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 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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 Blogging Challenge - Day 7 - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil August 7th - Grab a nap on the plane because when our feet hit weâre off to the races. Weâre staying at Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Avenida Atlantica, 1020, Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro 22010-000, Brazil 011 55 21 3501-8000 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g303506-d301412-Reviews-Hilton_Rio_de_J... Itâs got mixed reviews but the pluses are safe ocean access and pool both. The luggage will be transported and weâll sort it out later. Skip the Line: Christ the Redeemer Admission Ticket Bypass long lines for Rio's most popular attraction with this time-saving ticket Take the first available train to the summit of Corcovado https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g303506-d12152822-Skip_the_L... Afternoon adventure is Rio Walking Tour with More Than 15 Attractions Visit Rio's highlights and landmarks on foot during a 3-hour walking tour with a local guide. Starting from Cinelandia Station, follow your 'carioca' (Rio native) guide on a walk that includes Rio's most important historical and cultural sites. Visit National Museum of Fine Arts, Theatro Municipal, the Monastery Church of Santo AntĂ´nio, Ordem Terceira de SĂŁo Francisco da PenitĂŞncia and several other important landmarks. All entrance fees are included on this small-group tour. You will be taken by subway to downtown, emerging at Cinelândia Station, Cinelândia of Rio´s 1900s, with its relics of the French architectural influence such as the National Museum of Fine Arts, Theatro Municipal â the city´s Opera House, the National Library, Pedro Ernesto Palace (City Hall), the Cultural Center of the Federal Court. On the way to Carioca square we see the Naval Club, the Monastery Church of Santo AntĂ´nio and the Ordem Terceira de SĂŁo Francisco da PenitĂŞncia, a true cultural richness of the Brazilian colonial architecture (1622). A visit at the Confeitaria Colombo, built in 1894 in Art- Nuveaux, Tiradentes Palace (State Hall ), Praça XV including the Imperial Palace (the first residence of the Portuguese Royal Family), the statue of General OsĂłrio, Mestre Valentim´s Fountain and through the Teles Arch, reach the cobble-stoned Travessa do Comercio and the former residence of Carmen Miranda, the Church of Our Lady of the Merchants, the Post Office Cultural Center, France-Brazil House, Bank of Brasil Cultural Center and Candelaria Church. Back to the hotels by sub-way. Visits or stops: Cinelândia, Largo da Candelaria, Confeitaria Colombo, the Church of Our Lady of the Merchants, France-Brazil House when open, Bank of Brasil Cultural Center and Candelaria Church when open. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g303506-d11455442-Rio_Walkin... Are you tired yet? Weâre back to the hotel you have 2 hours to check your stuff into your room and shower before we hit our late night dinner destination for tapas and wine. El Born --- the main courses are really tasty in itself, we only realized that the main virtue of this restaurant is the diversity in tapas which we were offered while waiting for our main courses. Each tapa costs only 9 BRL, and you can have as many as you desire; the staff comes around with a new plate of tapas every 10 minutes or so. Well worth a visit! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303506-d3815693-Reviews-El_Born-R... Journal: Rio De Janeiro. Wow. Lyn had us hitting the road and running. We made our way to the first train up to the summit to see the Christ the Redeemer way at the top of Corcovado. It really is quite the sight to see and the view from up there is amazing. It was 8ma. It is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Given that we had a 9 am start for our 3-hour walking tour with a local guide, we had to head out almost too soon, but I got enough pictures of the huge stature. Our walking tour started from Cinelandia Station. We even got to take the subway downtown - that was exciting for a Monday morning! We followed our 'carioca' - which is a Rio native that guided us. We got to see Rio's most important historical and cultural sites: the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Theatro Municipal - which s the city's opera house, the National Library, Pedro Ernesto Palace - which was the city hall, the Cultural Center fo the Federal Court, the Monastery Church of Santo AntĂ´nio, the Ordem Terceira de SĂŁo Francisco da PenitĂŞncia and several other important landmarks. The National Museum of Fine Arts, Theatro Municipal, the National Library, Pedro Ernesto Palace, the Cultural Center of the Federal Court are considered relics of the French architectural influence - early 1900s. On our way to Carioca square we saw the Naval Club, the Monastery Church of Santo AntĂ´nio and the Ordem Terceira de SĂŁo Francisco da PenitĂŞncia, a true cultural richness of the Brazilian colonial architecture (1622). A visit at the Confeitaria Colombo, built in 1894 in Art- Nuveaux, Tiradentes Palace (State Hall ), Praça XV including the Imperial Palace (the first residence of the Portuguese Royal Family), the statue of General OsĂłrio, Mestre Valentim´s Fountain and through the Teles Arch, reach the cobble-stoned Travessa do Comercio and the former residence of Carmen Miranda, the Church of Our Lady of the Merchants, the Post Office Cultural Center, France-Brazil House, Bank of Brasil Cultural Center and Candelaria Church. We went back to the hotel by subway. On our way back to the hotel, I manage to find a place with great Brazilian coffee and good eats for lunch. We all need a pick me up by his point. My head was buzzing and it was only lunch time. It was also amazingly hot. Lyn has promised tapas and wine for dinner and I am all for it, but I am glad for the break. I hurry and check into my room, grab on my swimsuit and towel and head for the beach. It is just too beautiful to ignore and with the heat, I am best in the water. By the time we head out for dinner I am ready. The beach was just what I needed and I even managed to get a lovely bit of a tan. The tapas and wine and the company were exquisite. |
Blogging Challenge - Day 6 - Paramaribo, Suriname August 6th A direct flight from Georgetown to Paramaribo would get us across the border in an hourâs time. So to maximize our time there weâre leaving at 9am no snoozing ladies and gents on this adventure. Weâre ditching our stuff at the hotel and weâre off. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294082-d1218711-Reviews-Courtyard_Para... And weâre off for a day of walking, so dress comfortably. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294082-d2233127-Reviews-Saint_Pet... This is a real breathtaking place, this Roman Catholic (Cathedral until 2014) now Basilique of Paramaribo, known as the 'biggest and tallest wooden structure of South America. Look for the dress code and the openings hours. A tour guide will meet us here https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail?product=20632P1&d=447474... Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, featuring numerous wooden buildings of unique architecture and a variety of hospitable ethnic groups, living together in harmony. First the guide will take you on a bus ride along the most prominent historic locations in the city center and then he will take you to visit other hot spots in different suburbs. What to Expect: Our guide will pick you up by bus and our tour will past the most important monumental buildings and streets of the city. You will see the Presidential Palace, the Museum Fort Zeelandia and the Corner House. Weâll have time to watch the dolphins play on this lovely river cruise before have a late night dinner. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294082-d4740690-Reviews-Commewijn... We were on Suriname river for a while and then moved toward the Commewijne River where we saw quite a lot of dolphins https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294082-d2213863-Reviews-Garden_of... Its Asian cuisine with lots of vegetarian options for those who prefer veggies. Sweet dreams, weâre off to our next country in the morning. Everything I read about reaching French Guiana from Suriname involves a lot hassle from taxi rides with passes to the border, then a boat ride to Cayenne and more passes required. This tour guide isnât going to fuss with all this, so weâre moving on to Brazil. Sorry, only 12 countries. Journal: A 9 am flight takes us directly to Paramaribo, Suriname. It has Dutch roots and seems cleaner than the other two countries we have visited so far. We drop our stuff off at the hotel - another lovely place. You can see the ocean from it, just like in Georgetown, but it seems to call to me. I may just have to venture out there at some point. We are only here for this one day. Lyn's a Witchy Woman   told us we would only be here a day and then off to Brazil, apparently the connections to French Guiana are horrific so we will be skipping that country. That is fine - 12 countries has a less superstitious ring to it than 13. Just saying. I got my walking shoes on and my comfortable gear and I am ready to go. We head for another church - Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral. It is another gorgeous wooden structure... even more beautiful than the one in Georgetown, but then again, it is not under renovations. Being that it is Sunday, several of us sit in on a service. I may not understand a word, but the reverence is there and that is what counts. Our tour guide, Bernie, meets us there and we set off to see the sights. The wooden buildings of unique architecture are numerous and I am happy to be surrounded by a variety of hospitable ethnic groups, living together in harmony. That is what I like. Friendly smiles and helpfulness all around. We went to the prominent historic locations in the city center first. He told us much of the history of the area. He also took us to a bunch of other hot spots in the area. I was quite impressed. We did manage to stop off for a bite to eat at the Tasty Sandwich and Coffee Bar. I was in need of some serious coffee and I am sure Lyn was as well. Although the place had a timeless vintage look that I loved, we took our lunches to go as we had much to see in such a short visit to this city. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g294082-d11759589-Reviews-Sandwich_... Then it was on to a river cruise where dolphins could be seen frolicking in the muddy waters. It was lush and quiet, really nice after the bustling city tour. This is a lovely way to spend a Sunday. There were two rivers - the Suriname river and the Commewijne River. Dinner was to be later at a thai restaurant and I get a little nervous with my peanut allergy and Thai food, so I opted to take a more South American route and went to the Mighty Racks for some delectable ribs and fabulous cassava fries. The food was amazing. I managed to convince a few of the heartier meat lovers to come along with me so I was in good company. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g294082-d9710818-Reviews-Mighty_Rac... I ate so much that I was glad for the walk back to the hotel. I convinced the group to venture down the beach for awhile before we headed in for the pool. The rest of the group were still out at the Garden of Eden, but I was happy here. Tomorrow we take off for Brazil. |
Blogging Challenge - Day 5 - Guyana Aug. 5th Weâll be leaving at 6:00 am and flying to Guyana. Our lodging looks really nice but a bit on the pricey side. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294078-d7143305-Reviews-Guyana_Marriot... We will be seeing a multiple of things, but please be aware of the danger of being by oneâs self. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294078-d315738-Reviews-St_George_... This 43-meter high Gothic cathedral was built in 1842. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294078-d3210784-Reviews-Promenade... This garden is well kept and is a good place to visit in Georgetown. Guyana. There is no entrance fee. It has a beautiful statue of Mahatma Gandhi. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294078-d3317948-Reviews-Georgetow... Weâll be grabbing food along the way, snacks and drinks because dinner is going to be so worth the calories. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294078-d4784038-Reviews-Aagman_Re... Are you having fun? Most definitely!!! Today was a seriously early start. A 6 am flight to Guyana. Lyn's a Witchy Woman had booked us into a more pricey hotel and I wavered on staying or catching up with KĂĽre Enga in Montana   who decided to opt for a hostel or a guest house. The beauty of the place kept me where I was but I also hoped KĂĽre Enga in Montana would be okay on her own. Since Guyana had remained a British colony until it finally gained its independence in 1966 and it remains South America's only English-speaking country, I figured she would be okay. The views from the hotel were breathtaking particularly when looking out toward the ocean. I was itching to walk along the sandy shore, but I restrained myself.... for the time being as Lyn had us going full speed ahead for the day. Our first stop was to the Georgetown St. George's Cathedral. Oh my! It is a 43-meter high Gothic cathedral that was built in 1842. The architecture was stunning - despite the renovations. It has been described by the Architects' Journal (10 July, 1985) as "the largest wooden church building in the world". I had to keep reminding myself to close my mouth and breathe. I took plenty of photographs, but I also took some time to just sit and soak up the atmosphere - reverent awe. Imagine the acoustics in a place like this. I couldn't help letting out a few notes just to test it. Divine. From there we headed to the Promenade Gardens. Another little piece of heaven. The Buttress Roots were a sight to see, though at night I am sure they could come alive and swallow a man! A few of us managed to crawl up into them and perch for photos. Talk about hugging a tree. Someone was even crazy enough to put a pair of glasses on Gandhi! He looked pretty good.  This was a lovely place for a picnic. I found a cafe, The Coffee Bean, which was not too far from the Gardens and many of us grabbed a bit of food and took it back to sit among the trees. I was in need of caffeine and I am sure a few of us were as well. It was hard to believe we were in the city when we sat down and had our little picnic.With new vigour, we were able to continue back to the Lighthouse... and yes, I made the climb to the top. I so wanted to see the views and wave to my fellow travellers who were not able to make the climb... a whomping 138 stairs. My legs were feeling it by the time I reached the top! Dinner was to be at an Indian Restaurant, the Aagman. since we weren't going until later I decided to take a stroll out by the ocean. I managed to convince some of my fellow travelers to come with me and we all splashed around and had a blast playing along the water's edge. It was not the cleanest beach I had ever seen and decided I would prefer to swim in the pool later. The restaurant was very colourful in decor. I was not too sure what to expect and I was grateful when someone suggested we all try a little of everything. That I was willing to do. I did not want to buy a single entree and find I did not care for it. Some of it was very good. Having been a long day, I decided to take a dip in the pool and head to bed before it got too late. I slept well. |
Blogging Challenge - Day 4 - Venezuela Aug 4th - El Ăvila National Park Half-Day Jeep Tour Iâve made special arrangements and weâre doing the whole day, spending longer time spans at the locales along the way. Dress comfortably because we will be walking too. El Ăvila National Park, in north-central Venezuela, occupies a 200,000-acre mountain region that ranges in height from 120 meters to just over 2 meters. After 9am pickup from your Caracas hotel, you'll be driven to the highest point in the park, where you'll be able to walk and take in gorgeous views that contrast with the hustle and bustle of the capital. From atop El Ăvila, you'll be able to see Caracas on one side and the Caribbean. Donât forget your camera. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g316066-d12465496-El_Avila_N... Dining enjoyment for the evening is El Alazan, itâs on the pricey side but highly reviewed and rated. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g316066-d792792-Reviews-El_Alazan-... Even though it is basically famous for its varieties of meat you can also find an excellent quality of fish plates or pasta plates. The ambiance is very chic with lots of wood in the decoration. Besides all of that, the quality of the service is superb. You always feel pandered and like a preferred guest. Oh, this is one tour I had looked into and considered, so I am excellently happy to take part. So excited about this adventure,in fact, that I was up early. Early enough to have time to swim before going down for breakfast. I chose the continental option. A few of our group were there. Lyn's a Witchy Woman was sipping away at her coffee. I swear she was smiling as she sat there with her eyes closed. That woman loves her coffee and this is the place for it. I grabbed myself a cup and stocked up on many of the yummy treats before joining her at her table. We gave each other a little 'cheers' as we lifted up our cups. No words were needed. I had to laugh. I am really glad she made special arrangements to make this day a full day instead of a a half day. It allowed us to take our time and really get a sense of the countryside. I loved being out beyond the city limits. It was a little cooler up here and definitely fresher. Despite the elevation, I was able to breathe really well. The lushness was divine and the views... oh, my.... I took so many pictures I thought my camera would explode. I was almost sad to return to the heart of the city, but with all the walking and the fresh air, I was famished and my feet could use a rest. Tonight's restaurant was a bit pricy, but it was worth it. I enjoyed a fish dish. I was hoping to keep things on the healthier side.... but the cocktails I had with it were not so 'healthy', but they went down smooth and fine... and they made me forget about my sore tootsies. I made sure to take another dip in the pool before heading back to my room for a good, long shower and my comfy bed. |
Blogging Challenge â Day 3 â Caracas, Venezuela Aug 3rd Weâre going to be picked up at the hotel for the morning adventure at 10:00am. Half-Day Historical Tour of Caracas Start your tour in the historic center, from Plaza BolĂvar, originally called Plaza de Armas. It adopted its current name in 1883 on the hundredthâs birthday of SimĂłn BolĂvar. The four corners that surround the plaza are occupied by important buildings of big historic relevance as the Caracas Cathedral, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Yellow House and The Capitol (Congress of Venezuela). Weâre going here after the tour Plaza de Altamira Great view to the Ăvila Mountain Tris is one of my favorite places to see the Ăvila un Caracas. It is an amazing place with ole buildings and very close to great cafes and restaurants in Caracas to simply unwind a bit with a late lunch. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g316066-d318821-Reviews-Plaza_de_A... Dinner is at the hotel or room service, rest up tomorrow will be a long day. An overview: longish... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_aLwmQJOpc A quick overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usUGQ-Fb1CY Another historical walking tour. It dd not start until 10 am so I had time to rest and get in a little continental breakfast before heading out. I just hope today's tour is not an exact repeat of yesterday minus the trip up the cable car. That's okay, I am enjoying the walking though and things are pretty interesting. I am a little worried to go off on my own or even trying to convince someone to go with me.... so I stick close to everyone and enjoy the group. It is so great to be back with all these people. Apondia  shared some interesting information about the area. She's done her research. I also shared an article that spoke of staying with the known brands. It also referred to Caracas as the being once dubbed, the Paris of South America. I believe it got this name because "while hardships are all around, [it] remains a vibrantly Latin city where terrific art, food, and even fashion â not to mention superb coffee â pop up in surprising places. Thereâs a percolating cultural scene, and a smart young generation of artists and designers reshaping their hometown." This eased some of my worry buttons. Any place that has good coffee can't be that awful. http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/venezuela-vibrant-caracas-capital-idea-tra... I particularly liked the cafĂŠs we stopped at to partake in some local goodies. The coffee was amazing - being in the coffee belt of the world is a very good thing. I probably over indulged, but that's okay, we are on holiday and am walking a lot. I also wanted to try something new. I am not super confident with trying new things, but I did try a few and got good feedback on what other people liked... or did not care for. I also got an opportunity to do a little writing and people watching. Too bad I don't know any of the language, but it was interesting to watch the body language and get the gist of things around here. I had dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants - the Restaurante Sur Mediterranean, which featured authentic cuisine made with fresh local products. Risottos, pastas and a selection of grilled steaks, seafood and fish. I went for the steak... and the seafood. It was excellent. I probably overdid it again! Later I changed into my swimsuit and got in a little activity that way. It was a great way to wind up my day and ease my sore walking feet. Getting used to all this walking is going to take some time. When I returned to my room I took a good, long shower, then I fell into bed so that I would be ready for whatever Lyn's a Witchy Woman had in store for us tomorrow. http://flavorverse.com/traditional-venezuelan-foods/ |
Blogging Challenge - Day 2 - Caracaras, Venezuela I did a bit of research.... to get my bearings: Caracas, officially Santiago de LeĂłn de Caracas, is the capital, the center of the Greater Caracas Area, and the largest city of Venezuela. It is located along the Guaire River in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range (Cordillera de la Costa). The valley is close to the Caribbean Sea, separated from the coast by a steep 2,200-metre-high (7,200 ft) mountain range, Cerro El Ăvila; to the south there are more hills and mountains. The Metropolitan District of Caracas is made up of five municipalities: Libertador Municipality which is the only administrative division of the Venezuelan Capital District, and four other municipalities, which are within in Miranda State: Chacao, Baruta, Sucre, and El Hatillo. Libertador holds many of the government buildings and is the Capital District (Distrito Capital). The Metropolitan Region of Caracas has a population estimated at over 5.2 million. Caracas has a largely service-based economy, apart from some industrial activity in its metropolitan area. Caracas is also Venezuela's cultural capital, with many restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping centers. Some of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America are located in Caracas. In 2015, Caracas had the highest per capita murder rates in the world.... most murders and other violent crimes go unsolved. This information is from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracas My Journal: We arrived at the SimĂłn BolĂvar International Airport very early in the morning. I have to remember we don't get a lot of sleep on these virtual trips, but we do have an amazing time. Lyn has booked us into the J. W. Marriot Av Venezuela con Calle Mohedano. It looks really good... and safe. A few more friends have joined the trip and I feel like I am in good company. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g316066-d299826-Reviews-JW_Marriott_Hot... Lyn's a Witchy Woman had us all signed up for a tour that started at 8 am. We got to learn about El Libertador SimĂłn BolĂvar's life and Venezuelan history as we visited the Caracas' picturesque historic quarter. We admired breathtaking views of the capital while riding the city's famous cable car. Some of the group were wary, and even I was staying well away from the edge... my butt was twitching from the height. Deep breathing and the views helped. For this tour we started in the historic city center, from Plaza Bolivar. It was originally called Plaza de Armas. The square adopted its current name in 1883 on the 100th birthday of El Libertador SimĂłn BolĂvar. The corners surrounding the plaza feature buildings of historic importance: Caracas Cathedral, Government Palace, City Hall, the Yellow House and The Capitol. We were in the heart of Venezuela's history. Something I never even considered before and it was intriguing. I took a lot of pictures. We got to see BolĂvar's birthplace. It is a colonial house that today is filled with period art, including paintings by famous artists like Tito Salas whose work captured highlights of El Libertadorâs life. We also got to visit the Capitolio, Palacio Legislativo and Palacio Federal where the golden keys to Bolivarâs mausoleum are kept. I think the best part was taking the city's famous cable car to the top of the Ăvila Mountain range - though it was very high, and I was a bit nervous, the views were so worth it. Ăvila National Park borders Caracas, separating the sea from the city. We got to breathe in and admire the pureness of the place. It contrasted greatly from the swarming hub hub of the city. The views were amazing - allowing us to see Caracas on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. It truly was a vision I would never forget.. the pictures I took will never do it justice. The lunch was superb and I was famished by the time we got to eat. A few people were so nervous about the cable car ride that they did not eat too much. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g316066-d12465500-Caracas_Si... Later in the evening we went to the Pestana Lounge in Caracas for dinner and a chance to just relax and take in the atmosphere. I was just happy to sit back and take it all in. I decided to avoid anything more than a glass of local wine. I figured the jet lag would be worse if I had any more than that. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g316066-d4378651-Reviews-Pestana_L... A few people headed back to the hotel to take a dip in the pool. I decided that was a great idea and tagged along. By the time I fell into bed, I was exhausted but happy. |
Blogging Challenge - Day 1 Virtual trip to South America--- August f youâre up to some adventure in August than youâre in for a good time, this year weâre going to South America. Grab your swim suits, sun screen, bug spray and good walking shoes for the daytime and dancing shoes for the evening. You know you need a vacation! Stay tuned Iâll be posting more info as it gets closer to Aug 1st. Weâll be meeting in Miami and spending one night there before flying as a group to Venezuela. Donât forget to have a checkup before you go. Please make sure your passport and travel documents are in order, some places may be a bit dangerous if there not. 13 countries in 30 days. Travel alerts we need to be aware. Please donât wander or get involved in any disturbances. Or take public transportation on your own. https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/venezuela-travel-wa... https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/colombia-travel-war... Aug. 1st Miami, Fla. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g34438-d85193-Reviews-Hilton_Miami_Airp... We're at the HIlton for convenience. We can't be in Miami without hitting the dance scene. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g34438-d11449266-Miami_Dance... Highlights 90-minute Miami dance cruise. Capture the lit-up skyline of Miami as the boat travels through Biscayne Bay. Cut loose to top Billboard hits and favorites from many genres spun by a resident DJ Take the party to Miamiâs waterfront with this 90-minute, evening dance cruise on Biscayne Bay. Admire Miamiâs majestic skyline at night while cruising from the Bayside Marketplace to Miami Beach and back. Dance to the latest club hits and songs from a variety of musical styles â on the open-air deck or take a seat inside the air-conditioned cabin â as the resident-professional DJ spins the tunes. This family friendly party has no age minimum. Full-cash bar with beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks is available on board the boat. Looks like we have another fabulous group going on another virtual adventure.... a fun, safe way to travel - especially where we are going: South America. I felt a bit daunted by the travel alerts, but I know we will be safe so long as we stick together and play nice... like we always do. Lyn's a Witchy Woman has us booked into a wonderful hotel by the airport for the first night in Miami. I have to agree with kitee when she thinks Lyn might be sweeting us up before we head into the great unknown, but I trust Lyn and know we will be just fine. I doubt many of us have really been to South America before and this way to start will settle many nerves. And for those of us who don't have any trepidation, it will be a chance to get a good night sleep in a nice bed. It was so good to see all my friends again. I have missed them. Life sure has a way of taking you offline and emerged in reality. But for now I appreciate the camaraderie. Lyn's a Witchy Woman andFivesixer  were there early to great everyone and get us on track. It is always great to see them. I also recognized flameblower, Jellyfish  , Prosperous Snow celebrating  , and Sally  . So happy they are along, it just would not be the same without them. There were also some new faces - Apondia and SandraLynn Team Florent!  . It was great to meet alI of them. I just know we will have a blast of a time. Since we all were arriving at different times and from different places, it was lovely that Lyn had us going on a dance cruise later in the evening. It started around 9 pm and gave a rousing 90 minutes -that was just the right amount of time to chill in before grabbing a good night sleep before our adventure tomorrow. I also love to dance and listen to music so this was great for me.. Since I have been to Miami before I was looking forward to a new way to see the city and this brought it. The last time I was in Miami I had a quieter, more beach-time kind of trip. I was glad to get in to town early and made sure to take a dip in the ocean, as well as get some sun time before heading to my favourite rib place for dinner. All in all, I will admit I was happy to see my bed later that night. I was surprised that sleep came, as I was so excited for what was to come. |
| This was yesterday's prompt and I wrote my entry, but forgot to post it.... Blog City - Day 1199 Prompt: From the subject line of an Amazon Review: âNot Every Sadness Yields Defeatâ What do you make of these words? Not every sadness yields defeat, Not every heartbreak is an ending Not every change is traumatic Sometimes life just happens And out of the ashes Comes new life New beginnings New ways of moving forward That the past was holding you back from Take up the challenge And blaze forth The trail awaits. Are you ready? |
Blog City - Day 1200 Prompt âHistory-writing is a way of getting rid of the past.â Goethe What is Goethe trying to say here, and what do you think of history and historical fiction? I have also heard that history is written by the victors. I am not sure who said that, but it means that the events are coloured by whoever is telling the tale.... there perspective is highlighted and they are making themselves look good. They are also making the other side look bad.... maybe even worse than they really were - who knows. So given that, I would say that Goethe is making the point that once history is written and the actual events fade into the background, we never really know the true facts as they happened because we did not experience them first hand. In writing the past, you can embellish and discount anything you, as the writer, see fit to do. It is your interpretation of the situation. Since we each have our own interpretation, do we really know what actually happened.... perhaps not. Given this information we must remember to read all events with a critical eye. Do not take anything at face value, unless you have been able to read several similar accounts from writers with different perspectives. That way you get a fuller picture of what might have happened. This goes to say for historical reports, but also with the daily news. Technology may make things more accessible to each of us, but I think we need to be even more vigilant when it comes to considering what we believe and what we think is just fog and mirrors. Don't believe everything you read. When it comes to historical fiction, I am drawn to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series... which is now a TV series. The events are told from the Scottish point of view, which I am sure differs a great deal from the British. Seeing the battle of Culloden told from that point of view makes me despise my English roots, but it also makes me remember - there are two sides to every conflict - and one must remember it is our history and each side has its strengths and weaknesses. |
Blog City - Day 1190 You decide to buy a horror writer's mansion, but what you find there is out of this world or is it? I have always thought Stephen King's house would be just an average, run of the mill house, maybe a little bigger than what he started with, but normal. His mind may be a little warped, but his life looks normal enough. He may have a few odd 'toys' to remind him of the books that he has written, but they are all in fun. If I think to someone like Mary Shelly and her time, I think gothic old halls and passageways. An environment that could help to conjure up that tale of Frankenstein. She herself would look the picture of Victorian normalcy, but the mind can be a many splendid thing.... or fantastically warped or whimsical. Most writers look and act normal, whatever that is, but their creative outlet is truly the heart of what keeps them sane.... even if it is a little off center. Personally, I would not want to buy a horror writer's home. My own imagination can conjure images and things that I don't need.... so I would be better off not buying their castoffs. I would much rather stay awhile in the surroundings of the writers I admire. The countryside of where Jane Austen lived her life or in the apartments of the expatriate like Hemingway, in Paris. That is more my style. Letting the old places infuse me with their creativity and inspire me to keep at it. Walking where they walked, seeing the sights they saw.... these are the things that are more my style. |
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