tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27974065900069980942024-03-05T02:27:22.402-07:00Sara V. Olds, AuthorMusings of mine. Everything from books, travel, family, horses to education, careers and simple observations about life.brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-35117229911240391222023-03-07T22:37:00.006-07:002023-03-07T22:39:12.582-07:00Thinking About Being a Teacher<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD_gmiwP7GzSdtdngxfd_cBdMb_DreY4m88TIr_-abXD4cdJCkA43XKgp3IiC0AjZ7KkFdGrXvro1y5VTfCE4Mq9h3d4nlXr-TsWoEcRLsa-6YevBOyCxEnWlnwWbKjf2hBY8x1YQTLLnDiCSKBRkmbHUpoAd9ML2AbnO0_42Q95wYcwuAw5KgmNF/s910/5-56866_thinking-woman-png-free-download-woman-thinking-png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Jost;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="553" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD_gmiwP7GzSdtdngxfd_cBdMb_DreY4m88TIr_-abXD4cdJCkA43XKgp3IiC0AjZ7KkFdGrXvro1y5VTfCE4Mq9h3d4nlXr-TsWoEcRLsa-6YevBOyCxEnWlnwWbKjf2hBY8x1YQTLLnDiCSKBRkmbHUpoAd9ML2AbnO0_42Q95wYcwuAw5KgmNF/w62-h102/5-56866_thinking-woman-png-free-download-woman-thinking-png.png" width="62" /></span></a></div><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">Are You Thinking of Teaching as a Career 2</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">Because I hope to be forthright with these commentaries, it’s possible you may wonder if I like teaching. You may be asking, if she doesn’t think teaching is a good career for the money, then why did she become a teacher?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">I have been teaching my whole life. While, I’m not one of those people who looks at going into education as a calling–more power to those who see it that way–simply put, I have been teaching my whole life. I came this way. But most of the time, it wasn’t for money, or much anyway.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">As a kid, I taught swimming lessons. I’ve had violin students off and on for decades. Taught sign language to teenagers. Acting for a children’s theater conservatory. In my church, I have taught every age group and type of teaching that is done, from helping others learn teach how to teach, to music and everything in between. I’ve taught workshops and writer’s groups, horsemanship, given guest lectures, written and directed plays for elementary schools. (Okay, that was a bit more like herding cats but it was still teaching.) I’ve even taught music conducting and hand embroidery. Need it taught? Give me a minute, I’ll figure it out.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">That is who is am. A teacher and a storyteller.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teaching makes sense to me. It’s like a superpower. I can read a class, sense the needs of individuals and adapt what I’m doing and how I’m saying it to reach them. On the fly. I can sense when to pivot (</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Fjalla One;">Education jargon alert! </span></span><span style="font-family: Jost; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sorry, just had to throw one in</span><span style="font-family: Jost; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) and come at something at a different angle without hesitation. No, not every time. LOL…but generally.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">I express myself by wanting to share my excitement over cool things and I do it by using my love of learning mixed with a generous dollop of performance. Teaching is something I enjoy. It gives me energy. Brings me joy. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There is another more </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">pecuniary</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> reason that took me into education as a profession. I needed consistent insurance. My then-husband worked in IT in project management and he was perpetually (it felt like that anyway) being laid off. One project would finish and we were suddenly struggling looking for another job. It could mean months of fear and worry. I had children and we needed insurance. I was happily working for a national bookstore chain, but not making a whole lot and thanks to a changing world, it was going under. I had heard that teaching was a safe and steady career that meshed well with raising a family. It paid more than working in retail and for an entire year, I would be able to make sure my family was medically covered no matter what arose with my spouse’s employment.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Jost; font-size: medium;">Only one problem. I didn’t have a teaching degree. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Jost;"><br /><br /> </span></p>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-68243704658859031142023-03-05T10:55:00.000-07:002023-03-05T10:55:50.385-07:00Are You Thinking About Teaching as a Career?<p><b><i><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBDLrbfIIROAFcwL8jH3SKJMG-D-hb1yZGk_4lmNT6D8Ntz9K8UylotZgJPfPu2uth00tOss8JoE7ZcfEjzlicZVVrwyInmJNLZjhH9U06KTUsCzB-JI7q3TQIT9-ajlpyQa3pf7uydCgJdV5bvKBRuOaYTcBXOclm0GLqeky_S_55GBTX_tKTTx/s1920/cartoon-business-woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1920" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkBDLrbfIIROAFcwL8jH3SKJMG-D-hb1yZGk_4lmNT6D8Ntz9K8UylotZgJPfPu2uth00tOss8JoE7ZcfEjzlicZVVrwyInmJNLZjhH9U06KTUsCzB-JI7q3TQIT9-ajlpyQa3pf7uydCgJdV5bvKBRuOaYTcBXOclm0GLqeky_S_55GBTX_tKTTx/w82-h51/cartoon-business-woman.jpg" width="82" /></a></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-28d9e1a5-7fff-ca69-2319-96758b0a044f"><b><i><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you thinking about teaching as a career? </span></span></i></b><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">There are an awful lot of discussions out there about teacher shortages. People leaving teaching. Alternate pathways to certification. Testing. Teachers should be paid more. Crowded classrooms. Teachers are not treated like many professionals. The Covid gap. Online learning. One of my favorites–you have summers off! </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Perhaps I’ve heard enough. Perhaps I’ve seen one too many video shorts on Facebook. Perhaps I’m just plain ready to do something I enjoy–writing. But whatever has driven me to begin this commentary, please take it for what it is. My view. My opinion based on what I’ve seen and experienced. I cannot nor would not hope to speak for others. I will, however, over the next while, endeavor to bring up topics and ideas someone may find interesting and perhaps slightly thought provoking.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">So let’s begin with money. We’re all out there working because we’re trying to support something. Ourselves. Our families. Our hobbies, etc.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I’ve seen many articles stating that starting salaries for teachers are over $60,000. Seriously? Where?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I am in my 16th year of teaching and should be at the top of my local district’s ladder or salary matrix (more on that later). I hold a certification as a Secondary Teacher in History and Geography. I have a Master’s degree + 28 hours (meaning I’ve taken enough classes after my master’s program that I have accrued more than 28 hours of university credit.) This actually does not include classes I took the first several years after I started teaching and I thought I would never need to worry about such things as school district ladders, lane changes etc., so I opted for state continuing education credits which counted toward re-licensure but did nothing for future remuneration benefits. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I were working full-time…(more on that later) I should be making $72,000. I don't know if that sounds like a lot to you. My children make much, much more than that</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">in other industries, of course. And, I live in Idaho. It's 37th in the nation as far as teacher pay. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">If I were teaching in one of the largest districts in Utah, I would also make approximately $72,000. But, the price of my little house in Idaho, would cost so much more in Utah. That's actually why I moved from Utah. After I'd sold my house–with a small acreage–I couldn’t afford to buy another plain, simple house.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Most districts spread this salary out over 12 months. Many give you the option to decide if you want it spread out or to fit it into the nine months of full time teaching. I understand in California many districts do not give you that option which means you will not have a pay check during those non-teaching months.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">So, if you’re going into education for the money–you may want to re-think. #teachingcareer</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">(Stats info came from https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teacher-pay-by-state)</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0Idaho, USA44.0682019 -114.742040815.757968063821153 -149.89829079999998 72.378435736178844 -79.5857908tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-74095281382479173222020-06-05T17:33:00.001-06:002020-06-05T17:34:58.896-06:00Harry Day 1Harry is a bundle of cuts and scrapes. Thoroughbreds are notoriously thin-skinned. He has a cut on his knee, hip and back right leg. His face is swollen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> from the kick and he's SKINNY!! (They gave him cow hay!!)<div><br></div><div>First things first. A gentle grooming and mane trim. He does shine in the sunlight.<br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>My mom said he looked sad.</div><div><br></div><div>His first time out in the Near pasture.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div></div><div>I wanted to know how he'd react to me. So I went out into the pasture and he trotted away. Boy! Does he have an amazing trot! Big! And floaty. </div><div><br></div><div>I talked to him and didn't look at him and slowly work my way up to him and just sit next to him and scratched his shoulder then walked away. I doubt that's ever happened in his life before. </div><div><br></div><div>I did that three times and the last time as I stood scratching his shoulder he let out a big sigh and his head dropped. It's a good sign. </div><div>And when I walked away he followed me.</div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-84762809775056157422020-06-05T17:17:00.001-06:002020-06-05T17:34:32.961-06:00Harry Canary OTTB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>All my life I have loved horses but they were something I had to love from afar. My next door neighbor had a subscription to Thoroughbred Racing Magazine and for a couple of years I got the old copies, looked at the pictures and cut them out to hang up in my room.<div><br></div><div>I think this was the beginning of my love of Thoroughbreds. </div><div><br></div><div>What's difficult about the multi-million dollar industry is what do you do with these highly breed animals once they're done racing? </div><div><br></div><div>(This is not a debate on racing... Just an explanation.)</div><div><br></div><div>When we bought our first horse on a tiny budget, and being in Utah, we basically had two choices. Quarterhorse and an Offtrack Thoroughbred (OTTB).</div><div><br></div><div>Some time I'll tell you about Eiger.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div> But he gave us experience with OTTBs and when he left, my heart hurt.</div><div><br></div><div>Don't get me wrong. I adore my Canadian Warmblood/Thoroughbred Cross. She's my future. My funny girl. And my partner.</div><div><br></div><div>But I couldn't help looking for another horse.</div><div><br></div><div>Enter--Harry Canary. 13 yr. old, 15.2 hh, gelding. A red head. (Never really liked Chestnuts btw.) OTTB who raced for 4 years. The last two he never won, placed or showed. </div><div> After racing, he was in Montana. But sure how long. Not sure what he did.... worked? Pleasure ride? English? Western?</div><div><br></div><div>Six months ago, he was moved to Nebraska. There the family "couldn't keep weight on him."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>It was a constant battle with Eiger, but like I said, I've learned few things.)</div><div><br></div><div>Circumstances put all their horses for sale. Word came to me. The price was right. I knew I've have time this summer for a project. We've had some luck taken struggling horses, getting them healthy and teaching them about kindness and love. So Harry came to us after a long hot trailer ride.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div><br></div></div><div>He was kicked in the face the day before he was to come--a vet said he'd be okay.</div><div>Evidently, they had to pull him into the trailer.</div><div><br></div><div>So will begin a hopefully happy transformation as we introduce Harry to the world of dressage, jumping and spoiling.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-66825058970377019832020-05-16T19:47:00.001-06:002020-05-16T19:47:24.526-06:00Lessons Divorce is Teaching MeI've been divorced almost five months now. Divorced 2 days before my 38th anniversary. Now, I know what you're thinking. Crap! She's old! Lol!<div>I actually married pretty young and I don't actually feel old.</div><div>I'm not sure what I thought it would be like, but here are a few things I've learned and am learning.</div><div>1. Paying bills isn't quite as scary as I thought. I paid my credit cards but he did the rest. I was terrified. But you know, I'm figuring it out.... Thanks Google calendar.</div><div>2. I can pay taxes. </div><div>3. I hate having to remember to take the garbage out to the curb. </div><div>4. Spiders still freak me out.</div><div>5. I'm actually pretty clever at unclogging drains.</div><div>6. I'm not ready to date. Out of curiousity I looked at some dating sites. (Actually, I'd love to someone from England and settle there--why not dream big?) But now I can't get off their sites and I'm not willing to pay, so all those nice gentlemen.... I'm assuming they're nice... that have tried to message me, I'm really not a snob. I'm just poor, suspicious and terrified.</div><div>7. Interesting. There hasn't been pee on the toilet since he left. So much for him telling me it was my fault.</div><div><br></div><div>I was never told that I was beautiful. I was never told that I was loved. I was never told that I was special. And I felt lonely in my own house.</div><div><br></div><div>Know what? Even though I sleep alone, I'm not lonely any more.</div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-30102002868476274482019-01-01T12:55:00.001-07:002019-01-01T12:55:04.440-07:002019 My Year for ChangeThis is not about New Year's Resolutions. I'm crap at those. But this year will be a year of many changes. Of this I am sure. Some I hope will be grand. Others --to be honest--I fear. <br />
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I have realized that I need to simplify. One idea I had to help me simplify is to get rid of one thing every day. When I first thought of that idea, it didn't sound like much, but then I realized that by the end of the year I will have removed 365 things from my life! Now that seems like a significant difference.<br />
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Just a little at a time! That's the way.<br />
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And so it will begin. Today I am getting rid not just one, but several Christmas mugs that not even once have ever been used. <br />
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Woohoo!<br />
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<br />brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-32916574426561826072016-02-22T09:25:00.002-07:002016-03-17T16:13:44.173-06:00SOLD!! Aladdinn's Fire Gorgeous Blood Bay 5 Year Old Gelding<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">TR Aladdinn’s Fire (Fire), 15hh and still growing, born in July 2011. Asking $3500 OBO.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sire: world champion Aladdinn—in fact Fire is Aladdin's his youngest son. (Polish)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Dam’s side: his grandfather is champion—Muscat. (Russian) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This boy is <i>royalty </i>and has brains and heart to match his pedigree!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqtbNLYzbCz4EA1jXUCLYVAcy-pYOf8qBuVKJLxQv_CCa3Ep58Mvv5lMH3LF9fGshqkc2I6L8DBi_KCY18_rFg41_PeKrM9Wf8IM4dMd7RsDnLxfp0dwPoWESTTNTDfaQtgiQZwaumIs/s1600/Fire+English++left+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqtbNLYzbCz4EA1jXUCLYVAcy-pYOf8qBuVKJLxQv_CCa3Ep58Mvv5lMH3LF9fGshqkc2I6L8DBi_KCY18_rFg41_PeKrM9Wf8IM4dMd7RsDnLxfp0dwPoWESTTNTDfaQtgiQZwaumIs/s200/Fire+English++left+side.JPG" width="200"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutdGql21Zh63RarcCXh2j2MKMkfhcXxhIASDXZLbhZeePf7tQnvnea8I8kPbY7lQny5yYYmBKFHYLY91QIqjC_v8ODUY0W3hIiIHTW_0tA50k70oEFqzH3H9aE3KCTTWfxWcr_FEjHrQ/s1600/Fire+English+Right.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutdGql21Zh63RarcCXh2j2MKMkfhcXxhIASDXZLbhZeePf7tQnvnea8I8kPbY7lQny5yYYmBKFHYLY91QIqjC_v8ODUY0W3hIiIHTW_0tA50k70oEFqzH3H9aE3KCTTWfxWcr_FEjHrQ/s200/Fire+English+Right.JPG" width="200"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlHNrpT2jPruFs4NVQ1_l3iOwNU-6DZQFaKGXq-QsnvsJkzJ-7d-fo4rZPoiQKqaqnx0I6SxQG0nZz7sRMPZsqBd_C2-zkkmc6-60JTynuHae8QlU2Bq2y7rZd2S-2Tcxzpt9mdkvyD0/s1600/Fire+western+left.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlHNrpT2jPruFs4NVQ1_l3iOwNU-6DZQFaKGXq-QsnvsJkzJ-7d-fo4rZPoiQKqaqnx0I6SxQG0nZz7sRMPZsqBd_C2-zkkmc6-60JTynuHae8QlU2Bq2y7rZd2S-2Tcxzpt9mdkvyD0/s200/Fire+western+left.JPG" width="200"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasuaocaDr2UT1WlyEvAtR-_XHetQ1sCC43MWUiBppvdcgLtCTgRZFN9ZdR7-BqL5udTqf7jJKz9GAC39YhNh_tkJo-ePu96QTzXGdjKrEvPp02ZpGuxV751tneJjxMFeU_7n4WRHkH5E/s1600/Fire+western+right.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasuaocaDr2UT1WlyEvAtR-_XHetQ1sCC43MWUiBppvdcgLtCTgRZFN9ZdR7-BqL5udTqf7jJKz9GAC39YhNh_tkJo-ePu96QTzXGdjKrEvPp02ZpGuxV751tneJjxMFeU_7n4WRHkH5E/s200/Fire+western+right.JPG" width="200"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He has been ridden both English & Western. Most regularly English lately. He is an incredible mover—has a big bold trot and lovely Western pleasure jog, and perfect Arab canter. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He’s beautiful, smart, not spooky, good around other horses, and waits patiently when being held. Face clips perfectly. Bare foot. Introduced to ground poles. Given perfect health assessment recently by Dr. Monroe. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdSW_YXcyQgi4jLxeFRdHc2IJEYgEFDiMykrTTrz7zftGW2Gzp7eHqS2R7DlW69C9nTzZmCKH9-G1XoT_rW9Z9MUSpR_zQSzBRqtVJqdMY8cR_qQB1v98pMpCnn8L3Bfm0VwUhJjLpUc/s1600/Fire+from+the+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdSW_YXcyQgi4jLxeFRdHc2IJEYgEFDiMykrTTrz7zftGW2Gzp7eHqS2R7DlW69C9nTzZmCKH9-G1XoT_rW9Z9MUSpR_zQSzBRqtVJqdMY8cR_qQB1v98pMpCnn8L3Bfm0VwUhJjLpUc/s200/Fire+from+the+back.JPG" width="82"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdBxG47vgYdSo48QQ1mL_VLgeH94a4Q5XvX_7oyXkJudsFaoBmEBM4w89x8-U-cba1M-WY84eKpIaBzo1bALGEEaq9exjxRBnt563IvqiL4LQdtYUE1WVI0p_4BBZqw04sq8VcffavVI/s1600/Fire+in+Field.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdBxG47vgYdSo48QQ1mL_VLgeH94a4Q5XvX_7oyXkJudsFaoBmEBM4w89x8-U-cba1M-WY84eKpIaBzo1bALGEEaq9exjxRBnt563IvqiL4LQdtYUE1WVI0p_4BBZqw04sq8VcffavVI/s200/Fire+in+Field.JPG" width="200"></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So why are we selling him? We’re focusing on eventing and as great as he is, Fire isn’t going take us that direction. We even thought about changing our direction and heading into the Arab show world, just so we could keep him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdBxG47vgYdSo48QQ1mL_VLgeH94a4Q5XvX_7oyXkJudsFaoBmEBM4w89x8-U-cba1M-WY84eKpIaBzo1bALGEEaq9exjxRBnt563IvqiL4LQdtYUE1WVI0p_4BBZqw04sq8VcffavVI/s1600/Fire+in+Field.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdSW_YXcyQgi4jLxeFRdHc2IJEYgEFDiMykrTTrz7zftGW2Gzp7eHqS2R7DlW69C9nTzZmCKH9-G1XoT_rW9Z9MUSpR_zQSzBRqtVJqdMY8cR_qQB1v98pMpCnn8L3Bfm0VwUhJjLpUc/s1600/Fire+from+the+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Contact us for more information. Come and see him with your champion's dream and Fire will help you make it a reality. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Located near Ogden, Utah</span></div>
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-45554929148119319422015-07-28T18:16:00.001-06:002017-03-05T09:26:16.784-07:00A Van Orden New York MomentIt suddenly occurred to me that my family the Van Orden's were from New York near the Hudson River and ta-dah, I was in Albany. How close could they be? Could I find them?<div><br></div><div>Thank you Internet!!!</div><div><br></div><div>With very little effort, I found my way to the Catskills and to East Windham. A teeny tiny town where the "Peter Van Orden Rural Cemetery" lies. </div><div><br></div><div>Unable to find it, I stopped to ask someone washing his car and many thanks....he knew all about Peter.</div><div><br></div><div>Peter was the first Dutchman in the area. He opened an inn for the people driving their cattle across the Catskills mountains to the Hudson River. It turns out that despite the Indians being in the area and rather dangerous, they would not go up into the mountains because they believed the spirits lived there. That was to Peter's advantage. No Indian trouble.</div><div><br></div><div>Up a short steep hill and there I was generations later and I stood looking down at Peter's headstone.</div><div><br></div><div>So who is he to me? His son, William and daughter Julia Ann, both joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. William by the way, married Julia Ann Haight and Julia Ann married Julia Ann's brother. Yep, Julia Ann Haight Van Orden and Julia Ann </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-41414015054132281422015-07-16T14:44:00.000-06:002015-07-16T16:46:26.246-06:00Travel Thoughts, Hints, Comments and oh ARGH!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj1SRYiXggHsejwvQcRzQb9CP5bjc7HLdGcLxde30P13Xn6uqLZD81TAlcCn4mBeodefMg0T5dJbL1K7KScdaJMecQGpRkUoHW_YzsSSzBqIqOIEuM6xVTyifVt6SfEzC-XZpz1QfTgQ/s1600/GEDC1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj1SRYiXggHsejwvQcRzQb9CP5bjc7HLdGcLxde30P13Xn6uqLZD81TAlcCn4mBeodefMg0T5dJbL1K7KScdaJMecQGpRkUoHW_YzsSSzBqIqOIEuM6xVTyifVt6SfEzC-XZpz1QfTgQ/s320/GEDC1837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Good Bad and What I'd Do Differently<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcoj3SZJfD91w8UGbCvBvcossmeqI_g7zGEOE3Qp48JP1hy2nkz3ELHcTUmDSVuKLm967Ry1tNWY9d105MKp35AnIgcKhIxvvUugF66-LZXT6EdiQfa9iCxWk_6yC0Z6JmO3xKQli6dY/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcoj3SZJfD91w8UGbCvBvcossmeqI_g7zGEOE3Qp48JP1hy2nkz3ELHcTUmDSVuKLm967Ry1tNWY9d105MKp35AnIgcKhIxvvUugF66-LZXT6EdiQfa9iCxWk_6yC0Z6JmO3xKQli6dY/s200/IMG_2016.JPG" width="200" /></a>This grand adventure, I should count up
the miles, it would be thousands (about 17680 or so give or take--I had to figure it out) and took 30 days. I've been in six
countries and seen great thing after great thing.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So...what would I do differently? What
great choices did I make? What mistakes?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUydJNKbGWmf7gixqi23a6KMg3H6fH6ozmzcoHjVY3d7sdqpaaY-jaSvv-05S88QN4xbOS6FD5nfS2wbub-zL9NNNzWbGeymoH5lUL6uvC-lmBWk_utkOpYfCxd9OUUdBZi1-s3qqZeo/s1600/GEDC2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUydJNKbGWmf7gixqi23a6KMg3H6fH6ozmzcoHjVY3d7sdqpaaY-jaSvv-05S88QN4xbOS6FD5nfS2wbub-zL9NNNzWbGeymoH5lUL6uvC-lmBWk_utkOpYfCxd9OUUdBZi1-s3qqZeo/s200/GEDC2062.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here are a few:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Great choices:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you're going to visit the Greek
islands, do a cruise. Even though, I really don't like the cruise
lifestyle, it was great to only unpack once.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Renting a scooter on Rhodes and
Santorini. So fun!</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5p_zoahDH8MlJ3wsqVnaNPcc3q3jz-m420LhNNhMFqGGGLDrhB2BQYDR81xDZttSIA2NcEvCUDaxr8WQl0ih9CZjcJCfa62tZWsArDBdSN9diP8IHGmuxKAgEAMLGiVZ7238Mt5lL1A/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5p_zoahDH8MlJ3wsqVnaNPcc3q3jz-m420LhNNhMFqGGGLDrhB2BQYDR81xDZttSIA2NcEvCUDaxr8WQl0ih9CZjcJCfa62tZWsArDBdSN9diP8IHGmuxKAgEAMLGiVZ7238Mt5lL1A/s200/IMG_2154.JPG" width="200" /></a>Doing the hop on hop off bus in
all four cities...Istanbul, Athens, Dublin and Edinburgh. It's a
great way to get a feel for the city and know what you want to go
back and see.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Staying at the colleges. Even
though Pollock Halls had the WORST mattress ever, the rooms were
safe, clean and comfortable.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Good shoes! I stumbled across a
pair of sneakers at WalMart for $5!!! They have been wonderful and
lightweight. Bad shoes will ruin a vacation!!!</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Umbrella, sunscreen and bug spray
(for the Highlands)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_COzW3kgHcG5eCW7NbhU7nBVpTVf3AXwYBLqIJS7mdg3g4uSQ26DVuGvp1Lpgo3nQhBSvup6heW-J-rAdZYYmlNeNbyCF2f1eEn2pHqVT43jUpDoa-O5FprBS286dKPCSs0qwE8ovFzg/s1600/GEDC1826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_COzW3kgHcG5eCW7NbhU7nBVpTVf3AXwYBLqIJS7mdg3g4uSQ26DVuGvp1Lpgo3nQhBSvup6heW-J-rAdZYYmlNeNbyCF2f1eEn2pHqVT43jUpDoa-O5FprBS286dKPCSs0qwE8ovFzg/s200/GEDC1826.JPG" width="200" /></a>Pony trekking. I wasn't sure I
wasn't going to pull it off, but both experiences were well worth
it.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Leaving my luggage at Dublin
airport. Too much, too heavy. I grabbed a smaller bag and left the
big stuff there.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here's a GREAT choice. I brought
a lightweight blanket and my beach towel. In Arrochar, the hotel
gave me a comforter that didn't even cover me. I was glad for the
blanket.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Renting the car and driving out to
Gallipoli. Just a nice way to start off the trip. And went very
smoothly.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Poor Choices:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGixV1ZvS5s5p3Kw6THSkPen9eh6LdLsQ9Y-0j5ulthdRUnjiGjXA1ZBuXBfS75wcIxHHWrQYB8DsFQOkxR43pBHDFfWhtuzhbwKP72eE8Q5YmkdPUtclHNDCVwymFxXGqNWAkS2DEbXU/s1600/GEDC0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGixV1ZvS5s5p3Kw6THSkPen9eh6LdLsQ9Y-0j5ulthdRUnjiGjXA1ZBuXBfS75wcIxHHWrQYB8DsFQOkxR43pBHDFfWhtuzhbwKP72eE8Q5YmkdPUtclHNDCVwymFxXGqNWAkS2DEbXU/s200/GEDC0915.JPG" width="200" /></a>Despite trying not to overpack,
going between so many climates made for a mess. BUT...still, I just
should have brought less and not worried about just wearing things
again and again.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bringing too many granola bars. I
just didn't have the discipline to eat them and they were heavy!!</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Brought two rain coats....one was
a special riding coat which weighs 2.2 pounds!!!! didn't need,
didn't use. The other was what I thought would be a great raincoat.
NOPE...it soaked through and was quite heavy besides. Rolling eyes.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Best Purchases:</div>
<ol>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR-Q-hR3c5mT8gdR2ew6_cKUmcv6D82BuSBYg-EfG0Sdu9aeFxsE1YhPjMp_K1U8gQRhHLDLZDVXYL1-QI45YwT_QIWTtN-SETazryRhkDLub6SzfiFioa1Qiqsm7JB7knIQb-FgWWXo/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirR-Q-hR3c5mT8gdR2ew6_cKUmcv6D82BuSBYg-EfG0Sdu9aeFxsE1YhPjMp_K1U8gQRhHLDLZDVXYL1-QI45YwT_QIWTtN-SETazryRhkDLub6SzfiFioa1Qiqsm7JB7knIQb-FgWWXo/s200/IMG_2149.JPG" width="200" /></a>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
a tiny fan that is a USB. The
hotels in Scotland and Ireland were hot and my fan made them
comfortable and made white noise so I could sleep more easily.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A white linen shirt (which I
overpaid for) in Ephesus....but I wore it EVERY day in Turkey and
Greece and didn't have worry about sunburn. Soooo good!</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Spices in Istanbul. If nothing
else, I kept thinking how much our daughter in law might enjoy them.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Turkish Delight! REAL Turkish Delight! Yummy!!!</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Good Choices:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Not pre-paying gas in my rental
car. They wanted $50 pounds and I just didn't do that much driving
around. I did, but they got great mileage. It cost me $33.15 to
fill the car myself.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Leaving my luggage at my hotel at
the university and going to get my rental car THEN getting the
luggage rather than having to drag it through Edinburgh.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcCL3mMKAZmmQ_soGNVmUXR0hVB3fyC9Mee5fOSgwbAR4g7KwnCTVCLb1ogZOTjodwx0O-ni97icA7UlzMyyd1jherqc6JUnan9v28HQwlOQPxulw3KYYe1Ahx8km0AVzDtt24pbTImI/s1600/GEDC2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcCL3mMKAZmmQ_soGNVmUXR0hVB3fyC9Mee5fOSgwbAR4g7KwnCTVCLb1ogZOTjodwx0O-ni97icA7UlzMyyd1jherqc6JUnan9v28HQwlOQPxulw3KYYe1Ahx8km0AVzDtt24pbTImI/s200/GEDC2001.JPG" width="200" /></a>EasyJet. It was cheap and not bad.
A long flight would not have been comfortable but funny basic
“benchy” seats were kind of amusing. Just know you pay for
EVERYthing. Even your dri</div>
<br />
nks. (tap water is free).<br />
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bringing little anti-bacterial
wipes for those occasions without soap. And tissues... but I got a
bit excited about those and over brought.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Frustrations:</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv6eMBgxC1MxtPV6lOK50-eTdMik2a_WvKRMuYKszLZam9dmxqmvmrqbeAukAi0R9T0ZgRfqwgk8EdDGv0SCga5whQXNThCKHqtYur52VSZLU8zRed7JQ5iu5yg3YE8jPDjF23Oj2wCw/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv6eMBgxC1MxtPV6lOK50-eTdMik2a_WvKRMuYKszLZam9dmxqmvmrqbeAukAi0R9T0ZgRfqwgk8EdDGv0SCga5whQXNThCKHqtYur52VSZLU8zRed7JQ5iu5yg3YE8jPDjF23Oj2wCw/s200/IMG_2229.JPG" width="200" /></a>Internet!!! The cruise company
wanted $22 a DAY!!! for terrible connection. And the “free”
internet that people said we'd find, meant...buy something at a cafe
and maybe their internet would work.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Phone!!! We changed our phones to
have a Europe unlimited text and data. Well, the data didn't work.
Ever! But oddly enough, I was able to text my children while out a
sea...away from any visual land.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My car was MUCH bigger than I'd
hoped. Something tiny would have been less stressful. And I HATED
paying $10 pounds a day for a satnav.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Aer Lingus (like EasyJet) will
give you a big discount on paying for luggage IF you book it ahead
of time. Because I booked my flight with Expedia, Aer Lingus would
NOT allow me to pick seats nor pre-pay my luggage. Sigh.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz3Erov0Htrx8RciUTcH0u63aZ7XbQPe5uoPaF8gEsK5TU4v7SjtSb3ppRYZ6FuxrlLb_3lEBjCM29UfQzbMYa8-sGS6hOVYPkpPCSfjPKbvs0ssS8ntyhaE_3kFdlEVZc-zKp_vVC7E/s1600/GEDC1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz3Erov0Htrx8RciUTcH0u63aZ7XbQPe5uoPaF8gEsK5TU4v7SjtSb3ppRYZ6FuxrlLb_3lEBjCM29UfQzbMYa8-sGS6hOVYPkpPCSfjPKbvs0ssS8ntyhaE_3kFdlEVZc-zKp_vVC7E/s200/GEDC1788.JPG" width="200" /></a>ATM WARNING!!! My bank charged me
$5.00 a time getting out cash. We weren't getting a lot out each
time for a bit. BAD choice!!!!</div>
</li>
</ol>
brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-27934996585356307702015-07-16T13:56:00.004-06:002015-07-16T13:56:50.571-06:00Last Stop--Dublin--Another Ancient City<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQFhm8yx8g5QreKb5ojxJU8NQyY1UbI9OPLCQT7Ast9q5iDnH7oTvLUPWBlMTjMSY7FAxGC1euz3f0FzO1apX5Vtk8a9GG0Mbf8bHHln_3X1vB53APSeyKeiQEMk3nWKNB5402HUJaCM/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQFhm8yx8g5QreKb5ojxJU8NQyY1UbI9OPLCQT7Ast9q5iDnH7oTvLUPWBlMTjMSY7FAxGC1euz3f0FzO1apX5Vtk8a9GG0Mbf8bHHln_3X1vB53APSeyKeiQEMk3nWKNB5402HUJaCM/s200/IMG_2254.JPG" width="149" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PhylzYhFVoSyBda943beWNmsouAof10cEtRtOEK93O0A4p2FQvCoNN8fPZXkGN7sZcU3jW92ehKzOVdgXQlOT2GH4Rw21UQhdPd6z8bmjS6GVWvKlnhTJJ3UUx5zRK1Y779g45H10TA/s1600/IMG_2247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PhylzYhFVoSyBda943beWNmsouAof10cEtRtOEK93O0A4p2FQvCoNN8fPZXkGN7sZcU3jW92ehKzOVdgXQlOT2GH4Rw21UQhdPd6z8bmjS6GVWvKlnhTJJ3UUx5zRK1Y779g45H10TA/s200/IMG_2247.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dublin—Another Ancient City</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think that could be the title of this
grand adventure. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> One Ancient City after another.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g6bMyq__7ehFTnQWL11lANAFkhSiULJshq9S-EC8uG73vQR8TqElO1xJ1uNyNu5MbltM9d4OEw3GOX1qNlYhOQ3y2uqHD0ZDjTWDFhHCEirvGdFHzrNNNA-ohCcWB6IfPtjG1U8zXfU/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWsHD-6cKvlqdGC4uOuH1e1uDZgEWtsBADnjRBaEA4w3JcA96O5Cl8E_PgIt343ZAPLHK9vkk05YnHDDe2tTPlVprW2yzkDpOokVnIBNy7gMGSAYVzNMH9s3e1GpRG3kLpSEpzDUWyIY/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWsHD-6cKvlqdGC4uOuH1e1uDZgEWtsBADnjRBaEA4w3JcA96O5Cl8E_PgIt343ZAPLHK9vkk05YnHDDe2tTPlVprW2yzkDpOokVnIBNy7gMGSAYVzNMH9s3e1GpRG3kLpSEpzDUWyIY/s200/IMG_2361.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dublin is just plain old. No doubt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
passed a 4500 BC site today where they found fishing traps and the
city was founded in 1256...I think..something like that—right
century anyway. Yep. That's OLD!</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnHGOstMNRG9YT0frbahrysN2IhkGizGbbgwYaNysmDl-iXV8xIwjEptg2lQV1zGB-YMPAvnTB5BMqBe1TJUOECfnkdj_gIwx4uNT_IJADcVtgypGqcPtMdNrbi-nP144xk0DpJVfs3Y/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnHGOstMNRG9YT0frbahrysN2IhkGizGbbgwYaNysmDl-iXV8xIwjEptg2lQV1zGB-YMPAvnTB5BMqBe1TJUOECfnkdj_gIwx4uNT_IJADcVtgypGqcPtMdNrbi-nP144xk0DpJVfs3Y/s200/IMG_2417.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This chain mail weighs a TON!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's an interesting blend of Viking,
Celt, Norman, English and finally free Irish.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They talk of Dublin being one of the
wealthiest cities in the world (before the Normans did their damage).
Trading with places as far as Istanbul. Hmm....been there recently.
That seems appropriate somehow.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHXnW5zIGspwDjglh4eTZ_Y_hcUnLaCpL-I_3oRSEjqvEmhK_n1Gi1pRBeb3GPjcm5aLNQqEsWXYAMsdKu6MoK0dM5w8dG10byiQxdzNRjVNCb3q7KowQwlj_ycmDPfvOaY-xxGgxBog/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHXnW5zIGspwDjglh4eTZ_Y_hcUnLaCpL-I_3oRSEjqvEmhK_n1Gi1pRBeb3GPjcm5aLNQqEsWXYAMsdKu6MoK0dM5w8dG10byiQxdzNRjVNCb3q7KowQwlj_ycmDPfvOaY-xxGgxBog/s200/IMG_2288.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Custom's House (rebuilt 3 times!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They have anger toward the 1801 act
which abolished the Irish Parliament and all the wealth Brits moved
home to rule Ireland from there. Absentee landlords are never an easy
prospect.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWWS9ac21v6P8bWhH14Nr4x4Dw8R12q6XgA93mXvzTnMgBRzSTgddiJyNeJA4FzhyYS43a9budevjTak4gCwBM_v7MRnYtDnz_VwjHnqnZQQqZwSUnPvMRUSmR8lCYE098vqqNcBmJRI/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWWS9ac21v6P8bWhH14Nr4x4Dw8R12q6XgA93mXvzTnMgBRzSTgddiJyNeJA4FzhyYS43a9budevjTak4gCwBM_v7MRnYtDnz_VwjHnqnZQQqZwSUnPvMRUSmR8lCYE098vqqNcBmJRI/s200/IMG_2329.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Replica Jeanie Johnston carried<br />over 2500 immigrants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g6bMyq__7ehFTnQWL11lANAFkhSiULJshq9S-EC8uG73vQR8TqElO1xJ1uNyNu5MbltM9d4OEw3GOX1qNlYhOQ3y2uqHD0ZDjTWDFhHCEirvGdFHzrNNNA-ohCcWB6IfPtjG1U8zXfU/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g6bMyq__7ehFTnQWL11lANAFkhSiULJshq9S-EC8uG73vQR8TqElO1xJ1uNyNu5MbltM9d4OEw3GOX1qNlYhOQ3y2uqHD0ZDjTWDFhHCEirvGdFHzrNNNA-ohCcWB6IfPtjG1U8zXfU/s200/IMG_2291.JPG" width="149" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I heard about the Potato Famine at the Jeanie Johnston--a famine ship. (No my
students....potatoes don't come from Idaho!--nor do they come from
Ireland—think Columbian Exchange...) Soooo, excited that I've
stumbled onto some cool primary sources for my next year's discussion
on immigration!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They speak with pride about the 1916
Uprising. Where 16 martyrs lost their lives by firing squad for their
roles in trying to bring independence to Ireland. (Aren't we glad John Hancock and the like got away?)</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnBNmBKFECZptcRAUchFtJeeuiOlJz_lTiOAXWfki1YWWrl25D97iYSqPBtJkmUJqa_zX3wC4VnmdR4hF2iUjuvSf2sUxvWYzFLRmEfVaBqYpHGMIUVcWTl6RYkuCnvQyQk44N-ZIE1I/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnBNmBKFECZptcRAUchFtJeeuiOlJz_lTiOAXWfki1YWWrl25D97iYSqPBtJkmUJqa_zX3wC4VnmdR4hF2iUjuvSf2sUxvWYzFLRmEfVaBqYpHGMIUVcWTl6RYkuCnvQyQk44N-ZIE1I/s200/IMG_2266.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Presidents House in Phoenix Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And of 1922 when Ireland finally got
their independence. Oops...and some continued IRA activity blowing
things up in the 1970s.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The city is a mix of architecture.
Modern, sleek, weird, beautiful and Georgian, Victorian and then the
old stuff. Churches and cathedrals sprinkle the landscape.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To a non-drinker, their marriage to
Guinness and drink is amazing. The Guinness factory here still makes
10 million...that's million pints a day. And this is not their biggest
factory. Realize this though. Poor Yorkshire farmers and Italian
immigrants to America needed to fill the bellies of their hardworking
men. They couldn't afford meat so what'd they do? Yorkshire pudding
and pizza. Stout is Ireland's answer to that problem. Evidently,
stout is very filling. As my guide said today, “Well, even if you
don't like the taste, you won't be hungry for awhile. It does make
some sense when you have 1.2 million people starve to death during
the Potato famine, I can see people doing whatever it takes to
survive.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_qo_yDDokRJr8njMJMEHFISDyN5HgNN4xNSyX2nf855DKHCWVHYTnvzVaYC0ZPX2DmLfJDTf9JTAWjA8m2Wl8Z9Q1W25PoSz4TYQUD3xeKRJqu-rJMcpwKcxIuWmORKGyEJGqnnTj-w/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_qo_yDDokRJr8njMJMEHFISDyN5HgNN4xNSyX2nf855DKHCWVHYTnvzVaYC0ZPX2DmLfJDTf9JTAWjA8m2Wl8Z9Q1W25PoSz4TYQUD3xeKRJqu-rJMcpwKcxIuWmORKGyEJGqnnTj-w/s200/IMG_2466.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Green in Trinity College</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I rode through the city, managing
to take pics despite a brisk breezy trying to blow away my ipad
before the rain started. Learning and remembering.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm staying at another ancient
university. Trinity. What a privilege I've had to have stayed at
four, two of those this trip. (Edinburgh, Trinity, Oxford and
Cambridge.) Drove by St. Andrews but didn't stop.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoel3SgYFgGSoLmcbA2Zd8R_l0WCdvBeakytp-ayYGmcuGGet1xMFW2BikWWClYnWr_YlmFfnycPnDHpSyfzxE_6PtGnsGH0mpdvxbHPKiMsQlcK3fZQexIGNzSV7Es3OBD226-TgBvNY/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoel3SgYFgGSoLmcbA2Zd8R_l0WCdvBeakytp-ayYGmcuGGet1xMFW2BikWWClYnWr_YlmFfnycPnDHpSyfzxE_6PtGnsGH0mpdvxbHPKiMsQlcK3fZQexIGNzSV7Es3OBD226-TgBvNY/s200/IMG_2347.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, it rained. Got wet up to my knees. But with all the
museums, I could have stayed more days and not seen it all. (I walked 4.85 miles today...and it didn't seem like all that much.)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But tomorrow, I go home. At long last.</span></div>
brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-87300708163517177372015-07-14T09:25:00.001-06:002015-07-15T15:11:41.627-06:00And the Sun Came Out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEH92u1oGVujOEl6SKy_dFy2_5_TQ4MXCPq5tmvxvk0i-QNtqKxIv-dXspXKFyao0nrgFhplS1lCO-szerEW2HtOE9JRG4UulghsYhu7diEi1inS0HtnBY6Obk0OHUme_7p3jMzae2xQ/s640/blogger-image--1013597848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEH92u1oGVujOEl6SKy_dFy2_5_TQ4MXCPq5tmvxvk0i-QNtqKxIv-dXspXKFyao0nrgFhplS1lCO-szerEW2HtOE9JRG4UulghsYhu7diEi1inS0HtnBY6Obk0OHUme_7p3jMzae2xQ/s200/blogger-image--1013597848.jpg" width="149" /></a>Look, it's the SUN! And to celebrate , I found a castle. And ....went riding. Twice. Yes, really.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-0IR0y3Io-mRqeYt0dhYRE9OtYojnlwS5r8m4_uKG3wetLjpmTl6T3dAbaczIQ6sIKkqwkJnUEu_kS283jF2xTODzStSSmAlxTpSKzSkGDw7O6ck88M3pN7W-a8mTG_d2gaeNe7Wwx8/s640/blogger-image-711272660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-0IR0y3Io-mRqeYt0dhYRE9OtYojnlwS5r8m4_uKG3wetLjpmTl6T3dAbaczIQ6sIKkqwkJnUEu_kS283jF2xTODzStSSmAlxTpSKzSkGDw7O6ck88M3pN7W-a8mTG_d2gaeNe7Wwx8/s200/blogger-image-711272660.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-SSeA1ObZeB0sLeYVax_859jqF9-9bLgdixaQ3jpN0sWQgiplYma-knGsJ6pktba0JWo615Jt59fw1mKcHbCTeePQ73Mh6IkVnVurtycKutzJaW0XLAIyoPFvL7yg7vVSVSDzlClVsI/s640/blogger-image--173514887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-SSeA1ObZeB0sLeYVax_859jqF9-9bLgdixaQ3jpN0sWQgiplYma-knGsJ6pktba0JWo615Jt59fw1mKcHbCTeePQ73Mh6IkVnVurtycKutzJaW0XLAIyoPFvL7yg7vVSVSDzlClVsI/s200/blogger-image--173514887.jpg" width="200" /></a>I first took a lesson. After not riding for six weeks, it was a good idea, but Abby was a massive 16.2 hands and had a big moving trot. Even Eiger's moving trot makes me a tad nervous. Hers??? Whew! </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
It was good to work hard. By the end, I was doing much better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-gicl4VBf3HuPCYcAcXOEKhmA7cr4RSFSVinq9ITLOqplN127mBR_TLb9LUD0mUkv96qsOUgA-S_R13nwFSvkUqChnnIR_MZXv2RoJG3_T6vpwTp2WoPA5pR2ftajklX4QS092h7uqc/s1600/GEDC2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-gicl4VBf3HuPCYcAcXOEKhmA7cr4RSFSVinq9ITLOqplN127mBR_TLb9LUD0mUkv96qsOUgA-S_R13nwFSvkUqChnnIR_MZXv2RoJG3_T6vpwTp2WoPA5pR2ftajklX4QS092h7uqc/s200/GEDC2038.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Then I went with Loch Lomond Trekking. Super sweet Suzanne and darling cobs. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7FkJ8NtvjnPXWYVFc2GaTMSfkmrRrrSDqckhxR3xfloFNrdw31tVPEgMabT_HUr_cc_eNunui2Q2BvkhmTgwv4xni2rL9DV18MC-lI1l9RR-IN0czwMM_QzoMVukHa5kNInP2hR7aSM/s1600/GEDC2039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7FkJ8NtvjnPXWYVFc2GaTMSfkmrRrrSDqckhxR3xfloFNrdw31tVPEgMabT_HUr_cc_eNunui2Q2BvkhmTgwv4xni2rL9DV18MC-lI1l9RR-IN0czwMM_QzoMVukHa5kNInP2hR7aSM/s200/GEDC2039.JPG" width="200" /></a>I've never ridden a cob. They're such traditionally British horse. Tilly was broken to drive and ride . She was massive!!! Broad back. Huge feet. Suzanne said she's a "doer" and can practically live on air. Chuckle.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gDC6n06JK8hjWR1WNOkBHiixLEsX8NooYBBQ2mLVPRzxAU-k1KylY_MTyhcH-PGM_Eh8hVgzlK4FSEiuVpyqTI1e32KHDffg9DNmsFcs9pjRAa4vZAt_7uEbokaaaqrXM7sLp2iBJBY/s640/blogger-image-2037371353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gDC6n06JK8hjWR1WNOkBHiixLEsX8NooYBBQ2mLVPRzxAU-k1KylY_MTyhcH-PGM_Eh8hVgzlK4FSEiuVpyqTI1e32KHDffg9DNmsFcs9pjRAa4vZAt_7uEbokaaaqrXM7sLp2iBJBY/s200/blogger-image-2037371353.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe5EkNl-cWhc214mUcPW-HHIWzklxbSQHq4ee1_y1w5uTmPCfIzxxtoDMLt_CC6SsfiXdefP8peo5lP4IE3FNLYiSfx8hXFb_nf56qksH5uzSJP86Ipu87OPrNWYAKqmw9_ttlNy0G_w/s1600/GEDC2049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe5EkNl-cWhc214mUcPW-HHIWzklxbSQHq4ee1_y1w5uTmPCfIzxxtoDMLt_CC6SsfiXdefP8peo5lP4IE3FNLYiSfx8hXFb_nf56qksH5uzSJP86Ipu87OPrNWYAKqmw9_ttlNy0G_w/s320/GEDC2049.JPG" width="320" /></a>Big and sweet. With a Wintec saddle, I was fully at home and off we went.<br />
<br />
<br />
The moor--pronounced me-ewer (very soft r) was lovely. The sun came out and down below stretched Loch Lomond the largest fresh body of water in the UK.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
I learned that a mountain over 3000 ft is called a Munro and Ben Lomond is the most southern Munro in Scotland.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
Surrounded by ferns as tall as my pony's tummy, the sun dipping in and out of the puffy clouds, the breeze keeping things from being too warm, I felt swallowed by the Highlands.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
I'd done it. I'd found the moment. The moment I'd dreamed of. The moment I'd hoped for. The moment I wanted but thought I'd lost when I couldn't do the big cross country riding because of my appendix.</div>
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Woooohoooo! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
I'd brought my riding boots, my breeches, sunscreen and bug spray. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ah.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxXNEx-3fphmOkNaeQj8bYNSY1jtgbYqwR4YAgEzvXyc8sBT384hMEkXLy8YIXTeEURGX72Rh65Q-fzdr4UBnyqASdmJd1VLrDYJPSSvOLquwA8MLqU8O38_efr2Yi9aEl9m_-lnDkM4/s1600/GEDC2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxXNEx-3fphmOkNaeQj8bYNSY1jtgbYqwR4YAgEzvXyc8sBT384hMEkXLy8YIXTeEURGX72Rh65Q-fzdr4UBnyqASdmJd1VLrDYJPSSvOLquwA8MLqU8O38_efr2Yi9aEl9m_-lnDkM4/s320/GEDC2050.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now I can go home.</div>
brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-21710871689835423312015-07-13T08:26:00.001-06:002015-07-16T16:57:50.452-06:00The Highlands!The thing about the weather in Scotland is that you can't look out the window and wonder what the day's going to be like. Just figure at some point it's gong to rain.<br />
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Maybe hard. Maybe this almost feathery sprinkle. Maybe a few splats, but it's going to rain.</div>
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This makes shirts and jackets tough. If the sun's out it's warm. But this week anyway, that's few and far between. </div>
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The mountains are breathtaking. This is outside my hotel in Arrochar (pronounced ahrow-car).<br />
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They're steep and sometimes craggy. But they're so green. This is Loch Lomond. Notice the water fall.<br />
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But I did see a brown eagle. Massive wingspan.<br />
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The tiny towns are still so remote. This gives the countryside a very auld feel. Delightful! </div>
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Now if my hotel didn't have that same auld feel, it'd be just about perfect.</div>
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-56127862594981280722015-07-02T05:11:00.001-06:002015-07-16T13:58:09.349-06:00Crete...Not What I Was ExpectingCrete is the land of the Minoans. Theseus and the Minotaur.<br />
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And after several picturesque, well kept, beautiful islands, that's what I'd come to expect.<br />
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The rocky, dry hillside in the distance should have given me a hint.<br />
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The island of Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the farthest south. We landed on the port of Souda, a small but very industrialized area and took the city bus into town. We had thought about trying to walk into town. No way! It was a full 20 minute bus ride. <br />
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Chania is the city. Second largest in Crete. And quite frankly, Crete seems tired, beat up. Like Athens it's plagued by graffiti and except for the most touristy parts, it wasn't very well kept up or clean.<br />
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In World War II, Crete was hotly contested by the Germans and the British and the Cretans...not Cretins. It's value as a refueling and supply depot for either side, caused fierce fighting amoung brave partisans and their allies the British and the Nazis. </div>
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There is a large mountain with steep cliffs jutting out on one part of the island quite a distance from Chania. Standing the harbor, looking off at it, I couldn't help but wonder if that very site inspired Alistair Maclean's "The Guns of Navarone." If you haven't read the book or seen the movie with Gregory Peck...you should!</div>
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My one regret was not making it to the cemetery too far outside of town to walk and we couldn't manage renting a scooter. (Boy, did we try though.)</div>
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The old city and harbor was charming if you could manage to stave off the taverna and glass bottomed boat hawkers. <br />
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And the old lighthouse and crusader wall was great.<br />
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Despite the many days shopping,<br />
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there were still special things to find and we realized besides me need to taste baklava everywhere, we were in Greece and actually had not tried a gyro. A special treat at home. Curious they don't serve lamb. It was pork or chicken. And only mediocre as it turned out.</div>
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We did not regret missing the Palace ruins where the labyrinth was. We heard the site has been picked over and all the best pieces are in a museum far away and it was five hours of driving.</div>
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Just before jumping on the bus, we found a local market and that's where we found the baklava. (It had almonds :( and the walnut flavor wasn't very strong. But seeing the fishermen's catch was wild especially for a landlubber like me.<br />
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The most interesting thing we saw? Queues at the Greek banks. People trying to get out the 60 euros allowed by the government each day due to financial crisis. </div>
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The most peculiar thing we did? We stopped at a small spa and and had our feet kissed by tiny fish. They need to do this I the U.S.! People would love it!<br />
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-53856517766486775692015-06-30T00:27:00.001-06:002015-07-17T00:05:57.602-06:00Beautiful Mykonos<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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With a cooling breeze, Mykonos was a billion times more comfortable than sweltering Athens.<br />
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The port town is an unbelievably delightful maze of shops, tavernas and houses. Walt Disney himself couldn't have designed a sweeter, more enjoyable place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private Yachts. Those things<br />were huge!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmIEhKojWJl64HA4IIIJF2DVwlKq2pa3Gd0BSCgm6TIFGcswMMyD-zcaV_7LFVifHoEMZ22sMwxlfb_eDINLPO7AeJw1O4da6NyRL188-v7VyQH3G6KdJZU6_rDzOpnI4KLDnxN_LWrU/s640/blogger-image-26785774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmIEhKojWJl64HA4IIIJF2DVwlKq2pa3Gd0BSCgm6TIFGcswMMyD-zcaV_7LFVifHoEMZ22sMwxlfb_eDINLPO7AeJw1O4da6NyRL188-v7VyQH3G6KdJZU6_rDzOpnI4KLDnxN_LWrU/s200/blogger-image-26785774.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7kMbbgoW5jdiS_c_YP9tKUdlBzb7RO4gppPgDiTJbk6mkNkjdnCA76YmvEldiqr2TH8hvUfR8v3yAYLmVztrmv_2UkiI71u0lpSBJ9vAmxzVZw0weC8W4IIlhuPITRjGo5HHZTxQ6HI/s640/blogger-image--717727610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7kMbbgoW5jdiS_c_YP9tKUdlBzb7RO4gppPgDiTJbk6mkNkjdnCA76YmvEldiqr2TH8hvUfR8v3yAYLmVztrmv_2UkiI71u0lpSBJ9vAmxzVZw0weC8W4IIlhuPITRjGo5HHZTxQ6HI/s200/blogger-image--717727610.jpg" width="200" /></a>But, watch out for the trucks! Really. Tiny trucks which send all the pedestrians....shopkeepers included, scurrying for steps, alcoves or stores to get out of the way.<br />
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Everything here is white, white, white. It gives it a very clean feel.</div>
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My favorite thing was the beautiful handmade jewelry and art work--paintings, handwoven fabrics, pottery. Too bad I'm about shopped out.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ship anchored. We had to tender in.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdgWqm6JfqZSnfOjwKMQuf6ga_x89z_Xi0OEZWMP_lhUu_Q6ByeHRD149KTSxyDC3j3KGqSYlXWtqZyj6w3vpNfvQUgO0QifKdii8yhKfJ7nI5h1EHL7pdnTe9iJpp-Aym39zKf6HKZw/s640/blogger-image--40067053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdgWqm6JfqZSnfOjwKMQuf6ga_x89z_Xi0OEZWMP_lhUu_Q6ByeHRD149KTSxyDC3j3KGqSYlXWtqZyj6w3vpNfvQUgO0QifKdii8yhKfJ7nI5h1EHL7pdnTe9iJpp-Aym39zKf6HKZw/s200/blogger-image--40067053.jpg" width="149" /></a>But it was a fun day not to go out away from the town. Just grabbed the computer and TRIED to access the Internet. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPD-uAXrIfYyRvnVBIhSC57oy9MiMDd0qS0BIuKKgsA5JHuwwIXkoruhiXteiJdbYNLlJZkbpNQoCHfmEVp3S271n45-lYbY8qc5_PTH4FC3D9EfiEKg5BK-uppDc5fbMmHfT4M5XK8I/s640/blogger-image--507884871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPD-uAXrIfYyRvnVBIhSC57oy9MiMDd0qS0BIuKKgsA5JHuwwIXkoruhiXteiJdbYNLlJZkbpNQoCHfmEVp3S271n45-lYbY8qc5_PTH4FC3D9EfiEKg5BK-uppDc5fbMmHfT4M5XK8I/s200/blogger-image--507884871.jpg" width="200" /></a>And what else? Taste some....baklava, of course!<br />
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This is some of the best of the whole trip. To say that it's buttery, seems weird. But it was sweet but not too. And very gooey!<br />
Yummm.<br />
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I really want some of those little knives and forks.....</div>
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-13934081036311119122015-06-29T03:05:00.001-06:002015-07-16T13:59:35.170-06:00The Acropolis! These Eyes Have Seen<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Okay, first let me say, I have been a lot of places. I love seeing things with my own eyes.<br />
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But I never dreamed of seeing the Acropolis or the Parthenon. Every bit of me--except the dripping sweat of me--loved it.</div>
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High on a hill surrounded by a massive, massive sprawling modern, graffiti covered, dirty, Athens.<br />
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Side note...we were there on Sunday, and was probably good because many shops were closed and I can't imagine the traffic snarls if everything was open. Our open topped double decked bus had a hard time as it was.<br />
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The Acropolis is the whole hilltop. The Parthenon is just one massive temple.<br />
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They've done something both smart and somehow disappointing. They're rebuilding parts of it, putting in new whiter marble so you can recognize the new parts. And some of the statues have been removed and put into the Acropolis museum where they can be protected and replacements stand on the hill. </div>
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The ground is unbroken and the rock, the marble, is very slick. The sun reflects off the marble and sunglasses are a must.</div>
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For someone who loves to travel and as a history teacher, it was magnificent!</div>
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Best moment.</div>
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As we were leaving a little girl walked by talking to her dad and said...."it's like the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Monument."</div>
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I couldn't resist. I stepped forward, explain that I teach history so I wouldn't be too scary, and commended the girl for making that connection, because that's exactly what our Founding Fathers had in mind in using that architecture. Buildings reflecting greatness and the Greek message of democracy.</div>
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And..way to apply prior knowledge. Her little brother nudged her and said..."way to go!" </div>
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Hey...congrats to her teachers". What more could a teacher ask for??<br />
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-50798832614836332762015-06-29T02:42:00.001-06:002015-06-29T02:42:28.396-06:00Tiny Picturesque SantoriniThe beautiful island of Santorini is famous from movies. It's a caldera. Cliff. Not cliff. And water....some still bubbling away.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gojm-Lfq_UfhN_Bt_dBJ26wXU9nAL96e6ZDF_GTvpF_W70OKx3ahyXp1NZj9ERvEr47PVbLu5CKPIgKrQNtWRZ0pxZwwcDTTy5MD6JijH5Fr2-sGJS42Tyw1-QuNIvsCiVrAq1cJpDc/s640/blogger-image--268610524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gojm-Lfq_UfhN_Bt_dBJ26wXU9nAL96e6ZDF_GTvpF_W70OKx3ahyXp1NZj9ERvEr47PVbLu5CKPIgKrQNtWRZ0pxZwwcDTTy5MD6JijH5Fr2-sGJS42Tyw1-QuNIvsCiVrAq1cJpDc/s640/blogger-image--268610524.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>They docked us below Fira and we took a cable car to the top...or you could the steep, steep hundreds of steps.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI9Egk4NPYttzXjb4ePqQsJlva3pcWRNq7Gnl7qDzX7dFgbyyV2grJ7yBIHPF7H-tJFGkb3PHAkcU4wcNR5w6dlfLF6xi7yF-Wkls143lRphVcG8aDAQGnk7MyrCkP9i3RJUSaAcu0E/s640/blogger-image--624326839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dI9Egk4NPYttzXjb4ePqQsJlva3pcWRNq7Gnl7qDzX7dFgbyyV2grJ7yBIHPF7H-tJFGkb3PHAkcU4wcNR5w6dlfLF6xi7yF-Wkls143lRphVcG8aDAQGnk7MyrCkP9i3RJUSaAcu0E/s640/blogger-image--624326839.jpg"></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGptRS6KUPIQPTjlDiMXTrPBCDSjq_-GddUeXRT_QGbSDA3s6eyl6u_as6HtCKFBdG1dkqAVkPHxw1eWGoxAp2Eh-ZyT-82bnsAVQudW4VfZvV01Z345gvFwwa34fHMVQX-yvJKPHuB4/s640/blogger-image--879062573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGptRS6KUPIQPTjlDiMXTrPBCDSjq_-GddUeXRT_QGbSDA3s6eyl6u_as6HtCKFBdG1dkqAVkPHxw1eWGoxAp2Eh-ZyT-82bnsAVQudW4VfZvV01Z345gvFwwa34fHMVQX-yvJKPHuB4/s640/blogger-image--879062573.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The Plaka of Fira is delightful. White buildings. Tiny streets. Vendors. </div><div><br></div><div>Grabbing a scooter, we headed out to Ia (pronunced ee-uh) where the famous blue roofed church of all the posters stands. </div><div><br></div><div>The cliff side drive would have curled my hair if it were straight. But I was busy driving and learned that oncoming tour buses are definitely a bit terrifying.</div><div><br></div><div>Ia has even more tiny streets and even whiter buildings. Perched on the cliff, it's absolutely breathtaking.</div><div><br></div><div>Vendors selling out of the back of their van...with the hatch open is a traditional small village way of shopping. How do we know? We bought a shirt from one. Actually, I sat in a little bakery eating lovely baklava...with a distinct cinnamon flavor.</div><div><br></div><div>The scooter allowed us the freedom to see more of the island. The 125cc gave us the power to get the hills better than in Rhodes. Why did I drive? I still have my motorcycle license which they required on this island.</div><div><br></div><div>We wandered our way to Acrotiri...a "prehistoric" village. It was a successful trading village in 1600s BC when first it was hit by an earthquake and while it was trying to recover a massive volcano eruption hit it 1623 BC. The village was buried under feet of ash and kept fully preserved until the 1960s when it was found and excavated.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0Kq0YcMe3GX1pkxtfJTb1HhAmk0O0IS1ul1gH_KqAychGcQDeHw2QrWux-ssp6ontVuaUe-5S_v5ZffrxLnTq47soS271LbKXjfCeCu_5llIAhKdiEwwjnlqBgkFUVmdwTn1s-1167o/s640/blogger-image-1393584966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0Kq0YcMe3GX1pkxtfJTb1HhAmk0O0IS1ul1gH_KqAychGcQDeHw2QrWux-ssp6ontVuaUe-5S_v5ZffrxLnTq47soS271LbKXjfCeCu_5llIAhKdiEwwjnlqBgkFUVmdwTn1s-1167o/s640/blogger-image-1393584966.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>They think they've only found one layer. It was amazing!</div><div><br></div><div>The roof over the dig was almost as amazing as the ruins. It's covered with dirt, it's a bio-dome which protects from wet, dry light and even sun radiation. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4a2haFnJcYW0psCxluMiMsWu71ZP3XybwLZFsxqvfIRfDNS3_IRAHmXum0SxsC4I4vQob9V1ISkqev0wiun8OSMfAURnzkrjS1BE_pjhAJidemN1_jsIS3h0ZPU-acbKSOEJ7FArKCc/s640/blogger-image-1508012688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4a2haFnJcYW0psCxluMiMsWu71ZP3XybwLZFsxqvfIRfDNS3_IRAHmXum0SxsC4I4vQob9V1ISkqev0wiun8OSMfAURnzkrjS1BE_pjhAJidemN1_jsIS3h0ZPU-acbKSOEJ7FArKCc/s640/blogger-image-1508012688.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Note: if there a solar storm and you need protection, head there.</div><div><br></div><div>Super day!</div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-18517931820752843762015-06-28T00:24:00.001-06:002015-06-28T00:24:12.814-06:00Rhodes! Or Should I Say Roads? Whatever You Say, it's Ancient!First and foremost, Rhodes is an ancient city. But for the crusaders, it's still busy with people.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5LlKFM6olgQIwSRGtwLQ_xbAsPCd_rkx6GfwyVHDbI-WfgcIkG1EHfn-Tnm3tbMK6HOMhRFjG03dd7lBya0EH8bxX37br9ZPlImmM1a-rG82PAatFJ913tiz1_1l3qTLvsUiaLfgiD8/s640/blogger-image--2003757087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5LlKFM6olgQIwSRGtwLQ_xbAsPCd_rkx6GfwyVHDbI-WfgcIkG1EHfn-Tnm3tbMK6HOMhRFjG03dd7lBya0EH8bxX37br9ZPlImmM1a-rG82PAatFJ913tiz1_1l3qTLvsUiaLfgiD8/s640/blogger-image--2003757087.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>For my Israel friends, think Jerusalem's walled city and old city inside it, only Rhodes is cleaner, and less crowded-ish and not so intense. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b5dxSmxH7NkuHaBtLCCDbcciiuhJPaaed_QLfsArkkukDOvvvVeQZsv5Pb5D0_o8B_ndiWkjBf_pN28hYh-RSBn0bdpSYIeQGVngH90BhJ2iRQezC1_CTgC3z3C2fIndvt_1hjvtQSg/s640/blogger-image-1037642379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b5dxSmxH7NkuHaBtLCCDbcciiuhJPaaed_QLfsArkkukDOvvvVeQZsv5Pb5D0_o8B_ndiWkjBf_pN28hYh-RSBn0bdpSYIeQGVngH90BhJ2iRQezC1_CTgC3z3C2fIndvt_1hjvtQSg/s640/blogger-image-1037642379.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Greece is a lovely laid back culture and everywhere...just like in Turkey (oh, big surprise since Turkey owned it for Many years) there are outdoor cafes. These are used both by weary tourists and the locals.</div><div><br></div><div>The Castle of St. Peter looks like something out of a movie set! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIqgaN07AE4WL36mayDKQiZVcNrHGmwF3Iwfe9FjANJEZeuBxTaNow6jeACu0ZzTkUFjV7DSagQaPkRJ8TOQDj1DiFU6KCi6bI6YeDszH8mYkEnD-FMcM7T9VeT8-Sk0kHVx699xJCOM/s640/blogger-image--1074718229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIqgaN07AE4WL36mayDKQiZVcNrHGmwF3Iwfe9FjANJEZeuBxTaNow6jeACu0ZzTkUFjV7DSagQaPkRJ8TOQDj1DiFU6KCi6bI6YeDszH8mYkEnD-FMcM7T9VeT8-Sk0kHVx699xJCOM/s640/blogger-image--1074718229.jpg"></a> Think Kights Templar...yes again. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFJ6WudQ4dNBbJYOi-JTggR70CZYjXr9GBoG9PchMnV6YZzcDZD_wPXakrSPBBdd9DDsr9Gi63zxLVpmvSBVZKK8gaRQbJeKls66dHrjoEvArxjImb6QBp20GQ5fEUFY_7Trptb-DyKY/s640/blogger-image-558345147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFJ6WudQ4dNBbJYOi-JTggR70CZYjXr9GBoG9PchMnV6YZzcDZD_wPXakrSPBBdd9DDsr9Gi63zxLVpmvSBVZKK8gaRQbJeKls66dHrjoEvArxjImb6QBp20GQ5fEUFY_7Trptb-DyKY/s640/blogger-image-558345147.jpg"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This book was made in the 1300s. Talk about old!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVakj41K_4zwH7UDhyb5pOZ8RmZKgzuG4TxTI4mB8R9ONjx5Mrxwfu5iF72wopXZAxI5fF31ViaUu_rGy7KKi_Y67bUCnPU5FiXQB2-mYoYskgDgzEC0PS7k8wbMjZlW73x1bVhyphenhyphenv38/s640/blogger-image-1549886825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVakj41K_4zwH7UDhyb5pOZ8RmZKgzuG4TxTI4mB8R9ONjx5Mrxwfu5iF72wopXZAxI5fF31ViaUu_rGy7KKi_Y67bUCnPU5FiXQB2-mYoYskgDgzEC0PS7k8wbMjZlW73x1bVhyphenhyphenv38/s640/blogger-image-1549886825.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div> Turns out that Mussolini actually had it rebuilt this last century. Sure glad he did because it's cooool! They've turned it into a museum with artifacts from the Hellenistic Era (that's early Greek--for those who haven't been paying attention) too bad we couldn't take photos, some lovely mosaics and statuary.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjrMCO5_AA54Dmo2Kaa7yHsgk0OePYBtYoNVqjtNnRBmskMEoUz2gEVCvTaUY6aOTAcVZtT-9ptWI9EkB_JCS6cKa2-0MrLVQ1aGPu_xutQ76kSbdw9NmfXIL5xh-JCq8Aee-NT0FHio/s640/blogger-image-272382742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjrMCO5_AA54Dmo2Kaa7yHsgk0OePYBtYoNVqjtNnRBmskMEoUz2gEVCvTaUY6aOTAcVZtT-9ptWI9EkB_JCS6cKa2-0MrLVQ1aGPu_xutQ76kSbdw9NmfXIL5xh-JCq8Aee-NT0FHio/s640/blogger-image-272382742.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We also wanted to see the Temple of Artemis. Just cause it sounded cool. I mean a Greek temple? Who would turn that down? Yep. We stumbled on it. Lucky we checked the map, or we would have trudged right by it. </div><div><br></div><div>Btw...once I get real Internet, I'll add more pics.</div><div><br></div><div>So, it seemed like a good day. </div><div><br></div><div>Ahhhh, but then it becomes best day!!</div><div><br></div><div>We rented a scooter!!!</div><div><br></div><div>Using the little 50cc we chugged around Rhodes, including getting to see the Acropolis...not THE Acropolis the one for Rhodes which is home to the Temple of Apollo and is high on the hill overlooking both the old and new city.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYu5lvCmGA-8UnViOytd-h673xMMfW7DanbdPVsyQgcmp59-NwMhNko5gtdM5iGzwfbti6DBIEwLkdD5KUCMjigqvMldZziGphKpZEzOLI-FKc3M0oRLeH9vabcq0mmABC5_uocKi2p8/s640/blogger-image-1661496625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYu5lvCmGA-8UnViOytd-h673xMMfW7DanbdPVsyQgcmp59-NwMhNko5gtdM5iGzwfbti6DBIEwLkdD5KUCMjigqvMldZziGphKpZEzOLI-FKc3M0oRLeH9vabcq0mmABC5_uocKi2p8/s640/blogger-image-1661496625.jpg"></a></div></div><div>We even found where artists say the Colossus of Rhodes stood. Yes, really. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsEOk2WpHgwWv341qmx3FHx2KKl2h1YYtRkvcU0Qe4KG0mFObb5GXUnDRktguTQYp4VSkDHQjCRjm4NN4doNz4Me9ubwlbmYNi4e-PrpWGxYMTcpM0txZgG-E1d4cfCFAShRMHtC717U/s640/blogger-image--2064298103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsEOk2WpHgwWv341qmx3FHx2KKl2h1YYtRkvcU0Qe4KG0mFObb5GXUnDRktguTQYp4VSkDHQjCRjm4NN4doNz4Me9ubwlbmYNi4e-PrpWGxYMTcpM0txZgG-E1d4cfCFAShRMHtC717U/s640/blogger-image--2064298103.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We rode (or should I say "rhode") along the beach road and stopped in at a little bakery. I may never have baklava again. It was soooo good. Drippy and sweet but not too much. The walnut filling was a delight!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQzUigqIf8g2gusZK0LpWCDc6RLsKRTVEjOD4LZzWhApWCMWunc2Gmew3MUU8n3Jr4cdRdLQLa23lphlzhhkVYAWKvEFyzTMUKWIGmKyzI4i8-f_-of82NQEzJNGQmFyUxDlcSJ7cl_U/s640/blogger-image--1440742865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQzUigqIf8g2gusZK0LpWCDc6RLsKRTVEjOD4LZzWhApWCMWunc2Gmew3MUU8n3Jr4cdRdLQLa23lphlzhhkVYAWKvEFyzTMUKWIGmKyzI4i8-f_-of82NQEzJNGQmFyUxDlcSJ7cl_U/s640/blogger-image--1440742865.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The water around Rhodes is an even more incredible blue. Near the beach edge, it lightens up to almost a turquoise because it mixes with the sand. You can even see your feet because the water is so light blue.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-5FbF90L24dZD7RRFgfDv9MWDzILObpLiH_qAIvJY8AKvrdlK0PJpIvhlZqck31qtQNpdODgHNKmEB4Rm48-5u2Sdae9rR4CDqoN7H-Ch2ZIEqYm5QC69oBGi5gX8YOK2OSqKod64nY/s640/blogger-image--1852759850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-5FbF90L24dZD7RRFgfDv9MWDzILObpLiH_qAIvJY8AKvrdlK0PJpIvhlZqck31qtQNpdODgHNKmEB4Rm48-5u2Sdae9rR4CDqoN7H-Ch2ZIEqYm5QC69oBGi5gX8YOK2OSqKod64nY/s640/blogger-image--1852759850.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>We saw a LOT of very lobster run red sunburned people. Ow!</div><div><br></div><div>Public service announcement.....WEAR SUNCREEN!!! As a skin cancer victim, I'm here to tell you having your nose rebuilt because of skin cancer is just one of those opportunities I recommend you miss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyM8PpMdPeq_AjNHeD_efkXEuTrpos2P2iJmURIi0mafMPydWiffbbtMwByuHOFUISw7-nSCP9Io-BhL7zqAhadOXE5Nd_jzO1vrezvy1GwPKps7YeInF9YIJ1G_200gntlIx5i6WqUk/s640/blogger-image--403764871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyM8PpMdPeq_AjNHeD_efkXEuTrpos2P2iJmURIi0mafMPydWiffbbtMwByuHOFUISw7-nSCP9Io-BhL7zqAhadOXE5Nd_jzO1vrezvy1GwPKps7YeInF9YIJ1G_200gntlIx5i6WqUk/s640/blogger-image--403764871.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHJDc9XIdiH-AGe86x8uX01KBcBvoykycaW2shRZ1-dcOqgSD3eGBH7sFaVgmdgqni_CwlGJabNNYP0aHWxg6TXBHbZWW7hP1KhnUIrvlaN3kXpl3_9qwjX4xWaOCC7nLS3Js-SHqdNY/s640/blogger-image-1772675645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHJDc9XIdiH-AGe86x8uX01KBcBvoykycaW2shRZ1-dcOqgSD3eGBH7sFaVgmdgqni_CwlGJabNNYP0aHWxg6TXBHbZWW7hP1KhnUIrvlaN3kXpl3_9qwjX4xWaOCC7nLS3Js-SHqdNY/s640/blogger-image-1772675645.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-89566614737906297622015-06-26T05:56:00.001-06:002015-06-26T05:56:19.629-06:00Bodrum, Turkey -- Quaint Crusader Village and the Father of HistoryBodrum is dominated by the ancient and modern. The massive Knights Castle from the Crusades stands over the town. A 25 min. Walk from where the ships dock takes you through the delightful town and shopping district. <div><br></div><div>Appropriately standing outside the castle...as you are about to embark on a daylong study of history...stands Herodotus. The Father of History. (He live in Bodrum for a bit.)</div><div><br></div><div>He wrote the first history book...that we know of. </div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Good news! Teachers were highly respected back then. They made pretty darn good money. (It's explained in the castle. ) Well..compared with the average person. Question. What happened??? Isn't learning valued anymore?</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div></div><div>Highlights of the castle were engraved stones bearing the shields or standards of many of the Knights. Templar type crosses. British lions. French fleur-di-lys. The castle, now a museum, held many items from shipwrecks In the area. Large pots from the Phoenicia, the early Egyptians, the Ottoman Empire.</div><div><br></div><div>Time stretched across the stones. Centuries captures before us.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2kqDJ3NPq9TB2ISpE9Hg9Q1tHTD-WuOFe1sn8h4sDKY_wcTi7QkchLzrPiyDlrtRdxEkURFfin_uEvnVZoiwKGTK8oKJhB2xTKzG8YHKIrEJF3O12eNwx7xUSh0aL8o-skWKPM3p9FU/s640/blogger-image-1230370115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2kqDJ3NPq9TB2ISpE9Hg9Q1tHTD-WuOFe1sn8h4sDKY_wcTi7QkchLzrPiyDlrtRdxEkURFfin_uEvnVZoiwKGTK8oKJhB2xTKzG8YHKIrEJF3O12eNwx7xUSh0aL8o-skWKPM3p9FU/s640/blogger-image-1230370115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKj7fLZk0EWhVjJ7sSGkrxu-D9NjP078Hf_sjbQ8PRuRTI5TysKlwECTdGmXsjkjmx24SlYn1hqUMI2xBZYob5AuSKrJaGrtj1fBJGm6Y0HvDVuP-b2Lx7NwJh64Thn3Ll92Zh37wYDg/s640/blogger-image--1218072611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKj7fLZk0EWhVjJ7sSGkrxu-D9NjP078Hf_sjbQ8PRuRTI5TysKlwECTdGmXsjkjmx24SlYn1hqUMI2xBZYob5AuSKrJaGrtj1fBJGm6Y0HvDVuP-b2Lx7NwJh64Thn3Ll92Zh37wYDg/s640/blogger-image--1218072611.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>For my students...Saracen bows! And Crusader armor in the same room! </div><div><br></div><div>Recovered glass vases, some unbelievably not broken. Gold-jewelry (even for the dead! That skull looked like he was wearing gold sunglasses, coins of all types, tin, silver, gold, <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wCo10lnTt_fUmnKIFAxS4ZOLzwa8cjdOl48t-23mTmOTGL1EHZmnMkPcNkr-swNHKlH6pGp9C0FO1GZTnZM-8NbhzEps-kQhBBardzFA2qGJjnJsv5NUE_5aLMW69ZqJ6TlXCOkfbrs/s640/blogger-image-482807236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wCo10lnTt_fUmnKIFAxS4ZOLzwa8cjdOl48t-23mTmOTGL1EHZmnMkPcNkr-swNHKlH6pGp9C0FO1GZTnZM-8NbhzEps-kQhBBardzFA2qGJjnJsv5NUE_5aLMW69ZqJ6TlXCOkfbrs/s640/blogger-image-482807236.jpg"></a></div>tools--massive anchors..</div><div><br></div><div>Up and down, in and around, history enveloped you.</div><div><br></div><div>But...up the street...not far away were the remains of King Mausolos' tomb.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxz3uB87fpQEN6RtDda8g_cAbDe9FwJgG76Cz5Ap_fiwmiAZ3q8xiGdmJqxSmmeesZMgKDWvhcd2iY__W-VZwKP6m2rKm9cs7gGBqtdc3tdwmRF7VsuGUs35DaUVNBl8EusTvnkpO86g/s640/blogger-image--1419848096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxz3uB87fpQEN6RtDda8g_cAbDe9FwJgG76Cz5Ap_fiwmiAZ3q8xiGdmJqxSmmeesZMgKDWvhcd2iY__W-VZwKP6m2rKm9cs7gGBqtdc3tdwmRF7VsuGUs35DaUVNBl8EusTvnkpO86g/s640/blogger-image--1419848096.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Who's that?</div><div><br></div><div>Glad you asked!</div><div><br></div><div>He's the guy mausoleum is named after because he built one. Massive. Massive. MASSIVE! Multi-story. Statues. Columns. Chariots. Columns. </div><div><br></div><div>Ah, but here's the rub. If you're not there to make sure no one touches and less than a mile away and 800 years later they're building a massive castle made of stone...what's to keep someone from reusing the stone from your memorial? </div><div><br></div><div>Yep. Nothing's left.</div><div><br></div><div>They the actual grave was intact when the Knights first went digging. They were going to open it the next day after they found it, bit during the night, grave robbers got in and stole everything and anything. Oh well. A lesson in futility.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes me sad seeing the pyramids, crusader castles and the remains of places like the Mausoleum is how much of the gross national product must have gone into building those things. And I wonder how much slave labor was used to build them.</div><div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-69768912180665077912015-06-25T04:53:00.001-06:002015-06-25T04:53:12.490-06:00Ephesus Well Worth the Trip<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Okay, Ephesus!</span></div><div><br></div><div>Hellenistic, Roman and Bzyantine Periods... (Greek, Roman and Turkish)</div><div><br></div><div>For the poorly informed---that's a LOT of years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6R7THhaVaeftbCjNMGwC5vsE83PQXltcjEV0w3eD4SRc7Jp5eGyLq106IOwTeVsvZX3OPLjq7FhCjqFMF5M58giSLkmtuoq6byzRpsqjAvHVSzCkH1VoNfgbhNS_SCqw_a99Eo-29mY/s640/blogger-image--774091635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6R7THhaVaeftbCjNMGwC5vsE83PQXltcjEV0w3eD4SRc7Jp5eGyLq106IOwTeVsvZX3OPLjq7FhCjqFMF5M58giSLkmtuoq6byzRpsqjAvHVSzCkH1VoNfgbhNS_SCqw_a99Eo-29mY/s640/blogger-image--774091635.jpg"></a>As a writer and a teacher where else would I be???</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A LIBRARY!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Celsius library.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kOcqBXDCJJcZGwVSTnjJjbIbekJ10_Ptsw_ixUcZH4IWEmfxkWnq-XScpPyHGZuDpSg2z6W4NaNKbm3AEoK2Gc_kvPb1RjuhHdiRPUJ60y2Icx4OCo5-hDGaBN70s4eL7blfLLkJqg/s640/blogger-image-1863531363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kOcqBXDCJJcZGwVSTnjJjbIbekJ10_Ptsw_ixUcZH4IWEmfxkWnq-XScpPyHGZuDpSg2z6W4NaNKbm3AEoK2Gc_kvPb1RjuhHdiRPUJ60y2Icx4OCo5-hDGaBN70s4eL7blfLLkJqg/s640/blogger-image-1863531363.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ephesus, yes as in the Ephesians in the New Testament, is a massive archeological site. We walked downhill more than a mile through the enter. We saw two massive theaters.one seating 4000 and the other seating 24'000 (eat your heart out Troy). Evidently it seated 10% of the city's population. Impressive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG6YhAp5ICfWO0u3LkhzIkbXh_BSSIhWagCk1MEIV7alybCTmkJKaX-4dEQ_iCJ4Edr_iIjuZZpfg2Rkv2ZqYNmwJzRVkrUMZioC2JoBArJyhU9-wyLNpeScoxtaAeWHcwbKBDwqxQ38/s640/blogger-image-99984282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG6YhAp5ICfWO0u3LkhzIkbXh_BSSIhWagCk1MEIV7alybCTmkJKaX-4dEQ_iCJ4Edr_iIjuZZpfg2Rkv2ZqYNmwJzRVkrUMZioC2JoBArJyhU9-wyLNpeScoxtaAeWHcwbKBDwqxQ38/s640/blogger-image-99984282.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Agora or main administrative part of the city was massive, as was the hospital. How do they know it was a hospital? There's a caduceus on the corner of the building.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXky7MqxhS5u6JVzzbZ8zMh6ddYIO4pjyk_CTvXLYSkw-oCx8fWDXIK73KzOTzVERolySDo2-edi4Ff9HQNjiPn23TrL40_fIryCxy_RqSVYYLnFX1b7AZorICnEs0KXndge850y2ZLM4/s640/blogger-image--565681027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXky7MqxhS5u6JVzzbZ8zMh6ddYIO4pjyk_CTvXLYSkw-oCx8fWDXIK73KzOTzVERolySDo2-edi4Ff9HQNjiPn23TrL40_fIryCxy_RqSVYYLnFX1b7AZorICnEs0KXndge850y2ZLM4/s640/blogger-image--565681027.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcws050LFoD8tGXF_sJgJi3ZwDysFQoaGqmw8ylb3cNQGTEe6bF46-HFP7DdUD1_3GBYRZH7L99PhLMGcx7EjXlY4k54PvpYqyc7Y7__PDlrAiGO912ivgG16MIKOAewYlKQ11-5MXcQ/s640/blogger-image-1871772576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcws050LFoD8tGXF_sJgJi3ZwDysFQoaGqmw8ylb3cNQGTEe6bF46-HFP7DdUD1_3GBYRZH7L99PhLMGcx7EjXlY4k54PvpYqyc7Y7__PDlrAiGO912ivgG16MIKOAewYlKQ11-5MXcQ/s640/blogger-image-1871772576.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And...they've only excavated 20% of the site!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO-KWpvjYHHk_7bNOFa0RWtmLGkpL7Gxx9-6RrrW3ZtAb7yGzm6hhgqF7qX5OJsusWmxivPvORfaP3TpDPNYgMfYnTykMhvfrM4fSvA9sHzqf0dTzf56RUG_RX9EvlK-XopFEPo6oN6M/s640/blogger-image--1854462185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO-KWpvjYHHk_7bNOFa0RWtmLGkpL7Gxx9-6RrrW3ZtAb7yGzm6hhgqF7qX5OJsusWmxivPvORfaP3TpDPNYgMfYnTykMhvfrM4fSvA9sHzqf0dTzf56RUG_RX9EvlK-XopFEPo6oN6M/s640/blogger-image--1854462185.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Highlights? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Gotta be the public toilet. No, they did not believe in privacy. Btw, they used slaves to keep the seats warm In the Winter. Talk about a bummer of a job!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrkHTe5qG4MBKdi43YZbfyWxZ2vJf3QQLZX023N7wyLJoh8iu_K2an_YbRX4N3VxMl-aowahDqg3CNheWgQQqtbq13CjG95qQeX4tDUX3NztqdCTubk_B5fFHeq49y7UOt1ayZaByBM0/s640/blogger-image-1848420178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrkHTe5qG4MBKdi43YZbfyWxZ2vJf3QQLZX023N7wyLJoh8iu_K2an_YbRX4N3VxMl-aowahDqg3CNheWgQQqtbq13CjG95qQeX4tDUX3NztqdCTubk_B5fFHeq49y7UOt1ayZaByBM0/s640/blogger-image-1848420178.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you look closely, you can see the clay pipe which brought water to the flushing system.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39DPC08cjaFtCj0YidHZ7Ix50rhJP8DBNK75EcmaC-4zUHgHFSDFZaAtl1bM8Nn3usTEcwef2-tAn6qhKwewvLd3Ov2gOg0xCdAw2aHNB_EY0B6GOVqCeI9QldTSqKxU9s-cj48SzgO0/s640/blogger-image-1301391454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39DPC08cjaFtCj0YidHZ7Ix50rhJP8DBNK75EcmaC-4zUHgHFSDFZaAtl1bM8Nn3usTEcwef2-tAn6qhKwewvLd3Ov2gOg0xCdAw2aHNB_EY0B6GOVqCeI9QldTSqKxU9s-cj48SzgO0/s640/blogger-image-1301391454.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the monumental gates. One dedicated to Herucles. With the lion he killed a one of his labors.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQra2pbhWxd5baqQ0pp5w7xuQZkXrgvbgLlyLQK2LoMHuraFaHLypuHWqSwob5sqVGAcsZ6FLkFj6Tq2Kor-dzbsKjGarv5HF3O4oSKevop1e54ddTeVzyF-LXlSFygy03yYk-A2YN-E/s640/blogger-image--39753082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQra2pbhWxd5baqQ0pp5w7xuQZkXrgvbgLlyLQK2LoMHuraFaHLypuHWqSwob5sqVGAcsZ6FLkFj6Tq2Kor-dzbsKjGarv5HF3O4oSKevop1e54ddTeVzyF-LXlSFygy03yYk-A2YN-E/s640/blogger-image--39753082.jpg"></font></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> And loving the Ionian columns. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkEPVVtvakBi4vfxkwsq2ZaTatbzC1eiGZ0C7HDH684E23ZCtHPAztt7bh_BXolHAtpSIyR4My4pqMGpSxqDf90T79uKJMlMd45yeAYq-IYmufK_bIudhRxdy81OfiQzw18csyiYvHHw/s640/blogger-image-426508804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkEPVVtvakBi4vfxkwsq2ZaTatbzC1eiGZ0C7HDH684E23ZCtHPAztt7bh_BXolHAtpSIyR4My4pqMGpSxqDf90T79uKJMlMd45yeAYq-IYmufK_bIudhRxdy81OfiQzw18csyiYvHHw/s640/blogger-image-426508804.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the Roman mosaics, with their natural stones. If you were a shopkeeper and didn't keep it clean, you had to pay more taxes.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0jZTf41CIL1zgF1iPplqwoN2W4ZeD2j-p0tQa1kMl2KZ6Or883bOwPhvjotQEecB4RdWJzyLwRQ2Aie4tyZC2Yb6i-LMiUbuyFbKK-BTsL8E9NTBZl78ho73_wZX1KwL43duZUkB_KA/s640/blogger-image-1818067926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0jZTf41CIL1zgF1iPplqwoN2W4ZeD2j-p0tQa1kMl2KZ6Or883bOwPhvjotQEecB4RdWJzyLwRQ2Aie4tyZC2Yb6i-LMiUbuyFbKK-BTsL8E9NTBZl78ho73_wZX1KwL43duZUkB_KA/s640/blogger-image-1818067926.jpg"></a></div>So why was it abandoned? As our guide put it, disease (Mosquitos), the new development of Christianity--nobody likes pagan gods and their temples. Poor Paul was nearly mobbed however when he tried to preach about the new religion centuries earlier. But more importantly...FIVE major earthquake events. The water--the river they were using-- was moved and it's a bit tough to have a thriving port city when there's no water around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next stop? The carpet factory. Wish I had the $400 for a tiny silk one. Sheesh! More about silk carpets later.</div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-36602897154084341752015-06-24T02:11:00.001-06:002015-06-24T02:11:34.870-06:00Travel in TurkeyTurkey is a fascinating place. I expected more of an Arab feel. Wrong. Turkish...I don't think that's what it's called by its speakers, is a mishmash of languages. I recognized English type words. French, Arabic and even Slav or Russian. Makes sense since it's the thoroughfare between East and West. But every language bits I know came to me, but none fit the bill.<div><br></div><div>We were fairly unprepared for our trip to Turkey, so I thought I would offer some observations for any interested parties.<div><br></div><div>What to Expect:</div><div>Very little English</div><div><br></div><div>We spent the first several days outside of Istanbul. We struggled to find people who really spoke English.</div><div><br></div><div>Use cash</div><div><br></div><div>Before I left, I checked with my credit card companies to let them know I was coming here. They said it was possible that charges could be denied because this is a high loss country. Several times we tried our Visas--3 different cards---and they were rejected. However ATMs are easily accessible. In 2015 10 TL (Turkish lira) are worth about $3.50 US</div><div><br></div><div>Crazy driving</div><div><br></div><div>Lanes and speed seem to be a bit of a suggestion. Expect to be cut off. Honked at if you're not moving just as soon as the light is green. Road work that just suddenly starts and mountain one lane highways that have no barricade. It was very exciting at times! We were glad for the gps.</div><div><br></div><div>Otogaz....gas stations</div><div>Gas is full service. Just say full and you'll get what you need.</div><div><br></div><div>Breakfast</div></div><div>Plain yogurt. Cheeses. Breads. Eggs, mostly boiled. And salad. Olives, tomatoes, some fruit. I was used to this from my time spent in Israel. Jams and honey. Coffee, tea, juice and maybe some cereal.</div><div><br></div><div>Oddities...</div><div>People running across the highway--often I wondered where they had come from and why were they crossing at that point.</div><div>Lots of motorcycles with two people riding. Young, old didn't matter.</div><div>Many loose cats. Canakkale had tons of them! In the US we don't allow roaming animals like this.</div><div>BIG loose dogs. They all seem to be similarly genetic. Sort of a German Shepard mix</div><div>Farm equipment on the highway. We were on the way to Troy and were nearly crushed by the biggest combine I've ever seen!</div><div>Many, many outdoor cafes. Don't look at the people inside or they'll try and pull you in. The pictures however will help you find what you're looking for.</div><div>Perhaps the strangest thing we noticed are the buildings. Soooo many old, abandoned buildings, but tons and tons of newly constructed ones. It was often hard to tell if they were still being worked on or had been given up on. The big cement frames were nearly always filled in by red brick, much of which didn't even seem to have mortar. Hard to see how that would offer much protection from heat and cold.</div><div><br></div><div>We picked up about fifty words in the three days we were there, but never could master "thank you" or "please". Dumb, eh.</div><div><br></div><div>Do have the lamb doner kebabs and the lamb shish. Yummy!!</div><div><br></div><div>And su is water.</div><div><br></div><div>Just so you know....c with a scidilla is pronounced Chu. And s with a scidilla is pronounced sh.</div><div><br></div><div>Istanbul is a massive modern city, so don't plan to drive there.</div><div><br></div><div>Be sure to go out to the countryside. It's very rural and beautiful.</div><div><br></div><div>We LOVED taking the ferry back and forth. 30 TL round trip. The Dardanelles/Bosphorus straits are lovely.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX436jli3h97arOTnDA9Iq5BjAO0bZfPzmIs4UA6SXWj7X5xUjynlboiNqRgegHbvN330CPP5qAhIfCGYto4PeQbDTzlsnDJqcy54FfCGBA2X-9PVXUssCjNlMS_uPKaTQna0AvoYFyo/s640/blogger-image-564015230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUX436jli3h97arOTnDA9Iq5BjAO0bZfPzmIs4UA6SXWj7X5xUjynlboiNqRgegHbvN330CPP5qAhIfCGYto4PeQbDTzlsnDJqcy54FfCGBA2X-9PVXUssCjNlMS_uPKaTQna0AvoYFyo/s640/blogger-image-564015230.jpg"></a></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-25851608354053889062015-06-21T12:42:00.000-06:002015-06-21T13:11:49.463-06:00Troy Of Homer, Achilles and Brad Pitt Fame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Famous Greek poet, Homer tells the story of the fall of Troy and the 10 year siege of the city when Prince Paris steals away Helen. One of the great beauties of the time and the Greeks go after her to bring her home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think giant granite or marble Legos--notches on<br />both the column and the base show where they connect.</td></tr>
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The Greeks appear to give up and one day in their stead was a massive wooden horse. This, the Trojans are dumb enough to bring inside the city and have a big party celebrating their victory. They get drunk and fall asleep. Out pops the Greek army and slaughters everyone. (Well, except for Achilles who is almost impervious to every thing and he incredibly is shot in the heel, the one place he's vulnerable-- by a spear--lucky shot--and dies...this is the Brad Pitt character in case you're needing a drool.)<br />
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The playwright Euripides tells the survivors tale in Trojan Women. Depressing!<br />
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But to two actors, a history teacher and a mathematician--not me--my husband<br />
this place was AMAZING!<br />
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His comment? "And people think you don't need math! Look at all this precise detail!"<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyslo2jgXZG1Y2R7Uw9R9IM6o20kRnTbS72PNXs6GJXZS1-Gd8UWiRyGSo_vWJ_Yj2p12k0g-ReZH44OPU_A0HHFwmLCiakbBsmvuYvIoZZf-laA8pPGXA7uKfmPbzjbgSgc68_HWUZZk/s1600/Troy+Detail+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyslo2jgXZG1Y2R7Uw9R9IM6o20kRnTbS72PNXs6GJXZS1-Gd8UWiRyGSo_vWJ_Yj2p12k0g-ReZH44OPU_A0HHFwmLCiakbBsmvuYvIoZZf-laA8pPGXA7uKfmPbzjbgSgc68_HWUZZk/s200/Troy+Detail+2.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauPIuWra9OIFdc9QwURhEyn0OGd5Qr8l6mpFqBR5q_9sAT_vhXBtGMXwZUi3TjyMumEs0U24gXgzYoHr1gExI3ifoFGZ3Fw5ZBqKMNpR41chMBr2Qpr-HwhUzGONelI2PNYM0W40acqU/s1600/Troy+Detail+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauPIuWra9OIFdc9QwURhEyn0OGd5Qr8l6mpFqBR5q_9sAT_vhXBtGMXwZUi3TjyMumEs0U24gXgzYoHr1gExI3ifoFGZ3Fw5ZBqKMNpR41chMBr2Qpr-HwhUzGONelI2PNYM0W40acqU/s200/Troy+Detail+3.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMKtyCWVaUgAnJrWgD7Jg18gLz-zZwt7PWyuP3LjGdfXCnYaGRsR6KMVqmxDs4C9ETcYmYqqkX1WlV0CIGQjn1OonerYDgpJnRIclZ6uJd16K6GcgpZ4X4RE8qrTWJRQU5MNPNzoKVn0/s1600/Troy+Detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMKtyCWVaUgAnJrWgD7Jg18gLz-zZwt7PWyuP3LjGdfXCnYaGRsR6KMVqmxDs4C9ETcYmYqqkX1WlV0CIGQjn1OonerYDgpJnRIclZ6uJd16K6GcgpZ4X4RE8qrTWJRQU5MNPNzoKVn0/s200/Troy+Detail.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Me? I left part of myself there. Bugs got me! And my blood it there. Ick!</div>
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And explain how just my right forearm got sunburned....</div>
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brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-41012153099242629692015-06-20T12:57:00.000-06:002015-06-21T13:38:51.940-06:00Gallipoli Campaign and The Two Sides of History<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Two sides of History.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love to teach students about this.
Bias. Attitudes.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
History is so much more than just the
winners or losers. I always tell students that history actually has
three sides.
<img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="175" name="graphics1" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4Tu6kmOQ_IxlYu_oCRTezX1xeaBpAb2tlpWyII0KYrEjFC0tt" width="200" />What
one person says happened. What another person says happened and what
really happened.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Little could I have guessed that a trip
to the Gallipoli Peninsula would have been the perfect example of
studying both sides.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
First, The Dardanelles
Straits/Bosphorus Straits are the narrows between Asia and Europe. At
the top of the straits sits—Istanbul. Gem of Turkey. Gateway to the
East—or the West depending on which way you're going.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In WWI, Turkey joined the Axis team
(German, Italy, Japan). Britain – and Russia – who was trapped by
the Dardanelles closure from the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea,
needed access to their warm water ports.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaT45EbYSVVJEyDzvhaz7uCGvuFk6_jZjPaHfFQx60Ekq7kfnbv4aMShOVVqpYorPZ-CBPhvXdvWhhi8sYgtAUStgi6Qt4BBCm7Unz3g34L2Swktp3YeDazfdLYwzkncKe4Bp0nPZJfo/s640/blogger-image--754070385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaT45EbYSVVJEyDzvhaz7uCGvuFk6_jZjPaHfFQx60Ekq7kfnbv4aMShOVVqpYorPZ-CBPhvXdvWhhi8sYgtAUStgi6Qt4BBCm7Unz3g34L2Swktp3YeDazfdLYwzkncKe4Bp0nPZJfo/s200/blogger-image--754070385.jpg" width="200" /></a>With approval from Churchill for the
navy and Kitchener or the army, the straits were “tested” by a
small fleet—which failed. Then in April of 1915 a large sea/land
force pushed their way onto a scrape of land. One of which was known
as ANZAC Cove (Australian an New Zealand Army Corps).<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTL0uWONNBvNHGAkQwhf-oMU-WzInUK6NLzjqNjXPXmG5BvHZNX6RkRrvslFLW_XZQ3eoNRvmfJl-7jj6rD5DYmsU04DD1-4vvCiPnNO_uYHFQb6g8Q_2wTLYqAw1IL1tAe0OUpeOt7Q/s1600/Anzac+Cove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTL0uWONNBvNHGAkQwhf-oMU-WzInUK6NLzjqNjXPXmG5BvHZNX6RkRrvslFLW_XZQ3eoNRvmfJl-7jj6rD5DYmsU04DD1-4vvCiPnNO_uYHFQb6g8Q_2wTLYqAw1IL1tAe0OUpeOt7Q/s200/Anzac+Cove.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Down on Anzac Cove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzSAh9aJC1MDO5BGrCHwRYKu-ND-DlB7KGbT7Hjc2wSixJh3ouMq18rjc1MP0UrvuJgFjoPb2P-3VM44Wn26qVVlYRk7AroMajLMxpq_9O_cxWo18SB_LKv7BEdBJ4mDQE_bv5WPY03Y/s1600/Anza+Cove+Looking+Up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzSAh9aJC1MDO5BGrCHwRYKu-ND-DlB7KGbT7Hjc2wSixJh3ouMq18rjc1MP0UrvuJgFjoPb2P-3VM44Wn26qVVlYRk7AroMajLMxpq_9O_cxWo18SB_LKv7BEdBJ4mDQE_bv5WPY03Y/s200/Anza+Cove+Looking+Up.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anzac Cove Looking Up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jSqn92oHXwpZFf-ZZfrbxpCJD9Y5G6rQuw_iPYyi4RmsqoRIsAhlesbMpckoBv2wcd-O_eC3E6emizvP0_-Nw1kxB0V4PJefen_9za1bV7wwgXPEvv2rsGhsDpKD6h8JpEDL6bd5jrw/s1600/Anzac+Back+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jSqn92oHXwpZFf-ZZfrbxpCJD9Y5G6rQuw_iPYyi4RmsqoRIsAhlesbMpckoBv2wcd-O_eC3E6emizvP0_-Nw1kxB0V4PJefen_9za1bV7wwgXPEvv2rsGhsDpKD6h8JpEDL6bd5jrw/s200/Anzac+Back+side.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the cliff at the top of Anazac Cove but from<br />
WAAY high behind on the mountain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
250,000 killed and wounded later and in
December of 1915, the part of the mission which was a success???? The
evacuation.<br />
<br />
Yes, seriously. They sneaked away and THAT was the successful part. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well, know that standing there on that
dirt, I just kept thinking over and over and over—why? I totally
know WHO did it—I wrote my master's thesis all about it.
Theoretically I knew why. But seeing that land and those formations
and the narrow beach and trenches still there, and I just could not
help asking WHY????</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So to the two sides.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Of course there are Turkish Cemeteries
and Anzac and British Cemeteries. But we saw a presentation by Turkey
in which the soldiers are called martyrs an how they sacrificed so
much. Interesting. I've always thought of the Anzac Boys as
sacrificing so much.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73kfn1N6-k5-sz2kD6iEc0IclYhZJAJX0VrSXT7enRlPxGxK5wav3OZuREbk38V3RGwtMTBDmzaKO4rdot8E07n4GPUPFa5GbHUrL8zvJBElqUUAMcM72vFGrO2_Xb7aNL4kg57kPGWg/s1600/Trenches+still+visible.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73kfn1N6-k5-sz2kD6iEc0IclYhZJAJX0VrSXT7enRlPxGxK5wav3OZuREbk38V3RGwtMTBDmzaKO4rdot8E07n4GPUPFa5GbHUrL8zvJBElqUUAMcM72vFGrO2_Xb7aNL4kg57kPGWg/s200/Trenches+still+visible.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trenches 100 Years OLD!!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The lesson? No one is going to really
win at war.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qFL6F6OfNoCJugLJGSX08eqVacCRzHoBII2nil1k7AT4tyUPhyNZ-g9Y6wwSguT2jVk-zbDpberCnJXo201okijWtZBuHpNxmihBQ1EqwD0GNmXHDkBr1qE1Ue_H17lE2_pvTigvZ_c/s1600/Anzac+Poppies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qFL6F6OfNoCJugLJGSX08eqVacCRzHoBII2nil1k7AT4tyUPhyNZ-g9Y6wwSguT2jVk-zbDpberCnJXo201okijWtZBuHpNxmihBQ1EqwD0GNmXHDkBr1qE1Ue_H17lE2_pvTigvZ_c/s200/Anzac+Poppies.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppies at the Gallipoli Peninsula - Near Lone Pine<br />
One of the bloodiest fighting areas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-44375618713813408582015-06-18T11:59:00.001-06:002015-06-19T22:50:08.043-06:00Heading to Turkey,After two minor panics in the Amsterdam airport...a lost phone and an important lost textbook...thank you Amazon Kindle! We're on our way to Turkey.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HjSLeG7B6JIKqTcete_ukKUNfVsAFsx2DMX7fQSNzdMpHVu9YWgc2rYxjFiLENMaHX3PpeFn5CGLgdDvR8BsNk6cKv6p28ZdVvG2SSygY2sOHDlWHUYYXxG7FCQRUabVTePZNNjtGEE/s640/blogger-image--1792609680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HjSLeG7B6JIKqTcete_ukKUNfVsAFsx2DMX7fQSNzdMpHVu9YWgc2rYxjFiLENMaHX3PpeFn5CGLgdDvR8BsNk6cKv6p28ZdVvG2SSygY2sOHDlWHUYYXxG7FCQRUabVTePZNNjtGEE/s640/blogger-image--1792609680.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-27725366027038932172015-06-18T06:32:00.001-06:002015-06-18T06:32:28.565-06:00MunichFirst air of Europe....Munich!<div><br></div><div>Somehow, I find it sad that my first delight is a Mars chocolate bar and Airwaves gum.</div><div><br></div><div>Yum!!!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcdiyYlu2zAScbBLztsQTjKmwx3tZAm0rSAvqKRmC1NcmUBIdxd9Cw6jdORymPlqy4HYsiY7wbkH_cSUS44Q61prtALx0jGd8u0_BWYyCZF16E8Ckwcd1PLqu_WFDtm2ukyLY9aIzoEA/s640/blogger-image-31043649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcdiyYlu2zAScbBLztsQTjKmwx3tZAm0rSAvqKRmC1NcmUBIdxd9Cw6jdORymPlqy4HYsiY7wbkH_cSUS44Q61prtALx0jGd8u0_BWYyCZF16E8Ckwcd1PLqu_WFDtm2ukyLY9aIzoEA/s640/blogger-image-31043649.jpg"></a></div></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2797406590006998094.post-48711793362888741252015-06-17T17:26:00.001-06:002015-06-18T06:41:59.248-06:00I'm Traveling--It must Be Summer!The last several summers, I've had wonderful opportunities to travel, travel, trvael.<div><br></div><div>This summer is no different!!</div><div><br></div><div>I'll be racing through Turkey, Greece, Scotland and Ireland!!</div><div><br></div><div>So hang on and stay tuned!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S-jUXxM7m5zyu8DPkwCCD1oRu1lj9Ug0fD6LGdvepg9iDR4aeYXtrlwOtaf0bfa-6crj-ybqClpA9bIkPQaQLN4wex2RLE1BoCEavTitoFjqsAtBIRLhBa-TJtcIn7sP1fUBKcvb-Gc/s640/blogger-image-390599956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S-jUXxM7m5zyu8DPkwCCD1oRu1lj9Ug0fD6LGdvepg9iDR4aeYXtrlwOtaf0bfa-6crj-ybqClpA9bIkPQaQLN4wex2RLE1BoCEavTitoFjqsAtBIRLhBa-TJtcIn7sP1fUBKcvb-Gc/s640/blogger-image-390599956.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>brookstnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03659728306175667626noreply@blogger.com0