For Your Eyes Only Trivia Quiz

Answer: South America

The Iguazu Falls are a set of cataract falls, which indicates that they are large and powerful, that form part of the border between Brazil and Argentina. The majority of the water from the Iguazu River flows through a U-shaped channel called the Devil's Throat, which rises some 82 metres, and then spreads across a series of drops that measure a staggering 2.7 kilometres in width. This allows it to accommodate an amazing 275 separate drops and provides South America with one of Mother Nature's truly remarkable spectacles.

As breathtaking as the natural beauty of these falls are equally as stunning is the vast number and array of butterflies that inhabit this area. Swallowtails, hairstreaks, brushfoots, eighty eights and longwings, their kaleidoscope of colour and shades dazzle the eye. Don't be surprised if you see them land on your skin as they try to quench their thirst on your sweat. I do think that we have gotten M's trip of to a great start.

Answer: Piracy

Tampa is renowned for its tourist and recreational facilities. Within the city limits themselves there are over 165 parks and beaches, including the Lowry Park Zoo with its wide range of interactive exhibits, the African themed Busch Gardens and the thirty acre water park known as Adventure Island. However, the most anticipated of Tampa's celebrations is the one that has been dubbed "Tampa's own Mardi Gras", the Gasparilla Festival.

Originally the Gasparilla was nothing more than a parade that formed part of the Florida State Fair, however, when the fair shifted its location, the organisers put together a series of similar themed events such as children's parades, road races, film festivals, music and art exhibitions to make it a standalone attraction. The main thrust of the celebration is a supposed "invasion" by Jose Gaspar and his "Ye Mystik Krewe". The pirates sail across Tampa Bay on their 165 foot pirate ship and are accompanied by a flotilla that seems to grow in number each year. They came ashore and proceed with a victory parade down Bayshore Boulevard where the mayor hands over the keys to the city.

Jose Gaspar was, supposedly, a Spanish nobleman who was duped by his country and then turned to piracy. He set up a base in Charlotte's Harbour and proceeded to terrorise the ships that sailed through the Gulf of Mexico in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The thing is that there are no records of this ever happening, nor has his massive treasure horde ever been found. Perhaps M can solve the mystery while he's there and add a cutlass or two to his burgeoning collection.

Answer: Ernest Hemingway

The idea is to send M back to Key West under more pleasant circumstances this time. It must have been tough for him the last time he was at Hemingway House. It was here that he had to inform me that my licence was revoked and then had to order his agents to fire upon me as I made my escape through these amazing gardens during that little adventure they called "Licence to Kill" (1989).

Hemingway House, which is now a museum and is recorded as a US National Historic Landmark, is a very important piece of Key West real estate. It boasts a number of firsts on the island; the first house to have a swimming pool, in fact it was the only swimming pool within 100 miles during the 1930s, the first to have indoor plumbing and the first to have running water in an upstairs bathroom. One of the tallest houses on the island it also showcases Hemingway's passion for boxing and features a fountain that was crafted from a urinal that Ernest managed to salvage from the renovations of the legendary local bar, Sloppy Joe's. Hemingway lived here between 1931 and the start of World War II in 1939 and it was here that he wrote some of his most compelling works including "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" (1936) and "To Have and Have Not" (1937).

Answer: Canada

The headwaters of the Tusket sit within the Tobeatic Wilderness which is a protected area in the southern central part of Nova Scotia. The river is one of Canada's major water systems and plays host to a series of valuable coastal plains plants. Some of these include the Plymouth Gentian and the Pink Coreopsis, which cannot be found anywhere else in Canada.

As for fishing, well M can be at peace. This is one of the best spots in the world and, in fact, the London newspaper The Guardian voted it into their top ten spots for trout fishing in 2006. Oh I can picture M now spending time in a nice little log cabin in these deep woods, heading down to the river to indulge in a little bit of bait-casting, spinning and fly-fishing for either brown, brook or rainbow trout and, if he's not too self absorbed in this, he may get the chance to spy (did you like that little pun?) the occasional moose or even a black bear.

Answer: Auckland

The Sky Tower sits in the heart of Auckland city's CBD, is an observation and telecommunications tower and stands at a staggering 1076 feet in height. At the time that it was built, 1997, it was the tallest free standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It is now an iconic part of Auckland's skyline and is always lit in a range of colours that will represent various events or causes that the city is promoting. For example, orange highlights the Auckland Festival, pink promotes breast cancer awareness and a combination of green and purple is a sign that the Auckland Cup is soon to be upon you. The lights (apart from the aircraft warning lights) are turned off for Earth hour.

Ta moko tattoos are permanent face and body markings traditionally worn by the Maori people of New Zealand. They signify status and rank and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Sugarloop Gallery showcases the work of illustrator and printmaker Bernadette Sipkes who draws inspiration from mid century furniture and Scandinavian designs.

Hmm, I think M will be fascinated by the tower, will adore the gallery but, somehow, I think he'll resist the temptation of a tattoo. Where to next I wonder?

Answer: A Ferris wheel

This giant Ferris wheel sits at the south end of Singapore's Marina Centre. It was completed in 2008 and its observation wheel gets to a height of 42 storeys - that's 165 metres tall or, if you need a landmark to compare it to, 30 metres taller than the London Eye. At the time that it was opened it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world though this title was not expected to last for long as ther were plans on the drawing board for taller wheels to be built in a variety of cities, including Las Vegas and New York. A full rotation of the Singapore Flyer will take approximately 30 minutes and its capsules, which hold up to 28 passengers each, are fully air conditioned. Aside from its stunning views of the city and the islands of Batam and Bintan, the wheel is complimented by a series of shops, bars and restaurants.

Sixty years after she was sunk the wreck site of the Repulse was designated a "protected site" under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Answer: Algeria

Since the secession of South Sudan from Sudan in July of 2011, Algeria has become the largest country in Africa. The vineyards of the Hauts Plateaux sit near the Moroccan border and they enjoy the mild winters and the dry hot summers of a Mediterranean climate, which is almost perfect for growing wine making grapes.

The Algerian wine industry has its roots in the settlement of the early Phoenicians and was, later, strongly influenced by the rule of the French during the 19th century. Its strongest years were during the 1930s but it suffered greatly during the 1960s when the country attained independence and the French withdrew from the country.

A further stumbling block arrived during the 1970s when the government became at odds with it being an Islamic nation having a strong economic dependence on wine exports. M will be pleased to know that in this, the 21st century, efforts are being made to revive this industry and he can indulge himself in some fine Cinsaut or Alicante Bouschet.

Answer: Vasco da Gama

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a spectacular piece of construction. It opened in 1998 with the claim to being Europe's longest bridge and spanning a distance of 17.2 kilometres. The scale of the construction was so vast that engineers had to factor the Earth's curvature into their calculations. One of the major concerns for the designers and engineers was the earthquake that devastated Lisbon in 1755 and the possibility that it may happen again. Remarkably their claim with this bridge is that it can withstand a quake four and a half times the size of that one. The bridge's opening was set to coincide with Expo 98 which was the World's fair that paid homage to da Gama and the 500th anniversary of his discovery of the Indian trade route. This was a very important discovery for Portugal as it played a major part in them becoming a dominant trading entity for years to come and helped to promote their expansionist policies.

M has spoken of the time the Repulse sailed into Lisbon in 1925, ironically in time to be at the Vasco da Gama celebrations, and this trip would both warm his heart and allow him to marvel at this outstanding piece of architecture.

Answer: Jersey

Jersey is a self governing democracy that is a dependency of the United Kingdom as distinct from being an overseas territory. Measuring only 118 square kilometres it sits in the English Channel approximately twelve nautical miles off the coast of Normandy in France. It is noted for once serving as the homes for Victor Hugo who was exiled there in 1852, and King Charles II, exiled there a little over 200 years earlier in 1649.

The Durrell Wildlife Park, with a dodo as its mascot, specialises in the care and maintenance of rare and endangered creatures. It is situated on 32 acres of beautifully landscaped parks and imaginative gardens that were set up in 1959 as the brainchild of author and naturalist Gerald Durrell. Durrell passed away in 1995 and the park, which used to be called the Jersey Zoo, continues to be run by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Foundation. There are 130 species of endangered mammals, birds and reptiles at the park. Nesting boxes are dotted all around the reserve and this, coupled with the massive number of flowering plants and fruit trees, serve to attract large numbers of wild birds and insects to the area. Major plans have been drawn up to redevelop the site to include an eco-lodge for holidaymakers, a visitor's centre and turning the Royal Pavilion into a conference centre. There's also an idea to create an African habitat to accommodate Western Lowland Gorillas and a "Mascarenia" to integrate creatures of Madagascar in a single enclosure. These plans, formed in 2008, intend to see the park develop over the next fifty years. The only thing holding this back at present is funding.

Now I know that the boss is not going to give two hoots about seeing a blue-crowned laughing thrush or coming face to face with a ring-tailed coati, he'll see through my little subterfuge and know that I am steering him here so that he can visit J.F. Germain & Sons to purchase some of their fine flavoured pipe tobacco. Hmmm I can already smell the course aroma of their Special Latakia Flake.

Answer: Claude Monet

Giverny is little more than a commune with a population of approximately 500 people. It sits on the right bank of the River Seine, right where it meets the River Eptes. Legend has it that Monet spied the village while gazing out of a train window and immediately determined that he would live there. He eventually purchased a five acre property in 1890 and used his acute sense of colour and space to create a magnificent garden that has become a major tourist attraction. Its Japanese bridge, the pond with its water lilies, the archways, wisteria and brilliant azaleas have all provided Monet with the inspiration for some of his most memorable paintings.

This will be a great way for M to finish his tour. He enjoys painting and is particularly adept at water colours. It should provide him with both the inspiration and the motivation to exercise his creative streak in his retirement.