Our journey begins in Marsala along a captivating route that travels the west coast of Sicily, the Via Del Sale or ‘Salt Road’. Marsala derived its sonorous name from the Arabs who named it, Marsal Allah, ‘God’s Harbour’. However, the city’s origins do not date back to the Arabs but to the earlier Phoenicians. Marsala became famous throughout the world due to its popular dessert wine of the same name which was developed at the end of the 18th century by an Englishman. Sicily’s west coast contains many small and atmospheric fishing harbours where for thousands of years the seafood here has been a vital source of both nourishment and income. The Sicilians and Phoenicians were the first to appreciate the region between Marsala and Trapani and thus transformed each of these towns into a busy centre of trade. The Salines were once of great economic importance, as they represented the foundation of wealth for the people of the Trapani region, whose unique climate, scenery and geography have created the perfect conditions for the salt that is harvested here. Along the entire route of the Via Del Sale, the region’s historic windmills rise up proudly from the Salines. In this part of the world a boat trip is an ideal way to experience old canals and salt fields and to gain an overall impression of the production of salt. With their combination of ancient cultivated landscapes, beautiful coastal regions, traditional fishing villages and last but not least the historic cities of …
The Ocean is a legendary train that travels through Canada from Halifax to Toronto, the first destination being Quebec. The interior of La Cathedrale Notre Dame is dominated by a host of beautiful paintings and gilded works of art. Narrow alleyways cut through the world famous city, some of which have stood here for more than 400 hundred years. The Musée Du Fort Saint-Jean features scenes of the city’s dramatic history and numerous battles for Quebec. A steep railway, the Funiculaire, travels down onto the riverbank and to the small and enchanting Petit Champlaine. After a short journey, the train reaches Montreal, the island city located on the St. Lawence River, a pulsating metropolis that enjoys a French way of life and towering American architecture. A horse drawn carriage known as a ‘caleche’ is a relaxing way to take in the sights. In recent years, the huge harbor of Vieux Port has been renovated on a grand scale and is now a popular meeting place and entertainment complex. Next stop, Toronto, a city of art and culture where galleries, museums and theatres play an important part in the life of this exciting metropolis while in contrast, within the bright subterranean complex of its ‘Underground City’ it’s possible to shop ’24/7′! The romantic trip across eastern Canada reaches its conclusion with a final view across the tranquil bay of Lake Ontario. The journey on the Ocean has united the past with the future, Canada’s endless landscapes and frenetic commercial …
A series in which young British children travel to their families’ country of origin to discover their past. Sky 539 • Virgin TV 233 • Freeview 87 www.communitychannel.org http www.facebook.com
