the owner, has opened new and larger premises, The Great Wall Restaurant, near the Fraser River bridge on Hwy 97. This has a much larger selection in its daily smorg.

Another favourite culinary experience was on Sunday mornings. I would phone all my friends, who were generally nursing hangovers, and coax them out of bed to one of the four big breakfast smorgs. I believe the only one left is at Ester's inn. But it is still worth going. Table after table of culinary delights.

A new establishment has opened, next to the Cariboo, `The Waddling Duck'. Their menu offers; air dried bison steak, venison sirloin, nori wrapped ahi tuna, as well as other culinary delights.

One of my all time favourites is Franco's Steak and Spaghetti, 251 George St. Home of the Panzeroti. A panzeroti is, basically, a pizza, folded over, with the edges joined, but they don't use pizza dough, or bread dough, as some restaurants do.

One of my mother's favourite sayings, if something tasted good, was, `That tasted like more'. The first time I had a panzeroti the waitress asked me how it was. I replied, “That tasted like more”. She took me seriously, looked at me startled, and said, “If you can eat another one of those, I'll pay for it”. She paid for it.

• Esther's Inn 1151 Commercial Drive; 1-800-663-6844. Water slide, pool, restaurant.
• Franco's Steak and Spaghetti, 251 George St
• Prince George Restaurants

GETTING AROUND:

Prince George is too spread out to walk to most locations. However it does offer a city bus system.

• Prince George Transit System 24 Hr. Bus Info (250) 563-0011

PARKS:

There are several parks throughout the city. Fort George Park, on the banks of the Fraser River, is the largest, at 65 acres, and is home to the Fraser Fort George Regional Museum, `The Exploration Place', Prince George's Science Center and Museum.

A replica of the old fort has been constructed in the Park. Also, in the park, one can ride on a miniature train, or walk along the bank of the Fraser River.

The Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum is located adjacent to Cottonwood Island Park. There is an 1914 Grand Trunk station and a large array of rolling stock, such as; a 1913 100 ton steam crane, a 1903 Russell Snowplow, and a 1913 first-class Nechako Car. In the forestry part of the museum is a large selection of 1800's machinery.

Cottonwood Island Park offers a pleasant stroll along the bank of the N. Nechako River. The park is open all year and offers; a boat, and canoe, launch, picnic shelter, toilets, and an eleven Km. paved, trail, suitable for; walking, biking, in-line skating, or running, that goes under the bridges and connects to Fort George Park.

Another place to walk or picnic, is Connaught Hill Park. While I was in Prince this summer I discovered, or is that re-discovered, Connaught Hill Park. I have been to the park, more than once, over the years, but have never really noticed it. Just a quick drive through.

When I lived in Prince I was into dogs. I have always been good with cats and dogs and having relayed a story of approaching a strange dog a young lady dared me to try and approach her's.

I followed her to Connaught Hill Park where she; parked her VW bug, instructed her German Shepard to Guard it, then walked away. A while later I approached the car, spoke to the dog, through the closed windows, walked around the car, still talking, then entered the drivers's door. When she returned to the car I was lying across the front seats, the dog licking my face.

This year I took the time to smell the roses. Connaught hill is a wonderful place for; a stroll, a picnic, some picnic tables have their own parking area, or to smell roses, or other flowers, and offers a splendid view of the city.

• Connaught Hill Park
• Cottonwood Island Park
• Fort George Park
• The Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum
• Prince George Parks

ACCOMMODATION:

There are several hotels in the city, four of which represent major chains; Coast, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, and Ramada. The city, and area, also abounds with motels; Economy, Travelodge, Camelot, Carmel, and many others. As well there are numerous BandB's.

CLIMATE:

Prince George has always been noted for short, hot, dry summers and long, cold winters. Over the last few years, due to the increase in surface area of lakes that have been enlarged for hydro electricity production, and global warming, the climate has moderated. Though they still get the odd day of forty below in the winter they no longer get the week after week of fifty below, with the odd day that would reach a high of thirty-five below. Nor do they get the continuous, deep, snowfalls, that they once did.

For some this is a good thing; the elderly don't have huge snowfalls to contend with, the city saves a lot of money on snow removal, and people from the South are more inclined to move in.

However, the down side is less winter employment and a basic industry of the province that is in danger of disappearing.

Because the area around Prince is fairly soft, logging was much easier in the winter when the ground was frozen solid. IE: trucks and equipment could move, off road, without getting stuck. Seasonal employment is a common thing in Canada and nowhere more so than in the Cariboo.

Winter time would see the population of towns, such as Prince, double. Logging companies from other towns, that had work in the summer when the ground was dry, but too steep to log in winter would come to the North during the winter.

As the North is notorious for its cold winters so it was notorious for fly-by-night companies. Quick-buck artists would come to town in the fall and leave, just a quickly, in the spring, owing their suppliers money. They would stay in motels, make arrangements for fuel, tires, employees, etc., and leave town, owing everyone.

Such companies are great for seasonal employees such as myself and they are educators for youngsters who have no experience.

One such company came to Prince, one winter and I drove a logging truck for them. At the end of the season I went to work one morning to find, nothing. No one. Gone. I enquired at the motel where they had been staying. The manager said they had left during the night. All except the logging truck that I had been driving. He was keeping it until they paid their bill.

Sometime later the truck disappeared from his parking lot. I doubt that he ever got paid. I know I never saw my last cheque.

Years later I had a similar experience with a chop stick factory. A man came form overseas, started up a factory to supply the orient with chopsticks made from Alder wood. I started up a logging company to supply him with clear, white alder.

The day after he received a multi million dollar grant from Ottawa he returned to his homeland. None of the workers in the factory received their last paycheque and none of the logging companies were paid for the logs lying in the yard.

I stated earlier that a basic industry of the province is in danger of disappearing. Cypress; elm, fir, pine, and spruce, beetles kill trees. The beetles bore through the bark and mine the phloem - the layer between the bark and the trunk of a tree. They burrow even deeper into the tree to lay their eggs. They live in the summer and hibernate in the winter. Actually what they do is die in the winter. If it is cold enough. To survive they hide under the bark of a tree. It takes many days for cold to penetrate the bark of a tree and many more days for the cold to kill the beetles. Thirty to forty below, for a period of six weeks, will kill the beetles, and their eggs.

It has been many years since the temperatures have stayed that cold for that long a period. Consequently the beetle population is out of control. The forest that the tree huggers of the `90s managed to save from the forest industry have now been lost to nature. Along with many millions of hectares more. The latest maps from the B. C. Forestry show that over half of B. C.'s forests are infested and will be dead within the next few years.

GETTING THERE:

Passenger train service from East to West, Prince Rupert to Jasper, is offered by Via Rail. Greyhound service is offered in all direction as is airline service. The airport in Prince George hosts; Horizon, Jazz, and West Jet, as well as several smaller airlines and helicopter services. There are several flights a day, to and from, major centers in Western Canada, as well as non stop flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.