Harry Potter and British Tourism

Earl Evleth

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Jul 31, 2005, 11:42:33 AM7/31/05

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Are there any Hogwarts sweatshirts available??

****

Pottering around England

By ELIZABETH RENZETTI

Saturday, July 30, 2005 Updated at 1:20 AM EDT

Globe and Mail Update

There's no escaping Harry Potter. You or your kids may have already plowed
through Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , which hit bookstores
earlier this month and immediately broke sales records on both sides of
Atlantic. The fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , will arrive
on Nov. 18, and trailers are already in theatres. For complete immersion in
the wizard's mystique, however, head to England for a Potter tour. What
better way to give your kids (or yourself?) stellar łWhat I did for the
summer˛ stories?

These outings can be as elaborate as an eight-day journey through the U.K.,
involving rides on the Hogwarts Express and tales of dragon-slaying, or as
simple as a jaunt to a railway station in the middle of London. Platform 9?,
if you please.

The Julius family, from New Jersey, probably could have come up with
something better to do on a recent hot afternoon than visit one of London's
less scenic corners. But in deference to Potter-mad Ethan, who at the age of
11 has read all the books and seen all the movies, they're at King's Cross
station, taking pictures of each other running at a wall. (For those who
have not seen Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , the first movie
adapted from J. K. Rowling's novels, Platform 9? is the departure point for
the Hogwarts Express, and is accessed by running into a wall.)

łI heard from somebody at school that the platform was here,˛ Ethan says.
łSo I really wanted to come and see it.˛

Ethan and his sisters Alissa, 9, and Rachel, 6, are taking turns holding the
handle of a baggage cart that British Rail has kindly cut in half and
affixed to the wall ‹ all the better to give the impression that it's
disappearing into the magical alternative world where trains go to wizard
school (and not Slough).

But troubling realities also surround the scene: In the wake of this month's
terrorist bombings, visitors to the station could spend a quiet moment at
the newly created Garden of Peace outside the front gates, where mounds of
flowers and pages of prayers and poems paid tribute to the 26 people who
died on a subway train between King's Cross and Russell Square.

While Paul Julius videotapes his kids living their Potter fantasy on
Platform 91/2, a small group of people wait patiently to have their photos
taken under the sign. Siew Ong and her friend Eric Chang, from San Jose,
Calif., are also in line: They've got only two days in London.

But Ong is enough of a Potter-maniac that she insisted one of those days be
spent here. If they had had one more day, she says, łwe would have gone to
Oxford, for sure.˛

Oxford is a principal station on the Harry Potter pilgrimage. Christ Church
College, founded in the mid-1500s, is one of the main locations for interior
shots of Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the films. The young
wizards gather for feasts in Christ Church's great hall, and when Harry is
first greeted by Prof. McGonagall, played by Maggie Smith, it's on the
16th-century staircase that leads to the great hall. (The staircases at
Oxford, unlike the ones at Hogwarts, tend not to move around very much,
unless you're as unsteady on your feet as poor Lord Sebastian Flyte, from
another famous English novel.)

The easiest way to explore Oxford's connections to the Potter films,
however, is through one of the many tours offered from London, which last
anywhere from a half-day to an entire week.

łInterest in the tours definitely picks up when a new book or movie comes
out,˛ says Jason Doll-Steinberg of London-based British Tours. As with most
of the other companies, its trips are based around locations from the films,
although, as Doll-Steinberg says, łthey have to be historical locations as
well, otherwise we wouldn't be interested in visiting.˛

Gloucester Cathedral, where the Moaning Myrtle scenes from the second movie
were shot, falls into this category. The stunning cathedral, nestled in the
Severn Valley, has witnessed 900 years of English history, surviving the
dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. There are tours of the
grounds, towers and crypts, and when the guides aren't telling you about the
Victorian refit, they'll show you where the Potter scenes were filmed.

The equally majestic Durham Cathedral, recently named Britain's best-loved
building and also the stand-in for Hogwarts in some shots, is apparently not
so keen to be associated with the Potter movies. If you happen to be
visiting, try not to pester church staff with the words łwizard,˛ łpotion˛
or łVoldemort.˛ Best not to mention that last name at all, in fact.

Much more accommodating is Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland, the historic
seat of the Percy family since 1309. Alnwick (pronounced łAnnick˛), the
second-largest inhabited castle in the U.K. after Windsor, stood in for
Hogwarts in exterior shots in the first two films, Sorcerer's Stone and
Chamber of Secrets .

Last year on the grounds at Alnwick, would-be wizards on the Harry Potter
Fan Tour got to play a robust game of Quidditch (although flying was
forbidden, alas). The fan tours, which are organized by Colorado-based
Beyond Boundaries Travel, go a bit deeper and a bit farther to give the
books' devotees a sense of English history and mythical lore.

łMovie tourism is fairly new and it's mostly been limited to locations, but
with the Potter-book fans, you really have to go deeper than that,˛ says
Jeannie Barresi, managing director of Beyond Boundaries.

Last year, that meant the 123 guests on three separate Potter tours got to
ride the train that was the Hogwarts Express in the films, participated in a
virtual-reality game in Oxford that placed their images on flying
broomsticks, and were given divination lessons and taught the best way to
slay dragons.

This summer, Beyond Boundaries is offering a second season of Potter fan
tours, many of which are already sold out. Twice as many people, from eight
countries, have already signed up for this year's tours, said Barresi, many
of whom łhave never travelled internationally before.˛ At the end of the
deluxe-edition tours, participants receive a specially designed wand, which
is not meant to cause unpopular relatives to sprout tails.

For those without the necessary cash or forward-planning skills, it's still
possible to have a fine Harry Potter tour on the fly in London and
surrounding areas. Visit Britain provides a good mini-circuit on its
website, much of which can be accessed in a day. In addition to Platform 9
?, there is the London Zoo, a quaint, old-school park that contains the
Reptile House where Harry first bonded with a snake and realized he had
powers out of the ordinary.

Farther to the south, in the heart of the city, is the beautiful Leadenhall
Market, where Hagrid and Harry are filmed walking as they shop for the wands
and robes Harry will need at Hogwarts. The cobbled, glass-roofed market
offers many consolations for the Potter-weary adult, from shopping to dining
and ale-quaffing. Nearby in the Strand is Australia House, home of that
country's High Commission, whose majestic exhibition hall served as the
setting for the goblin-run Gringotts Bank in the first film.

irwell

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Jul 31, 2005, 1:02:03 PM7/31/05

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On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 17:42:33 +0200, Earl Evleth <evl...@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:

>Are there any Hogwarts sweatshirts available??

Are you trying to deflect the De Vince Code hordes from
the City of Light?

Donna Evleth

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Jul 31, 2005, 3:08:38 PM7/31/05

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> From: irwell <ho...@yahoo.com>
> Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com
> Newsgroups: rec.travel.europe
> Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 10:02:03 -0700
> Subject: Re: Harry Potter and British Tourism

No, it's pure jealousy. A while back our daughter got me a Hogwarts
sweatshirt, and not Earl. He wants one, he cannot wear mine because it is
too small for him. If anyone can help him with this problem, the help would
be gratefully accepted.

Donna Evleth

Keith Anderson

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Jul 31, 2005, 3:50:24 PM7/31/05

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On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 21:08:38 +0200, Donna Evleth <dev...@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:

>No, it's pure jealousy. A while back our daughter got me a Hogwarts
>sweatshirt, and not Earl. He wants one, he cannot wear mine because it is
>too small for him. If anyone can help him with this problem, the help would
>be gratefully accepted.

Hermione held her wand over the sweatshirt.

"It's no good, Harry", she said. "I can turn it into a rat, a unicorn
or even a hippogryff, but I can't make it fit Earl."

"Maybe we could let Hagrid wear it for a while", Harry suggested,
"He'll stretch it so much that it will fit anyone after that."

A sneering voice interrupted their train of thought, as Grunge Malfoy
pushed open the door.

"Talking about sweatshirts on a travel newsgroup, are we?", muttered
Grunge, "It'll be the Hogwarts long-range weather forecast next, you
off-topic halfbloods! I wouldn't give that hairy Hagrid anything of
mine to wear, as it would stink of sweat after five minutes."

Harry could feel his temper rising. The scar on his forehead throbbed
as as he pointed his shaking hand towards Grunge.

"It's the Killfile Spell for you, Grunge", yelled Harry, blue sparks
flying from his fingers as he uttered the magic word. "Plonk".

"I'll be in trouble for that", sighed Harry, "I bet Dumbledore will
ban me from the next five quidditch matches.But anyway, what are we
going to do about this sweatshirt?"

"I suppose we could ask Professor Breathnach", suggested Hermione, "We
have double Celtic Mysticism after lunch and he might have some
ideas."

"As long as he doesn't conjure up those Little People again", said
Harry.

"Well, at least they solved the mystery of the Boggart in the Broom
Cupboard", Hermione reminded him."One thing's for sure, though - we
definitely won't be asking that new Defence Against the Dark Arts
teacher, Professor Mixington. I don't think he could tell a sweatshirt
from a Dementor.".

Keith, Bristol, UK

DE-MUNG for email replies

Keith Anderson

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Jul 31, 2005, 4:59:58 PM7/31/05

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Alternatively....................

http://www.toysrjoy.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=574

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Aug 2, 2005, 7:33:00 AM8/2/05

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Keith Anderson wrote:
> Hermione held her wand over the sweatshirt.
>
> "It's no good, Harry", she said. "I can turn it into a rat, a unicorn
> or even a hippogryff, but I can't make it fit Earl."

Bravo!
___________________________________________________________________
A San Franciscan in 47.452 mile² San Francisco.
< http://geocities.com/dancefest/ >-< http://geocities.com/iconoc/ >
ICQ: < http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 > ---> IClast at SFbay Net

Earl Evleth

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Aug 2, 2005, 9:48:01 AM8/2/05

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On 2/08/05 13:33, in article
1122983810.854695ed9c42a6c3e71d239e93d77391@teranews, "Icono Clast"
<ICl...@jps.net> wrote:

>> "It's no good, Harry", she said. "I can turn it into a rat, a unicorn
>> or even a hippogryff, but I can't make it fit Earl."
>
> Bravo!
> ________________

It is my 2nd head which creates the problem.

Keith Anderson

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Aug 2, 2005, 12:55:54 PM8/2/05

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On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 15:48:01 +0200, Earl Evleth <evl...@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:

>On 2/08/05 13:33, in article

>"It is my 2nd head which creates the problem",

said.Earl, staring into the fire of the Gryffindor Commn Room.

"Why don't you get Madam Pomfrey in the sick-bay to sort it out?",
asked Ron.

"Haven't you heard the news?", aked Earl. "Professor Figtree, the new
Magical Economics tutor, is making big changes at Hogwarts. The
sick-bay has been privatised, Madam Pomfrey has been made redundant,
and medical care is now provided by house-elves. I've already tried
the sick-bay, but was told to go and stand on my own two feet. No more
dependency culture at Hogwarts, that's what they said."

"Blimey", said Ron, "Haven't you spoken to Professor McGonagall about
it?"

"Can't", said Earl, "She's been replaced by Dark-Force® Global Video
Tuition Inc. She's been downsized and is selling butterbeer in the pub
in Hogsmeade, and the stuff is now undrinkable. Production has been
outsourced to JBKPA Systems International"

Nobody had noticed Hermione - as usual, she was sitting quietly in the
corner of the room, her head buried in books.

"That Professor Figtree", she said, "Is in league with Lord Voldemort.
I'm sure of it. Six galleons just to get a book out of the library, no
more pumpkin juice at lunchtime - they're installing a Coca-Cola
machine instead, and Burger King are now catering for the
beginning-of-term banquets. We have to stop him, Earl. What Professor
Figtree calls Market Forces are no different to Dark Forces. Now
where's my Book of Spells Grade 4?"

Earl Evleth

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Aug 2, 2005, 1:16:30 PM8/2/05

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On 2/08/05 18:55, in article lm7ve1hj2a7m7dm1v...@4ax.com,
"Keith Anderson" <keitha...@MUNGEDbsuk.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

Sounds good. Do I get a % of the book royalties for using my name?

I am already retired but for more money I am ready to do it again.

Keith Anderson

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Aug 2, 2005, 1:36:13 PM8/2/05

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On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 19:16:30 +0200, Earl Evleth <evl...@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:

>Sounds good. Do I get a % of the book royalties for using my name?
>
>I am already retired but for more money I am ready to do it again.

Let's see how you do in the forthcoming battle of wits with Lord
Mixdemort.

Then you can meet me outside Gringott's Bank and we can discuss things
further. Still haven't sorted your two-heads/sweatshirt problem yet,
though.

Earl Evleth

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Aug 2, 2005, 1:59:34 PM8/2/05

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On 2/08/05 19:36, in article hibve116lu3vgor0m...@4ax.com,
"Keith Anderson" <keitha...@MUNGEDbsuk.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

Sounds iffy. On other hand my e-mail brings me news each week of multiple
lottery winnings. I am also much sought after for arranging large
transfers of money from Nigeria. They also advise using the Gringott's
Bank. I am hot on a Leprechaun gold deal now.

Keith Anderson

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Aug 2, 2005, 2:02:50 PM8/2/05

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On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 19:59:34 +0200, Earl Evleth <evl...@wanadoo.fr>
wrote:

>Sounds iffy. On other hand my e-mail brings me news each week of multiple
>lottery winnings. I am also much sought after for arranging large
>transfers of money from Nigeria. They also advise using the Gringott's
>Bank. I am hot on a Leprechaun gold deal now.
>

Leprechaun deal? I sometimes wonder about that Professor Breathnach
and his Celtic Mysticism classes.

Earl Evleth

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Aug 2, 2005, 3:41:03 PM8/2/05

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On 2/08/05 20:02, in article n7dve11iq31gpjud6...@4ax.com,
"Keith Anderson" <keitha...@MUNGEDbsuk.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:

> I am hot on a Leprechaun gold deal now.
>>
> Leprechaun deal? I sometimes wonder about that Professor Breathnach
> and his Celtic Mysticism classes.

Don't worry, nobody can fool me.

Message has been deleted

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Aug 3, 2005, 5:07:41 AM8/3/05

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On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 10:01:07 +0200, Martin <m...@privacy.net> wrote:

>On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 22:45:47 +0100, "JohnT"
><johnhillr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Have you ever thought of cashing-in on your Noble status? Here in the UK a
>>lot of Aristocrats such as yourself have allowed themselves to become
>>Directors of Companies which are less than scrupulous in their observance of
>>legal niceties. The Aristos get big bucks for this, and I am sure that
>>payment could be in cash if wanted. "The Earl and Countless of Evleth" would
>>be a sure-fire winner here.
>

>Especially as they have their own traditional court jester - Grunge.

Not forgetting his central European relative, the Herzog von
Mixendorf-Sauerei.

Message has been deleted

Earl Evleth

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Aug 3, 2005, 6:57:13 AM8/3/05

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On 3/08/05 9:49, in article bogus-B05620....@news.news.demon.net,

"Jack Campin - bogus address" <bo...@purr.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Earl Evleth <evl...@wanadoo.fr> wrote:
>> Actually my middle name, Mansfield, has produced rumors as to my status.
>
> There is a Scottish tune dedicated to you: "The Earl of Mansfield"
> is about 200 years old and still widely played for Scottish dancing.

Got it and heard it at

http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/midi_files/earl_of_mansfield,_the.mid

My heart swells with pride. It came at a good time since the
gold came and disappeared.

Donna Evleth

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Aug 3, 2005, 1:03:48 PM8/3/05

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> From: "JohnT" <johnhillr...@gmail.com>
> Organization: Sunshine Desserts
> Newsgroups: rec.travel.europe
> Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 22:45:47 +0100

> Subject: Re: Harry Potter and British Tourism
>

> "The Earl and Countless of Evleth" would
> be a sure-fire winner here.

I am not "countless". I am not even "accountless", having real bank
accounts here and there.

Donna Evleth
>
> JohnT

Message has been deleted

Richard

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Aug 4, 2005, 10:59:27 AM8/4/05

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"Runge" <phi...@bigfoot.com> wrote

> We are not interested

You and your imaginary friend?

Richard