tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21026278976467174272024-03-10T22:23:05.295-05:00 My Home on the RoamWelcome to my blog! Once again this silver-haired, slightly crazy woman
hit the road - solo - on a trip
around-the-world!
You're invited come along for the ride as I share my adventures in words and pictures!Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-8036253224235137022019-04-26T11:25:00.002-05:002019-04-26T11:27:56.570-05:00<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; direction: ltr; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
I thank each and every one of you for following this blog for so many years. I do hope you’ll decide to follow my adventures in words in pictures on my new website <a data-lynx-mode="asynclazy" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.MyHomeOnTheRoam.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2MvNR6qtICVT7XrKjEK4R3pNtk8J5cBwjL03szvy3vq8M1VLUxHyVuW-0&h=AT3UknWUZ_DCoSR4RMwoH5mBi6KhpRpD8ceQ_fqCaeazvtqas3_pxKPf2p0nsrjstJBgoK258S2ZuY1UFFNBqFkhj38gh5eayl7SfUZaaQS4RJ5ycpA7TO6_pGGHrpsShAnSbKnp85x6" href="http://www.myhomeontheroam.com/?fbclid=IwAR2MvNR6qtICVT7XrKjEK4R3pNtk8J5cBwjL03szvy3vq8M1VLUxHyVuW-0" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.MyHomeOnTheRoam.com</a>. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">To do so, go to my new site and click on the </span><span class="_4yxo" style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;">BLOG</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> link at the top of the Home page. You will see at the top right side of this page a little blue widget that says</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="_4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">“</span><span class="_4yxo _4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-weight: 600;">Following My Home on the Roam”. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">Once you click on this link a small window will pop-up that looks like this -</span></span></div>
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You need to enter your email address and if you don’t already have a WordPress account, you will need go to <span class="_4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">Create a New Account.</span> This allows you to not only follow my blog and many of the other wonderful blogs that WordPress hosts.</div>
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Thanks and I look forward to your joining me in Paris in just 3 weeks!</div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-14681739333588078432019-04-22T15:15:00.000-05:002019-04-22T15:19:47.604-05:00I'VE MOVED MY BLOG TO MY OWN DOMAIN!<br />
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After years of blogging, I have finally made the move to my own domain!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> http://www.myhomeontheroam.com</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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I will be blogging lots - beginning May 18th - when I fly to Paris and begin wandering throughout Europe, the UK and a bit of Ireland for the entire summer. I hope you will make the move to my new site and continue to travel along with me in words and pictures.<br />
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You will need to copy and paste the above link into your browser. Once you are on the new site, you will find a little widget where you can sign-up with your email address. Then each time I upload a new blog post, you'll receive it in your mailing box.<br />
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Until Paris....<br />
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ReAnn<br />
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<br />Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-65938271283414840752019-02-10T11:45:00.000-06:002019-04-26T11:28:30.365-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Where did you go? </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Why haven't you posted in such a long time? </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Are you still traveling? </span></b></i></div>
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<i><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Are you ok?</span></b></i></div>
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Here are answers to all those questions I received from friends and followers near and far. </div>
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<b><i>First, I'm fine!</i> </b> After 5 years of constant travel, my knees made a request that I settle down for a while and give them a rest. They let me know they didn't like hauling a suitcase and backpack, which seemed to get progressively heavier every week, up and down, over and around hills, stairs, rivers, trains, buses, etc. etc. </div>
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<b><i>So where did I go?</i> </b> I returned to Mexico, San Miguel de Allende to be exact. This beautiful colonial city situated at 6000 ft above sea level, 3 1/2 hours north of Mexico City is blessed with year-round good weather, a warm and welcoming local population and an ever-growing crowd of ex-pats. I chose to settle down for a little while and a 'little while' has turned into almost 2 years. </div>
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<i><b>Why haven't I posted for such a long time?</b></i> Because I felt that living my daily, ordinary life, though maybe different than yours, wouldn't be as much fun or as interesting as reading about my adventures roaming from country to country.</div>
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What I decided to do is give you the past year and seven months in pictures. You can see what life in Mexico is like, why I chose it - it's much cheaper than living in the US and minus the political bro-haha! OH - and then there are the warm winters.....sorry Chicago!</div>
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Life here is much more colorful and louder! There is a different language, different beliefs, customs, foods, and a general friendliness. Every day I walk out my door and say <i>'Hola! Buenos Dias'</i> to each and every person I pass on the street and that greeting is always returned - with a smile. Certainly not what I get when I return to Chicago. It's a lovely way to begin any day. You are not just a stranger - or gringa - walking down the street. You are someone everyone says hello to and wishes a good day, Nice!</div>
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<b>WELCOME TO SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE</b></div>
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The centerpiece of our town is El Centro, the Jardin or garden, which is anchored by the beautiful sandstone Parrocia. Church in Mexico is the centerpiece of daily life and churches are numerous in the city and throughout the country. </div>
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The festivals celebrating old heroes, new ones, a birth, wedding, a passing, a parade are all commemorated with fireworks and hours and hours...and hours of cherry bombs exploding day...and night! </div>
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<i> Day of the Dead Face Painted Art</i><br />
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<i>This is the Locos parade where 1000's dress in costume!</i></div>
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There is are the faces of the people and the children......<br />
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<i>Artist Anado McLaughlin & The Chapel of Jimmy Ray</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i>Children dressed for Day of the Dead and to celebrate the birthday of Allende</i></span></div>
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<i> The hands of a taco maker - yes, these are made by the 1000's fresh daily!</i><br />
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There is the food (always a work of art) the vibrant colors, the flowers, and wall art, the markets and the choice of hot sauce!!!.</div>
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There are the friends you make and those that come from afar to visit; the organizations you join; the life you make for yourself in a new place....to make it your home, if only temporarily.</div>
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Janet came from Wilmington, NC</div>
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<i>Chef David with Ruth who came from Belfast, Northern Ireland and Barbara P and her 'let's just get the ladies together to talk, eat and sip' for an evening of fun. </i><br />
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<i> Christmas Eve dinner in SMA</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf43RWHTqiKkQHNZVQkkEyLp29TRLP9-hI3Ypj7wAUR1QUsk4-VeLPHYC4drpkRbLgwFwsd5ikGpeFlBe6lYOqgN3v3dBVGikADpo630FWX_WJ58ocWI4dgLeeuRgEzw5IJeVIHq69dY/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXf43RWHTqiKkQHNZVQkkEyLp29TRLP9-hI3Ypj7wAUR1QUsk4-VeLPHYC4drpkRbLgwFwsd5ikGpeFlBe6lYOqgN3v3dBVGikADpo630FWX_WJ58ocWI4dgLeeuRgEzw5IJeVIHq69dY/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Michael & Kathy in Patzcuaro</i></div>
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<i><span id="goog_1062929855"></span><span id="goog_1062929856"></span><br /></i> <i><br /></i> <i>Joyce, Atlanta, and multi-time visitor to SMA!</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfzYfze-MvgmuKb5E-_3F1J6Glv0FzC99aqoR8YeZyFt8LtaPQ5ASOrJ_rpHJ2lmxlY9Vg7VoP_H2vysLPrIiA_L3C8xmK4GsSD2G5UdoRhDSRgnTddg1YgVVHUbmkW3_blXK5JYRRg/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1165" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YfzYfze-MvgmuKb5E-_3F1J6Glv0FzC99aqoR8YeZyFt8LtaPQ5ASOrJ_rpHJ2lmxlY9Vg7VoP_H2vysLPrIiA_L3C8xmK4GsSD2G5UdoRhDSRgnTddg1YgVVHUbmkW3_blXK5JYRRg/s400/IMG_0011.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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And fellow traveler - and now best lunch-buddy, Debbie Campbell of <a href="http://seniornomads.com/"><span style="color: blue;">The Senior Nomads</span></a> who gently kicked my back-side and said it was time I started writing again. Thank you, Debbie, I think!</div>
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<b>So what's next? </b> Just in case you think I've settled for good and have given up roaming the world let me tell you, you were wrong!! </div>
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On May 17th I fly to Paris to celebrate my 73rd birthday! From there it's off to Portugal to see friends before heading to Eastern Europe, countries I have never explored before - <i>Croatia, Hungry, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, and Poland</i>. I will be doing a little house and pet sitting along the way plus meeting many of the locals with my new membership in <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://servas.org/">SERVAS</a>,</span></i> the wonderful organization that promotes peace and understanding worldwide through travel and hosting. </div>
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I end my allotted 3-month stay in Europe by once again teaching conversational English in Spain for <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.diverbo.com/english/english-for-adults/adults/program/">Diverbo</a> </span></i>. Then it's off to housesit once more on the Isle of Mann. </div>
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If you're interested in house and pet sitting, there is no better organization to join than <a href="https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/su/itlSVkqh"><i>TrustedHousesitters.com</i></a> who are now offering a 25% discount to new members. I've totally enjoyed the places and the pets I've sat all over the world. And though you don't get paid for sitting, you get a free place to call 'home' in an area or town you want to explore. </div>
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Before a quick visit with Ruth in Belfast, I'm treating myself to a 'repositioning Atlantic cruise' which departs from Lisbon with stops in the Azores, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Maine before I debark in Boston. I'm scheduled to have that pesky knee replaced in Wilmington, NC on September 16th before I return to San Miguel in early October. </div>
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Before I sign off I want to thank you all for following my blog and please, if you have questions about what traveling solo around-the-world as a 'senior nomad' or life in Mexico, or house and pet sitting, please feel free to drop me a note. </div>
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<i>Until next time</i>....which I promise won't be nearly as long!</div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-81293819502171103062017-08-19T15:02:00.000-05:002017-08-19T15:02:04.829-05:00My Month in Bali Continued - Once Again!<br />
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OUCH! You would think that when you are in the kitchen using sharp objects you would maintain a bit of caution and care. Never gonna happen.</div>
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While visiting friends and assisting with the preparation of scalloped potatoes using for the first time an extremely sharp mandoline slicer - without the hand guard - I became more involved with the conversation than the potato slicing and left the entire side of my right thumb in the bowl with the taters! Yes, it was a mess and took lots of cold water, ice, tissues and over 30 minutes of holding my arm up over my head to stop the flow of blood. <br />
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But the excuse I have for not continuing the saga of my time on Bali as promised was the complete inability to type with a huge wad of bandage wrapped around said thumb for almost a month! And then house sitting and visiting with friends interfered with my writing time. But today is the day I share with you in words and MANY photos some of the other interesting and wonderful things I saw and did during my time on this small, South Pacific island.<br />
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First, the huge market that is located in the middle of Ubud. It opens at 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. and sells everything from shoes to nuts - as well as veggies and flowers, eggs, fish, meat, knives, spices, kites, clothes - in other words almost anything you need. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMSZ7LavIssZQBbCtanoK6O48xHYrb-rLhom_SGvEUyfnV-H1GfqmGodqtLslPnSgxlSPrGohgJmiUT8hL7J9Ikg0HCehyyhImUOVi45RMN9Qgc8KnckReY3pjZmfLlntB-nf9zxl__k/s1600/P1090105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMSZ7LavIssZQBbCtanoK6O48xHYrb-rLhom_SGvEUyfnV-H1GfqmGodqtLslPnSgxlSPrGohgJmiUT8hL7J9Ikg0HCehyyhImUOVi45RMN9Qgc8KnckReY3pjZmfLlntB-nf9zxl__k/s320/P1090105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers for offerings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUea6FlmRQIV1bZ1xP9dt-9b3xHpd6iaiWBVRjN36HvIUNji_M091dAGhZT4vKIjljcdnRTedy6EfZw5sq61sQTB5jmER-zdqxEV_EtqkOT9BxZHzU33lK-GqC5LycmYyh0wVGwOpmbs/s1600/P1090118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUea6FlmRQIV1bZ1xP9dt-9b3xHpd6iaiWBVRjN36HvIUNji_M091dAGhZT4vKIjljcdnRTedy6EfZw5sq61sQTB5jmER-zdqxEV_EtqkOT9BxZHzU33lK-GqC5LycmYyh0wVGwOpmbs/s320/P1090118.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh? sardines</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Sgq3pR_ukA-aS9i0F1w9Z9bpCB3HgIat4cp4ZHJ4cyeo9zVD052G701JVQHM2JVrIl1RSFSun7Ammji4cV1ACcNlT-eAjjQhwkCobeLIxnidwJI_f_1sky8Zaeyr3d4mXELJRGsYfVU/s1600/P1090122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Sgq3pR_ukA-aS9i0F1w9Z9bpCB3HgIat4cp4ZHJ4cyeo9zVD052G701JVQHM2JVrIl1RSFSun7Ammji4cV1ACcNlT-eAjjQhwkCobeLIxnidwJI_f_1sky8Zaeyr3d4mXELJRGsYfVU/s320/P1090122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need eggs?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3tje5veYAmjiMaamxJxVxRmtedCg6wPdEDuSP19REQ8aoUw7yCAMINN0amJrxJ7ZXu4m-21LMJJyVJlLNV3ZHKKv8PsGZtC272VxqfHlABXegG6TpVuAsXvsg1NJcOjju0UIZz5-Il4/s1600/P1090114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3tje5veYAmjiMaamxJxVxRmtedCg6wPdEDuSP19REQ8aoUw7yCAMINN0amJrxJ7ZXu4m-21LMJJyVJlLNV3ZHKKv8PsGZtC272VxqfHlABXegG6TpVuAsXvsg1NJcOjju0UIZz5-Il4/s320/P1090114.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVaBkrNkT_yWetCX6sY-0FoIi7ZaXP0j9brcWHuh7_JRRdAdj35GZzgsdZQhA9x-7AQqKGHm7SJaXFmdDDKmN4KL_jpHts8LnS5B_xjARQrWoFmKBRwzehGi9GYLqL0JkwInLDln9H0M/s1600/P1090115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVaBkrNkT_yWetCX6sY-0FoIi7ZaXP0j9brcWHuh7_JRRdAdj35GZzgsdZQhA9x-7AQqKGHm7SJaXFmdDDKmN4KL_jpHts8LnS5B_xjARQrWoFmKBRwzehGi9GYLqL0JkwInLDln9H0M/s320/P1090115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flattened chicken?</td></tr>
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It's colorful, amazing, loud and so dirty and smelly. I almost landed on my rear several times as the cement floor is covered with decades of dirt and slime and when it rains, which can be daily, it becomes like glass. I loved going before the sun rose to watch the locals make their daily purchases, try and figure out what exactly the strange fruits were and laugh at the bargaining between sellers and buyers in their LOUDEST voices. I spent many happy hours wandering through this massive marketplace. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pu33M2Mt9lM9a2FCM3K3b6nInLVso_O1SY9Z5Yvo6SSpy-utO5gaxzCS4sjlIs1Sxx3fp6592O_ciCxHgk0pXs5uuuxmWwjZVSa462zv5rY2ydoxBjUmaSypliyCr4mOtPuCv9OwHLQ/s1600/P1080838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pu33M2Mt9lM9a2FCM3K3b6nInLVso_O1SY9Z5Yvo6SSpy-utO5gaxzCS4sjlIs1Sxx3fp6592O_ciCxHgk0pXs5uuuxmWwjZVSa462zv5rY2ydoxBjUmaSypliyCr4mOtPuCv9OwHLQ/s320/P1080838.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wandering through Ubud your eye is drawn to the little things that make it so special and different from what we are used to - like this welcoming statement above spelled out in fresh flowers as you enter a restaurant. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTcRhwP7htCDR77uzinQS705CoBJxH6ziLB-ik3MtXBMyBFC9uwFVWJnfuqwyyPAwZU_30M-HFsnKshFKUHHlTix4yI-sJV5AI1y5LUVtL4MkgPLQKsqsVyXTB5GqbRRhNX58GYyAvzU/s1600/P1080829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTcRhwP7htCDR77uzinQS705CoBJxH6ziLB-ik3MtXBMyBFC9uwFVWJnfuqwyyPAwZU_30M-HFsnKshFKUHHlTix4yI-sJV5AI1y5LUVtL4MkgPLQKsqsVyXTB5GqbRRhNX58GYyAvzU/s320/P1080829.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_4Zai6y3q7JjHxgoXSWbN0DgihLL7ETJ9Kfdlx1Db_2IAyiGvcZlCw2Oq9lWGXQpW6wPC_Y_51QsB6_AiimPB1ZLtbAAjiTQojbBlxM2bPZ0VHPNONr2hzb7Zh9xgkBA6XJzWZf9518/s1600/P1080837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_4Zai6y3q7JjHxgoXSWbN0DgihLL7ETJ9Kfdlx1Db_2IAyiGvcZlCw2Oq9lWGXQpW6wPC_Y_51QsB6_AiimPB1ZLtbAAjiTQojbBlxM2bPZ0VHPNONr2hzb7Zh9xgkBA6XJzWZf9518/s320/P1080837.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Or how about 100's of wild monkeys grabbing at you or just sitting on the curb? Ubud has the well-known <i>Monkey Forest</i> almost in the middle of town. The inhabitants are numerous, curious, nasty, mean, photogenic creatures. The tourists continue to feed them and then are totally surprised when they are attacked. Their purses, cameras and whatever else the monkeys find interesting are ripped out of their hands while they are scratched and sometimes bitten. I took a wide path around The Forest whenever possible as I had no desire to get close to these very large (did I mention smelly?) creatures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lQ2zXWGivbj5aKzRECuikXaX8BXIVBSUI_1gR2Ce9ybZU2k9W2o3fl4BuGLus4mmuUkE2t97hBYbHmCYmgWOf_i_O03TI5-Q9NaLHEodIjTcaNSaWmsqWVdmUOgeSwQYFac05udnh-8/s1600/P1080440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lQ2zXWGivbj5aKzRECuikXaX8BXIVBSUI_1gR2Ce9ybZU2k9W2o3fl4BuGLus4mmuUkE2t97hBYbHmCYmgWOf_i_O03TI5-Q9NaLHEodIjTcaNSaWmsqWVdmUOgeSwQYFac05udnh-8/s320/P1080440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Weird stone faces and serene and very green rice paddies were part of my daily scene. I loved the intricately carved and painted doors and large displays of plastic pink chickens adorning the entryway into this lovely home. I'm guessing it's Bali's answer to our 'pink flamingo-ing' a yard for birthdays or graduations.<br />
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I attended an all-day batik painting class given by a Javanese master. His work was breathtaking (yes I purchased one of his silk scarves!) and gifted my granddaughter Stella with the elephant I waxed and dyed during my day of creativity! <br />
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I also took an all-day photography workshop. We (myself, a British couple and our guide/instructor) started out at 4:00 a.m. so we could be out in the country to watch the sun rise over the island's highest mountain. It was misty and oh, so beautiful. From there we went back to the Purification Temple then to a village market. The British couple had only signed-up for 1/2 day so I got the wonderful Gusti for the rest of the day. He promised me a 'surprise' after lunch if I were up to 'something different.' Of course, I said yes, and was treated to getting to attend the wedding of a very wealthy Balinese couple - something most Westerners never get to see! I took lots photos, learned more about how my camera works and had a wonderful time!<br />
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During the month I was in Bali, there were not an inordinate amount of festivals - probably just 15! It seemed that every day these gentle people were celebrating something or giving praise to another of their Hindu deities. I was invited once again by my host and his family to attend a celebration, this time held on the beach, which was a blessing for their 'suburb' of Ubud. They flocked to the seaside in the truck-loads and scooters by the dozens. They got dressed-up for the celebration, making even bigger offerings to their God. The same priest officiated (this was the 3rd ceremony I had seen him officiate). He was one busy man!</div>
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One of the strangest and largest celebrations was when the <i>Ogah-Ogah's</i> came to rid the village of all the bad things that had accumulated during the past 6 months. After a day and night of these massive paper-mache monsters (created by the men) terrorizing the evil out of town, the next day was spent visiting with friends and relatives 'making amends' for anything nasty you might have done, said or thought about them in past 6 months. I cannot even imagine what a small child might think when seeing an <i>Ogah-Ogah</i> for the first time. I know my mouth dropped open and I just stared in wonderful disgust! As you can see, it takes 30-50 persons to parade these monsters through the town. And yes, they do sometimes tip over as they are incredibly heavy!<br />
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One of the 3 places I had on my 'must see' list while on Bali was the <a href="http://www.johnhardy.com/">John Hardy</a> workshop and showroom. John Hardy is an American jewelry designer who came to Bali in the early 1980's and taught the locals how to make his designs using silver with touches of gold and gems.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Hardy Showroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Design Studio</td></tr>
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I signed up for the tour of the grounds to not only see his work but also view the famous showroom designed by his architect daughter, Elora. As you can see from the photo above, it's like a strange and magnificent object, not a building, rising out of the rice paddy's</div>
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<a href="http://ecogypsy.net/eco-heroes/john-hardy-elora-hardy/">Elora</a> founded Ibuku, based in Bali, where she designs and constructs structures made entirely out of bamboo. They are completely eco-friendly and sustainable. </div>
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John and his wife, Cynthia founded, and Elona designed the buildings at <a href="http://www.greenschool.org/">The Green Schoo</a>l. This international school is open for children from around-the-world and offers over 20 scholarships each year so Balinese and Indonesian children can also attend. With grades from kindergarten through 12, offering a totally open-air education, the opportunity to tour the school and see the architecture was what interested me most. </div>
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Even the chairs, tables and built-ins are made of bamboo. The children maintain a large garden used for the school's kitchen. They learn conflict/anger management by having mud-fights in one of the ponds. They even learn to fish in the river that runs through the property.</div>
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From the school, we toured the actual factory where we shown how <span style="text-align: center;">raw bamboo is harvested, dried, treated for bugs, then prepared to be used in these amazing structures.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AxVgohKFoSFkFC-5SuJp4CcEXNN8Ba5dx_9VBoj50zb6qbXt00dr_xcZYxFAqBVy_gkxYpnuZ7uuanRG4F_h24Mjt4B79PAvHx2PaYMJns1OuUjwOzhIupUG7_q_J8qThjFb7gcjXN8/s1600/P1100125+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AxVgohKFoSFkFC-5SuJp4CcEXNN8Ba5dx_9VBoj50zb6qbXt00dr_xcZYxFAqBVy_gkxYpnuZ7uuanRG4F_h24Mjt4B79PAvHx2PaYMJns1OuUjwOzhIupUG7_q_J8qThjFb7gcjXN8/s320/P1100125+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, it was off to <i>The Green Village</i> - a community of some of the most amazing houses I have ever seen! These are owned by some very well-know celebrities who visit their Bali houses maybe once-a-year!<br />
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Let me start by telling you that there are no windows - or screens. The houses have these really cool swinging, oval glass doors, but otherwise they are totally open to the air and the elements. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYZX84zOuBLTw_sIBm2QEMd-DTWPBwlJS2bU46uoHTGS4n9zpdaJiJWHKfYNWjKzBB06rQfdd4iQfwz9NF6eVFjnwoskGvrHcGx5XeD8IrncDqRer4kmEm5f1PmR9d3bQQNHnf6gQNdY/s1600/P1100147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYZX84zOuBLTw_sIBm2QEMd-DTWPBwlJS2bU46uoHTGS4n9zpdaJiJWHKfYNWjKzBB06rQfdd4iQfwz9NF6eVFjnwoskGvrHcGx5XeD8IrncDqRer4kmEm5f1PmR9d3bQQNHnf6gQNdY/s320/P1100147.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry to The Green Village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeTDOFne7e18zcbpfE667O6IGvqC69Gv6Fkhqk1vzEi2VhElkDwtyH7xTIEd28XWSKfqC71oKiPNoBePgA7QAy7EHkFwREJxkb8_Mn_r0X4GFHMD_m2JuQQKvHG0pSUTuTKu8AeN9m9g/s1600/P1100201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeTDOFne7e18zcbpfE667O6IGvqC69Gv6Fkhqk1vzEi2VhElkDwtyH7xTIEd28XWSKfqC71oKiPNoBePgA7QAy7EHkFwREJxkb8_Mn_r0X4GFHMD_m2JuQQKvHG0pSUTuTKu8AeN9m9g/s320/P1100201.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the houses rising over the trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the swing teardrop door!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDFLcdmSXcA8DUYH5GJTxCld_VzS3Q0pGPE6o3KbVcwPJujB7BYZC5kWcHm6DRxxY3fGZa7-nIKS4eEDisuxS4a4bn16eyGzBlc0FFFc_12gf5_By6u0GCvLGWjQshVbKOwsUs6u-eAE/s1600/P1100198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDFLcdmSXcA8DUYH5GJTxCld_VzS3Q0pGPE6o3KbVcwPJujB7BYZC5kWcHm6DRxxY3fGZa7-nIKS4eEDisuxS4a4bn16eyGzBlc0FFFc_12gf5_By6u0GCvLGWjQshVbKOwsUs6u-eAE/s400/P1100198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room. The cone things are storage units.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK5fIRVZXil-WTXAIS5IqnT_PaJBgcdNHJ44EQ-u8o9H8RXgWgkOLslho5E2d5nuak3lyJXvD7GqwzB6jdI8l6goyQC9O0dZMQHectRNTW_szznomUyi_PtsHk9gocF9NgY_2Ms44t44/s1600/P1100171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK5fIRVZXil-WTXAIS5IqnT_PaJBgcdNHJ44EQ-u8o9H8RXgWgkOLslho5E2d5nuak3lyJXvD7GqwzB6jdI8l6goyQC9O0dZMQHectRNTW_szznomUyi_PtsHk9gocF9NgY_2Ms44t44/s400/P1100171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely bedroom with hammock daybed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06wZ9YxdyLrC2jjR9DWVo7t_slzhbxhVbiL_kRzZt_wZwL-rG7ggDjNHZrGx50ukbbbBADVlWN5i6Bp66pYzcIx-lG8prLTYCY_-odYiq_4LUC-s7nqsWE9i2avHw0fi6-ATTX-Pm6rI/s1600/P1100200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06wZ9YxdyLrC2jjR9DWVo7t_slzhbxhVbiL_kRzZt_wZwL-rG7ggDjNHZrGx50ukbbbBADVlWN5i6Bp66pYzcIx-lG8prLTYCY_-odYiq_4LUC-s7nqsWE9i2avHw0fi6-ATTX-Pm6rI/s400/P1100200.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great view out the wide open kitchen window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool on the lowest level next to rushing river</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custom toilet paper holder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjK5LFj7B9n0QWKQVGLK_nxNPhkO_Ps0htit9xPu-HhLbgp7E57eV_XAFS_mkftim8Wkuc-CmAZ3rcg1OMINzwv1f67fJc37OqKV5BLWwJDqYHn7JDULsdnFSZguGIxuzF6V85W9HBKA/s1600/P1100230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjK5LFj7B9n0QWKQVGLK_nxNPhkO_Ps0htit9xPu-HhLbgp7E57eV_XAFS_mkftim8Wkuc-CmAZ3rcg1OMINzwv1f67fJc37OqKV5BLWwJDqYHn7JDULsdnFSZguGIxuzF6V85W9HBKA/s320/P1100230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! ceiling design</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w_HCvMzWSgqpuKNsBNgZdBEblo89ea2xYkiv6qbBo4g3ltNd0xxtnpqIaBKCXBPjTBIeRK_RIDEm_3WV2M-VjEkUVIOdn0p25Lxo5cJ9JZGB12LgVnRgWQ9LN_ObE2qREukUc76U4n4/s1600/P1100221+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A guest house - I would move in immediately!<br />
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Several of these house designs can be bought as 'kits' and shipped anywhere in the world. They not only come with everything you need for a complete house, including furniture and built-ins, they also come with a crew of workmen who know bamboo and assemble your house for you! <br />
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I couldn't figure out where in the US you could put one of these houses. Not only do you have the problem of bugs flying in the windows and no options for air conditioning or heating, there is the issue of safety! I did raise that very question to our tour guide who told me <i>The Green Village</i> has a staff of 20 security guards who patrolled on a 24/7 basis.</div>
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The last, really fun and delicious thing I did 2 days before leaving Bali was participate in a cooking class at the <i><a href="https://www.paon-bali.com/">Paon Bali Cooking School</a>. </i>Our group of 15 (from the US, Britain, Australia and China) 'e<i>mbarked on a culinary adventure unlocking the secrets of authentic Balinese cooking, utilizing traditional ingredients and preparation methods in a fully-equipped community kitchen.' </i></div>
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Our hostess and chef, Puspa, for many had been the head chef in several of the island's top restaurants before building a large industrial kitchen on the backside of the family home. It is here that she and her husband and a staff of helpers welcome groups of 15-20 for 4-hour classes two times each day. </div>
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Each morning tour begins at the Ubud market where your guide shows you some of the unusual fruits, vegetables and spices you will be using during your class. </div>
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We found when arrived at Puspa's lovely home after our tour of the market a long table was filled with plates of all the ingredients for each of the many dishes we would be preparing that morning. <br />
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And yes, we actually did the cooking - with the assistance of Puspa's kitchen helpers! We ground the spices in a large lava mortar with a huge wooden pestle. Made curry paste (Hot!) We chopped lots of vegggies. We make small meatballs and cooked them in coconut oil. We wrapped a shrimp mixture in palm leaves to steam and made skewers of chicken sate'. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grinding spices</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sate cooking over charcoal brassier</td></tr>
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And then we got to sit down and enjoy our hard work! We also got a small cookbook with printed copies of the recipes for all the dishes we had made. These will certainly get a lot of use! </div>
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After 31 days, it was time to depart Bali and return to the States to meet my two new grandsons that were born while I was away. <br />
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It was a full day and night of long flights. Bali to Hong Kong, then a 5 hour layover before the even longer flight to Los Angeles. What made it almost enjoyable was watching 6 first-run movies between the 2 flights (I don't sleep well on planes) and being invited by the young couple, who were sitting next to me from Bali to Hong Kong, to join them in the Premier Lounge during our layover. They told the staff I was their mother! How much nicer upholstered chairs, dim lighting, free food and drink, and wifi is than spending those long hours in the middle of the night either wandering the brightly lit concourse or sitting on hard plastic seats!<br />
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So after 11 months spent traveling throughout Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia, I'm home. I will try really hard to do one more post on all the places I have visited and house and pet sat since I returned - before I leave for Mexico in just 2 weeks!<br />
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Unit next time.......<br />
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ReAnn</div>
Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-89390852175826383492017-07-12T10:17:00.001-05:002017-07-12T10:17:16.986-05:00My Month in Bali...Continued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I left you to catch-up on some much-needed sleep and try and acclimate my body to the very different temperature of this country from the North Island of New Zealand. <br />
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I had left Auckland in a howling rainstorm with temperatures in the low 60's and coat and umbrella very much required. I arrived in Bali hours later to blazing sun, a humidity level that embraced the body in a damp, cloying blanket of sweat which was impossible to lose and temperatures in the high 80's. <br />
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Driving from the national airport in Depensar with the radio blaring and the air conditioner grinding out a tepid flow of cool? air, with my host's son, the driver, giving me what I am sure was a splendid commentary on what we were passing by in totally non-understandable English, we arrived at the <i>Rumah Roda Homestay</i> in Ubud.<br />
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If you have read my previous post about my first day - how really lovely my room was and my immediate invitation and attendance at the <i>Full Moon Festival</i>, you know I ended my first 24-hours in Bali hot, sweaty and exhausted - but with my mind filled with brilliant colors, images of the beautiful Indonesian people and a small inkling of their deep devotion to their Buddhist religion.<br />
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So now it's 2 days later. Sunday morning and my host, Darta, has sent word that the Full Moon Festival continues over the weekend and I must join the family for an excursion to the famous <i>Pura Tirtha Empul. </i><br />
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This is the largest '<i>purification temple</i>' on the island. This is where you come to bathe in '<i>holy water'</i> and even take jugs of it home to use for your daily religious rituals. <br />
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We got a late start and arrived to find this normally peaceful and not very crowded temple overflowing with worshipers there to celebrate and be cleansed during the Full Moon Celebration. You can see from the photos just what I mean by crowded. (I returned to this temple very early in the morning the day of my photography tour and will share more detailed photos with you a bit later.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUTcmPRXV8C97zHQAxAGFUhBQBMv0oM9djwA-dYJO7GyMEoGoJYYeVNwjsn9QSHAukeAN_zGYMKKFZu_R-oPmCt1Ht87qDXL68Gr8QqN7MAivR7_EiDaFbBhoC5zV0Ek_hLr1lR_CV3g/s1600/P1080724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUTcmPRXV8C97zHQAxAGFUhBQBMv0oM9djwA-dYJO7GyMEoGoJYYeVNwjsn9QSHAukeAN_zGYMKKFZu_R-oPmCt1Ht87qDXL68Gr8QqN7MAivR7_EiDaFbBhoC5zV0Ek_hLr1lR_CV3g/s320/P1080724.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9RWgTfVh5wh6GkHHgd5Y5HBXRTdvRpbwo0A6q6SAYYw7rN8lakgmY2aIfVbbSbO_zOGNw48_PVz5GZDDhZFKmd4jRnjG6hZdUjRyi3JU683hSzhumb256J3NJpJvEznMQaj0-8WDBqk/s1600/P1080727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9RWgTfVh5wh6GkHHgd5Y5HBXRTdvRpbwo0A6q6SAYYw7rN8lakgmY2aIfVbbSbO_zOGNw48_PVz5GZDDhZFKmd4jRnjG6hZdUjRyi3JU683hSzhumb256J3NJpJvEznMQaj0-8WDBqk/s320/P1080727.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Offering left in thanks to the Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSNFDjV1eo5ksXMANfc9l4UR2v4_LD-uqhSLCunP62bZGJSerYw-7fkxPoqSFH6X9zm6ETFMi8-NxbFOFGpq7xVgXaoVKo67dCzFaWHW42resCDV5XSrwxfjAX_9LH4e36dX6V7C6gew/s1600/P1080729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSNFDjV1eo5ksXMANfc9l4UR2v4_LD-uqhSLCunP62bZGJSerYw-7fkxPoqSFH6X9zm6ETFMi8-NxbFOFGpq7xVgXaoVKo67dCzFaWHW42resCDV5XSrwxfjAX_9LH4e36dX6V7C6gew/s400/P1080729.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 100's waiting in waist-deep water to be showered with holy water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBMI8V1Wix9n3ZO2jzOSqgFIDxXXPmCAx0SeYFKVuYFWoRGOmVWB_kArcIf2hTuXE-VgHZ6fx8j8HdjvW0gflcu-ePDwnz0Xk2e456gvLj_BxE1QMVdJ6bYtdrfekASQ-o_OI_KPKZOI/s1600/P1080730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBMI8V1Wix9n3ZO2jzOSqgFIDxXXPmCAx0SeYFKVuYFWoRGOmVWB_kArcIf2hTuXE-VgHZ6fx8j8HdjvW0gflcu-ePDwnz0Xk2e456gvLj_BxE1QMVdJ6bYtdrfekASQ-o_OI_KPKZOI/s320/P1080730.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in line </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGsCB_QTVd2dppyTejZWDzIFSAizyQnDQ8axQyDIN5AKjWh0ZTK5LzVLMQG-M9TgWuBADg9CA2ePqlCYoZ950bp4Tc722cwOaQpAuqNG8XAjQaAbU5Mj4uoAQNHuOXL2tE_5bTAkuElE/s1600/P1080749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGsCB_QTVd2dppyTejZWDzIFSAizyQnDQ8axQyDIN5AKjWh0ZTK5LzVLMQG-M9TgWuBADg9CA2ePqlCYoZ950bp4Tc722cwOaQpAuqNG8XAjQaAbU5Mj4uoAQNHuOXL2tE_5bTAkuElE/s320/P1080749.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A temple within the Temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Behind the pools of holy water is a massive space where hundreds can pray and offer thanks. Priests come from the local villages to perform the ceremony. They are surrounded by their parishioners who have come specifically to be showered, blessed and return home with their jugs of holy water. The priest for this continuing Full Moon ceremony is the same that officiated at the one on the day I arrived. I still think looks like Mr. Miyagi from <i>The Karate Kid</i>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9R5PsHODzCaHcVm4PsoQrVH_XHD6gzqzv9E2zYXLQJ19rD7BPyr3MstUOLv7Ng_tk0ncl6rRAHcurjbk9FRliPfhN0eALn8yxri0DLsX4wRmpuhjM8DWkwwHsE-Gb8HpsXyfDHOV3mY/s1600/P1080752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9R5PsHODzCaHcVm4PsoQrVH_XHD6gzqzv9E2zYXLQJ19rD7BPyr3MstUOLv7Ng_tk0ncl6rRAHcurjbk9FRliPfhN0eALn8yxri0DLsX4wRmpuhjM8DWkwwHsE-Gb8HpsXyfDHOV3mY/s320/P1080752.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7cn9BmC_-ALoXOkN7oRHiznCYX3OTijF-fpZ4udC1c1-2TctY4sIhnS7DH2HwVklCXAAF-YBhRRPBrndGjdWxKZ6QJCwSa82LCeYT11O-ehCVWekeDmbQr-pS5Q2NKvxtcqNZKZyqWs/s1600/P1080757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1547" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7cn9BmC_-ALoXOkN7oRHiznCYX3OTijF-fpZ4udC1c1-2TctY4sIhnS7DH2HwVklCXAAF-YBhRRPBrndGjdWxKZ6QJCwSa82LCeYT11O-ehCVWekeDmbQr-pS5Q2NKvxtcqNZKZyqWs/s320/P1080757.jpg" width="309" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_aMzuafZr8FHw79DAIOvEdnpPuiBMukhf4UXXittxAowTOZ-l-h2iCgc82uPJPcxRP0r27pyVF-HYMpXZ323tHXVOkwAgSaJijnkLPnsthElZ_L7ZkZ9iapjXIM1w08j13Dm2r39b84/s1600/P1080767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_aMzuafZr8FHw79DAIOvEdnpPuiBMukhf4UXXittxAowTOZ-l-h2iCgc82uPJPcxRP0r27pyVF-HYMpXZ323tHXVOkwAgSaJijnkLPnsthElZ_L7ZkZ9iapjXIM1w08j13Dm2r39b84/s320/P1080767.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkfPj37MnqPRu6apA_ong_A6dis9NDZwBkDqV51rStP3_s52IMW7HaxC7oafsDblwFQIANjSXrOqPSMWE3DSiU0MT0iGyTmlHFefNuVWu8CAOdwmfGbhW2TKnIW7urbJnL2NxcVzcZtM/s1600/P1080754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkfPj37MnqPRu6apA_ong_A6dis9NDZwBkDqV51rStP3_s52IMW7HaxC7oafsDblwFQIANjSXrOqPSMWE3DSiU0MT0iGyTmlHFefNuVWu8CAOdwmfGbhW2TKnIW7urbJnL2NxcVzcZtM/s320/P1080754.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
This Temple requires that all that enter must wear a sarong. I had my trusty purple one which was 'mine' to use at all ceremonies I attended during my stay. But tourists who come to the temple are provided with a sarong to wear upon entry (for a small donation). While Darta and family were being showered and praying, I spent my time observing, taking photos are getting the giggles seeing some of the amazing outfits that 'tourists' ware! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVYncdKVS_dDqmvDpuEH-6BjVRhd2rm_PuTNNwyXxVkxe451qon6NnFxn58U31LrI46XxrygILtZsF6JvwQ7QvsLf_R352lDhe49Ed0AVhyphenhyphenWKlUXqb_QKzxEmY_BO30IKwmOAVL6lBpQ/s1600/P1080772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVYncdKVS_dDqmvDpuEH-6BjVRhd2rm_PuTNNwyXxVkxe451qon6NnFxn58U31LrI46XxrygILtZsF6JvwQ7QvsLf_R352lDhe49Ed0AVhyphenhyphenWKlUXqb_QKzxEmY_BO30IKwmOAVL6lBpQ/s320/P1080772.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUbKvi86bO4TO0Hgiro5MEsjim70cg9LAeoSAzuQ125rlG6ociKdbbqad-gjPRJF08-c2swud4LVT8KxJQJXDWDx6AUW0ytldMbMPzlYR27tikZM5F6km-gPVIi1XLmxcs5LZiWMkXk/s1600/P1080783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yUbKvi86bO4TO0Hgiro5MEsjim70cg9LAeoSAzuQ125rlG6ociKdbbqad-gjPRJF08-c2swud4LVT8KxJQJXDWDx6AUW0ytldMbMPzlYR27tikZM5F6km-gPVIi1XLmxcs5LZiWMkXk/s400/P1080783.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBnKgUVD5KTWI11FWwO1z91B8gWj6s9f87cRW556cqkXk_M0X4BofYDm7F7SIM1kRXCX5N2tD8qokZE9FYiTQuBgazkSSbE8Nz2sHd1cnREL7vBvB_OFebBiXjxGuuBtaydZoXQdtYJo/s1600/P1080784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBnKgUVD5KTWI11FWwO1z91B8gWj6s9f87cRW556cqkXk_M0X4BofYDm7F7SIM1kRXCX5N2tD8qokZE9FYiTQuBgazkSSbE8Nz2sHd1cnREL7vBvB_OFebBiXjxGuuBtaydZoXQdtYJo/s320/P1080784.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite:)<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpRahaGMt1UNkUnMGg75jAMwkY9tizJScyoiQY26SXO1q9pwRSds8h-XvDbWucpOJvrE_yGkhLtdeUIWUPufsvtNbUBHAY9l5hG7vZL323CB6nq7StjKjwMN-O2D_TQX2-Hg187MZVgQ/s1600/P1080785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpRahaGMt1UNkUnMGg75jAMwkY9tizJScyoiQY26SXO1q9pwRSds8h-XvDbWucpOJvrE_yGkhLtdeUIWUPufsvtNbUBHAY9l5hG7vZL323CB6nq7StjKjwMN-O2D_TQX2-Hg187MZVgQ/s320/P1080785.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Outside the entrance to the Temple<br />
is a massive park with an area filled with<br />
stalls where folks are selling everything from<br />
bananas to kites to juice and food. <br />
Inside the Temple is peaceful, quiet except for<br />
the tinkling sound of bells and hushed prayers.<br />
<br />
Outside is a bustle of noise and hustle as everyone tries to sell you something while 100's of cars are jockeying for position trying to leave as buses are arriving to unload more and more people - both tourists and worshipers. It was overwhelming and the crowds were too much for me to really enjoy this visit. When I returned it was a whole different story - as you will see.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79eDV5xdUMJP7vcTOE1-c4LHgkIOYt0QWZhgoxoLTnLLTZinsljY_h8iA-vcygHrwcTeiOpLEGCNpdD_QcHqeskGj-2B8-9VrNyiA1p916Msq6ALFnEFMWI4yey2LmE6QI5Znhi-4eEc/s1600/P1080721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79eDV5xdUMJP7vcTOE1-c4LHgkIOYt0QWZhgoxoLTnLLTZinsljY_h8iA-vcygHrwcTeiOpLEGCNpdD_QcHqeskGj-2B8-9VrNyiA1p916Msq6ALFnEFMWI4yey2LmE6QI5Znhi-4eEc/s320/P1080721.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrhZRBHLM0zezhdp2itXlB42ehuSP_ZJ9aiDHYM6CePCpSiXgAaPJaQN5NnJ5uOqZN4IDDn_7ilfe8muLj_LuVe0n0zR4MQnH_cHFdo3ALkIbDUda5YjxIeQLUWZgsbb-ZfvUaFR6QGM/s1600/P1080800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrhZRBHLM0zezhdp2itXlB42ehuSP_ZJ9aiDHYM6CePCpSiXgAaPJaQN5NnJ5uOqZN4IDDn_7ilfe8muLj_LuVe0n0zR4MQnH_cHFdo3ALkIbDUda5YjxIeQLUWZgsbb-ZfvUaFR6QGM/s320/P1080800.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This darling little owl was just Colorful kites for sale.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
on a table looking very calm and wise</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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The 'finger' is being pointed at me for taking her photo without purchasing a banana! Me bad - so I bought a banana!</div>
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It was an amazing experience and I was so glad to be included in this family celebration. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X60ZwmcYdChR_9VLIE5dQRjyEPOpE01eYTDLRsU-oXpyeVkxQCnnx0NAob7yrcKoiw30F2l_OpANoo__1yPIUfQiFp8HPGmvCDz4ZkGS5oHdPodsrp1B1gZ5pvLMwv1Nd5h81hjGzEs/s1600/P1080792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X60ZwmcYdChR_9VLIE5dQRjyEPOpE01eYTDLRsU-oXpyeVkxQCnnx0NAob7yrcKoiw30F2l_OpANoo__1yPIUfQiFp8HPGmvCDz4ZkGS5oHdPodsrp1B1gZ5pvLMwv1Nd5h81hjGzEs/s200/P1080792.JPG" width="200" /></a>I was even allowed to join with the entire village as they joined together (inside and in the shade of one of the smaller temples). </div>
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Until next time.......which I promise will be really soon - like later today!</div>
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<br />Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-43797866607280837402017-05-17T13:06:00.000-05:002017-05-17T16:15:51.794-05:0032 DAYS IN BALI - Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1">It’s 5 p.m. The sun is setting. The call to prayers at a nearby mosque can be heard drifting on the breeze along with the ever-present smell of incense, satay being cooked over an open-flame grill and the too-sweet smell of rotting fruit. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Balinese language is a muddle of sounds played on a musical scale that rises and falls. Temperatures hover in the high 80’s with rain falling almost daily, either a brief shower or a torrential downpour, with the humidity level averaging always close to 100%. Just a hint of a breeze is a gift to be stopped and enjoyed.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What am I doing on this hot, humid, tropical country for a whole month? Why did I choose to end my 11-month sojourn of the South Pacific on this Indonesian island? Honestly? Because I, like so many other women, fell in love with and hoped to find ‘something or someone special’ here after reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s <i>Eat, Pray Love</i>. Stupid reason to visit a country, isn’t it? And of course, I haven’t seen anyone who comes close to looking like <i>Javier Bardem</i> to say hello to, let alone who could possibly lift me off my feet!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I’m sweating. I’m always sweating. I can only manage the heat with two-to-four showers per day, not counting my daily running jump into the pool at <span style="background-color: #f6d5d9;">my </span><i>homestay. </i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Let me take a moment a tell you what a </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">homestay</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> is, compared to a hotel, resort or AirBnB. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">A </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">homestay</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> is a Balinese family-owned compound. The depth of a family compound runs from the street it faces to the street behind and can be as wide as 1/2 a city block. One extended family, their relatives and employees all live happily(?) together in the many structures that are enclosed within the walls of the compound. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">There is always a small temple in the center where these very observant Balinese Hindus pray</span> and give offerings <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">each day. Structures have been added during recent years to accommodate paying guests. The one I am staying in is a typical addition.</span><span class="s1"></span></div>
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<span class="s1">At the rear of my homestay is a three-story structure that has 9 very large rooms - 3 per floor. The beds are enormous, 1 1/2 times the size of an American king. Several of the rooms have an additional twin or a daybed in the room. There is an armoire for your clothes, a sink, a shower/tub combo, a toilet and mini fridge. The beds are enclosed in mosquito netting, a must, as there are no screens or windowpanes. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSP0Er6o-AdgSBa8gJTxO6c4nVRs-C9rupWAprfAlPTChR_cpKsZ3ZNdVBEkk7j7QFiP2pK9dOggTFQWS2mrsOU5yLcNo817eHF1fZRmTZqRsYPp0Zk6C6YFE2969ruW9uhqEgitcPRaV/s1600/P1080439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSP0Er6o-AdgSBa8gJTxO6c4nVRs-C9rupWAprfAlPTChR_cpKsZ3ZNdVBEkk7j7QFiP2pK9dOggTFQWS2mrsOU5yLcNo817eHF1fZRmTZqRsYPp0Zk6C6YFE2969ruW9uhqEgitcPRaV/s320/P1080439.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rhuma Roda entrance</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-G-5096q7hLNrIx1IJHQGQ326jvuApLbSaXLznL44CvvnoXIIsXQvCTKuaLCfeho2day7kJapcpJEedzhh560nm29-ZvamiTvAFCYYcg_xRZnondeRrK-bIgYTA0P8YcXbsIpcceHcXz/s1600/P1100290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-G-5096q7hLNrIx1IJHQGQ326jvuApLbSaXLznL44CvvnoXIIsXQvCTKuaLCfeho2day7kJapcpJEedzhh560nm29-ZvamiTvAFCYYcg_xRZnondeRrK-bIgYTA0P8YcXbsIpcceHcXz/s320/P1100290.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My room is the top floor - left side</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFxJKCnX8UV33eIbqVvfHMDz2Mqaxuva_bBjwbLf_7RXueDKQdKCjAkC7qXu3cf445bJW0Le3ETpdaxXbK50nx6nCGGgCi1exQtSDnbxCySFQE70CurWz7z7ZoZ3NP40XPfjj4re1msc4/s1600/IMG_1245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFxJKCnX8UV33eIbqVvfHMDz2Mqaxuva_bBjwbLf_7RXueDKQdKCjAkC7qXu3cf445bJW0Le3ETpdaxXbK50nx6nCGGgCi1exQtSDnbxCySFQE70CurWz7z7ZoZ3NP40XPfjj4re1msc4/s320/IMG_1245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fi73lEupr4SJSM9PDJ2NvPAd8pQmTZCJpMQ5Y2G9S0pG1VrXm1vVbqjsj8kOQNQkSOZsMik_Wls1NXiS_6V0r0_CAlAKAsIue301eJ2LkxvRUCbHKUfbUPx46pcpKRg8nETt17JWCTCj/s1600/IMG_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fi73lEupr4SJSM9PDJ2NvPAd8pQmTZCJpMQ5Y2G9S0pG1VrXm1vVbqjsj8kOQNQkSOZsMik_Wls1NXiS_6V0r0_CAlAKAsIue301eJ2LkxvRUCbHKUfbUPx46pcpKRg8nETt17JWCTCj/s200/IMG_1247.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span class="s1"><i>My bedroom, desk & outside seating area.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Looking down at the pool The family Temple.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlVsw-pLh_pTtkjLJ7Qhyr2rBsRLkTFvkB46leGKnuDbwu2mwdWOVXFtRJ-f7VvnvlFxAfNs1qPZkoKEryoWxpm37pD4mdTArz1ojzn9vcG20a1D2QpJBkHctDi8Dwec0YHlXKti1GEy0/s1600/P1100301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlVsw-pLh_pTtkjLJ7Qhyr2rBsRLkTFvkB46leGKnuDbwu2mwdWOVXFtRJ-f7VvnvlFxAfNs1qPZkoKEryoWxpm37pD4mdTArz1ojzn9vcG20a1D2QpJBkHctDi8Dwec0YHlXKti1GEy0/s320/P1100301.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5ORZhpi0ywngpdsqox_PD7Zr4L-XZnPkpKiqY-AUzSMhXOh5KDYhSIhIq3pdGQl94icfhjaxjolu_6zFf2CiK7nK2GzZ6FG78Wo4hvaX4WF2VJpVybx73f6gAePT6bXR8YpYt2FnVxtO/s1600/P1100299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5ORZhpi0ywngpdsqox_PD7Zr4L-XZnPkpKiqY-AUzSMhXOh5KDYhSIhIq3pdGQl94icfhjaxjolu_6zFf2CiK7nK2GzZ6FG78Wo4hvaX4WF2VJpVybx73f6gAePT6bXR8YpYt2FnVxtO/s320/P1100299.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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Though my homestay is located within an easy 10-minute walk to the very center of Ubud, wth their huge marketplace and the Palace (residence of the current ceremonial-only King of Bali) it is located on a fairly quiet street- if you don't take into consideration the dozens of roosters who crow all day AND ALL NIGHT or the many street dogs who join in with their howls and barks at all hours of the day and night. And then there is the putt-putt and roar of the main form of Balinese transportation - the motor scooter. Quiet in Bali is relative.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQnC9LJixlEINiyVAGph7DQFhgaP5xrhzTDp_mQTRCshsBO3CwwmzyOD1wjQk0Y1l5jHF9q9IeLIyJMx7sGSoApP11gXM7Oz9MiLi4MC-pL3JaHwiW0DXMwbpABMakwj6av3_kTtPvbPH/s1600/P1080803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQnC9LJixlEINiyVAGph7DQFhgaP5xrhzTDp_mQTRCshsBO3CwwmzyOD1wjQk0Y1l5jHF9q9IeLIyJMx7sGSoApP11gXM7Oz9MiLi4MC-pL3JaHwiW0DXMwbpABMakwj6av3_kTtPvbPH/s320/P1080803.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yep, there is a scooter under there</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6HhCnCSxKb2vpJ0vWMkv4qXIe56mmd7DCiG6EZLFG1XeUZD7aAQcOLyqVoLotu7sn8AyGEOpnb79BFLoCDZYvr7U9MQ49e4M5xloi2XOG5fyIiTDZQK8Ec0thXqM-EyFJPST89QgQRdC/s1600/P1080808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6HhCnCSxKb2vpJ0vWMkv4qXIe56mmd7DCiG6EZLFG1XeUZD7aAQcOLyqVoLotu7sn8AyGEOpnb79BFLoCDZYvr7U9MQ49e4M5xloi2XOG5fyIiTDZQK8Ec0thXqM-EyFJPST89QgQRdC/s320/P1080808.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Parked in front of Temple for service</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6ykVO7Jm7XYZhkw14Ye-tSU3ctdNpikH0kbUBxONZ26jSYfNJqeA8xkrMFGpjP6fRoMWYtFajhcjCNtd0snJ0afVw5h3iXjkDO7ilwNc3uEjl1B6UbqTXEUgkUHFoJSt7zTIshtM-RS1/s1600/P1090885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6ykVO7Jm7XYZhkw14Ye-tSU3ctdNpikH0kbUBxONZ26jSYfNJqeA8xkrMFGpjP6fRoMWYtFajhcjCNtd0snJ0afVw5h3iXjkDO7ilwNc3uEjl1B6UbqTXEUgkUHFoJSt7zTIshtM-RS1/s320/P1090885.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two guys just bought a new wheelbarrow, pulling it behind</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JAq3Ujb2kKLc89FdLcZI7gp274PM1na1RwFp3w0uzz70R13vZVCszw8V2mgQy-cpsJ-rPuZysAeza9Zo52m-78ewpsh8WRRlJzyvZR1H5tyoqiog98vOkpmI7z_CQ7cUWe06CGCH6TsP/s1600/P1100280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JAq3Ujb2kKLc89FdLcZI7gp274PM1na1RwFp3w0uzz70R13vZVCszw8V2mgQy-cpsJ-rPuZysAeza9Zo52m-78ewpsh8WRRlJzyvZR1H5tyoqiog98vOkpmI7z_CQ7cUWe06CGCH6TsP/s200/P1100280.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
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They are everywhere, used to transport anything and everything. There are no rules or at least it seems like that. They dart around and pass you on both sides of your car, they drive the wrong way on one-way streets, they cut between buses and trucks with only inches to spare. <br />
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Though the age for a scooter license is officially 17, children from the ages of 8 or 9 drive scooters to school every day. Parents put babies in a backpack, two other children sit between the driver and the passenger and one standing between the handle bars. I kid you not, that's a family of 6 on a scooter - and that's normal!<br />
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And yes, I've put my life in the hands of a scooter driver as it's the cheapest and fastest taxi service in Bali. I could get a ride to anywhere in Ubud for $10,000IR - that's 75 cents in USD.<br />
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The day I arrived was the March Festival of the Full Moon, a traditional Hindu celebration. Darta, my host, and head of the family in whose compound I am staying, immediately invited me to attend and photograph this event with his fellow family members and friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuY0CYFy1kbOxtyAfsPLQUHYddvTI-pdWLbz-rJ32R5JAI_pYzjW9WEzCylz03RawBtGqmLIeMdPNKUptALHtfu2TkXEFTLPgxGH5IDAm2Z9bPyrgjC08MRi6KwU7bMgsgl_WQl2Ljj7P/s1600/P1080524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuY0CYFy1kbOxtyAfsPLQUHYddvTI-pdWLbz-rJ32R5JAI_pYzjW9WEzCylz03RawBtGqmLIeMdPNKUptALHtfu2TkXEFTLPgxGH5IDAm2Z9bPyrgjC08MRi6KwU7bMgsgl_WQl2Ljj7P/s320/P1080524.jpg" width="229" /></a>It is necessary for women to dress properly when entering a temple or attending a ceremony. I was given a traditional sarong, normally of colorful batik cloth, which one of the women tied for me so it would not fall off and then a scarf is tied around the middle. Women normally wear a white <i>kebaya, </i>or blouse, but I did not have one so my shirt, because it had a small sleeve, was passable. You will see from the photos that the women's <i>kebayas</i> can be extravagant, very sheer, lacy, colorful and are worn with a corset underneath. <br />
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Men wear a folded white fabric hat, white dress shirt and a darker, muted-colored sarong. The point of their sarong is always much longer at the front and even drags on the ground. Darta shared with me that the men do not wear underwear! In their heat, I could understand why. My sarong was tied over my pants and within minutes I so wanted to be able to take them off<br />
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I took over 100 photos during the Full Moon's morning and into afternoon celebration. Here are just a few. <i>Don't forget you can 'click' on any photo to enlarge it.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The 'band' who would play non-stop all day</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGh7S8bdal-a1Cr_SHQUCzwsBgfubWDgOSYT_EfjOhUBYEZ3GEpTsh1H_GZ5Sbf5gR3_Yo1vZaSQHbU36HRbQ9Vx8X07OCFb286RsVtmAUyjFeQSKeiTC389xDdFjJbhEulWrGmLi9yB2/s1600/P1080535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGh7S8bdal-a1Cr_SHQUCzwsBgfubWDgOSYT_EfjOhUBYEZ3GEpTsh1H_GZ5Sbf5gR3_Yo1vZaSQHbU36HRbQ9Vx8X07OCFb286RsVtmAUyjFeQSKeiTC389xDdFjJbhEulWrGmLi9yB2/s320/P1080535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i> The temple with the women presenting their many offerings.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xkBbHYYyb04WbkGYPZDCxhuXVEnWLl6MWnAncINEjRzHtGJtk-qNYRqiY-8OYAyhGgblX2FE5DNTSrl5iR8Zrx9qLenkMmwUAysfRILlKw95uceaKcStNLWJVzJ7_XjGP4ofxKq2sX1-/s1600/P1080589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xkBbHYYyb04WbkGYPZDCxhuXVEnWLl6MWnAncINEjRzHtGJtk-qNYRqiY-8OYAyhGgblX2FE5DNTSrl5iR8Zrx9qLenkMmwUAysfRILlKw95uceaKcStNLWJVzJ7_XjGP4ofxKq2sX1-/s320/P1080589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVDAGEEr9YZRWqescQukLjd5Q14lnJMrM94rfno1j1LYNXOPtA9Mp3RqqkWnaV-cDaQHBmwSrarhIy841NPfRUZjeZzFDCAftpA1VCbX0mMZYxTnJ0z9BDQ7V7EbFrlaaHaUs4kqBYOXm/s1600/P1080603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVDAGEEr9YZRWqescQukLjd5Q14lnJMrM94rfno1j1LYNXOPtA9Mp3RqqkWnaV-cDaQHBmwSrarhIy841NPfRUZjeZzFDCAftpA1VCbX0mMZYxTnJ0z9BDQ7V7EbFrlaaHaUs4kqBYOXm/s320/P1080603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Waiting for the priest to arrive. He has to officiate at all the local celebrations on the same day so normally runs very late! And here he is! Doesn't he look like Mr. Miyake from The Karate Kid movies?</span></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl7UylFNB6LVP9XwYDMoIM9z_Ez16RfUMxtBeg40lSjs1ruCUHdr2lgyMnF2v1rZjoRiNNNvKWy1MYFl9Jhzz6r_FvgjbAlWT_DJrXj4IM4ODaovVHP1feFnjKGxrZTvawTqLQybiWQY2/s1600/P1080574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl7UylFNB6LVP9XwYDMoIM9z_Ez16RfUMxtBeg40lSjs1ruCUHdr2lgyMnF2v1rZjoRiNNNvKWy1MYFl9Jhzz6r_FvgjbAlWT_DJrXj4IM4ODaovVHP1feFnjKGxrZTvawTqLQybiWQY2/s320/P1080574.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingUyVeyuNvI-JoJ0_KNN-xnfE54bmaG4B5jzKOPBrxaTf_oeux7pORDsiGdfyc2AA2k80ToFe76hy4kSxzYx-3gq2pmZklli_rLONXz8ylzb83ugtIQltXahKNQjWWSDKjWdg4zeOOMot/s1600/P1080612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingUyVeyuNvI-JoJ0_KNN-xnfE54bmaG4B5jzKOPBrxaTf_oeux7pORDsiGdfyc2AA2k80ToFe76hy4kSxzYx-3gq2pmZklli_rLONXz8ylzb83ugtIQltXahKNQjWWSDKjWdg4zeOOMot/s320/P1080612.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG4OwxH6ezwShHyLobFhyphenhyphencdv8D3ToF9EO0a4w4fr7Zm7ODzbiS4qqWA6kbY5fV2cJgZsdm4GkwUsDwlimANKOZUsbcYcFlqiKsp3AkAbLG1CSlPwdgfVbq68fAu3u9LvBa-i1IyV7ptei/s1600/P1080692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG4OwxH6ezwShHyLobFhyphenhyphencdv8D3ToF9EO0a4w4fr7Zm7ODzbiS4qqWA6kbY5fV2cJgZsdm4GkwUsDwlimANKOZUsbcYcFlqiKsp3AkAbLG1CSlPwdgfVbq68fAu3u9LvBa-i1IyV7ptei/s320/P1080692.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The priest changes his outfit and adornments several times during the ceremony while music is constantly being played. The children are adorable and very well-behaved</span>.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAM-4n31oEJdtauTQ1xs8m3Yv4lqrsad1RGpl7fB2qn6Eexzlrbn6JxrxnO6SR8A7t1l4-6Rm9_979pd5h0vsMbBSq0hi9o0DV8RRLQJWUNWLQHOx5pcLsy9PZPi8jxseY7Hol_X9MP_x/s1600/P1080602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAM-4n31oEJdtauTQ1xs8m3Yv4lqrsad1RGpl7fB2qn6Eexzlrbn6JxrxnO6SR8A7t1l4-6Rm9_979pd5h0vsMbBSq0hi9o0DV8RRLQJWUNWLQHOx5pcLsy9PZPi8jxseY7Hol_X9MP_x/s320/P1080602.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little girls in traditional dress</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPWW7xQwDksqfAKcx81GXEN0yBxUTigsVWSph91bokhOFP8ZnPvP2CP1lgZIz2b17OGNQQTrzvGkiBw4ni0-9102ymiHZgiDLUD8srCglv7Dy2yx5OoHagFAggfswsYg7Y3GJqRMXNvdC/s1600/P1080562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPWW7xQwDksqfAKcx81GXEN0yBxUTigsVWSph91bokhOFP8ZnPvP2CP1lgZIz2b17OGNQQTrzvGkiBw4ni0-9102ymiHZgiDLUD8srCglv7Dy2yx5OoHagFAggfswsYg7Y3GJqRMXNvdC/s320/P1080562.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWEkiRYuB3SkfACsXtcNQ0KrtdFsqqxS9Fx_FIoyFnvIxgry-SntBRwjx3qAn_2MZhinYFBKgGA4JN7knm46GwRzBxR359Y9stQvei0C4cNqaHBgSWAfcW1G0KF0raC8dGSFM8izLKhwV/s1600/P1080619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWEkiRYuB3SkfACsXtcNQ0KrtdFsqqxS9Fx_FIoyFnvIxgry-SntBRwjx3qAn_2MZhinYFBKgGA4JN7knm46GwRzBxR359Y9stQvei0C4cNqaHBgSWAfcW1G0KF0raC8dGSFM8izLKhwV/s320/P1080619.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> Young girls doing traditional Balinese dance</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">f<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSP5sXFVveJLHBanozdAwoDC6uklW9ioD06MKgJMUqSM6_j72EBHEz1wQCfbF9W-sv7AqmBjCWwgrMf5Ovv-sOoohl6E80cjIyYbgAcj_zAj7JtBbPhpaRe1ZBoZriuMzZ58lsk9yG6dE/s1600/P1080670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSP5sXFVveJLHBanozdAwoDC6uklW9ioD06MKgJMUqSM6_j72EBHEz1wQCfbF9W-sv7AqmBjCWwgrMf5Ovv-sOoohl6E80cjIyYbgAcj_zAj7JtBbPhpaRe1ZBoZriuMzZ58lsk9yG6dE/s320/P1080670.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Folk characters performing </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNug5WGYIJOyjQpqmHX0zYkSOcif20d_N3kBH8U_rDkMQIfgef9EyWMO91wVmM2u0jfmrH-0sj1yYXtxxqeRTqs5q5ftWfOemFTM-uoFzspIAQqrS5zf920zrpfUpsF6uC5xR7aLu45-on/s1600/P1080626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNug5WGYIJOyjQpqmHX0zYkSOcif20d_N3kBH8U_rDkMQIfgef9EyWMO91wVmM2u0jfmrH-0sj1yYXtxxqeRTqs5q5ftWfOemFTM-uoFzspIAQqrS5zf920zrpfUpsF6uC5xR7aLu45-on/s320/P1080626.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And one must check your email!</i> </td></tr>
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You realize I have now been in Bali less than 24-hours? I'm exhausted and hot and think it's time to take a long nap. But don't worry, I have so much more to share with you about my time in this beautiful country and lots and lots of photos!</div>
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Until next time.....<br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-40651534407412498162017-03-22T23:08:00.002-05:002017-03-23T03:49:23.283-05:00RETURN TO THE NORTH ISLAND - Part 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1jPHx7M7tn5IIXje72UZR3LdwLIxy7uyyKUyXuEDTtEhfrNw-a6PwFAGLKYhmrzQ3bcYvR78o2oEwF7kjiezeRDEGsqPd_oesU8OSDmgo27PCp-ode7SxYVjd-ACTqWQ5SKM6Ec0G2Xm/s1600/new-zealand-north-island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1jPHx7M7tn5IIXje72UZR3LdwLIxy7uyyKUyXuEDTtEhfrNw-a6PwFAGLKYhmrzQ3bcYvR78o2oEwF7kjiezeRDEGsqPd_oesU8OSDmgo27PCp-ode7SxYVjd-ACTqWQ5SKM6Ec0G2Xm/s640/new-zealand-north-island.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Peaceful-Design</i></td></tr>
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Pretend it's now February 6th. My time in New Zealand is drawing to a close - just one month a 2 days before my Visa expires and I my leave my home of the past 9 months.<br />
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The first thing I did after landing in Auckland was to catch a bus to Thames - the town in the Coromandel where I had started my New Zealand adventure. My 'girlfriends' had invited me back for a return visit. <br />
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The lovely Jeannette had put a Sold Out sign on her every-busy AirBnB room and I was thrilled to be her guest for 5 days. We had so much fun 'playing' in her quilt/sewing studio. I had a delicious dinner at Jean and Frank's in TePuru, went to my morning exercise class at the Elam Church and Jenny, Elizabeth, Pat and I attended the Scottish Highland Games in Paeora. Had my fill of bagpipes for another year!<br />
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<i>←Jenny ↑ Elizabeth & Pat</i><br />
<i> I'm amazed at Pat's courage as her sight continues to fail and she 'just keeps going!' </i><br />
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From Thames it was back on the bus to Auckland where I had one night downtown at the Attic Backpackers Hostel and time for a great Free Walking Tour of Auckland.<br />
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The next day I was joined by my good friend Kelly from Wellington.<br />
Before I had departed her fair city, we had arranged to meet-up and bus to the northernest portion of the North Island - <a href="http://www.newzealand.com/us/bay-of-islands/"><i>The Bay of Islands</i>.</a><br />
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We left in sunshine but arrived in Paihia in rain - lots of rain! Our hostel, <a href="http://www.bbh.co.nz/hd13/Capn-Bobs-Beach-House-Backpackers-in-Paihia-New-Zealand.html">Capt'n Bob's Beach House</a>, was not quite as close to the bus station as we were lead to believe. We had to drag our suitcases up and over and around a hill - about a 2km walk - through the rain. We arrived wet and hungry but were happy with our large rooms, great lounge, and big kitchen. <br />
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We dried off, shook off the raincoats and umbrellas and headed out once again. This time it was another 2km wet walk to tour the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This is the most historical Maori-English site in New Zealand, where the treaty was signed making New Zealand an English colony. We had a guided tour of the grounds, a performance of Maori music and dance and a very nice movie detailing the treaty.<br />
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<i>Flagpole designates the spot of the signing. </i><br />
<i>A hand-carved waka, traditional Maori boat</i>.<br />
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The next day, still damp with light showers and cloudy, we scratched plans to spend the day on the water and took the ferry across the bay to Russell. Russell during its heyday was where the whalers and prostitutes made their home, while the god-fearing Englishmen lived in Paihia. To this day, Russell is a much more fun place to visit. <br />
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We took a fabulous <a href="http://russellminitours.com/">Russell Mini Tour</a> with a great guide named Bob! This hour-long tour took us around and through and up to the highest point with a grand view of the entire Bay of Islands. (Which I am sure is much better when it isn't cloudy and wet!). Back down into town and time for a hot, delicious bowl of seafood chowder at Sally's before wandering around the town.<br />
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<i>Love how Sally's signs her name (in heavy cream) in the bowl of chowder!</i><br />
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Halleluiah! The sun has returned.<br />
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We awoke to a bright, blue sky and decided to split up for the day. Since I had done so many tours on lakes and sounds, I chose to see something truly unusual (thank you, Susan Hayden, for the suggestion) while Kelly chose to spend the day boating around the islands. <br />
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I hired a taxi to take me to Kawakawa,<br />
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the home of the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasser_Toilets">Hundertwasser Toilets</a></i>. Yep, I went out-of-my-way and had to hire a cab to be able to see a public toilet! But oh my, what a toilet. <br />
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Known as an international work of art and a huge tourist attraction to this small town, the toilets were designed by the expatriate Austrian artist, <i>Fridensreich Hundertwasser</i> using recycled materials from the local community. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Seen from across the street</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N1Z86OFLbzmMGoNueqml8_nQwn_S1c7bRgm4qvNTynkCgmGKUcTQ1B9IZ_QoyeGmVhU6xPmL0cEMaLynq4ENURkzs-T8RdyMkDW7r5aWofyQwNaWABgZq1AVXQ8juRzfE3ET4o9maXXz/s1600/P1080076.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N1Z86OFLbzmMGoNueqml8_nQwn_S1c7bRgm4qvNTynkCgmGKUcTQ1B9IZ_QoyeGmVhU6xPmL0cEMaLynq4ENURkzs-T8RdyMkDW7r5aWofyQwNaWABgZq1AVXQ8juRzfE3ET4o9maXXz/s320/P1080076.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLQBKJtHqpYyuELFZ0EF-XP8oWdnWEvh_2QlozbsLyHnXwpcUk-zvCDjAOcis268QopkIkWnF8lIiswijudhUWbEKEZ69dqiWBRtDG0eXLkHx-wZEd_utlADOHo1VDc0kLJHrCMsc3YX1/s1600/P1080092.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLQBKJtHqpYyuELFZ0EF-XP8oWdnWEvh_2QlozbsLyHnXwpcUk-zvCDjAOcis268QopkIkWnF8lIiswijudhUWbEKEZ69dqiWBRtDG0eXLkHx-wZEd_utlADOHo1VDc0kLJHrCMsc3YX1/s320/P1080092.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQF20eyb9kt9MUarNIqbOW6y9kUmiftrYBhqMWlPv0-E-DN1DTGaGopvDRpHEB5BkVmRHgNicBVzvl6BJGF_78tSx160Byo-F5tp6vtRzynTvkm7NdBciY5wssiKg4KnM5mhZCzZuDjNn/s1600/P1080087.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQF20eyb9kt9MUarNIqbOW6y9kUmiftrYBhqMWlPv0-E-DN1DTGaGopvDRpHEB5BkVmRHgNicBVzvl6BJGF_78tSx160Byo-F5tp6vtRzynTvkm7NdBciY5wssiKg4KnM5mhZCzZuDjNn/s320/P1080087.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men</td></tr>
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This was a total delight to the eyes! And what was sad to learn was at the time the 'city fathers' really didn't appreciate Mr. Hundertwasser's work, so when he volunteered to do more installations in other locations throughout the Bay of Islands, they turned him down. What a shame, as they now see large numbers of tourists visiting their fair town specifically to see 'the toilets!' Now, of course, the town has now embraced the mosaic art form and other pieces of artwork fill the streets and line the walls!<br />
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When my taxi driver returned me to Paihia, I chose to ferry back to Russel and have a leisurely lunch overlooking the water. After lunch, I did a little shopping, toured the original church and it's graveyard while falling in love with their congregation-needle-pointed seat cushions, then just sat in the shade and read a good book!<br />
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<i>My 'smiley' ferry boat. (click to see a bigger photo and read the sign) And as you can see, I was not the only who chose to lunch on the waterfront.</i><br />
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Kelly's cruise boat dropped her in Russel at the end of the day and we had a lovely glass of wine and nibbles at <i>The Gables</i> (overlooking the water) before we found a really wonderful wood-fired ' pizza garden' hidden in an alleyway where we enjoyed dinner before taking the ferry back to our hostel for our last night in the Bay of Islands. Early morning return bus ride to Auckland in the morning.<br />
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I planned to finally spend the next 4 days before my tour to Rotorua and final housesit began exploring New Zealand's largest and busiest city. That didn't happen. <br />
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Thanks to tromping through 2 days of rain, for only the 2nd time in 9 months I came down with a terrible cold - and fever - to the point where a trip to the emergency room became a necessity.<br />
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I was staying in one of <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4735626">the loveliest AirBnB's</a> in the beautiful Auckland suburb of Remuera with a wonderful hostess named Judie. She was kind enough to move me to a room (away from everyone else!) and made sure I had plenty of tea and good care. When it was time for me to head to Rotorua, the antibiotics had kicked in and I was finally on the way to getting well.<br />
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This has gotten much longer than I thought it would be - and my friends at Starbucks are looking at me like it's time to move on....So I will add a Part 2 within the next day or two. It will be my farewell to New Zealand!<br />
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Until next time.....<br />
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<br />Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-58835176907272116322017-03-18T21:52:00.000-05:002017-03-18T22:23:46.447-05:00THE SOUTH ISLAND 3 - Queenstown, TeAnau, Milford & Doubtful Sounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Dunedin, I hoped a <i>Naked Bus (just the name of the bus company, not how the driver & passengers dress), </i>and headed to Queenstown - the <i>Adventure Capital of the South Island</i>. I had booked into the new Haka Lodge - 4-bed mixed dorm room - for a week. (I always request a lower berth!)<br />
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I must say, this really was the only mistake I think I made in my itinerary during entire stay in New Zealand. Queenstown is for the young, the daring, the brave! If you are into para sailing, bungee jumping, hang-gliding, hiking steep mountains, then this is the place for you For a senior citizen with gimpy knees- not so much. <br />
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Plus it was Chinese New Year and the Chinese love visiting New Zealand at this time of year. The sidewalks were almost impassable, the restaurants swamped, and even though the Chinese government is supposedly giving their citizens traveling outside their homeland lessons on 'manners and courtesy when dealing with foreigners,' they haven't done a very good job! I have almost been blinded several times by 'selfie-sticks.' I can't comprehend why the Chinese cannot take a photo of a view or place or thing without putting themselves in the photo. And don't get me started on their tour leaders and their umbrellas!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See all the little orange dots - para sails floating off the mountaintop! While I was there one of the new 'instructors-in-training' fell and was seriously hurt. </td></tr>
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I did enjoy a long cruise on Lake Wakatipu to see the glaciers and a visit to the quaint, gold mining town of Arrowtown. I had some nice meals and drank some good wine, but really didn't feel inclined to take advantage of the very physical activities that Queenstown is noted for.<br />
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<i> A view of Queenstown from the lake and a life-size <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moa">Moa bird</a> statue in the park. Unfortunately, the Maori found them good eating and they are now extinct.</i><br />
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<i>Queenstown is surrounded by the Southern Alps. My lovely lunch in Arrowtown.</i><br />
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With my week in Queenstown concluded, I was really looking forward to my next adventure - a visit to Milford and Doubtful Sounds (think fjords) with a stop in TeAnau to see the glow worms - and I wasn't disappointed!<br />
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The bus that we took from Queenstown to TeAnau and on to Milford Sound was glass-topped! Certainly made seeing everything so much better. Departing at 7 a.m., we traveled out of Queenstown, up, around and through areas with many<br />
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lakes and rivers with large, snow-covered mountains looming in the distance.<br />
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The weather gods were smiling on us this day. For this time of year, what is normally gray, wet and cloudy weather turned into bright sunshine with brilliant blue skies.<br />
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After a brief stop in TeAnau (time to buy a coffee and a snack) and take a picture of this big blue bird ....<br />
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....we headed for Milford Sound....through The Fjordlands National Park. I cannot begin to tell you how breathtakingly beautiful this place is. I can only show you a few of the 100's of photos I took to try and give you an idea of this awe-inspiring place....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving TeAnau</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yI_bIBEVpiavSA03biNSQIKdwLTpgwrVhBQx_6uI9Wu2tkd2Jnw1G3Zvm_TAXaksdacvPE5WU_9-Wj5A23NgO6QWpBiXhPoyrFJ7tIc14sym_GluihniOWQzgIhed423vLF2RlL9N17j/s1600/P1070731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yI_bIBEVpiavSA03biNSQIKdwLTpgwrVhBQx_6uI9Wu2tkd2Jnw1G3Zvm_TAXaksdacvPE5WU_9-Wj5A23NgO6QWpBiXhPoyrFJ7tIc14sym_GluihniOWQzgIhed423vLF2RlL9N17j/s400/P1070731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view through the coach windows </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz6ZMXZ_PnQrh_ZmqqKyfdXs-Km6RBUSBZGj8ppd8dv4cDkWMm7w8Ciyjw664iaNAVtys89LQNhhyphenhyphenyIooxDD-Feqs0AikitqWCzBEPd25WiY_3RITMssh1BSbozkOTn8cJ8NNR23gkJpP/s400/P1070783.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That OMG view!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf26h6EaGyHgBkYmfmL5pasAD0Y4TjKTHE0d3HHkhBACPIpIyJxAAPBJK1trtZBolhmgpUDwBM5F2YO_CWgztrfOkfDYsY7-5mwBwWpl9c4or2S7xBR819KIkpGQ-BOZZJ_ocDQYR9P9U/s1600/P1070800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf26h6EaGyHgBkYmfmL5pasAD0Y4TjKTHE0d3HHkhBACPIpIyJxAAPBJK1trtZBolhmgpUDwBM5F2YO_CWgztrfOkfDYsY7-5mwBwWpl9c4or2S7xBR819KIkpGQ-BOZZJ_ocDQYR9P9U/s400/P1070800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These little guys, a member of the parrot family were just sitting and posing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydXheejsYEqs4rOt6-5xlvKSzj5U8N8luaEXGFO5FvcJV1a0rE1u599jSa1Jwr-bBJvCrKWROY6qcgFFpE7WmZSzT4TFt1hEJk0fLmQ0glfFGxxZUXx9xvjfMNBoy-h0g5_8AkekM1DHB/s1600/P1070722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydXheejsYEqs4rOt6-5xlvKSzj5U8N8luaEXGFO5FvcJV1a0rE1u599jSa1Jwr-bBJvCrKWROY6qcgFFpE7WmZSzT4TFt1hEJk0fLmQ0glfFGxxZUXx9xvjfMNBoy-h0g5_8AkekM1DHB/s400/P1070722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see why they call it Mirror Lake<br />
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I had chosen to take the 'nature cruise' on Milford Sound. The normally wet and rainy weather had taken a day off and with sun shining it was a fabulous 3-hours cruise filled with mist-covered peaks, massive, thundering waterfalls, more seals and wonderful photo ops. <br />
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Of course, everywhere you travel on the South Island, if you have seen any of New Zealand native Peter Jackson's <i>Lord of the Rings</i> movies, you feel like you are on the set of the movie!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkSOwjjO0-jDIW4JSARrtOmM4R2Rol_TEhB59rEnXClgACT5A-4YlYGuFeN6Roc16NUQkqsEGd6BQYftsQzSsYTGrgebUX3HaSPWg4UJ8SIKULzKbfwHgIJD8aMqLHQK7xwBcAp-yZCvv/s1600/P1070807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkSOwjjO0-jDIW4JSARrtOmM4R2Rol_TEhB59rEnXClgACT5A-4YlYGuFeN6Roc16NUQkqsEGd6BQYftsQzSsYTGrgebUX3HaSPWg4UJ8SIKULzKbfwHgIJD8aMqLHQK7xwBcAp-yZCvv/s640/P1070807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLKFZg50_wrdBDOh91JSA4DxQWMTFkW-WJmLzG4PHZKmhwGMCtyVwkPney8f7TYkhZjqqESLcWvvpSKhWVhsQT206RrNTDP6I-4ufMQbaOXGZOzg5tYmxV6N-lIcOd4JJZ8VYYE05jIzu/s1600/P1070809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLKFZg50_wrdBDOh91JSA4DxQWMTFkW-WJmLzG4PHZKmhwGMCtyVwkPney8f7TYkhZjqqESLcWvvpSKhWVhsQT206RrNTDP6I-4ufMQbaOXGZOzg5tYmxV6N-lIcOd4JJZ8VYYE05jIzu/s320/P1070809.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VDNREVI1DtX59hhxzhyphenhyphenO9u-CP-348oVmN0TwpFLd6ApZtKfKRFO31RNJPv-F-AhU2KEdm7hsc_1pFbkw3UZQn2CECTxNMWfh8OrNgtTObPvllnWOSumwA5U6TFrHlmyRwxOtZJ_y-YnH/s1600/P1070814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VDNREVI1DtX59hhxzhyphenhyphenO9u-CP-348oVmN0TwpFLd6ApZtKfKRFO31RNJPv-F-AhU2KEdm7hsc_1pFbkw3UZQn2CECTxNMWfh8OrNgtTObPvllnWOSumwA5U6TFrHlmyRwxOtZJ_y-YnH/s320/P1070814.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO4cvevFLipnKWTMODYq5jcu0fW1op63Sg0vF21kq-ZAKOVfCHRAnvLhUOWWRgBlV4mbAzTxlXh8G7XErVvTgCYvQZBsomxBKAIhPVULCuDXEEDYjVfd8Dj3w6_4DQtrPzExb_Coqs_AF/s1600/P1070868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUO4cvevFLipnKWTMODYq5jcu0fW1op63Sg0vF21kq-ZAKOVfCHRAnvLhUOWWRgBlV4mbAzTxlXh8G7XErVvTgCYvQZBsomxBKAIhPVULCuDXEEDYjVfd8Dj3w6_4DQtrPzExb_Coqs_AF/s320/P1070868.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<i>Yes, that's me in my raincoat getting a good dousing with the spray off the waterfall.</i></div>
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I overnighted in TeAnau just so I could tour the <i>glow-worm caves</i>. FYI:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In New Zealand and Australia, glow-worms are the larvae (maggots) of a special kind of fly known as a fungus gnat. Fungus gnats look rather like mosquitoes, and most feed on mushrooms and other fungi. However, a small group of fungus gnats are carnivores, and the worm-like larvae of these species use their glowing lights to attract small flying insects into a snare of sticky threads. One species, </span><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arachnocampa luminosa</span><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, is found throughout New Zealand.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></i>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic;">Hundreds of </span><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arachnocampa</span><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> larvae may live side by side on a damp sheltered surface, such as the roof of a cave or an overhanging bank in the forest. Their lights resemble a star-filled night sky. Māori call them titiwai, which refers to lights reflected in water. (</i>TEARA - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4;">This photo was shot at the Waitomo Caves by a professional photographer with permission to take the photo. 'Normal visitors' are not allowed to speak, take any photos or 'reach up and touch' while in the caves as the 'worms' will be disturbed. I did ask if they sometimes fell off their fishing-line-like-filaments onto tourist's heads and the answer was - yes!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning I took a 30-minute bus ride to Manapouri</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f7f4;">and then an hour-long boat trip, and then another 30 minute bus ride that would finally take me to the mouth of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubtful_Sound">Doubtful Sound</a>. </i> <i>(If you look at the map at the top, Doubtful Sound is that little squiggle going out to the sea opposite the plane's propeller.) </i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once there, I boarded a ship where I would spend the day and overnight while touring this deep, mist-shrouded, mystical fjord. On board was a full-time historian and naturalist who kept us constantly updated on the history of the areas we were passing through, the flora and fauna and sea creatures to be found in the Sound. This time the weather was typical - but those who live and work in this part of the world think it is more beautiful seen through the mists than when the sun shines.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9f7f4; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>On the boat ride to Doubtful Sound</i></span><br />
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<i>Doubtful Sound flowing out to the sea as seen through the mist on the bus ride to the ship. </i><br />
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<i>The main level of the ship - very nice facilities and really good food!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yyxfnUyqLVu50VV6mOx9C3fXmcdQPKuiPva65_UpQ9a1jxBpMJUD_9BbIBGrUyt5m1reZ_zy7DU5PtiWQFn9-ObCcbnV6pdyEs-mr_0slFKIPZ4K2o7UFG0LN44e7Sr6ZFmwEDmsiYcD/s1600/P1070971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yyxfnUyqLVu50VV6mOx9C3fXmcdQPKuiPva65_UpQ9a1jxBpMJUD_9BbIBGrUyt5m1reZ_zy7DU5PtiWQFn9-ObCcbnV6pdyEs-mr_0slFKIPZ4K2o7UFG0LN44e7Sr6ZFmwEDmsiYcD/s320/P1070971.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEgYWMIie9fR_QUUBUwB3REQRMX5thfNR3QEzHO9bWS3Fae00R48_ph7zg6l7OHutZl900VkShN-WJXvahGV3EOkLTPNNMs3VWpyE1adPTlYj3hDA1lhJxVeeg7Znb19jXHT7ZJwhCJq5/s1600/P1070972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEgYWMIie9fR_QUUBUwB3REQRMX5thfNR3QEzHO9bWS3Fae00R48_ph7zg6l7OHutZl900VkShN-WJXvahGV3EOkLTPNNMs3VWpyE1adPTlYj3hDA1lhJxVeeg7Znb19jXHT7ZJwhCJq5/s320/P1070972.JPG" width="320" /></a><i>This is the 4-bunk room I shared with 2 young ladies and an older gentleman (85) from England who thought he had died and gone to heaven! Above is the view from our porthole.</i><br />
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<i>Can you find me in my kayak? We had the option of going out in a smaller boat, kayaking or jumping off the back and swimming in the frigid waters!</i></div>
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Waterfalls were plentiful and the seals were there as well. The scenery was very similar to Mitford Sound, but the eeriness and quiet of Doubtful Sound really set it apart. Looking back, did I need to tour both? No. But hindsight is always so much clearer. Plus I met and dined with a lovely Dutch couple I actually ran into when I got back to the North Island. Small world...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Doubtful Sound through the mists</i></td></tr>
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The next day I returned to Queenstown via bus and spent one more night before I flew to Auckland to spend my last few weeks in New Zealand touring more the The North Island.<br />
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Until next time.....<br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-44058079608914015982017-03-13T22:02:00.000-05:002017-03-13T22:02:22.169-05:00THE SOUTH ISLAND 2 - Dunedin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEp1hjY1aKiMC1DvrDzTPPHJrFz46nFbmoxN9Y_SEFhToBeWmMlYsE08RvbDLXT3bslUFcFumWnzG5XdLTf6bPWq9pASu2RqoSTmJn4KZ__vhM0foTfm2m6w4Oz2FOvQiQUd-v435oC3E/s1600/Map-of-South-Island%252C-NZ.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEp1hjY1aKiMC1DvrDzTPPHJrFz46nFbmoxN9Y_SEFhToBeWmMlYsE08RvbDLXT3bslUFcFumWnzG5XdLTf6bPWq9pASu2RqoSTmJn4KZ__vhM0foTfm2m6w4Oz2FOvQiQUd-v435oC3E/s640/Map-of-South-Island%252C-NZ.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On January 19th I completed my holiday housesit and flew from Wellington to spend the next 3 weeks exploring the south half of the South Island.<br />
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I spent the first week in Dunedin at the wonderful hostel, <a href="http://www.kiwisnest.co.nz/">KiwisNest</a>. With a corner room all to myself, the staff even brought me in a desk and chair and I made myself right at home. The upper left corner room was mine!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wopCkVwQezYNKo-EwUbdvRixBi5ny6R6VYxqfI-C4vn-f4o_0h6W7pIkFJVd8A42Z-1GevFASeoysZ6N8FORBz86Vae60nmSxdAf-JN5qxP0_gEkv86i6BV7JQYr5GvQvcnVbaxakASC/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wopCkVwQezYNKo-EwUbdvRixBi5ny6R6VYxqfI-C4vn-f4o_0h6W7pIkFJVd8A42Z-1GevFASeoysZ6N8FORBz86Vae60nmSxdAf-JN5qxP0_gEkv86i6BV7JQYr5GvQvcnVbaxakASC/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Dunedin is the 2nd largest city on the South Island, after Christchurch. It was settled by Scottish settlers and named after Edinburgh, using the Galic which translated to Dunedin. As early as 1770, Lt. James Cook stood off shore overlooking the harbor and reported many penguins and seals in the area. <br />
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Dunedin is the home of New Zealand first university, founded in 1869, the <i>University of Otago</i>, which today is the largest area employer. And it's located just around the corner from my hostel! I spent many a rainy day exploring the bookshop, art museum and having a coffee in the union chatting with the students and professors.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwRmce5BNtlv0V37zi2mZXxFQYEun0OfNoz1Evx273PY0EeHj09EFmq9xUpEOxJkv2NIndE69EOfoNJxRKp5sdVkIoJdszX_6LOnSSZdpLeqdyhcZB4zGS2rpOpBCVxMeSx-NYSKo5kE2/s1600/P1070286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwRmce5BNtlv0V37zi2mZXxFQYEun0OfNoz1Evx273PY0EeHj09EFmq9xUpEOxJkv2NIndE69EOfoNJxRKp5sdVkIoJdszX_6LOnSSZdpLeqdyhcZB4zGS2rpOpBCVxMeSx-NYSKo5kE2/s320/P1070286.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The center of Dunedin is called <i>The Octagon</i>. This is large, octagon-shaped (sort of) area right in the center of town with a nice-sized grassy area in the center, is bisected by 'the main drag', topped off by the Cathedral and surrounded by restaurants, museums, movie theaters and the always helpful iSite. As you can imagine it is the gathering/meeting place for anything happening in the city! (More about that later). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy6tikq15MUQvwx32iNQZhhc3YGRe03jWN-v_qW5y_BIvtKh4ak-uZt2qQcgMpodcyJVIS-OWbAe1SGmphZJjZCTrPp9bbD0gpmEDUSocNJqj4BXWOc6m_uTWwXby3eUB42R57gMTKS5Z/s1600/P1070307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy6tikq15MUQvwx32iNQZhhc3YGRe03jWN-v_qW5y_BIvtKh4ak-uZt2qQcgMpodcyJVIS-OWbAe1SGmphZJjZCTrPp9bbD0gpmEDUSocNJqj4BXWOc6m_uTWwXby3eUB42R57gMTKS5Z/s320/P1070307.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
<i>Above is a side-view of the Cathedral and my favorite window I found in a small nave inside - honoring the areas seals, penguins, and albatross! </i><br />
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I as I mentioned, twice now, Dunedin is the one place you can see albatross, little blue penguins and seals in their natural habitat. I signed up for the afternoon/evening/nighttime tour to the Albatross Center. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhRX5UdmJvZpnZYz-MprXLRZ9FW7QDHVT5Z2w-U3gdYXUNibVqu9YNbcLdZ-zSnQQ2wfU3KmtHf6t8lWLrwQ9lZVncHRfPbPjh9Ns9GCkq9tzgyXlMDcKdzc6kyKXchA76XHzyjcMClUB/s1600/P1070462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhRX5UdmJvZpnZYz-MprXLRZ9FW7QDHVT5Z2w-U3gdYXUNibVqu9YNbcLdZ-zSnQQ2wfU3KmtHf6t8lWLrwQ9lZVncHRfPbPjh9Ns9GCkq9tzgyXlMDcKdzc6kyKXchA76XHzyjcMClUB/s320/P1070462.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was driven an hour along the coastline where I boarded a boat with approximate 50 others, including a great group of students from the University of Rhode Island. It was a very rough, windy and wet day and OMG, the boat provided everyone with fleece-lined heavy-duty raincoats. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdSSh5TucLmcV9cOgZtdyXYv5ZKIHHcCyH3h_dhfCJe2Pa3J61iZvWu2MuPl6fnB3ronvoFBt_T5jnYxaE3VHIhK3rxIkGo4_RM7ufi6bQ733s8G0JmCoL2T3vcoFXEZ6BDD9iMbR4_pg/s1600/IMG_0927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdSSh5TucLmcV9cOgZtdyXYv5ZKIHHcCyH3h_dhfCJe2Pa3J61iZvWu2MuPl6fnB3ronvoFBt_T5jnYxaE3VHIhK3rxIkGo4_RM7ufi6bQ733s8G0JmCoL2T3vcoFXEZ6BDD9iMbR4_pg/s320/IMG_0927.jpg" width="240" /></a>We motored out into the bay to be able to see the magnificent albatross in flight. I really didn't know much about these magnificent birds so here's what I learned -<br />
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The albatross is a VERY large seabird. They range widely in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific. <span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">They have the largest wingspans of any extant birds, reaching up to 3.7 meters (12 feet).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #252525;"><i>I know seeing a photo of my backside is not very exciting but this gives you a good idea and just how big their wingspan is. </i> </span><span style="color: #252525;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What make them so amazing is that they leave their land-based homes for a year - or more! - and never again touch ground until the return. They have developed a 'soaring technique' that allows them to ride the wind, walk on water to scoop up food in their unusual-shaped bills. They also can drink seawater and rid their bodies of the salt via tubes (long nostrils) that run alongside the side of their bills and excrete the salt but also allow them to measure their exact airspeed (just like modern aircraft do!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When their return to land it is to specifically mate. Land is an uninhabited, exposed headland with easy access to the sea from several directions. They are 'late bloomers' and can be 10 years old before they first mate. Albatross normally live 50 years old. The oldest recorded one, a female, lived to be 66 years old. I could go on and on, but just read the wonderful information on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatross">Wikipedia!</a> Just seeing them flying overhead and nesting was such a wonderful experience. And FYI, they are an endangered species. </span><br />
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<i>The Colony has a 'live cam' each year on one of the nests. So cool! As you can imagine, they lay BIG eggs. </i><br />
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After getting off the boat we climbed up to the top of the point where they have built an observation center where you cannot talk but can observe these magnificent birds doing their mating dance, raising their hatchling, or just taking an extremely clumsy running leap off the edge of the cliff, catching an updraft and filling the sky with their sheer size.<br />
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After a enjoying a beautiful sunset over the inlet, we were treated to a very nice fish 'n chips dinner in the Center's cafe while we waiting for darkness to fall - the time when the little penguins return from their day in the sea and come onshore to spend the night in their nests built among the rocks. <br />
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This is what these little darlings look like when standing still in the daylight (thanks www for the photo!) Below is what they look like coming out at the water in mass at dusk.<br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Before ending my week in Dunedin I had the great privilege to join the organizers and help with the plans for the January 21st, worldwide Woman's March. For a short time, I was part of an amazing group of women. They hoped they might have 150 attend their March and were thrilled beyond belief when over 450 men, women, and children, many wearing 'pussy hats' showed up at The Octagon on the beautiful, sunny Saturday morning to listen to speeches and music, show their solidarity and share their concerns with women from around-the-world. </span><br />
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What an ending to my stay in Dunedin. Now it's onto Queenstown.<br />
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Until next time.....<br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17.5px;"></span></span>Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-45017995350595572962017-03-02T18:25:00.000-06:002017-03-18T22:24:01.085-05:00The SOUTH ISLAND 1- Christchurch, Akaroa, Arthur's Pass, Hokitika<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you read my previous blog posts, you know that I had made my way to the South Island for a trip to Nelson to specifically tour the </span><i style="text-align: left;">WOW Museum</i><span style="text-align: left;"> (with a short foray into the fabulous Abel Tasman National Park) before returning to Blenheim, smack in the middle the delicious Marlborough wine region, for a house and puppy sit. </span></div>
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I was booked to fly into Christchurch on December 5th where I would spend several days exploring, including a day trip to the French settlement of Akaroa, before taking Kiwi Rail's Trans Alpine to Greymouth and then on to Hokitika. I'd return over Arthur's Pass via van to Christchurch and then via KiwiRail's Coastal Explorer back to Picton where I would catch the ferry back to Wellington. </div>
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This all became discombobulated when the 7.9 earthquake of November 14, 2016 hit. The epicenter was the town of Kaikora, which shook-up, broke-up and disrupted my and so many other's travel plans. Below are just some of the photos I found on the web showing the damage.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-oTNzsZGBpDMP1WJE-kfoWVMYnZlGR2CrlgOkQD_TIoFgEXUSM0vI316T5H-9dyguDI7rnS2vKtLwULDegeISXYpj5qlWuJM65whuBpTLT5bYQLertWysV5D2OzxraeTzWTdYvA_Pd_/s1600/161114110701-07-new-zealand-earthquake-1114-exlarge-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-oTNzsZGBpDMP1WJE-kfoWVMYnZlGR2CrlgOkQD_TIoFgEXUSM0vI316T5H-9dyguDI7rnS2vKtLwULDegeISXYpj5qlWuJM65whuBpTLT5bYQLertWysV5D2OzxraeTzWTdYvA_Pd_/s640/161114110701-07-new-zealand-earthquake-1114-exlarge-169.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>You can see the train tracks that parallel the coastal highway coming out of the tunnel and just running into the sea- the mud and rocks have literally filled in the ocean at this point.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxs-xnNROmu10S4e7jFPcq3eUGjUQxlRRwEw5EOjCKCXs6mCjt9FaXi3tl3ZoOlkB9GxBErGACk7yKdhVK0XSBspHLFJtGe_pHMU7DRJkHgLZKZcHJWNT3Deu9dw1jOYzTNnEQs_MsuNl/s1600/CxKuHB_UkAAwo7l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxs-xnNROmu10S4e7jFPcq3eUGjUQxlRRwEw5EOjCKCXs6mCjt9FaXi3tl3ZoOlkB9GxBErGACk7yKdhVK0XSBspHLFJtGe_pHMU7DRJkHgLZKZcHJWNT3Deu9dw1jOYzTNnEQs_MsuNl/s400/CxKuHB_UkAAwo7l.jpg" width="300" /></i></a><br />
<i>Highways are no match for an earthquake</i><br />
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<i>This photo of the 3 cows stranded when the pasture around them has just collapsed went viral all over the world. FYI, they were rescued by the military.</i></div>
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So my trip went forward, but with a few changes. First, if you look at the map above you will see that Kaikoura is north of Christchurch. The force of this 7.9 earthquake made a mess of Kaikoura, closed the ferry docks in Picton, went across the bay north into Wellington and out into the ocean. Christchurch, which had suffered so much damage and lost so many lives in the earthquake of February 22, 2011, only had minor shakes. So on December 5th, I flew into Christchurch (and will fly out of Christchurch) for further exploration of the upper part of the South Island. </div>
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Air New Zealand has this great site called <i>Grab-a-Seat</i>. You receive daily, extremely cheap flights in your inbox for destinations all over New Zealand. I managed to get a RT fare from Wellington to Christchurch for a total of $74 NZ, or $52.84US. What's weird about the Christchurch airport is that it is literally in the middle of a cow pasture. It's a good 45-minute shuttle ride from the cows into the city. </div>
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I arrived on a beautiful, sunny day and found my AirBnB with little problem, just a bit more of a walk that I had expected. My hostess Kaye pulled out a nice bottle of wine and we got acquainted while she filled me in on sites I needed to see while in Christchurch. </div>
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My first full day my first stop was the iSite where I signed up for a<a href="http://welcomeaboard.co.nz/gondola/"> ride up the gondola</a> to see the breathtaking view of Christchurch, across the Canterbury Plains to the mighty Southern Alps, the hills of Banks Peninsula and the teal blue of Lyttelton Harbour spread out below.</div>
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After grabbing a quick bite in the cafe at the top, it was back to Christchurch to take the <a href="http://www.freetours.co.nz/">free walking tour</a> of the CBD (Central Business District - no one in New Zealand says 'downtown'!) </div>
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What can I say about Christchurch? If found it extremely sad. They are trying so hard to rebuild but it's been almost 7 years now since 'the big one hit' and though there is banging and pounding and cranes everywhere, the downtown area, which was almost totally gutted by the earthquake, remains strangely empty. </div>
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The main reason is that no one can come to a decision about what to do about the Cathedral which was the anchor and main site to see right in the middle of the city. I've read it's the church not having the money for repairs (ha! - no one believes that). I've heard it's the government that can't decide on a plan. (that one I can believe). It's really just the decision of whether to teardown what is left standing and replace it with a brand new Cathedral or try and repair the old. As you can see from the photos, it's a massive eyesore that takes up acres of land. It's fenced off as the rest may tumble down any moment and with constant earthquakes, well....</div>
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They have constructed a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_Cathedral">Cardboard Cathedral</a> just a few blocks away which is certainly different but doesn't quite fill the emptiness left by the beautiful, old Anglican Cathedral. </div>
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The city still has some beautiful spaces. The <i>Avon River</i> runs directly through the middle of Christchurch and the park area that encompasses both sides of the river is almost as large and very reminiscent of Central Park in New York City. There is artwork and play areas and fountains and bandshells, running and bike paths and lots and lots of flowers throughout the park. </div>
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There are two really great museums that I made time to visit, The Canterbury Museum of Art and CoCA - the Center for Contemporary Art.</div>
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Quite a difference in style - and substance, as you can see. You can barely make out at the top of the roof on the left-hand side of the CoCa the strange piece of art pointing you into the museum - </div>
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I thoroughly enjoyed wandering through both - seeing the Air New Zealand exhibition was a hoot - especially the changes in the uniforms over the years. But what really made me smile was they had picked up and moved the entire cottage of Fred & Myrtle Fluty of Bluff, NZ (far, far south coast) and put the entire thing it in the museum. </div>
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You see Fred love to collect and polish paua shells and Myrtle liked to display these beautiful shells. After haning the first one on their wall, over 1000 followed - along with lots of people from all over the world wanting to see this amazing little home. My photo doesn't do it justice to this space - but it sure was fun and many friends and family members will be getting a NZ paua shell for a gift when I return home.</div>
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Christchurch has tried to brighten is walls with interesting street art - hoping people don't realize you are only seeing the wall - and not the building it used to be part of.</div>
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<i> Love the penquins - this was all one big mural beside a parking lot,</i><br />
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Because the stores in the CBD all had to be torn down because they were unsafe, the downtown now has its entire shopping district housed in 'shipping containers!' I kid you not! Even the big department stores are made up of multiple, multi-level metal shipping containers. As the renovations and building of new stores continue, the containers will be replaced by an actual building, but for now - it's very funky and a little weird.</div>
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Lastly - my favorite piece of art that graces the center of town, in the middle of Cathedral Square is a beautiful chalice-like metal piece that symbolizes hope - which this city certainly can use. </div>
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On my last day in the Christchurch area I signed up to take a one-day tour to Akaroa. Akaroa is located on the tip of Banks Peninsula is the only area in New Zealand that was settled in 1840 French whalers . The British got a wee bit upset about this and a small flail insued. Needless to say, the British won but a lot of the French influence remained. </div>
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I was told by a good friend who had visited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akaroa">Akaroa </a>10 years ago to be sure and put it on my 'must-see' list of places to visit. The van ride out of Christchurch and up, over and round the area was lovely.</div>
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We made one photo-op stop as we looked down on the breathtaking vista overlooking the sheltered harbour that drew settlers to Akaroa in the first place.<br />
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Because the docks near Christchurch have yet to be repaired, the large cruise ships now stop in Akaroa. I was thrilled that I was there on a day they were not, but also found that most of the French culture and history had been washed away by commercialism and cuteness. A lot of stores and restaurants weren't even open because 'it wasn't a cruise day.' There was an opportunity to 'swim with dolphins' and cruise around the harbor but I chose to wander, take a few photos and soon found Akaroa small and quickly wandered. I was quite happy to find a nice, quite bar on the waterfront where I could take a long time to sip my beer while reading my latest Kindle book. <br />
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After returning to Christchurch I had the pleasure of having dinner with my AirBnB hostess before my very early morning shuttle to the train station. I was booked on the Trans Alpine Express to Greymouth and then on to Hokitika. I love train rides and KiwiRail offers some of the best. Their service is spectacular, the trains are immaculately clean, the cost is reasonable and the food is even good! <br />
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Unfortunately, it was a really crappy day! Rain, wind and fog do not make for good photo-taking from an open-air car. But when not trying to get a few photos to share, I could sit back in my comfy seat, put on the provided earphones and listen to the history of the area we were passing through and the stories of the people that inhabited and built this railroad through the soring mountains.<br />
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<i> Heading out from Christchurch with the first view of the mountains we would be crossing - OMG! There is snow on them there peaks.</i><br />
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<i>We crossed over many deep gorges with freezing glacier water thundering below.</i><br />
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<i>The lupins were in bloom and intermixed with the trackside gorse for a very colorful display. </i><br />
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I arrived in Greymouth, the jumping off point for destinations north, like Nelson and <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/abel-tasman-national-park/">Abel Tasman National Park</a>, and south to the <a href="http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/">Franz Josef Glacier</a> and where I was headed, the home of the greenstone - Hokitika. My bus was waiting for those getting off the train and within an hour I was in....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Hokitika sign is always on the beach made from driftwood which is all over the place</i></td></tr>
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Greenstone, or as we know it as jade, was first found in the rivers and streams that pour down from the mountains near Hokitika. The Maori used this hard stone to create weapons and jewelry carved in intricate design to adorn and protect their body. Each symbol has a specific meaning. <br />
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But before I went in search for my own piece of greenstone, I was met by Bob, the owner of the <a href="http://aceaccommodationhokitika.co.nz/">ACE </a>Accommodation where I was staying during my time in Hokitika. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuPoOPxaFtSHNSDI1guxzg9YbotUqre1SGi1rn8-WBPRjbx43Q_e3MZM4vFXNh5HsQ2CfFFezqJgVaL7vcxoTW1NVPLTyAISOJQBNBMX1voeplRI1NizWFA_XbpYxA7i-nTd86nPohvI9/s320/P1060937.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking down at the beautiful garden</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>ACE B&B</i></td></tr>
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Bob picked me up at the bus station, gave me a tour of Hokitika (in the pouring rain), got me installed me in my upstairs corner room, telling me not to miss the morning view from the balcony if the rain stopped, recommended the restaurant where I should have dinner, then drove me back into town for dinner while suggestingI not miss the opportunity to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8Xvsjy57X0">'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'</a>, the much loved New Zealand-made-film about New Zealand that was playing across the street from the restaurant - and he would come pick me up when it was finished! (I've linked the trailer on YouTube - if you can rent this movie, do so because it's hysterical.) <br />
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The dinner was delicious and as I said, the movie was hysterical but I can't not show you photos of the actual <i>theater.</i> I watched it with a couple visiting from Wellington who had seen it 5 times. I sat across from them on the comfy couch with pillows for my back and a nice foot rest for my feet. We were the only ones in the 'theater!' You can see the big red curtain on the left that the woman who was selling tickets and making popcorn pulled closed in lieu of a door. It took me a long time to stop laughing.</div>
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And yes, Bob picked me up and before taking me back to the B&B, he took me to see the location of the local Glow Worms. I will go into detail about these NZ creatures in a later posting. </div>
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So I wake up the next morning and the rain and fog has disappeared, the skies are bright blue. I step out on the balcony and see......this!</div>
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<i>The snowed-covered Southern Alps with Mt. Cook towering above</i></div>
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<i>Love my telephoto lense - Mt. Cook up close!</i></div>
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It's a beautiful day to go in search of my very own piece of greenstone. I walk into downtown Hokitika and see that there are only 3 main streets - one that runs from the highway, through the middle of town (with the clock tower in the center of the round-about) and ends at the beach and two cross-streets. Each of the 3 is approximately 3 blocks long and each is filled with greenstone shops! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jade/Greenstone in a shop window</i></td></tr>
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Hokitika started as a whaling port with the boom-time being 1867 when up to 40 vessels would be bunched at the docks, sometimes 2-3 deep unloading their cargo. The area grew and became a prosperous town. In 1908 Andrew Carnegie built one of his 18 New Zealand libraries in Hokitika which today is the local history museum. (Except it's closed due to earthquake damage.) <br />
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I spent all morning and most of the afternoon wandering in and out of every shop in town, learning what each of the carvings meant and what tribe of Maori had designed them. I imagine I saw over 1000 pieces during just this one day - not kidding - and I was going crazy. I was really was starting to think I didn't need a piece of greenstone - And then I walked into <a href="http://juergenschacke.photoshelter.com/page1">The Wilderness Gallery</a>.</div>
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Owner and photographer Juergen Schacke greeted me and we started talking, and talking, and talking. For over an hour we talked art, photography, shared our life stories, discussed fine craft, greenstone and then my eye landed on a piece in a cabinet that said <i>'take me with you!' </i> I sometimes listen to voices in my head - and sometimes I ignore them - especially if they are going to cost me lots of money! After trying the piece on and touching it and admiring it in the mirror, I told Juergen I really had to think about it and went off for a much-needed caffeine-infusion. </div>
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So I thought and thought and realized I really, really loved this piece - much more than any piece of greenstone I had seen, so back I went, credit card in hand. I had known that Juergen had a meeting to go to and I was greeted by his beautiful wife - who had heard all about me. She had the piece I wanted set aside but as we got to chatting, she asked if I had had time to see the Hokitika Gorge? I informed her I was busing, no car, and this lovely woman said I really needed to see this stunning place and volunteered to come, with their young daughter, pick me up the next morning, and drive me to the Gorge as the color of the water in the Gorge was not to be missed. How amazing is that? </div>
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So I paid for my beautiful piece of jewelry and the next morning, before I had to catch my bus back to Greymouth for my return trip over Arthur's Pass back to Christchurch, I was taken by these two lovely ladies to see the teal blue glacial waters of Hokitika Gorge. </div>
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Oh, you are wondering just what I bought instead of greenstone? It's a piece by artist Yannis Petzold of Raglan, NZ. He learned his carving skills from his father and combines antique ebony piano keys with silver, brass, paua shell and mother-of-pearl to make one-of-a-kind pieces of stunning jewelry. He also hand-weaves the leather 'chains' that hold the piece. It may not be greenstone, but it's me!</div>
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My return trip to Christchurch went smoothly. I even got to ride in the front seat of the mini-van next to the driver. It was a gloriously beautiful day and though there weren't any photo stops along the way, I did manage to grab just one picture of the always beautiful New Zealand landscape.</div>
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Until next time and more from The South Island.....</div>
Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-5924840838090174962017-02-27T17:37:00.001-06:002017-02-27T20:35:42.605-06:00TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON - PART 2Time really flies when you're having fun! I loved my 3 1/2 months living in Wellington - I had public transportation that made it easy to get from my little 'home on the hill' into the CBD (if you didn't mind walking down an extremely steep hill to catch the bus - or back up it when the bus that could let you off at the top-of-the-hill wasn't running! Extremely good for calf and thigh muscles!)<br />
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When not traveling out of Wellington for a short-term housesits or sightseeing adventures, I enjoyed finding unusual and fun things to see and do in extremely Windy Wellington!<br />
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Be it taking photos of a neighbor's weird mailbox to stumbling onto a Creative Fibers expo or wondering why a 'texting' golden gorilla was sitting on a park bench in the middle of downtown to enjoying my flatmate's annual 'return to Wellington' organ concert, my days were filled with new and fun things to see and do!<br />
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There were parties with Pavlova and fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes and his aborted attempt to blow up the British Parliment in 1605. Always a good reason to celebrate!<br />
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I heard a beautiful rendition of "<i>Cloudbust"</i> by the <i>Wellington Orpheus Choir</i> at the Wellington Cathedral on the night of the huge 7.8 earthquake that left the pipes of their great organ scattered all over the floor. <br />
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I had the opportunity, thanks to an invite from the American/NewZealand Club, to see and hear Secretary of State John Kerry dedicate the WWII American/New Zealand War Memorial.<br />
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I celebrated Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimming with the American/NZ Club; volunteered to serve dinner along with the US Embassy staff members to Wellington's less fortunate and welcomed the birth of my first grand<b><u>son</u>, </b>JT Scott. <br />
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Enjoyed attending a Christmas Faire at the home of the <i>British High Commission</i> - lots of yummy homemade goodies to buy, a formal high tea to sip and costumed dancers and musicians to enjoy.<br />
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Then there were days just enjoying a drive around the coastline of Wellington on a beautiful day....<br />
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No further decorations are needed when the <i>pohutukawa trees</i> exploded into riotous red bloom in celebration of the Christmas/summer holidays.<br />
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The weather varied hourly - one moment clouds hung over the water, with only a patch of sun shining through as the small dot of a large cruise ship sails out of the harbor. And the next moment it has cleared and made way for a spectacularly clear night of great music and the New Year's Eve fireworks display.<br />
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But the best of times I spent in Wellington were sharing my days with two fabulous women. Kelly & Jenny combined to make my stay memorable - days filled with interesting and fun things to do, movies to see, avocado mashes to eat, museum and art exhibitions to attend, long conversations to solve to world's problems and daytrips near and far as they made sure I saw everything there was to see during my time in Wellington. I miss them already and can't imagine no longer having them as part of my everyday life! 😞<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly & Punter</td></tr>
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Jenny & Me</td></tr>
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We spent time wandering through the beautiful Wellington Botanic Gardens, feasting at seaside cafes, having a personal tour-guide through the mouth-dropping and heart-breaking Gallipoli Exhibition at the <i>Te Papa Museum, </i>going to a pick-your-own lavender and sheep farm for an afternoon or just stopping to enjoy the carvings at the entrance to a beautiful Maori marae.<br />
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Bontanic Gardens<br />
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Lunch at the Maranui Surf Club - dessert first!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Te Papa Museum</td></tr>
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Just one of the massive life-like figures designed by the <i>Weta Workshop</i> for the amazing GallipoliExhibition.<br />
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Lavender fields and sheep go hand-in-hand.<br />
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The entrance to a beautifulful Maori meeting grounds, a <i>marae</i>.<br />
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Jenny organized and Kelly, Punter and I had a marvelous day-trip up and over the Rimutaka Mountain pass and into the Martinborough wine region. There we sipped great 'whites', dined on fresh salmon, drove down rutted, gravel roads with parts of the sea washing over them to reach the lighthouse at <i>Cape Palliser</i>. We were greeted with some of the largest waves of the year and lots and lots of seals who were also enjoying the sunny day!<br />
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I was privileged to conclude my stay in Wellington doing a 3-week housesit for a lovely family in the suburb of Karori while they traveled to Zimbabwe. They were so kind, even welcoming me into their family celebrations on Christmas Day. I had the complete and utter pleasure of living in their beautiful 1900's Arts & Crafts home (with an inglenook fireplace!) and spoiling the adorable Punter and Polly.<br />
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I so enjoyed my stay with 'the Boys', meeting Kelly & Jenny, seeing so many wonderful things, meeting so many fabulous people, surviving my first (and I certainly hope my last) big earthquake, and having Wellington <i>literally</i> sweep me off my feet! It's that windy!!! I will carry with me always the friendships and the memories I made during my stay - I 💗 and miss you, Wellington!<br />
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Until next time.....<br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-72243609537266477752017-01-29T22:34:00.000-06:002017-01-29T22:34:11.936-06:00TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON - PART IFrom October 1st to January 19th, I was based in Wellington - the capital city of New Zealand, where I made my home, most of the time, in a comfy room overlooking the beautiful harbour. But I did venture out from my cozy nest to see and do and house and pet sit during this time. I also took in several fun events in the city. Here is a recap with lots of photos of just some of what I saw and did!<br />
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First - <i>WOW<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: "work sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px;">® - </span>the World of Wearable Art<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: "work sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px;">®</span> is a renowned international design competition that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world. Finalists compete for over $165,000 in prize money plus internships with leading creative companies such as the Weta Workshop.</i> The annual WOW show was one of the main reasons I had to get to Wellington by October 1st!<br />
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Tickets were pricey and my seat, though ok, was on the side and I had to turn my neck in such a weird way to be able to see the stage that I ended up with a very sore neck for the next 2 weeks! But was it worth it - you bet!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yO2NexyjQgwsVUTVag2cH7GF3CstTPtc-xYr03x8nhFflArb_ywgMiEOACnrTLLXpmU-_YRo2FVj41c4NiTFZToK3qVAik3m9REfKR0Amw6xhF2v6i75tXTt3NBW4MUlQRnjU_McDWO5/s1600/P1060337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2yO2NexyjQgwsVUTVag2cH7GF3CstTPtc-xYr03x8nhFflArb_ywgMiEOACnrTLLXpmU-_YRo2FVj41c4NiTFZToK3qVAik3m9REfKR0Amw6xhF2v6i75tXTt3NBW4MUlQRnjU_McDWO5/s400/P1060337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHlRn947DihISYM9kGQq1BhkuWdVplM2e8GChypwmuuDUsTFeNxrzE-ZrYMUKzg-ziQgQURpKDt7Z5BiZLiATk2tSZtSr7mbtAC2x9az2jAF6u-AW5BVvQ69jWXbHYlsgUScyDTwr-08d/s1600/P1060344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHlRn947DihISYM9kGQq1BhkuWdVplM2e8GChypwmuuDUsTFeNxrzE-ZrYMUKzg-ziQgQURpKDt7Z5BiZLiATk2tSZtSr7mbtAC2x9az2jAF6u-AW5BVvQ69jWXbHYlsgUScyDTwr-08d/s320/P1060344.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz6P5o_h2iwiWL6zh1aKaeIvWB0u0hwKTWSr6An-Q8rVQUAiV9VqTrQGnJC3b-_o1xcJvq7wl8tDw1HhWVO2HAoU3PQ3P-kvil8L3h0qY8TtIUs3yfGTjXknVhYV03Wob4uJwa4A_jHgu/s1600/P1060355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz6P5o_h2iwiWL6zh1aKaeIvWB0u0hwKTWSr6An-Q8rVQUAiV9VqTrQGnJC3b-_o1xcJvq7wl8tDw1HhWVO2HAoU3PQ3P-kvil8L3h0qY8TtIUs3yfGTjXknVhYV03Wob4uJwa4A_jHgu/s320/P1060355.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyEWcPYxoYkC4nK5t32WnF340_28T7YiJAFB58rZK2lM2Y5nhU1Mrh779lMoeQd2vFsdT2NRvTO9Sisv2XOkes9xjBPK71erd19StEskcv_FZeJhEUuDF2a5ocNUd2Q1VhjqaILuI1QoG/s1600/P1060357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyEWcPYxoYkC4nK5t32WnF340_28T7YiJAFB58rZK2lM2Y5nhU1Mrh779lMoeQd2vFsdT2NRvTO9Sisv2XOkes9xjBPK71erd19StEskcv_FZeJhEUuDF2a5ocNUd2Q1VhjqaILuI1QoG/s320/P1060357.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz_YRXEXJXINPbW8KHFE4QXvwiKqlWT-eJSgHFeH07yOhJmOvqQBUM5CfVXBmY8UJIV_08F1kiMYFEYRxK6bcU_vDC1QiPg6szR5s0gjKL2c83AtCQ4IUb3vGlFd4UGN4Zj6zceLrRrwq/s1600/P1060370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZz_YRXEXJXINPbW8KHFE4QXvwiKqlWT-eJSgHFeH07yOhJmOvqQBUM5CfVXBmY8UJIV_08F1kiMYFEYRxK6bcU_vDC1QiPg6szR5s0gjKL2c83AtCQ4IUb3vGlFd4UGN4Zj6zceLrRrwq/s320/P1060370.jpg" width="203" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYqvqEEHTf3KgdIkJBRbbf2Z3GgBAGp7OJsjl3Q6R51662iy531qJls07z_AbdrpImkRMOrM1qwsobqjhtD1v2PMgQw6S0Lbh8b9JMhI6Z81JgnA-q5zZgYguyjaEZPU-RBAsmGIZ6EWl/s1600/P1060393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYqvqEEHTf3KgdIkJBRbbf2Z3GgBAGp7OJsjl3Q6R51662iy531qJls07z_AbdrpImkRMOrM1qwsobqjhtD1v2PMgQw6S0Lbh8b9JMhI6Z81JgnA-q5zZgYguyjaEZPU-RBAsmGIZ6EWl/s320/P1060393.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WOW Museum Bathroom</td></tr>
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WOW originated in Nelson on the South Island but soon outgrew a site large enough to hold the growing number of attendees and the bigger productions so eventually it was moved to Wellington. But Nelson is still home to The WOW Museum, the only place to see the costumes up close. I arranged a trip to Nelson before I went to Blenheim for a housesit.<br />
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I arrived before the museum opened and was the first - and for at least an entire hour - the only person in the museum! And yes, my fingers did a little bit of illegal touching and feeling :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.worldofwearableart.com/about/">Here's the LINK</a> to their website which includes a fantastic video from past shows showcasing the amazing costumes, music, dance and history! I noted that their first-ever traveling show has now departed Seattle and is will be based from February 18 - June 11th at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. If you can possible make your way there, you won't be disappointed!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HFb8k6gwiLZNQGnZVfzyJQ3IBObWCkY_TAv6EhHi5nyxtH1cChhfjsp7y9EsKbzGlFRYHMGxUlX0_xnSt-7uUGpG8XAZ1RooeXq9J4gPTO-n3bfAzuObXTQNDG6dDnhRrJeM104080hR/s1600/P1060397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HFb8k6gwiLZNQGnZVfzyJQ3IBObWCkY_TAv6EhHi5nyxtH1cChhfjsp7y9EsKbzGlFRYHMGxUlX0_xnSt-7uUGpG8XAZ1RooeXq9J4gPTO-n3bfAzuObXTQNDG6dDnhRrJeM104080hR/s320/P1060397.jpg" width="320" /></a>But before I departed Nelson I had to take a picture of one of their mailmen. Love the transport and the uniforms. Of course, they have mail-women as well, all with great thigh and calf muscles! I also toured their beautiful Cathedral and interviewed the members of woman-owned, women-ran <i><a href="http://papercutpatterns.com/">Papercut Patterns</a></i> who I was asked to do an article about for a US-based sewing blog. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfrrIEQWwS0w5ecV9uDYLyEWWyet0JSVEiHlp1HD-KpdkRXetgp8T6OyevDzAlQItE7qh4-zPQvGCckIAZt0plRifFi4FnAcPId7kjKlomgqL8GYYBUJ-XhPt4I1GCnK3VwfDrHAnUx6y/s1600/P1060308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfrrIEQWwS0w5ecV9uDYLyEWWyet0JSVEiHlp1HD-KpdkRXetgp8T6OyevDzAlQItE7qh4-zPQvGCckIAZt0plRifFi4FnAcPId7kjKlomgqL8GYYBUJ-XhPt4I1GCnK3VwfDrHAnUx6y/s320/P1060308.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_a5CLF_lbX04t5oOPwuzF0RwME4gI5nfbzzefEOKkpVyWgchSA7W_nW6GyQQn941ujViSwaZXzniqRe6jm-Dzmhe1dB0Y2g3qfBPv7UDdE9qB12OXceXQLfGaubmGN8FM2rOLwDrLrE7/s1600/P1060309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_a5CLF_lbX04t5oOPwuzF0RwME4gI5nfbzzefEOKkpVyWgchSA7W_nW6GyQQn941ujViSwaZXzniqRe6jm-Dzmhe1dB0Y2g3qfBPv7UDdE9qB12OXceXQLfGaubmGN8FM2rOLwDrLrE7/s320/P1060309.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllTdOS-1rtHKLejO1ihFhNqNSFsskSl25x35R3HAx7N14rU54OXmJT0gKljfDce1Ow8cx54_J3-WiJH5ZLllJkszWzbM0ZD_h9GX2EUMh0GvXPfJMtPrCUivFO5a9bSScREjh14eOtMbV/s1600/P1060328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllTdOS-1rtHKLejO1ihFhNqNSFsskSl25x35R3HAx7N14rU54OXmJT0gKljfDce1Ow8cx54_J3-WiJH5ZLllJkszWzbM0ZD_h9GX2EUMh0GvXPfJMtPrCUivFO5a9bSScREjh14eOtMbV/s320/P1060328.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful Owner (R) and Marketing Director (L) of Papercut Patterns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNGdoFpnoMvsP6aU8a4dQDr0foEiC1MkjLGtvRfeVmwyRHS58JVKT69ptcCZGV8vDL1q6PkGlH4M3VlLOvfXNGLgPhHehiPAQAiIn9EZo3xePA5LS6Y9Mrm_Zq8SnCEqqqAO_ZpWfpkeB/s1600/P1060329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNGdoFpnoMvsP6aU8a4dQDr0foEiC1MkjLGtvRfeVmwyRHS58JVKT69ptcCZGV8vDL1q6PkGlH4M3VlLOvfXNGLgPhHehiPAQAiIn9EZo3xePA5LS6Y9Mrm_Zq8SnCEqqqAO_ZpWfpkeB/s320/P1060329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patterns Wall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXi2vGr2o4bQrB1R4lNLWXuR8_n_s0w2jzH-N38x0-Z6RZveG8fTUu1Xy-HNHYNUhHNN6yDvIpXCQT1N5heAgEzvcvqaXcXIZIPSRN_1qWsFKzMFRdP2swOcFcx2uZBlMXupK3Q1_0xT-1/s1600/P1060327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXi2vGr2o4bQrB1R4lNLWXuR8_n_s0w2jzH-N38x0-Z6RZveG8fTUu1Xy-HNHYNUhHNN6yDvIpXCQT1N5heAgEzvcvqaXcXIZIPSRN_1qWsFKzMFRdP2swOcFcx2uZBlMXupK3Q1_0xT-1/s200/P1060327.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
Samples of all the patterns<br />
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From Nelson, I bused to Blenheim, for what was to be a 5-day house and petsit for Keisha, a lovely, elderly Golden Retriever. <br />
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Yvonne and Garry welcomed me with open arms into their lovely home, gifted me the use of their nice, big SUV and took off in their really nice RV for a camping vacation with their granddaughter. When they returned they asked if I wouldn't mind staying on for another 6 days so they could go to Christchurch to catch-up with friends who were visiting from overseas - of course, I said yes. Who would turn down the opportunity to stay in a beautiful home, have access to a fully-stocked fridge and a nice car to drive and go exploring? I was thrilled to find a cineplex that showed all first-run movies and had a 'senior' showing at 10:00 a.m. every day for $10 ($7.25US). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bGd_tNV7gwJlgDNb8tWCUn6k5PQ9dLPKJDlg9scZUl0pGbeID5G7jUUCpQfuXOI2QugwPymn1ZRO-uRcRfEbn2QvqFvU6RVi2a2Df4mSBPSOGotvdSABOEKTk4y5guihdg-YkuLOUXF8/s1600/IMG_0471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bGd_tNV7gwJlgDNb8tWCUn6k5PQ9dLPKJDlg9scZUl0pGbeID5G7jUUCpQfuXOI2QugwPymn1ZRO-uRcRfEbn2QvqFvU6RVi2a2Df4mSBPSOGotvdSABOEKTk4y5guihdg-YkuLOUXF8/s320/IMG_0471.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keisha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMeJVDJjuBRWFmfs1srxdPLq_5kr4BDGOTgiA6eEYwnDxbbZKdanwpLlKJywSuYGLJzb9XI1ouGtpMyVnKNhKjiZIkZBJlSmq5jic9cTtKaI-qKeFV4CVfqdTNTrnRsb6voCsxyoAIKa3/s1600/P1060405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMeJVDJjuBRWFmfs1srxdPLq_5kr4BDGOTgiA6eEYwnDxbbZKdanwpLlKJywSuYGLJzb9XI1ouGtpMyVnKNhKjiZIkZBJlSmq5jic9cTtKaI-qKeFV4CVfqdTNTrnRsb6voCsxyoAIKa3/s200/P1060405.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfy living room With telly!</td></tr>
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During the time between Yvonne & Garry's two trips, they made sure I got to have one of the South Island's most well-known seasonal treats and a New Zealand delicacy - Whitebait.<br />
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These little, immature fishes swim in schools up and down the coastline and estuaries and even into the rivers where they the caught with mesh nets. As you can see, they are small. They are cooked by throwing them into a batter of eggs and milk and fried up in a 'fritter' - a fishy-tasting fritter that crunches. When I asked why they crunch, I was told it was the eyes! I thanked Garry & Yvonne for the right to say 'Yes, I have eaten a whitebait fritter' and then say 'No thank you' when asked if I would like another!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what most of the area in and around Blenheim looks like!</td></tr>
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Blenheim is located in the heart of the international award-winning Marlborough wine region and I was so looking forward to tasting a few of their prize-winning sauvignon blancs, chardonnays, and pinot noirs!<br />
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After a lovely chat with a woman at the local iSite (info center) I got signed up for an all-day, guided tasting tour with <i><a href="http://www.naclachan.co.nz/">Na Clachan Wine Tours</a></i>. Yvonne and Garry gave their blessing for me to be gone for a day and Keisha said sure, I've got a very comfy outdoor kennel that I am happy to use while you are away.<br />
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Because New Zealand has very strict drinking and driving laws, the van from <i>Na Clachan</i> picked me up at the house at 9:30 a.m. By 10:00 a.m. I and my 3 lovely companions were sipping our first glasses of wine at <i>Spy Valley Winery</i>.<br />
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We sipped and spit and compared and tasted until 1:00 when we took a break for an absolutely delicious lunch at the <i>Allan Scott Winery</i>.<br />
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We dined outside in their wisteria-covered patio. The food was fabulous, we ordered 4 soup spoons and shared a bowl of amazing seafood chowder loaded with green-lipped mussels and then each of us had our own main course. I had fresh-caught salmon! Of course, we each had a glass of Allan Scott chilled-to-perfection sauvignon blanc to accompany our lunch. <br />
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By now I was ready for my afternoon nap only to learn that we had really just got started. The rest of the afternoon was spent touring and tasting (an average of 5 tastes per winery) at 5 more wineries! The last stop, Lawson's Dry Hills Winery, had amazing wines and offered us 10 different tastings! By the time I was dropped back to the house at 5:30 p.m., Keisha realized that I was totally snockered and I knew exactly why it is necessary to leave the driving to the tour company. <br />
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I returned to Wellington a few days later via the InterIslander Picton Ferry, but it wasn't long before I was off exploring again!<br />
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Next, I arranged to meet-up with a lovely woman I had co-house/pet sat with in Edinburgh, Scotland over a year ago. She and her husband, newly retired from Auckland, had purchased a lovely home on the Kapiti coast, an hour's train ride north of Wellington in the town of Paraparaumu and invited me up for lunch on very wet and windy day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe9rOk8R8qmBgP0WdpuFNaavpjprkjSleK93xgdmfbfUeT1nPE9lqVYwWyPf8M6p1CsOUqTYIHasy0ubhhk0asUWXjL3tBIfP5FgqXk5FLajhVL0_1O6Sb-tikJVtVjOdT77LCbYpiz0z/s1600/P1060197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe9rOk8R8qmBgP0WdpuFNaavpjprkjSleK93xgdmfbfUeT1nPE9lqVYwWyPf8M6p1CsOUqTYIHasy0ubhhk0asUWXjL3tBIfP5FgqXk5FLajhVL0_1O6Sb-tikJVtVjOdT77LCbYpiz0z/s400/P1060197.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the NZ trains! Clean, on-time, reasonable prices and colorful!</td></tr>
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So many of the beaches are filled with driftwood!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At day at the beach and almost getting almost blown away while posing for a picture!</td></tr>
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Whew! Have you read enough for now? I think I will break this posting into two parts as I have so many more places and pictures to share with you. <br />
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So until next time......and I promise it won't be too long until next time......<br />
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<br />Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-68047746595296234612017-01-16T15:55:00.000-06:002017-01-16T15:55:16.478-06:00TIME FLIES - NOW IT'S SUMMER DOWN UNDER!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>SOLACE IN THE WIND</i></td></tr>
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This metal statue balances on the edge of Wellington harbour. He has a grimace on his face that is hard to interpret. Is he grimacing at the force of the winds that whip this city almost constantly - giving it the name Windy Wellington. (120km just this past week). Sometime it is quite hard to maintain one's grip on the sidewalk. <br />
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Perhaps his grimace is from the number of large cruise ships (the <i>Ovation of the Seas</i> - 4180 passengers & crew) that arrive in the harbour almost daily now that summer (supposedly) has arrived, their numbers clogging the streets, restaurants, and attractions, making life in the CBD miserable for those who live and work here. <br />
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Reminds me, not in a good way, of my time in the Peace Corps on the island of St. Kitts/Nevis and how their economy was almost totally based on the income from these massive floating cities. Have you guessed I'm not a fan?</div>
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<i>(http://www.reanninstkitts.blogspot.com). </i></div>
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Or perhaps his grimace is one of trying to understand and comprehend the changes and upheavals in the world that slowly, but inevitably make their way to this beautiful and peaceful country so far away from the rest of the world. </div>
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I don't have an answer, but I do love to sit on the edge of the harbour next to this man and contemplate what sort of future I'm facing and don't doubt that I too have a grimace on my face. </div>
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But for now, let's leave the future in the future and let me fill you in on what I have seen, done, met and been since I last sat at my computer and wrote on this blog. I am going to divide my 3-months into two separate blog posts, 'Wellington' and My Travels Outside Wellington.' </div>
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I have been a guest in the wonderful city of Wellington for 3 1/2 months now. I arrived on September 30th and I will depart this Thursday, January 19th. </div>
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My first day here, my hosts for my first 3 months, Paul and Nigel, drove me to the top of Victoria Peak so I could get a magnificent overview of the city and the harbour.</div>
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Wellington has been ranked, year-in-and-year-out, as one of the top-ranked '<i>World's most livable cities.</i>' I have to agree. The public bus system is outstanding and it's a very walkable city (if you like climbing up and down hills!). The residents are friendly and welcoming and the 2nd day I was here, I attended an opening for the upcoming annual <i>Lit Festival</i> and had a lovely chat with the then mayor, Celia Wade-Brown. How many mayors of large cities do you know that get around their city using pedal power?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgntqx-NJJDON619M7iIeqD22XIsFTP5T1laqPfk-A0Sz1WiAvm825CQB8udE9RuuPxG33JH46SSkw3OLIayRAUZxLZsvO5AdvqylIdXfoWoDaTOyMof4I3KC_x9XZ81vvniuYxtN_5lG/s1600/IMG_0385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgntqx-NJJDON619M7iIeqD22XIsFTP5T1laqPfk-A0Sz1WiAvm825CQB8udE9RuuPxG33JH46SSkw3OLIayRAUZxLZsvO5AdvqylIdXfoWoDaTOyMof4I3KC_x9XZ81vvniuYxtN_5lG/s320/IMG_0385.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mayor Wade-Brown</i></td></tr>
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Wellington is the capital city of the country of New Zealand, with it's Parliament and government offices housed in what is known as '<i>the Beehive</i>.' The adjoining office building and library are the main headquarters of the government. Note that there are no armed guards or fences or barricades anywhere. The only restriction was not taking photos inside.</div>
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I thoroughly enjoyed a 2-hour free guided tour of these building, learning how the New Zealand form of democracy still retains ties to its British homeland, but has made changes to embrace its Maori heritage and provisions to provide for healthcare and retirement benefits for all of its citizens. It was the first country to give women the right to vote and to recognize gay marriage.</div>
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My favorite bit of information I learned while on the tour was that after several years when members of their Senate body accomplished absolutely nothing worthwhile, they chose to totally eliminate this part of the government! They now have only a House of Representatives that oversees the rules, regulations and makes the laws of the land. I think the US should take a long, hard look and perhaps do the same!</div>
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The CBD (Central Business District) curves around the harbour with wide sidewalks bordering the streets, plentiful buses running from one end to the other and a fabulous walkway along the harbourside. Churches, galleries, shops, artwork and coffee shops too numerous to count (Wellingtonians LOVE their coffee - and that means NO Starbucks!) fill the streets. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL8gDh-XKaomJiOJnBNwVn4lR_22lhyWfpLtqTxBIJYl0TmwukAfsY3dBW03DKy10l90Eq2Sjj3JRjrT3NKGNqrAFPnlmVk5sGy0kJ0Kg_VFLE_kVoqF9OCRJ6n9r6FYYHSnOh8NyYY2_/s1600/IMG_0813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL8gDh-XKaomJiOJnBNwVn4lR_22lhyWfpLtqTxBIJYl0TmwukAfsY3dBW03DKy10l90Eq2Sjj3JRjrT3NKGNqrAFPnlmVk5sGy0kJ0Kg_VFLE_kVoqF9OCRJ6n9r6FYYHSnOh8NyYY2_/s320/IMG_0813.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal Top</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2k3tOVwvSIn4WpZK3AGCWslfLFuTTA9KgHaOrqGmZOQTtuqyPHeX7SSWmcp83QKF3ZM0Le9llw47tR11F7V24sWb6TcBOPyNzFK0_on8kXmXqgZV2zmhiPzAumbG0ZArK7Zk7O0Yomx3/s1600/IMG_0828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2k3tOVwvSIn4WpZK3AGCWslfLFuTTA9KgHaOrqGmZOQTtuqyPHeX7SSWmcp83QKF3ZM0Le9llw47tR11F7V24sWb6TcBOPyNzFK0_on8kXmXqgZV2zmhiPzAumbG0ZArK7Zk7O0Yomx3/s200/IMG_0828.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granny-square bombed biked racks</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Xo0AQPkyVCO6QlQJbjeelerzd52l9XchkMLXK7HD-PYnG75aN7abNuRT4ts7uDS9ghhvMktDk27UnapTCYVlL7TvaCfYfVp8vC3I7UTWe6nJzUWZ3D9VsGf4gutMVuILh1t01PEzaT5r/s1600/IMG_0517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Xo0AQPkyVCO6QlQJbjeelerzd52l9XchkMLXK7HD-PYnG75aN7abNuRT4ts7uDS9ghhvMktDk27UnapTCYVlL7TvaCfYfVp8vC3I7UTWe6nJzUWZ3D9VsGf4gutMVuILh1t01PEzaT5r/s320/IMG_0517.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Churches next to....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsis9ebogPwkIhFWLBKXjnEPSjtcR5h__2A4PIMmDd8jLWjtcL5tzQpgPIzfycstZAe-pfVDKEBoPcDcMUkDm-Mp08e_sbX4j05mjEEPZ-mHc1yqh7u8YG6CFGtvlN7tVhz7eRb1q8WJz/s1600/IMG_0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsis9ebogPwkIhFWLBKXjnEPSjtcR5h__2A4PIMmDd8jLWjtcL5tzQpgPIzfycstZAe-pfVDKEBoPcDcMUkDm-Mp08e_sbX4j05mjEEPZ-mHc1yqh7u8YG6CFGtvlN7tVhz7eRb1q8WJz/s200/IMG_0519.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">---spoke-topped buildings</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchsVkN80CNtTuXwRzc982pooVVyIV7BR_Y3yFaJXAtrItiLAdOOsRp1vlZ9z1tFM6SFYNd5c1WhXNz7Lg_H9O8_b9E_jR4rqGvkxCRORfzCvONbYJC8-ZFRpEo5YphBjPIw7jIL_HKFlO/s1600/P1060175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchsVkN80CNtTuXwRzc982pooVVyIV7BR_Y3yFaJXAtrItiLAdOOsRp1vlZ9z1tFM6SFYNd5c1WhXNz7Lg_H9O8_b9E_jR4rqGvkxCRORfzCvONbYJC8-ZFRpEo5YphBjPIw7jIL_HKFlO/s320/P1060175.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clam shells next to.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XgqjR47zIWhJDrxZXZWH8GYO42JLbs7G1_vN4STy-Lnh6DmXJo37r4KSAIdc2betXKXk5GEr4ataUq7vMvdg1XAM0ln9IZ_idatxdH5wnoOM1EMOwhnx31XK6kMFNwpZJ-uv8L9f0xc3/s1600/P1060176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XgqjR47zIWhJDrxZXZWH8GYO42JLbs7G1_vN4STy-Lnh6DmXJo37r4KSAIdc2betXKXk5GEr4ataUq7vMvdg1XAM0ln9IZ_idatxdH5wnoOM1EMOwhnx31XK6kMFNwpZJ-uv8L9f0xc3/s320/P1060176.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....Katherine Mansfield statue...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gAbnsJSD1ey6iuZgo6rXw_ZCaEF1iXyKyh6nJBHqMqF5_132kMjdDj-aNE2adPmQdmTyrHNtDgL28JT1nFE1VV7VYIvho9ixGywNLv2XYmm3hZ3jQU4ulK9ckxYy0rIZKr9hpVcAu0a/s1600/P1060177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gAbnsJSD1ey6iuZgo6rXw_ZCaEF1iXyKyh6nJBHqMqF5_132kMjdDj-aNE2adPmQdmTyrHNtDgL28JT1nFE1VV7VYIvho9ixGywNLv2XYmm3hZ3jQU4ulK9ckxYy0rIZKr9hpVcAu0a/s320/P1060177.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">......whose dress is filled with her written words</td></tr>
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You wander the streets and find such interesting and unusual pieces of art. The clam shells, while pretty, were also the landing place of a man who jumped off the top floor of the building next to where they are located. It didn't end well for the man - but the clam shells, as you can see, survived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPTPiAJacdZYcAWS6s4s4vJ0QRbzvjwdEDrN_-bJcKNVAVVp2sbYu0h9LEz5AGALIUv1uTrEWiQUg_XJMo1FzqRP46vX4hTmlGROo7gwnvCfm8ub9JB3_WD89_1tj_9RDi90jNC1htgrI/s1600/P1060634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPTPiAJacdZYcAWS6s4s4vJ0QRbzvjwdEDrN_-bJcKNVAVVp2sbYu0h9LEz5AGALIUv1uTrEWiQUg_XJMo1FzqRP46vX4hTmlGROo7gwnvCfm8ub9JB3_WD89_1tj_9RDi90jNC1htgrI/s320/P1060634.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The War Memorial</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwwXdp-52276KC54eAr86doFh5fSsiNZYpoY44vHIJ6gcpXE6DCnRegLKPjsHHQYsUc3yhkjGxFyrN8Yab4974eZLjQ8p6DpwnTFM1Kz6QBwYgSsU6DNbgHbdVHl4Xu7Pew4XSIf_HU2s/s1600/P1070208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwwXdp-52276KC54eAr86doFh5fSsiNZYpoY44vHIJ6gcpXE6DCnRegLKPjsHHQYsUc3yhkjGxFyrN8Yab4974eZLjQ8p6DpwnTFM1Kz6QBwYgSsU6DNbgHbdVHl4Xu7Pew4XSIf_HU2s/s320/P1070208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whale of a Tail Fountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old St. Paul's 1866</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful interior of Old St. Paul's.<br />
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Cuba Street - My favorite street in downtown Wellington is packed with small boutiques, wonderful restaurants, and weird artwork, including this water wheel which children and adults play in on hot days. There are alleyways filled with surprises like the Paradise used bookstore that goes on and on and on and the Lighthouse Movie theater with its huge, comfy lounge seats where you can enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee while watching a first-run movie. </div>
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The waterfront is alive with shops, Maori carvings, these great sign-holders, metal palm trees, the fabulous City to Sea bridge, a lagoon and so much more.</div>
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When you're tired of the hustle and bustle of downtown, you can hop the cable car and ride to the top where the glorious Wellington Botanic Gardens are located. From the top you can slowly stroll back down, through 4 distinctive gardens, enjoy seeing some of the most beautiful and usual plants, stop for a lovely lunch at the cafe in the center of the rose garden, or stay late and enjoy a free concert at the SoundShell.<br />
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During my time in Wellington I attended the 2016 WOW production (more about WOW later) , been invited to parties, attended organ and choir concerts, was welcomed into the homes of perfect strangers for drinks and dinner, enjoyed many new movies, celebrated the holidays with new friends (Guy Faulks, Halloween, American Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years), attended a holiday cocktail party at the home of the American Ambassador to New Zealand, was a volunteer server at the annual Thanksgiving lunch for the homeless and less fortunate of Wellington, got my own Wellington Library card, learned to say 'ta' for thanks and call my new friends my 'mates.' Learned to crochet a granny square (thanks YouTube), bought too many pairs of shoes, had to honor of hearing Secretary of State John Kerry dedicate the American/New Zealand War Memorial, went to several gallery openings, ate Pavlova (really sweet), was invited to holiday faire at the British Consulate, and attended a great concert on the Lagoon and fireworks to ring in the New Year.<br />
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A Creative Fibers's exhibition and Christmas Concert at the Cathedral<br />
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My fellow servers and a few of our guests at the Thanksgiving luncheon<br />
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The British Consulate Holiday Faire with dancers from Wales and Scotland<br />
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My favorite sign on the far side of the city - as yet no penguins sighted!<br />
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The program from my host Paul's concert and his delicious pavlova creation for Guy Faulks<br />
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Guy Faulks fireworks over the harbour!<br />
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Traditional Maori greeters during Secretary John Kerry's presentation <br />
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New Year's Eve on the Harbour!<br />
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But there were three other exceptional events that happened since I arrived in Wellington. <br />
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The first and one that I will cherish long after I leave New Zealand, has been meeting and enjoying the friendship of Kelly Wright and Jenny Taylor. Kelly is the mother of the woman who's home and pets I am housesitting while she and her family are in South Africa on holiday. Jenny is a friend of Kelly's. <br />
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They have made my stay here feel more like home. They have picked me up and taken me here, there and everywhere, including me in their everyday lives. You don't realize how much you need friends, especially 'girlfriends,' when you are away from home. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly & 'grand-dog Punter </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny & I in Martinborough</td></tr>
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The 2nd most exceptional event that happened since I arrived is <u><b>I lived through a 7.8 degree earthquake!</b></u> This was no small event. It closed major roads, destroyed homes and wrecked havoc with many of the high rises in downtown Wellington. Lots of broken windows and quite a few building being taken down because they are no longer deemed safe for occupancy. <br />
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I woke up to my bed swaying back and forth, The Boys screaming to get out of bed and stand in a doorway, and me thinking the house was going to fall off the cliff any second and we were going to land in the harbour!<br />
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Well, the house and I survived - and I managed to live through some pretty severe 5.5+ aftershocks during the next several weeks. I came to the conclusion that I do not like earthquakes.<br />
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I have lived in areas where tornados and hurricanes where prevalent. They are signs let you know when one is coming and there are actions to take to survive one of those. Earthquakes are totally unpredictable and there are absolutely no way to survive a really big one. The TV commercials tell you to get under a table and <i>duck and cover! </i>I haven't heard something like that since I was in grade school and we were practicing for the next nuclear bomb attack! I love New Zealand but the entire country was built up by volcanos along a major fault line, not to mention the tectonic plates that shift to-and fro just off the coast! It's a country that knows what it means to 'rock 'n roll!'<br />
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And lastly, but the most exciting event that has occurred since I arrived in Wellington is the birth of my second grandchild. This time a boy, by the name of John Tobin Scott. He arrived just before Thanksgiving and is beautiful. Mom, dad and sister Stella are thrilled (well, leave Stella out of that equation) and he is growing big and strong and I can't wait to meet him when I return in April.<br />
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I think this is enough for one blog post! I know for a fact that I have missed so many things I wanted to include that I have seen and done, but I'll just come back and add them later. Next up - the places I've traveled while using Wellington as my home base during the past 3 months and the wonderful places and pets I house sat.<br />
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Until next time.......<br />
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PS: <i>I had hoped to get my entire stay in Wellington written up before my departure on the 19th, but I woke up with a 'black screen' the other morning which called for a frantic visit to The Apple Guy and my little MacBook Air requiring an overnight stay which threw my writing schedule into a whirl. So once again I will be a bit behind in my travel reporting.....oh well!</i></div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-34764289519335558232016-12-11T20:31:00.001-06:002016-12-11T20:31:25.827-06:00WELLINGTON! At the bottom of the North<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I left the Coromandel on September 29th and took a bus to Auckland where I overnighted before rising early in the morning of the 30th to catch the <i><a href="http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/northern-explorer/?servicename=Northern%20Explorer">Northern Explorer Kiwi Scenic Rail</a> </i> to Wellington. </div>
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This would be my first time riding Kiwi Rail and being a person who grew up on trains, I was really looking forward to this leisurely 7-hour journey to my new 'home' in Wellington for the next 3 1/2 months.</div>
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Kiwi Scenic Rail describes what you will see on the trip this way - </div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: , sans-serif;">Experience the North Island’s extraordinary range of scenery in one journey as</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: , sans-serif;">the Northern Explorer takes you through rolling green farmland and virgin bush, past quaint country towns and along rocky coasts. Along the way, you will see the Raurimu Spiral and many other iconic engineering solutions required to complete the trunk line that stretches the length of New Zealand's rugged North Island terrain.</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: , sans-serif;">The journey through Tongariro National Park, with its three spectacular volcanic mountains - Tongariro, </span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Segoe-UI, sans-serif;">Ngāuruhoe</i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: , sans-serif;"> and Ruapehu - is a highlight - a place of extremes and surprises, where snow-blanketed fields, ancient lava flows and dense beech forests can be seen side-by-side.</span></i></blockquote>
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The train was lovely. The cars were colorful and clean. The windows huge and plentiful. There was an audio program giving highlights and the history of the area you were traveling through. There are 2 dining cars which offer a wide and tasty selection of breakfast and luncheon choices. The onboard staff was always available to collect trash, answer questions or even serve your pre-ordered meals at your seat.<br />
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Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and it was a very wet and very rainy day which hindered the quality of photos I hoped to take. You can see from the one I took as we were leaving Auckland of a rather damp sunrise what I mean by wet.<br />
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One of the really great things about these Scenic Rail trains (there are 3 - 1 that runs through the middle the North Island and 2 that traverse the South Island (<i>The South Island now has only the TransAlpine running </i> <i>as the Coastal Explorer, which ran along the sea coast from Christchurch to Picton, had its rails destroyed in the recent earthquake.</i>) is the the open-air coach designed for photographers. </div>
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If you were willing to brave the wind and the rain, it was the perfect place to enjoy the ride and see the scenery without the glare from the windows to distort your photos. (<i>OSHA would hate this coach and I'm sure it wouldn't be allowed in the States. They also wouldn't allow seaside and mountain roads with steepdrop-offss and no guard rails! Folks everywhere I have traveled outside the US think you have something called 'common sense' and will natually keep yourself safe. If you don't - then it's your fault!</i>)<br />
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I managed to take enough photos to give you an idea of how just beautiful this trip is - when it's not raining and foggy!<br />
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We sped quickly past waterfalls and pastures filled with sheep and cows<br />
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We crossed over deep gorges with rushing rivers below and stopped at funky little villages to pick up passengers.<br />
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You could even see, if you looked closely, snow-covered mountain peaks. (<i>click on the photo to enlarge and see mountain!</i>)<br />
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And though the sun did not shine, it was still a perfectly lovely way to travel!<br />
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When I arrived at the Wellington Rail Station my housemates were there to greet me! <a href="http://www.paulrosoman.com/biography">Paul Rosoman</a> and I had met on a flight from Copenhagen to London over a year ago and struck up a conversation that lead to the exchange of emails and phone numbers along with an invitation to call him if I were ever in New Zealand! People should learn to never do that because I almost always will take them up on their invites and land on their doorsteps in the not-too-distant future!<br />
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I had called Paul from the Coromandel and said "Surprise! - guess where I am?" and he said that he and Nigel, his partner of 20 years and now newly-wedded husband, would love to have me stay with them in their beautiful home overlooking the spectacular Wellington Harbour. When I explained that I was hoping to find someplace to stay for 3-months, using it as a base so I could go off and travel for 3-5 days at a time or take a short-term housesit, they said 'Fine!'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R1TIVncAg41IEGIPiR-8YaADbiNbFLLr5rSSI1M4vPabKSBQ_0I62qclkKXqZn8K1yPs4y5XTn2ImMYDncMYXruCl-5CcZnU_toifo8yBeA81uLzKyaismVf3puXI93lojDTxr31Lxjz/s1600/IMG_0402.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R1TIVncAg41IEGIPiR-8YaADbiNbFLLr5rSSI1M4vPabKSBQ_0I62qclkKXqZn8K1yPs4y5XTn2ImMYDncMYXruCl-5CcZnU_toifo8yBeA81uLzKyaismVf3puXI93lojDTxr31Lxjz/s320/IMG_0402.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nigel & Paul</td></tr>
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<br />We worked out a weekly rental arrangement and I moved into my '<i>room with a view.' </i>And as you can see, I'm not kidding!<br />
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The house, which is perched on one of Wellington's many hills, overlooks the harbour and is just above the Inter-Islander Ferry dock.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their house is the one on the bottom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom going up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top going down</td></tr>
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You access the house via a set of stairs or using its own, personal cable car.<br />
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As you can see, it's a steep grade but it's a fun ride.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining/living room has floor-to-celling windows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13700109?wl_source=list&wl_id=150954250&role=owner">The extra bedroom is available for rent on AirBnB</a></td></tr>
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<br />The walk to and from the bus that I catch into town offers panoramic views of the entire city. I am a very lucky and a very happy person!!!<br />
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I'm now going to unpack and settle in. I'll be back and catch you up on what I've been seeing and doing since I arrived.......real soon!<br />
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Until the next time....<br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-77893333043245489262016-11-03T15:37:00.002-05:002016-11-03T15:37:19.762-05:00THREE MONTHS IN THE COROMANDEL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">I arrived at the Auckland airport on the 30th of June where I was met by my next home/pet owners. I always try to arrive a few days before the homeowners depart (this time for a 3-month holiday in the UK). This way I have time to learn how things in the house work, the pet's schedules, likes and dislikes, to be shown around town and introduced to the neighbors. But before I get into those details, I thought you might enjoy learning a bit about the area of New Zealand where I would be living - </span><i>The Coromandel.</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-style: italic;">Approximately 3 hours drive from Auckland, the </span><a class="tooltipstered" href="http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/regions/coromandel/regional-information.html" style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-style: italic; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Coromandel</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i> is a rugged and mysterious place, yet with stunning golden beaches, natural hideaways and mist laden forests, it is the ideal place to relax and unwind. </i><i>(New Zealand Tourism Guide)</i> Aucklanders have recently relocated to the Coromandel in great numbers to retire - or commute, especially in the Thames area - escaping Auckland's skyrocketing housing costs and horrific traffic problems caused by a rapid population growth. (rjs) </span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>There is so much to do in the Coromandel area, from historical tours, fishing and diving, to hiking, kayaking and cycling. The Coromandel main centres include Coromandel Town, Thames, Whitianga, Whangamata, Waihi, Pauauni and Tairua. It's a truly unique place to discover. (New Zealand Tourism Guide) </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My 'home' for the next 3 months is in the tiny village of TePuru with the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firth_of_Thames">Firth of Thames</a></i>, out the back door. The Firth is the southern part of the bay between the Coromandel and Auckland. It's here the delicious green-lip mussels and oysters are harvested, Orca whales swim in the summer and fishing is fantastic! Find the town of Thames on the map below and go north along the water for 5 black dots and you will find Te Puru. (<i>rjs</i>)</span><br />
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This photo was taken from the kitchen window looking over the owner's guest house with a view of the fog-covered mountains that come almost down to the shoreline of Te Puru. And this photo was taken of the 'back' or Firth-side of the house. As you can see there is a large deck and lots of windows! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplYsWMvHEaQAlZX56dRTbWlXc5CpvsCR2ltJs2zM1yU-fwHjpMc1DDMcxaeeGTJsRF5rTydZwz-8gAMndhIiIZG2l1P1kjVGzdlL4DQDLd2ZrMirbR4rNtIFImvOtAUuOV1CyFGqbD6Wn/s1600/P1050885.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplYsWMvHEaQAlZX56dRTbWlXc5CpvsCR2ltJs2zM1yU-fwHjpMc1DDMcxaeeGTJsRF5rTydZwz-8gAMndhIiIZG2l1P1kjVGzdlL4DQDLd2ZrMirbR4rNtIFImvOtAUuOV1CyFGqbD6Wn/s400/P1050885.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">This is a view from the deck looking north- a magnificent landscape of water, mountains and sky, and below is the view looking south.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My 'charges' for the 3 months are Daphne (Daffy), a long-haired Dachshund, and Bella, combination of poodle and terrier.</span><br />
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They were fairly easy to care for, except for their weird feeding schedule, which made it difficult for me get away for more than 3-4 hours at a time.<br />
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Though they had the run-of-the-house during the day, they slept in the downstairs laundry room at night. Wake-up time for all of us was between 6:30-7:00 am. After a quick run in the yard, they were allowed one very small biscuit which had to last them until lunch. At noon they had a good-sized lunch of kibble and 2 spoonfuls of canned dog food. For tea (6:00pm) it was more kibble and home-cooked mix of mince (hamburger) with rice or a little pasta or mix vegetables added - which was my job to prepare each day.<br />
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They required 2 walks along the waterfront each day - if it wasn't raining. If it was raining (and this was the middle of winter so it rained a lot!), Daffy literally refused to go for a walk as she hated getting her little feet or low-slung tummy wet. Daffy, like all Dachshunds, was very stubborn and extremely bossy to poor little Bella. We had some long discussions about sharing our toys, our food and my lap! But it all worked out and the homeowners returned to very happy, healthy dogs - which is what all the homeowners want and expect.<br />
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Back to the Coromandel. The Firth-side of this region has a lovely micro-climate. When the area north and south would get snow, we got rain. Where the areas above and below got really cold days and colder nights, we never got to freezing. The average day-time temperatures during the entire 3 winter months I spent there was low to mid-50's. The locals were 'freezing' and I kept telling them that if we ever had days like this in the middle of a Chicago or Minnesota winter, we would throw open the windows and put the tops down on our convertibles!<br />
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The grass stayed a lush green. The trees do not turn shades of brown or lose their leaves, and the flowers just never stop blooming! It was the most beautiful, colorful, flower-filled winter I have ever enjoyed! I took all the photos below on just a walk with the dogs around the neighborhood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdSwrynAcaJ1ReI2fKAuv-R8aajtEltef8DIhfH_FZ_VBHM8FooxXcdDBB0pHS8n3KTSWC8UUNT7GR7fiBtrNZUp0u-wScRKelGSDq-lYNWF1rkpspWwR4klDZhmPgrJGbjPqSoS9tVgE/s1600/P1050258.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdSwrynAcaJ1ReI2fKAuv-R8aajtEltef8DIhfH_FZ_VBHM8FooxXcdDBB0pHS8n3KTSWC8UUNT7GR7fiBtrNZUp0u-wScRKelGSDq-lYNWF1rkpspWwR4klDZhmPgrJGbjPqSoS9tVgE/s320/P1050258.jpg" width="320" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLsinBL_ldYBmG4Y0s8HUx3NsS-YUHKcdtclPGv4MtjqQd9EUNue5ixBKus7CmtuFIgbt9oa_KyMJxMifRXVUWW0vTc6b5W87kG7f4dCtEw06W2FqKrMRjLtaHkRd8vrC6Zr4pLYUgK6m/s1600/P1050259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLsinBL_ldYBmG4Y0s8HUx3NsS-YUHKcdtclPGv4MtjqQd9EUNue5ixBKus7CmtuFIgbt9oa_KyMJxMifRXVUWW0vTc6b5W87kG7f4dCtEw06W2FqKrMRjLtaHkRd8vrC6Zr4pLYUgK6m/s200/P1050259.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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With days filled with flowers and blue skies it was time to learn how to get around TePuru and the 'big city' of Thames while driving on the wrong side of the road and making turns completely opposite of 'normal.' I managed with only 2 'oops.' Oops #1 - Happily down the wrong side of the road gazing out at the water when a car coming at me in the same lane and nicely 'blinked' his lights. Oops #2 Trying to figure out where/how to make a turn into a 3-pronged "Y" intersection - not the way I chose to do it! But no scratches or dings on the big SUV I was given to drive for the 3 months. But boy, is gas expensive here! Right now a liter of gas (1/4 of a gallon) is $1.93NZ. That's $7.72NZ or $5.53 a gallon USD.<br />
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I was spent most days driving between TePuru and Thames along the coast highway. It weaves and winds as good as the best of any North Carolina mountain twister. The difference is that these roads are much narrower, there are virtually no shoulders AND no guard rails. So if you make a 'oops' on the Firth-side you are go onto the rocks and into the water! Here are just a few photos to give you an idea of what driving here is like. Did I mentioned you are expected to share these tiny roads with bicyclists, lots of RVers and massive logging trucks! White knuckles were the norm for every time I got in the car for the first month!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEbXs_kPjoeRsBHfKErWB-x5jfJVRx1-C6ayUNN1NMHc9FploMT6FejROlUC910ozk38E4AaC6R4ZA0P3l-WuAgf8eSm67DDwE6rCr6cleFfCKWNi6ebdqC5bOV-hLz1gUOki1ZCvfs5x/s1600/images-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEbXs_kPjoeRsBHfKErWB-x5jfJVRx1-C6ayUNN1NMHc9FploMT6FejROlUC910ozk38E4AaC6R4ZA0P3l-WuAgf8eSm67DDwE6rCr6cleFfCKWNi6ebdqC5bOV-hLz1gUOki1ZCvfs5x/s320/images-2.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW085m-o11GBgtptiUtpVZXMqnNauGHBAvt_vbq0xnY_9stk3p1xY1X6QUyO2uDxAUGSURKcCljsmV15pVjEmsk6OqCeI18Eb6PicF5hkOadYm-D-ucJDpaXlJHBFzHMLLGriuLKPLc5x/s1600/images.jpg"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW085m-o11GBgtptiUtpVZXMqnNauGHBAvt_vbq0xnY_9stk3p1xY1X6QUyO2uDxAUGSURKcCljsmV15pVjEmsk6OqCeI18Eb6PicF5hkOadYm-D-ucJDpaXlJHBFzHMLLGriuLKPLc5x/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-c8iEnDLRnZvmaRRxcCsb_BctfvUMrPUpfbaBvY9P0PLAgGysARzDn_ito6PL4UbOEL3kq6QDyGcwsO7dJiX7-jhhnNPQVB_-iTmXE2OJ5cAO9U76Yr8HKa2QIatvT7B7Ebg66_AKv4n/s1600/images-1.jpg"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-c8iEnDLRnZvmaRRxcCsb_BctfvUMrPUpfbaBvY9P0PLAgGysARzDn_ito6PL4UbOEL3kq6QDyGcwsO7dJiX7-jhhnNPQVB_-iTmXE2OJ5cAO9U76Yr8HKa2QIatvT7B7Ebg66_AKv4n/s320/images-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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But drive I did, here, there, and everywhere. The first place I drove to was the local <i>Pac'nSav</i> grocery store. While there I spotted a poster for an upcoming classical concert at <i>Old St. Georges Anglican Church</i> happening on my first Sunday in Thames. A charge of $10NZ ($7.15US) at the door and I was treated to a fantastic hour of music by a brass trio who's members were part of New Zealand National Symphony Orchestra from Auckland.<br />
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<i>Old St. Georges</i> is the oldest church in Thames and is constructed of the most ancient workable wood in the world - <i><a href="http://www.ancientwood.com/what-is-ancient-kauri-wood/">kauri</a>. </i>The wood resonates sound, giving the church almost perfect acoustics - a great location for any type of concert. During my 3-months I enjoyed performances by a string quartet, a group made up of a harpsichord, recorder and soprano, solo performances of violin, viola, piano and vocalists, a wonderful presentation of <i>A Grand Night of Opera</i> and a man who sang Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin standards. Some of these performances were 'Friday Lunch' events. These were free-of-charge, or you could pay $5, which included the concert and a bowl of homemade soup with a bun<br />
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This first Sunday in Thames was outstanding, not only because the sun was shining, I had made it into town without crashing the car, and the music was beautiful, but I met the fantastic <i>Jenny Bowman.</i> Jenny was one of <i><b>4 exceptional women</b> who made my stay in the area go from ordinary to extraordinary! </i><br />
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Jenny sat next to me at St. Georges before the concert began and we started chatting - as women do. (<i>Before I go on, the churches aren't heated! But the women church members have knitted lap blankets that are available at the end of every pew for warmth.)</i> It turned out Jenny's late husband was the President of the Thames Friendship Force International - an international travel group I belonged to in Chicago. After the concert, we planned a date for lunch. She then invited me join her twice-weekly senior exercise class, introduced me to many of her friends (including the lovely <i>Elizabeth Jones, exceptional woman #2)</i>, the current President of FFI who actually knew my Chicago FFI friends!).<br />
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Jenny and Elizabeth took me on beautiful drives through the valleys surrounding Thames, hikes through 'the bush,' shared delicious meals, enjoyed an all-woman Bluegrass concert, toured a lavender farm, saw waterfalls, spent a freezing afternoon at the bird sanctuary and even took a walk through an abandoned gold mine. Here are just a few pictures of what I saw thanks to these two extraordinary women to whom I will forever be indebted.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hot Diggity Blue Grass Band in NZ!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold mine entrance</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUGcRecyxyvyO4kyRshDzJAkMiCpMjgaexL0kQ4t0uOeIgNXUeIB-ioL7gJq7eDuv2PfCG95nR3BcxlMEon7dZR-uO9NfOXSjSfmnCLS7XQ8DZO79UfThO3ewaV_n0nShCs9oV1W2tcMh/s1600/P1050653.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUGcRecyxyvyO4kyRshDzJAkMiCpMjgaexL0kQ4t0uOeIgNXUeIB-ioL7gJq7eDuv2PfCG95nR3BcxlMEon7dZR-uO9NfOXSjSfmnCLS7XQ8DZO79UfThO3ewaV_n0nShCs9oV1W2tcMh/s320/P1050653.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot tea or coffee? In Elizabeth's 'boot' for after our walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird sanctuary too cold for the birds today!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NZ Pizza - yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive Fern Trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO30rEGnAUQsQAjYz-MWuDsG1KuuUB4-Kf9EBSlVoI4WZgyb3cEVREMCXSdw23v_Bk7XYIXUGGBEd33w5DuVJ0Kq5vR4xh534ZM4XklpjYOQ_C5kms0zuUQ3fV03MKkwGPSSK1pWDOMkg/s1600/P1050770.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO30rEGnAUQsQAjYz-MWuDsG1KuuUB4-Kf9EBSlVoI4WZgyb3cEVREMCXSdw23v_Bk7XYIXUGGBEd33w5DuVJ0Kq5vR4xh534ZM4XklpjYOQ_C5kms0zuUQ3fV03MKkwGPSSK1pWDOMkg/s320/P1050770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glorious waterfalls</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LtoR: Jenny, Me, Carrie, Elizabeth</td></tr>
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The <i>third exceptional woman </i>is <i>Jean Jones</i> (and I must include her wonderful hubby, Frank as well). I met the Jones' at the neighbor's birthday party the 2nd weekend I was in TePuru. Jean is a knitter, crocheter, grandmother, bowler, who volunteers at the local hospital. After retiring and tiring of Auckland city-life, they sold-up and bought a 'tiny house' in TePuru, just down the street from me! <br />
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Jean took me under-her-wing and introduced me into her local <i>Knit 'n Natter </i>group. At first these women were a wee bit leery of an outsider, especially from America! But once we all started talking (including who I was voting for - big topic here) I was accepted into the group and learned so much from these very talented ladies, including how to carry-over colors while knitting! </div>
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Jean introduced me to the local chapter of <i>Creative Fibers, </i>a country-wide organization with chapters through-out New Zealand. Talk about talented! These women spin, dye, design, weave, knit, crochet, quilt, felt - they are amazingly talented. I would sit in the corner and work on the baby blanket I was slowly knitting and just absorb their conversations on color and weave and balance and pattern. </div>
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My good friend of so many years, Carrie Johnson of Hudson, Wisconsin, came for a 2-week visit and while she was here Jean and Frank volunteered to spend the day with us as our guides for a day-long circle tour of the Coromandel. We made poor Frank stop for so many photo-ops and slam on the breaks when we three saw a sign for a Fiber Gallery! Frank even cooked us his 'special curry dinner' one night. These are two of the 'good folks' and I know we will stay friends long after I leave New Zealand. Here are just a few photos of our time together:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jean & Frank<br />
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The Knit n'Nater Ladies<br />
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Lee's hand-spun, hand-dyed, designed and knitted sweater I could not talk her into selling to me! ,<br />
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Photos of our day driving around the Coromandel,<br />
Carrie on the hilltop overlooking the bay. The mussel-farming thingies,. Where we bought oysters for dinner and Raewyn Penrose's Fiber Gallery!<br />
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<a href="http://www.drivingcreekrailway.co.nz/">Driving Creek Railway</a>, a small-gauge tourist attraction in Coromandel Town was very interesting. Take the time to click the link a read the history of this tiny little attraction and the man who did it all by hand!</div>
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The view from the Eyeful Tower, at the top of the Driving Creek Railway line, </div>
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overlooking the is<span style="text-align: center;">land-studded Hauraki Gulf.</span></div>
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The <i>fourth exceptional woman</i> I met while living in TePuru was <i>Sharon Coudaray</i>. I love movies! I love the 'coming attractions' and the excuse to eat salty popcorn and getting lost in a good story. Thames had a lovely little movie theater with 4 screens which ran first-run movies and offered a great senior discount! <div>
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Each week I spent many a wonderful-few hours at this little theater - and there was always this same woman there almost every time I was, seeing the same movie. We would nod, smile and then eat our popcorn. One day, after about the third time of this happening, she turned around and said "Aren't you the American who is housesitting in TePuru?" (Small town, word gets around quickly!) After saying yes, that was me, she said "I would love to have to come to my home for dinner, meet my husband David, and share your adventures with us." </div>
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How many times in your lifetime has a perfect stranger invited you into their home for dinner? In the States, not that often, I would guess. But this was not the first time since I started my full-time traveling lifestyle that this has occurred, and hopefully it won't be the last. I have found the kindness and generosity of strangers I have met along the way to be staggering. Sharon is a perfect example.</div>
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She is a retired nurse who met her Dr. husband while working as his nurse. (Where have I heard that story before?) They were happily married and he was running a very busy practise, being an extremely well-respected doctor, when he was knocked down by a massive stroke. His mind is still sharp, but his body is failing him and it's so sad. Sharon is now his full-time caregiver. </div>
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Dinner was delicious and the conversation lively. One of Sharon's daughter joined us. She is a teacher, but also hand-braids beautiful, colorful bridal horse ropes that she sells mainly to stores in the western states of the US! It was a totally delightful evening and Sharon and I managed to plan a meet-up for lunch and a movie! She even invited me once again for dinner to celebrate her birthday with her other daughter and the grandchildren. </div>
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Instead of feeling like a outsider, I was made to feel welcome and part of the family for the evening. This was truly a gift. I chose to travel solo and even though I really don't get lonely very often and actually enjoy my own company, when you can spend time and be made part of a close-knit group of people, it is something really very special. </div>
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<i> My farewell dinner with my wonderful women-friend of Thames</i></div>
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<i>Lee, Pat, Pat's daughter, Jenny, Elizabeth, Jean & Sharon</i></div>
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I'll conclude this overly-long post with some funny, weird, and wonderful things I did and learned and saw during my 3-months in the Coromandel!</div>
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<i>I learned how to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowls">lawn-bowl</a>. It's done with 'biased' bowls (not balls) and played mostly on an out-door court. I actually got fairly good at it and was allowed to bowl with the Thames Bowling Club on Wednesday and Saturday mornings open bowls - when it wasn't raining! You bowl 2-games each time with a break for a cuppa and it takes an average of 3 hours for a set.</i></div>
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<i>My senior exercise group hosted a going-away tea for me the last day of class. So we exercised for an hour and then ate lots of delicious sweets - including my very first Pavlova, made by our instructor Ginny, just for me -because it's a New Zealand must-eat!</i><br />
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<i>I won the Soup & Meat raffle at Bowls and was the speaker at the Thames Travel Club!</i><br />
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<i>I attended a Fiber & Craft Expo in Hamilton and every Saturday morning went into Thames for Market Day and the extremely weird sidewalk display of one vendor - does your dog want a cuppa?</i><br />
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<i>Birds of all kinds! Besides the local Tui, I had Kingfishers on the deck and a Rosella in the garden and Cormorants on the </i>shoreline!<br />
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<i>I attended one, and only one, Red Hat meeting and marveled at some of the weird veggies in the Chinese grocery shop.</i></div>
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<i>I loved the Maori art displayed on the sides of buildings (this is the TePuru grand school) and bought a beautiful hand-felted coat from Raewyn Penrose.</i><br />
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Enjoyed touring local art studios and eating Bubble & Squeak at Sunday morning brunch at the Waikito Cafe.<br />
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<i>Got a hoot out of the local 'garden art', never tired of the glorious scenery and loved snapping photos of the newest 'locals.'</i><br />
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<i>And constantly marveled at the glorious sunsets each evening on the Firth!</i><br />
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I bid adieu to the Coromandel on the 28th of September, ready for the next part of my travels in New Zealand. It was a wonderful time and the ladies have asked me to return, which I hope to do for at least a few days, before I depart in March. But not it's onto Wellington and the South Island!<br />
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Until next time.......<br />
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<i>PS: I apologize for the wonky way this post might look! I lost over 1/2 of what I had written one day, then the pictures refused to line up, and I couldn't make the formatting work! ARGH. I also understand that yesterday Blogger sent out a previous post of mine from July, 2015, as my newest post. The net can be really strange at times......</i><br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-10715721236793774082016-10-03T17:10:00.000-05:002016-10-06T14:19:03.859-05:00NEW ZELAND! The Land of Two IslandsI have arrived WAY Down Under. The only land mass further south is Antarctica! For the next posts I will be telling you about my time spent exploring and house and pet-sitting on the North Island - but first a bit of New Zealand history.<br />
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New Zealand's two islands comprise 271,000 square miles and per the last census, there were 4.6 million people living here. That's just 15 people per mile - and since a whole lot of the land is comprised of very high mountains and massive farms filled with sheep and cows (many more of those than people) you get the feeling of completely wide open spaces.<br />
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The majority of New Zealand's population (1/3) live in and surrounding the North Island city of Auckland, the industrial and business hub. Coming in 2nd and 3rd are the cities of Christchurch and Wellington (the country's capital). <br />
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New Zealand is a very young country. It was discovered and inhabited first by an adventurous group of Polynesians 700 years ago. These are the people who developed over the years into the Mãori culture. The first European explorer to bump into New Zealand was Dutchman Able Tasman in 1642. Sir James Cook first reached New Zealand in 1769 and was the first to circumvent and map the country. Soon all types of explorers, sailors and missionaries were arriving on its shores. in 1840 the <i>Treaty of Waitangi</i> was signed between the Mãori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown making New Zealand part of the British Empire. <br />
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I could go on for hours about the fierce Mãroi warriors, their tattoos which they still proudly wear, and the battles between tribes. Certain tribes were definitely cannibalistic in their eating habits and delighted in capturing and feasting on the <i>pãkehã </i>(white man). I actually met a woman who had married a Mãori many years ago. Her mother-in-law is now 100 and had described to her how especially delicious fingers and hands were to nibble on when she was a little girl! No, this wasn't a recent occurrence, but I might worry if she was my mother-in-law! What I do highly recommend is watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtZC5OOxoAQ">The Whale Rider</a>. A beautiful movie made about the Mãori today trying to hold fast to their customs and traditions in an every-changing, modern world.<br />
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The Mãori, when signing the <i>Waitangi</i> <i>Treaty,</i> were treated with great esteem and were given rights to much of the land, shoreline and fishing rights. Today they still practice and revere their cultural heritage. Each tribe has it's own meeting place (<i>wharenui</i>) where celebrations and tribal business is conducted. One-in-seven inhabitants of New Zealand are of Mãori descent. The majority of towns, lakes, and mountains have Mãori names. But even today there are difference and difficulties - right now it's fishing rights that are being disputed and portions of the Waitangi Treaty are trying to be overturned. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;">Tānenuiarangi, the </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: start;">wharenui</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;"> at Waipapa marae</span></span></td></tr>
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Of course, the British had, and still, have a huge influence on the development of the country. There is a huge Scottish influence on the South Island and the polyglot mixture of French, Dutch, Chinese, Croatian, Indian and even American who came here as whalers, explorers, gold seekers (New Zealand had a HUGE gold rush in the mid-to-late 1800's) stayed and were absorbed into this new country.</div>
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It's the women who stand out. Think about coming here on a ship in the early</div>
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1800's. You've left your comfortable home in England, arrive in a land with almost nothing and a half-naked Mãori warriors are waiting to greet you ! You had better be damn tough and strong. How strong and tough? New Zealand passed woman's suffrage in 1893 and first woman mayor of a large town was elected that same year. They pushed for the first old-age pension in the 1880's which is still going strong. </div>
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Like I said, I could go on forever with the history of this beautiful country forever but let's move on to <i>beautiful</i>, scenic, magnificent, jaw-dropping! The landscape, the views of towering mountains, the flowers, the green grass, the huge harbors, flowing rivers, waterfalls, ALL bordered by two massive bodies of deep blue water, the South Pacific Ocean, and the Tasman Sea. <b>Fact:</b> The furthermost inland you can be between the two oceans is a point on the South Island which is 74 miles from coast to the other.</div>
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So I will leave you with a few images of this wonderful country with lots more to come.....</div>
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<i>Until next time.........</i></div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-40164463121036767272016-09-24T15:10:00.000-05:002016-09-24T15:10:24.092-05:00THE LAND OF 'OZ' - CONTINUED<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MELBOURNE</b></div>
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After 4 glorious, if extremely jet-lagged sunny days and nights in Sydney, it was time to catch an early morning flight to Melbourne where I had agreed to a 3-week house/pet sit in the suburb of Carnegie. (Car-NEIGH-geee). </div>
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I landed on a very wet and soggy day and found the airport shuttle bus into the City Centre (CBD) without a problem. The Aussies like their signs and they are plentiful and very helpful. I was being met by my homeowner, Scott, at the main train depot. He knew what I looked liked from photos on the Trusted Housesitters' website, while I was willing to be picked-up by a strange man! </div>
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Everything went smoothly as Scott, an IBM exec, was waiting to help me with my luggage and also give me a brief tour of the CBD before we caught another train to Carnegie. We hopped on a local tram and headed to <a href="http://www.australia.com/en/places/vic/fed-square.html">Federation Square</a>, a huge, public space whose buildings are very architecturally unusual. </div>
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Within Federation Square is The Atrium, a 5-story glass-shard enclosed event space.<br />
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We left the <i>Visitors' Center </i>with at least 5 pounds of books and brochures and enough ideas and suggestions of what to see-and-do for the next 3 years! After a quick lunch, we headed to <i>Flinders Station </i>where I purchased a refillable <i>transit pass</i> good on all trams, trains and buses during me stay. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flinders Station <br /><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I just love how the grand ol' train stations throughout Europe, and Australia as well, have been preserved and still used as a main transportation hub.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span></td></tr>
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I must say was a little surprised how extremely modern the condo was where I would be staying while caring for my small charge Moxie! </div>
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Everything was push-button and digital. After a quick lesson on which buttons to push to make what work (ha - that didn't work!) Scott flew off to join his wife Julie and two daughters, who had proceeded him to Europe, and start their family vacation.<br />
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Moxie is a small dog - not really a long-haired chihuahua, not really a miniature terrier - just tiny and very yippee and <u>not</u> a cuddlier. She seemed to be happiest when dressed 24/7 in her pink fleece coat. and snuggled in one of the 6 doggie beds scatted throughout the house. But her greatest joy was to stand outside, behind the fence, and bark loudly and continuously at anything or anyone that passed by. I emailed the owners to ask if there had been complaints from the neighbors about her barking but<span style="background-color: white;"> was informed that everyone </span>in the building worked, so no one was home to complain. So I let the little darling bark as long as she wanted - until I couldn't stand it any longer.<br />
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For a small dog, Moxie had well-developed kidneys, being used to Scott and Julie being gone during the day. This allowed me the opportunity to go off and explore Melbourne for more than just a few hours at a time - Yeah!<br />
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On first bright and sunny day (it is very wet and a bit chilly down here, as it's the middle of their winter) I headed into Melbourne's CBD to meet up with the folks at <a href="http://www.imfree.com.au/melbourne/">I'm Free Walking Tours</a> for a 3- hours tour. <br />
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Melbourne is Australia's oldest city modeled after a typical English capital city. The buildings are stately and large, the sidewalks are broad, the trees are huge and everywhere, the museums are excellent and plentiful, and the transportation options are numerous, on-time and will take you anywhere you want to go throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Melbourne has a huge and diverse ethnic population (the largest population of Greeks outside of Greece and a lovely and large Chinatown.) Below are just a few of the photo's I took on my tour and during the many subsequent trips I made into Melbourne during my 3-week stay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgVN3Is1Ul0yxDd0UrJUkVjWVoX6zjD2BhU8I99iGv4rD4drGDeshplZORxG6KeuNpbjg82xlYDSOValgWa6b-PHQfrl-Les43-4xwvVNnmpYcFGKYRpbNlDxN8om4-K4W3naAotiF_vu/s1600/P1050023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgVN3Is1Ul0yxDd0UrJUkVjWVoX6zjD2BhU8I99iGv4rD4drGDeshplZORxG6KeuNpbjg82xlYDSOValgWa6b-PHQfrl-Les43-4xwvVNnmpYcFGKYRpbNlDxN8om4-K4W3naAotiF_vu/s320/P1050023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet treats in a Arcade window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graffiti lane</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Yarra River view </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Theater</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parliament</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese wedding pix on Parliament steps </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many shopping arcades</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A designated laneway just for graffiti artists</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass domed ceiling at the train station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcade tile floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many laneways</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinatown entrance</td></tr>
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Founded in 1831 and situated on Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the perfect walking city as it's completely flat. When you aren't even looking, you find some fun and unique public art, great craft markets and hysterical safety posters! Melbourne soon became one of my very favorite cities of all those I have visited. <br />
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But the very best thing that happened during my stay in Melbourne was meeting Angela Daley. Her husband's job had taken them to Chicago, which they called 'home' over a year. While there she found and joined my favorite group, International Women Associates (IWA). They had returned home to Melbourne just before I arrived and we both had received emails from mutual friends telling us that we MUST connect. They were right - it was instant friendship!<br />
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Angela lives in a beautifully restored Victorian row house within walking distance of the CBD where she still works as a legal librarian (very part time).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8Ap1TVEF-n5-FPb-oJobTB5AtEROfH9Ow4fUHD40Z8IL7shJzLKyxbFcS4-yOHT7djltzi2nJtYTROn94MgWeJqsJsus8FiYf-xFAUcumLdBYOVzT3B7sBjzkqeWhEnmabaFB1LYKaD-/s1600/P1050151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8Ap1TVEF-n5-FPb-oJobTB5AtEROfH9Ow4fUHD40Z8IL7shJzLKyxbFcS4-yOHT7djltzi2nJtYTROn94MgWeJqsJsus8FiYf-xFAUcumLdBYOVzT3B7sBjzkqeWhEnmabaFB1LYKaD-/s320/P1050151.jpg" width="240" /></a>For our first meeting, I trained to her side of town and she gave me a tour of her neighborhood before having a delicious lunch in her lovely kitchen. Once we got started talking we couldn't seem to stop and lunch went on for literally hours! She finally put me on the train to home but not before she had introduced me to one of the major reasons to live in Melbourne, <a href="http://www.qvm.com.au/">The Queen Victoria Market</a><br />
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What started as a fruit & vegetable market soon added meat and fish halls, fresh fruit and soon The Elizabeth Shops were added to showcase crafts and house goods. And then there are all the eating options. Name a type of food or nationality and you will find it at simmering, steaming or grilling at The Queen Vic. <br />
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But what blew me away was the Deli Hall. OMG!!! If I could move in here and never leave, I would. I have never seen so many beautiful and delicious displays - salamis, cheese, olives, sweets, and breads of all shapes and sizes, etc. etc. etc.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM!</td></tr>
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On another sunny day, and our last day together, Angela suggested brunch downtown overlooking The Yarra River then a visit to an outdoor craft fair before hopping a tram (<i>where I forgot to look left first before looking right and almost ended up in the tram drivers lap!</i>) out to St <span style="background-color: white;">Kilda. This quaint,</span> seaside suburb is great for sightseeing. We had a chance meeting and a long chat with a very talented Aboriginal artist at work, did some shopping, and stopped for a hot coffee and tasty sweet to recharge our depleted batteries! <br />
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It was a perfect day, but so hard to say goodbye to my wonderful new friend<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Kilda's pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to amusement park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Angela<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unusual 'dot' painting that is specific to the Aboriginal people<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The National Gallery was having a retrospective of Australian clothing designers from the 1800's to today. For me, a <i>must see</i> and a great way to spend one of my last rainy days! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV7zS6czqVMlwIty8oz0WLkAFrqrpFIfLva-1cEKq9Sxs_8FHFIiMo2IFw4lyRpsm4APlRtJbD-XacmwcMErwZBzC8Nqnlsjoio9MQIDOBjQrt8-N7FScoBjX5QH3cn_ehgy6uRr8A7RI/s1600/IMG_0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV7zS6czqVMlwIty8oz0WLkAFrqrpFIfLva-1cEKq9Sxs_8FHFIiMo2IFw4lyRpsm4APlRtJbD-XacmwcMErwZBzC8Nqnlsjoio9MQIDOBjQrt8-N7FScoBjX5QH3cn_ehgy6uRr8A7RI/s320/IMG_0184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My 3 weeks had flown by but just before leaving Carnegie I stumbled upon this tiny, corner coffee shop and absolutely had to stop and ask why?????.....it's named for, features pictures on the wall of, and even has a jar to raise money to bring its namesake, comedian, actor, gopher-loving and golfer-extraordinaire BILL MURRAY to Carnegie, Australia!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XAXdtpcJxBp3YIsASArD-yGRjsIvRMCOxYs1mLRg-bgEdBW2wD3ZX9x_iJx-RiN9AdHBDosd4Avrlckk4oXj6ALqjlw7Gi824jyTIM46AaFtdWK9OtxUMY9cp1N4hv5n4pNXOR4N93j6/s1600/P1050133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XAXdtpcJxBp3YIsASArD-yGRjsIvRMCOxYs1mLRg-bgEdBW2wD3ZX9x_iJx-RiN9AdHBDosd4Avrlckk4oXj6ALqjlw7Gi824jyTIM46AaFtdWK9OtxUMY9cp1N4hv5n4pNXOR4N93j6/s400/P1050133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It turns out the owner is just a great fan - whose name also happens to be William Murray. He has already arranged for great accommodations for Bill, will get tickets to a rugby match and of course, a provide a few rounds of golf on the area's best courses. Now all he has to do is raise the money to cover all this (plus the airfare). Oh- and then talk Bill into coming! <br />
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<i>Hey Bill, as a fellow Chicagoan you should come on down! You will love Australia, adore Melbourne and enjoy meeting the fabulous people who live here.</i><br />
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But now the time has come for me to say farewell to Australia and head to <i>'A Land of Two Halves'.</i></div>
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<i>Until next time in New Zealand......</i></div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-14255404597446119502016-09-13T21:40:00.002-05:002016-09-13T21:40:49.052-05:00THE LAND OF "OZ'<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Oz - as the Aussies called their homeland, was my destination when I left Los Angeles on May 30th. I plan is to spend the next 11 months exploring a bit of Oz, a lot of New Zealand and a totally relaxing month in Indonesia on the island of Bali. </div>
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First stop after a really decent, but very long flight on <i>Virgin Australia, </i></div>
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<b>SYDNEY!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJgOPZFP3BrkYs9ksffSTrz9Nkj7AIySiUlGGUKU3gdNZiVUv8W3euQ9VTz0boB1JYjSJF7yhP01UHMZINKQmjf0W1Aa3mgNLSFU1ErsJ8gmTH3ctlsZ0OWW_1ZSuEyCHxFTRhZeerian/s1600/P1050006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJgOPZFP3BrkYs9ksffSTrz9Nkj7AIySiUlGGUKU3gdNZiVUv8W3euQ9VTz0boB1JYjSJF7yhP01UHMZINKQmjf0W1Aa3mgNLSFU1ErsJ8gmTH3ctlsZ0OWW_1ZSuEyCHxFTRhZeerian/s640/P1050006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I use AirBnB almost exclusively whenever I can. I like the idea of renting from a local. I find that almost all AirBnB hosts go out of their way to make you comfortable and also share all they know and like about their city. </div>
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I chose to stay in the <i>Potts Point</i> area for my 4 days in Sydney. I was the guest of Cassandra and her partner, Fabian, in their beautiful <i><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9743495?sug=50">Camelot Hall AirBnB</a></i>. Check out the photos of this great place!</div>
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Arriving late afternoon, I followed her great directions, taking the tram from the airport to downtown where I switched to the Potts Point area's local line, leaving just a few blocks to the condo. She did forget to mention that she was on the top floor of a 3-story walk-up. Thank goodness Fabian was home to welcome me and carry my suitcase up all the stairs!</div>
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I had my own bedroom with a large sunroom overlooking the private school across the street. I barely remember but I think I napped, found somewhere nearby for dinner and fell back in bed at the end of the day. </div>
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The next morning I could not figure out the pop-pop-popping sound that was coming in through my windows. I stumbled out of bed (jet-lag sucks) and find that at 6:00 a.m. the students across the street are having basketball practice and what I am hearing is a ball being bounced up and down the cement court!</div>
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Since I am wide-awake - and have been since 3 a.m. - I decided to just stay up and go exploring. Cassandra is the manager of a very well-known Sydney art gallery. Fabian is a film-maker and director and is headed to Germany for work. They are expecting their first child - soon - and my room will become the nursery. She had told me before I arrived that I would probably see very little of them during my stay and find them both heading out the door at 7 a.m. - Good morning - Good-bye - Have a great day!</div>
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The kitchen is supplied with all the necessities for a lite breakfast and after a nice cup of tea and a piece of fruit, I was off to see what Sydney was like. Since I really wasn't very observant on my arrival, so what a pleasant surprise to walk out the door, cross the street and see this view....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg666EbTtbsUzMUmYNu_DzwhxTtYjBM7SmSCC-jEKxPunufF2hgsSeGITE2Ob6l6N63uezrFDc3OsjzUcAaw2PuB1DYCeUBDwZ6M8_jnNedj_sJzvP3xFD-xP1sKCzXdJVR2ng2-NEdQoJB/s1600/P1040793.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg666EbTtbsUzMUmYNu_DzwhxTtYjBM7SmSCC-jEKxPunufF2hgsSeGITE2Ob6l6N63uezrFDc3OsjzUcAaw2PuB1DYCeUBDwZ6M8_jnNedj_sJzvP3xFD-xP1sKCzXdJVR2ng2-NEdQoJB/s400/P1040793.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With my trusty city-map downloaded on my iPhone (as usual, I purchased a SIM card at the airport to use for the duration of my stay in Oz) I learned it would be an easy walk to get here ↑ but first had to walk down here</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEUIOGXVzmSlLphW1-DJezZtbzXc5bHfgn4jS9bEw_To0phnM3OoFNLHLvaH8094gWpzYQxjPV5Ro1dHHTPlQ4lL6LdPTNyyxI52HHWLULxm3i99GW9ANHed7a2PR255HdE6L9vbEUUS3/s1600/P1040795.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEUIOGXVzmSlLphW1-DJezZtbzXc5bHfgn4jS9bEw_To0phnM3OoFNLHLvaH8094gWpzYQxjPV5Ro1dHHTPlQ4lL6LdPTNyyxI52HHWLULxm3i99GW9ANHed7a2PR255HdE6L9vbEUUS3/s320/P1040795.jpg" width="240" /></a>At the bottom of the stairs, I can follow the road that winds around the harbour all the way to the famous Opera House. While standing on the corner waiting to cross the street, one of the ever-popular and plentiful <i>Hop-on-Hop-Off </i>buses makes an appearance, stops and asks if I would like to Hop-on? Why not?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmBConI-TSiO66ABCjKRk0Q2eqh4YHeG0OU29wPjogpZ583PnWSYReJ1ETlCPynB3tVRUOcB7yEiW8GQQX1gS54_Df6xtKTB7GuaG7YSkYiNJ02QKZXhIWBtQ2BbIFaWiH0HlbsRF3_Xn/s1600/sydney-explorer-hop-on.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmBConI-TSiO66ABCjKRk0Q2eqh4YHeG0OU29wPjogpZ583PnWSYReJ1ETlCPynB3tVRUOcB7yEiW8GQQX1gS54_Df6xtKTB7GuaG7YSkYiNJ02QKZXhIWBtQ2BbIFaWiH0HlbsRF3_Xn/s320/sydney-explorer-hop-on.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I paid the 'senior fare' and off I went for a 4-hour tour of Sydney. This was a perfect way to spend most of the day, especially since my body was still in a completely different time zone and I knew I would have to crash and nap during the afternoon. I had a signed-up for a 'free walking tour' the next day with <i><a href="http://www.imfree.com.au/sydney/">I'm Free Walking Tours</a> </i>so I knew between the bus tour and a foot-tour, I would only see most of Sydney and but learn a lot of history as well.</div>
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Speaking of history, when I was doing research before I left the States for the best book to read on the history of Australia, the most highly-recommended book was this one - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq59nub4eibQMjnQGw7ApiVYnngQUHh3Xuay-iAU6eC9E6G8niVXQhCR2ER9JgbWL3pCqXqSoPIMu-XkZROnvwSWDJaaOKm0BC3bceH8dqHJ_zEN6zlPbrZPKGDwQ0m4ReAilA_TI3dSfn/s1600/348835938.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq59nub4eibQMjnQGw7ApiVYnngQUHh3Xuay-iAU6eC9E6G8niVXQhCR2ER9JgbWL3pCqXqSoPIMu-XkZROnvwSWDJaaOKm0BC3bceH8dqHJ_zEN6zlPbrZPKGDwQ0m4ReAilA_TI3dSfn/s320/348835938.jpg" width="195" /></a> Though fiction, it is similar to James Mitchner books where you get a great story intermingled with a complete history of the country, including the flora and the fauna! </div>
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But back to Sydney. I took 100's of pictures of the new and the old buildings, both big and small. I learned that Sydney is a hilly city - should have figured that out from the stairs! Of course, we know that the British sent their convicts and low-life's here to either perish or survive. A hardy bunch those criminals, the first group arriving in 1788, survived and flourished. Australia officially became a British colony, these newcomers treated the native Aborigines abominably, they built big cities around the coastline of their new country and left the hot, arid middle-section, to this day, barely populated. They gave us 'G'day', Crocodile Dundee, shrimp-on-the-barbie', Cate Blanchette, Nicole Kidman, Russel Crowe, Hugh Jackman and those hunky Hemsworth brothers. They also gave us Vegemite, UGGS (though the New Zealanders will argue that one), the dual-flush toilet (yet to make it's way to the US), koala bears, the Great Barrier Reef, kangaroos, Wi-Fi (really - invited by a scientist in Melbourne), some really good beer and wine and of course, the World Heritage Site Sydney Opera House. There are many more contributions, but this was enough for one day's touring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPUtkUWlQgU6-XZSVsKzyQhuMFjzESSBfss-FnoVXwbeXNpo1MD3LCLmUdjt1ax5o1_tBnfQkxzolrkSTsNygkeXQAuk8_4sVA1IO1kv8V_-Q6o4af3pEN2beBBLi0GS68qtuOfHgP9H-/s1600/P1040805.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPUtkUWlQgU6-XZSVsKzyQhuMFjzESSBfss-FnoVXwbeXNpo1MD3LCLmUdjt1ax5o1_tBnfQkxzolrkSTsNygkeXQAuk8_4sVA1IO1kv8V_-Q6o4af3pEN2beBBLi0GS68qtuOfHgP9H-/s320/P1040805.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNllOg94EuUGfPWTbRpMpSrK5LzdMP9xsU5uoZueT4yaJzifEBR-PAI74fBrm6Dap-w0c9h_jOOcQUYJElnnPErlqGEP-0TWZYfmORpVsq8l6g8nj-1csQno_QgaQmn-or4ECIAsRGlyV/s1600/P1040816.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNllOg94EuUGfPWTbRpMpSrK5LzdMP9xsU5uoZueT4yaJzifEBR-PAI74fBrm6Dap-w0c9h_jOOcQUYJElnnPErlqGEP-0TWZYfmORpVsq8l6g8nj-1csQno_QgaQmn-or4ECIAsRGlyV/s320/P1040816.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New South Wales Library</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3y2JTsxxKEQ0zjpxej4fQTGQR03LtMxLWAzp7CquWVHi01IlSzHxU-uLeePwsm3L5_K8jfw4nx-vhtWEqkYsr9MozhuTOmWXbpZnnUxXeDiCmhfl3A2GvZIPXFMLSjV7Oc6k01-kiVGN/s320/P1040826.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Andrews Cathedral</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3y2JTsxxKEQ0zjpxej4fQTGQR03LtMxLWAzp7CquWVHi01IlSzHxU-uLeePwsm3L5_K8jfw4nx-vhtWEqkYsr9MozhuTOmWXbpZnnUxXeDiCmhfl3A2GvZIPXFMLSjV7Oc6k01-kiVGN/s1600/P1040826.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4W294C7ENRbHeWEe-UfXDuhVRpRXiHMrS7J07S7b8nkhwLBQzyqW6q2pbuKrUooxFvDeSbOeajoD8L5R47HMZInPyiKApRQXOjm34Cq9M6WkURxPeFzbFDw8nPWjWf9JZ-HstizQdd2Y/s1600/P1040827.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4W294C7ENRbHeWEe-UfXDuhVRpRXiHMrS7J07S7b8nkhwLBQzyqW6q2pbuKrUooxFvDeSbOeajoD8L5R47HMZInPyiKApRQXOjm34Cq9M6WkURxPeFzbFDw8nPWjWf9JZ-HstizQdd2Y/s320/P1040827.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Right Honourable William Bede Dalley, PC - Scholar, Patriot, Statesman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJj3bH5fwT3rr5QoJptzvUJZ6-6YlKFDGOQa8cPCTdTPUy7oaWJZxy87rA_iNR-xY9cF8e_MZ2-AZq4xFBk7T_TNDqgtR6NXUnllEXRgen2vVx1rCgFxc-ZXMQzGavpEPaZZtgksu8dyV/s1600/P1040836.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJj3bH5fwT3rr5QoJptzvUJZ6-6YlKFDGOQa8cPCTdTPUy7oaWJZxy87rA_iNR-xY9cF8e_MZ2-AZq4xFBk7T_TNDqgtR6NXUnllEXRgen2vVx1rCgFxc-ZXMQzGavpEPaZZtgksu8dyV/s320/P1040836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central train station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJxz9dnpwq2FFmryTPZpnoy9K2-p8j3zYkSVB4OmIgovaewSLe71EdqIM946qOmolKTzWyyUnbhdOdbLYHahOLzAIvncsaE4P_YaOv18UN8Y-5Efl12ksEOk_p_JjKAn0RvwIBCwaM1VR/s1600/P1040844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJxz9dnpwq2FFmryTPZpnoy9K2-p8j3zYkSVB4OmIgovaewSLe71EdqIM946qOmolKTzWyyUnbhdOdbLYHahOLzAIvncsaE4P_YaOv18UN8Y-5Efl12ksEOk_p_JjKAn0RvwIBCwaM1VR/s320/P1040844.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking 'green' to the next step</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KJQkIJJfQrpiLWYr-8rjM0_vTWCDXCAua-Zhkm_mCpO1nrQMQ_lzl3pWiV_pb3WPiapZJVEnvqYwm4UTrchsJnnq0Xbyf6pfk7t7SWJom7L0b-hR1lN8i_fYa6ndrxPqFYu9ozSgmRAP/s1600/P1040864.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KJQkIJJfQrpiLWYr-8rjM0_vTWCDXCAua-Zhkm_mCpO1nrQMQ_lzl3pWiV_pb3WPiapZJVEnvqYwm4UTrchsJnnq0Xbyf6pfk7t7SWJom7L0b-hR1lN8i_fYa6ndrxPqFYu9ozSgmRAP/s320/P1040864.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The harbor is bustling with people and places</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaHBtv9Bcou-4EIJ_C49vBII2bWD3tqTQAhn2EBC7h1oyQCV1QwIC_H3Dw8FiGkZtBO2ozLZDX4JmrYHl-bVmMJlGY4vd8oW6yjVWEaI9-4ScBwk9zTNUBZK4QI0Krurw55X8qu9Ao9jj/s1600/P1040854.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaHBtv9Bcou-4EIJ_C49vBII2bWD3tqTQAhn2EBC7h1oyQCV1QwIC_H3Dw8FiGkZtBO2ozLZDX4JmrYHl-bVmMJlGY4vd8oW6yjVWEaI9-4ScBwk9zTNUBZK4QI0Krurw55X8qu9Ao9jj/s320/P1040854.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victorian homes still dot the streets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1em9qIzZJlFr2ntkZze9HY1YdNg_ofoJ5MfwcIO-W4Muv8mRX4OUPKs5-qChjRrU9IsPk7rJyFZwCRz8hExwtaIYfq47pHeXPUN2Q865tfmD2d6qdaBR3RSpwLjyf0P-iDNTw15d7kBs/s1600/P1040872.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1em9qIzZJlFr2ntkZze9HY1YdNg_ofoJ5MfwcIO-W4Muv8mRX4OUPKs5-qChjRrU9IsPk7rJyFZwCRz8hExwtaIYfq47pHeXPUN2Q865tfmD2d6qdaBR3RSpwLjyf0P-iDNTw15d7kBs/s320/P1040872.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbor entertainment</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNBXmaGmvRj7_C59IDQj2jwTHdARaT9lfZCgAgSPcLB2ulqYlCtTmLTG1yiAr4MdrhKyg5-UyCHhkndsf2XFNqljUw0cs5Z_r2kLwK231RF2m3jdcgyq-Mgs-q7Jxw0Y8ASNzbdMWvkbr/s1600/P1040874.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNBXmaGmvRj7_C59IDQj2jwTHdARaT9lfZCgAgSPcLB2ulqYlCtTmLTG1yiAr4MdrhKyg5-UyCHhkndsf2XFNqljUw0cs5Z_r2kLwK231RF2m3jdcgyq-Mgs-q7Jxw0Y8ASNzbdMWvkbr/s200/P1040874.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjannkW_fUdK5PesSNP94Xg5GgLsP0iDT8NZonSgIoN7to1xq0nAd-li9KnPFJv08-Wjep6rOTRjGHK5NTTXZutiL-9R3WYCuG1SDtnTpfoaIzu-Rp5rAZ3IqGo4VmBeMCN7L617PbvNqMr/s1600/P1040880.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjannkW_fUdK5PesSNP94Xg5GgLsP0iDT8NZonSgIoN7to1xq0nAd-li9KnPFJv08-Wjep6rOTRjGHK5NTTXZutiL-9R3WYCuG1SDtnTpfoaIzu-Rp5rAZ3IqGo4VmBeMCN7L617PbvNqMr/s320/P1040880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the Harbor Bridge (you can walk across)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS-apTYeZVN6d-L1BuC8xY8XCtvghSpt5LOlrGCx24v5SXAFuol9y0ngyWS4-G_FCbKw8YsUegQJ4R9p4mNrteJSRoM-N4Azxgy3WXHgsHjvi3utf6lqGA5GxE4_LLVTwxT-2QuV4i_ut/s1600/P1040900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS-apTYeZVN6d-L1BuC8xY8XCtvghSpt5LOlrGCx24v5SXAFuol9y0ngyWS4-G_FCbKw8YsUegQJ4R9p4mNrteJSRoM-N4Azxgy3WXHgsHjvi3utf6lqGA5GxE4_LLVTwxT-2QuV4i_ut/s200/P1040900.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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At the end of this very busy day, I met Chris Heidrich, founder and owner of <a href="http://www.airtreks.com/tripplanner2/?AFFID=GOOGLE&DST=US_SEARCH_BRANDED_airtrek&gclid=Cj0KEQjwx96-BRDyzY3GqcqZgcgBEiQANHd-nkyYUfU_WYcVsmtjiAGDppT5fDuR7mBTZDGPz44VIdcaAo6w8P8HAQ">AirTreks</a> for dinner. Chris arranged my air travel for my entire trip. He and his wife now live in Sydney. He runs AirTreks huge RTW travel business from this part of the world while his partner heads up the Seattle-based US headquarters. </div>
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The next and my last full day in Sydney included an early morning <i>Insider's Tour</i> of the <i><a href="https://www.getyourguide.com/sydney-opera-house-l3729/?cmp=ga&campaignid=201572982&adgroupid=10548781422&targetid=kwd-810510676&loc_physical_ms=2840&matchtype=e&network=g&device=c&creative=50530746342&partner_id=4E76E&gclid=Cj0KEQjwx96-BRDyzY3GqcqZgcgBEiQANHd-nunV0gFA66PzY3I-2mkHEqbVd_m3ybi_CUuJH5nZE38aAmo28P8HAQ">Sydney Opera House</a></i> and then an afternoon ferry-ride to Manly Beach to visit with a friend.</div>
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First, THE OPERA HOUSE. Amazing!! I had to arrive at <b>6:45 A.M. </b>Why such an ungodly hour, you might ask? Because when you are touring the backstage(s) and working areas of the House, you need to do this when the actual workers and performers are not working or practicing or performing. I'd figured out how to hop the local tram and the walk from it to the Opera House. It was well worth the early start to be there as the sun was rising over Sydney Harbour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LslGJPOPQR_QWPO0mdb933WNrSdlT7MHkLdLLRVNZfS_JvESaqZPQS7Trrgy6Y83987AD0HVD6-wjbouT8gofSh9_Rr5hCD_HltBBwhkVDJOv2zsatzMKpEpXKq4n6QbHZEsqsHllE-q/s1600/P1040958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LslGJPOPQR_QWPO0mdb933WNrSdlT7MHkLdLLRVNZfS_JvESaqZPQS7Trrgy6Y83987AD0HVD6-wjbouT8gofSh9_Rr5hCD_HltBBwhkVDJOv2zsatzMKpEpXKq4n6QbHZEsqsHllE-q/s400/P1040958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8uwbSFNDiR45N7qLULYzmYhCsdk-ii1JzSU0VkWYFbxsDQB6dOow_4l2_Qx4y0YBxpGGOmb_EElWHE4cB2zoWwRSu_GaD7pycAaVM5winoHpkzRGI1biyWRWcf2MeN5HhsI3_PKEWXw3/s1600/P1040961.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8uwbSFNDiR45N7qLULYzmYhCsdk-ii1JzSU0VkWYFbxsDQB6dOow_4l2_Qx4y0YBxpGGOmb_EElWHE4cB2zoWwRSu_GaD7pycAaVM5winoHpkzRGI1biyWRWcf2MeN5HhsI3_PKEWXw3/s400/P1040961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and our small group of 7 (Indian, Japanese, Australia, American and Norwegian) learned so much about the inner-workings of this magnificent performance center. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLDdJReEqNi45mQeqQ67j7nn0lEkBTLQqDm7vbHt7NRx6XZwylIgybfuVUyxkgSWreDtC_Esk6xzZWsiiOOQvic3cUfXNgsrbJPlWGIL-AdiB7jnhgrYkwFQNe4QWg9UVRI97NQZbviKu/s1600/P1040966.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLDdJReEqNi45mQeqQ67j7nn0lEkBTLQqDm7vbHt7NRx6XZwylIgybfuVUyxkgSWreDtC_Esk6xzZWsiiOOQvic3cUfXNgsrbJPlWGIL-AdiB7jnhgrYkwFQNe4QWg9UVRI97NQZbviKu/s320/P1040966.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29hjMOOE2WzITInKihOJfIkkjvTiEtaTRuOX9X9jjF4L9cwHdZB_OyqIy-ghW-DPw0M8A4RJ5gTeyN0LQ3uIzZVm0dLbDV8QPJi3UWRh4dyFThxkodJ4c2aUn2cCr-RJWWo_fHWNBge7d/s1600/P1040967.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29hjMOOE2WzITInKihOJfIkkjvTiEtaTRuOX9X9jjF4L9cwHdZB_OyqIy-ghW-DPw0M8A4RJ5gTeyN0LQ3uIzZVm0dLbDV8QPJi3UWRh4dyFThxkodJ4c2aUn2cCr-RJWWo_fHWNBge7d/s200/P1040967.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Our tour guide standing amongst huge amounts of equipment including boxes and boxes of stuff, lighted acoustic circles, big stages and small performance areas. The tour ended with a delicious full English breakfast in the performer's dining room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9_RzbmmVt-1vZSpeUImYwP8sTgUOQOiwLlTJGr9NtyNlmMSbgBOgPyPaAMI0rbGkU_FUVTTbwsMv_SXCOPEONKK49H49ag5aA4Rg3VrSSDU0vaztLCQfituRLeqKmjtUEChPPXaPKzSf/s1600/P1040977.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9_RzbmmVt-1vZSpeUImYwP8sTgUOQOiwLlTJGr9NtyNlmMSbgBOgPyPaAMI0rbGkU_FUVTTbwsMv_SXCOPEONKK49H49ag5aA4Rg3VrSSDU0vaztLCQfituRLeqKmjtUEChPPXaPKzSf/s200/P1040977.jpg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e0Z553MOGjWq1WVqHcDMJDkKqXBkh8kxEPC8GFcQxKAXE9iHMlEym357LBI2t7wgUuG4u-h-sET1SFBk2AoH-ofPeIAGcbqsj6r_E_KUTEu-2lL44zrB67VpPPgf6YIgWAUVlGlArJYv/s1600/P1040978.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e0Z553MOGjWq1WVqHcDMJDkKqXBkh8kxEPC8GFcQxKAXE9iHMlEym357LBI2t7wgUuG4u-h-sET1SFBk2AoH-ofPeIAGcbqsj6r_E_KUTEu-2lL44zrB67VpPPgf6YIgWAUVlGlArJYv/s320/P1040978.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWCsviT76VrriGRELuRvgVk2YUXYAKumtBxiX7RFVZ7wWC8hTqyAFivHfVo1M4NWzCuNSs1AS12399tIZBmH8TKEBVnTGPeXEOinEQXtS65njekf-q9_nLsnil_FuKWNuZFMuCawP6HtX/s1600/vivid-light-festival_290516_04.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWCsviT76VrriGRELuRvgVk2YUXYAKumtBxiX7RFVZ7wWC8hTqyAFivHfVo1M4NWzCuNSs1AS12399tIZBmH8TKEBVnTGPeXEOinEQXtS65njekf-q9_nLsnil_FuKWNuZFMuCawP6HtX/s320/vivid-light-festival_290516_04.jpg" width="157" /></a>I was upset that there were no live performances at the Opera House the 2 nights I had in town, but I was there during VIVID SYDNEY, <i>The Light, Music & Ideas Festival</i>. I only had to walk outside my door once the sun set to find sights such as these - the city and all its building and bridges spotlighted in brilliant color! Street performers were everywhere, music could be enjoyed by just walking down the street. The Opea House changed it's light display nightly - one more amazing than the next.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NeDazUbjW6iOLhhdQYutYg6oGNS641Gj7Sf27JoK53qe2VykGL6V1VEFBHQuNOy2l8d6WMoiQk2obQSgu0iNo5IG2koCJy73deUhVvY95TRv7cNt0x9_-kD5rskXPyBpEzCNEKK2kCms/s1600/GettyImages-534658256.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KigI5QKlp8JDKQfb96LKsagiaK-92rK_qZcipmkApb7kj5Dk66wLPDBLGrOTcO8dPudLBQGZ_e-kSYTgHPqhu4oQnpiYfGm38zpbdnIhATQkepfQ3U4e9HhSUwewawP2ocfkSaL6E7QU/s1600/GettyImages-534658236.jpg"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KigI5QKlp8JDKQfb96LKsagiaK-92rK_qZcipmkApb7kj5Dk66wLPDBLGrOTcO8dPudLBQGZ_e-kSYTgHPqhu4oQnpiYfGm38zpbdnIhATQkepfQ3U4e9HhSUwewawP2ocfkSaL6E7QU/s320/GettyImages-534658236.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NeDazUbjW6iOLhhdQYutYg6oGNS641Gj7Sf27JoK53qe2VykGL6V1VEFBHQuNOy2l8d6WMoiQk2obQSgu0iNo5IG2koCJy73deUhVvY95TRv7cNt0x9_-kD5rskXPyBpEzCNEKK2kCms/s320/GettyImages-534658256.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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I took the local ferry to met up with Lauen Evanosky, a fellow Peace Corps volunteer, for a late lunch on Manly Beach - where she has recently relocated and now calls home. The ride over and back was so beautiful and relaxing. Lauren picked me up and gave me a great tour of the area beaches - where surfing rules and they have these amazing salt-water swiming pools that are incorporated right into the beaches. It was fun to catch-up and reminisce about our time on St. Kitts.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising past the Opera House</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sydney Harbor Lighthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seawater, seaside swimming pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aussie surfer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lauren</td></tr>
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I returned in time to pack, enjoy a great dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant and be the up bright and early to catch the tram to the airport for my flight to Melbourne. I enjoyed my stay in Sydney - I could have stayed longer - but I have a house/pet sit to get to. Farewell from Sydney....</div>
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Unitl next time......</div>
<br />Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-20972756575510776252016-08-11T22:30:00.000-05:002016-08-12T17:22:18.047-05:00HOME!When you get the offer to babysit your one-and-only, most precious granddaughter for 10 days while Mom & Dad take advantage of a business/pleasure trip to Australia, there is no better reason than to wave goodbye to Europe and return to sunny and warm southern California!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRj1iAEbNtlU2VEI3kknJ1TFpo42ZewYEwacG5NICPDsGFFKWJ6yQ5T8Xr_IBCmRxHSClr8sKIg6VKJv0EeGp6tKBldX-jKkGiJT_G1WAhM-qKOZgXVhWypKb0trQqctb2rYBCAbsNIQk/s1600/IMG_0209+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRj1iAEbNtlU2VEI3kknJ1TFpo42ZewYEwacG5NICPDsGFFKWJ6yQ5T8Xr_IBCmRxHSClr8sKIg6VKJv0EeGp6tKBldX-jKkGiJT_G1WAhM-qKOZgXVhWypKb0trQqctb2rYBCAbsNIQk/s320/IMG_0209+%25281%2529.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
I flew home on February 1, 2016, for the first time but certainly not the last, on <a href="http://www.norwegian.com/us?gclid=Cj0KEQjwxLC9BRDb1dP8o7Op68IBEiQAwWggQOzAXXDF2usYjsBOwwy2tHUBzAYlTqLJug9QyX3nVAUaAgIL8P8HAQ">Norwegian Air</a>.<br />
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Flying from London Gatwick to Los Angeles in one of their brand-new <i>Dreamliner</i> aircraft is so relaxing. Economy seats are all big and their famous air recycling system is amazing! You feel that you are almost breathing fresh air for the entire 11 1/2 hour flight! You get off the plane feeling refreshed and not that groggy, <i>I hate flying</i> feeling. <br />
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And then there is the cost! Norwegian Air is a low-cost airline. My one-way ticket price.....$249!!!! Of course, the cost varies depending on the time of year. Right now, in the middle of high season in Europe, a one-way ticket is $520. But compared to all the regular airlines, that is still dirt cheap! The service was outstanding. Add a good selection of movies and music, decent food, they departed on time and arrived a bit early - what more do you want from an airline? <br />
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For the first 3 weeks in February it was time to get reacquainted with Ms. Stella and spoil her as much as possible. We watched <i>Finding Nemo </i>and <i>Frozen </i>too many times to count! We went to the beach and built sandcastles and went swimming at the pool. She is also playing on her first organized sports team - soccer. <br />
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She learned from her coach (an amazingly patient woman!) that she has to be a good sport and a team player. She now tells everyone that she is a good <i>'team-er'</i> but hasn't quite learned how to run and kick the ball. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyzao8ulVyhyc3WSoDEtUxRbtjjfy22USt-3ZZlWT5HbZZ7DumUHOz52UtBHQvax5iPuXDloQqHcJGqlAHDW_JRhzMz_S7Xt83yYkDkkX4hm2u8tlu9N417GfG8ku-Yo-xvco-hJlHf-M/s1600/P1040626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyzao8ulVyhyc3WSoDEtUxRbtjjfy22USt-3ZZlWT5HbZZ7DumUHOz52UtBHQvax5iPuXDloQqHcJGqlAHDW_JRhzMz_S7Xt83yYkDkkX4hm2u8tlu9N417GfG8ku-Yo-xvco-hJlHf-M/s320/P1040626.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
She has several friends from her pre-school that also participate. So from being very shy the first few 'games', she is now a happy soccer team member.<br />
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We did some visiting with her GaGa & Poppie and even had an overnight at Cousin LuLu's so Grandma ReRe could have a night off! <br />
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Raising children is for much younger women. I was completely exhausted at the end of each day. But being able to have her sit on my lap as we read <i>Dora, the Explorer</i> or <i>Hamish the Highland Cow </i>before falling asleep, or singing <i>Let It Be</i> as loud as we could together, were memories I will treasure. It is going to be so fun to watch what will happen as this adorable <i>princess </i>welcomes a baby brother into the family in November! <br />
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One of the nicest things about visiting my family in Solana Beach is 'doing lunch' with 2 of my dear friends from Danville High School. Susan lives in San Diego and Julie is in Del Mar. It's always so much fun to reminisce and share memories of our long-ago youth over a delicious lunch and a good glass of wine!<br />
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<i>From SoCal to Chi-Town!</i> It was time to head back 'home' and reconnect with my girlfriends. It's amazing but everyone wants to 'wine & dine' you when you've been away. I probably put on 10lbs just being 'welcomed home!' But I certainly didn't begrudge the additional weight when I had the joy of spending time with my friends and catching up on all the gossip from the past 11 months.<br />
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I spent the first two weeks in the beautiful home of dear friends Kevin & Dan on North Sheridan Road overlooking Lake Michigan with their fabulous view of downtown Chicago.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of my favorite guys!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">View from their condo!</td></tr>
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Both were out-of-town the first week, and the 2nd week Kevin was gone and Dr. Dan was working such long hours that I had the run of the place almost to myself. <br />
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I made appointments with my doctor, my dentist, my eye doctor and my dermatologist. 'The Girls' got their annual <i>squeeze</i> and I was thrilled to learn after all that that I was good to keep going for at least another year.<br />
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I hadn't planned to stay another two weeks in Chicago but when I was offered, I just couldn't turn down a house/pet sit on the Gold Coast at the corner of Walton & Lake Shore Drive. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Charges</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRXbE2Hfo3IUqecF8mTslW7QQpEpfZRG2eJ3_SSPsxnAF0gZ_O6tVnltXzZ_MT146R_L-RONcjEus2UULEmUevU8I5_nVIRZFWabfaOvVbtTa1yzU021vXm38PKQxkuEZBuqKpjRgcedn/s1600/P1040747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRXbE2Hfo3IUqecF8mTslW7QQpEpfZRG2eJ3_SSPsxnAF0gZ_O6tVnltXzZ_MT146R_L-RONcjEus2UULEmUevU8I5_nVIRZFWabfaOvVbtTa1yzU021vXm38PKQxkuEZBuqKpjRgcedn/s320/P1040747.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My View!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I enjoyed a wonderful gift of two additional weeks 'at home' within walking distance of many IWA events, great restaurants, and the best of North Michigan Avenue SHOPPING! </span></span></div>
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With the permission of the homeowners, one evening I hosted a dinner for a few of my closest girlfriends. <br />
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I love to travel - all the countries I get to visit, the history I learn and the people I get to meet - but there is nothing that can replace your friends! <br />
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Another treat while in the Chicago area was a short, overnight trip to Madison to visit with #2 Son and his beautiful wife, Melissa. They have a new family member, Otis, who is an English Golden Retriever (they have the much lighter blonde coats). In this photo he is a lovable 6-months old. He is already huge and will only get hugh-er!<br />
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Following my plan, it was now time to fly to North Carolina to visit my friends there. I flew into Raleigh and was met by Wilmington neighbor and dear friend, Janet. We celebrated her birthday with lunch at the Cheesecake Factory before I got to drive (yes, I miss driving!) us back to the beach. I spent a week with her and her fabulous husband, Bob, in their beautiful new home.<br />
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They had finally made the much-discussed move off Carolina Beach to be closer to downtown Wilmington. They are now around the corner from where Bob plays tennis every sunny morning, a few minutes drive to shopping and theater and all the wonderful jazz concerts at UNCW. <br />
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Janet and I spent our days catching up while enjoying some of the best spots in town for lunch, shopping till we dropped, and just renewing our friendship. <br />
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I also got to enjoy a delicious dinner on the Riverwalk with friend and fellow traveler, Beth. She encouraged me that if I ever got the chance go to New Zealand, stay as long as I possible could, as I would fall in love. Over dinner and several glasses of wine, we poured over guide books and maps with her giving me great suggestions and ideas of where to go and do and stay. <br />
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My good friend Nancy drove down from Raleigh to spend a night and enjoy a delicious diner at <a href="http://www.indochinewilmington.com/">Indochine</a> before I returned to spend a few days in her big city. She and I had traveled to Portugal, taught English in Spain and cruised to Alaska together. Nancy is retired from a long career with National Public Broadcasting but was and is also a professional pianist and this trip I finally got to hear her play! <br />
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From Raleigh I caught the AMTRAK to Charlotte to see my oldest and dearest friends, Sandra and Rich. They were at my wedding, Rich was my John's best friend and they have been through all the ups and downs of my life from the late 60's onward I always find time to enjoy their wonderful hospitality when I am anywhere nearby. I just invite myself for a visit!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 and I with Sandy & Rich at a Charlotte Panther's Game</td></tr>
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Now is where 'the plan' gets a little off-schedule. From Charlotte, good friends and neighbors Karen and Don from the NC mountain town of Burnsville, drove to Charlotte to pick me up and carry me back up the mountain for a visit that was to have lasted for 6 days. Instead I was their guest-house guest for 8 weeks!!! <br />
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Let me explain. I had lined up what promised to be a fabulous housesit on the Pacific coast of Mexico, north of Mazatlan and south of Puerto Vallarta, for 2 months. <br />
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It sounded wonderful. Large compound, beautiful home, 2 dogs, breathtaking view, short bus ride to the nearest village. But as time got closer and I was able to connect with the couple from whom I would be taking over housesitting duties, I learned all was not-as-it-seemed. First, the bugs where enormous and overly-plentiful - and I HATE BUGS! I learned the owners required you <u>never leave the compound</u> unless someone was there to watch over the house. (Numerous robberies in the area have occurred.) That means only when the gardner or cleaning lady or someone from the work crew was available to stay around a few hours while you get away can you get away. And that bus to the nearby village where you get away to purchase some groceries only runs sporadically - it is Mexico.<br />
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So here I was, a not-so-young single woman all alone with big bugs, no transportation, in an area known for being burgled frequently and no one nearby to call on for help if needed with my very limited Spanish. Oh - and no wifi! After a brief reconsideration and Karen's generous offer to 'just stay put and enjoy springtime in the mountains', I let the homeowners know (in plenty of time for them to find a replacement) that I would not be coming.</div>
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Instead, below are photos of where I called 'home' for 8 glorious weeks! I just had to include a few photos of the dinners that Karen, with Donnie's help, prepared each evening. She is an outstanding, far above average cook and I took great advantage of her skills. She even made me a Ginger/Lime Cheese Cake for my birthday - and I literally licked the plate!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWU1EKelTaCj60V3C-_Js9KPC5rNe45Ea4MJU27sFmz6DixLDkchF33-tTwp0a7t5yRcIuPcfc4WlW1-8cXHAm5j7ulhTBIKZXLd5qebXMffhHBf0TjwBEfZPhCfpnhMhlJqo4IUv-B8_/s1600/P1040750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWU1EKelTaCj60V3C-_Js9KPC5rNe45Ea4MJU27sFmz6DixLDkchF33-tTwp0a7t5yRcIuPcfc4WlW1-8cXHAm5j7ulhTBIKZXLd5qebXMffhHBf0TjwBEfZPhCfpnhMhlJqo4IUv-B8_/s320/P1040750.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE2Dz-oqN3ygADMXDAFHdB2XNGqeBZXX_gUJ5J4uCZTYaoTpie-Ikpb_bL7HLNKJxfDg6Dl3HGMbJccp3bLDFVeRdcLF2aoiafKAf_Z3ADIwKqSbwpYkwNrC06QyDug0S1WmQARGh1Rov/s1600/P1040749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWE2Dz-oqN3ygADMXDAFHdB2XNGqeBZXX_gUJ5J4uCZTYaoTpie-Ikpb_bL7HLNKJxfDg6Dl3HGMbJccp3bLDFVeRdcLF2aoiafKAf_Z3ADIwKqSbwpYkwNrC06QyDug0S1WmQARGh1Rov/s320/P1040749.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the Guest House. I even got to drive Donnie big red truck for a week while they went to visit family in Florida. Had to rig up a step-stool to get in and out of it which caused much laughter when I drove it into town!</i></span><br />
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<i>Seriously, a typical dinner!</i><br />
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Besides eating, we did a few trips into Asheville for shopping and dining, took in a gallery opening at the <a href="http://www.toeriverarts.org/">Toe River Arts Center</a>, a student auction at the <a href="http://www.penland.org/">Penland School of Craft</a> and toured their new gallery space on campus and attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FireOnTheMountainFestival/">Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith's Festival</a> in downtown Spruce Pine (where Donnie slow-roasted a ton of bar-b-qued pork for the after party!) <br />
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I made a stop to see the beautiful Doug Sigler custom-built house I called home for 4 years and to once again take in one of the most magnificent views anyone could have from their front window. I also visited with friend and artist Susan Hayden and thrilled at seeing the mountain come into bloom!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuR8IthDJ4SogHmt8NRhMZ9naSMfPkvCM3jIUB4Rpz__tpazQgUPlozaGrgUjuj87otYBTe3rCHXgY7cGXcu9WWxfCFThMHqRbvz5svPDidx5PJ-TCajBZe5VXTHrUnuKqeuIQYK8ks4nX/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuR8IthDJ4SogHmt8NRhMZ9naSMfPkvCM3jIUB4Rpz__tpazQgUPlozaGrgUjuj87otYBTe3rCHXgY7cGXcu9WWxfCFThMHqRbvz5svPDidx5PJ-TCajBZe5VXTHrUnuKqeuIQYK8ks4nX/s320/IMG_0062.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan's work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art? With Donnie's head peeking thru</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgch-uR2-Y2VVmQJFGbLEhwi1SnneOTbqV6Zzc48dL5D3lYr_rdxgLo4QEEFOKpBcFyJ3cj5dYWhMOG7znUGoVe4EsHLWtEIWz3ybQ9hvbFFuWG3C6xv44ZwcUjdi0BXPQk89HKa6QNaYwl/s320/IMG_0057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan's Sock Monkey Collection</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacksmith Opening at Toe River Arts Council</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacksmithing at it's best</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penland's new craft gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass @ Penland Gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 'used to be' mountain home</td></tr>
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Interesting to see how the cedar siding has streaked and grayed since it was first installed. The new owner did some work on the lower-level balcony but no one can improve on the view of Roan Mountain that I saw each morning from my living room window. <br />
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Spring blooming in all it's glory!</div>
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When not eating or reading or visiting or shopping or gallery-hopping, I searched the housesitting websites each day and finally managed to find a way to give Karen and Don a break from my delightful company. First I got a 3-week housesit in Melbourne, Australia followed by a 3-month housesit on the North Island of New Zealand! Thanks Beth for the suggestion and great itinerary planing.<br />
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So even though it was a much longer-than-planned stay back home in the States, I had a marvelous time visiting family and friends. But all good things must come to an end, especially when new places to see are calling. So on May 28th I flew to San Diego to say goodbye to Ms. Stella and her Mommy and Daddy before catching the long flight to my next 11 months d<i>own under. </i><i> </i><br />
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<i><b>On June 1st I landed in Sydney, Australia!!!</b></i><br />
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Until next time......<br />
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-79806639815920403912016-07-20T22:29:00.002-05:002016-07-20T22:29:57.042-05:00WINGING MY WAY HOME - WITH A STOPOVER IN THE UKIt's now February 1st, 2016, eleven months since I left home to go <i>travelin' </i>and it's been amazing! My allotted time in the Schengen countries has run out and anyway, I've been asked to babysit my darling Stella while her mom and dad take a well-deserved break and head to Australia on business/vacation. But I have two good friends I want to say hello/goodbye to before I fly home from the UK. <br />
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I catch a $39 Easy Jet flight from Faro (goodbye Portugal) to Gatwick where I hop the train to Brighton-by-the-Sea. My good friend, Carole Kabel, who I met while working for the<i> Chicago</i> <i>Cubs</i>, keeps a home in Brighton. Her husband was born there and she and her sons spent many years visiting his family. Her flat was the late in-laws place. It's huge, in a great location and filled with memories. She and her sons and their families now spend vacations in this lovely seaside resort town. <br />
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I was lucky enough to visit Carole when I first arrived in Europe, so this is a return trip and this time, we are celebrating her birthday! Her special day this year falls on a Sunday - which is <i>Sunday Roast</i> <i>Day</i> at all the local pubs.<br />
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We head to a great local, <i>The Lion & The Lobster,</i> for the 2nd seating where we tucked into a small dining area on the top floor up a very narrow and steep set of stairs. As you can see, the portions of the typical <i>Sunday Roast Menu </i>consists of <i>roasted meat (normally beef), roast potato, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetable, and gravy</i>. We added a nice glass of red wine to top off this huge, calorie packed lunch!! They brought Carole a lovely and delicious candle-lite desert that we shared to commemorate Her Day.<br />
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A walk was in order after this meal but soon it was time to head to Carole's favorite neighbor bar, <i>The Beford</i>. This gay pub holds <i>Piano Bingo</i> every Sunday night and if you don't get there early, you won't get a seat! We lucked out and got the last two stools at the bar and were entertained by the great bartender, who kept our glasses topped up! <br />
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Playing<i> Piano Bingo </i>is a hoot! You are given a regular bingo card but instead of numbers in the squares under the letters, there are song titles. The piano player plays a song and EVERYONE joins in and sings along! You cross it off if you can find it on your Bingo card and you win just like a normal game when you fill in a row of song titles vertically, horizontally or diagonally. A game takes a really l-o-n-g time with all the singing and topping-up. A boisterous, loud and fun time is had by all!<br />
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The lady in the black & white jumper with the bright red hair won the night big game - and gifted everyone with a delicious piece of English toffee. It tasted so good and went well with my pale ale - but when I bit down the toffee came away with a crown! The 'winner' was so distressed at the results of her generosity that she gave me the name of her dentist and called and left him a message right then and there to tell him he had to fit me in the morning!<br />
I got a call at 7:00 a.m. the next morning saying they would see me at 8 a.m. to re-glue my crown. How nice was that? - especially since I was catching a 9:30 train into London to spend my last the day with Jan Dengis!<br />
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With my crown securely reinserted, I arrived on time and was able to find my way to Jan's flat behind St. Paul's Cathedral. From an earlier post, you know that Jan and I know each other through our membership in <i>IWA Chicago </i> and that I spent several days with her when I was in London before heading to Portugal. <br />
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She had planned a very special lunch at the <a href="http://www.cafebelow.co.uk/">Cafe Below</a>. The Cafe is located "<i>in the atmospheric, 1000-year old crypt of St. Mary-le-Bow Church. The church houses the famous Bow Bells; legend has it that those born in the sound of are a true cockney. The crypt dates back to William the Conqueror with finishing touches by Christopher Wren. Said by one source, to the oldest of it's kind in London.</i>"<br />
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As you can see from the menu, the choice of selections was varied and mine (the quiche) was absolutely delicious. We had the Apple-Rhubarb Crumble Custard for desert - with a dollop of vanilla ice cream!<br />
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After lunch, Jan once again was my very own tour guide of some of the sites of London town, which she has been calling home now for almost 3 years! She's getting really good at this! <br />
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We strolled along cobblestoned streets and lanes, in and out of churches and government edifices, stopping to laugh at some of the posted British restrictions! At the end of our day, we joined-up with the charming young lady I had met on my walking tour in Seville. After a great chat, it was time hug the ladies goodbye, thank Jan for another fabulous day and catch my train back to Brighton and my last night with Carole. </div>
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It was a fast and furious 2 1/2 day visit to the UK, but now it was time to board my <a href="http://www.norwegian.com/us/">Norwegian Airlines</a> flight from Gatwick to LAX. Check them out anytime you are thinking of a trip to Europe. They have <u>really low fares</u> ($249 OW) offer great service and fly the fabulous new Dreamliner aircraft! Long flight (11 hours) but the new Dreamliner air recycling system really makes a difference. With my Global Entry card, customs was quick and easy. Only had an hour layover until I caught my 40-minute flight to San Diego. Soon I was sitting down to a delicious steak dinner my oldest grilled, with a glass of wine in hand and Stella on my lap. </div>
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It's good to be home again.....at least for awhile!</div>
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Until next time......</div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Asfé Below is situated in the </span></span><span style="color: white; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">oldest of its kind in London</span>Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-73369007374666248502016-07-12T19:20:00.000-05:002016-07-12T19:20:27.503-05:00TWO DAYS IN SEVILLA - OLA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uWLZ1O5aGptS1v0AiZr2dFkpSd4ojt2IZ9eWzb5AT1GdW1yybQqAOCx3lB9pCAvkXpyAP9DJ2OEW3eOe0TckkLYx5C37Jh3mCouH3OMLCLUZXsH4rdP2CUrOe45lXKKZwUoRhE6OAW6j/s1600/P1040422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uWLZ1O5aGptS1v0AiZr2dFkpSd4ojt2IZ9eWzb5AT1GdW1yybQqAOCx3lB9pCAvkXpyAP9DJ2OEW3eOe0TckkLYx5C37Jh3mCouH3OMLCLUZXsH4rdP2CUrOe45lXKKZwUoRhE6OAW6j/s640/P1040422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u>DAY ONE</u><br />
Welcome to Sevilla and the 'sport' of bullfighting! Sevilla is home of one of Spain's last premiere bullrings and why should I mention this first? Because just this past week the wife of 29-year old matador, Victor Barrio, watched as her husband was gored to death in front of her in the ring. No, this didn't happen at the huge ring in Sevilla, but at a <i>bullfighting festival</i> in eastern Spain. But still, it causes one to pause and try and understand why this is considered a 'sport.' <br />
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Yes, I did tour The <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 28px;"><i>Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla</i></span>, saw the museum, heard the stories and saw where so many 'world famous matadors' had made history (or met their end.) It does seem that Spain is slowly trying to phase this sport out as they did close down the rings in Madrid.<br />
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Seeing the very heavy and beautiful <i>Suit of Lights</i> that a matador wears was interesting but the dozen of stuffed heads of the bulls they had killed was not my cup of tea.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FnH71ApnE_WmjKygHi-kAOykF_k412B30IUaY2p3IrY0J_G_vqB0jUI-tyPurl_pzq49z1kZm-yin4TWumVxqL50m4Lu1euVi_tWvRUNSDixFPl4JWa-5zAeTzeJclM2nbHcSKTYOlHe/s1600/P1040225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FnH71ApnE_WmjKygHi-kAOykF_k412B30IUaY2p3IrY0J_G_vqB0jUI-tyPurl_pzq49z1kZm-yin4TWumVxqL50m4Lu1euVi_tWvRUNSDixFPl4JWa-5zAeTzeJclM2nbHcSKTYOlHe/s320/P1040225.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-67WmMn_VcEQmN5t965ZHuBT_SLwuf_7Q2xZMLTx97UnVaaIKgnF40MnSrDczToDMX_xdoz8RHF51YfqaZfw6gJAxGqg7geh3F0eOoH42jE024Lt-ud5rosBhBFDNYybz0h4cZtDOfZ7/s1600/P1040391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-67WmMn_VcEQmN5t965ZHuBT_SLwuf_7Q2xZMLTx97UnVaaIKgnF40MnSrDczToDMX_xdoz8RHF51YfqaZfw6gJAxGqg7geh3F0eOoH42jE024Lt-ud5rosBhBFDNYybz0h4cZtDOfZ7/s320/P1040391.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyF-YJkb5rVV_LqKoDqgHOkv_aIPvSBg4UfHndmH-sLDeJlg9Lo2rTQicq0dGADtrSvEVTO9lTD1PXS9Kk8t1M7n-krxCISh8JX4PjHi6sf8YNug7LAUGJiL7Bkjvj3QPBZxKAHpP7ZnX/s1600/P1040387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyF-YJkb5rVV_LqKoDqgHOkv_aIPvSBg4UfHndmH-sLDeJlg9Lo2rTQicq0dGADtrSvEVTO9lTD1PXS9Kk8t1M7n-krxCISh8JX4PjHi6sf8YNug7LAUGJiL7Bkjvj3QPBZxKAHpP7ZnX/s320/P1040387.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull's Entrance</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieEQmydWuEzbYcuQKgmPyzmstJSgCS8l5PB-a0ztV0f1cU7KqH4-OOmtrhneHByfYqBQdt5cjJ6rryj8Ia4oOs_w5meeR8ErvsMwCunR1aJtZQQXQq25IM5M_A4bxuza2r2RjXS9zVbpn/s1600/P1040418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieEQmydWuEzbYcuQKgmPyzmstJSgCS8l5PB-a0ztV0f1cU7KqH4-OOmtrhneHByfYqBQdt5cjJ6rryj8Ia4oOs_w5meeR8ErvsMwCunR1aJtZQQXQq25IM5M_A4bxuza2r2RjXS9zVbpn/s320/P1040418.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br />So lets move on to more fun stuff that I saw and did during my 2 days in Sevilla! We had a very nice, very modern AirBnB just up the street to the bullring and then around the corner from the Cathedral and the main shopping area of town. The first night we were in town we found a fabulous indoor market (Spain's answer to our delis!) very similar to the one I loved in Madrid. You go from counter-counter and make your choices - everything from fresh seafood (yummy sushi) to hot stuffed meat pies dripping juice and cheese to over-the-top pastries. You eat one or two and then go trolling for more! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate waterfall </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FL8ZMG920oVFw-MKJb_DPU7_Jjg_r_dm44IRbsxAB7lxGWuPAEpgh-IzxnvgA_ZIfJwKdTpnHK7UvnT9TY87Ra0vbZiDcEoqVbrFgb5BJKfvZ8kue__Z_TU2DP87rljpqKTpn0iaUbvx/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FL8ZMG920oVFw-MKJb_DPU7_Jjg_r_dm44IRbsxAB7lxGWuPAEpgh-IzxnvgA_ZIfJwKdTpnHK7UvnT9TY87Ra0vbZiDcEoqVbrFgb5BJKfvZ8kue__Z_TU2DP87rljpqKTpn0iaUbvx/s400/IMG_0840.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The market/deli at night. It's big!</td></tr>
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Walking back I noticed the first of the many wall alters of saints. I found them everywhere, though mostly in alleyways or down smaller side streets. I never found someone to ask their history - but being a very religious Catholic country I saw them as an everyday opportunity to pray to your favorite saint, ask for a blessing and know that your 'religion is everywhere.' They are quite lovely and I am sure, quite old.</div>
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Beside the meal we shared the night we arrived, we five travelers spent our time apart while in Seville. Anita had gotten a chill and Dick's asthma was acting up. The other couple had been to Seville before so they did their own thing - which wasn't much. The weather was lovely, sunny and bright, if a bit chilly (it was the middle of January!) I was out the door the very first thing each morning and usually the last one back in the evening. </div>
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The first day, map in hand, I headed to the <i>Sevilla Cathedral and La Giralda Tower.</i> Said to be the 3rd largest cathedral in the world (no way I could fit the entire Cathedral into one photo) and the largest one of Gothic design, it's construction began in 1401. But it's origins go back to the 12th century, as it was originally a mosque. As was usual, when the Christians arrived they just tore it down and built over the site - but the left the La Giralda Tower. Inside you find hundreds of pieces of art and the burial site of <i>Christopher Columbus</i>. It is really one of the most imposing and beautiful buildings I've seen to date. The line to get inside went on for miles, but I snuck my head in a side door and WOW! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only a little portion of the whole</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrUILWZxOrFEbVmbFCatvKqQ7In6U6xXfWVh-_Hmmo7D7fhtkPfQf6npbnlVpd7QQ2r3xjfSnRB6ELNZJFQ3rwbNRZYArio0RdcqbU0Q6XpmbSO53zeNwe_7DLYBkaBd8Xki16E-SX5-r/s1600/P1040267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrUILWZxOrFEbVmbFCatvKqQ7In6U6xXfWVh-_Hmmo7D7fhtkPfQf6npbnlVpd7QQ2r3xjfSnRB6ELNZJFQ3rwbNRZYArio0RdcqbU0Q6XpmbSO53zeNwe_7DLYBkaBd8Xki16E-SX5-r/s400/P1040267.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 12th century Giralda Tower</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Um3FiE5io8MNE9bspDhL6p-fODTZ3w9p_gg6VlAYJX9ceCAsxID3Lu3h5Qc1_VMIgitakVtJdDnHbHAs7W-Cp_DYekjWpp9G2gaHyPUYywfrzchADvugRnph-2t9fxY5hvoRS4t7xvJB/s1600/P1040512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Um3FiE5io8MNE9bspDhL6p-fODTZ3w9p_gg6VlAYJX9ceCAsxID3Lu3h5Qc1_VMIgitakVtJdDnHbHAs7W-Cp_DYekjWpp9G2gaHyPUYywfrzchADvugRnph-2t9fxY5hvoRS4t7xvJB/s320/P1040512.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1d8P-LPf2Pzz5ijiMQszW5A7E9nIuvvCIJIwrwBz6C9pUFZvVX4sTVnmbMWD6ceyk7gcWpb7Q0xRuUeRr4H6iZkY5m9Bw5oRKBi4Du6LBH4F0idX49f6LV1J3TQs9-1Zq8BNr8jOYoEj/s1600/P1040364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1d8P-LPf2Pzz5ijiMQszW5A7E9nIuvvCIJIwrwBz6C9pUFZvVX4sTVnmbMWD6ceyk7gcWpb7Q0xRuUeRr4H6iZkY5m9Bw5oRKBi4Du6LBH4F0idX49f6LV1J3TQs9-1Zq8BNr8jOYoEj/s320/P1040364.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Cathedral</td></tr>
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It's now 2 p.m. and I was starving. I wandered through a large, inclosed courtyard and entered the tunnel heading out to the street behind the Cathedral. There I found a small indoor/outdoor cafe offering wine and tapas - what more could I ask for? I had the oh so delicious #7 on the menu.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEYBqE5_w7TArhwtSKvozqX5SdfcKqBR6aRE0bf93J07PzeZgjd2FR6nleHLb97m0_xWDnFgtJZR99wXAey6UoeThM7IvdnP1r7YrLJxkqnAvDbnArR1eFCeWswz_RRaGQxjwbydjYvfT/s1600/P1040367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEYBqE5_w7TArhwtSKvozqX5SdfcKqBR6aRE0bf93J07PzeZgjd2FR6nleHLb97m0_xWDnFgtJZR99wXAey6UoeThM7IvdnP1r7YrLJxkqnAvDbnArR1eFCeWswz_RRaGQxjwbydjYvfT/s320/P1040367.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enclosed courtyard </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszVBDB_QGBcZNoUY-PWiYWLn-4usAe8fGeGt3IT5EU9YryMnJhboZIBWPRKYUjnYLjyKyROtusKabMBGiKMPCX1uGPKhY8JOLIz2BU8Ew-k8Rb5r86yWnHwkcIJoULHQR5gaIyXfxg6v/s1600/P1040373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSszVBDB_QGBcZNoUY-PWiYWLn-4usAe8fGeGt3IT5EU9YryMnJhboZIBWPRKYUjnYLjyKyROtusKabMBGiKMPCX1uGPKhY8JOLIz2BU8Ew-k8Rb5r86yWnHwkcIJoULHQR5gaIyXfxg6v/s320/P1040373.jpg" width="320" /> </a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhank25NZcErr-_FtgR0n_GH7Bl9PoLfhKOeRL1hM0GwqL5lI6Q_HaUCpLXX_4xAWFd8pDV8YE85aAgCyNUOz6pEhQwfbxkzOTrxVcT4lYNq_k0Vhl4DG7gqRRjJ3hSJUTgGWnyLqo0O9vc/s1600/P1040368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhank25NZcErr-_FtgR0n_GH7Bl9PoLfhKOeRL1hM0GwqL5lI6Q_HaUCpLXX_4xAWFd8pDV8YE85aAgCyNUOz6pEhQwfbxkzOTrxVcT4lYNq_k0Vhl4DG7gqRRjJ3hSJUTgGWnyLqo0O9vc/s320/P1040368.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVPo6OV93aOARkcPVUf5eS8jC6KoR6Z_kRXxrrVIE57yLqL8Neb4QQe-puPn4AejSPjIPjY4bxYmWhMnFTsHEtJP6SS_g4Ib_JomblwwsjP16gJspD_CFVJtVsG0yfaxo9eT2ge5z55xk/s1600/P1040372+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVPo6OV93aOARkcPVUf5eS8jC6KoR6Z_kRXxrrVIE57yLqL8Neb4QQe-puPn4AejSPjIPjY4bxYmWhMnFTsHEtJP6SS_g4Ib_JomblwwsjP16gJspD_CFVJtVsG0yfaxo9eT2ge5z55xk/s320/P1040372+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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I sat for over an hour just sipping my beer, nibbling on the delicious food and watching the people stroll past - one of my favorite pastimes. But now it was time to get up and wear-off that lunch. Next on the agenda - <i>The Real Alcazar de Sevilla.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58EoOe6PPlK21D7w0Eojrs-eN1iRJvTFqWXHwMkG-lfnT_67HL-kiCJPoIaWTBFjoXs8JK6xs8XmCRFjH_F7TyL25-DeB67k230Yi53L3RXwSQZza-RBMeiJIC1iYd2X6-xFIF2nyBo75/s1600/P1040275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58EoOe6PPlK21D7w0Eojrs-eN1iRJvTFqWXHwMkG-lfnT_67HL-kiCJPoIaWTBFjoXs8JK6xs8XmCRFjH_F7TyL25-DeB67k230Yi53L3RXwSQZza-RBMeiJIC1iYd2X6-xFIF2nyBo75/s400/P1040275.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Real Alcazar</td></tr>
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<i>The Real Alcazar </i>is one of the royal places of the Spanish monarchy. It was built in 913 when Seville was under Muslim rule and you certainly can see this in the <i>mudejar</i> architecture which reminds me very much of the Alhambra. <i>Alcazar </i>means <i>fortress </i>and it served this purpose many times during it's sometime turbulent years of existence. The rooms are stunning and you could spend days just wandering through the vast gardens. There are even Roman ruins here. The King stays here whenever he visits Seville on state business and there are members of the royal family that live in the palace full time. I spent several hours and took 100's of photos and here are just a few to give you an idea of this magnificent structure.</div>
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I stopped on my way back to the AirBnB for dinner at a Chinese restaurant when saw it was full of Chinese people and presumed it must have good food! I was proven wrong. It was okay, but certainly not the best Chinese food I have had, but maybe it was the best Chinese that Seville has? Should have returned to the Market.<br />
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<u>DAY TWO</u><br />
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Free Walking Tour! A great way to start the morning. Today it was <a href="http://www.panchotours.com/tours-seville/tour/seville-free-tour">Pancho Tours</a> with their bright orange t-shirts and umbrellas that I met up with behind the Cathedral on a damp and not-too-sunny morning. The tour was 3 hours long and took in the following sites:<br />
<ul style="color: #222222; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cathedral & Giralda (only outside)</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Puerta de Jerez</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Palacio de San Telmo</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tobacco Factory & university</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Statue of El Cid</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Prado de S. Sebastián</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Maria Luisa Park</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Plaza de España: the highlight of this tour.</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 50px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lunch all together: optional, the most fun and interactive part of our tour. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Palacio de San Telmo</i>, which is between the Cathedral and the Alcazar, holds so much history! It contains every single document from every voyage that every single Spanish sea captain ever made - including Sr. Columbus. Lists of what the ship carried as cargo, the names of every crew member and every passenger, the list of supplies, animals transported, everything down to the very last detail. They are also Spain's answer to <i>Ancestry.com. </i>It's where you would come if you want to find your long-lost Spanish uncle. And it's been 'going digital' for the past 10 years. They estimate it will take at least another 15 years to digitalize all of the documents they have. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>Tobacco Factory/now University</i> still has a faint order of tobacco that lingers in the classroom air. The <i>El Cid</i> statue is huge and I can't find the picture! I do remember Charleston Heston played him in the movie. Why was it that Heston seemed to play every 'bigger than life character' in the 50's and 60's - Moses, Ben Hur, El Cid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>Maria Louisa Park</i> was so beautiful with it's statues of lovely young women and poets who died of unrequited love. There is a gazebo, formal gardens and flowering pathways to wander. It's right in the heart of a noisy city yet is so peaceful and serene. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then there is <i>Plaza de Espana</i>. Built in 1929 to host the Ibero-American Exposition World Fair</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits. The Plaza is HUGE with a moat running through it. You can rent small paddle boats and slowly glide along the waterway. Numerous bridges cross over the moat, leading to colorful tiled alcoves representing every region of Spain. Today the buildings are used as government offices and museums. On a lighter note, just two of the major movies that have filmed here are <i>Lawrence of Arabia </i>and <i>Star Wars - Episode II - The Attack of the Clones.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The majority of members of our tour took up our guide's offer to take us to a neighborhood cafe for a typical Spanish lunch (at almost 3 p.m.) Tour members were from Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, England and the US which lead to a great and quite lively conversation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I had the opportunity to get to know a lovely, young lady from Georgia who is a student at Cornell but doing a year abroad at the London School of Economics. We walked slowly back to the central area and agreed to meet for a drink when I was in London in a few weeks - and we did! Meeting and getting to know, even briefly, so many people from so many different places, is one of the true joys of traveling.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobacco Factory/University</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de Espana - with a moat running thru it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies of Maria Louisa Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the many alcoves at the Plaza de Espana depicting a region of Spain</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
I had purchased a Hop On-Hop Off bus pass and now was the time to use it. I spent the rest of the afternoon on the open-air top deck of the big green bus with my earphones tuned to the English channel while riding through lovely neighborhoods, past huge monuments and ever huge-er buildings, snapping photos along the way. Wish I could remember everything I saw, but I don't. I will just have to to return and spend a lot more time than just 2 days in this beautiful city. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0su6rEedU_mQ_-wviBXhWTJRGdRizEe_OyA7cM-Uvv_b-SEHxWcgzjdHXbOhm_Xahtyxd2ATTTWF4yqPQe-LIQyklyOcDqB4830Vq2ycp6QRUXTg__S76h_iumebhwu9J4zwEHZeUoltP/s1600/P1040220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0su6rEedU_mQ_-wviBXhWTJRGdRizEe_OyA7cM-Uvv_b-SEHxWcgzjdHXbOhm_Xahtyxd2ATTTWF4yqPQe-LIQyklyOcDqB4830Vq2ycp6QRUXTg__S76h_iumebhwu9J4zwEHZeUoltP/s320/P1040220.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV57qdzc5vor_ZjnTF822z5yFmCvNZYchSpNravQ1JYCZ7Qi_-DlwlCu8cmhLHKQtPMjFbyC879K9k4Y8c_8D1hxgftAWYnNaGbB4o4WcdRvpx2-3s4i5qvkM_cIjkDFGXDk1M_Is0Y_VF/s1600/P1040227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV57qdzc5vor_ZjnTF822z5yFmCvNZYchSpNravQ1JYCZ7Qi_-DlwlCu8cmhLHKQtPMjFbyC879K9k4Y8c_8D1hxgftAWYnNaGbB4o4WcdRvpx2-3s4i5qvkM_cIjkDFGXDk1M_Is0Y_VF/s320/P1040227.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the door handle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside a small church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful tiles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a wall along a side street - so pretty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gate house to large mansion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiT3iJK5ylXux7bQ_004fiPU-9DvH39k0TB2pCSWBG25W_DWgI0WWKySIIkN18371eY8GDJWPZ1Hp-a8eNFldaD36IRaQIIvwBSIT8eOOrxV7h7HsbbafDv1sko0uXosTFzrJ7YxvcALX/s1600/P1040506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiT3iJK5ylXux7bQ_004fiPU-9DvH39k0TB2pCSWBG25W_DWgI0WWKySIIkN18371eY8GDJWPZ1Hp-a8eNFldaD36IRaQIIvwBSIT8eOOrxV7h7HsbbafDv1sko0uXosTFzrJ7YxvcALX/s320/P1040506.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the tiles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toro del Oro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rio Guadalquivir which runs through the city. </td></tr>
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Morning of <u>DAY THREE</u> finds our little group arguing about who should be responsible for taking out the garbage - those depart first or those that are not leaving for 4 more hours? And you wander why I chose to usually travel solo? <div>
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But it's time to pack-up and begin the very easy 3 1/2 hour return drive to my little cottage in Ferragudo. I have just two weeks left before flying to the UK for a few days and then back home to the US. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferragudo </td></tr>
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My three months in the Algarve have flown by. I met some wonderful people - especially Jorge and Maria and their extended family who took me in and made me feel truly 'at home.' I will miss the local ladies at my gym who would much rather gossip with each other and flirt with the young instructor than do any type of exercise. I will certainly miss having coffee and shopping with my dear British friend, Maureen. And dear Raquel, who played 'tour guide' on her days off to show me around her beautiful country. I miss you all and promise one day to return. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: SourceSansPro, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Até mais tarde..........</span></div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-73451800261826719162016-05-09T13:25:00.003-05:002016-07-12T23:18:56.738-05:00ESPANA - GRANADA & THE ALHAMBRA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Alhambra perched on a hilltop with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountain as a backdrop</i></td></tr>
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American friends, Anita & Dick, who have made a complete relocation and now call Portugal home, invited me to join them and another couple touring Granada and Seville before my time in Europe is up. Of course, I said yes!</div>
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Spain conjures up pictures of bullfighters and massive Moorish-influenced architecture; small plates of delicious delicacies (tapas); sangria and yummy vino Roja; flamenco dancers and Fado singers. Our road trip included all of the above - and more.</div>
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It's a 7-hour drive from Ferragudo, Portugal to Granada, Spain. We drove past seaside villages before turning north into rolling hills filled with vineyards and even larger olive groves. We only got lost once before we found our huge, 2-story AirBnB (with the world's tiniest garage) in <i>The Realejo</i>, the old Jewish section of Granada. Out our window and towering over us was the mighty and magnificent<i> La Alhambra. </i>After enjoying a delightful Spanish dinner of paella and red wine, we all turned in early as we had an early morning appointment.</div>
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Arrangements had been made for the 5 of us to enjoy a private tour with our own guide of <i>La Alhambra</i>. What a difference this made! We could stop and stare in awe, ask as many questions as we wanted and take 100's of pictures without worrying about keeping up with a group of total strangers. <i>FYI - During high season daily admittance through the gates of La Alhambra is cut-off at 8,000. Low-season sees an average of 2000-3000 daily. </i></div>
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Mario, our very handsome guide (a nice extra!) spoke perfect English. I learned he had to study for 5 years to become a licensed <i>Alhambra</i> guide. This is on top of him being a college-educated historian. He continues to constantly improve his vast knowledge of not only <i>La </i><i>Alhambra</i> but also the history of Granada, where he is employed directly by their Board of Tourism. </div>
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Photos can never do justice to this magnificent structure. The history of this hill-top city that was ruled by the Moors and existed for so many years in harmony with all nationalities and religions was destroyed over the love of a woman and the simultaneous invasion of the Christians. Click on <a href="http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/historicalintroduction.asp">this link</a> for a brief history of this magnificent place. I can only provide you with just a few of the 100's of photos I took that day.</div>
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The colorful tile and amazing plaster work, the gardens with their massive hedges, numerous reflecting pools, fountains and formal gardens add to the grandeur of <i>The Alhambra,</i> a World Heritage Site, which should be a 'must see' on any visit to Spain.<br />
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But certainly not to be missed, laying spread out beneath <i>La Alhambra</i>, nestled in a valley with the towering Sierra Nevada mountains as their backdrop, is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited - <b>GRANADA</b>.<br />
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I have found the best way to get to know any city and learn its history is from a knowledgeable local. So I always take advantage of a '<i>free </i>walking tour'. These are offered by different companies in almost every large European city. I went online to find that several companies were offering tours - all departing from the same place - just different colored t-shirts for their guides!<br />
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I chose 'Feel The City Tours' and Anita and I met Miquel, a Basque now living and getting his Masters in Granada, for his 10 a.m., 2 1/2 hour walking tour of the city center. Miquel was a wonderful guide, extremely knowledgeable and lots of fun.<br />
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We learned so much of the history of this city that saw the Romans and the Visigothic inhabiting the area as early as 5500 BC. The Moors arrived and founded what is now the city of Granada beginning in 711 AD. Civil wars and skirmishes ensued, along with the building of the hilltop city-town, palace-filled <i>La Alhambra</i>.<br />
The Moors ruled fairly and evenly, allowing all ethnicities and religions to live together peacefully until 1492 when the last Morrish Emir surrendered the region to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. By the<br />
16th Century, the Christian-Catholics had converted all the mosques to churches, if not completely destroying them. This 'change/desegregation' can be seen in the total mix/mismatch of architecture throughout the city and <i>La Alhambra</i>. The Castilian Crown rescinded the Alhambra Decree treaty and mandated that Granada's Muslims must convert or emigrate. Under the 1492 Alhambra Decree, Spain's Jewish population, unlike the Muslims, had already been forced to convert under threat of expulsion or even execution, becoming Marranos (meaning "pigs" in Spanish), or Catholics of Jewish descent. Many of the elite Muslim class subsequently emigrated to North Africa.<br />
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Following are just a few of the many photos I took this chilly but sunny day of the wondrous architecture we saw - including the massive Cathedral of Granada - which was built over the Nasrid Great Mosque of Granada. We entered a small church with it's cloistered nuns sounding like angels singing while the sun shone through the stained glass illuminating the walls in a rainbow of colors; climbed twisted narrow streets with colorful flower boxes hanging on each window; strolled through the large, tiled squares filled with restaurants and people of all ages; enjoyed the fabulous street art; plus stopped at a small coffee cafe for a choice of very strong coffee or a glass of wine served with slices of fresh bread and olives. Yum!<br />
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These 'free' tours cost you only what you wish to 'tip' your tour director at the end of the tour. ($10 is my usual norm.) I'm sure Miquel earned a goodly sum from those who had the luck to be part of his outstanding tour this day.<br />
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I don't want to leave out another really spectacular place we visited -<br />
<i>The Carmen de San Miquel Restaurante</i> located on top of the hill next to <i>La Alhambra</i>. This lovely restaurant has a commanding view of the entire city of Granada and is well-known for serving suckling pig, cooked nightly in its kitchen.<br />
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Because we had planned an early morning departure for Seville, we didn't abide by Spain's normal dinner start time of 10 p.m. By arriving at 6:30 p.m. and departing at 9:00 p.m., we had the entire restaurant and staff to ourselves. It was an amazing meal (I had the lamb chop) and we shared an antipasto salad and a desert that was just indescribably delicious!<br />
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Early the next morning we bid farewell to Andalusia and Granada will full tummies and wonderful memories. We all agreed that 3 days was not nearly enough time to spend in this city filled with glorious treasures of all kind. But now it was time to head for our next stop - <b>SEVILLA.</b><br />
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Until next time.........<br />
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<i><b>PS: </b>Don't forget you can click on any photo to see it full-sized.</i>Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-66676074189949615092016-01-23T03:58:00.002-06:002016-01-23T04:05:26.364-06:00PORCHES & FARODuring December, in the middle of the holiday season, I took two one-day trips to visit the village of Porches, the home of Portuguese pottery, and Faro, where I found an ancient walled city within the largest city in the Algarve.<br />
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First was a visit to Porches, thanks to friend Dick and Anita and their rental car. Porches is one of those quintessential whitewashed villages (pop. 2000) with cobblestoned-streets, friendly people, and restaurants that are open only now and then. After exploring the village, we were directed to a typical Portuguese restaurant outside of the village for a delicious Plate de Dia for €8.50. It included spinach soup, a nice salad of greens, fresh tomatoes, and onion, a choice of 3 entrees (I had chicken which came with the always-present boiled potatoes) your choice of a drink (coffee, beer or wine) and I think a desert.After filling our tummies, it was time to make use of their wonderful TomTom (a GPS device is a Must-Have in Europe!) and find the <i>Nossa Senhora da Rocha Chapel and Fortress</i>.<br />
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Perched on a crumbling cliff-point sticking straight out into the Atlantic, this small chapel, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary was supposedly seen by local children many 100's of years ago, it still draws pilgrims today.<br />
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This area was conquered by the Romans and then the Moors in the 13th century. As you can see, it is the perfect location for a castle to protect the area from whomever else tried to take this land. In the 16th-century, a fortress was built on this point, along with the chapel. The last remnants of the fortress are crumbling into the sea and the chapel may soon join them as this point is getting smaller and smaller each year and the edges are now fenced off to protect the visitors, something you never see in Europe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The altar inside the chapel</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The view from the end of the cliff - the color of the water was amazing!</i></td></tr>
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It was now back into town to visit just a couple of the numerous potteries that line the roadway. We visited a very traditional pottery which is carrying on the hand-painted old-style designs to more modern one which reminded me of Pottery Barn, to a really fun and funky sculpture garden, it was a great afternoon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I soooo identified with her!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Metal 'stork nest'</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kissing hippos</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We completed our day with a visit to </span><i style="font-size: small;">Jouk's Designer Sale</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, a wonderful, German woman who imports some of the best European designer clothes and jewelry and has a sale in her home twice a year. Both Anita and I shopped a lot and enjoyed ourselves immensely - Anita even got her hair cut by the on-site hairdresser! Dick was REALLY bored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;">Faro, which is situated on the Formosa lagoon attracted human occupants from the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeolithic" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Palaeolithic">Palaeolithic</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> age until the end of pre-history. The first settlements date from the 4th century BC, during the period of Phoenician colonization of the western Mediterranean.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> At the time, the area was known as Ossonoba and was the most important urban centre of southern Portugal and commercial entrepot for agricultural products, fish and minerals.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> Between the 2nd and 8th century, the city was under the domain of the Roman and later Visigoths, before being conquered by the Moors in 713.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> From the 3rd century onwards and during the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visigoths" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Visigoths">Visigothic</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> period, it was the site of an </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_see" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="Episcopal see">Episcopal see</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> of the Christian church.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;">Under the Moorish rule, the community grew and developed in economic importance with merchants, artisans and espec</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;">ially book-printing. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;">Samuel Gacon began printing the Pentateuco in Hebrew, the first book printed in Portugal in 1487. With it's large and mix-religious community, the city continued to flourish until the15th century when Manuel I ordered all of the Jews out of Portugal. The city went into a dark period but when Alphonso III regained rule. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;">During</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"> the following years, the town became a prosperous position along the Algarve, due to its secure port and exploration of salt and produce. At the beginning of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, the town was positioned to be a commercial centre that it remains today. (<i>WinkipediA</i>)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 17.5px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Armed with this knowledge, off I went to visit Faro with part of my Portuguese family, Joáo, Rosalina and Maria Joáo. Joáo, who had lived in Faro for quite a few years when he was growing up, wanted me to see many of the churches and also stroll about inside the walled city that is still an active part of the city today. Though breezy and not a sunny day, we enjoyed our time exploring and then getting terribly lost trying to drive out of the old city at the end of our visit. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This post concludes my month of holiday celebration and travels. Next up - SPAIN! Visits to Granada and Sevilla. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until next time....</span></div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-53745280921126989202016-01-11T12:22:00.000-06:002016-01-11T12:22:25.379-06:00CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS - PORTUGUESE STYLE!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's often said that the holidays are exhausting. All that visiting with relatives, worrying about what gifts to purchase for whom, traveling between houses, and then there is the preparation and consumption of all that food!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This being my first holiday spent in Portugal, I was without any of my family members or friends from home. It seemed as if I would be destined to wallow in loneliness, sadness and self-pity, kicking myself for ever leaving the comfy confines of my home and the loving arms of my family and friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Turned out, I wasn't allowed to even consider being alone or sad for even a few minutes during the exceptionally long and event-filled celebration of Christmas and New Year's - certainly not when included in every holiday meal and get-together hosted by 'my Portuguese family.' </span><br />
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<i>Meet the Family!</i></div>
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<i>This photo was taken Christmas Eve at the home of my wonderful landlord Jorge, who is peaking behind the head of his beautiful wife Maria Joáo (teal sweater). Seated in front are the avós, the grandparents, Joáo and Rosalina, parents of Maria Joáo and Manocas. Hugging then is Matilde, daughter of Maria Joáo's sister Manocas, who is directly in the center. The lovely young lady with her arm around her aunt is Jorge and Maria Joáo's daughter, Maria Ana. The back row from left to right is Joáo, Jorge & Maria Joáo's son, who attends college in Lisbon. Next is Henrique, who is studying medicine at the University of Madeira. He is the son of Manocas and the gentleman standing next to him, Luis, who is Jorge's brother! Yes, sisters married brothers. </i></div>
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The celebrations got started on the 5th of December when Ferragudo decked itself out for it's annual Christmas Market. Music, food and fun filled the square for 3 days. That weekend I attended a holiday dinner hosted by the Algarve Ex-Pat group and then joined some of 'the family' for a concert at the local church presented by a choir that sang hymns and carols in 7 different languages. Afterward, we returned to Jorge and Maria Joáo's for homemade hot chocolate and a traditional yellow sponge cake that you get with your fingers. </div>
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The next week included a wonderful lunch on the beach at Club Nau with my good British friends and neighbors, Maureen and Pat Kelly, followed by a carol sing-along at the Episcopal church in Lagoa, which holds its services in a former Catholic convent built in the 1800's.<br />
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With a day trip to Porches to see the beautiful pottery in the middle of this week (to be reported in a later blog post,) it was now time for the actual Christmas holidays!<br />
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I first have to share with you the misunderstanding that occurred. I was under the impression that I was invited to Christmas Day dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's so on Christmas Eve I had a bowl of soup and 1/2 a sandwich and drank a glass of wine at about 6 p.m. I was settled down with the choice of a good mystery or watching another episode of Jessica Jones on Netflix.<br />
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I was in sweats and a t-shirt and looking my normal, stay-at-home grubby self when there was a knock on the door. There was Jorge asking if I were ready. Ready for what, I asked? Dinner and presents, he said. Huh? I said. A quick call to his daughter, the one who speaks perfect English, to have her explain that not only was I dining with the family tomorrow but had been invited for tonight as well. We would be opening our presents, as is the custom, at the stroke of midnight. Get in the car, says Jorge. NO! I said - and tell him to go home and I would follow in 20 minutes!<br />
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Off to the shower, hair, make-up, a nice outfit, scurrying up the hill to Jorge and Maria Joao's home for lot of wine, a huge dinner which began at 9 p.m. (you do remember I said I had eaten dinner at 6), numerous desserts and after-dinner drinks, gift-giving at midnight, home in bed by 1:30 a.m. and up the next morning to make deviled eggs and sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows for my contribution to the Christmas Day feast held at Grandma & Grandpas home - which started at 2 p.m - and included many more members of the family!<br />
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Here are just a few photos from those two events -<br />
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<i>CHRISTMAS EVE 2015</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiat1iF73qxJTOx_Zn6JNMPaJXbAfbYKWg4BApwbYpVYnZGuCfWNG-bN2OXjvo-IN2i5HihhDGDO7f09H3miaQAgPE2abhGRL_c42so4Ewhdq63GfkqEaxLVoiZeSQ_pX4d9TkmnQjBbmi/s1600/IMG_0786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiat1iF73qxJTOx_Zn6JNMPaJXbAfbYKWg4BApwbYpVYnZGuCfWNG-bN2OXjvo-IN2i5HihhDGDO7f09H3miaQAgPE2abhGRL_c42so4Ewhdq63GfkqEaxLVoiZeSQ_pX4d9TkmnQjBbmi/s200/IMG_0786.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtd_yZBi46Fvciccg5eE7nsbVc4xG_yzg30m_dVeHY4b_daeTrsSjM1qBaOwamvsirgsQJXkbgv3zXGM6qR5lhawc_ZMHkRXua00qUfie27XiOE-Z0cxqqGisljJjlYiwsOHsIIUXzGRM/s1600/IMG_0788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtd_yZBi46Fvciccg5eE7nsbVc4xG_yzg30m_dVeHY4b_daeTrsSjM1qBaOwamvsirgsQJXkbgv3zXGM6qR5lhawc_ZMHkRXua00qUfie27XiOE-Z0cxqqGisljJjlYiwsOHsIIUXzGRM/s320/IMG_0788.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>CHRISTMAS DAY 2015</i></div>
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So you would think that now it was time to rest - and stop eating! OH NO! During the week between Christmas and New Years was not only a big dinner to celebrate Maria Joao's birthday, but also a day trip to Faro to explore the old city (in later blog post), a beautiful holiday service at a very modern Catholic church and convent for Carmelite nuns and then a delicious dinner at Luis and Manocas' beautiful flat in that city. <br />
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Then it was time to celebrate New Year's Eve with a big dinner with family and friends, head to the church on the highest hill in town to watch the fireworks explode over the river in Portimao while drinking champagne and eating 12 raisins (a wish for each month is made as you eat each raisin) and lastly, a New Year's Day luncheon. <br />
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My 12-raisen New Years Resolution - STOP EATING!!<br />
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But you know all about resolutions, don't you? The Portuguese do not stop celebrating until January 5th, which is the birthday of The 3 Kings which requires....a large dinner with family and friends! By this time, I just couldn't take one more photo of food - sorry. Take my word when I say the cod was delicious, the desserts were sweet and the wine continued to flow!<br />
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It is now the 11th of January and I still need to share with you the beautiful photos of my visit to Porches and Faro but that will have to wait as I am off to SPAIN! I was invited to join 2 American couples for a trip to Granada to tour the Alhambra and then to Seville. I'll be gone for 7 days and I am really looking forward to what will be my last excursion of any distance before I depart Portugal on the 30th of January. <br />
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I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and wishing you nothing but joy and happiness in the New Year! <br />
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Unitl next time....</div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2102627897646717427.post-73274647030820986152015-12-12T13:21:00.000-06:002015-12-13T04:03:37.848-06:00IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...<br />
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....everywhere I go in Portugal, with colorful lights sparkling and holiday decorations filling the windows of shops and restaurants. The above is a photo of my Christmas 'bough.' It's not a whole tree, just a limb from a pine tree growing in the backyard of the parents of my landlord Jorge's beautiful wife, Maria Joáo. But it proves it really is the thought that matters. The whole family came over to deliver and prop up 'my tree' in a pot of sand. They also provided the lights and tinsel and ornaments - just so I would not feel left out at Christmastime. </div>
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I will be spending Christmas Day with Jorge, Maria Joáo, Maria, Rosalina, Joáo and many more members of this wonderful family. It will be a great pleasure, and an honor, to their guest for a real Portugues Christmas dinner. I'm bringing 2 very American dishes - deviled eggs and sweet potatoes baked with brown sugar, butter, walnuts, and topped with marshmallows! </div>
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But before we get to Christmas, I must apologize for not being a very good blogger. I realize that I haven't posted in almost a month. Have I been so busy that I couldn't find the time? No, but almost! So you ask, what have you been doing that has kept you away from the computer? Well...</div>
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I've done a little traveling. I was invited by the <i>Americans in Portugal </i>organization for their annual Thanksgiving Day celebration. The dinner is held in the town of Cascais, a 40-minute train ride along the coast from Lisbon. To get from here to there, I took the local train from Ferragudo to Tunes (40 minutes), caught another (much nicer) train to Lisbon ( 3 1/2 hours), got off at Sete Rios and walked downstairs to the underground metro station. I purchased my Lisbon metro pass and took the subway 4 stops to Cais do Soldré (10 minutes). Here I climbed a whole lot of stairs back up to the train station where I caught the local train to Cascais (40 minutes)! Total cost one-way was €15 = $16.28. Public transportation in Portugal is very reasonable!</div>
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What can I say about Cascais? I fell madly in love!!! Photos don't begin to do it justice. It's beautiful, clean, cosmopolitan, filled with great museums, glorious ocean views, a great bike path with free! bike rentals, super nice people, lots of green space, funky street art, loads of history (even a castle) plenty of shopping and close to Lisbon. What more could you ask for? </div>
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I met some wonderful people during my two-day stay. I was the guest of the President of AIP in her apartment in the historic district. The dinner was delicious - turkey, dressing, even spiral-cut ham and pumpkin pie! Annette and Jose Rio invited me to attend the monthly cocktail party of the <i>Royal British Club</i>. I arranged a coffee meet-up of fellow American ex-pats who were willing and so very helpful while being bombarded with all my questions about relocating and visas. And I got to enjoy a long lunch with Susan K. who I know will become a good friend. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRz5xwDDo9i93eFr7K2kb2XEhKEea9JGKwzkiJJyVCLy5E39C_YuiCqbnT1yS4892eAJw8FyuPnj6j5WPsKyuwmZRKGgn1xhyphenhyphenqBQ82Az6Hy9lo_T79gHOUo8MeIZcyS144fxu2ZiYKHSx/s400/P1030585.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cascais tiled street - can be a bit disorienting when you stare at it for a long time</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16ONk9x9IOwJ6jqQ86JHIh4G8eGToVIy6YGX3tPrs-7zaZLzupVse8KbjKERJiUt3u3vnJIF1hmZUoynkUTWFOqrv8AoKqMLRWDW_cTvhkdZC0-UmOE7JrKTezzlgmDEJR-M8J7vv1KSp/s1600/P1030542.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16ONk9x9IOwJ6jqQ86JHIh4G8eGToVIy6YGX3tPrs-7zaZLzupVse8KbjKERJiUt3u3vnJIF1hmZUoynkUTWFOqrv8AoKqMLRWDW_cTvhkdZC0-UmOE7JrKTezzlgmDEJR-M8J7vv1KSp/s320/P1030542.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cascais Community Center</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqXguqeP6a7yTiH5fzGq3uyypAetlJ4roihhnt4J_YumuU899RW6QPqKkE8uEgN9i4t3qI5t4AaF0vg9OxMDuqOz6ebiweesfTJtQ93ZeIffC_GJLInA5eDfRwF1wEKW33GfHq7pSvFrC/s1600/P1030572.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqXguqeP6a7yTiH5fzGq3uyypAetlJ4roihhnt4J_YumuU899RW6QPqKkE8uEgN9i4t3qI5t4AaF0vg9OxMDuqOz6ebiweesfTJtQ93ZeIffC_GJLInA5eDfRwF1wEKW33GfHq7pSvFrC/s320/P1030572.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waiting for turkey& all the trimmings</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8GWP0kAeAennlpOsK4dnyVCg4WTvA_CaJ_0Gu2afIC1vSevfWtv1JymyEn1KeDnwWLWK2xUTwexxAPvD4wtfI359tUzsFkQTfr0XJAqzucTDtzOjHlxqAfJqn0nriRdnu-DS_Vqsdfmz/s1600/P1030549.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8GWP0kAeAennlpOsK4dnyVCg4WTvA_CaJ_0Gu2afIC1vSevfWtv1JymyEn1KeDnwWLWK2xUTwexxAPvD4wtfI359tUzsFkQTfr0XJAqzucTDtzOjHlxqAfJqn0nriRdnu-DS_Vqsdfmz/s320/P1030549.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cascais street art</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutJ2goMVRZVF1sFqXT7yWstRTWuokSMLv5Z1oIdklfnCRrGrAM2SuHsYNrXe_ZIjyClwGikkpFpm-pmFdEXPiFdeDGk0jlIw-HZcDRLR0e8p_hgDUanLo0nasXQTB8ZLBKcrby5i2b0Le/s1600/P1030544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutJ2goMVRZVF1sFqXT7yWstRTWuokSMLv5Z1oIdklfnCRrGrAM2SuHsYNrXe_ZIjyClwGikkpFpm-pmFdEXPiFdeDGk0jlIw-HZcDRLR0e8p_hgDUanLo0nasXQTB8ZLBKcrby5i2b0Le/s320/P1030544.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Too soon it was time to return home to the Algarve and everyday life in this area. So what does everyday life consist of you might ask? On Tuesday and Friday mornings, I take a 'gymnastics class' for women over the age of 55 at the local rec center. It's me, one Brit and 25 Portuguese ladies, none of whom speak English, who giggle and joke and have a grand time flirting with our 20-something male instructor and exercising very little! </div>
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They host a holiday luncheon each year for the instructor. Since he speaks a few words of English, they had him tell me that I <u>had</u> to join them! What a hoot! The food was delicious, the wine flowed (the ladies add 7-Up to theirs), the desserts were decadent and homemade and then they brought out the Medronho! (moonshine) which had been flavored with honey or almonds. As you can see, a good time was had by all. My contribution was to lead the singing of Jingle Bells - in English.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9zptDtNlW_P6BGndyHei10bPMRpqwk3ARQDz9wMaptc1Emvo46cMTWH_LWdT1JQJiAKvdP3rENDeVMDcf9RGhcER254NqsRJFqa_wQQIAEZPSThrFFHoBD3C0bRErcjd5hA9DvZKk_P8/s1600/IMG_0691.jpg"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9zptDtNlW_P6BGndyHei10bPMRpqwk3ARQDz9wMaptc1Emvo46cMTWH_LWdT1JQJiAKvdP3rENDeVMDcf9RGhcER254NqsRJFqa_wQQIAEZPSThrFFHoBD3C0bRErcjd5hA9DvZKk_P8/s320/IMG_0691.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNdfZtxJNjk0_04vlywMbcZC7Twnchkm4uo9dzN2ELcrsu-FN9TAoYOrkAYSBqkwfz4A7OpSM3gk35q-dx8ArwLfwlJ7mwzbd_WIVT3g5VKih94JpxXMKiThKwdeGrU6Eq9Y_4YnCpcgw/s1600/IMG_0690.jpg"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNdfZtxJNjk0_04vlywMbcZC7Twnchkm4uo9dzN2ELcrsu-FN9TAoYOrkAYSBqkwfz4A7OpSM3gk35q-dx8ArwLfwlJ7mwzbd_WIVT3g5VKih94JpxXMKiThKwdeGrU6Eq9Y_4YnCpcgw/s320/IMG_0690.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> The ladies of my gymnastics class! </i> <i> Our instructor and one of his fans!</i></span></div>
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The past month I've spent many wonderful days exploring the Algarve with my Portuguese friend, Raquel. She is a friend of my landlord's family, loves to read books in English (Diana Gabaldon and Nora Roberts are her favorites) and practice speaking English. We hit it off the first time we met so on her days off from work as a veterinary assistant (where she works 50-60 hours a week and earns €500 a month!!) we head out to some where new-to-me. </div>
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So far we have gone to Sagres, the furthest southwestern point in Europe from which Henry the Navigator sailed; Alvor, a fishing village who's marshland is covered by water from the saltwater river during high tide and is perfect for clam digging when the tide is out; and Carvoeiro, the cliffside town where I originally was to have rented while here. Here are just a few photos of each.</div>
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<b><u><i>SAGRES</i></u></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A surfer's paradise, just one of the large beaches at Sagres</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G09klNDDBQv2gDB7i66KcNp4KO8_Wup7cFypGCeMi4K4yglwhmWofCO3DCntpksFzf0Uf8Hsu_Qsb1cO_7r1U88nZo_tTebplB3n4As1hV_7K_lj-Q5C9W84XpN23-OQ6HTsKAtNYTO1/s1600/P1030484.jpg"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G09klNDDBQv2gDB7i66KcNp4KO8_Wup7cFypGCeMi4K4yglwhmWofCO3DCntpksFzf0Uf8Hsu_Qsb1cO_7r1U88nZo_tTebplB3n4As1hV_7K_lj-Q5C9W84XpN23-OQ6HTsKAtNYTO1/s320/P1030484.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU_pvOa31EDbjT38XAyKZIi_fqgwda1N1vlXdabDIBGXm-132u_kSJsVLYNpmOs1AMGN031NUFCTADm37z6NKSWrf5_00iuN702ZHe50nsojNWtG3p-ydD7r7FQRUlZZWk8T1VZ16oRTQ/s1600/P1030470.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU_pvOa31EDbjT38XAyKZIi_fqgwda1N1vlXdabDIBGXm-132u_kSJsVLYNpmOs1AMGN031NUFCTADm37z6NKSWrf5_00iuN702ZHe50nsojNWtG3p-ydD7r7FQRUlZZWk8T1VZ16oRTQ/s320/P1030470.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A view from the top of the Sagres lighthouse</i></span> <i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Cape St. Vincent Lighthouse - 1894</span></i></div>
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<b><u><i>ALVOR</i></u></b></div>
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<b><u><i>CARVOEIRO</i></u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH1YCnGscxOgmEfwQQRZSnXrL3zgRcL7JyMfm05HMAGZtTiHKre-qQOLlcpgxRn6Nss1NopcqPkrLWzNloNo89ywFOelZHZVEty1qH5i6db4-g2oY_SiUBhcRriNdLXTJpISPkY5bk07Y/s1600/P1030646.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH1YCnGscxOgmEfwQQRZSnXrL3zgRcL7JyMfm05HMAGZtTiHKre-qQOLlcpgxRn6Nss1NopcqPkrLWzNloNo89ywFOelZHZVEty1qH5i6db4-g2oY_SiUBhcRriNdLXTJpISPkY5bk07Y/s320/P1030646.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Raquel</span></i><br />
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<i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">A man fishing off a cliff - OMG!</span></i><br />
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<i>The boardwalk path on top of the cliffs</i></div>
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What else? I've made friends with a great British couple, Maureen & Patty, who've lived in the Algarve for 32 years. They love to shop the 'charity shops' for 'bits & pieces' to resell at the 'boot sales' they participate in on the weekends. I tag along and pick up some great paperback books to read, then enjoy lunch someplace new. Maureen has also introduced me to the Chinese shops in Portimao. There are about a 1/2 dozen large, 2-story shops filled with everything from tools to kitchenware to clothes (high-end knock-offs) to shoes and bathroom supplies. Name it - they've got - all 'Made in China.' </div>
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Anita Oliver and Dick Nash, Americans, world travelers and pet-sitters have finally arrived! We have been corresponding for months while they went through the residency visa process and made the relocation to Portugal. They are now happily settled in an apartment overlooking the marina in Lagos while they take their time to wander and explore and see which town or village they want to call home. </div>
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I continue to go 'grocery shopping' each week with Rosalina and Joáo. Each week is a different store - Continenté, InterMarché, Jumbo, Aldi, Apolólina, Lidl. All are different and we always stop for a coffee - my treat. It's very special time I get to spend with this lovely couple.<br />
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I finally found my very own 'rolly cart' (like I used in Chicago only much more colorful!) and I can 'pull' my groceries home when I shop at Lidl's! (a 20 minute walk each way)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKhdnOn_otRMsYxhO2hO6aAzBrxINL1c7MMk9Loldi8Asvg1VPPfv-PMuP-1tAveRKlhw6fJtnU4xQg5qVryLCO5i6QkeRJEs5p74SnLJC7LKcocb4YrtcA1YLdZBqM4IfnhemSr31nl/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UKhdnOn_otRMsYxhO2hO6aAzBrxINL1c7MMk9Loldi8Asvg1VPPfv-PMuP-1tAveRKlhw6fJtnU4xQg5qVryLCO5i6QkeRJEs5p74SnLJC7LKcocb4YrtcA1YLdZBqM4IfnhemSr31nl/s320/IMG_0694.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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What was a fun surprise, while shopping for my sweet potato ingredients, was to find these walnuts at Aldi's. Memories of home!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp959dJbCWda0Z_vf8ReUjX9absM4MwjGEkHA0yMXbCAPrJq09Aa1zeCTKybi3ARN1LTYGxgkFivE_iLfUA81NmSp4oX5IZLyEOapxSLcKntQTAkDft-vVwgCnNHUCrTIRyP61mWgFlgZR/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp959dJbCWda0Z_vf8ReUjX9absM4MwjGEkHA0yMXbCAPrJq09Aa1zeCTKybi3ARN1LTYGxgkFivE_iLfUA81NmSp4oX5IZLyEOapxSLcKntQTAkDft-vVwgCnNHUCrTIRyP61mWgFlgZR/s320/IMG_0697.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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I attended the Christmas Féte in Ferragudo; had fun at the <i>CASA Social Club</i> Christmas dinner; enjoyed the Christmas concert held in the local church and presented by a choir from Lagoa who sang songs in 7 different languages; toured a fantastic local ceramic studio; been wined-and-dined by my Portuguese 'family' which included an evening of home-made hot chocolate and a yellow sponge cake you eat pick apart and eat with your fingers.<br />
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I managed to find the movie theater in Portimao and have seen <i>Spectre</i>, the last of the <i>Hunger Games</i> movies and tomorrow I'm going to see the new Ron Howard movie, <i>In the Heart of the Sea. </i>I've got several more holiday lunches to attend before the big day. New Year's will be spent with a bottle of wine, sipping while sitting up on the cliff overlooking the river and watching the fireworks being shot off from the marina across the water in Portimao. Then it will January and my last 30 days in Portugal before flying home to babysit my darling granddaughter in San Diego.<br />
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During the two months I'll be back in the States I will apply for a Portuguese Residency Visa which would allow me to live here as a local - at least the majority of the time. I find the life here much more calm and safe - not nearly as stressful as it is back in the States at the moment. Between the almost-weekly mass shooting and the political craziness, I can't find enough reasons to return full time. My son's are grown with families of their own that don't include an opinionated, aging mother. <br />
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I owe nothing and own nothing and I like a nomadic lifestyle. I will base myself in beautiful Portugal where the cost-of-living is 1/2, if not less than that in Chicago. I will enjoy the lovely weather, the friendships I am making and the availability of cheap flights to almost anywhere else in the world I care to explore. And if at some future time I want to return to the States (only if Donald Trump isn't President) I will. I do miss my friends so I will come visit - but I'll be sure to let you know well in advance before I drop in for a cup of coffee!<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>To each of you who read this blog or journal or photo diary - thank you.</i></b> <i><b>Wishing you the merriest of Merry Christmases and a joyous and Happy New Year!</b></i><br />
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Until next time....</div>
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Re's Home on the Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08570392983997302341noreply@blogger.com3