What can the map tell us? What can we learn from our travels?
Flag of the USA
New York
New York in the USA is named after York in England. When I first visited New York in the USA, I was puzzled by the fact that New York was often written as New York, New York. The City and the state have the same name. I have vivid memories of my first trip, walking down the spiral Guggenheim art Gallery, later reading about Guggenheim on the Titanic. I cheered myself up taking a bus tour, a Duck tour into the river, and sampling some Hersheys chocolate at an enormous shop.
York, over in England is a major attraction. Not just the large cathedral. You can walk around the city's impressive old defensive walls. York is small. The narrow alleys are full of dinky little shops, seling antiques and modern crafts. And a chocolate museum or two. Brits fondly remember Rowntrees of York.
New York in the USA has modern skyscrapers. What about history? Art deco buildings.
I once asked a girl at the World Travel Market in London, England, 'What would you say to British tourists who argue, 'I don't want to visit New York because it has no history; I would rather visit Greece!"?
Flag of Greece
She snapped, "I'd say, 'Come to New York. I have been to Greece. They have hundreds of years of history - but they still can't get the plumbing right!' "
I was glad I asked. I had not endeared myself to the PR girl, but I had received an interesting and amusing answer.
Let's move on around the map.
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas, was named after Paris in France. It is easy to work that one out.
Manchester, Where?
When I lived in London, I was puzzled when I heard a song in a musical about Manchester, England. Nobody in England specifies that Manchester is in England. When I try to look up Manchester in Wikipedia, I immediately find myself on a page about Manchester United Football Club. But there is another Manchester, not in England.
London, England.
That is why you must add the country when addressing letters. I went from London, England, to live in the USA, and told people I was from London. My accent is British. Most people worked out that I was from London, England.
Flag of Canada, featuring the maple leaf.
London, Canada
However, several people asked me, "Are you from Canada?"
"No, England."
"So sorry."
"Never mind."
I didn't mind. The trouble only started when I left the USA to go back to England.
Stratford, Canada
When my family moved to the USA, we took several trips to Canada. We learned to add maple syrup to our porridge at breakfast time.
I vividly recall being in a hotel near Niagara and picking up a leaflet on Stratford and Shakespeare plays being performed that summer. I wondered why a Canadian hotel had leaflets about the UK. Then I discovered that Canda has a place called Stratford and a Shakespeare theatre season.
When I got back to the UK, American PR ladies would phone me and ask, "Have you received my invitation to visit our new hotel and nearby museum?"
I would answer, "No, I haven't. but thanks for calling me and telling me about it. I am in England right now. But I shall look you up next time I am in the USA."
Neither of us realised what had happened to the missing letters. Months later I received envelopes redirected from Canada.
Perth, Australia
After that I visited Australia. If you go to Australia, or just look on the map, or at the index to a map book or guide book, you will see that a city called Perth is in Scotland. Another Perth is in Australia. That is why you must add the country, when addressing letters. When you meet a man with a Scottish accent in Australia and ask where are you from, if he says Perth, you need to ask, "Perth in Australia or Perth in Scotland?"
Conclusion
The popular saying goes, the world is a small place. On the contrary, it is a big place. Big enough for your plane or letter or luggage or even you, yourself, to end up on the wrong continent. Watch those city names! Add the country name!
However, to look on the bright side, after you have been to both cities which sound alike, visiting either will draw your attention to the contrasts and their history. You can enjoy indulging in daydreams about the differences and associations. I think of New York and York. York had Rowntrees chocolate and New York has Hersheys chocolate. Ah!
!
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Flag of the USA
New York
New York in the USA is named after York in England. When I first visited New York in the USA, I was puzzled by the fact that New York was often written as New York, New York. The City and the state have the same name. I have vivid memories of my first trip, walking down the spiral Guggenheim art Gallery, later reading about Guggenheim on the Titanic. I cheered myself up taking a bus tour, a Duck tour into the river, and sampling some Hersheys chocolate at an enormous shop.
York, over in England is a major attraction. Not just the large cathedral. You can walk around the city's impressive old defensive walls. York is small. The narrow alleys are full of dinky little shops, seling antiques and modern crafts. And a chocolate museum or two. Brits fondly remember Rowntrees of York.
New York in the USA has modern skyscrapers. What about history? Art deco buildings.
I once asked a girl at the World Travel Market in London, England, 'What would you say to British tourists who argue, 'I don't want to visit New York because it has no history; I would rather visit Greece!"?
Flag of Greece
She snapped, "I'd say, 'Come to New York. I have been to Greece. They have hundreds of years of history - but they still can't get the plumbing right!' "
I was glad I asked. I had not endeared myself to the PR girl, but I had received an interesting and amusing answer.
Let's move on around the map.
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas, was named after Paris in France. It is easy to work that one out.
Manchester, Where?
When I lived in London, I was puzzled when I heard a song in a musical about Manchester, England. Nobody in England specifies that Manchester is in England. When I try to look up Manchester in Wikipedia, I immediately find myself on a page about Manchester United Football Club. But there is another Manchester, not in England.
London, England.
That is why you must add the country when addressing letters. I went from London, England, to live in the USA, and told people I was from London. My accent is British. Most people worked out that I was from London, England.
Flag of Canada, featuring the maple leaf.
London, Canada
However, several people asked me, "Are you from Canada?"
"No, England."
"So sorry."
"Never mind."
I didn't mind. The trouble only started when I left the USA to go back to England.
Stratford, Canada
When my family moved to the USA, we took several trips to Canada. We learned to add maple syrup to our porridge at breakfast time.
I vividly recall being in a hotel near Niagara and picking up a leaflet on Stratford and Shakespeare plays being performed that summer. I wondered why a Canadian hotel had leaflets about the UK. Then I discovered that Canda has a place called Stratford and a Shakespeare theatre season.
When I got back to the UK, American PR ladies would phone me and ask, "Have you received my invitation to visit our new hotel and nearby museum?"
I would answer, "No, I haven't. but thanks for calling me and telling me about it. I am in England right now. But I shall look you up next time I am in the USA."
Neither of us realised what had happened to the missing letters. Months later I received envelopes redirected from Canada.
Perth, Australia
After that I visited Australia. If you go to Australia, or just look on the map, or at the index to a map book or guide book, you will see that a city called Perth is in Scotland. Another Perth is in Australia. That is why you must add the country, when addressing letters. When you meet a man with a Scottish accent in Australia and ask where are you from, if he says Perth, you need to ask, "Perth in Australia or Perth in Scotland?"
Conclusion
The popular saying goes, the world is a small place. On the contrary, it is a big place. Big enough for your plane or letter or luggage or even you, yourself, to end up on the wrong continent. Watch those city names! Add the country name!
However, to look on the bright side, after you have been to both cities which sound alike, visiting either will draw your attention to the contrasts and their history. You can enjoy indulging in daydreams about the differences and associations. I think of New York and York. York had Rowntrees chocolate and New York has Hersheys chocolate. Ah!
!
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
