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By Arnie Greenberg, ultours@gmail.com (World traveler Arnie Greenberg is pictured above at the Acropolis.) I've traveled from Dushanbe to Witless Bay. I was overjoyed by the site of Tadoussac on the St. Lawrence River. I was moved by the history of Ajaccio and the serenity of Joe Bats Arm and Old Man bay. I even walked the streets of St. Louis de Ha Ha, Samarkand, Guangzhou and a place called Come By Chance. Every new country brings new sounds and new stories about how cities were first named. History plays a great part in the naming of cities, especially in North America, where old Indian names became places we came to know. Quebec City was once called Stadacona; Montreal was once Hochelaga to the Indians. Nearby we have cities called Yamachiche and St. Louis de Ha Ha. In the Cayman Islands there's a town named Hell. But what's in a name? It matters not that we pronounce them incorrectly or not at all. What matters is what we find there that's enjoyable. It's what makes us travel. There are charming things in Sochi, on the Black Sea, Inukjuak in the far north, or Guangzhou in southern China. But imagine our surprise when on a trip to Wales, we found ourselves in a town that boasts the longest, most complicated name in the world. There on the tiny railway station (not so tiny) I tried to read: LLANFAIRWLLGWYNGLLGOGERYYCHWYRNDROBWILLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH This, believe it or not, is the name of a small town on the northern coast of Wales. Funny as it is, if it wasn't for the name, the town would have disappeared long ago. Someone got the idea of making the original name longer than it was and created enough interest to attract tourists. The town's original name (the first 20 letters) means The Church of St. Mary in the pool of the white hazel. A professor named Hywel Wyn Owen added the words, fairly close to the wild whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio near the red cave. And it worked. Today, the town is booming with visitors. They needed tourists, and by giving its first 20 letters an extra 38, voila -- tourism. The city council notes that on Saturdays there are as many as 20 tourist buses parked at one time. There was little more than the name to draw the tourists. I find that incredible! The people in a nearby town have tried to create a name that is longer. The town of Mawddach station and its dragon teeth at the Northern Penrhyn Rd. on the golden beach of Cardigan Bay has 66 letters, but I'll spare you the Welsh spelling. I've never been there. Recently, I saw someone's research, which said that the above-mentioned town name was not the longest. Apparently, there is a place in New Zealand that the Maori call, Taumatawhakatangihangakouuauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu. It's the longest by almost 30 letters. I've never had any desire to visit this particular place. I'd hate to have to ask directions if I was lost. I am told that the full name of Bangkok, divided into 13 words, runs for 167 letters. I won't bore you with the spelling, which IS available on request. In North America, they say that the length award for places goes to the Indian name of Lake Webster in Massachusetts. It was once referred to as Chargoagomanchargogagogcharbunagungamog. This, I am told, might be translated as something like, 'You fish on your side, I'll fish on mine, and nobody will fish in the middle.' It may not be authentic, but it could attract tourists…and that seems to be the name of the game. Please note: don't hold me accountable for incorrect spelling. The natives talk very quickly…and these words are hard to pick up. (Read
more of Arnie Greenberg's articles by clicking here).
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