October 29th, 2020.
Culture
ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES#7:
ENGLAND
by Timoteo Freitas
Now, we arrived in the most famous English speaking country (or at least, it is one of the two most famous), England. Located on the island of Great Britain, England is part of the United Kingdom, together with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England has been influencing the whole world for a long time since, from there, the English language spread throughout the four corners of the planet.
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Queen Elizabeth II and her family are a reason for people who want to know this country, especially London, the capital. Historical monuments, grand castles, museums, the River Thames, the Big Ben, and the London Eye are places that everyone dreams of visiting.
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It would be unnecessary another article talking about what every tourist should know about England (google it). Therefore, the purpose of this text is to show some tips about places that are not so frequented or disseminated. In addition, and as always, we will recommend a book, singers and films about the land of the Queen Mother.
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The first suggestion is the city of Dover. Located on the English Channel, the city faces France, which on a very clean day can be seen with the naked eye. Its slope is formed by huge white chalk cliffs, known as White Cliffs. Its location is strategic. In the past, the city served as a fort to protect the country. Thus, in addition to the beautiful landscapes of the white cliffs, it is possible to visit a huge castle from medieval times, with a tunnel complex 15 meters below the ground.
Another incredible place is South Dorset. There is an ideal place for those who enjoy activities in nature. In 2001, UNESCO declared the English Channel Jurassic Coast a World Heritage Site, and South Dorset is in the middle of it all. The main point of this place is the Durdle Door, an arch that joins the cliff and the beach, forming a huge frame. To get to Durdle Door, you need to do a relatively simple walking trail. And speaking of trails, the South West Coast Path is a network of trails with more than 1000km, which in addition to taking you to the Durdle Door, goes through the entire coastline, allowing the contemplation of nature from all angles.
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It is difficult to name only one British writer. England is home to icons of world literature such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, Agatha Christie, Virginia Woolf. However, the nomination will be from a Japanese-British author, winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize for Literature, and the Booker Prize, Kazuo Ishiguro. Acclaimed in the world of books, Ishiguro is the author of seven books, among them "The Remains of the Day" and "Never Let Me Go", both with adaptations for the cinema.
In music, the story repeats itself. Of that, we will indicate some artists: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Elton John, The Beatles, Harry Styles, and Amy Winehouse.
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The films of the turn will be: “Notting Hill" and "Pride and Prejudice". The first tells the story between a bookstore owner in Notting Hill and an American movie star, who after a while becomes a relationship full of comings and goings and funny. The second is based on the famous novel of the same title by writer Jane Austen. A period story that tells how a woman deals with certain problems in her life.
