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Globe Trekker TV Shows: England and Wales |
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Presenter: Ian Wright
Traveller Ian Wright takes us on a journey through
England - the country where he was born - to
neighbouring Wales. Ian learns much about the
rich cultural heritage of this part of Great Britain,
visits some of the countries' most beautiful spots and
gets a good taste of British eccentricity along the
way.
Ian begins his trip atop the white cliffs of Dover
- this stunning cliff face is the first glimpse
of England for many visitors arriving from mainland
Europe. It is also home to historic Dover Castle. |
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Ian Wright on the white cliffs of Dover
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Hail St. Ian - Wrighty at Canterbury Cathedral, Kent
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From Dover, Ian heads to Canterbury, world famous
for its cathedral and still home today to the
Head of the Church of England. Ian gets caught up in
a re-enactment of one of England's most brutal murders
that took place there back in 1170; the assassination
of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Ian then hitches a ride to Glastonbury, for
the music festival that is one of the highlights of
the English summer. Thousands of revellers come for
the music, the dancing, the hippy vibes…and the
mud!
Next stop is Cornwall, the county that occupies
the south western tip of England and is known for its
stunning coastal walks, beaches and seafood. In the
tiny fishing village of Port Isaac, Ian meets
some Cornish singers who are fiercely proud of their
heritage and, with the help of a couple of Cornish ladies,
cooks up a giant version of the county's most famous
dish, the humble Cornish pasty. Ian finds himself
transported to a tropical rainforest when he visits
the Eden Project, the world's largest greenhouse
that houses over 5,000 different species of plant and
is one of England's most popular tourist attractions. |
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Taking the train along the south coast from Plymouth,
Ian arrives in the great naval town of Portsmouth.
He tours one of England's most famous battleships, HMS
Victory. It was from onboard this ship that Admiral
Nelson led England to victory against the French at
the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In the evening, Ian
catches a spectacular celebration of the battle with
flotillas and fireworks in the harbour.
Ian travels onwards to Windsor and to one of
the three official residences of the Queen, Windsor
Castle. Over the bridge from Windsor is the town
of Eton, famous for the poshest private school
in the country, Eton College. The college was
founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. Former pupils include
19 English Prime Ministers and, most recently, Princes
William and Harry. Ian is introduced to the strange
traditions of the school (a top hat and tails uniform,
obscure slang and a kind of grand graffiti) by a former
pupil. |
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HMS Victory battleship in Portsmouth
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Ian thinks he has stumbled across the perfect picture-postcard
village when he arrives in Chipping Campden in
the Cotswolds. He takes part in one of the oldest
and strangest sporting events in the English calendar,
the Cotswolds Olympics, and discovers that he's
never going to be a champion 'shin kicker'!
Ian dresses up in 15th century garb when he attends
a jousting festival at Berkeley Castle.
Donning chain mail, helmet, lance and shield, he gingerly
mounts his horse to pitch battle against the Black Knight.
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Snowdonia National Park, Wales
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The Severn Bridge takes Ian from England to
Wales, a country with just three million inhabitants
but more castles per square mile than any other country.
Ian hops aboard the picturesque Ffestiniog Railway
and at the other end retires to a cosy pub for a quiet
pint. He is surprised to discover everyone taking part
in the pub quiz in a completely different language -
Welsh! It doesn't take Ian long, however, to learn to
how to order another pint in the language! Ian also
meets some of the finest male voice singers in the world.
Ian ends his journey in Snowdonia. He spends
the night in the hotel where the Everest team stayed
during their training in the Welsh mountains for their
successful ascent of Everest in 1953. The next morning
Ian heads off with a local guide to tackle the southern
peak of the Snowdon Horseshoe. It's a hard scramble
to the top but the breathtaking and far-reaching views
of the Welsh countryside to the coast are well worth
the effort and are a fitting end to Ian's adventure.
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England DVD (2 shows) $19.95 buy now
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