tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57421598202229534672024-03-18T21:56:30.998-05:00OKrural livingLiving in beautiful Nowhere, Oklahomawandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-41610847532374412792010-06-05T09:32:00.003-05:002010-06-05T09:43:32.301-05:00Hmmmmmmmm......I believe I am fast becoming the queen of unfinished projects. I haven't finished writing about my cruise, haven't finished posting about the trip to SC, haven't finished innumerable art projects, haven't finished painting the living area, haven't finished putting away the laundry, haven't finished putting down the plastic to prevent weeds in the garden (yes, the weeds are doing quite nicely)..... The list goes on and on. I do finish reading a novel a week, but that's not particularly productive. I should never have read Richard Carlson's <em>Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.</em> It's too easy to categorize nearly everything as "small stuff." Maybe if I post more short blogs....wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-32935093179065803892010-05-07T18:54:00.009-05:002010-06-05T09:30:22.418-05:00What Happened?<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Wow....I was just blogging along when days became weeks; weeks became months.... I fell off the edge of the blogosphere. The loved one had back problems followed by back surgery and recovery impeded by gout flareups ( how does one limp on both feet?) and a falling blood pressure episode. I discovered that taking care of all of the animals in the cold and dark after work was no fun. </div><div><br /><div>Recovery celebration--- road trip to SC!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470507428397494770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mkbfUwCoWdbV3_Sn5y4a83TdlybwhKHs189203ShwG2romqIqaYZNvV4VDgNgAQhyphenhyphencZVHoxqs_mxE7gkr76EIlFLaCIlhsoaHOV8AX8i4LHBMS_ER40ZS3Y8SWhfWrAp7cYo_yk74h4l/s400/SC+041.JPG" border="0" /><br />It was my first visit to a marshland... fascinating. I am a fan of author Pat Conroy, and visiting Brother Richard also gave me an opportunity to see the areas immortalized in some of the most beautiful prose I have ever read. We traveled in the RV to allow us to take 6 month old Sioux and keep her from shedding allergy stimulating dander around Dick's house. 1,100 miles of retrieving later, we arrived and parked behind Dick's garage.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizji9HyuBCftVKoEv8oX7IOUUCVo03XYIhZhro1nfT1qUz61RR189JZPfq41ixwog0BH1UBxByEXjtN5ufYeRmIEqH1r5uoocLzFZMrTmTb9rXA9TLYFienIFHwhza_HjuDRxqBrcSrjfY/s1600/SC+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470500186137478754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizji9HyuBCftVKoEv8oX7IOUUCVo03XYIhZhro1nfT1qUz61RR189JZPfq41ixwog0BH1UBxByEXjtN5ufYeRmIEqH1r5uoocLzFZMrTmTb9rXA9TLYFienIFHwhza_HjuDRxqBrcSrjfY/s320/SC+003.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyKnw3JQ1zvxoqLzPVUffn9v_DdjkdaUzEKXmHMTGJNyzNa6QBeEHkLp1LKAHJ2-_ACdnkrkT1Uuy15vLPDuTP0uAgCBFp5SStJMIDEfj7C3LBijpj5u7qeOkOw2XPBAmZTMi8XCJ3TuH/s1600/SC+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470500178400259474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyKnw3JQ1zvxoqLzPVUffn9v_DdjkdaUzEKXmHMTGJNyzNa6QBeEHkLp1LKAHJ2-_ACdnkrkT1Uuy15vLPDuTP0uAgCBFp5SStJMIDEfj7C3LBijpj5u7qeOkOw2XPBAmZTMi8XCJ3TuH/s320/SC+039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dick and Denise's lovely house is located in a marsh-bordering sub-division in Beaufort. The marsh is right across the street. There is a row of houses that backs up to a walking trail and a dock for residents' use.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUKlx4dOFn2PQMIoISK2qTLWu-V5e6QmfDPgluyoyudx9um5YlFwHmpMkyFy8wiSBXBAl_mGROdkkiqeaEPacuVln-R3tfdUFies6UaHzNFpSRxXXspzu3qZp0ackUydYvJn_tgY3ryjf/s1600/SC+024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470504801613140530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUKlx4dOFn2PQMIoISK2qTLWu-V5e6QmfDPgluyoyudx9um5YlFwHmpMkyFy8wiSBXBAl_mGROdkkiqeaEPacuVln-R3tfdUFies6UaHzNFpSRxXXspzu3qZp0ackUydYvJn_tgY3ryjf/s320/SC+024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5pF8NJ4d9UpQWVIMcf1eFh0CCEM9NzhRzvZAnWr28ValluU_J870AN93kR12XdQCUIT7Jijsz90Lgxu1BA5gOT4i4vflPsFhOn4R-cvmTva7to8VP2pKuazuFnBlZpUb3E2PyTvkKzjp/s1600/SC+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470504793225514066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5pF8NJ4d9UpQWVIMcf1eFh0CCEM9NzhRzvZAnWr28ValluU_J870AN93kR12XdQCUIT7Jijsz90Lgxu1BA5gOT4i4vflPsFhOn4R-cvmTva7to8VP2pKuazuFnBlZpUb3E2PyTvkKzjp/s320/SC+011.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NKTmAXrwcufh5kSdXTz82k1nAOGWam2qWRptAuowlfuSz3gFWyp27GWtFUGrEIYUUN7BauzlZAh5iiMMsMm25C-RNVStAxB1MBSdtwP8s3R5C_f58cvBDjTrHuqaweb1TmqiTPiiSDiL/s1600/SC+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470504790520926306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NKTmAXrwcufh5kSdXTz82k1nAOGWam2qWRptAuowlfuSz3gFWyp27GWtFUGrEIYUUN7BauzlZAh5iiMMsMm25C-RNVStAxB1MBSdtwP8s3R5C_f58cvBDjTrHuqaweb1TmqiTPiiSDiL/s320/SC+005.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p>Low tide= sand and marsh grass</p><p>High tide= salty water</p><p>A channel allows navigation, but a person had better know where he's going and keep an eye on the tides.</p><p>Low tide reveals oyster beds. Not quite the same as coastal oysters; smaller because they aren't in water all the time.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkf6cQQgfYM2AR4HjcdbovTheAL2QbYfOCxLsJ7ok4oUEzDzlw3aWLFwSHmpNeNZXqa-pYsS8iPEXriGGedXl6C3SGeL6ude98SMpPa6pK3u7mm27PtLGrVdAnIrqRqE0OtrBUSwNj-LO/s1600/SC+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470511083535368354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkf6cQQgfYM2AR4HjcdbovTheAL2QbYfOCxLsJ7ok4oUEzDzlw3aWLFwSHmpNeNZXqa-pYsS8iPEXriGGedXl6C3SGeL6ude98SMpPa6pK3u7mm27PtLGrVdAnIrqRqE0OtrBUSwNj-LO/s320/SC+010.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YovsSnXH4GJu0emktgd1zwlpoVB3SN9PxVsuK4xx-6AehogHlwZRcklzV_sEwaraKb4zuZSFF1B4Iw-zV0IXOVrbnWPgRPBb2HaH-znm8ROrdqLGM7YrtuE-zSZcnmcSwRBbYQfT8g99/s1600/SC+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470511074833071986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YovsSnXH4GJu0emktgd1zwlpoVB3SN9PxVsuK4xx-6AehogHlwZRcklzV_sEwaraKb4zuZSFF1B4Iw-zV0IXOVrbnWPgRPBb2HaH-znm8ROrdqLGM7YrtuE-zSZcnmcSwRBbYQfT8g99/s320/SC+007.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /></div><p>Live oaks, cabbage palms, and Spanish moss grace the walkway along the marsh.</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvcLjcymV3Y0sXLUt-50_JUEYdkg4bltnKXsS21kNr7WJOj18vWaPSBdseCc4DYk6KsLifi8PijhZEkhLns53OiMczjQJ_wdA7_Sab0yDlaum2iHxe1kqnOGbQKQwIN7EWfVocYAt5yhz/s1600/SC+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470515805858206418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvcLjcymV3Y0sXLUt-50_JUEYdkg4bltnKXsS21kNr7WJOj18vWaPSBdseCc4DYk6KsLifi8PijhZEkhLns53OiMczjQJ_wdA7_Sab0yDlaum2iHxe1kqnOGbQKQwIN7EWfVocYAt5yhz/s320/SC+014.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5LGmu2_aOkGwjfraUXpDGw2uyYOoH3pQqF63n4IMDjBfOT-uc2H9S9K3CBc3KG8I41CpC_Vraa53EEOt9rywxVD-ELonKTfIse1XCOuXdFa06r6jBN7fYUGC5_g44u6V6xs3zAiA3c5u/s1600/SC+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470515800951025954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5LGmu2_aOkGwjfraUXpDGw2uyYOoH3pQqF63n4IMDjBfOT-uc2H9S9K3CBc3KG8I41CpC_Vraa53EEOt9rywxVD-ELonKTfIse1XCOuXdFa06r6jBN7fYUGC5_g44u6V6xs3zAiA3c5u/s320/SC+018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6txSo8qlcoq_5RFNE9g_KiZt4pBM_ZGhJgg9fmea_5IZ8Fy1X67rGFMKI-3oRresxGu_m5yU0kwOUzIWEEsoLjS8Iyr1OeuEx5t4ufFDKErkJnCrK5T0eh_58dzPZ62r2_YnAYigMVanm/s1600/SC+032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470515795842653378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6txSo8qlcoq_5RFNE9g_KiZt4pBM_ZGhJgg9fmea_5IZ8Fy1X67rGFMKI-3oRresxGu_m5yU0kwOUzIWEEsoLjS8Iyr1OeuEx5t4ufFDKErkJnCrK5T0eh_58dzPZ62r2_YnAYigMVanm/s320/SC+032.JPG" border="0" /></a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-5605369364274873682010-02-07T08:27:00.014-06:002010-02-07T12:19:57.574-06:00Portugal: First Visit for Me and Ruby Princess<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApmON2upRHnslJCfTM7qal-JuO_kPrynnRGCF4yCLLtb_SrU4D5K_Rv8p3KgqdQcI_-l-hoZDZgLBgIHTRNlTOa8BaQaHcxNwzMTU7Dt3acARY_dk7L-b-HbNv8OBn-L8_aVPF2mwU5_s/s1600-h/cruise+645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435566095778507618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApmON2upRHnslJCfTM7qal-JuO_kPrynnRGCF4yCLLtb_SrU4D5K_Rv8p3KgqdQcI_-l-hoZDZgLBgIHTRNlTOa8BaQaHcxNwzMTU7Dt3acARY_dk7L-b-HbNv8OBn-L8_aVPF2mwU5_s/s400/cruise+645.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>16th October 2009- Lisbon, Portugal</em><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>....you would have seen initially the town of Caxias on our left hand side which is one of the suburbs of Lisbon, on the right hand side the white cliffs and the Cristo Rei statue similar to that found in Rio De Janeiro, some 350 feet above sea level, you would also see the Belem Tower and the monument to the Explorers on the left hand side. We transited the Rio Tejo passing under the April 25th Bridge at 11:01, so named due to a peaceful revolution which happened in 1974.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLe4WwV019GoFN-1ey6UUM1lPvExZ-bixbA9nmZavjOJ4XqszeeiIl5f7pQAhzgBGjOHADbLNSZ_q1Ot7GJ05t5KUQb9xJY4XHM7ZGEZGHc6wZNW3ObBrPyLEBuT9FUYVlSgTlDac5o8_/s1600-h/cruise+636.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435519057928526066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLe4WwV019GoFN-1ey6UUM1lPvExZ-bixbA9nmZavjOJ4XqszeeiIl5f7pQAhzgBGjOHADbLNSZ_q1Ot7GJ05t5KUQb9xJY4XHM7ZGEZGHc6wZNW3ObBrPyLEBuT9FUYVlSgTlDac5o8_/s200/cruise+636.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ6wB5DhGZReQ3_q-IlFmTMtozfapyCXv3ZEQi5Sgluio7AA2pZnCmVZ5cJoYJo3OTHUVHcuu8aIzCyMlTblMbS4vcI73uKec92KI5zBY88JO9gC85TmOV-wHGCSm17_PTeosDdSrz7X0/s1600-h/cruise+627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435519045783814610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZ6wB5DhGZReQ3_q-IlFmTMtozfapyCXv3ZEQi5Sgluio7AA2pZnCmVZ5cJoYJo3OTHUVHcuu8aIzCyMlTblMbS4vcI73uKec92KI5zBY88JO9gC85TmOV-wHGCSm17_PTeosDdSrz7X0/s200/cruise+627.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSEJIK64kIhQU-5lYvNZTysZrCSUf7BZ3L0j0RjxUo9P7M4Sr3sRPS-gicasgGb4CBFIQaph8jf8p9FBPmzaCSBhtyrDOt8e06A9NS9c7eWsCqDdcTDo2nhbw6XznABtkvphSfzmY9ngC/s1600-h/cruise+651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435519065446429122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSEJIK64kIhQU-5lYvNZTysZrCSUf7BZ3L0j0RjxUo9P7M4Sr3sRPS-gicasgGb4CBFIQaph8jf8p9FBPmzaCSBhtyrDOt8e06A9NS9c7eWsCqDdcTDo2nhbw6XznABtkvphSfzmY9ngC/s200/cruise+651.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></em>We sailed into Lisbon mid-morning and docked not far from Europe's longest suspension bridge (so they said) very reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge. The tour guide on the bus said it was built by the same folks. As we approached the docking area, there were boats with flags flying spraying water. Kinda cute. Found out later that they were welcoming Ruby Princess on her first visit to Lisbon. The ship went into service in 2008 and just turned one year old. I also heard that this will be the ship's first trans-Atlantic voyage. Hmmmmmm.....first voyage.....comforting thought? Actually, later someone said that the ship had crossed the Atlantic sailin in an easterly direction, so not really a first crossing.<br /></div></div><div>We loaded on a bus headed for Cascais, a small, fashionable fishing village on the Bay of Cascais. We passed a number of fortifications guarding the coasline, some apparently still active military installations.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435525012763306850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3EZZ1ERspMMU2u7Hi9Nwdkf8GPNipJAsdSqs3RXDgAabatcXiOIYrQNEI_QjtmqvA3XqNuXcbY0BKU5F9mutbsSLnoC5HhREKGws1GsxxOxOFNZCpF1ysERLmndTnTx9K4EcQIR7JD-Q/s400/cruise+667.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>"Small"...clearly a relative term. For a person who lives outside of a community of roughly 600 people, Cascais didn't seem so small. There are mixtures of older and newer buildings, the latter lacking the charm of the former, as is usually the case.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435527069571345858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UI5EpLrkFcvWc6EQPw0yBU4synSa-W2s6z0jZTCRoDf0WH5SvBziSRhorHYl6KMDH22I_v7MNeaQ69PojcDO-wcxuaibBpW0toSraXlgDJ6Mzku2CVeZdWd6PyTtlWQo8kWybyGkIWau/s400/cruise+668.JPG" border="0" />The streets are narrow with poorly delineated sidewalks, but some open areas sport patterned pavement made of 2 1/2- 3 inch squares.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrsFIuBKEc-IPJkQ03EYzlVKhCI3YuL3IjZV3WMkx-kOE6HG7E1t6OeKh01hu7Dx05OvvV5TJtcg9QR_Hwefx0WC9lhgGN9vIrD1d0gIHeAV8zqyLFzzT8N34fOSnws2NIqqBo8D2HRUX/s1600-h/cruise+693.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435532856486400386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrsFIuBKEc-IPJkQ03EYzlVKhCI3YuL3IjZV3WMkx-kOE6HG7E1t6OeKh01hu7Dx05OvvV5TJtcg9QR_Hwefx0WC9lhgGN9vIrD1d0gIHeAV8zqyLFzzT8N34fOSnws2NIqqBo8D2HRUX/s200/cruise+693.JPG" border="0" /></a> Painstaking work, that.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghajwjQSOphQS5n5tE2Vv42lK0lWvxIoytRibSxWviu9GsLktfQaVMCzES68PQ-_-f5ec9S2UnyQ4v59Q2EZ2IkgJR6rmzzekG4qK-yia0rncZY99lRIszDAfyjvzw4TZq8GMglibB9rq2/s1600-h/cruise+699.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435532831849805874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghajwjQSOphQS5n5tE2Vv42lK0lWvxIoytRibSxWviu9GsLktfQaVMCzES68PQ-_-f5ec9S2UnyQ4v59Q2EZ2IkgJR6rmzzekG4qK-yia0rncZY99lRIszDAfyjvzw4TZq8GMglibB9rq2/s200/cruise+699.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Not as much statuary as in some other places.</div><br /><div>Lack of raw materials, lack of inclina<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrtuhQn4r2y9-Y-rVm8_DZyrG7kKXUGKFyVhWzRsW24YLS6I2HW9cYjVjoHdLyBUfBZy4fC9sUeP_fshRbIUKqG8wrdCmeij3q8ngy3-Hb7ErMTGkrjsy8wAio2Zdwy_VMHxdbSWW_QuH/s1600-h/cruise+688.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435532845851437138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrtuhQn4r2y9-Y-rVm8_DZyrG7kKXUGKFyVhWzRsW24YLS6I2HW9cYjVjoHdLyBUfBZy4fC9sUeP_fshRbIUKqG8wrdCmeij3q8ngy3-Hb7ErMTGkrjsy8wAio2Zdwy_VMHxdbSWW_QuH/s200/cruise+688.JPG" border="0" /></a>tion?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnRLbrIpRpRiD_Gfd1jTITX4w4kQP1VHeJ9Uwwi8J52ri2ie5ICSgi-LxR283LtwknyuLf9vkW2RApnQOkD8ZFAzOr2k5CrCCL420TBKmkjzjbxrDS8lSONUnepLxopCx9tFJ6MwWnMPo/s1600-h/cruise+664.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435532840463349858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnRLbrIpRpRiD_Gfd1jTITX4w4kQP1VHeJ9Uwwi8J52ri2ie5ICSgi-LxR283LtwknyuLf9vkW2RApnQOkD8ZFAzOr2k5CrCCL420TBKmkjzjbxrDS8lSONUnepLxopCx9tFJ6MwWnMPo/s200/cruise+664.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br />Portugal is known for its tilework featured on the exteriors of many buildings. Both Cascais and Sintra sported fully clad buildings, as well as featured displays on exteriors. Permanent siding! One little square at a time would be daunting, but it sure seems to hold up. I wonder how it would hold up in an area with temperature extremes such as those found in oh,.....say..... northeast Oklahoma.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540972739514210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WVhCMwa4Wts2sAV8EMR_bGt2g-8Y2aqqikw7ye2nhTBxswvHGC0DYAHxmgTad0QnSQIHuDGqjBOUgofIabmUcjyIccKta7VVf4wu6ACn5B3Be_spa5n8QtqtPwiMcrNpsGAZNCfZXj9z/s200/cruise+764.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540979169000754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9X8__KbXl7aFaDID2TRxqqrEOlLQZ7EqfxndJrCbjmir-tFjqjUP4VQb5P5-SyYiyuj9343KZz04_78LZEaPVWSTw5nPnVT7nkj7Y8HfX58ectuFbE6uMIEERR5hy5Qpkpynp5n-y6sw/s200/cruise+719.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540987201129218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-7-qqPJ4WehakouEmfKcLZS1RNvdbmJJ7-alTpXU0LYzJ6u9fcWvhiLafTUfmYYXq0XX-3r9c-907sn-LTR6GRNNwMg54z8iXKDm5q92G3bT-gBOx-WDbr2Zdiieq0qYG4LjghVG4YmI/s200/cruise+724.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540988904168530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ENTwNFFmZW3bL7l70xQ0bHlT_eGZO5HOY-e9Ou0QXkIItc04gCP9RfjUAMa3X6HYDV_keAOppHuIKv-qwRBnGBLZXLdV0sTRFPXXy6KKlKIDVDyyqYGiqZchYeaFuQP0_WkPwoE4I09y/s200/cruise+729.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435540997899923314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFedpWwxcy5j7BMhyuPuQfLCEXBICeXeh2qGC5alugsLyUTuF2y9cKDdetYZjFPqM-6XOwohyphenhyphenZUWxBIISxeu8BI4zyw083G_sL2zC_I0B0q1VcmmHx1mLLK2rygkO4DRPe2rjkKMkhPq9n/s200/cruise+730.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Road signs were tile plaques, and displays were traditional blue and white or more colorful landscapes. Some were inspired by religious belief, some civic oriented, and some just for fun.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435544766754034834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Uxx2mIWNrKQoNAtOlOcnuULWQygKXT4XQpNw82eV92ro0oP08sn8yKnSp9H6TsGhTk4zIUBG0gKe0d6PnetD0VqLkWqZe25z-1AotK-ZO5Z6k7x1RwDjsValMj5BdzxzqkL_3DSh5lC7/s400/cruise+685.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J8mfoBa98phexFIc9aPyVMwmdukYw1xaEmaStyG86OfB5sHWaqOilbdiICD4sIfSKsLA1UCPsW4_BFVi-DzrQzODAUBJLtqDErpCpN1w9IHyaU6mu2FFnNw0eUweal1Grk6npt2eCgWP/s1600-h/cruise+684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435548685000016002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0J8mfoBa98phexFIc9aPyVMwmdukYw1xaEmaStyG86OfB5sHWaqOilbdiICD4sIfSKsLA1UCPsW4_BFVi-DzrQzODAUBJLtqDErpCpN1w9IHyaU6mu2FFnNw0eUweal1Grk6npt2eCgWP/s200/cruise+684.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PBvdS2cRUg5PEg2ScQa1DYTTMy0tqQvV6Cnxr6DIT3q0FJgeIgIhXmupuGrVNNVgJSGtcrSQ0-OEjybnJpPdQ1S7KE_XlgQjx1JYo2VTLw9dpuewMKeluBFiFGZB_niWQWvkFZ0iitb0/s1600-h/cruise+686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435548689860618466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PBvdS2cRUg5PEg2ScQa1DYTTMy0tqQvV6Cnxr6DIT3q0FJgeIgIhXmupuGrVNNVgJSGtcrSQ0-OEjybnJpPdQ1S7KE_XlgQjx1JYo2VTLw9dpuewMKeluBFiFGZB_niWQWvkFZ0iitb0/s200/cruise+686.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3exWxTBOXzTdGTS-m0fjRIMKSyhCwx09mNZyiB6MTkZ-Q-Maeckf4w-vb9zw1gbSBalJYo5aWpeOEEsN4ZN3iE_8IaE44rTFZ92bZQU_D7bbB-LnwYgZZgKYPIO42-atI3fjPeofOuid/s1600-h/cruise+694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435548695417417458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3exWxTBOXzTdGTS-m0fjRIMKSyhCwx09mNZyiB6MTkZ-Q-Maeckf4w-vb9zw1gbSBalJYo5aWpeOEEsN4ZN3iE_8IaE44rTFZ92bZQU_D7bbB-LnwYgZZgKYPIO42-atI3fjPeofOuid/s200/cruise+694.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435552997328703266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53dImhRIy_ZaZzYFnAHr0dE_v-XAww6NjVD6cFwvQrE4NaHO9POsMebttKQHTP8qktVGVt8dBYNFrSUsjWIoLndkeGU6OKziJGi3l7wJL0ZYuvYUeLLV30XvTe5cdVQdc_tzQzqBjGo8i/s400/cruise+740.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW8chp_-J8hRt5Czvza9cqNRSGEqC4rmJlI-LfKuRvKB2TckFiRhFsZePrwrP_lOdveGN2qmLUWC52VrUQF26SwJj3nP9anGu9k_270yghGiEGhna6wetYazDXNFnlYK6N-U5XQ7KBxA2/s1600-h/cruise+741.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435555547828439266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW8chp_-J8hRt5Czvza9cqNRSGEqC4rmJlI-LfKuRvKB2TckFiRhFsZePrwrP_lOdveGN2qmLUWC52VrUQF26SwJj3nP9anGu9k_270yghGiEGhna6wetYazDXNFnlYK6N-U5XQ7KBxA2/s320/cruise+741.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlindVl-vzj4MoPuCY8fji6D4ebFfqPXhOcE7eE7dJ65lP3G5pYl9B9B2RnF77U5sHDvAUl2G1upkYcHdn00XW2cuyH8PiKAdmVrnAh2HsLsQKARVJM32d5b0MrNcOBr5G51NfPAjZV_n/s1600-h/cruise+733.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435555548915396738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlindVl-vzj4MoPuCY8fji6D4ebFfqPXhOcE7eE7dJ65lP3G5pYl9B9B2RnF77U5sHDvAUl2G1upkYcHdn00XW2cuyH8PiKAdmVrnAh2HsLsQKARVJM32d5b0MrNcOBr5G51NfPAjZV_n/s320/cruise+733.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Next, we loaded on the bus and headed for Sintra. According to our guide, the beaches were unusually busy, and some flowers were in an unseasonal bloom. The weather had been particularly warm for mid-October. We continued on up the coast, stopping for a photo op in sight of what the guide said was the westernmost point in all of continental Europe.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435559731206514690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA-zbVJyo3hJtq5w13HwSrvicZiNpq6HXbHmU4hKvayO2UriK4K4b-oG5FfjH-QvJElX-lq68sjg2KrWDZw7DxTqGkXRx8I5UxsB9qyZk0XqlLTw5NF8RKj166ymSDfj9Dc-kq7Z5Fop_/s400/cruise+703.JPG" border="0" />The coast is very rocky, and it was easy to see that it could be very inhospitable in harsh weather. There was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WeGLgtTvBKwJYym-1_6cqcPMrY88XYa9IAZ3If_DW4Q9M9AtZpLmpPjqeGdA1RkofubcbSc3w5dUElk-NBZbfTYPhO878OF-GEt7YirqjXK8MK4hhGpkYStcv7Je3yKqJR0DtBwKeDVu/s1600-h/cruise+707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435562753753116418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WeGLgtTvBKwJYym-1_6cqcPMrY88XYa9IAZ3If_DW4Q9M9AtZpLmpPjqeGdA1RkofubcbSc3w5dUElk-NBZbfTYPhO878OF-GEt7YirqjXK8MK4hhGpkYStcv7Je3yKqJR0DtBwKeDVu/s320/cruise+707.JPG" border="0" /></a>very little, stunted vegetation.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQGvPn6Jr65Sg4ahgeDyGFVFnzuoJjvtbNmLQkcXZauKYElqcqpEzG8ytmZfAIB9uMukbuPFqfH3Nbo0v_t92anqejZZuJSHhhbM-5n0hjtB4ct3folQt25fOUfKLXhr9oit5yb209E-J/s1600-h/cruise+712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435562761213333522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQGvPn6Jr65Sg4ahgeDyGFVFnzuoJjvtbNmLQkcXZauKYElqcqpEzG8ytmZfAIB9uMukbuPFqfH3Nbo0v_t92anqejZZuJSHhhbM-5n0hjtB4ct3folQt25fOUfKLXhr9oit5yb209E-J/s320/cruise+712.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-84433730913469559102010-02-03T09:02:00.003-06:002010-02-03T09:45:29.644-06:00Sailing,sailing......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHsXhjRLxtLS1tHldE32Q_wX2oDVzWwOcaYFvuT8lP7978wcH9OEABFXX2oLoLpAmg67azTmsQzF10sXaFiYxDYdQkscRfyGlacg2rLMW5JF0YI2kC-iUXl0Z4mcpIFKt5-TcgYAcZ3ot/s1600-h/cruise+969.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434035053206277154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHsXhjRLxtLS1tHldE32Q_wX2oDVzWwOcaYFvuT8lP7978wcH9OEABFXX2oLoLpAmg67azTmsQzF10sXaFiYxDYdQkscRfyGlacg2rLMW5JF0YI2kC-iUXl0Z4mcpIFKt5-TcgYAcZ3ot/s400/cruise+969.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>15th October 2009- At Sea</em><br /><p><em></em> </p><p><em>At 03:59 Ruby Princess passed The Prime Meridian, ...the meridian at which longitude is defined to be 0 degrees.... Throughout the day we followed a southwesterly track where at 11:00 altered to a due west heading. At 18:30 this evening we had the engines ready and started to transit the Gibraltar strait....You could clearly see Africa on our port side and Europe on our starboard side. At approximately 19:00 we passed the rock of Gibraltar on our starboard side while transiting the strait at an average speed of 18.5 knots.</em></p><p>I can't believe I slept through the Prime Meridian! Just one more opportunity lost through the need for sleep. Oh,well.... My knee reminded me that I'm no longer young. Woke up to a re-injury of (thankfully) only one knee. Who knew that merely dancing on deck would have such repercussions? It turned out to be a sensory overload day. Too much food, too many people... No breakfast, pizza at 11ish, and time to get ready for class. Well, I definitely need to draw more. I can't seem to render an architectural wonder and transfer it to ridiculously expensive pastel paper and produce anything satisfactory. It's overwhelming! </p><p>I spent class time talking to Mike instead. He may be more convinced than ever that I'm a total head case, but I love that guy. He's so kind and such a good listener. He is most definitely on the list of the many blessings in my life.</p><p>Pizza again for dinner--couldn't face a dining room. Sensory overload! Seeing too much, eating too much, too many people. Just needed to chill... sooooo I watched a movie outdoors on deck as we sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar. Weird. Never thought that would be my experience. By the way, looked at the rock, and it didn't look like the Prudential commercial. Must have been a different angle.</p><p>Sufficiently recovered to go down to Club Fusion on 7 where Mike sang Karaoke, and Mike and Janet sang "All I Have to Do Is Dream." They're so cute! It was a good time, and I'm all better! Well, except for the knee. I'm not liking this whole aging thing!</p><p> </p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-12874925347785412532010-01-17T08:41:00.012-06:002010-01-17T11:21:05.141-06:00Exploring Barcelona<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Kw0Q6ndPtpor2BC3X9T6hWguhd4eJ5aF-O9ITzu9p2AkDGDLmvespbz3rQth-pb_bcuD5uEGplkuimsezsl7t8-0JhitFLGH6jYPKSmNf3Uie0xDSd0WjqwrzbIcWE1gnlhMkBnCz85I/s1600-h/cruise+525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427720198626433010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Kw0Q6ndPtpor2BC3X9T6hWguhd4eJ5aF-O9ITzu9p2AkDGDLmvespbz3rQth-pb_bcuD5uEGplkuimsezsl7t8-0JhitFLGH6jYPKSmNf3Uie0xDSd0WjqwrzbIcWE1gnlhMkBnCz85I/s400/cruise+525.JPG" border="0" /></a> We walked along the Via Rambla, a busy shopping area. There were many vendors along the street, as well as in shops. KFC and Mickey D's were in evidence. Once again, unfavorable exchange rate and shallow pockets caused me to come away with only pictures, but I find I enjoy them more than I would have appreciated one more thing to introduce into my materially cluttered existence. Loved the cows and happy mannequins.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCxNQOEt4K32n3s-Q4Ehkd2mmgGhYBaz0QvBCNsm5bkrsybH8uAZM54cTG4___M4DZzTWKjqj7uK9Q84zRf6cUwsWAph1okxv59ni74c41gI6eRYnn8k3oIS4FK4u55OrhfeV7yxnh5hM/s1600-h/cruise+579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427724280499853570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCxNQOEt4K32n3s-Q4Ehkd2mmgGhYBaz0QvBCNsm5bkrsybH8uAZM54cTG4___M4DZzTWKjqj7uK9Q84zRf6cUwsWAph1okxv59ni74c41gI6eRYnn8k3oIS4FK4u55OrhfeV7yxnh5hM/s320/cruise+579.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4ZjUkbn5ia_91Mo-QjJw_81AlZCWiKNjiaH9_CsZzioB8ng2tyJFFLJzcowIVfkOVQ2Hzo2yNYHWpfF4l2noudj4ZlgbQmanqbUQweKKD5uSG20hz08aak57KZY8gan-SFiVW0fjGugR/s1600-h/cruise+575.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427724275022891906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC4ZjUkbn5ia_91Mo-QjJw_81AlZCWiKNjiaH9_CsZzioB8ng2tyJFFLJzcowIVfkOVQ2Hzo2yNYHWpfF4l2noudj4ZlgbQmanqbUQweKKD5uSG20hz08aak57KZY8gan-SFiVW0fjGugR/s320/cruise+575.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNbS9eYS4y9kTVB9v7szHr7Iq5yRHtALyIv_208g6GRvFKampe8z1GvgSMAX-BheTd1Uc590uZEYtuVCRJEH9AlDf8JG55B4wnTgsytITzLQnmGNPpeoman7jIWLtbz3kAHS67eGqCWCh/s1600-h/cruise+577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427727716971955858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNbS9eYS4y9kTVB9v7szHr7Iq5yRHtALyIv_208g6GRvFKampe8z1GvgSMAX-BheTd1Uc590uZEYtuVCRJEH9AlDf8JG55B4wnTgsytITzLQnmGNPpeoman7jIWLtbz3kAHS67eGqCWCh/s200/cruise+577.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIkSw41f-IDcBSrC68aE8xii_7bqh2mqkak3BBhPx3fQQMY64fJ8ccBz09ayXgCR00nKN5kUJ0VH2PtyjwEXU2MbP-siFyJq-9v_SC4d3Rm1B44d1eyaBdeo2OKfLcnL43E2zrCH3ls8h/s1600-h/cruise+578.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427727719414301698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIkSw41f-IDcBSrC68aE8xii_7bqh2mqkak3BBhPx3fQQMY64fJ8ccBz09ayXgCR00nKN5kUJ0VH2PtyjwEXU2MbP-siFyJq-9v_SC4d3Rm1B44d1eyaBdeo2OKfLcnL43E2zrCH3ls8h/s200/cruise+578.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNRwYJ8mD5ntG7M4ISq9SXCwN2wm_SAghdg8vEN20rxELqGS7QB7xTpGR9LvS9rRJLst94Bu-kRE7r7nhRzCg888UB6s964wDWQJnzdJkQNvxydWDVn0nV-T5NZxmyZeuRtlYZENTR7bt/s1600-h/cruise+576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427727704805397282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNRwYJ8mD5ntG7M4ISq9SXCwN2wm_SAghdg8vEN20rxELqGS7QB7xTpGR9LvS9rRJLst94Bu-kRE7r7nhRzCg888UB6s964wDWQJnzdJkQNvxydWDVn0nV-T5NZxmyZeuRtlYZENTR7bt/s200/cruise+576.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Listed as a "must see" in a brochure was the market on the Via Rambla. All sorts of things were available for purchase, much of which were foodstuffs. No shortage there aboard ship, but those who wanted wine or alcohol found it much less expensive to purchase while on shore.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427730667229976354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBp6FC2VzEQrXI7LGkP8gX4LRCdtj9dvVpj7H-4iXAqPFSw6S0xtp2A5BfsM7YZ6fAOFc5R46e6Thr4fmnwsHbw-wOuNtn_Tn5Ek82rnW3wqwUUL36SvHQjEcUNYCE4cqfegBoxfzOPfh/s400/cruise+520.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-CO6Nq5EnzQrEI6u5exo2TdkbuNiOay84WAXgtbDRAlzcP6reS8VMWQADUBeigsl1lEA3eZVW625m_2LByWa47_l5a3R7ewwjVWndCExt3BSCdT5CsyhcnrVG17SvLaC-yzzI6bR8f8l/s1600-h/cruise+522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427734483851535010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-CO6Nq5EnzQrEI6u5exo2TdkbuNiOay84WAXgtbDRAlzcP6reS8VMWQADUBeigsl1lEA3eZVW625m_2LByWa47_l5a3R7ewwjVWndCExt3BSCdT5CsyhcnrVG17SvLaC-yzzI6bR8f8l/s200/cruise+522.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mF_-8x9-i1iAQO1kBgD6nY0pVdi1cN4BE22X09Iwb7VNbUFwEruFJ4f6WjLzIGMPduXsNY-VY-eQ7H3IskVzqyZHnvRLiQNd5dXQSE_blYVUa1UT9A-Dn7g_Eu61K1axndIepxIGwiRt/s1600-h/cruise+521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427734473525686834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mF_-8x9-i1iAQO1kBgD6nY0pVdi1cN4BE22X09Iwb7VNbUFwEruFJ4f6WjLzIGMPduXsNY-VY-eQ7H3IskVzqyZHnvRLiQNd5dXQSE_blYVUa1UT9A-Dn7g_Eu61K1axndIepxIGwiRt/s200/cruise+521.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwVRYLoLyUxfWI_iAdwYhUqNT6PR7mTDvrqsaZf2ZAl1rq7QKDBWZEiT2aostmws6tOv2b_LcXJms-1CzuSeuL2nXKwsTuVFUDBMXCpQJv_EAmrjOd_UORNJ0hPFwxYWfozPMqnevaY9O/s1600-h/cruise+518.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427734471191465330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwVRYLoLyUxfWI_iAdwYhUqNT6PR7mTDvrqsaZf2ZAl1rq7QKDBWZEiT2aostmws6tOv2b_LcXJms-1CzuSeuL2nXKwsTuVFUDBMXCpQJv_EAmrjOd_UORNJ0hPFwxYWfozPMqnevaY9O/s200/cruise+518.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It was a crowded, busy place- difficult to keep track of each other. We also had limited time available. Soooo....onward! But first:</div><br /><div>"This little piggy went to market...." Evidently it was in Barcelona!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNndltlfOVBg8Vn8cEwm61Vc_30LU55feaaZxuqGH_jIcVAlv61oUwLu-Pcx1ciBCaRnjknkIT1zPIm5k0WGlhyphenhyphenErWwsYZ4UzacVLZqP_TWzzJmWgSlWZ6mMY6qIraoDHzdldVVQSg8Ks/s1600-h/cruise+523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427737891946784146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNndltlfOVBg8Vn8cEwm61Vc_30LU55feaaZxuqGH_jIcVAlv61oUwLu-Pcx1ciBCaRnjknkIT1zPIm5k0WGlhyphenhyphenErWwsYZ4UzacVLZqP_TWzzJmWgSlWZ6mMY6qIraoDHzdldVVQSg8Ks/s320/cruise+523.JPG" border="0" /></a>Something I don't see every day...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>or ever!</div><br /><br /><div>How is it they don't look particularly unhappy?<br /></div><div><br />Hung a right to the Gothic Quarter. No people dressed in black with weird make-up and black fingernail polish--just really old but often ornately decorated buildings.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427740480684647746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yqv2pWyWKt_FzmarQ79SYUeSHAMD0_8fluy-P9zG2RskrUvGZUGCBPrA15b1VS4iF7flbsnShbKvRXmaaXiH-YOBpgcXQ-CI15PTUzE-oPvrEJrFR3pHPMrDQi8_0Gdk2hBFIcnVePBU/s400/cruise+550.JPG" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427743682181204946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppjbj44Q1SARh5ibywdjxDtYxeyuOp7R4hWHbhJrJ5saYfHSvk7H5DaBv2QajU7vy5zvugjDwsBjCyWtQWQ-n4fMnJeb7QwV5Dz1yQ2t0xqZLsN_1989n4PDA9vaxDqIPiSxmNVfQgvyX/s320/cruise+554.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427743687887624738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK77l5oAQub7Nfk6kWRx0s86hcjIrMUNAaeWv7HePirJ_UqvTXV3vletKq07vnII1NJUWO4CzPs8wvNx06WhkO6sBAOuGOyzAIEu8HYlkbD72QkgIT_wsJ7zkhYd6JQUiSwXkSqjT_XgBJ/s320/cruise+555.JPG" border="0" /><br />Probably the best illustration of the penchant for embellishment was a second floor walkway between buildings above the road. No opportunity for decoration was ignored. Following the picture of the entire structure is a series moving top to bottom from the eaves to the underside.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427747224926064514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtFs5Qf6F1-WuOC-jYDgOMvBIx7jiJugLXJKJYdZg_pTA1_aTka4ojq-DX7GBkgFl3aVU-iHi_92FHhvi42XWbJg9oU2359B3VOFaVQ7IAz3tvlKwQcL3gJRnUdWRjpCMALsBEhUsSx5o/s400/cruise+566.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSTZrJlNsDnN5D034L-cAztXhcHBuaFUg8fXSYPgwJL6TeQ1mf1wvaoiK_uUtCfCRNmHpe8XqDcvSO-mx6yyY9cZsK-I2pm2K5z5rd5zKYhCboG_I3QakjJSOd-O_b7N_nYvQj6ZW4trH/s1600-h/cruise+568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427750492664503938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSTZrJlNsDnN5D034L-cAztXhcHBuaFUg8fXSYPgwJL6TeQ1mf1wvaoiK_uUtCfCRNmHpe8XqDcvSO-mx6yyY9cZsK-I2pm2K5z5rd5zKYhCboG_I3QakjJSOd-O_b7N_nYvQj6ZW4trH/s200/cruise+568.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgpL8eqzvePhy1M2a7wB91TJeYqeuMLR5523s8WezA04RxzieSRwRU6yzGAQvK_9psxSLp-Du6x-j1NIW5KIYW4qNh6dffEaTet_ssvk6ruWZKfD3Kvr-SDkPxzgoEKcjAw_pRqO1pKko/s1600-h/cruise+563.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427750486842780514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgpL8eqzvePhy1M2a7wB91TJeYqeuMLR5523s8WezA04RxzieSRwRU6yzGAQvK_9psxSLp-Du6x-j1NIW5KIYW4qNh6dffEaTet_ssvk6ruWZKfD3Kvr-SDkPxzgoEKcjAw_pRqO1pKko/s200/cruise+563.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2E_maI4KkX8chQFXMlZo2nB-MNCHJbO0LCns0tA-WeK8RX_UYIXtvIgEuVVNuWQQ7M0iRVeH18uDLUK874lVsQnWXRBuJbXOYee4XVvv4ISB1fbxcqARcPccJIck8MYuQvBjOVXIJuw9/s1600-h/cruise+567.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427750478921313650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2E_maI4KkX8chQFXMlZo2nB-MNCHJbO0LCns0tA-WeK8RX_UYIXtvIgEuVVNuWQQ7M0iRVeH18uDLUK874lVsQnWXRBuJbXOYee4XVvv4ISB1fbxcqARcPccJIck8MYuQvBjOVXIJuw9/s200/cruise+567.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427755149424959906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6THGZQy24FrWiXqG4KOASvFxsLmlwJWYfpulYJ5WUKxsAgt-g6e6MU8_DJyM2HcIsD17Rr4UCZGZpYnnf9BjfcnxWhLQ6By4I-HVWXmWbkuTolhpboWYMRHKqjkfNnC3YEOxLvwSaGl1G/s320/cruise+565.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427755159527860002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjCVu3hvqZI4JgmDYU8iwI4vPHcDapzbJh9FzgPRQ-NkStxiN_KGdijIReRHWlCwhWyIvI7y2ajuYJG_vJo4AmEBKeOLOjaFOZkwYW71hnH3S0Rp04YoHgpg-Lhrjf4xZobN727bD32cy/s320/cruise+564.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Beautiful! It is this attention to detail and concern for beauty that I find missing in so much of urban building. I understand the financial limitations that make so much prohibitive. I mean, look at my house! No passers-by are stopped by the beauty of the place. I did so appreciate the efforts to make every surface the feast for the eye that I frequently saw on this trip.</div><div> </div><div>We made it back to the ship early, and I caught the Flamenco dancers in the Princess Theater. Not as impressive as the shows at the resort in Playa del Carmen, but I guess they bring out the big guns for the evening shows. Then I ordered pictures from the day's outing and waited for 5:30 to meet Mike and Janet for dinner in one of the dining rooms. Nothing too adventurous for dinner---I came armed with reading glasses to avoid any pitfalls. Later Janet and I went up to deck 15 for the "White Hot Deck Party." Lots of fun, and no need to get up early in the morning!</div><div>Tomorrow: at sea.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-21903195050704756332010-01-16T08:45:00.001-06:002010-01-16T10:37:06.731-06:00Ahhh....terra firma!<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><em>14th October 2009- Barcelona, Spain</em><br /></div><br /><div><em>During the early morning hours we transited the remaining distance of the Gulf of Lions and continued to track towards the southwest, shortly before sunrise we turned north and entered the Traffic Separation Scheme for Barcelona; this scheme separates the inbound and outbound traffic to the busy port. With our Pilot onboard, the ship then slowly navigated through the breakwater and turned to starboard and headed towards the cruise terminal. From derarture Livorno to our early morning arrival in Barcelona, Ruby Princess steamed 544 nautical miles.</em><br /></div><br /><div>We hadn't signed up for any excursions, having planned to be a bit tired from the Marseille excursions, which didn't happen. Soooo... we just bought shuttle tickets for a bus into town.</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427352906826111218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyqApRqpNMO2EvHte24IKE0RBRXgLj3-1x-9MjKxs0p6yzOsu7HJbE0liagfBHG0SQaiBIru-GEbNCQ_6Wycyvcv9CA0qifNCPBjT17C5u4MZg9pW7nqobcdlOoveRQxBKIXn0wp1OyDH/s400/cruise+606.JPG" border="0" />Busy place! Some gorgeous buildings though. Without a guide, it's hard to know the nature of some of the buildings. Puts me in mind of visiting a museum with Dad. He would stand in a doorway, or just inside, and turn his head, scanning the exhibits. I said something to the effect that a person ought to read the material to know what he/she was looking at. "I can see what I'm looking at," came the reply. Well, I could see what I was looking at, architecture-wise, but still felt that I was missing something. I guess if it bothered me I could research...doesn't bother me that much. Anyway, I liked this building with its griffons and the tribute to Christopher Columbus (read the base of the tribute).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF-yCk1clzA6Ga6dqRI1ddx0ebEJtpRotEH-4IPHr67BlOqTKy0mAV0bjOtcVp_C6lnvHrJtIW0gq4xKiQZUlo7LbpQ3eVuIoDMD0ExdLsznIXqmjp5kMM1KJNH3pkDuuKi6y7pn7W_H4/s1600-h/cruise+489.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357602200134354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF-yCk1clzA6Ga6dqRI1ddx0ebEJtpRotEH-4IPHr67BlOqTKy0mAV0bjOtcVp_C6lnvHrJtIW0gq4xKiQZUlo7LbpQ3eVuIoDMD0ExdLsznIXqmjp5kMM1KJNH3pkDuuKi6y7pn7W_H4/s200/cruise+489.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6erhY0ElXUPiYc1KyKfFRBzsg5UJdKNiNvSdwljtYhcyl2EKuDRZAdZ6w1rRhvNv-sMmfBsK55GDXji4lvURE7uZocrfcOsBtGiGMFtpbgs3TxWgbHIlhxQP1puSEzLE3jiN-ScUxUvyS/s1600-h/cruise+490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357585818054562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6erhY0ElXUPiYc1KyKfFRBzsg5UJdKNiNvSdwljtYhcyl2EKuDRZAdZ6w1rRhvNv-sMmfBsK55GDXji4lvURE7uZocrfcOsBtGiGMFtpbgs3TxWgbHIlhxQP1puSEzLE3jiN-ScUxUvyS/s200/cruise+490.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>I later used the griffon as the subject of a pastel class effort.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXXE7Dmjjh7XiIXZJCSJPuTQHzoahtgEbePuF4PoreWJ7LTIjKa5FENCZrSjnDG0fxYv-nmLKo1yjQHn8RvsI3eoMUVMg-FkXx538rHk2og4mgAex0nld_CGy4xXO0h3bDyAtt4-XOQ2u/s1600-h/cruise+492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357595712665138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXXE7Dmjjh7XiIXZJCSJPuTQHzoahtgEbePuF4PoreWJ7LTIjKa5FENCZrSjnDG0fxYv-nmLKo1yjQHn8RvsI3eoMUVMg-FkXx538rHk2og4mgAex0nld_CGy4xXO0h3bDyAtt4-XOQ2u/s200/cruise+492.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br />So far, my adventures in Europe have taught me that balconies and shutters are everywhere in the older sections of town.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427363561370405666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuU845NishossSwmJfx81s8eVHOBN-_D4hpASJwWind095XcDyvTeDKpTrFu0Y8MQHriYOy45-1lOLw_1tLLhcxStkuhZGwcLB_MJhb1n0H8ooQlvCzKGQG4Q-Vyy0CnUzJyDt9TGXV_rk/s400/cruise+524.JPG" border="0" /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif66RqezsbSOaEPdQLZ3ohtXK3SR9bw0xWccD0q7ltPXF0W6TkOa568h3fbFx-rq_YkEUsse2RbHHNbNxo9SUHM2WtWqs9UrGancH9TZkFt1Voj28669GW1Yt2K9q5Py6_JGieTsGvsGA6/s1600-h/cruise+501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427367406028704450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif66RqezsbSOaEPdQLZ3ohtXK3SR9bw0xWccD0q7ltPXF0W6TkOa568h3fbFx-rq_YkEUsse2RbHHNbNxo9SUHM2WtWqs9UrGancH9TZkFt1Voj28669GW1Yt2K9q5Py6_JGieTsGvsGA6/s200/cruise+501.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOHp3F18FKn5TxuNYTJ1fYjWhBIXS8TjQbQBeMkrK4gCYF6dR7-_inBbjHijXofMVu35fjlj0iz4X9N9m-nhCmy2NWpGUayIGEhSRuPVsabNxmH2_sZR2lG6wRM41vanjiyWrANMHeyzf/s1600-h/cruise+496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427367401000559234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOHp3F18FKn5TxuNYTJ1fYjWhBIXS8TjQbQBeMkrK4gCYF6dR7-_inBbjHijXofMVu35fjlj0iz4X9N9m-nhCmy2NWpGUayIGEhSRuPVsabNxmH2_sZR2lG6wRM41vanjiyWrANMHeyzf/s200/cruise+496.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMwDrJvPIlpWOdMvVW4dCBoR3eXzI5Vjc5a9PydXGdS4ULF8br8MIT0VVtzBwBR0G3JYkPSfWSUTn8Aj90dVXKoHwsbuVQdJ_Jktuaxbo8dSAJIJC4GSKTo7exm8qPYQoblAEbowmYxcB/s1600-h/cruise+511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427367411976482178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMwDrJvPIlpWOdMvVW4dCBoR3eXzI5Vjc5a9PydXGdS4ULF8br8MIT0VVtzBwBR0G3JYkPSfWSUTn8Aj90dVXKoHwsbuVQdJ_Jktuaxbo8dSAJIJC4GSKTo7exm8qPYQoblAEbowmYxcB/s200/cruise+511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u_NLqAe745HSmJKvTaDvsj3O4zBcYP63_AqlyLsW9qh4rA3ib3gR7L1HBGDbt1CXled4HdISHzH6U4tosQfBWKf2YS3LHvZlrSxg6F_dBC89UuXsGZ9PIFN3ksKIktD6mL8L5qmNc738/s1600-h/cruise+581.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427375904090596706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u_NLqAe745HSmJKvTaDvsj3O4zBcYP63_AqlyLsW9qh4rA3ib3gR7L1HBGDbt1CXled4HdISHzH6U4tosQfBWKf2YS3LHvZlrSxg6F_dBC89UuXsGZ9PIFN3ksKIktD6mL8L5qmNc738/s200/cruise+581.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqnxGp-vkEuwFFPfmrriFRK7G_mTCffo2OYBZnxuw_79sYbOgT9Ts6P83OQkK6fF6Jq0W-Kr-hepwB1xXz3jjgUpA9yWqXR1_iLC_1fVrzJZyfn3ccLe8mhjX52gKKoYqmNhbDP1cvH70/s1600-h/cruise+529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427370518382756338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqnxGp-vkEuwFFPfmrriFRK7G_mTCffo2OYBZnxuw_79sYbOgT9Ts6P83OQkK6fF6Jq0W-Kr-hepwB1xXz3jjgUpA9yWqXR1_iLC_1fVrzJZyfn3ccLe8mhjX52gKKoYqmNhbDP1cvH70/s320/cruise+529.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9-w3ht8LZUGjh9a6Xr1k2JPPQ3xfJsUwUa-KfbgJt7U6TQQyFBN2d_h-ZKNrPtBsu83tAsn0D06smFA80YP5TnQem7PolRx4iRLZWmvSHVSqi2aKoRlhDYaVY137u_hk9aEyPfH2yQui/s1600-h/cruise+527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427371774274310674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9-w3ht8LZUGjh9a6Xr1k2JPPQ3xfJsUwUa-KfbgJt7U6TQQyFBN2d_h-ZKNrPtBsu83tAsn0D06smFA80YP5TnQem7PolRx4iRLZWmvSHVSqi2aKoRlhDYaVY137u_hk9aEyPfH2yQui/s320/cruise+527.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqwsN22OmEubBBiy-WiXblLa91n2UJZeZV59CV0bo0d8us9qNj4UfhB6Xic-3UdVQFseKEB1RCDiYfVVo3-68kxaH6WlodsQf2aGTqXTr0vb_dtNQMgsudSwnZUZa_FyH2gHEVgiMioNJ/s1600-h/cruise+496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427375921765365410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqwsN22OmEubBBiy-WiXblLa91n2UJZeZV59CV0bo0d8us9qNj4UfhB6Xic-3UdVQFseKEB1RCDiYfVVo3-68kxaH6WlodsQf2aGTqXTr0vb_dtNQMgsudSwnZUZa_FyH2gHEVgiMioNJ/s200/cruise+496.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4hyphenhyphen9Hrmn79jApL57LgTRWErjfq2AjDinhxinCQk8-F6MKIFgHUaHeCqD40Rx6O_ocRoZTRJp6gzB3k-uKY5rNZCI8QhGu9KQmWBT7qF0ix6NKU7zxaf7KrzyOLplUFWTfbgKwFxw1U_b/s1600-h/cruise+586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427375915612453378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4hyphenhyphen9Hrmn79jApL57LgTRWErjfq2AjDinhxinCQk8-F6MKIFgHUaHeCqD40Rx6O_ocRoZTRJp6gzB3k-uKY5rNZCI8QhGu9KQmWBT7qF0ix6NKU7zxaf7KrzyOLplUFWTfbgKwFxw1U_b/s200/cruise+586.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>To be continued.....</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-21401507996756222172010-01-15T11:30:00.000-06:002010-01-15T12:19:47.911-06:00Marseille? Probably not in this lifetime...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGyN6CULhcHxYdCcDhNurYN2V6yDbk97Uy5bdveo_7q8OVrtwPK0Y_kzMwy7Nbx86_TY0zn1Y_rZs1AF4QB1O1_li6VcCxj-KwUi3E3yI1TQBuF48MGRXH3RIX2plovIFH4csO3Fq-09s/s1600-h/cruise+486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427021950047309618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGyN6CULhcHxYdCcDhNurYN2V6yDbk97Uy5bdveo_7q8OVrtwPK0Y_kzMwy7Nbx86_TY0zn1Y_rZs1AF4QB1O1_li6VcCxj-KwUi3E3yI1TQBuF48MGRXH3RIX2plovIFH4csO3Fq-09s/s400/cruise+486.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>13th October 2009 Marseille, France</em><br /><br /><br /><p><em>Throughout the course of the evening and early morning, Ruby Princess maintained her predominantly westerly courses as we transited the Ligurian waters on the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, leaving Corsica Island on our pot side towards the port of Marseille. Shortly before sunrise we edged our way slowly toward our Pilot boarding area. Our vessel was rolling and pitching moderately and at times heavily to strong gale force winds. After analyzing the situation, the Captain took the decision to abort our call to the port of Marseille at 06:30 due to severe adverse weather conditions and as a matter of safety for our fine ship and everyone onboard.</em></p><br /><br /><p>Well, RATS! Couldn't dock. The seas got rough and windy as we left Livorno...lots of movement. We had gone down to play team trivia in one of the lounges and WON! OK, so Mike knew most of the answers. I contributed some, in addition to writing down the answers as a good scribe should. We turned in early as we all had excursions planned for Marseille. It was to be my big, solo excursion splurge, an all day adventure into La Provence. When the alarm went off, the ship was still moving quite a bit, clearly not docked. We were at breakfast when the announcement was made that obviously the excursions were cancelled, and we would have another day at sea. </p><br /><br /><p>We lingered over breakfast with a nice guy named Harley, who had grown up on the main island of Hawaii in the '40's. Interesting guy. He had gone on a number of cruises, including one on the <em>Queen Mary. </em>He said that he and his wife were the youngsters on that one; the average age was in the 80's. Apparently there were double the usual number of coffins onboard that sailing. What??? There's a usual number of coffins? Huh.... hadn't thought about it, but I guess it makes sense. He also talked about the working conditions and compensation for the staff aboard the ship. The ship is registered in Bermuda, so the US federal regulations regarding hours and compensation do not apply. Obviously, the officers are well compensated, followed by the entertainers, then the kitchen and waitstaff in the various dining rooms and lounges, the staff of the cafeteria-type venues, and lastly, the stewards. Ours is named Kittimasak, Kitti for short. He is the sweetest, most pleasant guy. We had noticed that there were no maids, just stewards. They are all Asian or darker complected people. Harley said they are all from third world countries and work long hours for low pay. They are signed for six month contracts and, when at sea, work seven days a week, 16-20 hours a day. Poor Kitti! I know we saw him everyday when we got up and as late as 9 or 10P.M. It was an interesting conversation with Harley.</p><br /><br /><p>We watched the waves for a while and then went up to prepare for pastel class. I lost a port, but gained a class!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427031945161638546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWrfTqhsPMXvdMt7xkpoduZdDReNDzUKGvtoyw_0Ls9dK7dJqYm3g5Y9-8bfOyNuodxflvm8D4yRBRhpcYn07U50xXnxWZw8p-6x7d4HOvflQ-8KP6PPzWisPOoUu1AXBPX5EVXMIC6Sm/s400/cruise+487.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>See all of Janet's lovely colors? I have a small fraction of that number. They just don't mix to make any shade I want like my paints do. Frustration!<br /></p><p></p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-79030878833224298192009-12-26T10:29:00.001-06:002009-12-27T18:24:33.043-06:00Livorno, Lucca...Heard of either?<em>12th October 2009- Livorno, Italy</em><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><div><div><em>Overnight, on predominantly north-westerly courses we transited the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, passing by the Island of Giglio and on towards the Island of Elbe. Leaving Elbe to port, we left the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and entered into the south-eastern part of the Ligurian Sea and continued to parallel the Italian mainland. Prior to entering the port confines, we boarded the local harbour Pilot off the breakwater at 06:10. Shortly before 07:00 we were alongside our berth with both gangways ready for use.</em> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Not a pretty docking area again. When choosing a shore excursion for this port, we took into consideration that many attractions in both Florence and Pisa were closed on Mondays, the day of our visit. We did drive by these cities on the bus and glimpsed the famous leaning tower. We had a wonderful guide, an English and Italian history teacher, who gave us a great deal of information as we traveled to Lucca. </div><br /><br /><div>Livorno is Italy's third-largest port, serving as a gateway to Florence and Pisa. It replaced Pisa, which had silted in. It is that whole silting process that made the ground under Pisa so unstable. Towers were build as fortification for defense, and most were built with stone walls, but wooden interior structures. The most famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, however, was built entirely of white marble, including all interior staircases and structures. Thus, it was incredibly heavy, and built on unstable, silt-produced ground. Result? Leaning!</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419589703396177522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYRk232NilA853Bsp0m-5QZvsl56NcxqgXSd6JaWhNXKj_JxWHgeWxNGzZBsQsVN321LjKPjS8YAC_M4QVXLyOVVjWfg7bIZhfc1iA3NtDC28zw-d9LdrkYuu7nB2NdEJfbgZh9p86rwi/s400/cruise+421.JPG" border="0" />We disembarked our bus at the entrance to Lucca, where we were greeted by vendors offering <em>omberellis . </em>No umbrella for me! Oh, no! I whipped out my trusty emergency poncho! Ahhhh, nothing like walking around a foreign country in a trash bag. At least it was our only day ashore in rain.<br /></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMY8w9dfBbITMsACEj0GheJwr6A3lXKy2FzhGQQ8VVWeC-44yi0GxIZLNng9zhmSHP7I5mi9BhBRCuLXPQrBeUFZCWYLAod9yMfwPtIWQvwucXgkhZpnxvun8z25obV0FHsawQ0ffRkRt/s1600-h/cruise+422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419594744457762658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMY8w9dfBbITMsACEj0GheJwr6A3lXKy2FzhGQQ8VVWeC-44yi0GxIZLNng9zhmSHP7I5mi9BhBRCuLXPQrBeUFZCWYLAod9yMfwPtIWQvwucXgkhZpnxvun8z25obV0FHsawQ0ffRkRt/s320/cruise+422.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcwnjSaPBD0Lh44eTaWnQ6xPEjFT8yOJUam858y0GARVjcfhWH6xAaTwnpCozzhMHXrd-I_wxLv2mMxpWK8Tg5mpCrtstQmAc43m_o0zvgRPwvadZC4uFOxEt-OUrxYCKr1EHtIWj22Yi/s1600-h/cruise+423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419594751217087538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcwnjSaPBD0Lh44eTaWnQ6xPEjFT8yOJUam858y0GARVjcfhWH6xAaTwnpCozzhMHXrd-I_wxLv2mMxpWK8Tg5mpCrtstQmAc43m_o0zvgRPwvadZC4uFOxEt-OUrxYCKr1EHtIWj22Yi/s320/cruise+423.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><p>Until the late 18th century, Lucca was a small, but totally independent state. It was able to withstand the ambitions of the Florentines and the Medici largely due to the earthen, brick encrusted fortified walls. The walls are over 12 meters high and about as wide. The city is on flat ground with the old grid of Roman streets making it fairly easy to navigate, even in the rain,</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419597878541895858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1OpaihFcrtEvMxVgcgWptkr1w3lHyY0NnvkWKGR7RgRtZp2-w0nCquSoxw3AAc2vwkP4YCi3Dapt6umMvLzRCu-HbAoBISdFsUq0QGyhfcwvxnyVKif6WpkvUE7D5kXWESlDJUimhmLd/s400/cruise+462.JPG" border="0" />Among Lucca's claims to fame is the house where Giacoma Puccini was born. He is honored with a sma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IEr0TrDJ-l2oAE9gbcRhuRhugnrXvEQGiBU1DNqF8oVZWakDPuBoQGxw3rCL0yXJ6hBEeX_eNFYYJCx89CxWPqzC08jS9JFTvkMGzkA6508Spo_9EUyIpuzO8Qti7m18mzC5ydSIhsu6/s1600-h/cruise+433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419599816084535858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IEr0TrDJ-l2oAE9gbcRhuRhugnrXvEQGiBU1DNqF8oVZWakDPuBoQGxw3rCL0yXJ6hBEeX_eNFYYJCx89CxWPqzC08jS9JFTvkMGzkA6508Spo_9EUyIpuzO8Qti7m18mzC5ydSIhsu6/s320/cruise+433.JPG" border="0" /></a>ll museum and an annual festival. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWRkekS_d0XNQqbiVu-_W4Y8QLEeTxlLE4AjtUVUw48TcKhqpySirRVEY8M0dOZNYa4SNIWd1ibFP2AVlT9WpjI_BQJ9XMnYrIg0g7j4Y8BivyrFxlfK77lhfn8iGqjKMupO-0nk28mcH/s1600-h/cruise+453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419601436884129922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWRkekS_d0XNQqbiVu-_W4Y8QLEeTxlLE4AjtUVUw48TcKhqpySirRVEY8M0dOZNYa4SNIWd1ibFP2AVlT9WpjI_BQJ9XMnYrIg0g7j4Y8BivyrFxlfK77lhfn8iGqjKMupO-0nk28mcH/s320/cruise+453.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>In addition to the honors afforded those who made civic and artistic contributions, it's easy to once again appreciate the wealth, power and influence of the Church. One of my favorites was not necessarily the largest, but so gorgeous!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419608079638057298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzNeRLnqJgQGMG6RtTNPgKTlSiFfFaDDPOvoSLW6xxEwSxlOINhHrVaKE6dubUdXWRDgijim95NUX4z6I55HaYKgL24wTmrnONkZCkW7ZEoeS1Vs9H6QzLcX-uoHEjL1QDOOEAAcosqja/s400/cruise+438.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP_ZZ7s17FI9sZI1knubDmMn_eWsKEwIYQb5fK4xmcZB2NniqXfdMbN-jrgFj64MFhN6e0gf3DoJ-AJQ7dJHheXvhZDlxEfmoYz9DhotAAwBzZgs3blFxhJFUa2Tr2QVpcP7wPFsu9MYA/s1600-h/cruise+444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419609375558102098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP_ZZ7s17FI9sZI1knubDmMn_eWsKEwIYQb5fK4xmcZB2NniqXfdMbN-jrgFj64MFhN6e0gf3DoJ-AJQ7dJHheXvhZDlxEfmoYz9DhotAAwBzZgs3blFxhJFUa2Tr2QVpcP7wPFsu9MYA/s320/cruise+444.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyJReXs16bSwv3yu2r2Z3LiXXi-O-1fC36eI9TnRcoCQsU528uw95bLvLnLOutxVTSp_LWyVaQbn7Y4LNcu2pjOtBeAz5Y3wPC9xff-lTUVeY_J1OUakso3YtwyQGXjMf8PVg2fU_l7j_/s1600-h/cruise+443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419606746970935986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyJReXs16bSwv3yu2r2Z3LiXXi-O-1fC36eI9TnRcoCQsU528uw95bLvLnLOutxVTSp_LWyVaQbn7Y4LNcu2pjOtBeAz5Y3wPC9xff-lTUVeY_J1OUakso3YtwyQGXjMf8PVg2fU_l7j_/s200/cruise+443.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PbmpjptjUG0o-u_IOqKzC0XKiFoXxMaQRMMbNP6IYUq559WrZRfTIo0JeuNH1pUa23qaqfQyKPNxq9bs778mKPDd5-rWT66yxqaE1O_DSWbe9LeYKh7Tm2lucAGj2hW8wtLus0e4wYwO/s1600-h/cruise+445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419606739672043298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PbmpjptjUG0o-u_IOqKzC0XKiFoXxMaQRMMbNP6IYUq559WrZRfTIo0JeuNH1pUa23qaqfQyKPNxq9bs778mKPDd5-rWT66yxqaE1O_DSWbe9LeYKh7Tm2lucAGj2hW8wtLus0e4wYwO/s200/cruise+445.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div><div>The church facade is remarkably ornamented. During Lucca's golden age, the finest silk and woolen fabrics in Tuscany were produced here. The varying designs on the many pilars represent fabric patterns.<br /></div><div></div><div>Another 12th century cathedral features Tintoretto's painting of the "Last Supper," a wooden crucifix with a folkloric history, and decorative and educational exterior facades. Bible stories, months of the year, and historical events depicted on the outside of the cathedral served as educational aids for poor people who lacked books.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419614010211553122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPRpqDmFRcXGRlDBfn0V6uJqaCOPkAfQUItmELZ4In1Fqig9-q988Ggm_9qfjKRCjdtPgrfkqKaPAsi_QwpUS6WHShiZt8sLx2R7NgMYf3CXn7s81w3Y46xFkHHrmljwE5Qy3sWBh6Lrq/s400/cruise+460.JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /><br /></div><div>At the conclusion of our walking tour, we had 45 minutes of free time, enough time for a bit of refreshment...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghEIF2e_1DQPR_mSKdgnAGNUE70cWIsV4IVp3zgnVIX91fA4bKpC6YtQQldIKDzESdtYfaadD7JS0ZnVGF7NSQmY5hLLnIcxAi3MA59-VFivGNrzPwuCSDJO9laD3YDVZcEIOldIqb9Cs/s1600-h/cruise+472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419617314879287970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghEIF2e_1DQPR_mSKdgnAGNUE70cWIsV4IVp3zgnVIX91fA4bKpC6YtQQldIKDzESdtYfaadD7JS0ZnVGF7NSQmY5hLLnIcxAi3MA59-VFivGNrzPwuCSDJO9laD3YDVZcEIOldIqb9Cs/s320/cruise+472.JPG" border="0" /></a>Found a nice, little outdoor cafe, and a break in the rain. Wandering around after we finished, we came across a bit of American influence.... First, fancy dancing in Rome; now, "Dukes of Hazard" in Lucca. The General Lee was never so surprising!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_lGEObnL6N7e1trw1CMFTWCRYOuoWYfsXQMgriQ5-noU-QPhfO3cEgxDFNmLK3hyphenhyphenHfoghaenBRlm3-LtPnx6Qt8QGZ4oySYZc6ZC6jvpKOXVF3E8OK9v_YGa6VGiG6sIW_zzYS0Vy1Ie/s1600-h/cruise+466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419617323031058690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_lGEObnL6N7e1trw1CMFTWCRYOuoWYfsXQMgriQ5-noU-QPhfO3cEgxDFNmLK3hyphenhyphenHfoghaenBRlm3-LtPnx6Qt8QGZ4oySYZc6ZC6jvpKOXVF3E8OK9v_YGa6VGiG6sIW_zzYS0Vy1Ie/s320/cruise+466.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />We may have done a bit too much wandering... had to run for the bus. Actually, we were 5-10 minutes late getting back, and other happy tourists weren't too happy with us. OOOOPS! Almost broke one of my two rules, the one about making it back to the boat. Anyway, we made it and had a lovely bus ride through the Italian countryside back to the ship.</div><div></div><div>The afternoon was free to do laundry. Yea!!! On vacation, but clothes still get dirty. Washers and dryers aren't plentiful, and I think we made a good decision not to wait for an at-sea day. It cleared off around 4:00 P.M., and I spent some quality time reading on our balcony. The balcony is well worth it for a long cruise; might not be for three days or so, although it would still be nice. In addition to being a fairly private outdoor area, last night when we couldn't get to sleep, we went out on the balcony in jammies to look at the stars, the distant lights on the shoreline, and the water passing by. Surprisingly, there were some little, twittering birds flying around. I don't know what they were, but I didn't expect them.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><em>With confirmation of all passengers and crew onboard and all the pre-departure checks complete, Ruby Princess let go all lines and maneuvered slowly off the berth. Once clear of the breakwater and with the Pilot disembarked, the ship turned to the west-south-west and commenced her fast passage across the Ligurian Sea towards Marseille.</em><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-77993169940224133142009-12-18T20:09:00.001-06:002009-12-18T20:44:10.277-06:00Sailing, sailing... postRome<div>Made it back to Civitavecchi on the bus. Once more...didn't get arrested, made it back onto the boat. Yea!!! After dinner, we thought we'd try "Movies Under the Stars" up on deck 15/16 by one of the pools.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416766878767149058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN_Q-PTtW1AMy0ei69R7ivggPgrdhttgYLb4X69dg8GhcoPb1lfbEpYju0LKIQaFRvm0YfvuwfWc38-AAYNcxQvbSg3OPUvkMLZVDqjBOW5PYuB8K6MkO65pMtxFFwOwt5RnOygVG2ct_/s400/cruise+171.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>Movies are shown on this big ol' LCD screen in the afternoon too, but at night it's special. Reminiscent of the drive-in, but much more comfortable. Thick cushions are put on the lounges, and toasty warm, plaid wool throws are distributed. Wait staff will take orders for drinks and bring popcorn. When I went up to see <em>Angels and Demons</em>, they also brought warm cookies and milk. Nice! On this particular night the movie was <em>I Love you, Man</em>. Could not get into it; glad I didn't pay to see it. Back to the room; jump into the shower; sudden knock on the door. I figured it was the steward bringing the night's Princess Patter outlining the next day's activities. Nope! Roomie Janet informed me that brother Mikey had signed up for Karaoke at Club Fusion, and we had to get down there. Throw on some clothes and dash down to deck 7. Mikey did two numbers! It was great! I loved seeing him have a good time. He works so hard, and he used to be such a serious young man. I worried about him. One must have FUN! His second number was "Twist and Shout," so three of us got up to be his girl (?) dancers. Twistin', twistin', twistin' the night away.... Well, OK not the whole night, but 'til 10:30. Problem was with a 6:30 A.M. wakeup call, I needed to get some sleep. Didn't happen 'til about 1:30 A.M. as we sailed toward Livorno, another Italian city I had never heard of.</p><p> </p><p> </p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-61635727095789214602009-12-02T14:08:00.000-06:002009-12-02T15:46:35.833-06:00Meanwhile, back at the ranch....I'll get back to the cruise news after I recover from losing the entry for Rome. I had worked on it two different times, getting pictures uploaded and arranged with exposition, when POOF! It disappeared! GRRRRR! I will do it over, just n<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfBqFQdIxRmzf6M1euKir853Q9hAqP3PbQN5FwshN93BKJGOoq7WhhUQf4ty4tg42E1o0vfHobPmcE1JM5870n1hgF-KqGXOLKpQstL6ZmFqpOIIYVKFlGuokj6L4GWaKNVhvm8loxcSU/s1600-h/056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410747128825739906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfBqFQdIxRmzf6M1euKir853Q9hAqP3PbQN5FwshN93BKJGOoq7WhhUQf4ty4tg42E1o0vfHobPmcE1JM5870n1hgF-KqGXOLKpQstL6ZmFqpOIIYVKFlGuokj6L4GWaKNVhvm8loxcSU/s200/056.JPG" border="0" /></a>ot right away. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Both the "wild boys" in the woods and the "white guys" in the yard are happy to have passed Turkey Day without being consumed in holiday ritual. We had a great day hunting (some of us), cooking (others of us), and eating (all of us). Much to be thankful for in this year of Our Lord 2009.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbtD4FS-EWCKRr4Xl7fH3pW1heI2Tqg2k05u8QQo2FKDbVFv3d2YnrUtubKbM2lfeiPSlBxcOTmPh_H9CDicGvMDmXBdcFphIySs7yWqLhJ8YEAMay7rK3hTVa3aH2g0v3itr4vKPd74i/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410747120189276498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbtD4FS-EWCKRr4Xl7fH3pW1heI2Tqg2k05u8QQo2FKDbVFv3d2YnrUtubKbM2lfeiPSlBxcOTmPh_H9CDicGvMDmXBdcFphIySs7yWqLhJ8YEAMay7rK3hTVa3aH2g0v3itr4vKPd74i/s200/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br />Brian got this bad boy bright and early Thanksgiving morning.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410734661087808946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd-nhuKZ8KijFNUEI4pOvwyHyi7u9X7VnrfStIhLc86EELBwirj5QRG24flt4Lol9a1skfKYngiPa4MrR_17FrTlA1mEYAEEgd7YQZr3oUCHYyE8CP1D1K0WgaMDjOvyPbjLK7jPRjQwY/s400/100_0827b.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Note the drop tine (funny looking antler thingy) by Brian's right hand--makes this buck special, but still dead. He had already gotten a doe on opening morning, so he is set for the year with two in the freezer. Yes, we are carnivores and eat what we kill. Larry had gotten a doe, and he got this guy during primitive firearms season.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410748311359130946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48L_S0BL8deZ2Hql8bVk1v0f8hdr-uw7cL6kVQm4fN51j3087iExJhox4Kquje9lZZvvS7PhWqS-Vot2TtG893HCX5Ajj2VVKwZgCRlR0gCMvbEmvyfMhFMOwYQbvU4EqPHv_0ZAu3nY-/s400/muzzleloader+kill+004.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Each guy has a lovely just-take-the-picture expression on his face. The trail cameras still show lots of activity on the place, more corn-fed squirrels than you are likely to find anywhere else. These were interesting shots...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBNOgHX2rBQnEHqYrRlyAex_EuHhv-Mhs2aZfDGQWWWEF-ApOzcPdJ4bPLb3IeUQiOBTHLbO9rWgW5tOnLj6rHn4UbMkFfwGUnttkYwYFQwz6hnbhfiHgZZ5xV9iW-NAOZ2stM4JxCZoZ/s1600-h/149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410754086236612898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBNOgHX2rBQnEHqYrRlyAex_EuHhv-Mhs2aZfDGQWWWEF-ApOzcPdJ4bPLb3IeUQiOBTHLbO9rWgW5tOnLj6rHn4UbMkFfwGUnttkYwYFQwz6hnbhfiHgZZ5xV9iW-NAOZ2stM4JxCZoZ/s320/149.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp2SCXWJg66mfnuX2_u5dIKgJ4Jr1intbncbVMIYrzAZsQ_3YjNuT50W3uY7Mqvz_kqaWN_cnk9WWGvHUME9W01Oy3wIPl-CBaf7lljsna8Ug4ymJTElnomKfuCrCH53AQtyssD8fUPGt/s1600-h/141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410754077567241570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGp2SCXWJg66mfnuX2_u5dIKgJ4Jr1intbncbVMIYrzAZsQ_3YjNuT50W3uY7Mqvz_kqaWN_cnk9WWGvHUME9W01Oy3wIPl-CBaf7lljsna8Ug4ymJTElnomKfuCrCH53AQtyssD8fUPGt/s320/141.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br />I believe owl met rabbit or some other rodent here, and these two guy seem to have some sort of dispute going on....</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410755640099814450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_AOndmAqnP8l4x41Yxuc-cW63S8aE4kfMvKeuv3yN0RtZ7vLDP6-_e-taliGzXSxF7V_pz72VuYxbZ0phaYY7FhAwsD9V73tkfdbTwDEeejO7eMSHgGsYqPe9ZnxHzxlnfVrc5A54SYR/s400/013.JPG" border="0" />The wild things are active, and we have added another domestic critter. Oz, Larry's retriever, has gotten too old to hunt, so we have added a female black Lab puppy. Talk about active! Ahhhh, the joys of housebreaking and other pleasantries. We have named her Sioux, the little black spot in this photo...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-qFB2w9qGvazF0UrB1kPi_f_FEF0zpKeuOEdN6egcKY6gWUTOKTDReM8Ru6UrS-Pkb8Ock26AOtyh87qzGNgewjZsS429PVsoZMU6iz1mvENYakff6rt9SQguREwaDLkbqjmw3xFjR-5/s1600-h/100_0829.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410735540245950530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-qFB2w9qGvazF0UrB1kPi_f_FEF0zpKeuOEdN6egcKY6gWUTOKTDReM8Ru6UrS-Pkb8Ock26AOtyh87qzGNgewjZsS429PVsoZMU6iz1mvENYakff6rt9SQguREwaDLkbqjmw3xFjR-5/s200/100_0829.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>She is a whirling dervish for sure! At least they aren't wild puppies for long. I was also able to get a good picture of handsome son and lovely granddaughter over the holiday.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIdhpj31a5LDmjoTtm_pIDLm2uimuVDZlQdFlngRizu7Bi3L6aBRBC_Xq9i4TV6k1COFyt3gTR3SsRfwXMh51_V-zE8PU4iB_KN98a17UaLBkFlxejtPjlYjmM_PlduP2F_MqFuZMhXzu/s1600-h/100_0833a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410735511176490354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIdhpj31a5LDmjoTtm_pIDLm2uimuVDZlQdFlngRizu7Bi3L6aBRBC_Xq9i4TV6k1COFyt3gTR3SsRfwXMh51_V-zE8PU4iB_KN98a17UaLBkFlxejtPjlYjmM_PlduP2F_MqFuZMhXzu/s200/100_0833a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Well, gotta get out and take care of the manure factories...life goes on.</div><div> </div><div>Next time, "Roaming Rome!"</div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-41221750420439742922009-11-14T20:38:00.000-06:002009-12-15T22:00:26.181-06:00Roaming Rome<div><div><em>11th October 2009- Civitavecchia, Italy</em></div><div></div><br /><div><em>In the early hours we navigated to the east of the Island of Ponza and continued our track parallel to the Italian coast through the eastern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Shortly after sunrise the ship turned to the northeast to approach the breakwater. We embarked the harbour Pilot at 06:03. On entering the harbour the ship was turned 180 degrees at rest before berthing port side alongside.</em><br /><br /></div><div>A quick breakfast then hustle on down to catch the bus for "Rome on Your Own." We had a tour guide on the bus to point out interesting sites passed by the bus. She had a thick accent (yep, Italian---Surprise!) and was a bit hard to understand at times. I didn't realize it would be so far from the port to Rome. Apparently there was a closer port at one time, Ostia, but it became unusable due to silt and sediment. Emperor Trajan built Civitavecchia as a new port, guarded by a renaissance fort completed by Michelangelo in 1557. The bus route passed through more modern parts of Rome before arriving at our drop off just outside of St. Peter's Square.<br /><br /><br /><div>Our guide told us the time to report back and the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhqxZ6IuKtEMnrnjEzA7pWrUHingUANClO2ftLg4_xylkGmPm4cs2bs5V6eAwprlRVh7GjykBIJhU52Q9T9OAIIdX3hsJ7HuDAWkNfyB7mxSU-wWJ0seR_EPnUvRDGkfAJhdn6Tw0iQYM/s1600/cruise+288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405254156660379778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhqxZ6IuKtEMnrnjEzA7pWrUHingUANClO2ftLg4_xylkGmPm4cs2bs5V6eAwprlRVh7GjykBIJhU52Q9T9OAIIdX3hsJ7HuDAWkNfyB7mxSU-wWJ0seR_EPnUvRDGkfAJhdn6Tw0iQYM/s320/cruise+288.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />place to assemble for the return trip. She also warned us to be aware of our belongings and to watch out for "pickapockets-uh" and "gypsies-uh." Had never been warned about gypsies before. How do ya know one if ya see one? Do they wear costumes or badges or something? Anyway, I considered myself warned.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415651904170129570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXRP6fnS_xvqfB92t6PM7r693AiYevybmv4FpI7ZpWLyUkiDHfK0NgrycE6Mhk1A9ykRJUvqBjFOV7CyRbNVmpaJkVrsD7q4BZxNpqQTz1hM01wvVRs-dnXEwbiYg3CJK1ZQFChLbBGV9/s400/cruise+415.JPG" border="0" />We were told that the Basilica at St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel would not be open until later in the day because there were ceremonies cannonizing five new saints. OK, so no standing in line to see something of which there are pictures in books. A bit disappointing, but Onward! There was an abundance of statuary everywhere...must have been sculptors everywhere. A priest gave me a rosary, and I saw the Pope on a large screen delivering a speech. No idea what he said or why he appeared to be green in the picture I took of the screen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqJkWdGsAy3EEAOskiKd34-c5EneWIh0tR7eauVAFh11mfP5v_G0kqEYyhhnl6qI4PGtAQVjJzamDk-5_QEDkkKcAYm6SsgurvwG3RMQgf5JOPCnQRqehJPL7uKgiqMXInQfOJ7VDYA0o/s1600/cruise+326.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405258746460442754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqJkWdGsAy3EEAOskiKd34-c5EneWIh0tR7eauVAFh11mfP5v_G0kqEYyhhnl6qI4PGtAQVjJzamDk-5_QEDkkKcAYm6SsgurvwG3RMQgf5JOPCnQRqehJPL7uKgiqMXInQfOJ7VDYA0o/s200/cruise+326.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPnm6fPcwTfdFKEdZ9GDrhUK30u3I_mLpHwEFqnyPdtjy0j3KT242fZUOQxX3YNckym1HUE5XHuXNptVqCj8qvjQsTD6ET-l94dA15HU4k3XgKyTUnPRkoPXlCmfHfGrH3l65nCU6pLLc/s1600/cruise+291.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405258735972797314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPnm6fPcwTfdFKEdZ9GDrhUK30u3I_mLpHwEFqnyPdtjy0j3KT242fZUOQxX3YNckym1HUE5XHuXNptVqCj8qvjQsTD6ET-l94dA15HU4k3XgKyTUnPRkoPXlCmfHfGrH3l65nCU6pLLc/s200/cruise+291.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJPGWl57EA-bWYtnhKVrmkCRgdqXTMrkTbwvfJHFNZuNQwnSQOumTVCuzd_0iBXUDAg3fRDO9RL_qxZqci1dYzeuUVzprMPvlGFAv0muDfzUrgZ_g-udhgDg9z3CMaK14aLhMfoxkRxbs/s1600/cruise+284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405258721014121058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJPGWl57EA-bWYtnhKVrmkCRgdqXTMrkTbwvfJHFNZuNQwnSQOumTVCuzd_0iBXUDAg3fRDO9RL_qxZqci1dYzeuUVzprMPvlGFAv0muDfzUrgZ_g-udhgDg9z3CMaK14aLhMfoxkRxbs/s200/cruise+284.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1by5gbUfxqwKzIWbtdlEV6nr-I3D5ibqK4rKT1lbrjEUirJhLGZp2tO7ZpApzP146KEQmgoZKrdwJ0GwWl886o6Jn3eT4kK-SL6Z1erX7ewp6zdC99VcQnX14cdaIgQ2iyhG9xUsRWHCc/s1600/cruise+298.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405258737721813138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1by5gbUfxqwKzIWbtdlEV6nr-I3D5ibqK4rKT1lbrjEUirJhLGZp2tO7ZpApzP146KEQmgoZKrdwJ0GwWl886o6Jn3eT4kK-SL6Z1erX7ewp6zdC99VcQnX14cdaIgQ2iyhG9xUsRWHCc/s200/cruise+298.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuIbfBnMjWZRC_3r5UbqXTXWjwfWwKTrnpFPU4g0Hd7h-CAo3s7mML1hjkPSuLbpdNi-3rDGA47gZBYgMa5Wa-9HESBE5Ujuy-ifEu5ixTvHvZGKBR6LmzQ_lGN7-55Tw3MqD6Z0QDhwF/s1600-h/cruise+277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404164235878406498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuIbfBnMjWZRC_3r5UbqXTXWjwfWwKTrnpFPU4g0Hd7h-CAo3s7mML1hjkPSuLbpdNi-3rDGA47gZBYgMa5Wa-9HESBE5Ujuy-ifEu5ixTvHvZGKBR6LmzQ_lGN7-55Tw3MqD6Z0QDhwF/s200/cruise+277.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wonder how far stone had to be hauled for all of this construction and sculpture. I heard that sometimes materials were "borrowed" from older buildings to construct new ones, and that some structures were significantly modified over the years. One such structure was the Castel Sant'Angelo, built as a tomb for the Emperor Hadrian and later fortified as part of the walls of the city. Loved the Archangel Michael at the top!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeKSKgznJqn2yjWwhv65BF_S333SaTnDuPnaQlYFWN6EhBY11R78i_LiLsLFzp4Eo33T4In9Li5CSxWYeY3OV3ZUGIDvBDSCle0tJqOjDjyfgUomh6nIoD7KeuNCxqZXo_Qivqf7dXz5/s1600/cruise+292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405254167596081714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfeKSKgznJqn2yjWwhv65BF_S333SaTnDuPnaQlYFWN6EhBY11R78i_LiLsLFzp4Eo33T4In9Li5CSxWYeY3OV3ZUGIDvBDSCle0tJqOjDjyfgUomh6nIoD7KeuNCxqZXo_Qivqf7dXz5/s320/cruise+292.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmqOi3zxEtfYnw3zC9oVWj8xeDHxSv0FkA9cywhK60sDO8S6M8QlvRsrIP0Sx19r1lC-5QsSOLxYMbj5Wa2ZDkCUQ_NCL7iXoSjoBVtbA4-9-MqwUD2jR4hTEWSwYQCPd4mdjCupKHIAz/s1600/cruise+287.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405254170310294274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmqOi3zxEtfYnw3zC9oVWj8xeDHxSv0FkA9cywhK60sDO8S6M8QlvRsrIP0Sx19r1lC-5QsSOLxYMbj5Wa2ZDkCUQ_NCL7iXoSjoBVtbA4-9-MqwUD2jR4hTEWSwYQCPd4mdjCupKHIAz/s320/cruise+287.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div>Next stop... the Pantheon, built in the first century. How in the world did they build these structures with no equipment? My simple little house would have been a trial without a tractor and power tools.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405261218930189682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ED65rBgzxtNl1oOV4uyUc7TJUOQmN8dt09ARqGC9XrnrE5-3LD46Pqk7oudAVZLJfla50qAeMwNeQsKeot8et-OsYYynoa9GwP4DmVJiYzs4v9fbQaPW5Mjp-696K_l6ZUxKXuhadOv6/s400/cruise+312.JPG" border="0" /> <div>It was actually smaller than I expected it to be--not too sure where the expectation came from. Yet one would think a "Temple to All the Gods" would have to be big for lots of gods to be included. On to the Forum, which really wasn't too very far away.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405261227734207618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKuTm3-ny-BMkFY0vCjVbAnf3L4fvRn2qbz2GKfBnxa6g6opkzfS53tnVdVQT894J46qXsMsXppLFXPzhqftTodGS4S5myor7nxZw4MdHTkYno2yTVj4egBRfiTFruFV6PQ1-wdRgFvxR/s400/cruise+336.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404169214319698882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiS_Y2Y6hR1w-ZfBwcixxu11S2lBWt79O-F6glLWMdxWaW-b8JZ0iDfBNoKccl_Bk_8qs3uopuvvIJtbNQLkMf1HYOb-vppOm3oeVqFUkxvnsUJcbAeLGaSmoP5qXa1_N1oQQIEOnPRDwh/s400/cruise+333.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>No funny things happened on the way to the Forum.... (get the allusion?) However, on the way to the Colosseum, I could swear I heard Native American flute music. There were some street performers along the thoroughfare, including (drum roll, please) Fancy Dancers!</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsXEl2ShSIqB3UCTwM2_-SzBX23-aDpfrHcqFvipRJ9O8socCGnDYIsmWoCXXQ3qZwxpyvHF5CO_e-DzmJu68SsE4FZM3_OQssqoVqdU9mMgDoUnix4Bp3_PI_-AiRcOvuzyzuqdlg6bD/s1600/cruise+388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405266945024108322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsXEl2ShSIqB3UCTwM2_-SzBX23-aDpfrHcqFvipRJ9O8socCGnDYIsmWoCXXQ3qZwxpyvHF5CO_e-DzmJu68SsE4FZM3_OQssqoVqdU9mMgDoUnix4Bp3_PI_-AiRcOvuzyzuqdlg6bD/s200/cruise+388.JPG" border="0" /></a>Suddenly it seemed as though I were back in Oklahoma. Didn't expect them in Roma, Italia.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpGUkYLvOT1TotCl7nB9SVUFyGb0nHW77R5E-9Xt0wV3_vDw_DpfHF5qVy4USXaXKgKu_nia__sM4CAPStpAQRe-F2nVDo5DpphyuX6rELLU4vspzB9uMQro28q7hV1UpiX_gNPSfusTd/s1600-h/cruise+359.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404172098253111538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpGUkYLvOT1TotCl7nB9SVUFyGb0nHW77R5E-9Xt0wV3_vDw_DpfHF5qVy4USXaXKgKu_nia__sM4CAPStpAQRe-F2nVDo5DpphyuX6rELLU4vspzB9uMQro28q7hV1UpiX_gNPSfusTd/s320/cruise+359.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdDdipd0yEueyEk2oZ7FnZV9c4xshG5MGWbT_1SIuFiizNoQpbxtnANkOyfgcyDdHaa5ia6nl9YBnM69xrPuHV9J3lfDjyabVSCjABdZp008CV-ylZnNBXmACoYMubHlbA7Vi3O6_MmEt/s1600/cruise+358.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405266949754306450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdDdipd0yEueyEk2oZ7FnZV9c4xshG5MGWbT_1SIuFiizNoQpbxtnANkOyfgcyDdHaa5ia6nl9YBnM69xrPuHV9J3lfDjyabVSCjABdZp008CV-ylZnNBXmACoYMubHlbA7Vi3O6_MmEt/s200/cruise+358.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>The remains of the Colosseum were really awesome. Many obvious steps were taken to preserve the structure and prevent its further degeneration. Too many tourist dollars at stake to allow it to crumble, aside from the historical <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aB9_shnB3RZSW6ajiLBRrh-aPi7Pjov8AsLZz_WWYOSrA9EZJ5jf3T9FUqrom_tzDPyZHgQbAAooAz_EKdv5Y6lCplKZEgIxvVL2Nh8-xxC80VoSfPD8owOc6V4iN7QtrOj6z-OuBwId/s1600/cruise+381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405266964271916738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aB9_shnB3RZSW6ajiLBRrh-aPi7Pjov8AsLZz_WWYOSrA9EZJ5jf3T9FUqrom_tzDPyZHgQbAAooAz_EKdv5Y6lCplKZEgIxvVL2Nh8-xxC80VoSfPD8owOc6V4iN7QtrOj6z-OuBwId/s200/cruise+381.JPG" border="0" /></a>significance.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUGnUjCD9c5tP-l_8Jy_JM8MvrpPOclA95EFx2w6kqevZ9j9c476pln4AYP79QXtUuolkjn0ESEfRfq9Bro5ltMZGskwn28IasCQn6FXkoHelMSIm9n_L21g2d9UcBmizhhTn-rLReDgL/s1600/cruise+374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405266955351834418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUGnUjCD9c5tP-l_8Jy_JM8MvrpPOclA95EFx2w6kqevZ9j9c476pln4AYP79QXtUuolkjn0ESEfRfq9Bro5ltMZGskwn28IasCQn6FXkoHelMSIm9n_L21g2d9UcBmizhhTn-rLReDgL/s200/cruise+374.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR9RFdN-X8VPN0J_EqhEPwlhC8kAcpFlqnHkC9SNqqJWH1BjX9l98AMHRRVjqjqL6yQZtdtpEqeiwwmeitm2rgw7jFiJ-kstCgl8qBU7X-QO60FEWCfc5tb0Wq4yhZ774GVmgj8ReyqsI/s1600/cruise+379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405266967048357186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzR9RFdN-X8VPN0J_EqhEPwlhC8kAcpFlqnHkC9SNqqJWH1BjX9l98AMHRRVjqjqL6yQZtdtpEqeiwwmeitm2rgw7jFiJ-kstCgl8qBU7X-QO60FEWCfc5tb0Wq4yhZ774GVmgj8ReyqsI/s200/cruise+379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>And how in the world does one sculpt something so massive as this?</div></div></div>Can you see the size of the people at the base of this horse and rider? Amazing!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404419483433408370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWbTYoSZ3QhJVlw-d538-Hp0WQnRGT4bvzCYFhPSJLV7BCFfs3JDrDY42hukrgwFTgSlipaAv3ReU3NgqXxeAUqClXbkO3fQijz2CNv6iJ5_zktaXhY9KF7DYvQyK0bZybFUiaAjDg6MM/s400/cruise+406.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Wow! I can't even imagine translating a model into a sculpture of that size. We went to the Forum Museum where displays explained the process of restoration--interesting. Time for lunch. Lots of street vendors, but nowhere to sit. Mike suggested we get off the main thoroughfare to find somewhere to sit down and eat. Lead on, Macduff! As previously mentioned, I must attach myself to someone with a chance of getting me back to where I need to be when I need to be there. We found a little place with sidewalk seating, well, practically in the road, but seemingl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzxGGm-HFQUmgjFS4AU1j-Mofq7oLAcBsh5uW6POJ_ZO22_tTenjMBqrW1GsLgI-eL5pK3YbfAebVo8X9ir-JFWXxplSXUZhvlErqMj_Ac3Gg5w14fkeuGvO5vgcdwTEq_zaf5BLIK0ZX/s1600-h/cruise+392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404433794013424642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzxGGm-HFQUmgjFS4AU1j-Mofq7oLAcBsh5uW6POJ_ZO22_tTenjMBqrW1GsLgI-eL5pK3YbfAebVo8X9ir-JFWXxplSXUZhvlErqMj_Ac3Gg5w14fkeuGvO5vgcdwTEq_zaf5BLIK0ZX/s320/cruise+392.JPG" border="0" /></a>y well patronized. Janet seemed less than impressed with her sandwich, but my chicken salad looked tasty. No dressing? Hey, I'm American! Where's the fat?</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6qQmPyavjZgzcjfiqU1kR-7ywlzFCrV_uKRsZp17cXZE3RRAlfcNz08EguQkGMKxEqMKK5er_u51o-MaI-RPQ9gr5nsngM6vJi_JczTO0y26GzH6JZ2ayr3MgNEMonArK5PpgmzhE9fa/s1600-h/cruise+393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404433797999098978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6qQmPyavjZgzcjfiqU1kR-7ywlzFCrV_uKRsZp17cXZE3RRAlfcNz08EguQkGMKxEqMKK5er_u51o-MaI-RPQ9gr5nsngM6vJi_JczTO0y26GzH6JZ2ayr3MgNEMonArK5PpgmzhE9fa/s320/cruise+393.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We taxi'd back towards St. Peter's and Hadrian's Tomb.<br />Lots of activity back at St. Peter's. There was a parade with drums and piping and flag tossing guys performing. I turned to see people in bright yellow T-shirts leading burros, followed by similarly clad folks <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUz2QaXkA4z4vUvcd4KCSbHZVgXTK8pZepd8StR50aTM2Ly6eqS8dvvObhq-m4cTpGDShV58JtNe36UIZ_CJXmA-FQQL58U9SP21ydZEmTikpPEZ4-Jk_ys0b18K1l9j7LY8bB0scQNlX/s1600-h/cruise+411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404441726584185618" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUz2QaXkA4z4vUvcd4KCSbHZVgXTK8pZepd8StR50aTM2Ly6eqS8dvvObhq-m4cTpGDShV58JtNe36UIZ_CJXmA-FQQL58U9SP21ydZEmTikpPEZ4-Jk_ys0b18K1l9j7LY8bB0scQNlX/s320/cruise+411.JPG" border="0" /></a>on horseba<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75jb2ubTC8qx-tPU0Gna6rshNuuZLdq-PYUBTnJ6_Dx2qC0jhAwYLWlJ-u3bLEVMFqc37fVhDdv4gYP2-DS4gokIiPHQvRHMoXN4xC4zGuozwPWoPY3J96cpVWH_PR9lBFe-sQKI94Y8K/s1600-h/cruise+417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404441730004053698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75jb2ubTC8qx-tPU0Gna6rshNuuZLdq-PYUBTnJ6_Dx2qC0jhAwYLWlJ-u3bLEVMFqc37fVhDdv4gYP2-DS4gokIiPHQvRHMoXN4xC4zGuozwPWoPY3J96cpVWH_PR9lBFe-sQKI94Y8K/s320/cruise+417.JPG" border="0" /></a>ck. There were Bavarian looking girls too.</div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWv-htZBA7tW3XnibF4o73FNu5XHuqW3fKB-ljCkLuslVQSV18s3A2wtaD25kRE4Z7GAXpzE1jGEJJbWiNY3ANalGUhY01NpUp-fPPxncNmzcKrV_wl3RTtOChTVcSmq5mRxExAevjvRR/s1600-h/cruise+419.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415675526509119074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWv-htZBA7tW3XnibF4o73FNu5XHuqW3fKB-ljCkLuslVQSV18s3A2wtaD25kRE4Z7GAXpzE1jGEJJbWiNY3ANalGUhY01NpUp-fPPxncNmzcKrV_wl3RTtOChTVcSmq5mRxExAevjvRR/s320/cruise+419.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILXQcnKa3dFRID7Vl5V9293Wj68fvqsXALi3Zz5vtoaFsULF1Hf4KU825s79Zhcv6jL7pDm8NEwwTAoJw03ftngVIOwVVu7Dae7Ot2SeLdXQ4q-I_U73iphrkRHWrwQ_g-hH3gQyhaiMb/s1600-h/cruise+418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415675533179041634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILXQcnKa3dFRID7Vl5V9293Wj68fvqsXALi3Zz5vtoaFsULF1Hf4KU825s79Zhcv6jL7pDm8NEwwTAoJw03ftngVIOwVVu7Dae7Ot2SeLdXQ4q-I_U73iphrkRHWrwQ_g-hH3gQyhaiMb/s320/cruise+418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><p>I suppose all of this was not necessarily the usual thing, but it must have been tied in to the beatification of five new saints. Maybe these groups of costumed people were from the home regions of these new saints. I don't know.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>We got back on the bus, where a guide continued to give us information about the city in heavily accented English. She kept stressing that one needed at least a week in Rome to do the city justice. I'm sure that's true, but one must also take what she gets. It's life: roll with what you've got! She was explaining the significance of the colors on the uniforms of the Vatican Swiss guards. The uniforms were designed by Michelangelo.</p><p>"Yellow is for the sun-uh; blue is for the sky-uh; red-uh is for the bloooood-uh."</p><p>"What is bluedah?" came from beside me.</p><p>Um, I believe that's "blood."</p><p><em>Arrivederci, Roma!</em></p><em>With confirmation of all passengers and crew onboard, we struck our gangways at 18:45, and our local Pilot boarded seaside at 19:03. Shortly after we let go all our lines and maneuvered off our berth and exited Civitavecchia harbour en-route to Livorno. </em><br /><p> </p></div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-1002694469203690482009-11-11T16:07:00.000-06:002009-11-12T06:51:13.450-06:00Cruisin' Day 5-- Naples/CapriUp at the crack of 6:45 A.M. today. The breakfast buffet provided fuel for the day's activities. We met the rest of our troop of 8 at 8:00 A.M. to set out for the fabled Isle of Capri.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402975058329501986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-kUfTIMQMh7DqXULzgATLAm4MnVtjR0zjwRLVjjTg03iU1EQDGR2SpUTW5pymmEoQCMM_HX5MYjr58wq7e67kfPuNLCLawhrhs11nQ7bivwTJYozvZxTOP9G06zy-AmK4ZcDofk3Y28f/s400/cruise+260.JPG" border="0" />Step 1: Obtain a ticket for the hydrofoil. Fortunately, the weather was calm, although cloudy. 32 euro bought a round-trip ticket and the opportunity to board along with a few other adventurous souls for the half hour or so sail. It was actually a bit boring; the ship was not set up to be anything more than transportation: lots of seats, small windows, but a snack bar and a guy trying to sell donuts and caps (not many takers for either). We snapped a few photos in the harbor area...</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c4K2Nz6YvfdflpkoOhECd7IlfH0k-MP8eomHByN9TfvLOaZBnhfrqOMQODAVjtX8gbE2Yjkw-H-KVXrd193WvIwCC-p-PfkIvuDWtWuUavXrn4FWQdUlARbLPSP_NITR6sqY5iPwZy7N/s1600-h/cruise+177.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402979974293686018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c4K2Nz6YvfdflpkoOhECd7IlfH0k-MP8eomHByN9TfvLOaZBnhfrqOMQODAVjtX8gbE2Yjkw-H-KVXrd193WvIwCC-p-PfkIvuDWtWuUavXrn4FWQdUlARbLPSP_NITR6sqY5iPwZy7N/s320/cruise+177.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpYGfTxAiO-BozctwcBBztmFzPdsXQLHGQc2wJLLk3DVL-jReMpVCpDdTpotIgS3WPwp6NVsWkEPwiPMHMSHO1SaJSkvTrhSyzOTo5QdwINAa8GLCMpTFTNAg8vMCQXX6TvETdbyjXxEN/s1600-h/cruise+179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020817573304002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpYGfTxAiO-BozctwcBBztmFzPdsXQLHGQc2wJLLk3DVL-jReMpVCpDdTpotIgS3WPwp6NVsWkEPwiPMHMSHO1SaJSkvTrhSyzOTo5QdwINAa8GLCMpTFTNAg8vMCQXX6TvETdbyjXxEN/s320/cruise+179.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGpZihDanwhc7InLLBzChL85vhLQ7hVAAsSn-p0XAw29R2U9Ow-Sbjg3o44qUjp_S0Glc6Z4tWY_reqg1PMcj08ViCZFhaELPl47bAeIYZ8OjWg3i3AZ2AqfEaVel0kZye4cfFVvJ7qK4/s1600-h/cruise+175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403020807241998130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGpZihDanwhc7InLLBzChL85vhLQ7hVAAsSn-p0XAw29R2U9Ow-Sbjg3o44qUjp_S0Glc6Z4tWY_reqg1PMcj08ViCZFhaELPl47bAeIYZ8OjWg3i3AZ2AqfEaVel0kZye4cfFVvJ7qK4/s320/cruise+175.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Next, we bought tickets for the <em>funicolare </em>to go up to the center of the city. Either walk for thirty minutes or ride the tram-like thing up the hill in a few minutes--no brainer. We planned to explore the city of Capri, but spent more time tying to figure out how to relocate Janet's mom, Vicky's husband, and brother Mike, who had all strayed. Of course, they weren't all together; Mike and camera were off on their own. This was where we saw them last...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402985761629808882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf53cqFV6KhNmNQulpuHZeV9T7i0gGlWABOJTa74yUdHpopBab-wUwWhfyr3oDE2GnqxIxAa3IoZsgp1Zo3Q8hHRONSyDdMcLYC3fl-51EfiwejH4CReXzG0fhCHT6IOZjnzXkRKI3pBa/s400/cruise+222.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>W e decided to return to the funicolare station, get a yummy lemon slush, and wait. I guess Capri is known for lemon everything. The owner of the slush stand ran us off because Janet and Janice tried to sit there and eat pizza that they had purchased elsewhere. <em>"Non permisso! Non permisso!" </em>Yeah, yeah, whatever. Took a few more pics....<br /></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOkZNWYCfqnZqu23H4HtY_ZCR-TL7b35iIxSaROqdcCim00hyphenhyphen81ZePashCPXVOjcSd9YwN65dRvCcI4L6kvtg0NgpXXfuE7trH0yzIJhR6W52HtriVw4CFT9PUasASNyZfZA-3KAWh2jh/s1600-h/cruise+202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402994750095756930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOkZNWYCfqnZqu23H4HtY_ZCR-TL7b35iIxSaROqdcCim00hyphenhyphen81ZePashCPXVOjcSd9YwN65dRvCcI4L6kvtg0NgpXXfuE7trH0yzIJhR6W52HtriVw4CFT9PUasASNyZfZA-3KAWh2jh/s320/cruise+202.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNReuqV_1Qy2f7vQ9C-zD0fb4F4VAyvbQpc37Nqk4pnujJc5loi-YxtfOJOyuzzQTlOtrD0T9zBjmYqQzfLnoQsFmDv9QrMcp7oo9X7j0Io7OHmA75fpd2XijLt6YODEPJW0cQgAo_FYg/s1600-h/cruise+204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402994742244095122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNReuqV_1Qy2f7vQ9C-zD0fb4F4VAyvbQpc37Nqk4pnujJc5loi-YxtfOJOyuzzQTlOtrD0T9zBjmYqQzfLnoQsFmDv9QrMcp7oo9X7j0Io7OHmA75fpd2XijLt6YODEPJW0cQgAo_FYg/s320/cruise+204.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoaemXd_PKU6Eif0O6KnuppH6yqYUQEbINcY3Ikx0PjEOSyOGNrSNk6Icj4G-EPrbwRw9mZ2-RaZGZcTqagvFm94wsgyIo6b1gSXsQmZ3mESIrEq5ZcaQs7CmQimWH8E93vptb6_curP2/s1600-h/cruise+225.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402994746035993282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoaemXd_PKU6Eif0O6KnuppH6yqYUQEbINcY3Ikx0PjEOSyOGNrSNk6Icj4G-EPrbwRw9mZ2-RaZGZcTqagvFm94wsgyIo6b1gSXsQmZ3mESIrEq5ZcaQs7CmQimWH8E93vptb6_curP2/s320/cruise+225.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPG_4aOzmAGh3b8UHjNzXRt7Lfpf5CljJS9t3YtQvlQKzw41SAOdqEGKIN2xS1f94oZ8FCbGBTLJcfCjyhPrppwS-eXCMG19J0v34-y1eqHcsxMQJqc-TzvivcYdaWX2ymMOImUrQXpyF/s1600-h/cruise+194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402994739554591090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPG_4aOzmAGh3b8UHjNzXRt7Lfpf5CljJS9t3YtQvlQKzw41SAOdqEGKIN2xS1f94oZ8FCbGBTLJcfCjyhPrppwS-eXCMG19J0v34-y1eqHcsxMQJqc-TzvivcYdaWX2ymMOImUrQXpyF/s320/cruise+194.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />Vicky located hubby and Janet's mom around the corner having a beer. Well, we were up to 7 of the 8 and knew that Mikey would turn up eventually, so we set off to get bus tickets to Anacapri, another town farther up the hills. Funicolare and bus tickets were 1,40 euro each way. That's when I figured out that these folks use a comma where we use a decimal point in the prices of things. They also sometimes use three places to the right for whatever reason. It was somewhat of a relief to figure out that lasagne was 12 euro, not 12,000 as the sign seemed to indicate. Oh, and in case you were wondering why there would even be mini-trucks like those turning up here and there, I have seen the reason. The "streets" are about as wide as sidewalks, and these little vehicles are about all that could run down them. Main thoroughfares are a bit wider, but accommodate two-way traffic. We got on a little orange bus wide enough to seat one person on each side and allow two people to stand between them and hang on. Off we went up a steep, serpentine road with hairpin turns, missing sideview mirrors of oncoming traffic by inches. Little guard rails separated traffic from a steep cliff. Janet had to look away or close her eyes. Yet we made it safely to Anacapri.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403003567017914306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fg09kJARVbTR7Nv0XR5aVBK7_QaweaIUseqACC2Q5pErWLji_Usk65tjfa2WUylLZnL5MVFsCZ8tza8YU225z1lVmeqLcJMeSym0ibwReZ3DQqHV7tnW8IuprNb2ZoOVwvnYEZZLOfGC/s400/cruise+234.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0UCiNmj19ab_OoXpYl8Qmdt0fl7Xad0alS4G26hcYkl1zu8ydciOMy9LbFfQvWI3VCqpAQZkfUjXQZBirF_Pl0gjBAnhw8b91GdVpoOTYQbqkNkT9Y8XSyMRtWMyW0fSgVTOkgYbl_gg/s1600-h/cruise+240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403007062022976530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0UCiNmj19ab_OoXpYl8Qmdt0fl7Xad0alS4G26hcYkl1zu8ydciOMy9LbFfQvWI3VCqpAQZkfUjXQZBirF_Pl0gjBAnhw8b91GdVpoOTYQbqkNkT9Y8XSyMRtWMyW0fSgVTOkgYbl_gg/s320/cruise+240.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2ulK_j2xNiad2EZvBOUntF6lwf38vaRLURfOmMAUA55MgIteUCsNVLrouCGIkbyBot9_LbMby98rIjLRmuI2kqqKFHrPh16lPWnwLxlLWiDa_HPgTBYpkt7r0mzlMFb6rklpyYqcxuKU/s1600-h/cruise+237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403007054619872866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2ulK_j2xNiad2EZvBOUntF6lwf38vaRLURfOmMAUA55MgIteUCsNVLrouCGIkbyBot9_LbMby98rIjLRmuI2kqqKFHrPh16lPWnwLxlLWiDa_HPgTBYpkt7r0mzlMFb6rklpyYqcxuKU/s320/cruise+237.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJ04Al870Hd_Z5BAaeCceoUq4G-aH4_yHzLQDlITpUnbZznOcBOLstq4znmxHqwLf0De1bg1ZfqsgK4lbe_O8S7Tys4ntyGTKZyt-PViJTCJRKDsMTK-GVnx54YoX9ogvCmHqXM6i0ep/s1600-h/cruise+239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403007067870421954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqJ04Al870Hd_Z5BAaeCceoUq4G-aH4_yHzLQDlITpUnbZznOcBOLstq4znmxHqwLf0De1bg1ZfqsgK4lbe_O8S7Tys4ntyGTKZyt-PViJTCJRKDsMTK-GVnx54YoX9ogvCmHqXM6i0ep/s320/cruise+239.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This time we set a time and place to meet, in case we got separated, which, of course, we didn't. We did a little shopping ( would have done more with a more favorable rate of exchange). No major purchases, just some lemon chocolate. After the bus back down, we got on the funicolare back down to the harbor. There was Mikey waiting to catch the boat back to Naples! He had been on his own adventure to some ruins of a fortress. Can't wait to see some of his pictures. Once again, didn't get arrested; made it back to the ship!<br /></div><div>After dinner at the buffet, I went up to the very top deck at the back of the ship to watch the sun set over Naples and the sailaway. I had a nice conversation with a couple from Maine. Being a retired teacher brings up all sorts of topics relating to education. Everyone has stories to tell. I got some nice pictures.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403016880423390178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr9LvQvSyFgas71pvwtmR6rw2KmpryZgmHVfQxD1_A9km3uW9U9GCt7FRpGW1iiUUsIHFssc5f0MB9gaHfNoh1jleT_E6O8V40hTbhisH7q-zduN1lyUFKHhvr8x20DacC5DCl4oxd0Ai/s400/cruise+254.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403016887328547362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid341M3bCvXe94U4uPsL064Te2hyphenhyphenHs25FA1Ef6HETzBx8oXh5QrQvNSozEs9qODoGLZJagxYWRo2dZS6B22fp-UxR5zpsqY3r4i7T42mTM_R4l3lsf-U7D17kMHDJZyWWGBIRunTuytQz7/s400/cruise+265.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403016889304442098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw-s-9ifk70U_oUTB3-6ZPZ8wA3mF9M0FWDodrg9uZjnkMPrtDmXVOQBgN4s-OJVgEyKm8F0WK6TIpJHa2Isx1u5IHXaU5E99DlFxU94aPF8V0PAmYF2hyphenhyphenx_s1PoQ5mLNv0PmzIe9yQEa/s400/cruise+268.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Naples is a bustling, modern city--not really my cup of tea. Maybe if I were incredibly wealthy...</div><div></div><div><em>Extract from the Deck Log</em></div><div></div><div><em>10th October 2009- Naples, Italy</em></div><div><em>Overnight, Ruby Princess continued her transit of the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the early hours our track took us by the active volcano island of Stromboli. Just before sunrise we transited into the Gulf of Naples passing close by the beautiful Island of Capri, before turning to the northeast towards the breakwater. Prior to embarking our pilot at 06:06 and entering the harbour we left the historic city of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius on our starboard side.</em></div><div></div><div><em>Once we slipped our lines and thrusted off our berth we exited the port of Naples. Ruby Princess then eased back into the Gulf of Naples and after rounding the Island of Ischia to the southwest to port, northwesterly courses were set</em> towards Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-46593247587827256642009-11-06T14:45:00.000-06:002009-11-06T16:08:06.552-06:0009th October 2009-- at SeaExtract from the Deck Log<br /><br /><br /><em>Throughout the course of the day</em>, Ruby Princess c<em>ontinued to transit southeastwards through the Adriatic Sea towards the Strait of Otranto and into the northern part of the Ionian Sea. At 11:36 we altered course to 222 degrees where we rounded the "heel of Italy" after maintaining this track for 165.2 nm we set a northwesterly heading and set up our approach into the Messina Strait.</em><br /><br /><br /><em>We boarded the Pilot for Messina at 20:50 at a speed of 19.5 knots and carried out the 40 mile transit navigating through the heavy traffic passing Sicily on our port side and the Italian mainland on our starboard side. We then disembarked our Pilot at 21:15 then increased our speed to meet our 0600 ETA to Naples.</em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><br /><em>Venice to Naples- 816 Nautical miles- average speed 20.8 knots</em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><br />If you don't find that interesting, maybe over the course of the rest of the cruise postings you'll learn to skip the italicized stuff, hmmmmm?<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401099187170170178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXS7nnGW5MKmzUKNnbe9zNQDqaR3VqqLtHEMbYYU-WzK82SrgQ8tw23jQ_Gxixfr96qsveI3OmyxIdSa9Qx4mN9L7hl4FpPJvy3fAZsNksq3Xz4TMQ5c6WU0BWL08baJjg4xYu31rvjpk/s400/DSCF4234.JPG" border="0" />Land Ho! Since we were on the starboard side, I guess that's the Italian mainland. Going out to the balcony upon waking became the daily ritual, not always terribly informative sometimes. More informative was the TV channel that showed a map with our current position marked. We were late rising today. Last night saw dinner in one of the restaurants, visits to clubs on board, karaoke singing, and ordering pictures for today's class. Did I mention how fortunate I was in roommate roulette? Janet R., hereinafter referred to as Roomie Janet, is fabulous! She is so sweet and fun-loving (requisite for hanging with me). I was a bit anxious signing on for 18 days in a stateroom with someone I had never met, but it couldn't have worked out better. I love the woman! </p><p>We hit the breakfast buffet at 11:00, and then we went down to pick up our pictures. Surprise! The kiosk we had used to order pictures was not plugged in to send anything to the printer. Four of us taking the class had no pictures to work from. Travel agent Vicky (need a good travel agent? I can make a recommendation.) sought out the manager to pitch a ring-tailed fit-- said we should get them for free. We gathered our materials and headed for deck 18, the Skywalker Lounge (and me without my lightsword). Janet did a lovely demonstration, and I tried to behave myself. But Carl pointed out some dolphins doing the dolphin thing beside the ship-- had to watch them. Then came time to set pastel to paper. I did have one pastel drawing under my belt before the cruise. Expect great things, huh? What to do, what to do....hmmmmmm.... I sketched in some buildings, started the sky, decided I didn't like the buildings, made them go away.... Better luck next time.</p><p>I headed back down to do some balcony sitting before dinner. Vicky called and said to go down to pick up my pictures. Too late for class, but, hey, I wanted 'em! They weren't free, but half price. I should have ordered more. Who knew? </p><p>Back up to the room to get ready for dinner-- formal night. Ughh... I hate dressing up! And the food! Too fancy! No, I don't like wine. No, I don't want fancy-schmancy appetizer followed by soup/salad. Forgot my reading glasses, so I couldn't quite make out the menu descriptions, especially since they were printed in gold on beige with low lighting. Anyway, I have decided that if a five-year-old would like it, it's my kind of food. I opted for pork roast, mashed potatoes, some kind of apple sauce, and then, just to ruin the whole thing, cooked red cabbage. I am not eatiing THAT! Well, just the meat that didn't get cabbage-corrupted and the potatoes. Chocolate sundae with some microscopic cookies with a far bigger name for dessert.</p><p>Afterwards, we came across the Captain's Champagne Party. Weirdest thing I've ever seen-- a whole bunch of champagne glasses with a cherry in each stacked in a pyramid. With musical accompanyment, people would climb some stairs so they could reach the top to dump champagne from a bottle onto the pyramid of glasses. Other folks took pictures. WEIRD! Very Titanicesque. </p><p>Next, we went to see a magician perform, got there relatively late, got seated on the side that didn't evidently register on the performer's consciousness, and saw very little presditigitation. Off to bed. Docking in Naples, meeting Mike and Janet, etc. at 8:00 A.M. Off to the Isle of Capri on a hydrofoil! Adventure awaits!<br /></p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-15087733661531156552009-11-04T12:06:00.000-06:002009-11-04T14:57:01.329-06:00Cruisin': Day 3<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtafE9CSZHrPQk7b2qZto93whaVuAUs4jxvNYl9CrTY7K_ZEb0KjSFwQ_k2forkKTPApagvZvNUegkQEyUeSNRqvGM5bl6rA-DeaFrhyphenhyphenoVAv0W-HOsocuwFJoKppBjBnD8Bgtn-bU_m7G/s1600-h/DSCF4144.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400342992521587490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtafE9CSZHrPQk7b2qZto93whaVuAUs4jxvNYl9CrTY7K_ZEb0KjSFwQ_k2forkKTPApagvZvNUegkQEyUeSNRqvGM5bl6rA-DeaFrhyphenhyphenoVAv0W-HOsocuwFJoKppBjBnD8Bgtn-bU_m7G/s400/DSCF4144.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>We started day 3 with breakfast delivered to the room so we could eat on the balcony in jammies. I could get used to this, despite today's view of another ship. We could still watch boats going by between the ships from our vantage point on deck 10. </div><p>That picture of breakfast doesn't look so great. Whenever I go somewhere, the Loved One always asks, "What'd ya have to eat?" Sooooo, what if I take pictures of food? Can't wait to show him! It's playing in my head now...</p><p>"What'd ya have to eat?" he asked with genuine interest.</p><p>She whips out a stack of pictures.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5prR2UMEa9xfROdluETKmjxlTHG9GH3ROCRNGBXKgvI_4pOY-I1DYvt1k5fpcFuFeOlgnPQ1vhqrOzCwzgL60HduOKRw9brE4asbAFViJCIRmy-n5eQL2K9wkTpn6Jvl0Hjb60JFe6go/s1600-h/DSCF4139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400326958847210866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5prR2UMEa9xfROdluETKmjxlTHG9GH3ROCRNGBXKgvI_4pOY-I1DYvt1k5fpcFuFeOlgnPQ1vhqrOzCwzgL60HduOKRw9brE4asbAFViJCIRmy-n5eQL2K9wkTpn6Jvl0Hjb60JFe6go/s200/DSCF4139.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p> </p><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i9xQ1gYM6NpSv9tpJvxEiECfa9ACX-9Y3AIaq_A3dI76Rvto2yISD5daNZQPa3eS7WgMAhxEFIhl7930VNRsT_B07zV-Uznhb7ytAP394JVGhbOoSZl48KnaCT5ixl-g72dQJAqHzII5/s1600-h/DSCF4141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400320125075930626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i9xQ1gYM6NpSv9tpJvxEiECfa9ACX-9Y3AIaq_A3dI76Rvto2yISD5daNZQPa3eS7WgMAhxEFIhl7930VNRsT_B07zV-Uznhb7ytAP394JVGhbOoSZl48KnaCT5ixl-g72dQJAqHzII5/s320/DSCF4141.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400318962727364562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG5C_jIGTFpWeywKuwOJC86iOqcdlc-Z2c15ttQ38Un93DKlNRk8U0p1HpD6hxEpRyWerncXZkZgx4dV5403zJmLF_afqHIjuoewqRlRDq6GM0t4xIdDUyYIRjwytSynfQGdOoPNhTpxa/s320/DSCF4140.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><p>"Alla this stuff," she replies smugly.</p><p>"What is it?"</p><p>"What's it look like?"</p><p>Just can't wait! He didn't want to come along; so, hey, stay home and eat your own cooking!</p><p>Well, I digress.... Back to the day's adventures. We caught the water taxi back to St. Marks.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400323017674022994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydmomStldOeg5BVzsEhRAJapmU0mjeZiv10ucsiAVcoFEpcGahYL26J2qZfH6wVrPABRF8dHiXutatGDbiy2jY3JSjpYWMfo6-48BdC2LWcX8Z61-vSSfTYjS_Qvl4PSJzztUeRNm3_lD/s400/DSCF4083.JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7keI8kYRZfIxKdW7VHcuDMysNGy5tNAYHrzGG25wwycOHp-XVe0kfQbfHrT4y_TjqtIjmyzDL481R2qlIQJdTxV20enAl4pWPTE7CAebS6qmmLqTCTz8CEjPLBCuRekxrrgpBGQm_rdFK/s1600-h/DSCF4107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400324295301730242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7keI8kYRZfIxKdW7VHcuDMysNGy5tNAYHrzGG25wwycOHp-XVe0kfQbfHrT4y_TjqtIjmyzDL481R2qlIQJdTxV20enAl4pWPTE7CAebS6qmmLqTCTz8CEjPLBCuRekxrrgpBGQm_rdFK/s200/DSCF4107.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEqQRHho27PkdWR07uhlCRfJ7vrVOlOyk4T65EjmYkb3pCBEIJX8uCQC6LXp_l6hnRjYR2q98uwjLX9hW-74whsLuR_CpH-NU1bsvb92zlt8D1gJchkpw3dt4FpnXHkr2s4Oo2lUheUxW/s1600-h/DSCF4106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400328899122532962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEqQRHho27PkdWR07uhlCRfJ7vrVOlOyk4T65EjmYkb3pCBEIJX8uCQC6LXp_l6hnRjYR2q98uwjLX9hW-74whsLuR_CpH-NU1bsvb92zlt8D1gJchkpw3dt4FpnXHkr2s4Oo2lUheUxW/s200/DSCF4106.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400325488724960658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RlL7yde0StMcVSrquSRtYD1-FD9HVVyy0qbpaz46ikzC5sjubEwpzjCCoLmCOumu1ALD9vcJycgTuBL3nbSwdLTNicQgMtAqnbdxvZk44cdiDCz91WM9ipJh9FI2-g-FZPhlir2Usanj/s320/DSCF4110.JPG" border="0" /> Bellisimo! I can't wait to see brother Mike's pictures---he's got the expertise and the equipment. He's also got the sense of direction. My family members know how directionally challenged I am. Add to that disability the fact that I don't speak Italian and needed to get back to the ship before it sailed, and I decided to stick close to Mike as we ventured off into the city. There are areas not directly on canals, little piazzas that feature wells like this one in the square.</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400332287662726386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O11hVweCozd6KK6vE24NN598om5_3L-szYgrd78yNVLlAJojoP2ALFVSzASajkNOgAl4ZAdAuYg-g8E7j1YBf4AclUY6z32PK6E06Ni7G4O_c5gmA5nZI8r9zsizBqoldTniXDuJEF7F/s400/DSCF4162.JPG" border="0" />That would be Mike back there, not too far away from yours truly. We only had a few hours before needing to get back to the ship. Just such a beautiful place! Definitely not northeastern Oklahoma! I had taken over 150 pictures before we left Venezia, Italia. Come on over; I'll be happy to show you all of them!</p><p>Didn't get arrested; made it back to the ship! We went up to the top deck, deck 19, to take pictures during the sail away from Venice... offered a magnificent vantage point.</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6CCfE24JqxkWNeyhqjUvpHBFVAumWewRQzVIs5sHBemYM2HxTSQLwohmmJnmWGD_ch3VsQlXP72lOc33HZoT_Y-yGZHCSkJFMFWERJJvgstT3TrvRrV03QtDe25OMtr-DPZBRUDMgw6b/s1600-h/DSCF4186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400339609647876882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6CCfE24JqxkWNeyhqjUvpHBFVAumWewRQzVIs5sHBemYM2HxTSQLwohmmJnmWGD_ch3VsQlXP72lOc33HZoT_Y-yGZHCSkJFMFWERJJvgstT3TrvRrV03QtDe25OMtr-DPZBRUDMgw6b/s200/DSCF4186.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeeK-CsquJiXiaHxUq4HQ_hQ5JDTjljkWOK3ekf2jCh6bRAw6TVKTk928TV6jZ00MKUTTmlqI2d_CUIcNotecDxRHns3YY3iAssZkHnhPSoNyZDiCuBWe_NImuGGuqboVTED7kVtZgF7t/s1600-h/DSCF4189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400339613939835250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeeK-CsquJiXiaHxUq4HQ_hQ5JDTjljkWOK3ekf2jCh6bRAw6TVKTk928TV6jZ00MKUTTmlqI2d_CUIcNotecDxRHns3YY3iAssZkHnhPSoNyZDiCuBWe_NImuGGuqboVTED7kVtZgF7t/s200/DSCF4189.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX7gVRfAI-SMFpOCJ7FrGuK2PMA83hYlCJzBfMZtg_aMUufqK8xq0APlRAYpebPeWB7HnZFaVq_W-YTTnbCQGVHbSZWnPa3MCOzrsTc-KgepJeUw4H_8l-OCLY-KrqqQWhJ87f2GcLt5D/s1600-h/DSCF4194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400339630351417154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX7gVRfAI-SMFpOCJ7FrGuK2PMA83hYlCJzBfMZtg_aMUufqK8xq0APlRAYpebPeWB7HnZFaVq_W-YTTnbCQGVHbSZWnPa3MCOzrsTc-KgepJeUw4H_8l-OCLY-KrqqQWhJ87f2GcLt5D/s200/DSCF4194.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p></p><div><br /></div><p> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400341326664280546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCyd5T0vta-1aTYGuf27S1Gpi3TWaEZCMeonIr3MrfROaxl8iF9lus-FyXfjnyPYiqX3H5PfZE5KwrrQ_eMzfR8Wz10l70ryDsX320Itytohw5D5oCUNcwSwB5SOrfpUGqeQ0odlXGuTT/s400/DSCF4212.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348431036349810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFUnexZTh2_wdS7qao8LdiBdUxRO3yXidk_nfRp1MKqPH8fF0zGDz91du4Sn-_8FBigvqhsbFOAqm2a3cXWH8R9qN0g27TJNq5jzHdJog_QWRrntDV4z3_p7oIA0STvfxc3nrn2f1w9K9/s400/DSCF4216.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348441311857426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONyxItegB9PgWXbxzfo7T_ebXbotsLBAkUjgAGZTFprHBEz75rif-sOH8uw-dgYErh0UqN3oUCV-5BVcFUQutAFTIl6q9_DwpGGYAUcl3ciBWS6lLsQmaGXnsNBCSBqZy2jn_5Obt6zXc/s400/DSCF4204.JPG" border="0" />In the distance you'll see the Carnival cruise ship that was docked next to ours. Big, huh?</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348445429218578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUIqYO0fhI5X1ht5z1LuA1-dpqEwJbRTzIIhPLBOr9cq5ZkH-CArjg7iGzPkoJ-FdjuqveRqgyjP7yvLgRdT-hn9uLM_YSNSJSV9j7Ju7TjGFTvjhzBzjtlstp_Ryinv_MBeIqI1VTcZE/s400/DSCF4211.JPG" border="0" />Extract from the Deck Log of the <em>Ruby Princess:</em></div><div><em>8th October 2009- Venice, Italy</em></div><div><em>At 13:19 with all pre-departure checks satisfactorily completed, </em>Ruby Princess <em>slipped her moorings and maneuvered slowly astern. Turning at rest to Stb within the tight confines of the harbour the ship headed to the east, navigating through the narrow, shallow canal network towards the breakwater. We passed the "Piazza San Marco" to port at 13:53. Our pilot disembarked at 14:30, one nautical mile south of the breakwater in the Gulf of Venice. Courses were then set south-eastwards into the northern Adriatic sea, navigating between the many oil and gas rigs, down towards the Strait of Otranto.</em></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><p></p></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-75495930014686102342009-11-02T21:08:00.000-06:002009-11-02T22:28:58.154-06:00There and Back Again: Story of a CruiseDay 1ish--day 1 kind of ran into day 2:<br /><div><div><div><br /><div>Larry dropped me off at the airport in Kansas City at about the time the security station opened. No waiting! Resolved one quandry: mascara--gel or not? In the 1 qt. bag or not? Hadn't really thought about it, but if toothPASTE is a gel.... I mean, mascara isn't a liquid, is it? Is it a gel? Jeez! the things I get hung up on! Anyway, on October 6, 2009, at KCI, it's evidently not a gel. Whew! I did have to take out my boxes of pastels for examination though. They evidently were suspicious. At least I didn't try to take any acrylic paints. No telling what kind of subversion those could suggest. OK, I'm glad all of the precautions are taken, and I understand why. It's just all of the strange uncertainties I can come up with. I met up with Mike and Janet, and my new roommate Janet at the Atlanta airport. We joined up with ladies from Texas and Janet's Mom from Denver. All together, 21 of us boarded the plane bound for Venice. My first transAtlantic flight! The idea was to go to sleep after dinner on the flight. Didn't happen for me. I was three short, cramped rows back from a TV screen playing some stupid Eddie Murphy movie. I figured I might as well try to watch it, but the headphones were being temperamental. I did get them to work finally, for awhile. A flight attendant came down the aisle with a beverage cart, bumped my aisle armrest, and the headphones quit. Oh well, time for the ipod. Music to listen to, but annoying light flashing in my eyes. Time for the sleep mask. Little cracks of light coming in.....long story short--no sleep for me. At some point, day 1 became day 2.</div><div></div><br /><div>Day 2 saw me off the plane, through baggage and passport check, and on a van to the port where we would board the Ruby Princess.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399715637720058578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1fQ_iCfTsKnVEquSaQ0tENspHt9W6fop7RI7mtFQsfTjRTFkvjwWm0nNoBnYpc_3TsZmTIbDTvMwuWcRjtxqtygZqaT69kLgXURXV9G5UwwGhs6QGmrEXUzZuTid-5aYLqSntHeSSfnL/s400/cruise+005.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>We needed our passports, boarding passes, and another security check. Yep, wanted to see the pastels again (<em>colores </em>the guy called them). Luggage was delivered to the stateroom, and the cruise card became my new best friend, getting me on and off the ship, into the stateroom, and charging anything on board the ship. This is some seriously huge ship! 953 feet long, 19 decks, 3,000 passengers...really, really BIG!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399718518530677394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rZQ-JeEdJKRSO_BMKhx3gQb508SdpYg8gvmiCPadld0IUdEbBm7ccKROwL9mLL_By20JmxU-dYO7rrU24rj3j7oIIbqo2jYL799jQCI9ufj7YW41C0lF2qbnPf0m732hKwts33zXOvo6/s400/cruise+008.JPG" border="0" />The ship just turned one year old...big, new, beautiful! After getting settled into our staterooms, six of us, including Mike, Janet, roomie Janet and I, caught the water taxi to St. Mark's Square, Venice. </p><p>Snap, snap, snap.... take lots of pictures! They're free! Gotta love the digital age! I ended up with over 1,000 photos by the time I got home. Obviously, they won't all appear here. Even if you wanted to see them all, they take too long to upload. You'll just have to stop by for the whole array of pics. We just wandered around trying to get pictures and not lose each other. Venice must truly be one of the most beautiful places in the world. Absolutely breathtaking! There are no vehicles, just pedestrians, canals, and gondolas and boats. Incredible! We ate dinner outside at a restaurant on the Grand Canal with singing gondoleers passing by. There are just not enough superlatives to describe it. OK, so maybe I'm easily impressed, but WOW!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieELsT56wLXub_O_VPmcSz19ycNkxXG03zoixhdqmFFKgmbguxqSazJQ2C8CwppRin97xvj-NT5b8m-zlQbmkA_vlXg_t2lmxEbuH_mhghB7ScUk3joMfZ_YHMQdoXJtQMRplyn5aMo-ju/s1600-h/cruise+056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399723752693958450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieELsT56wLXub_O_VPmcSz19ycNkxXG03zoixhdqmFFKgmbguxqSazJQ2C8CwppRin97xvj-NT5b8m-zlQbmkA_vlXg_t2lmxEbuH_mhghB7ScUk3joMfZ_YHMQdoXJtQMRplyn5aMo-ju/s320/cruise+056.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLTVLGTU4rbhHa6GYHQZUi9Rf-4RXMyFljAnxvxBo_bG1dXIqnHwDhcBdD6Xmb-vo0dySMQUlbfbgNd38DZfU0vNgx7213GLqNxaAw4QzGrKxuYBxoRLhe5Qpp_h4X5CvLx_CfYoh8NFc/s1600-h/cruise+060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399724769823667506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLTVLGTU4rbhHa6GYHQZUi9Rf-4RXMyFljAnxvxBo_bG1dXIqnHwDhcBdD6Xmb-vo0dySMQUlbfbgNd38DZfU0vNgx7213GLqNxaAw4QzGrKxuYBxoRLhe5Qpp_h4X5CvLx_CfYoh8NFc/s320/cruise+060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p> </p></div></div><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399725936804931426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD0BMA3jUqhkXe5YxmVRlnvFusNU4Aqee8NuiKzAtLnNz7VwKg5fwOIJ4lmJS6ssNlqa0J5HvkviDxJvcqFTJg03okWc-cQK4XYoNOwI_ileP_vNWDfIwelh4TJc5prkV3NpKuJC42tYJ/s400/cruise+074.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p>There'll be more of Venice from day 3. One day down in a foreign country. Didn't get arrested; made it back to the ship. So far, so good!</p><p></p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-75680265139538912672009-09-27T13:08:00.001-05:002009-09-27T14:15:46.502-05:00Cowgirls Don't Cry<div></div><br /><div><br /><div>Granddaughter Jade came out for the weekend last Saturday. We first went to Gage's football game (they lost). Jade displayed the same love for the game as I have. (Is it over yet?)</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386212314663362546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fjAnIue3hLBZHEYyy8zzpk9FZetZ6oFBDoUgdyz-8iiWR_T6rnVVpLsHyp5tZq0DLZW6OnovoHvul0c31HafA3nTzeNfkzTtYHars6pDTlyyCrnnoP33MqnKrHr4H0fllJz9tVk3vx_b/s400/100_0819.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p>That's Gage at center front of the picture, one of the relatively few times he was on the field. We all cheered him on--well, maybe not big brother Lane so much, and despite all of the years attending Brian's games, I still have no idea what is going on. Just wait until it's over and hope no one is hurt. That's me, and Jade seems to share the feeling.</p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p>Afterwards we stopped at the swap meet looking for treasures. Didn't find much of interest and continued on home to Jade's main event--PONIES! She told me that she knows they are ponies, but she calls them horses. This was to be Jade's first ride "all by herself." Before this visit, she had been led around while riding Lucy or Desi. Now we were going to trail ride with Lucy just following me and Flicka. Jade wasn't too sure until I told her that we had tried it out with Gage riding during his last visit. Lucy would follow Flicka. She might get a little behind since she is smaller, older, and doesn't walk as fast; but though she might trot to catch up, she wouldn't run off. We watched an episode of <em>Julie Goodnight</em> on the DVR dealing with being the boss and making the horse do what you wanted. It also talked about the proper way to hold the reins, etc. Jade was ready, so out we went to saddle up.</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386216381691482466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5hUMp_f97PAQODk2VZr76y1RTSgCCNFG_Yv9NYRfryF-zOBpDWLm0dlz8HtqYhytUKcwefrNSWIK9niTeUm8JMG18C9d5CCffwaVJvRBrFQ3qJROE78VC3V0w7pScS6sAfzbHgHpg951/s400/100_0824.JPG" border="0" />She was READY! Larry supervised Lucy while I mounted up, and off we went. Larry said he put the rein over the saddle horn so Lucy wouldn't stop to eat--I didn't think much of it. When I checked back, Jade's expressions ranged from uncomfortable to terrified when Lucy trotted a bit. I figured as long as she wasn't screaming, we were good. I love it when a plan comes together. I bought Flicka partly because I knew Jade couldn't learn to ride when her horse was being led. I also didn't want to lead the horse for miles until Jade was tired of riding. If I could just get Lucy to follow me on another horse..... It worked! We came back to the house and prepared to dismount. </p><br /><p>I dismounted and turned just in time to see Jade tumble off over Lucy's head. It seems that although Larry told me he "wrapped" the reins around the saddle horn, I heard "looped" the reins. I didn't know they were, in effect, tied to the horn. When we stopped in the yard, Lucy decided it was time to eat, so down went her head with some determination. There is no back cinch on the saddle, so it tipped forward, and off went Jade! Good thing Lucy's short--not too far to the ground. Besides, Cowgirls don't cry! Better luck next time.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386220748904783826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAmD783UA_w0c4hWs1PZVCMeiwhmxQQfdT0lNNg9vl1fUr4FvvIHlWxqL9sLPFrQUN57M7fC08SLmeZ7gZRVhwkWqLo8_qcKXKbQ9gFJC8qqPHWnBMtLGqTUR9FMQjcX3wIZCihRvxogU/s320/100_0823.JPG" border="0" />Next time came the next morning. Jade was ready to go! This time no tying of the reins; she would hold them and figure out how to grab the saddle horn if she needed to. We shortened the stirrups a notch so she could manage the trotting a little better. Off on the trails we went. A little "City Slicker" looking, but not so scared. She was able to learn by watching me, and she decided she was having fun. The dismounting went off just fine, and we decided to tie the critters out to eat in the yard for awhile. Jade wanted to leave the saddles on so she could go for another ride in the afternoon. Ahhhhh... a child after my own heart. I recently read in a magazine that one way to find contentment was to return to the activities one loved between the ages of 10 and 13. Those were the Montana years for me, and horseback riding was everything. I'm Back!<br /><p><br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-11704079267962372122009-09-16T16:47:00.000-05:002009-09-16T17:57:22.883-05:00I'll get you closer!<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDURtM3BShAUzgCgMUsjD5jW33sVhw9gAfIQAaCUtCFURA5Ki40TLO2LVVb2bu-_Fug2CvDZnKDRUK8WGVgLY5P0B431mkhHHCqaezIrPTezNiIW1ulClvHIHEjKFzLDhV0QGo7xf2eew/s1600-h/river+trip++Beaver+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382186345210137666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDURtM3BShAUzgCgMUsjD5jW33sVhw9gAfIQAaCUtCFURA5Ki40TLO2LVVb2bu-_Fug2CvDZnKDRUK8WGVgLY5P0B431mkhHHCqaezIrPTezNiIW1ulClvHIHEjKFzLDhV0QGo7xf2eew/s400/river+trip++Beaver+001.JPG" border="0" /></a> Just got back from Grand River below the Pensacola Dam. We've had quite a lot of rain, causing GRDA to be running full generation and to open several floodgates. Time to go catfishing! I don't fish, but I read, hook up to tree limbs if Larry wants to wet a line, and give my Kodak easyshare a workout. It's tough sometimes to get pictures of wildlife because, well, it's wild and unapproachable. Don't have telephoto capabilities, but Larry tries to indulge me whenever possible and detour toward the banks. We passed a hole up on the mud bank, and Larry thought something was in there. There were two of them, whatever they were.<br /></div><div>"I can see something, but I'm not close enough!" I whined as I looked through the viewfinder.<br /></div><div>"I'll get you closer," replied the ever-helpful Loved One.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382190706054119122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FQuy-2G__nT0MBnUDznVtRqoC81CosZjz5oFcX9skrnSOgIJ3QocsEsX5u0oetruHWe7agtOW3PfqNAhmy1G7SUdcnPxyOaCBOI4Ii8QnrluRIYqcWrS_poVaOgeq8MjgOI-8rdaVt_D/s400/river+trip++Beaver+013.JPG" border="0" />One of the critters made a break for it.<br /><br /><div>"It's a beaver!"<br /></div><div>"I can't see it very well," I claim, still focused on the tiny viewfinder. "Can you get me closer?"<br /></div><div>"I'll get you closer," came the resigned, long-suffering relpy. </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382192891486458178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnsPg5qlR9nKxKwGgq5TXC0Xo28fgdajnWv9YGGIrjf1HZ0mAOPKQAZi88jQd81LconPGNBufONkRvEJ-T2CvG2Vcg05YSwYLZFglg9GlbNp1ZoBUj18bllSPM1ovcJnGYWVRsCbkbbTb/s400/river+trip++Beaver+014.JPG" border="0" /></p></div><p>Yep, it's a beaver alright! Now, the thing about boats is that when they are gliding in a direction, they don't necessarily stop on a dime. We continued toward the bank, I snapped one more photo and raised my face from the viewfinder.....</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382194577914429506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RtTWFi8Zmfc3m62gKhSkeTmVxmEtXtoaieQa7Ws7YWHmVQWoa7P_s1skMUZhXCcxnJiciYXFId9ElAb-VtpOTpaTHBAlLt51GYCqPQu7tCuGUtAFhJKDnJP8oC4S78FkW2xHdBfoe4Eo/s400/river+trip++Beaver+015.JPG" border="0" /> YIKES! All I can think of is Jeff Foxworthy telling a story about some guy getting his nipple bitten OFF by a BEAVER! And those are some scary orange teeth right there!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382196485434276210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNjgZ1RwHuLyqKKZZg-bpnvnhvDd_k9In-B7-BxKYJb5JRVh8D9o_NNx2uhC3OsWmVrsbawEj2IAuVi81K47ROlXtsiQRDKrBx0T9bWQe8Unt5M67IYCL97boZeufb7R1id5fg65AtFB2/s400/river+trip++Beaver+016.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Fortunately for me, the fight/flight choice was for flight. I looked for less scary subjects. How about birds? I love the egrets and herons that populate the shores.</p></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382198727971967522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf896bG7obqMMTWlnXZa1kKwn240HezlaY_EViMaoOMGBNtdId14Z4Dc6f8mLiiXy8StxQDXRacMOf19toYEUX7L4hnqCOgWo9IshWISqH6YjUfpwUEnYJ6jECvfcpM7jhFWCqjqsLKtcN/s400/river+trip++Beaver+022.JPG" border="0" /></div><p>I can't get too close to them though. It does amaze me that such a beautiful, graceful creature can produce such a harsh, discordant utterance. I would think they would produce something more melodious, not the jarring croaking that comes out of them.</p><p>Anyway, it was a good trip: cool weather, deserted campground, 18 catfish, 1 drum, and a big ol' carp that was fun to catch and throw back.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjxwGTgeeByyujKNwjTJpEsG5BX0I1wDl6rQILuqWNYUKG2Wntvgvs8mSb7jmekmlt7oQOZp6Wi0jn4_AuWvui1i7MoJ7d1hRQ7P0GVokGhn2blreV5YEpPx0OpGPzZsfMZ490GQfm85U/s1600-h/river+trip++Beaver+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382201428740985810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjxwGTgeeByyujKNwjTJpEsG5BX0I1wDl6rQILuqWNYUKG2Wntvgvs8mSb7jmekmlt7oQOZp6Wi0jn4_AuWvui1i7MoJ7d1hRQ7P0GVokGhn2blreV5YEpPx0OpGPzZsfMZ490GQfm85U/s200/river+trip++Beaver+025.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBYJ0-CQyaXpqELx5iIQX0gVSWetzUONqeeYTBk9pdT3OjH7R6M0eHEJWvOJO7nIGy8zFRLEqfDFoaZXGwste7WAGJxIWZXEfG9CcCrQiR0DeeCFjZq34rIxC2vRUliPtQJU9_Sd-2VNo/s1600-h/river+trip++Beaver+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382201434977815042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBYJ0-CQyaXpqELx5iIQX0gVSWetzUONqeeYTBk9pdT3OjH7R6M0eHEJWvOJO7nIGy8zFRLEqfDFoaZXGwste7WAGJxIWZXEfG9CcCrQiR0DeeCFjZq34rIxC2vRUliPtQJU9_Sd-2VNo/s200/river+trip++Beaver+006.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBYJ0-CQyaXpqELx5iIQX0gVSWetzUONqeeYTBk9pdT3OjH7R6M0eHEJWvOJO7nIGy8zFRLEqfDFoaZXGwste7WAGJxIWZXEfG9CcCrQiR0DeeCFjZq34rIxC2vRUliPtQJU9_Sd-2VNo/s1600-h/river+trip++Beaver+006.JPG"></a> </p></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-78539967155000792952009-09-06T13:05:00.000-05:002009-09-06T13:56:07.617-05:00Visitors<div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YNpJQ5BDEwrbmQAF4n76DKiU4vUqwW8lB3SARGo5wLq42Ih7SNVnbKnnTre-W0ITadaDpgk89phOJALW6leG0DvRyNH8Us-V8gT6tcn57cuaebRnxqYkEjFKos-2yXa1mpN_rvTZJmns/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378420827502711330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YNpJQ5BDEwrbmQAF4n76DKiU4vUqwW8lB3SARGo5wLq42Ih7SNVnbKnnTre-W0ITadaDpgk89phOJALW6leG0DvRyNH8Us-V8gT6tcn57cuaebRnxqYkEjFKos-2yXa1mpN_rvTZJmns/s320/015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#003300;">The feeders are going! They look a bit like alien invaders, but they are actually barrels on legs filled with whole corn and fitted with a device that throws the corn out at set intervals. We start them up, three of them, every year at this time and keep them going until around late February or so. It's a hunter thing. Other landowners around here have feeders going in addition to food plots planted just for game attraction. There are no croplands close by. That's part of the attraction of the property for me-- no chemicals running off onto my place. However, it limits food availab<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXhyphenhyphenNgs9ioaFRTlB6W5B1MKybRdMDNZChcwEy902veq90Q7us_OguV_FvMtZmAHQGqL3jmL_LBPmxFiu_oqwApmDRBh-NoJ34LSxkp_N-Byt4g5X73243-mFjDHmoQCQJ4HKFAfl7MgSq/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378421696384940754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXhyphenhyphenNgs9ioaFRTlB6W5B1MKybRdMDNZChcwEy902veq90Q7us_OguV_FvMtZmAHQGqL3jmL_LBPmxFiu_oqwApmDRBh-NoJ34LSxkp_N-Byt4g5X73243-mFjDHmoQCQJ4HKFAfl7MgSq/s320/012.JPG" border="0" /></a>ility for wildlife.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEJ1zQjrNLUSsJzTPbjSqPpNMyKNwUvPAFj948xeGx-pMQJT9w671_CS7A2T3tHHjkGbFHC_KpnW0IMtOlVayT_Nce7rDv6dkUah5t6ea-V_2A5HcIzDgAEhyphenhypheno6wHwE2WkxRJMIxaAP9k/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378421704676774258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEJ1zQjrNLUSsJzTPbjSqPpNMyKNwUvPAFj948xeGx-pMQJT9w671_CS7A2T3tHHjkGbFHC_KpnW0IMtOlVayT_Nce7rDv6dkUah5t6ea-V_2A5HcIzDgAEhyphenhypheno6wHwE2WkxRJMIxaAP9k/s320/013.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#003300;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#003300;">During the fall, feeders attract game animals to the property, and they help the animals make it through the winter. As is the case with all hunter sponsored wildlife activities, non-game animals benefit also. Once the feeders are going and there are signs of activity, it's time for the trail cameras. They are motion activated and have a flash for nighttime. Pictures include a date and time stamp to identify patterns. Although this big boy came in during the morning, once the season starts he'll become more nocturnal, coming in after shooting hours.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378423609541495842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J5jCVuL_uyEAjmbtGjDFdPjn__o4wXYBLxhVUnvCJxgwJ4QQV4uoJZ2DSL9VlSpK2VqmTaEoptPyT3OreoKRADkAAKXBidPOhrIAXxZEfCRThiV3gv4vDn-nJaEm8CYH-eBYzMb5lqaG/s400/006.JPG" border="0" />Hopefully, these bandits will keep visiting the feeders instead of visiting the henhouse. Other critters-- rodents, rabbits, and squirrels--sometimes attract predators. We've seen bobcats and a fox on trailca<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT59uPVqdhAxeQwOG7sRBZCafbn8oUVGBUhlpM4FmJ6EUTKDiyRaj5bZoIapixIJS3v4Mj0H-DSmUtABPbPiMMHhhyphenhyphen6iQ_MXAKL1XognaExPcJUxr0HcMSHQmRf6wKEFD88hbyhCZvZ-g/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378425679459204034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBT59uPVqdhAxeQwOG7sRBZCafbn8oUVGBUhlpM4FmJ6EUTKDiyRaj5bZoIapixIJS3v4Mj0H-DSmUtABPbPiMMHhhyphenhyphen6iQ_MXAKL1XognaExPcJUxr0HcMSHQmRf6wKEFD88hbyhCZvZ-g/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a>m pics.</div><div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOKHR0fkR_c3mvPi2EtZhivaGMfCEVfEMr7_wr0rovdvqstgQWSKBWyAOktvXkFwmCmQxuVkuSwze_JEq-SIrx0Yoy2079NMil0gRRkU6YokwUeTJr_WOX-dhZ8SrHMFZHE8c4YP949K6/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378425688888594594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOKHR0fkR_c3mvPi2EtZhivaGMfCEVfEMr7_wr0rovdvqstgQWSKBWyAOktvXkFwmCmQxuVkuSwze_JEq-SIrx0Yoy2079NMil0gRRkU6YokwUeTJr_WOX-dhZ8SrHMFZHE8c4YP949K6/s320/043.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Yes, a hunter would gladly harvest the buck, but a doe with a spotted fawn? Uh-uh. A barren doe? Sure. Turkeys? Sure, if the season is open. Somehow during the spring turkey season, these guys are not on the place. It's good to see these guys though because few hunters had a shot at a turkey this last season. Proves there're some still around.</div><div> </div><div> We only harvest animals we're going to eat. I'm not too fond of squirrel or rabbit, so as far as I'm concerned, those guys are safe. Other pictures show crows, bluejays, and other birds. One picture showed an armadillo visiting. I really enjoy looking at trailcam pictures.....ahhhhhhhh, the country life!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOKHR0fkR_c3mvPi2EtZhivaGMfCEVfEMr7_wr0rovdvqstgQWSKBWyAOktvXkFwmCmQxuVkuSwze_JEq-SIrx0Yoy2079NMil0gRRkU6YokwUeTJr_WOX-dhZ8SrHMFZHE8c4YP949K6/s1600-h/043.JPG"></a></span> </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOKHR0fkR_c3mvPi2EtZhivaGMfCEVfEMr7_wr0rovdvqstgQWSKBWyAOktvXkFwmCmQxuVkuSwze_JEq-SIrx0Yoy2079NMil0gRRkU6YokwUeTJr_WOX-dhZ8SrHMFZHE8c4YP949K6/s1600-h/043.JPG"></a></span> </div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-15392793899255070552009-08-27T20:45:00.000-05:002009-08-27T21:56:00.216-05:00They're everywhere!This year hasn't quite equaled the bumper crop of last year, but there certainly is no shortage of thistles. We're after 'em though! Just when ya think you've got 'em, more appear. Actually, they're not so easy to spot at a distance until they bloom. They are kinda pretty.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374829753773101138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZN-OS9FuS-fnV7xHKwQjfFKDWXMUc5nh6t1hgoA5-dnmNMLv2pidrom55GrXt7xCL7KldhRVm7Y4krOzOyvGxLUWkNksFIxl2ll2PJScpOH8P5nOEWqXoeuDiT9R0LNMjrZvhAcPxudQ/s400/005.JPG" border="0" />The purplish flowers are attractive--love the color, but, according to <em>North American Wildlife</em>, "It is against the law in 37 states to allow the Canada Thistle to grow on one's land." Yep, it's noxious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcZPT-Msubyd0T_DHiHwIlsWyq7IbmYSBDM0Zh3oXg2tqVMTqXVZJzX-eA6HkIflTAc7bLrAEnERjX-S0g-kB-uiwGagaalRwiT_sTDt-7p52CxbSfFjlsd0oGp1av1NmuGL0nmhZZPxU/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374832753551491618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcZPT-Msubyd0T_DHiHwIlsWyq7IbmYSBDM0Zh3oXg2tqVMTqXVZJzX-eA6HkIflTAc7bLrAEnERjX-S0g-kB-uiwGagaalRwiT_sTDt-7p52CxbSfFjlsd0oGp1av1NmuGL0nmhZZPxU/s200/004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe this isn't a Canada Thistle; maybe it's an Okie Thistle. Maybe this isn't one of the 37 states; maybe there's a whole lot of lawlessness goin' on. Hmmmmmm....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway, I'm acuttin' 'em! Don't want any more of them.<br /><br /><br />Now, a neighbor, who's a farmer, told Larry Loved On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3flJItMioGZJEuukGhlReqIBP6LM3quP_muau9-_Lx9k42-VaKSDE2YzNanmXgviQ9zU4ejokdT77pt69pz06RQXBAwB0OHLa-MiowSPgmDYFrsRPSrgg1_Ax2Z43Siy44YBAOGPD54WO/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374834882432598258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3flJItMioGZJEuukGhlReqIBP6LM3quP_muau9-_Lx9k42-VaKSDE2YzNanmXgviQ9zU4ejokdT77pt69pz06RQXBAwB0OHLa-MiowSPgmDYFrsRPSrgg1_Ax2Z43Siy44YBAOGPD54WO/s200/008.JPG" border="0" /></a>e that once they bloom, it's too late to cut them; they'll come back anyway.<br /><p><br />The guy said that the buds are actually seeds.</p><p> What?!?!??<br /><br />Now, my undergraduate major was English, not botany; but HUH? I thought the process went bud, bloom, seed in that order.<br />These buds have seeds in 'em? Seed, bud, bloom? Really???? Never would have thought this guy was into alternative, illegal crops, but what's he smokin'? I just don't believe it, and I'm cuttin' 'em if I see 'em.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374837554642208178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIlEGeseas7OC4tuAX5_aMVbUKhRavTKJlxCU_SEHVjGSI173o1VCm1QJI0wqf3tFUeEDkKrA4PY8EkTR5cP-mo8B7Blw5I8pIYEQ-hLtgOIcGJjQuPEDE_H3H4J544U3RTHNuxKPWRGS/s400/013.JPG" border="0" />And what the heck is this thing? I was riding down a trail on the estate hunting thistles and spotted this plant. I'm sure it's noxious. Never have seen one before and have only seen this one. I looked in <em>North American Wildlife</em>, but didn't find it. The Loved One says it's a Yellow Tower Flower Plant.</p><p>Whatever....</p><p>P.S. Shortly after I started the blog, I read Jeffrey Deaver's <em>Roadside Crosses</em>. Deaver is one of my favorite authors. Features a blogger...Kinda scary...made me think about a few things I should be careful of. Highly recommend anything by Jeffrey Deaver!<br /><br /></p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-12932133082205999662009-08-24T20:06:00.000-05:002009-08-24T21:11:54.576-05:00Remember the ThighMaster?I'm looking for mine.<br /> Suzanne Somers plugged the device and testified that it would firm and reshape all those jiggles in the lower hemisphere. I was younger and more foolish then....thought there might be hope. I somehow convinced myself that if I bought one, I would use it. Learned nothing from the ankle weights, the exercycle, or the Nordic Rider. This contraption was simple and inexpensive, not to mention easily stored and portable! How could I fail?<br /> How about by not using it? Despite the alluring visions of myself with Suzanne's bod, it was too Hard! Not FUN, WORK! She never grimaced when demonstrating the wonders of ThighMaster reps. What was I doing wrong? Nevermind, pitch it out in the garage! No, no! The Loved One might see it out there and give me grief. Under the bed! He'll never look there!<br />You know, I even think I moved it with all my worldly possessions more than once. But where is it now? The list of places it <span style="font-style: italic;">isn't</span> is growing. Surely I didn't throw it out! A treasure like that? As soon as ya throw something out, you're gonna want it! I know better!<br />So, why am I looking for the darn thing? Well, I need it! No concern about jiggles, no illusions about Suzanne's bod. It's simple, really. I need to strengthen my inner thigh muscles. <br />What???<br />No, really, I do! You see, every other time, I ride Flicka with a bareback pad, trying to make sure she'll ride with the saddle or pad. Good for her because there is less weight; bad for me because of the inner thigh muscle thing. Why? According to the saddlemaker guy, Flicka has narrow withers. That means I have to clamp on harder with, you guessed it---inner thigh muscles. Those seem to have gone the way of all flesh, and I need to build those muscles up. Right now I am only riding for a short while so I don't get too sore. Flicka doesn't mind at all; apparently, a walk in the woods is not as enjoyable when lugging me around. What sort of exercise builds inner thigh muscle strength? ThighMaster! Where is it? The Loved One thinks it's out in the garage. I looked, but obviously not as well as he can.<br />We'll see....wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-21260700055138616752009-08-22T14:32:00.000-05:002009-08-22T15:19:37.633-05:00...and a river runs through it.<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WApGEe5ZTjIZ9ECA7MyNTmhf73RMtFqRAEqWIUb1wk-s8uRue479Gbv3DeWa1_nb8BgSY92xZesfxpl5l9CZuGP9KBJ8DU-XnMSDeWKAyVHWGhjFV5a6a0DxTWoI_c4wnlOR-DVaz_DU/s1600-h/a+river+runs+through+it+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372875357383961026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WApGEe5ZTjIZ9ECA7MyNTmhf73RMtFqRAEqWIUb1wk-s8uRue479Gbv3DeWa1_nb8BgSY92xZesfxpl5l9CZuGP9KBJ8DU-XnMSDeWKAyVHWGhjFV5a6a0DxTWoI_c4wnlOR-DVaz_DU/s400/a+river+runs+through+it+001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, a stream, actually. Big Sugar Creek, to be more precise.</div><br /><div>Wanderlust struck, reinforced by logic. Huh? School has just started, people are reeling from back-to-school expenses and are saving for that last Labor Day fling. What better time to go canoe floating? With Friday off work, a fresh pay day, and a beautiful weather forecast, it's the only logical thing to do. There had been some recent heavy rains in the area, and Larry felt that the rivers would be muddy. I have to bow to the expertise of anyone whose sender name on his email that he never checks is "River rat." Seriously, would you open an email from that moniker? We checked out a river or two anyway, and, yep--muddy. Then, a mere two hours from home, we found Canoe Sugar Island (CSI--what a catchy name!). There were several full-time campers parked there, but with the exception of the owner's son, who claimed illness and a need to get someone else to drive us to a launching point, there were no other canoers. Yea!! Private canoeing! It's not often you get the water to yourself unless heavy duty protective gear and a foolhardy nature are required. The water was crystal clear and the weather was absolutely beautiful!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372880039924055362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM68B7KfLcyDXvRUy27semV9tjphrP0KV9JhieWKFP2vLX7OAvdjV0cQtPb2lRPF3Qmo4WRo_moPBc4aMIl7IGoHEbj_sofbH7RIhfMYlFjkLhdJgIfD2ryLm5YxYpoeP-Xehx7AaaS0XJ/s400/a+river+runs+through+it+004.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372880049680725954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTz7vIdrmKjyPMggyPutlkqDAScakEJtdQpIhqdwSYFAFaIUmCMzirF-n7XxqR21vXGuU_3zJ8qYt183L4d3GNIUY9ZYQ_-i9CHwB3PnOUC0O7P9PapL9oqOav_eCG7g95oWd_9haWqWy/s400/a+river+runs+through+it+005.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Larry caught a few small mouth bass, and we saw a groundhog and these horses. Wonder why they don't wander off. The water is shallow and we never saw any fencing. I've had to take a four-wheeler to round-up goofy Dezi when he has gotten the urge to explore. What keeps these critters contained?<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372882222977557346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7bwBEccCDsogiaMVepGiY1Eejslgt30K0MojQJWjrzwIeh6ahBMlnKWHC3KTHjueSJ1bA7PQ3wC6R3bo94daRPW5cfO3wOfQmgU4G6A_WWwLupxKj-axSZ4I2opCl39-QbyDbc3B_qcw/s400/a+river+runs+through+it+006.JPG" border="0" />After about five glorious hours on the water with only one very short portage, we returned to camp. And some moron was using a leaf blower around his trailer. Really! Who takes a leaf blower to "get away from it all"? Obviously at least one guy does. We moved to a more remote campsite, easy to do with a motor home. We sat out listening to the water 'til dark, had a good night's sleep, and came home to take care of animals. Great outdoor adventures close by!</div><div> </div><div>Next adventure? As soon as I post this, I'm getting out a four-wheeler and going thistle hunting! Despite my careful cultivation and subsequent destruction of 6' tall, tiny blooming velvetleaf plants, I am no lover of noxious weeds. Thistles are starting to bloom, and we get rid of them before they go to seed. Thistles and red cedars don't feed anything, so they are just taking up space--gotta go!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-24050271903031022052009-08-19T10:35:00.001-05:002009-08-19T21:05:54.164-05:00I am...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMXftaROdLLjpoDLlgfCjfE1NiM-nD-kp-KSzw8TdtyurMi-aJiBLY_h1elH_B2HC9JK21UmpV55sg4bKA0IWd6im8XdzUS7zwielpvwigOPcoSF4S9fbDw6DDdu1MnNjy_hQ4O-kY6gy/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371738699363307090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMXftaROdLLjpoDLlgfCjfE1NiM-nD-kp-KSzw8TdtyurMi-aJiBLY_h1elH_B2HC9JK21UmpV55sg4bKA0IWd6im8XdzUS7zwielpvwigOPcoSF4S9fbDw6DDdu1MnNjy_hQ4O-kY6gy/s400/036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />a walking, talking Larry-the-Cable-Guy joke. I went out to the swap meet last Saturday to "git me somethin' nice fer my birthday!" Found some treasures: a 16x20 picture frame for $1 and this lovely piece of furniture for $10. "Ain't it purty?" I think it was once a cabinet used for filing papers; there was one paper tray left in it. There was also a record album on the remaining shelf. Maybe there were too many records put in it, and the weight broke the shelves. Anyway, I'll be stripping it down and painting it. I'm thinking of staining the legs, painting the top to resemble marble, and painting landscapes representing the four seasons on the sides. Then I'll find it a home. I have no use for it; it's just something to do. I need projects!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The technological nightmare that lurks everywhere has surfaced at the pharmacy. The last two days at work have been horrendous. There is a computer system utilized at two stations to bring up customers' orders, get identification when required, obtain signatures for insurance, and check the medications out. Neither one worked! Most people aren't thrilled to be getting medications anyway; add a whole lot of waiting and inconvenience and things can get downright ugly. As the cashier, I'm the one in the danger zone, a target right on my forehead evidently. If looks could kill, I'd have been an early casualty. Good thing I was off work today because I'd have had a hard time making myself go in. Hopefully the stuff will be working tomorrow. This keeps up, I could have a meltdown!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Even when the equipment is working, there are plenty of unhappy campers. Sometimes doctors don't call in prescriptions in a timely fashion, or the busy pharmacists don't check the messages exactly when they come in. Many customers seem to be suffering from CoUD ( Center of the Universe Disorder) in addition to whatever malady took them to a physician in the first place. One guy yesterday gave me attitude in reply to my information that I had nothing ready for him. "Well, I was standing right there when he called. This is ------- isn't it?"<br /><br /><br />"No, it's the effing moon!" my inner self silently replied. My inner self could alienate a whole boatload of customers if it ran amok.<br /><br /><br />Just another day in paradise. One unhappy gentleman did seriously bother me though. When he first came to the counter, there was one prescription ready and two in the process. He said he would wait to get all three and come back. Unfortunately, one of the three could not be filled because we have had difficulty obtaining the med from the suppliers. When he came back, he unloaded on the target in front of him, me. " I am never coming back to this store. I'll take my business elsewhere. You people have done this to me for the last three months! I called the other day and was told my prescriptions would be ready. My daughter drives all the way to get me and bring me to town; I'm practically blind and can't drive anymore!" on and on... He refused the one vial of insulin we had and stormed off. His daughter was standing behind him and mouthed, "I'm sorry," before following her father.<br /><br /><br />I think Karen probably had similar experiences with Dad. I was 1200 miles away, but I do know that an incredibly polite, rational gentleman became irrational, aggressive and sometimes combative. So very sad. I hope Brian is spared the experience of his parents going through this, but what will be, will be.wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-66190821122886344372009-08-14T12:00:00.000-05:002009-08-14T12:38:57.467-05:0040 years and counting....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD6BdgWj9DuHaDjnWEkO5YvA5k_0Tu7gANDOJ7rmfm7X51HjMjjdTOEVN_9Us4oyROoZkjplwU7RTYWlnAi2EWBPwNUAZfd4cnkBp_5ZvE32z8pidrQRJd5D5cICIlVARRe3Lquilhtuf/s1600-h/SAVE0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369869230428232530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD6BdgWj9DuHaDjnWEkO5YvA5k_0Tu7gANDOJ7rmfm7X51HjMjjdTOEVN_9Us4oyROoZkjplwU7RTYWlnAi2EWBPwNUAZfd4cnkBp_5ZvE32z8pidrQRJd5D5cICIlVARRe3Lquilhtuf/s400/SAVE0003.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was the summer of '69, and a lot was going on. Heard that on the <em>Today </em>show the other morning. The topic was Woodstock, the event, the iconic photo, "where are they now?" and so on. A whole lot was going on for me. I got married, and less than a week later, I celebrated my 19th birthday. WOW! Now I'm turning 59, and Larry and I are into the 41st year looking for 50 (ya gotta have a goal!). It has been quite a ride. In 40 years we have only seriously approached dissolution once, which I have to believe if folks have clear unedited memories of their own relationships stands as a pretty good record. We got lucky. Different backgrounds, having known each other less than a year.... What were we thinking??? Whatever it was, it has worked out well. I could only wish equal good fortune to others. Though we have had disputes, we also have a wonderful son, the best thing ever in my life. I am currently reading Baldaci's new book, <em>First Family, </em>in which one character tells another, "...boys will mess with your heart and girls with your head." Not having raised a girl, I can't speak to that, but Brian clearly has my heart. I'm not sure what a "soulmate" is, but for 40 years, Larry has always been there for me. I can't say that of anyone else. <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369867529681351970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzoHx0GmOsBgKjzRv72OFSJfHFGsJd0aRNKTkX5ideB9yvnIPlSgjd6AROB7EDyXaMt_KTjKlsNmalqfznZyiIOyyLDl76yBTe5KuqC7fupvzbDjsCHr7eeZILYDzIoN23zmSyrLe0oBf/s400/SAVE0001.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>Lots of changes in 40 years! We have gotten older, wiser, heavier, grayer, and are missing important people from these photos. Our parents have all passed away, my Dad having been the last to go in January of 2007. We miss them. Truly have to stand on our own now. Larry and Steve have remained best friends, but Leslie and I have grown apart. Sad :( </p><p>Life is good. Working at the pharmacy, I see lots of older people caring for a spouse. I hope we can maintain good health. I was talking to Brian the other evening about living and working conditions, and he said, "Anyway, it's all temporary; enjoy it!" Pretty astute for a 30 year old. I'm going to try to live in the moment more.</p>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-65638682976006368772009-08-03T20:13:00.000-05:002009-08-05T10:33:21.509-05:00The Only Good 'Possum....<div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV0AqWEiArJdacgnDx04b3zJHZNmh1oF7auTClydLUn6CjjrxypOBWHRJr_4hndqJhulJS0pdF9vD3YffpHluzZhhasenZ6m_l_Df7MzQS6Jh2bjxWxELBsA_9IjAFsp0rhg5PHlvf1bQ/s1600-h/100_0748.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366490226553660482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV0AqWEiArJdacgnDx04b3zJHZNmh1oF7auTClydLUn6CjjrxypOBWHRJr_4hndqJhulJS0pdF9vD3YffpHluzZhhasenZ6m_l_Df7MzQS6Jh2bjxWxELBsA_9IjAFsp0rhg5PHlvf1bQ/s320/100_0748.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>is a dead 'possum. I hate 'em. Larry is pretty proud that he has done away with 18 of the critters with two bullets. Why the attitude when it comes to 'possums? Well, before the animal rights activists hunt me down, it should be noted that no one minds if they are running around the majority of the 33 acres. However, when we have no tomatoes because they are pilferred from the garden, a number of ripening cantalope are clawed and chewed, broken eggs are found, AND a kitten has been taken, it's time to trap 'em. Using a humane trap set in the garden at night, Larry first trapped one 'possum, shot it in the head, and noticed movement in the belly area. Turned out to be 7 babies, which were bucketed. We were still losing produce, so the trap was set again. Caught another 'n! Once again, a shot to the head and movement. This time there were 9 little ones, which were immediately dispatched. Score 18 varmints for Larry. No more trapped, but there has to be a male around here somewhere. Fortunately, we are produce swapping with neighbors. Swapped peppers and cantalope for cherry tomatoes and squash, and eggs and cantalope for sweet corn. It'll be awhile before we have more tomatoes ripe, but we're eating a bunch of zucchini and corn, and Larry has already made salsa and some pickles. Yes, Larry has ventured into the wonderful world of food preservation. The produce was piling up, and Larry just had to do something with it. The man has too much time on his hands.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVN3BvBtGxjhEqDqBPKgNt67aZPKZosVIqw4tsL6uin_DBsevwFdetVrEFEkeDQY9IxntqOFmtPsuuo2CjPZmGKtN3y4vhJEo1jxyodevByzN2LnE6ttwYoHcpSxH3Kk6tJEhbDajlNbV/s1600-h/100_0753.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366491240760442994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVN3BvBtGxjhEqDqBPKgNt67aZPKZosVIqw4tsL6uin_DBsevwFdetVrEFEkeDQY9IxntqOFmtPsuuo2CjPZmGKtN3y4vhJEo1jxyodevByzN2LnE6ttwYoHcpSxH3Kk6tJEhbDajlNbV/s200/100_0753.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366491611236731106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5DP2p2MK-9Foi19VSpO_eUt8bFgILAyxiJ1fk5DrZjsZJzPmjezVmT_iWFfFHzzliZzqln-LcUcX_B5y7OrpApyTQeK9UHtWi5IZxGg03Ryin-xPe2Ag5RZPBH6JtFDmxQZ2xeAy-9I0/s200/100_0755.jpg" border="0" /> OMG! I got home from work the other night and went out to see the ponies, as I usually do. Now, little white Dezi did need his hair trimmed. We've had him and Lucy for two years now. When we got them, Dezi was really spooky. His forelock/mane hair was so long that only his little nose stuck out the bottom, but he couldn't see. If anything touched him, it startled him because he couldn't see it coming. He has gotten much better since we have kept his hair trimmed. It did need trimming,but sheesh! Oh well, it's just hair; it'll grow back.<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366492642885831394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb08prysNeJeXsn_YkwoCEitfP3yE8g9ue5yivZwqk8E7DUdCKnW6PojkcrQ5YlND_5xiJprb1Hlo6gyNXRjnJ3KuoKtiye8mTfGbKyB-rSqtixCfXhWJfVst4xaenr5kYlYfYYf0NGpG/s400/100_0750.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Then Flicka walked around the corner. GASP! I gasped and Flicka startled. Typical of a prey animal, her first reaction to my alarm was, "What's gonna eat me?!!" Actually, it just looked as if something had chewed on her forelock. Larry!!!! Whatever possessed him? There was no vision compromised; in fact, she looked pretty. Did look pretty anyway. Into the house I went.<br /></div><div>"Larry, why???"<br /></div><div>"What?" Mister Innocence replied.<br /></div><div>"Why did you feel compelled to cut Flicka's hair?"<br /></div><div>"She wanted me to," Larry insisted. (???????) "I was cutting Dezi's hair, and she came over and kept rubbing her head against me. She wanted a haircut too."<br /></div><div>OK...whatever....<br /></div><div>" It'll be back the way it was in a week or two," he said.<br /></div><div>Yeah, in a month or two! Larry now has strict instructions not to cut Flicka's hair...EVER!<br /></div><div>Lucy apparently didn't <em>want </em>her hair cut. Good for her!<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366496568488232930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrvzKn8OABBettO7FtDzG3_v8XM66zWfTe6g1uyE0zBt23S73Ippa7TDkQ3ViPfgsMPLPcYPq5dxJZx0cgXWs_yuCkM29qZMrigZI5hu1cq_UzV70kHIlF4PsB1F4lipPilb_DKpFvw1m/s400/100_0760.jpg" border="0" />Dezi continues to dream the impossible dream. Little stud with two tall mares. You can see that the black mare is a bit taller. For two years now Dezi has chased her around with no resulting patter of little hooves. Now, Flicka is quite a bit taller, but Dezi tries anyway. She'll stand for him and chase him around when he's tuckered out. You can see a little nose on her rump occasionally, but as I said, the impossible dream. A friend of mine said I could dig a ditch for her to stand in. What???? I think not.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62B8D5MgzUwmyRjMK6b96u246XnQID3WxUrukaFuFifavOkAvf9hFOEa_vKy7VosxJ1WGlmDD-5DO1N3gNth6Yi1WfT1cHAyHtgvc5v94Ky_DF84lyx8aTN9RXYR7O1OWoTDCSOB2C9bC/s1600-h/SAVE0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366498599877651090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62B8D5MgzUwmyRjMK6b96u246XnQID3WxUrukaFuFifavOkAvf9hFOEa_vKy7VosxJ1WGlmDD-5DO1N3gNth6Yi1WfT1cHAyHtgvc5v94Ky_DF84lyx8aTN9RXYR7O1OWoTDCSOB2C9bC/s320/SAVE0001.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I went to see <em>Wicked </em>with some friends from Community Theatre on Sunday. I loved it, loved it, loved it. Live theatre completely absorbs me like nothing else. The sets, the lighting, the costuming... like nothing I have ever had the resources to participate in presenting. Drama requires only material to perform, actors, and an audience; and those basics are about all I've ever had to work with. But this...WOW. I found the story compelling (I hadn't already read the book; that comes next), and the acting convincing. The music wasn't ear worm material; I didn't come away humming a melody. But it was appropriate to the storyline and kept the focus on some very good messages. I enjoyed the dancing; the flying monkeys not so much. Hey, flying monkeys are scary! Larry says they're stupid, not scary. When I was a little kid watching <em>The Wizard of OZ </em>, those suckers were scary! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and should treat myself to this level of performance more often. If I can just find some like-minded folks ready to shell out the bucks...</div></div></div></div></div></div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742159820222953467.post-32752598577004711752009-07-29T10:18:00.000-05:002009-07-29T12:42:06.524-05:00I Don't Know Why...I don't know why people make choices. Friends, living arrangements, life partners, professions,.... So many choices to be made. What about hobbies? What causes a person to choose an activity to fill unscheduled time? Many seem to choose challenge as criteria. Can I do it? Can I climb that mountain, ride that bull, win that race, on and on and on. There are worlds and worlds of activities out there, for many of which we have no concept. Take paintballing, for example. Every June thousands of participants converge on 600+ acres in rural Oklahoma for what is billed as the world's largest scenario paintball game.<br /><br />Yes, thousands from across the US and around the world. People from Germany and Australia have attended, among others. I wouldn't know about it except that Brian has worked as a staffer out there for years during the event. His rock crawler is used to keep an eye on what goes on back in the woods and to get lost stragglers in at night. He is kind of an all-around guy who does all sorts of things for the owner. This past June over 6,000 checked in during the week long event. Three semi-truck loads of paintballs were used, millions of 'em. The participants must purchase paintballs of a certain color at the event. Entry fees, camping, food and drink at the restaurant, vendor rental space, and equipment sales make the event a major source of income for the owners. Ya gotta give the guy credit for figuring out a way to produce income from land that is agriculturally marginal at best.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFS2QO_AUfgP-cwgmFoyfjoH_pPshA5nJ3el7aZc357hUcntLEpAGRQ359GtT66y2uPOEfiOIaj8q68OVWsgNMdSUJU1WQrhfVUynEYO-AUQWfTGz136lW1UGbhRm-X0NmI-egazigN5i/s1600-h/000_0005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363903002312396450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFS2QO_AUfgP-cwgmFoyfjoH_pPshA5nJ3el7aZc357hUcntLEpAGRQ359GtT66y2uPOEfiOIaj8q68OVWsgNMdSUJU1WQrhfVUynEYO-AUQWfTGz136lW1UGbhRm-X0NmI-egazigN5i/s400/000_0005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFS2QO_AUfgP-cwgmFoyfjoH_pPshA5nJ3el7aZc357hUcntLEpAGRQ359GtT66y2uPOEfiOIaj8q68OVWsgNMdSUJU1WQrhfVUynEYO-AUQWfTGz136lW1UGbhRm-X0NmI-egazigN5i/s1600-h/000_0005.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In addition to the pipe and railroad tie conglomerations used as points of defense, a number of structures are scattered about for the games. This is a picture of one of the structures put up in an area representing a village. It's used in the D-Day game, as well as in others such as Blackhawk Down. That's a lot of concrete block set for a game.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkD8h1Nltnan9B34G7jwEmTcgjXlIITsanX2TnUPIdBUD31VvmB9-6IBP6KDQL0QFtOIuryBC2__RvyGZh-SjApK-4E27Uh9NtRst60g1wagCsLGp2SOG4MubMqbKT1s4-Qf8vHtZ2vj-/s1600-h/000_0004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363902993389665010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkD8h1Nltnan9B34G7jwEmTcgjXlIITsanX2TnUPIdBUD31VvmB9-6IBP6KDQL0QFtOIuryBC2__RvyGZh-SjApK-4E27Uh9NtRst60g1wagCsLGp2SOG4MubMqbKT1s4-Qf8vHtZ2vj-/s400/000_0004.jpg" border="0" /></a>This other structure represents a church in the same village. Just a few guys, Larry among them, got together to pour the concrete on the second story. Again, a whole lot of work to play a game it seems to me. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div>So, there's a place, a game plan, a whole lot of participants, and a desire to run around and shoot little balls of paint at a pretty fair velocity at each other. As I said, I don't know why....<br /></div><div>In addition to the prospect of bruising from paintball strikes, players deal with bugs, including the ever popular chiggers; poison ivy and poison oak; sometimes unbearable heat; and occasional rain. And this is FUN! A great time! Worth the trip! </div><div><br />I don't know why.<br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363910883810390322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Io_kt7ebXwDIWN_3LqYPXqVRpq6L86wqdiunmhrfVSbBqodRCiBGjBwADwdvV86xtZm3X7sgiqfJdJquseWO1y9vGGu1T7CFpLwfb-dLY89Oc7RAydOi9XMrV8l2v8WAz3N5eC9GS2DV/s400/100_0747.jpg" border="0" />Boys and their toys....<br /><br />The D-Day Adventure Park is also the site of several motorsport events. Most recently the annual Bike and Jeep rally was held. The above vehicles are little-modified examples of wheelin' rigs. These are probably roadworthy, as is our Cherokee. Yet it is amazing the places they get driven. Why? To see if ya can, I guess.<br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB9Qdj1vYf6NzNrDN_6cUkdH03z5efDCtVh0GgzWW_SBlmbcDPpKvlZphSajyTMf7BxKVnJp1BYEuyNwu_JozvuDJ8O7UtQdQp0yBe5ujCMqXguJs_ts5X43Igh1BDVLX9g87rWkzhoCU/s1600-h/000_0006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363912743045473362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTB9Qdj1vYf6NzNrDN_6cUkdH03z5efDCtVh0GgzWW_SBlmbcDPpKvlZphSajyTMf7BxKVnJp1BYEuyNwu_JozvuDJ8O7UtQdQp0yBe5ujCMqXguJs_ts5X43Igh1BDVLX9g87rWkzhoCU/s200/000_0006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRkaaj36OYQ2q4ovEoUfM7TS4QgMMi3JWBxcDn-HQTiSMsMQUJ5Y1MBO9mVqdUqEeI1-hJ14o5Lbzo6F8Wg-8nC2kVx2zmt-ZXyn6vHMxTQ5kXebhtd3ShWC_pgiJONEM7lTdYMBJ3aV5/s1600-h/000_0014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363913618734331266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRkaaj36OYQ2q4ovEoUfM7TS4QgMMi3JWBxcDn-HQTiSMsMQUJ5Y1MBO9mVqdUqEeI1-hJ14o5Lbzo6F8Wg-8nC2kVx2zmt-ZXyn6vHMxTQ5kXebhtd3ShWC_pgiJONEM7lTdYMBJ3aV5/s200/000_0014.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>These guys are barely recognizable as Jeeps. Most start out as Wranglers, but the current machine has little of the original Jeep left. Huge tires with bead locks require beefed up axels and so forth.<br />The object seems to be to drive in the most unlikely place and not break down. Our Cherokee is just meant to get us to the places to watch the big boys make attempts. I honestly think some of these rigs could drive up the side of a house and over if there was no overhang to stop them. There is a social aspect to it too. These guys wheel in groups, which is a necessity to help out when someone breaks down or turns over.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUITx65s4jCqtFOySnHIXsmtO4CF5sAf5jt7NaT3hRDxsEUBeaFx2V8QvjyFMSf2_jXNogkyidQP5y86zUdKZ54fDQpfrKvBTKDyPRpxVW-CNNWcZmm1ri7ci1vALzSuTJ7yeoOCt8-69/s1600-h/100_0744.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363916779757686258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUITx65s4jCqtFOySnHIXsmtO4CF5sAf5jt7NaT3hRDxsEUBeaFx2V8QvjyFMSf2_jXNogkyidQP5y86zUdKZ54fDQpfrKvBTKDyPRpxVW-CNNWcZmm1ri7ci1vALzSuTJ7yeoOCt8-69/s400/100_0744.jpg" border="0" /></a>You can see how a person might roll down one of these hills. They wheel at night out here too. Adds another dimension, I guess. I wasn't there, but Brian rolled his rig Friday night. The thing about it is that they aren't going fast, and Brian and his passenger wear five-point harness. That's in addition to the cages added to the stock vehicles. As a matter of fact, Brian fabricated the cage on the yellow jeep in the foreground. That jeep used to be painted like a black and white cow before this owner repainted. Anyway, after working with electricity and amonia, racing motorcycles, and riding hurtling- death-machine four-wheelers, rock crawling is one of Brian's safest hobbies yet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Also Friday night, some guy was out in the park by himself (not wise--rookie mistake) and he broke down. After wandering around in the woods for awhile, he made it back to camp. Problem was he had so disoriented himself that he wasn't sure where the jeep was. He also had a motorcycle and wanted to go on the poker run, so he just went and decided to find the jeep later. Go figure.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwA3IydvghcKOFH1Q2EtgEfjelX6ab0btwgJY5pImyTT1GwMtZnUjT-4IfuRDGubhTNVisewfrDXhGVHA1ukgoO3Mvl62bKIwiVE-d9_lblBncFXaN0ctuETWqN_dA0qMDrxipiF67v3i/s1600-h/000_0016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363925447979850706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwA3IydvghcKOFH1Q2EtgEfjelX6ab0btwgJY5pImyTT1GwMtZnUjT-4IfuRDGubhTNVisewfrDXhGVHA1ukgoO3Mvl62bKIwiVE-d9_lblBncFXaN0ctuETWqN_dA0qMDrxipiF67v3i/s200/000_0016.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363926170069599970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfZQvyG5ls8rb-n7KYtgpGedqKELuV-cWICZVUIjkmmaIX9liqAXV-TFZNqL9eGJHGWsw7WGc3kTipr3RmofaO2TnznGFhjDgcyVAOwcEMFBbFr6jL9PGfDOCndi40LN8ZRXK9-P6PZTe/s200/100_0240.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZebmWe8zPRxqgyMiJTDLhvZNBhCLYNZ_UI7QWF1giIGONIzpNAGHb6edq6myNbFxk1syy6hPbrNBk6SCh4RkIA8smob6w98OQ73jFwtcg_sHVHnChtg0RcRXaEvGChT9eSfmynb-TBGZd/s1600-h/100_0245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363927101434267810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZebmWe8zPRxqgyMiJTDLhvZNBhCLYNZ_UI7QWF1giIGONIzpNAGHb6edq6myNbFxk1syy6hPbrNBk6SCh4RkIA8smob6w98OQ73jFwtcg_sHVHnChtg0RcRXaEvGChT9eSfmynb-TBGZd/s200/100_0245.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCg1WPeFm3XO4_u06sy7o5IW4tjf5nBJ7JqL9WlG0mtQj6IARKgVtwQnL0g3e6cR0zfnMGMxK_cgfCDxBl6PXGyuVg90YYvXyaqu8MKEpheWhDbekNXoVxW3gmo-ro8hyphenhyphen8GDi-DVVL4sl/s1600-h/100_0258.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363927952345250914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCg1WPeFm3XO4_u06sy7o5IW4tjf5nBJ7JqL9WlG0mtQj6IARKgVtwQnL0g3e6cR0zfnMGMxK_cgfCDxBl6PXGyuVg90YYvXyaqu8MKEpheWhDbekNXoVxW3gmo-ro8hyphenhyphen8GDi-DVVL4sl/s320/100_0258.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This orange and blue tiger-striped rig is Brian's. It's actually not the most recent incarnation, which has some added features including a longer wheel base. He does all of the work himself, so it's a more affordable hobby for him than it is for most. I heard that most rigs range in price from $16,000 to $150,000. Yep, it's a significant chunk of change. Why do it? I don't know.</div><div></div><div>On a much more somber note.... Why do people put themselves in harm's way? It's clearly an element of many hobbies. People permanently injure themselves or lose their lives in hobby- related incidents. On Saturday there was a fatality accident at the event. Things got really bad really fast. Jeeps and trucks were running down through the mud in an area marked off for the activity. The boundaries of the run are separated from spectators by big concrete pipes lined up as a barrier. Bleachers are set up for spectators. Past the bleachers some rigs were parked with their front tires up on the pipes. There were people who decided to sit on the pipes thinking that the worst that could happen was a splattering of mud. That would have been the worst had all gone well. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. A fast mud-truck entered the lane revving the motor and showing off. He started through with pedal to the metal, got turned sideways, and evidently thought he could ride it out. He didn't let off on the gas, the truck jumped the barrier, and it turned over on some spectators. I knew someone had to be dead out of that deal. A young woman originally from Guam on her first visit to the park lost her life. Five others were injured, one seriously. He was med-flighted out with a broken leg, shattered pelvis, and a head injury. A couple of others left in ambulances. Really bad deal. It was the first incident of that kind of seriousness to occur out there. The events have been going on for years. What was different? Carelessness, I suppose. </div><div></div><div>Why did it happen? Why those people? I don't know. Maybe just because....</div>wandering mindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09648186919208224638noreply@blogger.com0