Examples to look at
-------------------
basemap/examples/plotsst.py 
    for an example of plotting a dataset from a netcdf file
basemap/examples/nytolondon.py 
    for an example of plotting a great circle route
basemap/examples/barb_demo.py
    for an example of wind plot using barbs (including projection/rotation)
basemap/examples/maskoceans.py
    for masking and general plotting
basemap/examples/pnganim.py
    for a loop that makes PNG files suitable for an animation using ImageMagick