We visited Vietnam for a month in 2008. I especially loved Hanoi, despite the frenetic traffic (or perhaps because of it). Motorcycles and scooters were everywhere, likes swarms of bees. Parking was at a premium, usually on sidwalks originally meant for pedestrians and street sellers. Here is a young man on his scooter. Waiting for a friend? or perhaps waiting for a tourist who will pay him to take them to another part of town (not me, I was scared enough walking through the traffic, much less being part of the traffic swarms.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Golden Tunnel at Knowth Passage Tomb, Ireland 2005
one of our favorite days in our 2005 trip to Ireland was a cold dreary August day spent at Knowth, Newgrange and surrounding area. There were few other visitors and we were in no rush. This is one of my favorite photos I took from within the dimly lit innards of the Knowth Passage Mound.
Gators in the outhouse?
In June of 2008, Jerry and I drove from Nashville down to Florida. On the way we made a detour through the Okeefanokee Swamp in South Georgia. Had a nice walk on a boardwalk through a swamp area and noticed this sign near the "marina" and nature center. (we didn't see any gators...but we sure saw a lot of stinging biting bugs...lesson?....don't walk in a swamp in shorts!
Friday, July 23, 2010
A Flowers Salute: Machu Picchu
We were lucky on our visit to Machu Picchu to be able to stay and be the very last group out for the day. We were able to watch the sun go down behind the mountain and watch the shadows lengthen across the ruins. I loved the sun shining on this random red plant (flower?) giving a salute from the ancient walls. A peaceful moment in an otherwise busy and full day of exploring.
A Flowers Salute: Machu Picchu
We were lucky on our visit to Machu Picchu to be able to stay and be the very last group out for the day. We were able to watch the sun go down behind the mountain and watch the shadows lengthen across the ruins. I loved the sun shining on this random red plant (flower?) giving a salute from the ancient walls. A peaceful moment in an otherwise busy and full day of exploring.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Nobska Light, Cape Cod
For several years we visited with friends each July in Falmouth, Cape Cod. This is a photo of the lovely Nobska Light near Woods Hole. That is Jerry reading and soaking up the sun and seabreeze. (2007)
Nobska Light, Cape Cod
For several years we visited with friends each July in Falmouth, Cape Cod. This is a photo of the lovely Nobska Light near Woods Hole. That is Jerry reading and soaking up the sun and seabreeze. (2007)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
This Basket is an Office: REALLY
This is the Longaburger Corporate Offices in Newark Ohio. Yes, they are famous for their fine baskets. And a good sense of humor. We stopped by for a photo a few years ago on our way to Cincinnati from Philadelphia...well worth the 20 minute detour off the main highway.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Michael Quirke, wood carver, Sligo
Michael Quirke is a woodcarver in Sligo, Ireland. He is a former butcher shop owner who now carves and sells his works out of his former butcher shop. A delightful man good with carving knife and with a story. Here is is writing down the names and brief stories behind the two pieces we purchased (to his right)
No dog? no guitar? no problem
5 Years ago Jason (my son) and I spent two weeks driving around Ireland. We had the best time. He discovered Jameson's Irish Whiskey (loving that at 17 he could legally drink it too). We discovered James Blunt before he had his hits here in the US. and I discovered how fortunate I was to have a 17 year old son who was willing to explore the Emerald Isle with his "old" ma. This photo was taken in Galway...the group really made us laugh!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Harvest Time - Rice Fields - northern Vietnam
On our way from Hanoi to Halong Bay in October of 2008 we passed ripening rice fields ready for harvest. Here you can see the marriage of both traditional and modern equipment used for harvesting. Anything to get the crop in on time and in good shape.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sally Lightfoot Crab: Galapagos
I always want to call these little jewels of the Galapagos shore "Holly Go Lightly". Probably Audrey Hepburn wouldn't have thought much of being referred to as a pretty little crab...then again....
The Falmouth Frog
We are missing Cape Cod this summer. Enjoyed a summer visit several years in a row to stay with friends in a lovely blue clapboard house on Elm in Falmouth. There was a big shady pond in the backyard filled with these fat little guys (on and off the lily pads). At night they created a symphony of ribbetts that sounded like slack stringed banjos.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Silly Seabird Saturday
These two were doing a little "dating" on Seymour Island in the Galapagos late one afternoon. We all thought they looked like Laurel and Hardy with their funny "duck" walk.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Friday Favorite
Galapagos: Mom and Sea Lion Pup on the beach- contemplating a swim? Actually I think Mom was planning her fishing foray and junior just wanted her to stay "home". He was quite an inquisitive little guy. while mom was fishing, he thought any amply endowed middle aged woman in a black one piece bathing suit MUST be his mother. Yes, that's right, I had on a black one piece bathing suit!.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Montreal Mardi Gras Parade
Scene from tonight's closing parade of the Montreal Jazz Festival celebrating the music of Louisiana and Mardi Gras! Floats were brought up from New Orleans especially for tonight. Fun! Music! and lots of Beads!
Gelati in Old Montreal
Les Delices de l'Erable at 84 Rue St Paul west in Old Montreal is as its name implies a retailer of all things maple. But what we love about the place is it gelati counter. They of course always have a few that contain maple syrup (or maple chunks...one of my favorites) but they have a wide assortment of fabulous fruit gelatis (today's strawberry was incredible and jerry always loves the 2 scoops for price of 1 coconut gelati). We've been going there for years and have noticed that they have a reduced assortment these days (we really miss the meringue ice cream they used to sell in the summer) and they sometimes run out before they close in the evening. Hope this is just a temporary glitch and not a sign of financial issues, because their closing would be a true loss to the neighborhood.
So if you are out and about in Old Montreal, do me a favor. Get yourself to Les Delices de L'Erable and have yourself a couple 0f scoops...you'll thank me for it!
Remember This Little Guy?
Its my little pal from Italy: Topo Gigio. When I was growing up, he was one of my favorite acts from the old Ed Sullivan show. Always so sweet and endearing. Gooooood Night, EDdeeeee!I saw Topo in a shop window in Old Montreal. When I inquired, they said they had two "models". One soft cuddly Topo who chatters in Italian when you press his hand (On the Ed Sullivan show, Topo, of course, spoke heavily accented English). The smaller model was a "standing" Topo who dances and sings. Sounds cute, except that he sings (in Italian) Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky Heart. I'm mean REALLY...that is just wrong on many levels. So I brought home the cuddly and chatty little Topo. I wonder what he is saying?????
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday Memory: Dingle, Ireland 2005
My son Jason and I spent 2 weeks driving around Ireland in the Summer of 2005. Here he is outside a music store in Dingle where we had just bought our first James Blunt CD (before he hit it big in the US) after hearing him almost non-stop on Irish Public Radio for the previous 10 days. Great town Dingle: pubs, music, people, and great sunsets.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Fireworks over Alexander Bay, NY
This year we are in Canada on the 4th of July, so will miss out on Independence Day fireworks. But we have great memories of years past. This photo was taken in Alexander Bay (1000 Islands area) in New York in 2005. Wonderful fireworks over the St. Lawrence River.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Saturday Out & About In Montreal
Slept in then lounged around watching the Germany vs Argentina quarter final game. Finally the lovely sun streaming in the window (and our growling stomachs) got us up and out of the apartment. Drove up to Jean Talon for early lunch at Bombay Masala. As always, fabulous chicken korma, lamb biryani, and naan for a very reasonable price. Now fortified for an explore we headed off to the Jean Talon Market for avocados and tomatoes.
oh, and a mango gelato
and berries
With our larder stocked up (also bought some spices and balsami creme/glaze), we drove down to St Catherine near The Village...where the street is closed off to cars and restaurants have built outdoor terrasses for the summer and artist set up their wares in white tents. It was a popular spot today.
After an hours walk, we decided to go back home for a nap and the end of the Spain/Paraguay quarter final. Good idea, except Rue de la Commune our route home was jammed with holiday goer traffic. Just jammed. So what to do? Take pics out the window of the car. And wish I had remembered a bottle of water.
Cirque du Soleil's Totem
(images from the cirque du soleil official site for TOTEM)Jerry and I saw the new creation of Cirque du Soleil: Totem. The Giant Blue and Yellow swirled-striped tents sit on a quay in the Old Port of Montreal. As the Cirque is based in Montrael, traditionally the newest creation is debuted on the Montreal quay. Always very exciting to see a new Cirque du Soleil performance, its always special to us to walk through Old Montreal to the big tent and to see it here.
In the words of the Cirque: TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.
As always the performance intertwines the humorous with the profound, the quirky with languid beauty, "small" subtle feats of concentration with "big" eye popping feats of strength. Costumes and music were magical.
We especially loved the opening act of the 2nd act where a couple flirt and fight and ultimately intertwine suspended above the floor on a Fixed Trapeze. The amerindian Hoop Dancer was a portrait in grace, coordination, and tradition. The Devil Sticks act was a "smaller act" but no less mesmerizing. I could go on and on and ultimately end up describing the entire show including the amusing "Italian Tourist Clown" (call me, okay???)
Totem opens in Quebec City on July 22nd and Amsterdam in October. With more cities to follow.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
A Quiet Summer Evening in the Old Port of Montreall
Montreal's La Fete Nationale Parade (Sainte Jean Baptiste Day) June 24th
Sainte Jean Baptiste Day (June 24th) is celebrated throughout Quebec. Since 1977 it has been celebrated officially as the national holiday (La Fete Nationale) of Quebec. This year we attended the La Fete Nationale Parade which was a wonderful surprise. Not the typical parade of bands and floasts with little cohesiveness of message. The Parade was a celebration of the important events, ideas, and people who have been influential throughout history of Quebec. It was a riot of color and sound; a sea of blue and white. There were ginormous, magnificent “giants” carved from wood and decorated in fabric which depicted the famous and influential Quebeckers from founding to modern day. Although all in French (and we speak little French) the message and importance of these events, ideas, and people were not lost on us. The parade was a riotous celebration of Quebec and its language, French. But this was no “white man, euro-centric” French (which I’m afraid many of us outside of Quebec think). In looking at the faces IN the parade and all the faces lining the parade, we were struck by the inclusiveness of Quebec. A rainbow of ethnicity lined the street. What binds them together? Their shared experiences of culture and history in Quebec and yes, their language, French.
more photos of the parade please check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abaesel/sets/72157624226671591/
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