tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35586294870829765332024-03-05T01:33:29.843-05:00brownypointsRants, raves, thoughts and sometimes pointless point of views from a traveling science enthusiast, working mother, and a musician-chef wannabe. Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-76989820689117484802022-04-02T09:00:00.081-04:002022-04-02T18:31:50.605-04:00Valencia on fire<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><blockquote><br /></blockquote><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9NHNFITgRk6GQCj0Mt0EuWg4Gjhg8DmDn18HfSgp1pJ5p9xR_wDJLr8DZ2RoCBLu-bsmWSc5Iwt0nJz6ch6Ltf19vkketcK2dKvyI8RWBaPIyhPIbaiG5MXo3fgYs4rvn46q4Io35l6ZhsZ5Y8y5K3WbA1rym6F3nwAySwscv2aDjsbqKSkq3nmz/w360-h640/IMG_5600.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: courier;">𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅱 Valencia, And I swear to the stars I'll burn this whole city down, oh, oh 𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅱</span></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: courier;"> - The Decemberist, The Crane Wife Album</span></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9NHNFITgRk6GQCj0Mt0EuWg4Gjhg8DmDn18HfSgp1pJ5p9xR_wDJLr8DZ2RoCBLu-bsmWSc5Iwt0nJz6ch6Ltf19vkketcK2dKvyI8RWBaPIyhPIbaiG5MXo3fgYs4rvn46q4Io35l6ZhsZ5Y8y5K3WbA1rym6F3nwAySwscv2aDjsbqKSkq3nmz/s3520/IMG_5600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span>How do you feel about 🔥fireworks</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;">🔥</span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"> and loud reverberating EXPLOSIONS🧨🧨</span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;">? Do they scare you or excite you? Now, how do you feel about listening 24/7 to the sound of it? How do you feel when a firecracker is tossed on the street as you walk past? Does it make you smile or does it freak you out? How do you feel about street parties until 3 am, and then the sound of marching bands at 8 am? Do you groan or do you smile? These are the things you need to think about if you’re considering going to the </span><span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/events-valencia/festivities/the-fallas" target="_blank"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: verdana; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Las Fallas festival</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></a></span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;">— the loudest, smokiest, and most high-spirited and fiery fiesta in all of Europe, happening in the streets of Valencia! It’s like fiesta on crack, truly. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span>We thought Barcelona was so amazing, we couldn't fathom how Valencia would and could compare. BUT, Valencia was why we made this international trip in the first place. I don't remember how I stumbled upon the Las Fallas festival when I was researching a trip to Spain in the autumn of 2021, but what I remember is the feeling: This. This is where we're going. This is how we celebrate LIFE after all that passed, the year that was 2020, which languidly stretched itself through most of 2021, and threatened a long-held ellipses.... But we don't need to be melancholic, not with Las Fallas in our sight in the distance.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span>So, on the evening of March 17, we took the train from Barcelona to Valencia. Since I booked the high speed train far in advance, we spent maybe 80 euros in total for the four of us. It was an uneventful train ride. The most memorable thing that happened was our cab driver on the way to the station warning us to be careful of pickpockets at Barcelona-Sants. Again, I highly recommend money belts to keep your passport and money in. Thankfully, we had no issues.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span>We arrived in Valencia at 11 pm and grabbed another cab to our AirBnB in Valencia by the Turia garden. On our ride, I could already tell that the stay would be special. We could see lit up arches in Fallas neighborhoods, and hear popping firecrackers, and see women in traditional dresses, and marching band. All this, at close to midnight. The city was wide awake, the drizzle not withstanding. We chose the apartment in the same fashion as we did for Barcelona, and it can't be more ideal. Our place in Carrer del Poeta Monmeneu was close to the hustle and bustle but not smack in the middle of it. After all, this is the loudest</span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">🧨</span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> festival in Europe. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhLj5Zejtr-HLrQ1uwtRbBZ2nv5J6MGhAI3gxjqUp2bUXqwdLSXcTiq-fN0XcHWiAreTyrkx3qoI_ktGn7nPZ4_fg97XeHJeNWu1VqXWOkG6IcVka2-jqfRfBIsdELdOTOsMVcsi5K2bzI6O4WkR_0eazCBm3sDX0eXFFMMCuPPFQXkuPN7gi-R1F/s4032/IMG_5225.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; color: #d9d2e9; float: right; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhLj5Zejtr-HLrQ1uwtRbBZ2nv5J6MGhAI3gxjqUp2bUXqwdLSXcTiq-fN0XcHWiAreTyrkx3qoI_ktGn7nPZ4_fg97XeHJeNWu1VqXWOkG6IcVka2-jqfRfBIsdELdOTOsMVcsi5K2bzI6O4WkR_0eazCBm3sDX0eXFFMMCuPPFQXkuPN7gi-R1F/w480-h640/IMG_5225.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>The original meaning of “Falla” is torch. Indeed, what best way to celebrate the Spring equinox by setting things ablaze! <span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">From what I read, the Las Fallas festival originated from a carpenter’s spring tradition, which involved burning pieces of wood, including the winter torches, and rags and old belongings, kind of like Spring cleaning I imagine, but with bonfire. Together, the rags and wood started looking like sculptures or puppets or dolls, which are locally called “ninots”, of the</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">festival today. Since its origin in the 18th century to the present, the ninots and fallas have evolved. Now these cartoon-like ninots are hand-made by artists and cost a ton, and also have some story or theme, satirical and political, represented. The ones we saw ranged in theme from calls to save the planet, to addressing the pandemic with Athena wearing a mask and pointing an arrow on a coronavirus sculpture, and there's also one about Brexit featuring Boris Johnson. A word of caution that some are quite humorous tipping to bawdy, and intentionally so, as the artists also tackle current events. <span> </span><span> </span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK3Mz9hELmRVokiJMCI8qI1ae_KRvT8d0skQX1GNlwFhYhBe-Z8oqU0UCGoYKmmgZqTNBMKxw_CKphcgpujKuxxLe8rN-vWgzuJnPQpAu29CgKZj5ICV4GXQos_6bjiD9XFv--Pjic7GPD19jACDffoTCIPjlV5EgueuHV8hQmvr4SrKoKXK29SRm/s4032/IMG_5281.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK3Mz9hELmRVokiJMCI8qI1ae_KRvT8d0skQX1GNlwFhYhBe-Z8oqU0UCGoYKmmgZqTNBMKxw_CKphcgpujKuxxLe8rN-vWgzuJnPQpAu29CgKZj5ICV4GXQos_6bjiD9XFv--Pjic7GPD19jACDffoTCIPjlV5EgueuHV8hQmvr4SrKoKXK29SRm/w240-h320/IMG_5281.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span> </span><span> </span>These ninots require months and even up to a year in the making, and are made from paper mache, foam, wood, and cardboard. Each Fallas neighborhood have a team that build their statues which I read totals to somewhere between 300-700 in the city, and can be several stories high. Each neighborhood builds a small statue or monument for children (infantile) and a big one for the grown-ups (mayores) As you can tell, we were not able to see all the structures. Though I wish we saw them all, it was just not possible! But we did see many of the big ones that won special prizes. There is a <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOy-sTct4ObUzlVxzPtGddt7OkLFJhiWDzm0Im68X0ecxnZnUb3wFNk_YQ10_ELBR7lCKTmrPRIANqo7T1gkxj6HpzPj5EDrKXdXE1j-IxKQsPvJ-1aHw-Peq9DbYFwKDMVstDY-fB0mAABR-xCOoY_4rXgaXr7KKHuDCtFGSlQM2DibxJPHwmTLb/s4032/IMG_5360.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOy-sTct4ObUzlVxzPtGddt7OkLFJhiWDzm0Im68X0ecxnZnUb3wFNk_YQ10_ELBR7lCKTmrPRIANqo7T1gkxj6HpzPj5EDrKXdXE1j-IxKQsPvJ-1aHw-Peq9DbYFwKDMVstDY-fB0mAABR-xCOoY_4rXgaXr7KKHuDCtFGSlQM2DibxJPHwmTLb/w300-h400/IMG_5360.JPG" width="300" /></a></div></span><a href="https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/fallas/fallas-map" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" target="_blank">map</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> of the major Fallas, which has the biggest and most intricate designs. The ones that drew the most crowds can be found in the Ruzafa neighborhood, which is also the bar scene and party area, in case you're looking for a more adult-only celebration. But don't let the crowd at Ruzafa stop you from visitng the amazing sculptures in the area. There are a ton of them!, all glorious!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium;">TIP: If you're planning to visit for the festival, stow your Tory Burch heels away, and pack your most comfortable shoes! We were racking between 25K-30K steps in a day, my legs and knees were sore, which was expected and why I packed a bottle of ibuprofen! The ninots are brightly colored, and very expressive. I truly wonder how the artists come up with such grand visions. What's at stake? Well, at the end of the festival, each one of these go up in flames, save for the pardoned ninot, voted by the public. </span></span></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3154" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcg7a6t5-aqrCoC-SlL4OHZzb60tEiNbQfMSRNiHuEBteGitli3sneFXpKoL-0jq9zNUHlTRIF47Zt1OzTCDnZ8B3t44SNX8mTvKXVanA0xfjvIMA3RSYaCVMsbemfGZtFUs9fKbi64dHXxAeqlvarTCXz4Pq8EQcond8pnzPuQhnlpZaHGLk0HA9w/w640-h518/IMG_5368.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-size: medium;">Beguiling and extremely flammable</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRvEDJir8bHbgipVI3bOfXcb-6DOoSkTdSS7JM_SU4heu6YrO7QIqohtyIaarBQSHw35WHOTVynXPWW047X8Xqj6uMme1bGxxInHNCMpAkESgkpz8Sq7HHBO6HdqXFWUIs2jPUibsPQXS2lIkF7LkwaewFUQ_80PdCUDVtNSk7_H6ISQznTdYMtxb/s3568/IMG_5445.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="2110" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRvEDJir8bHbgipVI3bOfXcb-6DOoSkTdSS7JM_SU4heu6YrO7QIqohtyIaarBQSHw35WHOTVynXPWW047X8Xqj6uMme1bGxxInHNCMpAkESgkpz8Sq7HHBO6HdqXFWUIs2jPUibsPQXS2lIkF7LkwaewFUQ_80PdCUDVtNSk7_H6ISQznTdYMtxb/w378-h640/IMG_5445.JPG" width="378" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHQOFSjp_HgMwpNUkIbwsWYpbMVUiLNIcqfyA1c6dp-TqlDvNP1vtKtyhaZnibY5zanewbRuGBYrqflEyNNfHxs-4a4ibjNkeUKTIHapWU3qfLWebtRECmosTKXpg0iQBTGQhDkqSv82Y5Jp70ppIGjMjQFybYGgVpSmauYOLlMXpiIFKAPSFQ7Ao/s4032/IMG_5352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHQOFSjp_HgMwpNUkIbwsWYpbMVUiLNIcqfyA1c6dp-TqlDvNP1vtKtyhaZnibY5zanewbRuGBYrqflEyNNfHxs-4a4ibjNkeUKTIHapWU3qfLWebtRECmosTKXpg0iQBTGQhDkqSv82Y5Jp70ppIGjMjQFybYGgVpSmauYOLlMXpiIFKAPSFQ7Ao/w480-h640/IMG_5352.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5ekxFDIgaHtFz4KsVAmwkQprbKrYM5mxmEOjtnS7pi5URBP8xA6uoRS5Ze5CWggmWnZCImmZ1BCn0CHABaPlXdlDswX4MzO_x86Ph06DNNsQTwpJ5SaR8eu7TOeaQyNhH5fIcq16Xv2HQeZZdmzXfwRWx6v5jkPXT2l_oVw6-2c75fcV-RR7IUh/s4032/IMG_5359.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5ekxFDIgaHtFz4KsVAmwkQprbKrYM5mxmEOjtnS7pi5URBP8xA6uoRS5Ze5CWggmWnZCImmZ1BCn0CHABaPlXdlDswX4MzO_x86Ph06DNNsQTwpJ5SaR8eu7TOeaQyNhH5fIcq16Xv2HQeZZdmzXfwRWx6v5jkPXT2l_oVw6-2c75fcV-RR7IUh/w480-h640/IMG_5359.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHYAJpV8gEFUzjxIKaU8lc5jbqvvO28wI3ofJex3Vx_dZcVyWSkQ2fa8c7nx7VKVlGlWp5M9w_ZmwHEnmaBTG6XXfMquL6SLABilMbGDjPlEvk_JpHuBjss1N72UM6CXIKn0xBO48ZasGui6Vxab4hfJs0ebczt2qFxtNhJEFCmyCt8j-IMlIhNWt/s6108/IMG_5385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3698" data-original-width="6108" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHYAJpV8gEFUzjxIKaU8lc5jbqvvO28wI3ofJex3Vx_dZcVyWSkQ2fa8c7nx7VKVlGlWp5M9w_ZmwHEnmaBTG6XXfMquL6SLABilMbGDjPlEvk_JpHuBjss1N72UM6CXIKn0xBO48ZasGui6Vxab4hfJs0ebczt2qFxtNhJEFCmyCt8j-IMlIhNWt/w640-h388/IMG_5385.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7xHOlDW2wwLFhOQVCggDqhlsODCFcnyi8KQHh_XulwUkDSL9K02hqvQmlua_xCF6zjGUqExlansOzrfuHjnPzkEjAWQLpsDAzJeWSotYLuz9XLFnwY-Rbybc_UzOgdGk9xgd3jrck7AtPW4Cjl16NK7NDs-DGTo-_GFfmJ0tjLVFkANXdWqRsDZ/s4032/IMG_5488.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl7xHOlDW2wwLFhOQVCggDqhlsODCFcnyi8KQHh_XulwUkDSL9K02hqvQmlua_xCF6zjGUqExlansOzrfuHjnPzkEjAWQLpsDAzJeWSotYLuz9XLFnwY-Rbybc_UzOgdGk9xgd3jrck7AtPW4Cjl16NK7NDs-DGTo-_GFfmJ0tjLVFkANXdWqRsDZ/s320/IMG_5488.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span> </span>Las Fallas festival, attended by over a million revelers, lasts 5 days from March 15-19 every year, although you can hear the firecrackers, called “máscleta”, as early as March 1. When I say hear, I mean HEAR. During the last 2 days of the festival, there is a firecracker show at 2 pm at the town center in Plaza del Ajuntamiento, where you will hear the loudest BOOMs you’ve ever heard. It's the kind that rattles your bones, and shakes the foundations of houses. Thank goodness the old historic buildings in Valencia are strong and have withstood the times. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; text-size-adjust: 100%;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span> </span>And then on the evening of March 18, the <i>Nit del Foc</i>, the Fire night, with fireworks lighting the skies at 1:30 in the morning. <span style="caret-color: rgb(50, 50, 50);"> Needless to say, the street parties continued until around 3 am. This, in spite of the rain. No rain can hamper the fires and spirit of Las Fallas! </span>Fourth of July celebration in the US is a whisper compared to the continuous and thunderous Las Fallas mascleta, day and night. As I’ve researched what to expect during the festivities, I made sure we packed earplugs, which my family were grateful for. Still, the kids were pretty startled by the firecrackers that just get to tossed on the street and landed right in front of them. I, on the other hand, was used to this growing up in a Spanish-influenced country. I don’t startle as easily, even as one bounced off my shoe, which I don't tell the kids, of course. After a while, the kids wanted to join in the fire-cracking fun. We went to the firecracker or “petardo” store, and bought some “mini-bombetas”, which doesn’t need to be lit up, but you can toss it on the ground and it makes a snapping sound. They’re adorable and safe for children. And that's how we also joined in the noise making. And in the morning of March 19, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(50, 50, 50);">the marching band woke us up bright and early as the parades began again at 8 am. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7549T5gEXGxAr5TIdpWN3iszTtQE97SFbFSNvvpCJHDDvD0TbCkP6eoO1queRVUtx8l8BCd8t0MYlHPiYQWdw4eJaZUQ2hpoeYP3wqe6dw4ZPDy8KIhRYmvlq9e5NQPdiMO1O7klQ2ByxaFkNeY8f34Ibj8-FE9OfeaYb4pNM3NW5DHvgT1skgQiW/w240-h320/IMG_5446.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-size: medium;">Enjoying horchata with ice cream at Mercat de Colon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7549T5gEXGxAr5TIdpWN3iszTtQE97SFbFSNvvpCJHDDvD0TbCkP6eoO1queRVUtx8l8BCd8t0MYlHPiYQWdw4eJaZUQ2hpoeYP3wqe6dw4ZPDy8KIhRYmvlq9e5NQPdiMO1O7klQ2ByxaFkNeY8f34Ibj8-FE9OfeaYb4pNM3NW5DHvgT1skgQiW/s4032/IMG_5446.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></a><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span> </span>During the Las Fallas festival, the streets of the old city of Valencia are closed off from cars so people can meander the streets freely. We walked among locals and tourists alike, enjoying with incredulity the artistry of the ninots. From time to time, we took breaks to enjoy hot chocolate or horchata, which is a drink made from tiger nuts, together with traditional pastries like churros of different kinds - chocolate, Nutella-filled - and my new found favorite, fresh buñuelos de calabasa, or locally known in Valencia as </span><span face="montserratregular, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span><i>bunyols de carabassa</i>, </span>which<span> </span>are<span> </span></span></span><span face="montserratlight, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">pumpkin donuts. These are so good when they’re warm! But you won’t taste the pumpkin, so it’s definitely kid-friendly too. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lpCGnrAQkp5aPqzQgVIh70ZXUjnCaE3s96FnSimc_-hkPxl1JTT4yuEiy0uII1eKNQ1ag6RG9Oob60IwwJqOYsnWqu3FoVfxKRLl3V2c2YN7TveaAXoprRFR1aS3viXrdVm-dHP1nIgktt287Z0s_nAN_PyAidLPlsP1svnxFJF4V5zvlZeX_RtQ/s4032/IMG_5259.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lpCGnrAQkp5aPqzQgVIh70ZXUjnCaE3s96FnSimc_-hkPxl1JTT4yuEiy0uII1eKNQ1ag6RG9Oob60IwwJqOYsnWqu3FoVfxKRLl3V2c2YN7TveaAXoprRFR1aS3viXrdVm-dHP1nIgktt287Z0s_nAN_PyAidLPlsP1svnxFJF4V5zvlZeX_RtQ/s320/IMG_5259.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span> </span>There are many benches and plazas to enjoy the treats, or you can enjoy them at the markets as well. We looked and smelled the spices, and ooohed and aaahed at the colorful olives, jamon, empanadas, and orange cake (Valencia orange!) that flooded our senses. </span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Many places sold paella, but I was wary of trying it at the touristy center of the town after the patatas bravas revelation in Barcelona. So, the paella tasting just had to wait. One tip that I was given by our AirBnB host, don't order paella in the evening. It is best serve during lunch, when it is fresh.</span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1EmXoC8cQLrcPbk2whi_8TzjEpKPVqlnt4P_sCSAhypxn4r8OrIm0bqOGvknmd8moJp95yUQ0le4PYE6ATNsfQvfqj1HHVq6tIjroLFnpUoJVmqhLj-1zsSkJDlsFXj_Tp6QPeiRYLPpwPc2xN6pgP14QUt8sn8HieqN-lQXlzNYmgs_xxNNko9S/s3380/IMG_5346.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3380" data-original-width="2239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1EmXoC8cQLrcPbk2whi_8TzjEpKPVqlnt4P_sCSAhypxn4r8OrIm0bqOGvknmd8moJp95yUQ0le4PYE6ATNsfQvfqj1HHVq6tIjroLFnpUoJVmqhLj-1zsSkJDlsFXj_Tp6QPeiRYLPpwPc2xN6pgP14QUt8sn8HieqN-lQXlzNYmgs_xxNNko9S/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" width="212" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Aside from the colorful food and spices, we also saw beautiful Valencian women and girls dressed in traditional clothing, with their hairs in intricately braided buns, in a ceremony called Ofrenda. The women carry bouquets and offer them to the Virgen de los Desamparados (Lady of the forsaken) at the Plaza de la Virgen, led by marching bands in a parade. The flowers are placed on the high wooden structure of a giant effigy of the Lady. </span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="clear: left; color: #d9d2e9; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0ULuBy6Nm3xCE0m0l8oNGkPMKlMG-c6MK1ZnbzUJUxWc5RinkNxQrV88C1gD9imRqz_fTDWrM-04Vp6Ope2v2HNCebcHSm8pgmRxxgp-LW-LC_R8CNZR682KEFfAZHE-5KINRxVCjbGSf0BXJ6BT9sIPNaC8gOrk9ub1lBcXffKmuK8Px_rgpwDl/w300-h400/IMG_5505.JPG" width="300" /></span></span><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>At dusk, the <i>Cavalcada del foc</i> (the fire parade) made its way along Carrer Colon ending in a show at Plaza de la Porta de la Mar. The music -trumpets and drums- mixing with the pops of the firecracker and the endless cheering from the crowd make for the most festive atmosphere. Then the show ends, and the crowd dissipates to the fallas neighborhood of their choice.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjXzVJaeEfkRZ-P7Ggq1Dqcqzv2WcOzXJZSaKeTA9xRB4q3gDsMsqyKwVxI79gP_rN3Q74YJmZmRfHklvCb_Q-fkYh7CzH2vvJq-KjVJyinngxCIRhz89UWcncA7cEpSlGKEJhwBtbcjai1GbkTOeb9bzaHFrU5LJ7Rem9prmcBU-dz4QOgZl0x2O/s4032/IMG_5395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><p></p></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="340" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T76dBj0Y6Dw" width="409" youtube-src-id="T76dBj0Y6Dw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjXzVJaeEfkRZ-P7Ggq1Dqcqzv2WcOzXJZSaKeTA9xRB4q3gDsMsqyKwVxI79gP_rN3Q74YJmZmRfHklvCb_Q-fkYh7CzH2vvJq-KjVJyinngxCIRhz89UWcncA7cEpSlGKEJhwBtbcjai1GbkTOeb9bzaHFrU5LJ7Rem9prmcBU-dz4QOgZl0x2O/w480-h640/IMG_5395.JPG" width="480" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" 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/AVvXsEjw4Ww2mLlKYIcmLwaUGI47e5OopWiyEVRysLVsU_s1yXBG_LKNUJ19dKqou60bma0UI5EgRZLgda6SL_UVkoJZkmLGDiylty3JfmcsPuoYcOjdhRR1CdM1LGTgSb0vYKKWgipOIyWyCOhbZmaz6dM2xyxiZ1RVc8PiDef2KmY_NYF5xi07iHbyoNdH/s3667/IMG_5568.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3667" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Ww2mLlKYIcmLwaUGI47e5OopWiyEVRysLVsU_s1yXBG_LKNUJ19dKqou60bma0UI5EgRZLgda6SL_UVkoJZkmLGDiylty3JfmcsPuoYcOjdhRR1CdM1LGTgSb0vYKKWgipOIyWyCOhbZmaz6dM2xyxiZ1RVc8PiDef2KmY_NYF5xi07iHbyoNdH/w400-h330/IMG_5568.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: medium;">Before...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>All the ninots remain in place in their respective Fallas until <span face="montserratregular, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">all are set aflame on March 19</span>, the day known as La Cremà (the burning), which is the climactic end to Las Fallas. Except for that one winning ninot. </span><p></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>We stationed ourselves at the Fallas near the Torres de Serrano, the gothic towers built in 14th century, which had a beautiful, but relatively medium-sized ninot, about 30-40 feet by my estimate. I figured it’s the best one to watch burn with the backdrop of the gates of Valencia, and we can easily walk home from there instead of the crowded bigger ninots in the city center. We watched with mixed emotions, anticipation, joy, and sorrow as the firefighters skillfully set up the hose, and the team started to drape the firecrackers on the ninot and drench it in gasoline. As if the burning of the ninots is not enough, or perhaps to serve as a prelude prior to reaching its crescendo, the night sky bursts once again in a stream of fireworks display at each fallas neighborhood. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHFPuv4slzjv-WUbWyqpH4v7bp8yfrvzxJcEv33T4dh-k-cLrWYuKetouZ0-xSLKiru0fN1TDiqabPcc2dXcNe1i4ZtqURLJ-XxmEcy8zwgLZQo7PyKMSZe-bgR1AN6MEKhTe51Z15uO8ETsiA2DHlPqdqCNk59k5iFcKTuSIzpU45Qig2F7w-eUf/s4032/IMG_5541.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHFPuv4slzjv-WUbWyqpH4v7bp8yfrvzxJcEv33T4dh-k-cLrWYuKetouZ0-xSLKiru0fN1TDiqabPcc2dXcNe1i4ZtqURLJ-XxmEcy8zwgLZQo7PyKMSZe-bgR1AN6MEKhTe51Z15uO8ETsiA2DHlPqdqCNk59k5iFcKTuSIzpU45Qig2F7w-eUf/s320/IMG_5541.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>And then, finally, the muse of the fallas, <i>fallera mayor,</i> lights the string of firecrackers that finds its way to the heart of the ninot, setting it ablaze. Watching all the characters that you know the artists and teams have put so much effort into making go up in flame is surreal. What was built in months and even up to a year goes tumbling down to embers and ashes in a span of 30 minutes. La crema is a symbolic cleansing, leaving behind the past and starting a new life from the ashes - the epitome of Spring. It is as meaningful as it is beguiling. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="484" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CQ6wG8gTt-M" width="583" youtube-src-id="CQ6wG8gTt-M"></iframe></span></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="3520" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVr5OmDT8Q3jLl-Iq5Tlmdl8KgBs7mL-trya39G9NyVEA4Kpl6zeTuQaIW2LaSlGQU2hjoqQwvUfEBAkgUNWvHtCSuiDN9LNXtNYgHRWEPRTFlGSu4TVRv45URjElSeTEJ-3Hjx5TIh2ikHGlMbnA41BK6qzjftYE7i_44nKUov3L13qYtN-EnIjg/w640-h360/IMG_5612.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">The fire brigade were TOP NOTCH and ensures everyone's safety</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVr5OmDT8Q3jLl-Iq5Tlmdl8KgBs7mL-trya39G9NyVEA4Kpl6zeTuQaIW2LaSlGQU2hjoqQwvUfEBAkgUNWvHtCSuiDN9LNXtNYgHRWEPRTFlGSu4TVRv45URjElSeTEJ-3Hjx5TIh2ikHGlMbnA41BK6qzjftYE7i_44nKUov3L13qYtN-EnIjg/s3520/IMG_5612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06DKkcIxrdqtDVk2cYIqbYEQladj2t0GS6EEnVj3m3sZQF1IV3h3Tx1Qf-dWmdYaD4JYCK5vv_VN8VoMKsGoYx0xr7rK85w2hcNsYmXTy1wIWY4VO5LEjfJtt7-rwRvV2uISytGJxnUq6WAsc3W-lf_EmxodP71qWhavNquHL9c_kId_LvI65m8gi/s3314/IMG_5564.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3314" data-original-width="2964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06DKkcIxrdqtDVk2cYIqbYEQladj2t0GS6EEnVj3m3sZQF1IV3h3Tx1Qf-dWmdYaD4JYCK5vv_VN8VoMKsGoYx0xr7rK85w2hcNsYmXTy1wIWY4VO5LEjfJtt7-rwRvV2uISytGJxnUq6WAsc3W-lf_EmxodP71qWhavNquHL9c_kId_LvI65m8gi/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="286" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: medium;">After </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Indeed, the festival is a feast for the senses - visually for all the awe-inspiring ninots and watching the fire raze them; auditory with all the music from the bands and the booms from the mascletas; orally for the buñuelos, churros, and paella; olfactory for the scent of the roses, smoke and gunpowder, haha! This is truly how you celebrate LIFE. For this experience, I am grateful. </span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> </span>The morning after the end of La Crema, the city of Valencia goes back to the laidback city that it is. The streets are cleaned, the roads opened, as if the Las Fallas was already a distant memory… but I can’t help but imagine that, somewhere in the city, an artist is already plotting, thinking of their design for the next Las Fallas festival, hoping to be the ninot to be pardoned and immortalized at the Museo Fallas. Or, maybe not. For, really, it seems an even greater honor to touch the people's soul with La Crema of the grand ninot. </span></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyBcite_zErOPNE6DxYuyUqcxN_IDTdw6H-TtMXhbrpr3e03jIb98LtZQlXlJoo4okvfL16V2F3g4KYeJVyGm8Co69GmrMUKUJszYmr9pK2SWhAiCsGTt7i1CGcMfYjky6wOa64Kqh2wItu_WmhwqwULs1bhA466HXCFJ8Cv0yxxqfovxIXeacBPc/s4032/IMG_5638.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyBcite_zErOPNE6DxYuyUqcxN_IDTdw6H-TtMXhbrpr3e03jIb98LtZQlXlJoo4okvfL16V2F3g4KYeJVyGm8Co69GmrMUKUJszYmr9pK2SWhAiCsGTt7i1CGcMfYjky6wOa64Kqh2wItu_WmhwqwULs1bhA466HXCFJ8Cv0yxxqfovxIXeacBPc/s320/IMG_5638.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> On our last day in Valencia, we were still soaring high from what we witnessed, and decided to come down from the clouds with a low key day of souvenir shopping, a visit to the <a href="https://museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es/va/">Museo Bellas Artes</a>, and savoring authentic Paella Valenciana at <a href="https://elforcat.com/">Restaurante El Forcat</a>, which came highly recommended by our wonderful AirBnB host, who also made the reservation for us. The traditional paella Valenciana, interestingly, does not have seafood but has <i>pollo</i> (chicken) and vegetables instead. We enjoyed it so much as well as their delicious wine.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5mnY7EzmQ2poNsR5uCPkzoJ4tN_iRlPLsVpDPEg5-Fp8l2x5YzPElerxE7YLMrWCzQY06OpGxJsmT8nDVKMrRt47IBxCO_Yu-ZVF7ymmyWZD1k2HZMKOQ4UUlXZyHbUooC9wCHXm1rvLeVc9iJAOsgZ_FNbsfrkeOcz1W8z2jOiAnRo79nyDb9a_/s4032/IMG_5648.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5mnY7EzmQ2poNsR5uCPkzoJ4tN_iRlPLsVpDPEg5-Fp8l2x5YzPElerxE7YLMrWCzQY06OpGxJsmT8nDVKMrRt47IBxCO_Yu-ZVF7ymmyWZD1k2HZMKOQ4UUlXZyHbUooC9wCHXm1rvLeVc9iJAOsgZ_FNbsfrkeOcz1W8z2jOiAnRo79nyDb9a_/w480-h640/IMG_5648.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> Finally, we ended our trip as we started it - with a visit to an aquarium, <a href="https://www.oceanografic.org/en/">L’Oceanografic</a>, the largest aquarium in Europe. We enjoyed a game of Kahoot and a dolphin show, in Spanish no less! Then, satiated in mind, body, and spirit, it was time to go home. </span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FHiMGhduzuNSIuacAGm1wayDt34UJZ4z3gtNJlBOQvk9SfiT2fUNRBubjwykujABEafgAn1Ilgvc_qxncLHDFXmEZJ67SdhMkp2UzqUO6mQPLA-ECNrHTDIb-EzODI7F9_POthUw9WkFh6X4Jg_gaVzmW6JErwWXfu-v03dp6sYAsJCC4QPcCNOM/s4032/IMG_5659.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FHiMGhduzuNSIuacAGm1wayDt34UJZ4z3gtNJlBOQvk9SfiT2fUNRBubjwykujABEafgAn1Ilgvc_qxncLHDFXmEZJ67SdhMkp2UzqUO6mQPLA-ECNrHTDIb-EzODI7F9_POthUw9WkFh6X4Jg_gaVzmW6JErwWXfu-v03dp6sYAsJCC4QPcCNOM/s320/IMG_5659.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #d9d2e9; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); display: inline; margin: 2rem 0px; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #04ff00;">Tips:</span></p></i></b></span><ul style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); display: block; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; padding: 1em 0px 1em 2rem; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: medium;">Expect to get little sleep during Las Fallas, between the marching bands and loud mascleta. An don’t forget to pack your earplugs!</span></span></li><li><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: medium;">Wear your sturdiest shoes! It’s the only way to see as many fallas as possible. And after you’ve done that, choose your favorite one to come back to for La Crema, which happens simultaneously for all the ninots in all neighborhoods, except for the one in the town center, which is burned 30 minutes later.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: medium;">Arrive early on any major events to get the good spot. For instance for the <i>Nit de Foc </i>near the bridge, or the 2 pm mascleta at the plaza de ayuntamiento or if you expect a big crowd for La Crema of your favorite ninot.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: medium;">Make advanced reservation if you intend to eat at a restaurant during Las Fallas.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: medium;">Don't put too many things on your agenda. Take it from me, you won't get to do much more than enjoy the festival. Immerse yourself in the experience. It's one to write home about! </span></span></li></ul></div></div></div>Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-42707004438170967652022-03-26T14:14:00.053-04:002022-03-28T08:36:42.334-04:005-days in Beautiful Barcelona<p><span style="background-color: #fffdf8; font-family: "Helvetica Neue LT W01_41488878"; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UJOxB9VoSqmPXAQvpW6zJJ-ss8iWqQ7QMfQNyuTUzikzFsKGWESWqN06OX8eaReWe6TKbiUobAwq88sdjXhR12-xJKWCQ9LOQee8uV84ENou9AuQFIW2ttF9LfPMAF0kSBi0tSobfx9bXzb8g3etfyNLQ0W8zgIJtj-UriiYloTcSItoG8wGWac3/s3520/IMG_5028.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UJOxB9VoSqmPXAQvpW6zJJ-ss8iWqQ7QMfQNyuTUzikzFsKGWESWqN06OX8eaReWe6TKbiUobAwq88sdjXhR12-xJKWCQ9LOQee8uV84ENou9AuQFIW2ttF9LfPMAF0kSBi0tSobfx9bXzb8g3etfyNLQ0W8zgIJtj-UriiYloTcSItoG8wGWac3/w226-h400/IMG_5028.JPG" width="226" /></span></a></div><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: helvetica;">“</span><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;">So let’s pretend we’re dancing in the street</span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;">In Barcelona</span></p><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;"><span>Las Ramblas, I’ll meet you, we’ll dance around La Sagrada Familia</span><br style="outline: none;" /><span><br /></span></span><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;"><span>Drinking Sangria, mi niña, te amo mi cariño</span><br style="outline: none;" /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;"><span>Mamacita, rica, si tú, te adoro señorita</span><br style="outline: none;" /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;"><span>Los otros, viva la vida, </span><br style="outline: none;" /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;">Come on let’s be free in Barcelona”</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: courier;">- Ed Sheeran, Barcelona lyrics</span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: black;"> <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> </span><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">What seems like over 2 very long years during the pandemic were indeed 2 very long years. Between health scares, mental drain, and political turmoils, our family decided to put a pause on all the worries and celebrate LIFE. We decided to book a trip to Spain. Why Spain? With my 9 yo kiddo being in a Spanish Immersion program, we thought a trip to a Spanish speaking country would a great reward as well as an appropriate challenge to her, i.e. something that would make her truly appreciate the language she’s learning. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> <span> <span> Anyway, a few friends and family have expressed interest in visiting Spain too, so I thought a blog with tips on top of our adventure telling would be</span></span></span> useful to give ideas of a possible vacation itinerary. Spain as it turns out was so much more than just paella and Magellan. 9 days in Barcelona and Valencia leaves us wanting for more. So, brace yourself, this will be a long one, but hopefully a helpful guide too visitors in Barcelona. The Valencia trip will be a separate post. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #01ffff; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Day 1: Getting the lay of the land - the historic city and L’Aquarium</b></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> Our vacation in Barcelona started with our arrival at our AirBnB. After doing some research, we booked a place at the district of Villa de Gracia, just outside of Eixample, instead of staying at the old city near La Rambla which is packed with people… you know, for pandemic and noise reasons. Our place at Carrer de Provençal was nicely situated near Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera). It is walking distance to bus stops and metro station, and even to the old city but so, so much more peaceful. A bonus we didn’t expect was we were right across the street from a wonderful bakery in Hotel Pratik. </span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> After taking a short nap, we ventured to El Born, Barrí Gothic, and La Rambla, exploring the nooks and crannies of the city center. One can easily spend a day here especially if you’re into history or if you’re into shopping. The alleys and plazas are mesmerizing with their classic architecture, and old churches, walls, and buildings date back from the Roman times. The Gothic quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona, and its heart. Milling around the area makes you appreciate how much amazing the Romans were in building, that these narrow alleys and romantic squares are able to be preserved so well through the centuries. We had a late lunch by American standard, at 3 pm, which is not too late by Spanish standard, at Placa Reial to try some of Barcelona’s famous tapas - patatas bravas, sautéed mushrooms, etc. Sadly, we were not impressed. It became quickly apparent that the food at Las Ramblas was subpar and geared towards undiscerning tourists’ taste buds. AND as tourists we probably would have just shrugged our shoulders at the “meh” offerings, but we came across a delicious tapas place a few days later that opened our eyes. So, if you are looking for good tapas, I would suggest skipping Las Ramblas. If you’re just hungry or got the munchies with no expectations, then go for the gelato. You can never go wrong with gelato! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> Before I continue, here’s one strong recommendation - if you’re going to sightsee in BCN for a few days and planning to hit most of the attractions, I suggest buying the <a href="https://gocity.com/barcelona/en-us?utm_medium=search&utm_source=GoogleBCP&utm_adcampaigngroup=BCP&utm_campaign=GO-BCP-GGL-PPC-NAM-US%2FEN-PRRM-BND-PBLT-LYAU-NSA%20%5BKWS%5D&matchtype=e&utm_term=barcelona%20all%20inclusive%20pass&utm_creative=495952718059&addisttype=g&KPID=go_cmp-12236057411_adg-115613662045_ad-495952718059_kwd-870711975582_dev-t_ext-_prd-&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8_qRBhCXARIsAE2AtRaDL0mVxdtKttyRqekPbDetywHFW8UHMjwq4X5lOqysG8zgk06wTrYaAiC7EALw_wcB" target="_blank">All Inclusive Go-City BCN Pass</a>, which lets you skip the ticket lines and are heavily discounted. We bought a 4-day pass, and it pretty much</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_zYY3rShUFQNmCCbcgqdNjICQJcofZqCGnEc5f9pID3ngbAc12dxqHL0QitY1wWEbhC6s-DUbn1Frh2wVXga_SOrEMDluvBG0euYvc0zIeyjHGlTG4jGh75QbMzBAdjR5FzNdchqZeEaVhc755Heg1od1TlodwRbRYXIXxinhtgrUXdu28siRsst/s4032/IMG_4467.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_zYY3rShUFQNmCCbcgqdNjICQJcofZqCGnEc5f9pID3ngbAc12dxqHL0QitY1wWEbhC6s-DUbn1Frh2wVXga_SOrEMDluvBG0euYvc0zIeyjHGlTG4jGh75QbMzBAdjR5FzNdchqZeEaVhc755Heg1od1TlodwRbRYXIXxinhtgrUXdu28siRsst/s320/IMG_4467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>paid for itself by the 2nd day. With the pass on hand, </span></span></span>we soon made our way to the L’Aquarium at Port Vell, which boasted of being the biggest marine leisure and education center dedicated to Mediterranean undersea life. But if you ask my kids what they enjoyed the most in the aquarium, it’s the… not one, not two, but 3 Axolotls! </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> After having our fill of cute sea creatures, we took a walk at the edge of Parc de la Ciutadella, not being able to explore the park anymore after 25K steps and lack of sleep. We passed the Arc de Triomf built as the gate to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. Then called it a day! We were too beat to make any decent dinner at our apartment. Thankfully, there were lots of small stores scattered near our place, and we enjoyed ramen and wine and called the very long day a success. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #01ffff; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Day 2: Park Guell, a park like no other </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> Waking up in Barcelona at the early morning of 7 am, haha, I made my way to the bakery and grabbed a delicious olive bread with cheese, fresh tomatoes and arugula, and got warm chocolate croissants for the kids. Walking to the bakery brought memories of my childhood when my grandfather would hoist me on his shoulders and we’d buy a bag of pandesal. </span></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LfInfMM4uCszHpjG-gI1jHgzstXFjzIhGcw58AwDLOLOJubc96MByrEpH0XKziRdBEBdwFrdtHOsMqJlqWuJ18yVfoafAC9RRvSKyzgYpv0VPT7bDCdJ0GvWKaQOUP112IOJ9U42R0mulfkyAuHvI4yuKZtwKtcBnyNXabX6qLe7N6JTUZA9MQFO/s4032/IMG_4607.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LfInfMM4uCszHpjG-gI1jHgzstXFjzIhGcw58AwDLOLOJubc96MByrEpH0XKziRdBEBdwFrdtHOsMqJlqWuJ18yVfoafAC9RRvSKyzgYpv0VPT7bDCdJ0GvWKaQOUP112IOJ9U42R0mulfkyAuHvI4yuKZtwKtcBnyNXabX6qLe7N6JTUZA9MQFO/s320/IMG_4607.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black;"> </span><span><span style="background-color: black;"> </span><span><span style="background-color: black;"> Included in our All Inclusive pass is 1 day ride on the Hop on Hop off bus turístic. So we decided to use the pass for this day because it is the day we are visiting Park Guell, which is not really within reasonable distance for the shoe-leather express. We hopped on the blue bus route which gave us a sneak peek of Sagrada Familia and other BCN sights, and then we got off at the Park Guell stop. Before visiting the park, we made advanced reservation for a tour through the go city pass, and met with our guide and group outside of the park. This is certainly one of those places where you’d need a tour to truly appreciate the park history. </span><span style="background-color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Since we were a bit early, we walked to the top of Parc del Carmel which gave us a great birds eye view of Barcelona. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQAfEG7cVLnO2P7_zEhnqE1EVIBsChSkrDNyddC7uIRBY6tIEu_Y64MSb-ugLAdBZqyYlQ_mdu4jdTOCMGprMIi_-8xlvyo9HkZ3oiMN_zUGe3nm4A_Q5NLGoFg7zJYCFup_spmZP5Dj856JbRlx1VKNMWZaOqwxe9mYU3-_DLHP09xqP97CUb5c/s4032/IMG_4586.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQAfEG7cVLnO2P7_zEhnqE1EVIBsChSkrDNyddC7uIRBY6tIEu_Y64MSb-ugLAdBZqyYlQ_mdu4jdTOCMGprMIi_-8xlvyo9HkZ3oiMN_zUGe3nm4A_Q5NLGoFg7zJYCFup_spmZP5Dj856JbRlx1VKNMWZaOqwxe9mYU3-_DLHP09xqP97CUb5c/w640-h480/IMG_4586.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkaaG8Q5kZfS_G6YVPLX1lKgpW3RXi--3MStXEliFMi24e3hinmpoSUXU_lxxb_-w5BpUSyCBNwkVLrqYbwkx6ZoTaylbLUldWZbwB0oS8OiU5ij3MpZLibYMshSfSvzEN0O3MFeRn5QyVwdB0oWPiYD6BflvV-X7PpU3zSdNykJki_b8U-F7cAi/s3829/IMG_4563.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3829" data-original-width="2772" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKkaaG8Q5kZfS_G6YVPLX1lKgpW3RXi--3MStXEliFMi24e3hinmpoSUXU_lxxb_-w5BpUSyCBNwkVLrqYbwkx6ZoTaylbLUldWZbwB0oS8OiU5ij3MpZLibYMshSfSvzEN0O3MFeRn5QyVwdB0oWPiYD6BflvV-X7PpU3zSdNykJki_b8U-F7cAi/s320/IMG_4563.JPG" width="232" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>Park Guell was an amazing first introduction to the works of Antoni Gaudí. From the aqueducts in the shape of palm trees to the ceiling made of mosaics, also known as trencadis, to the gingerbread house, to the serpentine plaza, this place was came out beautifully as imagined by Guell, a businessman, and Gaudí to house the upperclass of Barcelona. On display is Gaudi’s love of nature, and his method of recycling broken plates and glasses to use in the mosaics were on full display at the park. We spent several hours here then hopped on the blue bus back to continue our sightseeing, passing the university, the stadium, etc. We changed to the red bus route, which brought us to Montjuic, to the site of the 1992 Olympic, past the Joan Miro museum, which we sadly knew we wouldn’t get to see, then south all the way to barceloneta. By this time, it was evening, so we hopped off and picked up food at the local grocery and went home for a nice home cooked meal. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #01ffff; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Day 3: All about Gaudi with chocolate on top - Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, and Sagrada Familia + Museo de la Xocolada</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2zNvYGsIAbivmyz8UYHfQvA0VYvtVgCOBxV-U3MQ2APBm-snsXPVAWWDXUbXOM2uWmSH3iO5YQc2Wcqs8A-EKyqmXrCM67rcP8EC_lSAy3CgNfUOtaCiUTWekU7GHEmco3Lqt0KOwnG_iotpUCnvITRvoqBTD5fTrM-CnM9VcWgRgRPISRvWJIOb/s4032/IMG_4513.JPG" style="background-color: black; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2zNvYGsIAbivmyz8UYHfQvA0VYvtVgCOBxV-U3MQ2APBm-snsXPVAWWDXUbXOM2uWmSH3iO5YQc2Wcqs8A-EKyqmXrCM67rcP8EC_lSAy3CgNfUOtaCiUTWekU7GHEmco3Lqt0KOwnG_iotpUCnvITRvoqBTD5fTrM-CnM9VcWgRgRPISRvWJIOb/w300-h400/IMG_4513.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span> <span> </span>Our Gaudí art lessons continued with a trip to Casa Batllo which was only a few blocks from our AirBnB. To say that Casa Batllo surprised us with its beauty is an understatement. My 11 yo and family artist was so inspired that she bought a notebook from the gift shop and started</span></span> drawing as soon as we left the museum. To be honest, all of the chatter on Gaudí’s work were loudest on Sagrada Familia and Park Guell that we did not have much expectations about Casa Batllo. Being in Casa Batllo makes grown-ups feel like kids again, one living a fairytale. It is dreamlike. The outside has bone-like facade, which reminds me of the mask of the phantom of the opera somehow, and the rooftop, which you can go up to, showcases what looks like the sinuous iridescent scaled spine of a dragon, but beautiful and not scary, bright not dark. As such, Casa Batllo was given the nicknames Casa del Drac (house of the dragon) and Casa dels Ossos (house of bones). The house was designed with St. George and the Dragon story in mind, which is very much embedded in Barcelona culture. According to the legend, the dragon terrorized the people of Barcelona, and to calm it down, they fed a random person to the dragon every day. But when a princess was selected, a knight (St. George) in shining armor appeared and rescued the damsel, killing the dragon, which spilled red roses out of its body. The knight took one rose and gave it to the princess. Sigh…. This legend is actually celebrated in Barcelona every year on April 23. Gaudí didn’t believe in straight lines, which he believed is man made. Instead, nature offers beautiful curves, which he embraced in his art, featuring curves and swirls all over Casa Batllo including in art nouveau doors, windows, mushroom-shaped fireplace, chimney, and ceilings. There is a small center balcony from which tourists can take a picture, that’s i the shape of a rose, yep St. George’s rose. Aside from emitting macabre and medieval feels, Casa Batllo definitely gives a marine feel too, with its kaleidoscope of sea foam green, blue and white tiles. It soothes the soul. As you go down and exit via the staircase, the ceilings have hanging chains that is reminiscent of a knight’s chainmail. This brings you down to an immersive room where they show Gaudi art and colors. </span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq3TOCeUSl6qRc2LDtKfhUSQN6FPIa_gs_CfOuDK1j0x8O0ZCLQzKQRG8CMYgMjjpUGcPtURhbGr7yVrKyBBKRFuA4lDR7biPP6hgk3j2DVZyZK55MFJMkphPrt4cFaku25uBI8DlIQa7Gf4ImEasbreLAYAEzQBH1p-w680wv3pZeURJ5NIDZbhQ/s3520/IMG_4743.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq3TOCeUSl6qRc2LDtKfhUSQN6FPIa_gs_CfOuDK1j0x8O0ZCLQzKQRG8CMYgMjjpUGcPtURhbGr7yVrKyBBKRFuA4lDR7biPP6hgk3j2DVZyZK55MFJMkphPrt4cFaku25uBI8DlIQa7Gf4ImEasbreLAYAEzQBH1p-w680wv3pZeURJ5NIDZbhQ/w225-h400/IMG_4743.JPG" width="225" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHxbSCffukwSxgWTQfywG893QCP4-OUD9J3jhPx6K0D1C8t-El6jE9POE21mbkPGRbgEIJU6LLhPMLsG24wTeW4yFH4180UIkJn4oI02dtmmfV5fo6wwhitaKSUnhkwkltSgRJqneEhDO9fMrYUC5b6X03jQ2LRjibRXUuRN8ohiJ6usbgV5S5LXI/s4032/IMG_4727.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHxbSCffukwSxgWTQfywG893QCP4-OUD9J3jhPx6K0D1C8t-El6jE9POE21mbkPGRbgEIJU6LLhPMLsG24wTeW4yFH4180UIkJn4oI02dtmmfV5fo6wwhitaKSUnhkwkltSgRJqneEhDO9fMrYUC5b6X03jQ2LRjibRXUuRN8ohiJ6usbgV5S5LXI/w300-h400/IMG_4727.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR97TT55yXykBRRI1CrA-5dwYtAGibhN71N-dtc0_A9AO2azf90twlEVUxAuADU4Xg3NTPrTEDq9lG86bf9JMCMzeXmNm39aVSvPhNYFoXnZlD6QsGU2jV2LIYiIry6cE5Hp8ABMw9PRtSHjjNxC5ucXrxCXfW_xPamraH7uZ9tIJjNGsVY4jnvuE/s4032/IMG_4733.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR97TT55yXykBRRI1CrA-5dwYtAGibhN71N-dtc0_A9AO2azf90twlEVUxAuADU4Xg3NTPrTEDq9lG86bf9JMCMzeXmNm39aVSvPhNYFoXnZlD6QsGU2jV2LIYiIry6cE5Hp8ABMw9PRtSHjjNxC5ucXrxCXfW_xPamraH7uZ9tIJjNGsVY4jnvuE/w640-h480/IMG_4733.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ljVC5WeGY4YCCWi5d7H45hleZ6W7F6Zq7uKhi6VxYj67YpMxebUBE9ZO7d9Ea1QhTFNgChT1_1p2Vn0xvEL1dXi4ZPliBfQEf96pgml0qeWFB4cCSwfvluRR5Gcu885vkbH1kW-7zmS0PMqByVp67jDS2nThB-4VV1Lf9eYfAfxlF4oLOHFYrSaq/s4032/IMG_4761.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ljVC5WeGY4YCCWi5d7H45hleZ6W7F6Zq7uKhi6VxYj67YpMxebUBE9ZO7d9Ea1QhTFNgChT1_1p2Vn0xvEL1dXi4ZPliBfQEf96pgml0qeWFB4cCSwfvluRR5Gcu885vkbH1kW-7zmS0PMqByVp67jDS2nThB-4VV1Lf9eYfAfxlF4oLOHFYrSaq/s320/IMG_4761.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoW3syMZtkbOWAK_6HcbRPZln44xAvRS-f0cqHUY7yBqutaaqxXPN6CKl1ODfa5NGp3Vtbz69-9n4QQOjCWIM4Ggx3GYDcNg-g_WGEZcQNuuvdBssb55sLFdLQ9x_THQs0RZD7PSolfQeIYLGBkhiNpgGbejTvG6LqFv-jscoWClQKUQsjgBt5uiD/s4032/IMG_4777.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoW3syMZtkbOWAK_6HcbRPZln44xAvRS-f0cqHUY7yBqutaaqxXPN6CKl1ODfa5NGp3Vtbz69-9n4QQOjCWIM4Ggx3GYDcNg-g_WGEZcQNuuvdBssb55sLFdLQ9x_THQs0RZD7PSolfQeIYLGBkhiNpgGbejTvG6LqFv-jscoWClQKUQsjgBt5uiD/s320/IMG_4777.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> After Casa Batllo, we could not wait to check out La Pedrera, also known as Casa Mila. And…I have to admit that it was a let-down after seeing Batllo. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Or perhaps we should have seen Casa Mila first. Still, the apartment building has its own charm, evocative of sea life, with waves and corals on the ocean landscape. Perhaps my favorite part is the attic, with curved brick ceilings that makes you feel like you’re inside the belly of a whale. Second favorite is the rooftop, which features “warrior” chimneys that resemble storm troopers from Star Wars. </span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> Finally, we saved the most talked about Gaudi masterpiece for last, the La Sagrada Familia. We pre-booked the tour, and took the metro train from Paseo de Gracia. You can get the train tickets in the metro station machines, which accepts all major credit cards as well as cash. If you’re a family of 4 and want a round trip to SF, you can get the Familiar ticket, which allows 8 journeys. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> <span> <span> </span></span></span>La Sagrada Familia is grand, and unfinished. The church has been under construction since 1886 and was scheduled to be finished in 2026, which is the 100th death anniversary of Gaudi, but the pandemic screwed those plans. Gaudi was fully aware that it will not be completed in his lifetime, and had the foresight to leave detailed plans to guide the completion. It is a stunning work of art, and a must-see regardless of your religion. I’ve seen many churches in my lifetime, and this is perhaps the most iconic one I’ve seen inside and outside. The church has three facades with different themes: the birth of Christ, the passion, and the glory. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><p></p><p><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMLBRl50P1v3DEWM_on34E-yjAL2v-rf-aeAUJg9OK35prcZ08sPxDO7yvylwYQFP6SmCx5TEQ9AWG3XSLwLNcUg01DyDDmDTBstVfW2qRfW5fTSgJ9Vb9f-dG6KB55b4xt6BzS2u3nxzSsN0nXJLvg7kl6-Dz02qaMU7RTyRkgaWOl439Xg9Yarh/s3578/IMG_4808.JPG" style="background-color: black; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3578" data-original-width="2507" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMLBRl50P1v3DEWM_on34E-yjAL2v-rf-aeAUJg9OK35prcZ08sPxDO7yvylwYQFP6SmCx5TEQ9AWG3XSLwLNcUg01DyDDmDTBstVfW2qRfW5fTSgJ9Vb9f-dG6KB55b4xt6BzS2u3nxzSsN0nXJLvg7kl6-Dz02qaMU7RTyRkgaWOl439Xg9Yarh/w448-h640/IMG_4808.JPG" width="448" /></a></span></span></span></div><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>As impressive as the depictions of the story of Christ, what really caught my eyes were the fruit on top of the spires. I mean… what’s up with those fruit? I knew that Gaudi was very much into nature, but my kids and I were scratching our heads because they are whimsical for a church. So, of course, I had to research it. As it turned out, Gaudi used various plants to create a garden surrounding the tower dedicated to Mary, and at the pinnacle are baskets of the fruit of these plants as offering. The fruit includes dates, olives, grapes, apples etc. which are organized by seasons and symbolically represents fruit of good deeds. <span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBGKCv7-Wfp-mF8JaKm6VHFlvsiACk6ve4YJucZpbQcr-xAjcDbzDDZNoKbWrgZemxxCVKIg1lA7P7_T7SYpRwpU3PjYT5WfodzMnzcK0XGSzOlnKdhsXtuTqjMgMIRb7DKL59prz2_9iyjHHDiIPwJe2DTgnPimf52pgJpT91LS76qSWbkT_u6m7/s4032/IMG_4837.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBGKCv7-Wfp-mF8JaKm6VHFlvsiACk6ve4YJucZpbQcr-xAjcDbzDDZNoKbWrgZemxxCVKIg1lA7P7_T7SYpRwpU3PjYT5WfodzMnzcK0XGSzOlnKdhsXtuTqjMgMIRb7DKL59prz2_9iyjHHDiIPwJe2DTgnPimf52pgJpT91LS76qSWbkT_u6m7/w150-h200/IMG_4837.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">holy water fonts are giant clam shells from the Philippines</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span><p></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The exterior is awe-inspiring, but visitors would be remiss not to go inside the church. In all honesty, I find the exterior quite busy, and I like the interior so much more with its nature theme reminiscent of a scene in Miyazaki’s movie Nausicaa and the valley of the wind which had the forest that becomes petrified as the trees absorbed the toxic elements in the air. Inside the Sagrada Familia, there are columns made of different stones that stretches high up and spreads like trees. The overall effect is a forest made of stone pillars, and the canopy is the ceiling of the church. I love that Miyazaki’s and Gaudi’s arts intersect at the commonality of their love of the natural environment. The windows have stained glass of different colors which shows how much Gaudi loved playing with lights and colors, especially with the sunlight shining through the the stained glass. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10cveDhbHeoVExraFFjFvFpBFh9CZiM2NzQiMv2cXg8hBFEK51DS5XVvm6hoajNJToaiKC5S12fi5bJSniB6Jj0pmioj3ynayu7rqWk8Gg_9YqHXYW34ZOtyxb9lZEFq0BspVZkOAGY36qbGrdqGVg7JXm9iuVFmCcw2kWtebef4xeRAYVxHmxCC/s4032/IMG_4816.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10cveDhbHeoVExraFFjFvFpBFh9CZiM2NzQiMv2cXg8hBFEK51DS5XVvm6hoajNJToaiKC5S12fi5bJSniB6Jj0pmioj3ynayu7rqWk8Gg_9YqHXYW34ZOtyxb9lZEFq0BspVZkOAGY36qbGrdqGVg7JXm9iuVFmCcw2kWtebef4xeRAYVxHmxCC/w480-h640/IMG_4816.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmQ9EGpGKLP_TBMWmlApk6-hx6sGbJn3-TX8j9nAUzbNgfmt_nsgf3OwJxejDtYNaRuLEcYulzhaYZcPbVJ6J7zWP1snIFpE0Ic3hDW9wK7I0BHN5aZuV0vK_VanedOOM2SY6l0TD9JbbdRzJdTddajQqZFIhFrhuyqbSddVanJGOI_BedyIf_2Rl/s4032/IMG_4878.JPG" style="background-color: black; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmQ9EGpGKLP_TBMWmlApk6-hx6sGbJn3-TX8j9nAUzbNgfmt_nsgf3OwJxejDtYNaRuLEcYulzhaYZcPbVJ6J7zWP1snIFpE0Ic3hDW9wK7I0BHN5aZuV0vK_VanedOOM2SY6l0TD9JbbdRzJdTddajQqZFIhFrhuyqbSddVanJGOI_BedyIf_2Rl/s320/IMG_4878.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></span></div><p></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span> <span> After a long day of art, we thought we’d do one last art museum but this time featuring the edible kind! Off we went to the Museo de la Xocolata. You know it’ll be a good when they hand you your ticket in the form of a chocolate. The museum isn’t big, but the chocolate sculptures had great variety from Greek statue to pop culture. At the end of the tour, we sat down for, what else? Hot chocolate! And this is the kind that you really need a spoon to enjoy. Note to visitors: get the small size. Believe me, it’s sufficient. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #b6d7a8; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJgomSv9BLrS9rrVDENDEku9rzVAgY0-5Qy4a6FzmFiRxziXUIcocr6O1XV-ALusWesS4i95OVujQQFhdPvMQ9IFYbSxZ8khRrcPsjNJEspe1EguQTT2oOtlBc-3BBqF6hTmZGrQoDYkFRdcZL5gyxDPU8y0vcin_tDR4xsSnd4_3736UDrwiDnT9/s4032/IMG_4873.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJgomSv9BLrS9rrVDENDEku9rzVAgY0-5Qy4a6FzmFiRxziXUIcocr6O1XV-ALusWesS4i95OVujQQFhdPvMQ9IFYbSxZ8khRrcPsjNJEspe1EguQTT2oOtlBc-3BBqF6hTmZGrQoDYkFRdcZL5gyxDPU8y0vcin_tDR4xsSnd4_3736UDrwiDnT9/w400-h300/IMG_4873.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">St. George, the princess, and the dragon in chocolate</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #01ffff;">Day 4: We swayed to the wave and the music - Picasso Museum, the beach, the market, and amazing Flamenco</span></b><br /><br /><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Alas! So many museums and so little time. We started our day with Museo Picasso. While you can do a guided tour of the museum</span></span></span></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21AZxIJWwAOdxyfYD4CuDljqYuFUr3nE7xUU-bjOAS47oVXUG_bSJItCw-2Nky1UPpPQ6buLgY83Gre4RAdgQmz5BNEuuzulumI051Pmm4UehPn59kmHTbvkrkXuUv52oKw2jzL7NH265v8OI1QP7CUYPz58n1sdQIJl2I77cVKStFimVTArrm7Ke/s4032/IMG_4921.JPG" style="background-color: black; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21AZxIJWwAOdxyfYD4CuDljqYuFUr3nE7xUU-bjOAS47oVXUG_bSJItCw-2Nky1UPpPQ6buLgY83Gre4RAdgQmz5BNEuuzulumI051Pmm4UehPn59kmHTbvkrkXuUv52oKw2jzL7NH265v8OI1QP7CUYPz58n1sdQIJl2I77cVKStFimVTArrm7Ke/w300-h400/IMG_4921.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> through Go City, we decided to do this one on our own. I must admit that I’m not a huge Picasso fan, perhaps because I don’t get his cubism style of art. Still, Picasso had some non-surrealist and non-cubist art that I appreciated. There were two pieces that spoke to me at the museum. The first is Picasso’s expressionistic painting of Gored Horse, which showed a dying horse with his head strained upwards and limbs splayed at impossibly awkward positions. It is violent, evoking the feeling of agony of the horse gored by a bull. The second piece is one of Picasso’s wife Jacqueline, looking over her shoulder.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyH-SkDq8shA2AEMaRwKMsthPI7wcS5fOD9SDFIBqgJ14yzsgNKaxBdAE8f1IXjhDW-zJC93SX3S1dnWEgxlzrzP8Ismzu7XX-b2mmqWQiEJUW3vnU4XZFyFw0-y-QVYfbVuPcc6bFi7pWKlBrG47U4JfNJgZXwq5Nk-bxzE7_PiLGzN0hIL6Duk/s4032/IMG_4919.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyH-SkDq8shA2AEMaRwKMsthPI7wcS5fOD9SDFIBqgJ14yzsgNKaxBdAE8f1IXjhDW-zJC93SX3S1dnWEgxlzrzP8Ismzu7XX-b2mmqWQiEJUW3vnU4XZFyFw0-y-QVYfbVuPcc6bFi7pWKlBrG47U4JfNJgZXwq5Nk-bxzE7_PiLGzN0hIL6Duk/w480-h640/IMG_4919.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR27DMzMxBM2VFnhTR83LhqypcPLBzrEx-Ic2e4zZR_TS3Ix2-09nSqLDVy420rEDnjpw9R6t2uMlHA3YNT14Ppp8tWnTPWzZSgsDluAACuGvXvpNNHDqKM09cefCqgf9q8IffLVFcj4wLIoivDay7qnxtVS5RDlwT_c4Umqr18RPyooZtp09DyFE-/s3520/IMG_5051.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></a></div></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t3FH38qBDZIYuASMkc1ywyPflTKwby1xArGkradHgFV5CFx6IoqgcV5nhqgP2Q0WG3QYfjtROL2jXLBBWE-v_olcYL25blt6gUbL9n6aZbitmH6By6jLSDneVbLkM3hvxdMn_1Rl8bfmfI8wCN8s6717I1QYyt0uo3LAGH7199b6yJP3rNXxNvii/s4032/IMG_4956.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t3FH38qBDZIYuASMkc1ywyPflTKwby1xArGkradHgFV5CFx6IoqgcV5nhqgP2Q0WG3QYfjtROL2jXLBBWE-v_olcYL25blt6gUbL9n6aZbitmH6By6jLSDneVbLkM3hvxdMn_1Rl8bfmfI8wCN8s6717I1QYyt0uo3LAGH7199b6yJP3rNXxNvii/w300-h400/IMG_4956.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>After Picasso, the kids were feeling “museumed out” (Gasp! I know!), so we headed to barceloneta to check out the beaches. We passed by a xurros (churros) store and Maya ordered some three churros for us with chocolate for dipping. Well, “three churros” at this place is actually three bags with about 6 fresh and hot churros each. I’m not complaining! It’s THE BEST churros we’ve had in our life, and definitely put the Costco churros to shame. Thinking about it now makes my mouth water. With churros and dipping sauce in hand, we managed to make our way to Nova Icaria beach, which was beautiful! And cold. We dipped our toes in the Mediterranean Sea, but it was too cold for any swimming. Then we took the bus back to the old city and meandered in the stores, Mercado de la Bouqueria, which is the main market in the city, spotted Gaudi’s lamp post in Plaza Reial, and the site of the old synagogue in El Call. After that, we grabbed a quick bite and headed to our Flamenco show at Tarantos. Tip for this one: arrive early, around 20-30 mins before the show to get amazing seats. I read this tip somewhere and took it to heart, so we were able to nab front row seats to my kids’ delight. The show itself was ridiculously good. The group of four female were all so talented, the guitar player, the singer, and the two dancers. They sang/danced/played so emphatically that even the kids can’t help but feel the emotion.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GBRDLL3AKICOEQ6UGb9cZKf1hIr-Fxtm8Egz-ly0oeggNdFFBs7rABtZfXhOE6NRDH7j3Hamzxd6xRJlhYK8OdtGoCD27CXqjydQNIHXyiD_uhONWlyZ4IQ-UHxHP2_QWyg91NYoQYTedO37W10l3Cub9dfzR8wxDcWzFXyS3ugvCMqRKlOkJe3i/s4032/IMG_4964.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GBRDLL3AKICOEQ6UGb9cZKf1hIr-Fxtm8Egz-ly0oeggNdFFBs7rABtZfXhOE6NRDH7j3Hamzxd6xRJlhYK8OdtGoCD27CXqjydQNIHXyiD_uhONWlyZ4IQ-UHxHP2_QWyg91NYoQYTedO37W10l3Cub9dfzR8wxDcWzFXyS3ugvCMqRKlOkJe3i/s320/IMG_4964.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fff2cc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Jamon Iberico everywhere!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR27DMzMxBM2VFnhTR83LhqypcPLBzrEx-Ic2e4zZR_TS3Ix2-09nSqLDVy420rEDnjpw9R6t2uMlHA3YNT14Ppp8tWnTPWzZSgsDluAACuGvXvpNNHDqKM09cefCqgf9q8IffLVFcj4wLIoivDay7qnxtVS5RDlwT_c4Umqr18RPyooZtp09DyFE-/w225-h400/IMG_5051.JPG" width="225" /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #01ffff; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Day 5: We leave a piece of our hearts in Barcelona - Montjuic and Mosaicos</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeu83ZYZTkVPV1q6Y1X0U1PlY79NOChVvF4qx4DfP4gAMyoFk4tVtRGkQKz-lUoqT0tZTKPb3fTXhcDKzkD8P9wwJEYrqPMcACzGoouS760nKpS9OJyG_rl5rILcQ1bSj6zVtD3jopo4_bxuAQfV7yeN08vX5XOpwXTK1849_JbgL-S_49ydYUF9h/s4032/IMG_5135.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeu83ZYZTkVPV1q6Y1X0U1PlY79NOChVvF4qx4DfP4gAMyoFk4tVtRGkQKz-lUoqT0tZTKPb3fTXhcDKzkD8P9wwJEYrqPMcACzGoouS760nKpS9OJyG_rl5rILcQ1bSj6zVtD3jopo4_bxuAQfV7yeN08vX5XOpwXTK1849_JbgL-S_49ydYUF9h/s320/IMG_5135.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" 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/AVvXsEjCstItA1dcfa3SUr7zh0jcmWswSIKJAiMN9OJyDuAVFd6TVvadfq7jetIOqSoU5HMs6q3IImxMM-NPGo8AkWXEV79M71fQdNfi5IwE7xJKOGJ8myoSKMiYhb76tokBIrDQHKcOQZhO-jon164qEHqJ9z6yEKf-SpSLmaw75s9z8zqIrBgKgHiDaEvE/s3520/IMG_5177.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCstItA1dcfa3SUr7zh0jcmWswSIKJAiMN9OJyDuAVFd6TVvadfq7jetIOqSoU5HMs6q3IImxMM-NPGo8AkWXEV79M71fQdNfi5IwE7xJKOGJ8myoSKMiYhb76tokBIrDQHKcOQZhO-jon164qEHqJ9z6yEKf-SpSLmaw75s9z8zqIrBgKgHiDaEvE/w225-h400/IMG_5177.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why hike down or take the stairs when you can slide?</td></tr></tbody></table><span> <span> <span> This is our last day in Barcelona, and the kids (and adult) are grumbling and can’t believe we have to leave this beautiful city already. But before we leave, we checked out Montjuic, which translates from Catalan as the Jewish mountain because it was the Jewish cemetery during medieval times. Sadly, there’s really no signs of the cemetery now.</span></span></span> It’s also hard to believe that there was once an amusement park up on top of this mountain, which closed in 1998. It was interesting to read too that the Philippine National hero, Jose Rizal, was once imprisoned in the dungeons of Montjuic. Talk about my worlds colliding! There’s no signs of it now too. Nevertheless, the Montjuic castle is an impressive structure, and gives a great view of the bustling city and coast below. You can reach it by bus, cable car, or even walking. The kids were really looking forward to riding the cable car, but of course, it was undergoing some testing and repair while we were there. Oh well, Bus 150 brought us all the way to the top by the castle, and we decided to walk all the way down. And that was a good thing too! It was lunch time when we made it down from the mountain to the streets of El Poblé-sec, which I didn’t realize was the Tapas route until later in the day. We simply walked in one of the restaurants whose menu looked good, La Platilleria, and WOAH! This is were the enlightenment happened. We’ve found The Best place for patatas bravas, chicken chimichurri, etc. Their tapas put the tapas at La Rambla places to shame. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>After a wonderful lunch, we made our way to <a href="https://mosaiccos.com/">Mosaicos </a>for a family activity. We made our own trecandis souvenirs. Angelica, the owner, and her staff were super helpful with cutting the tiles for the kids. We really enjoyed making the trecandis and it brought out our inner Gaudis! In fact, if you ask the kids which is their most favorite thing we did in Barcelona, this one ranks pretty high on their list. It was a great way to end our Barcelona adventure. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="3024" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzBOQ0NWr2P7CItkWEVU4LtTnEopWR-YsKmMYfaxuRJyYEqvhanEvvgZSCADvQ2NooxuRUjVdoRuRdD7bYWsFIKc-LrbRTtjHlp1CJBFvjgNvcKTveDVARLDs9_L10rCvCHvNuysq7IlSfwX7j6cxgBVpVfrtpxqYUBn_C6GujYLg9y3_vBLVY7wE/w400-h368/IMG_5194.JPG" width="400" /></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6H2FfwrO4KTXok_Zq2zCfV-xDcpva3VZABFAp0fkJUMHXv40Cd-BpEE51ieRC6bLYOPP04un4GFdJEW5vBlyg7Ur8z85sunz51zDnKLBk0ll3afhi6ytq6xqC4I9aDEyN34DFXEAQfA17cmgdkSWANBNrBAqSmoenpwuWdSPfYql0r40FrbCHmdg/s4032/IMG_5720.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6H2FfwrO4KTXok_Zq2zCfV-xDcpva3VZABFAp0fkJUMHXv40Cd-BpEE51ieRC6bLYOPP04un4GFdJEW5vBlyg7Ur8z85sunz51zDnKLBk0ll3afhi6ytq6xqC4I9aDEyN34DFXEAQfA17cmgdkSWANBNrBAqSmoenpwuWdSPfYql0r40FrbCHmdg/s320/IMG_5720.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Next stop: Las Fallas Festival in Valencia! </b></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i><b><u>But first some more tips:</u></b></i></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- It helps a lot if you know some Spanish! And Barcelona speaks Catalan, which has some differences from the Spanish most people learn in school in America. If you are Filipino like me, a lot of tagalog words will go a long way... like when we were buying "medyas"!</i></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i></i></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKiYHvm43EnvKCDVcr-DdJtjNXf7uJmfgP2FLiPHhOo53lNzbmEZFwUxJykcCOD3VTKXq-5gkhdv34aKSfP9ETP6dFMiz2umgmBKV0jZQKNXB5g5Vw0VQwW-7BpyyQQuLSOLF7yxGX7DW6GWV40Q7Emu0vYln97QoNyIby5km2wr_zL5BvOsbz20x/s4032/IMG_5731.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKiYHvm43EnvKCDVcr-DdJtjNXf7uJmfgP2FLiPHhOo53lNzbmEZFwUxJykcCOD3VTKXq-5gkhdv34aKSfP9ETP6dFMiz2umgmBKV0jZQKNXB5g5Vw0VQwW-7BpyyQQuLSOLF7yxGX7DW6GWV40Q7Emu0vYln97QoNyIby5km2wr_zL5BvOsbz20x/s320/IMG_5731.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></span></span></span></div><span><span><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- We heard so much about the pickpockets in Barcelona, so we all wore moneybelts that we strapped under our sweaters. We kept copies of passports, address of embassies in Valencia and Barcelona, vaccine cards, etc. </i></span></span></span><p></p><p><i><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><span><span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: helvetica;">- Going in March is great because there are less tourist, but the drawback i</span></span></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: helvetica;">s you won't get to enjoy the beach. </span></span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- Go to the area of Carrer de Bias for Tapas, not in La Rambla</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- No need to rent a car, the buses and metro run pretty smoothly and on schedule</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- Real talk: having seen many aquariums, I thought the aquarium in Barcelona was ok, but not the best. Still, my kids (and I think every kid) enjoyed the visit, and especially the axolotls, which seem to be their current obsession these days. </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: black; color: #d9d2e9; font-family: helvetica;"><i>- Schedule your tours or buy your tickets online in advance if you can, some places get booked pretty quickly (e.g. Sagrada Familia). If you’re visiting a lot of places, consider the All Inclusive Go-City Pass - and no, I don’t get any $ from them. We just really thought it was a good deal. :)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(182, 215, 168); color: #d9d2e9;"><i>- if you have more time than we did, check out Mt. Tibidabo, an amusement park on top of a mountain. It was on limited hours so we missed out.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(182, 215, 168); color: #d9d2e9;"><i>- Other places to check out, which we didn’t get to: see a show at the Palau de la Música Catalana, check out the Barcelona stadium (if you’re into soccer, which we are not), and the site of the Olympics.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(182, 215, 168); color: #d9d2e9;"><i>- Whatever you do, have fun, make memories and enjoy the rich Spanish culture!</i></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-21379794796707017682021-11-25T00:30:00.006-05:002021-11-25T07:50:10.311-05:00Truly giving thanks<p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">In the spirit of the holiday, let me share this picture, and a personal story. </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">This was my weekly view from the comforts of my room during my infusion sessions at the cancer center.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAyW3NP43bXsrErcvZcbdt0UWqvXydxsZMMBQkyHexjWNGhG6Xu7VIPd2DPEw5zDO-m-DzM-zCuU4G3ZPswCNrKXbq7iTwGEmO9VNH3uQuayR07k5YS5htfvKMj0q7tNmsjQpo23G5xE/s1569/7CBEB0DB-7136-403F-813F-1454472305B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1569" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAyW3NP43bXsrErcvZcbdt0UWqvXydxsZMMBQkyHexjWNGhG6Xu7VIPd2DPEw5zDO-m-DzM-zCuU4G3ZPswCNrKXbq7iTwGEmO9VNH3uQuayR07k5YS5htfvKMj0q7tNmsjQpo23G5xE/w400-h268/7CBEB0DB-7136-403F-813F-1454472305B3.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">I realize that it’s been nearly 3 years since I last logged an entry. So many things have happened since. So many holidays has rolled by. I changed jobs, the kids got bigger, and I’ve completed the big C triathlon: surgery, chemo and radiation. Oh, with an extra kidney surgery too. And another Oh, during the seemingly everlasting pandemic, no less. So, if you think that 2020 and 2021 really sucked, I say, no kidding, man! </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">This Thanksgiving, I truly have much to be grateful for. I admit it’s been rough undergoing multiple surgeries and treatments with no one to hold your hand when they wheel you in to the operating room. And it’s even worse waking up disoriented, nauseous, and alone. BUT, in spite of it all, I am here. I am alive and able to be with my family. For that, I am most grateful. </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Because cancer is not one individual alone’s story, I’m thankful that my family went on living life as normal as possible while we went through with it. Sure, my kids were worried when I first shared the diagnosis. But they reconciled with the hand we were dealt with, got over the sadness, and we all laughed and shared bald jokes at my expense, with my blessings of course. We made it a family affair to cut my hair, braiding them first for donation, then hubby shaved it off. Kids are amazingly resilient. My devoted husband solely took care of me when the rest of our family couldn’t come to help, because, oh you know, pandemic + being immunocompromised don’t really go together. So, we stayed hunkered down as safely as we could until I could get vaccinated. And even then, because we weren’t sure how effective the vaccine worked on me while I was undergoing chemo, we continued to practice the utmost safety measures. </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">My parents and sister worried, and sent support and meals to help out. We were truly grateful for those because it meant Eric can take a break, and just sit down and we can eat meals together. Only a handful of people knew about what I was going through, our closest friends and family, and they checked in and sent me messages, delicious goods, and cancer care kits. It felt wonderful to be “hugged” by them in spite of the distance and the pandemic. But while our support system were not physically with us, I had plenty of cheerleaders in my nurses at the cancer center. I will remember them all and the moments they took care of me. They celebrated the milestones, and told me plenty of stories. My life has been immeasurably enriched by them. And of course, the critters! Turkeys, deer, bunnies, and acrobatic squirrels graced my window and provided a ton of entertainment while I was intoxicated with Benadryl during infusions. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJBavCcb3P-3iUPzcH1vnwFqwR6gUNBLFuglouZ9icaJ4SeqV7xwhNr3QGhU5vc73RP5XfIRXZMXXILe4jH4YCu9pb0xN2hmt2Cc9XZJRk_sIsfw95rAks1eO5z4cNN5STUlpQgFtExo/s1080/461D9289-2608-4330-9343-F9F3AA1FAFA8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJBavCcb3P-3iUPzcH1vnwFqwR6gUNBLFuglouZ9icaJ4SeqV7xwhNr3QGhU5vc73RP5XfIRXZMXXILe4jH4YCu9pb0xN2hmt2Cc9XZJRk_sIsfw95rAks1eO5z4cNN5STUlpQgFtExo/w300-h400/461D9289-2608-4330-9343-F9F3AA1FAFA8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Why did I choose to not share sooner? You see, it’s not really about keeping it a secret, as if there is shame in getting ill with cancer. There is none. I didn’t share it because I didn’t know how, and I didn’t want to constantly think about it. I was overwhelmed, and I want to stay in my little shell where it is safe, and where I can choose to not talk about it when I’m feeling particularly ill. There’s a reason why they call the A/C chemo treatment “The Red Devil”. It’s red, and it makes you feel like…. You get the drift. Some days, even getting up from bed or going down the stairs was a task. In many ways, I was happy when my husband took the kids out for a hike, or when the kids bickered at each other like usual, or on when I baked Challah on Fridays, or pushed through work while undergoing chemo. The routine and the normalcy kept me going, kept me from plunging in depressing thoughts. Instead, there was mostly the feeling of gratitude - to have a family, to have the medicine and treatments available, and the wherewithal to get them. It’s not that I forgot the neuropathy, or that I had no eyebrows or the bloatedness from the steroids. But somehow, by not dwelling on the challenges and weariness, I felt a sense that everything would be ok. I get that people deal with things differently, and I made peace that this was my way of coping. </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Why do I share it now? Now that I’ve crossed the triathlon finish line, I realize that there’s NO knowing if someone is going through something major, especially during these times. Like me, others may be silent about their battles, and quietly struggle with pain, lack of energy, loneliness. So this is my megaphone: If life is challenging you right now, it’s ok to not share until you’re ready. But if you need someone to talk to, I am here. I will hear you. If you are going through cancer, I am happy to be a resource. </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Cancer is truly a transformative experience. After going through cancer, it’s so easy to wonder how many more holidays I’d be granted with my family. But I will not dwell on that, and neither should you. Instead, allow yourself to laugh out the loudest at the dinner table if you want to, or have that extra slice of pie, a glass of wine or two or three!</span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Today, I will celebrate the people and the memories that mean much to me, for these are what made me push through and kept me moving in the face of a difficult challenge. Tomorrow, after recovering from food coma like everyone else, I will be rolling out of bed and going to my oncologist appointment. Still with grace and gratitude, for a holiday well spent with family. </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Let the frantic cooking begin! </span></p><p><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: helvetica;">Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!</span></p>Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-27406401178877773042018-12-28T23:11:00.000-05:002019-01-02T11:52:32.990-05:00Sydney: Bird is the word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water taxi at the Darling harbour</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ckW_CDwmgV8xUw08ge-LkOGbiIpsn0icp4yyS_bz5WfewY3gsKpUkBAeHnj58VOZYNrpX9_3uyjvI_n2D1sodkgfMKKF80lUJMwi5qyWH9ueexac4V2F2Orcg97m1Caz5HVJFz1XodU/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b><i>Australia </i></b></span>is a relatively young country, unknown to the western world until the late 1700s, and only becoming an independent nation in 1901. So, if you're looking for a surfeit of historic sites and castles, you won't really find it here. However, this isn't to say that the country hasn't been inhabited by indigenous folks before it became a nation. In fact, Australia is said to be the world's oldest landmass. Thanks to my Uber driver during rush hour Sydney traffic, I learned the abbreviated history and the political issues surrounding the Australian aboriginal people. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>The Pecking Order</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd5yaBDwIJZnqcfGSKiCI6ZRACLZTHtiukftgHFBh28UCwm8prp2DrV8BCRQWJ0R3Lk-GL3WsiaGp5UOEH-3zHirnXBtQzNX754bwX-36DDzCNT4rdAI5wIXBEAA_uWQ-LC2VXGvQ190/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd5yaBDwIJZnqcfGSKiCI6ZRACLZTHtiukftgHFBh28UCwm8prp2DrV8BCRQWJ0R3Lk-GL3WsiaGp5UOEH-3zHirnXBtQzNX754bwX-36DDzCNT4rdAI5wIXBEAA_uWQ-LC2VXGvQ190/s640/IMG_1721.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Main quadrangle at University of Sydney</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAm8j5QJRPU5ibbMS1pnL9YKOB9JWqymqdx6nzuZ9GJT1Am3wSyHyeOGIfT5QQmvEnLb2HBdANXVdsRChML96VkOYNscs1ROXt5tbfb8rttNnchKg08ZNl-6_ce0xywIjLFMEwa_xJBQ/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1145" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAm8j5QJRPU5ibbMS1pnL9YKOB9JWqymqdx6nzuZ9GJT1Am3wSyHyeOGIfT5QQmvEnLb2HBdANXVdsRChML96VkOYNscs1ROXt5tbfb8rttNnchKg08ZNl-6_ce0xywIjLFMEwa_xJBQ/s320/IMG_1740.JPG" width="228" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAm8j5QJRPU5ibbMS1pnL9YKOB9JWqymqdx6nzuZ9GJT1Am3wSyHyeOGIfT5QQmvEnLb2HBdANXVdsRChML96VkOYNscs1ROXt5tbfb8rttNnchKg08ZNl-6_ce0xywIjLFMEwa_xJBQ/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAm8j5QJRPU5ibbMS1pnL9YKOB9JWqymqdx6nzuZ9GJT1Am3wSyHyeOGIfT5QQmvEnLb2HBdANXVdsRChML96VkOYNscs1ROXt5tbfb8rttNnchKg08ZNl-6_ce0xywIjLFMEwa_xJBQ/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some of my meetings were at the Australian universities, and <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/"><span style="color: lime;">University of Sydney</span></a>'s New South Wales campus wowed me. It's the oldest University in the country, and the buildings are made primarily of sandstones. The grounds have sitting areas scattered everywhere - people friendly and animal friendly too! I especially enjoyed the roaming ibis with their unique downcurved bill. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I enjoyed the most in Sydney is the different street fauna. Walking around the city and seeing all these new animals for the first time reminded me of the first time I saw squirrels in California when I first arrived in the United States. Then the raccoons in Florida during night time. I didn't care that they were ransacking the garbage cans! They were adorable... from afar! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A runner I met in Melbourne gave me a Sydney tip - if you want a good view of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour bridge, take the walk along the <a href="https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/"><span style="color: lime;">Royal Botanic Gardens</span> </a>to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs_Macquarie%27s_Chair"><span style="color: lime;">Mrs. MacQuarie's Chair point</span></a>. Boy, was he right! The eucalyptus trees' scent filled the air, the squawking Cockatoos kept me company during my walk. I couldn't believe how common these sulphur-crested Cockatoos were. I didn't even need my binoculars as they were just a few feet above me. And these weren't the only crested birds I saw. The crested pigeons I nicknamed "rockstar pigeons". </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXQXp4AyrePIOPcNl2bmIKiHlYKcSeQignBpsE97HGvTbesQr8iKUALIQwUK45Mr16rRP6ough32A-UK_bKtR0-AV6xfrGCVM36XHfHm-fI5soLbLNg_VTlTGS7EhsG5B_jOweWeKcmU/s1600/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXQXp4AyrePIOPcNl2bmIKiHlYKcSeQignBpsE97HGvTbesQr8iKUALIQwUK45Mr16rRP6ough32A-UK_bKtR0-AV6xfrGCVM36XHfHm-fI5soLbLNg_VTlTGS7EhsG5B_jOweWeKcmU/s320/IMG_1836.JPG" width="254" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Rockstar" pigeon</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_YHIOEJle_rsKJnsRqDymEX6liYGWJamWe_Mp0WlA3Z5ve8vYcvrPBMtym7OGR5eu7fhpivuIxll1KN8ZEN2rYQ6RMWQ6IsBKcHpqdwE4CQc2sXMrerpXeZa8BdynAH0ljFKSt1bej4/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_YHIOEJle_rsKJnsRqDymEX6liYGWJamWe_Mp0WlA3Z5ve8vYcvrPBMtym7OGR5eu7fhpivuIxll1KN8ZEN2rYQ6RMWQ6IsBKcHpqdwE4CQc2sXMrerpXeZa8BdynAH0ljFKSt1bej4/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cuckatoos</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But of course, nothing screams Sydney than the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/australia-culture-blog/gallery/2013/oct/18/sydney-opera-house-in-pictures"><span style="color: lime;">picturesque Opera house</span></a>, with more than 8 million people visiting to see it each year. That's insane! I was trying to figure out what the structure reminded me of - wings... lobster claws... my husband's scary guitar nails for finger picking... It turns out I was partly right, the Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, who won the design competition was inspired by nature in general - bird wings, clouds, walnuts, palm trees, shells. I can't see all of those, but I was never good with that ink blot test either. Anyway, the <a href="http://www.technologystudent.com/prddes_2/nature1.html"><span style="color: lime;">shells design</span></a> was inspired by peeling an orange back. Oh-kay. I'll take it. By the way, while you can't really get a bad view of the Opera house, but for another great shot, take a ferry ride. My sister-in-law and I took a ferry to Watson's bay, and it was a short, fun ride! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtqez2_SfzWJtSrRGWo7wM02Ts4HJ_DkvTfmpB3bvWsGL6K8hCdwrGoWbDhAgR2zaHfSCn8NrSvigJxqRFDRSyhE96xQjjK5E_e0ONDg9fsA5ZyEfkfPOa06AC_6NloGvQnu8PYg5xAc/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtqez2_SfzWJtSrRGWo7wM02Ts4HJ_DkvTfmpB3bvWsGL6K8hCdwrGoWbDhAgR2zaHfSCn8NrSvigJxqRFDRSyhE96xQjjK5E_e0ONDg9fsA5ZyEfkfPOa06AC_6NloGvQnu8PYg5xAc/s640/IMG_1827.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How about a bridge climb for a bird's eye view of the Sydney Opera House?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitw67Og21-rMlqRM7T_Mo21Ge7KuAuU-S_SEePltcijj-4zfNe0aquwHRVwyDhZ3Sy_1jvDNu8h16LNYj21czI3kk0MKH2mez_hrhfpc2UFARIWc04FIPoEzkZNoy0aPQEt5Cws16kmL8/s1600/IMG_1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitw67Og21-rMlqRM7T_Mo21Ge7KuAuU-S_SEePltcijj-4zfNe0aquwHRVwyDhZ3Sy_1jvDNu8h16LNYj21czI3kk0MKH2mez_hrhfpc2UFARIWc04FIPoEzkZNoy0aPQEt5Cws16kmL8/s640/IMG_1879.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Where are all the birds??</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know what it was with birds and me on this trip, but I just saw birds everywhere in Sydney. Except when I didn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One place I purposely visited after a full day of meeting was the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/forgotten-songs-sound-sculpture"><span style="color: lime;">"Forgotten Songs"</span></a> Sculpture. The sculpture remember and mourns the calls of Sydney's lost birds, 50 of them, lost to Sydney's urbanization. I especially loved that this sound sculpture is tucked away above Angel Place between busy streets - should be easy to find, yet very easy to miss - it's location profound and makes you contemplate even more how the city's development is closing in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAcw1u1bT2SYJ6dlfcVVlP4Qy_XgJyV1sdAU3twDI4Eb7Q6n9oKByMHzE_qKFFt7BCr-oU-6WKCL5w4IyBXoBi745lxU_0K_gLjDymr0NC6GDqS-6ubuXwSMPOEHSLzxO08bPi1UDYzA/s1600/IMG_1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAcw1u1bT2SYJ6dlfcVVlP4Qy_XgJyV1sdAU3twDI4Eb7Q6n9oKByMHzE_qKFFt7BCr-oU-6WKCL5w4IyBXoBi745lxU_0K_gLjDymr0NC6GDqS-6ubuXwSMPOEHSLzxO08bPi1UDYzA/s400/IMG_1887.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, let's talk briefly about Sydney fashion. I have to say that if Melbourne reminded me of Philly, Sydney is just like mini-New York. The majority walked around the Central Business District (CBD) in dark colors and all shades of black. I felt like a sore thumb in my bright orange dress. In spite of proximity of the city to the beaches here, like Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye as my good friend corrected me), locals don't necessarily wear beach casuals like Californians do. <a href="https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/city-centre/attractions/the-strand-arcade"><span style="color: lime;">The Strand Arcade</span></a>, Sydney's shopping epicenter, carries local and international designer labels and specialty stores. </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>"Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem." - A. A. Milne</b></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">N</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ot knowing any better and short of time when I made my hotel booking, I was fortunate to pick a hotel somewhere between The Rocks and Darling harbour neighborhood. The wharf was 2 blocks down, leading to the lively darling harbour, where the Sydney zoo is located smack in the middle of shopping and tourism. For my last day in Sydney, I made a reservation for a Breakfast with Koalas at the </span><a href="https://www.wildlifesydney.com.au/explore/our-animals/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: lime;">Wild Life Sydney Zoo</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. The breakfast itself was blah... but the experience was a memorable one. I'm so happy I decided to go. The breakfast included early entry to the wild life zoo before it opened to the visitors, and koala encounters at the rooftop while you enjoy your breakfast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The zoo is bigger than what one would think from the outside, but still small for a zoo. You won't find any tigers here! But a huge ~ 6 meters saltwater croc, you'll see. They definitely have the iconic Australian animals: Kookaburras, wombats, wallabies, platypus, Tazmanian devils, and of course, Kangaroos and adorable Koalas. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQbTiSmIwYnDPgyFs87bl5XS9XSJnQu99FUIDjd79nebfjSVPN69Cx6DnpYIVPHmNVd8WU6vTzcUUjdGhylcgNIwdiXH1Aoz6SRF_RoZle7TU4NrJTKX1_QeTktt3LXiW1AcFc8puIv0/s1600/IMG_1925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQbTiSmIwYnDPgyFs87bl5XS9XSJnQu99FUIDjd79nebfjSVPN69Cx6DnpYIVPHmNVd8WU6vTzcUUjdGhylcgNIwdiXH1Aoz6SRF_RoZle7TU4NrJTKX1_QeTktt3LXiW1AcFc8puIv0/s320/IMG_1925.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Petting Dot the Kangaroo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Princess, the colorful, flightless cassowary, is actually male</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last but not least, breakfast with the koalas. There were about a dozen "not bears" on the rooftop, and all of them were sleeping. One would slip down a foot on his tree, wake up, climb back up, and snooze again. They sleep for 18 hours a day. I wonder if the eucalyptus has anything to do with that. Haha! But before you check for yourself, eucalyptus is actually poisonous. Koalas are special in that they have an organ that allows them to digest eucalyptus safely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These koalas were so adorable, I was really hoping I'd get to touch them like I did Dot, the kangaroo. But by law, <b>no one </b>in New South Wales (and most Australian states) is actually allowed to hold a koala unless you're a zoo keeper. This law makes sense though as touching would stress these cuties. While koalas are not on the endangered list yet and they are protected by law, their homes are not; their habitat is shrinking with the housing development. While I was glad to see buddy and his friends at the Wildlife Sydney zoo, I would have loved to see one in the wild. Want to <a href="https://www.savethekoala.com/adopt-a-koala"><span style="color: lime;">adopt a koala</span></a>?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My Buddy in slumber</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My first trip down under may be to the cities, but it certainly didn't feel like it. With kangaroo pens, Anzac biscuits, TimTams, and my lappy (laptop) in my backpack, I was packed and ready to fly back to my own coop. Ta, Sydney!</span><br />
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-87377938283685920442018-12-27T23:10:00.000-05:002018-12-27T23:17:22.955-05:00Melbourne: Hipster hurray!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Australia</b>.</span></i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> The land down under. If you believe all the things posted on Facebook, the country is filled with giant animals and other things that can kill you, be it funnel web spiders, salt water crocs, </span><span style="color: lime;"><a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/venomous-twoheaded-snake-found-in-backyard/news-story/48b1b4692ee277bbf10343d58da74b46"><span style="color: lime;">venomous 2-headed snakes</span></a>, <span style="color: lime;"><span style="color: lime;"><a href="http://theconversation.com/why-do-shark-bites-seem-to-be-more-deadly-in-australia-than-elsewhere-85986"><span style="color: lime;">bull sharks</span></a>,</span> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFCvPrzj4BU"><span style="color: lime;">bodybuilding kangaroos</span></a>,</span> </span></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">or Hugh Jackman’s deltoids. Or worse - </span><a href="https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/VegemiteHistory.htm"><span style="color: lime;">Vegemite</span></a><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My work trip brought me to Melbourne and Sydney. I never really thought much about visiting the land down under because it seems so far away, and it takes an entire day to travel. So, I had no clue what it had to offer. While there were definitely shockers (what?! they eat their beloved kangaroos?!), most of what I saw in Melbourne and Sydney were quite tame. Its not like these cities were crawling with koalas and wombats. Although that would be cute. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First up, Melbourne. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Melbourne was crawling with laidback hipsters, still cute, but less so than koalas. I stayed at an <a href="https://www.artserieshotels.com.au/larwill/">Art Hotel</a>, where my room was adorned with a huge original art piece on the main wall, and everything was tastefully contemporary. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> It was a great preview on what Melbourne had in store for me. Here are my top memorable moments in Melbourne:</span><br />
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<li><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Coffee</span></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b> - </b>I will never call myself a coffee connoisseur ever again. Coffee in Melbourne is a culture on its own. I've been to Europe and enjoyed cafes aplenty, but have never had consistently Ahhh-mazing coffee than I've experienced in Melbourne. Is it the water? Is it the beans? Is there hidden kale in it? What sorcery is this?!</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interestingly enough, I read that the rise of coffee in Australia began as a response to drunkenness. The Temperance movement in the 1890s saw abstinence from alcohol and into more socialization - enter the cafes! And the Melbourne coffee literacy got passed on to present generation. Safe to say, the beans are on their genes!</span> </span></li>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Coffee roasting heaven</span></div>
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<li><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Laneways and arcades </span></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- after arriving in Melbourne, I was quickly educated in Melbourne shopping way. Laneways and arcades have completely different meaning than how we use these words in the US. Laneways are narrow streets or tucked away alleys, paved or not with cobblestones, and lined with arrays of cafes, boutiques, shops and restaurants. Think Diagon Alley, if you're a Potterhead. Arcades, on the other hand, are covered shopping plazas. They are often connected by laneways. These were so cute, and I enjoyed every navigation (translation: getting lost) minute. </span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hebrew happy new year greeting <br />at the Royal Arcade</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>St. Kilda </b></span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- I didn't have time to go to the historic 1912 amusement park, Luna Park, and I'm not really sure I tried very hard after seeing the creepy clown entrance. Yikes. But that not-so-good tingling sensation down my spine easily blew away when dusk came and I headed to the pier to watch the sunset. I was on a mission when I took the public tram ride to St. Kilda: See the little penguins - the smallest species of penguins in the world. These little nuggets come home to the St. Kilda breakwater at half an hour past sunset. They swim and waddle back to their nests among the rocks every night. Absolutely adorable!</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br /></span></b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Queen Victoria Market </span></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">- 140 years strong, and the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, this market is full of life! and souvenirs! and Uggs! and food, so much of it. </span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jV69CZT9jcIfY6XCO3t-E-CoipGc-T874sL83KkBGPy2NhINYY2FU0zLd8wCFCnWQ3wNaT56ocgVTKBcq5okG4yOu6QUi5i4Z0mEEt01dnRKM4Hf9IcwS9KpiT9gYVnV7PwkhpVR7CE/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jV69CZT9jcIfY6XCO3t-E-CoipGc-T874sL83KkBGPy2NhINYY2FU0zLd8wCFCnWQ3wNaT56ocgVTKBcq5okG4yOu6QUi5i4Z0mEEt01dnRKM4Hf9IcwS9KpiT9gYVnV7PwkhpVR7CE/s320/IMG_1514.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can guess, but I'd rather not know. :(</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06XrINkccmJ2Rw1Dc9IebAU_NGt4DIQiPlrVns5fLVNw94_1rnBe0AiXZaqgaC63OnPI3DtUlBqUDHeDseIs1YAxITxoYXAgJ2lwEInU8AIIEtU4XkTzaq_i8dflwL871oU5QsuR18mw/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06XrINkccmJ2Rw1Dc9IebAU_NGt4DIQiPlrVns5fLVNw94_1rnBe0AiXZaqgaC63OnPI3DtUlBqUDHeDseIs1YAxITxoYXAgJ2lwEInU8AIIEtU4XkTzaq_i8dflwL871oU5QsuR18mw/s320/IMG_1511.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Uggs. Uggs. Uggs. Say that 10x, <br />and you'll sound like hip enough for Melbourne</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPthEEzuPEnYbVyAniEe-gwOZ5f4jurWjqhREbRd_rVQPhKAEY8uZ6RM_ksOL4c0GX782jV6X_yQhFbznEUcGZ87rfE56_xRmgPy41Hi8bM_O-EQG0XldwxfvuOhfzB2jyp9YcvJZCFqA/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPthEEzuPEnYbVyAniEe-gwOZ5f4jurWjqhREbRd_rVQPhKAEY8uZ6RM_ksOL4c0GX782jV6X_yQhFbznEUcGZ87rfE56_xRmgPy41Hi8bM_O-EQG0XldwxfvuOhfzB2jyp9YcvJZCFqA/s320/IMG_1516.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Breakfast?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SzO2QI_5wDkXZ9chTxhm-V_AbCAK8db2q9gmVDxxlrpLkWyo5E7-DFVAx-CQknzAwWm3QZkHVU6KgxyLrkCpcKWsIawhQm4OUXyxTJ-Nd9qy9am4_NGZvOBw9cWV4-r5f59TbWcAkQE/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SzO2QI_5wDkXZ9chTxhm-V_AbCAK8db2q9gmVDxxlrpLkWyo5E7-DFVAx-CQknzAwWm3QZkHVU6KgxyLrkCpcKWsIawhQm4OUXyxTJ-Nd9qy9am4_NGZvOBw9cWV4-r5f59TbWcAkQE/s320/IMG_1520.JPG" width="230" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKs3e-t5S1eadA2VNdixvpEpZjabuiNRxHo0DvcZhXXMi65oIv6a48VrPSVK3VeKrEjKFRmpmjTeDlFqUJ__WUi2ojXGVYBo7uyoGbol97wPPkDbAbTQXldRUiYUemXe8V7dnmrNwdZMw/s1600/IMG_1540.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/AVvXsEhKs3e-t5S1eadA2VNdixvpEpZjabuiNRxHo0DvcZhXXMi65oIv6a48VrPSVK3VeKrEjKFRmpmjTeDlFqUJ__WUi2ojXGVYBo7uyoGbol97wPPkDbAbTQXldRUiYUemXe8V7dnmrNwdZMw/s320/IMG_1540.JPG" width="240" /></a><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;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW6wZ-vk1mxe55joIE4SDEgWjaq7QCMz_bIOPcIqjZKTnaeHi44kUPClb1ItqwIFtNn0ifviBrhZcWA_OExQ6s7P2gBDH1kuArMxB4GuVXACnIa6mrCrX8mdxs_F-1mji8jNl8Yw3viw/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3D street art:<br />Because 2D graffiti is not trendy enough!</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Sights -</span></b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> Street art, bridges, buskers, and shoppers. Melbourne is like a mellower version of Philadelphia, or Philly's quirky cousin. It's quite easy to navigate by foot, bus, tram or Uber. I tried them all. </span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSpGvp8BWsDP8RxhBG4l_GRA0Iz5u8W40b-kgtcqaRyRBWA1xd76qlTPxm-q8jKkI9bgqRb0rUMOpqJDJNI4aQPRcIYuGTTBaqTHMBUcBdBTzAMmYiM5RA_Mn7PnsN8wIYvcyW2rOWZw/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSpGvp8BWsDP8RxhBG4l_GRA0Iz5u8W40b-kgtcqaRyRBWA1xd76qlTPxm-q8jKkI9bgqRb0rUMOpqJDJNI4aQPRcIYuGTTBaqTHMBUcBdBTzAMmYiM5RA_Mn7PnsN8wIYvcyW2rOWZw/s640/IMG_1561.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSyRXBcK5Rjy1sk4xsfY3u7GP6C1rV8bwYsBlZ1QppmNdPX7eE3S0V5ibODpMcVc8qVEzYkQ8QyM9ZWFKw4xpqe3dBLaTWorkrHmL_0loA8TVGRiAerL62RI37HGdqsYrM24ENBw_ZPA/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSyRXBcK5Rjy1sk4xsfY3u7GP6C1rV8bwYsBlZ1QppmNdPX7eE3S0V5ibODpMcVc8qVEzYkQ8QyM9ZWFKw4xpqe3dBLaTWorkrHmL_0loA8TVGRiAerL62RI37HGdqsYrM24ENBw_ZPA/s320/IMG_1575.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was fortunate to meet up with Ethel, a friend from grad school who moved to Melbourne. She graciously took me to some places that I wouldn't have known otherwise (cause I had no time to read the Frommers Guide I brought!). The Coop's Shot Tower was fascinating. I didn't even know such places existed nor what a shot tower was until I visited Melbourne, though I could guess it. Basically, this is the tower were they made small pellets for shotguns. When the factory produces pellets or "shot balls", they send down the molten lead down the tower by free fall down to a water basin at the bottom. The liquid lead forms spheres and solidify as they fall down the tower.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ethel also took me to the State Library which is Australia's oldest public library. Thanks Ethel! Since I love looking down from great heights, we went all the way to the top floor treating me to the view of the chess room, which houses books dedicated to... well, chess. How on earth did you guess that? Perhaps because nothing screams hipster like Chess does? ;) They even have game tables with chessboards. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-12015131095305472222018-10-06T00:25:00.000-04:002018-10-06T09:50:15.823-04:00My favorite muggle turns 8!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I lived to tell the tale, the magical tale of a Harry Potter-themed birthday celebrating a special girl. This crazy mom pulled off a birthday party with 25 kids, then caught a 7 am business flight the following morning. I must really love her! And</span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> t'was certainly a character-building experience, to say the least. It's true what they say: What doesn't kill you... gives you a great sense of humor!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My daughter turned 8 a few days ago, and we celebrated with a Harry Potter themed birthday party because the girl is obsessed with the Harry Potter books (she's on the 4th). I remember loving the books while I was reading it as an adult in graduate school, but rereading it with my kids is even more fun as I hear their gasps of awe, and squeaks of fear. I couldn't <i>NOT</i> do a Harry Potter birthday when she requested it. It's almost like turning down an invitation to go to Hogwarts! Seriously, Sirius Black. But... where to begin?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Requesting the presence of Wizards and Witches </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TYJsXaqQot0yLEmTaC1ANwz2QWCQgXT-61zw5RbySbBrCU8quR5jnBdA8MHaFy4VSNILjnZXs-3wFRW3GjRBR_io-JXlO-7-Th7KkGfIsjsptJrW2JTpXsIafZlUaggnKiNVH8Jxljk/s1600/IMG_0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TYJsXaqQot0yLEmTaC1ANwz2QWCQgXT-61zw5RbySbBrCU8quR5jnBdA8MHaFy4VSNILjnZXs-3wFRW3GjRBR_io-JXlO-7-Th7KkGfIsjsptJrW2JTpXsIafZlUaggnKiNVH8Jxljk/s400/IMG_0871.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With our busy schedules between work and kid activities, the trick to not be overwhelmed is to have fun, do a small thing at a time, and definitely try to <b>not</b> reinvent the wheel - beginning with the invitations. There are many templates one can use from the web, or you can design one yourself, or do a mix of both. It's a great way of just using something that works for you and personalizing it. For ours, I did a mix and downloaded a Harry Potter-inspired font and added my own touch. I printed wand spell motions on the back of the card stock paper. We bought an owl stamp and a gold stamp pad and ink for that "owl post" look.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The Wand Chooses the Wizard </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was one of those kids who did arts and crafts in grade school and barely got a passing mark. I remember making a medicine cabinet, a fruit tray, and a picture frame out of popsicle sticks and they all ended up looking the same. Hey! at least I was consistent. With the advent of YouTube and Pinterest, my craft skills are not as shameful. Such are the inspirational resources for a DIY beginner! Armed with a hot glue gun, these chopsticks were no match for me. The kids enjoyed painting them with different shades of brown to get that unique wand look.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HXOewAiQa6ybuEV0x7cngfRN9hicsSyiH8vphqxOJemuFSqWTkFWiqaVZqS_vOrHtPwYL8fBqyTt604_mc-tHGLzKht2yNR56GWYsPGLWxyfB28b9XrgodM1RH-KGO4pELpW1hrFGT0/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HXOewAiQa6ybuEV0x7cngfRN9hicsSyiH8vphqxOJemuFSqWTkFWiqaVZqS_vOrHtPwYL8fBqyTt604_mc-tHGLzKht2yNR56GWYsPGLWxyfB28b9XrgodM1RH-KGO4pELpW1hrFGT0/s320/IMG_0482.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chopsticks + hot glue gun + rainy day = beginning of glorious wand making</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Acrylic paint in 3 shades of brown, plus gold for those wands with unicorn core</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ollivanders approve. But no unforgivable curses!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Professor McGonagall would be proud</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my most favorite personal purchase for my home office is my laminator. Seriously, whether it's for written speeches, teaching materials, inspirational quotes, or party posters, the laminator does the job when you want to protect that important piece of paper. So, off I went printing different signage on card stock paper. <i>Et voila! </i>Cheeseballs were 'transfigured' to Hufflepuff, green plant juice to Polyjuice potion.... Magic!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlguGfsu1lqN372QV1FdStu53MPzLHJXZBlVn8v8Do2nsrV39ogVwO42jjN1Be7bz1uGX1amHImdFDDld6BhecbxzTQsTtuVqLxniGbSqmUQXv5l6I3CW3LSuTS4BkMHkS0errvyqc-_U/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlguGfsu1lqN372QV1FdStu53MPzLHJXZBlVn8v8Do2nsrV39ogVwO42jjN1Be7bz1uGX1amHImdFDDld6BhecbxzTQsTtuVqLxniGbSqmUQXv5l6I3CW3LSuTS4BkMHkS0errvyqc-_U/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCH3TUB5eYFeB3jrzc-aaLxLK_-L3kGCPnrYexsN24raATd28tcCoBnYAUFRy29S9Kpdb_2rLzgd6MMImRLZSzx5X3V-_pTybFkuYxAdtjF21FJnqXIMQaD6nneTn1M8X2zcps0MoYiY/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCH3TUB5eYFeB3jrzc-aaLxLK_-L3kGCPnrYexsN24raATd28tcCoBnYAUFRy29S9Kpdb_2rLzgd6MMImRLZSzx5X3V-_pTybFkuYxAdtjF21FJnqXIMQaD6nneTn1M8X2zcps0MoYiY/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><strike>Luckily </strike>Unfortunately, we had to stay indoors one weekend because of the bad weather, which gave us ample time to work on the party crafts. It was a win-win situation - the girls weren't bored, in fact they were excited to help, and I had my minions! Mwahahaha! Er, I meant Dumbledore's army. Now that I'm an ace with the glue gun, we glued clips on ties printed on beige card stock papers. These ties serves as one activity where the guests can color with their house colors - green and silver if they're in Slytherin, and red and yellow for Gryffindor. We also made the quidditch hoops, and the girls even helped me bake our 'trial' cauldron cakes. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures after making them. Overall, what a fun indoor weekend it turned out to be! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pumpkin cauldron cakes trial</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDWkq3iA3HTcJH_wq6X9-O4hTkQzVerVsOWK6YZN3G840ejDywH-LV8LK7itOpt4p9-e4UTYTqSwfSSutwh2m6amp5yitC5JBUPRaei-WKvVGXCflQntDx9ILyh3SwUatoUk5S0Itqd0/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDWkq3iA3HTcJH_wq6X9-O4hTkQzVerVsOWK6YZN3G840ejDywH-LV8LK7itOpt4p9-e4UTYTqSwfSSutwh2m6amp5yitC5JBUPRaei-WKvVGXCflQntDx9ILyh3SwUatoUk5S0Itqd0/s320/IMG_0552.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Working on Harry Potter for Pin the Scan on HP</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The making of the golden egg for the 1st task. I'm a chemist, I wear gloves for such occasions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Quidditch hoop made of pool noodle and removable mop handle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the next few days, we put the finishing touches on the party planning. We gathered the 7 horcrux items for the scavenger hunt, thought up some riddles, and yes, I printed that and laminated it too. The ring, locket, tiara were resurrected toys from the girls' toy bin in the basement; I took one long forgotten plastic teacup and painted it gold for the goblet. And we're set with the activities! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">But what is Hogwarts without chocolate frogs? It simply isn't the same! Many thanks to Amazon, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cybrtrayd-A126-Protective-Copyrighted-Instructions/dp/B000EBMUNU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538799472&sr=8-3&keywords=frog+mold"><span style="color: lime;">frog molds</span></a><span style="color: #ffd966;"> for chocolates were delivered to my door pronto. Amazon prime hopped to it! (sorry). I would also have served butter beer (a.k.a. butterscotch rootbeer float) but my divination ball showed me that </span><i style="color: #ffd966;">Alas! </i><span style="color: #ffd966;">it will be cold on the day of the party, so I can forget about serving ice cream. But what should witches and wizards' swag be? A broomstick, perhaps? My office floor was littered with "broomsticks" party giveaways holding the goodies inside paper bags that's been cut and frayed to look like brooms, and the handles are actually </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Broom-Pens-24-ct/dp/B002W7EKKU"><span style="color: lime;">broomstick pens</span></a><span style="color: #ffd966;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Happee Birthdae, Harriett...</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Since I wasn't making the cake and cupcakes for 3 dozen kids and grownups at the party, (thank you, Dorothy Ann bakery!) I surprised Tamar with a homemade Harry Potter cake on her actual birthday. This was my first foray into fondant cakes, and I must say it's not as difficult as I thought it would be. The cake I had in mind was Harry Potter catching the golden snitch in his mouth. I bought a few essentials - white and black fondant, fondant tools, edible glitter in gold, and edible marker. You can easily pick these up from </span><span style="color: lime;"><a href="https://www.michaels.com/">Michaels</a>.</span><span style="color: #ffd966;"> I also bought icing glue, but I think I could have done away without it. The pastry mat with the measurement was quite important for measuring the surface area to cover. I think it turned out ok. There's definitely room for improvement design-wise, especially on the glasses, where I should have rolled the fondant in circles instead of cutting them. Again, art is not my talent. But for someone who once built a leaning tower of bookshelf, the cake is not bad at all. Still, I'm not planning on making fondant cakes often because fondants are just way too sweet for me. In fact, the best part of this cake is the cake inside. Since we were going to have a chocolate cake at the birthday party, I made an almond cake for this one. It was just dense enough to hold the weight of the fondant, but still feels light and soft. And it's not sticky sweet!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live" - Albus Dumbledore</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The birthday party day finally came, and the inconsistent weather forecast was giving me the whiplash! I couldn't decide whether to text all 25 kids' families and move the party indoors to our house, or brave the possible showers. Thankfully, my super sister was with me to allay my doubts. She flew in from California and the Minnesota 'fall' weather had her in layers, but together we willed the powers-that-be to hold the rain off so the kids can run around outside. </span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I do thank the g-ds that the weather cooperated, because the thought of 25 kids in the house with party games indoors was anxiety-inducing! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, the hoops were planted, the owl pinata hanging in the tree branch, and our wands at the ready! As the kids started arriving, they got sorted to their houses in a sorting hat ceremony. We had them decorating their wands with sticker gems and coloring their ties while they waited for their housemates. I also blew up a couple of balloons so they could practice their <i>wingardium leviosa </i>spell.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">"Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">So where shall I put you?"</span><br /><span style="color: lime;">SLYTHERIN!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Swish and flick!</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Going for gold</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yowza! The teams took the games very seriously, and the 3 hour party flew by! For those wanting to make their own HP party, I hope the activities below inspire you. </span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Pin the scar on Harry Potter -</b></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> We kicked off the games with Pin the scar on Harry Potter. The scars are just lightning cut-out green or red construction papers, and we used double-sided tape. The kids were super cute and cheered their housemates on! </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>1st Task </b></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- The kids had a blast trying to steal the golden egg from the dragon (my husband), 2 kids at a time within 30 secs. We tied crepe papers around the kids' waists, and if the dragon pulls it, that means they're incapacitated and their time is up. Some of the serious fans asked me if 1) they're allowed to use spells, (</span><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">yes, my dear, just no unforgivable curses</span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">) and 2) what kind of dragon it was they were fighting! AH! My hubby was a handsome dragon, but I'm not sure if he qualifies as a Swedish short-snout. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Horcrux Scavenger Hunt </b></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- This involved pre-hiding the 7 horcrux items before the kids came. The ones who have read and seen the movies definitely had an edge in solving the scavenger hunt riddles, but the keen ones followed the leaders and found the objects with their razor-sharp visions. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Quidditch </b></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- I have no pictures because it was crazy! We did away with the 'beaters' to avoid tackling, and the keepers had to use a broom to swat away the balls from the chasers. The game ended with the first team scoring 50 points. It was certainly less elegant than the book version, but most of the kids were far too small to follow the complex rules of Quidditch. The kids had a great time anyway! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Pinata </b></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">- The games ended, of course, with finding the golden snitch! But there's a twist. The kids had to hit the owl pinata and find it. And guess who the lucky 'seeker' was? None other than the birthday girl! So, what is the snitch exactly? Nothing fancy! Just a yummy Lindt white chocolate and some gold wings. </span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #ffd966;">And with the snitch caught, the Slytherins won. I'm not sure that the kids really cared though because in reality, everyone did. </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Riddle me this! Riddle me that! </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are these kids looking for a rat?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Alohomora!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Mischief managed!</span></b></div>
Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-65854306733401406262018-06-20T15:00:00.000-04:002018-06-21T15:35:08.257-04:00Day 7: Emerald Isle Last Stop: Castle on the hill<div>
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alas, all good things must come to an end and we have to leave the fairy tale setting behind. We'll certainly long for the rolling greens, the enchanting castles, and plummeting cliffside... OK, maybe not that last bit. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But before we do, I had one must-see castle to visit! By absolute coincidence, our hotel was a mere 9 minute walk from Manderley castle, a.k.a. Enya's home. My closest friends in college would know that Irish singer Enya is the single most influential female singer during my college years. So much so that I brought my cassette tapes with me to graduate school, and I still have them to date. She saved my sanity during my sprectra-solving, electron-pushing years with Watermark. That's why I could hardly believe my luck when, on a whim, I looked up where Manderley castle was located and, lo and behold, it's in Killiney hill, right next to Dalkey, and within walking distance! (<i>Cue in</i></span><i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://youtu.be/85u3_IAp87o">Lothlorien</a></i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">). The Dalkey-Killiney area is something like the "Beverly Hills" of Ireland, and a hotspot for celebrities. Bono and Van Morrison live in the area too. But, they take a backseat to Enya on my playlist, and my itinerary.</span></span><br />
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For those who don't know, Enya is an Irish female musician. Her music is like an ambrosia for the soul. She plays different instruments and sings with Celtic rhythms and you can't peg her music in any clear genre. She sings in Latin, Gaelic, English, and also in made up languages like Elvish and Loxian. She may be better known to most for her song "May It Be" in the first Lord of the Rings movie. She is also a very private person, selling millions of albums without performing even a single solo concert. Well, no worries, Enya, I'm not scaling the castle wall! The castle is small, as castles go, but and accentuates the Killiney hillside perfectly. The location offers a view of the Wicklow mountains, the Irish Sea, and Dalkey Island; it's inspirational, as one would expect, for an artist like Enya. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On top of the hill with a view of Manderley Castle</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We climbed Killiney hill. On top, the small obelisk sits in the most enviable spot looking out into the Irish sea. And because the girls needed to get their wiggles out before the long way home, we ended our Emerald Isle trip with... what else? A visit to the playground. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Killiney obelisk</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The playground at the bottom of the hill</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, the <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">girls</span> had an amazing experience, and the family had a memorable first trip abroad. Seriously, how do we even top this trip? The Emerald Isle mesmerized us. My 5-year old asked </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">many times <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">if we can</span></span> live in Ireland. Not today. But <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s</span>omeday, kiddo, you can take us back...</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"I'm going to turn around, go back to the hotel, </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">and live here in Ireland to see all the castles I didn't get to see."</span></span></td></tr>
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-59188396917779453272018-06-19T16:00:00.000-04:002018-06-22T09:06:53.622-04:00Day 6 Emerald Isle: Song of the Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Turning Darkness into Light</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">We are geeks. I don't think it'll come as a surprise to anyone that the highlight of our day in Dublin is visiting Trinity College to see the <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/library/manuscripts/book-of-kells.php">Book of Kells</a>. On the way to Ireland, the girls watched the animated movie "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0036TGSW6">The Secret of Kells</a>", a unique fictional film loosely based on the journey of the Book of Kells, believed to be necessary to preserve the Celtic culture from the invaders (likely the Vikings). The kids loved the movie and bounced their way to Trinity College library to see <i>THE BOOK</i>. They had already seen an Abbey and a stone circle during our trip so far and they related those well to the film. It felt awesome to see their faces lit up when they realize not every cartoon is fictional. </span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Kells-Brendan-Gleeson/dp/B0036TGSW6">The Secret of Kells</a><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, the boy meets a fairy in the stone circle, which supposedly served as entrances to the "other world". Seeing the book was icing on the cake, and what sweet icing it was! I didn't think they would be as excited with this surprise. The book was safeguarded in the Abbey at Kells, which was its home for centuries before it was moved to Dublin. The Celtic artwork in the book were incredible! My 7 year old was amazed at the different materials used to make ink, like berries and minerals to create the art text and images in the book.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Picture taking of the actual book is not allowed, and it is encased securely for viewing. After all, it has been around since 800 AD, and regarded as Ireland's national treasure. The book itself contains the four gospels in the new testament with ornate calligraphy and vibrant illustration and symbolism. I cannot recommend this exhibit enough if you're in Dublin. But treat yourself to the movie too! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCMRx0Q1Nl5DJPgXLBpmcv1OEfNyq4rA8m8KbHfqZBtlIx4DBWpVZVLziloJZN3t_ZNH2NXHXeLlVFTqQ9cCbNekA8pgzo61SxiG03ck_wtIze0Y-hZGe5XoaSpLoMRkMyWtDvhpffZg/s1600/IMG_9388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCMRx0Q1Nl5DJPgXLBpmcv1OEfNyq4rA8m8KbHfqZBtlIx4DBWpVZVLziloJZN3t_ZNH2NXHXeLlVFTqQ9cCbNekA8pgzo61SxiG03ck_wtIze0Y-hZGe5XoaSpLoMRkMyWtDvhpffZg/s200/IMG_9388.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our other must-see in Dublin is also conveniently located at the Trinity College library - The Long Room. Full disclosure, our main interest here is due to its resemblance to Hogwarts' Great Hall, and we thought it would serve as a delight to our mini-Potterheads. However, the Long Room, apart from being vast and, well, long, doesn't really evoke Hogwarts' dining hall. Not entirely surprising, I guess. After all, this is a library! It is perhaps one of the most impressive libraries I've seen, in the company of Manchester's John Rylands Library. It is filled with 200,000 books, two stories high, with marble busts of great philosophers, writers, and scientists lining the room. Encased by the back of the room is Ireland's iconic Harp. It is well-known that Ireland's emblem is a harp. The Brian Boru Harp in Trinity College is the "official" emblem of Ireland, a 15th century harp and the oldest Celtic harp surviving from the medieval period. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ff6U08ebT24muuCSATsM4EfKm5ewdHhwQpAM3cS_wRvALJfrEV-Iw9Wy5tVECTV3FTjOrnInwSq7TtqIkQV0STKfVfrzSKL0okN8OcdmIhm55RrY-5jMAh1Y3UXV4mDKDx2eP_Pcp2k/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ff6U08ebT24muuCSATsM4EfKm5ewdHhwQpAM3cS_wRvALJfrEV-Iw9Wy5tVECTV3FTjOrnInwSq7TtqIkQV0STKfVfrzSKL0okN8OcdmIhm55RrY-5jMAh1Y3UXV4mDKDx2eP_Pcp2k/s400/IMG_9380.JPG" width="300" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigff-ETwfk9R_JUzJP1nZhEkQqwnRq4hn-sjCVz6XFPnb2CBwBOmypsQO9IRfUeB5XOkAV5I0Wck9RJIYBnILBg724ffPzS0YD-KkUdxgA72YJ3jHqJOMSHhSEL20MnlpqPBvHgGjqmbQ/s1600/IMG_9383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigff-ETwfk9R_JUzJP1nZhEkQqwnRq4hn-sjCVz6XFPnb2CBwBOmypsQO9IRfUeB5XOkAV5I0Wck9RJIYBnILBg724ffPzS0YD-KkUdxgA72YJ3jHqJOMSHhSEL20MnlpqPBvHgGjqmbQ/s400/IMG_9383.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The symbol of the harp is much loved in Ireland. You see it as a moving bridge in Dublin, on Irish euro coins and even on <a href="http://www.wirestrungharp.com/culture/guinness/harp_trademark.html">Guinness beer.</a> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Samuel Beckett bridge, an Irish harp-shaped bridge rotating through the air</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We continued to explore Dublin on foot, crossing the Ha'penny pedestrian bridge and taking in the somber sculptures commemorating the Irish Famine, the famine due to potato disease. The famine killed ~1 M people and caused emigration of ~1 M more. We walked down to the Medieval area (and was not very impressed); we saw the Dublin castle, which is really too embedded in the city and the view obscured for one to appreciate the structure; we walked on the famous Grafton street then headed to St. Stephen's Green where the kids spent the time chasing pigeons. Where is all this energy coming from?? After 30,000 steps, I'm beat! </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clotted cream, where have you been all my life?</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Song of the Sea</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At about 4 pm, we were contemplating on whether to stay longer in Dublin city, or to take the train to Howth (rhymes with "oath"). The lure of sitting down on a train for short time was very attractive to me. Howth is a pretty fishing village on the Dublin Bay less than 30 min train ride from Dublin. Indeed, it would have been a shame if we didn't visit! Howth turned out to be my favorite town in this trip, and that's saying a lot after seeing colorful Kinsale, Kenmare, Sneem, Glengarriff, and quaint Bantry. The idyllic town offers so much. We took a wonderful walk along the pier, then up to another Abbey ruin, which can't be accessed, then towards the Martello tower. They have a number of these towers in Ireland. The stunning view of the bay, the boats, and Ireland's Eye, an uninhabited island off the cost, calmed our weary bods. And as if we haven't seen enough, Howth also has a grand castle a short walk away from the town center, though it is privately owned. This is what Ireland is about - castles, rolling hills, ancient rocks, and tranquil waters. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We capped the night with a train ride back to Dalkey, enjoying dinner and stroll in the town center and back to our hotel, facing the reality of having to pack for our trip back home. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-35322360619999629382018-06-18T18:00:00.000-04:002018-06-22T09:07:22.402-04:00Day 5 Emerald Isle: Dublin-bound<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We finally had to bid the Beara peninsula and our cottage in Adrigole goodbye. Early on the 5th day, we started our trek eastward to Cork to head to Dublin. It was a tough choice deciding whether to stop at <a href="https://www.kinsale.ie/">Kinsale </a>or <a href="http://www.visitcobh.com/">Cobh</a>. I've read wonderful things about both towns, but in the end, we decided that Cobh will have to wait. We visited picturesque Kinsale with its colorful houses, shops and harbor. Kinsale had established itself as one of Ireland's most significant town during the medieval period. We went souvenir shopping for trinkets for the kids, and enjoyed the traditional fish & chips at Dino's, a must-try restaurant when you're in Kinsale. We also visited Desmond castle, which had been turned to a wine museum, but it was closed for renovation. BOO! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fish & Chips! That's a kids plate?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The highlight of Kinsale for us is the Charles Fort. It is one of the best-preserved star-shaped artillery forts in Europe, and the view of the town from Kinsale from the fort is worth the visit. The compound is huge, quite ideal for getting the girls wiggles out! And the staff were kid-friendly to boot. Built in the 1600s during King Charles II reign, the fort remained in use until 1922. The exhibits show the how the soldiers lived in the fort. </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It would have been nice to stay in Kinsale longer and explore other gems like James Fort and the <a href="https://www.kinsale.ie/2010/06/11/ringfinnan-garden-of-remembrance/">Garden of Remembrance</a>. Alas, we were simply passing through, but grateful for the few hours that we did.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't think so!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, we returned the car at Cork and took the train back to Dublin. I was doing the victory dance when I handed the keys over at Hertz rental. (Cue in <a href="https://youtu.be/I33u_EHLI3w">Theme from Rocky</a>) Woo hoo! I enjoyed the adrenaline-filled drive around south west Ireland, but I'm happy to take the train for the rest of our holiday in the Dublin area. The train ride from Cork Kent station to Dublin Heuston was easy and the view is breathtaking, pretty much just like everything else we've seen here in Ireland. We passed many castles and cattle along the way, and the people we interacted with were friendly. Seriously, I highly recommend taking the train from Dublin to Cork, Limerick, or Galway, if your destination is in the southwest. The roundtrip fare for a family can be "Open", which means you can choose your own return date and time.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sorry, no chocolate frogs off the trolley, dear!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do you know that you can book a castle stay on AirBnB? Yup, I had looked into this possibility because I really wanted to surprise the girls with a stay at a castle. Sadly, most, if not all of the castles have a no-kids policy. This makes a lot of sense though especially once you've seen what the castles look like. The staircases are usually steep, slippery and not very safe for children. It was very disappointing, but a friend of ours clued us in on where to stay. As a surprise to the girls, we booked our remaining stay at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, a castle converted to a hotel in Dalkey, county Dublin. The castle built in 1740, was also named Killiney Castle before it was transformed to a hotel by the Fitzpatrick family in the 1970's. The hotel is quite charming, and our girls loved feeling like princesses! The rooms were very big, and we were given a room with a view of the bay. (Personally, I think the hotel could use a bit of an upkeep inside, but I wasn't going to rain on the girls' parade.) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, Guinness.<br /><br />(and the Irish art of pouring a perfect pint of it.)</span></td></tr>
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<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-59738246983371752922018-06-17T19:00:00.000-04:002018-06-22T09:08:07.510-04:00Day 4 Emerald Isle: Of Yew and ewe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Ring of Kerry is <i>THE </i>destination in Ireland's Iveragh Peninsula. The ring itself is too big to explore in a day. For those who love history and nature, Killarney National Park is heaven. To get here from the Beara peninsula, the drive is almost Lord of the Ring-esque. We drove towards Kenmare for the second time in 2 days, this time heading north along the Ring instead of South. We drove up the winding Cork and Kerry mountaintops through Caha pass, where the view of Bantry Bay is spectacular. Just as impressive are the series of rock tunnels we went through. I couldn't decide whether I like the sunny view from the day before or the rainy, misty morning of this drive. One day cheery and hopeful, the next mystical. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZxNg1F2Vj5aRFOIsbtJxOpM9Nl7rLCzT6IieYXHSkFPxFFPcuFs3v_2ZP4g1kxJYzmRiF0v0TNzsPLw30CL1wBGUBWgG4_OSGUob3ylyHY8vfCZLMvXpCDYs51mRQvjOWr13-1YgLmg/s1600/IMG_8999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZxNg1F2Vj5aRFOIsbtJxOpM9Nl7rLCzT6IieYXHSkFPxFFPcuFs3v_2ZP4g1kxJYzmRiF0v0TNzsPLw30CL1wBGUBWgG4_OSGUob3ylyHY8vfCZLMvXpCDYs51mRQvjOWr13-1YgLmg/s640/IMG_8999.JPG" width="480" /></span></a><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was Ross Castle, built in the 15th century, just outside Killarney. The castle sits on the bank of Killarney's lower lake. I'm so happy that we took the tour of the castle. While climbing the steep stone staircase was a bit of a scare for my little one, both kids were really engaged and asked questions to our tour guide. One can see that great care was taken in restoring the castle, carefully matching the time period furniture to reality. One of the furniture (not saying which!) was the real one when the castle was still inhabited by the ruling clan of Killarney, the O'Donoghues. The kids, of course, had a giggle when the tour guide showed the "garderobe", or ahem, toilet/latrine. There's also a little X on the floor that Maya, who is shortest and keenest among the group, spotted. The guide shared that legend had it that a treasure is buried underneath, but you'll have to dig up the castle to find out! Also, legend has it that the clan lies at the bottom of the lake watching.... Sadly, taking photos inside was not allowed, but the experience left a lasting impression to all of us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a hike along the paths behind the castle, we drove north of the park to see the Muckross Abbey, an old monastery ruin and a graveyard, dating back to the beginnings of Christianity in Ireland. The structure, built in 15th century, is well-preserved. The graveyard is supposed to be where the O'Donoghues are, in fact, buried. What really caught my eye is the ancient yew tree rising in the center of the cloisters, which is older than the Abbey. The Abbey was likely built around the already mature tree. Yew trees are believed to be the "tree of life", are venerated, and as such are often found in Irish graveyards as as symbol of eternity. Irishman Bram Stoker, who lived in Killarney for some time, was supposedly a frequent visitor of the Muckross graveyard and roamed the abbey late at night;That the yew tree and the eerie graveyard served as inspiration for Dracula.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For Harry Potter fans, the yew make several appearance from wands to graveyards in the J.K. Rowling books too! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Abbey was a real delight because we could explore it from top to bottom. You can see the intricate details up close. It was enchanting! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyone up there?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amidst ruins and fallen tree, there is LIFE! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We went on to walk to Muckross house, which at one point hosted Queen Victoria, and was also owned by the Guinness family. However, the girls were getting a bit tired and rambunctious.While my husband and I would have loved to tour the house, we ultimately decided to skip the tour, which the host also emphasized are not really well-suited for kids. Nevertheless, we enjoyed touring the large estate grounds, which is the country's first national park. It even has a waterfall!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Muckross House</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Torc waterfall</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ireland veiled in fog and as I've always imagined it</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the way back to Adrigole</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ewe looking at me, kid?</span></td></tr>
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<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-63576862253247376792018-06-16T07:30:00.000-04:002018-06-16T07:30:15.209-04:00Day 3 Emerald Isle: Beyond leprechauns<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/AVvXsEgYzT1rsN4YCszhSVPGXPMklGAF20RVH5HEY50vFlKZQg7dkJgXBCW_Fj7Cw-L_egRJVSIjBH1VEb_szBWsx7jDg1DGhozFJkGHhyD8CssY-rNQHAVcgbAYkAG1-SRd497yyW2TaFAWnLI/s1600/IMG_8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1167" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzT1rsN4YCszhSVPGXPMklGAF20RVH5HEY50vFlKZQg7dkJgXBCW_Fj7Cw-L_egRJVSIjBH1VEb_szBWsx7jDg1DGhozFJkGHhyD8CssY-rNQHAVcgbAYkAG1-SRd497yyW2TaFAWnLI/s640/IMG_8854.JPG" width="465" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The girls adore our jolly farmer neighbor, Patrick!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't get enough of the view from Rose Cottage in Adrigole. Sea, cliff, cows. Seriously, if I was a mythical creature, I would live here too and never ever move away. What evidence of Irish luck do you need? One only needs to stand outside.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">While we had a setback with the flat tire, that didn't stop us from going on with our adventure and exploring more that the Emerald Isle has to offer. Carpe Diem! We went to a tire shop in Kenmare. They took care of replacing our tire in 15 mins flat! (Haha!). While in Kenmare, we visited the Kenmare Stone Circle, which was quite accessible from the town proper. This is the largest stone circle in south west Ireland, consisting of 15 boulders with an impressive giant capstone in the middle. Ever seen the animated movie Brave? The kids really got a kick out of seeing the movie before our Ireland trip then seeing the stone circle in real life! (Pat on the back for mommy.) Just like in that movie, set in medieval Scotland, stone circles or "Druids' Altars" are scattered in the Cork-Kerry region of Ireland. No one knows what they are for. Some suggest they're burial grounds, while most believe they serve ritual or religious functions. I read that they could be astronomical in nature too, given that if you face the axial stone, you can perfectly view the rising or setting sun during a solstice or equinox, pointing to the circle's calendrical use. The last one is actually in line with the name, the druid's altar, since the solstice and equinox marked the shortest and longest night, and important to ancient druidry in terms of rebirth and renewal. For short, these stone circles are magical and spiritual at the same time. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Kenmare Stone Circle. The Boulder-Dolmen in the middle is said to mark a burial site for someone important. On the back left side, you'll see a fairy thorn tree with ribbons of wishes tied to it.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">We continued </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">(slooowly)</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">driving south along the Ring of Kerry to Derrynane, stopping at the town of Sneem to pick up some snacks along the way. Mind you, they don't know what bread "rolls" mean. Buns! Say buns! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sneem</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In Castlecove, we stopped at Staigue Stone Fort. From afar, the fort was not impressive to look at, but as we draw near, we appreciated its grandeur and how it was erected entirely without mortar - just stones on top of stones! While the fort is thought to have been built for defensive stronghold for a local lord, it's location contradicts that as iit is tucked away in a valley amidst rolling hills, not to mention the lack of mortar. It's also been described as a temple, and observatory, built by men of old. More impressive is the inside, with the stairways lining the wall. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do you believe in Fairy tales?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpCgHQeshnTwFMTG6h9uuogNo-OYhjvSUUnvWBd-qG1dffcuqOKIJ-gm8vYyQTymTTJc2ojGxB-sjRCFl3lTY-Ym-yQt7ZzQ2nOHczVdLRnYg06OMAurFJpHeFTKR0cEdixiPQu1ry0E/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpCgHQeshnTwFMTG6h9uuogNo-OYhjvSUUnvWBd-qG1dffcuqOKIJ-gm8vYyQTymTTJc2ojGxB-sjRCFl3lTY-Ym-yQt7ZzQ2nOHczVdLRnYg06OMAurFJpHeFTKR0cEdixiPQu1ry0E/s320/IMG_8970.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We continued on to Derrynane House to treat the girls to a special kind of hike - a Fairy Trail kind of hike. It is well-known that mystical folklore play a huge part in the Irish culture. The Druids and Celtics believed in magic, and stories still abound of leprechauns hiding their gold and changeling stealing human children. The "faes" are alive and well in the hearts of the Irishmen with poems and songs dedicated to these fair folks. The heart shape shamrock (clover) representing the trinity still holds a special meaning here. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While the girls have graduated from their obsession with Tinker Bell and Periwinkle, they still find fairies irresistible. </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The old forest in Derrynane brings to life these folklores with little houses to discover within the woods. </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Locals believe that the woodland site around the Derrynane house is inhabited my mystical creatures for thousands of years.</span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> My girls loved the hike. They were squealing with joy every time they discovered a miniature house semi-conspicuously tucked away from the main trail. We spotted more than a dozen little houses with wonderful details that will make even grown-ups believe in fairy tales. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: x-small;"><b>The Fairies</b></span></div>
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<pre style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!
Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain-lake,
With frogs for their watchdogs,
All night awake.
High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and grey
He’s nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with the music
On cold starry nights,
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.
They stole little Bridget
For seven years long;
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back,
Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep,
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake,
On a bed of fig-leaves,
Watching till she wake.
By the craggy hillside,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn trees
For my pleasure, here and there.
Is any man so daring
As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.
Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!
</span></pre>
<pre style="clear: left; float: left; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">- William Allingham, Irish Poet</span></pre>
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<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-59544288870362379562018-06-15T05:59:00.000-04:002018-06-15T09:57:26.635-04:00Day 2 Emerald Isle: The dose makes the poison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our first full day in Ireland, we wanted to take it slow and stay within an hour from our home in Adrigole. The main itinerary for the day was a trip to Garnish Island, based on a friend's suggestion. Garnish Island is a beautiful island garden located off Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, in Southwest Ireland's Beara peninsula. The small island boasted of its famous garden, which homes subtropical plants, shrubs and trees. The island is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has its own micro-climate allowing for these rare plants to grow. It could easily be the Secret Garden in how it's situated; access is by a ferry boat. Along the way, we passed small islets bedecked in pink flowers, a seal island with a colony of seals resting, and a huge White Tailed Sea Eagle and its nearby nest. Too bad I couldn't take a good picture of the impressive eagle.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The ferry captain let the girls steer!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's amazing to think that when the original family arrived here, the island was barren. Because the family members are award winning horticulturists, they transformed the island to the garden it is today. As you arrive on the island, you won't see the garden...yet. The tall trees shelter the garden, and it comes as a pleasing surprise as you walk deeper in the island. The focal point of the garden is a reflecting pool with lots of flowering lilies afloat. Apparently, they also made the best Irish Soda Bread at the cafe, but we didn't get to try it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In addition to the display of unique plants rarely seen in Ireland, there are plenty of structures to explore such as a Grecian Temple, a clock tower where George Bernard Shaw used to stay, and an Italian Casita (tea room). It took over 100 men and 4 years to create the lush garden and the different structures. The owner, John Bryce, wanted to build a mansion too, but was unable to see that vision through. What was originally there and still intact today was the Martello tower, a small defensive fort </span><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">dating from 1805</span><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. We climbed it and were treated to the panoramic views of the bay. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">George Bernard Shaw stayed <br />and wrote in the clock tower</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rapunzel, Rapunzel, lay down your hair!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But we donated our hair!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Any idea what plant this is?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: black;">The Folklore of the Foxglove Flower</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While hiking in the island, we saw these beautiful cascading pink flowers - Foxglove. I was drawn to the Foxglove, <i>digitalis</i>, with its trumpet shape and white rings underneath. I didn't know what it was called so I searched for it online as soon as we got back to the house. Apparently, Digitalis is a major source of digoxin - glycosides used for congestive heart failure. BUT, it is also toxic even in small doses. Thankfully, I had better sense than to touch it. And thankfully, my kids did too! They are among the prettiest of the poisonous plants. It is said that the white spots inside the bells are marks left by fairies or 'folks' in 'folks gloves'. Another lore tells of how the fairies gave the flowers to foxes to wear over their paws so their prey won't hear them coming. While its a folklore, it's certainly fascinating, and the name should give you enough pause and clue you in on its toxicity. Its <span style="text-align: center;">other names: fairy bells, fairy petticoats, fairy thimbles, </span><span style="text-align: center;">dead man's bells, witches' gloves. And later on, I saw that this plant is quite ubiquitous in Ireland!</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">No dandelions tell the time,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;"> Although they turn to clocks;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">Cat's-cradle does not hold the cat,'</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; text-align: left;"> Nor foxglove fit the fox.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- Christina Rossetti</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Ewe Experience</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After enjoying Garnish island, we decided to explore an art forest/garden in Glengarriff. The Ewe Experience is only open in the summer and treats the visitors to a mixture of history, art and science hiking trail, featuring sculptures mainly focusing on environmental issues, with many art made of recycled materials. It's a feast for the eyes, poetry on display in a nature setting. Everywhere we looked, there's something lurking, or hanging, puzzling and educating us. I don't think this fantasy-filled walk is for everybody, but it's a wonderful treat for those who really care about sustainability and responsible living.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I swear I feel Golum nearby.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You had one job, Stork!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #3d85c6; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That would have made a fantastic end to the day, wouldn't it? <i>BUT,</i> since we're such big overachievers, we decided to shoot for one more and hunt the Mares Tail waterfall. Sadly, I overdid the "Keep Left" advice, drove a bit far (2 inches?!) on the left and didn't see the ancient rock that slashed my tire. So, yup, we had to say the requiem for the left tire, but thankfully, we were unscathe. Eric, skillful for a first-timer, replaced the rental Audi's tire with a donut. The process wasn't pretty, but we got "sorted out". (They use that expression a lot around here.) Thankfully, the girls were very cooperative and entertained themselves with a worm they found and busied themselves with making it a nice home. With the spare tire in place, and 4 deflated human beings on board, I drove us back to the cottage. We ended the day with a leisurely walk down to the beach. </span><br />
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-16266546512416813102018-06-14T18:01:00.000-04:002018-06-14T18:28:05.067-04:00Day 1 Emerald Isle: G-d bless'd the green island and saw it was good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every year, we look forward to taking our family getaway in the summer. This year is a little different - a little early and a little farther. We decided to take the girls on our first international family trip. Our destination: Ireland. Not that there's anything wrong with the Disney castle (I love Disney world!), but I wanted the girls to see real castles while they're still little -- real life castles steeped in history; high castles built of thick stone walls to protect those who lived within; castles that had been plundered and now in ruins, which would stir their minds to asking questions aplenty; hauntingly beautiful sites that would show them how people used to live. With over 30,000 castles, ruined, regal or memorial of sort, and its green countryside, the emerald isle was the clear destination for us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our day started not too well with our Jet Blue MSP-BOS flight botched up by Aer Lingus. Thankfully, the Jet Blue staff were awesome and they got us on the United flights with only 2 hours delay in our schedule. Hooray Jet Blue! And while I've blacklisted United from my travels, I made an exception this time, and they weren't too bad...(this time). The girls were very good on the plane. Maya slept through dinner and breakfast even, then reminded me when she woke up that the crew were supposed to bring food! Thankfully, I saved her food, so she was happy and fed. We breezed through customs, and took a cab to the train station. After a ~3h train ride from Dublin to Cork, we rented a car in Cork to make our way to the Wild Atlantic Way.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everything you've heard about driving in Ireland is true...and more. For this trip, I was the designated driver. I was excited and had my adrenaline pumping in spite of the lack of sleep. I was rented a brand new Audi just to add more pressure, or excitement, and as soon as I pulled off the rental parking lot, I knew getting the full-coverage insurance was a good idea. Whew. I knew they drive on the other side of the road in Ireland, but...</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Opposite side driving + 100 Kph + Very narrow lanes + Cliff side + Historic stone walls + Tractors and tour buses + occasional sheep on the road = TERRIFYING!"</span> </b></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzybyOLYF-cWPaEtzmuZtzUKqrj8p8f20QcgCI_FTj8b2IJSzhcr3yqbJC8TKDYBmRJAH6UQoeH2CwhV-CoC2JdqyTHK0Vic379SqNI8eurGRqJK_NwQaIVay665O0Hk4q__WFlI9mVE/s400/IMG_8851.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzybyOLYF-cWPaEtzmuZtzUKqrj8p8f20QcgCI_FTj8b2IJSzhcr3yqbJC8TKDYBmRJAH6UQoeH2CwhV-CoC2JdqyTHK0Vic379SqNI8eurGRqJK_NwQaIVay665O0Hk4q__WFlI9mVE/s1600/IMG_8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not to mention traffic circles also go the opposite way, and I could only guess what the road signs said. Yeah - it would have been smart to read up on those before we actually made the drive! But hey, the soaring cliffs and epic bays on the way to the south west part of Ireland really did make for a sensational journey especially with the sheep and cows dotting the landscape. The kids enjoyed the view, and were laughing so hard at their parents trying maneuver the wild Ireland roads with me muttering to myself "KEEP LEFT" every 10 minutes or so. You can always count on them to ease the pressure. The kids were in great spirits as we stopped by Bantry to buy some groceries. By the time we arrived in Adrigole, where we rented a house, we were exhausted but happy. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If only we bought Guiness. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">When Erin first rose from the dark swelling flood,<br />God bless'd the green island and saw it was good;<br />The em'rald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,<br />In the ring of the world the most precious stone.<br />In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,<br />With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,<br />Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">And strikes her high harp 'mid the ocean's deep roar</span>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By William Drennan</span></div>
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-25477962367605437762017-10-14T20:00:00.000-04:002017-10-16T13:01:14.152-04:00Day 6: On art, madness, and slowing down in Vienna <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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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">"What I have in my heart and soul - must find a way out. That's the reason for music."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was glad that my wonderful husband convinced me to spend a personal day in Vienna. I was going to head back right after my conference so he's not solo-parenting more than necessary, but he </span><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">insisted </span></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">that I spend an extra day in Vienna since I'm already going to be there anyway. To think that I had to be convinced to take a day off and spend it in Vienna? Argh. What's wrong with me? 5 points for husband. And you bet, I enjoyed that day. I had indicated in my reservation that this day off was part of my 40th birthday celebration so my hotel made it right by serving mimosa with breakfast. Hey now! </span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A horse is a horse of course of course…</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyOTcmLAuHdWMqFiAn7xzeiR9NNeU239xIsLRhqtv6ks6Q_WFT6eVrQi2vKQv-j5vFDsr20EbhV8cQRfTTjgsf_cBlexMa1Zn61_ORC2ccfrPIkyisrFZLZoHMKICdqpGXurBP7Bl5SA/s1600/IMG_5677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyOTcmLAuHdWMqFiAn7xzeiR9NNeU239xIsLRhqtv6ks6Q_WFT6eVrQi2vKQv-j5vFDsr20EbhV8cQRfTTjgsf_cBlexMa1Zn61_ORC2ccfrPIkyisrFZLZoHMKICdqpGXurBP7Bl5SA/s320/IMG_5677.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyOTcmLAuHdWMqFiAn7xzeiR9NNeU239xIsLRhqtv6ks6Q_WFT6eVrQi2vKQv-j5vFDsr20EbhV8cQRfTTjgsf_cBlexMa1Zn61_ORC2ccfrPIkyisrFZLZoHMKICdqpGXurBP7Bl5SA/s1600/IMG_5677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My piano teacher used to live in Vienna and told me about the Spanish Riding School or</span><em><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.spanishridingschoollive.com/">Spanische Hofreitschule</a></span></em><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, which is a world class equestrian school that has been in existence for over 440 years. Vienna’s Spanish Riding School was established by the Habsburgs back in the 1500s, with the school buildings forming part of the Hofburg Palace. The school’s main performance space, the Winter Riding School is not your regular arena. The hall is decorated with delicate carvings and huge chandeliers, and a portrait of Emperor Charles VI hangs on one wall; the riders tip their hat as a gesture of gratitude every time they enter the arena. Sadly, taking photos weren't allowed but you can see them </span><a href="http://www.spanishridingschoollive.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you, like me, are curious as to the origin of the name of the school - It’s not the school or its riders that are Spanish, but the horses. The horses are all Lipizzaners, a breed which mixes Spanish, Arabian and Berber ancestry, and today's horses in the school has their bloodline traced back to 1750 and the first Habsburg stables. The training to become a professional rider takes over six years and only a few can be masters.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While I couldn't catch a show while I was in Vienna, I was able to watch a daily exercise routine. While the horses steal the show, it's really the art and mastery of training the horses to the way they elegantly move that makes this school unique. The fluidity in the movement comes from the harmony between rider and horse - not very different from a conductor commanding consensus to do an arpeggio or staccato with empathy, authority, and impeccable timing. Perhaps even more impressive, I sensed a feeling of contentment, pride, and accomplishment as the riders trained their Lipizzaners. It's as if I could feel the actual joy and fulfillment from the people working here, which made the experience of watching them even more enjoyable, and I left with gained perspective. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WMNbs_sJXB7BvTjATpNQL-IPbeniLQOxOtohBcuWFMUb9bN1D1EgHCqADlfs6qXttECmYT5VqN6QB4dwtfM4eMUDnTtxA-z3KaMWSyE9VrD68B9SIv_k0Nd3DP5mxxJ2pbz0Dy9WFt0/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WMNbs_sJXB7BvTjATpNQL-IPbeniLQOxOtohBcuWFMUb9bN1D1EgHCqADlfs6qXttECmYT5VqN6QB4dwtfM4eMUDnTtxA-z3KaMWSyE9VrD68B9SIv_k0Nd3DP5mxxJ2pbz0Dy9WFt0/s320/IMG_5705.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After strolling along and picking a Viennese cookbook at a bookshop, my next stop was lunch at</span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.cafefrauenhuber.at/1/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Café Frauenhuber</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna, also known to have hosted Mozart and Beethoven. Mozart's last public performance was said to have taken place in this very café. Although it's billed as Mozart's favorite café, surprisingly, there seem to be very few tourists and it had a more local feel. It's probably due to the place being tucked away in a little alley, plus, it's more costly than the surrounding cafes. The only downside is the menu has limited vegetarian options. Still, they served traditional Austrian food that screams 'Authentic'. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My book and meal matched!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Moonlight Sonata</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I was in high school, we were required to write an biographical essay on a famous person for our English class. I chose Beethoven for reasons I can't recall, possibly due to my fascination with playing </span><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fur Elise </span></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">then, but I my research left me feeling very awed by his life, by his music, by his genius.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ludwig Van Beethoven born in Bonn, Germany, has been performing publicly as a pianist since he was 8 years old. His father had pushed him hard to become the next child prodigy after Mozart, and he studied briefly under Haydn and possibly briefly with Mozart. He later on moved to Vienna to make a name for himself as a virtuoso pianist and gain favor with the nobility. But, how can one play when you're losing your hearing, or worse, your mind? Beethoven hid his </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQc6Xza8t2uVdnsZghqI1kNe1sXzhL286N3L4PUwwaJgQaWRyC9KWlPc2Sb93ZT6MPcQxfIutSwOvwmCacUtrqAYwdsLsDUa4NcbEXdZYOpw4dTRHJYsEzFP5o9NXd65UXKCeSRjd0MU/s1600/IMG_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQc6Xza8t2uVdnsZghqI1kNe1sXzhL286N3L4PUwwaJgQaWRyC9KWlPc2Sb93ZT6MPcQxfIutSwOvwmCacUtrqAYwdsLsDUa4NcbEXdZYOpw4dTRHJYsEzFP5o9NXd65UXKCeSRjd0MU/s1600/IMG_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">deteriorating hearing but continued to compose, conduct and play his music.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I couldn't leave Vienna without paying my respect to the Maestro at his final resting place at </span><a href="http://www.visitingvienna.com/sights/zentralfriedhof/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Zentralfriedhof</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. If it was the only place I'd have time to visit in Vienna, I would have been fine with it. Beethoven died at 56 years of age. Thousands of citizens attended his funeral procession including </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schubert" title="Franz Schubert"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Franz Schubert</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. At Zentralfriedhof, in Group 32A, you'd find Beethoven's grave very near Schubert's grave and Mozart's memorial. Johannes Brahms' is just across along with Johann Strauss and his family. Ludwig Boltzmann, Physicist, is also buried in Zentralfriedhof, just before the presidential crypt. His entropy equation is engraved on his memorial stone. Very few places can give you the quiet introspective that a walk in a graveyard provides.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J-Gz-Fx3RJwHiIdlt7WBtffgmCrTxPwlwpq8exStWV3_IgepExBj3feR80i6KzQN48dVgvTipwcImqiQy1v6-MhJYRwiw2IeXaTSbvHYFPP-TWryfc83P9RBv5DbxT632lKdgM6HMlQ/s1600/IMG_5715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J-Gz-Fx3RJwHiIdlt7WBtffgmCrTxPwlwpq8exStWV3_IgepExBj3feR80i6KzQN48dVgvTipwcImqiQy1v6-MhJYRwiw2IeXaTSbvHYFPP-TWryfc83P9RBv5DbxT632lKdgM6HMlQ/s640/IMG_5715.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Humbling to stand here - Beethoven (L) and Schubert's (R) graves, and Mozart's memorial in the middle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqLfRutLn89VQ8REo6AdAY56vuiu_aNut4QrTWQ-lYecjj4VNUBE_yiaic-FWsGNoAeOnEWVaCFMkmJ5QIbfvHV1DV9hGYJtmQGk2FlQt3IkzCLvvBuO3hUZmWShumHoI2i-6CvU_Kq8/s1600/IMG_5742+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqLfRutLn89VQ8REo6AdAY56vuiu_aNut4QrTWQ-lYecjj4VNUBE_yiaic-FWsGNoAeOnEWVaCFMkmJ5QIbfvHV1DV9hGYJtmQGk2FlQt3IkzCLvvBuO3hUZmWShumHoI2i-6CvU_Kq8/s320/IMG_5742+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Boltzmann's tombstone bears the inscription of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boltzmann%27s_entropy_formula" title="Boltzmann's entropy formula"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">entropy formula</span></a><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">: S = k log W</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I took the tram back to the inner city to and headed to the Naschmarkt, Vienna's popular food and produce market. On the way, I decided to check out the </span><a href="https://www.secession.at/en/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Secession</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. The Vienna Secession was founded by artists </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt" title="Gustav Klimt"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gustav Klimt</span></a><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and others because they felt that the Vienna Künstlerhaus was not serving their needs and expression of art. Secession artists wanted to break free of art confinement within academic tradition, and outside historical influence. Frankly, I'm not luddite enough to appreciate this. Because the Secession housed Klimt's Beethoven frieze, I had to check it out.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQc6Xza8t2uVdnsZghqI1kNe1sXzhL286N3L4PUwwaJgQaWRyC9KWlPc2Sb93ZT6MPcQxfIutSwOvwmCacUtrqAYwdsLsDUa4NcbEXdZYOpw4dTRHJYsEzFP5o9NXd65UXKCeSRjd0MU/s1600/IMG_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The iconic Secession building. "</span><i><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Der Zeit ihre Kunst. Der Kunst ihre Freiheit.</span></i><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">—“To every time its art. To art its freedom.”—</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvzojTBEK6_fhFMq3KNaOnCwirTECu_YRjHpQx0Ll6rL0GpggkEP5Vz_rZJsEwdvZAqUJ7TI_RPmzkb7QH9BiyHCW28wxA-l0m9hQBw-Yc3UapWsYRaXQYBRF_iWCwskKp9TjiqmDmG8/s1600/IMG_5766+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvzojTBEK6_fhFMq3KNaOnCwirTECu_YRjHpQx0Ll6rL0GpggkEP5Vz_rZJsEwdvZAqUJ7TI_RPmzkb7QH9BiyHCW28wxA-l0m9hQBw-Yc3UapWsYRaXQYBRF_iWCwskKp9TjiqmDmG8/s400/IMG_5766+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> Last portion of the Beethoven Frieze</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gustav Klimt created the monumental </span><i><a href="http://www.klimt.com/en/gallery/beethoven-frieze.html"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beethoven Frieze</span></a></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for the XIVth exhibition of Vienna Secessionist, as a tribute to Beethoven with the objective to reunite architecture, painting, sculpture and music. The frieze is actually a narrative presented on 3 walls, which reads from left to right. Three female figures, called Genii, symbolize </span><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">humanity </span></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">seeking fulfillment, pleading to a knight to lead them through struggles - disaster, vices, sickness, madness, death, etc. represented by characters such gorgons and a giant gorilla. Fulfillment does come at the end, where love and art triumph, shown by a couple locked in an erotic embrace, surrounded by a choir, echoed in the last part of Beethoven's </span><i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ninth Symphony</span></i><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, the 'Ode to Joy'. The bottom line: Art, according to Klimt, can guide us through a life of hostility and pain to find pure joy. I truly envy the artists and the art enthusiasts for their unique perspective.</span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />The art was meant for the exhibition only, and the frieze was painted directly on the walls with light materials. However, it was preserved and is now on permanent display in the Vienna Secession hall and considered one of Klimt’s masterpiece highlighting Viennese Art Nouveau. The art was so popular that a portion of it was used in one of the most famous collectors' coins: the Austrian 100 euro, The Secession Coin, minted on November 10, 2004. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now for the other arts at The Secession, I wasn't too crazy about. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxKwPdnQavZwFpunJmv70byVVqPrIe4cQtgm5AKO3hJEK6QgfD0KGRXK0jXZEnJQ_SOq6fCn2hXpwlKA8ChUbggqySLGpUxmqryKSIJhrlFHkUSCp-PYUvH9SaXAg_OPgVxXyE0LKFYw/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxKwPdnQavZwFpunJmv70byVVqPrIe4cQtgm5AKO3hJEK6QgfD0KGRXK0jXZEnJQ_SOq6fCn2hXpwlKA8ChUbggqySLGpUxmqryKSIJhrlFHkUSCp-PYUvH9SaXAg_OPgVxXyE0LKFYw/s320/IMG_5776.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My kids can replicate this with little effort.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, I moved along to the Naschmarkt, where tourists from around the globe mingled with locals doing their daily food shopping. Fresh fruit, olives, and spices make such colorful displays in stalls. It was a feast for the eyes. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Selection of herbs and spices</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Say cheese!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This one!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I couldn't leave Vienna without looping back to Hotel Sacher to get a sweet treat for hubby. He always tells me to slow down, take a breather, make use of my annual leave. I seldom listen... but glad that I did this time. The next time I'm in Vienna, I'm bringing him with me. And Vienna, there will be a next time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-21987521362163554522017-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:002017-10-13T10:50:38.300-04:00Days 3-5: A kiss to remember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My days in Bratislava were filled with amazing science coming from all around the world, interesting people, thought-provoking research, zero alternative facts. The conference gala on Day 3 was held in another castle, this time in Austria. For the price of 120 Euros and a conference registration of about 700 Euros, you too can get a bus ride to</span><a href="https://www.schlosshof.at/en/"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Schloss Hof</span></a><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and be serenaded by a quartet while you eat, and treat yourself to great-dancing afterwards. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Schloss Hof, Prince Eugene of Savoy’s country estate</span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The dinner service was well-choreographed with impressive precision.</span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During the last conference day (Day 4) at Bratislava, I was disappointed to hear that the tour to Devin castle ruin was cancelled. The organizers showed me the list of registrants: </span><b><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1</span></b><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. And yes, you can probably guess who that one was. Argh. Humans! Seriously, out of ~1200 congress attendees, I was the only 1 interested to see the castle ruin? Who are these people?! How can my colleagues endure looking under the microscope for hours, but not be interested in seeing a ruined, historic castle from the Neolithic age? Sometimes, humanity fails me.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But I quickly got over it. I contemplated going to the ruin myself and looked at the bus schedules etc., but in the end, the pull of seeing Vienna again was stronger. Truth be told, apart from Devin, I felt that I've seen most of the things that Bratislava has to offer in the 4 days of my stay. I had great dinners and amazing walk with wonderful views, but otherwise, nothing to write home about in terms of exciting happenings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I decided to hop on the earlier train to Vienna. The train station in Bratislava is quite small and easy to navigate. While all info are in Slavik, it wasn't hard to decipher the codes since I had a working WiFi at my fingertips. One thing they don't tell you is that there aren't any escalators or elevators (at least I didn't see any!) so travelers have to lug their heavy suitcases up and down the stairs. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>2nd rendezvous with Vienna</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In contrast, the Wien Hbf is big, very modern, and with escalators - woot, woot! The lines at Hbf can a bit confusing with the long names of destinations, but I researched my way en route from Bratislava. I bought a 24h Vienna pass and boarded the U1 in the direction of Leopoldau and got off Karlsplatz, which is a short walk to my hotel at Das Opernring. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I chose my hotel well... The view from my window (State Opera) makes me want to sing, operatically!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The location of my hotel can't be beaten. It's along the periphery of the first district, Inner stadt, diagonally across the State Opera. It's walking distance to most museums, to the Naschmarkt, and has multiple tram lines station that can take me to most places of my interest. I requested for a room with a view, and got it. (Again, it never hurts to ask!) I had a wonderful sitting area, but I wasn't going to sit long - I need to see this city and I had only a day and a half to see my top picks. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3fldGOn_eEn_EW3ay5HDdYAYrkU0uB9lSp_GvOMD6GIqlagzyUDazocixeUvwPBEc_vowUVGgOfOYR8uA5ah7CKQn-69US75-kkkP01zsRJ65Z3SopbHwTJ3X4O37GBYWnVzVXWPyPY/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At this point, I just finished reading The Painted Kiss and was extremely intrigued by Gustav Klimt and Emily Floge. Will the art seen in real life reveal the true nature of their relationship? The historical fictional novel portrayed them as "maybe" lovers, and google research wasn't revealing much.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>First stop - The Belvedere</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Everything is better with ice cream</span></td></tr>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Belvedere is a actually a
complex comprising of 2 palaces - upper and lower, the Orangery, and the Palace
Stables. It was the summer palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The
Upper Belvedere museum houses many of the artwork of Klimt alongside Egon Schele,
etc. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third
district of Vienna - close enough to commute to, but not swarmed with tourists.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QGm7uTTcpHgxNiwq2td_3omj3rZbhYmy4oMK6jbRvMsUYx3wXXd9S1lanU-NTo-zI096wpB53WIIVFIt9Mod5p5csSjCdsYaG6Vl3DhSZQTQe91VgM-k42GIUIIdl7BCtvFuSFbbDwU/s1600/IMG_5587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QGm7uTTcpHgxNiwq2td_3omj3rZbhYmy4oMK6jbRvMsUYx3wXXd9S1lanU-NTo-zI096wpB53WIIVFIt9Mod5p5csSjCdsYaG6Vl3DhSZQTQe91VgM-k42GIUIIdl7BCtvFuSFbbDwU/s400/IMG_5587.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Waterfalls
and beautifully landscaped garden in between the 2 palaces</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, I'm no art maven and cannot tell for certain the styles I like. All I know is that there are paintings that move me and more that don't do anything for me. Take for instance the Mona Lisa at the Louevre. To say that I was disappointed when I saw it is an understatement. But maybe my expectation was just higher. It just didn't evoke any emotion from me. Nada. Same with most of Picasso's work, Matisse's, Cezanne's, etc. In general, I find Van Gogh's landscape paintings evocative, but his portraits not so much. I had never been a fan of cubism, nor the random-sized dots and squares and other geometric patterns displayed at the Guggenheim in New York. But when I saw Klimt's pieces, I was speechless.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>I Felt Like a Voyeur.</b></span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I couldn't pry my eyes away from the couple's passionate embrace on The Kiss. The grandeur of the art in size, the gold color, the expression of the woman... it was unlike any art I've ever seen. The brilliant specks of gold in the background appears to bathe the couple, intimately holding each other, in starlight. The art is set on the edge of a flowery meadow, and you can feel the bliss and love. It makes the viewer feel that their gaze is an intrusion. I felt compelled to look away, but I could only move closer. I had to see the delicate woman's expression and the gentleness of the man up close. It was quite powerful. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji9tGLY0UHNu5lk8gDIf-rq0hqnWxqsi6t9zxFcF2VygzPqXmAraG0S_p_gnrJ0eLxgPYLccxoxJjhNyKJrW5FDv0RwlsI-9aePK0Ei37NRJDWWw9UcVX9wy9Ykh69XIkK7Z4JEi-ek8/s1600/IMG_5556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji9tGLY0UHNu5lk8gDIf-rq0hqnWxqsi6t9zxFcF2VygzPqXmAraG0S_p_gnrJ0eLxgPYLccxoxJjhNyKJrW5FDv0RwlsI-9aePK0Ei37NRJDWWw9UcVX9wy9Ykh69XIkK7Z4JEi-ek8/s640/IMG_5556.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QGm7uTTcpHgxNiwq2td_3omj3rZbhYmy4oMK6jbRvMsUYx3wXXd9S1lanU-NTo-zI096wpB53WIIVFIt9Mod5p5csSjCdsYaG6Vl3DhSZQTQe91VgM-k42GIUIIdl7BCtvFuSFbbDwU/s1600/IMG_5587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Belvedere also introduced me to Egon Schiele's work. He happened to be Klimt's prodigy, and it showed in his art. Now I'll have to search for his bio too. 2018 is the centenary of Egon Schiele’s death, so the Belvedere is showing its collection of Schiele paintings to mark the occasion. What I saw from his work whet my art appetite. This museum is a must see again the next time I'm in Vienna. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsitksrF2NiUrWfuOes7KIvZEPXQQc-QAIwu2orqNDbzeRaTScn9xt0FNk68HQDOl49a6ZQXuOO0sI6byMdXGJ4-uV3g2i40Y68yAN4Yeg00FY3hJawdo8yKp95lF_ErgQ8iOxeOHUyA/s1600/IMG_5563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXxk1HKzVlW5tsQMeLnSi8l3auCkQmfFweuafNnjP0s7pN3y7rL5iwCscdDIBFVuYW84UpaWe4utAEmHSysbZUlgF3x2kW8c_3vr-vmCLDFMps10mjKqcHEmXspkuXzY_vHbPxnRmkpE/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXxk1HKzVlW5tsQMeLnSi8l3auCkQmfFweuafNnjP0s7pN3y7rL5iwCscdDIBFVuYW84UpaWe4utAEmHSysbZUlgF3x2kW8c_3vr-vmCLDFMps10mjKqcHEmXspkuXzY_vHbPxnRmkpE/s400/IMG_5539.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Death and Maiden</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, Egon Schiele</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1BD6bKmg3kAE6ACYJMI5ut6lpckXFLOgUVEgsvV3TpSqhY1z8G3sHzRk0C5jvX1KGcwqrZ8fHkNUWg2NxfvBALGCmg9VGnz-WRspy3gbOu1b2i8TgubUoBFsIuz3N9oW2dU-XxHF-Q8/s1600/IMG_5602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1BD6bKmg3kAE6ACYJMI5ut6lpckXFLOgUVEgsvV3TpSqhY1z8G3sHzRk0C5jvX1KGcwqrZ8fHkNUWg2NxfvBALGCmg9VGnz-WRspy3gbOu1b2i8TgubUoBFsIuz3N9oW2dU-XxHF-Q8/s320/IMG_5602.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After seeing the Belvedere, I took tram D back to </span><i><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">innere stadt</span></i><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and headed to<span style="color: lime;"> </span><a href="http://www.demel.at/"><span style="color: lime;">Demel's</span></a>, which has been been around since 1786 as the imperial and royal court bakery, and has indulged tourists like me in all sorts of pastry goodness. I could have tried their version of Sacher Torte so I can give an opinion on which had the better cake, but in the end the "come-hither" look of the apple strudel from the glass confectionery case was impossible to ignore.</span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvudQtiyqcdVrpAgWvvi1rJenEoaFzgdGcmpWEpBB7a8dCBs733JwTVYAj4Isb0lXmI99bgHjf_CKt0KbdU885GWdSaPWd7lJ6wKH6-Z9-l4fYa3dwiY69iz3NSdnOok9ay6ZwO3mqNQ0/s1600/IMG_5611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvudQtiyqcdVrpAgWvvi1rJenEoaFzgdGcmpWEpBB7a8dCBs733JwTVYAj4Isb0lXmI99bgHjf_CKt0KbdU885GWdSaPWd7lJ6wKH6-Z9-l4fYa3dwiY69iz3NSdnOok9ay6ZwO3mqNQ0/s400/IMG_5611.JPG" width="300" /></span></a><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I passed by the <a href="http://www.albertina.at/about_the_museum"><span style="color: lime;">Albertina</span></a> and was
surprised to see people walking up to the museum entrance. Hmm. I was certain
the museum closed at 6, but I quickly checked the hours online and found that
they're open until 9 pm on Wednesdays. And what luck, it happened to be a
Wednesday! </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
Albertina is actually also a palace converted to a museum. Since I was on an art enthusiast's euphoria, I decided to continue my art education at the Albertina. Their collection ranged</span><span class="avtext"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> from "Impressionism and Pointillism to Fauvism and Expressionism, from New Objectivity and the Russian avant-garde to Surrealism and Picasso..." Quite impressive, and I enjoyed it more so than I thought I would. I still don't like Cubism, but Picasso actually had some periods that I enjoy. I also enjoyed introduction to Emil Nolde's work. Perhaps unsurprisingly because his art bear the influence of van Gogh.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span class="avtext"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Stormy Sea</i></span><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (1930). “There is silver blue, sky blue, and thunder blue. Every color holds within it a soul, which makes me happy or repels me, and which acts as a stimulus,” the artist mused.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhBhi7jW5Gj8FcJgrpujvTCoxEKj70L7TsnDoDj8nk8uMX_IGuL-4pI8uo8T55BdLNrLuMIVhmXZodfIkZw-xTTPSLKj9EsDqcXVFUU8n0rnLysvoFLL6lINggfNQ5uEsp7Fe6MkMaHE/s1600/IMG_5630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhBhi7jW5Gj8FcJgrpujvTCoxEKj70L7TsnDoDj8nk8uMX_IGuL-4pI8uo8T55BdLNrLuMIVhmXZodfIkZw-xTTPSLKj9EsDqcXVFUU8n0rnLysvoFLL6lINggfNQ5uEsp7Fe6MkMaHE/s320/IMG_5630.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Picasso's dove became an international symbol of the peace movement.</span><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Monet's The Water Lilies</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then it was time to kiss the city good night...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien, Austria48.1915585 16.38095469999996122.669524 -24.927639300000038 73.713593 57.68954869999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-54988868337319031992017-10-12T20:00:00.000-04:002017-10-12T22:32:03.308-04:00Day 2: The Beautiful Green Danube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT653aU0a1gtuGgsDZBTakUEjkddnH_-RsIqqZNnMlZg-7h7tb_cG9EDW2npMoKQMg0lqgnuXGskaqcC3c7-dYAXxV7B16AqBz4IMsNo-sOvP-DOQ7AzfIxMxoWnCAsi6awFVACgW8DFA/s1600/IMG_5124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT653aU0a1gtuGgsDZBTakUEjkddnH_-RsIqqZNnMlZg-7h7tb_cG9EDW2npMoKQMg0lqgnuXGskaqcC3c7-dYAXxV7B16AqBz4IMsNo-sOvP-DOQ7AzfIxMxoWnCAsi6awFVACgW8DFA/s640/IMG_5124.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLbGQWCKbHOXlklpDj74HPw95fCPvadxAUcq1XTKyAFNNydrgdd0BorKhbNVQVpuEUoUZhC5VYJj7-NFgAU2WNC4JgeJiCT8c4BeZc7SdFDKdN5LRJma0Qzv1eZFFO8X71yYHrkj-lyU/s1600/IMG_5150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLbGQWCKbHOXlklpDj74HPw95fCPvadxAUcq1XTKyAFNNydrgdd0BorKhbNVQVpuEUoUZhC5VYJj7-NFgAU2WNC4JgeJiCT8c4BeZc7SdFDKdN5LRJma0Qzv1eZFFO8X71yYHrkj-lyU/s320/IMG_5150.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In America: "Please remain seated."</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In Austria: "Please feel free to walk around the boat."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had a few choices for transportation to Bratislava –
plane, car, train… but, boat was an option! How could I not take that and sail
down the Beautiful Blue Danube?! I’d happily hum Johann Strauss’ waltz for the
entire duration of the boat ride.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well,
the boat turned out to be a high-speed catamaran – awesome sauce – but the
Danube canal and river, at least in Vienna through Bratislava, turned out to be
murky green and not the crystal blue that I was envisioning.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Danube River is Central and Eastern
Europe’s longest river, touching 10 different countries. So, presumably
it’s blue in other parts. I later read that it is a vivid shade of blue in
Budapest and Hungary, especially in the winter. The </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Donaukanal,</span></i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> as the Danube canal is called in Vienna, is green due
to water turbines and the canal’s heavy use as waterway which causes movement
of the sediments on the river. BUT, Strauss was Viennese, so why was Strauss waxing
poetic? Then again, the Red Sea isn’t red. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Holy high winds, Batman! </span><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After over an hour of cruising down the Danube river, the
ruins of Devin castle, which marked the Slovakia-Austria border, appeared.
Soon, the UFO tower and Bratislava castle became visible too. Because I left on
the first boat out and the conference didn’t start until afternoon, I had a few
hours to explore Slovakia’s capital. I dropped off my luggage at the hotel,
which is pleasantly situated in Stare Mesto (Old Town).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyBqnpoEr7ifguAFCDM0tTLp3o3v__VV46SRFw72vgaXrMl-BKTgfUX01EEHdKQYmQGGk_RzW_vW7roXwJf9A6ynA8xtW2gwoa6JuPczTuqA3-vbxEldNGElzbvp3vb7YkNven-EJxSs/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyBqnpoEr7ifguAFCDM0tTLp3o3v__VV46SRFw72vgaXrMl-BKTgfUX01EEHdKQYmQGGk_RzW_vW7roXwJf9A6ynA8xtW2gwoa6JuPczTuqA3-vbxEldNGElzbvp3vb7YkNven-EJxSs/s640/IMG_5174.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Devin castle majestically standing on the frontier of Slovakia and Austria</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bratislava is a small city.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The shops were very cute, and the restaurants in Old Town were touristy. Still, I felt an inexplicable melancholy while walking through the city.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is old, though not by name. The city was mostly known in English by its German name, Pressburg, until it was renamed to Bratislava in 1919. Walking the old city became a confusing narrative of beautiful old architecture characteristic of many </span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eastern European, beautiful cobbled stone paths,</span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and unshakeable presence of communist history. A memorial caught my eye because it had the word<b> </b>זוכר, a Hebrew word <i>Zakhor</i>:``Remember''. I tried to look around for an explanation for the memorial, but there was nothing…. No plaque, no pamphlets. Not that it would help because most of the signs here are in Slovak. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC8aSPoWWHNoI_r7N6MAl5iBN2R98_qRuuTmhFP6M02MRSMMjgmpK6TzAuAs_d0OhS2-G4l1CE-dPxu8DqFJBdR27Sk3MEbIu-3DbIKATaT5LCx6TMCsmMHwb0PY8OEJQdrFQO-ZWObc/s1600/IMG_5208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC8aSPoWWHNoI_r7N6MAl5iBN2R98_qRuuTmhFP6M02MRSMMjgmpK6TzAuAs_d0OhS2-G4l1CE-dPxu8DqFJBdR27Sk3MEbIu-3DbIKATaT5LCx6TMCsmMHwb0PY8OEJQdrFQO-ZWObc/s640/IMG_5208.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Bratislava old town</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeALVMFwzWmq0uPYoFBpnzoyMg7iNmSFNQtzEvMJGlxqVzP3Co0fzn7wT2M2LDSPhrIyQClUoh6UxWjYcgcWvKUYRK4WWFoVCEWP2xHhF6yLkBcsYFeDCX9wMoJleWVRGs81acJ-fhsb0/s1600/IMG_5200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeALVMFwzWmq0uPYoFBpnzoyMg7iNmSFNQtzEvMJGlxqVzP3Co0fzn7wT2M2LDSPhrIyQClUoh6UxWjYcgcWvKUYRK4WWFoVCEWP2xHhF6yLkBcsYFeDCX9wMoJleWVRGs81acJ-fhsb0/s320/IMG_5200.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Čumil</span></i><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> - Bronze sculpture of a man peeping out of the manhole. He is said to be either resting and watching passersby after cleaning the sewer or is looking under women's skirts.</span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNZvto4kEizT5BhDVU35gYGWDFThXctQvX-k922-DSg3d0qvtQ3EU5d84D1MLg7ZUjGyZUasYQfI5e9SQHRjwJMfPXNmDcXT2i9BR7tpIUM64uD9NTdyF0BVrYmozqlZQcl4yvrtQJCE/s320/IMG_5216.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">“Van Gogh House”, a derelict structure where the vacant windows have been filled in with Van Gogh-style art.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNZvto4kEizT5BhDVU35gYGWDFThXctQvX-k922-DSg3d0qvtQ3EU5d84D1MLg7ZUjGyZUasYQfI5e9SQHRjwJMfPXNmDcXT2i9BR7tpIUM64uD9NTdyF0BVrYmozqlZQcl4yvrtQJCE/s1600/IMG_5216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNZvto4kEizT5BhDVU35gYGWDFThXctQvX-k922-DSg3d0qvtQ3EU5d84D1MLg7ZUjGyZUasYQfI5e9SQHRjwJMfPXNmDcXT2i9BR7tpIUM64uD9NTdyF0BVrYmozqlZQcl4yvrtQJCE/s1600/IMG_5216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVaW_fGkEL47p_OqOzuw3M6sIGkBtMkDJ-0Cj_cza9CZJvTq8HNKqo0GSIw41xfQ3zoHNxsP3LLCFYwMFKQxiMGGPtXlXdkSXNoQVGF1pSsa8adgLxrgUVHPT525DnyLo26N0oGTCGV4/s1600/IMG_5218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVaW_fGkEL47p_OqOzuw3M6sIGkBtMkDJ-0Cj_cza9CZJvTq8HNKqo0GSIw41xfQ3zoHNxsP3LLCFYwMFKQxiMGGPtXlXdkSXNoQVGF1pSsa8adgLxrgUVHPT525DnyLo26N0oGTCGV4/s320/IMG_5218.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">During construction of Most SNP, parts of the old town was demolished to make way for the road leading to the bridge. The old Jewish quarters was sacrificed, including the old synagogue. The high price of "out with the old, in with the new".</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Storming the Castle</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhMkjChxXNrPa3C66n-MBpNrYnbcVdgX8ww8xsppNDtZ1OUwej7I9AnhUu9ZcMf0DQqrduEmbKpcCDqWr4kQUINvyK5H3OXXCLEgCenV4lrF6QWZuKqjK12YQaQeLagGtXiPYPPb0L5k/s1600/IMG_5224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhMkjChxXNrPa3C66n-MBpNrYnbcVdgX8ww8xsppNDtZ1OUwej7I9AnhUu9ZcMf0DQqrduEmbKpcCDqWr4kQUINvyK5H3OXXCLEgCenV4lrF6QWZuKqjK12YQaQeLagGtXiPYPPb0L5k/s320/IMG_5224.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I decided to quietly look for a lunch place that has a view
of the Bratislava castle. Thankful for WiFi and helpful Yelp reviews, I picked
one that popped up as the highly rated lunch spot with a view. After a while of
walking thru the cobblestone path, I found the place, but was confused because
I couldn’t see the castle from the outside. But as soon as I was shown my
table, it dawned on me… OH. I’m </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">under</span></i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
the castle. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten under a castle before. That’s neat. I
decided to order traditional food which seems to be bread dumpling of some
sort, but I wasn’t crazy about it. It was very dry. I moved on to dessert…
which was weird. It’s supposed to be poppy seed dumpling, but I’m imagining all
sorts of creepy things. Hey, did I mention I was eating </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">under</span></i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the castle? I’m sure it’s acquired taste, but I wasn’t
acquiring it this time.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A big bowl of Nope</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hiked up the castle, which is Bratislava’s landmark, built
in the 9th century. Eleven kings and eight queens were crowned in this castle
as it proudly stood on a hill by the Danube river, as it does today – after it
was ruined and restored. I explored the expansive castle ground but had to skip
the museum because my conference was starting.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxNbGvbcFs_0X94hEyODRiWhSpsUwiTtlH5ewTzxd1OBDY52hKjuFZ-FqHhI7wS2FJUpJ-I-JhvL0NJv_oWfuncFYINZXE6bGSRNCln_g10M437p2ubG9o-VRVq6z0QclSItszI1aeiI/s1600/IMG_5253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxNbGvbcFs_0X94hEyODRiWhSpsUwiTtlH5ewTzxd1OBDY52hKjuFZ-FqHhI7wS2FJUpJ-I-JhvL0NJv_oWfuncFYINZXE6bGSRNCln_g10M437p2ubG9o-VRVq6z0QclSItszI1aeiI/s400/IMG_5253.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The castle was infamously bombarded by Napoleon and his troops.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvUwzJ5Ky4quRmS9hHf4k4ej3DN4FnngHRNMicd5YMJ7yVQMpi7uGbSyGBdh4jqFnDACGHJ3Uuw20ktmbTPMNQeAd15-H9yE7KGt26dUSFiYhFjFyZV_i3ggSs86u3ABrEOgttq3bRVk/s1600/IMG_5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvUwzJ5Ky4quRmS9hHf4k4ej3DN4FnngHRNMicd5YMJ7yVQMpi7uGbSyGBdh4jqFnDACGHJ3Uuw20ktmbTPMNQeAd15-H9yE7KGt26dUSFiYhFjFyZV_i3ggSs86u3ABrEOgttq3bRVk/s400/IMG_5275.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The crown at the top of St Martin's Cathedral (left) is made of real gold. This is a replica of the Hungarian crown </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">used by the </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Kingdom of Hungary</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> for most of its existence. </span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">19 royal coronations have been held here.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Flying purple people
eater?</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW-ukAtzCO7oati8TAblYui4vJ-Bn8phM2znwAUiv3TMViPDhmVbLE9GeOryVKaduuff1msNXHWyJxEGGlAL_kBCrML8QFXdFfCGh1mjd9IbSeglOOp_ldGKtUwzpGRs_xXLzZVumzeI/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW-ukAtzCO7oati8TAblYui4vJ-Bn8phM2znwAUiv3TMViPDhmVbLE9GeOryVKaduuff1msNXHWyJxEGGlAL_kBCrML8QFXdFfCGh1mjd9IbSeglOOp_ldGKtUwzpGRs_xXLzZVumzeI/s400/IMG_5350.JPG" width="300" /></span></a><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When my meeting ended, it was night time. After briefly
schmoozing at the cocktail hour, I hightailed it to dinner. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, let’s talk
briefly about heights. I love the bird’s eye view from
high vantage points. Sadly, those closest to me are not too fond of heights so
I often find myself ground-bound. But when I’m traveling solo, sky
is the limit. Next in popularity to Bratislava castle, the Most SNP bridge is a
dramatic structure bisecting the Danube. The flying
saucer structure on top of the Most SNP support pylon is actually a restaurant,
cheekily named UFO. There is a lift (elevator) on the leg that takes you to the
restaurant.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A couple of staircases above
the restaurant is the open space observation deck.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I headed straight to the deck to get the 360
panoramic view of Bratislava.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I imagine
this is spectacular in the morning too, but in the evening it’s more breath-taking.
The restaurant, UFO, is modern, upscale, and romantic, serving Mediterranean fusion food.
It was fun to sit and feel the gentle rocking of the tower as a truck passed by
below or the strong winds blew. Sadly, the service was poor, and the server just
seemed plain miserable. The food was mediocre too – costly, but not spectacular.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I decided to climb back up the
top deck post-dinner to brush off the disappointing meal. Since it was rather
late, I had the entire viewing deck to myself, which ended my day on a high
note after all. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I pondered on the day's adventure and Bratislava's many sides - the modern UFO, the baroque style churches, the castle on top of the hill - ruined and rebuilt, the countryside across the bridge, and the beautiful Danube river that witnessed all of the turbulent changes with time. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Superman's eye view</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Black Danube at night</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0Bratislava, Slovakia48.1485965 17.1077477999999747.8094945 16.462300799999969 48.487698499999993 17.753194799999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-15022504440736413682017-10-12T12:33:00.000-04:002017-10-12T12:33:11.709-04:00Day 1: Waltzing my way through Vienna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4-ytBL7-nN8uD9lMVuIXlSnz4gtWSmKjfDaiRvI2XreHgNqwWcYKyB7NIN-Hi226uOpctD61zuJLb5ZJwxBmX3jZs1TBefO2dyXW3sSkFGIHT_6219oieGx1l93-C2emrl-tUEqMlcI/s1600/IMG_5089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4-ytBL7-nN8uD9lMVuIXlSnz4gtWSmKjfDaiRvI2XreHgNqwWcYKyB7NIN-Hi226uOpctD61zuJLb5ZJwxBmX3jZs1TBefO2dyXW3sSkFGIHT_6219oieGx1l93-C2emrl-tUEqMlcI/s640/IMG_5089.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few days after arriving from our summer vacation in
Michigan, my purple suitcase and I were once again reunited - this time
on the way to a conference in Bratislava, Slovakia via Vienna,
Austria. Why via Vienna? Well, Bratislava airport is quite small and it
was more time efficient and cost effective for me to fly thru Vienna or
Budapest, and I was told that Vienna is a must-see city. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The most important religious building in Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral has held many notable events including Mozart's wedding and funeral.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GR9NmT1UkBIV1jg-0BETAdAFji4xQ9XxLjniw_QM5GqWo3eaKKWHUYu1zasgoPOUAhQiu_taK90SDQ-GtUN2WY18gA9hfOARvOLBI_chpH6RCF3V1vq5ydno8ENVMup4PPAzIeIfok/s1600/IMG_5005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GR9NmT1UkBIV1jg-0BETAdAFji4xQ9XxLjniw_QM5GqWo3eaKKWHUYu1zasgoPOUAhQiu_taK90SDQ-GtUN2WY18gA9hfOARvOLBI_chpH6RCF3V1vq5ydno8ENVMup4PPAzIeIfok/s320/IMG_5005.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inside the cathedral</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I arrived in Vienna in the middle of the afternoon with only
1 hour of sleep on the plane, but having heard so much about the place from friends and
colleagues, I decided to simply caffeine-up and put on my good walking shoes
even if I feel like a walking zombie. Thankfully, my hotel is located in the
first district, a mere 5-minute walk from Stephanplatz, which is the heart of
the city. The plaza is named after Stephandom, or the<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Cathedral,_Vienna"> St. Stephen's Cathedral</a>,
the well-preserved gothic cathedral sits at the center and is the first stop
for most tourists. The plaza, on the other hand, is filled with tourists and
milling locals alike. This is a favorite spot for locals, especially youth, to
hang out, meet friends, and watch people while enjoying a good, albeit tiny,
cup of coffee at any one of the cafes that lines the plaza. As can be expected,
it was swamped on a Saturday! I’m not going to lie – this scene can be
intimidating for some travelers. It reminds me of Time Square in NY, full of
people from all over the world. The main difference – the plaza is surrounded
by historic buildings instead of tall, glossy skyscrapers. I walked inside the cathedral and was lucky to catch a classical guitar player playing a tune
during the afternoon service. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiVaXYwpa9m9ynU73Ju7gCnwuFBuRrmA0445qrRKmnDkfqzycZgUgDipKBQXBxheSH0vxbkASGmTQt1LLTO-AB1HtRHOJbehcHpQZ31fHiYJemAHkUiLECmexX0CRIDB2KFLmCtLNpR4/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb39QiDOoG-cBm4pgZtUGVfM6Rpaj_-uuI-XBgIAQqKRXQPNGRRubMcsxLePwzU8ide-q9ITnBjjkLQoCWI3OhVVyeRFnq4V1ug1lZKNimo-dFd0u55Q8wrAZjyHZuuO6UdF8UFIcH0o/s1600/IMG_5116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb39QiDOoG-cBm4pgZtUGVfM6Rpaj_-uuI-XBgIAQqKRXQPNGRRubMcsxLePwzU8ide-q9ITnBjjkLQoCWI3OhVVyeRFnq4V1ug1lZKNimo-dFd0u55Q8wrAZjyHZuuO6UdF8UFIcH0o/s1600/IMG_5116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb39QiDOoG-cBm4pgZtUGVfM6Rpaj_-uuI-XBgIAQqKRXQPNGRRubMcsxLePwzU8ide-q9ITnBjjkLQoCWI3OhVVyeRFnq4V1ug1lZKNimo-dFd0u55Q8wrAZjyHZuuO6UdF8UFIcH0o/s1600/IMG_5116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUbM5QGOne1qu8dN-lyyRFSk8VYtHydGNDx510kFCiBq-Vd9IIbXSlPzZn3jcFlxPMU79QthwkOpmy8VmV5jc5HT8Go24O9ntweTWMw8TiYmDoedBLDELDwcj7oCol8kdvFoEDATIBSA/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUbM5QGOne1qu8dN-lyyRFSk8VYtHydGNDx510kFCiBq-Vd9IIbXSlPzZn3jcFlxPMU79QthwkOpmy8VmV5jc5HT8Go24O9ntweTWMw8TiYmDoedBLDELDwcj7oCol8kdvFoEDATIBSA/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" width="240" /></b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like in most cities, tour and concert ticket hawkers abound here. There was a Vivaldi Four Season concert scheduled for that night at the cathedral, which I was so tempted to see. I walked along the pedestrian streets amidst fellow tourists and checked out the shops. One shop in particular caught my eye. It’s a store that had Gustav Klimt reproduction exhibit on the 2</span><sup><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nd</span></sup><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> floor and sold chachkes. The store’s Klimt reproduction exhibit was very good and I bought myself a little music box to add to my personal office fidget toy collection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The Painted Kiss</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have seen “The Kiss” art reproduced on posters, mugs, etc
but I didn’t know the painting’s title nor the artist, Gustav Klimt – never
heard of him – until the book I borrowed from the library brought the art and
the artist to my attention. While most travelers would buy guidebooks to
prepare for their travels, I typically see my impending travel as an excuse or
inspiration to get lost in a novel and get intimate with the place as a
backdrop to a story. I find that this strategy gives more soul and substance to
the place I’m visiting. While the story may be fictional, the places exist. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb39QiDOoG-cBm4pgZtUGVfM6Rpaj_-uuI-XBgIAQqKRXQPNGRRubMcsxLePwzU8ide-q9ITnBjjkLQoCWI3OhVVyeRFnq4V1ug1lZKNimo-dFd0u55Q8wrAZjyHZuuO6UdF8UFIcH0o/s1600/IMG_5116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb39QiDOoG-cBm4pgZtUGVfM6Rpaj_-uuI-XBgIAQqKRXQPNGRRubMcsxLePwzU8ide-q9ITnBjjkLQoCWI3OhVVyeRFnq4V1ug1lZKNimo-dFd0u55Q8wrAZjyHZuuO6UdF8UFIcH0o/s200/IMG_5116.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I picked up 2 books – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Nietzsche-Wept-Novel-Obsession/dp/0062009303">When Nietzche Wept</a> and The Painted
Kiss. Different genres, both well-written. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Painted-Kiss-Novel-Elizabeth-Hickey-ebook/dp/B000FCK2DS/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">The Painted Kiss</a> is a historical
fiction based on the love story of Viennese painter <a href="https://www.klimtgallery.org/">Gustav Klimt</a> and his muse,
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilie_Louise_Fl%C3%B6ge">Emilie Floge</a>. Klimt ruled the Viennese art world, founding the <a href="https://www.theviennasecession.com/">Secession</a>, an
art movement formed in 1897 by a group of Austrian artists who had resigned
from the Association of Austrian Artists, housed in the </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Vienna Künstlerhaus</span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. The book mentions many of the key sights in
Vienna. I was particularly interested in checking out<a href="http://www.demel.at/en/index_en_flash.htm"> Demel’s</a>, the oldest
operational café in Vienna, established in 1786. Impressive, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"></span><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Confessed Chocoholic</span></b></span></div>
<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;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKnfYLrQWY17jvpty1Y7B2En4EhLLBlU6mt7-AGimvQaMG74fclxM4qho0udnvesn1T_cg0a6ZTRttgFBbVrfm0nZhBoXTZ2awQeZEFkUyRTSP682T2XR317zDE65Nx3aXcRs6AWk7ZQ/s320/IMG_5064.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dense, not-too-sweet, apricot and chocolate concoction - best served with coffee and more chocolate</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I continued walking to Albertina then to Hofburg garden, and
soon it was time for a very late lunch. I went in search of the original Sacher
Torte, perhaps the most famous chocolate cake of all-time, from <a href="https://www.sacher.com/en/">Hotel Sacher</a>.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was very decadent – 3 layers
of chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam in between and around the cake, then
frosted with a velvety chocolate and served with whipped cream - it didn’t
disappoint. The Sacher coffee with whip cream and chocolate liquor suggested
pairing surprised me, but I didn’t argue with the experts. After all, the hotel
staff have only been making these since 1832!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As the story goes, the cake was created by a 16-year old apprentice cook
for the Prince of Austria because the head chef was sick, and the prince had
ordered that a new cake be created. Franz Sacher created the cake from
available ingredients, and the rest of history was a piece of cake!</span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I
was hoping to see a copy of the original recipe but it’s a well-kept secret,
like the Coke recipe. Nevertheless, I savored my piece of rich heaven along
with the rich history printed on the menu. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I continued my trek and checked out Karlsplatz where some
festival was going on. I was hoping to see a plaque of Vivaldi’s gravesite, but
couldn’t find it, so I headed back to people watch near the State Opera. I was
contemplating on whether to watch an opera or not, but since I was barely
awake, I didn’t want to risk snoring along to Figaro. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC4XVdJIun9RMCaCWXTmmz6sU6yoJ2TGQHbfT6ysl7raljiOF2_ckBI4jVG9oqgsECF7INwXrVHdxuwb2vPDkdYRctkbMzeHezEinyVIcdWi6vkwpdD0pn7KRA0HAhUKDxrI7K_R-clM/s640/IMG_5652.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Vienna State Opera at night</span></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/AVvXsEiEiVaXYwpa9m9ynU73Ju7gCnwuFBuRrmA0445qrRKmnDkfqzycZgUgDipKBQXBxheSH0vxbkASGmTQt1LLTO-AB1HtRHOJbehcHpQZ31fHiYJemAHkUiLECmexX0CRIDB2KFLmCtLNpR4/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiVaXYwpa9m9ynU73Ju7gCnwuFBuRrmA0445qrRKmnDkfqzycZgUgDipKBQXBxheSH0vxbkASGmTQt1LLTO-AB1HtRHOJbehcHpQZ31fHiYJemAHkUiLECmexX0CRIDB2KFLmCtLNpR4/s400/IMG_5049.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Mahler" title="Gustav Mahler"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gustav Mahler</span></a><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'s star on the "walk of fame"; Mahler conducted at the Vienna State Opera. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If Walls
Could Talk</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whenever I travel, I also try to find the historical
restaurants. It just makes for interesting dining experience to imagine wining
and dining with Beethoven. Plus, apart from the impressively historical building,
menus are fairly established and the service are often reliable – just like a
well-oiled machine. The downside, of course, is the higher cost.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.griechenbeisl.at/page.asp/lang%3Den/24.htm">Griechebeisl</a>, the oldest restaurant in Vienna,
delivered on all accounts. Griechenbeisl dates back to medieval period. To put
that in perspective, the United States was founded in 1776. By serendipity (hallelujah!),
it was just the next street over from my hotel. I couldn’t make a reservation
at GriechenBeisl. No reservation? Pssshhh! That didn’t stop me from showing up
and sweetly asking if they could seat me. They did, which goes to show that it
never hurts to ask.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AIrJgcT5Pu7vidVcjU4APZSsTwvOU5AXG7q2bcFmjItJ63WCjGkT7-_LaZGGz20mX75NbRyKdJ39Uhalitm-a0yN4ab3i6alpgcKePcO-gJ4PXjJppPiyM9d2PLDQiM1Q4KNdu3N2Eo/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AIrJgcT5Pu7vidVcjU4APZSsTwvOU5AXG7q2bcFmjItJ63WCjGkT7-_LaZGGz20mX75NbRyKdJ39Uhalitm-a0yN4ab3i6alpgcKePcO-gJ4PXjJppPiyM9d2PLDQiM1Q4KNdu3N2Eo/s320/IMG_5099.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When thinking about Vienna, the first food that comes to my
mind is the canned Vienna sausage I used to eat as a kid… Hmmm, I wonder why.
Anyway, it’s super unhealthy, but this was typical household food of my
childhood in the Philippines. Then you have the wiener; Vienna is Wien in
German.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wiener is like a hotdog, frankfurter,
or kielbasa. But when you’re in Vienna, you’ll quickly find out that the most
popular, traditional, non-pastry food is the wiener schnitzel, which has
nothing to do with hotdog. It is a flattened pork dredged in batter and
deep-fried. I was clearly not eating this. Thankfully, Griechenbeisl offered a
chicken version! Now, hubby and I make mean schnitzels, but I had to admit that
this was better than homemade. I saw rosemary in the batter, and made a mental
note to try it the next time I whip a schnitzel at home. Rosemary just makes
everything better.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AIrJgcT5Pu7vidVcjU4APZSsTwvOU5AXG7q2bcFmjItJ63WCjGkT7-_LaZGGz20mX75NbRyKdJ39Uhalitm-a0yN4ab3i6alpgcKePcO-gJ4PXjJppPiyM9d2PLDQiM1Q4KNdu3N2Eo/s1600/IMG_5099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As good as the food was, the best part was the signature
room, which good, bad or otherwise, seem to be unbeknown to most diners. It was
tucked on the other side of the restaurant, and… empty. I, on the other hand,
did my research well, and not afraid of asking about it. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Griechenbeisl has a roomful of signatures of
its prestigious guests – Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Wagner…
Then, you have the modern artists, Pavarotti, Johnny Cash, even Phil Collins.
Their signatures have been memorialized on the walls and ceiling of the Mark
Twain room. Mark Twain’s autograph joins the others. I was completely awed. I
would never have imagined being in the same room as these great artists and
geniuses.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It does give me a pause – of all
the greats, I wonder why they chose Twain to name the room after. But more
importantly, I wondered who was composing while they enjoyed their sumptuous
meal. Ah… if walls could talk, indeed. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beethoven was here, and now so was I.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Zither music with your dinner? Why, yes please!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Went to sweet slumber humming Ode to Joy!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-81103162871482426192017-09-12T22:14:00.000-04:002017-09-13T03:03:27.265-04:00Chasing waterfalls<u><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yooper Trip Station 3: Lake Gogebic</span></b></u><br />
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</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think it could be just the deeply-rooted Aquarian personality in me, but I just love the ocean, lakes, and rivers... anything water-related really. Now, waterfalls - that's another level. I’ll never tire of looking at waterfalls. It's magical, it's moving (haha), it's chaotic, and unpredictable all at once. And the Porcupine Mountains have plenty to offer. </span><br />
<b></b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But first, the lake. Lake Gogebic is Michigan's largest inland lake, which lies at the west side of the Upper Peninsula. We rented a lodge that had this view at dusk. What more can I ask for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And it wasn't too shabby in the morning either. </span><a href="http://www.walleyelodge.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">AJ's walleye lodge</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's really comfortable and well-equipped inside. They even had games that kept the kids occupied while Eric and I made dinner. We also enjoyed some fun family games when it was raining hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But when the weather is nice, we are outside "explorigating!" as our family say. The </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Porcupine</span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mountains Wilderness State Park</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, or "Porkies" was bigger than expected. We had to drive for 25 miles going from one part to another and the time zone changes inside the park depending on where you are. The popular destination for everyone visiting the Porkies is the Lake of the Clouds. It sits in a valley between two ridges in the Porcupine Mountains and an accessible overlook offers view to the stunning vistas. It is perhaps the most photographed feature in the Porkies. I can only imagine how even more stunning the view is in autumn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Porkies also have many wonderful trails. The ranger at the visitor center suggested the ~3 mile East and West River Trail Loop that the kids could find enjoyable. She also said that we can turn back if it's too much for the 4 yo. The scenic loop follows along the banks of the Presque Isle River and showcases 3 major waterfalls: Manabezho, Manido and Nawadaha, and a few other smaller falls and rapids. We started our trail on the west side which had several sections of boardwalks and stairs and a suspension bridge at the end, which gives you a great view of the gorges. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After crossing the bridge, there is a small path to the beach at the mouth of the Presque Isle river, which makes for a great picnic lunch spot while enjoying Lake Superior. The kids also enjoyed building rock towers - think Jengga in nature. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QEDU10RLFUE68dsqNXaCceyCtez8Vh49yhVY_pbMGkV5je1PLtkvRQBEF4KgjB8RU3OhCl8QsgLMXnbord5cLyWZA-WcltyqKwFib-t49Tbij0ZhouEfoS-20DnYnNSkjOFBb-DU0co/s1600/Porkies3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QEDU10RLFUE68dsqNXaCceyCtez8Vh49yhVY_pbMGkV5je1PLtkvRQBEF4KgjB8RU3OhCl8QsgLMXnbord5cLyWZA-WcltyqKwFib-t49Tbij0ZhouEfoS-20DnYnNSkjOFBb-DU0co/s320/Porkies3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vXU9aKJ-PnhRDc6DCLtCDiOtco2t1A-PbIQZogG44MyPOXlxm6wf8fVwOC0l_VUxuVS3VNLR_mnII02rdkTXf6Imedpjhhjt8i9zRKISZ0UaqCtHIc2GGNc4ueOy2pvFVdLTz69UKkQ/s1600/Porkies4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vXU9aKJ-PnhRDc6DCLtCDiOtco2t1A-PbIQZogG44MyPOXlxm6wf8fVwOC0l_VUxuVS3VNLR_mnII02rdkTXf6Imedpjhhjt8i9zRKISZ0UaqCtHIc2GGNc4ueOy2pvFVdLTz69UKkQ/s1600/Porkies4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vXU9aKJ-PnhRDc6DCLtCDiOtco2t1A-PbIQZogG44MyPOXlxm6wf8fVwOC0l_VUxuVS3VNLR_mnII02rdkTXf6Imedpjhhjt8i9zRKISZ0UaqCtHIc2GGNc4ueOy2pvFVdLTz69UKkQ/s320/Porkies4.JPG" width="240" /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScUYNC4Er0flGQJ3XaB-zUmDoSZCUhL6gq5ELFVE52IStvPYrqMUA3stGx-UxcuhW0pdab59VfqrHYkkzALC0Xm9Qydqcc_L3IgBCfEo03H6as5pukkKP9oqGhHKCnkCzPLmuWzdpsBg/s1600/Porkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a leisurely lunch break, we started our trek back on the East side. This trail is a lot more challenging for little kids than the West side. No wonder the ranger said we could turn back. But Maya did amazing - she even came up with a game to look for what roots look like, and Tamar enjoyed all the root-climbing, of course. The East trail does have some precarious drop as you really walk along the edge, so you have to take great caution when hiking with kids. Don't worry, mom, we held on to those 2 very tightly! You can even see my finger in the picture below.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_692995779" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b></b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We decided to close the day with a last hike to the Summit Peak Observation tower. It is supposed to be one of the most popular attractions in the park, but we saw very few people on our way there and had the tower to ourselves when we got up. It’s a cool hike, the tower is fun climb, and the view is great too. But since Eric is not fond of heights, we didn't stay long. Also, after seeing the view at Lake of the Clouds, the view from the tower felt anti-climactic. I suggest going here first before visiting the Lake of the Clouds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnfsqMT9W22cN-OYUZ4M4tl_Bfik-1CnBaasjLBCqmquqU-rzc4UxVUOHk1NvKt9hFRjjWKNDbx14sKQy3RfDB963zsTG1rc6GMGcH_E4T8xQCbpqylcSVpuPDAcFgagtesObCd-WWu8/s1600/Nonesuch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnfsqMT9W22cN-OYUZ4M4tl_Bfik-1CnBaasjLBCqmquqU-rzc4UxVUOHk1NvKt9hFRjjWKNDbx14sKQy3RfDB963zsTG1rc6GMGcH_E4T8xQCbpqylcSVpuPDAcFgagtesObCd-WWu8/s320/Nonesuch.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our last day, we decided to head to Ontonagon to see the town and let the rain let up. The town was small and they happened to have a car show during the Labor day weekend, so there was a good size crowd in spite of the weather. We ate breakfast at a packed Syl's café. One place I'd suggest visiting if you're every in this area is the Nonesuch gallery. It's a cool local store (yes, owned by Yoopers!) selling handmade quilts, aprons, and even guitars that the artistic couple make!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When the heavy rain finally let up, we went to see <a href="http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/bond.shtml"><span style="color: lime;">Bond Falls</span></a>. Bond Falls in Paulding MI is perhaps the most impressive waterfall aside from Tahquamenon Falls. In fact, it could give Tahquamenon Falls a run for its money. The main drop is 40 feet high and 100+ feet wide, so it appears different depending on which angle you're looking from. Above the main falls are a series of cascades and rapids, which you can see up close if you climb up the sides. On the right side, there's a slippery cement stairs; on the left, an even more treacherous dirt trail. One can literally walk right</span><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> into </span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the waterfalls. But the best view, is still from the bottom, which is accessible by a boardwalk. So, no need to go James Bond for this one. Haha.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bond falls was breathtaking and it was a great cap to our wonderful summer family trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-29271239517162097122017-09-11T22:13:00.000-04:002017-09-12T06:45:24.678-04:00What lies beyond the fog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yooper Trip Station 2: Marquette</span></u></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Um...Maya, honey, we said pout.</span> </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj5KOls5z7qPZsDNuuIRicLbe7shel2wQ8O7de4OQ6vLVw2BlELF2f9N5iZzyFQofbOowpEJicW8VjOCx_KB1kCWuwaacf8tLsQAmZGM-rKPa2EPgk585Nby9Bzoem1BPrKJNoCIhFCc/s1600/Fog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After our 3 days in Mackinaw city, it was time for us to move westward and headed to our 2nd home base in Marquette courtesy of Airbnb. On the agenda to Marquette was a trip to Munising to see Pictured Rocks, Miners Castle and Miners Falls. What's interesting about the Pictured Rocks is that these are cliffs made of formations of PreCambrian and Paleozoic age sandstone and the layers represent different periods of time, sources of sediment, and physical characteristics creating colorful patterns, ergo the name. We took the 2.5 h ferry cruise that was supposed to take us to Pictured Rocks and other sights, but... nada. The fog was so thick, the captain had to blow his horn every 2 minutes and after an hour in the fog, the boat was finally turned around and we got a refund. Oh well, we tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were undeterred to see the other sights, so we drove to the trail that eventually showed us </span><a href="https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/upload/MinersCastle2013.pdf"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Miners Castle</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> from 2 overlooks instead of a vantage point from Lake Superior. You know what they say - try and try until the fog lifts... or something to that effect. Sadly, the fog didn't lift and there was no trail that could take us to the Pictured Rocks, so that one will have to be chalked up for our next U.P. trip. BUT, technically, Miners Castle is the most famous formation of the Pictured Rocks, so I guess we saw a bit of it, just not its entirety.</span><b><u><br /></u></b>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We then took a short 1.2 mile hike to Miners Falls. This falls was fairly easily accessed, light foot traffic, and with 2 look out platforms. Some adventurous souls climbed down to the riverbed, but the slope is steep and slippery and definitely not for us. Although Miners Falls was beautiful, it definitely didn't impress after previously seeing the Tahquamenon Falls. However, the trail itself was a great trail which even the littlest one, our Maya, enjoyed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had bad weather on our second day at Marquette, which forced us to do some indoor activities. Thankfully, Marquette had a great <a href="http://www.upchildrensmuseum.org/"><span style="color: lime;">Children's museum</span></a>. While a lot smaller in size than the Children's museum in Ann Arbor or in St. Paul, the museum at Marquette offered unique features. For one, they had rescued animals - boa constrictor, which you can see is wound on Tamar's shoulders, turtles, geckos, bearded dragons, turtle doves etc. It was exactly what we needed, and the kids were happy! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When the weather cleared up the following morning, we went to Presque Isle Park, took a short walk, and looked for agates. Maya found some small ones. We also soaked in a great view of the Marquette lighthouse. You can actually walk to it, but at your own risk. The waves and winds were fairly strong that day and no one dared walk the catwalk to the lighthouse. The </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The sun eventually came out and we went to get a good long hike at <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/sugarloaf-recreation-trail"><span style="color: lime;">Sugarloaf mountain</span></a>. Initially, Maya was not feeling up to hiking so hubby and Tamar went ahead. I was kind of bummed out, but wasn't going to force it. But after snacking in the car, she decided she wanted to follow dad and big sister. So, up we went the easy trail. There's a difficult trail choice which was steeper, but shorter. The easy trail was longer, but tamer and with stairs for the steep parts, so Maya could manage it. When I said stairs, I meant many, many stairs. About 4/5 of the way, she had enough of the stairs and didn't want to go anymore. Argggh!!! I can't go this far and not see the peak.... I resorted to cajoling and bribing. She agreed to do it for chocolates. What can I say? She's my daughter through and through. At the top, what a reward! We got a a stunning view! There are 3 viewing platforms where you can face southward toward Marquette and you can see the Superior Dome, the "world’s largest wooden dome", on another platform you can get a view of Little Presque Isle island, and on the third, you get a great view of Hogsback Mountain. At the top, you can't miss the monument erected long ago by Boy Scout Troop 1. It commemorates their assistant scoutmaster, Bartlett King, who established the local troop, and later fought and died in World War I. Supposedly, his troop members built the memorial so that King's mother could see it from her home on Marquette. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the best part? Maya didn't give up, and she was so proud of herself!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then it was time to move on to our 3rd home base near the Porcupine Mountains. Along the way, we stopped at <a href="http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/canyon.shtml"><span style="color: lime;">Canyon Falls</span></a>. It's a really pretty gorge, and lots of great trees, but we couldn't stay long since we had a ways to go and dinnertime was quickly approaching. Still, we're glad we did the side trip and I'm happy to recommend this to those considering this route. </span></div>
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<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-25964753985391466402017-09-10T22:14:00.000-04:002017-09-12T06:44:46.792-04:00The Song of Hiawatha<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="color: #f6b26b;">The Song of Hiawatha</span></i></b><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-small;">by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</span><br />
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font-size: x-small;">Should you ask me, whence these stories?<br /> Whence these legends and traditions,<br /> With the odors of the forest<br /> With the dew and damp of meadows,<br /> With the curling smoke of wigwams,<br /> With the rushing of great rivers,<br /> With their frequent repetitions,<br /> And their wild reverberations<br /> As of thunder in the mountains?<br /> I should answer, I should tell you,<br /> "From the forests and the prairies,<br /> From the great lakes of the Northland,<br /> From the land of the Ojibways,<br /> From the land of the Dacotahs,<br /> From the mountains, moors, and fen-lands<br /> Where the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah,<br /> Feeds among the reeds and rushes.<br /> I repeat them as I heard them<br /> From the lips of Nawadaha,<br /> The musician, the sweet singer."<br /> Should you ask where Nawadaha<br /> Found these songs so wild and wayward,<br /> Found these legends and traditions,<br /> I should answer, I should tell you,<br /> "In the bird's-nests of the forest,<br /> In the lodges of the beaver,<br /> In the hoof-prints of the bison,<br /> In the eyry of the eagle!<br /> "All the wild-fowl sang them to him,<br /> In the moorlands and the fen-lands,<br /> In the melancholy marshes;<br /> Chetowaik, the plover, sang them,<br /> Mahng, the loon, the wild-goose, Wawa,<br /> The blue heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah,<br /> And the grouse, the Mushkodasa!"<br /> If still further you should ask me,<br /> Saying, "Who was Nawadaha?<br /> Tell us of this Nawadaha,"<br /> I should answer your inquiries<br /> Straightway in such words as follow.<br /> "In the vale of Tawasentha,<br /> In the green and silent valley,<br /> By the pleasant water-courses,<br /> Dwelt the singer Nawadaha.<br /> Round about the Indian village<br /> Spread the meadows and the corn-fields,<br /> And beyond them stood the forest,<br /> Stood the groves of singing pine-trees,<br /> Green in Summer, white in Winter,<br /> Ever sighing, ever singing.<br /> "And the pleasant water-courses,<br /> You could trace them through the valley,<br /> By the rushing in the Spring-time,<br /> By the alders in the Summer,<br /> By the white fog in the Autumn,<br /> By the black line in the Winter;<br /> And beside them dwelt the singer,<br /> In the vale of Tawasentha,<br /> In the green and silent valley.<br /> "There he sang of Hiawatha,<br /> Sang the Song of Hiawatha,<br /> Sang his wondrous birth and being,<br /> How he prayed and how be fasted,<br /> How he lived, and toiled, and suffered,<br /> That the tribes of men might prosper,<br /> That he might advance his people!"<br /> Ye who love the haunts of Nature,<br /> Love the sunshine of the meadow,<br /> Love the shadow of the forest,<br /> Love the wind among the branches,<br /> And the rain-shower and the snow-storm,<br /> And the rushing of great rivers<br /> Through their palisades of pine-trees,<br /> And the thunder in the mountains,<br /> Whose innumerable echoes<br /> Flap like eagles in their eyries;--<br /> Listen to these wild traditions,<br /> To this Song of Hiawatha!<br /> Ye who love a nation's legends,<br /> Love the ballads of a people,<br /> That like voices from afar off<br /> Call to us to pause and listen,<br /> Speak in tones so plain and childlike,<br /> Scarcely can the ear distinguish<br /> Whether they are sung or spoken;--<br /> Listen to this Indian Legend,<br /> To this Song of Hiawatha!<br /> Ye whose hearts are fresh and simple,<br /> Who have faith in God and Nature,<br /> Who believe that in all ages<br /> Every human heart is human,<br /> That in even savage bosoms<br /> There are longings, yearnings, strivings<br /> For the good they comprehend not,<br /> That the feeble hands and helpless,<br /> Groping blindly in the darkness,<br /> Touch God's right hand in that darkness<br /> And are lifted up and strengthened;--<br /> Listen to this simple story,<br /> To this Song of Hiawatha!<br /> Ye, who sometimes, in your rambles<br /> Through the green lanes of the country,<br /> Where the tangled barberry-bushes<br /> Hang their tufts of crimson berries<br /> Over stone walls gray with mosses,<br /> Pause by some neglected graveyard,<br /> For a while to muse, and ponder<br /> On a half-effaced inscription,<br /> Written with little skill of song-craft,<br /> Homely phrases, but each letter<br /> Full of hope and yet of heart-break,<br /> Full of all the tender pathos<br /> Of the Here and the Hereafter;--<br /> Stay and read this rude inscription,<br /> Read this Song of Hiawatha!</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span><br />
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<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-63609858112209671612017-09-09T22:13:00.001-04:002017-09-10T15:50:01.590-04:00Heading to the Troll Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yooper Trip Station 1: Mackinaw City</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When Eric said that we were going to the Upper Peninsula of Michgan (U.P.), I said ok not knowing what's there, and what to do. Since things were so busy at work, we didn't really get to think much about the trip or plan it until two weeks before (YIKES!). But this is par for the course with us. Our running joke when we have to go somewhere, we jump in the car, start the engine, then one of us asks: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"So, do you know how to go?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Nope. Do you?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Nope!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Ok, let's go!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank goodness for Waze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our family summer vacation kicked off on a late Friday afternoon on the last day of camp. We drove in good spirits until the kiddos fell asleep and we carried them to our hotel stop over in Marinette, WI, just outside of Green Bay. This is actually the perfect stopping point since the drive from Escanaba, MI to our first stop, Palms Book State Park, the following morning traces Lake Superior and it's a wonderful morning drive - especially with 2 chipper passengers at the back. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMidaUJjLIzPaBubsHy4K3Xx4Cq_NRCaR1_iRmbFsbAYDP54WUT7lyiO5g9DCQnv975tdyXj0myROUk48kkhYz5XIauVeeGdFK2C11-XwslJj4AaX5zKqyaeWn4r_qdUdw1kCvKcbVyA/s1600/Palms+book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMidaUJjLIzPaBubsHy4K3Xx4Cq_NRCaR1_iRmbFsbAYDP54WUT7lyiO5g9DCQnv975tdyXj0myROUk48kkhYz5XIauVeeGdFK2C11-XwslJj4AaX5zKqyaeWn4r_qdUdw1kCvKcbVyA/s200/Palms+book+2.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://www.stateparks.com/palms_book.html"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Palms Book State Park</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> was a little gem of a park. There's really no hiking trails to speak of, but its emerald spring, Kitch-iti-kipi, is worth the trip for anyone going to the Upper Penninsula. It's Michigan's largest freshwater spring, with a constant 45F temperature. You can see the water gushing from the limestone fissures when you're on the raft. It would appear that the sand below is boiling, which you can see because the water is crystal clear.You can also see the trout below. Seriously, I've never seen anything like it. How this place was discovered is beyond me, but I'm glad that it is preserved well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a lunch picnic at the park, we resumed our drive to the eastern most part of the U.P. We stopped at </span><a href="http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=427&type=SPRK"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Straits State Park</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> at St. Ignace before crossing the bridge and did a short hike. The park had some nice overlook that gave us a "preview" of the Big Mac.... but the view is really much better on the other side. Or below. The Mackinac Bridge is a toll bridge on I-75 and is the longest suspension bridge in the US, and the third longest suspension bridge in the world with a total span of approximately 5 miles connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. </span></div>
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After sitting in the car for the most part of the first day, the kids were happy to play and run around Michilimackinac park.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0sBVo-bVZm1phyphenhyphenFVbFy6DV2pHjL6fxFbs8O8g6evmiPNYxIWtwuGVRFMT_8bAP6zoc2DcSSFX-zt_etzfevdN19nuHa1sONhwDNoN6TVSRPcusdK4PbU5UEYMoG1oWCG5MKd5QHG10I/s1600/Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Antsy from the first day, we headed north to see the famous </span><a href="http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=428&type=SPRK"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tahquamenon falls</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> on the 2nd day. Isn't she a beauty? There are 2 falls in the park - the Lower Falls and the Upper Falls. The Upper Falls is impressive not only in it's enormity, but its color (same with the Lower Falls). The water is brown/gold (golden brown?) not from mud, but from the tannins (think wine) leaching from the cedar swamps which the river drains. It is so beautiful that Longfellow wrote a poem, </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Song of Hiawatha</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, and he referenced the Falls in it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiW8yZnH3paue9prodIa9_ik5T3gJ9I7q3RrSFhPO4EpfPf4VWOBkJKxIFnMt67lCImHo_htlljyZY5LNj168en_QJ7quillkmp3Yu96GlDKQctkswLlZ4Inub0VfbDJJyy7uqUn6RFo/s1600/Upper+Tahq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bVmvaeBumsCqrj_G_GHSLki8-XSb-XJydQL0edjJKzz9bYEc4JV3lBy16wIuFn_hAOonBE0IJZx0KECSvz5UNfhyrq08xKvMD4tWCRvR9Wn5JuRxp6GTOI8R2foPfzhOSfD22rNfkaA/s1600/Tahq+hike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tahquamenon means "Our Woman" in the Ojibwe Language</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After feasting our eyes on the waterfalls, we headed to the </span><a href="https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> at Whitefish Point in Paradise, Michigan. If given the chance, how can you not visit Paradise?! If like me you've heard about how Lake Superior never gives up its dead, morbid I know, then this museum is for you. It's quite an interesting museum in such a remote location. I really enjoyed learning about the shipwrecks. While my older one was scared at the beginning of the movie showing the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald ship in Lake superior, I was chocking back tears watching the bell raising (bell shown below with my oldest mocking me). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mackinaw city itself is a small touristy town. Apparently, folks who live in Mackinaw and the lower peninsula are called "trolls" because they live below the bridge, the Mighty Mac. It is a quaint city and a good place to stay outside of Mackinac island, which is a short 20-minute ferry boat ride away. But one gets the feeling that this city's purpose is really to house all this "Fudgies" a.k.a tourists outside of the island. The hotels are quite pricey and the fudge shops line the main downtown street. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are scheduled boat rides that take a side trip under the Big Mac. It really is a majestic view from below the bridge. One can just imagine the engineering genius and work that went to making this bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Before this trip, I've never even heard of </span><a href="https://www.mackinacisland.org/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mackinac island</span></a><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Yes, I live under a rock for the most part. The best way to describe it - Disney land for families. The island is about 8 miles around in Lake Huron, sandwiched between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. What it has: shopping, history, quaint Victorian houses, bikes, bikes and more bikes, and horse-drawn carriages! The kids What it doesn't have: cars, buses, etc. The kids kept saying that they wanted to live on the island, and Tamar made me promise to take her back on a future birthday. Needless to say, it's really the perfect family get-away where history is very well-preserved. As soon as we got off the ferry, I felt transported back in time. Speaking of which, I also found out that one of my favorite sappy movie, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081534/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Somewhere in Time</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">,</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> was set at the</span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.grandhotel.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Grand hotel</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> at Mackinac Island. You can just imagine my excitement with this little nugget of information. They also have tea time for $40 pp, which would have been fun for me and hubby, but I can't imagine it being fun for the kids, and would have been not worth it for them. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuDcMDhTaTGokkIe6hxLQ_k4svH8TMOQSdQn8txR23-mLmzpN38ThpIDLjtxHsEwIUSX67GTqUsl8pfCq1xN6pYvl2jouM3Ka8gt1wq8ppC41ZfRDArg9QkJ6YhzVjdVCApSUoCb3Fkc/s1600/MacBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuDcMDhTaTGokkIe6hxLQ_k4svH8TMOQSdQn8txR23-mLmzpN38ThpIDLjtxHsEwIUSX67GTqUsl8pfCq1xN6pYvl2jouM3Ka8gt1wq8ppC41ZfRDArg9QkJ6YhzVjdVCApSUoCb3Fkc/s1600/MacBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuDcMDhTaTGokkIe6hxLQ_k4svH8TMOQSdQn8txR23-mLmzpN38ThpIDLjtxHsEwIUSX67GTqUsl8pfCq1xN6pYvl2jouM3Ka8gt1wq8ppC41ZfRDArg9QkJ6YhzVjdVCApSUoCb3Fkc/s1600/MacBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">History and a whole lot of water</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The family unanimously decided that our favorite part of this vacation is the 8-mi bike ride around the island. Don't be deceived by the picture. Tamar rode on a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/WeeRide-Co-Pilot-Deluxe-Wide-Trailer/dp/B014F3Y1ZW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1505072936&sr=8-4&keywords=tag+along+bike">tag-along</a> with me, while Maya rode on a </span><a href="https://rideweehoo.com/"><span style="color: lime; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">weehoo</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Maya loved it the most, and we kept teasing her that all she did while riding was "Weeeee!" and "Hooo!" The ride was spectacular. Waves on your right and greens on your left. We also saw the arch rock and stopped to let the kids play along the beach. Once in a while we saw a horse carriage, but we mostly saw family on bikes with big grins on their faces, which I knew was how we looked too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJbuGk8taAipKlMEV0MMd2qMNiOPGaj4wFDO6Zl6SCgJniANgXSEfYZ-5QCxAEjk2PkUWzbHbB5I7rwy7pcRZf1ddKfP2s-E_gpa9ixE8IogZnkpLpWp2Q7JJsnKXkc6WxV1w-WEcUwI/s1600/Mac+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJbuGk8taAipKlMEV0MMd2qMNiOPGaj4wFDO6Zl6SCgJniANgXSEfYZ-5QCxAEjk2PkUWzbHbB5I7rwy7pcRZf1ddKfP2s-E_gpa9ixE8IogZnkpLpWp2Q7JJsnKXkc6WxV1w-WEcUwI/s400/Mac+bike.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a full day of adventure and indulging on ridiculously-priced souvenirs, we bade the island goodbye.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjb36vcLNqAjH4Zt_DgzK-eB0BK42DTnRzHKw3U1E9rP4cmdybE4vfMMlUXxjAannTNAY6ObUXVVHU-h-QjoQg_O4Ib991aPArftOtDgDgbPu66DpJuKKUsNPWhTq5oQHfmouUMf-KLw/s1600/Mac+lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjb36vcLNqAjH4Zt_DgzK-eB0BK42DTnRzHKw3U1E9rP4cmdybE4vfMMlUXxjAannTNAY6ObUXVVHU-h-QjoQg_O4Ib991aPArftOtDgDgbPu66DpJuKKUsNPWhTq5oQHfmouUMf-KLw/s640/Mac+lighthouse.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-38531287979078142272017-09-09T22:09:00.000-04:002017-09-09T22:17:36.105-04:00Turning down the noise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the month of August, I decided to completely quit Facebook cold-turkey to focus on family, work with zero distraction, and enjoy the summer, which seems way too short here in the North. The decision was made to tone down the noise in my life a bit. You see, I work in a fast pace environment and my work requires that I'm on the computer all the time, with 3 monitors to boot; on top of that, I manage some social media work accounts too. So, all the news and flurries of information can get a bit too much - it can truly feel saturating at times. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I must admit that the minute I logged out of all my personal social media e</span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-leashes (PC, phone, tablets), I felt quite euphoric. Staying off was a lot easier than I thought it would be also. Or perhaps I was just truly too busy to even think about it. Coming back online was a different matter. I felt nervous, hesitant, because I wasn't sure if I really want to jump back in. But I did. I enjoy catching up on all my family and friends' activities, but I think I'd probably unfollow a few groups and also make it a routine to go off the grid every now and then to take a breather.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, what happened on my hiatus? I had a big presentation at work; I traveled to DC on business for 4 days and didn't get to see any friends. (Life can be so cruel!) I took a 9-day vacation with the family to Upper Michigan. This was the best week of the summer. We drove to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and divided the vacation in 3 parts, setting up home bases in </span><a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/heading-to-troll-village.html"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mackinaw City (Farthest East) for 3 nights</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, </span><a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/what-lies-beyond-fog.html"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Marquette for 2</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, and near the </span><a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/what-is-it-about-waterfalls.html"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Porcupine Mountains for 3</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. It was glorious. I'd recommend this route to friends, and posting it here for those interested.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ysqECgVYxD-DAFYNhqVhg0Ym1l2Cvl_uX8pn_d6zwtnYAM84HNpwKuK1nTcXigXy4reg1fTE55JC3OFmNmY_Fpwl3_2aZjuqOHb3QxVyg3sTCcxr_23eKhv29bHAIMNxxDwt4QaGec/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1286" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ysqECgVYxD-DAFYNhqVhg0Ym1l2Cvl_uX8pn_d6zwtnYAM84HNpwKuK1nTcXigXy4reg1fTE55JC3OFmNmY_Fpwl3_2aZjuqOHb3QxVyg3sTCcxr_23eKhv29bHAIMNxxDwt4QaGec/s640/map.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are preview pictures with their associated blog posts. I'll publish one a day so I don't saturate your inboxes and feeds. </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/heading-to-troll-village.html"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heading to the Troll Village</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIWoLM0ejlbg1yO_5jCARkuiJP5r3MqPkDDBOweUspL4-bCEQUJtKCUdCMqMjSksve5CbtZ1oSSwVeERNdezbtt6tuWDWdxlZrrUCzIfAYD4bicZqIOBcqZIyGgwEuj-NLRMC2IdgQOI/s1600/MacBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIWoLM0ejlbg1yO_5jCARkuiJP5r3MqPkDDBOweUspL4-bCEQUJtKCUdCMqMjSksve5CbtZ1oSSwVeERNdezbtt6tuWDWdxlZrrUCzIfAYD4bicZqIOBcqZIyGgwEuj-NLRMC2IdgQOI/s320/MacBridge.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Under the Big Mac, - Mackinaw Bridge</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/what-lies-beyond-fog.html"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What lies beyond the fog</span></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dw6n8pMbHtr0GGVBPSfGWyaGcvz4vLmlq6hCrmz-TkoQXHm6sKxiQW4UBIMS7CDXyJrELM545xLls2bJ3YYN72Q1yiAfEl0q0IiJ5pT-Gf8W6iah32ZtZD3t5sM0IhsdKcbJdqRMXs8/s1600/miners+castle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5dw6n8pMbHtr0GGVBPSfGWyaGcvz4vLmlq6hCrmz-TkoQXHm6sKxiQW4UBIMS7CDXyJrELM545xLls2bJ3YYN72Q1yiAfEl0q0IiJ5pT-Gf8W6iah32ZtZD3t5sM0IhsdKcbJdqRMXs8/s320/miners+castle2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Castle in the fog</span></div>
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<a href="https://brownypoints.blogspot.com/2017/09/what-is-it-about-waterfalls.html"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What is it about waterfalls...?</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yEgMvE2xganFDqyYvjSKDxrIv7CrbdzjMRUb7QkxEiY6IjQ8246ymLR05OqiqBX-aCGhe69DVOL1pXu7lIkYXgrW0R2Cob6goPYGY8rJ9xoN0DB2RammDkzKBZomQ7-65vFU8Czi7eU/s1600/Maya+the+hiker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yEgMvE2xganFDqyYvjSKDxrIv7CrbdzjMRUb7QkxEiY6IjQ8246ymLR05OqiqBX-aCGhe69DVOL1pXu7lIkYXgrW0R2Cob6goPYGY8rJ9xoN0DB2RammDkzKBZomQ7-65vFU8Czi7eU/s320/Maya+the+hiker.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And now I leave you to jam on this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vmewc2Uqon4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vmewc2Uqon4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-40514343939574910052017-06-17T09:33:00.004-04:002017-06-17T09:35:08.389-04:00At Home on the Range...<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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<dd><span style="color: #93c47d;">Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam</span></dd><dd><span style="color: #93c47d;">Where the Deer and the Antelope play;</span></dd><dd><span style="color: #93c47d;">Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,</span></dd><dd><span style="color: #93c47d;">And the sky is not cloudy all day.</span> </dd><br />
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For the past 2 years, Eric and I have been wanting to camp at Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne MN, but for one reason or another, it just didn't happen... until this past weekend. We made a reservation a few months early, and were set to go. And then when we were doing our last minute prep, I checked the <a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/blue_mounds/index.html">DNR park website</a> and read that the water was no good. It's positive for E. coli, and we can't drink or use it for brushing teeth or cooking. Oh no! Do we cancel, or do we go anyway? We decided to load as much water in as many Nalgene bottles we owned, and off we went! </div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b>What's the draw?</b></span></i></div>
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For me, it's the idea of hiking along side the buffalos that drew me in. After our great trip in Utah's antelope islands and seeing this majestic beasts wandering freely, lazily lying in the hundreds, I had to experience that again. The more I read about Blue Mounds State Park, the more excited I got. The park is working with the Minnesota Zoo to breed genetically pure bison herd. As many of us know, this animal was already on the verge of extinction from hunting, and to save them, they were cross-bred with cows. Only by accident was it that the Blue Mounds herd remain free of cattle genetics. Conservationists found that 1% of the bison population was still pure. Now, as part of conservation efforts, at the annual roundup, the herd is thinned of those with less-than-pure bison genes. So, why were they trying to save bisons from extinction aside from the obvious reason of saving these beasts? It's said that farmers were hoping to produce "superior" beef animal that could withstand the harsh winters in the Great Plains....but it didn't quite work out as the crossbreeds were still smaller and not as adaptable as they had hoped. So, it wasn't really for pure altruistic reasons. With the conservation efforts in Blue Mounds, which has been expanded to <a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/minneopa/bison.html">Minneopa State Park</a>, there's a few hundreds of bisons now in MN. Eventually, I hope these bisons will wander freely in Blue Mounds' prairie just as in Utah's antelope islands. </div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">What else did we see?</span></b></i></div>
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On the way to Blue Mounds, you'll see hundreds, or seemingly thousands, of windmills dotting the plains. At the site, we were surprised by the circularly cleared area on our camp ground. Apparently, teepees used to be on there. Heard, but not seen, were coyotes howling in the middle of the night.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLmMpdPOR8vIpfIiX2L22IkzTmP9lqZdZ4wVHpFYGsnpsdYaXIKuvJSkxItjxGk3eSWP20JkmnG-AN14BYXTMdcl9e9TuTX7MW4I6JNiETfH9OHJvxEg7fNZVo-gfh6sP4TH-fteX6ZQ/s1600/Pinwheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="640" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLmMpdPOR8vIpfIiX2L22IkzTmP9lqZdZ4wVHpFYGsnpsdYaXIKuvJSkxItjxGk3eSWP20JkmnG-AN14BYXTMdcl9e9TuTX7MW4I6JNiETfH9OHJvxEg7fNZVo-gfh6sP4TH-fteX6ZQ/s640/Pinwheel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">"Giant pinwheels!"</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyu1pXemJ33LXFZL7ef6LnVhdJ0buB2XWJm2qlGKVwiwuoRJG16uM1IMoqJd-zcuIC62llNbMSeYERbpiVd-ejQm97WWio-ihYpCFMHVU1tAmcu2pJtXjIFqO_g8f_pROkIz_l9lvmfc/s1600/Cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyu1pXemJ33LXFZL7ef6LnVhdJ0buB2XWJm2qlGKVwiwuoRJG16uM1IMoqJd-zcuIC62llNbMSeYERbpiVd-ejQm97WWio-ihYpCFMHVU1tAmcu2pJtXjIFqO_g8f_pROkIz_l9lvmfc/s1600/Cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="558" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyu1pXemJ33LXFZL7ef6LnVhdJ0buB2XWJm2qlGKVwiwuoRJG16uM1IMoqJd-zcuIC62llNbMSeYERbpiVd-ejQm97WWio-ihYpCFMHVU1tAmcu2pJtXjIFqO_g8f_pROkIz_l9lvmfc/s200/Cactus.jpg" width="173" /></a>Tamar spotted prickly pear cactus, which was such a great surprise for her! Maya loved seeing the "big red rocks "along the hiking paths. The flora is definitely different from what we normally hike - a sea of prairie grasses and flowers dotting the trails. It was hot, in the upper 90s, but was breezy. First, we hiked on top of the quartzite cliff, and made our way down on a gradual descending trail to view the cliff from below on our way back. </div>
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The state park is named after the roughly 1 mile long Sioux Quartzite bedrock, and has been referred to as the Stonehenge in America. It's actually pink, not blue, but supposedly appeared blue to early settlers, hence the name. It is said that the sunrise and sunset on the spring and fall equinox closely align with the wall’s east-west orientation. There's an Eagle Rock point along the trail where you can see miles in every direction</div>
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- in one corner, Iowa, and South Dakota in another.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaTps-aIQQrqvvOUGzlwP-8oWs1_g_vV-ue9oeuJ037JpisoXsf34fQDNGpueqVmAwD2qsnm5kSye6cu4OMop9JCTKmqGJk4d5Ls_o3uzSR3BcHVIvg9P7v4tH0627iL31Q2qFUMAQqc/s1600/stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="640" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaTps-aIQQrqvvOUGzlwP-8oWs1_g_vV-ue9oeuJ037JpisoXsf34fQDNGpueqVmAwD2qsnm5kSye6cu4OMop9JCTKmqGJk4d5Ls_o3uzSR3BcHVIvg9P7v4tH0627iL31Q2qFUMAQqc/s640/stonehenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural rock amphitheater made of quartzite</td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Bison jump?</span></b></i></div>
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Native Americans are said to herd bison and drive them over the cliff when hunting. So, was this true at Blue Mounds? No one knows. What I've read is that there has been claims of piles of bones at the base of the cliff, but no evidence to date to corroborate it. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sioux Quartzite</td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Did we see Bison?</span></b></i><br />
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You see, there's never a guarantee that you'll see them in the park. The park range is expansive; There is a viewing deck, where you may be able to spot these animals from afar, and I would have gone there if we didn't chance upon them. By pure coincidence, we got on a trail we didn't intend to hike, and in spite of the hundreds of acres of roaming land, the herd was lounging next to the flimsy fence close to the path. SO close... I could almost touch them. But that would be reckless... and so not smart.<br />
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Why the fascination with bison in the wild? I don't know. I guess it reminds me of the story of the Last Unicorn, but it's real life, and the experience leaves me very hopeful for humankind. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGKRREKZM1UBor1zy3eyxi6yFrBSEKj35KYKthNXgmiRCyko1ixmXKNr8UyxtlhzD_FwBpeSwgBuuczt4Ho2OwPSBFV1190IfAC8HuvBzK2H4dF9NZocMiQdNV2bmnM1cKQ0jldJl9g4/s1600/Bison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="640" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGKRREKZM1UBor1zy3eyxi6yFrBSEKj35KYKthNXgmiRCyko1ixmXKNr8UyxtlhzD_FwBpeSwgBuuczt4Ho2OwPSBFV1190IfAC8HuvBzK2H4dF9NZocMiQdNV2bmnM1cKQ0jldJl9g4/s640/Bison.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>B. bison</i>, found only in North America, has rebounded from extinction. Whew!<br />
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After 6 miles of hiking, and short on water, we went back to camp for well-earned dinner, smores and origami!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutK3G4IgYuqPukjf61AqdFdwni_JeSGIyqNEj_HJYQZSVFzRmYRMAVNwyDM4pFjZA9EFqxLn2UQ7Q5Mjj0JIIsRm_ZQL2M3mDyaqziQ1VT89R2cwIG6T6ZNMfXHAeyhuLM8NGD_9SNtY/s1600/Origami.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutK3G4IgYuqPukjf61AqdFdwni_JeSGIyqNEj_HJYQZSVFzRmYRMAVNwyDM4pFjZA9EFqxLn2UQ7Q5Mjj0JIIsRm_ZQL2M3mDyaqziQ1VT89R2cwIG6T6ZNMfXHAeyhuLM8NGD_9SNtY/s320/Origami.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqWtZrXWI3zkB1HPfDofVCyO5UyTwlUc7w46sPiMM6c3kqI0sHRzhNO4ji0CO7qieUuzQ19h4gutmuzeZU1nTXwpFbLg6ZM3HH8RpbaBcpoTvt7E821ln-bU9_b7aGJG7xZo18oXRTKE/s1600/Smores4pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqWtZrXWI3zkB1HPfDofVCyO5UyTwlUc7w46sPiMM6c3kqI0sHRzhNO4ji0CO7qieUuzQ19h4gutmuzeZU1nTXwpFbLg6ZM3HH8RpbaBcpoTvt7E821ln-bU9_b7aGJG7xZo18oXRTKE/s320/Smores4pm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">Second day</span></b></i><br />
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Since the first day was already adventure-filled, and the tiny legs were tired, we decided to take it easy on the 2nd day. We took a short hike at Touch the Sky prairie, where all you see throughout are tall grasses. We did see one bouncing, long-tailed deer! And the trail led to a delightfully hidden small waterfalls. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden falls after a short 1.3 mi hike</td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="color: #93c47d;">3rd day, Fun day!</span></b></i><br />
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We decided to take a ride to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to check out Falls park and treat the kids to the <a href="https://butterflyhousemarinecove.org/">Butterfly House and Aquarium</a>. The drive was short, and the waterfall was impressive. In contrast, the butterfly house and aquarium was smaller than I expected. Nevertheless, the kids had a great time touching the sharks, rays, and starfishes. It was definitely a highlight for them, and I'm glad we went.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EXtYQ9fWqXwvbUNx_SbypGNSRPlSNCMA6xu8uHVDlY1vHEeMcAYvpayylI54c0tIF07r-ynSQ8haPSp2FFtIbeoBiJUrb6MPbKcznD4Xqa7MLFzxVY8jpSkLmJqqYeo_HelUZSvNXCM/s1600/Sioux+Falls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EXtYQ9fWqXwvbUNx_SbypGNSRPlSNCMA6xu8uHVDlY1vHEeMcAYvpayylI54c0tIF07r-ynSQ8haPSp2FFtIbeoBiJUrb6MPbKcznD4Xqa7MLFzxVY8jpSkLmJqqYeo_HelUZSvNXCM/s640/Sioux+Falls.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sioux Falls, South Dakota</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming with the fishes!</td></tr>
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On the way back, we passed by Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, and boy, we were all like kids in a candy store! Definitely a sweet treat to end a sweet camping trip. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR4FwEiHPAU3R9urs-VSSUg4XJwHJ9bptoBXJSpt1J1KU8k7Pg9C-HRF0BEpZkXDkxnbzCoCNdqJLPkyp_XIV2C6Ksrj34dmLisGLGGPQM3Tw-i-K98RK4oGw_BDd6PXTSyE5HXy6LHE/s1600/BiggestCandyStore+MN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR4FwEiHPAU3R9urs-VSSUg4XJwHJ9bptoBXJSpt1J1KU8k7Pg9C-HRF0BEpZkXDkxnbzCoCNdqJLPkyp_XIV2C6Ksrj34dmLisGLGGPQM3Tw-i-K98RK4oGw_BDd6PXTSyE5HXy6LHE/s400/BiggestCandyStore+MN.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biggest candy store in MN</td></tr>
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And because it's Father's Day tomorrow, I want to give a shout out to the guy who introduced me to the FUN that is camping. It's been a real adventure, my dear!<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">This earthly life is a battle,' said Ma. 'If it isn't one thing to contend with, it's another. It always has been so, and it always will be. The sooner you make up your mind to that, the better off you are, and more thankful for your pleasures. </span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">― </span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5300.Laura_Ingalls_Wilder"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></a><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_8253" style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2299540">Little Town on the Prairie</a></span><span id="quote_book_link_8253" style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"> </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-11312149076685344452017-04-25T12:03:00.001-04:002017-04-25T12:46:36.574-04:00Why should I care about the EPA?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Remember CFCs? Perhaps not. I remember the big hullabaloo when I was little on how hairspray was supposed to be bad for the environment. Perhaps it was before my time, but the rumor was these hairspray contained Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), which rise into the stratosphere, and break down by ultraviolet rays releasing free chlorine, which reacts with oxygen to destroy the ozone layer. Whew. In spite of the “in” thing to do which was to spike hair, and act like mini-Debbie Gibson, I skipped the hairspray trend for the most part of high school. Even then, I understood how one spritz <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a </span>day <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">was </span>likely to affect future outcomes. Later on, I found out that the EPA had actually banned CFCs, though the news traveled to my country late and not mandated immediately.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">The role of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes beyond ensuring a ‘clean’ and sustainable environment; as importantly, it works to ensure a ‘healthy’ and ‘safe’ environment. Some chemicals pose risks to both humans and the environment. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Pollution Prevention Act, EPA evaluates potential risks from new and existing chemicals and finds ways to prevent or reduce pollution before it gets into the environment. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m06ItrS-N25UZDBfrj6X_CLHzX4Q50yzxFB-1X6yALmImu-B2Fce3tg6a8twPzH4nKmtZg8MQ7djWgnpnlbWzU4l0ORAcGKSUoA-bgIXRH4ezQcJyGDLMXvCw7yZuONeAGzYZ7Au13s/s1600/Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m06ItrS-N25UZDBfrj6X_CLHzX4Q50yzxFB-1X6yALmImu-B2Fce3tg6a8twPzH4nKmtZg8MQ7djWgnpnlbWzU4l0ORAcGKSUoA-bgIXRH4ezQcJyGDLMXvCw7yZuONeAGzYZ7Au13s/s400/Beach.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />Toxicology as a science has grown exponentially since the 1960s, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/med.2610030104/abstract">predicated by</a>: 1) the discovery of teratogenic responses of Thalidomide 2) effects of chemicals in the environment and exposure of employees resulting in the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1977 and Occupational Safety Health Act of 1970, and 3) improprieties of pharmaceutical industries in assessing toxicity studies, which resulted in the Good Laboratory Practice Regulations of 1978. The impact of #1 and #3 were pharmaceutical-focused, <i><u>whereas #2 impacted the chemical, oil, and manufacturing industries.</u></i> TSCA (#2) was first passed in 1977 to help keep dangerous chemicals off the market and avoid making people sick. In 2016, Point #2 (TSCA) was reformed, the first major update to an environmental statute in 20 years. However, it fell short of giving EPA the authority to take the actions necessary to protect people from toxic chemicals. Diverse stakeholders from industry, retailers, public health and environmental experts recognized these deficiencies and began to demand major reforms to the law. Forty years after TSCA was enacted, there are still tens of thousands of chemicals on the market that have never been evaluated for safety, because TSCA did not require it. Why not? Because the onus lies on the EPA to show that a certain substance is a risk. The law only lets the EPA t</span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">est whether a chemical is toxic if companies have already shown the agency that the substance causes harm. During the first Bush Administration, EPA tried to ban asbestos under TSCA, but the rule was overturned in court. In TSCA’s 40-year history, only a few out of tens of thousands of chemicals on the market have ever been reviewed for health impacts, and less than 10 have ever been banned. With last year’s reform in place, prior to the election, robust data on chemical uses and exposures were being required; a registry of health- and safety-related studies along with details of the methods used is established to ensure public trust was recommended. However, the current Executive Order further undermines the role of the EPA, putting us back to the time of pre-ban of Dioxin, Asbestos, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The current Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” established a federal policy “to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens” on the American people. Ahem, #2? Further, it asks that the Task Force “attempt to identify regulations that:</span></span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(i) Eliminate jobs, or inhibit job creation;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(ii) are outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(iii) impose costs that exceed benefits;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(iv) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with regulatory reform initiatives and policies;</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(v) are inconsistent with the requirements of section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriates Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note), or the guidance issued pursuant to that provision in particular those regulations that rely in whole or in part on data, information, or methods that are not publicly available or that are insufficiently transparent to meet the standard of reproducibility; or</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">(vi) derive from or implement Executive Orders or other Presidential directives that have been subsequently rescinded or substantially modified</span></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eQ-5EJ6Hb6BiPcTUkrTiyFVCelJTTItgXiXaotEZv-dcmLT8Fj7ZIFIy2y8e_c1bOqr_6Oupj3d3khD-wM5gm8wDIn0PEFcRigjWEgKiqeWniEc4YzwGG8IIndH_70tqFS6sLy18OT4/s1600/bottlebrush.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/AVvXsEh3eQ-5EJ6Hb6BiPcTUkrTiyFVCelJTTItgXiXaotEZv-dcmLT8Fj7ZIFIy2y8e_c1bOqr_6Oupj3d3khD-wM5gm8wDIn0PEFcRigjWEgKiqeWniEc4YzwGG8IIndH_70tqFS6sLy18OT4/s320/bottlebrush.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudlLwDwuMsDSTH6yoLMfTzO1lngRhC-sAXxSryrJCNC9rNiqEdzw7Lrj-tjIskwpEsY55cG0fPvKfZyZ9jzvufdMKdfx1ec_ktwqAHPOrfrKZ3FkGGA6Xaxiy3TFnhN-ZEMObG3-ASSA/s1600/yellow.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/AVvXsEgudlLwDwuMsDSTH6yoLMfTzO1lngRhC-sAXxSryrJCNC9rNiqEdzw7Lrj-tjIskwpEsY55cG0fPvKfZyZ9jzvufdMKdfx1ec_ktwqAHPOrfrKZ3FkGGA6Xaxiy3TFnhN-ZEMObG3-ASSA/s320/yellow.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">I say, EPA must be empowered instead. Per <a href="http://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/9279_Denison_10_Elements_TSCA_Reform_0.pdf">this article</a>, "Federal policy reform should establish floors, not ceilings, for state government action and should only preclude state actions that are less protective of health or the environment. “ EPA’s purview goes beyond climate change, it covers human and environmental health. Speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongue. Speak for the future generation, for they have no tongue yet either. Save the EPA, and you save yourself. </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; 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/AVvXsEjYnRoawwUYBBBI8FFnjBYLnjVjYjHmkeoJcawzJFspt-6mQyjw6yGbZjupcwbBEc0auKbjtGHc4S-11PDnCkfxYSaBXVhwnoks20GCL2opO54NmonXd3JNhZlHM9UiUoJZPnP7Ud1ueFw/s1600/allyouneed.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/AVvXsEjYnRoawwUYBBBI8FFnjBYLnjVjYjHmkeoJcawzJFspt-6mQyjw6yGbZjupcwbBEc0auKbjtGHc4S-11PDnCkfxYSaBXVhwnoks20GCL2opO54NmonXd3JNhZlHM9UiUoJZPnP7Ud1ueFw/s320/allyouneed.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All you need</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Please take a moment to
make a statement about why EPA regulations matter to you. <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OA-2017-0190-0042">Here's</a> an opportunity for <i>your</i> voice to be heard. </span></span></div>
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Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3558629487082976533.post-24726864021006111172017-03-08T13:33:00.002-05:002017-03-08T13:34:08.617-05:00Wonder Women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today, I found the best thing to commemorate International Women's Day from a trip to the post office! Really, of all places. This Wonder Woman sheet of<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>stamps got me thinking of all the women that broke ceilings, pushed boundaries, and who I want my kids to look up to. I list them here in no particular order, and just off the top of my head, so I'm sure I'm missing a few. You may not agree with some of these, and that's ok. Feel free to add more in the comments. </span></span></span><br />
<ol><a href="https://attachment.outlook.office.net/owa/jentoinks@hotmail.com/service.svc/s/GetAttachmentThumbnail?id=AQMkADAwATE0YTIwLTcxMQA4LWVjNzYtMDACLTAwCgBGAAADxeylhGWKOE21ImwQ%2BDy%2BqQcA3jmM%2B%2BSq7EuXerU3t0aLGQAAAgEMAAAA3jmM%2B%2BSq7EuXerU3t0aLGQABD2CwrgAAAAESABAAusihxeQF10y4P9o4iGyf%2FA%3D%3D&thumbnailType=2&X-OWA-CANARY=Ig43aTGnk0Ots0X8Ct0nn2DlJEFQZtQYjVLlFxSs5tqQO9YT6-8z6YYS3B-Ao5f5GvLZN-gRXb4.&token=80b7b908-cfaf-42b1-9e41-a0309b5beaa2&owa=outlook.live.com&isc=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://attachment.outlook.office.net/owa/jentoinks@hotmail.com/service.svc/s/GetAttachmentThumbnail?id=AQMkADAwATE0YTIwLTcxMQA4LWVjNzYtMDACLTAwCgBGAAADxeylhGWKOE21ImwQ%2BDy%2BqQcA3jmM%2B%2BSq7EuXerU3t0aLGQAAAgEMAAAA3jmM%2B%2BSq7EuXerU3t0aLGQABD2CwrgAAAAESABAAusihxeQF10y4P9o4iGyf%2FA%3D%3D&thumbnailType=2&X-OWA-CANARY=Ig43aTGnk0Ots0X8Ct0nn2DlJEFQZtQYjVLlFxSs5tqQO9YT6-8z6YYS3B-Ao5f5GvLZN-gRXb4.&token=80b7b908-cfaf-42b1-9e41-a0309b5beaa2&owa=outlook.live.com&isc=1" style="max-height: 636.35px; max-width: 838.38px;" width="240" /></a></ol>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Wonder woman</b></u> - fictional, but her super power includes reforming baddies into upstanding citizens! Even Lego Batman can't do that!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Sally Ride</b></u> - <span class="st">American physicist and astronaut</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><b><u>Marie Curie</u> </b>- Physicist , chemist, and first person to receive 2 Novel prizes (you knew she'd be here on mylist!)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><u><b>Rosa Park</b> </u>- First lady of civil rights,<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> "</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="st"><i>People always say</i> that I <i>didn't give up my seat because</i> I was <i>tired</i>, <i>but</i> that <i>isn't true</i>. I was <i>not tired physically</i>, or <i>no more tired</i> than I usually was at the end of a working day. ... <i>No</i>, the <i>only tired</i> I was, was <i>tired</i> of <i>giving</i> in."</span></span></span></span><div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
<span style="font-size: small;">People always say that I
didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was
not tired physically... No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving
in.<br /> Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rosaparks743670.html</span></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
<span style="font-size: small;">People always say that I
didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was
not tired physically... No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving
in.<br /> Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rosaparks743670.html</span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><u><b>Anne Frank</b></u> - </span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><i>"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." </i></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><b><u>Hillary Clinton</u> </b>-<i> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">"little girls... you are valuable and powerful"</span></i></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><u><b>Harriet Beecher Stowe </b></u>- Author, Uncle Tom's Cabin</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><b>Amelia Earhart</b> - Pilot,<i> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">"</span></i></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;"><i>Please know that I am aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I
want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they
fail, their failure must be a challenge to others." </i></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Ruth Bader Ginsberg</b></u> (and maybe her mother) - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court,<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> "<i>My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent."</i></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Audrey Hepburn</b> </u>- Actress</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Malala Yousafzai</b></u> - Fearless girl and activist </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Nausicaa</u> </b>- Favorite Ghibli heroine who loves the ecology of the world above all</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Jane Goodall</b> </u>- Animal advocate</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Mother Theresa</b></u> - Missionary</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Jennifer Doudna</b></u> - Biochemist, inventor of CRISPR - she will or has started changing the world</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Steffi Graf</b></u> - My all time favorite Tennis player, still regarded by some to be the greatest female tennis player of all time (though Serena Williams is pretty high up there in my book too). </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Ursula K. LeGuin</b></u> - Author,<i> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">"And yet I look at men and women my age and older, and their scalps and
knuckles and spots and bulges, though various and interesting, don’t
affect what I think of them. Some of these people I consider to be very
beautiful, and others I don’t. For old people, beauty doesn’t come free
with the hormones, the way it does for the young. It has to do with
bones. It has to do with who the person is. More and more clearly it has
to do with what shines through those gnarly faces and bodies."</span></i></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Rosie the Riveter</u></b> - Fictional icon of feminism</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I think of 'inspirational', these awesome heroines come to mind, regardless of gender, actually. So...Who did I miss?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span></span>Jen I amhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00970490155960499883noreply@blogger.com0