old_contents: from matplotlib.toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  from pylab import *
  import time
  
  # create new figure
  fig=figure()
  # create Basemap instance. Use 'high' resolution coastlines.
  t1 = time.clock()
  m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-11.,llcrnrlat=49.,urcrnrlon=5.,urcrnrlat=59.,
              resolution='h',projection='tmerc',lon_0=-8.,lat_0=0.)
  print 'time to create instance with high-res boundaries = ',time.clock()-t1
  # draw coastlines and fill continents.
  m.drawcoastlines()
  m.fillcontinents()
  # draw political boundaries.
  m.drawcountries(linewidth=1)
  # draw major rivers.
  m.drawrivers(color='b')
  # draw parallels
  circles = arange(48,65,2).tolist()
  m.drawparallels(circles,labels=[1,1,0,0])
  # draw meridians
  meridians = arange(-12,13,2)
  m.drawmeridians(meridians,labels=[0,0,1,1])
  title("High-Res British Isles",y=1.075)
  show()
  
new_contents: from matplotlib.toolkits.basemap import Basemap
  from pylab import *
  import time
  
  # create new figure
  fig=figure()
  # background color will be used for 'wet' areas.
  fig.add_axes([0.1,0.1,0.8,0.8],axisbg='aqua')
  # create Basemap instance. Use 'high' resolution coastlines.
  t1 = time.clock()
  m = Basemap(llcrnrlon=-11.,llcrnrlat=49.,urcrnrlon=5.,urcrnrlat=59.,
              resolution='h',projection='tmerc',lon_0=-8.,lat_0=0.)
  print 'time to create instance with high-res boundaries = ',time.clock()-t1
  # draw coastlines and fill continents.
  m.drawcoastlines()
  m.fillcontinents(color='coral')
  # draw political boundaries.
  m.drawcountries(linewidth=1)
  # draw major rivers.
  m.drawrivers(color='b')
  # draw parallels
  circles = arange(48,65,2).tolist()
  m.drawparallels(circles,labels=[1,1,0,0])
  # draw meridians
  meridians = arange(-12,13,2)
  m.drawmeridians(meridians,labels=[0,0,1,1])
  title("High-Res British Isles",y=1.075)
  show()
  
subject: use nice colors for ocean and land