34 ~- North Shore News -— Sunday, May 14, 2000

GLASS experts say it’s a chemical reaction between glass, water deposits and weeth-
_ering that creates the image of the Virgin Mary on this Tampa, Florida bulldizg. .

-- TOURISM. British Columbia ‘was. awarded :
the ‘Pacific Asia Travel .Association . Gold

“Award “in the marketing category: for. their:
1999. BC ‘Escapes: marketing campaign ‘at .
* the annual PATA conference i in Hong Kong ..

“on May 1::
“The $5 milion consumer ‘marketing _Pro-

gram was lashed 10 spring to ‘capitalize on

.the continuing North American travel trend

toward shorter getaway vacations.
‘Aimed at the North American market the

1999 campaign generated an estimated $38.
million in tourism revenue and 38, 000 | person

sits to B. c.

the beaten track

Fiona Hughes

Contributing Writer

WHEN I told my Snowbird parents I
was planning to visit them in Florida
for a week, they fretted over how
they’d entertain me.

The most soulless of American states was
experiencing a cold-snap with high winds, which
meant swimming and relaxing with a book on the
beach were out of the question. And shopping
isn’t my thing.

Staying in the Tampa area, they also knew I
would ‘be tess than impressed by the

geriatric/concrete/strip mall surroundings that |

Florida is so infamous for. Smart as whips, Mum
and Dad also dared not suggest a visit to the evil
Disney Empire as a fun thing to do.

What’s left? The ironic and surreal of course,
and there’s plenty of that in Florida.

® Our first excursion was a drive to the intersec-

tion of Highway 19 and Drew Street in
Clearwater to visit a bank... well, a building that
used to house a financial institution but is now a

Dep. May 20, 23 « Ret. June 14, 18

Christian mecca.

Purchased by the Shepherds of Christ
Ministries, the building has become famous since
the Virgin Mary a; ed Dec. 17, in lus-
nous, Cinbow wis The i image, which is the
outline of a hooded robe over the shape of a head
with shoulders, certainly looks like standard
images of Mary, but that can be left for visitors to
interpret. Glass experts say it’s a chemical reaction
between glass, water deposits and weathering.

On the day I visited, two dozen or so people
stood in awe of the image while a man with a
microphone, undoubtedly a member. of the ©
Shepherds of Christ Ministries, spoke about
Mary and her message.

Why the Shepherds of Christ maintain a
mono ly over the image is a mystery, but they’d

the site into a kitsch spectacle. The park--
ing ing lot facing the image was roped off, chairs
were set up and pamphlets were being handed
out.

At least, there was no entrance fee, Inside the
building is a virtual shrine (“gift shop”) to the —
Virgin with a creepy recording of “Cincinnati

AMSTERDAM ................51 9

Dep. May 31 « Ret. June 8, 15

FRANKFURT ...

Dep. May 20 « Ret. June 2, 4

DUSSELDORF ..........
Dep. May 31 © Ret. June 8, 1

BERLIN......

ursion prices avaitab

Vancouver |

esreeeeeen OY

139

Dep. August 23 ¢ Ret. September 7.

PARIS (Charles-De-Gaulle) 659

: Dep. June 11, 18. © Ret: June 26"

Gepartures. New bookings only, Prices are per person

4 - and are subject to change without notice. Certain terms & condi-
‘, tions apply. Not included: departure taxes, transportation fees,”
-. Supplements and insurances. Space is available at time of our.

“Encore Cluises ; advertising deadline.

Coastal Ciuise & Golf in San Diego
September 27. - October 3, 2000.

FROM $1,545 con.

AIRFARE FROM LOS ANGELES TO VANCOUVER
e 23 NIGHTS ABOARD THE. WESTERDAM.
- © 2 NIGHTS IN SAN DIEGO) ;
e 22 ROUNDS OFGOLF  ..
« @ PRE-BOOKED TEE TIMES ,
= 8 ALL TRANSFERS | --
© PORT CHARGES OF $123.