tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73479401919058876952024-03-20T14:55:01.306-07:00Mango, Coffee and MeRetired American woman from the Pacific Northwest living between Seattle and Brazil: Traveling the world and learning how to live and age gracefully...share my thoughts and stories from a lifetime of exercising and preparing fresh food while I become a full time writer and fluent in Portuguese. Plus together we can experience the incredible culture and landscape, the rivers and beaches in beautiful Brazil, Puget Sound and wherever else I go.
Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-77142444106121619952018-10-02T16:08:00.001-07:002018-10-02T16:08:07.729-07:00Donegal by Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The River Eske, Donegal Town</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few years back, I met an Irish woman who came from County Donegal, the most northwestern county in Ireland. She told me that Donegal boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and landscapes in the world. She said it is a wonderful place to cycle, with many back roads and a spectacular coastline. But, she warned me, the weather is terrible. Nonetheless, since that time, I've wanted to go cycling in Donegal. </i><br />
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, my wish came true. My husband Jeff and I flew to Dublin for a self-guided bike tour around the Donegal peninsula. After arriving in Dublin, we traveled by bus for three hours through the green Irish countryside to Donegal Town. There, we met up with our Seattle friends Tom and Linda McElroy. That afternoon, Seamus from Ireland by Bike (http://irelandbybike.com) </i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">came to our bed and breakfast and fitted us to four hybrid bikes. He gave us GPS systems, maps and route notes and the names of each of the Bed and Breakfast Inn he had booked for us. The next morning we rode west along the Irish Sea. Each day the four of us explored the ancient landscape following the route Seamus gave us. We cycled from village to village while Seamus ferried our suitcases. </i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The following poem and pictures describe our wonderful trip. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Donegal by Bike</i></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We left the town of Donegal</i><i><br />Biking west along the sea.<br />In front was Jeff with GPS<br />Behind Linda, Tom and me.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We cycled round the northwest coast,<br />Killybegs, then Glencolumbkille,<br />Through Glenties, Ardara and Annagry,<br />Fueled by Guinness and cups of tea.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Each day, the hills had steeper pitch</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Rain and fog obscured the view.<br />When woolly sheep got on the road<br />There’s no room for bicycles too.<br /></i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The wind blew rain across my specs.</i></div>
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Linda’s legs were smeared with grease.<br />We cycled on; our spirits strong.<br />Fuchsia cliffs put us at peace.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Irish Sea estuary west of Ardara</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Glengesh Valley</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The morning we left Glencolumbkille<br />The road rose into the mist<br />Wet and tired; we crossed the divide<br />To a valley the gods had kissed.<br /><br />Waterfalls bubbled down the rocks<br />The valley walls were gold and green<br />We coasted past, to our eyes delight,<br />The prettiest bay we’d ever seen.<br /><br />We sat on wooden benches<br />Eating salmon with buttered brown bread.<br />Bananas, apples and KitKat bars<br />Kept all of us well fed.<br /><br />At night, we hit the local pubs<br />Tom made friends with everyone.<br />We followed him, an easy task.<br />Donegal folk are full of fun.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A leprechaun's hidden gold!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Last day was up to the top of the world<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Past Errigal and down to Glenveagh.<br />We skidded up the boulder track<br />Pushing heavy bikes half the way.<br /><br />From the top of Glenveagh Valley<br />We cruised down to Letterkenny<br />Through flower and cow-filled pastures<br />We etched memories aplenty.<br /><br />What a wonderful way to get to know<br />The faery lands of green Eireann.<br />Maybe I’ll return next year<br />And do it all again.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Needless to say our trip was memorable. The weather did have its moments, blustering winds, morning mists and the occasional rainstorm mixed with threatening clouds and sunny skies! In short, it reminded me of my home in the Pacific Northwest. I am proud to say that my persistent exercising gave me the ability to cycle Donegal's rugged terrain. I am equally proud that my husband and our friends Tom and Linda were capable also. How much fun it is to have the fitness for such a trip at any time in life, but especially when the four of us are in our sixties and seventies. In truth, we've all been diligent about exercising on a regular basis as we've aged. In my case that has meant five years of regular circuit training, often 4 to 5 times a week combined with endless walks, hikes and bike rides. I think the secret to being physically capable as you age is to keep moving and throw a little weight training in there too. If you exercise on a regular basis, the rewards can be great. Not only was I able to cycle this glorious trip, I have no lower back pain and my knees are stronger than they were five years ago. The thrill of coasting down the Glengesh Valley, past bubbling creeks and endless waterfalls, along a glorious estuary and past hedgerows of red fuchsias is exhilarating. Top it off with a pint of Guinness, well, it's a wonderful thing. Thank you Seamus and Nora for sharing your green corner of the world with us. And thanks Jeff, Tom and Linda for being such great companions. It was a blast!</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Linda and I try out an ancient grave for size</i></span></td></tr>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-45043879312938275212018-03-28T07:55:00.001-07:002018-03-28T07:55:10.559-07:00Living Abroad and Values to Live By<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My husband, Jeff and I arrived in Brazil on March 2. We are
here for two months while Jeff, who is a part time visiting professor at the
University of São Paulo, works with Brazilian colleagues to complete a
five-year research project measuring carbon flux in the lower Amazon River.</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Rapids on the RIo Piracicaba</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Living abroad is different than traveling as a tourist. Its
benefits are subtler but no less rewarding. Although I’ve traveled to Brazil
many times, the distance between our hometown of Seattle and the town we are living
in never gets shorter. Piracicaba is a former colonial town of about 400,000
people built on the banks of the Piracicaba River. It is in upstate São Paulo
and about a 2-hour drive from the giant metropolis of the city of São Paulo. Surrounded
by rich sugar cane fields, it is a world apart. Its prosperity is based on the
region’s agriculture but the town is also home to a university and several
manufacturing plants. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>During the years of living here, we’ve usually rented an
apartment near the university but this year we rented a small house on the
eastern edge of town. The house is one of about 20 homes in a gated development
– the tidy homes run along a single, dead end street. The community consists mostly
of young families. On weekends, children are everywhere, biking on the street, playing
kickball in the grassy open areas, swinging on the swings in the community
playground and generally goofing around with each other. When Jeff and I
returned from a friend’s house late Saturday night, a group of parents were
sitting at plastic picnic tables at the street end while their kids played in
the dark. The scene reminded me of my childhood in the 1950’s, when us kids
played late into summer evenings while our parents sat outside, eating,
drinking and talking together. It is a pleasure to observe a similar scene in
2018. Such informal street games are uncommon in contemporary urban United
States – unusual in my neighborhood in Seattle – although Halloween night is an
exception. I love seeing kids running free, playing outside in the open air. In
our increasingly structured society, I rarely see kids just running or biking along
neighborhood streets. Too often, the freedom I experienced growing up in a
small Canadian town doesn’t exist for kids growing up today. For my part, that
is too bad. It may be far fetched, but I believe that being part of an open and inclusive community and engaging in physical activity are factors that can help
children develop positive life values and a habit of life long exercise.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">A few weeks before our trip, my brother closed and
distributed to us (we are a close knit sibling group of six adults) the remaining funds in a final bank account that had belonged
to our parents both of whom died quite a few years ago. </span>He wrote to us that he was grateful to our parents not just
for the money, but for the British World War II era values they taught us. Our
parents were English and we had immigrated to Canada in 1955, then to the United
States nine years later. In response, my older sister specified what she
believes those values to be. In no particular order, here is her list.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Honesty</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>The importance of hard
work</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Respect for other people</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Charity</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Modesty</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Gratitude</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Maintaining one's health</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>The importance of a good
education</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Self-respect</i></li>
<li><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>The Golden Rule (treat other people as you would like them to treat you)</i></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Her list struck me as accurate,
and worthy of living by regardless of where and at what time in history you
live. I agree with my sister. These are the values our parents taught us
and that my siblings and I have tried to live by. </i></span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As good fortune and good
sense would have it, all six of us married men and women who share these values.
All of us have tried to bring up our children to share these values as well. It’s
a good list for sure, as relevant in Brazil as in the United States, Great
Britain (where this sister lives) and perhaps globally. Curiously,
living according to such values seems less common today in our wild and
unpredictable world.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEiO3cpewl-_EksmhIIW98OPLMJ8EoEl5qixUDbzkOP_62rsJ6GzHkykXXnqfdue3BlnKqC2Ta382tuF2VsQcBxmkqBF6wfGx9zxgT44OfsvOV0YWZuKl3VEBFctelHYje1BEEjMLjLOjC5i/s1600/cthptgi5TguOp2cF6OZ6rg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3cpewl-_EksmhIIW98OPLMJ8EoEl5qixUDbzkOP_62rsJ6GzHkykXXnqfdue3BlnKqC2Ta382tuF2VsQcBxmkqBF6wfGx9zxgT44OfsvOV0YWZuKl3VEBFctelHYje1BEEjMLjLOjC5i/s320/cthptgi5TguOp2cF6OZ6rg.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My Writing Station</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One of the things I enjoy, as
a retired woman living abroad, is the simplicity of my life. The sheer freedom
inherent in living in a house that has only one or two objects is lovely. I’m
enjoying an almost empty space at my writing station – a single orchid and an M. C. Escher print are
my companions. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I enjoy having more free
time. I love my endless activities in my stateside life – especially taking
care of my grandson – that is my favorite pastime since becoming a grandmother
nine months ago. I miss this activity terribly in Brazil. However my days in
Seattle are full of many things: writing groups and writing classes; volunteer
work; gardening; walking, biking and exercising at my YMCA; cultural events and
myriad social interactions with my large extended family and wide circle of
friends. Here, in Brazil apart from the daily routines of cooking, cleaning, laundry
and exercising at a local gym, my days are largely unstructured. With greater
free time I am able to live a more contemplative life – more time to think,
write, read and take long walks – I am always trying to achieve my FitBit goal
of 10,000 steps/day. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></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/AVvXsEhtJ1iXkAQui4YnEneduZrDXqvhHATBwmih7hlRCW69YsOoaNPAim8M7FsOrXNOEYONVVcBNUBUn1CAV-i2sy1XGnU66IjacFJai_NlfEDMOpL_882AUZc2XX9j2N5sD1tP8IbXjG6ERVoh/s1600/fullsizeoutput_445b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJ1iXkAQui4YnEneduZrDXqvhHATBwmih7hlRCW69YsOoaNPAim8M7FsOrXNOEYONVVcBNUBUn1CAV-i2sy1XGnU66IjacFJai_NlfEDMOpL_882AUZc2XX9j2N5sD1tP8IbXjG6ERVoh/s320/fullsizeoutput_445b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Neon Tetras at the Aquarium by the river</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>On Sunday my husband and I walked around the riverfront
trail – a 5-mile stint and good for more than 12,000 steps. During our walk we
visited a small local aquarium and saw tiny neon tetras that reminded me of the
home aquarium my son had as a child.
Yesterday, I had time to finish a wonderful book. Rather than waiting
until the evening, I read the book’s last pages while drinking my morning
coffee in the small, enclosed garden behind our rented house. It felt like a
luxury to read a book in the morning – and much more rewarding than reading
the online news or checking my email.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<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/AVvXsEj3xKRja7-OS1LNAL3xnWkka6ycDK7Zt9WePsLHP8YIr3_DelCKiC9cDSUxAd6ZZS43tC3akn3hdLd1NJwxh6oBfSe8R-FXq5Y47SnKXRQ9rL3tdQ6DKKKxrDMzeaMQfqQHUM8ElrtiAdd9/s1600/LWUgcVy1TaqR75h1cbPpZw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xKRja7-OS1LNAL3xnWkka6ycDK7Zt9WePsLHP8YIr3_DelCKiC9cDSUxAd6ZZS43tC3akn3hdLd1NJwxh6oBfSe8R-FXq5Y47SnKXRQ9rL3tdQ6DKKKxrDMzeaMQfqQHUM8ElrtiAdd9/s320/LWUgcVy1TaqR75h1cbPpZw.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beyond my garden wall</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In my opinion, the book in
question is one of the great novels of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel
García Márquez is a story of love and old age. If you haven’t read it, I highly
recommend it – especially if you are over 50. Márquez is worth reading. He won
the Nobel Prize for Literature and was a prolific and skilled writer. I am
humbled by his skills. Although perhaps audacious to presume to write a poem
after reading such a brilliant author, I wrote in gratitude to a great man.
Enjoy and don’t forget to take a walk today – that is part of maintaining one’s
health and self-respect. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Love in the Time of Cholera,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>
Dois Córregos, Piracicaba, Brazil<br />
<br />
Early morning.<br />
The dove calls from afar.<br />
Her mournful cry<br />
Fills the morning air.<br />
The sun warms my skin.<br />
Bougainvillea creeps over the wall.<br />
Its fuchsia blossoms<br />
Drift in the soft breeze.<br />
Three Papagayos squawk,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Stark silhouettes<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Against the bright blue sky.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I sit, drinking my coffee,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">At a small plastic table,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">
And burrow down deep,<br />
Lost in the pages<br />
Of the book I love.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span>We leave for Rio on Saturday for the last month of our sojourn in
Brazil. I look forward to continuing my contemplative freedom in that marvelous
city.<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/AVvXsEgDoSLUVV0BQCAgfu9ph64z2KSxMZx5DvvxyKiKkciPMuvCvFpInQzEn3F38fFXHwVegqlsp2DC6duWL1U-by3QEDxmIIMmn0KD9Qpq3wGeAssbhfg6dnai1cpunY8zDvaQQNUmMmh-eWzj/s1600/hglFOoInSJyg%2525cSpSBgFqA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoSLUVV0BQCAgfu9ph64z2KSxMZx5DvvxyKiKkciPMuvCvFpInQzEn3F38fFXHwVegqlsp2DC6duWL1U-by3QEDxmIIMmn0KD9Qpq3wGeAssbhfg6dnai1cpunY8zDvaQQNUmMmh-eWzj/s640/hglFOoInSJyg%2525cSpSBgFqA.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><i>Found along the banks of the river</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-43103916302257201402017-11-09T17:31:00.001-08:002017-11-09T17:31:23.812-08:00Peruvian Adventure 2. Amazon Jungle and Tambopata River<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/AVvXsEj-jcbAt7MV7UiJYU2CF6V847LUWKsdGCDZ5U7P8LYkLVFDtware3LB269gfXDd1HPkdcVSGBGyG8iW0bHPPb90zCViJZADZ5BihWn8IHlvqhM6YeRNNROgOw3Y4vGE3q7zCscJGy9EvYf7/s1600/fullsizeoutput_2309.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jcbAt7MV7UiJYU2CF6V847LUWKsdGCDZ5U7P8LYkLVFDtware3LB269gfXDd1HPkdcVSGBGyG8iW0bHPPb90zCViJZADZ5BihWn8IHlvqhM6YeRNNROgOw3Y4vGE3q7zCscJGy9EvYf7/s640/fullsizeoutput_2309.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Red and Green Macaws </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After leaving the Inca Trail, the
next stop on our Peruvian Adventure was the Amazon jungle. Six intrepid travelers,
including my husband Jeff, flew east from Cusco’s highlands to the small town
of Puerto Maldonado. Puerto Maldonado is a jungle town located in southeastern
Peru. It is the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve, a primary rainforest
of enormous biodiversity. Courtesy of G Adventures (<a href="https://www.gadventures.com/trips/g-lodge-amazon-and-camping-4-day-independent-adventure/TSPJ4TC/?ref=asearch">https://www.gadventures.com/trips/g-lodge-amazon-and-camping-4-day-independent-adventure/TSPJ4TC/?ref=asearch</a>),
our destination was the Pata Ecolodge on the Tambopata River. After meeting our
guide Elvis, we boarded a small bus. The ride from town to the river was eye
opening. </i></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<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/AVvXsEg2gxVYrIoQGvvthcG2HzAw7FpTPNVKCVLh1J3o3AyFLbiTqRf7E8duq2Qbqqpk8xIqVUJMpsKy-cMWTELEA_sTCc-8U8edbWV9tI-_XXYnBC6wh6dSXaBwNqNxIYBtlGSuUs-wmIhEvl3f/s1600/IMG_8225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gxVYrIoQGvvthcG2HzAw7FpTPNVKCVLh1J3o3AyFLbiTqRf7E8duq2Qbqqpk8xIqVUJMpsKy-cMWTELEA_sTCc-8U8edbWV9tI-_XXYnBC6wh6dSXaBwNqNxIYBtlGSuUs-wmIhEvl3f/s320/IMG_8225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Painted Pumas in Puerto Maldonado </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The town oozed energy and purpose. We drove past crowds of people and
busy storefronts, well kept two- and three-story apartment buildings and
streams of motorbikes. On the outskirts of town the scene change radically – we
passed rough, clear-cut fields filled with ramshackle, tarp-covered shelters –
sadly reminiscent of the homeless encampments on the freeway shoulders around
my hometown of Seattle.</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEgtXAHLXUWu7O-fxYRtj52h06bClAWHh5DELjTuGTkGqfmrxn8unvem5OaoMJ33gvY9H16aGUBGHvBkX7ak3I8XbXwfn6uc9HsU6hhLEgsG2Ohza8roPG0DEo3C6-JY2QEuIDYjv9rRlz6g/s1600/P9280383condor2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1267" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXAHLXUWu7O-fxYRtj52h06bClAWHh5DELjTuGTkGqfmrxn8unvem5OaoMJ33gvY9H16aGUBGHvBkX7ak3I8XbXwfn6uc9HsU6hhLEgsG2Ohza8roPG0DEo3C6-JY2QEuIDYjv9rRlz6g/s320/P9280383condor2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Condors of the Amazon and their fellow vultures</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After the settlements, we passed by productive papaya
plantations. Papaya is the only commercial crop exported from the region. In about 30 minutes, we arrived at the banks of the muddy Tambopata River.
Like the main stem of the Amazon River, the smaller tributaries that rise in
the Andes carry a heavy silt load that makes the water the color of café au
lait. Elvis said we’d be eating lunch on the boat since the trip to the
Ecolodge would be two to three hours. We purchased cold beer from a riverside kiosk,
walked down steep wooden stairs to the dock, donned our life jackets and
embarked on our river adventure. Elvis handed out individual lunch boxes –
delightfully packed in insulated cloth bags. Inside we found individual
canteens stuffed full of hot fried chicken, manioc (or yucca as it is called in
Peru) fries, a nice selection of vegetables and a couple of small sweet
bananas. That’s what I call a box lunch.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgFpX7HmBPTEU6ARUZghROorUY9VFP-07U0UVGdpVv-3LsKIRW0_vE3VEwvq04d9BkIaab-uNR_NDjUpl-Le6edYZ-O-ryoouvU6_skMQ-IoH8F4yYLV6mlQBT8bL1tv4RdRe09rFPg1A/s1600/P9280410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgFpX7HmBPTEU6ARUZghROorUY9VFP-07U0UVGdpVv-3LsKIRW0_vE3VEwvq04d9BkIaab-uNR_NDjUpl-Le6edYZ-O-ryoouvU6_skMQ-IoH8F4yYLV6mlQBT8bL1tv4RdRe09rFPg1A/s320/P9280410.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Capybaras in their native habitat</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The flat-bottomed, canopied boat was the perfect site from
which to observe the river and the birds and animals on shore. Elvis told us to
get our cameras and binoculars ready in case we encountered any wildlife.
Within a few moments, the boat driver stopped near the shore. We had the
pleasure of watching two huge vultures the so-called “Condors of the Amazon”
finish off a dead capybara while a flock of smaller black vultures pecked at
the edges. Capybaras are the world’s largest rodent, a round brown-furred
animal that lives along the shores of tropical rivers. Capybaras are herbaceous
and can consume up to 50 kilos of grass a day.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After watching the vultures, aptly named “garbage men of the
jungle” clean up the carcass, we continued upstream. The banks of the river
were broad, muddy berms that stepped up to the edge of the forest. Here and
there, exposed clay cliffs rose more than twenty feet above the water. Suddenly
Elvis started jumping up and down. The driver swung our boat towards the shore.
In front of us, perched in twos and threes on the mud cliff, was an
extraordinary sight. More than 50 green and red macaws hung on the exposed
cliff, feeding on the clay lick, ingesting essential minerals. The
sight of these largest of all macaws congregated together on the cliff is
something I will never forget. We sat quietly, in awe, using our binoculars and
cameras to record the majestic birds. Macaws are rarely seen in such abundance.
Sightings of the density we experienced are a matter of chance. My husband, who
is a tropical river scientist and has worked in the Amazon jungle for more than
40 years, was as stunned as the rest of us. </i><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All at once, in response to an unheard signal, the macaws
rose in pairs from the clay lick and, flapping their wings, flew into the air, across
the river and out of sight. What a beginning to our jungle adventure.</i><br />
<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></i>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Entralled by the jungle</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Thus began our immersion in the primary rainforest of the
Tambopata ecosystem. Pata Ecolodge is a settlement of small thatched roofed
cottages and a larger building that houses a bar, complete with games and books,
and a dining room. Electricity is solar powered. Trails to a small stream and
through the dense jungle crisscross the site. On our first night Elvis took us
for a walk in the dark on one of the trails– his chief intent was to introduce us
to the sounds of the night jungle. Elvis told us to turn off our headlamps and
follow him in silence and darkness so that we could experience the velvet night
more completely. At first I was nervous but soon the wonderful sounds – frogs,
cicadas, jungle rats and bats – filled my senses and I forgot to be scared.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gf2TqqnczHMnxJ93LhBPe133iv5s6PIR0eDuUujJblpUtDJuXFXO46hGkHg-KmjqUWgI_Kfjjn6ZRl3FdOPWAC13d4CA9BrVFRNQ8TluVdmuuFf6PPiIbpjHcXMEW291GcI7NZ60Prdk/s1600/IMG_9265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Gf2TqqnczHMnxJ93LhBPe133iv5s6PIR0eDuUujJblpUtDJuXFXO46hGkHg-KmjqUWgI_Kfjjn6ZRl3FdOPWAC13d4CA9BrVFRNQ8TluVdmuuFf6PPiIbpjHcXMEW291GcI7NZ60Prdk/s200/IMG_9265.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The next day reminded me of summer camp – there were so many
activities I didn’t have time to worry about mosquitoes! We met for breakfast
at 6:30 am and walked down to our boat before 7:15. We headed upriver to a
jungle trail that led us to Lago Condenado - literally the condemned lake. It is a former oxbow that is now filling in with
sediment and vegetation and likely to disappear over time. The lake is home to an endangered species of giant
river otters and many other animals and birds. </i></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N2NDxuhRu3bXLnyhuIkOuAG7RVRzp1t_cUSpxKYtWyDFzUwkSefjF8b9xEQD4e6Ak67bHB1iE7EeY3fc9jzpztJxlbcVSNtxRDPs9DEdWk5rjP747YFuXurjYuN-8dnk5IiZHiRmv7tL/s1600/fullsizeoutput_22b0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N2NDxuhRu3bXLnyhuIkOuAG7RVRzp1t_cUSpxKYtWyDFzUwkSefjF8b9xEQD4e6Ak67bHB1iE7EeY3fc9jzpztJxlbcVSNtxRDPs9DEdWk5rjP747YFuXurjYuN-8dnk5IiZHiRmv7tL/s320/fullsizeoutput_22b0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A black caiman skulking in the shallows</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As we arrived at the trailhead,
Elvis spotted a juvenile black caiman lurking in the shallow water. After
watching the wary creature for a few minutes, we started out on our hike. Every
few minutes, Elvis, who we discovered was remarkably skilled at spotting hidden
creatures, would stop. He’d flash his green laser beam and show us a monkey, a
bird, an unusual insect or plant that, without his keen eyes, I never would
have seen. Perhaps a favorite siting was a capuchin monkey who sat high in a
fruit tree, lording it over every other monkey around while he feasted on
bright red fruit. He jumped from branch to branch chattering and tossing seeds
down into the leaves below. Capuchin monkeys are very smart – they are the
monkeys you might remember from old movies, the monkey dressed in a smart
little jacket and cap jumping around its organ grinder owner with a tin cup
collecting coins. Watching our wild capuchin I was sure he would have been a most
successful organ grinder monkey.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEitBf2DKwzPtSGhMnkDs1NK0TOH8kX0kZvo5KXGr7qa_0KyO5cGYtP2dxP3M48srZh-CMnHt5rf3_xVPgR0mhl12okZKufSTKGLq9JZC5hGn63W5lZwS4rtBuF3PzR1SU8n9GeLHCPviflU/s1600/IMG_9301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBf2DKwzPtSGhMnkDs1NK0TOH8kX0kZvo5KXGr7qa_0KyO5cGYtP2dxP3M48srZh-CMnHt5rf3_xVPgR0mhl12okZKufSTKGLq9JZC5hGn63W5lZwS4rtBuF3PzR1SU8n9GeLHCPviflU/s400/IMG_9301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A sampling of the farm's produce</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Later that day, after lunch and a dip in a small stream close
to the main lodge, we crossed the Tambopata by boat to visit the plantation of
a local farmer. Our host farmer practices mixed crop agriculture – the planting
of multiple crops together in clearings rather than the more traditional
contemporary practice of planting endless fields with a single crop. On the
farm we saw multiple fruit and vegetable crops interspersed in fields and
orchards. </i></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/AVvXsEgJA99vFYDGFtvHa6CyPUQlpFi4bIvlc0jLVHS86RIGS2bRPZBQmQ3p623Rge1W3Q-OWiHPL7ftj3tB8ty4VIXv0PYQY-wFNUwHCFFyl8wfXFt99drhAgvzjxl2sbGyB9Bv28YGTmZ34mw6/s1600/IMG_9297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJA99vFYDGFtvHa6CyPUQlpFi4bIvlc0jLVHS86RIGS2bRPZBQmQ3p623Rge1W3Q-OWiHPL7ftj3tB8ty4VIXv0PYQY-wFNUwHCFFyl8wfXFt99drhAgvzjxl2sbGyB9Bv28YGTmZ34mw6/s320/IMG_9297.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Young Star Fruit</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Papaya, cacao, lemons, oranges, corn, manioc, bananas, star fruit and plantains
grew in a bright green jumble. Pigs ate the plant waste and chickens ran around
squawking and pecking. The farm was largely a self-sustaining system with cover
crops providing nitrogen and animal and plant wastes providing vital compost.
The farm gave our host a good living through the sale of fresh food to
our lodge and in markets in nearby Puerto Maldonado.</i></span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;">Later that night, before dinner but happily after cocktail
hour, we returned to our trusty boat and explored the downstream riverbanks. In
the pitch black darkness Elvis promised us the opportunity to see white caimans.
First he showed us an interesting video about the challenges of protecting the
river from gold mining and the life cycle of the caimans. Next we were cruising
on the river in warm darkness. The green laser shone and there in front of us
were miniature white caimans standing still on the mud bank. Further down the
river we found larger caimans with beautiful black and white markings. The
caimans are solitary creatures. They live alone, abandoned by their mothers at
a few months of age. Only the strongest survive the six or seven years needed
to reach sexual maturity. These primitive creatures look like something that
should have lived several millions years ago. It was a privilege to see them at
home.</i></div>
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<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/AVvXsEhdzUNki36klnOuREle05ymZT7JBnQVgrtl6Q91DmaeFgiti2Po7H9y5PuzXurPImnAYOIMCMRnI8k2snDhnMOB8BNPoNW5B-BlFpSpxhTliJv2ZG95I0XONEdbyyn2Flu0oNnwFPkoeFcK/s1600/fullsizeoutput_22ae.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzUNki36klnOuREle05ymZT7JBnQVgrtl6Q91DmaeFgiti2Po7H9y5PuzXurPImnAYOIMCMRnI8k2snDhnMOB8BNPoNW5B-BlFpSpxhTliJv2ZG95I0XONEdbyyn2Flu0oNnwFPkoeFcK/s400/fullsizeoutput_22ae.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My husband and a giant Kapok tree</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When we decided to go to Peru together to hike the Inca
Trail, we opted to visit the Tambopata River, a tributary to the Amazon. Despite many visits to the lower Amazon and the Brazilian rainforest, we
wanted to explore a headwater system. Sometimes a place that we think we
know surprises us with new sights and sounds. Our visit to the Tambopata was
filled with such experiences. From the sustainable jungle farm to the giant
kapok and strangler fig trees to the macaws, the caimans and all the
extraordinary creatures in between, we had the privilege of experiencing the
rich diversity of the Peruvian rainforest. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-78305963069463931622017-10-07T14:11:00.001-07:002017-10-07T14:11:26.601-07:00Peruvian Adventure 1. Inca Trail, Inca Warrior <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Imagine you are perched on a granite stone, high in the
Andes looking down through primary cloud forests into a river valley that
slices through almost vertical mountains. All around you, glacier-topped peaks soar
more than 15,000 feet into the heavens. A rainbow emerges from the mist and
lights the sky with its spectrum of colors. Above and below you, stone-edged
agricultural terraces mark the archeological site, Phuyupatamarca, a town named
“cloud-level” in Quechua, the Inca language which is still spoken in the Peruvian highlands today. Phuyupatamarca is a sacred place –
a place of beauty where you and, centuries before you, the Inca kings rested
just a few kilometers from the more famous citadel of Machu Picchu.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>After trekking almost 25 miles, up and down steep stone
staircases and across several mountain passes 12,000 feet in elevation, I sat quietly
at Phuyupatamarca with my trekking family, breathing in the moist air and experiencing
the mysterious power of this civilization. The Incas left us their rich
culture, their temples and monuments, their agronomic practices, their carefully
engineered highways and villages, their water and drainage systems that still
function 600 years after they were built.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSZjklg3mj7zEJDTPCBe7ro71-fAGkXH_8kjHPYwPw8ZsSrYHHAXjSaA62bfCJQc_Z9JuRx4a1mNIHPoYZsxQRJu69FbQp_rM28Z4GLnCNNYOW6TjPFsUzAdN24M3G4fSLOsoYdiAtZQe/s1600/P9230129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSZjklg3mj7zEJDTPCBe7ro71-fAGkXH_8kjHPYwPw8ZsSrYHHAXjSaA62bfCJQc_Z9JuRx4a1mNIHPoYZsxQRJu69FbQp_rM28Z4GLnCNNYOW6TjPFsUzAdN24M3G4fSLOsoYdiAtZQe/s320/P9230129.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A grandmother preparing the soil for spring planting</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Incas believed in hard work, honesty and
cooperation. They believed in community and in the power of Pachamama –
literally mother earth, the spirit that gives us life and loves us
unconditionally. They developed a sophisticated mathematical system, told time
by sundials and navigated by the stars. At the height of their power in the 16<sup>th</sup>
century, their empire stretched across western South America from modern day
Ecuador south to Chile and encompassed coastal plain, tropical jungle, high
mountain and desert environments.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uAj0OVmB9NeEmzIFLabWsqGpW-SezY9jJwUJAX-KLv-ZrALt64VDn5nLIKT0vuZNmJcGTqZP2Xv5zum4O2HU6utJwAWLyXzIRsaUSRHhJfMKulYiLxvh8v9qTVKHY1CYNXspvoYmDg_C/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uAj0OVmB9NeEmzIFLabWsqGpW-SezY9jJwUJAX-KLv-ZrALt64VDn5nLIKT0vuZNmJcGTqZP2Xv5zum4O2HU6utJwAWLyXzIRsaUSRHhJfMKulYiLxvh8v9qTVKHY1CYNXspvoYmDg_C/s320/IMG_9112.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>An Inca Warrior overlooking Cusco</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>My husband Jeff and I visited Peru to trek the Inca Trail, to experience the mystery of Machu Picchu, to visit the cities of Cusco and Lima and to explore the Tambopata headwaters of the Amazon River near Puerto Maldonado. One
of my brothers, his wife and two close friends from Florida joined us on the
adventure. After arriving in Lima, we met the other members of our expedition
and flew to the former capital of the Inca Empire, the city of Cusco. Cusco is located
more than 10,000 feet above sea level on the eastern slope of the Andean mountains.
The city is an interesting blend of Incan and Spanish architecture, history and
culture. It is the jumping off spot for Andean expeditions, treks, historical
tours, river adventures, and spiritual journeys. Its high elevation and the
availability of modern medical and mountaineering resources make it
the perfect place to acclimatize to the high elevations. The company
who arranged our trip, G adventures, (<a href="https://www.gadventures.com/">https://www.gadventures.com</a>)
from Toronto, Canada knows how to do it right! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Upon arrival in Cusco, we toured the city and met our wonderful guide Rumi. Rumi is a Peruvian whose heritage, like many people in the
Cusco region, includes both Inca and Spanish blood. His knowledge of Inca
history and culture was impressive. Rumi also had an extraordinary ability to
connect with each of the members of our group on an individual level. Three
members of our group took the train to Machu Picchu – an option for folks who do
not have the physical abilities required on the Inca Trail. Our trekking group of
twelve was diverse – we ranged in age from 26 to 71 and hailed from five
countries – the USA, Canada, Australia, Scotland and South Africa. Along with
Alex, Rumi’s competent assistant and 21 brilliant porters, Rumi was our Inca warrior as we bonded together on the rocky paths of the Inca Trail. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbmhPTO2Hv3SOY7d5UQsyeMP3uPr_DXr9OhxlStk0ufRgMuMyDEGeJEaPD2g6nRi0rMnFbYdI35S5LNeWLQosMsZtpdCJ5OlvZtqSW7YUaK5Yivl-3qVqsVuzwxoqXlgT3GtwbjuJYPNd/s1600/IMG_9119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbmhPTO2Hv3SOY7d5UQsyeMP3uPr_DXr9OhxlStk0ufRgMuMyDEGeJEaPD2g6nRi0rMnFbYdI35S5LNeWLQosMsZtpdCJ5OlvZtqSW7YUaK5Yivl-3qVqsVuzwxoqXlgT3GtwbjuJYPNd/s320/IMG_9119.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Our first day was a delightful sample for what was to come – we drove by bus to
a Women’s Weaving Co-op near the town of Ollantaytambo. Here we met Peruvian
women who raised alpacas, dyed the wool with plant materials and wove brightly
colored fabric to make traditional Andean clothing, sweaters, shawls, hats,
scarves, tablecloths and purses. They shared coca, chamomile and anise tea with
us and demonstrated how they used the same wooden looms to weave as were used
by their ancestors 500 years before. The Co-op women were strong and
industrious, often carrying a young child in a colorful “back-sling” while doing
their work. Some women took care of the animals, some did the weaving, some
made the garments and others sold the finished products. The collaborative
nature of the settlement helped us understand how fundamental reciprocity and
giving back to your community are to the Inca culture. <o:p></o:p></i></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">This supportive society is in contrast to the aggressive, often militaristic dominance that many other cultures, including some western and eastern European and Asian societies embrace. Perhaps modern day leaders could learn from the Incas.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-29WBArJjAUk4hauYEWDji3U22eK8lsz9Avg_BAyF-M18JNCHDKRLiTFkLfA223uimTUSFSViVG3HKrEK9-4hyphenhyphen82lAu6krED892RurM19Wih402PdKdLrSGpyoyqN3zb0Vzsp5rgpvw0u/s1600/IMG_9128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-29WBArJjAUk4hauYEWDji3U22eK8lsz9Avg_BAyF-M18JNCHDKRLiTFkLfA223uimTUSFSViVG3HKrEK9-4hyphenhyphen82lAu6krED892RurM19Wih402PdKdLrSGpyoyqN3zb0Vzsp5rgpvw0u/s320/IMG_9128.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Causa - the Delicious Yellow Potato Appetizer</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We ate lunch at a nearby cooperative
restaurant, toured the ruins of Pisac – a former Inca citadel famous for its
agricultural terraces and its tombs where mummified bodies of royalty and
important Inca artifacts were found. In addition to being master stonemasons,
architects and engineers, the Incas were skilled agronomists – building
perfectly drained agricultural terraces and hybridizing multiple species of
potatoes, corn, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Culinary expertise goes
back centuries in Peru – there is a reason that the Incas were successful in inhospitable
environments. They learned how to grow food by taking advantage of
microclimates and how to preserve food through dehydration long before NASA
figured out how to dehydrate food for the astronauts! The current trend of
eating local and organic has been practiced for centuries in the Peruvian
Andes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In the Meditation Room</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We checked into the Hotel Inka Paradise in Ollantaytambo
town and toured the Inca ruins in the small town. There we climbed steep stone
steps, and gathered strength for the coming trek from the meditation room and
the red granite temples. The next day we left at 7 am and drove to the
beginning of the Inca Trail – 82 km away. We met our powerful porters, a group
of 21 men ranging in age from 21 to 62. These men carried our food, gear,
tents, propane tanks and other equipment on their backs in enormous packs that
often weighed close to 60 pounds (~25 kilos).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After passing through the first checkpoint – the Peruvian government
controls access to the Trail and Machu Picchu – we wished our porters safe
travel, donned our packs and started up the trail in single file. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSWKbz0tJaEz3VNnIVMTcdiKZPpi79gN0oQHEYk1qP5WE1O7PxYPVCiAGI15bJIGPjzGbRgBAqKtZrlbkmPYOMWWd_kYiTTJ_QBOHFpaqEcH8lkpXteIE68jEfFrO2Iaw-x1RqBnZvzno/s1600/P9250279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSWKbz0tJaEz3VNnIVMTcdiKZPpi79gN0oQHEYk1qP5WE1O7PxYPVCiAGI15bJIGPjzGbRgBAqKtZrlbkmPYOMWWd_kYiTTJ_QBOHFpaqEcH8lkpXteIE68jEfFrO2Iaw-x1RqBnZvzno/s320/P9250279.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Glaciers in the Andes</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the next three days we climbed up and down increasingly difficult
terrain, ascending and descending endless flights of ancient stone steps cut
into the steep mountainsides. On Day 2 we crossed Warmiwañusca or Dead Woman’s
Pass that at 13,769 feet (4,198 m) is the highest point on the trail. Often the
stone path ran along the edge of vertical drop-offs that fell precipitously to
deep valleys hidden in mist. On the third day we walked through a cloud forest
where bromeliads and orchids clung to the sweating trees and flowers filled the
air with soft colors. All along, Rumi and Alex cheered us on, encouraging us to
focus on the slippery downhill steps and stopping to let us catch our breath
when the air became so thin we gasped for oxygen. We chewed coca leaves, drank
coca tea and high fived the porters when we reached our camping site at the end
of each day. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC4IS-V2GcP7QBQGW21tmQjkCBZ_tOasCZJ4pPLEQ8aq2V-cMp5xaLvK0DZlSQ82jG7R3ZmCSQ_Maa_CsJq5hCgfmL8J-9pYArP3lbqhreBfbckjXYLuLjzmLcYRCxGRkqxZDVbwWKGg4/s1600/P9240193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJC4IS-V2GcP7QBQGW21tmQjkCBZ_tOasCZJ4pPLEQ8aq2V-cMp5xaLvK0DZlSQ82jG7R3ZmCSQ_Maa_CsJq5hCgfmL8J-9pYArP3lbqhreBfbckjXYLuLjzmLcYRCxGRkqxZDVbwWKGg4/s320/P9240193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff and Katy with some of our incredible porters</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Most remarkable, our porters covered the trails in less time
than we could, despite carrying four times as much weight – and had our tents, the
kitchen and dining tents all set up by the time we arrived each afternoon…and then,
they all cheered and clapped us into camp as we entered. Our cook, Emerson was
a five-star chef from Lima who decided to change his life and cook on the
trail. His culinary skills were extraordinary – every meal was delectable and
presented beautifully, from the origami-folded bird napkins to the individual
plating of each meal. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8alh0PAFpxU686pP8EDr9R1P-4LD3t5UKTz9YLCY8SZxJyH6DaawBhULMXR9-Jbda_d16LJRmGVeRWY6ADokrCMqcu-wXQwG2tg3XHpE0qA6uHl4oGDSF9Xb3JvbBwBHoDa7ZLrU6K4fv/s1600/P9250229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8alh0PAFpxU686pP8EDr9R1P-4LD3t5UKTz9YLCY8SZxJyH6DaawBhULMXR9-Jbda_d16LJRmGVeRWY6ADokrCMqcu-wXQwG2tg3XHpE0qA6uHl4oGDSF9Xb3JvbBwBHoDa7ZLrU6K4fv/s320/P9250229.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Chocolate Cake Inka Trail style!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="text-align: center;"></i><i>Fresh sauces, homemade salsa, tasty soups and delicious
vegetables and fruit accompanied each meal – and by the way we ate in a dining
tent sitting on stools and enjoying the brightly colored table cloth. As a
highlight, Emerson baked a chocolate cake and frosted it with jelly and icing
to celebrate the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of two of our team. How do you do
that at 11,000 ft after three days on the trail? Brilliant.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnePjcVCg_XBjBbjMWjF0lJgyzhf6xLlFmIycASMpQtH4MWVZb2Urk_9RvwxWqXBAfZCW40_d_ZWCjfbNCgksrTT5waDVy_wmAlrE6NEL_fyUsi7hiBBmt6OoOhNXHuE2o4QTRhXndWJ3w/s1600/P9240165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnePjcVCg_XBjBbjMWjF0lJgyzhf6xLlFmIycASMpQtH4MWVZb2Urk_9RvwxWqXBAfZCW40_d_ZWCjfbNCgksrTT5waDVy_wmAlrE6NEL_fyUsi7hiBBmt6OoOhNXHuE2o4QTRhXndWJ3w/s320/P9240165.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Our second campsite at Pacaymayo</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Every morning the porters woke us at 5:30 am, greeting us
with hot cups of coca tea and bowls of aqua caliente (hot water) so that we
could wash in the comfort of our tents. These are luxuries you don’t get at
home and here we were on one of the highest trails in the world – several days
hike from “civilization”. All along the trail, Rumi was our Inca warrior,
supporting each of us, explaining the meaning and purpose of different
archeological sites and cultural habits, naming the flowers and the birds. He
taught us the fundamentals of the Inca’s logarithmic-based mathematical system;
he helped us to focus on the difficult passages; and, along with Alex, shared with
us the sheer joy of being in the moment.</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Orchids along the trail</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>One of my favorite memories happened one afternoon when the
mists swirled around four of us as we carefully traversed a section of trail
set on a steep narrow ridge. The stone cobbles were soaking wet and slippery.
The ridge fell straight down 11,000 feet into a hidden valley. We walked
carefully, using our trekking poles to stabilize our steps through rocky caves
and past exotic bushes filled with spring flowers, sharing the mystical feeling
of being in our own private world. I felt a peace that comes when you
accomplish something physically demanding and experience the natural world in
an undisturbed state, just as the Inca warriors experienced it more than 500
years ago. Trekking the Inca Trail is epic – an experience that fills your
soul, your mind and your body. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff and I rest at a waystation on the Inca Trail</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>On our fourth morning, we woke at 3:30 am, ate a quick
breakfast, broke camp and walked in the dark by headlamp to the checkpoint that leads into
Machu Picchu. I will leave that experience for my next blog – suffice it to say
that while Machu Picchu is extraordinary and one of the world’s wonders, it is
the experience of our magical journey along the Inca Trail that I will remember forever.</i></span><br />
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-22369454317013783612017-08-21T11:01:00.000-07:002017-08-21T11:01:04.437-07:00Summer Snippets ‘17<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/AVvXsEjZRCsPy7rz3Gt6f0bv4UWOsQ-S6jqtX_1dIBJn8bdo7S1xLDKceGopLTD6m2XU19mtaNCrFHKeygnOjuNlbt0GkSTqLBjeMSes6PvHwlxn-KNPwzMTyqxHn3aW7ANzsJeigHI2LsWRSBy0/s1600/IMG_7646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRCsPy7rz3Gt6f0bv4UWOsQ-S6jqtX_1dIBJn8bdo7S1xLDKceGopLTD6m2XU19mtaNCrFHKeygnOjuNlbt0GkSTqLBjeMSes6PvHwlxn-KNPwzMTyqxHn3aW7ANzsJeigHI2LsWRSBy0/s400/IMG_7646.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Las Etnias I</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is the middle of August and, in the words of my
sister-in-law, it’s an epic summer complete with a solar eclipse. It is hot and
sunny. Dry and delightful. Relaxed and contented. My feelings of happiness stem
from the fact that, among other things, I became a grandma in early June. My
summer started in Brazil in March and is continuing unabated five months later.
I floated the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I’ve been eating
blueberries out of my garden for almost 2 months. All of these things contribute
but there is more. Despite the chaos and madness affecting much of our
government and our nation and the world, my personal life is peaceful. My large
extended family is thriving and, in my late sixties, I am fit and healthy.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Museu da Amanhâ, Rio de Janeiro</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Going back in time to the beginning of my “long” summer, on our
last Sunday in Rio, we took the Metro to the Museu da Amanhã [Museum of
Tomorrow]. It is a an impressive building set at a dizzying angle – an Avant
Garde projectile made of hard, white geometric lace. A Spanish architect,
Santiago Calatrava – a man who is described as one who sees what doesn’t yet
exist – designed the museum. Inside are displays, pictures, videos and
explanations of all the changes we, the people of the world, have made to our
global home… reducing the coral reefs, the ice caps, the forests; mining the
earth’s minerals and fossil fuels and taking its water without regard for the
future; creating towns and garbage dumps (sometimes landfills) and highways
that grow and grow and grow; writing poems and compelling stories; painting
marvelous paintings and building fantastic buildings; making sculptures and
movies so beautiful they take our breath away. The museum is an open classroom
that invites us in and asks us what we want. Can we choose our future, not out
of ignorance but with full knowledge? Who knows the answer to this intriguing
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Las Etnias II</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After pondering what we’d seen and feeling sobered by the
changes humans have wrought on the planet, we left the museum. We wandered down
a nearby promenade that abuts the museum along the water of Guanabara Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area is home to multiple old warehouses.
It was cleaned up and renovated to welcome folks who attended the 2016 Rio Olympic
Games. Now it is a public space replete with food trucks and shaded picnic
tables. We were hungry. It was past lunchtime. In short order we were eating
delicious linguisa and ice-cold beer. Afterwards, we walked further down the
promenade to see Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra’s gigantic murals, Las
Etnias or The Ethnicities. The murals are huge, about 50 feet high and depict
five faces from five different continents. I am a fan of street art (not
graffiti) and these paintings are extraordinary. They show us some of the
multiple races and types of people that enrich our world – a legacy that many
of us celebrate and embrace. The murals are well worth a visit if you are in
Rio.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>About six weeks after returning home to the United States,
my husband and I had the privilege of visiting a unique, largely undisturbed
ecosystem that, through the efforts of the U.S. Park Service is protected.
Through what some folks would have you believe is a bad thing, i.e., government
regulation, this place, the Grand Canyon is as spectacular today as it has been
for millennia. Its undisturbed beauty is in stark contrast to the destruction
of other natural phenomena, such as the Great Barrier Reef that the exhibits at
Museu da Amanhã described. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Paris in Vegas</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>To get to the Grand Canyon, we flew to the live-wire
city of Las Vegas, joining a group of family and friends in the middle of June.
The next day, our group left Las Vegas at 5 am to spend eight days floating
down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. After driving for about 3
hours through a desert landscape, we reached the Colorado River. There we boarded
a 15-person pontoon boat owned and operated skillfully by the Grand Canyon
Expeditions Company out of Kanab, Utah. I recommend this excellent company. <a href="https://www.gcex.com/%23">https://www.gcex.com/#</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Leaving Lee's Ferry on the Colorado</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We disembarked at Lee’s Ferry, immediately below the Glen
Canyon Dam. Our guide, Art, was a man of many talents – a superb boatman; a
geologist; an anthropologist; a chef; and an all-round delightful person. He
guided our boat through world-class rapids. He read us Edward Abbey poetry. He
prepared yummy gourmet meals three times a day working on camp stoves pitched
on sand bars. He told us stories about the Native Americans who have lived in
the Canyon for thousands of years and stories about the billion years of rock
formations that are missing from the Canyon walls. He <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/AVvXsEiswvpBqOt_T0Qa96KHNb8JOzyTvxFdQlpXNSfxFExsFSKupzn0QeTB6fAcooxt4twViGNgEw32GaBvGHvPSbCrqHhtTLU4tX_NgXf8Seqwm3gGVhBdAX4pWDESalu0i_jGV3kDGxC647Zs/s1600/2017-06-22+09.30.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswvpBqOt_T0Qa96KHNb8JOzyTvxFdQlpXNSfxFExsFSKupzn0QeTB6fAcooxt4twViGNgEw32GaBvGHvPSbCrqHhtTLU4tX_NgXf8Seqwm3gGVhBdAX4pWDESalu0i_jGV3kDGxC647Zs/s320/2017-06-22+09.30.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Art</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><i style="text-align: center;">led us up seemingly
impassible slot canyons and showed us how to slide on our butts down calcium
carbonate filled sky blue rapids. He showed us pictographs and wild flowers
that only opened at night, majestic big horn sheep and magnificent Condors
floating high above us in the brilliant azure sky. Every night we slept beside the
river. We watched the mile-high canyon walls turn into a vivid light show as the
setting sun transformed multi-hued layers of rock into deep shades of umber,
orange and gold. Together we bonded and experienced one of the world’s most amazing
ecosystems. They call the Grand Canyon grand for a reason – its glory is in its
sheer size; its beauty; its ancient history; its rainbow of colors, diversity
of flora and fauna and its stunning rock formations. Put a visit to the Grand
Canyon on your bucket list – and don’t just go to the rim. If you possibly can,
make arrangements to float down the river. It is the best way to experience the
depth and richness of the Canyon.</i></i></span><br />
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14ptYNM2vNHfa6hesdIlV5UoVmfXiZRxPvkXG-itCeG4MDeRac7YkRokgwznq56YGYL_zxXZu7nYqKb6-5nKlrhP1kkDfF2mQVm1EiLXdcXKkLNEza0rIXmVKgR3XAxwoFP9E5jyJCRSB/s1600/2017-06-17+09.32.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14ptYNM2vNHfa6hesdIlV5UoVmfXiZRxPvkXG-itCeG4MDeRac7YkRokgwznq56YGYL_zxXZu7nYqKb6-5nKlrhP1kkDfF2mQVm1EiLXdcXKkLNEza0rIXmVKgR3XAxwoFP9E5jyJCRSB/s400/2017-06-17+09.32.53.jpg" width="300" /></a></i></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeK-2K2aPnaY0SdWaRvZpQUUpl7PTMNmI2UoiLibwOH4L9N58NLKTb9YulMnI_nebW-79wVqUzViwf4cNF_SR4uDO6ge7iJbi_kxO9_mIaDVNeSz5T2w5-t2SUIV-yGZ8HHuY83O4sP-p/s1600/2017-06-17+14.14.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeK-2K2aPnaY0SdWaRvZpQUUpl7PTMNmI2UoiLibwOH4L9N58NLKTb9YulMnI_nebW-79wVqUzViwf4cNF_SR4uDO6ge7iJbi_kxO9_mIaDVNeSz5T2w5-t2SUIV-yGZ8HHuY83O4sP-p/s400/2017-06-17+14.14.31.jpg" width="300" /></a></i></i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrqBF8IwN14yowzOut_QrNg_ioB2slu2ZbrHbV9PtMKdft3xPC70SYsdF9Xx64zITWcmri9B1MqYNN3hujgUD8cQwIEOIvu3Fp9qkQSnQW6cmXyZIz7MV_-LxqgIGOVMIfP_nGwhB42l9/s1600/2017-06-19+13.18.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrqBF8IwN14yowzOut_QrNg_ioB2slu2ZbrHbV9PtMKdft3xPC70SYsdF9Xx64zITWcmri9B1MqYNN3hujgUD8cQwIEOIvu3Fp9qkQSnQW6cmXyZIz7MV_-LxqgIGOVMIfP_nGwhB42l9/s400/2017-06-19+13.18.36.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></i></span></div>
<br />
<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/AVvXsEiMCAqNSMmUXbNfOcw2iH8RMYQbNSc2cZmDSKSZ3XmPdlDuaRLCzLf_gjRo7rFO80ho910GrAKI-6aL1gcFEKm_kPENIAPvATqeKBF0ytEAcoyuuJ0AirtuJsGo7wJeZTnU1kX9-87nllJZ/s1600/2017-06-20+09.39.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCAqNSMmUXbNfOcw2iH8RMYQbNSc2cZmDSKSZ3XmPdlDuaRLCzLf_gjRo7rFO80ho910GrAKI-6aL1gcFEKm_kPENIAPvATqeKBF0ytEAcoyuuJ0AirtuJsGo7wJeZTnU1kX9-87nllJZ/s400/2017-06-20+09.39.14.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Climbing into a slot canyon</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The trip was extra special for us as it followed closely on
the wondrous birth of our first grandchild. Although my husband and I are the
lucky parents of two grown children, the birth of our grandson seemed like a
miracle. The coincidence of his birth and the sheer magnificence of the natural
world that the Grand Canyon revealed made me feel deeply grateful to be alive. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Now, in August, we are back in Seattle and spending time
babysitting the little boy – experiencing his first smiles and his loving energy.
Our garden is growing crazy – full of flowers, apples, blueberries, greens,
peppers and tomatoes galore. As I’ve said before, I’m not a natural born
gardener, but the habit is growing on me now that I have more time in
retirement. The benefits of growing food are obvious. In the evening we harvest
a multitude of different types of greens and mix them together for an evening
salad. Because we have so many blueberries this year, we’ve invented a new
salad. We call it the blue and blue: mixed garden greens; blue cheese (Point
Reyes Blue is a favorite); freshly picked blueberries and light balsamic
vinaigrette. Try it. Simple and delicious.<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/AVvXsEhF8rMFCvPqLDK0QXU-gW2cBQJs1dIfY5KoX01pQdWgJO_ct848V1uK3QFqU4AJKyHcDgPDnEhc7lQGtx7dxuUOZPqeiObVzCKX5eKLHytsrdZQfri_d9q1bowgwzicS7hhWxPGTqcvqqxe/s1600/IMG_8696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8rMFCvPqLDK0QXU-gW2cBQJs1dIfY5KoX01pQdWgJO_ct848V1uK3QFqU4AJKyHcDgPDnEhc7lQGtx7dxuUOZPqeiObVzCKX5eKLHytsrdZQfri_d9q1bowgwzicS7hhWxPGTqcvqqxe/s320/IMG_8696.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Flowers in my garden</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff and I are continuing circuit training at our local Y –
often hitting the gym at 7 am. I never imagined when I retired that I would
look forward to getting up at 6 am to work out. Interestingly, our class is
populated mostly by other folks in their sixties and seventies who, like us,
value regular intense workouts. Workouts that include intense aerobic activity,
weight training and stretching are very important as you get older since,
without targeted effort, you lose strength and flexibility as you age. That
loss has negative impacts on the quality of your life. I don’t believe I could
have participated in the Grand Canyon hikes and rock scrambles if I had not
developed the physical skills I have at the Y. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been pleased to find that when Jeff and I
go out to catch crabs, I can easily lift a large bucket full of salt water into
the boat. Last year I had to limit the amount of water in the bucket since its
weight was beyond my capacity. Now, after a year of consistent training, I am
stronger!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is every reason to stay
in shape as you age – how else would you get enough water for the crabs to cook
in? I’m looking forward to being able to carry my grandson when he gets bigger
without hurting my back. Take some time to exercise and enjoy the rest of your summer.<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/AVvXsEhI0D0lkq7msFZLyFPeePARDXVtvgYxQBToUkxSX587DZO4ByL-X4QNcToTqrOdxPziJqcQI0mIQxORj1zI4jEW-sVGYF6hbN85ypYJVS0tlWS6AjdZGHwiGnnznP6bxrHh0qBOBoGymt7c/s1600/2017-06-16+08.03.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0D0lkq7msFZLyFPeePARDXVtvgYxQBToUkxSX587DZO4ByL-X4QNcToTqrOdxPziJqcQI0mIQxORj1zI4jEW-sVGYF6hbN85ypYJVS0tlWS6AjdZGHwiGnnznP6bxrHh0qBOBoGymt7c/s640/2017-06-16+08.03.13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Canyon Art coutesy of Jeff Richey</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><o:p></o:p>Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-27244288225646408162017-03-22T13:51:00.000-07:002017-03-22T13:58:42.397-07:00Rooted in Rio – Copacabana Beach and Sitio Burle Marx <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/AVvXsEgZAZbgI5im9kfaLkgbqcCNQwubyp8OMULBVGM9e3YxG-FJmAT8NBX3cQcRNes-jJvPTt1ghSjSz2yhlrLu4AP_7xIaBd82mMfoqm7blJNp9XSNc4Uo9df9u0k5rS5H60ZFQOWnnYQmxDv3/s1600/IMG_7547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAZbgI5im9kfaLkgbqcCNQwubyp8OMULBVGM9e3YxG-FJmAT8NBX3cQcRNes-jJvPTt1ghSjSz2yhlrLu4AP_7xIaBd82mMfoqm7blJNp9XSNc4Uo9df9u0k5rS5H60ZFQOWnnYQmxDv3/s640/IMG_7547.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Looking at the water feature from the porch of Roberto Burle Marx' home</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Living in Rio includes rituals that I love. I do many of
these same things when I’m home in Seattle but here in Rio I’m doing them in a
tropical haze. It won’t be hard to figure out which ones are a bit different in
the city of Rio.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables at the
outdoor markets, the feiras. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Walking along Copacabana beach with its famous
black and white sidewalk. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Saturday morning workouts on the beach. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Drinking caipirinhas at the beach Friday night
at sunset.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Biking around the lake (Lagoa) and stopping for a coco
verde. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Sweeping fine sand off the kitchen floor. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The city is vibrant, full of energy and excitement. There are
many difficult issues in Rio including (often) dysfunctional politics and
endless economic and social challenges – but that could be said of almost anywhere in the
world, including my home country. As a retired foreigner, who can afford to live in Rio for a month or more every year since I
retired, I feel welcome and very much at home. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEi820Wh2gep5bWV8H-vEiMXIoH3urPNhirOF8ODyRJ5tZLLcbc3kVK8Wr6Ng1iNyWsIPceuZVYP0RFo6668FRVfhCORCh0LSX72H9FgraJsfOHapMFMMI7N8bt2n1-c092W7X8SlVkDWZxi/s1600/IMG_5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi820Wh2gep5bWV8H-vEiMXIoH3urPNhirOF8ODyRJ5tZLLcbc3kVK8Wr6Ng1iNyWsIPceuZVYP0RFo6668FRVfhCORCh0LSX72H9FgraJsfOHapMFMMI7N8bt2n1-c092W7X8SlVkDWZxi/s400/IMG_5160.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Posto 1, Copacabana, Rio</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>One of my (and my husband’s) favorite activities is
participating in a circuit training class on Copacabana Beach on Saturday
mornings. If you want to get, and stay in shape, circuit training is a very
good option – the class here (bhappFIT), and the one we take in Seattle at our local YMCA,
include aerobic, strength and flexibility training. Most of all, it’s fun. It is
especially fun in bare feet in the sand. Here is my poem about our class and
being on the beach last Saturday:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A Day on the Beach<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It’s a day on the beach<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The sun beats down<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Hot and burning,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The sizzle of the sand<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Sears the soles of my feet.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We arrive at Posto 1<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It is 9:30 in the morning.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Under the shade of the trees<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Last night’s sleepers<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Lie wrapped in a final dream.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We stretch and bend<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Rub sunblock on our white
flesh<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The professor, Bruno arrives<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>He is, as ever, energized<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>“Na hora,” he says. “Na hora.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The class begins.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The whistle blows<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>And the music blares,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We are three men, twelve
women,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>One young boy with his mom.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We race through the circuit<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Weights fall in the sand<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We move sweating, in duplo<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Run, squat, lunge; run,
squat, lunge.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We plunge in one for all.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>First round; second round<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Sweat, water, drink,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We do it all again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Then, we’re done; it’s
picture time<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We jump together and wave
goodbye.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Later we’re back on the beach<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In bikini and board shorts<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Now it’s 2 in the afternoon <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The wind blows the heat away<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The sand clings, the beer
cools.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>“I love this song, baby”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Squalls from the vendor’s
boom box<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I look up at the towering
rock,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Silhouetted against the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>And dig my toes into the fine
white sand. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Plant nursery at Burle Marx Sitio</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We are not spending all our time on the beach. My husband is
working at the Federal University and I’m writing and editing. Sometimes we do take
a day out to explore landmarks. Yesterday was such a day – we had the
opportunity to visit the former home of Roberto Burle Marx, the Burle Marx
Sitio. The Sitio is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Roberto Burle Marx was a brilliant Brazilian landscape architect (1909-1994)
whose vision of built landscapes influenced public and private gardens in
Brazil and elsewhere in the world. The Sitio, located in Barra de Guaratiba,
about an hour’s drive west of the city of Rio de Janeiro, is a public museum
and center for the study of landscaping, botany and conservation. There are places
that Burle Marx designed that are more well known including Copacabana Beach
with its sinuous mosaics and groves of palms, and Rio’s Flamengo Park, but the
Sitio is extraordinary. Its hilly 40-acre landscape, more than three thousand
tropical plants, water features and beautiful architecture made me feel that I
was seeing through the eyes of a genius. I rarely use such superlatives but the
Sitio deserves them. Visits are by reservation only and the guided walking tour <o:p></o:p></i></span><i style="font-family: '"trebuchet ms"', sans-serif;">takes about two hours. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>(<a href="http://www.museusdorio.com.br/joomla/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=159:s%C3%ADtio-roberto-burle-marx">http://www.museusdorio.com.br/joomla/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=159:s%C3%ADtio-roberto-burle-marx</a>)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEGy4rcRmWx-gzT1jhYVaQiwnk2Ko1VivBaoBIrFqaoCoy0exYmzPuPmuWPkWKhAHh75TwmXvG-45kjo8HHcAR6QracdG5Rxz743ogKTJkOsM1_DFoWxdoRWuZZ9GICWiK0rttA9evesn/s1600/IMG_7508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEGy4rcRmWx-gzT1jhYVaQiwnk2Ko1VivBaoBIrFqaoCoy0exYmzPuPmuWPkWKhAHh75TwmXvG-45kjo8HHcAR6QracdG5Rxz743ogKTJkOsM1_DFoWxdoRWuZZ9GICWiK0rttA9evesn/s320/IMG_7508.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Plants growing in the nursey</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Our group of five including my
husband and three friends (one American and two Cariocans/natives of Rio) joined
a group of four, another Cariocan, two American women and one French man. In
Portuguese, English and French we learned about Burle Marx’ life and his passion
for native plants, botanical design and art. Burle Marx was also a talented
artist, architect and art collector. These aspects of the man are well
represented at the Sitio.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Grasses and roots</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>One of his greatest talents was the ability to create real
landscape paintings (I mean made of dirt, plants, water, stone, etc., i.e., not
a painting on a canvas but in the ground). He did this by massing single
species of plants of varying colors, textures, heights and shapes across an
area, often interspersing the plantings with a constructed focal point – a stone
column, a piece of sculpture, a staircase, a cobblestone path. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaIyEujZH2VOCYfEG5HeXGFe5WGfYSLpLyzUFP9TjkiIFlzf26Ik9s6CtlcXY7z5pyCy_3PPmVhLKS8WxUbSuQ_L_jaP7YA2dJLuRzoWI9SXSN0jBqoGtZv1lK0Ux_TC1UiqxQIzSohE2/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaIyEujZH2VOCYfEG5HeXGFe5WGfYSLpLyzUFP9TjkiIFlzf26Ik9s6CtlcXY7z5pyCy_3PPmVhLKS8WxUbSuQ_L_jaP7YA2dJLuRzoWI9SXSN0jBqoGtZv1lK0Ux_TC1UiqxQIzSohE2/s320/IMG_7531.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Everywhere we
walked our eyes were riveted. The Sitio reminded me of an adage of Japanese
gardens – there is no front and no back to the garden; the garden should be
equally beautiful regardless of the angle from which you view it. This is more
than true at the Burle Marx Sitio. We walked for more than a mile in a broad
circle, covering hills and valleys, essentially seeing parts of the same garden
from across its 360-degree perspective. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN2SDu8veLKnTW0NgoeJw7rAMDvv-s5mnw4YgbFrg4VJzzVtfgPoxV9AlwpaF8e_5ZSfVYNves86FTqO2PaaQIVvw7app_oUCjVhaDPPDItIrYebhhTNR6YGEZRCeLXwAZOHMxJJX7eVp/s1600/IMG_7566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN2SDu8veLKnTW0NgoeJw7rAMDvv-s5mnw4YgbFrg4VJzzVtfgPoxV9AlwpaF8e_5ZSfVYNves86FTqO2PaaQIVvw7app_oUCjVhaDPPDItIrYebhhTNR6YGEZRCeLXwAZOHMxJJX7eVp/s320/IMG_7566.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Burle Marx' porch </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>During the tour, we visited four of the
buildings on site including his hacienda-style home, the Frank Lloyd
Wright-inspired outdoor barbeque venue (a churrascaria in Brazil), an 18<sup>th</sup>
century chapel that he maintained and allowed use by local residents and a
reconstructed 17<sup>th</sup> century building (with the stones taken from a
building that was being destroyed in the center of Rio). Burle Marx had hoped
to use this latter building as his atelier, a quiet and open studio in which to
continue his work. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Burle Marx' would-be Atelier</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Unfortunately he died of cancer at the age of 84 just as the
building was completed. The Sitio is an inspiration to anyone who likes seeing gardens integrated with beautiful buildings. The sheer exuberance of the place, its plants and the diversity of
colors fills your heart and your mind. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We left the Sitio and stopped for lunch at a nearby hilltop restaurant where
the view across a coastal preserve was as much a feast as the delicious moqueca
(traditional Brazilian fish stew). We ended the afternoon with a drive home
along the coastline, past pretty white beaches and high surf rolling in from
the Atlantic Ocean. Jeff and I didn’t go to circuit training last night. We
walked along the Copacabana beach and enjoyed Burle Marx’ gift to the people of
Rio. It was a wonderful day.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-20348355280932706442017-03-08T07:34:00.001-08:002017-03-08T07:34:30.856-08:00Connecting in Today's World - Rio and Singapore Biennale <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/AVvXsEh-vjFyGIKBQhTT1g7sESxwQ9AdmrdqIxYRE4VWc2kWCobNLwA0jqabzQuYH8J2dhHFgEDBgCtCszBw0NTa5s9iJ9PSoNuUMQKeWcTAodmUrWNpwPJBogwXLwGtsPjabOMJna8vxoJI55nb/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vjFyGIKBQhTT1g7sESxwQ9AdmrdqIxYRE4VWc2kWCobNLwA0jqabzQuYH8J2dhHFgEDBgCtCszBw0NTa5s9iJ9PSoNuUMQKeWcTAodmUrWNpwPJBogwXLwGtsPjabOMJna8vxoJI55nb/s320/IMG_4958.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A Rio Landmark: Pão de Açucar <br />(Sugar Loaf Mountain)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>There are days when the complexity of our connected world is
beyond my ability to manage with any efficiency, let alone patience. This past
Tuesday was one of those days. I spent much of the morning dealing with renewal
of various registrations tied my Brazilian cellular telephone. These renewals were
required since my 2016 Brazilian cell phone number expired during the months I
was out of the country. I had to get a new one. Consequently everything that
was tied to my old number had to be re-initiated. Then, via email, I asked friends
in Washington state – my permanent home – to facilitate getting connected to a
newly installed fiber optic system serving my home there. All of these
undertakings were straight forward but time consuming. We’ve all been
there dealing with some aspect of our connected society – hanging on the phone
explaining to customer service the problem and getting it solved; waiting in
line at the local cable service center; going into online help forums to try
and understand why a particular action didn’t effect the expected response.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Twenty years ago we didn’t have cell phones or fiber optic
systems. Now many of us are spending hours managing these new technologies –
all intended to keep us connected. Whew. That is the down side. The upside is
that I can email my sister who lives in England and hear back within hours,
send loved ones birthday wishes via Facebook and other social media and receive
pictures on iCloud from family and friends all over the world. Those are the
good things and I’m glad for them. Why should administrative hassles annoy me?
I can’t remember what the pre-Internet administrative hassles were but I am
sure they were equally annoying. For sure we were not able to exchange
photographs and commentary within minutes across continents before the Internet
and cell phones were invented. We depended on expensive long distance phone
calls and “snail mail” letters that could take weeks and even months to arrive.
I guess I just expect it all to work!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiiH9V5Y1b7kgZ0gNhwKPv9PL0JNZ423c7u0NxeMGdtBlnPUQsfa732AZsuHXyIIVSzQ18LoQkDV2WySjNQlxuK0xePpg3cnMklJIb94DoM9ZJMIQ1S5AzvU4uy3Z_iAUKw1L8LrcX_oZ/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiiH9V5Y1b7kgZ0gNhwKPv9PL0JNZ423c7u0NxeMGdtBlnPUQsfa732AZsuHXyIIVSzQ18LoQkDV2WySjNQlxuK0xePpg3cnMklJIb94DoM9ZJMIQ1S5AzvU4uy3Z_iAUKw1L8LrcX_oZ/s400/IMG_2562.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Assembing for a Bloco (Carnaval Street Parade) in Lapa, Rio</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff and I arrived in Rio last Thursday for our annual
sabbatical in Brazil. When we
arrived, it was a few days after Carnaval officially ended. The city was still in party mode. On
Saturday, Jeff and I joined a friend at a morning bloco – that is a
community street parade with dancing and music. It was great fun to see the
different costumes and dance with the crowd along the parade route. Once again
I was reminded that keeping up regular exercise is worthwhile so that when an
opportunity to dance in a street parade comes along I am ready! Of course in my
American life there are not that many occasions when dancing in the street for
a few hours is an option. We had great fun – me dressed as a hippie complete with
a tie-dyed dress and my husband in an Egyptian headdress. We weren’t the only
senior citizens having fun. We saw all ages and all manner of hilarious outfits
– one of the perennial favorites is men dressed up as women. My first experience at a
Brazilian Carnaval was almost thirty years ago. Someone told me that the key to
remember about costumes, or fantasias
as they are called in Portuguese, is “The men dress as women and the women take
off their clothes.” Perhaps this blanket statement is a bit of an exaggeration
but it is still quite apt.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is more than a month since we left another tropical
city, Singapore. During our last week there we visited the Singapore Biennale –
a biennale is a large-scale contemporary art exhibit that occurs every two
years. In the short time we were back in the United States, I didn’t have the
chance to write about this wonderful exhibit. Now I will.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKr4JAVd_6JfIiOCu-NQCWiFJjITxggCiXSvhfjk_sRRi8ykTe7GRwLAwRIdfwusQlXP89C42zJ3vXRciANzLFi893d8d-ExBdNbWZdKnt6-mjYQ-c_t-i1trCPEXfYrkl7bVPyfU7pw-/s1600/IMG_7296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKr4JAVd_6JfIiOCu-NQCWiFJjITxggCiXSvhfjk_sRRi8ykTe7GRwLAwRIdfwusQlXP89C42zJ3vXRciANzLFi893d8d-ExBdNbWZdKnt6-mjYQ-c_t-i1trCPEXfYrkl7bVPyfU7pw-/s400/IMG_7296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Great East Indiaman by David Chan, Singapore<br />Raffles landing in an Imaginary Schooner powered by a Mythical Whale</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The 2016 Singapore Biennale showcased diverse art works by 60
Asian artists representing nations from Pakistan to Japan and from northern
China to the most southern island nations. It was hosted by the Singapore Art
Museum. Like the Bienal de São Paulo that I visited in 2014 (see my blog about
it at<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://mangocoffeeandme.blogspot.com.br/2014/11/brazilian-tourist-blog-part-1-sao-paulo.html">https://mangocoffeeandme.blogspot.com.br/2014/11/brazilian-tourist-blog-part-1-sao-paulo.html</a>)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRL9q6GTvBkZ-79phXPIxXqXPjUk69tybr4lkxY9Rkxlr9Q-p8KuMq6rNeo3nAS8osQXI1dU2p7TYtaKjit8iTpF6M5of7IOK9u6rILrENPngcw-PXmMX-8aqDFWWFyD3IInHKZP4P7cU/s1600/IMG_7258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRL9q6GTvBkZ-79phXPIxXqXPjUk69tybr4lkxY9Rkxlr9Q-p8KuMq6rNeo3nAS8osQXI1dU2p7TYtaKjit8iTpF6M5of7IOK9u6rILrENPngcw-PXmMX-8aqDFWWFyD3IInHKZP4P7cU/s320/IMG_7258.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Gate by Do Ho Suh, South Korea<br />A ghostly memory of a lost home</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>the Singapore Biennale was an eye-opening window on the
emotions and visions of the artists and their nations. Many of the pieces (artists
from South Korea and Indonesia for example) evinced a longing for home and nostalgia
for what the artist perceived to be a more stable past. Others were delightful, even fanciful expressions of the joy of living or remembrance of historical events. What I like about
visiting art museums is that the exhibits always show me something that changes
the way I see the world. Sometimes it is just a moment of self-reflection or a
sense of happiness at seeing something of pleasing to the eye. Sometimes a
painting, a sculpture or a mixed media installation sticks with me, influencing
my thinking and ability to understand the world around me. If you are ever in a
city that is hosting a biennale my advice is go – you will experience
paintings, sculptures, collages and other contemporary art forms that open your
mind to the beauty and the challenges of our diverse world. I am posting just two examples of what we saw – hoping to tempt you into visiting a modern
art museum next time you have the chance. We are so inundated with Internet distributed forms of video entertainment
that I think we miss out experiencing art forms that do not adapt so easily to
Internet distribution. Okay off my soapbox. I guess I am just a nut for
broadening horizons and besides who doesn’t love to visit an art museum?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Singapore River at dusk</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is interesting to compare the two tropical cities we’ve
lived in this year, Rio and Singapore. Rio is known for its samba and beaches
while Singapore is known for its strict behavioral standards, its efficient
infrastructure and cleanliness. Without question the overall standard of living
is higher in Singapore but Singapore is a tightly controlled independent city
nation whereas Rio is the historical center of a large, sprawling and complex
democracy. Despite the differences, both cities are great places to walk in – both
are full of public parks and interesting architecture. Curiously both Rio and
Singapore have good public transportation systems. Buses are abundant and cheap
in Rio and the subway system is greatly upgraded since the Rio Olympics. While
it does not reach as extensively into the neighborhoods as the city-wide system
in Singapore does, Rio’s new lines and new train cars are clean, fast and remarkably
similar to those in Singapore. There are of course more differences between the
two cities than similarities. One that interests me as a former water engineer is the surface water drainage canals in Rio and Singapore. In Singapore,
the Singapore River, that drains and flows through the center of town, is almost
drinking water standard but in Rio, the big drainage canals that run from the
inland Lagoa (lake) to the Atlantic Ocean are quite polluted. After rainfalls
in Singapore there is little trash in the river but here in Rio rain flushes
out endless forms of trash, particularly plastic bottles and bags. Singapore gets “bad marks” internationally for being so strict about littering.
It is illegal to litter in Singapore whereas in Rio, despite many street trash cans, littering seems like the norm. When
you see the difference in the water quality of runoff and in the amount of trash
on the streets the idea of no littering becomes appealing. But for now the sun
is shining and I’m thinking about going out to get some of my daily 10,000
steps in.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVYSd-h2EzVBHrKB4VfNjYtmWUTjQSQTAtNY9MLfRSwX5vdAJ0HTtiofzYkcW1zBiv0ZTRShlfOkjzGkD2aKUcehDI49OuGQc7uaaSV-8oKAscyfxs3EPMFGmz6b-kk3qA6biDOvDACVc/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVYSd-h2EzVBHrKB4VfNjYtmWUTjQSQTAtNY9MLfRSwX5vdAJ0HTtiofzYkcW1zBiv0ZTRShlfOkjzGkD2aKUcehDI49OuGQc7uaaSV-8oKAscyfxs3EPMFGmz6b-kk3qA6biDOvDACVc/s400/IMG_4997.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The pedestrian path along Copacabana</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>There may be a little trash here and there on the streets but Rio is a marvelous city.
I’m going to walk in Copacabana, along Avenida Atlântica and take my new cellular phone with me – just in case I decide to explore a new neighborhood. Who doesn’t appreciate the fact that the
whole world is mapped and those maps are available at the touch of your cell
phone screen. I guess spending some time hassling with the administrative part
of modern technology is not a bad tradeoff.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-40707696738920390642017-01-26T19:39:00.002-08:002017-01-27T16:15:34.562-08:00A Visit to Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Year of the Rooster</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is almost Chinese Lunar New Year. It is the Year of the
Rooster. Everywhere we go in Singapore we see red lanterns, roosters and
mandarin orange trees. My husband and I have been in this remarkable city for
the past couple of weeks. We are living in a small apartment in the center of downtown. It is a perfect place to be a tourist – close
to shops, close to two subway stops, close to Chinatown – where the new year’s
celebrations are about to jump into full force – and close to the old colonial
district with its traditional architecture and abundance of museums. </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Colonial Architecture - Chinatown at night</i></span></td></tr>
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The two districts are separated by the
Singapore River which opens onto a natural harbor. Since the early 19<sup>th</sup>
century and continuing today, the harbor makes Singapore an important shipping port.
The Singapore River is a point of civic pride, completely cleaned up and
bordered by manicured parks, bars, restaurants and promenades. Everywhere you
look there are outstanding examples of contemporary outdoor sculpture. I’ve
been exploring this wonderful public open space. Over the course of the past week, I’ve walked
along the river, crossed the many old and new pedestrian bridges, and joined
many Singaporeans and other tourists enjoying the area. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK12A3xqbABfLij_zZxMAiZ4sBYCSRhJAUp93ZMdj6-3u4jF6UolZ5YRcHZVxchApicVVWfd8vWOjm1hk6Qr7QySnum3r2eqlgaqKEIGKTUQat2w7XDEX9UYFGBndX755BSSM53TU2hG6L/s1600/IMG_7245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK12A3xqbABfLij_zZxMAiZ4sBYCSRhJAUp93ZMdj6-3u4jF6UolZ5YRcHZVxchApicVVWfd8vWOjm1hk6Qr7QySnum3r2eqlgaqKEIGKTUQat2w7XDEX9UYFGBndX755BSSM53TU2hG6L/s320/IMG_7245.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Bird</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Several of the sculptures are iconic – one of my favorites
is the Bird by <span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">Columbian
artist Fernando Botero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bird can
only be described as fat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is
something very pleasing about the Bird’s chubby proportions – he or is it a she
(?) makes me feel happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with most of
the public art installations in Singapore the Bird symbolizes something
positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case, the Bird
represents joy, optimism and peace and these, of course, are thought to lead to
prosperity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cloud Nine Raining</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Roboto-Regular;">Signs
of prosperity are everywhere along the Singapore River where crowds of
financial workers gather for afternoon drinks, for a jog or just to meet, chat
and take selfies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Selfie sticks are
practically ‘de rigueur’ in Singapore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still don’t want one but I can see their advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond the Bird I have other favorite pieces
– </span>I love the Cloud Nine Raining fountain at the mouth of the Singapore
River. Conceived by Singapore artist Tan Wee Lit, it reminds me of an
illustration in Winnie the Pooh – whenever the lovable bear was sad, a rain
cloud floated above his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in
Singapore the continuous rainfall is meant to symbolize how Singapore overcame
all odds to achieve water sufficiency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
great is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder I love the piece.
Five giant reflecting sound spheres, located on the lawn in front of the Asian
Civilization Museum, fascinate me. The steel spheres resonate everyday sounds,
recorded in 2015, 24 hours a day. The area is also full of interesting brass
statues of historical events and people and a crazy diversity of architecture,
buildings and bridges ranging from the most traditional to the wild avant-garde.
It is a feast for the eyes and delightful to see so many people enjoying it.
Singapore knows how to do public spaces!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The final installation I want to mention is located along
the harbor front. It is the Window of Hope by Sun Yu-li, another Singaporean
contemporary artist. It commemorates the landing site of the founders of
Singapore when they looked through windows to a better, now realized
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t one of my favorites
from an aesthetic perspective and the symbolism is a bit corny. However the
fact that there is an acknowledged appreciation of the sacrifices past settlers
made to create a bright future for all Singaporeans is not corny at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s world, where too often it seems
like it’s all about “number 1” (AKA me) such appreciation of the hard work and
sacrifices of our ancestors is often lacking. </i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WlZYgdVcnOkn7EeM7jCJeL_OciRJouNq4NYA1Dv1a8P_PzCLRuXc90eOnGphbPRi55LjIts2LTVct6qzs1G6rCLLRYfaAV6DWDrZAN4FITrCvi8NA8rrUO0ogonLLHu86_cSQrnmFDfK/s1600/IMG_7140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WlZYgdVcnOkn7EeM7jCJeL_OciRJouNq4NYA1Dv1a8P_PzCLRuXc90eOnGphbPRi55LjIts2LTVct6qzs1G6rCLLRYfaAV6DWDrZAN4FITrCvi8NA8rrUO0ogonLLHu86_cSQrnmFDfK/s320/IMG_7140.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>WIndow of Hope</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>This doesn’t mean that all
aspects of a better future (i.e., freedom and opportunity) exist for everyone
in Singapore. Of course that is true everywhere including in my own country,
USA. But there is a lot of opportunity in Singapore and social benefits like
public education and health care are top notch and available to everyone. To be
honest as a woman who travels widely, one freedom that exists in Singapore is the
freedom to walk around alone and not fear that my purse is about to be
snatched. Although there are unacceptable human rights limitations in Singapore,
such as the fact that homosexuality is illegal, many such limitations are now being
successfully challenged. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last Saturday we decided it was time to venture further
afield and visit one of the city’s gems, the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The botanic garden was awarded World Heritage
Status in 2015 and boasts one of the world’s premier collections of
orchids. Orchids are the national flower
of Singapore. The Botanic Garden has
played an important role in the global propagation of orchids, starting in the
1930’s. Today, the Botanic Garden is
responsible for many of the world’s most famous hybrids and for maintaining the
breeding stocks for many globally important orchids.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Botanic Garden is huge – more than 180 acres in size. Entrance
to the garden itself is free and it serves as a city park to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw whole families – from grandparents to
little toddlers, other tourists, fit joggers and groups of friends, colleagues,
and lovers wandering around enjoying the magnificent plants, expansive vistas
and 150 year old heritage trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Garden
contains many unique areas, including a garden of trellis (climbing) plants,
foliage, ginger, a children’s garden, several lakes and many other delights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crown jewel is the Orchid Garden, where a
small entrance fee is required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we
are both over 60 we paid the nominal fee of S$1, or about US$0.70.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well worth the cost. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Orchid Garden is extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a global aficionado of botanical gardens
and this garden is a one of the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sheer variety and abundance of orchids boggles the mind. The colors
range across the entire spectrum of the rainbow – r<span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ed, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet – and include
multiple variations on these basic seven colors. We saw orchids in every shade
of </span>pink, an almost black violet, gold, magenta, tiger lily, ivory, white
and more. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The orchids are impressive – ranging from tiny
flowers barely bigger than a fingernail to the giant tiger orchid, sometimes
known as the Queen of the Orchids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
largest of all orchids in the world can grow in the wild to be as big as 3
meters. It blooms rarely in “captivity” so we were delighted to find it
flowering. The Orchid Garden contains several special areas, including a green
house or Orchidarium, a Cool House and a Mist House. </i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEiLh6xXGuffh-Td9i3EB_6d6195VhgXKMpIGzOa2q8uIvWPDXRbV4WzAm3G3cUVsKJUEvtlCeYN0BpPgUU_deP-LhqUw1-QSg5PQHpbbAqNEjk5HCXCtoCX60J2b-G5G1MUWV2AueY7sChM/s1600/IMG_7208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh6xXGuffh-Td9i3EB_6d6195VhgXKMpIGzOa2q8uIvWPDXRbV4WzAm3G3cUVsKJUEvtlCeYN0BpPgUU_deP-LhqUw1-QSg5PQHpbbAqNEjk5HCXCtoCX60J2b-G5G1MUWV2AueY7sChM/s400/IMG_7208.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In memory of Princess Diana!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">orchid paths ascend a
small hill and at the top is the VIP Orchid Garden where hybrid orchids,
cultivated for heads of states and other important visitors are displayed. One of my nostalgic favorites was the simple Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana,
hybridized in her memory after her death in 1997. I’m not a raving royalist but
it was nice to see an exotic flower in her memory. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We walked past several lakes and enjoyed the floating
Vitória-régia – a giant water lily native to the Amazon River. We loved the giant heritage trees and the
open woods and traditional gazebos. All
in all the Botanic Garden is as beautiful a garden as I’ve ever visited. I recommend
it. It’s also a great way to get in your daily 10,000 steps. According to my new FitBit – I did over 12,000
steps on Saturday. That was my weekly record! Walking is how you stay fit when
you’re a tourist.</i></div>
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<br /></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/AVvXsEieBgSi1lWIYt5HvBMMVVukScCBYhdCSvXnT3qTxo1cwIjqqq9QL1bb7lz7G_7X8Tj2c9fpu9MLGbnPjhwKlQYzIrGTGvOARK6eKPtNngmrKJ878salVwz-jQkaa5TfrA0L-tOydgep55Oq/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBgSi1lWIYt5HvBMMVVukScCBYhdCSvXnT3qTxo1cwIjqqq9QL1bb7lz7G_7X8Tj2c9fpu9MLGbnPjhwKlQYzIrGTGvOARK6eKPtNngmrKJ878salVwz-jQkaa5TfrA0L-tOydgep55Oq/s320/IMG_2208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Vitória-regia</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We left the garden and walked to nearby Orchard Road for
lunch. Orchard Road is famous for its classy shops – and for sure they are
there. I’ve never seen as many fancy boutiques for watches that cost more than
most folks’ annual income. Fortunately we were there for lunch and there are
plenty of reasonably priced choices. While we shared a delicious wood fired pizza
the sky opened up – Singapore weather is very wet at this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After waiting for the worst to pass we
ventured out in our raincoats, holding our umbrella high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were only a few blocks from the nearest
subway station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For less than two dollars
and within 10 minutes we were walking back to our apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great subway system Singapore has –
clean, efficient, fast, cheap – and it goes everywhere in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that is an urban amenity I can get
behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next stops will be several of
the museums; the Art Museum and the National Museum are at the top of my list.
Let me know what else you’d like to </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hear about and I’ll see what I can do.</i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_P33cl9Mq41VBlg0p3mCdv0NmKmWGsI3bHf-UTBVZDRtQjLgGaycC9YZ6Sz4G2irFCUa_3irAb3FYTXqH_HXNgZlcQO2k8zZOsyYH9HAnSCxNnKKnFwuQxGmWNdmJ66oSu4biA-PaNFb/s1600/IMG_7234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_P33cl9Mq41VBlg0p3mCdv0NmKmWGsI3bHf-UTBVZDRtQjLgGaycC9YZ6Sz4G2irFCUa_3irAb3FYTXqH_HXNgZlcQO2k8zZOsyYH9HAnSCxNnKKnFwuQxGmWNdmJ66oSu4biA-PaNFb/s640/IMG_7234.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Modern Architecture by Moshe Safdie - the ArtScience Museum symbolized a lotus flower</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-21629931520172770962017-01-17T04:25:00.001-08:002017-01-17T04:25:55.229-08:00A Visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia <div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Our Mekong-style scientific vessel, AKA traditional river boat</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It’s a new year and my husband Jeff and I are on the road
for the month of January. First Cambodia
where Jeff attended an international workshop on Asian rivers in the capitol city of Phnom Penh and
then Singapore where he is a visiting scholar at the National University of
Singapore. My job is to take it all in.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>This past Friday we were in Cambodia. We spent the day
sampling the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers with other scientists at the workshop.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The workshop participants and a handful
of Cambodian students boarded a 50-foot wooden boat and left downtown Phnom
Penh about 9 o’clock in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
goal was to collect water and gas samples from both rivers separately and where
the two rivers mix at their confluence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Preparing equipment for water sampling</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Phnom Penh is located on the southwestern bank of the Tonle Sap River –
about a 6-hour boat ride downstream from the famous Angkor Wat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The downtown core of the city is less than a
kilometer from the confluence of the larger Mekong with the Tonle Sap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The workshop participants represented a
spectrum of Asian countries and a few foreigners, including my husband, who
have studied the hydrology and geochemistry of the major rivers in the
region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Countries represented included
Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Singapore, Korea, US, Bangladesh and China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With </i></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">the mélange of participants the lingua
franca was English.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Dredge barges on the Tonle Sap - full (blue) and empty (green)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Mekong River, like many rivers in the world, is under
continuous assault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its anthropogenic
uses are myriad – water supply, habitat for hundreds of fish species, including
critical food for more than 60 million people who live in the river basin,
hydropower, wastewater disposal, transportation, cultural practices and
recreation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Cambodia, where
agriculture has been the economic base for centuries, it is hard to say that
deforestation in the watershed is greater than in the past but that is what the
Cambodians told us. That plus the significant increase in urban development in
and around Phnom Penh is creating many changes in runoff, river chemistry and
in the habitat quality for local fish species. A curious new phenomenon is the
dredging of river bottom sand for filling wetlands around the city – a fact we
experienced directly in the continuous stream of rusty powered barges
moving upstream full of sand and returning empty downstream to the dredging
site on the Mekong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new ‘land’
created from the filled wetlands will be used for new building – eliminating
the wetlands’ natural functions of stormwater infiltration and water quality
treatment. The loss has already resulted in widespread street flooding and
reduced water quality following the smallest of rainfalls.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Housing along the Tonle Sap</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The uses of the Mekong and its tributaries are in constant
flux and the changes in the river’s water quality and hydrology can cause
conflict. Everyone wants something from the river. It is hard to satisfy all
parties when six very different nations and multiple cultures with diverse
power and influence share the watershed. Regardless, in the spirit of true
collaboration, the assembled scientists spent the day measuring carbon fluxes
and collecting water samples for later analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basic information collected will help
support predictive computer models that can assist the nations in determining
how to best manage and ideally share the rivers’ abundant resources. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Taditional fishing boats and modern buildings</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>On the river we saw examples of wealth and poverty, slums and modern developments and boats of every kind. The day presented a fascinating
window on Cambodian cultures and history promoted by a period of rapid
development and growth in Phnom Penh. Much of the new development is spurred by
foreign investment but unfortunately it does not seem to be accompanied by needed
investments in urban infrastructure. In fact the city streets are in a state of
chaos – traffic is extraordinary, a wild and fluid sea of luxury SUV’s, taxis,
tuk-tuks, motor scooters and bicycles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are few traffic lights and crossing a street is an exercise in
positive thinking – you wait for an opening and walk boldly forward waving your
hands above your head, hoping for deliverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no place for the faint of heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only blessing is that the traffic is so
thick that the average speed is very slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Mekong style fishing "house" boat</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Everywhere along the muddy river we saw open decked wooden fishing
boats – laying out nets or pulling remarkably empty nets back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fish migration following a full moon is very
low and the fisheries biologists on our boat said that accounted for the low
catches. But a low catch is bad news for the boat owners since the daily sale
of a few kilos of fish is their sole income. Typically these narrow boats,
about 35-40 feet in length, have raised prows both bow and stern and are
powered by long-tailed outboard motors. The ‘long tails’ have the mandatory
ability to lift up unharmed when hitting the bottom of the river. Since the
rivers can be less than a meter deep during low water this is a critical
adaptive trait. Most of these sampan-style fishing boats have small covered
shelters that function as “shipboard” homes to the owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed to see small toddlers helping
their parents or grandparents haul in the nets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wondered how the average first world child would manage the physical
limitations of living on a narrow sampan.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ready to eat along the river</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We stopped in the early afternoon at a riverside restaurant
for a delicious meal of fish soup, rice and green papaya salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meal, where we sat cross-legged at low
tables set on platforms built over the river, was one of the best meals we had
in Phnom Penh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Unfortunately I had bad luck with contaminated food on our last night in Cambodia following a meal at an
upscale restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Folks always warn you about eating in local river establishments. But that wasn't where I got food poisoning. </span>I guess it can happen anywhere but suffice it to say it was a most
unpleasant experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Throne Hall</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">After lunch our group visited the Royal Palace (where the
current royal family lives) complex and the exotic Silver Pagoda home to the
intricately carved 17<sup>th</sup> century Emerald Buddha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is illegal to take interior photographs of
these sacred places but the famous silver tile floor that gives the Silver
Pagoda its name is extraordinary. Who can imagine covering the floor of a very
large hall with silver tiles? I guess you have to be royalty! The gleaming floor,
the benevolent Emerald Buddha and the many silver and solid gold, often with
encrusted diamonds, Buddhas make a visit to the Pagoda worthwhile. The whole complex,
built starting in 1863 when the capital of Cambodia moved to Phnom Penh, is an
excellent example of traditional Khmer architecture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Stupa of HM King Suramarit and<br />HM Queen Kossomak</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Beyond the Silver Pagoda, there are many interesting structures
in the huge complex -- big ornate Stupas, round Buddhist shrines that contain
the ashes of past monarchs stemming back to the founder of the current King <span style="color: #262626; mso-bidi-font-family: Merriweather;">Norodom Sihamoni</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite was the Stupa of HM King
Suramarit and HM Queen Kossomak, the grandparents of the King Sihamoni.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another peaceful site in the complex is the
artificial vegetated hill, Phnom Mondop, with its many Buddhas surrounding a
shrine that contains a large Buddha footprint and 108 Buddha images that
symbolize the 108 past lives of Buddha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
fresco-painted wall surrounds the entire Silver Pagoda complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1903 paintings, some of which show signs
of weather-induced deterioration but which are still beautiful, tell the story
of Reamker, the Cambodian version of
the epic Indian poem Ramayana. The
poem is essentially a traditional story of the balance between good and evil –
the quintessential human dilemma. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
the buildings are surrounded by formal gardens, filled with eye-catching
topiary and tropical flowers. The seven-headed serpentine river god, Naga
protects virtually every staircase. Fortunately, the whole Palace complex was
preserved during the Khmer Rouge occupation, although not for altruistic
purposes. The preservation was entirely to show the world that the regime was
preserving Cambodian heritage.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Having visited Phnom Penh twice previously starting more
than ten years ago I was struck by the changes in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my previous visits I felt that the city
was in a state of depression, still recovering from the horror and shock of
mass killings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there is a sense of
energy and optimism in the air – although time will tell if that optimism results
in improved quality of life for a majority of the population. The new growth is
a real opportunity for recovery and could put the sadness and devastation of
the Khmer Rouge into the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately
there is evidence everywhere of pressing needs that do not appear to be
addressed: crumbling chocked streets, filling of wetlands, flooding, ubiquitous
trash, lack of adequate sewage and water management and endless, disturbing stories
of corruption despite the government being a democratic, representative constitutional
monarchy. Given my short visit I was only able to learn a little about the
environmental conditions and nothing about critical social conditions including
schools and health care – and other areas outside of my expertise. Either way
as a retired engineer, it was encouraging to meet Cambodian scientists and
engineers who are excited to help manage transitions in the city’s water
resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left Phnom Penh for a very
different kind of city, Singapore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
be reporting in.</i></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-82726303219556586572016-09-29T17:45:00.000-07:002016-09-29T17:45:16.590-07:00September – Processing Homegrown Food<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/AVvXsEjOn1dkgPy0Gwy2AGIzgh0eZo1JOS5ag6O69Iq8y5AXug1gcmrF3frSGIR_evX69YH7eVEiSX1v1ZIuBuns3DaWbz8YqmkeYfNoEFDBIP8gfTwN7LkolS2KKB80qcOFVBFxLvIkuwI1fw8M/s1600/IMG_6492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn1dkgPy0Gwy2AGIzgh0eZo1JOS5ag6O69Iq8y5AXug1gcmrF3frSGIR_evX69YH7eVEiSX1v1ZIuBuns3DaWbz8YqmkeYfNoEFDBIP8gfTwN7LkolS2KKB80qcOFVBFxLvIkuwI1fw8M/s400/IMG_6492.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>September Sunset on Lopez Island</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It’s harvest time in Puget Sound. My husband and I are home gardeners with a
small garden but even we have extra food to process. We have three apple trees, one Italian plum,
nine blueberry bushes, strawberries, raspberries, countless runner beans, tomato plants and a variety
of other vegetables and herbs in our garden.
It is remarkable how much food one can produce with relatively little
effort – more it turns out than two people can eat. </i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Only trouble is I am not, by nature, a person who has ever
made jellies or jams, pickles or canned beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact the idea of sterilizing and boiling glass jars fills me with
trepidation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am positive I will trap
botulism inside my applesauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole
process of canning, vacuum packing and sealing glass jars gives me the
willies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span> few weeks ago I
found myself surrounded by pounds of green beans, apples and plums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to do something with the food before
it rotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spoke with one of my
friends – a woman who is both a professional (retired) chef and also an experienced
home canner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her how to make
applesauce and how to preserve it if canning in vacuum-sealed glass jars is not
an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She suggested I freeze the
sauce in 1-quart Ziploc bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This I can
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I assembled my apples on the kitchen counter, put on an
apron and tuned in the Pandora Road Tripping radio station. I highly recommend this station for cooking music!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCcuuVjadQ7gPxjY7hRUPaABVfuSwyQnsfK7c4Ua5f2bEiNPC2A315FwLugx_dpQD6yhGID3pm799C2YF4VUQNgfjXu2MUm-qu-TC9lrp0S5rcl4NyheN4xfD0ZMCiqZ2cPJY_ecHUKhs/s1600/IMG_6219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCcuuVjadQ7gPxjY7hRUPaABVfuSwyQnsfK7c4Ua5f2bEiNPC2A315FwLugx_dpQD6yhGID3pm799C2YF4VUQNgfjXu2MUm-qu-TC9lrp0S5rcl4NyheN4xfD0ZMCiqZ2cPJY_ecHUKhs/s320/IMG_6219.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Step one – wash a big pile of apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Step two – put a Dutch oven on the stovetop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Step three – cut and core the apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Step four – cook the apples very slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One of our trees has an issue with coddling moths and some
apples had moth damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t
worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pretty sure that the
remains of a few coddling moth carcasses would simply add protein to the
sauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the bottom of the pot was
covered with apple pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I added a
tiny amount of water and turned the gas on low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I cut and cored more apples, removing some
peel and leaving some in place, the apples filled the pot and started to simmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lovely scent of fresh apples filled my
kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The music was rocking and I was
rocking too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the pot was completely
full I stirred and mushed the softening mixture, letting it cook slowly on the
stove for an hour or more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a fragrant
pot of chunky pink applesauce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEitagdnx28gW5M3m_yod6zTefCqN2MrxRfgC_D09MYHDTDl33h1eguL-Sq-paZwDAv6Ued3_L9byRP_NpN6JHjX4Hs3q8QR_jO5_hi5tzVIKKYeP1c1O99RiCeaAw0MIuBTYuIS9WGfXxAY/s1600/IMG_6222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitagdnx28gW5M3m_yod6zTefCqN2MrxRfgC_D09MYHDTDl33h1eguL-Sq-paZwDAv6Ued3_L9byRP_NpN6JHjX4Hs3q8QR_jO5_hi5tzVIKKYeP1c1O99RiCeaAw0MIuBTYuIS9WGfXxAY/s320/IMG_6222.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Applesauce Simmering</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I left it to cool and went for a bike ride with my husband –
Lopez Island is a great place to bike –
rolling traffic-free roads and gorgeous vistas of Puget Sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After riding about 25 miles (I'm glad I've kept up circuit training and regular bike rides so I have strength and stamina), my husband
suggested we stop at the local watering hole for a cold brew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was an excellent suggestion and with
some fried oysters, the stop tided us over until we got home and cooked
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I like about being retired in the summertime – any day can turn into a slice of summer vacation.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>By the time we’d eaten dinner the applesauce had
cooled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set quart Ziploc bags on a
rimmed cookie sheet and ladled the fragrant mixture into the bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a messy process since my ladle is
about the same diameter as the Ziploc opening but no mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>t did not take long before the
bags were full and standing up like fat little soldiers on the tray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I squeezed excess air out and sealed the Baggies
with a flourish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately I inherited
a standup freezer so freezer space was not an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lined the bags up on an empty shelf and
look forward to eating the best applesauce in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEjVWBzl2ocAJJsCgvogFeaUEZUvAYEj7P82bYa51gxCAfxy6Oe2NRAJOMynwG4R1yNMeO5H6-sk473XZfIvtkYhnKwxksgBpsS7UG0vBMP2-glf2bOoASSED8nyJIcdGr9KycnnN1vDrI01/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWBzl2ocAJJsCgvogFeaUEZUvAYEj7P82bYa51gxCAfxy6Oe2NRAJOMynwG4R1yNMeO5H6-sk473XZfIvtkYhnKwxksgBpsS7UG0vBMP2-glf2bOoASSED8nyJIcdGr9KycnnN1vDrI01/s320/IMG_6540.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Tiny Green Bean String</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Next up for processing were green beans from our
garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There the processing was a
little more efficient – remove the tops and tails of the beans; string them – by
that I mean pull the string off the seams on both sides; cut into ~2-inch
lengths and parboil for one or two minutes; cool; bag and freeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My third experience with food preservation turned out to be my favorite. I washed, halved, pitted and dried more than 100 Italian plums. I don’t have a dehydrator so I needed another process. </i><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After a bit of Internet research I discovered that a regular kitchen oven can substitute for a home dehydrator. </i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I put the plum halves on parchment paper on rimmed cookie sheets and used a low temperature, 200<b>℉ </b>for four hours. </i><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/AVvXsEgg79-IRDcNM4rr921qFe9NUbGm2mRmdvkcZG3AttPPTPNtSQZlflvfT9l40n1Nb8ux9awztFDYQNPViRM4huaeCRtDUDgTiXLWdxQMdHsx2YtZia6bh4b4uiFaL_2llvGR6ILrqjTJzEGE/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg79-IRDcNM4rr921qFe9NUbGm2mRmdvkcZG3AttPPTPNtSQZlflvfT9l40n1Nb8ux9awztFDYQNPViRM4huaeCRtDUDgTiXLWdxQMdHsx2YtZia6bh4b4uiFaL_2llvGR6ILrqjTJzEGE/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Italian Plums snuggling up in the oven</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I turned the temperature down to 150<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">℉</span></b> and left the plums in the oven
overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next morning I had dozens
of sweet plum halves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tasted
delicious and I couldn’t resist sampling as I put them into Ziploc bags prior to
freezing.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Have I turned into a pioneer woman in my late sixties?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who’s kidding whom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dozen or more quarts of frozen beans, dried
plums and applesauce do not a pioneer make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all I’m going to the supermarket to buy most of my food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our small garden kept us well supplied
all summer with fresh salads and other veggies, berries and apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also a wonderful reminder of the joy
and relaxation that working in a garden and growing some of you own food can
bring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, it was fun to preserve our
own fruits and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m already
looking forward to pulling the beans out on Christmas day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will be special.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Last week marked the fall equinox – when the path of the sun
crosses the imaginary line above equator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the northern hemisphere, the fall equinox marks the beginning of
autumn and the gradual shortening and cooling of days as the sun moves away
from the northern hemisphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The days
in Seattle are still warm and sunny but there is the beginning of chill in the
evening air.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEitLvwf45k22RdmRveAIT4rEikvRBabnQ7pXCFlKhnI_8Di65W9z_JcephECkmo9vtgsQSBigsp1vGL1f6YMOatrTuCypg5WjwpIEd-bHwXF_1l65gkhryR8vBSgH3qXIIu6fFlxMbVANsc/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLvwf45k22RdmRveAIT4rEikvRBabnQ7pXCFlKhnI_8Di65W9z_JcephECkmo9vtgsQSBigsp1vGL1f6YMOatrTuCypg5WjwpIEd-bHwXF_1l65gkhryR8vBSgH3qXIIu6fFlxMbVANsc/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Early Morning Mist on Puget Sound</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Summer has been a continuous carousel, time flying by, shared conversations and outdoor meals,
short vignettes and images of flowers and trees and water shimmering in the sun,
friends and family biking, boating, walking on the beach and enjoying fresh
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a privilege to be retired
and have the time to exchange visits with loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I have moved back and forth
from Seattle to Lopez Island tens of times, catching early morning and late
evening ferries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Puget Sound shines in summer and Indian summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
watched the full moon rise over the ferry landing and felt as if we’d lost our
bearings in the early morning mist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
flowers in my garden welcomed me home to Seattle and at Lopez we picked fruit
and caught Dungeness crab. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw orca
whales and harbor seals feeding in the kelp off Lopez Island and went canoeing
at my brother’s house in South Puget Sound. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched kingfishers, great blue herons and
Bald eagles diving and flying in the clear skies. While hiking across Lopez Island as part of the fourth annual Lopez Walkabout, I saw the giant nest of an osprey on top of a doug fir snag - a first for me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7kLfBtHG3BY5DjyIQ95HrL-5z7z6qiNhQHEeQ7kManmaoB3Gzf9MI_9xz8maOcuIwS3VtCrKfUGhQ4C83dCd7EQDo72Dq1JQ3iYSqNHZStZXeEAWiGpkfhQ5u9SQqPGOlxi-2hK55v-J/s1600/IMG_6506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7kLfBtHG3BY5DjyIQ95HrL-5z7z6qiNhQHEeQ7kManmaoB3Gzf9MI_9xz8maOcuIwS3VtCrKfUGhQ4C83dCd7EQDo72Dq1JQ3iYSqNHZStZXeEAWiGpkfhQ5u9SQqPGOlxi-2hK55v-J/s320/IMG_6506.JPG" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the seeming abundance of wildlife in Puget Sound, August was the second
hottest month on record in the Pacific Northwest, following in the footsteps of
July. I read that the Arctic ice caps,
the preferred habitat for giant polar bears melt and freeze a good three and a
half weeks earlier and later than historical records. The meaning of this is obvious – polar bears
have seven fewer weeks to wander and hunt and find mates on the ice – a
limitation that threatens the health of the species. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>
<br />
There is an unfathomable gap between the beauty of the San Juan Islands and the
global changes we are experiencing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
makes me appreciate the resilience of the earth but, at the same time, I feel
humble in the face of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my
children are married now and all four are working to effect change for the
better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their, and their cohorts’
optimism and energy is encouraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to our daughter's wedding, we
helped celebrate the weddings of three other young couples that we’ve known virtually
their entire lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of the
too often chaotic world we live in, it was wonderful to see young adults embark
on the adventure of married life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
folks are smart and work across multiple fields that have the potential
to improve our world – medicine, music, art, hydrology, alternative energy and
finance – all arenas that need new solutions to sustain our world and our
imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s hope their efforts
contribute to a better future – a future where everyone has the ability to grow
a little food and experience how delicious just-picked fruits and vegetables can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a future Puget Sound that is still home
to healthy populations of people and wildlife.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-80954683846295976582016-08-03T09:55:00.001-07:002016-08-03T09:55:11.136-07:00Love, Joy and Respect – A Summer Wedding on Lopez Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<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/AVvXsEjCCusNFcEY6vFRnThalfQbnK9I2hKpkLE85ai2KSM5P01o7QuaDF_XLV7liKJw6CkoEgPDo0FaHcD8MOKoqCm_jrIzWPj42kron25b8qx7aC04owVtxI_eYG32NOdjlPDx6d7L56I4lTtc/s1600/IMG_5371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCusNFcEY6vFRnThalfQbnK9I2hKpkLE85ai2KSM5P01o7QuaDF_XLV7liKJw6CkoEgPDo0FaHcD8MOKoqCm_jrIzWPj42kron25b8qx7aC04owVtxI_eYG32NOdjlPDx6d7L56I4lTtc/s320/IMG_5371.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Roses in the garden</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #353535;">It
is little more than a week since my husband Jeff and I celebrated the wedding
of our second child, daughter Sasha to a wonderful man Dustin.</span><span style="color: #353535;"> </span><span style="color: #353535;">Four years ago we experienced the same feelings
of love and joy as our first child, son David married an extraordinary woman
Katy.</span><span style="color: #353535;"> </span><span style="color: #353535;">The two weddings were different
but the same positive emotions filled the air.</span><span style="color: #353535;">
</span><span style="color: #353535;">Feelings of love and joy and just plain fun permeated both ceremonies
and all the celebrations before and after.</span><span style="color: #353535;">
</span><span style="color: #353535;">Marriage isn’t for everyone but for some of us it is a powerful and
rewarding institution.</span><span style="color: #353535;"> </span><span style="color: #353535;">That is true for
Jeff and me.</span><span style="color: #353535;"> </span><span style="color: #353535;">As we look at our two
children and their chosen partners, we see in them the same love and joy and
very importantly, the same respect for each other that have sustained Jeff and
me for almost 40 years.</span><span style="color: #353535;"> </span><span style="color: #353535;">We feel very
lucky.</span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU4UXEbpbbkNcfXPK0Po1pBOFIsXvqkMUQHB-hsJFvihNrr8uA6alanfMmPwH5-5ucaX4ooN73lBCiCDpEmL5rcFVAhKhSPjw0YKUKvJQHF-QLWzEi0um_IHNqZAXguqrBRDeUaCz9GhN/s1600/IMG_5989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU4UXEbpbbkNcfXPK0Po1pBOFIsXvqkMUQHB-hsJFvihNrr8uA6alanfMmPwH5-5ucaX4ooN73lBCiCDpEmL5rcFVAhKhSPjw0YKUKvJQHF-QLWzEi0um_IHNqZAXguqrBRDeUaCz9GhN/s320/IMG_5989.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A refurbished lantern for the deck</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesnjK5GYlX53sOhtUahuxclKN6Dvyn3gWEFcUf2MoHdN7qRiXoO0Xxc4nP4-qsBossE5iRm4LqbWxE2zILzZAUmfw5wX1xkZDaig8nO7m8oAE_9IzStDJCbYGM5LXKvLlM1fZjRj5dwf5/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesnjK5GYlX53sOhtUahuxclKN6Dvyn3gWEFcUf2MoHdN7qRiXoO0Xxc4nP4-qsBossE5iRm4LqbWxE2zILzZAUmfw5wX1xkZDaig8nO7m8oAE_9IzStDJCbYGM5LXKvLlM1fZjRj5dwf5/s320/IMG_5680.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The picnic table gets a new coat of paint</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU4UXEbpbbkNcfXPK0Po1pBOFIsXvqkMUQHB-hsJFvihNrr8uA6alanfMmPwH5-5ucaX4ooN73lBCiCDpEmL5rcFVAhKhSPjw0YKUKvJQHF-QLWzEi0um_IHNqZAXguqrBRDeUaCz9GhN/s1600/IMG_5989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU4UXEbpbbkNcfXPK0Po1pBOFIsXvqkMUQHB-hsJFvihNrr8uA6alanfMmPwH5-5ucaX4ooN73lBCiCDpEmL5rcFVAhKhSPjw0YKUKvJQHF-QLWzEi0um_IHNqZAXguqrBRDeUaCz9GhN/s1600/IMG_5989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As
many of you who read my blog know, I’ve not posted since returning to
the United States from Brazil in late April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been a hectic three months – re-connecting with our friends and
family in Seattle and on Lopez Island, weeding, planting and pruning our overgrown
gardens, and preparing for Sasha’s wedding on Lopez Island – everything from dress
fittings and mani/pedis and travel logistics for folks unfamiliar with
the Washington State ferry system to painting picnic tables, spreading 5 cubic
yards of wood chips and repairing and installing outside lights at our Lopez property in the weeks
leading up to the wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span><i style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Times Square, New York City</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>During the
same time I was also busy with my “normal” retirement routine: keeping up my exercise
regime of circuit training, biking and walking – all the more important as we
age, as well as taking a most helpful class in how to revise a work of fiction,
continuing work on my books-in-progress and on my volunteer “job” as president
of my homeowner’s association.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
between, I managed short trips to New York City to celebrate my sister-in-law’s
birthday and recovery from cancer, to California and to Long Beach to celebrate
Jeff’s and my wedding anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYN6SfxeWiczY-mBEXw_hEvfMeyac2LOLy6Dt3YIFyzpp8ZsRjyNfwjX6nxP7PP7h9cdKAFXiI4XejxOxtghPhWxBxyrXcMrgI8P_vhqSpboHvMR2JNj10q5ibQ5cwzEA4RDgRd7PAWzJ/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYN6SfxeWiczY-mBEXw_hEvfMeyac2LOLy6Dt3YIFyzpp8ZsRjyNfwjX6nxP7PP7h9cdKAFXiI4XejxOxtghPhWxBxyrXcMrgI8P_vhqSpboHvMR2JNj10q5ibQ5cwzEA4RDgRd7PAWzJ/s320/IMG_5666.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Blueberries ready to ripen behind bird nets</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Now,
with the wedding behind me, and Pacific Northwest summer at its height, I plan
to post blogs more regularly again and harvest some of the fruits and
vegetables in our gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
certainly a lot to contemplate as we careen into a highly political season in
the United States and the continuing political and economic challenges in
Brazil, not to mention Brazil’s hosting of the Olympic Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a tough few months in both
countries and in the world as terrorism and gun violence has resulted in too
many unnecessary deaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deep
sadness of these deaths reminds me how important it is to live each day fully
and open up our hearts to each other.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIpvuOaa8X8XdZSKKRlooHk4Qc1kvHUhb0ypesXDEPrtpR1xg-kT8ObU3b9P5sx-a3mVVnopHP0GHdF6jwvMvdGeEiwKM8g2KR49d-WsCLJzOEa5cshIj5mwtPT9X0JQ1qvLIgqnUVbGk/s1600/IMG_6052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIpvuOaa8X8XdZSKKRlooHk4Qc1kvHUhb0ypesXDEPrtpR1xg-kT8ObU3b9P5sx-a3mVVnopHP0GHdF6jwvMvdGeEiwKM8g2KR49d-WsCLJzOEa5cshIj5mwtPT9X0JQ1qvLIgqnUVbGk/s320/IMG_6052.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The bride and her dad practice their entrance</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One
aspect of our daughter’s wedding that I greatly enjoyed was the opportunity to
speak during the ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my family
knows I love to talk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sasha and Dustin
invited six people, including their two mothers, to participate in the wedding
ceremony by reflecting on specific words they chose as having relevance to
their life together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My assigned word was respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each person’s presentation was different and
delightful – ranging from poems to prose to song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to share what I said about respect…
a practice that I believe is often forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mutual respect is a necessary component of a successful marriage and, in
my opinion, a mandatory part of all our relationships both personal and public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps if we practiced respect for each
other there would be fewer senseless killings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Here is what I said at the wedding:<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #353535; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When
Sasha and Dustin asked me to talk about respect at their wedding all I could
think of was Aretha Franklin's song.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T came out when I was in high school (in Philadelphia). It
was 1965 and the idea of women having independent rights, equal rights to men
was revolutionary and just penetrating my consciousness. Post World War Two was not a time of female
liberation. All around me I saw men controlling everything - money; businesses;
families; politics. The idea of getting respect from any man let alone a boyfriend
was very appealing to my 16-year-old self. It turned out that the whole concept
of mutual respect between a man and a woman was even more important and more
fundamental than I realized at the time.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Ten
years later, by the time I met Sasha's dad, and 21 years later when Sasha was
born, I was a committed feminist. Respect was a baseline condition for any love
relationship as far as I was concerned. Sure, love and mutual trust are
important - but in my book, respect for each other is the critical element to a
successful relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Truth
is you don't know what's going to happen in the future. That’s why respect is
so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how close and
"in love" two people are, no one can predict their partner's behavior
or feelings. They won't and don’t always coincide with your own feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you disagree with your partner.
That's why you have to respect the other person. You need an intrinsic belief
that the other person's thoughts and actions are worthy of respect even if you
don't understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respect gives you
the patience to listen, to explain, to debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe one or both of you will come to a different decision or take a
different action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respect for each other
gives you the confidence to live with, and explore your differences and stay
open to new opportunities. No two people will always see eye to eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But having respect for each other enables you
to be open to your partner's different opinions. Respect for each other makes
life and happiness together possible. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I ended
my piece with a haiku:<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Respect
is<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
place you want to be<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Where
all the things you love<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Are
free.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_M_sONuEcFkFXe1J60s4OGTfHWRljJI5uXikkKQWsNQ2cUu998g1so8midkQfNAreiUFIxW8NkC2Kr9o2JJvTlK7dOc2I2xl1h5lfXfqHL8pwyeIq7rq66GxuiJ-X1ha9uHAmF_-CjkK/s1600/IMG_6143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_M_sONuEcFkFXe1J60s4OGTfHWRljJI5uXikkKQWsNQ2cUu998g1so8midkQfNAreiUFIxW8NkC2Kr9o2JJvTlK7dOc2I2xl1h5lfXfqHL8pwyeIq7rq66GxuiJ-X1ha9uHAmF_-CjkK/s320/IMG_6143.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Rudbeckia shine in my garden</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
wedding and the days before and after were full of love and joy as well as
fresh air and relaxation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many of our
friends and family helped make it all happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Together we made endless great meals, chopping salsa and making salads;
baking brownies, barbequing burgers and boiling fresh crab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a perfect opportunity for us to
share Lopez Island with our extended family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The island shone – a rainbow over the beach; brilliant
sunsets; rolling fields full of Queen Anne’s lace, grazing sheep and haystacks;
a memorable barbeque at the State Park; bike rides and beach walks; rock climbs
and kayak rides; even a bald eagle flew over in the middle of the
ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are lucky to have this
beautiful place as part of our family’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We welcome our new son-in-law and his family into our expanding
clan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of my sister’s said after
the wedding “We shouldn’t just wait for the next wedding to come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just plan to come back.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that happens soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks Sasha and Dustin for a wonderful week.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3-rnAdmNmVnMG6KscagEbBFOs4iqUm9IFNNxbmxA4Wj21fIWznveg-J53yNGxkY-qhVf8ac7_MmOcB5frc9VwAvvAmXN6YqQhEy1IkoTmaejg6BMBKK5x-vaKaHJU6KxH35M7VJjEJ1q/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3-rnAdmNmVnMG6KscagEbBFOs4iqUm9IFNNxbmxA4Wj21fIWznveg-J53yNGxkY-qhVf8ac7_MmOcB5frc9VwAvvAmXN6YqQhEy1IkoTmaejg6BMBKK5x-vaKaHJU6KxH35M7VJjEJ1q/s640/IMG_5694.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A ferry leaves the Lopez Island dock</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-6939361568453000072016-04-14T05:14:00.002-07:002016-04-14T05:14:46.860-07:00On the Beach <div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJr7CwGUyniDJTiU_TMUWWXLhKYQSFhR6E4o3A_f_Hy7F5m1MEjTKRXCQg9yG_vtDMAupGh-lYKLFK-ERpfOB74e_8endydyhlLrxmLf-xdmITsv4hHWROA3q-M4t-R2k1Y4P2bfamNxr/s1600/DSCN0813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJr7CwGUyniDJTiU_TMUWWXLhKYQSFhR6E4o3A_f_Hy7F5m1MEjTKRXCQg9yG_vtDMAupGh-lYKLFK-ERpfOB74e_8endydyhlLrxmLf-xdmITsv4hHWROA3q-M4t-R2k1Y4P2bfamNxr/s640/DSCN0813.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m
in beach mode this month, living as I am in one of the great beach cities in
the world, Rio de Janeiro. It’s a pretty
good place to be in your sixties or frankly at any age. Who doesn’t like the beach? As my daughter says: “<span style="color: #18376a;">[there is a …] joy in being
on a beach, simple, stress less, magical, and sun kissed!”</span></i><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In honor of the USA’s National Poetry Month,
April, I share a beach poem I wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is called appropriately enough:<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
Beach<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We
like to go to the beach <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Our
wicker baskets packed full<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>With
thermos’s of tea and sandwiches<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Crammed
in plastic boxes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br />
Flippers, buckets, spades in tow<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Folding
chairs half rusted from winter rain <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Their
canvas seats stretched thin<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Their
colors faded from the summer sun.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
beach is where you can relax<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
sun is burning your back<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
air feels soft and sweet <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
surf rolls in forever.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
water tastes salty<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>You
wait for the perfect wave <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It
breaks and pulls you to the shore.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Your
swimsuit fills with coarse sand.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>No
matter where you find the beach<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
best one and the place to be, <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
one that takes your breath away,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Is
the one you’re sitting on today.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Praia Toninhos, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Beaches
give all of us a feeling of peace and freedom: the off shore breezes, the
swaying of palm trees or pine trees, the endlessly enthralling waves breaking
along the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, I’m sitting
by a beach in Rio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear
the sound of surf rolling in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
isn’t a beach in Brazil or any other country that I have visited that doesn’t
delight me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the glory of
beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of age, beaches are
liberating. Their beauty is universally appealing. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BsCKYDo1vQRVN-Jeu6AVETA2T1YZqDumBTDVVfYnEObMYQ7q6WM2rY7cP5wWPGQi8NwDbSKt2hw5jvpIRq3JesU82pqoiqkaI8KCCmo2PkbYbDGREu43J70wChxC3L7JCJtSl9G8S3MC/s1600/IMG_1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>When
I was a young child, my grandparents lived in a beach town in England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their town, Bournemouth, is on the southern
coast of England, bordering the chilly English Channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We moved away from England to North America
more than 60 years ago but I still remember that wonderful beach –
Sandbanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother had a small
cabana at the back of the beach in which she kept beach chairs, buckets and
spades, teacups and other essentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
my memory there was a small propane stove on which Grandma boiled water for tea
in the afternoon – thus beginning a family tradition of tea on the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember sitting in the shallows on the golden
sand with my mum and my older sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember my dad, my uncle and my older cousins digging deep holes in the sand,
deep enough that if I got in, I couldn’t get out without help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could see from the bottom of the hole
was a square patch of bright blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember my mum telling my sister and me to change out of our wet swimsuits,
sitting as we were, exposed on the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a little girl I was modest and horrified that someone might see me
without my pants on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mum would say,
“No one is interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just get
changed.” Of course she was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one even noticed two small girls taking off their wet swimsuits and putting on
dry shorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave the same advice to my
kids when they were little.<br />
</i></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Lopez Island beach, Washington, USA</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Since going to that first beach, I have had the good fortune to spend time on
so many beaches that I can hardly remember them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They blend into a collage of sun and
surf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fresh water beaches; salt water
beaches; cold temperate beaches; warm tropical beaches; ocean beaches on the northern
and southern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and once, on the Bay
of Bengal in Thailand; lake beaches and river beaches; sandy beaches and rocky
beaches; beaches on manmade ponds, on reservoirs and beside acid bogs – the
latter a beach on Cape Cod being unfortunately memorable for where I broke my
nose at the age of 21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I am not
a real surfer I am a life long body surfer. I am a strong swimmer but I treat large
ocean waves with great deference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came
too close to drowning in rough surf once when I got caught in an undertow in my
early fifties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily a young man on his surf board saw me and rescued me, paddling me safely ashore – much to my and my family’s
relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite beaches in
the world is a rocky beach on Lopez Island in Washington State – where we never
swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The water is so cold your feet </i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ache even if you walk briefly in the shallows.</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Kids at play on the beach</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When my own children were youngsters, we lived in Brazil and visited the beaches
along the São Paulo coast – both our children learned to swim in the warm
waters around Ubatuba and learned respect for the breaking waves. Just as I did as a child, they played and dug
in the fine sand. They built castles,
with moats and dams intended to preserve their structures. I </i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">remember my kids and their friends running
back and forth in the water to stop the tide from melting their castles
away. Of course they could not succeed –
the tide waits for no one. When a castle
collapsed into the sea, it only took a few minutes to build another one. </i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Another
favorite beach of mine is along the coast of France, on the Bay of Biscayne by
the coastal town of Seignosse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seignosse
is famous for its surf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My English
brother-in-law discovered it almost 30 years ago when he, a life long surfer,
and my sister re-located from California to England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not wanting to give up surfing, he sought out
the European surf capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out
to be the beach at Seignosse, just north of the Spanish border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister’s family goes there virtually every
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family joined them for several
happy holidays and we hope to go again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seignosse
is a dune beach, with high manmade sand dunes above the beach, built to protect
the village from coastal storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
reach the beach proper you have to climb over the dunes, slipping and sliding
delightfully in the warm sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the beach where my brother-in-law taught my son, now a proficient surfer, how
to surf.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>My
parents moved to Los Angeles when I was in my twenties and we spent many a
happy afternoon sitting on the Will Rogers beach drinking tea and eating tomato
and feta cheese sandwiches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking
about this now, the nostalgic taste of milky tea poured from the thermos, mixed
with the sandy sandwiches brings back fond memories of times gone by.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>In
many countries coastal beaches are public property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone owns the beach and there is no such
thing as private property along the marine coasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is true in Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result everyone has access to the coastal
beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a shared natural
resource.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However in much of the United
States, including in my own state of Washington, coastal beaches can be owned
privately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something appealing
about public ownership of beaches – shouldn’t beaches be there for
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all can anyone control a
beach?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think so.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Pick up futebol on Copacabana beach</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>A
beach is something you can enjoy regardless of your age and physical
condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the famous Copacabana
beach in Rio de Janeiro I see people of every age and type – often I see very
old men and women who are wheelchair-bound sitting and enjoying the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see young kids building sand castles;
teenagers jumping in the waves and flirting with each other; surfers, or
surfistas as they are called in Portuguese, catching the waves; folks of all
ages playing beach games in the sand: beach tennis, futebol (the Brazilian name
for soccer) and volleyball; and everyone looks remarkably relaxed and
happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to be stressed on a
beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waves literally wash your worries
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Brigitte Bardot looks out at the beach </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>This
past weekend my husband and I went to a Brazilian beach that was new to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a beach made famous during the
1960’s by Brigitte Bardot, who went there and hid out with her Brazilian
boyfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The village of Búzios was a
small fishing village when Bardot first went there – now it is a beach resort – and a favorite of people from Rio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Along the shore is a bronze statue of Bardot, dressed appropriately in
blue jeans and a blue and white striped t-shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looks forever out towards the sea, taking
in the azure water and the fishing boats as they bob up and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Bardot is still very m<o:p></o:p></i></span></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; text-align: center;">uch alive and
living in France, I suspect that she likes the idea that when her life ends,
she will still sit forever, looking out across the Búzios beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Next
time you go to the beach, and I hope it is soon, don’t forget to stay for the
sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be worth your while.<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/AVvXsEgXVzjeThRNiicSyovaOIA3zc4Z0o3LRNEnN76Gi0YbdQ8QGDKGF_gjclBVI3NXY2LXF9QNfNPpKAVn6IKbzFu6BZHFP9y8qyvUCa7Rvh5MBy5ULH3Dmxb2j9cmMU3P45NQq8txVT1ma-Zz/s1600/IMG_4952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVzjeThRNiicSyovaOIA3zc4Z0o3LRNEnN76Gi0YbdQ8QGDKGF_gjclBVI3NXY2LXF9QNfNPpKAVn6IKbzFu6BZHFP9y8qyvUCa7Rvh5MBy5ULH3Dmxb2j9cmMU3P45NQq8txVT1ma-Zz/s640/IMG_4952.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean</i></span></td></tr>
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</i></span></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p>Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-953739923105848992016-03-28T15:07:00.001-07:002016-03-28T17:24:51.710-07:00Activities of Daily Living and Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C4TjVjrfIyEIAkTQOEiflKXHZTEIuFHMIK4wfJjlItm2EKwevDi4bJv93opNeeAfmtVxOAPOmkNGfATyLRhYtvdBLUXbsj_AmlAYhsHLfq-yKCsx-hqULtTY9p-1rFmVptNxw6uD2m9m/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPYmEL6EGhTY5o2GGrm5M7z3KCscTdA70Kr187cGYTDaNKVsXMBfXL2iL07KDMGCELsJaD5ZAdz_-6vtTMzNzOYUzbagWroarvmQY-nmWCXktkzsfuo8xeJOXUo3yzqdRyxoOQb83MXxx/s1600/IMG_4814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPYmEL6EGhTY5o2GGrm5M7z3KCscTdA70Kr187cGYTDaNKVsXMBfXL2iL07KDMGCELsJaD5ZAdz_-6vtTMzNzOYUzbagWroarvmQY-nmWCXktkzsfuo8xeJOXUo3yzqdRyxoOQb83MXxx/s320/IMG_4814.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Sunset over Ipanema</i></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Activities of daily living transcend time and place. Even in the glorious city of Rio de Janeiro, you
still need to get up, get dressed (even if only in a pair of shorts!), eat
something – preferably healthy – and set about the business of your day. For most people and certainly for most of my
adult life, that business was a paying (and sometimes non-paying) job. Retired folks like me benefit from having one or
more projects – often volunteer work or cultural pursuits. But inevitably, whether your major activities
are for pay or pleasure, there are always errands to run and chores to be
done. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>My first day in Rio was like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I arrived in this wonderful
city early last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we got
to our short-term rental apartment, it was almost 4 o’clock in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was shining brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t resist leaving immediately to
walk to the nearby beach, the world famous Ipanema to watch the sun set over the
Dois Irmãos, the “Two Brothers”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Dois Irmãos are two large granite morros or promontories that mark the western
end of the Ipanema and Leblon beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Watching the sun set over these gigantic rocks is a popular, early evening pastime
in Rio – we joined a crowd of folks to witness a spectacular display.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtfwKNr06heVeybEhZ2AFdnEge1yAd2qwDyOTx-xNtfXhukt-xZYGq6Lz8oRGkFTLxHkuYKqt4mhT1-kkJuSyGqK-KH4x_b_CxuaAW7VCgta9tS-KPKbqiyfqO6a9222OlQv3z0Lt3Jx6/s1600/IMG_4814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtfwKNr06heVeybEhZ2AFdnEge1yAd2qwDyOTx-xNtfXhukt-xZYGq6Lz8oRGkFTLxHkuYKqt4mhT1-kkJuSyGqK-KH4x_b_CxuaAW7VCgta9tS-KPKbqiyfqO6a9222OlQv3z0Lt3Jx6/s320/IMG_4814.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Laundry Drying</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The next morning after my husband went to work, I set about
my chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First I did the laundry,
washing dirty clothes by hand in the big sink in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no washing machine in our small urban
apartment but it was fun, even relaxing to splash around in the cold soapy
water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hung the clothes on a rack on
the small terrace and went in search of a salon to get a much-needed manicure
and pedicure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The tropical climate is hard on old feet. </span>Retirement gratefully gives me time to do these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my
way back to our apartment I discovered a farmer’s market nearby. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went home to get grocery bags and returned
to buy fresh food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First I went to the neighborhood
supermarket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We needed some basics, mortadella
(despite its fat content, I consider this Italian-style bologna a basic in
Brazil), milk, yogurt, shampoo and such. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The supermarket was ridiculously crowded for
a weekday early afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked the woman
serving me in the deli “What’s up?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
laughed and told me it was a holiday week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course I realized it was the week of Easter – a much bigger holiday
here in Brazil than in my homeland of the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along
with many other “idosos”, i.e., senior citizens, I waited in line for the
cashier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our line was long, stretching
back beyond the beginning of the grocery aisles but the other lines were even
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJsBLJy6n7Wvj7FwVYRPZhm3i_XhqzbsSpE2YJ2XeyqvxSav43Lvealj4wOWschmunXoTgYSjKe4G1_VvkoScFGpbde4TzCanRF4HsIDdco4c7-bk8BmjfxWKlvZj3rNFDDCsCm1kgq-j/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJsBLJy6n7Wvj7FwVYRPZhm3i_XhqzbsSpE2YJ2XeyqvxSav43Lvealj4wOWschmunXoTgYSjKe4G1_VvkoScFGpbde4TzCanRF4HsIDdco4c7-bk8BmjfxWKlvZj3rNFDDCsCm1kgq-j/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Chocolate eggs for sale</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The woman in front of me and I
started chatting about everyday things, buying chocolate eggs for Easter,
the warm weather, the difficult politics of Brazil and what not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I haven’t gained fluency in
Portuguese I find that I can converse at least enough for casual chitchat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new found friend insisted that I use her
“preferred client” card so that I could get any discounts available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> S</span>he made me, a part time resident, feel very welcome.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C4TjVjrfIyEIAkTQOEiflKXHZTEIuFHMIK4wfJjlItm2EKwevDi4bJv93opNeeAfmtVxOAPOmkNGfATyLRhYtvdBLUXbsj_AmlAYhsHLfq-yKCsx-hqULtTY9p-1rFmVptNxw6uD2m9m/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C4TjVjrfIyEIAkTQOEiflKXHZTEIuFHMIK4wfJjlItm2EKwevDi4bJv93opNeeAfmtVxOAPOmkNGfATyLRhYtvdBLUXbsj_AmlAYhsHLfq-yKCsx-hqULtTY9p-1rFmVptNxw6uD2m9m/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Fresh garlic for sale</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>After finishing at the supermarket, I walked to the farmer’s
market to buy fresh fish, fruits and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am always amazed at the variety of fruits available in Brazil – pineapple, mangoes, papayas, persimmons,
melons, oranges, limes, and all sorts of lovely fruit that we don’t get in the
northern hemisphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to
fruit I bought garlic, shrimp, arugula, tomatoes, onions, watercress and
basil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> After </span>I’d purchased
everything I wanted, my big shopping bag was full and I had several plastic
bags hanging from my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am stronger
than when I arrived in Brazil after two months of consistent workouts at the
excellent gym in Piracicaba and regular swimming, walking and yoga in the
Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, by the time I got
back to my apartment building I thought my arms would drop off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C4TjVjrfIyEIAkTQOEiflKXHZTEIuFHMIK4wfJjlItm2EKwevDi4bJv93opNeeAfmtVxOAPOmkNGfATyLRhYtvdBLUXbsj_AmlAYhsHLfq-yKCsx-hqULtTY9p-1rFmVptNxw6uD2m9m/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I felt contented as I put the groceries away. There is a pleasure in the consistent, simple
practices of daily living – washing dirty clothes, hanging them up to dry,
procuring food, cooking, doing the dishes and cleaning the house. While these practices are often shared across
cultures, in many parts of the world, some activities of daily living are
unfairly difficult due to lack of safety or freedom or financial capacity. Too often there isn’t adequate food or potable
water.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sometimes it is necessary to get help with the activities of
daily life – and, if at all possible, to pay a living wage for such help. As a busy working mother I often needed to
hire help. So did my own mother both in
the prime of her life and as she aged and lost the ability to care for
herself. My mother was a socialist at
heart, her English parents were both active in the labor movements of the early
twentieth century. She imparted some of
her philosophy to me – particularly the importance of equality and treating all
people with respect. In today’s world,
some of these values are being forgotten, perhaps even lost. From my perspective, such loss undervalues us
all. If we forget our basic shared
humanity, how will we solve the difficult problems that face all of us? For me, the simple activities of daily living
are reminders that all of us have similar needs. When I am living abroad, this
recognition helps me connect with other people even if my language skills and
cultural background are quite different.</i></div>
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</div>
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<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/AVvXsEhVr31P2DfDf1P0wRcmNdoRQ6bcBq4qYTgZW9gHfNvC-NdTyFLvaRg78hel6Nb_1KHz7JwelDDPC4XJsbmvMcBFSWcOHizauZZZ6_BseQ_gb8qPaxm4zKv_ubJJAy717MTkYTv6P70NNybg/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr31P2DfDf1P0wRcmNdoRQ6bcBq4qYTgZW9gHfNvC-NdTyFLvaRg78hel6Nb_1KHz7JwelDDPC4XJsbmvMcBFSWcOHizauZZZ6_BseQ_gb8qPaxm4zKv_ubJJAy717MTkYTv6P70NNybg/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Entrance to the Imperial Palace</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over the Easter weekend my husband and I visited the city of
Petrópolis with some friends from Rio.
Petrópolis is about 80 kilometers north of Rio and was the summer home to
Brazil’s last emperor, Dom Pedro II. The
region is mountainous, with granite outcrops that rise high above the winding valleys,
creating imposing escarpments around the city. On our first day in Petrópolis we drove to the
center of the town and walked along the river, past many striking palaces and
19<sup>th</sup> century mansions with wide porches and formal gardens. At one end of the boulevard the Imperial
Palace, now a cultural museum, sits above the river, surrounded by
lovely grounds full of giant cedar trees.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The last emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro II, authorized a German
born, naturalized Brazilian engineer, <span style="color: #424242; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Júlio Frederico Koeler </span>to plan and build the city in
1843. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Dom Pedro II’s request, Koeler
designed the city carefully, with a pleasing layout of cobblestone streets,
praças and churches including a beautiful cathedral, São Pedro de Alcãntara. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This impressive building, with a delicate
spire that dominates the end of the central boulevard, is the burial place of
Dom Pedro II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></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/AVvXsEgVd8MROamrTaTjVD6Jdw7SspC3oESjG2kzj7lHqwX8Br4kLtFB69rGEmKLR3kbBDdrwNC8EaI2ke_UGuink8JTJSXOkC26C1_Up_YoGWjQ2_e9aRr1zIdaNq7r0K1wSz9QnNYpxJnOI-m6/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd8MROamrTaTjVD6Jdw7SspC3oESjG2kzj7lHqwX8Br4kLtFB69rGEmKLR3kbBDdrwNC8EaI2ke_UGuink8JTJSXOkC26C1_Up_YoGWjQ2_e9aRr1zIdaNq7r0K1wSz9QnNYpxJnOI-m6/s320/IMG_4859.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>São Pedro de Alcãntara Cathedral</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Dom Pedro II was an enlightened and benevolent emperor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the royal circumstances and the time in
history of his birth, I doubt that he spent much time doing the laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he was a very intelligent man –
someone who I suspect would have been successful and productive regardless of
when and into what circumstances he was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was a highly disciplined, educated and tolerant man whose positive contributions
to Brazil’s economic and cultural development and support of education are
considerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During his reign, and
largely as a result of his and his daughter's influence, slavery was abolished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite being born into the monarchy, he lived
simply and worked collaboratively to strengthen the Brazilian representative
government and the country. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKCcqUSQOfTIXKWUz0D8YUJI0IqXDklPjmLI-b2nrGPyABQIRzEV4s1IEOAsVnVIhyphenhyphenzboFpIFKnE808hwiuq0azpEY6jnmVcLi_FW7RgrF_vmlMrseXt9wqTw-6Je9Zru46X0-zz9Xq7y/s1600/IMG_4868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKCcqUSQOfTIXKWUz0D8YUJI0IqXDklPjmLI-b2nrGPyABQIRzEV4s1IEOAsVnVIhyphenhyphenzboFpIFKnE808hwiuq0azpEY6jnmVcLi_FW7RgrF_vmlMrseXt9wqTw-6Je9Zru46X0-zz9Xq7y/s320/IMG_4868.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Beer Brewing!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Modern day Petrópolis is both a cultural and historical
monument to this great man and an important commercial center for clothing
manufacture in the state of Rio de Janeiro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is also home to the Bohemia Brewing Company and an extremely interesting
beer museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended our visit to the pretty
town with a visit to the museum – discovering much to my delight that the
development of beer pre-dated the development of writing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How delightful is that?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-19890225975315890032016-03-09T08:39:00.001-08:002016-03-09T18:14:31.720-08:00Amazon Dreams<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/AVvXsEgxxwnN-12mz8juI5d-LAQSgSFZdEyIpkzTyKDCialBhDhT2Z67jGf1RHWkRMqgP9QSJtjQaFpmR45g8bIzYqboS2dRq3uZhVHZHzBFbmvig1_S7N4ikgl8R_9sejm2uB6Q0vpetKtnDPBg/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxwnN-12mz8juI5d-LAQSgSFZdEyIpkzTyKDCialBhDhT2Z67jGf1RHWkRMqgP9QSJtjQaFpmR45g8bIzYqboS2dRq3uZhVHZHzBFbmvig1_S7N4ikgl8R_9sejm2uB6Q0vpetKtnDPBg/s320/IMG_4558.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The Rio Tapajós meets the mighty Amazon</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlLwmK40ssZGM9zBZipymQH9lekAPBkd8EVxbB4c9Bz37JoJD6kh0opvTdNuAghT8JIymiAPiUHP-D5xfVcPAwhvLKC3PB9YMib70EZESAj3bfSIIm5oCMoGhz_r2MRaoeLwMemiBUeWq/s1600/DSC02155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
mighty Amazon, the queen of all rivers, flows inexorably from the Andes to the
Atlantic taking with it the imprint of its people, its fish, its forests, its
floating plants, its boats, its beasts and its birds. I’ve just returned to the state of São Paulo,
Brazil after almost three weeks in the Amazon rainforest. My heart and mind are filled with a mosaic of
colors, textures and ideas. The
incredible river and its huge watery presence dominate everything except the
warmth and imagination of the many wonderful people I met on my visit. As you know, traveling alone is not my
favorite way to go. However, it has the
delightful advantage of giving me the opportunity to meet people and experience
places that I would never encounter otherwise.</i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEhh2weVE2Pgof00Z9c3ZKXfZ9fr5Jr1rMOQhTCSCh06qLoaLY3qmZcN_cBFYBBJp8vQUvdmfCeoeG__xfP7meq9qM0LTfkZFAp71gGTZwAhmdgBWJkh78Lmn6LO9o825R1XPfX2MiLvao9T/s1600/DSC02142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2weVE2Pgof00Z9c3ZKXfZ9fr5Jr1rMOQhTCSCh06qLoaLY3qmZcN_cBFYBBJp8vQUvdmfCeoeG__xfP7meq9qM0LTfkZFAp71gGTZwAhmdgBWJkh78Lmn6LO9o825R1XPfX2MiLvao9T/s320/DSC02142.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Wild Brazil nuts, castanhas, in their case as shown by</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">http://www.bigtreeadventuretours.com guides</span></td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEiZlLwmK40ssZGM9zBZipymQH9lekAPBkd8EVxbB4c9Bz37JoJD6kh0opvTdNuAghT8JIymiAPiUHP-D5xfVcPAwhvLKC3PB9YMib70EZESAj3bfSIIm5oCMoGhz_r2MRaoeLwMemiBUeWq/s1600/DSC02155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlLwmK40ssZGM9zBZipymQH9lekAPBkd8EVxbB4c9Bz37JoJD6kh0opvTdNuAghT8JIymiAPiUHP-D5xfVcPAwhvLKC3PB9YMib70EZESAj3bfSIIm5oCMoGhz_r2MRaoeLwMemiBUeWq/s320/DSC02155.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>WIld cacao (chocolate)</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlLwmK40ssZGM9zBZipymQH9lekAPBkd8EVxbB4c9Bz37JoJD6kh0opvTdNuAghT8JIymiAPiUHP-D5xfVcPAwhvLKC3PB9YMib70EZESAj3bfSIIm5oCMoGhz_r2MRaoeLwMemiBUeWq/s1600/DSC02155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr5Z_DGxv3X244Ulk7faVtC0wfZpTSQL_94AmDePOCi0RKJrba2aaRRHruEiGgJIM88lr3CuhYuFH0-vR9wL36vIY1K3YUlugZv2PL2nu71CsM5u5nkzmq7T-nEv-hnDlwWSHylqx0ouN/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr5Z_DGxv3X244Ulk7faVtC0wfZpTSQL_94AmDePOCi0RKJrba2aaRRHruEiGgJIM88lr3CuhYuFH0-vR9wL36vIY1K3YUlugZv2PL2nu71CsM5u5nkzmq7T-nEv-hnDlwWSHylqx0ouN/s320/IMG_4658.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Baby bananas!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>There
is no ecosystem in the world that surpasses the Amazon for diversity and
indigenous species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like no place
else – the river and its rainforest are immense, contributing more than 20
percent of the whole world’s freshwater supply where it flows into the Atlantic
Ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Amazon forests cover more
than half of Brazil, as well as much of Colombia, Venezuela, and parts of Ecuador
and Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A significant percent of the
pharmaceuticals used in the Western developed world and an incredible array of
the developed world’s food – common everyday food items originated from
rainforest (not just the Amazon rainforest) plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list is delicious and includes bananas,
rice, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, yams, sugar, oranges and lemons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you like cashew nuts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess where they come from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the latest fruit juice craze acai?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also an Amazon native.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oC34i8qbg4BbcJ9k3jbnEVIJ8P9KyNyMB3jIdY7r6m1EUkz6tU71TKAEO6pA5iRboKO2YXVTcXYbWg_YmYt00TEJp5yKrcaJXEZTzh7Ki2rRkbKXSBfAz1rGn9cYp4b-ExqbGfCx24yn/s1600/DSC02134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oC34i8qbg4BbcJ9k3jbnEVIJ8P9KyNyMB3jIdY7r6m1EUkz6tU71TKAEO6pA5iRboKO2YXVTcXYbWg_YmYt00TEJp5yKrcaJXEZTzh7Ki2rRkbKXSBfAz1rGn9cYp4b-ExqbGfCx24yn/s320/DSC02134.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>A more than 200 year old Amapá tree </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>that has an edible, non-elastic latex "milk" </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>with many medicinal properties</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
Amazon rainforest is a place of legends, of beauty, of life and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its history is complex – it is a rich land
with much to give but its environment can be unforgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who hasn’t heard of its poisonous snakes, its
black panthers, and its venomous and horribly abundant insect life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jungle is seemingly impenetrable with
fast growing vines that can choke giant trees to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, the jungle embraces its
people, bringing shelter, food, medical remedies and wealth to all who choose to respect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river and its tributaries provide not
just plentiful water but amazing fish, the delicious tambaqui, the giant
pirarucu, the vicious piranha, tacunaré, filhote and hundreds more species; a
transportation and shipping corridor for everything from global freighters to
dugout canoes; water to drink, irrigate crops, dispose of waste and
increasingly, to power hydro dams that feed the energy hunger of the modern
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIl7MGgP7E_yLkz9JD1YoJcYsZBSWkVLjIEknrsxVLqLNz6NGKo3pufMlR2gGl2jY25ZkoEcuIYdOd8vvguzLUlY3gqhyphenhyphen-poiScoHtvF-g9scT84aV8-lg_nx9tieOJ36UFT_JZ2AXX9M/s1600/IMG_4582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIl7MGgP7E_yLkz9JD1YoJcYsZBSWkVLjIEknrsxVLqLNz6NGKo3pufMlR2gGl2jY25ZkoEcuIYdOd8vvguzLUlY3gqhyphenhyphen-poiScoHtvF-g9scT84aV8-lg_nx9tieOJ36UFT_JZ2AXX9M/s320/IMG_4582.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Our guide's nephew having fun</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>It
is this last reality – the many proposed hydroelectric dams throughout the
Amazon region that worries many of the people who live there and many who
don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a legitimate concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent almost two weeks of my time in the
Amazon in the village of Alter do Chão on the Tapajós River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I described in my last post, the Tapajós
basin is an area of incredible beauty and richness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its clear waters drain a forest full of fruit
and nut trees that have supported thousands of years of indigenous tribes and
hundreds of years of caboclos – persons of mixed indigenous, European and West
African ancestry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many natives, caboclos
and more recent settlers from the Northeast and South of Brazil live along the
river and depend for their livelihoods on the abundant fisheries and diverse
plants and trees that are native to this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wild cacao trees and wild rubber trees were discovered and used by
indigenous tribes long before the Portuguese and other foreigners discovered
the tasty delight of chocolate and the industrial strength and extraordinary
properties of rubber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the rest of
the world depends on the Amazon too – for its water, its abundant and yet to be
fully realized plant, food and pharmaceutical resources.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkSDd4LE2_X0J3CZgU4rvGVNZV6B0dKWXQk-tRF5w1KToaDNEFzLwnfYdr9OIVAHagvHMXgAMDr0BG8zZFRMT1eJ3AQ3by2Shlwl_HQ3THsGEXyNYIDPnvd5p2pakIkz4QmQrfsB6Xu6W/s1600/IMG_4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkSDd4LE2_X0J3CZgU4rvGVNZV6B0dKWXQk-tRF5w1KToaDNEFzLwnfYdr9OIVAHagvHMXgAMDr0BG8zZFRMT1eJ3AQ3by2Shlwl_HQ3THsGEXyNYIDPnvd5p2pakIkz4QmQrfsB6Xu6W/s320/IMG_4670.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>On the Tapajós River there is a sense of peace – white sandy beaches bordered by
swaying palm trees can bring happiness to almost anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he concern now is that these beaches,
which bring important tourist dollars into the local economy, will disappear after
the upstream dams are built by reducing flows so much that, during the dry
season, backwater from the much bigger silt-laden Amazon will flood the lower
Tapajós and ruin the clean beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
can argue that this concern is local – what is the loss of one small piece of
paradise?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> U</span>nfortunately there are
literally hundreds of large and small hydro dams being proposed on many
tributaries in the Amazon region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>No
one can deny that hydro dams are a cheap source of power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live in the Pacific Northwest in the United
States – there are more than 20 gigantic hydro dams on the Columbia and Snake
Rivers combined that provide cheap energy for Washington, Oregon and several
nearby states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>hese dams, which
were built 50 to 100 years ago have permanently changed the ecology of the rivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no matter how beautiful and
how important the Columbia River system is, it does not have the global influence
of the Amazon River system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once built,
hydro dams change the landscape radically and forever, flooding vast areas and
displacing people, animals, birds, and plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Far be it from me to understand the complexities and economic drivers
that push for hydro dams in this vast natural reserve of global
importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>he balance between
energy generation and the preservation of an ecosystem of global importance
will be impossible to achieve if most of the currently proposed large dams are
built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<br /></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/AVvXsEi8T8-6fEUSxhBudoCsXxcY2pMI5BmtBCdO3fj6gD7k_Z_MngKvt6l9PHul0-2pGa8sRX1TegNDoTT4EAg01LuHdYGMqLge89CU3TaVsB267Eyuc-VYWrgcPxfkRHommIzSeYPVJf9BNfNX/s1600/IMG_4578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8T8-6fEUSxhBudoCsXxcY2pMI5BmtBCdO3fj6gD7k_Z_MngKvt6l9PHul0-2pGa8sRX1TegNDoTT4EAg01LuHdYGMqLge89CU3TaVsB267Eyuc-VYWrgcPxfkRHommIzSeYPVJf9BNfNX/s320/IMG_4578.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Soy fields stretching south of Santarém</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I
heard first hand from folks who live on the Tapajós about this difficult
situation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also heard that the
economic benefits that the dams will bring primarily benefit people who do not
live in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is equally true
about some of the recent agricultural changes that are occurring in near Alter do
Chão, Santarém and other parts of the state of Pará.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This region has had active agriculture for
more than 300 years, starting with floodplain groves of wild cacao in the
1700’s, tapping of native rubber trees during the nineteenth century, then
floodplain jute farms during the 1930’s until the 1990’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately a lot of the current
agriculture development depends on rainforest conversion (read de-forestation) into soy
and, to a lesser extent, corn fields. While the
previous agriculture booms benefitted the locals – I met several people my age
whose families had been able to transition into a middle class existence and provide
them with a good education as a result of jute farming, the current expansion
of soy farming is not benefitting local people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead it is benefitting large companies and big scale farmers who
move into the area for investment purposes, often coming from Mato Grosso and
other areas outside the state of Pará.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
clearing of the rainforest, often done illegally, is resulting in huge changes to the
landscape in the Santarém region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Statistically Pará has already lost 20 percent of its rainforest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That number may not sound large but the fragility of the system is such that almost any loss is significant. </span>This is also in contrast to the other important
Amazon rainforest states, Amazonas and Amapá, both of which have lost about 2
percent of their rainforest cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
while my mind is filled with the colors and culture of the rainforest, it is
also worried about the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brazil
has some strict environmental laws including a Forest Code that requires
maintenance of a significant portion (often up to to 80 percent) of native
forest cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem, as is true
elsewhere in the world including in the United States, is lack of compliance
with the law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a very big problem
in the remote Amazon rainforest.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETcmRt2fcxIMHQVq73ywxXgK75NFt81MSVIaT1tx08NkzjMKZWyr50Zqve8f1uDcOgQyyevy4ZxTaZ8HiNDz2GgZMwbJpcbnF9KmZEMfBRT2SvZhXzdqGrcjUNOeKp9nGhOn2iNyLYCDH/s1600/IMG_4590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEihL752kyTuvgot4veQr7Ii13Y8ljDIE8wPPEqnh3MVVvOV4hg4JoCMQl01DIrUxCGyXc1sn8C0moYvYHXj0gL3PQzmmIfd76W3AxV0HFriEA-WNFvoMRJS72XEnVa-Jm0XqoLBggjMDOrM/s1600/IMG_4627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL752kyTuvgot4veQr7Ii13Y8ljDIE8wPPEqnh3MVVvOV4hg4JoCMQl01DIrUxCGyXc1sn8C0moYvYHXj0gL3PQzmmIfd76W3AxV0HFriEA-WNFvoMRJS72XEnVa-Jm0XqoLBggjMDOrM/s320/IMG_4627.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Sunset over the Tapajós</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>All
of this said, the determination of the delightful, smart people I met – Karim, Cidia, Gabriel, Zeila, Maisa and many others – to protect the Tapajós region, the
boats, the birds, the forests, the water, the flowers, and the sheer wonder of
the whole Amazon ecosystem fill me with hope.</i></span></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-77318659500704841252016-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:002016-03-02T07:06:44.507-08:00Walking Solo in Alter do Chão<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/AVvXsEjJFCTngCn3wffqiu20UIn3cTYnUEnGxBPm0SRvkMRkQz6MCf44e4NVq5Hxm2YD30FAPNpXzPoaTNq3myznIF-jyLvD800TsnznY-PUJ6r2v8qIouUZEZdP31rznR1yBJZeNPyVrJQCZ8oA/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFCTngCn3wffqiu20UIn3cTYnUEnGxBPm0SRvkMRkQz6MCf44e4NVq5Hxm2YD30FAPNpXzPoaTNq3myznIF-jyLvD800TsnznY-PUJ6r2v8qIouUZEZdP31rznR1yBJZeNPyVrJQCZ8oA/s320/IMG_4614.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The central praça in Alter do Chão</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I’m
traveling in Brazil by myself. I’m in a
small village, Alter do Chão more than six hours by plane from São Paulo. Alter, as the locals call it, is on the banks
of the clear water Rio (river) Tapajós, a tributary to the mighty Amazon. The village is a few degrees south of the
equator and several kilometers upstream from the confluence of the two
rivers. Years ago Jacques Cousteau
dubbed it the Caribbean of the Amazon. It
is a beautiful place.</i></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I
am not naturally someone who likes to be alone, certainly not someone who likes
to travel alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I much prefer being
with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m perfectly
happy, in fact enjoy, working alone – I’m a writer after all – but during the
social times of the day, even in my own home, I prefer company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being “on the road” alone is worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t a matter of logistics – I’m an
experienced and relaxed traveler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
about sharing the experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus I’ve
never been very comfortable sitting in a restaurant and eating a meal by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband told me to bring a notebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a good tip. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br />
I grew up in a large, close-knit family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My first few years were spent in the company of my older sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was never alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were only two years apart and we played
endless games together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retrospect I
don’t remember who invented the games – what I remember is their infinite
variety and inventive delight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember how much fun we had – making paper dolls, creating families of little
teddy bears out of plasticine (a type of colored modeling clay that was common
in the 1950’s), building dioramas and theatrical events for the paper dolls’
and teddy bears’ lives, inventing and playing imaginary games in which we
travelled to alternative universes where the rules and the powers we had were
quite different than in our universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Often
we “travelled” on these adventures with our cousin who lived next door but one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put “travelled” in quotation marks since
our vehicle was our grandfather’s tool shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The engine was the vice on his workbench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was remarkable how, when the toolshed door
was shut and latched, and we got the heavy handle of the vice spinning fast, we
could take off to unknown worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
we landed and unlatched the door, we found ourselves on a completely different
planet far from our own backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes, on lucky days, his older sister – older than me by a then
unfathomable six years – joined us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These were particularly good adventures since my older cousin knew about
horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she was along, these magnificent
animals were added to our adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
our steeds were just broomsticks or thick branches that our grandfather cut for
us, they transported us to even more exotic locales – wild sandy deserts
complete with camels and palm trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had tremendous fun and I wonder if today’s computer savvy kids have as
interesting escapades as we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
my early experiences and imaginative games are part of why I like to write
stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for sure, the closeness I
experienced is part of why I don’t like being alone for too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably why I got and stayed
married!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Whatever
the reasons, I don’t take naturally to traveling alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here I am, alone in Alter, while my
husband is on a scientific expedition measuring the hydrology and geochemistry
of the lower Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I chose to
be here and I think it is a good choice. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Let’s say you, like me, are hoping to make progress on your
current writing project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve been
working on it most of the day and you desperately need to stretch your
legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a lifelong walker and
decide to go for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what I
did the other afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about 90<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">℉ </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">and very humid – even
my weather app said it felt like 100!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After about 3 miles I returned to my pousada (bed and breakfast).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was too hot to walk in the heat any
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t reached 10,000 steps
but in fairness, that number isn’t set in stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially not when you are practically on
the equator!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my hot walk, I needed
to stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are sixty-something
you almost always need to stretch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
decided to do some simple yoga poses in my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Now
I know why hot yoga is popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
pulling off most of my saturated clothing, I tried a downward dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt good and I moved easily into plank
and cobra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Body felt supple and I am normally a pretty
stiff, albeit fit, older lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried a
few warrior poses – my arms stretched gracefully out to an imaginary
horizon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My back bent a little further
than usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried a couple more
poses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was definitely more flexible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe being very hot helps my yoga. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to do a half-baked dancing Shiva
without completely losing my balance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
the original yoga masters, who presumably lived in India, did their practice in
similarly hot and humid climates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either
way it felt good and what a benefit to be able to stretch properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting at a computer all day isn’t good for
you at any age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I was glad I
had a shower to wash my sweat off and that my room had an air conditioner so I could
stay cooler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a privilege that I
have as an American tourist who can afford to stay in a pousada that has such
amenities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsSLhnW9jr0RMfKmJ0v3U-3ONhGvv5ux1fmLo5qRE9L4VkZczMnNEt-rK5eUSrHbJADXLxVZqkngDv2_uy6vYmW86mwnO5wk6U4vQuhzcdI1QtYwRxEZ7fSJtYRU_87TPVukYtMlkjzDo/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsSLhnW9jr0RMfKmJ0v3U-3ONhGvv5ux1fmLo5qRE9L4VkZczMnNEt-rK5eUSrHbJADXLxVZqkngDv2_uy6vYmW86mwnO5wk6U4vQuhzcdI1QtYwRxEZ7fSJtYRU_87TPVukYtMlkjzDo/s320/IMG_4570.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Martin Pescador at its home port</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">Writing,
walking and doing yoga are not my only pastimes here in Alter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Monday I tagged along on an expedition organized
by Big Tree Adventure Tours (</span><a href="http://www.bigtreeadventuretours.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">http://www.bigtreeadventuretours.com</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">), <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>a
unique Amazon adventure company that operates out of nearby Santarém.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2014, I blogged about two wonderful trips
I went on with the company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karim Abu
Bakr, who organized both trips in 2014, organized Monday’s boat trip as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karim, one of two partners in the
company, is a well-informed charming guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We travelled on a traditional Amazonian flat-bottomed wooden boat, the
Martin Pescador, to a floodplain area on the far side of the Tapajós.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<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/AVvXsEhUW3EO9VI2EEGOVsQTAizuOThaEhd_Y01TY5Am52I_p3C1QlQPEZS0-beWkk4B4ovQtJgGpaA7HVw7yJp9s58UhXG9owjiWfTRPEczlAM8BNpwJnWkehMeH6sO1PPK_kQGmELcfbOhDkIV/s1600/DSC02112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW3EO9VI2EEGOVsQTAizuOThaEhd_Y01TY5Am52I_p3C1QlQPEZS0-beWkk4B4ovQtJgGpaA7HVw7yJp9s58UhXG9owjiWfTRPEczlAM8BNpwJnWkehMeH6sO1PPK_kQGmELcfbOhDkIV/s320/DSC02112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A traditional floodplain house</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>There we visited a traditional floodplain
house built on stilts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tapajós River
level can fluctuate by as much as 10 meters between high and low water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, any structure that is to survive the
floodwaters must be either floating or built on stilts.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT-KLh9tDIy9-DQGtaWQe93NCSlSkPMysuvsu3nFbG7zPaFvda22gx7HZpwFeARHymZqZFpOnoQcXs5jFpzYtSOR0nMImrFjNsIKGu3EVoox3seVafr5lhvD-KmLonb0PAdk8grH2AiN_/s1600/DSC02097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT-KLh9tDIy9-DQGtaWQe93NCSlSkPMysuvsu3nFbG7zPaFvda22gx7HZpwFeARHymZqZFpOnoQcXs5jFpzYtSOR0nMImrFjNsIKGu3EVoox3seVafr5lhvD-KmLonb0PAdk8grH2AiN_/s320/DSC02097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A contented Tapajós cow</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
lady of the house shared delicious Sapacaia (a type of Brazil) nuts with us and
showed us a huge Sapacaia tree on her property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hiked through her riparian (riverside) forest, saw lazy sloths
hugging branches high up in the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We watched colorful birds flit among the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, while traveling by boat to her
small holding, we saw many cattle grazing on islands, even sitting contentedly
on offshore floating mats of vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who knew cows can swim?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">The local
floodplain farmers use low lying islands as pastures during low water and take
their cattle by boat back to the mainland when the waters rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Floodplain cattle farms are an important part
of the regional economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, after a
delicious on-board lunch of local smoked pirarucu (the largest of all Amazon
fish), we pulled up to a white sand spit and swam in the cool, sweet water of
the Tapajós.</i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Yesterday I sat on another fine sandy beach enjoying a cold beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a two-minute rowboat ride from Alter’s
central praça (town square).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pleasant
tropical wind blew in my face, drying my hair in minutes. It was hard to feel
lonely since I shared the beach with many others on holiday<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>The
benefit I have in traveling alone is the opportunity to know this extraordinary
ecosystem; to see its unique, and impressive flora and fauna; and to understand
its grandeur up close and personal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is an ancient ecosystem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Near where I am
staying there are some prehistoric cave drawings that are more than 10,000
years old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not surprising there
were inhabitants here so long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
region is rich in natural resources – clean water, white sandy beaches, abundant
fish to catch and small mammals to hunt, wild fruit and nuts to enjoy and a
climate so warm that clothes are practically optional!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbEK9bQEFXR_ueh7RVBV3H7lnHKpJ4lpXfh1pmqTtE-eTrjE08qwC4KRnn3IgN2_08DDVKML5WeYWDZfZ9gea5N-AT50lqqk6nnC2dEpWCkkswcqoeP72g0SU2rxT7syOXj5fEC_wpGcc/s1600/DSC02110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbEK9bQEFXR_ueh7RVBV3H7lnHKpJ4lpXfh1pmqTtE-eTrjE08qwC4KRnn3IgN2_08DDVKML5WeYWDZfZ9gea5N-AT50lqqk6nnC2dEpWCkkswcqoeP72g0SU2rxT7syOXj5fEC_wpGcc/s320/DSC02110.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A Sapacaia nut "case"</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Now
you begin to understand why I am here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a privilege to know the region, its history and its people even
just a little bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also a
privilege to have a place and a space to research and write– uninterrupted by
the normal daily grind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps these
pleasures outweigh the challenge of eating out alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just in case however, I’m keeping my notebook
in my purse. </i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5GQrTrx0wnVCBDRAvsVWCW-uvXkfoN-zoyjBenVYJAs1UXPvo2PBOgkNKkeEPitIxEb6rq4UBC4n-pTiN9pOuIt3wK7Qfu8RxA9C_peplY_rm_ayCvt3vveVpTJo_J52FqBpru08XlLM/s1600/DSC02106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5GQrTrx0wnVCBDRAvsVWCW-uvXkfoN-zoyjBenVYJAs1UXPvo2PBOgkNKkeEPitIxEb6rq4UBC4n-pTiN9pOuIt3wK7Qfu8RxA9C_peplY_rm_ayCvt3vveVpTJo_J52FqBpru08XlLM/s320/DSC02106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A Sapacaia tree</i></span></td></tr>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-8759860588462160522016-02-01T07:35:00.001-08:002016-02-01T07:35:36.808-08:00Does the World Need Us?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVM2OwYaQAV8yhGsrF4yuQWuFk4O3cNhdSGpPuKC_I5Ehd7yl9de8QKZ4xkjnA8xGxyVnBEqnNe6zLJM8a6SFKLmI61oy-VgYSlrDi33duncCPzTNmoi_kn3v0HHggqGVWHMDXb_qfZIH/s1600/DSC00205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhCKzuT7D4guNNlQnjh-P9YuUIHvbqgl3sayO2NSg-84w2m3jl1qYoFwT_KVaG9KRjPBfTejnTzl_8hLLyg1WO-Wr68UWvPjF4NZbrnaSK4nepooAd7Em6XeNuQN_4n0IafxNhTEJDDNMOT/s1600/IMG_4486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKzuT7D4guNNlQnjh-P9YuUIHvbqgl3sayO2NSg-84w2m3jl1qYoFwT_KVaG9KRjPBfTejnTzl_8hLLyg1WO-Wr68UWvPjF4NZbrnaSK4nepooAd7Em6XeNuQN_4n0IafxNhTEJDDNMOT/s320/IMG_4486.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Praça José Bonifácio in Piracicaba</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My husband Jeff and I arrived in Brazil a week ago for a 3-month
stay. The 24-hour journey from Seattle
was gratefully easy including a seamless plane change in Washington D.C. less
than a day before a massive snowstorm hit the area. Upon arrival in Sao Paulo, we drove north to
the inland city of Piracicaba, where we will live for the next couple of months. I first visited Piracicaba exactly 30 years
ago. At the time, I was a not so young mother
of a 2-year-old boy and pregnant with our daughter. Now, both children are grown adults, our son
married for three years and our daughter, almost 30, will get married this
summer. It seems like a long time ago
that I walked to the local bakery holding my young son’s hand and discovered
that the cruzeiro had inflated overnight and was now the cruzado, with the
value of 1000 cruzeiros. Fortunately the
cost of bread did not inflate 1000-fold.</i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64BHHG86o8VpugbSg3ycmxhRabUl0aozusdiQ8Z1tjOuLW7_jzUSk60FRQl1eMOOgQMn4-9_5OAHivLXyv1FbrNQOrZKUvFt1DiKuF1AtKu7daP4Wdw2L7rIZF75qECCXt48jVfe3eMa/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64BHHG86o8VpugbSg3ycmxhRabUl0aozusdiQ8Z1tjOuLW7_jzUSk60FRQl1eMOOgQMn4-9_5OAHivLXyv1FbrNQOrZKUvFt1DiKuF1AtKu7daP4Wdw2L7rIZF75qECCXt48jVfe3eMa/s320/IMG_4478.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Cathedral in Piracicaba</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Amazingly, despite the passage of time, another monetary unit
(the real) introduced in 1994 and population growth, the town feels very much
the same as it did when I first visited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Piracicaba remains a peaceful and prosperous university town with a
thriving downtown core and several productive factories on the outskirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sits in, and is supported by, a rich
agricultural region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lush sugar cane
fields stretch beyond the town as far as you can see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as I did 30 years ago, I can still walk
across the street from my apartment building and buy freshly baked <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">pão francês </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from a family run bakery </i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(the Brazilian style French rolls that are the staple daily bread everywhere in
Brazil </i></span><a href="http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/brazils-daily-bread-pao-frances.html">http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/brazils-daily-bread-pao-frances.html</a>
) <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>. But back in
1986, the world, Brazil and Piracicaba were very different, perhaps more
innocent places. Brazil was a new
democracy with an emerging if small middle class and just auditioning on the
world stage. It would be three years
before the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of the Cold War and five
years before the Soviet Union dissolved.
Back then, I don’t think any of us imagined something like 9-11 or
similar terrorist attacks. There were
threats of course but nothing like those we face today. The big issues at the time in Brazil were national
inflation and de-forestation of the Amazon rain forest. Now thirty years later, no matter where you
are in the world, there are much greater economic and political challenges – many
linked heavily to the global economy and increasing inequality. The challenges here in Piracicaba are not
terribly different from those in my hometown of Seattle. Environmental issues like de-forestation are now
recognized to be part of larger, more complex global concerns including climate
change. Brazil is fully on the world
stage now – about to host the 2016 Olympics! It has some of the best street graffiti in the world.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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</div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><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/AVvXsEjQ4rOJzJ32B2zUfjQs2G2V-X74oZuFL0a7fi6ryml_apFui8cj_R3xJkG7sixdrwOZooqAq1PxbSWUNPX9164bTPA-jNfe8FexXYoIm8e5D_gFzTymK2o_GLTgCKVpqtbXDMADR-XS7Q-Z/s1600/IMG_4481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4rOJzJ32B2zUfjQs2G2V-X74oZuFL0a7fi6ryml_apFui8cj_R3xJkG7sixdrwOZooqAq1PxbSWUNPX9164bTPA-jNfe8FexXYoIm8e5D_gFzTymK2o_GLTgCKVpqtbXDMADR-XS7Q-Z/s320/IMG_4481.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Great Street Graffiti in Piracicaba</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</i></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My first visit to Brazil occurred in 1982, four years before
I came with our young son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a
leave of absence from my job in Seattle and traveled in the Amazon region,
assisting my husband and other scientists on a scientific expedition. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The expedition evaluated the
hydrology and geochemistry of the largest river in the world. I was a
trained geochemist at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember feeling during the five weeks we were on the river as if I was living
in a National Geographic travelogue replete with dug out canoes, exotic birds
and floating villages. One afternoon we passed through a hatch of
beautiful butterflies that surrounded our boat in a magical veil of bright
yellow wings for more than an hour. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Some of the changes during the last three decades are
unsettling, even alarming – and for better or worse, the changes we’ve
experienced affect us all regardless of where we live in the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, last week I read that 2015 was
the hottest year on record throughout the globe, breaking the high temperatures
reached during the previous hottest year, 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everywhere I turn, whether I am reading about energy, education, global
warming, security, social and religious freedom there is disheartening, and
often bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at the same time
there are exciting new innovations all around me that give a feeling of
optimism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who imagined in 1986 that we’d
all own personal computers let alone smart phones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably Steve Jobs but not most ordinary
folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly did we imagine all
being connected through the World Wide Web?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t but smarter folks did and they were inventing it just as I was
walking to the bakery in Piracicaba holding my little boy’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now all of us share music, news, knowledge,
stories, everything on this amazing global information system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course these systems have been and will be
used for purposes that are threatening and even dangerous – we’ve seen that recently
in Paris, San Bernardino and elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I believe the power of art, science, engineering, computers and
associated technologies to do good and help solve our problems is greater than any
downside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was reminded of this belief a few days ago when I received
a poetry prompt from the outgoing 2015 Washington State poet laureate Elizabeth
Austen.</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ms. Austen is a talented poet
and teacher – skilled in inspiring the rest of us to read and write
poetry.</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic;"> </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can connect with the prompt at </i>http://wapoetlaureate.org/2016/01/24/poetry-for-all-prompt-5/</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She began a series of video poetry prompts in 2015 and sent
out the fifth one earlier this week. The
prompt begins with an epigraph from Rainer Maria Rilke, a nineteenth century lyrical
poet. In the prompt, the contemporary
poet Ellen Bass responds directly to Rilke’s assertion in a poem entitled “The
world has need of you.” After listening
to Ms. Austen’s video, my poem is in response not to the statement but to the
implicit question: “Does the world need us?” Here is my poem:</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does the world need us?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does the world need us?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Well you might ask.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As if the sky needs the swallows<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Or the young eagles <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Learning to fly as their mother<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sits high on the tall Doug fir.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does the sky need the sun?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Or does the sun own the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What sort of a partnership is it?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The mere concept of need is curious<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does need mean want? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Is it a necessity?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As in I need a glass of water<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My throat is parched.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is so hot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need
more liquids.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Of course they don’t need to be water.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>There’s that need word again<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Need suggests necessity<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What about just want?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As in, I want a glass of water<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Will any old liquid do?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Of course I need something healthy<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Not mountain dew or dirty water.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If I was very thirsty and nothing safe was there<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What would I do? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Are there times when we are so thirsty<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>That we drink polluted water<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Or even something worse?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What’s worse than dirty water?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Is that why the world needs us?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>To make clean from the dirty.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Perhaps the answer is quite different: <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Perhaps the world needs us<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>To make beautiful things?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Poems, paintings, music, gardens<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>That touch our souls<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Beyond the tumble and rumble<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Of the natural world.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I wonder aloud again<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Does the sky need the swallow?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Or the young eagle?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I ask now from the perspective of the bird<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha65W6PJ41xpfXTMq5taP_1m71hiZ5VGbd0c5CajxZa2c8J4oBfVrXa4cmuxtt0jbuzQ0DE6gJEHk0maruzk6ZzbrTXlXumlYHe5-m153W5IsGFvXX1tcsi8fkW07-RX768E_Cq1H4kOfN/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha65W6PJ41xpfXTMq5taP_1m71hiZ5VGbd0c5CajxZa2c8J4oBfVrXa4cmuxtt0jbuzQ0DE6gJEHk0maruzk6ZzbrTXlXumlYHe5-m153W5IsGFvXX1tcsi8fkW07-RX768E_Cq1H4kOfN/s320/IMG_4538.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is
yes.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Without the sky how could I fly?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If I answer for myself<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is still yes, yes and yes again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Why you ask in return.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>How can we look at the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And not long to see the swallow, the eagle, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Even hear the song of the bem-te-vi?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Songbirds chatter in my ear.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I sit high up in my apartment <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Feeling the wind from the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Blowing gently over me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I look forward to connecting you with my adventures in
Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is exciting and familiar to
be back in this wonderful country – a part of my life for more than 30
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-84672346706865796562016-01-01T23:01:00.002-08:002016-01-01T23:01:47.279-08:00New Year’s Day 2016 - Taking Time for Friendship <div class="MsoNormal">
I<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>t is the first day of the New Year, 2016. Outside, the sky is the palest of winter blues. The air is freezing and clear. Frost covers the grass and the roofs of my
neighbors’ houses are white. I’m taking
the time that the holiday affords to reflect on the importance of family and
friends. I’ve not posted for a few
months due to a very busy fall. Now, at
the beginning of 2016, I am excited to continue sharing ideas about living and
loving!! </i></span></div>
<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/AVvXsEjQHyZpsjpelhr6e_ie9HRiZsRN4jYFbVvNkXZtE3-dtVNT6XbPesZOk8fGG8FPOgtXH2DkpzKELF1BlJ0J4irQJQoXjn9TvFuZdLi5Ryc0i9aT6vy48MHyC_D3Hdu9sFidaMmDaMNP1zVE/s1600/DSC01986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHyZpsjpelhr6e_ie9HRiZsRN4jYFbVvNkXZtE3-dtVNT6XbPesZOk8fGG8FPOgtXH2DkpzKELF1BlJ0J4irQJQoXjn9TvFuZdLi5Ryc0i9aT6vy48MHyC_D3Hdu9sFidaMmDaMNP1zVE/s400/DSC01986.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Hall of Mirrors, Versailles</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Near the end of the holiday season,
the potential of the new year, with all its mystery and excitement awaits.
Three weeks from now, my husband Jeff and
I return to Brazil. Three weeks ago, I
was sitting in the waiting room of a hospital in Portland. Over the past three months, I’ve helped my
sister-in-law combat breast cancer. Thankfully,
her prognosis is excellent but the process of getting back to health is time
consuming and painful. It has required
multiple surgeries. While many other
family members and friends have helped her, I’ve had the privilege of being the
primary support person during her treatments.
One of the rewarding aspects of my role is how much closer we’ve become. I am lucky in being friends with my
sister-in-law and it has been very very good to visit her frequently. I am completely at home in her house and hopefully,
I’ve helped her through a process that we all hope no one else has to endure. Breast cancer is no fun. As my sister-in-law says, “I hope I’m taking
this one for the team!” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I'm someone with the life-long privilege of being
surrounded by amazing women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
them are part of my family – my mother and mother-in-law, my aunts, my daughter
and daughter-in-law, my three sisters and four sister-in-laws, my and my
husband’s female cousins – and others who are close friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these women have been part of my life
since I was a child, or, in the case of my friends, for many years. These women
mean the world to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they have
helped me in countless ways – everything from surviving tough
times; teaching me to cook and raise healthy children; to helping me become an
engineer and a successful working mother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All along they’ve listened to my sometimes trivial, sometimes gigantic
problems and always helping without passing judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What a privilege these relationships are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you ask me what one of the best parts of
retirement is, I will tell you it is something I never expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is having time to be with these fantastic
women – a quantity of time that I simply did not have when I was working every
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time is a tricky element.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time doesn’t expand or contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a physical constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The length of one hour is always 60 minutes
and the length of one minute is always 60 seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what you fit into an hour or a minute can
seem either expansive or constrained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who hasn’t spent “forever” waiting mere minutes for an eagerly anticipated
event?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, who hasn’t experienced
several hours passing “in a flash” when on an excursion with close friends or
family? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In both situations, the amount
of time seems to change with the activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But of course the absolute time hasn’t changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What changes is one’s perception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retirement, having more time gives me new
opportunities to be with the important women (and men) in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The role that women have played in my life is extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot imagine my life without their
sisterhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a teenager and young
adult, I attended an all female high school and an all female college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Single gender institutions are more rare in
today’s world than they were in the 1960’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the chance to be in an all female environment that supported and
nurtured female independence – at a time when women’s liberation was a very new
concept – is one that I will always cherish. My family moved to the United
States in 1964.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just 15 years
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a turbulent time in history
– the Civil Rights Act had just passed – and a turbulent time in my own life –
who goes through adolescence without trauma?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During those formative years I struggled with developing my identity and
independence, defining a career, adapting to demanding academic institutions, a
new country and a shifting culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<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/AVvXsEhJ0As6ZtWdcsfB-potPahXSJapwuRkcEseuONtnrAvqquePA3Bi3kA7t-DBwtncHwHa7Dxt6xJr4uqvFCvGeVay74WsWoxu5EuTNcZMgof5tqECV_0LXZDDtXqLD0GFMpLZ8Dt2esk4SaL/s1600/IMG_4060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0As6ZtWdcsfB-potPahXSJapwuRkcEseuONtnrAvqquePA3Bi3kA7t-DBwtncHwHa7Dxt6xJr4uqvFCvGeVay74WsWoxu5EuTNcZMgof5tqECV_0LXZDDtXqLD0GFMpLZ8Dt2esk4SaL/s320/IMG_4060.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jeff in the Place des Vosges</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>With
help and friendship I not only survived - I thrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The support
of my female teachers and professors, my mother, aunts, sisters and girlfriends
made all the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I moved to
Seattle in my late twenties to do a graduate degree in civil engineering, I
carried the mantle of these female mentors in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad I had such role models since at
that time there were virtually no women professors or students in my
engineering classes – very different from the smart female professors in my all women’s high school and college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years later, as a
working professional and as a mother, the support and affection of my
girlfriends, sisters and sister-in-laws carried me through many stressful
periods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember feeling close to
complete collapse, returning from a busy day of work to a full evening of
single parenting – my husband traveled abroad a great deal during our happy
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On such occasions, I would often take my two kids and walk up the street to my girlfriend’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would literally impose on her for dinner,
or a glass of wine or just a moment of relaxation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_Nh7MTTJhg6RsxavW5VH_4o5QRgv0EWLL-7RNJi6bWiTotoOOwvYoc2Sd98c8pJ9fqZrivp6V0piWZqyFrSKq9SDeYsS6jb3jsLx1-hRgliYk1BT-DVS-4vA6s6cG7GdTXby1WSSPGLJ/s1600/IMG_3940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_Nh7MTTJhg6RsxavW5VH_4o5QRgv0EWLL-7RNJi6bWiTotoOOwvYoc2Sd98c8pJ9fqZrivp6V0piWZqyFrSKq9SDeYsS6jb3jsLx1-hRgliYk1BT-DVS-4vA6s6cG7GdTXby1WSSPGLJ/s320/IMG_3940.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Fishing in the San Juans</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Similarly, I recall sharing the challenges of
being a working mother with my sister-in-law and my younger sister – hashing
out our stressful schedules from the privilege of being together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it isn’t just the women in my life
that gives it richness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s face it, we
need men too – especially if they are good cooks and fishermen like my husband
and son!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In retirement, I have the freedom to spend time with the important (men and) women in my life – go for a walk with a friend, visit my sisters, or, as
happened these last three months, help my sister-in-law recover from breast
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time is a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to use it wisely.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxXOZgbLU7ZbikKp8rg5Gejnvl3dKfrf_lOr_5ytpD0aTecf1CV9730sOnqkeYpH2om-atsMaks-HbWFg7pBMrmFyh0fuHH6p0eI19AwDC9oaJ6kpiy_Kq7zFXgGvgSbsTiaMETJkFm5n/s1600/DSC02001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxXOZgbLU7ZbikKp8rg5Gejnvl3dKfrf_lOr_5ytpD0aTecf1CV9730sOnqkeYpH2om-atsMaks-HbWFg7pBMrmFyh0fuHH6p0eI19AwDC9oaJ6kpiy_Kq7zFXgGvgSbsTiaMETJkFm5n/s400/DSC02001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Sky Mirror </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuC6pdmpOn0ZigVGWwYHHXJUDg3DO1uhyFNqCEOj8aeGSKQMY6IgsNF6zB5rrzjjxOVC4XDgPEQwCUkEJPX9yngdcGxZ3b_de2d3hyphenhyphenEuCG_6SAvwG8JmB-nDYk8ioXecRZOgrSAFahP2J/s1600/DSC02006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuC6pdmpOn0ZigVGWwYHHXJUDg3DO1uhyFNqCEOj8aeGSKQMY6IgsNF6zB5rrzjjxOVC4XDgPEQwCUkEJPX9yngdcGxZ3b_de2d3hyphenhyphenEuCG_6SAvwG8JmB-nDYk8ioXecRZOgrSAFahP2J/s640/DSC02006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">The Other Side</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The end of 2015 was full of many journeys - in addition to my
trips to Portland to help my sister-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went to my aunt’s memorial service in London and visited with my
English sister and many other family members; with my husband, my sister and
her husband, I visited Paris and Versailles – where we saw the gilt and glory
of the Sun King and Anish Kapoor’s amazing Sky Mirror</i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">; thankfully we left the day
before the terrorist attacks -- we were lucky; others, equally innocent, were not.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Less than a week after my return, Jeff and I
hosted a traditional Thanksgiving for six Brazilian scientists and numerous extended
family – introducing BBQ'd turkey and pumpkin pie to a whole new group of friends; we
spent Christmas on Lopez Island where we woke up among the giant cedar trees to
see Christmas lights twinkling. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5sh8Ak4DtxDJV8eJ2DfRVb0U6w5k-Mz-8w0f4mnKFHjCJMorV0grA4JeRjM4nSL6Ul0fubjADyv7YCoeke7p9gZBAUc0dii5xEHJ4kwo0K_qw_zUS6J6nqqV8bizPbc1w1S9ruwjz8_n/s1600/IMG_4255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5sh8Ak4DtxDJV8eJ2DfRVb0U6w5k-Mz-8w0f4mnKFHjCJMorV0grA4JeRjM4nSL6Ul0fubjADyv7YCoeke7p9gZBAUc0dii5xEHJ4kwo0K_qw_zUS6J6nqqV8bizPbc1w1S9ruwjz8_n/s320/IMG_4255.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One of
the Brazilian scientists visiting the University of Washington joined us for the
Christmas holidays. We shared our family
traditions of Christmas cookies and Christmas stockings full of goodies. We started a new holiday tradition – setting out
crab traps and catching fresh winter crab for Christmas Day. We enjoyed her Brazilian tradition also –
making a delicious chocolate confection called Brigadeiros. Brigadeiros are small, bite-sized sweets,
something between a candy and cookie. </i></span><i>They are easy to make with </i></i></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>three ingredients, sweetened condensed
milk, cocoa powder and butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ingredients are cooked together until thick and then cooled prior to being
shaped into small balls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point
the fun begins as each ball is decorated with something yummy: chocolate
sprinkles; coconut; chopped pistachios; peppermint sugar or other tasty
coating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once decorated the Brigadeiros
are placed into individual fluted paper cups – and then of course the best –
they are passed around and enjoyed!</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWvXEHOQf9NaS5VRV8KKfdq4aBvM5WtAOiJQVMAI17zVegjjwz6RbChVvaO47I5nEZuOW6yzDfa18J2CfjmMecRFQ26Rl8SIwGBnfVb3ntuTFYuLKpwWNzLc9T5B_6F0KIs_kLLrhAY4j/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWvXEHOQf9NaS5VRV8KKfdq4aBvM5WtAOiJQVMAI17zVegjjwz6RbChVvaO47I5nEZuOW6yzDfa18J2CfjmMecRFQ26Rl8SIwGBnfVb3ntuTFYuLKpwWNzLc9T5B_6F0KIs_kLLrhAY4j/s320/IMG_4385.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Witt Winter garden at Washington Park Arboretum</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2015 ends with many memories of beautiful places and visits
with many extraordinary people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few
short weeks Jeff and I will fly to Brazil and re-unite with our life
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am excited to have the time in
Brazil to finish a couple of big writing projects and hopefully begin some new
projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to improving my
Portuguese skills and continuing to exercise regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, it will be summer in Brazil and
we’ll be wearing shorts!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new year brings
a new beginning and an opportunity to use time well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan to do just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend time with friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend it highly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy New Year to everyone!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-17254050845409269122015-09-16T22:10:00.002-07:002015-09-17T08:22:47.729-07:00Apple Pie in Autumn<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/AVvXsEiqv9Dc5FJt2uFMl3HM1TiVSD3YJq4mtOMbM34DHP9zpEB-MCq1OdOpyeXy06_-i0d_HgY-uLZdpeUjrKeNVHdn2ZUFk8DBq6YyTsaLj3iuRPVKtic5TVko3JO7Lk7cTrVjDiv0nEsxfNLX/s1600/IMG_3570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqv9Dc5FJt2uFMl3HM1TiVSD3YJq4mtOMbM34DHP9zpEB-MCq1OdOpyeXy06_-i0d_HgY-uLZdpeUjrKeNVHdn2ZUFk8DBq6YyTsaLj3iuRPVKtic5TVko3JO7Lk7cTrVjDiv0nEsxfNLX/s320/IMG_3570.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The View from Agate Beach</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
F<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>isherman Bay to Kjargaard to Richardson’s to Vista; Mud Bay
to Aleck Bay to MacKaye Harbor to Barlow Bay and Agate Beach. According to my odometer, these roads on
Lopez Island trace a distance of approximately ten miles. But according to my memory, these roads trace
a much greater, grander distance, a distance full of memories and viewpoints
that far exceed any mile measurement. I
first biked these roads more than thirty years ago, long before biking was as
popular as it is now. Back in those
days, biking was simply another form of transportation – not the “in” thing it is
today. Either way I loved these rural
island roads when I was in my twenties and I still love them
now that I'm in my sixties. I hope I'm still biking them twenty years from now.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLD6BCUkijz69mWjNZrJFp3sVQ-UqxcKD27xemqOiwG4XRu1SfG5ug6OUQn63EIpHJTbgvk5kihigSwUfZ8vB5n5Wco8PegHev3rSxRKnR7DEFjh49Tfmv_UosyHFQY-kw1xbTSr0JEvw/s1600/IMG_3500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLD6BCUkijz69mWjNZrJFp3sVQ-UqxcKD27xemqOiwG4XRu1SfG5ug6OUQn63EIpHJTbgvk5kihigSwUfZ8vB5n5Wco8PegHev3rSxRKnR7DEFjh49Tfmv_UosyHFQY-kw1xbTSr0JEvw/s320/IMG_3500.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The old dock at Richardson's</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>From the turn of last century through the 1980’s, there was a store at the end of
Richardson’s Road where we’d stop to buy ice cream cones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When my kids were young they loved to explore
the funky old place and paw over the tools and toys while they licked their
melting cones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The store burned down in
1990.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still ride the half-mile “dog
leg” out to the end of the road to where the store stood – partly to see the
remains of the old dock and admire the view to the south but mostly because it
brings back good memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
best things about returning to a place year after year is remembering the past
and living in the present – all at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In today’s dynamic world this is an important
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my best memories of
this historic site (the old Richardson’s store was on the national register of
historic places) is being at the store with my father-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used to buy his denim overalls at the
store as well as various tools and kerosene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d grown up in the 1920’s in a small town
on the coast of Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved
old-timey general stores and Richardson’s was definitely such a store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it is long gone, it’s still part
of my bike circuit and it brings back good memories every time I loop by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gas pumps have been inoperable for years
but the price still shows 47¢/gallon.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipthydpybXAQsvt95_CxUZVKK0OA8sfmuxt9IjvBVH4aUpHiOV1cILzYH-W5NakziwwGDPCKn5j0rR5Py9bbsb6K9R41EeLxeK83DKo-zkjC4Ye1X44RmmUKpOBD4SwzCxnhff3u5a706/s1600/IMG_3555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipthydpybXAQsvt95_CxUZVKK0OA8sfmuxt9IjvBVH4aUpHiOV1cILzYH-W5NakziwwGDPCKn5j0rR5Py9bbsb6K9R41EeLxeK83DKo-zkjC4Ye1X44RmmUKpOBD4SwzCxnhff3u5a706/s320/IMG_3555.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Lopezian Goats</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Over the years, my bike rides, both on Lopez and elsewhere,
have become longer as I’ve become a stronger, more experienced biker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this sequence of roads on Lopez continues
to be a favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many parts
of the ride that I love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I
find myself pedaling through a deep forest; sometimes I ride past old barns and
open fields full of cows or pigs and more recently, a herd of goats; sometimes
I pass a beautiful old farm house or a dramatic rocky outcrop; sometimes I
watch fields being plowed or, later in the year, being harvested; there is one
field on my route that is often full of nothing but Queen Anne’s lace and
another that is covered with round haystacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When I descend a steep hill I know I’ll be sweating up the
other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a good feeling to realize I have the strength to do the climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the best things about regular exercise is that you do get stronger and, as
you do, you can do more and you enjoy it more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This weekend I plan to put my strength towards a good cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am joining other women in the greater
Seattle area on an organized bike ride to raise money for a nonprofit
organization call WAVE – Women Against Violence Everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel privileged to be able to help this
organization and to be strong enough to do the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are too many women here in the United
States and around the world that suffer from violence and abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to educate ourselves and do
everything we can to prevent violence against women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much better the world would be if every
woman (and child) could live without fear.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’d like to share a poem that I wrote last week. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Lopez Autumn<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZTDJXF-5u9gj3UfP8Tm4qD78pjqnt5ekjoktH6lIG4BIR4Uyvta5ej-6EFR1JRB4nhNsb44QugUoZdhpMkdPb_tDzAXMOzS8kiiiq_pE9mqKVGtH2pp2-3dpBvBYKQkfAhPX_almfDPq/s1600/IMG_3600+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZTDJXF-5u9gj3UfP8Tm4qD78pjqnt5ekjoktH6lIG4BIR4Uyvta5ej-6EFR1JRB4nhNsb44QugUoZdhpMkdPb_tDzAXMOzS8kiiiq_pE9mqKVGtH2pp2-3dpBvBYKQkfAhPX_almfDPq/s320/IMG_3600+-+Version+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Fading days of summer<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The sun hangs low in the sky<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Washing the mowed fields in bright light.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I watch the geese gathering<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And see the goats graze<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Their babies grown like unruly springs<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Bouncing over the cut grass.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In the evening, I bicycle to Agate Beach<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I watch the last kayakers load their craft<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I pass the sailboats anchored in Fish Bay<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And the apples rosy red on the trees.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The plums are eaten and gone.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The sunflowers spent,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Their stems bent in the strong winds.</i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s been a hot dry summer.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We ate crab and garden tomatoes,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We made berry crumbles,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We shucked oysters from Sweetwater.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We caught wild salmon.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We brined it; we smoked it;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We ate it with goat cheese.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz3wdZWpzcaZ1SzTOIs9fhs-LywyFcTfse0YJLsU6phO9spqOQZp_MC-O55O89aOHByT6vwajuGWksn1CUJGvsZQx-HOR2GHHd8F8lHDiPVCUqjMhBcwlBzxzd-LH1m9LIOFX3Tc3wJIg/s1600/IMG_3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz3wdZWpzcaZ1SzTOIs9fhs-LywyFcTfse0YJLsU6phO9spqOQZp_MC-O55O89aOHByT6vwajuGWksn1CUJGvsZQx-HOR2GHHd8F8lHDiPVCUqjMhBcwlBzxzd-LH1m9LIOFX3Tc3wJIg/s320/IMG_3573.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Now the rabbits are busy<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Filling their nests with nuts.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Rosehips and snowberries <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Decorate the hedgerows <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Where I ride along Davis Bay<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The poplar trees are turning yellow <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And the evenings are already cool.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Gone are the sweet golden sunsets<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And the warm air in the afternoon<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’m thinking about sweaters and soups.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’ll find my jacket and rubber boots.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’ll make an apple pie <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For Saturday night<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And miss the long late evening light. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By the way, in case you want to make a good apple pie on
Saturday night here is my favorite recipe.
It comes from a battered, wire-bound Five Roses Cookbook that my mother
gave me in 1963 when my family lived in Ontario, Canada. I’ve made this pie many times over the years
and I’ve never found a better recipe. It
might sound very indulgent to use both whipping cream and butter in the
filling. However, the combination makes
the pie very moist and the addition of lemon rind is even more delicious. This pie gives you a very good reason to go
out on a vigorous bike ride or to take a long walk. Do this BEFORE you eat a piece of pie! </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>September is a wonderful time to make apple pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We picked the apples from our tree and ate the pie with Lopez Island</span> vanilla ice
cream. If you want to be very traditional, pair it with Canadian cheddar
cheese or if you live in Washington, a nice big piece of Cougar Gold –
Washington State University’s signature cheddar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Deluxe Apple
Pie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 Double Crust Pastry <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I recommend
making your crust with a combination of butter and vegetable shortening – the
original recipe called for only shortening)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 apples <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 tbsp. packed brown sugar <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/3 cup(s) sugar <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/3 cup(s) Five Roses All Purpose Flour - or any good quality flour<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp. salt <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup(s) butter or margarine <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 tbsp. whipping cream</span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 230ºC (450ºF). Prepare pastry and line a 23 cm (9")
pie plate, reserving some for top crust. Core, peel and slice apples. Combine
brown sugar, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt together, then mix with apples.
Spread apple mixture into unbaked pastry shell. Dot with butter; sprinkle with
lemon rind. Pour whipping cream over top; then cover with top crust, sealing
carefully and making slits to allow steam to escape. Bake for 10 minutes and
then reduce heat to 180ºC (350ºF) and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until apples
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUtfsBPwLUh446VBLa_glkotjNHG5fWMoK1UEY1jLDCxOucQisOfnbnU5JSfJk9jelGNjmEdBawwwo5w0Y08UvVGT2xGOhVIypyz57JPkxTj2GKDJ0nPYCiCKNBD5j4khrmGZsZSimDsD/s1600/IMG_3604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUtfsBPwLUh446VBLa_glkotjNHG5fWMoK1UEY1jLDCxOucQisOfnbnU5JSfJk9jelGNjmEdBawwwo5w0Y08UvVGT2xGOhVIypyz57JPkxTj2GKDJ0nPYCiCKNBD5j4khrmGZsZSimDsD/s400/IMG_3604.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Just out of the oven...yum</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’ll get back to healthy recipes next blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is good to indulge and enjoy the
season’s bounty while it lasts!</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-42506011496499095082015-08-31T14:34:00.002-07:002015-08-31T14:34:41.482-07:00Circuit Training and Deck Staining<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9Zqp1UvkTO0JZaksE9GgveNte2wduifQu1tiKTDzIOzaA-ArjoCGY4Znp1Xvl8z7N172U5PTHFPleHfwEGPcwfcWjT1NOfkTXPKb5CfNbmbndINj-FsHx93Qn_U8p_VQ6_WxksCWhrlz/s1600/IMG_3316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9Zqp1UvkTO0JZaksE9GgveNte2wduifQu1tiKTDzIOzaA-ArjoCGY4Znp1Xvl8z7N172U5PTHFPleHfwEGPcwfcWjT1NOfkTXPKb5CfNbmbndINj-FsHx93Qn_U8p_VQ6_WxksCWhrlz/s320/IMG_3316.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The warm sunny days of August have already run away from me.
Early, much needed rain, signals that
summer is almost over. THe air is cooler in the morning and I've already seen the first V's of geese flying overhead. The end of August reminds me that summer is precious. We have to take advantage of every moment,
every ripe tomato, every fresh caught crab, every beautiful sunset. My husband Jeff and I have been doing just
that all month. We’ve been busy fishing
and crabbing, exploring and entertaining, and enjoying the bounty of the
Pacific Northwest with our friends and family. </i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Despite the fine weather, we’ve been going to indoor exercise classes too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of years ago my husband Jeff and I
started doing Circuit training classes at the various gyms we belong to – the Meredith
Matthews YMCA in Seattle; Betty’s Academia in Piracicaba, Brazil; and Lopez Fit
on Lopez Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are both over 65 and
value being fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to maintain our
strength and flexibility well into our eighties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That goal requires persistence – our bodies
are certainly “use it or lose it” objects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we age our muscles deteriorate if we don’t use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as anyone over sixty will tell you,
everything starts to ache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvyNn_zldO6wD_wP_lObB8bgF_hZSOpz4bDXHuai6lkzCe-MQ4JUwsKEJX98U4bXFQOA4LLTUc4ZRnOXlCc0U89Lk77-y9XQDknuH5c-tvoWSWk2dRwRdzA2yMKC9Jw70J2SStmr0wdf8/s1600/IMG_3437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvyNn_zldO6wD_wP_lObB8bgF_hZSOpz4bDXHuai6lkzCe-MQ4JUwsKEJX98U4bXFQOA4LLTUc4ZRnOXlCc0U89Lk77-y9XQDknuH5c-tvoWSWk2dRwRdzA2yMKC9Jw70J2SStmr0wdf8/s320/IMG_3437.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Both Jeff and I have exercised regularly throughout our
lives. We traded running for biking sometime
in our early fifties when our knee joints started to complain about the
pounding of hard pavement. Over the past fifteen years, gyms seem to
have opened up almost everywhere, offering diverse classes from Pilates and
Yoga to spinning (stationary bike riding) and, more recently Circuit
training. We have
come to appreciate the benefits of Circuit training classes. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The American Council on Exercise defines Circuit training as
“… a high volume (repetitions), low resistance (weight) workout with short rest
intervals and is geared primarily at improving muscle tone and definition,
while improving cardiovascular fitness.” <a href="http://www.acefitness.org/updateable/update_display.aspx?pageID=605">http://www.acefitness.org/updateable/update_display.aspx?pageID=605</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what does
that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means that while you are
exhausted after a Circuit training class, you are also exhilarated and stronger
and your hips and shoulders don’t ache.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
means that your balance is better and that you can bend down and pick up
something you’ve dropped without thinking “ouch”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In layman’s (laywoman’s?) terms, Circuit
training is a series of individual exercises, each emphasizing a different
muscle group that are performed and then repeated in sequence for a short time
period with a brief rest in between each sequence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Movements are fast and you get a cardio
workout at the same time without even realizing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to have any prior knowledge to
join a class and you don’t have to be “in shape” to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Classes are typically 45 to 60 minutes long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each class is set up with multiple stations
around an open room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each station has
unique equipment (e.g., hand weights, a weight machine, a mat, heavy ropes,
etc.) and a specific exercise that works a specific muscle group using that
equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The classes start with the
instructor briefly demonstrating the exercise for each station but if you
forget one, she or he is there to show you again during the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the number of people in a class,
there might be as few as six or as many as 18 stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the class, you start at one station
and do the exercise continuously for 30, 40 or even 60 seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you have a few seconds, 15 or 20 to move
to the next station. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For example,
Station 1 might be a hip raiser side plank – you hold your body, one hip down parallel
to the floor, balanced on your feet and one elbow bent under your shoulders on a
mat, with your legs and torso in a straight line. In this position, the goal is to raise your upper
hip as high in the air as possible, bring it back down parallel to the floor
and repeat again and again until the time interval is up. </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfp5dli0jOPkwYMcVeUvJf-8TuFqMqV_vAcLb_l5RO64DbhWdnif9KZFybVHrdq-9NfkYHJnWBvdZgnb5tS-y4ykpRP-lLPxPKDJlzq7AzwzC0S4Zh_J3QwHLUNHbo1rTAzZkzfOe9iE/s1600/IMG_2262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfp5dli0jOPkwYMcVeUvJf-8TuFqMqV_vAcLb_l5RO64DbhWdnif9KZFybVHrdq-9NfkYHJnWBvdZgnb5tS-y4ykpRP-lLPxPKDJlzq7AzwzC0S4Zh_J3QwHLUNHbo1rTAzZkzfOe9iE/s320/IMG_2262.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This might sound easy but it isn’t. Every part of your body’s core, i.e., all
your internal torso muscles including your abs, your pelvic floor and
everything in between is working. This
is very good for you especially as you age.
Our core muscles hold our bodies upright, help us avoid back pain and
injury and give us balance. Having
strong core muscles is very desirable but often doing “core” exercises can be a
horrible experience. In a circuit
training class, all the exercises move quickly.
Music is blaring. The other folks
in the class are working hard, encouraging you to work hard too. And just when you think you can’t do an exercise
any more, it is time to move onto the next station. You can start at any station and go to each
subsequent station in turn. After you
complete all stations, i.e., the circuit, you begin again, repeating the
circuit two or more times during the class.
Sometimes, after a full circuit, i.e., all stations, the instructor will
give a short break so you can rest and drink water. Sometimes you just keep on going. The classes usually begin and end with a short
stretching session. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What makes a circuit training class fun is the variety of
exercises and the fast pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
time to linger or worry about whether you can do the exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just do your best and move rapidly to the
next one, following the person in front of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even if you’ve never participated in an exercise class or if you have
doubts, you find out you can do almost anything for 30 or 40 seconds, even pushups
or bicycle leg lifts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes, during an
exercise, you can feel so exhausted you can’t believe how long 30 seconds is
but you try to hang in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
instructor gives encouragement by telling you that the time is half gone or
only five seconds are left! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good
instructors walk around the room, moving from station to station and giving
each student a little advice, or a minor position adjustment to ensure you are
doing the exercise properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have
an old injury and who doesn’t after the age of 60, the instructors at all of
our gyms give sensible modifications for any exercise that might be
inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very
stimulating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the classes Jeff and
I have taken are upbeat and full of camaraderie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The benefits of Circuit training are
remarkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since starting these classes
I am stronger and have less aches and pains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was afraid at first that I couldn’t possibly do some of the exercises,
for example swinging a 25-pound kettle bell between my legs and out in front of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you don’t even know what a
kettle bell is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t a year ago but
I know now and I can do the exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>BTW a kettle bell is a weighted ball with a handle, sort of like a round
dumbbell. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff and I found out how useful our Circuit training classes
were a couple of weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier in
the summer we had a new deck built at our Lopez Island cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the deck was built, we needed to finish
it with a special oil to help preserve the wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As anyone who has ever finished or
re-finished a deck knows, it is a lot of hard physical work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started out by sanding the whole deck
surface including the railings and stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then we had to wash it down, removing all sawdust and dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we dried the whole deck before applying
the oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deck is built out of a very
hard wood called Ipé – it is a pretty Brazilian hardwood that is raised in
sustainable plantations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We loved the
idea of adding Brazilian wood to our Northwest cedar house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But applying the oil was hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to work quickly, painting the oil onto
the planks, waiting five minutes and then wiping off excess oil with clean
rags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course we were down on our
knees, stretching out our arms and legs to apply the oil and then wipe it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point both of us realized we were
basically in a plank position, legs stretched out fully and arms rubbing the
excess oil off the deck surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
started laughing about how our Circuit training had set us up for deck
finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if I would have been
able to do this hard physical work without having developed the strength that
our Circuit training has given me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t think I could have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So one of the
rewards of developing or maintaining strength as we age is the ability to take
care of our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deck looks
beautiful and, with the rains already beginning, I am pleased to report that
the oil is very protective.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPCW4mAxvjGA09jUU3MMXojuLlvyRbZOWoQ0YNr8PCr-T-SW-yevI3kSAMH63Q_AF1GKaPpS0AF1nM41kHeeCZwzG0sZMvZUogiM431548ho119Cm38j7ZA2x_MJD_tSIol5b4YLsB1Na/s1600/IMG_3432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPCW4mAxvjGA09jUU3MMXojuLlvyRbZOWoQ0YNr8PCr-T-SW-yevI3kSAMH63Q_AF1GKaPpS0AF1nM41kHeeCZwzG0sZMvZUogiM431548ho119Cm38j7ZA2x_MJD_tSIol5b4YLsB1Na/s400/IMG_3432.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As usual, I’m sad to see August end but happy that we finished our deck ourselves without incurring aches and pains. Being able to do physical work around the house is a great reason to keep exercising.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Now it’s time to harvest our apples and plums and make a
last cold soup for supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon it will
be getting chilly and the whole world of hot soups and stews will
stretch out before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime,
I'm enjoying the early rain and relieved that it will help put out the
terrible wild fires the state of Washington has experienced and replenish our over-tapped water supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-59553677820345917612015-07-31T14:50:00.002-07:002015-07-31T15:08:39.481-07:00Summer sunsets, summer soups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuQphzngspMqLciCsrdi2I9W9Ilub6DfxEMSc0vmTyARyY37sfRWdv9y_l36_3XiSbsrrIG5Yp16KmYNwZC6GOmJl0EF9xr_qA3RQpjRbRn41S1mSHUlrqG0-4BkYnHE_ECzv0VHJiFvy/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuQphzngspMqLciCsrdi2I9W9Ilub6DfxEMSc0vmTyARyY37sfRWdv9y_l36_3XiSbsrrIG5Yp16KmYNwZC6GOmJl0EF9xr_qA3RQpjRbRn41S1mSHUlrqG0-4BkYnHE_ECzv0VHJiFvy/s320/IMG_2955.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sunset over San Juan Island</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We are having an unusually dry summer here in the Pacific
Northwest. I’ve been spending most of my
time up on Lopez Island where it is cooler than in the more urban areas of the Pacific Northwest. Virtually every day since the beginning of
May has been warm and sunny. My neighbor,
who has been coming to Lopez since the 1950’s tells me it is the driest summer ever. Friends and family in Seattle and Portland tell me it is too
hot to enjoy! I have a broader tolerance for temperature
extremes than many people so I don’t feel it is too hot. I just drink more water. And a glass of cool rosé too! That’s in the evening at the attitude
adjustment hour….</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Yesterday the temperature on Lopez was fifteen degrees above
the long-term average.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In truth I love most
things about the hot weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like when
I’m in Brazil, I get up and dress in shorts and flip-flops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need a coat to go for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just trot happily outside and enjoy the
warmth and the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Pacific
Northwest, an added bonus of sunny weather is the golden sunsets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen so many beautiful sunsets in the
last three months I feel spoiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking
down to the beach in the evening and watching the sun dip below the horizon is
a peaceful experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I
visited friends on San Juan Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
went to a state park on the western shore and, with other families, watched the
sunset turn the world into an orange glow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the families were camping at the park and the kids watched the
late sunset dressed in their pajamas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What a wonderful gift to give your children – sunset over the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One evening on Lopez, my friend
Karen built a graceful driftwood arch while the rest of us sat on driftwood
logs enjoying her skill and watching the sun dip below the horizon.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nCBxjZq7VZkRJgVq2ZoITQ0WfpAEjvzp-c9QDdqJFBPXTawhzFQzG8GRllnrTMUplyAe1vYgP3NJCso4P6R-0pcd-OlsyVUKP1uEFiSpDnzdIW-eI4fx-6as6OGquh4U3RwNokQrtdjG/s1600/IMG_3030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nCBxjZq7VZkRJgVq2ZoITQ0WfpAEjvzp-c9QDdqJFBPXTawhzFQzG8GRllnrTMUplyAe1vYgP3NJCso4P6R-0pcd-OlsyVUKP1uEFiSpDnzdIW-eI4fx-6as6OGquh4U3RwNokQrtdjG/s320/IMG_3030.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Driftwood Arch at Sunset</i></span></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></o:p><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This glorious weather makes it easy to stay in shape too –
I’ve been outside every day, biking, hiking, boating, walking, weeding – my
garden and my daughter’s garden too – weeds seem to love the warm
temperatures. But fortunately, so do
flowers and vegetables. I described my
vegetable garden as a jungle recently – it is a jungle! The runner beans have gone nuts and the
tomato plants are huge and laden with ripening fruit. But we’ve had no rain to speak of and we’ve
had to water the vegetables to keep them alive.
This is the flip side and the unsettling side of having continuously hot
weather. It is so very dry. Any places - wild or cultivated - that haven’t been watered are
looking pretty bleak – lawns and fields everywhere are yellow – by mid
July the landscape looked like it might be late August or early September. I read that the kernels in the Eastern
Washington dry land wheat crops are not developing properly – it has been too
dry. Forest fires began breaking out in
mid-June and the governor of the state of Washington declared a statewide
drought emergency in the middle of May. I
recently visited my daughter Sasha and her fiancé Dustin at their new home in
Pullman, Washington. It was even hotter
and drier there than in Seattle - this is very worrying for our state's agriculture. In Pullman, we had
to get up early just to go for a bike ride since the midday temperatures were
over 90 degrees. We plan to do an
organized 100-kilometer ride in Pullman in mid-August! We are training and expecting high heat.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJWl3B40vp4fNmLMfhq1tbu8Vp70aNt4Kei-JPSSsmlDW0ofJu6gx9wYzEbV8dtrrCfmKWZSUY31DVrX24XOAOOoeoM2eEPmAO-EfqsfXRFlFHJ1j15xO_xL0o7lLEtVBc9z0M3i6odo/s1600/IMG_2948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJWl3B40vp4fNmLMfhq1tbu8Vp70aNt4Kei-JPSSsmlDW0ofJu6gx9wYzEbV8dtrrCfmKWZSUY31DVrX24XOAOOoeoM2eEPmAO-EfqsfXRFlFHJ1j15xO_xL0o7lLEtVBc9z0M3i6odo/s320/IMG_2948.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Grazing on dry grass</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Last week for the first time in three months, I woke up to
the sound of rain. I was happy to hear its friendly sound, tap tapping on the
metal roof of my cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forests,
farmlands and rivers need the rain. The lack of rainfall is so different than
the normal wetness of this region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
hard not to believe that the lack of snow pack and the warm temperatures are harbingers
of climate change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that this
summer’s drought will not be our region’s new norm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how the native forests, fields and animals will adapt to what seems to be a significantly drier and warmer climate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course we don’t know what the future will
bring but for sure there is change in the air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try not to worry but I wonder if our
ecosystems will be resilient enough to respond positively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In the meantime I’ve been eating cold summer soups and
salads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing that says
summer to me as much as a cold soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have several favorites in addition to traditional red gazpacho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best is a recipe that my friend
Betty Lou gave me many years ago when I had too many ripe zucchini in my
garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is of course, cold zucchini
soup – I’ve made it so many times I don’t even look at the recipe any
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Its creaminess comes from blending not from cream so it is very healthy too.</span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxj4xxSUfwJ0t_eBefARSz1IqfNsyUzKTnrVdIAgwSP7pAUFLHiYWmrtpmmweToDGgyYoJuB638xQ5cjbW12moclYCX-h1IJLga-v6GyDPEM6oFMjFAfmVWr8V0UfxsdT_cUd2wNdlQCb/s1600/IMG_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxj4xxSUfwJ0t_eBefARSz1IqfNsyUzKTnrVdIAgwSP7pAUFLHiYWmrtpmmweToDGgyYoJuB638xQ5cjbW12moclYCX-h1IJLga-v6GyDPEM6oFMjFAfmVWr8V0UfxsdT_cUd2wNdlQCb/s320/IMG_3169.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Zucchini ready for the sauté pan</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>Proportions are easy and depend
entirely on the number of people you are feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to keep the onions and zucchini in
roughly the same volumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use both
green and yellow zucchinis – whatever I have on hand and I’ve even used
over-sized patty pans when they’ve grown too big for grilling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garlic is of course to taste as is basil and
balsamic vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basil has to be
fresh but it can be any kind – Genovese, lemon, whatever you have grown or
purchased at the farmers market!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Use a lot and d</span>on’t
cook it – the basil's freshness is part of the delicious taste. Just add the basil when you are blending the veggies with the broth - you can use either a food processor or a blender. Depending on the audience, I’ve made it
vegetarian with vegetable broth or for omnivores with chicken broth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it recently for a dinner party in my neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
zucchini came from one of my neighbor’s gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the recipe in a poem I wrote that day
– an ode to the joy of summer soup!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make sure you use a good olive oil too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It makes a difference.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cold Soup<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sitting on the edge of the wood stove<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Late July heat outside<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The cool of the forest inside<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I plan to make zucchini soup<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>With fresh lemon basil and<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Yellow onions from the farm.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I need to chop the vegetables<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And fry them slowly in olive oil<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I’ll watch them wilt and meld together<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Maybe I’ll add a little garlic<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>From Jeff’s garden <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And mash the mess together.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cold soup is my summer tradition<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cucumber or zucchini?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Almond with bread and green grapes;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes a green gazpacho;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes red with peppers and cilantro<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>All are delicious to me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>When winter comes, the cold soups<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Go into hibernation <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And I braise cheap cuts of meat.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Or cook beans with carrots, celery and onions.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>But I can’t wait until summertime - then<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I bring cold soup out again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PohWnWibwCx9FN8zJba5v0CBcoFaoQ_ZWRpMiPiM89Iv2oVRFYIHr6laX2v97CisIf5p-pm27Zhq-Q7h9infSDN7_elay7Nn0ELObvooXRcG9U3DvVZjcduUwADMWDQ-50415wkHaa7x/s1600/IMG_3172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PohWnWibwCx9FN8zJba5v0CBcoFaoQ_ZWRpMiPiM89Iv2oVRFYIHr6laX2v97CisIf5p-pm27Zhq-Q7h9infSDN7_elay7Nn0ELObvooXRcG9U3DvVZjcduUwADMWDQ-50415wkHaa7x/s320/IMG_3172.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I hope you make this soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think you will like it. Don't forget to add a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar at the end. That is the secret ingredient!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soup
makes any meal seem a little more of an event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is something about serving everyone from the big bowl with a
silver or a plastic ladle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t
matter which.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you are serving the
soup into plastic cups that your family and friends can wander around with,
just the presence of soup as the first course will give everyone a feeling of
contentment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cold soup is the perfect
starter for a summer supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives a
meal an elegant tranquility – effortless and gracious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
wish life was always that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-73580621548701015442015-06-24T12:51:00.001-07:002015-06-24T12:51:24.817-07:00An Italian Holiday -- Part 4, The West Coast of Sicily<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/AVvXsEjBU_CasShQKvwGnV2vgsG6WhrpX0F6qPefAgwVbk78j1ebvnjOnRodhv-kaO-leyBjC4Q3_zV1nbpk7DtVkAE1wUmv2llt3XzVqBaldK5ExKaMxb8DPPbuQHuWHhFbe0V08QpATsBjgr01/s1600/DSC01797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU_CasShQKvwGnV2vgsG6WhrpX0F6qPefAgwVbk78j1ebvnjOnRodhv-kaO-leyBjC4Q3_zV1nbpk7DtVkAE1wUmv2llt3XzVqBaldK5ExKaMxb8DPPbuQHuWHhFbe0V08QpATsBjgr01/s400/DSC01797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>One of the ancient temples at Selinunte, Sicily</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>On the advice of a well-traveled friend, we decided that our
final stop in Italy would be a visit to the island of Sicily. It was a great choice. Sicily sits in the middle of the Mediterranean
Sea, closer to the coast of Africa than to Rome. The island has been a popular port of call for
thousands of years. On our short holiday
we only had time to explore a small part of the large island. We chose the west side and made the town of Trapani,
an old fishing port on the northwest coast, our base. We quickly discovered that old takes on a new
dimension in Sicily. The earliest
settlements on the rugged island ended their glory days more than 2500 years
ago. While I expected Sicily to be
memorable for its cuisine: fresh seafood, dry, slightly effervescent wine and delicious
olives, it was the ancient ruins that set the place apart for me. Roving seafarers have been stopping off on
the island and benefitting from its fertile soils since long before the first
Olympics were held in Greece. But despite
the island’s long history, it isn’t wealthy or, at least in April, crowded. A feeling of gritty survival and hard work
permeates the part of the island we had the pleasure of visiting.</i></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<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/AVvXsEh9NiSanc7ikH831AAf1jbRVH69Tc8EuhxPLFdGSKPeIUmUK4rq2r6V1nUGkJ0UYkv6fsM2XwzRAh5lMeAyE6axpfQKI73qUAwCQI2jtM79g2VTNzheDIP6x8bTlm4SCf2QpC35HMHhjdgL/s1600/IMG_2537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NiSanc7ikH831AAf1jbRVH69Tc8EuhxPLFdGSKPeIUmUK4rq2r6V1nUGkJ0UYkv6fsM2XwzRAh5lMeAyE6axpfQKI73qUAwCQI2jtM79g2VTNzheDIP6x8bTlm4SCf2QpC35HMHhjdgL/s320/IMG_2537.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My favorite fountain in Trapani</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Our hotel, a nineteenth century residence in the center of Trapani’s
old town had been retrofitted with an elevator and modern plumbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole place had an air of faded
charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our room on the fourth floor
included a roof top deck that overlooked the bright green dome of the church next-door
and the chimneys and stone walls of the neighboring apartment buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t see traditional single-family
houses in the old part of Trapani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The narrow
streets are lined with severe apartment buildings, typically four or five
stories high with balconies that overlook the treeless streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon by
the time we drove into town from the local airport, past windmills and salt
flats, found the hotel hidden among the winding streets, and got settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were hungry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the proprietor’s advice we sought out a nearby
delicatessen and a small bakery, purchasing tomatoes, oranges, salami, crusty
rolls, cold beer and fizzy water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
took our lunch up to the roof top deck and collapsed gratefully onto the wicker
couches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The five of us hungrily devoured
the delicious food in the bright afternoon sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmkDRnQhTw9b5EoopV_SJlquPsUZ-TZzMLP2QCPyzFTyRvkziEKolA1_oFbg5DG3DzS8hp-p312Us8dUs3RdjOeDVk41Nn_yL7l2b3gQildQ7vGUqRPzN13i3hkOqvE81RFTR3DBVDXHL/s1600/IMG_2503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmkDRnQhTw9b5EoopV_SJlquPsUZ-TZzMLP2QCPyzFTyRvkziEKolA1_oFbg5DG3DzS8hp-p312Us8dUs3RdjOeDVk41Nn_yL7l2b3gQildQ7vGUqRPzN13i3hkOqvE81RFTR3DBVDXHL/s320/IMG_2503.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After lunch we set out to explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old downtown streets are full of restaurants and bars, fountains and
churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few blocks from the
residence, we walked through a wrought iron gate onto a promenade that followed
the boat-filled curve of the beach. We watched two
young boys, fresh from school change into wet suits and splash into the water
for an afternoon of snorkeling. I put my
hand into the water. Despite the hot
sun, the water felt cold to my touch. I
was glad I wasn’t snorkeling! At the end
of the promenade, an ancient fort, almost Moorish in its architecture,
protected the bay. </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We arranged to spend the next day sailing to the nearby
Egadi Islands on a 40-foot catamaran, the Alien. [see website <a href="http://www.aliencat.it/%23_=_">http://www.aliencat.it/#_=_</a>]</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We walked to the nearby dock at 9 am and by 9:05 we were
sailing out of the small harbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only
previous experience of a catamaran was on a small 16-foot Hobie Cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OrNu4mI50TouQ2lW2CX5bV-ER1scPyTX7avK8PwEmPPjHLnEapyE28drJp17PpCWwPnCKXFNoaqy84RXFH2DnSLXHWOphKSi1xjahs6Gp3g3pdVG-dMGsCSbv4WdNh0bnrTCDCjDRKqD/s1600/DSC01772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OrNu4mI50TouQ2lW2CX5bV-ER1scPyTX7avK8PwEmPPjHLnEapyE28drJp17PpCWwPnCKXFNoaqy84RXFH2DnSLXHWOphKSi1xjahs6Gp3g3pdVG-dMGsCSbv4WdNh0bnrTCDCjDRKqD/s320/DSC01772.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Alien was a whole different world and our
hosts <span style="color: #393939; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alessandro and
Isabelle</span> were wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
stop was an open bay on the east coast of the largest of the Egadi Islands,
Favignana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the course of the next
eight hours we explored three different bays on Favignana and took a short dip
in the clear turquoise water of the most remote bay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Favignana’s coastline is very rocky, in some
places steep cliffs fall precipitously to the sea, while in other areas, the
coast is more gentle and filled with blooming flowers and wind swept
trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29G3GOmwms30yaLnO78nlNChwW_pUvZ5WAEYEzamK5GAZzySqlXvcvP4uk4wtClm8ku4zHXCMGuMLI6P1TUX_03qkneq-Qv0MYQ1PgUafQ-X-pyEqW-YB7tAio-hzJBHIorochJ9IYZX1/s1600/DSC01711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29G3GOmwms30yaLnO78nlNChwW_pUvZ5WAEYEzamK5GAZzySqlXvcvP4uk4wtClm8ku4zHXCMGuMLI6P1TUX_03qkneq-Qv0MYQ1PgUafQ-X-pyEqW-YB7tAio-hzJBHIorochJ9IYZX1/s320/DSC01711.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our hosts prepared delicious food
on board – plying us first with home made bruschetta and light sparkling white
wine and then a delicious lunch of spaghetti with a rich Bolognese (meat and
tomato) sauce. Later in the afternoon,
when the wind came up and we were skimming lightly across the waves, Isabelle
made a fresh fruit salad and Alessandro gave us all little cups of a sweet Sicilian
port wine. They even had an espresso
machine on board. Talk about hospitality. We lay on the net trampolines, swung on the string
hammock, lounged on the back deck and generally enjoyed ourselves. If you are ever feeling tense and need to
just get the worries of the world out of your system, I can recommend lying on
a net trampoline and sailing on the Mediterranean! The experience is like no other – you lie
suspended as if floating in air with the fresh salt wind in your face and the
water rushing by below you. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxQFVHjYLOkdD5ICIYlsGR03Cvz_5PDA6HlIfjJ8Aw7xd7Kgbyy37XoJXQxTwJq5wq3_KHYurGHbgGp_QMiWrfkc1K_ODcKb_se5Sr82S86FDN2Pvhb5CVlPg6BuKNfEyVAbAM0NZG8F7/s1600/DSC01751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxQFVHjYLOkdD5ICIYlsGR03Cvz_5PDA6HlIfjJ8Aw7xd7Kgbyy37XoJXQxTwJq5wq3_KHYurGHbgGp_QMiWrfkc1K_ODcKb_se5Sr82S86FDN2Pvhb5CVlPg6BuKNfEyVAbAM0NZG8F7/s320/DSC01751.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is an exhilarating
experience and on the Alien you don’t even have to know how to sail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we arrived back at the dock it
was 6:30 in the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were relaxed,
full and happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hugged our hosts and
wandered back to the residence for a much needed shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That night we planned our next adventure, a visit
to the ruins of Selinunte, an ancient Greek city on the southwestern coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<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/AVvXsEg7GIFwSbuOi0WkcRkucTj_FIOPNyr1cHHgty58GENZXuvCvL36j3-3NZaKtzcshOHX6ZBDN4fOrbhdHYxwGj3cOFZHwe1LdqWjPdHQC3LEmFdxlVP6EY8sej9F2LuzwOl7f2bnI38PEyCE/s1600/DSC01778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GIFwSbuOi0WkcRkucTj_FIOPNyr1cHHgty58GENZXuvCvL36j3-3NZaKtzcshOHX6ZBDN4fOrbhdHYxwGj3cOFZHwe1LdqWjPdHQC3LEmFdxlVP6EY8sej9F2LuzwOl7f2bnI38PEyCE/s320/DSC01778.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Temple columns that never left the quarry</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Early Sunday morning we left our hotel and found an open
supermarket and bakery – the all day excursion called for another picnic
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stocked up on our favorites: rolls,
salami, tomatoes, fruit and water, packed into the car and drove south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First stop was the limestone quarry Cave di
Cusa where giant Doric columns for the Selinunte temples had been mined more
than 3000 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The road from
Trapani to Cusa was lined with farms, olive trees, vineyards, and fields of hay
spread across the rolling landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here and there we drove through small towns and villages where folks
were out and about, all dressed in Sunday best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The parking lot at Cusa is little more than an open field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there we followed a small sign to the
ticket booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole area was wild
and deserted, already dry despite it being late spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golden grass, feathery fennel and wildflowers
grew everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After buying tickets, we
walked up a small path through tall grass, wondering if we were even going in
the right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then down a small turn
we saw two massive column sections, side by side in the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked around them, awed by
their size and the precision of their carving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Further into the quarry, we found other limestone deposits, and the
remains of other, partially carved columns, abandoned thousands of years ago
when invading Carthaginians conquered Selinunte in 409 BC.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPDZtR-zzj3TXclNoIPIkxxyWxT4_KJKrAaV_98v4Xr7T-rkyaktsI3KoYuPRmz820EokpgHNQgqsBikzf3BVodsPmfnG9759xJecaPCwJUwj4kMD6hpNJP6EIDLH9lkN-kIkgWGsl5Sf/s1600/DSC01806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPDZtR-zzj3TXclNoIPIkxxyWxT4_KJKrAaV_98v4Xr7T-rkyaktsI3KoYuPRmz820EokpgHNQgqsBikzf3BVodsPmfnG9759xJecaPCwJUwj4kMD6hpNJP6EIDLH9lkN-kIkgWGsl5Sf/s320/DSC01806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A temple in ruins </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cave di Cusa was a good introduction to the glory that was
Selinunte. Greeks from the eastern Sicilian city of <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Megara Hyblaea</span>the founded Selinunte sometime in the seventh
century BC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the town and its majestic
temples lay in ruins from the conquerors for centuries and were further damaged
by earthquakes hundreds of years later, the scale and grandeur of the ancient
settlement are extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole archeological
park is huge and beautiful, with open views south to the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wandered around the largest re-constructed
temple and into and out of the nearby temple ruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDJpbAvUM81XFGWkP3NL0aXsZlN9_wJsjeQNJl6u4TI8CHMx-3HMaydK1D1VZve0-O12NXkpLYEZ7NSmuNIPQ9BINrdVBWIXJT2TXEcQlUzmsM6yPc_JuDgR08hQFB8fzZtRzaU94hfgY/s1600/DSC01823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDJpbAvUM81XFGWkP3NL0aXsZlN9_wJsjeQNJl6u4TI8CHMx-3HMaydK1D1VZve0-O12NXkpLYEZ7NSmuNIPQ9BINrdVBWIXJT2TXEcQlUzmsM6yPc_JuDgR08hQFB8fzZtRzaU94hfgY/s320/DSC01823.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We found a perfect picnic spot and rested
briefly in the shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After lunch we
walked along sandy trails that threaded through dry woods and fields to the
site of the town, where another temple has been re-built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We explored the old streets and each chose
our favorite “house” although to be honest, every house had a spectacular view
both of the sea and the holy temples on the eastern hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is very limited knowledge about the
history of Selinunte – the whole area was forgotten for centuries and its
re-construction is still underway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04UX_qy-R-zz5j_Ph-Kyw_G5YNLo0SznCaF2xeOl6shEvT5j2GiiXHU-EG1PjE9XdNlA3n_EIeSeQNFZJBjWGsOs0sZeG2htio3-spNlrIF7wFM6EbEn6CgAWzXXvbbYautKWXrehg49k/s1600/DSC01841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04UX_qy-R-zz5j_Ph-Kyw_G5YNLo0SznCaF2xeOl6shEvT5j2GiiXHU-EG1PjE9XdNlA3n_EIeSeQNFZJBjWGsOs0sZeG2htio3-spNlrIF7wFM6EbEn6CgAWzXXvbbYautKWXrehg49k/s320/DSC01841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Selinunte
is well worth a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
feeling of ancient neglect in the park – as you wander around the temples and
among the gigantic fallen columns, you can almost feel the horror of the
ancient inhabitants as they realized their holy sites and their homes were
destroyed.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We left Selinunte and drove up the seacoast back to Trapani just
in time to catch cocktails, dinner and the sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our last day in Sicily we visited the
medieval walled town of Erice with its beautiful stone streets. That evening we ate fresh Sicilian seafood for the last
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to return to Sicily on
another holiday and visit more of its weathered, hauntingly beautiful landscape
– and ideally – take another sailing trip on the lovely Alien!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime I am experiencing summer and
local food in another delightful island community – the San Juan Islands – my
next blog….<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-44291054938068865162015-06-15T12:53:00.003-07:002015-06-15T12:53:23.218-07:00An Italian Holiday -- Part 3, the Ligurean Coast<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/AVvXsEjvRKR4cNrYGVyOVMfKhvz87iZxqsOVdlxCLp1VGcjSCKB4imwmwRAjIabQMYbvrN3d_H5-k-6n8muGYlTprCfqfOLevuFO8SIzJ9jooBne0WBhEXww8rumN0-qNi6m63Rt7o5w9ffUEm7x/s1600/IMG_2490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRKR4cNrYGVyOVMfKhvz87iZxqsOVdlxCLp1VGcjSCKB4imwmwRAjIabQMYbvrN3d_H5-k-6n8muGYlTprCfqfOLevuFO8SIzJ9jooBne0WBhEXww8rumN0-qNi6m63Rt7o5w9ffUEm7x/s400/IMG_2490.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A beach on the Ligurean coast</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The train from Florence to Nervi takes about four
hours. You change trains in La Spezia. When we arrived at La Spezia we had less than
ten minutes to make our connection. By
luck or design, our connecting train was on the same platform. It looked easy. But as my family tried to board the train along
with many other passengers, all carrying backpacks and suitcases, the forward
momentum of the crowd stopped abruptly right at open door to the carriage. The entry way was blocked by a crush of bodies
and baggage. I was the last person in
our group and was left standing on the platform, unable to board. I assumed the crowd would disperse quickly into
the carriage but after five minutes there was no movement. I shoved my way into the crowd, squeezing onto
the train, afraid it would start moving and I’d be left behind. Everyone was crammed together in the small
entry to the train car. Suddenly, a man near
the interior door lifted a young woman up bodily and brusquely moved her out of
the way. Everyone breathed a sigh of
relief and moved easily into the carriage. My family quickly found four seats across the
aisle from each other. The young woman
and her companion, who we realized had been intentionally blocking the entrance,
entered the same carriage after everyone else was seated. There were only two seats left right by the
door. As the young women sat down, the
train jerked and we were off. The
conductor entered the car almost immediately.
I assumed he was there to check our tickets but instead he was there to
warn us. An Italian woman sitting across
from me translated his stern message.
“Look out for that girl” he said looking contemptuously at the young
woman who had caused the delay. “She’ll
pick your pocket. We know her.” The young woman was listening and trying to
look completely disinterested. It turned
out that the young women were known pickpockets on the popular tourist train
line. In blocking entry to the interior
door they hoped to get lots of people crowded together and a better chance of picking
our pockets. The gentleman who’d forcibly
moved her had recognized what was happening.
The conductor told us the twosome ride the train routinely hoping to
steal from tourists. The lesson: if you
are travelling in Italy (or perhaps some other places where tourists flock) and
a crowd suddenly appears for no obvious reason, guard your belongings!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br />
Every seat in our carriage was taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were on the train that goes along the Ligurean coast, that is, the Italian
Riviera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First stop was the southern
most town of the popular Cinque Terra towns, Monterosso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost everyone, including the pickpockets got
out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a diverse and international
crowd: school kids and chaperones on spring break, back packers and
well-dressed tourists, old and young filled the platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very pleased to stay on the now empty
train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were going to Nervi, the small
Genovese suburb that our daughter Sasha and her boyfriend Dustin had called
home since September. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The train ride is just
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small rocky coves, beaches and tiny
little villages come in and out of view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAMpcz7eptPuCB1Hyy37r-VxYWy0kCzc7d2p7MvPnpF8S0Yhl14LtJO7nc2YrcSiES-uydjav7mXTloHm_rARWcUdYmARyoqZYkn7coAtISqYxpARLTklQGwmsEAHtMUY9YefgRA7Ynyc/s1600/IMG_2477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAMpcz7eptPuCB1Hyy37r-VxYWy0kCzc7d2p7MvPnpF8S0Yhl14LtJO7nc2YrcSiES-uydjav7mXTloHm_rARWcUdYmARyoqZYkn7coAtISqYxpARLTklQGwmsEAHtMUY9YefgRA7Ynyc/s320/IMG_2477.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
The villages are a kaleidoscope of pink and yellow stucco buildings,
decorated with bright green shutters, intricate balconies and balustrades all painted
in trompe l’oeil style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trompe l’oeil
means to deceive the eye by painting objects so that they appear to be real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I was completely tricked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gradually I realized that what I thought were
real shutters and balconies were simply colorful painted pictures, real only in
the eye of the beholder.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>We arrived at the Nervi train station about 2 in the
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We disembarked and walked
under the train tracks in a purpose built tunnel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we came out of the tunnel, the sparkling Mediterranean
was in full view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood gazing out to
sea on a <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2-km, oceanfront walkway that
runs the length of Nervi</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
called the Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anita’s famous husband, <span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Giuseppe Garibaldi,</span> is from
Genoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a very important person in
the recent history of Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
late 19<sup>th</sup> century, Garibaldi had the wisdom to unify Italy’s many
city-states into a single nation, thereby strengthening their ability to remain
independent from the many nations that coveted their wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Garibaldi’s wisdom was not only in enabling
independence through unification but also in allowing each of the strong city-states
to keep their local character and cultural heritage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, even today, more than 100 years later,
each major city in Italy, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples and Genoa retains
its unique identity and, of course, its pride.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Kl9BFjEya-Wzu0YPWBSEFkeimGX1IJrrvleVWMkh6PbQBvhyjCakp_NEWHjysaAeJPlMDRoOPENa6s0nMUnO0bSdSghUB2P_5d4WTQT2qWDX2Z__o3H5ObOOJemHI5hbfbti1oy6fPc/s1600/IMG_2493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2Kl9BFjEya-Wzu0YPWBSEFkeimGX1IJrrvleVWMkh6PbQBvhyjCakp_NEWHjysaAeJPlMDRoOPENa6s0nMUnO0bSdSghUB2P_5d4WTQT2qWDX2Z__o3H5ObOOJemHI5hbfbti1oy6fPc/s320/IMG_2493.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Cose Buone = Good Things</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
</span>is glorious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The herringbone-patterned
red brick is set above the sea, carved sinuously into the rocky cliffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are wrought iron street lamps and comfortable
wooden benches facing out to sea every few yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day we arrived, the path was full of
people: old folks with walkers and sometimes wheelchairs, young families with
strollers, kids learning how to bike, twenty and thirty something joggers,
groups of immaculately dressed ladies strolling in the afternoon sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked the mile to Sasha’s apartment and
entered their building directly from the Passeggiata.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once upstairs in their apartment, we gawked
at the 180 <sup>o</sup> view of the Mediterranean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That afternoon surrounded by water and sky, I
did a yoga video, streamed from my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How great to properly stretch my body after all the urban walking and
train travelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, we wandered
through the little town to buy pasta and cheese, veggies and focaccia for dinner,
each purchase at a separate specialty shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I marveled at Sasha’s language proficiency – knowing from my own experience
in Brazil how much work it takes to speak fluently in another language. <span style="color: #424242; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLLaxDKLxKxKSUBmyhMievrAA4ZBLNN-bNNdEYzoObNe_RiKrT2N8dQWQNM_HOz9pcEUFR979zLGWZZa10Rgd7ZFogq5sgQis4-pk9XQZ4PL1MZj34o5VgAHRb-HsLCa-EyO5qIc1Pboa/s1600/IMG_2494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLLaxDKLxKxKSUBmyhMievrAA4ZBLNN-bNNdEYzoObNe_RiKrT2N8dQWQNM_HOz9pcEUFR979zLGWZZa10Rgd7ZFogq5sgQis4-pk9XQZ4PL1MZj34o5VgAHRb-HsLCa-EyO5qIc1Pboa/s320/IMG_2494.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The boat harbor in Camogli</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>After our busy schedules in Venice and Florence, our program
for the next few days was intentionally low key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We planned to visit several little villages
along the coast, traveling by train, boat, bike and foot and spend as much time
as possible in Sasha and Dustin’s adopted neighborhood rather than explore the
big city of Genoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a good
choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day we walked the beautiful
Passeggiata, completed our food shopping then bicycled to the next town for
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a short but picturesque ride
along the Mediterranean coast and over part of the route of the Giro d’Italia –
an internationally famous bicycle road race that has been held in Italy since
1909!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We certainly aren’t international road
racers but we felt pretty pleased to ride on a bit of the famous course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once at our destination, Camogli, we sat at
an outdoor café, enjoyed the fresh, perfectly cooked seafood and watched the
boats come and go from the adjacent small fishing harbor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fresh sea air was invigorating and the
bicycle ride back to Nervi was mercifully short. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">San Fruttuoso, the Abbey and Tower</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>On our last day in Nervi, Dustin’s mother Karen joined
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our day was full!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started with a 20-minute train ride back to
Camogli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there, we hopped the
coastal ferry and plowed through waves to reach the tiny cove of San
Fruttuoso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>San Fruttuoso is set among rugged
rocks above a small beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the
home of a 13<sup>th</sup> century abbey that now includes a small museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above the abbey, a fortified tower, set in
the hillside, guards the tiny </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">village.
We wandered through the abbey and its excavated dungeons, and marveled
at its 900-year old history. We enjoyed
the historical exhibits that highlighted, among other things, the culinary
achievements of the Ligurean coasts. Who
knew that pesto and focaccia were both invented in this wild and beautiful
region? Afterwards, we scrambled up steep
stone steps to a restaurant. We ate fresh
fish and drank cold white wine sitting on the edge of a cliff that overlooked
the beach and the abbey. </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The view from the trail</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Properly
fortified, we set out on a 6-mile hike to Portofino!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path was very steep and crumbly but ridiculously
picturesque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked through deep oak
and pine forests, enjoying endless views across the Mediterranean and wild
roses and wildflowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the final part
of the hike, we passed through terraced vineyards and olive groves hanging on
the hillsides above Portofino.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Terraced Vineyards along the trail</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Portofino is a more “discovered” seaside resort replete with
expensive boutiques and open-air cafés set around the central piazza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we enjoyed the colorful boats in the
harbor, we all agreed that we preferred the rustic charm and relative isolation
of San Fruttuoso!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a rest and a
well-earned snack of tasty gelato, we continued walking along the coast towards
Santa Margherita, the next town east.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From there we took the train back to Nervi, arriving just in time for the
cocktail hour!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We prepared cold drinks, fresh
melon and prosciutto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were tired and
pleased with our day’s adventure – more than 10 miles hiking and visits to
three memorable villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the
fact that we traveled by train, boat and foot all on the same day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Early the next morning, we walked to the train station and traveled
in the opposite direction – west towards the Genoa Airport and our plane to
Sicily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder how different life in
Seattle would be if a similarly good network of train tracks and footpaths
crisscrossed the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe easily
accessible trains and walking paths would encourage all of us to get out of our
cars, get some exercise and visit new places?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-25292746370516063252015-05-12T17:20:00.001-07:002015-05-12T17:20:18.096-07:00An Italian Holiday -- Part 2 Firenze <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The second stop on our Italian holiday was the Renaissance
City of Florence or, in Italian, Firenze. We met up with our daughter and her boyfriend
at the train station. Italian
trains are cheap, convenient, comfortable and amazingly, on time. You could spend a lifetime exploring
this wonderful city but we had a mere three days. Over Skype, from Seattle, the four of us had coordinated an itinerary
that included visits to two of the more famous art institutes and the Boboli
gardens plus plenty of time to walk around, shop and eat. I basically love walking; from my perspective
it is both good exercise and the best way to experience the architecture, the parks, the trees, the (spring) flowers and the people in a new place. The
first afternoon, we reserved tickets for the Galleria dell’Accademia, home since 1873 to Michelangelo’s most
famous sculpture, David. Since we could
not check into our apartment until 5 pm we opted to walk to the art gallery with our luggage
(thank goodness for the invention of wheelie suitcases and backpacks) and then take a cab directly to the apartment.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Florence is a whirl of tourists and commerce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere you look a different store tempts
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than half the shops are
selling leather – pelle vera – real leather, and the other half are selling
designer clothes and hand painted ceramics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You would have to be the most restrained consumer in the world not to go
on a shopping spree in Florence and even more self-controlled not to end up buying
something made of leather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t
really matter what your budget is. There is something in every price range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eNUxgtOvxr-61fiFH8OJVT8mz8W-LE_SbYCTtUoRKpv1Pf2J8yfd7cSvTceAy0jWBKjnBP63e09HTvUMk-j-FGDt779gRzzB1WzUVpE2Hprie0s_7RnMBsNLhZsTwOlgxs2Jfipkj9z2/s1600/DSC01522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eNUxgtOvxr-61fiFH8OJVT8mz8W-LE_SbYCTtUoRKpv1Pf2J8yfd7cSvTceAy0jWBKjnBP63e09HTvUMk-j-FGDt779gRzzB1WzUVpE2Hprie0s_7RnMBsNLhZsTwOlgxs2Jfipkj9z2/s320/DSC01522.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Endless leather trinkets compete with luxury jackets, wallets, purses, you name it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked towards the
Galleria, along the narrow streets and past what seemed like hundreds of tempting
stores, we tried to keep our focus on finding lunch, promising ourselves that later in afternoon we would shop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike in Venice, where the streets are
crowded only with pedestrians, in Florence we competed with scooters and
motorcycles, cars and trucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped
at the window of a little street-side sandwich shop and ordered Panini to
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose braceola – dried beef – with
a creamy cheese and arugula. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so
hungry we just ate standing on the sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It didn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sandwiches
were delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tummies full, we walked
the last block to the museum with plenty of time to change our pre-booked
reservation for tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the
length of the un-reserved ticket lines, I was very happy we had made
reservations in advance.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>A friend had told me that her first sight of Michelangelo’s
David, at the end of the purpose-built hall, was breathtaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, at the end of the long hall stood the
magnificent David – luminous and triumphant from defeating Goliath, his
slingshot still slung over his shoulder, his nostrils flared from the exertion
of battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Galleria was built to
house David in the late nineteenth century – after air pollution in his
original outdoor home, the Piazza delle Signori, threatened to damage the
marble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now a replica stands in the
Piazza while the original glows inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David is giant, taller than I imagined, more striking than I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I circled the statue, looking at every
detail, noticing the toes of an athlete, the veins popping in his neck, the
strength of musculature beneath the taut surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You certainly don’t need me to tell you this
is a brilliant piece of work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go and see
it if you possibly can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s worth your
effort.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Later, we walked to a nearby taxi stand, and drove to our
apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We crossed the Arno River,
climbed up past the Piazza Michelangelo, and circled back down a winding
parkway to our neighborhood, close to the Boboli Gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I waited for the greeter, the rest of
my family went to buy necessities, coffee, milk, and bread, and of course,
wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They returned with all the fixings
for caprese salad as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We opened the
wine and toasted our first day in Florence. </i></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That night we walked through our quiet neighborhood to a small
family-oriented trattoria where my daughter and husband shared Bistecca
Fiorentina and artichokes. I ate an
extremely tasty Tuscan Ribollita – a bit different than the one I make but
absolutely delicious. Next time I make a
ribollita I will incorporate a couple of innovations from Florence – using less
liquid to make the dish more like a stew; integrating the kale by breaking it
into smaller pieces and using all the croutons in the bowl as opposed to as a
garnish. That said I was happy to find
that the dish I make is very similar to the authentic Tuscan fare. Just for fun, back home in the United States
on Mother’s Day, my husband made Bistecca Fiorentina with fresh rosemary from
our Seattle garden. It wasn’t exactly
the same as in Florence but it was pretty darn tasty.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk43qW8bKLFXYyTNMVce_MCz62_1P5lodXI_Klzw9RwH0HSkDjQEdHiMcNcAJhnGmmG4LMFUtiBumfK1tWPncggNJjXRqBuK0h2Ck_L56TNO660sGWvG8U9QfXTPCt8cmHlwhZJXPNjtU4/s1600/DSC01503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk43qW8bKLFXYyTNMVce_MCz62_1P5lodXI_Klzw9RwH0HSkDjQEdHiMcNcAJhnGmmG4LMFUtiBumfK1tWPncggNJjXRqBuK0h2Ck_L56TNO660sGWvG8U9QfXTPCt8cmHlwhZJXPNjtU4/s320/DSC01503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The next morning we woke up, polished off some strong
espresso and left our apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
a full schedule to accomplish – a visit to the Uffizi; a leather buying
expedition; aperitifs and a 7:30 pm dinner reservation at a highly recommended
restaurant in our neighborhood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a
tourist can be hard work!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Sunday
morning and as we walked towards the Ponte Vecchio, the Via Romana was suddenly
full of runners!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an organized
charity run for breast cancer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
threaded our way through the runners, cheering them on for their important
cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The Uffizi is well worth the price of admission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the older art galleries in the world, it
is, in the words of my guidebook, a visit with the Renaissance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Botticelli gallery alone is breathtaking,
my two favorites of course, the crowd pleasing Birth of Venus and
Primavera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The museum is full of blockbusters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another favorite was Michelangelo’s Holy
Family, shining out from its frame as if lit from behind in three
dimensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For someone who did not like
painting and thought it a second-class pursuit to the “more challenging” three
dimensionality of sculpture, Michelangelo did a pretty good job of painting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he Uffizi houses
so many extraordinary paintings and sculptures it is hard to absorb it all. After a couple of hours you feel full,
visually and intellectually stuffed. We definitely needed a break for a cappuccino in the middle of our visit! </i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Later, we left the museum and wandered the streets, now in full
consumer mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know I needed
one but in the end I bought a leather jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So did two of the three others in my party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t own a leather jacket and now I do and, best of all it is
yellow, not bright like a daffodil but gold like the color of burnished wheat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore it has zippy pockets to store
things in safely AND they gave us a family discount. Bargaining is part of the fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After finishing our
purchases it was clearly time for aperitifs…and what else but Aperol spritz,
the current, most popular Italian drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the recommendation of the waiter we ordered a selection of Tuscan
antipasto – bruschetta; patés; olives; fungi; and a small omelet with fresh
truffle cream – all delicious and rapidly consumed! Plus we still had a long walk to our dinner spot....<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71uZ0mo-gwlR80gTPeKI6kh0UfS6x_k5PmzM6MHM6SC-A9PaxKSTJLy8vH8ycLRj3HjIVoYwJXJytfwoenq_G8_eBLJq2SQ0CyIhS8Ob2TJivAGLhBsawncMoBaJAWvwvTFRE60N3keRy/s1600/DSC01546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71uZ0mo-gwlR80gTPeKI6kh0UfS6x_k5PmzM6MHM6SC-A9PaxKSTJLy8vH8ycLRj3HjIVoYwJXJytfwoenq_G8_eBLJq2SQ0CyIhS8Ob2TJivAGLhBsawncMoBaJAWvwvTFRE60N3keRy/s320/DSC01546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxQq9yoBU_O1fL5NxnIftTkB4mvXtajTvaMurVK0yXABluWZGfdU74hKi8NNJTyMJ9aX7SuNAZHGdPhmuuUdAUMDHlWraWl3MxJlFgXeokajY0xaTYApuu1u8ZuL50uv6yVjOJKf213_5/s1600/DSC01551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxQq9yoBU_O1fL5NxnIftTkB4mvXtajTvaMurVK0yXABluWZGfdU74hKi8NNJTyMJ9aX7SuNAZHGdPhmuuUdAUMDHlWraWl3MxJlFgXeokajY0xaTYApuu1u8ZuL50uv6yVjOJKf213_5/s320/DSC01551.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>On our last day, we lazed around our lovely apartment in the
morning, sitting on the pretty terrace working while our laundry dried in the bright
sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we ventured out to finish
shopping, buy our train tickets and stroll through the beautiful Boboli
gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been to the gardens
before but the tree covered pathways
and timeless statuary were as peaceful as I remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was interested to find a few modern
sculptures set in the garden with the older more traditional ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a warm sunny day and the gardens were
full of people, like us, enjoying the spring sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stopped on the way home for a final Aperol
spritz and to buy pasta and greens for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is so much to see in Florence but I was excited to get on the
train to my daughter’s home near Genoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll have to go back to Florence another time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-82534901875712172532015-05-08T15:08:00.001-07:002015-05-08T15:08:06.274-07:00An Italian Holiday -- Part 1 Venice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The month of April whipped by me like a whirlwind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for me, this first full month of
spring included a visit to my daughter in Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What better excuse is there to plan an
Italian vacation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughter and her boyfriend
– recently, following their engagement, her soon-to-be husband, are living on
the Ligurean coast just outside of Genoa for nine months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our trip consisted of visits to four
different parts of Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We loved them
all:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the common theme was, of course,
the remarkable food but each place had a unique charm that made us want to stay
much longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it about Italy that
captures your imagination and makes you want to linger and return?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is the pleasing landscapes and the
classic architecture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is the
country’s wonderful history and extraordinary art? Or perhaps it is simply the
food: the pasta, the olives, the wine and the incredible variety of fresh vegetables?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the reason, a vacation in Italy is
always captivating and all the more so when your own daughter is there and able
to speak Italian!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>First up on our trip was Venice with the maze and mystery of
its canals; next came Florence with its Renaissance masterpieces – a shoppers’
paradise; then our daughter’s home in Genoa/Nervi and the rocky Ligurean coast,
otherwise known as the Italian Riviera; last and not least was Trapani, the old
Sicilian seaport with its rugged landscape, offshore islands and ancient,
elegant ruins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is impossible to
choose a favorite among these four wonderful places. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will try to describe in my next few blogs
why we loved them and why you should make an effort to visit all of these
places if you possibly can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It is easy to be a tourist in Italy even if you don’t speak
Italian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone seems genuinely happy
to see you and delighted to share their food, their culture, and their rich history
<u>and</u> pour you a glass of local wine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Italy is the perfect place for an active older (or for that matter
younger) tourist who wants to enjoy delicious food but doesn’t want to gain
weight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A visit to Italy requires a lot
of walking and that burns off the calories!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is so much to see and in most places, walking is the only way to
see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the average day, even without
trying, we walked at least six or seven miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the one day when we decided to go for an actual hike, we walked more
than ten miles – most of it straight up and then straight down hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italy, and particularly the Ligurean coast, is
very hilly and your leg muscles get a great work out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely needed to stretch after that hike
and I definitely deserved my mid-afternoon gelato.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky we’d been spending time staying strong
in the gym back in Seattle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very good
reason to exercise regularly, as you get older, is to ensure you can manage
“walking” vacations.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK9cOPJYYYd-AgC5VOVzm3L48TeoVBVsQBODQZjVNk6VOnBT2rUDQDszO6ZbSK1QV_OsT1Vf7jD91acZCiI69jte6ucwbi3kDDHCmhwIodADG7JoJjR4ZkXKtLRB7tSkt2VsKRf-u8XD4/s1600/IMG_2383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK9cOPJYYYd-AgC5VOVzm3L48TeoVBVsQBODQZjVNk6VOnBT2rUDQDszO6ZbSK1QV_OsT1Vf7jD91acZCiI69jte6ucwbi3kDDHCmhwIodADG7JoJjR4ZkXKtLRB7tSkt2VsKRf-u8XD4/s320/IMG_2383.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><i>Our first stop, after an easy but long trans-Atlantic flight, was Venice. We flew overnight and arrived at the Venice
airport about 10:30 in the morning. My
husband and I are in the habit of renting apartments when we travel instead of
staying in hotels. Nowadays, the range
and types of apartments available for short-term rental are wonderful. We prefer the homey feel and the extra space
and amenities that apartments bring – a kitchen, a place to sit other than on a
bed and the experience of living in another culture – even if only for a short
time. We’ve also found that apartments
are often cheaper than hotels and of course, cooking at home is definitely
cheaper than eating in restaurants every night.
On the advice of friends, I chose to rent an older apartment in a
largely residential neighborhood away from the tourist bustle of San Marco
Square for our four days in the medieval town.</i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zg5ah69VO2mqOTCqi9okI51uo428CLkbOIKxYsv7hh4swRizs5iuOMZUDmkRee7zjulrI72-POFuRsKSrPtzj9FOm0Qn8sN5p2GdGO0-EmA1fBLI0w3CUSHPIHPJcMVugKhD_QEApTO4/s1600/IMG_2357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Zg5ah69VO2mqOTCqi9okI51uo428CLkbOIKxYsv7hh4swRizs5iuOMZUDmkRee7zjulrI72-POFuRsKSrPtzj9FOm0Qn8sN5p2GdGO0-EmA1fBLI0w3CUSHPIHPJcMVugKhD_QEApTO4/s320/IMG_2357.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The apartment was in a charming, but quiet part of the old town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We found it easily by taking a boat taxi
directly from the airport and pulling our wheelie suitcases over cobble stoned
streets the few blocks distance to the apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short nap – it’s a long way from
Seattle to Italy – we ventured out for lunch, a little sight seeing and food shopping.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunch was the easy part of our first
outing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Venice is jammed with restaurants
– osterias, trattorias, sidewalk cafés, every kind of eatery you can imagine
except perhaps the fast food kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
Subways or McD’s to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we
found small, family-run restaurants, one after another, lining the neighborhood
canals with pretty wooden tables and umbrellas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Venice doesn’t have any cars or trucks at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the town is a network of canals filled
with boats of every size and variety – playing the roles that cars, trucks and
buses usually play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know exactly
what I was expecting since of course I’d read about Venice’s canals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d seen pictures of gondolas and large
passenger ferries but I guess none of that really sunk in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just did not expect that Venice wouldn’t
have any streets or motorized wheeled vehicles at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also did not realize how peaceful it is to
have no cars or trucks or buses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the
extent that there are streets they are narrow and exclusively for pedestrians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even bicycles aren’t allowed and that makes a
lot of sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were on a bicycle
you’d be getting off every few feet to climb up steps and over a bridge across
a canal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every neighborhood in Venice is
connected to the others by arched bridges that cross the seemingly endless maze
of canals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The whole landscape is ridiculously picturesque and simply
beckons you to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t
necessary to have something specific in mind for a Venetian holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is enough to be there and to wander; to
simply enjoy being in Venice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just being
present is compelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
sitting in the living room of our rented apartment, I just wanted to look out
of the big windows all day long, admiring the occasional gondola and the back
and forth rhythm of boats moving on the canal below me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Across from me, on the other side of the
canal, I admired a stately fifteenth or sixteenth century building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forest green shutters set off its tall windows;
the roof was made of terra cotta tiles and the walls were rich yellow ochre
stucco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so pleasing to my eye and
looked much as it must have during the Renaissance – sturdy and majestic at the
same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Venice is full of tourists but pleasantly so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is there to explore and enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband likened it to an adult Disneyland
and there are some aspects that are reminiscent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, everyone is there to enjoy him-
or herself; every corner brings a new and interesting building or a lovely view
and something new to explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps
one of our favorites was all the different kinds of boats – private boats
carrying one or two kids home from school; taxi boats carrying families or
friends out and about; gondolas full of tourists moving languidly down the
canals or large boat buses carrying folks to work or play; commercial boats transporting
goods and equipment; working boats full of tools en route to fix buildings or
repair plumbing; delivery boats; and everywhere, bridges, churches, small
alleys lined with pretty colored stucco or brick buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one afternoon, we ventured out into the
lagoon on a larger boat, i.e., a Venetian “bus” to visit three different nearby
islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The suburbs of Venice are
adjacent islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first island we
visited is the most famous, Murano, where the wonderful Venetian glass blowers
set up their factories in the thirteenth century to avoid fire dangers in the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Murano is still full of glass
factories and the prices range from pennies for a small souvenir to tens of
thousands for one of a kind works of glass art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second island was largely rural and undeveloped – although its
history is older than that of Venice itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its claim to fame is a beautiful cathedral built in the seventh century
and the adjacent 11<sup>th</sup> century church that honors Santa Fosca – a
fifteen-year-old girl from Libya who converted to Christianity but turned
herself into her irate father only to be tortured to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems religious intolerance is not
confined to the 21<sup>st</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The final island we visited, Burano, was my favorite only because its
multi-hued houses were so striking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
story goes that the Burano fishermen each painted his house a different color
so that he could find it when returning from long fishing voyages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the origin, the houses are a rainbow
of colors and delightfully bright.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsAyYdb_-lH5ItiTTJ9oB-nIHsbOE9LXL7xSv7kO5jwjba6EAadK9w1R4N5UlLA-hdmp7oz_0NeA6xqxVV_U_W0WCjNOXkIz8U96dyMkkx1Uj7oGMRrk4yMz71jt55v5ZqDh3pP9dOaWz/s1600/IMG_2363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsAyYdb_-lH5ItiTTJ9oB-nIHsbOE9LXL7xSv7kO5jwjba6EAadK9w1R4N5UlLA-hdmp7oz_0NeA6xqxVV_U_W0WCjNOXkIz8U96dyMkkx1Uj7oGMRrk4yMz71jt55v5ZqDh3pP9dOaWz/s320/IMG_2363.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Perhaps our favorite experience in Venice was not visiting
historically important cathedrals or museums but simply the experience of wandering
around the neighborhoods, seeing the sights and getting lost!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent much
of every day doing just this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow we
found our way to a remote Venetian mask store, to the open-air fish market at
Rialto, to a tasty restaurant in a distant neighborhood that was recommended to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked through peaceful squares, the
so-called campos and past impressive buildings with wrought iron balconies
overflowing with flowers, we wandered down tiny little alleys that dead ended at
the edge of narrow canals; we admired medieval statues and small fountains, we climbed
up and over countless bridges, and ventured into little bars, cafés and explored
beautiful cathedrals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kissed in the
moonlight standing on the bridge over our canal and held hands so we didn’t
lose each other in the crowds of tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In our four days, we felt as if we had just touched the surface of
Venice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to go back again.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkPiylCGI52_zuId89EBz0_a0XDgkQ9IpzDOrer_En9_vMTzgEO26B_UR-zrVScDMMIVjnwPOn-a3esryNz4H-ZcieGxU_958bj2riYoLzuwGO4OoZyiQxg46ut8auMV0_Zip7CWvvl1E/s1600/DSC01433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkPiylCGI52_zuId89EBz0_a0XDgkQ9IpzDOrer_En9_vMTzgEO26B_UR-zrVScDMMIVjnwPOn-a3esryNz4H-ZcieGxU_958bj2riYoLzuwGO4OoZyiQxg46ut8auMV0_Zip7CWvvl1E/s400/DSC01433.JPG" width="400" /></a></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><o:p></o:p>Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347940191905887695.post-50686605105185012022015-04-01T15:17:00.003-07:002015-04-01T15:17:27.209-07:00National Poetry Month!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Today, April 1
is the first day of National Poetry Month.
In honor of this important month I am posting a poem I wrote a couple of
weeks ago. I will try to post more poems
during April – no fooling! I encourage everyone
to look up the National Poetry Month website at</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home">http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Join the
celebration – write a poem; read a poem; take a poetry workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poetry is fun; it is free and wonderful – it
will inspire you and give you new ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Poetry might help you understand a personal dilemma or work through a
difficult or sad situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poetry has
done this for me and for many others throughout history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am certainly not a brilliant poet but
writing and reading poetry is always satisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, I went to a free poetry writing
workshop given by the Washington State poet laureate, Elizabeth Austen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was held at the public library in Poulsbo
Washington and attended by about twenty folks from around Puget Sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Austen is giving these workshops in every
county in the state of Washington this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of her pledge as the state’s poet laureate is to make poetry
accessible to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this end, in
addition to the free workshops, she is posting Poetry Prompts everyday during
April at her website<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://wapoetlaureate.org/">http://wapoetlaureate.org</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Look this site
up too and write a poem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My mother was
in the habit of reading a poem every morning before she got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her ‘Poem of the Day’ book was always at the
ready on her bedside table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a wonderful
way to start the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only takes a
couple of minutes to read a poem but it can be the best minutes of the
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>My poem today
is about retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In two months I
will have been retired for two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel as if I’m just
getting started on a whole new life.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Retirement<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Retirement means making my own granola.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've left behind<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The glamour and the drama <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of the working life,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like so much baggage <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Abandoned on the bench<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At a long forgotten train station <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For anyone to take or mistake<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For what they lost or found?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't miss it nowadays <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm finding out <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everything is new.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I want to give you my
granola recipe too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It is very easy to make even if you are not retired! I </span>modified it from a
recipe that was originally published in the New York Times and given to me by
my friend Linda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I eat this
granola almost every morning for breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We add plain yogurt, a little milk and some sort of fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is delicious and healthy whether you are
retired or rushing off to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwro7W95DNNzqsI92zC8qOWxvNA75s5abDaAZd0bX6EytXoBlW87A983qeXp0w2p1vW1Pe0W8sdOJj0Yjf4TSEDQFWEEk9LYeHlZDRaCL9iYHGDRdqR3959UJC5PB6lr_Zf3T7B0YK1Bb/s1600/IMG_2288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwro7W95DNNzqsI92zC8qOWxvNA75s5abDaAZd0bX6EytXoBlW87A983qeXp0w2p1vW1Pe0W8sdOJj0Yjf4TSEDQFWEEk9LYeHlZDRaCL9iYHGDRdqR3959UJC5PB6lr_Zf3T7B0YK1Bb/s1600/IMG_2288.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Almost time to make more granola!</i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.1pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Joanna’s
Modified Olive Oil Granola With Pistachios<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>6 cups
old-fashioned rolled oats<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 1/2
cups raw pistachios, hulled - sometimes I can't find raw ones so I use roasted salted nuts and reduce the added salt<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, hulled<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1 cup
coconut chips - baked and unsweetened<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1/2 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cup pure maple syrup<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1/2 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cup extra virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1
teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1/2
teaspoon ground cardamom<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, combine oats, pistachios, pumpkin
seeds, coconut chips, maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and cardamom. Spread
mixture on two rimmed baking sheets in an even layer and bake for 45 minutes,
stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown and well toasted.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2. Let
cool to room temperature and transfer granola to a large airtight jar. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Serve with fresh plain yogurt; Fresh fruit –
berries, sliced apples, oranges – all are nice; and milk.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Based on
a recipe courtesy of Melissa Clark as per<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html"><span style="color: #000053; font-size: 10pt;">Copyright 2009</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.nytco.com/"><span style="color: #000053; font-size: 10pt;">The New York Times Company</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I don’t know
if you’ll be able to write better poetry if you make and eat this granola but I
know you’ll enjoy it and feel healthy and happy when you are gobbling it up. Maybe you can write a quick poem while you eat breakfast tomorrow. After all that might be more enjoyable than reading or watching the news. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Mango Coffee and Mehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03435145715743053893noreply@blogger.com1