One royal couple, two nations to visit, two rather different approaches
Canada Day Fireworks. Pig-tailed girls at Anne of Green Gables. Canoes in the Northwest Territories. Cowboy hats and bucking broncos at the Calgary Stampede.
To be followed by a charity polo match in ultra-posh Santa Barbara, California with a three-course meal going for $4,000, and a star-studded Hollywood dinner for British filmmakers.
Yeah, I guess you could say California is taking a slightly different tack on the upcoming visit by the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka Will and Kate.
The hype, of course, is already beginning. The Mirror in London today was running a huge headline with the startling news that, wait for it, Kate was wearing a ... gasp ... knee-length BLUE DRESS on the plane to Canada (see photo). Talk about a scoop.
The royals' visit starts in Ottawa today. They'll celebrate Canada Day Friday, then head to Montreal (at least they get a bit of big-city glam), Quebec City, Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife and Calgary.
Kevin MacLeod, the Queen's Canadian secretary, told the Montreal Gazette that the idea is to showcase Canada.
"We have to be conscious of the fact that through the lens of a camera, yes, we'll have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the foreground, but what's in the background?" he said. "Is it the Rockies? Is it the beaches of (Prince Edward Island)? Is it the wide-open expanse of the territories? It's such a huge, unique opportunity for the world to look in, not only on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but to look in on them in a uniquely Canadian setting."
Yeah, but I still think it's RIDICULOUS that they're not visiting Toronto. I mean, are we going to continue to market ourselves FOREVER as the country of Moose and Mounties? Folks overseas love the Rockies and a good canoe trip, and so do I, but not many people outside of North America know how much Toronto has grown and how it's prospered as a hotbed for the arts and entertainment. It would've been nice to give the royal couple a small taste of the new AGO and some hot restaurants on Ossington. A killer cocktail on a swanky patio downtown would've been a tremendous boost. But I forgot. This is a Stephen Harper production...
No such problems in California, where Will and Kate (who surely had a hand in the decision-making) will be in lovely Santa Barbara (see photo) and then down in Hollywood. Nice choices, for sure. Santa Barbara has glorious weather, great beaches and excellent food. The local wines are among some of California's best, with luscious Syrah and Pinot Noir and excellent Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay all being grown just over the hills in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Folks in California are embracing the visit, but of course they want to make a buck like anyone else. The Beverly Hills Hotel has a presidential suite for $10,800 a night. On a budget? You can snap up a $15 Royal Fizz cocktail at the Luxe Rodeo Drive.
What does Tornto have that is not in London? Nothing. Actually London has a tremendous amount more of what you describe.
However, the Rockies are a Wonder of the World. And the wilderness of Canada is not available in the UK or even in Europe. Such diversity of species and protected, unspoiled land.
Calgary has heritage. Ranching culture, cowboy culture and Native culture. In Cowtown you can see a real Cowboy and a real Indian and even an Indian Cowboy. Your patio bar in TO really does not compare.
Posted by: Rob | July 01, 2011 at 04:45 AM
Santa Barbara is such a great destination for the royal couple to visit! It really is a getaway for the rich and famous though. Most of the hotels are absolutely outrageous there. My husband and I are huge Kate Middleton fans and went up to Santa Barbara in hopes of spotting her. We didn't, unfortunately, but luckily we found a very budget-friendly hotel right only thirty minutes from the Polo match. The Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com) was not as luxe as where the Kate must have been staying, but it granted us the exciting chance to try and be close to the royal family!
Posted by: Laura Segovia | July 12, 2011 at 04:31 PM
It depends upon situation, and some of person like one place in comparability to others. So its depend on whole things on country wise.
Posted by: Flights to Bangkok | July 13, 2011 at 09:12 AM