A plethora of books, plays, films, musical shows, and school dramas have appeared over the years on the subject of the French Revolution.

Within the last generation these cities have seemed to become much nearer, not only commercially but proximity related. There was a time when going to France was only by boat or ship, then airplanes were taking us there in a few hours, depending on where you flew from, getting connections from wherever. 

The first mention of a tunnel between England and France was in 1802 when a French engineer muted the idea. Towards the end of the 20th century talks had reached an agreement about building this tunnel. The Channel Tunnel began construction in 1988 and the railway line was operating in 1994. We can now travel from London to Paris or vice versa in 2 hours and 15 minutes, departing and arriving at the city centres of each city. The world of invention has by extension made the world a smaller place. 

The Channel Tunnel was the largest project to have been completed in world construction history, a railway line 32 miles (51 kilometres) from Folkestone on the English coast to Calais in France. It’s not one but three tunnels, one going each direction and a service tunnel in between, that’s close to one hundred miles (155 kilometres) in construction.

The project to build the undersea leg began in 1986. Problems appeared from the beginning particularly with safety issues. Financial Investors and stakeholders were concerned, the difficulties were addressed and eventually in 1994 the tunnel began operating. There are 500 undersea train trips a day, at speeds of up to 100 miles (160 kilometres) per hour going through the tunnel. For passengers and freight this has dramatically shortened the travel time between London and Paris. In 2018 the number of passengers that travelled through the Tunnel was 19 million between Britain and France. An extended rail service now runs to Brussels.

Some of the engineering works that went into this ‘Wonder of the World’ such as the ‘Laser-guided tunnel-boring machines’, can be studied as a University thesis in itself.

Let’s go back in history and take a look at London, England. The Roman Empire had achieved in possessing most of Central Europe as we know it today. They invaded England in the 1st century. Sailing up the River Thames they established a settlement which they named Londinium the Latin name for the Roman City, surrounding the area with fortified walls and other medieval boundaries. The city expanded and after all these years the Roman influence can still be seen in England and Wales. The Romans never got to Scotland. The Roman Empire fell in the 5th century and so the Legions were called back to Rome. Most of England’s citizens returned to their old Pagan traditions and beliefs.

Various invaders left their mark on England over the centuries. William the Conqueror ‘The Duke of Normandy’ appointed himself King in 1066 after ’The Battle of Hastings’ and England has been a monarchy ever since. 

Today London is the capital of England, a city with a population of 9 million people covering a huge land mass. London’s influence on the world has been greatly acknowledged. Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens, Politicians and Discoverers have had their names recorded in the annals of history.

London is the commercial hub of Great Britain. Through the ages an Empire was created, explorers left her shores conquering lands and discovering places, examples Australia and islands in the Pacific. With this expansion, citizens from these countries have the right to travel to Britain and London in particular, their right being by way of the Commonwealth. Looking at the wars worldwide that Britain were involved in, the loss of lives resulted in a massive decline in the population, and so people from abroad were needed to populate the country. Today a diverse range of people from different ethnic and social backgrounds make up the demographics and the characteristics of the country. By extension their influence has a remarkable impact, be it in medicine, science, engineering, education, religion, construction and agriculture.

Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire, in England Roman Britain was overseen by a hierarchy of bishops and priests. The status quo of beliefs continued as was in Britain up to the Middle Ages, these dates are in question depending on what you read, events such as the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Christopher Columbus discovering America in 1492 or the Protestant Reformation 1517 are sometimes used. The history of London is interwoven in the expansion of the nation. The seat of power both secular and religious, the Palace of Westminster is seat of parliament, Canterbury Cathedral is the symbolic seat as the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion who is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop crowns the Kings and Queens of England, the Cathedral is the burial place of royals, and the Archbishop is next in line to princes in order of importance in England, and Buckingham Palace in London is the home of the Royal Family of England in London.

T.S Eliot wrote the book ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ about Thomas Beckett who was Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170, Henry II argued with Beckett over tax policy, church control of land and the legal rights of the clergy. With his demand ‘Can anyone rid me of this wretched Priest?’ he had his question answered and Beckett was murdered in the Cathedral. Pope Alexander III canonized him to Sainthood where he is venerated by the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

Comparing the cities of Paris and London, due to their stance in history and as capitals of conflict and survival is interesting.

Paris the city of love and lovers, of dreams, of art, of fashion and of beauty. All of the aforementioned qualities of the city are used in advertising Paris or a product that one is promoting. World fashion shows, trade displays, tourism events, sports, films and entertainment, if one can get this item exhibited in Paris then they have achieved their dream. 

Paris or London, there’s the choice. Both built on a river. Older cities where you can study the architecture, museums, galleries, churches and cathedrals, there is a myriad of places to go and visit. Markets and restaurants, bars and cafes. The narrow streets of yesteryear, hotels and houses perched on cliff edges, stone paved roads and walkways. These routes that open up to where you can find yourself facing St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Tower of London, the beautiful river Thames, where you can watch University students rowing their boats in preparation for some University or college challenge. The same scene can have you in Paris, a more Romantic setting, walking along the river Seine, where resting in coffee bars, attract you to people watch as couples stroll arm in arm, see the boats bobbing on the water, or the shadow of Notre Dame swallowing up that scenic promenade, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Trees enveloping you along the river, to sit in the shade and wonder if the spirits of days gone by are with you. 

Hotels in both cities have each got a charm that compliments your desires, should it be a pre theatre show, a concert or whatever. Choose your hotel from the heart of the city of London the Corinthia, the Sofitel, the Trafalgar or Sonder The Voyage, there’s one for every taste.
In Paris tempt yourself to, The Peninsula Paris, the Grand du Palais Royal, The Dorchester, the Shangri-La Paris. 

What are the reasons to travel? 
Well it takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and experience new adventures. It constantly challenges us to explore new surroundings, engage with different cultures and people. 
 

The Spanish Fleet of ships that ploughed through the Atlantic Ocean in the 1600’s were the quintessential template of their naval might. They carried cargo or troops they were built for both with a capacity for as many as 60 cannons. Spanish explorers had conquered a considerable amount of the western areas of North and South America. The idea of an easier passage from Spain to Peru was of vital importance. Yes, ships going around Cape Horn, at the very tip of South America had been achieved but sailing ships were having huge losses in such hazardous conditions. The loss of lives, ships, merchandise and finances were big issues. 

Overland crossing proved futile, mountainous terrain and rivers of fierce velocity were a major problem. Geopolitical tensions in these areas were frightening, Indigenous communities and their way of life could not be tampered with. 

In 1668 an English philosopher Sir Thomas Brown speculated that an opening at both sides should be started, then leave the rest to nature, a channel would eventually form. No one was interested in that hare brained idea.

The Darien scheme was launched in 1698. Darien had this idea of establishing a new colony in the gulf of Darien, it was going to be named New Caledonian. Finance was going to be raised from English, Dutch and Scottish investors. With this colony it was believed that a land mass could be the connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. £500,000 was raised from regular people who had £5.00 to invest, but there were others that invested more with the intention of creating some plantations, this was about half the wealth of Scotland’s treasury. The English and Dutch parliaments were forced to withdraw from pressure by the East India Company leaving the Scots as the sole investors. Thousands volunteered to travel on board the ships that were leaving for New Caledonia. 16 ships in total left Scotland over a period of three months, with over 3,000 people on board. Disaster struck almost immediately, on the voyages many fell ill and died, arriving on the mosquito-infested scrap of land their first task was to bury their dead. Yellow fever and other diseases were to claim the lives of more than 2,000 of those who’d landed. The scheme was abandoned. It is believed that this scheme was the main precursor for the Act of Union being passed between Scotland and England forming Great Britain in 1707. The Darien National Park in Colombia which extends to 575,000 hectares occupies this region today.

France started to build the Panama Canal in 1881 after many negotiations between Panama and Colombia. Eight years later the company was in financial difficulties. The death rate was enormous because of the dense forests. Venomous snakes, spiders and other insects, yellow fever and malaria killed thousands. The climate had disastrous consequences, with walls of rocks, trees and soil being washed down on the excavated channels. The French government and companies that had contracts with them had spent $290 million and the estimated deaths were 22,000 men. The government decided to stop the operation. 

The American government supported a number of companies to take over the project and finally in 1914 the Panama Canal was completed and opened for business. It’s a lock canal system with two high level artificial lakes to lift ships up and over the Continental Divide. There are 8 sets of locks. The length of the Canal is 80 kilometres or 50 miles. All vehicles, containers and cruise ships pay tolls of various prices depending on size or cargo. The number of ships allowed at a time is 32. 

Crossing through the Panama Canal on a cruise vessel is an adventure in itself. The Captain relinquishes his duties to the pilot from Panama who takes the vessel through the canal. Prior to the ship’s arrival the authorities carry out several documentation control checks. Watching the ships and boats that come into the port while others wait to enter, it’s an awakening to mankind’s achievements.

The Panama Canal is classed as one of the modern day ‘Seven Wonders of the World’.