Beethoven’s Bonn
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770 in the building that is now known as the Beethoven-Haus. Records don’t show on what date he actually born, but parish records do show he was baptised on 17 December in the Church of St Remigius on Remigiusplatz. The church no longer exists. Beethoven went on to become the most frequently performed classical composer in the world.
To celebrate this anniversary, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Rhine-Sieg District and the City of Bonn have joined forces for BTHVN2020 with a whole range of events throughout the year. Beethoven’s music will be highlighted in concerts, exhibitions, operas, ballet and theatre productions or symposia and outreach programmes. Visitors will also be able to experience a multimedia tour of stations which will bring the composer “back to life”.
Have a Captain Cook at Cooktown
On 17 June 1770, Captain James Cook sailed into Waalumbaal Birri – what is now known as the Endeavour River, into the Waymburr, one of 32 clan lands of the Guugu Yimithirr tribal nations (above). It was a lucky choice, as Waymburr was a neutral zone where clans would come together for mediations and cultural ceremonies. No blood could be deliberately spilled on this land. Had Cook landed on the other shore of the Endeavour River, things might have been different.
To mark the occasion of 250 years of shared history, Cooktown Expo 2020 will run for three weeks, from 17 July to 4 August, 2020. It is built around the first recorded act of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, focusing on the historical heritage to inspire, challenge and educate. Many people are not aware that Captain Cook was involved in the first recorded act of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, undergoing 48 days of mutual respect, and making significant scientific discoveries.
Major events include the Reconciliation Rocks Music Festival, starring Troy Cassar-Daley, Busby Marou and Mau Power. The Festival will also showcase art, culture, fashion, language workshops, exhibitions, storytelling and tours. There will also be a live performance and re-enactment of the landing of Captain Cook and his interactions with the Guugu Yimithirr bama. The HM Bark Endeavour replica will be on show during the Discovery Festival, as well as the Encounters Shore to Ship Exhibition, and the Gamaay Dreaming Track will be launched.
What’s your DNA?
DNA travel is becoming a thing, as more and more people become interested in their heritage. With sites like Ancestry.com growing in popularity and more people signing up to test their DNA, so too does interest rise in visiting the places that tie in with the family roots. Starting a family tree with Ancestry.com is a sure-fire way to light the spark in finding out more about relatives, and the DNA can hasten the process with people with DNA matches able to message you through your Ancestry profile. Digging into the family history is big in Australia, the UK and Canada, and once people find out secrets their DNA holds, it can help influence travel plans in a big way. Standing in the very locations where your ancestors have stood before you, is a powerful thing, and being in those locations can fill in more holes in the past.
Greece is the word
Greece is back, and while people are still loving Santorini and Mykonos, there are more islands to explore and fall in love with. Naxos and Paros in the Cyclades are popular, as are Milos, Crete Kefalonia, Hydra, and Zakynthos, all offering something different to the never-fail-to-please platter of all things Greece. Apart from the islands, Athens is once again popular with its masterful Parthenon, excellent museums and people watching in the Plaka, while the cliff-hugging monasteries of Meteora continue to strike awe into visitors who wonder how on earth they were ever built.
