Our 200 meter challenge reveals a little known tribute... just footsteps next to one of the most famous memorials in the world.In Lucy Maud Montgomery's final book in the "Anne" series, "Rilla of Ingleside", she describes the battle of Vimy Ridge in breathless, agonizing tones:
The moon sank lower into a black cloud in the west, the Glen went out in an eclipse of sudden shadow—and thousands of miles away the Canadian boys in khaki—the living and the dead—were in possession of Vimy Ridge. Vimy Ridge is a name written in crimson and gold on the Canadian annals of the Great War. "The British couldn't take it and the French couldn't take it," said a German prisoner to his captors, "but you Canadians are such fools that you don't know when a place can't be taken!" So the "fools" took it—and paid the price. "Rilla of Ingleside" is a historian's dream. The only piece of fiction written by a Canadian woman about her contemporaries during World War I, "Rilla" captures domestic life during a time of war in rich, painstaking detail. But Montgomery got one detail wrong. Vimy Ridge HAD been captured before. And you won't believe by who.
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Around the corner from Trinity College and Molly Malone is a Dublin travel secret...in plain view.![]() Sequestered at the corner of Trinity College and College for my final days in Dublin, I planned on doing a lot of writing and a lot of neighbourhood exploration. This tourism mecca, home of the famous Molly Malone statue, would surely be the perfect location for another 200 meter challenge. When you travel to Dublin it seems that all paths lead to Trinity. While O’Connell Street is the most significant street, it seems like every bus I take, every path I walk, every sign I follow leads me to this bustling corner in the city center. I’m certainly not alone. Hundreds of thousands tourists converge on this part of Ireland every year, eager to see the fabled Book of Kells, Molly Malone, and many other nearby attractions. Surely, amid this well-trodden tourism path there would be a little nook or cranny worthy of the 200 meter challenge. Confident in success of my task, I eagerly took on the challenge the next day, vowing to leave no pub or park unturned until I found my prize. Look what's hidden just steps from Trafalgar Square! Some of London's best hidden attractions and food are in the heart of the city.
Nothing says “London” to me quite like Trafalgar Square. As a student studying in the UK, I had plenty of occasions to be there, visiting the National Gallery (which I absolutely love) and the National Portrait Gallery (which I appreciate but truthfully find a little creepy). The fountains and statues of the square, along with the interesting ‘characters’ – both locals and visitors alike – all contribute to its vibrant energy. I could easily pass a day here, popping in an out of the galleries and sitting by the water, watching the world go by. If you're looking for London's best hidden attractions, start at Trafalgar Square.
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