mercredi 5 juin 2013

AUSTRALIA


Australia and Europe compared

The Australian flag

Australian Flag Description:
The Australian flag has a dark royal blue base with a depiction of the British Union Jack in the upper left quarter.
The Australian flag has a large white seven pointed star (the star of federation) under the middle of the Union Jack.
The right half of the Australian flag consists of a constellation (the Southern Cross constellation) with one small white five pointed star and four larger white seven pointed stars that are equal in size.

Australian Flag Meaning:
The Union Jack depicts the first colonization of Australia by Europe was by the British, as Australia was a British penal colony. The seven pointed Star of Federation represents each of Australia's six states, one additional point represents Australia's territories. The Southern Cross is a constellation of stars that can be seen from all of Australia's states and territories.

Australia, nicknamed the "Land Down Under,", is a country, an island and a continent.
It is the world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean.. This continent-country-island has an area of 2,966,368 square miles (7,682,300 square kilometers).

Capital of Australia: Canberra

Population: Australia has a population about 20 million people.
Most of Australia's population lives on the fertile plains of the eastern and southeastern coasts. The interior of Australia (called the Outback) is dry with many deserts.

Government and Economy: The Commonwealth of Australia is a democracy (leaders are elected by the adult population) but it recognizes the monarch of Great Britain as sovereign (the Queen of England has the title "Chief of State" and performs ceremonial duties).
Australia has a strong, modern economy. Its monetary unit is the Australian dollar.

Largest Cities: Sydney is the largest city in Australia; it has over 3,935,000 people. Other large cities include Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Newcastle.

Government in Australia:

The Commonwealth Government

Queen Elizabeth 2 of England is also Queen of Australia. She is the Head of State of Australia. Australians do not vote for her, because a queen or king gets that position from the king or queen before them, usually their parents or other relative.
The Queen lives in England, not Australia. The Governor-General does the job for her when she is not here.

This is the Queen with Sir William Deane, who was Governor-General of Australia when the photo was taken. He was Governor-General from 1996 to 2001.

The Head of State does not run the country, but has other jobs to do, such as sign a law to make it official, signing the paper that begins an election and being commander in chief of the army, navy and air force.

In Australia, an elected government runs the country.
Every four years, Australians who are over 18 years old must vote in an election. They help choose the people who will be in Parliament.
People who are elected go to Parliament in Canberra. Parliament House is a huge building where parliament meets several times a year to discuss and make laws for the country. A law is a rule that affects how we live.
In the Australian Parliament there are 2 sections, called Houses. They are the House of Representatives and The Senate.
THE ABORIGINALS

Aboriginal Australians, also referred to as Aboriginal people, are people whose ancestors were indigenous to the Australian continent— that is, to mainland Australia or to the island of Tasmania—before British colonisation of the continent began in 1788.
Since 1995, the Australian Aboriginal Flag , designed in 1971 by the Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas, has been one of the official "Flags of Australia" under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953.
About 20% of land in Northern Australia (Kimberley (Western Australia), Top End and Cape York) is now Aboriginal-owned.

vendredi 10 mai 2013

CANADA

How well do you know Canada ? Do this quiz :http: //mentalfloss.com/node/13751/take

Canada is located in North America and stretches all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific, being made up of ten Provinces and three Territories.
To the North is the Artic ocean; Davis Strait on the North East separates it from Greenland, to the East is the Atlantic Ocean; the South is bordered by the United States of America and the West by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska.

Canada is composed of 10 provinces and 3 territories

Symbols of Canada

Canada has many symbols that are used to represent it here at home and around the world.

The Flag

The maple leaf flag of Canada was first raised on 15 February, 1965. The flag was designed by George Stanley.

Canadian Colours
Red and white are the official colours of Canada. They were designated Canada's official colours by King George V on 21 November, 1921, in the proclamation of the Royal Arms of Canada.

The Coat of Arms

The Canadian coat of arms were given to Canada by His Majesty King George V on 21 November, 1921.
The arms reflect the royal symbols of Britain and France. On the shield there are the three royal lions of England,
The royal lion of Scotland, the royal harp of Ireland, and the royal fleurs-de-lis of France.
On the bottom of the shield there is a sprig of three maple leaves representative of Canadians of all origins.
The ribbon around the shield has the motto of the Order of Canada: "Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam". (They desire a better country).
The arms of Canada show a royal helmet, which is a barred helmet of gold looking outward and draped in a mantle of white and red. On the royal helmet is the crest. This symbol consists of a wreath of twisted white and red silk on which stands a crowned gold lion holding in its right paw a red maple leaf.
The lion is a symbol of valour and courage. The crest is used to mark the sovereignty of Canada. The supporters on either side of the arms are a lion and a unicorn holding the British and French flags. Under the supporters is Canada's Motto: "A Mari usque ad Mare" (From sea to sea).
At the bottom of the arms are the English rose, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock, and the French fleurs-de-Lis.
At the top of the arms is the imperial crown.

The Maple Leaf and Tree

The maple leaf is Canada's most prominent symbol, recognized as Canadian all around the world. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700. The maple tree was officially proclaimed the national arboreal emblem of Canada on 25 April, 1996.

The Beaver

Another symbol of Canada is the beaver. The beaver has played an important role in the history of Canada since the first explorers arrived here and started the fur trade. It has been used in emblems by many Canadian companies throughout the years. From the Hudson's Bay Company to the Canadian Pacific Railway. The beaver was made an official emblem of Canada on 24 March, 1975 when royal assent was given to "an act to provide for the recognition of the beaver (castor canadensis) as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada".

The Great Seal of Canada

The Great Seal of Canada is used on all state documents such as proclamations and commissions of cabinet ministers, senators, judges and senior government officials. It's made of specially tempered steel, weighs 3.75 kilograms and is 12.7 centimetres in diameter. The seal dates back to the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth the Second. The seal bears the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, in her robes, holding the orb and sceptre, and shows her sitting on the coronation chair.

Canada Food and Drink

Canadian cuisine is as varied as the country.

The French influence in Quebec is easily discernible in the many restaurants that specialise in French fare.

Areas where particular groups of immigrants have settled have their own distinct specialties; look for German-style cuisine in southwestern Ontario, Ukrainian dishes on the Prairies and Asian foods in Vancouver, for instance.

Specialities:

• Fresh seafood (mussels, salmon, lobster, prawns, crab, scallops – the list goes on).
• Steak (the central plains produce first-class beef).
• Game (try venison, elk, bison or caribou).
• Poutine (fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy).
• Maple syrup (often liberally doused on pancakes or French toast).
• Nanaimo bar (super sweet chocolatey biscuit bar layered with vanilla or custard buttercream and topped with chocolate).
• Montreal smoked meat (cured beef usually piled high in a sandwich accompanied by mustard).
• BC roll (British Columbian speciality sushi roll made with rice, seaweed, grilled salmon and cucumber).

Things to know:

In most provinces, you can only buy spirits from specially licensed liquor stores;

in Quebec, wine and beer are also available in convenience stores, supermarkets and other locations.

In wine-producing provinces (primarily BC and Ontario), wine may also be available from winery-owned shops in cities and retail outlets at the wineries themselves. In all provinces and territories, only licensed restaurants and bars (which display the sign 'Licensed Premises') can sell spirits, wine or beer.

In some provinces, 'BYOB' (bring your own bottle) restaurants allow customers to bring their own wine; the restaurant may charge such customers a small corkage fee for the privilege.

THE FAUNA OF CANADA

the caribou

The beaver

The Canadian lynx

The grizzly bear

The moose

The muskox

LANDSCAPES

MOUNT LOGAN

Elevation (feet):	19550
Elevation (meters):	5959
Continent:	North America
Country:	Canada
Range/Region:	Alaska/Yukon Ranges
Range/Region:	Saint Elias Mountains
Province:	Yukon


Mount Logan is the highest peak in Canada and the second highest peak in North America. Height aside, Logan is one of the most massive mountains in the world.

CANADA GAMES : http://gamequarium.com/canada.html

mardi 16 avril 2013

VOYAGE LONDRES 2013 9th /12th April

Carnets de voyage et vidéos en attente ....30 mai au plus tard ..

Arrival at St Pancras International London at 12:00 (1pm in France)

DAY 1

In the London tube

Arrival at the hotel (2 pm)

At the British Museum : the Rosetta Stone ("La Pierre de Rosette")

a London cab


Fun at Covent Garden !!

At Covent Garden

Shopping at Harrod's

Dinner in a pub

The traditional fish and chips! Yum yum !!

London by night : Picadilly Circus

Walk in Regent's Street

DAY 2

Walk in Hyde Park

Trafalgar Square

a horse guard at Whitehall:
(The Queen's Household Cavalry is the mounted guard at the entrance to Horse Guards Arch.)

10 Downing Street ,the UK Prime Minister's home (David Cameron)

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Picnic at St James's Park

Tower of London (White Tower)

London bridge

Photo with a "Beefeeter " , a Yeoman Warder at The Tower of London

in Tower Bridge

2 Exhibitions at Tower Bridge:
'This is London', currently held in the West Walkway and 'Great Bridges of the World’ displayed in the East Walkway. Both exhibitions complement the spectacular panoramic views of both East and West London;