tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167910332024-03-14T15:51:32.282+01:00Where in the World is Dani?Hey there all...here is my blog...started when i was traveling around the world after living in Antarctica...the adventure continues...next stop - Paris, France!!! Where i will be teaching 7th grade science...thanks for tuning in :) "talk" soon!
peace out....danidanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-23951176750852746952024-03-14T13:10:00.003+01:002024-03-14T13:10:20.378+01:00Paris Update #3 - Feb Trip to Morocco<p> March 14, 2024</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Hi all - Happy Pi Day!!!!! from a rainy and wet Paris, but spring is coming 🌇....i have to say, i had no idea how wet the wether was here in the winter....everyone has been saying to me that this is a very wet winter....more so than usual....ugh...but i did escape the weather for a week in february and hit my 91st country - Morocco.....this update will focus on that trip, because me and my friend laurie visited many different parts of Morocco....and for the most part, the weather was lovely....</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">a quick update about paris though....lots of folks have swung by or are coming through....which is so much fun for me to see everyone...again, it is amazing to live in a place so many folks want to visit....and because of this, the added bonus for me is a meal and drinks with people as they see the sites and have a trip of a lifetime....the spring is starting here and the rain is lessening....so i am excited for what this season will be like...since my last update i have been traveling a bit.....i was in london for a middle school conference, and had a bunch of reunions for that visit....and because it was such an easy trip i have included some more european travel this spring....i am off to helsinki, amsterdam, estonia, latvia and lithuanian, normandy, two visits to friends who live in france and another trip to london.....i am living my best life ⭐ it is sooooooo great being back in europe, where travel is so easy....love the trains!!!! so let me know if you are headed this way and me and eiffel tower will say hi😎</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Laurie and i visited Morocco a</span><span style="color: #134f5c;">nd saw my friends peter and jenny in casablanca....no, we did not make it to the famous bar....didn't really have the time....we also connected with friends of mine in Tangier and Fes....so it was a cool trip of old friends and new friends, as well as making new friends along the way....we were in casablanca, tangier, chefchaouen (the blue coity), asilah, and fes.....it was filled with tasty food, train rides, haggling for taxis, medinas, call to prayer, a hammam, cool sites and tons of cats....the cats were everywhere, but they were the well kept street cats....fed by many....so on with the pictures from morocco.....sorry that they are backwards from the way we traveled, but this way you will end back in paris with a shot from my bus stop in the morning😎</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbumtr1v9VqlG4bvTdKwThOQNrCAjQ6Pdmg4E3HUissksN2A2NeYIdSF6BuLQtkT_hQ0W_S2PdkdZcsefHZtYvQ6o-7Twvn8wi2hseAj6YRkreTUVBulZNCwvGn6611Y0HrfQ7gpvUhhXCMvcmZAFMPDSWE5WyhnKhEMIZNP1j8_KEcDzi24nzqQ/s4032/IMG_2925.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbumtr1v9VqlG4bvTdKwThOQNrCAjQ6Pdmg4E3HUissksN2A2NeYIdSF6BuLQtkT_hQ0W_S2PdkdZcsefHZtYvQ6o-7Twvn8wi2hseAj6YRkreTUVBulZNCwvGn6611Y0HrfQ7gpvUhhXCMvcmZAFMPDSWE5WyhnKhEMIZNP1j8_KEcDzi24nzqQ/s320/IMG_2925.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><span><div style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">The food in morocco was quite tasty and we got into the fun habit of having lots of appetizers, that way we could try more different flavors....this particular rooftop restaurant in fes had an amazing cauliflower dish and really tasty zucchini croquettes...plus the view of the sunset was pretty spectacular....you'll see it below😉</span></span><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO81bA9_TdYAf_VzFNHi9qd8Cg6S3ZrCjDBLOKMz0fa_RNdCGSDPRzauEcPdtRi90wTNp4g_9gIDh_B0nupsezEWdFIo2N1-cMDK8DoHa0OaFHQ7BmM3NDCvF1sP9PqjILZioYGaho_w1ZNEaIaz-jt6tXMY0U5dN3CyzNe15HKM9YmAdXuCQnKQ/s4032/IMG_3006.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO81bA9_TdYAf_VzFNHi9qd8Cg6S3ZrCjDBLOKMz0fa_RNdCGSDPRzauEcPdtRi90wTNp4g_9gIDh_B0nupsezEWdFIo2N1-cMDK8DoHa0OaFHQ7BmM3NDCvF1sP9PqjILZioYGaho_w1ZNEaIaz-jt6tXMY0U5dN3CyzNe15HKM9YmAdXuCQnKQ/s320/IMG_3006.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: white;">this shot is some graffiti from casablanca....we jumped the tram to a cooperative to pick up some souvenirs and food things and i snapped this just before we got on....the tram was easy and really clean....we had our tickets checked by ticket monitors and it was quite impressive...all above ground....you can tell morocco is getting ready to host world cup in 2030...we saw it everywhere....</span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_33Th588afZmMSJWL4kHOCQkrzQNe1ARPTxQueXTNPa8n9H0m40O0S2B6mfBfui8mX56FyksO2SAk0E9gN-D-qyHdDdd6KbFpLgGOiPBQr-D86Y0DjJU2cWiIoCe8my0hMWfPCFxZACnRRZEY5sDZjNz-3TZ_va2yFsKodhMAu8Ryom4uch0v1Q/s3088/IMG_2987.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_33Th588afZmMSJWL4kHOCQkrzQNe1ARPTxQueXTNPa8n9H0m40O0S2B6mfBfui8mX56FyksO2SAk0E9gN-D-qyHdDdd6KbFpLgGOiPBQr-D86Y0DjJU2cWiIoCe8my0hMWfPCFxZACnRRZEY5sDZjNz-3TZ_va2yFsKodhMAu8Ryom4uch0v1Q/s320/IMG_2987.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is a shot of our cooking crew in fes....we went shopping for ingredients, where some vendors had us decide who served the best mint tea....it was hilarious and then we made a smoked eggplant dish, a soup, some veggie couscous and a dessert....a very tasty, rainy afternoon....with some very cool women🍆</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANv2fW33QSsJBLqq0aBr9rUMR3XwYgtm_k6jmiUitFjpB-yfPYUhSn2KwCBsNZuOmkqN8BtNAqIgAzEIjDd9tTJnByo9eIppOYFN7oVuWs1vOItnMlgBaavxgMhUvNqS1P080Vi3kdDCikQQ9pfIiIU_1hiHVJsy-ZDz_RrEJuH3JUE6Ur23CZQ/s4032/IMG_2964.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANv2fW33QSsJBLqq0aBr9rUMR3XwYgtm_k6jmiUitFjpB-yfPYUhSn2KwCBsNZuOmkqN8BtNAqIgAzEIjDd9tTJnByo9eIppOYFN7oVuWs1vOItnMlgBaavxgMhUvNqS1P080Vi3kdDCikQQ9pfIiIU_1hiHVJsy-ZDz_RrEJuH3JUE6Ur23CZQ/s320/IMG_2964.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">we had a five hour tour of the medina in fes...during which our guide told us there are over 9000 alleyways and 40000 dead ends....this medina is from the 1200's and is still very much a working medina....when they are yelling for you to get out of the way, you better move....the shot above is of the original water clock of the medina...from the 14th century...metal balls were released from the windows into brass bowls, which would hit the bowls and make a sound to mark the hour....the balls and bowls are no longer there and the clock does not work....but how amazing that they could tell time this way....love the history and science🕐💡⏳</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19bItnr0HsNFxuyO76I7j1W0PonuoiQCYVXWXW1qlKRxMdhhDnvKrL0PI-4ZJv10uFbCtQ1yynQnXMx4VL9pnG2YyThSGTAtgQmulupLANaf0PEB4H3FL3lFdAZZPMZ70pUMoGUB_idEWV3NnhtpK1kQB2HOznW1P2KYzY4ojNMBp27QsyfWGPw/s4032/IMG_2953.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19bItnr0HsNFxuyO76I7j1W0PonuoiQCYVXWXW1qlKRxMdhhDnvKrL0PI-4ZJv10uFbCtQ1yynQnXMx4VL9pnG2YyThSGTAtgQmulupLANaf0PEB4H3FL3lFdAZZPMZ70pUMoGUB_idEWV3NnhtpK1kQB2HOznW1P2KYzY4ojNMBp27QsyfWGPw/s320/IMG_2953.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">the different bread products we had in morocco were quite tasty....i was not a huge fan of their croissants, compared to paris, but the flat breads and phyllo dough things were incredible....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZHJJ3ainnfHS0ymnGLqakxTpKqWOocuDsCVuKljCvRms_1qqThz69J26zNeGMfwLVIO3fxZ13D-WY9mM0MIuRkMQ0k_WzY_QqNucmPxgQgIIt_ODl5mDUDK_SSYZMcDNEapmvEwNU3yTnK39o5qmsW-77eq31TK7qBg-6VFlw-tB-HiaAtPolA/s4032/IMG_2935.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZHJJ3ainnfHS0ymnGLqakxTpKqWOocuDsCVuKljCvRms_1qqThz69J26zNeGMfwLVIO3fxZ13D-WY9mM0MIuRkMQ0k_WzY_QqNucmPxgQgIIt_ODl5mDUDK_SSYZMcDNEapmvEwNU3yTnK39o5qmsW-77eq31TK7qBg-6VFlw-tB-HiaAtPolA/s320/IMG_2935.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">ramadan was less than a month away when we were visiting, so people were starting to stock up on all of the treats they have before it starts and when it ends, as well as during the meals they eat before sunrise and after sunset....these were some of the treats that we saw everywhere....yes, we had some as well...yum!!!!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANPze4_HQ3FY-E5WvXK93QyuGgIzJUD3KlNZ4fP_dxtjKsQg90ucML7cjw27ZN2NhsRpizluAom_VnfXmgovMO4TN8Bi3-BeGLk5ghgV8ExoryDD8aWb0CGXGuL9V1TXmegiJz87zG_Eunn6UWRnqlbrefBZ38ABIMxD99kfF72Hlih8xsBepTw/s4032/IMG_2928.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANPze4_HQ3FY-E5WvXK93QyuGgIzJUD3KlNZ4fP_dxtjKsQg90ucML7cjw27ZN2NhsRpizluAom_VnfXmgovMO4TN8Bi3-BeGLk5ghgV8ExoryDD8aWb0CGXGuL9V1TXmegiJz87zG_Eunn6UWRnqlbrefBZ38ABIMxD99kfF72Hlih8xsBepTw/s320/IMG_2928.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is that sunset i mentioned earlier....it looked like the sky was on fire....the tall building in the middle is one of the 300 mosques found in fes....fes is considered to be the spiritual capital of morocco....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNW4-5n6JXO6Hjf93sSD5DldR15Pm0BpMdnwuAh5XgZfWN9Q6XYltsMyN6rZHEZAU8NwBgeAsiyN4PjLTJMdqkRTFPGv6fU6q2VGYqz89X7FW7G3iilLXatU4xoxoo7upOlKfiX3f7tZ5gn-T33WbQozmmwKrVwuCbU3LFP3ERnp8E8S2GsTLhg/s4032/IMG_2919.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNW4-5n6JXO6Hjf93sSD5DldR15Pm0BpMdnwuAh5XgZfWN9Q6XYltsMyN6rZHEZAU8NwBgeAsiyN4PjLTJMdqkRTFPGv6fU6q2VGYqz89X7FW7G3iilLXatU4xoxoo7upOlKfiX3f7tZ5gn-T33WbQozmmwKrVwuCbU3LFP3ERnp8E8S2GsTLhg/s320/IMG_2919.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">fes was and still is a huge stop on the trading routes through morocco...it is no longer done by caravan for the most part, but camels are still found in morocco, especially as you get closer and closer to the sahara desert....camel meat is also a delicacy in morocco...this camel head was for sale the morning we went shopping for our ingredients for our cooking class....anyone????</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrmDAkCDtzGL49Wnr7fzHoq6Sm32LyPqyuhh-IvE29IQNqGPpphCrmQArIKI6iouH1QZpDzLZj0xYOzECTg6h2YBUYW7HW6V-XiXOC-g8DyS-P4C6PQKXwIg36ft_xpynMmWRkpgV0ZPNGcipXletLF-kztCyV_snF-04CYWFc8CTyV10zpgMYQ/s4032/IMG_2918.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrmDAkCDtzGL49Wnr7fzHoq6Sm32LyPqyuhh-IvE29IQNqGPpphCrmQArIKI6iouH1QZpDzLZj0xYOzECTg6h2YBUYW7HW6V-XiXOC-g8DyS-P4C6PQKXwIg36ft_xpynMmWRkpgV0ZPNGcipXletLF-kztCyV_snF-04CYWFc8CTyV10zpgMYQ/s320/IMG_2918.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">i loved these things....they looked like something a tailor would be using, but it is actually the way they make phyllo dough....so the white stuff on the top of the mannequin head like thing, is actually very thinly rolled phyllo dough, that they kind of throw around like a hand tossed pizza....it was just cool to watch..</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCQ2Rwrr-ONFoXNgVtNYVSZIICRq-MXaNC12sffTmiDMy7zRK5mbktKJdKiNvjvrP0HR0_tZRkZ2qU0W4tI_7CfCbLrPZDaigLg161S1TnCM3x7rW9tIS6RQwEIyGv_yiI5IkgR_WlJlOkGVngAPy4Jsky7BKvT9xTngcW7tI4R1uK8VUqwCtqQ/s4032/IMG_2894.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCQ2Rwrr-ONFoXNgVtNYVSZIICRq-MXaNC12sffTmiDMy7zRK5mbktKJdKiNvjvrP0HR0_tZRkZ2qU0W4tI_7CfCbLrPZDaigLg161S1TnCM3x7rW9tIS6RQwEIyGv_yiI5IkgR_WlJlOkGVngAPy4Jsky7BKvT9xTngcW7tI4R1uK8VUqwCtqQ/s320/IMG_2894.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">this shot is of the choaura tannery in the middle of the fes medina....it is the oldest and the largest of the three tanneries found in this medina...it was incredible to watch...men work in the tannery in the morning hours, because it is such hard work, and they stop around noon due to exhaustion and many months of the year it being too hot....this tannery is over 1000 years old....wow!</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1qhLge9BZ58U0CYOGdHXHPtsOIk6JGf3P4PzQWfoG_5N03neIA5SnhW2NYc7VrMyZnGRu81_Ao_SEiyq7zGhR3Rcps48732LZ3Hta1Q_XmPwUqC1taICxfbp6UNSk2BAbq1Y544PfLNkw3ZAXKfnii0-sWsZ4sXPw4qRnpi0r99GSkIXwW1jeA/s4032/IMG_2881.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1qhLge9BZ58U0CYOGdHXHPtsOIk6JGf3P4PzQWfoG_5N03neIA5SnhW2NYc7VrMyZnGRu81_Ao_SEiyq7zGhR3Rcps48732LZ3Hta1Q_XmPwUqC1taICxfbp6UNSk2BAbq1Y544PfLNkw3ZAXKfnii0-sWsZ4sXPw4qRnpi0r99GSkIXwW1jeA/s320/IMG_2881.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">i loved all of the little stalls as you walked around the medina...and i have to say there did not seem to be that big of a hassle here, compared to the big medinas in cairo and istanbul....many people said nothing to the tourists wandering around....this particular shop caught my eye....it is ALL cassette tapes...how crazy is that....i just wondered how many of these they are still selling....i don't own anything that would play cassettes anymore😜</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg1MVGzXhldLyAsnAZxTwVbKeUfXRj577sREEOso3LWjgv45QHxcnRzQiGBRVp68TGvu6snlpcUqCrtOvfMtQJJtA9s05J3sq9LdnzMK3g1xUw8PHym0lqtpKSfxqRnPoK1r3CRrWt66VTzy2oKLIidJLKjcWEwKFfQJb97r8QzsHeQSqcmHh5w/s4032/IMG_2871.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg1MVGzXhldLyAsnAZxTwVbKeUfXRj577sREEOso3LWjgv45QHxcnRzQiGBRVp68TGvu6snlpcUqCrtOvfMtQJJtA9s05J3sq9LdnzMK3g1xUw8PHym0lqtpKSfxqRnPoK1r3CRrWt66VTzy2oKLIidJLKjcWEwKFfQJb97r8QzsHeQSqcmHh5w/s320/IMG_2871.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">it was also cool to see how they got products in and out of the many alleyways in the medina, no cars are allowed...although in some places they can have scooters....we kept seeing these donkeys carrying the gas tanks to the cooking stalls all around the medina....donkeys....carrying compressed gas....just wild...🫏</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgP0cpa7XD0r9X60YLRbjH1AoX0FoksL0k9D8FEUd8OdoKLfxSxxwpdvPXm0cJscilzldFq2_eVabwYXtvrNNREqIQFDkuTGs2EbD7HN2lFbZItb2Y0SICmXxKmeJbRYrQ_I2ITd86GQF-3n7ri5ghMX9ONDxvyt5u5mPmosBrcMi4iimHfcENA/s4032/IMG_2864.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgP0cpa7XD0r9X60YLRbjH1AoX0FoksL0k9D8FEUd8OdoKLfxSxxwpdvPXm0cJscilzldFq2_eVabwYXtvrNNREqIQFDkuTGs2EbD7HN2lFbZItb2Y0SICmXxKmeJbRYrQ_I2ITd86GQF-3n7ri5ghMX9ONDxvyt5u5mPmosBrcMi4iimHfcENA/s320/IMG_2864.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">This is a shot from the courtyard of one of the madrasas in fes....it is called the al-attarine madrasa....it was the school of the perfumers....and was built in 1323...and is now a tourist destination to see the arabic calligraphy, mosaic tile work and pillars made of marble....it is still used during religious events, but is no longer used as a school....it was stunning....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZH99DtcO1Y8bplILsZu469pXiVdAODqBM4vJLpg29Wlap5bj_Ipn9c53WKiEDOywP3q205VzLiIPcBlYpA4i9DvqLcxhUgroXGAPUpJFzw6xakbzMAmQHEan4hEfqvWSYKrv808oIWzx4rxkzfgy2uQI0mudanIoAt2CBQ3afOnircEA4EFG_Q/s4032/IMG_2857.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZH99DtcO1Y8bplILsZu469pXiVdAODqBM4vJLpg29Wlap5bj_Ipn9c53WKiEDOywP3q205VzLiIPcBlYpA4i9DvqLcxhUgroXGAPUpJFzw6xakbzMAmQHEan4hEfqvWSYKrv808oIWzx4rxkzfgy2uQI0mudanIoAt2CBQ3afOnircEA4EFG_Q/s320/IMG_2857.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is the blue gate of fes...known as Bab Bou Jeloud...this is considered to be the entrance to the old city...and we stayed a few streets away....it was re-built like this by french colonialists in 1913....most people in fes spoke arabic and french...although now moroccans are learning english in schools...so lots of younger folks spoke english....we also heard some spanish up north by spain, and some berber...which is the language spoken by the berber tribes of the desert.....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkHeFVYHEZd6xwJ6RaPIVlq8zRZnq4XMjpFiRwHjJExT_Ga92On5O6VK1orFMZ-0_kIaWTYH0mRjVb5FP9mFh9ACYVjA1d9ZE5LmP4H1CfdzcZUmA4gesLpm3hpyRP_6j6fnlQN0vJli-onqFNSDl0f6e2ajbeOn9MCPljv-ut-uxkWQD8b-Z-Q/s4032/IMG_2846.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkHeFVYHEZd6xwJ6RaPIVlq8zRZnq4XMjpFiRwHjJExT_Ga92On5O6VK1orFMZ-0_kIaWTYH0mRjVb5FP9mFh9ACYVjA1d9ZE5LmP4H1CfdzcZUmA4gesLpm3hpyRP_6j6fnlQN0vJli-onqFNSDl0f6e2ajbeOn9MCPljv-ut-uxkWQD8b-Z-Q/s320/IMG_2846.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">we stayed in riads in both tangier and in fes....riads are traditional moroccan houses or palaces...which orginally had an indoor courtyrd and a garden...i am so glad we stayed in these, as they showed off the true flavor of morocco architecture...this is the entrance-way to the breakfast area in the fes riad....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXRyNWnLmPSbF6cNPpdwFBnZmuBysCGxitSeiux9Vlvkyg3i3mny9MopIcyJnnEbcATNMXx_oM-esqVF85zTIr42e7tdRqIzgkU8RNtaDxoYoltaqcLnExoMbTQeyBGGXONJBYuaVlDmYKF2Uetw-do3xkqeims8EMC7vuUfO6Z99KrqV4F3HAw/s4032/IMG_2836.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXRyNWnLmPSbF6cNPpdwFBnZmuBysCGxitSeiux9Vlvkyg3i3mny9MopIcyJnnEbcATNMXx_oM-esqVF85zTIr42e7tdRqIzgkU8RNtaDxoYoltaqcLnExoMbTQeyBGGXONJBYuaVlDmYKF2Uetw-do3xkqeims8EMC7vuUfO6Z99KrqV4F3HAw/s320/IMG_2836.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">this shot was taken the first night we were in fes...it was a beautiful sunset and we watched the boy on the roof near us make a school project from cardboard, plus we were right next door to a mosque for the call to prayer....i really enjoyed this part of morocco....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XcUtqo3rgkbsmXcQ3HLAOIYBrALZRPA8DpGNTFoPwMkfvryn48Saad7bMk5Q2lA6Puiy0uSVHZQZAl5a9GjP5g5HIXXGSvMstxI4daHVZNIrVo-4nJwTQ2WMD7BT46Qa9e0de_MxrOc1tmFgGQuoOfmIL1yUQdh5V0TAvpqdOUfnrkBTrix6WA/s4032/IMG_2831.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XcUtqo3rgkbsmXcQ3HLAOIYBrALZRPA8DpGNTFoPwMkfvryn48Saad7bMk5Q2lA6Puiy0uSVHZQZAl5a9GjP5g5HIXXGSvMstxI4daHVZNIrVo-4nJwTQ2WMD7BT46Qa9e0de_MxrOc1tmFgGQuoOfmIL1yUQdh5V0TAvpqdOUfnrkBTrix6WA/s320/IMG_2831.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">EVERYWHERE we went in morocco there were street cats...i love this shot of laurie and the one sitting above her like a lion in a tree...many of them were well fed and did not look like street cats...the moroccans seem to feed them and keep them around....</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNN93PRTzcgk4DnwBH_5T1WV3JolO14I9kyYAJciFG-wKZuAPCu2uGkyFXbLTFRVeUPiXZyoLkBEsf7DN_Y-lJogw4eEnh7knGfzZAmQJsb3RVfZ83zCMjaHF-SnXridAn0Oc9jEvZZ9AkyNRxhhlmbqE4CtRKPcgZqvuaGYBDTKtMI6TdSucPA/s4032/IMG_2811.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNN93PRTzcgk4DnwBH_5T1WV3JolO14I9kyYAJciFG-wKZuAPCu2uGkyFXbLTFRVeUPiXZyoLkBEsf7DN_Y-lJogw4eEnh7knGfzZAmQJsb3RVfZ83zCMjaHF-SnXridAn0Oc9jEvZZ9AkyNRxhhlmbqE4CtRKPcgZqvuaGYBDTKtMI6TdSucPA/s320/IMG_2811.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">another town we visited was asilah...this is sleepy little beach town on the atlantic ocean....it was filled with murals and had lots of little alleyways we could wander through in the kasbah (walled part of the town)...the buildings were mostly painted white....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1tZ5_e248WrFc7hQKRZ2louHQ2Ue1qBwlzoHeuHWdoqvOQr2mDTOw6Ae1yEGQ3ED3mrlGUMLnLLRohi0moaBAdQVPaaHXYa7sv40a6eUC6llr81iW2sYmo1fsMJYsuwz2EHHdqD_8ZVtml-of1EYQoDGg3iyiI-2gzFiCgDkRvzZVWAutCdqVw/s3218/IMG_2790.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3218" data-original-width="3021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1tZ5_e248WrFc7hQKRZ2louHQ2Ue1qBwlzoHeuHWdoqvOQr2mDTOw6Ae1yEGQ3ED3mrlGUMLnLLRohi0moaBAdQVPaaHXYa7sv40a6eUC6llr81iW2sYmo1fsMJYsuwz2EHHdqD_8ZVtml-of1EYQoDGg3iyiI-2gzFiCgDkRvzZVWAutCdqVw/s320/IMG_2790.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">i loved this mosaic of glass pieces around this door of asilah....loved many of the doors located in morocco as well....the shapes and the colors were amazing....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96wiWu9-aJj0kCkSJF1FM6zvO2YAuuKbAJ6Dk-gyhxTK8IpGENEXAb4xSmCvh-AjnJxlPA6OpMIhvEBFdPOrxga4zrmmgsAdday2q8G5xPYNwS_SVd49YjCKAhryNo7Vsyd63LvNxTYv7kXTwwPh9rrYu2EveYoQWK0bzNn674k7odpluDe9og/s4026/IMG_2750.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4026" data-original-width="2482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg96wiWu9-aJj0kCkSJF1FM6zvO2YAuuKbAJ6Dk-gyhxTK8IpGENEXAb4xSmCvh-AjnJxlPA6OpMIhvEBFdPOrxga4zrmmgsAdday2q8G5xPYNwS_SVd49YjCKAhryNo7Vsyd63LvNxTYv7kXTwwPh9rrYu2EveYoQWK0bzNn674k7odpluDe9og/s320/IMG_2750.HEIC" width="197" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">this was one of my favorite doorways in chefchaouen, also known as the blue city...this place was mind-blowing....blue was painted everywhere...as you can really see in the image below....but this particular doorway was lovely.....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrcBh4LpAVuTjPFA7GEAkfm6V-X8hkCRJTcDOIwyojMQwnr-LEMcCXVsljZ8LeWAafnfdAh-R12Yph1zscXyO_7NJN1cjex-FHCWylwpi1x3yMjp78UMphNTeZgfqood1b8zmMOv4afINkzMj5INfwmTJm8JQziTFNpvJJv586-3VVElnbqjjBw/s4032/IMG_2738.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrcBh4LpAVuTjPFA7GEAkfm6V-X8hkCRJTcDOIwyojMQwnr-LEMcCXVsljZ8LeWAafnfdAh-R12Yph1zscXyO_7NJN1cjex-FHCWylwpi1x3yMjp78UMphNTeZgfqood1b8zmMOv4afINkzMj5INfwmTJm8JQziTFNpvJJv586-3VVElnbqjjBw/s320/IMG_2738.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">why is chefchaouen known as the blue city??? well, there seem to be two main reasons....the first is supposedly because jewish refugees, who escaped to here during the time of hitler in 1930, painted the city blue to represent the sky and heaven....the second reason is much more practical...blue deters mosquitos and flies because they think that the blue paint is really water and that they will drown....both interesting reasons that have created a simply amazing place to visit...</span></span></div><div><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHmAsn7X1g7nIceGeZFJKnhY3jjBYnCelfB6qzYaTkcuCX8OVyAAzaQIUYwhXtYj8OzstI5FMGWs7Fpnro4xPuZ35Diwx3zKXfI7TKKKwSNsvYLiA6JUTLCtnIXOluD0uMoQvFNOYJSPX8gpfCeQdPeYLUtxVzRa9Tyxkc3JtUqWYj0AB8Ujlqw/s1045/IMG_2728.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="905" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHmAsn7X1g7nIceGeZFJKnhY3jjBYnCelfB6qzYaTkcuCX8OVyAAzaQIUYwhXtYj8OzstI5FMGWs7Fpnro4xPuZ35Diwx3zKXfI7TKKKwSNsvYLiA6JUTLCtnIXOluD0uMoQvFNOYJSPX8gpfCeQdPeYLUtxVzRa9Tyxkc3JtUqWYj0AB8Ujlqw/s320/IMG_2728.HEIC" width="277" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">i loved this shot as well...an older woman, not a nun, coming up the walk in her hijab....she was walking slow, but she was making it....her in all white, along with the blue walls...just a striking shot....when you are in the medinas or kasbahs of morocco, it really feels like you are going back in time....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7-0jAwtGfgT71tdNJCoUid2w2tdLMuaUNKMyVp330keQUlFMZ_BRog64sZI-GYgMwbqKhRyJbOZpN7ljT8VWjINJkRi-ToM9AgL-f_iRNrmHdx3zus-t61pVTmJ2jbzaR8P6GjBLJ69dKuyslG2XBZLtvUs6rA2Se930-KuhUyXnFA4Tkb13uw/s4032/IMG_2707.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7-0jAwtGfgT71tdNJCoUid2w2tdLMuaUNKMyVp330keQUlFMZ_BRog64sZI-GYgMwbqKhRyJbOZpN7ljT8VWjINJkRi-ToM9AgL-f_iRNrmHdx3zus-t61pVTmJ2jbzaR8P6GjBLJ69dKuyslG2XBZLtvUs6rA2Se930-KuhUyXnFA4Tkb13uw/s320/IMG_2707.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this city is car free, so only for pedestrians....they have painted the walls and doors a multitude of times...and the blues don't even have to match....such a cool place...</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWoIwdXm4nK5P82Gy2t2wGTKj-hfEPXVSw1QQ8jUiD2Mp-CRAHdkTBWF6_Rg4tcFrSSWSzuoOv7JAQHn_-ulomhjhAgSkiSjQKyoy4sDK53SBV_Y1F_LpSPR7ejjXvVrz56CqLGmUo0s5iyr9zHfudk0eowKOO3T_FD-YnSAW_O-AEvq8-r-7HA/s4032/IMG_2692.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWoIwdXm4nK5P82Gy2t2wGTKj-hfEPXVSw1QQ8jUiD2Mp-CRAHdkTBWF6_Rg4tcFrSSWSzuoOv7JAQHn_-ulomhjhAgSkiSjQKyoy4sDK53SBV_Y1F_LpSPR7ejjXvVrz56CqLGmUo0s5iyr9zHfudk0eowKOO3T_FD-YnSAW_O-AEvq8-r-7HA/s320/IMG_2692.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">and the day we were in fes it was amazing weather....so here i am in an instagram location...it is so funny to me that so many cities around the world have now set up spots for folks to get the instagram shot they want to show all of their friends and family....i just had to do it 😉</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihluvNr42xzL1r-vHMQCPb7icJnXv-IK6aMcmbpf7y7X1_qmb4LOmWhnmWW3n_Qja9vP8cULVlksMUCR9E4zuV24bLuGunADoKmmYWwoyZY3-LDP8WG1uFgB4JIFgRzI55B9c6yHCHp07zQmu8-UU_GY49-Kp0YKX3YY5FBWGo0ErVbZvhefhOQg/s4032/IMG_2659.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihluvNr42xzL1r-vHMQCPb7icJnXv-IK6aMcmbpf7y7X1_qmb4LOmWhnmWW3n_Qja9vP8cULVlksMUCR9E4zuV24bLuGunADoKmmYWwoyZY3-LDP8WG1uFgB4JIFgRzI55B9c6yHCHp07zQmu8-UU_GY49-Kp0YKX3YY5FBWGo0ErVbZvhefhOQg/s320/IMG_2659.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is our breakfast at the riad in tangier...it food was simply tasty and plentiful throughout the whole trip....and the mint tea...we had it constantly...moroccans certainly known how to be amazing hosts....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX4hwk8FHySmcRG3p_BqXOQAjzzs7xir7ec-pwgAR1Cj9fgUOhhh8RZ1TkHGpJp8oAf3kS8RZX7Mg8aWzpXa6uDpPUL4SFek26lqg7rTQ5R2qm2DOmGpf4LQ12uS2GyT5Cv4QhnlU6cqp-EeDoirmgPKC1a_o40Ohd3Lzzw-zPPYgOHwsi8j2zA/s4032/IMG_2627.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX4hwk8FHySmcRG3p_BqXOQAjzzs7xir7ec-pwgAR1Cj9fgUOhhh8RZ1TkHGpJp8oAf3kS8RZX7Mg8aWzpXa6uDpPUL4SFek26lqg7rTQ5R2qm2DOmGpf4LQ12uS2GyT5Cv4QhnlU6cqp-EeDoirmgPKC1a_o40Ohd3Lzzw-zPPYgOHwsi8j2zA/s320/IMG_2627.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">we stayed in the kasbah at the top of tangier....soooooooooo hilly....but the street art in this section of town was great....i loved these dudes...and they were all over the place....of course with the artist's instagram handle....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurKdsjfhK-Tp6VHPvAo6o9Cjisy-u0mhMIAiqCwIBBh1Tj7zluajYtxYFg0L5kTWT79qIVe1W-mxZgUSbS5Q1w0w_bc2VP6VocA16jpqhiJcgf4vh12enTtYMYtBvgRUoZF4-sIJbLxchHPOFnr-M9PfqsNq0TnUF-Ich0hJCdaGX-BkNO4h2rg/s4032/IMG_2617.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurKdsjfhK-Tp6VHPvAo6o9Cjisy-u0mhMIAiqCwIBBh1Tj7zluajYtxYFg0L5kTWT79qIVe1W-mxZgUSbS5Q1w0w_bc2VP6VocA16jpqhiJcgf4vh12enTtYMYtBvgRUoZF4-sIJbLxchHPOFnr-M9PfqsNq0TnUF-Ich0hJCdaGX-BkNO4h2rg/s320/IMG_2617.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this was one of the many alleyways in the kasbah...more blue, but nothing like chefchaouen...but i loved this area with the plants and artwork on the walls....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMyOtBKjfAZctR3JGqUayyOik03R-gP_uTkw-zC0bms5fmJujibHp4uckvsLZU75TLSavLMCgPqazBZmiWRCoH9b92xM9ykvVWAzvMQfySSsuBDkwgIWGFt3tovZIjSWD7OjLa_EUs2Sy3T452rY-kLZbLrnpqJ7a30qppQCLaNJ0Ti17qGgCaQ/s3088/IMG_2610.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMyOtBKjfAZctR3JGqUayyOik03R-gP_uTkw-zC0bms5fmJujibHp4uckvsLZU75TLSavLMCgPqazBZmiWRCoH9b92xM9ykvVWAzvMQfySSsuBDkwgIWGFt3tovZIjSWD7OjLa_EUs2Sy3T452rY-kLZbLrnpqJ7a30qppQCLaNJ0Ti17qGgCaQ/s320/IMG_2610.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">another shot of laurie and i, looking over the port of tangier...in the far distance you can see the outline of spain...that's how close we were...we did not take the ferry over, but it seemed like an easy/fast thing to do....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6aDLsd9_MKT9di9dM0WYfr9RB-Dw9RDtxLZvr8hAkR7TA_97o5Pbji0wpvDHH0u9Ivjb9JRwR3L5-1GPWkZu_Pie4BJZejiUnh1vzvlNNlDn634pxXZoQo2TLF2BHQ_wggdawTz3psudOizbP7swcDomV6GhRckxBFO6Y10oqQUIt8tcNZR0pQ/s4032/IMG_2597.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6aDLsd9_MKT9di9dM0WYfr9RB-Dw9RDtxLZvr8hAkR7TA_97o5Pbji0wpvDHH0u9Ivjb9JRwR3L5-1GPWkZu_Pie4BJZejiUnh1vzvlNNlDn634pxXZoQo2TLF2BHQ_wggdawTz3psudOizbP7swcDomV6GhRckxBFO6Y10oqQUIt8tcNZR0pQ/s320/IMG_2597.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">this is the inner courtyard of the riad in tangier...it used to be a fountain...but now it holds fresh flowers and is a way to show what it used to be...this riad was lovely and they gave us mint tea and sweets whenever we wanted....so nice....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6RmRNVFSK4ZkhkfjJ3tzXf-CWnpLJQrq15NkWy0HlLz3uUwic7L1zcyiCIAs1foXWliim9qpU3lcdX60XYsO7brZJ6ZbQ2NomZMG93XMynmXFg8_eBGNeZimCwpj1qC8lpMC4BQ3ZhebpIs2Ql98L5JFl1aizxBz-16inFm02a4WeaG6PZt-Lw/s4032/IMG_2592.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6RmRNVFSK4ZkhkfjJ3tzXf-CWnpLJQrq15NkWy0HlLz3uUwic7L1zcyiCIAs1foXWliim9qpU3lcdX60XYsO7brZJ6ZbQ2NomZMG93XMynmXFg8_eBGNeZimCwpj1qC8lpMC4BQ3ZhebpIs2Ql98L5JFl1aizxBz-16inFm02a4WeaG6PZt-Lw/s320/IMG_2592.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is the hassan II mosque in casablanca from the balcony of my friends jenny & peter's place....it is huge...it is the second largest functioning mosque in africa and is the 14th largest in the world....it is also one of the few mosques open to non-muslims...unfortunately we did not get a chance to visit while we were there...it was great to see jenny and peter while in casablanca...play it again.....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS46r6X1mYrj2r-HFfoLgFBXmSHWx53GwCOBoBv9NL1ClStFw43wZZWGrcp_JhmxFv3lN-PTaLx18yWsHcGZjhoRv5JMwee0XYxXcZXwcAN32Drar5s56cwGYTbeTM7FvWJ1_rQeQit4V3s8dYPLHNVSbhNd3EJPM1oPItxmg03Ea_e_W4PFF5Q/s4032/IMG_3015.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS46r6X1mYrj2r-HFfoLgFBXmSHWx53GwCOBoBv9NL1ClStFw43wZZWGrcp_JhmxFv3lN-PTaLx18yWsHcGZjhoRv5JMwee0XYxXcZXwcAN32Drar5s56cwGYTbeTM7FvWJ1_rQeQit4V3s8dYPLHNVSbhNd3EJPM1oPItxmg03Ea_e_W4PFF5Q/s320/IMG_3015.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #134f5c;">my last shot in this round of pictures is from my morning bus stop....this was taken over a week ago...it is sooooo nice to have light in the mornings again and later into the evening....i love it when it is clear skies...because this view never gets old...whether morning, with sun glinting off of it or evening when it is all lit up and sparkles on the hour....the eiffel tower has won my heart 🥖</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">so these are the pictures and my update from my 91st country visit....morocco...it was a wonderful week, traveling with laurie, catching up with friends, making new friends, and experiencing a new land...i even got to use my french and spanish while there....it was a fabulous trip with fun, new experiences and really reminded me how much i love to travel and how happy i am to be able to do this with ease now....yay!!!!🎉</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;">feel free to send any questions my way and again, please let me know if you are paris bound....i will be in the states for a short month, but otherwise i will be here....be warned though....paris is in total gearing up phase for the olympics and there is a lot of construction, cleaning of buildings and price hiking going on....i am soooooo excited i will be attending 10 different events, and am hopeful it will all go smoothly, but you just never know😜</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;">thanks for reading all the way to the end and i hope all is well with you and the folks in your life....</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;">have a fab day 😎</span></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #741b47;">dani<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></p></div>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-66374884736922970922024-01-01T21:39:00.000+01:002024-01-01T21:39:03.760+01:00Paris Update #2 - Happy New Year!<p> <span style="color: #990000;">January 1, 2024</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">Hi all and Happy New Year to you and yours, from me and mine! I hope it has been a good start to this year. My year has been a bit crazy as you know. It is weird for me to think that I was in china last year at this time, as i am so removed from there now...we were still dealing with the covid restrictions disappearing overnight and trying to find cheap and easy flights for chinese new year...it seems like a lifetime ago, because my world is so very different these days.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">living in europe again is so very nice and i love how many people "swing" through paris on their way to someplace else in france or in europe....i have not lived in a place this popular to visit before and have been enjoying the visits with all of the folks coming by...no one is staying with me because my apartment is too small, but it is fun to see them as they enjoy the aspects of paris on vacation.....living in paris is a bit different than visiting paris...i take notice of different things than people who are here for vacation....like all of the dog poop...i have heard it is less than previous years...but who really knows...or all of the trash....even though the trash folks seem to be out collecting 24-7....let's hope they do not go on strike...or the crazy strikes....everyone in paris strikes and protests....they go after what they want, which has led to amazing workers rights...its wild....but sometimes this makes my commute to work crazy 😉 BUT...i live in paris....and the art, food, music, walkability of the city, food, dance, theater, food, architecture, museums....did i say food😉 it really is amazing.....i love jumping on the metro and going and exploring a new part of the city....even in the rain, of which there has been a lot of in october, november and december....but overall, i would say paris is growing on me and i am enjoying my time there....if you are passing through or coming somewhere near by...be sure to let me know....i will always grab a meal and drink😀</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white;">although the fall was quite busy getting used to my school, i am now using my free time much better - which the french really cherish....i am so impressed with workers rights here and the fight to keep things a life-work balance and not the other way around....the french enjoy their lives and this is so very different than other countries i have worked in where they squeeze every drop of effort and work out of you....i have to say i could get used to this....there is a ton of bureaucratic stuff and the amount of paperwork and mailing of things blows my mind, but the place is growing on me....come and visit....i am not sure you should do that before the olympics, because things are definitely ramping up, but after the olympics, i highly recommend you come and visit🍷🥖 </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">i also was able in the fall to get to my 90th country - Malta...i wanted to get back under the water and scuba dive and was able to at this quirky island...below you will see some pics from my trip....it was an interesting mix of all of the countries that have once ruled over the island...so its a combo of roman, slavic, arabic and african flavors...which makes for an interesting world of the maltese....the dive company and the diving was wonderful though...and that was my main focus....</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">i am also including some shots from paris and strasbourg, where i was over a weekend to hit up the christmas markets with a friend.....i have to say it was lovely to be back in a country/city that really decorates for the xmas holiday....store fronts are beautiful and completely decked for the season.....this coming year i do have travel plans and the olympics on the horizon....so it should be another good year ahead.....plus, i really am grateful for the ability to travel and see the world and take you along for the ride....plus, thanks to those who have stopped by or are coming in 2024 and for those who have allowed me or will allow me to stop by and see them....thanks for your friendship.....anyway, here are some pictures from october to now....happy new year to all 🍻</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYiLA-dOlbhLIxeTNdh_B6tR9fx7ZYIpxNr3ELJR8DX4B-CJ3k5K_BNrcZmzKPzj4LWo0NW11uEpluYlTzIlYLS4lACW-hU-dOvhwwxUbAhirpubhqev1K1_Dt_-msMQTBsSIq-iHrmWMiRTAPhZrLXuVGDkH5wsBcOR5Oo2IwR8NLUerX9jniw/s4032/IMG_1084.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYiLA-dOlbhLIxeTNdh_B6tR9fx7ZYIpxNr3ELJR8DX4B-CJ3k5K_BNrcZmzKPzj4LWo0NW11uEpluYlTzIlYLS4lACW-hU-dOvhwwxUbAhirpubhqev1K1_Dt_-msMQTBsSIq-iHrmWMiRTAPhZrLXuVGDkH5wsBcOR5Oo2IwR8NLUerX9jniw/s320/IMG_1084.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Of course i had to include a shot of me at the musee l'orangerie.....with one of my favorites, on a day that it was not so very crowded....i love monet's water lilies and really do hope to go on a day and just sit and read and admire his work....one of my goals of 2024!!!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC5k9slWLMab1_GeclOXD0JyrXABcOZTnpJTdbCse-RJtwiev6L8RiJBOoqWxx_wNjnUgjtqMVLotwotcX-F4-v4aLJWmhq3qf6i5CbIIsrn-BuhxqJ9ZHnMyfo3zrEuA0PBi8w0dCbO83C7JKgaqIL9kSZuOFJbNwN923-wruHboIdXBGi_lnw/s4032/IMG_1124.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC5k9slWLMab1_GeclOXD0JyrXABcOZTnpJTdbCse-RJtwiev6L8RiJBOoqWxx_wNjnUgjtqMVLotwotcX-F4-v4aLJWmhq3qf6i5CbIIsrn-BuhxqJ9ZHnMyfo3zrEuA0PBi8w0dCbO83C7JKgaqIL9kSZuOFJbNwN923-wruHboIdXBGi_lnw/s320/IMG_1124.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">this is a shot of malta - specifically st julian's, where i stayed...this is a shot of one side of their harbor from the rooftop of my hotel....i stayed here because of the dive shop, but it was a bit crazy of a town...who knew they had so many gentlemen's clubs😂</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRLSnZZ2_k5njeN2cwwSSLyq1WGRVx0ApdE07ez3Wq769jBetXmdtWVnYYQWFuPt5zNnhULzQELHI_bQqzcfKzlUj3-Tyz2ftCRyRX6LIfDNVyfKw8jyuCkLgsJ61KqcIm8WaOFiGqPdCzeH8Shkf7Lo8UCI-8MG2LvGE2OXSWW9cG4W-l8WD7Q/s4032/IMG_4362.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRLSnZZ2_k5njeN2cwwSSLyq1WGRVx0ApdE07ez3Wq769jBetXmdtWVnYYQWFuPt5zNnhULzQELHI_bQqzcfKzlUj3-Tyz2ftCRyRX6LIfDNVyfKw8jyuCkLgsJ61KqcIm8WaOFiGqPdCzeH8Shkf7Lo8UCI-8MG2LvGE2OXSWW9cG4W-l8WD7Q/s320/IMG_4362.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;">i love being under the water, so i had to include a shot or two of this....malta is not known for soft corals or huge reefs, the water is too cold at times to sustain them...but there were lots of rock formations and rock walls, as well as wrecks...i saw tons of fish and moray eels and barracuda and trumpet fish and fire worms, etc....this was a cave with a statue of mary in it....a perfect place to visit on a sunday😀</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE0LtDXHCycJG8eBSg3yCac_rOiw3nhyphenhyphen9j5ObmrIVEwuPGcUQWPB71Pna-xjWLoJIbAF6jX-cZvvkwtQ-xbziFZMf2bQxdCNLzNwsw_IH-Lb8XWfSOKg1MnLHY_3KzD4sq71KethIMw7LGsKIuBapf4giz4g_1hp7OKne_4RAhGZ1eCuDYD6F1w/s3840/IMG_4375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE0LtDXHCycJG8eBSg3yCac_rOiw3nhyphenhyphen9j5ObmrIVEwuPGcUQWPB71Pna-xjWLoJIbAF6jX-cZvvkwtQ-xbziFZMf2bQxdCNLzNwsw_IH-Lb8XWfSOKg1MnLHY_3KzD4sq71KethIMw7LGsKIuBapf4giz4g_1hp7OKne_4RAhGZ1eCuDYD6F1w/s320/IMG_4375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">this is me and one of the dive masters who watched over our group....i was always checking out the walls and rocks for the small things....they were quite surprised at the things i found....you just have to slow down and look in my opinion</span>🤿</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyHJOClmC5Io-R7J6jyFjQnfW7z-QRauWo3BtWrxRYKHc5UnNLTuSzgWCRTD17ZxlbizJKgPCqzRtYMMlfp0L7uVGqk9wOnIi-4-HV2MW6izsXM9CU6ynPzFqC8BCXnk4gw4LbnzdDArClRJ42E-50ChfgrPsEpqY4eUkO7zgMr-9Cx6V2yQzug/s4032/IMG_1209.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyHJOClmC5Io-R7J6jyFjQnfW7z-QRauWo3BtWrxRYKHc5UnNLTuSzgWCRTD17ZxlbizJKgPCqzRtYMMlfp0L7uVGqk9wOnIi-4-HV2MW6izsXM9CU6ynPzFqC8BCXnk4gw4LbnzdDArClRJ42E-50ChfgrPsEpqY4eUkO7zgMr-9Cx6V2yQzug/s320/IMG_1209.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">this was one of our dive spots the day before this shot was taken...it was of a wreck....that was carrying ammunition and supplies during one of the wars and had been hit by a torpedo...malta was a spot in the Mediterranean that countries fought to control in many wars....hence why it has a mix of so many different cultures....</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia52hEkv-xvRQU-tmTppRvdCudWJNMe0kwpcegq0eEiqdk_Z-XZ9lFGK9SzE0jplV76FZk2vH36bvuiRUeUF_gSZEMeRs3ykdLDjDqiJvzpLxt92Zo6J6NW-HsCMWOr0NasWJYD8S19xU1wWKS6J0mkMmX6jBWEVAedy-Rsz4CmPHZf9_Uuk9zgw/s4032/IMG_1212.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia52hEkv-xvRQU-tmTppRvdCudWJNMe0kwpcegq0eEiqdk_Z-XZ9lFGK9SzE0jplV76FZk2vH36bvuiRUeUF_gSZEMeRs3ykdLDjDqiJvzpLxt92Zo6J6NW-HsCMWOr0NasWJYD8S19xU1wWKS6J0mkMmX6jBWEVAedy-Rsz4CmPHZf9_Uuk9zgw/s320/IMG_1212.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">here is a shot i loved getting....just a guy hanging out his window on the second floor...this style of window on the second floor really reminded me of some of the middle eastern places i have visited....and they were in lots of different colors....so cool....</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkLyy0_xMOca1hIoiGX8MOyKJRp_FkTfTte33YXXTuzyBsmxa7nv2at4WHMujXZA7EMSmuUP_Htvl4bjDGMqe_1PR-iSu58Yib2PANGeTd31Xkhl545ClQBfZQMt_6U9Ke9RS1ub485VQITneaaIqQZy5zYErAuCyoD8FX6LkPKCO-7a0ZAnrKg/s4032/IMG_1253.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkLyy0_xMOca1hIoiGX8MOyKJRp_FkTfTte33YXXTuzyBsmxa7nv2at4WHMujXZA7EMSmuUP_Htvl4bjDGMqe_1PR-iSu58Yib2PANGeTd31Xkhl545ClQBfZQMt_6U9Ke9RS1ub485VQITneaaIqQZy5zYErAuCyoD8FX6LkPKCO-7a0ZAnrKg/s320/IMG_1253.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">with malta being an island, obviously fishing is a huge part of their economy...i loved the colorful fishing boats you saw on the southeastern side of the island...i think that part was less rough....we did not dive here, we dove on the northern side and in one of the harbours...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GKQqQRnHezr6SHkc_QVeP9vLOwK72jLj40btzqKB26n5KmkwVnDO4bo9svYEf2tqC9EbRyE-g-TUI-GGp7IqiKcTvgSD6QRFF7gf-AmdUNYlEAo1hjQW1kqiTibzM0hyTlR62blnbeQVUTxKBb-_aWkUb1hv3x3r24ZlwqlR2a07o4Wa5wi5uQ/s3088/IMG_1165.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GKQqQRnHezr6SHkc_QVeP9vLOwK72jLj40btzqKB26n5KmkwVnDO4bo9svYEf2tqC9EbRyE-g-TUI-GGp7IqiKcTvgSD6QRFF7gf-AmdUNYlEAo1hjQW1kqiTibzM0hyTlR62blnbeQVUTxKBb-_aWkUb1hv3x3r24ZlwqlR2a07o4Wa5wi5uQ/s320/IMG_1165.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">of course i had to try the local beer of malta.....</span></span><span style="color: #741b47;">it was a great spot to visit and to dive...very quirky...yay for country number 90!! This year i am hoping to add a few more new countries to my list - morocco, lithuanian and estonia are already booked....i am back to my old traveling ways!!! yahooooo 🌍🌎🌏</span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiba3au0p9wZmIv4WfOXue9KGfjIZ8AforDmzcFqUQicbSWSVHWsFojmZni2KoFkXwWFQPcq_nrsiHN-PcT-TrQeFQvGdpmxdyXQc3x_i-BjztgbdQfHHhybNjjLypnUXaZKqiDbQQv82FFMUyRTe3TtiDpdThOeG-3umMMzROQ5UxXKwaUQdgFg/s4032/IMG_1278.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiba3au0p9wZmIv4WfOXue9KGfjIZ8AforDmzcFqUQicbSWSVHWsFojmZni2KoFkXwWFQPcq_nrsiHN-PcT-TrQeFQvGdpmxdyXQc3x_i-BjztgbdQfHHhybNjjLypnUXaZKqiDbQQv82FFMUyRTe3TtiDpdThOeG-3umMMzROQ5UxXKwaUQdgFg/s320/IMG_1278.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;">of course i needed to include a picture of the eiifel tower here...i see this monument almost every day...either on my walk to the metro or my bus ride to school or walking around in my neighbourhood...i cannot see it from my balcony, but the light that goes around at the top, it used to be a lighthouse at some point in its history i have heard, i can see from my balcony as it goes overhead....so cool and what a reminder that i live here in paris....so wild </span>🥖🧀🍷</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUz5lZjYXieabED-e9k54gK_mBGddyqKYhSxkIrFf4pAHRi8kc4b93qqxs-Kk8soHSTsVRCZMZW9CuWZbw8lx7A0D_Adxrwp5i3gUn5niIKB4AzLfi37FvyGjkROZWictz2bHKdSDQSZRKgJdHJBui7XW_WFCkObMtEzOGBgscRO45xTC8Dk7cQ/s4032/IMG_1296.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUz5lZjYXieabED-e9k54gK_mBGddyqKYhSxkIrFf4pAHRi8kc4b93qqxs-Kk8soHSTsVRCZMZW9CuWZbw8lx7A0D_Adxrwp5i3gUn5niIKB4AzLfi37FvyGjkROZWictz2bHKdSDQSZRKgJdHJBui7XW_WFCkObMtEzOGBgscRO45xTC8Dk7cQ/s320/IMG_1296.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">i also decided to include this metro stop entrance....i know folks always like the ones by hector guimard and of course i will have one here at some point....but this one, down by the louvre, always makes me smile😀</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViE4PTnp2VpaaZXCdlwqkbpdrPOwm_Y6sk0dN7_JCuk9GuWhgfrWPg4KGmTEAjnp5g7SD7cq7q50f2qSzhFn9xQUGEqy6-D5bOdDhUNhiE5UjEulOvjTIlbEVLQjL4tuPa-q1cISTbxw7O-CmVg6BdhAFQVZMXqJwmQg4ANF0_yl3pt1mdL8-vw/s4032/IMG_1307.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViE4PTnp2VpaaZXCdlwqkbpdrPOwm_Y6sk0dN7_JCuk9GuWhgfrWPg4KGmTEAjnp5g7SD7cq7q50f2qSzhFn9xQUGEqy6-D5bOdDhUNhiE5UjEulOvjTIlbEVLQjL4tuPa-q1cISTbxw7O-CmVg6BdhAFQVZMXqJwmQg4ANF0_yl3pt1mdL8-vw/s320/IMG_1307.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">during my fall break, i also headed out to chartres....which is a town outside of paris by about 2 hours, that is known for its lovely cathedral - which you can see in the picture above...it was an interesting place, but very, very quiet.....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRo1shCnevqO1_DF1BU0cnTVjOvA4oc9lthIbY2FTtm1i6JWMNbe52m8mE8i-HZOSJeRZJVFtiAx7lmdh1mG5Yi-ZjXVejP2lpvPxamPgN6xb_ZdEbeE4U4XaDaprfECCGPIUPowid9r_V2KUmiKJF5gDO7HiwTboK5tZgMSNas5e0kap2OuyXA/s4032/IMG_1314.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRo1shCnevqO1_DF1BU0cnTVjOvA4oc9lthIbY2FTtm1i6JWMNbe52m8mE8i-HZOSJeRZJVFtiAx7lmdh1mG5Yi-ZjXVejP2lpvPxamPgN6xb_ZdEbeE4U4XaDaprfECCGPIUPowid9r_V2KUmiKJF5gDO7HiwTboK5tZgMSNas5e0kap2OuyXA/s320/IMG_1314.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is the inside of the cathedral...it is known for the sculptures throughout the cathedral of the different stories of the bible....amazing work....</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCnVfNb9LY_VnCZrbzYLagXYU3yrtsUu8wgQ5Be99Pl9Wz4rHeIiftVSpOcfzABMu5Ldj18jqxigPsk_GNcZ7d0PLu9G9SFmR0hanNMLGPTqM8vX46d0sshaeHA0IVUO5hl2UR4z-pNT9aKjoxFZMiOE0vmXFINNb3l0EY04MjNC8Rhni2UBbFw/s3088/IMG_1375.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCnVfNb9LY_VnCZrbzYLagXYU3yrtsUu8wgQ5Be99Pl9Wz4rHeIiftVSpOcfzABMu5Ldj18jqxigPsk_GNcZ7d0PLu9G9SFmR0hanNMLGPTqM8vX46d0sshaeHA0IVUO5hl2UR4z-pNT9aKjoxFZMiOE0vmXFINNb3l0EY04MjNC8Rhni2UBbFw/s320/IMG_1375.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;">we also visited this amazing house where everything was a mosaic....it is called La Maison Picassette, after the artist who covered literally every surface of his and his wife's house in mosaic....it was incredible....</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXwqZe9Gcwm83bNn7SsV7mKm-Irweek2X4sflTnsbTnhtiSO_fCne7_KR9QIVj-Q8zVICHSR4nnY5YTRuj1AqHtvgVq6DaZqKVJGNUnxLr2RGCwobCv8ex_Rqw3I6WBQtNjiYIhg5JFDm6aNlEDjHVEuXeIFcrHbt7wtPUBrO5bz4A6YX1iVCfQ/s4032/IMG_1383.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXwqZe9Gcwm83bNn7SsV7mKm-Irweek2X4sflTnsbTnhtiSO_fCne7_KR9QIVj-Q8zVICHSR4nnY5YTRuj1AqHtvgVq6DaZqKVJGNUnxLr2RGCwobCv8ex_Rqw3I6WBQtNjiYIhg5JFDm6aNlEDjHVEuXeIFcrHbt7wtPUBrO5bz4A6YX1iVCfQ/s320/IMG_1383.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;">this is a shot of one of the garden walls that he had covered with different cathedrals in the area....yes, notre dame, sacre coeur and st chapelle are there....amazing work 🎨</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMUKNTG4npqcB4l2owFXq9qdyuWCCmsJVLF9aeRJo-GMjP6lbs0z_-A3RgJeGJ_0QpnZG25_vY414z9TMYSmRs-PFNaGaHx83ovTaXXleUpjLl7eu6HwalPeKD5fifINaHRVjYcTk9rZb55MMALb50wWbYIJtGdiAZ7zlFnC03nhAJJ7vPMEuRA/s4032/IMG_1423.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMUKNTG4npqcB4l2owFXq9qdyuWCCmsJVLF9aeRJo-GMjP6lbs0z_-A3RgJeGJ_0QpnZG25_vY414z9TMYSmRs-PFNaGaHx83ovTaXXleUpjLl7eu6HwalPeKD5fifINaHRVjYcTk9rZb55MMALb50wWbYIJtGdiAZ7zlFnC03nhAJJ7vPMEuRA/s320/IMG_1423.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">i also felt i needed to include a shot of a cheese plate....these are part of my life on a regular basis...some are larger, some are smaller, but all are tasty....i had no idea how many different cheeses there could be in the world and am so much happier because of this 🧀 it is definitely making it tough to become vegan😎</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Omk2zc5Mx8SZaDp8n2dg_diUXyRp_5D8mcsvXy8uoYrwNi2KBWgP4fdkzw94qv3BGldG-Zpl7rRY7muYDoFWMgqBPJfwXHlw73OyXN5ifuGwnuBCrECL7zyz3eJm_BBQLcVKkA3bAzSOuLZySj0sQwRWdSReF58K6ogoIMMnQAQshAZiLnXbiw/s4032/IMG_1461.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Omk2zc5Mx8SZaDp8n2dg_diUXyRp_5D8mcsvXy8uoYrwNi2KBWgP4fdkzw94qv3BGldG-Zpl7rRY7muYDoFWMgqBPJfwXHlw73OyXN5ifuGwnuBCrECL7zyz3eJm_BBQLcVKkA3bAzSOuLZySj0sQwRWdSReF58K6ogoIMMnQAQshAZiLnXbiw/s320/IMG_1461.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">It was fun being back in europe again for holidays...including all souls day & all saints day....the day after halloween...to celebrate i went with a friend to the pere lachaise cemetary - the famous one where jim morrison, oscar wilde, edith piaf, gertrude stein and chopin, along with many other famous folks, are buried...a perfect place to be for all souls day as the sun was setting....freaky!!!!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbGnFJov1pwXDFCtABmWl4T7yIKnTxgMxfqwrE6lHSU71a0tKeNlVmmw-O5qv9k3BCe1ntVOmyUYlSV3ycXWetPgsV887bP6ZsSWI_gK_NXRYkAYRNeRBj3z-HuAIOzrJLTWbFy2h3cB8MxRx0K5RqQadTWh1gNk9IbZU2-a2ipoWk96r7AUblQ/s4032/IMG_1468.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbGnFJov1pwXDFCtABmWl4T7yIKnTxgMxfqwrE6lHSU71a0tKeNlVmmw-O5qv9k3BCe1ntVOmyUYlSV3ycXWetPgsV887bP6ZsSWI_gK_NXRYkAYRNeRBj3z-HuAIOzrJLTWbFy2h3cB8MxRx0K5RqQadTWh1gNk9IbZU2-a2ipoWk96r7AUblQ/s320/IMG_1468.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">i loved this skeleton as an ornament for one of the graves....this was the grave a of a famous french government official, who fought for worker's rights....something that is super important in france, even today!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EMjj-uxo1tgiopxr3lUDIMV5eKSW_f9pQgOcuLJTt3ssi0DxUTW29tOhstODHPeySpRIvBxeDtNmjIMOdocAE_RtJeSUYp8Jp2jdoClj-NFZxkYDNcWxt4ZnQIWUdQ_M2OxydLqM9CCCmE7O_WzVktUbZzzlU1IvuHWSK955nDmbofpZvjEx_w/s4032/IMG_1541.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EMjj-uxo1tgiopxr3lUDIMV5eKSW_f9pQgOcuLJTt3ssi0DxUTW29tOhstODHPeySpRIvBxeDtNmjIMOdocAE_RtJeSUYp8Jp2jdoClj-NFZxkYDNcWxt4ZnQIWUdQ_M2OxydLqM9CCCmE7O_WzVktUbZzzlU1IvuHWSK955nDmbofpZvjEx_w/s320/IMG_1541.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; text-align: left;">i finally made it to one of the china towns in paris...let's just say it was tiny and did not fill my chinese food requirement....however, i did find another piece of street art done by a man known as invader...and i loved this one....i am actually playing "space invaders" on my phone, where you look for his artwork and take pictures of it for points....he has a work of art on the ISS and at the bottom of the sea in cancun on a sculpture...i love his stuff👾</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IcfhVueiE1lcB1r-TKYqqEyqxlyGOLadjPPd3kKXSHZccG830N9a3C5at2MHTBOM9-LAKaoqaNCi0bL82gEB8FcDJlKXerGW14twtSeUvs-74T_Mn4zvfVWZgXOJEslBf2keg9-rJmGwfQT57u1RlvHl303ZnmsVMfSjC_s94F1j2E7n9PrwVQ/s4032/IMG_1723.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6IcfhVueiE1lcB1r-TKYqqEyqxlyGOLadjPPd3kKXSHZccG830N9a3C5at2MHTBOM9-LAKaoqaNCi0bL82gEB8FcDJlKXerGW14twtSeUvs-74T_Mn4zvfVWZgXOJEslBf2keg9-rJmGwfQT57u1RlvHl303ZnmsVMfSjC_s94F1j2E7n9PrwVQ/s320/IMG_1723.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">another place i was able to visit in paris once again, was sainte chapelle....it is just an amazing place....the stained glass windows are some of the most amazing in the world....and they represent the 13 books of the old testament...simply stunning....</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycx2CFmao7HEWQdYfPFRRw7guz3RG702M0F6SStHGAn9rKAtxhJBnBEt_L5S3IAc10AdTh01OzHYncW_E0b17_7zrmVA94-AlVgIiPBiR3lLiEf_k-Fa9EAik_xUsefb5VbAamm9a8JKelGJypWhuTz_wrG5McKf6JtjnHmoS4QspAQQcq1UFAA/s4032/IMG_1746.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycx2CFmao7HEWQdYfPFRRw7guz3RG702M0F6SStHGAn9rKAtxhJBnBEt_L5S3IAc10AdTh01OzHYncW_E0b17_7zrmVA94-AlVgIiPBiR3lLiEf_k-Fa9EAik_xUsefb5VbAamm9a8JKelGJypWhuTz_wrG5McKf6JtjnHmoS4QspAQQcq1UFAA/s320/IMG_1746.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">plus i made it back to the moulin rouge with friends who were visiting....it was just as good as i remembered....and the can-can still happens and is amazing....such a fun night...</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQkMoXAhLE2RTs0gZSp9nXWUX7_BiUPkKUgmCiaw40ZYEcOM2N5cTf6OUBCbM7K-U7zOVtWJ7Ge7ShTn_C0qzupn4oAYEIfOsHJibxuuv80zpgaim3OvLsXDXUWxGk5XqVxcu4gr86f5MNDybPJqiJUrVNU1dwWLQ123GZDuZCdeRjBEOrFAh1g/s4032/IMG_1770.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQkMoXAhLE2RTs0gZSp9nXWUX7_BiUPkKUgmCiaw40ZYEcOM2N5cTf6OUBCbM7K-U7zOVtWJ7Ge7ShTn_C0qzupn4oAYEIfOsHJibxuuv80zpgaim3OvLsXDXUWxGk5XqVxcu4gr86f5MNDybPJqiJUrVNU1dwWLQ123GZDuZCdeRjBEOrFAh1g/s320/IMG_1770.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">i also have been to sacre coeur basilica quite a few times now....but this is the picture of it with the best light....in the summer & fall the lawn below this basilica was teeming with people....such a fun spot to visit, with amazing bookstores, cafes and brasseries in the area....so much fun to people watch as well....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDDWvVRtC3YzEmc1AmRFWaESGfnxnBvsNZIGPkN5Gi34LC-jKTxbv1xM39v7RO9CALqS-9y7Qkf3AIB2SO3T_ezCnk9fMmIKz6KOq1aFgzJPQZBU0cqWGt9v_3ikeELYAsvpal4ryyzoymDFm8MiWsxL0uLN6GIcPKphmoD4NERM3s6a1bUwnRQ/s4032/IMG_1870.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDDWvVRtC3YzEmc1AmRFWaESGfnxnBvsNZIGPkN5Gi34LC-jKTxbv1xM39v7RO9CALqS-9y7Qkf3AIB2SO3T_ezCnk9fMmIKz6KOq1aFgzJPQZBU0cqWGt9v_3ikeELYAsvpal4ryyzoymDFm8MiWsxL0uLN6GIcPKphmoD4NERM3s6a1bUwnRQ/s320/IMG_1870.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">one weekend i did make it out of paris to strasbourg, france, which is known for its amazing christmas markets....i think in the two days i was there with a friend, we made it to 13 xmas markets...it was insane....the whole old section of town is decorated for the holiday and it was a wonderful visit....even if it poured rain on saturday night and interrupted our visit.....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4LKbfb3QyiiQqE_xHfTAoMuS76WiRfJVdLxxvJdhD7SrzQ4ocdFsORqfcoTwFe19LU3EgkuEJ8fpDutvYF0mWu3U0DsbEfigw61Bnt02XcBz9UbQSRwGF2aXfTrlsKcNoYilk9wBAwTvaBFoo2PcKJc_fmieq1pcjFqrcrBpI35plOdRAac0vg/s4032/IMG_1875.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4LKbfb3QyiiQqE_xHfTAoMuS76WiRfJVdLxxvJdhD7SrzQ4ocdFsORqfcoTwFe19LU3EgkuEJ8fpDutvYF0mWu3U0DsbEfigw61Bnt02XcBz9UbQSRwGF2aXfTrlsKcNoYilk9wBAwTvaBFoo2PcKJc_fmieq1pcjFqrcrBpI35plOdRAac0vg/s320/IMG_1875.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">the town is quaint and lovely to stroll around with thousands of your closest friends during xmas time...between the food and xmas gift shopping and mulled wine, we had a wonderful time.....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudmgJk144X6T_i7VCR-T_QeB2iyiukoeo9l87cEpHgcUX-Kai7ZRmIfRXDvCtlrXhv7pME-27XO-VhZ-WZ_47sdq4Q1CJf83SvEgHsHY12DW2kEV6ktfZCDmXMAVichWVfutXphQ8juh-Yuc60zOBuQ4UqnK76iviS7ORDzbRJYNyQa8bzt0Oxw/s3879/IMG_1941.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3879" data-original-width="3021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudmgJk144X6T_i7VCR-T_QeB2iyiukoeo9l87cEpHgcUX-Kai7ZRmIfRXDvCtlrXhv7pME-27XO-VhZ-WZ_47sdq4Q1CJf83SvEgHsHY12DW2kEV6ktfZCDmXMAVichWVfutXphQ8juh-Yuc60zOBuQ4UqnK76iviS7ORDzbRJYNyQa8bzt0Oxw/s320/IMG_1941.HEIC" width="249" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47;">and literally, all of the buildings are decorated.....it was beautiful and put me in the xmas mood...all of france and germany and croatia and austria, etc do xmas markets and they really are able to put you in the holiday spirit....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP2H2BxhHUfi9dqZY6-zcbj1xDm3EvTzP9zKKBWAsfmxX_sGAt3XkofcrTXLIcpAW4yjuE4dBmbeDmq7W4ohTDB7-ssX5FCoAtuQSro6sGd6h3hEdlq0O1cTuhV5mT58iJiL1Wvr2k_TSm6yPVz5yV2Olu0aGfgD02uy_hZXbptYseJ815ZipPA/s4032/IMG_1933.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP2H2BxhHUfi9dqZY6-zcbj1xDm3EvTzP9zKKBWAsfmxX_sGAt3XkofcrTXLIcpAW4yjuE4dBmbeDmq7W4ohTDB7-ssX5FCoAtuQSro6sGd6h3hEdlq0O1cTuhV5mT58iJiL1Wvr2k_TSm6yPVz5yV2Olu0aGfgD02uy_hZXbptYseJ815ZipPA/s320/IMG_1933.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">the picture above is of made made mannele....a very tasty treat....the little brioche man, all covered in different chocolate....amazing!!!!! i even was able to bring some of these home for the holidays....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjw-ZlMx5p7AQ9pja_pmaO2SBOJBkjTAMl65vKHJX8rHfBgg4wg2itA53NNbylAK2PgPzmyjJUXyH_EzXu6-7PQVJNchPxHste1kcY8V0cx1snXe_gF0ZQtzxhCBfAgIdKAf3GY4LNdHKrUswenaew9L9Fo2ogpgsPemo1MvJqADLhAf2Ke-A1g/s4032/IMG_1981.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjw-ZlMx5p7AQ9pja_pmaO2SBOJBkjTAMl65vKHJX8rHfBgg4wg2itA53NNbylAK2PgPzmyjJUXyH_EzXu6-7PQVJNchPxHste1kcY8V0cx1snXe_gF0ZQtzxhCBfAgIdKAf3GY4LNdHKrUswenaew9L9Fo2ogpgsPemo1MvJqADLhAf2Ke-A1g/s320/IMG_1981.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d;">strabourg had a lovely outdoor tree at one of the markets...probably the biggest one...it was a great weekend away and really put me into the holiday spirit!!!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeD2aEtcFHxrW8T5hEEjY_BRBfObHoOcxJTZHYZw6PG5YqQSRba4zRE58sUn_qG5V9IGfMhhmMhPR9AS9rFiXaW6MUnb5RMSEUeZGG5Mddad8O4c0fPRXe9eH9Lg_3g5ZNf4txOwhLcoTDsMHevw_0lQKpwFxc4dpDax5HW203FbpPSpFJiWNYQ/s4032/IMG_2026.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeD2aEtcFHxrW8T5hEEjY_BRBfObHoOcxJTZHYZw6PG5YqQSRba4zRE58sUn_qG5V9IGfMhhmMhPR9AS9rFiXaW6MUnb5RMSEUeZGG5Mddad8O4c0fPRXe9eH9Lg_3g5ZNf4txOwhLcoTDsMHevw_0lQKpwFxc4dpDax5HW203FbpPSpFJiWNYQ/s320/IMG_2026.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">back in paris, places were also dressed for the holidays...especially the big department stores...from their decorated windows with animatronics, to their displays on the inside....parisiennes love to shop...and love to be surrounded by beauty while they do it....it is interesting to me that malls and department stores are going by the way-side in the states, because they are certainly not doing that in france....this is the huge ribbon tree at the galleries lafayette hausmann....it was incredible....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PgT6sufRCWQp9VIqa-fl30SkXC0__JhSB2aHNKlO5OxvRAXnkOM77ZeS1KoCDW0Sc19rW-fdCVsA-L-gkll2pAMPOsa7Q3jJ_XM0YGsTbWiL04iI0pmLFcDLdAlZSYioe-WWMUXAFKwHb_Ydy-no9SPgCV4z-lT9Suyg2woOuif4WcL6PExsew/s4032/IMG_2013.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PgT6sufRCWQp9VIqa-fl30SkXC0__JhSB2aHNKlO5OxvRAXnkOM77ZeS1KoCDW0Sc19rW-fdCVsA-L-gkll2pAMPOsa7Q3jJ_XM0YGsTbWiL04iI0pmLFcDLdAlZSYioe-WWMUXAFKwHb_Ydy-no9SPgCV4z-lT9Suyg2woOuif4WcL6PExsew/s320/IMG_2013.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">the image above is the rue des bulles - also know at the street of champagne bubbles....the french take their champagne seriously and this street was just lovely....we did not have champagne while there, but we did stroll down and buy some amazing chocolate in the area....</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1la4u4WGXfeS-XvVkU9pNZvRnkdWsRXBMVSs_RHAPlHFPB3zeZpUcCBJr1h-tC8FwBBeMmDmhboFeb6fU-BFHzHkUvidIR_0DST145WVaJHqEQm0r2gWyHy9tfJqNQi5hIntY8ig4oHLFgsTPQgkl-J6U27PrqlImSl6DMhW_y1v7PtxVow5Lhg/s4032/IMG_2059.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1la4u4WGXfeS-XvVkU9pNZvRnkdWsRXBMVSs_RHAPlHFPB3zeZpUcCBJr1h-tC8FwBBeMmDmhboFeb6fU-BFHzHkUvidIR_0DST145WVaJHqEQm0r2gWyHy9tfJqNQi5hIntY8ig4oHLFgsTPQgkl-J6U27PrqlImSl6DMhW_y1v7PtxVow5Lhg/s320/IMG_2059.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75;">and of course, at every christmas market, you must have vin chaud - hot wine or sometimes referred to as gluhwein....there are many different types of this...but i have to say i am a fan of the traditional red base mulled wine...and i certainly tried a lot of it during this festive season....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhf1pT_QExBMgqv3c6LnEGOAsbO8mAhX8qjdeJ_Q26YTZfRDns2uDO4OgQ5TxENrTRc06HNeGR34sbMQs2eKhnY7io9OVgk2pQyF3vfMZWYHPsPiUWkUzt2rY-lp4B5FCL_5OxCfAm4HXJl45wQBENp39cyKNjIFGeYv06oZvilHotmRz93fw9Q/s4032/IMG_1692.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhf1pT_QExBMgqv3c6LnEGOAsbO8mAhX8qjdeJ_Q26YTZfRDns2uDO4OgQ5TxENrTRc06HNeGR34sbMQs2eKhnY7io9OVgk2pQyF3vfMZWYHPsPiUWkUzt2rY-lp4B5FCL_5OxCfAm4HXJl45wQBENp39cyKNjIFGeYv06oZvilHotmRz93fw9Q/s320/IMG_1692.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000;">even in my own area of paris - the 15th arrondissement - there were tons of holiday decorations and lights....it was so much fun to be back in a place that celebrates christmas in a very classy and traditional way...so.much.fun🎄</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRzoPOxze6Y12V9XvJG4kSBgSMLPyIchgsnd8okYFu4xUgOyi6CxpUj930AuH2ti1PpRC4stv7itNr0zF_ud3lgTD9JOV2eFc1erqS5YdSQ6yCw_U5__dZ29Qvisx252W2N5zWdJMfuk4h7CZ_0Bu9il2hG_SX0B29xoVsx9pmnMSMG9wIHjbaA/s4032/IMG_2064.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRzoPOxze6Y12V9XvJG4kSBgSMLPyIchgsnd8okYFu4xUgOyi6CxpUj930AuH2ti1PpRC4stv7itNr0zF_ud3lgTD9JOV2eFc1erqS5YdSQ6yCw_U5__dZ29Qvisx252W2N5zWdJMfuk4h7CZ_0Bu9il2hG_SX0B29xoVsx9pmnMSMG9wIHjbaA/s320/IMG_2064.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">the last shot of this set is me, vin chaud, and the eiffel tower...of course....it was a great holiday season and i have had a wonderful visit to the states to be with my family....i am enjoying life in paris...there are of course ups and downs, as with any move you ever make, and believe me, i have had a lot of moves and ups and downs, but overall i am enjoying my time and all the visitors and exploring the city of lights with everything it has to offer 👍😀😎</span></span><p></p></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">i hope you have had a great start to your 2024...and remember, if you are europe bound, let me know....you never know where paths can cross....i wish you health and happiness in 2024, and per normal, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to pass them my way....</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">thanks for reading the blog....i hope to have another update out in the next few months</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">peace out....dani😎</span></span></div>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-35734092682610881182023-09-17T16:35:00.000+02:002023-09-17T16:35:05.692+02:00Paris - Update #1 - I made it!!!!<span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;">September 17, 2023 </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;">Hi folks - it's official....I have now made it to Paris and have gotten an apartment in the 15th arrondissement...the search for the apartment went well, but trying to get a bank account organized was much harder 😜 But at this point, I have a bank account here in France, know my commute to work, know where to get tasty food, as I have an outdoor market close to my place every Sunday and it is amazing (pictures below), my new cohort is filled with super cool people and I have a bunch of connections with people that work at ASP and ISP, due to all of my moving around in the international circuit...so it has been a good landing here in Paris....</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;">I have not really done much in the way of being a tourist...mostly because it has been super hot, the last two weeks were insane with the heat and humidity and no aircon to be found..and i am busy getting things oriented for school and my life...plus, there are tons of tourists here....which I have been told does not really change during the year ;) but those numbers do get less as the temperatures get colder.....of course, i see the eiffel tower as i am moving around the city and have walked along the seine....but i have not been in any museums as of yet....the parks and gardens have been fun to have picnics in and i have been finding great terraces to have drinks and snacks...as they are everywhere....so overall i think my first month and a half has gone well...i have even had two guests swing through Paris and got to have a meal with them as they were visiting.....please let me know if you are coming this way....i will say my place is not super huge, but there are air b'n'b's around me and a bunch of hotels if that is more your speed....just depends on how long you intend to stay ;) anyway, on with the pictures and stories....vive le france 🌍</span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVOlpb8OqT9dnf7glS9v7D-OV_iOfQq8lf4FlA15DNgomTMoL7r3v_yGxdf7bI8VqlCzPBngASnZRr528LjtBiz2tqXVps-mW6yP6NZV9kaQxW9D_x8dgoHdK7xMnVNfRqyyDp2fQ8wHyWZjVb6O-_6QvQNZELMHhi0ZQMpUuMTiFuu-agLt_lQ/s3088/IMG_0331.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVOlpb8OqT9dnf7glS9v7D-OV_iOfQq8lf4FlA15DNgomTMoL7r3v_yGxdf7bI8VqlCzPBngASnZRr528LjtBiz2tqXVps-mW6yP6NZV9kaQxW9D_x8dgoHdK7xMnVNfRqyyDp2fQ8wHyWZjVb6O-_6QvQNZELMHhi0ZQMpUuMTiFuu-agLt_lQ/s320/IMG_0331.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">This is me on my flight out of philly to paris....it was a relaxing and family & friend-filled summer...plus a bunch of swimming - both at the shore and my mom's new place....it was just what i needed before my new adventure...peace out philly....see you at xmas 😀</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvZSlmY3-LWjWBkibGN8Z8UEz6mBlU9ipae1nFNYi9BK9DM4fxyOVAcp6AGw1U2bwFaVj5HekXjmYMf4J-FK_ogj3gRI7oJS08JgplrdVAVst4iZ9yQj_8nCDpe8BOtCCKBR4FxLGZ4Yddg2bGhRCDHazmyk9OMXk9xzMM5uDQaKuJVC1tz7hFA/s4032/IMG_0351.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvZSlmY3-LWjWBkibGN8Z8UEz6mBlU9ipae1nFNYi9BK9DM4fxyOVAcp6AGw1U2bwFaVj5HekXjmYMf4J-FK_ogj3gRI7oJS08JgplrdVAVst4iZ9yQj_8nCDpe8BOtCCKBR4FxLGZ4Yddg2bGhRCDHazmyk9OMXk9xzMM5uDQaKuJVC1tz7hFA/s320/IMG_0351.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">crazily enough, the Panamanian consulate is just across the street from my metro stop...i guess i will always focus on things from the other countries i have lived in where i currently live....and the store underneath the consulate is chinese and the folks that run it are from shanghai....small, small world 😉</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAd9_fyBtyCkw-e11m1EZC_53SwZ2C1gh3FMmUaxOGbiDS7QR2RAO8Qx7ck-5merhj6UqblS_IIMQpwZFAQQdS29qHf1wrdakFCX47RqhIPw-ZipBcIzyYRyg0dzu2vdsVDaRl7nv_rkrw-CvVGi2R0iJKKaxZvACePkR7eS8dCXJWx3gXc8GQw/s3088/IMG_0358.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAd9_fyBtyCkw-e11m1EZC_53SwZ2C1gh3FMmUaxOGbiDS7QR2RAO8Qx7ck-5merhj6UqblS_IIMQpwZFAQQdS29qHf1wrdakFCX47RqhIPw-ZipBcIzyYRyg0dzu2vdsVDaRl7nv_rkrw-CvVGi2R0iJKKaxZvACePkR7eS8dCXJWx3gXc8GQw/s320/IMG_0358.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">when i was looking for an apartment i spent a day walking through the two neighborhoods i was most interested in living in....the 15th & 16th arr. ...they are "easy" to get to work from and have lots of things to do and are close to the eiffel tower....i ended up in the 15th which is a great spot...although at times the corner bar can be rather loud....i am going to have to go have a beer or two....</span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqCT3nuF7J7CclDAfL47LeMvF5BE1-BwH1z5fTQ4JkFyPU47n3R3G1Jr1Vs00vmJQ1dIuDQqrWFAU5gtAvxQFM-DwdWTVkUnhCupsBDFw79bMOViRi_j7_CPcffSa0c3hegCQEb48S98C2tjj4to0kKOdU-8GODx1Vc2J5fFQQLJ4UEWrhk1sNA/s4032/IMG_0356.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqCT3nuF7J7CclDAfL47LeMvF5BE1-BwH1z5fTQ4JkFyPU47n3R3G1Jr1Vs00vmJQ1dIuDQqrWFAU5gtAvxQFM-DwdWTVkUnhCupsBDFw79bMOViRi_j7_CPcffSa0c3hegCQEb48S98C2tjj4to0kKOdU-8GODx1Vc2J5fFQQLJ4UEWrhk1sNA/s320/IMG_0356.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial;">one of the many things i love about this town is trying to spot a piece of art by space invader...he is from paris and his stuff is everywhere....there have been tons of copycats and now he has other folks helping him make the mosaics....but the originals were his....the one on the left is one of his old ones...only half of it now exists....</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2JwCwEWibkPEtn9oB_xv_Za6RceYyrO0v2UY6fQW_lG7vtdR45SmXw_SxAx5-kYfNIbEaMgsJgP8Y1BZC4aRcsZ6Ihd7bFky1wnir60O5ufTcrz8JK3pR1v5hQmmTgA7Af6Fhatj96BFQDbZw-nyXKvcpMHFAIsHLm9W20SE_99IAdSCp9etIg/s4032/IMG_0378.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2JwCwEWibkPEtn9oB_xv_Za6RceYyrO0v2UY6fQW_lG7vtdR45SmXw_SxAx5-kYfNIbEaMgsJgP8Y1BZC4aRcsZ6Ihd7bFky1wnir60O5ufTcrz8JK3pR1v5hQmmTgA7Af6Fhatj96BFQDbZw-nyXKvcpMHFAIsHLm9W20SE_99IAdSCp9etIg/s320/IMG_0378.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;">one of the craziest things about paris is walking around and then suddenly seeing the monuments or museums....its just wild...i caught the Arc de Triomphe right at sunset while walking to the metro...just crazy....many times i look around and it feels just surreal that i live here....</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpXChKA33R3b8hbe8skL6DoNcC2x6Yq4pwqcdr9oPAk39awe2lSm_GCnYSJ-q8Ulek_lBuQVkK7zX1nkcRxzTA_y93rwjXsbMejbJed-QbDXM1SCHE74GbqqDzxfWi6P6C25GfPoXM2ifL5jdZCIzO-Y0iPO0Aw5MFFlKyfWQEAYaKDLEnmP8QA/s4032/IMG_0386.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpXChKA33R3b8hbe8skL6DoNcC2x6Yq4pwqcdr9oPAk39awe2lSm_GCnYSJ-q8Ulek_lBuQVkK7zX1nkcRxzTA_y93rwjXsbMejbJed-QbDXM1SCHE74GbqqDzxfWi6P6C25GfPoXM2ifL5jdZCIzO-Y0iPO0Aw5MFFlKyfWQEAYaKDLEnmP8QA/s320/IMG_0386.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;">i have walked through some of the gardens as well at this point - this is Luxembourg Garden....but I have to go back, because i have found out from teaching that the original meter was actually carved into one of the walls here out of marble...the original kilogram is actually housed in a museum in the town where my school is located...i will have to go check it out at some point..random things i love to learn....</span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACErjF8gfA2NAS9fSUJhSRIqvHgTmiV1eChtUyOqznjvO7j9ulJOIw--EyQiW6_PYl_kLCwkyGnJ1o6GgPfKwPTcUMBJYT56W54Cq5Y-b8BrsFdTVBJIpW83fCK_zUllGGO9TG-edbBH0MvQoQTTVE-Q4OUOYdQ5CQx2LIUji5ZrIYHWUE7Pp-g/s1080/5d14e6df-3792-4ce7-b8fa-0800f002ee64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACErjF8gfA2NAS9fSUJhSRIqvHgTmiV1eChtUyOqznjvO7j9ulJOIw--EyQiW6_PYl_kLCwkyGnJ1o6GgPfKwPTcUMBJYT56W54Cq5Y-b8BrsFdTVBJIpW83fCK_zUllGGO9TG-edbBH0MvQoQTTVE-Q4OUOYdQ5CQx2LIUji5ZrIYHWUE7Pp-g/s320/5d14e6df-3792-4ce7-b8fa-0800f002ee64.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">Merle is also here from Beijing and it has been fun to have a person to meet up with, who does not work at ASP....that way we do not talk shop....this was our first meet-up and our first cheese plate together....the best one so far, as they had 9 different types of cheese on it!!!! french cheese is a food group unto itself 🧀</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_AjJPJ7tUEPBMnoYc2-xbmDdshTg9bmZZxnH8A90jEU3DOlhU23JIy1ME3jynAyYBpZ3yHhw8d5rL-OONAv1ySLsj8CljUwF9vx1QEGjEaWZFggCwUXYOtNhmIW3l_bZBUKHOHaJAsYpvaV9GOl_otB7UkgX7Hy4Ze0uAAjzAK8oz_NmBbzQTg/s4032/IMG_0391.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_AjJPJ7tUEPBMnoYc2-xbmDdshTg9bmZZxnH8A90jEU3DOlhU23JIy1ME3jynAyYBpZ3yHhw8d5rL-OONAv1ySLsj8CljUwF9vx1QEGjEaWZFggCwUXYOtNhmIW3l_bZBUKHOHaJAsYpvaV9GOl_otB7UkgX7Hy4Ze0uAAjzAK8oz_NmBbzQTg/s320/IMG_0391.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">the decorating of all of the terraces is also its own classification....many of the places do it, and it is lovely to see...this is from the montparnasse part of the city, where there are crepe & galette places everywhere....and when in paris/france...you must have a crepe or galette....you just must!</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeak2xpQeDfHKD9JB2Iar1s1zrpcIOYDQmK0OBPYWHModanQGexVOwqQUA4htfAYVqxG_hvN9TNNkWyCY2w9LoaHOdgZJZ3HoMkbCUEZb2oIVz9YysYo4VP8u_WMgbmXoEU-xm9sd8yDsyS04JbtRV4oeStZ-ye67E7Mc7ho7W3idO8taBcVZ9ww/s4032/IMG_0415.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeak2xpQeDfHKD9JB2Iar1s1zrpcIOYDQmK0OBPYWHModanQGexVOwqQUA4htfAYVqxG_hvN9TNNkWyCY2w9LoaHOdgZJZ3HoMkbCUEZb2oIVz9YysYo4VP8u_WMgbmXoEU-xm9sd8yDsyS04JbtRV4oeStZ-ye67E7Mc7ho7W3idO8taBcVZ9ww/s320/IMG_0415.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">of course, i also am always happy to see the musee d-orsay...which is actually my favorite museum here...i have not made it inside yet, but i will....soon.....</span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJa40zYIeTh9qZz9-t02JDJz22LGSVt0AzVB-NuxMXARCN92x6yF_9ZmZCw3oMEgh5ICiNFDcTKiaCDztzxSf1BSbZHevGq-7Dpp1IhT4MTYXEGfUAn-xgLiXY6V2sTfZNSBwFgh0FrfyJF_G4FATLhwQRWj3ya98jnNXCPqUauFdvTMaO4uy9w/s4032/IMG_0430.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJa40zYIeTh9qZz9-t02JDJz22LGSVt0AzVB-NuxMXARCN92x6yF_9ZmZCw3oMEgh5ICiNFDcTKiaCDztzxSf1BSbZHevGq-7Dpp1IhT4MTYXEGfUAn-xgLiXY6V2sTfZNSBwFgh0FrfyJF_G4FATLhwQRWj3ya98jnNXCPqUauFdvTMaO4uy9w/s320/IMG_0430.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;">different types of sculptures are everywhere in this city....i love this one in the marais area of town....</span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RvcEa8HaBUTqR9fwLDW08__dz4qTs7ZQ5L2Nql4l0whWJ18wsWG4HbDrdsVs8kiXnqp9EPgy1QcVe64gm3U-fQsakrfakWi_eyHbKUG1Vdm4BQnuolitDObkQvPK8KrCbNhrVXF8rfLqQut-zeVIfhlWAxbtbDv60EyZSOJ8eUrA2a-PGhg-FA/s4032/IMG_0440.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RvcEa8HaBUTqR9fwLDW08__dz4qTs7ZQ5L2Nql4l0whWJ18wsWG4HbDrdsVs8kiXnqp9EPgy1QcVe64gm3U-fQsakrfakWi_eyHbKUG1Vdm4BQnuolitDObkQvPK8KrCbNhrVXF8rfLqQut-zeVIfhlWAxbtbDv60EyZSOJ8eUrA2a-PGhg-FA/s320/IMG_0440.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;">i know folks wanted to see my apartment, so the next few images are of it....it is rather modern and does not look like a quintessential paris apartment - it is just what i wanted...i am on the tenth floor...and actually has a oven, dishwasher!?! and washing machine/dryer?!?! in the open kitchen....</span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQo9t0kCznY7Ii4QkiJlL4F6Llo12oWtKstX55TNuyaSRBdpkRLS67zOFlDS3OCuqHpb0oFXlWMTADWe5PlTP7lexgI0yVyxpNdMVy-P_Z4Dwb4qHe3W0Us-E5oXf0-c5X6NQwh1lGi_Z55yS7cplzLS9NfYb-Pdb1nx7kiswn2reyPLar5duHg/s4032/IMG_0439.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQo9t0kCznY7Ii4QkiJlL4F6Llo12oWtKstX55TNuyaSRBdpkRLS67zOFlDS3OCuqHpb0oFXlWMTADWe5PlTP7lexgI0yVyxpNdMVy-P_Z4Dwb4qHe3W0Us-E5oXf0-c5X6NQwh1lGi_Z55yS7cplzLS9NfYb-Pdb1nx7kiswn2reyPLar5duHg/s320/IMG_0439.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">this first shot is my living room & kitchen space.... i have an open kitchen and a very comfy (I hope) pull-out couch....as you can see the space is rather modern, just the way i like things.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfVuf3nYFefl2TUMcF5NQkzlIRuasyFc26mhG0waVH83KEKcGlJoJGbOw8IfOCA6A29BRikFTo_mcVLesdtV1-x_SDcd4QXy-SxR6SNFzZfqh8Z56Yr3dyFy6z5TueOAIWS-dPiRLCG0pQwC0cTn4X0jGG3-9BBin4Sc7AgZPoxknqeykumqY7w/s4032/IMG_0456.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfVuf3nYFefl2TUMcF5NQkzlIRuasyFc26mhG0waVH83KEKcGlJoJGbOw8IfOCA6A29BRikFTo_mcVLesdtV1-x_SDcd4QXy-SxR6SNFzZfqh8Z56Yr3dyFy6z5TueOAIWS-dPiRLCG0pQwC0cTn4X0jGG3-9BBin4Sc7AgZPoxknqeykumqY7w/s320/IMG_0456.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">in my opinion, the best part about my apartment is the huge balcony - these are rarely found in Paris, unless you have a penthouse or something....mine is the whole length of the apartment....in this view you can see the Montparnasse Tower (one of the biggest buildings in Paris)....it is not very pretty....but maybe in the distance, you can see the dome of the pantheon....</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC_qsWIRG5qJMhYxGNun1-aYqA4HRt1SRfaSMGL-Z7Nzh4Ycz8I3nmSQ6fjKo1Fb3MjZA5wtfQ2V0FqKDSzdxz0CA6FB_lD95I6FvBXm19UwYHl_bgeay0uxilRZrCePno1xK1cghTn0-5f6hr1OR4RmAAJW7JyX3S8WLGoWabNwFbj9CL8iRKw/s4032/IMG_0457.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC_qsWIRG5qJMhYxGNun1-aYqA4HRt1SRfaSMGL-Z7Nzh4Ycz8I3nmSQ6fjKo1Fb3MjZA5wtfQ2V0FqKDSzdxz0CA6FB_lD95I6FvBXm19UwYHl_bgeay0uxilRZrCePno1xK1cghTn0-5f6hr1OR4RmAAJW7JyX3S8WLGoWabNwFbj9CL8iRKw/s320/IMG_0457.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">this is view the other direction....looking towards the seine.....so the apartment is facing south....but i can see the sunrise and later in the year, i will be able to see the sunset.....i love it for coffee and dinner on the balcony....so very nice....</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7KwQwClVxLS_jytMLOilPzUpcMFUFJ2K-H-B19lI_VIrPJjZk8Ydi4a-w5Db2BKc8YHGVuFOQ5wqkzB-PacHZV1C-zoSLLTtCglwU3GAyS3q_U-QqZFDvxOu14l5fWrDtxNlyWTFiUWIHqrUb9v08CeHcWxeUvQbAB-KSJPbBDqc2XWqHmt2yQ/s2100/IMG_0464.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7KwQwClVxLS_jytMLOilPzUpcMFUFJ2K-H-B19lI_VIrPJjZk8Ydi4a-w5Db2BKc8YHGVuFOQ5wqkzB-PacHZV1C-zoSLLTtCglwU3GAyS3q_U-QqZFDvxOu14l5fWrDtxNlyWTFiUWIHqrUb9v08CeHcWxeUvQbAB-KSJPbBDqc2XWqHmt2yQ/s320/IMG_0464.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">here you can see my apartment building and which apartment is mine (red arrow)...i did not want the quintessential french building, with a walk-up or tiny elevator....i was looking for something more modern with a balcony and a view...and i got that 😀</span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiRTlPj7hyPAteFJw1d6UFcFQk3wMQQhi6Kmx59BwqB_6Lbqz-0PYLZsPWUoTFHrpUHbVeByUIhmk_EafOuPtlGh3IvacYeinHdagQPO9kb-AoNyB3l1wBZBnHdVq8BvpfJLV-95b24IYtBvM7f_LK6qnb_EziUTbfQL1VwomZ-t2G0DpbhUiHA/s4032/IMG_0490.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiRTlPj7hyPAteFJw1d6UFcFQk3wMQQhi6Kmx59BwqB_6Lbqz-0PYLZsPWUoTFHrpUHbVeByUIhmk_EafOuPtlGh3IvacYeinHdagQPO9kb-AoNyB3l1wBZBnHdVq8BvpfJLV-95b24IYtBvM7f_LK6qnb_EziUTbfQL1VwomZ-t2G0DpbhUiHA/s320/IMG_0490.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000;">i am also quite happy with the square that is closest to my place - Cambronne - it is a metro stop and has four terrasse places on the corners that come together....this one is my favorite - piou - which means the sounds of a "cluck" or a "kiss"....very tasty and the waiters are terrific.....very friendly and let me practice my french😉</span><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLxPPdO1JCfaEelrd_L2ZZHuokV2YshFrfdmZXLTH36_TbJLr1zYxZzJ_wWQ2Q6VpjX8raXCe_WPKXvKm3j4BLCzojoij3W_7mvfbqgBHKlrmPtHfr91HQqYaAQZbw6ThVWqpObSOI0Enuze7vr60SEESgv85D0_X_GBvhGYBdfAOGyCY8q9ipQ/s4032/IMG_0551.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLxPPdO1JCfaEelrd_L2ZZHuokV2YshFrfdmZXLTH36_TbJLr1zYxZzJ_wWQ2Q6VpjX8raXCe_WPKXvKm3j4BLCzojoij3W_7mvfbqgBHKlrmPtHfr91HQqYaAQZbw6ThVWqpObSOI0Enuze7vr60SEESgv85D0_X_GBvhGYBdfAOGyCY8q9ipQ/s320/IMG_0551.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;">This is my newbie cohort, plus some wonderful folks from HR....they took us wine tasting at the Caves of the Louvre, as one of our fun activities in Paris....it was lovely and the Cave itself was amazing...sante (cheers in french)!!!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfT_SlILfJEXnYWTXZSUQo3qIxq3n2TVrn6GHYJFt9pq1fek7wgqF_N1WdnmZaMPrp8GC-vSzMkqNP5PDmtllBJwSgEYQb07pTnFgURMQ5zRirRVGBlXyHWgcZFGgakAPxZBfFo7450u2M0SvvyzZOq9LDt-sBDZpIcgVSIyZ92q9vzAgQLbvyg/s4032/IMG_0567.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfT_SlILfJEXnYWTXZSUQo3qIxq3n2TVrn6GHYJFt9pq1fek7wgqF_N1WdnmZaMPrp8GC-vSzMkqNP5PDmtllBJwSgEYQb07pTnFgURMQ5zRirRVGBlXyHWgcZFGgakAPxZBfFo7450u2M0SvvyzZOq9LDt-sBDZpIcgVSIyZ92q9vzAgQLbvyg/s320/IMG_0567.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;">It is always overwhelming to be walking along and suddenly be face-to-face with the eiffel tower....i can see it on my walk home from my metro stop and it is very visible during the bus portion of my commute to school....it is mind-blowing that i get to see it...and really, i always have to look & think to myself - wow, I live here.....it's crazy</span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXBUvIsTGJWdhVdM9DoGnIjKFfyv8CdLkycwTw5kDDEIu50hsBnG7nROouS-XpzSjeCjz9i0FC47b9OJd6fkQYyMWyAJsaISU7OhD9G5rZgI2Y4Uw2ZzCaJKAa-KOKXJD3pYrS9BXnjPzgTSSqE0RjEBbfXi5kViGcH_VsUCqDRroNbBsH5LidQ/s4032/IMG_0577.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXBUvIsTGJWdhVdM9DoGnIjKFfyv8CdLkycwTw5kDDEIu50hsBnG7nROouS-XpzSjeCjz9i0FC47b9OJd6fkQYyMWyAJsaISU7OhD9G5rZgI2Y4Uw2ZzCaJKAa-KOKXJD3pYrS9BXnjPzgTSSqE0RjEBbfXi5kViGcH_VsUCqDRroNbBsH5LidQ/s320/IMG_0577.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">another shot of the eiffel tower from another angle....this is as you cross one of the many bridges over the seine, but this is the one that has the weird bridge from inception and an excellent view of the eiffel tower...</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3q-1Jq2M9d8NpkEBPxjJGF3ZiKV51OR3ww0CGxzqy3YQ1n2mtCEJ3c42eSOCvux_XY38XnDKoSIDHK38NVoA2J2wwC7BgncsuaisvC0Q3hseoMxhQIIYAZLEV6jR1BvA4TSTqTb_cTJGxkyxu48KSc_X4LJik58OKrBXggJHCGRZrerGGCTPpw/s4032/IMG_0584.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3q-1Jq2M9d8NpkEBPxjJGF3ZiKV51OR3ww0CGxzqy3YQ1n2mtCEJ3c42eSOCvux_XY38XnDKoSIDHK38NVoA2J2wwC7BgncsuaisvC0Q3hseoMxhQIIYAZLEV6jR1BvA4TSTqTb_cTJGxkyxu48KSc_X4LJik58OKrBXggJHCGRZrerGGCTPpw/s320/IMG_0584.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">this is my classroom for 7th grade science - it has a ton of light, but the windows really do not open very much....luckily i have two air conditioners, which help immensely, as the windows face south and we cook in the room when it is sunny...especially in the afternoons....</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyP5axAZvE5shwRXLOgYzheFwH7KBiQoZkmbdnTdA86-9iSYZtDfOlLKqIEO2cwhibYHrqxjzMMwAm490xjUDtvd884qiDZ-j_rlm2oofkTWAgWxFfFAz3sYd8wSbtFZ_Sb9EOGb5gQZahTEaZxn0FW7RrTHv2hQHsvUHZvXgJ6ZwK6tWeaVp1Q/s4032/IMG_0585.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyP5axAZvE5shwRXLOgYzheFwH7KBiQoZkmbdnTdA86-9iSYZtDfOlLKqIEO2cwhibYHrqxjzMMwAm490xjUDtvd884qiDZ-j_rlm2oofkTWAgWxFfFAz3sYd8wSbtFZ_Sb9EOGb5gQZahTEaZxn0FW7RrTHv2hQHsvUHZvXgJ6ZwK6tWeaVp1Q/s320/IMG_0585.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">as you can see, i have both lab stations and moveable tables this time around....the lab is fine and i am starting to know where equipment is located....when i first got here, much of the room was completely empty.... it's getting better slowly, but surely as we start doing labs and working in the room</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF0JC1YspNbhyAx6wXKx0ApZsVlmYJdQZHQQ1TfZnNW1uBdslxIWotWHC7YqNBgeU6K4Zjz42R1DgXq_CPmgDZovBgMPeXJ7pwsPsEk4-ddLoul0sqGM0C5-ORpCkTX8bLlPKKJGVaw6lOVcVEHDyAfAVVH90xICCYV6Ek4n25jPE_EPlTDN7_A/s4032/IMG_0512.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF0JC1YspNbhyAx6wXKx0ApZsVlmYJdQZHQQ1TfZnNW1uBdslxIWotWHC7YqNBgeU6K4Zjz42R1DgXq_CPmgDZovBgMPeXJ7pwsPsEk4-ddLoul0sqGM0C5-ORpCkTX8bLlPKKJGVaw6lOVcVEHDyAfAVVH90xICCYV6Ek4n25jPE_EPlTDN7_A/s320/IMG_0512.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;">i have an amazing outdoor sunday market around the corner from my apartment....it has everything you could ever want in the way of fresh food....one of the most impressive stores is the cheese/fromagerie kiosk....they bring the entire cabinet with them....and there is more than one of these in the two blocks of the market....the cheese here has been amazing....and there are sooooo many kinds 🧀</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ6rhN0G5XPow6uIiJg93vC4sPLuMtb9VKfy43rFvIQxozJ7shvgxUcnJK0irlaMi9h71-BZ9huglVV_WX9PGRAkCM7Y4aYjFloslEyIRDCrWaccm67KJGY8yRtSDO5OVGSCzr3yIf-kDaqfZJUk6bhMEWRrmlCCYliwQMPAgA802LiG6giZ83Q/s4032/IMG_0625.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ6rhN0G5XPow6uIiJg93vC4sPLuMtb9VKfy43rFvIQxozJ7shvgxUcnJK0irlaMi9h71-BZ9huglVV_WX9PGRAkCM7Y4aYjFloslEyIRDCrWaccm67KJGY8yRtSDO5OVGSCzr3yIf-kDaqfZJUk6bhMEWRrmlCCYliwQMPAgA802LiG6giZ83Q/s320/IMG_0625.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;">the fresh flowers are also incredible... this was the week i bought sunflowers....the week after dahlias....there are just so many to choose from and they last for much of a week 🌻 there are so many more stands...which i will share every now and again...but these two are my favorites so far....</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve5v_iu4t0JFD3XBjgNbHxxDcy7Ug_u42xpqKDMNpBuInikc011VbPI1Cgs8a3Bn_tjGWe-0Tr1ufqzIrF8H8b0yIcMrtdfi8ZV-yPEqRPexWwGK9ywtc79aDJhh1Q1n0TLZss9Gs_eEUglIDkV2laWKne0GmE_TmMdL0HUySYWMLorN2JHf02Q/s4032/IMG_0608.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjve5v_iu4t0JFD3XBjgNbHxxDcy7Ug_u42xpqKDMNpBuInikc011VbPI1Cgs8a3Bn_tjGWe-0Tr1ufqzIrF8H8b0yIcMrtdfi8ZV-yPEqRPexWwGK9ywtc79aDJhh1Q1n0TLZss9Gs_eEUglIDkV2laWKne0GmE_TmMdL0HUySYWMLorN2JHf02Q/s320/IMG_0608.HEIC" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial;">of course, i needed to include a picture of the eiffel tower, and this is actually what i can see on my walk home from the metro....all lit up and sparkling every hour on the hour at night....so very cool!!!</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSHd6q2vTjw2TuMBKIuJXdFw-1-4-rVczGf0SdmgTIEcJScUhNUrVFVhz1yitiCfN-O4oGKBkjzklhUcKhgHGaNjIVNP9hbGBTTR_q-WBb8QSmhn0tmRzPZsXsC3poqJbQrVd7NhSzEe3lVvhgl82saV5zaK-K4lj6eusm9Es9tSAQrkYefGBag/s4032/IMG_0693.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSHd6q2vTjw2TuMBKIuJXdFw-1-4-rVczGf0SdmgTIEcJScUhNUrVFVhz1yitiCfN-O4oGKBkjzklhUcKhgHGaNjIVNP9hbGBTTR_q-WBb8QSmhn0tmRzPZsXsC3poqJbQrVd7NhSzEe3lVvhgl82saV5zaK-K4lj6eusm9Es9tSAQrkYefGBag/s320/IMG_0693.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">the shot above is from my balcony on the morning of the first full day of school....i got up early enough to catch the sunrise....thought that was a cool way to start the year....when its morning here, it is quiet...the french like to stay up late and sleep late....so early mornings are quite nice...plus, i have a commute in the mornings of a metro and bus....so i need to give myself time to get to school early enough to start my day....i have been leaving at 3:30pm, right when school ends....which has been wonderful...i have even left my laptop at school several nights during the week...which has been awesome!!!! </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9QdTjuuhvh2MKA5exPaC6bXEwTWFxB7gZWno4ZiX8OukA5q6HyiwkgbIx6net2K7Q-ti6Cvk2S9W5_BW71WlUhZjCY-zs5m1-vnrgiDATCdY-6-GTRwhZaeH_RLx7IZ1Nu-AfQGy4UclPM7f2cAzyZm4SmkoLd0T6DXOO-ur7B2RC4CR7sBeMA/s2557/IMG_0675.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2557" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9QdTjuuhvh2MKA5exPaC6bXEwTWFxB7gZWno4ZiX8OukA5q6HyiwkgbIx6net2K7Q-ti6Cvk2S9W5_BW71WlUhZjCY-zs5m1-vnrgiDATCdY-6-GTRwhZaeH_RLx7IZ1Nu-AfQGy4UclPM7f2cAzyZm4SmkoLd0T6DXOO-ur7B2RC4CR7sBeMA/s320/IMG_0675.HEIC" width="248" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;">i know....its not me and a beer....but i live in paris and summer and picnics here are all about the rose.....so this is me at a friend's bday picnic, on the lawn of les invalides....drinking rose...sante!!!</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">so my life in france is moving forward....so far it has gone quite smoothly....i am hoping for my first break in october to go diving in malta and am in the process of putting that trip together...it is so nice to have a trip on the horizon....malta, will be country number 90....so keep those fingers crossed that it happens....also, i will be in the states for xmas...not a long time, but if you are in the Philadelphia area over the holdiays, let me know...and we can try and make a meet up happen....hope all of you are having a great start to your spring/fall....if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out....and if you are headed to paris...please let me know 😎</span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: arial;">peace out.....dani</span></div>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-21085498083915096402023-07-21T18:08:00.003+02:002023-07-22T22:51:15.919+02:00China Take 2 - Leaving for Paris, France<p>July 22, 2023</p><p>Hey there folks - </p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">it has been a long time since you have heard from me….again….BUT things in China were still crazy this past year with their zero covid policy and things just got strange after they dropped all of the rules….this had happened as i was writing to you all last time….but the craziness continued with no rules as well…..after the rules were dissolved, my school was super busy, packing three years worth of experiences into three months….which was awesome for the kids, but exhausting for everyone involved….</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">However, i did get some final travels INSIDE of china before leaving and was able to do many of the final things i wanted to do to say “goodbye” to china and all of the amazing things there…from food, to landscape, to history, to culture….china is one of a kind….but i am not sure i will make it back….the last three years have been hard on a few different levels…..as always i will miss certain things and of course the people that i will not see again, but overall, i know my time in china has come to a close….too much weirdness, and a few different reasons about why i should not return…..so, it is on to Paris, France I go!!!! Which i am super excited about!!! I know i will be there for two years, i know i will be there and attend some olympic games next summer and i know lots of folks are interested in coming to visit…..so let me know if you are headed my way and i will try and do my best to meet up and help with anything you want to do while visiting!!!! Vive la France 🇫🇷</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);">But of course I would be remiss if i did not include my pictures from the last 6 months of my stay in china…from chengdu with the pandas, to chongqing - the biggest city in china, to shanghai for chinese new year, to zhnagjiajie - also known as the avatar mountains, to the shaolin temple with students and all of my fun experiences in beijing…..china is like no other country….and i am thankful to have spent time there getting to know all the different aspects of it….i did miss a few key places after six years, but i am not sure i will get the chance to return…..xie xie china….and thanks for an interesting, challenging, life-changing experience…..on with the pictures 😎</span></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI6w6BALFsq5f4f1dWuyGmMXSk4TAcavjpxb8Vbp__LZRaAku1lY38kznn-kabF6QMz68kxSzeVSxwLV_g20pS9KIh5FE15hAMZSl4GTfdmzDJP_GW_szZAS_uAaEucCt4utLg2S9C2fKFIvdBr4K6Vjmezm1wxy-LD5XQqK1K7koDpYQLMtObw/s4032/IMG_4400.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI6w6BALFsq5f4f1dWuyGmMXSk4TAcavjpxb8Vbp__LZRaAku1lY38kznn-kabF6QMz68kxSzeVSxwLV_g20pS9KIh5FE15hAMZSl4GTfdmzDJP_GW_szZAS_uAaEucCt4utLg2S9C2fKFIvdBr4K6Vjmezm1wxy-LD5XQqK1K7koDpYQLMtObw/s320/IMG_4400.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">This past year I had christmas in Chengdu with the pandas….everywhere we went there were pandas and rabbits - because this is also the year of the rabbit! 🐼🐰 don’t worry, this bus did not move and was located in the center of town….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSXfi53OIxCkmJfG56wOSEXclq-YaUy9-zsV1DkqhAXqeF2RlKgFq194bJJPr97-azA-5ugnP7qUtrPILKkum6W2LRyOXwXHN0Xc0Xq81BszIVHm_5XU3NGpSokTvjwmdLMSDI1awechvteZiLHKh4rFVNOr2rJraolvDYFgNC-QzokzuM63Lqw/s4032/IMG_4438.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSXfi53OIxCkmJfG56wOSEXclq-YaUy9-zsV1DkqhAXqeF2RlKgFq194bJJPr97-azA-5ugnP7qUtrPILKkum6W2LRyOXwXHN0Xc0Xq81BszIVHm_5XU3NGpSokTvjwmdLMSDI1awechvteZiLHKh4rFVNOr2rJraolvDYFgNC-QzokzuM63Lqw/s320/IMG_4438.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #351c75;">We went to see the pandas one of the mornings we were in town and got there before the multitudes…it was chilly, but definitely not cold, and there was no snow, which was kind of a bummer, because the pandas love playing in the snow….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3zTmCrTBOxAtAEBTRfkoQO6_J3l3CMdvJYSEA5TYiszcKG69vqrBQD2kmiYmy31T2ZYlmJGBXe8KkPA5sSPpQxUrwSIqW2JCZwbx7imbpfmVH322YpFHSq_I1oOvBX8VMJkJYhM9jDIGlCc95m9-t6Q84c2eU5XwMERLJyXhTjGO_Gs53MNdNQ/s4032/IMG_4444.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3zTmCrTBOxAtAEBTRfkoQO6_J3l3CMdvJYSEA5TYiszcKG69vqrBQD2kmiYmy31T2ZYlmJGBXe8KkPA5sSPpQxUrwSIqW2JCZwbx7imbpfmVH322YpFHSq_I1oOvBX8VMJkJYhM9jDIGlCc95m9-t6Q84c2eU5XwMERLJyXhTjGO_Gs53MNdNQ/s320/IMG_4444.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #741b47;">Pandas spend much of their day eating…they became endangered because they are very specific with the types of bamboo they eat….there are over 1500 species of bamboo in the world, but pandas will only eat 20 of them….and bamboo is not very nutritious, so they need to eat a lot of it per day….here is one panda who was enjoying breakfast when we arrived…they are in a glass enclosure, but all of the enclosures have outdoor space….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpbsQT0hi-fJOpYnXIaFT7c9fXMiMUd9VWY8NUa5m7G9iiNq13MxjIIEnBN1iVsUPJTuSH_JoR_CdP6rai9haiUieyEkPROibV-K7qiqgQ97kRVReWisRwN3i5fgkQclm3E3s_ERconybUUQgI4ENEdD8JjMXv_g_Hg8dV8eBaHafzMf8djDBHw/s2369/IMG_4457.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2369" data-original-width="2013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpbsQT0hi-fJOpYnXIaFT7c9fXMiMUd9VWY8NUa5m7G9iiNq13MxjIIEnBN1iVsUPJTuSH_JoR_CdP6rai9haiUieyEkPROibV-K7qiqgQ97kRVReWisRwN3i5fgkQclm3E3s_ERconybUUQgI4ENEdD8JjMXv_g_Hg8dV8eBaHafzMf8djDBHw/s320/IMG_4457.HEIC" width="272" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #cc0000;">The other activity pandas love is sleeping….and they can sleep anywhere ;) even in the trees….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdP7OduT6VfbDOD2P2LNKXtJyM9WpbVp-319HdfCFql7kSYBZ99RRulkWOgZsAfBNFZSzUCXIJkpcjkW0bVbE3MXKu-BCZ1bXIf473-gVvvnZJu72R8xsqF-udf9fXK_E_2Kqrw511qAJPg4W8wCENVnvtEAy6mr9spTxGZ8f8zujDrX89tUQdA/s4032/IMG_4466.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdP7OduT6VfbDOD2P2LNKXtJyM9WpbVp-319HdfCFql7kSYBZ99RRulkWOgZsAfBNFZSzUCXIJkpcjkW0bVbE3MXKu-BCZ1bXIf473-gVvvnZJu72R8xsqF-udf9fXK_E_2Kqrw511qAJPg4W8wCENVnvtEAy6mr9spTxGZ8f8zujDrX89tUQdA/s320/IMG_4466.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;">The baby pandas were so roly-poly and fun to watch…this one kept playing with the basket…</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XQqqh63AnfdhTGpMA2Bh7PnMK00n6QF5RCYdnAs0R6lMWANCIF6BEQIZZub6enVUxOjQGU4tzz0iygVDogY6JJeOVpRpEozNqmo9elzBI2mdbav1aOukq1yvK9vTpUCDWkHFCb3LfiiyZhD0UdhVaveQ43Esm9Da5p-Iaic8f7G0S37q_YI5HA/s2108/IMG_4485.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2023" data-original-width="2108" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XQqqh63AnfdhTGpMA2Bh7PnMK00n6QF5RCYdnAs0R6lMWANCIF6BEQIZZub6enVUxOjQGU4tzz0iygVDogY6JJeOVpRpEozNqmo9elzBI2mdbav1aOukq1yvK9vTpUCDWkHFCb3LfiiyZhD0UdhVaveQ43Esm9Da5p-Iaic8f7G0S37q_YI5HA/s320/IMG_4485.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #134f5c;">Many of the spaces have platforms for the pandas to climb on and sleep on, like the one above….they also tend to share the outdoor space with other pandas in their families….it is a pretty impressive research facility and they have increased the numbers of pandas in the world considerably….so much so that the panda is no longer considered endangered…..</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ4UBjY8TrKPnSIHCFQdBYsLb8rvY0LW3qSNnfWT8_MrYBQOK1f7kueZ2zLqBsii43OAB84HIOOXj9Yq-2LqEEXYLXZmKrlHlyn2dMRKqgytrEfYIKPbLqBnPh4OakGZWVNVPFhDaJaq8CCg4971hH7EEJ7S1tKgQbfZ09bM7yaDg9-LG05CyzQ/s4032/IMG_4490.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ4UBjY8TrKPnSIHCFQdBYsLb8rvY0LW3qSNnfWT8_MrYBQOK1f7kueZ2zLqBsii43OAB84HIOOXj9Yq-2LqEEXYLXZmKrlHlyn2dMRKqgytrEfYIKPbLqBnPh4OakGZWVNVPFhDaJaq8CCg4971hH7EEJ7S1tKgQbfZ09bM7yaDg9-LG05CyzQ/s320/IMG_4490.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I was very excited that i got to return to chengdu and see the pandas…they are amazing animals…it was fun trip with friends for the holidays….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2fY1TmGTnCSKTDz1GlTFAFCzxw0peuDbRipa5YVlyOlx-Eq8tCPqbi7gzMkCMiC6J3s3vMXyC8n6PlVG0CuoZ_xUfz0OL76cTWWZdtSdNo4d9MddEhNHtG0Mw3eme-0v_AbUklwG0D4g_a9-zU8HJ3BIwmXZIA3dV6ocLhKqV9U64zYX7lvtqQ/s1706/IMG_4546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1706" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2fY1TmGTnCSKTDz1GlTFAFCzxw0peuDbRipa5YVlyOlx-Eq8tCPqbi7gzMkCMiC6J3s3vMXyC8n6PlVG0CuoZ_xUfz0OL76cTWWZdtSdNo4d9MddEhNHtG0Mw3eme-0v_AbUklwG0D4g_a9-zU8HJ3BIwmXZIA3dV6ocLhKqV9U64zYX7lvtqQ/s320/IMG_4546.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);">This is a picture of the crew i was with for xmas morning…we celebrated with stockings for all and fun glasses and hats…the chinese waitstaff loved it as well, as most chinese do not celebrate christmas…..</span></span></span><p></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSjzvDY8NmImgCnljlGYq075c5LZUxtf_QX1jjnp3yHVi_fNHoqEKcl1qsmTFddAfiw21OQ32Tdh4UG6oE4GFzV4eql7ykXE0BGS7Oc0eWNlSY2ygBV-uM64fOSHnsf0BaTDXFKVpawwlQkqdkB3tgtzkC1_s6eF5PDtyOKfisGiSk3xg3kQyRg/s4032/IMG_4607.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSjzvDY8NmImgCnljlGYq075c5LZUxtf_QX1jjnp3yHVi_fNHoqEKcl1qsmTFddAfiw21OQ32Tdh4UG6oE4GFzV4eql7ykXE0BGS7Oc0eWNlSY2ygBV-uM64fOSHnsf0BaTDXFKVpawwlQkqdkB3tgtzkC1_s6eF5PDtyOKfisGiSk3xg3kQyRg/s320/IMG_4607.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">After chengdu i then headed with two friends to the city of chongqing….this is one of china’s biggest cities, if not the biggest….there are 30 million people located in the greater chongqing area…it is HUGE….it is also the location where a metro car actually goes through an apartment building….and yes, folks really do live in this building above the metro stop…..</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA77X_Q6Tx_LdTqYbr7kmZTtyqk3iAVT4PFNNNE7WyMKB0oFWpSYtql8V75L1tpWQjndzlCiPEft-KLm9oUR3hA2Wj2Z8sMb3NUrmtgVCMNfFpPZzaHkcDmx2vLy5zSh7t9f0KOSOzOUl9Wqx-G2D4vrCGWhHQSOc6ZEWWsVzblg-HskOehO6Tug/s3578/IMG_4617.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="3578" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA77X_Q6Tx_LdTqYbr7kmZTtyqk3iAVT4PFNNNE7WyMKB0oFWpSYtql8V75L1tpWQjndzlCiPEft-KLm9oUR3hA2Wj2Z8sMb3NUrmtgVCMNfFpPZzaHkcDmx2vLy5zSh7t9f0KOSOzOUl9Wqx-G2D4vrCGWhHQSOc6ZEWWsVzblg-HskOehO6Tug/s320/IMG_4617.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #351c75;">Chongqing has a whole section of town dedicated to graffiti….if you have been to china or know things about china…they are not a place that embraces graffiti, so this was quite surprising and amazing to us…the murals on the buildings above and below, were my favorites on the street where all of this art is located….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaU2jFn4hualohftYnkpGrhwwGVfHc-1uKbhs8WUY5RvA1zWRVAammmKJMagki_w-D6rlEeQDzCv2cR1ULTBGkn0Ho0lSvrbNydEMOW8Qr1IYEnrRmhA4d6ABQwkuV6cZAm6aMyPyWg3_5FgbbbKwjau-FaVdb1KXFtGUk6wwpSMoRy-EQ8gVQQ/s4032/IMG_4633.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaU2jFn4hualohftYnkpGrhwwGVfHc-1uKbhs8WUY5RvA1zWRVAammmKJMagki_w-D6rlEeQDzCv2cR1ULTBGkn0Ho0lSvrbNydEMOW8Qr1IYEnrRmhA4d6ABQwkuV6cZAm6aMyPyWg3_5FgbbbKwjau-FaVdb1KXFtGUk6wwpSMoRy-EQ8gVQQ/s320/IMG_4633.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #741b47;">The mural above reminds me of all chinese towns and cities i have been in….you can always find chinese folks playing games around a table….whether mahjong or go or a myriad of card games…they can get quite competitive….love this mural…..</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm1061Qb3GCnfD_qJiTwLQpvvNL2ZLfoW8V6t6WEjv5ZpcaJDeYPEKsU4f9XVkYDdZEKx38gicPhHDB2ylyR6hhOQg98TI8GOTK7bfLBeyjtH3pRjeq8lkIhczkHjDt8ELYUFx2ymU83QypqCMVkCu7ePvnDtLheG1ECR6Khz_0ILELawnpc8Zg/s4032/IMG_4681.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm1061Qb3GCnfD_qJiTwLQpvvNL2ZLfoW8V6t6WEjv5ZpcaJDeYPEKsU4f9XVkYDdZEKx38gicPhHDB2ylyR6hhOQg98TI8GOTK7bfLBeyjtH3pRjeq8lkIhczkHjDt8ELYUFx2ymU83QypqCMVkCu7ePvnDtLheG1ECR6Khz_0ILELawnpc8Zg/s320/IMG_4681.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #990000;">Chongqing also has this really amazing building that starts on the water front and goes up the side of a mountain…it was called the Hongyadong Shopping and Eating area…although it rained the whole time we were there….we did have a good time and ate some amazing dan-dan noodles, which the region is known for….slurp!!!! 🍜</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-4qW1rdZJGmmUXrEuXinDiAcevOfVdpqfkR8ILHBCEEEROqPXP-tdq0FpXZoh_ha1AsSMU7I9gZfVL1_qZ2Xcu-Nd8I_FG7POZtPsAGUfC4a2TlHTRjL0fHs-EPR-aQvxQMlVWru_EbPa1HZaC4RhA_vyOENp3uc3f2l-2vL6kMZXC4CliCBMQ/s4032/IMG_4846.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-4qW1rdZJGmmUXrEuXinDiAcevOfVdpqfkR8ILHBCEEEROqPXP-tdq0FpXZoh_ha1AsSMU7I9gZfVL1_qZ2Xcu-Nd8I_FG7POZtPsAGUfC4a2TlHTRjL0fHs-EPR-aQvxQMlVWru_EbPa1HZaC4RhA_vyOENp3uc3f2l-2vL6kMZXC4CliCBMQ/s320/IMG_4846.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;">Chinese New Year was quite close to Christmas this year, and i still was not able to get a flight out of china to another location….due to crazy prices and a lack of flights leaving china…this would actually plague me even up to and including the flight i took out of china in june….travel to and from china is still not back to normal after all of the zero-covid rules….bleh….so for chinese new year, i headed south to shanghai to catch up with friends and hang in the city i love…..here’s to the year of the rabbit 🐰</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRbwdfF2kgFSta7XL-DtSGgMNUE2lxw1CXCcViF305c22cbM6SRGw4If7t5cCKg-rOVnRWizX3TQZiFxGuco9i3qx0vbCBJ4WfYprKSga5ss9WEQayq6uP6nOdSlA0jRdV0LL9FkGr2cz2oMLpQXtUYhzQMlgQWZKMQHB4_nDPSez08E6k3b-Ug/s2085/IMG_4837.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2085" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRbwdfF2kgFSta7XL-DtSGgMNUE2lxw1CXCcViF305c22cbM6SRGw4If7t5cCKg-rOVnRWizX3TQZiFxGuco9i3qx0vbCBJ4WfYprKSga5ss9WEQayq6uP6nOdSlA0jRdV0LL9FkGr2cz2oMLpQXtUYhzQMlgQWZKMQHB4_nDPSez08E6k3b-Ug/s320/IMG_4837.HEIC" width="185" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Of course there were tons of rabbit decorations and red lanterns and good luck door couplets and fu good luck characters….this huge lantern was on sale, but i did not think i could bring it back with me on the train ;)</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCGXRHDAqSZi3ttoUruWu-eV2WmZ0aoU69SPmi5ZnDxfB_yfl4f513FKYAB8-ak1GwhGNzX2VDW1okSX09X7hln-ltlafZTpOVZlDRgBkWU2sS2vxy8Arohj7_F1NfY5JwCpAWyWVY6g3f1cV9ucXccadJnlNZfMVRHGF1S0nT8UkvZa4pgYkug/s4032/IMG_4861.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCGXRHDAqSZi3ttoUruWu-eV2WmZ0aoU69SPmi5ZnDxfB_yfl4f513FKYAB8-ak1GwhGNzX2VDW1okSX09X7hln-ltlafZTpOVZlDRgBkWU2sS2vxy8Arohj7_F1NfY5JwCpAWyWVY6g3f1cV9ucXccadJnlNZfMVRHGF1S0nT8UkvZa4pgYkug/s320/IMG_4861.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;">And of course there were rabbits everywhere….this one was in yuyuan gardens, which we visited on a walking tour during the day before it got super full in the evening….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Iy24Erx2m1N3HSkhm2oSFFlHlYqoSWK6sxwFbeyJ5NXKnvwIrpLTWsByb9Xzwdm5ftTFtmrP96LblpOih9M8HGoQ2EhB5q8eeB-5YM3YPdH0DxVmYqg6Un5muXP7cv_YInuSNpnwlhIp5icJ6cC5VlBrUMloYqWzma2BJP5sKWOCb3eofl_6w/s1607/IMG_4867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1607" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Iy24Erx2m1N3HSkhm2oSFFlHlYqoSWK6sxwFbeyJ5NXKnvwIrpLTWsByb9Xzwdm5ftTFtmrP96LblpOih9M8HGoQ2EhB5q8eeB-5YM3YPdH0DxVmYqg6Un5muXP7cv_YInuSNpnwlhIp5icJ6cC5VlBrUMloYqWzma2BJP5sKWOCb3eofl_6w/s320/IMG_4867.JPG" width="215" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #134f5c;">This picture is of a man hanging the traditional door couplets for good luck and prosperity in the coming year….these are always red for good luck 🏮</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufcLOYvlk_CpNV5XKRYIKQnCIh8bICgAKNRMwMd1-_rSKC8etNaJrS9n0WvIpfng1Ob0ckNl5Mj7UU1KNp_bmxUWcE7RxZDe3GwZWGN3uoCKQBige2rzPE5WfLsuQ7RIe7Rvmh0J9xXsmQO2vq0721emMtiLjRSBMftaumYuUBR-g0yg9AmUb8A/s4032/IMG_4873.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufcLOYvlk_CpNV5XKRYIKQnCIh8bICgAKNRMwMd1-_rSKC8etNaJrS9n0WvIpfng1Ob0ckNl5Mj7UU1KNp_bmxUWcE7RxZDe3GwZWGN3uoCKQBige2rzPE5WfLsuQ7RIe7Rvmh0J9xXsmQO2vq0721emMtiLjRSBMftaumYuUBR-g0yg9AmUb8A/s320/IMG_4873.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Also, on the first day of the new year…the big shopping district held lion and dragon dances for good luck and prosperity in the coming year….even though it was raining…people really felt the need to have these this year after the craziness of covid in china….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS5b2dTVe2c3iIrqISJQYDJ9o0Lxf0DNA07TPWvTJ1stx0LpQi_DI3ExCn7NXY4VvK6vg9fzfSNcoiwENwEgxZDLR7UiGH0gfLo78qhvJ5TmXGAkbJ3XhOiOLyn8KByHqamNtXwFd49BaVZLaXXrrXOjs7AUT07S8ngXpdmo1THbqLiOIxJrrbQ/s3022/IMG_4889.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="3022" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS5b2dTVe2c3iIrqISJQYDJ9o0Lxf0DNA07TPWvTJ1stx0LpQi_DI3ExCn7NXY4VvK6vg9fzfSNcoiwENwEgxZDLR7UiGH0gfLo78qhvJ5TmXGAkbJ3XhOiOLyn8KByHqamNtXwFd49BaVZLaXXrrXOjs7AUT07S8ngXpdmo1THbqLiOIxJrrbQ/s320/IMG_4889.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">This shot is taken down nanjing lu….the huge shopping street that leads to the bund!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-7r0K8jXDLmfjv6KquGuOnjP8bK7jYaysUchix2AWXNrzLiRpDoNsxBFsd-EqzE5zPQEm4QtFjupP4VqUr5omjZV170ACnfng-F510nm04hsX4oGlagXdVCkIkGiAq3L4XWm--SBBVvB_m_AbQTYbCmdnNA1w-lT4Mlt1O37i2KXUgASMm4uZw/s4032/IMG_9918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-7r0K8jXDLmfjv6KquGuOnjP8bK7jYaysUchix2AWXNrzLiRpDoNsxBFsd-EqzE5zPQEm4QtFjupP4VqUr5omjZV170ACnfng-F510nm04hsX4oGlagXdVCkIkGiAq3L4XWm--SBBVvB_m_AbQTYbCmdnNA1w-lT4Mlt1O37i2KXUgASMm4uZw/s320/IMG_9918.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #351c75;">Once back in beijing, i was able to experience a great art installation by teamlab….they had an entire room of bubbles that you could go play in…if it comes to where you are, you really should go check it out and have fun!!!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19Xep9nZrJ5Cjczz4nQ1SAreYnXTZd2_jwE7mfsX6c2hA1UFiQPnPxR0djFmN_M4MZ0nFQB3rFydm7LYBqtJWFlZD8zt_kA6UYUiRkItSwcgiw5IyviYkD4Wlm5EKurBKEY6jAgjORlDA5BSwqFxOUsENa--0LtwT9Uv0MGe3H-dEf0lj4gaibQ/s4032/IMG_4983.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19Xep9nZrJ5Cjczz4nQ1SAreYnXTZd2_jwE7mfsX6c2hA1UFiQPnPxR0djFmN_M4MZ0nFQB3rFydm7LYBqtJWFlZD8zt_kA6UYUiRkItSwcgiw5IyviYkD4Wlm5EKurBKEY6jAgjORlDA5BSwqFxOUsENa--0LtwT9Uv0MGe3H-dEf0lj4gaibQ/s320/IMG_4983.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #741b47;">During the last part of chinese new year, i took my last trip to the wall with some friends…we rented a huge house and spent two nights up there…it was spectacular….unfortunately at this point, the wall was closed due to covid….still….it really did mess up plans…but we had a great time hanging out, cooking, playing games, reading and being in each other’s company…..activities with other folks like these are really what helped me get through the tough covid times in beijing/china over the past three years…..</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnsPkMDCwQ6rcwzMoki8srWOAzQJ0Oh1CyfN0hhbZ-ubF5Hb2QoRVF3ojjKrD-fC7MqeJ8LXg3l2_B9pRED1ZPG1mB-p7VvtIJJ-gQGtNBYQoZJNO-MYDwxy8cVWeXcl8C-RBv1AK0xHhYXFD42YPv3gvqCRI1NKdfVaxapHt_Sb2CUmtpqLFPA/s4032/IMG_4998.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnsPkMDCwQ6rcwzMoki8srWOAzQJ0Oh1CyfN0hhbZ-ubF5Hb2QoRVF3ojjKrD-fC7MqeJ8LXg3l2_B9pRED1ZPG1mB-p7VvtIJJ-gQGtNBYQoZJNO-MYDwxy8cVWeXcl8C-RBv1AK0xHhYXFD42YPv3gvqCRI1NKdfVaxapHt_Sb2CUmtpqLFPA/s320/IMG_4998.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;">This was my daily covid testing booth for many, many weeks this past year…at one point we had to be tested daily….and then over night, at the end of december, china dropped the zero-covid policy…it happened so fast with no plan…it was insane…..when i took this picture, it was a few days before the booth just disappeared…crazy!!!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirztTBEfqMpU-cvaFUCAd7kb7DDF7biIJv9ZdAzYlnYppl9XHtHB7B7I_6ZkA1FDe9noXQprOOgB2gv1iNxxQ8MjM_eVQd1jJJTUmCWBUFpYFrlLmB6vdZ4Ypqei308BC5CH8964V0NbSVYEY_Vkqw_-wqvLommvCHd9fN5cgk6DHrcadfTfGyPQ/s4032/IMG_5170.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirztTBEfqMpU-cvaFUCAd7kb7DDF7biIJv9ZdAzYlnYppl9XHtHB7B7I_6ZkA1FDe9noXQprOOgB2gv1iNxxQ8MjM_eVQd1jJJTUmCWBUFpYFrlLmB6vdZ4Ypqei308BC5CH8964V0NbSVYEY_Vkqw_-wqvLommvCHd9fN5cgk6DHrcadfTfGyPQ/s320/IMG_5170.HEIC" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #134f5c;">One of the other trips i took in china before i left was to zhnagjiajie….also better know at the location of the avatar mountains…..it was just for a long weekend, but was amazing….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxdCBPmTJHkFVQEfvtL0T1JsJoNyBp2EFd3kQFrl22cFuMwR9cr7wMu7KLy2i-dw_rJw7KCMoJc-5lb9NkcOUx9DwUyp5kAE4Aet8XrpNZkOyrPSarj3ifX--BI0QphIli4kgnL6hF_SaW2KCBJY4FKW_bi5sv0GuzO9rFhx9TYlk9xox3chOGg/s4032/IMG_5177.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxdCBPmTJHkFVQEfvtL0T1JsJoNyBp2EFd3kQFrl22cFuMwR9cr7wMu7KLy2i-dw_rJw7KCMoJc-5lb9NkcOUx9DwUyp5kAE4Aet8XrpNZkOyrPSarj3ifX--BI0QphIli4kgnL6hF_SaW2KCBJY4FKW_bi5sv0GuzO9rFhx9TYlk9xox3chOGg/s320/IMG_5177.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">These were some of the multitudes of karsts we saw while visiting…and because it was not a chinese holiday, it was not super crowded…our guide was awesome and also knew where to take us in the park that chinese tourists did not really visit…it was amazing!!!</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnrNOzKlER_OJ_qS2DReLQpb7nB0m-84t5LkpbdGEvWppOWKHpObVf7WyMDN4fbTQyhZLr5puNIYbfmAaItEb5uWaXnihEW8vl8Pj--GKOvKxxAyIX8jf0iuB4JrBctQtL_qglh5xC522swR6CBlWHWveCCM9RFMOnHBBV5B2jW_0YfSOhO3XtQ/s4032/IMG_5202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnrNOzKlER_OJ_qS2DReLQpb7nB0m-84t5LkpbdGEvWppOWKHpObVf7WyMDN4fbTQyhZLr5puNIYbfmAaItEb5uWaXnihEW8vl8Pj--GKOvKxxAyIX8jf0iuB4JrBctQtL_qglh5xC522swR6CBlWHWveCCM9RFMOnHBBV5B2jW_0YfSOhO3XtQ/s320/IMG_5202.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #351c75;">This was my favorite one…it was in the same area as the karst that was the main inspirational one for the movie…i love that this one looks like stuff is on the top of it!!! </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbEm05bNb8lFMNKuMwgIZsX8rFaiM3zd7APdaacTfUYLR58beKHtjWEj-JZ49RVvOdHVYTCA7x5by8RSw4SfzQoWDqFmBw8G4yHxRps1GOYVtTLiuB_AVKtVWDg8LOfz9tVP5lcY88YrXwERqI7vHaSgIJJAB3qh6ZDQm4o58gJ8WBZdJG0Spgw/s4032/IMG_5233.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbEm05bNb8lFMNKuMwgIZsX8rFaiM3zd7APdaacTfUYLR58beKHtjWEj-JZ49RVvOdHVYTCA7x5by8RSw4SfzQoWDqFmBw8G4yHxRps1GOYVtTLiuB_AVKtVWDg8LOfz9tVP5lcY88YrXwERqI7vHaSgIJJAB3qh6ZDQm4o58gJ8WBZdJG0Spgw/s320/IMG_5233.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #cc0000;">And of course i tried the local beer….this place, where we had dinner after a busy day walking and exploring, was incredible…the woman who did all of the cooking loved that i wanted to add spicy sauce to everything….she said we were like twins, because she put her homemade sauce on everything…it was delicious 😋</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsICnNCHZlKTkXgYFbb0dfui5x10mY9-uW4crX4GlschVyrWaorJazEEq9v9qpxfO53LrGuRUQU00uP-muc4I80Fs_QUo7Ae_6wjPOwuyR4qrOHbEJUuwU-KzfFNeNinYw9me5ra4Hn1nyMuFGdu7h0qJ4r1RpaNnVOUvqBfi7MQYQtkIBDEt_Hw/s4032/IMG_5264.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsICnNCHZlKTkXgYFbb0dfui5x10mY9-uW4crX4GlschVyrWaorJazEEq9v9qpxfO53LrGuRUQU00uP-muc4I80Fs_QUo7Ae_6wjPOwuyR4qrOHbEJUuwU-KzfFNeNinYw9me5ra4Hn1nyMuFGdu7h0qJ4r1RpaNnVOUvqBfi7MQYQtkIBDEt_Hw/s320/IMG_5264.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #38761d;">For our second day, we went to tianamen mountain….also known as the gateway to heaven….this is the same area as the avatar mountains…in the shot above, leah and i are standing on a glass bridge….which went around the edge of the mountain….it was super cool…..and you could see all the way down….</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #134f5c; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TOZVTP2Mluo6VYMP78ZKN9JtrVf8b2eBggMyZITIlMgZDc0IbI1hfyq6D0T4dxjqgVrtBctUPiXArHQziH25PMFcXDSNiGxFUL9oY3mv4v3BGImzUHyG9eC2kl-XZaMRSI0yBH8K1LUPKeNG_N8Ru6m-SSOLcSI51_m6qzCnDdvxEwRMoMAFQA/s4032/IMG_5327.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TOZVTP2Mluo6VYMP78ZKN9JtrVf8b2eBggMyZITIlMgZDc0IbI1hfyq6D0T4dxjqgVrtBctUPiXArHQziH25PMFcXDSNiGxFUL9oY3mv4v3BGImzUHyG9eC2kl-XZaMRSI0yBH8K1LUPKeNG_N8Ru6m-SSOLcSI51_m6qzCnDdvxEwRMoMAFQA/s320/IMG_5327.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><span><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #0b5394;">This is me at the base of this part of the mountains….you can see the “gateway” behind me….the top of the arch had actually partially fallen about 6 months before and they were in the process of shoring it up….in order to get to the top of this area, we had to take the longest gondola in the world….it was over 20 minutes long to ride it….</span></span><p></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_E1N3GIohgXnj15PTSSpFLZ6E5Md8Pr1tvhE6s2jbEoZhQDrwkvUp9VD40MN-am6Ajn5kou-QADJVwuC00x1LEPT0iBu47fRGG1IaSd-IpQZqVwLnWB-s3y86cfTkxQnMJDEzI7KOG1KJwzVzy2bIeGlSmQGK0F6Wy5FBo8R2EQmqf4_29Oo-Q/s320/IMG_5496.HEIC" width="240" /></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #0b5394;">I had to include this funny picture….everywhere i end up, i always find some friends to buzz cut my hair…this time around it was first J</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">osh and then it was Heather & Maja…in china there is a place you can literally buy anything and have it shipped to your house, called taobao…heather found this “cone of shame” on taobao that was specifically for cutting hair….definitely made cleaning up a lot faster 😂</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgvfonhMizb0dhSiJFlKDb8WuzX3wygCTaGxDzH3LEhFPtLD3MeBEl9ts4ch9uphD9jVEvzG0m48GOPNtTyfrIDxdg6ueONDetBkxMjBOHJhmMPK3te7bcACqGSdRt9vWUJ38RbMo4zPrC6B3b6ckmFcyWKz3MDKKPiGcCaJ0wd16PzhGe-ZihQ/s4032/IMG_5554.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgvfonhMizb0dhSiJFlKDb8WuzX3wygCTaGxDzH3LEhFPtLD3MeBEl9ts4ch9uphD9jVEvzG0m48GOPNtTyfrIDxdg6ueONDetBkxMjBOHJhmMPK3te7bcACqGSdRt9vWUJ38RbMo4zPrC6B3b6ckmFcyWKz3MDKKPiGcCaJ0wd16PzhGe-ZihQ/s320/IMG_5554.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><p><span><span style="color: #351c75;">One thing china does well is landscaping…the flowers and colors, along with many of the older styled buildings and spaces makes it a beautiful backdrop…my school did this as well….this was the pathway i walked once being dropped off at the front gate…this was our chinese garden…just lovely!!! I will miss the bluebird sky days with this as a backdrop to walk to my classroom….</span></span></p><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNdAI4dkjpeyXxy_gSWBZXp9OQ9plk2_ivoSHPTgveGdDaOwKPXDe-gsJk1LMkDvrpwgcmYy2QXJUItfwd6c7exM62-Aul5TboeZwD0KpLy__eP3Oh3R0Al5e8tZFYnkDT_vyW5ZFABkG-VAWxxNJ9ziWhF2UlE1uPVfqjTacVhQS_qnIttWCjQ/s4032/IMG_5681.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNdAI4dkjpeyXxy_gSWBZXp9OQ9plk2_ivoSHPTgveGdDaOwKPXDe-gsJk1LMkDvrpwgcmYy2QXJUItfwd6c7exM62-Aul5TboeZwD0KpLy__eP3Oh3R0Al5e8tZFYnkDT_vyW5ZFABkG-VAWxxNJ9ziWhF2UlE1uPVfqjTacVhQS_qnIttWCjQ/s320/IMG_5681.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">Before the year ended we took the 8th graders on a trip to visit the shaolin temple for four days….it was an intense time, where our students were tutored in a kung fu routine by students at one of the kung fu schools on the way to the temple….here are some of the students running through their routines….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZkV-a7sriM9BYfEDCgenvNy7kTThAEcFp0trDNlBjtFTplJTl-yJCxOlDZUwZ-zynhavBPZGVCO9ZmTvMrgX4sZBpWRpjNhemEwsJYI0gF95oX0mOjkNGFTsGazyQpQ8zSeObF4Ueo0pwbEy_HOKK2YzSAqWGckf6ca39ELwVdZUFQtquUuPbg/s1702/IMG_5722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1702" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZkV-a7sriM9BYfEDCgenvNy7kTThAEcFp0trDNlBjtFTplJTl-yJCxOlDZUwZ-zynhavBPZGVCO9ZmTvMrgX4sZBpWRpjNhemEwsJYI0gF95oX0mOjkNGFTsGazyQpQ8zSeObF4Ueo0pwbEy_HOKK2YzSAqWGckf6ca39ELwVdZUFQtquUuPbg/s320/IMG_5722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">This was the group of little kids….students can start at the age of 5….there were 12,000 students training at this school….about 10% of the trainees were girls….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtshkPo-onJZtAbJ_SvuoLrQ2Azjir4dpCvdpHKLBN7U8C3TupxC8peH30TzfPscTwm_Id0zpY4i-g9cCbEyu7umDVDo6paS9Lios1c3cJP1iR5r5Stch5RmgkZhp9BStER6M5uJcWQc-0tcGoDeFM8yklESXLlAzk3OnvbQ6tbyZmKPTi8BkAw/s1702/IMG_5755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1702" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtshkPo-onJZtAbJ_SvuoLrQ2Azjir4dpCvdpHKLBN7U8C3TupxC8peH30TzfPscTwm_Id0zpY4i-g9cCbEyu7umDVDo6paS9Lios1c3cJP1iR5r5Stch5RmgkZhp9BStER6M5uJcWQc-0tcGoDeFM8yklESXLlAzk3OnvbQ6tbyZmKPTi8BkAw/s320/IMG_5755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">This is one of our students with the shaolin masters….he was in the show with them…the shaolin masters & temple is what kung fu panda was designed after…it was cool to see this part of the country and the training center….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_em1SfeaoNI9Gtu7BL0FLQKbSAXWvq9VuFWkrg3ZAq-sBjE5GpoJO66igB0nZyqCfyTsF4UCNIB4lTB4TxG5lWVjHwtL8MKBaTX1dlLR9N3VY2farY_B0fdzXQwGkohqbWotQeqBMujCFmwu7W0TSfnIukQfHmZmzGIVhOIA8RmTJ7NSs6eAcQ/s4032/IMG_5791.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_em1SfeaoNI9Gtu7BL0FLQKbSAXWvq9VuFWkrg3ZAq-sBjE5GpoJO66igB0nZyqCfyTsF4UCNIB4lTB4TxG5lWVjHwtL8MKBaTX1dlLR9N3VY2farY_B0fdzXQwGkohqbWotQeqBMujCFmwu7W0TSfnIukQfHmZmzGIVhOIA8RmTJ7NSs6eAcQ/s320/IMG_5791.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">We also went to a cultural park, where they put on an evening show….these are always spectacular experiences…this was one of the final scenes and i was seated right where the lights made it look like the boat was going down a tunnel…it was a cool effect….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4JnH-Q473mqj8c3Z5FnbZOzMVsuMPUjGXv2VMaavYQMs1ISLWe1Lwa69BryfHnEnYfz6ug7uzCBlo5mSYXBpK8zBxsJid9zNmA_Rij29fpLoSCVn8LZvEP-d240-9SkrnXzMZWe_Fjvv_KnvByG2iY-P-kTmEDMBtW5tB36ytz9_KCyu1bw4yg/s4032/IMG_5799.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4JnH-Q473mqj8c3Z5FnbZOzMVsuMPUjGXv2VMaavYQMs1ISLWe1Lwa69BryfHnEnYfz6ug7uzCBlo5mSYXBpK8zBxsJid9zNmA_Rij29fpLoSCVn8LZvEP-d240-9SkrnXzMZWe_Fjvv_KnvByG2iY-P-kTmEDMBtW5tB36ytz9_KCyu1bw4yg/s320/IMG_5799.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">I got one last trip into shanghai before the end of the year to say goodbye to this awesome city and to a bunch of friends….some of whom have now left to teach in different places and some who have not….this statue above is always one of my favorites and reminds me i am in the french concession…love it….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDp-VxG__LwtPhvrpU2p0eT7HRAK8Z5yrj627fmfiDQVKhESwjawREZRjiNWDNXrM9kRFGGkZpeechbp_YZZlE8JZhAzV7JgqrcLVeRE2edghpQmVcPT5gROLcxgptnnyc0KkRbrwBIJ2AtmRj-gp65hUYy-XJoMJlsrSQKO6QvIECkCtRJCa8A/s4032/IMG_5840.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDp-VxG__LwtPhvrpU2p0eT7HRAK8Z5yrj627fmfiDQVKhESwjawREZRjiNWDNXrM9kRFGGkZpeechbp_YZZlE8JZhAzV7JgqrcLVeRE2edghpQmVcPT5gROLcxgptnnyc0KkRbrwBIJ2AtmRj-gp65hUYy-XJoMJlsrSQKO6QvIECkCtRJCa8A/s320/IMG_5840.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">I also made it to the bund on my last morning to take this picture of this iconic skyline….i really loved my time in shanghai, but of course that was before covid…things have changed and at times were super challenging…but this city remains my favorite of all time….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDg-K3FYwQ2PinAAulpiYybXIGpKWSK7LVJLiUWJy7ohhxF-bJcIDOTdfvx0Ycv0HJfoghz_gyQwedIWR7WBpRfWj9YTma6cuwo8modaSY5wbVUFpz7qRMltDEA9XHfuK5PPVoLUnlMmG0lGh2yHSTNflt--gkTcb5X_99ZapGldUcfYhp2C0KGg/s4032/IMG_5926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDg-K3FYwQ2PinAAulpiYybXIGpKWSK7LVJLiUWJy7ohhxF-bJcIDOTdfvx0Ycv0HJfoghz_gyQwedIWR7WBpRfWj9YTma6cuwo8modaSY5wbVUFpz7qRMltDEA9XHfuK5PPVoLUnlMmG0lGh2yHSTNflt--gkTcb5X_99ZapGldUcfYhp2C0KGg/s320/IMG_5926.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">So much so that i had some new ink done by a teacher in beijing, based on the picture i took above…i loved what he did in his home studio…</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndBdw6kGa4uRmvwf-Y8s4OAlgqUBCLXjLt0zDJDDNFplI34NWwjd5QXahJ58UvhlmOYLxsMSbjHKdnzopKdESMIsAoUQlRoFWdEClfD-NW4E8S6_1qzFeSzPH1X-EMHm9Q6Ax3rwYmyBQvxbtMI6wlrDc9NoPHJaEZlzIIdZjg9ajXwOBYAmw4g/s4032/IMG_6005.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndBdw6kGa4uRmvwf-Y8s4OAlgqUBCLXjLt0zDJDDNFplI34NWwjd5QXahJ58UvhlmOYLxsMSbjHKdnzopKdESMIsAoUQlRoFWdEClfD-NW4E8S6_1qzFeSzPH1X-EMHm9Q6Ax3rwYmyBQvxbtMI6wlrDc9NoPHJaEZlzIIdZjg9ajXwOBYAmw4g/s320/IMG_6005.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">I did do a few last things in beijing to say goodbye…one of those was watching the flag raising in tiananmen square at sunrise…this happens every sunrise and sunset and is extremely patriotic for the chinese….this shot above is the night before as the lights were coming on…so we could kind of see the flag in the distance going down for sunset….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IKtbOExzOrRca5fl27JyqWEOll5kSEuCIzQtdYK2c3PnAdc3V6_lSmkj4W6AaXj3eQed9mJ_mPpv618ldF8TqsEh-qyVuzu7ujGtVlKcFF0DzRDjL8Aazy6dAJxhocyWB4oNMa9TjZYVfF3GGQVgTIxEKyYEHKNSvMKBWvWfA3OOnJJH-oV5aw/s4032/IMG_6022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IKtbOExzOrRca5fl27JyqWEOll5kSEuCIzQtdYK2c3PnAdc3V6_lSmkj4W6AaXj3eQed9mJ_mPpv618ldF8TqsEh-qyVuzu7ujGtVlKcFF0DzRDjL8Aazy6dAJxhocyWB4oNMa9TjZYVfF3GGQVgTIxEKyYEHKNSvMKBWvWfA3OOnJJH-oV5aw/s320/IMG_6022.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">The shot above is me holding the 100 RMB note, with the picture of the building i am standing in front of it….it is the Chinese Congress Building where the really big meetings happen once a year….it is called the Great Hall of the People….this was after the sun rose and we were getting ready to head out….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojVnWrgSj68yoaLeO1SXxlB6lauHLVF_qJiGLjQHseAp0Z0vqL41tjkShJouawP2npiSUh1Jfy_pCLGV4ugswIm2w5SgkZuMiEN0_XpsBQVVJGB7a91YEn2l7KTsaKnhrZmBpkg7aDBS-FMW5R8SattYND9wQKFvWXBL8pvd-wWGUMKT4GH-qEQ/s4032/5896f8a7a99c7f92c6c9949e0d5ca738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojVnWrgSj68yoaLeO1SXxlB6lauHLVF_qJiGLjQHseAp0Z0vqL41tjkShJouawP2npiSUh1Jfy_pCLGV4ugswIm2w5SgkZuMiEN0_XpsBQVVJGB7a91YEn2l7KTsaKnhrZmBpkg7aDBS-FMW5R8SattYND9wQKFvWXBL8pvd-wWGUMKT4GH-qEQ/s320/5896f8a7a99c7f92c6c9949e0d5ca738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">This is the crew that braved the crowd of hundreds of folks to see the red flag behind our heads raise at sunrise…it was a once in a lifetime adventure….but only once ;)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SNZfdUjy48gizCow6xeRH0W3FWM52N-djPzuq61v6bXmHZyTManQRf7GD3YJZqLerCOf3ewbedzCaYdVVVAEOR39-q1em1trdkGNQ4AaqalrJHsAFWJruAOJgTEPniVdPfvULPDZD7DaYReWyNvIKR3pKh57JnF2EFC3Zaromj1Px-mcfrTTPw/s4032/IMG_6110.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SNZfdUjy48gizCow6xeRH0W3FWM52N-djPzuq61v6bXmHZyTManQRf7GD3YJZqLerCOf3ewbedzCaYdVVVAEOR39-q1em1trdkGNQ4AaqalrJHsAFWJruAOJgTEPniVdPfvULPDZD7DaYReWyNvIKR3pKh57JnF2EFC3Zaromj1Px-mcfrTTPw/s320/IMG_6110.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">One of the other things i did to celebrate my time in beijing was go to the michelin starred TRB…wow what a meal…the picture of me above is with the FIVE different desserts…it was incredible….</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64afWJJktPPZKLfT7A7skN3Ij_bhe278egFv94OOKK4KYOA46c4Fv_htyTDcZY0KjVtf2V0NEMxM3YoV5c_VK1ruJlM1hmLSR--pLePuwhcWTcAn1EHLERrky3ehyz33nHJfroIevTAnwNQlZ6rRVEhb98ANv3NAia3CB201y9TvjFNPBCB4e-Q/s4032/d2309456781b7795aa4630abf3e74550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64afWJJktPPZKLfT7A7skN3Ij_bhe278egFv94OOKK4KYOA46c4Fv_htyTDcZY0KjVtf2V0NEMxM3YoV5c_VK1ruJlM1hmLSR--pLePuwhcWTcAn1EHLERrky3ehyz33nHJfroIevTAnwNQlZ6rRVEhb98ANv3NAia3CB201y9TvjFNPBCB4e-Q/s320/d2309456781b7795aa4630abf3e74550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">The shot above is one of the last times i crossed the bridge at school…it was the evening of the 8th grade celebration….WAB really does have a beautiful campus…</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJYLVqUwDGEIdIM_gMxd1RJhFY_sjjo9ecRva4X55zcX4ysByJjxDO-kL-MxPXGvMdAGF9ytK0_tl0xBqDc_tSv68Uk1rzRDFkRLcQY3N2aeKqzpUDVeGsFY8WKFAWOBHLyKrLngGaP7QPJtYC2hL3AGxAqogflV4BrZsR3jQXIYotC5DErF-ZQ/s1063/68304663756ba7b87b8695d52e24b3c7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="1063" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJYLVqUwDGEIdIM_gMxd1RJhFY_sjjo9ecRva4X55zcX4ysByJjxDO-kL-MxPXGvMdAGF9ytK0_tl0xBqDc_tSv68Uk1rzRDFkRLcQY3N2aeKqzpUDVeGsFY8WKFAWOBHLyKrLngGaP7QPJtYC2hL3AGxAqogflV4BrZsR3jQXIYotC5DErF-ZQ/s320/68304663756ba7b87b8695d52e24b3c7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">The other way i celebrated beijing was by going out for a last meal with most of my important crew to my favorite place….Black sesame…we decided to eat in the hutong courtyard and enjoyed every bite of this amazing food….</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MpDDFb3ATiPo16XrCNXw7QJV9IyNMqJwxZLDATwCDGJXGkwQPAOCopg_Oe-yNeSkQdGDH3jE_oC3hT7S9aJFSbOnURlKhYLYEOEs7Q9_QwQo1Zs8Eu0PU4Bj3D5GhZuhZiuC6t5SujONfiJOZol3mLXoRhfDWpSs5OA2iB5ZvNcV3KsUFRfUdQ/s4032/IMG_6144.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MpDDFb3ATiPo16XrCNXw7QJV9IyNMqJwxZLDATwCDGJXGkwQPAOCopg_Oe-yNeSkQdGDH3jE_oC3hT7S9aJFSbOnURlKhYLYEOEs7Q9_QwQo1Zs8Eu0PU4Bj3D5GhZuhZiuC6t5SujONfiJOZol3mLXoRhfDWpSs5OA2iB5ZvNcV3KsUFRfUdQ/s320/IMG_6144.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #0b5394;">Black Sesame, my favorite dish is the five spice eggplant…..this meal is one of my all time favorites in the world…my beer is in the shot too…but the dish is more important this time around….bye-bye beijing!!!</span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #351c75;">So there you have it…my final post from china….quite possibly forever….we’ll see…never say never….this summer i have been hanging in the States with my mom catching up on sleep, swimming in her new compound’s pool and meeting up with family and friends i have been unable to see the past three summers due to the zero-covid policy i had to live by for china….it has been relaxing and rejuvenating….at this point i am now starting to get things organized for paris…i head out in about 2 weeks….yahooooooo 😎</span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #741b47;">Per normal….i am sorry i have not been in touch from china, but i just could not be motivated to write the post due to not being able to get out of the country…it was really frustrating…but onward and upward ;) i will be looking for an apartment when i get to paris and hope to see some of you visiting france while i am there….my contract is with the American School of Paris and runs for 2 years to start…who knows if i will be there longer, but i am super excited for the olympics in paris next summer and have already procured tickets with friends for some of the events…woot!!! I have also signed up to volunteer…we’ll see what happens…..Vive Le France 🇫🇷</span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #990000;">I hope all of you have had a great start to your summer or winter season depending on location….thanks as always for reading what I write and hopefully i will get back to traveling the globe now that i am not dealing with a zero-covid policy….the next trip i am planning for the fall is to morocco…let’s go!!!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);">Peace out…..dani ⭐️</span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29); color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span></p>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-44498216625736211332022-12-21T14:07:00.001+01:002022-12-21T14:56:58.289+01:00China Take 2 - Update #4 <p> <span style="color: #990000;">December 21, 2022</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">Hi folks - Happy Winter Solstice :) a long overdue update from me here in China....again, it has been a challenging 6 months since getting back....but I only have six more to go....and if you have been paying attention to the news coming out of here, "the times....they are a changin'".....it has been a ridiculous six months here in China....i was online again for the last month and had been getting tested literally every day...yes....we were still being tested for covid...most folks have moved on...but for the past 8 weeks or so, things were out of hand concerning covid....and in the end, it has come to china anyway.... has people wondering what the past 2.5 years of strict regulations were for....especially since beijing did a complete about-face on how they are handling it....now it's every person for themselves.....just insane and extremely disappointing....</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">i have now tested positive and have made it through my covid fog....i had a super bad headache, a stuffed-up nose and lost my sense of smell, but not all of my sense of taste....which was uber weird....but i have come out on the other side.....the strain here in china is one of the omicron ones and is extremely "catchy", so it is flying through beijing.....it has been a ghost town for the past 2 weeks or so, but today things were coming back...our school has had more than 50% of our community test positive and luckily many had it before we went on winter break....including me....so for the first time in three years, i will be outside of beijing for xmas....i am heading to chengdu on a food tour and to see the pandas....we may even have quarantine dropped coming from international destinations in the near future....which is extremely hard to process...it has been a weird 2.5 years, filled with rules and regulations, and there was not a good end game here for this mess, but i am glad china may now be moving on like the rest of the world.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">this will be my last school year here in beijing....it has not really been a good placement for me...and a bunch of that is due to covid....so i am moving on....and next school year i will be in a new location....paris, france!!! at the american school of paris!!!! i am really excited about this turn of events and this next step....it is a good school, i will be teaching middle school science per normal and i will be able to get back home much more easily!!!! and i can travel all over europe and see friends living there...its a win-win-win!!! and i will be living in paris, france!!!!! </span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">so the following pictures are from my past six months here in china....from when i arrived and had to do another ten-day quarantine...which was actually harder than the 14 day one i did two years prior...mainly because i knew what the rest of the world was experiencing and how nothing at that point had changed for china....plus, some other experiences i have had here in beijing since arriving....i am soooo excited to leave the city and see somewhere else in china...and the promise of possibly being able to travel outside of china is fabulous....but i will believe it when i see it....i have around 6 months left here in china and do hope i get to see some of the last places on my list....because when i leave this time, i do not expect to ever return....you never know....but it is not in my plan....on with the pictures :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd5K3AsuhZFguy61DYu4CUdUov6ncsGcs9-OPhP9_AFengLA-dxu_ggFhYGffMWdVB12iE6g4XIY6N27oPeKC-a1HdgpyEnfvdUSA3Y76afP0gFaqL6V5DJLU9JgPdNwD-ueTnmDMbxlm39SMVDF5EdhPWJ75CJ2OA4PRqUf0_rSYMMsaU_o/s1280/IMG_3445.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd5K3AsuhZFguy61DYu4CUdUov6ncsGcs9-OPhP9_AFengLA-dxu_ggFhYGffMWdVB12iE6g4XIY6N27oPeKC-a1HdgpyEnfvdUSA3Y76afP0gFaqL6V5DJLU9JgPdNwD-ueTnmDMbxlm39SMVDF5EdhPWJ75CJ2OA4PRqUf0_rSYMMsaU_o/s320/IMG_3445.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">this is me on my way back to china after being in the states for the summer...i was extremely cautious while there because if i tested positive in the states, it would have made getting back to china 10x more difficult than it already was...i learned a new trick for this trip...bring starbucks gift cards for flight attendants and people who check you in...it will make their day and might get you a perk or two ;)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz05gRQh6KpSN9Ri4mmEJZz9BfhSAqvNLgmQFj0oM4ZjrXcdwD5fwrOuvof67L-HIdhDjWi708vP-Xo8HoH_0CLJH9bFcW_L2ZH8Rl4STW1syVBp1iQzidNONcLEFIWRTbtERtF-DaH__L3UQHXgxMvbuTK_hIV-G47R43Q-gzbJcnSjhjxq4/s4032/IMG_3459.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz05gRQh6KpSN9Ri4mmEJZz9BfhSAqvNLgmQFj0oM4ZjrXcdwD5fwrOuvof67L-HIdhDjWi708vP-Xo8HoH_0CLJH9bFcW_L2ZH8Rl4STW1syVBp1iQzidNONcLEFIWRTbtERtF-DaH__L3UQHXgxMvbuTK_hIV-G47R43Q-gzbJcnSjhjxq4/s320/IMG_3459.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">and then i was back into quarantine in shanghai....10 days this time...no say in where you stay...i got lucky again...good sized room overlooking where the sun went down and no carpet....the quarantine hotels at this point are completely trashed inside....when you exit, they spray them down with bleach for the next person....its actually quite gross and i am glad i will not be doing it again here in china....knock on wood.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiova5-R6fmj_p9QQGxZVeEc1ssMlZrX7foD43YIFWG5G6oQ3yi8yprz8rAqUHisQBMeLvm1HKrN6lLi6US93wcGBTBWttoUZ13lPb6IFkuk271MqMjUWTtUbGtv6b93sxdvR-KTifSmpe8wArhGlmboGwLzMldIqxxi3b1DYigwUzF089Fq-w/s4032/IMG_3471.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiova5-R6fmj_p9QQGxZVeEc1ssMlZrX7foD43YIFWG5G6oQ3yi8yprz8rAqUHisQBMeLvm1HKrN6lLi6US93wcGBTBWttoUZ13lPb6IFkuk271MqMjUWTtUbGtv6b93sxdvR-KTifSmpe8wArhGlmboGwLzMldIqxxi3b1DYigwUzF089Fq-w/s320/IMG_3471.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">at least i had a nice view of the sunset...overlooking a school...where little kids would come out every day to play....so that kind of broke up the monotony....kind of....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz4tNQ1_zIx91Kk7pSZLEJ6MDTGThCzFNoJ7Kv08hbU7EhQNyh4VNlozIjXklrqzoA58FiYtIoq9eSHCpnd-IRU2ytogP1CxxL150R6JZJzXh3BmWthHxtiw_PrldxN2917zWaFjz5Wg2_GDtC485-oOKPE2bg1Jj31sTK9QvWm92cfe6-JM/s1234/IMG_3474.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1234" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz4tNQ1_zIx91Kk7pSZLEJ6MDTGThCzFNoJ7Kv08hbU7EhQNyh4VNlozIjXklrqzoA58FiYtIoq9eSHCpnd-IRU2ytogP1CxxL150R6JZJzXh3BmWthHxtiw_PrldxN2917zWaFjz5Wg2_GDtC485-oOKPE2bg1Jj31sTK9QvWm92cfe6-JM/s320/IMG_3474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is not my picture....but sums up quarantine quite well....3 square meals, vegetarian in my case, every day...like clockwork....which you end up paying for....you also have to pay for the room....luckily my school helped with the room....but not the food...that was all mine ;)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVwDUtQiEaVm1LRUlapc356fdWmsFcPD-LiqY-y3PSkEifmG72mwhBbTkMl6GWSMxtU4J_JO9EwQF64dlWPum-d1WPaaP5AT8ISqsTCQMuAW5_yy24k9ERPU3nCbxiox2n4hi1P4RAN4x-HHPHhJzWMzyCdkqqXe3mNBnFe68dpWYBi_Wy1U/s3088/IMG_3565.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVwDUtQiEaVm1LRUlapc356fdWmsFcPD-LiqY-y3PSkEifmG72mwhBbTkMl6GWSMxtU4J_JO9EwQF64dlWPum-d1WPaaP5AT8ISqsTCQMuAW5_yy24k9ERPU3nCbxiox2n4hi1P4RAN4x-HHPHhJzWMzyCdkqqXe3mNBnFe68dpWYBi_Wy1U/s320/IMG_3565.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is me and my friend sandy getting out on our last quarantine day....we flew over to china from the states together and went through the craziness to get back and both of us have decided this will be our last year in china....she was at least down the road from her place in shanghai....i still had to get back to beijing....crazy times....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OZYOLN8j35vk6swdUro51I-LTcoccotChA9VU6XmUmtI1UPka4SsRy4Sj5ZkN9VlbkWztNp6a3rvhHozvHkcEQ8txG77RnhBs291M5dQJC8-FpKq_p_Ux-KVczQrEv67nTaFR85Zqydbo8XonafMWsWLhweTODnrdhucl-tl3WVgvcuHSt8/s4032/IMG_3593.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OZYOLN8j35vk6swdUro51I-LTcoccotChA9VU6XmUmtI1UPka4SsRy4Sj5ZkN9VlbkWztNp6a3rvhHozvHkcEQ8txG77RnhBs291M5dQJC8-FpKq_p_Ux-KVczQrEv67nTaFR85Zqydbo8XonafMWsWLhweTODnrdhucl-tl3WVgvcuHSt8/s320/IMG_3593.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;">can you tell this was my first beer in beijing??? you better believe it....even though there is no one else in the picture...at this point, people were sometimes wearing masks, sometimes not....this got worse and worse as time moved forward...until the last 8 weeks when things here were extremely regulated and rather insane....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht309atebR6BqH5it8oFXPxvTv-CVVJjy2Sy3HJECUTV6Hwuyg2m6njLkDAtF4Rxuqihy1KfWtqMpoBXxfRCw2VdJV2hCHkYRzmD8eWr0l_v19ioFFgn-jUYUmXOBdSDTxJoXaZ-bAEj5A8UKGxzj59yCfUIvI232NhxrFLXbmMPx9hUgcXtA/s1196/IMG_3620.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="673" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht309atebR6BqH5it8oFXPxvTv-CVVJjy2Sy3HJECUTV6Hwuyg2m6njLkDAtF4Rxuqihy1KfWtqMpoBXxfRCw2VdJV2hCHkYRzmD8eWr0l_v19ioFFgn-jUYUmXOBdSDTxJoXaZ-bAEj5A8UKGxzj59yCfUIvI232NhxrFLXbmMPx9hUgcXtA/s320/IMG_3620.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">one of the things i love about china is the food...and i have found a vegan group here that has a chinese chef teach us how to make vegan/vegetarian food....this is the way into his house/cooking classroom....his location is down in the hutongs, which is one aspect of beijing i love to visit....they are mostly all chinee communities with shared bathroom facilities and cooking courtyards....a lot have been transformed, but if you are looking for old world beijing....this is where you go :)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUT_4lqrpFSXvYLUcuWmHm_F82n2p9eSSObmiqCDtztVjL18VzpojXIGa7H3sy3FFIQprM3qZ-Ga6bgcmEE2zLMDQ43ZQkwJdw2MRb5F9BQ74-p5-WWFOUWyEuwMD1uu1n9QRliKLpczdOSugiku10p5riRXmV_jUhoX6YI-U_ZAMK-IGs0c/s4032/IMG_3658.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUT_4lqrpFSXvYLUcuWmHm_F82n2p9eSSObmiqCDtztVjL18VzpojXIGa7H3sy3FFIQprM3qZ-Ga6bgcmEE2zLMDQ43ZQkwJdw2MRb5F9BQ74-p5-WWFOUWyEuwMD1uu1n9QRliKLpczdOSugiku10p5riRXmV_jUhoX6YI-U_ZAMK-IGs0c/s320/IMG_3658.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">this was one of the first days i was finally allowed back on campus...had to wait 7 days after arriving in beijing....after doing a ten-day quarantine in shanghai....just crazy....i have a picture of a friend's roasted almonds and cashews with the entrance gate to the middle school...these added a bit of taste to my quarantine and figured i would help with marketing too :)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot46HqVOvKHfVrs18TF23Vl4c5mrUFqQQUjkUSazN9GX18v76deNJYNkyD55iAZTkcyDId86a_HPnXn8PHdl46iWr6mazPSyHhI7gUwASl_A0wNAI9RwMgIUD64EkiS5F6nAt3WDI6aUIYyBglk4seDlFTOvNX-zeOLCRggC4_8knNYEgRRM/s4032/IMG_3665.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot46HqVOvKHfVrs18TF23Vl4c5mrUFqQQUjkUSazN9GX18v76deNJYNkyD55iAZTkcyDId86a_HPnXn8PHdl46iWr6mazPSyHhI7gUwASl_A0wNAI9RwMgIUD64EkiS5F6nAt3WDI6aUIYyBglk4seDlFTOvNX-zeOLCRggC4_8knNYEgRRM/s320/IMG_3665.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">my first day of school t-shirt this year....at this point i have 25 science t-shirts i rotate through for school....i can wear one every day....and the kids know that i am a total science geek....they can always tell from the t-shirts and my shoes and socks, which many times have science themes as well....go science!!!!</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAc_7j1k05uihstE6w8gHErP3c7YoRCR7xewv9hKWeH3IS373LDTDfh6GimrXmPiGoZ4bX5RBIILuIkCv0-nFCwuES2T0sdVBROvYvsiurpEHlH9g_ZKGbVw5j0oCFnfpIq6fNqHiXaUI2epqdlxnHRhhQAf7kQHSPMiBKnzYiLsdBa7wv1c/s4032/IMG_3691.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAc_7j1k05uihstE6w8gHErP3c7YoRCR7xewv9hKWeH3IS373LDTDfh6GimrXmPiGoZ4bX5RBIILuIkCv0-nFCwuES2T0sdVBROvYvsiurpEHlH9g_ZKGbVw5j0oCFnfpIq6fNqHiXaUI2epqdlxnHRhhQAf7kQHSPMiBKnzYiLsdBa7wv1c/s320/IMG_3691.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">if you have not been to china in the past 7 years or so, you have missed the wave of the delivery person....these little carts are specific to my housing compound....and people get packages every day....you can also send a cup of flour to a friend using this....its wild...if you did not want to ever leave your house....in china, you could do that....my neighbors get at least 5 packages a day here....taobao has changed the face, delivery and shopping of china....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIY-7bmjoAVPg8ITEdvlgZV0UJ4VvLTkhfDt_21e2Ov9UHemYmKqgan6XAAtRqMYZwY6kWfeBqjvP2F_lmG_ujjXrIqdlwr7Jh8svBDYaz0Lu1rCvEGxrn5g_4moQIu7EUFIbgQhxdtD1nS6Fyb2CL0QnPNeAXXNTS93MrqXFiPzM_cJCsJ4/s2708/IMG_3759.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="2708" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIY-7bmjoAVPg8ITEdvlgZV0UJ4VvLTkhfDt_21e2Ov9UHemYmKqgan6XAAtRqMYZwY6kWfeBqjvP2F_lmG_ujjXrIqdlwr7Jh8svBDYaz0Lu1rCvEGxrn5g_4moQIu7EUFIbgQhxdtD1nS6Fyb2CL0QnPNeAXXNTS93MrqXFiPzM_cJCsJ4/s320/IMG_3759.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">for the autumn festival here in china (october)....we have a golden week and the big food stuff during that time is mooncakes....i have to say i am not a huge fan of these, but this year decided to take a mooncake-making course with my friend sara.....these were sweet ones....and actually did not taste bad at all....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH0tIaZMxEJLmaL3bdyeM28IRZ9Gte01vJQeVWA444KlrpN-NmvIX5XwQa0gRfqVJosrByL5d0IanoNFl2GHAuDT71JDKFF7NhrbATC3YgFo5OFAuDmywwhu2wC31325G407Krya0D1rhVvQOMUpqw2G1nqh8GdMG7n7PjHRWTqC_Ob3uoAk/s4032/IMG_3762.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH0tIaZMxEJLmaL3bdyeM28IRZ9Gte01vJQeVWA444KlrpN-NmvIX5XwQa0gRfqVJosrByL5d0IanoNFl2GHAuDT71JDKFF7NhrbATC3YgFo5OFAuDmywwhu2wC31325G407Krya0D1rhVvQOMUpqw2G1nqh8GdMG7n7PjHRWTqC_Ob3uoAk/s320/IMG_3762.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is what they look like once cooked....and they are filled with chestnut paste or black sesame paste or hawthorn apple paste or citrus paste, etc....it was fun to learn the history associated with mooncakes and to learn to make my own....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_RmfUNzhWr8mqZ_TC6d-zja03CmweVPott6Qz-jkGMrU09iQOnrMQ3GLkY1zreCGMSRr4CV8PaS2VCxQ_-Vq9e2heVzLDyVVkcTVLdPmOyDpGU7Hfg09dqn9utiPZoAfz6AcsNsIwFfgjyn6SNfb5qz_iQGp8hJxFeSxdGcTnXEZ6m3B9tw/s3208/IMG_3752.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3208" data-original-width="3022" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_RmfUNzhWr8mqZ_TC6d-zja03CmweVPott6Qz-jkGMrU09iQOnrMQ3GLkY1zreCGMSRr4CV8PaS2VCxQ_-Vq9e2heVzLDyVVkcTVLdPmOyDpGU7Hfg09dqn9utiPZoAfz6AcsNsIwFfgjyn6SNfb5qz_iQGp8hJxFeSxdGcTnXEZ6m3B9tw/s320/IMG_3752.HEIC" width="301" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><div style="text-align: center;">i think this was my best one :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRucdJLmqrP4CAbVkGUuMlACtrxjiQ3bFvhc6kc_e1VpxTn00_Cc08TdAPi_6AJwXiV81NyQAIGSyh5Re4pGa3t1cwcUxuzEQ9rV1RWI3GiCQ79KxROrhxGtAq4uG0HIQt59DFX642whK7VvmoBZvRaWtMAt0HUQRJfpjeMtcDMOfz43VCGUw/s4032/IMG_3771.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRucdJLmqrP4CAbVkGUuMlACtrxjiQ3bFvhc6kc_e1VpxTn00_Cc08TdAPi_6AJwXiV81NyQAIGSyh5Re4pGa3t1cwcUxuzEQ9rV1RWI3GiCQ79KxROrhxGtAq4uG0HIQt59DFX642whK7VvmoBZvRaWtMAt0HUQRJfpjeMtcDMOfz43VCGUw/s320/IMG_3771.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">this is the main skyline of beijing....this city is enormous...and extends outward for hours....there are big buildings, but none of them, except in this specific area, are skyscrapers like in shanghai....i have said that shanghai is tall in buildings, while beijing is wide....but the main building you see in front of you that is bent, is nicknamed the "pants" building...and is the CCTV tower here....the tall one behind is the financial tower...and both are located in the CBD (central business district)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqu0PFZuzuZcQsMg6i_PATBj7JXxLiv-9cb3yQ4_NDzvcczPI6HBfkeDBjx7aSm75QNKh-1uDwCYbef3x1ibcivc7sJzTbN4AdV3UTH9hs90DQWwMQK3zimcUBKFPG3qwMiKJDL7KDakqckzLEuHw0CmviK31DnacWpQrZn--ZYZUSq_2wvU/s4032/IMG_3812.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqu0PFZuzuZcQsMg6i_PATBj7JXxLiv-9cb3yQ4_NDzvcczPI6HBfkeDBjx7aSm75QNKh-1uDwCYbef3x1ibcivc7sJzTbN4AdV3UTH9hs90DQWwMQK3zimcUBKFPG3qwMiKJDL7KDakqckzLEuHw0CmviK31DnacWpQrZn--ZYZUSq_2wvU/s320/IMG_3812.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">this statue is on my school's campus...it is of confucius....and one of the kids made sure to help him mask up....this was and currently still is a daily existence here in china....i still have not taught a class in person without a mask, since march 2020....crazy.....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeJJlBHeRIZDz19yDn6rZcTDC-NAxQSPH1hMvoEkK8qRot-a-pH4PJUXLhLNTAWOanDAE-7q4BK8hjiNqSZg2qQot-Ty1MsQxewxKKkh4fM0JAvp-WAdNJG--7608pK4HG-7s5mX0nxHOaFW5FAU0YO4q2zIJIq2B2T7ajIBAN23N2OEUST0/s4032/IMG_3826.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeJJlBHeRIZDz19yDn6rZcTDC-NAxQSPH1hMvoEkK8qRot-a-pH4PJUXLhLNTAWOanDAE-7q4BK8hjiNqSZg2qQot-Ty1MsQxewxKKkh4fM0JAvp-WAdNJG--7608pK4HG-7s5mX0nxHOaFW5FAU0YO4q2zIJIq2B2T7ajIBAN23N2OEUST0/s320/IMG_3826.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is most of my science team....we were out celebrating my birthday...at the local pizza place next to school....i never really had detroit pizza before this place...but it sure is tasty :)</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH_KXtjJX_LqQRlBle79jtwUMaCsUj64D4MVFEhYY_UABymDG0eod3_qFVMlTJIaHB2QB5Bg-YidmJ4BPUAuA7ZZuc3kNFXKxdVOAJSaLbpjdGhb93GZkXIwx1ME9XA4PBlGqNR5tazn3-F1eHh6TppYGrO8LSmGVPWUcT0IPhJhPS0T91DQ/s1702/IMG_3858.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="1276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH_KXtjJX_LqQRlBle79jtwUMaCsUj64D4MVFEhYY_UABymDG0eod3_qFVMlTJIaHB2QB5Bg-YidmJ4BPUAuA7ZZuc3kNFXKxdVOAJSaLbpjdGhb93GZkXIwx1ME9XA4PBlGqNR5tazn3-F1eHh6TppYGrO8LSmGVPWUcT0IPhJhPS0T91DQ/s320/IMG_3858.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">i also had a great brunch with friends for my birthday....did a night stay-cation at a swanky hotel in the city as well...it was a great weekend :)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKUOXbGvBjr25B-6jnvsRwUXFnjoPZtuEycByndzTRMCT4vmYUFVrRb7Wlm7q1TlqkNe-uwSdNzjypXdfhBjR8SMXZpUZsugQxtJqDc8o8IupJ55CKulARSgB7ESamZXqyUrL8rzH8Y1ATKyLlkzWS5OxU9hGza0BLfblVZX_51kxP4RykOI/s4032/IMG_3880.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKUOXbGvBjr25B-6jnvsRwUXFnjoPZtuEycByndzTRMCT4vmYUFVrRb7Wlm7q1TlqkNe-uwSdNzjypXdfhBjR8SMXZpUZsugQxtJqDc8o8IupJ55CKulARSgB7ESamZXqyUrL8rzH8Y1ATKyLlkzWS5OxU9hGza0BLfblVZX_51kxP4RykOI/s320/IMG_3880.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the things i have been doing quite a lot of is stay-cations....and the great wall is actually still in the borders of beijing....so we could rent swanky villas for holidays/weekends and go with a bunch of friends out by the wall...this is a view of the wall from one of those stay-cations....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB8evv0SXPUgOoz4i3jUH9dHcHnioCgBlGiL-TIK6W2Am-aCtfkGz9yNraEfYFRVtEUb1Xo0Gw0EWLrcoTwSFOJPF9VoegM3-dbXR2EKxY6_e2KZXi55tIAFzgA60F5fseBQhSfFakcGO-w9ZqNxm-FoM2uwBkmDN-FEfG4DDZI8zJZijYRg/s4032/IMG_3884.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfB8evv0SXPUgOoz4i3jUH9dHcHnioCgBlGiL-TIK6W2Am-aCtfkGz9yNraEfYFRVtEUb1Xo0Gw0EWLrcoTwSFOJPF9VoegM3-dbXR2EKxY6_e2KZXi55tIAFzgA60F5fseBQhSfFakcGO-w9ZqNxm-FoM2uwBkmDN-FEfG4DDZI8zJZijYRg/s320/IMG_3884.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">this was the courtyard with the wading pool of one of those places we did for a weekend...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5umv_MSOXGCc65B2fikRezOHSTUbkNKhM8rvVgD7MHF7nIOqDlFYwMrJv05-Y-7HbO2jJMkYXJTf5eL2T4hubfCawuCPRAJa2vNkYrSFSMa1kBtBWUha1fDxoQ3QApJs460-J-bVZOp1F731yGkQJ9TcB3kcGYQ1wdwcerHdzPo5kVY6LVg/s3197/IMG_3945.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3197" data-original-width="2640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5umv_MSOXGCc65B2fikRezOHSTUbkNKhM8rvVgD7MHF7nIOqDlFYwMrJv05-Y-7HbO2jJMkYXJTf5eL2T4hubfCawuCPRAJa2vNkYrSFSMa1kBtBWUha1fDxoQ3QApJs460-J-bVZOp1F731yGkQJ9TcB3kcGYQ1wdwcerHdzPo5kVY6LVg/s320/IMG_3945.HEIC" width="264" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">one aspect of beijing that i really do love is the art complex known as 798....this area reminds me so much of gasworks in seattle or the stax in bethlehem...but dwarfs them both in size...this is one of the places where manufacturing used to happen in beijing....before it was moved outside of the city....so they have taken this area and made it all art - galleries and sculptures and murals...you never can be sure what you will find...like this igloo with some penguins....too funny....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2yWnbUkzEvcFi7TEjRKPa1BMT66INI7NRZ9EeKsu2xCTp08FAmiKDXjwoO45_Gqve4lkHUa5XI0W7TKPtDk69m8Kv0mrrfEmI9ZKJAEcg7PaZ6W5ucATM71hUioGkyPQJicIlaowXuXWEIVIU2bqWjwsj24uNOsnauX0bbV7YVkA4dVrXyU/s4032/IMG_3957.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2yWnbUkzEvcFi7TEjRKPa1BMT66INI7NRZ9EeKsu2xCTp08FAmiKDXjwoO45_Gqve4lkHUa5XI0W7TKPtDk69m8Kv0mrrfEmI9ZKJAEcg7PaZ6W5ucATM71hUioGkyPQJicIlaowXuXWEIVIU2bqWjwsj24uNOsnauX0bbV7YVkA4dVrXyU/s320/IMG_3957.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">i also love moon gates....no matter when i am out, when i see one, i always take this shot....sometimes my hands can actually touch both sides....they remind me of hobbit houses and in chinese architecture, they signify birth and renewal</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jnpAl7xQOI-O_n8pUHd0EzCkkQ5QU3lCX0X7OMQz6G0zgzntLdTfhKCum0an3-bQnKXLZ_ISwD-_QchxPCP6L5oRvmqABZnflvFlQLHSB5sSpYLZi2A9Gfe661gv4i1xDR2f8tPFMvfdNtNAsky5e1iBwSKpFeezcFZWqnUE1gMtIo-CWyE/s4032/IMG_3958.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jnpAl7xQOI-O_n8pUHd0EzCkkQ5QU3lCX0X7OMQz6G0zgzntLdTfhKCum0an3-bQnKXLZ_ISwD-_QchxPCP6L5oRvmqABZnflvFlQLHSB5sSpYLZi2A9Gfe661gv4i1xDR2f8tPFMvfdNtNAsky5e1iBwSKpFeezcFZWqnUE1gMtIo-CWyE/s320/IMG_3958.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">these are some of the pipes and manufacturing aspects of buildings left behind that you can find in the 798 art zone....just a fun place to wander around....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8m-VZ-z-SrdjUGD3XiUCVMhRN8X_hY64DZjGWOC8qOnd6jA0_hNqxjJrHcHA-m9lsXbd5pPwAZFU4ErWv52rB_sopeiK9tLJtah-RdQdgQHrOYJ1i91Eg_FwjCiN8D2oWl6oQ6l2JXoL6vJGUfXblPBICMGtF_admvnyv0ugo9z64F5rIu8/s4032/IMG_3964.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8m-VZ-z-SrdjUGD3XiUCVMhRN8X_hY64DZjGWOC8qOnd6jA0_hNqxjJrHcHA-m9lsXbd5pPwAZFU4ErWv52rB_sopeiK9tLJtah-RdQdgQHrOYJ1i91Eg_FwjCiN8D2oWl6oQ6l2JXoL6vJGUfXblPBICMGtF_admvnyv0ugo9z64F5rIu8/s320/IMG_3964.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">fall is a beautiful time of year in beijing....we have a huge change of the color of the leaves and 798 has some great walls with ivy on them that change with the seasons....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOWPkrYDy7Gw-Ua-rTpPxLb_5HTtX06M7HdhGMxhOa9BmFhTB4bhNXeQPPGpaSdr4sOCBJNoV0ENRG1ZD0SZGao4-pm5knygVCXOmfaVISrEgW0kCVbkv5dUb4zAPhVIplquvvBHkXkh1XuGWUz_Eo6jA61jTnxACMdL5svV0U1Go2j5xc4s/s4032/IMG_4010.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOWPkrYDy7Gw-Ua-rTpPxLb_5HTtX06M7HdhGMxhOa9BmFhTB4bhNXeQPPGpaSdr4sOCBJNoV0ENRG1ZD0SZGao4-pm5knygVCXOmfaVISrEgW0kCVbkv5dUb4zAPhVIplquvvBHkXkh1XuGWUz_Eo6jA61jTnxACMdL5svV0U1Go2j5xc4s/s320/IMG_4010.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">at school we have a lovely chinese garden that i walk through every day....i call these statues the three wise men...which is probably not who they are...maybe old scholars....but i love this pathway i take every day to my classroom....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXK0RRmVp9lQAHEAd2-8BBv4TKDGs3JqgKGqxpGtDo_jTQdcJIspXqhy54_D-GmZSpJQ6q3mBREyfWQqf_y6rXZeo2vLhl22AEKIOreh5RuCbMNmKrOxbkqHd_Mtklp4YDBuxxLY5-Dzk9ws_-1GF5RilP_BIK_2umB0EsX2ysbp6t9nv9Hc/s1339/IMG_4049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="1339" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXK0RRmVp9lQAHEAd2-8BBv4TKDGs3JqgKGqxpGtDo_jTQdcJIspXqhy54_D-GmZSpJQ6q3mBREyfWQqf_y6rXZeo2vLhl22AEKIOreh5RuCbMNmKrOxbkqHd_Mtklp4YDBuxxLY5-Dzk9ws_-1GF5RilP_BIK_2umB0EsX2ysbp6t9nv9Hc/s320/IMG_4049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;">this year for halloween, the math and science departments dressed up as men in black...here we are in the peace park....my science team is a terrific bunch of folks and i have really enjoyed working with them these past 2.5 years....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6NppYsRFPxhEWwu4Ei3xjBab7sEFC9M5YAx6a43jDCl5qygqrzVpWPEgPGpDc9cNjCanogsOnwf66DwiCtieYHsMh1uFA_s3MnWeIUS9BRqInNBwaasbRblc_P3QiMj7lQgkg5DntVvWWGpcp7zwR3gZB-vDDwc59bKhfk1U7feHMpfqeP4/s4032/IMG_4126.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6NppYsRFPxhEWwu4Ei3xjBab7sEFC9M5YAx6a43jDCl5qygqrzVpWPEgPGpDc9cNjCanogsOnwf66DwiCtieYHsMh1uFA_s3MnWeIUS9BRqInNBwaasbRblc_P3QiMj7lQgkg5DntVvWWGpcp7zwR3gZB-vDDwc59bKhfk1U7feHMpfqeP4/s320/IMG_4126.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this was another stay-cation home....this one had an amazing fireplace and overlooked a different section of the wall....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PqCQ9m9bf7-A33xn_jsx7pE9kLo0L5gzGauCt_XEPAXNJroyygDJPfM6opgyjxKDQ8WN06i_T7EiSJ6WPVTKOCgOQbo9qrT7qSki8hwJzwB6gUlohMrzKITrXusBa0fwq0abNqdi8GSlGEzGg063nq8VYl3AG_6ZrgbUKk-5hT4DVDv4-Ok/s4032/IMG_4138.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PqCQ9m9bf7-A33xn_jsx7pE9kLo0L5gzGauCt_XEPAXNJroyygDJPfM6opgyjxKDQ8WN06i_T7EiSJ6WPVTKOCgOQbo9qrT7qSki8hwJzwB6gUlohMrzKITrXusBa0fwq0abNqdi8GSlGEzGg063nq8VYl3AG_6ZrgbUKk-5hT4DVDv4-Ok/s320/IMG_4138.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">the house was called the sleeping buddha...and if you look at the mountain above, where the wall is, you should be able to see the sleeping buddha's forehead, eyes, nose, mouth and slight chin...we had amazing weather, but at this point, due to the covid situation, the wall was closed to visitors....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Se_Ryp0xIbnBPTxcyvOIdf9rM01RlkM3bseXo5j7iw3BuXq0c2EzUYj0jLSuIlkofMM1z2vR_huLkax4M4ZIyLSeHLaQnQ9rMzsVXnpqgGv4d_HTbZKBZ7XOaTLKG9Z8P4EJvHrTEkta-BK-jwaHQunTg5_hxJnx_HS6fZ_HgwodRrreu3k/s3088/IMG_4137.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Se_Ryp0xIbnBPTxcyvOIdf9rM01RlkM3bseXo5j7iw3BuXq0c2EzUYj0jLSuIlkofMM1z2vR_huLkax4M4ZIyLSeHLaQnQ9rMzsVXnpqgGv4d_HTbZKBZ7XOaTLKG9Z8P4EJvHrTEkta-BK-jwaHQunTg5_hxJnx_HS6fZ_HgwodRrreu3k/s320/IMG_4137.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">here is me and the sleeping buddha enjoying some of the sunshine...it was a "bluebird Beijing Day"!! we actually have a lot of these days...pollution is usually bad for about 20-40 days a year in beijing...much different the past....we also get sand storms from the gobi desert and those can be nasty...but i had them in ghana as well...from the sahara....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt8LJUXVki93mgQcYY2ZkB0_JmWEEFYe3Xxkg9jqH0x-VL86u0FRwgM-1KkcNGSS4c5N1YVv4Q63O8rxeWOh2uEiePnUoqs33YDvfkY6Gdc-rFR9kXptcHk5qkq-soeRoVJAdtQIRfY_IN9LfxnVWnjovpW27OdVflVf_nNVGP8LZpDtcVaY/s1707/IMG_4200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt8LJUXVki93mgQcYY2ZkB0_JmWEEFYe3Xxkg9jqH0x-VL86u0FRwgM-1KkcNGSS4c5N1YVv4Q63O8rxeWOh2uEiePnUoqs33YDvfkY6Gdc-rFR9kXptcHk5qkq-soeRoVJAdtQIRfY_IN9LfxnVWnjovpW27OdVflVf_nNVGP8LZpDtcVaY/s320/IMG_4200.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this was another vegan cooking day...sichuan food (what i am actually having for my xmas food tour this break!) it was an amazing array of food...and i love how mushrooms are used in most dishes as a meat substitue...and there are sooooooooo many kinds here in china....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCReur4KAY0cvm6OwF0CII8I7oAz0D18yz3HmJx1ybBx1Ks65NXPluTBwsZ_osgy9mC4Sm1JiEZXLzGKaCXcgxeuv29a_x5bpNTbIdln6ysm169vTiUHrJ9gSROM4Piug7ZFd3DoMw73mJl_6lD5pVDebhiKiCvaIH0c4R106k21VFEIit10/s4032/IMG_4230.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCReur4KAY0cvm6OwF0CII8I7oAz0D18yz3HmJx1ybBx1Ks65NXPluTBwsZ_osgy9mC4Sm1JiEZXLzGKaCXcgxeuv29a_x5bpNTbIdln6ysm169vTiUHrJ9gSROM4Piug7ZFd3DoMw73mJl_6lD5pVDebhiKiCvaIH0c4R106k21VFEIit10/s320/IMG_4230.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">as things got crazier and crazier here with covid and they started telling people to stay home from work and school....and then as folks all started becoming positive....some businesses took matters into their own hands... the store is in the second floor apartment....there is a buzzer on top of the white poster and the basket is hanging down to take your money and give you your product...it had a QR code on it as well...as no one here uses cash these days....you pay for everything with your phone...it is going to be hard to remember for carry a wallet again ;P we thinnk they were selling lottery tickets and small household items....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwXzeWbMYz-1qtcQrlYJ51aRntE-33ScM0xBwNVW1qbrlruThYi3YS7K4TfuWlGssGGMzZRH9y8hda882L2F9PFhaKYnEiHj50CbIWDpX06r3o3vgyPK67AlVdew_RsCBlprLe395jFZVwreHMkvqdq37MrQB8x7piv4MNo4yNQPimWWY0iE/s4032/IMG_4238.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwXzeWbMYz-1qtcQrlYJ51aRntE-33ScM0xBwNVW1qbrlruThYi3YS7K4TfuWlGssGGMzZRH9y8hda882L2F9PFhaKYnEiHj50CbIWDpX06r3o3vgyPK67AlVdew_RsCBlprLe395jFZVwreHMkvqdq37MrQB8x7piv4MNo4yNQPimWWY0iE/s320/IMG_4238.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;">someone previously asked me to share a picture of the building i live in....this is two of the four buildings in my complex from our front courtyard...my apartment is on the other side and looks out over the street and towards the downtown section of beijing....i really do like my apartment....which is good because i have spent a lot of time there myself over the past 8 weeks....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2TS5xfDukCO00xCZc7OhDwkSaBmbubq0lLrQHnw6IoEeVK8bTgtTPay4Nnp5KzKM-q4XcUoonzWOII-guH8z8ABM5Z7eYde5FUozh3lebGcSEr9EhJlBZ4N3Cv6edol4FyC7_8VTNivmaUqUrRTgEEOUUbFMPHMHF6GDhRXNcPoql0u45mc/s4032/IMG_4239.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2TS5xfDukCO00xCZc7OhDwkSaBmbubq0lLrQHnw6IoEeVK8bTgtTPay4Nnp5KzKM-q4XcUoonzWOII-guH8z8ABM5Z7eYde5FUozh3lebGcSEr9EhJlBZ4N3Cv6edol4FyC7_8VTNivmaUqUrRTgEEOUUbFMPHMHF6GDhRXNcPoql0u45mc/s320/IMG_4239.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is how i enter school every day....we'll see what happens when we return from break....but i had to walk through a shipping container, where my temperature was measured everyday...i also had to scan a code to show i had been tested the day before and was negative.....i have no idea what will happen with all of this equipment now that caution has been thrown to the wind....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG5T7hUYtqvVXDbfEAY_BukNry6t-GJqYXjP7_w8ZePS3yd_xpmSLR7pIyYEOqds81wKWJVWAsBHZAeaJcPLIEfazvPEJLnFqBS1NoN5soq0KKf-OBmMP2426uZ-zUWEQxv6DglFlRjEUctenohDHTRib3Wq88K27Cdr3U-ZreuSn9pAxKkY/s4032/IMG_4240.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUG5T7hUYtqvVXDbfEAY_BukNry6t-GJqYXjP7_w8ZePS3yd_xpmSLR7pIyYEOqds81wKWJVWAsBHZAeaJcPLIEfazvPEJLnFqBS1NoN5soq0KKf-OBmMP2426uZ-zUWEQxv6DglFlRjEUctenohDHTRib3Wq88K27Cdr3U-ZreuSn9pAxKkY/s320/IMG_4240.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is my walk to where my classroom is...i took this shot while we were online and i was still allowed to go to school to teach online...it helped me keep a routine and some other folks were there most days, so i had some social interaction, which was good for my mental state :)</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtxTBo3c5TYTylC2UHCZqMfF_9yyIx6w1XwEAzoHgqC2zgno2x4M5pG-DT8JqH3eflr5kuwfP5xhOZ2Eg0xB_cuSiVh8yqqCD9wfApNuhqriddObUXt2ZXhcQ2RdUxNJmPTEUgojkWYVA-cYIeGYwK2uJ0FLDCkF-LNrmlUJXlTpKaM0qWJs/s4032/IMG_4241.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtxTBo3c5TYTylC2UHCZqMfF_9yyIx6w1XwEAzoHgqC2zgno2x4M5pG-DT8JqH3eflr5kuwfP5xhOZ2Eg0xB_cuSiVh8yqqCD9wfApNuhqriddObUXt2ZXhcQ2RdUxNJmPTEUgojkWYVA-cYIeGYwK2uJ0FLDCkF-LNrmlUJXlTpKaM0qWJs/s320/IMG_4241.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is the view across the peace park, towards the middle school building...it was super weird once again, to not have folks on campus...most folks could not get here because at this point they were still locking down compounds....crazy to think all of these restrictions have flown out the window...i guess it now makes a good story???? maybe when i am more removed from it....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8C3Dv_lMZMw_E2LJmX34fTmod8R-4V-lOF-UHR8nXwAVp8SsjlIqith6Ehbb1a5iFCj5UehoYkCYmG90GuC2QeG0uc5iNjt4u-XlCaZBx10NCB_-ky6DM0j0Q7pK-hetMMd-b-S0ojf7X-g-LgrBFc_YC85ld7wS1_6tqlwLmYFbgIqksZg/s4032/IMG_4362.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8C3Dv_lMZMw_E2LJmX34fTmod8R-4V-lOF-UHR8nXwAVp8SsjlIqith6Ehbb1a5iFCj5UehoYkCYmG90GuC2QeG0uc5iNjt4u-XlCaZBx10NCB_-ky6DM0j0Q7pK-hetMMd-b-S0ojf7X-g-LgrBFc_YC85ld7wS1_6tqlwLmYFbgIqksZg/w242-h322/IMG_4362.HEIC" width="242" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">the seven days of testing positive for covid....we now have access to the home tests....something that was not available in china for the past few years....this is how most people test now....just like the rest of the world...no more testing for the health kit or checking the green arrow....its a whole new world....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijkkasI8Yx8R1ZKY3OLNPl8wHXz9MslU3blZ2Cpg5cytK18oM-AP830P1fesycRGzUkuR_qJHPdpLBErayZArlQtHj0LqqPr2vHh8RQpShb14fM-WcljVu06tPlLBmrKJxj2MHOd2ZAntOYUXQtED_RLKbhlRZSlA2T_x4nLFO6XVz_z6I4M/s1280/IMG_4352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijkkasI8Yx8R1ZKY3OLNPl8wHXz9MslU3blZ2Cpg5cytK18oM-AP830P1fesycRGzUkuR_qJHPdpLBErayZArlQtHj0LqqPr2vHh8RQpShb14fM-WcljVu06tPlLBmrKJxj2MHOd2ZAntOYUXQtED_RLKbhlRZSlA2T_x4nLFO6XVz_z6I4M/s320/IMG_4352.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">my last shot is a celebration for my new post in paris....at the american school of paris....this was after i siugned my intent letter and really had made my decision....i am soooooooo excited for this move :)</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">so there you have it....pics and stories from my past six months in china....i am so hopeful that my last six months are much different and i actually might get to leave the country for a trip to another place in southeast asia and get to see the few remaining sites here in china i want to see....we'll see...i don't really trust the changes until they happen and have been around for a month or so....but my fingers are crossed....</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">i hope each of you has a wonderful solstice - its winter here in beijing...and cold (-10C this morning)....and a very happy holiday season with family and friends wherever you might be....i am hopeful that 2023 will be an amazing year of change and freedom....and my international life will return to a more similar way of life i used to have pre-covid....drop a line and say hello and let me know how you are doing!!!!</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">peace out.....dani</span></p>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-11940906426754527042022-08-02T03:59:00.001+02:002022-08-02T03:59:24.924+02:00China Take 2 - States Review<p> <span style="color: #990000;">August 1, 2022</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">hi all....i am getting in touch from my mom's place in the US.....i have been here for my summer break....it was a stressful trip to get here, and it is proving to be a stressful trip to get back to china for another year of teaching....due to all of this stress, I will be finishing my contract in china this year and then not returning....."where will I go?" you ask...."your guess is as good as mine", I respond :) </span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">I do not know if it is time for another teaching break, as this teaching gig I have had in china has been ok, not awesome....some great things about the school, some not so much....i do have great science colleagues and am glad I will get to work with them one more year....but china's stance on zero covid has shadowed everything about this post....from school, to life, to china....so it might be time for a break.....again....</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">the month I have spent in the states has been restful and restorative...just what was needed by me....so that is a great thing....i have enjoyed seeing some people (although not many due to trying to stay negative), going to the jersey shore for a few days (eating my favorite pizza), daily walking in nature and reading, reading, reading.....i have taken a complete break from school....which was necessary.....but now I am getting ready to return, as long as this flight I am scheduled to take does not get suspended like my last flight.....keep those fingers crossed that this will happen....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">i will include one or two pictures here from my trip to the states...plus, some pictures from last summer....because I never did a real update for my trip to Yunnan province....which was one of the best trips I have taken in china....ever!!!! i was on a food tour with folks i knew and folks i now consider my friends...it was amazing....pictures will be below.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">thanks to all of those who checked in with me in February, when i wrote a short update about my frustrating times in china.....now that i have been outside of the country, i am in a much better space about returning and finishing my contract....i just needed to reset my china filter.....i am hopeful that i will be allowed to at least travel IN china this year....people did that over the summer, but we'll see what happens during the school year....they will not change their zero-tolerance covid stance, so i am not really expecting there to be much different from last year in the upcoming year...but i will do my job and then leave on good terms, i hope :) on with the pictures....enjoy & as always, feel free to contact me to say hi or ask questions.....happy summer/winter :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJnLcI_7UV53wzQUJ8LbLOj_cjf-0fGVcUCuPUPsWlN9sEFX2WXWbCBtxO0aLzBOn6QQ07xg7-vf4yP1w1ZKLrI1TmP-B78o1pTCdSGWtjf4YgmYsn5dTQY_s1ZEq1sJ8NRPAmgUvBfbcYhtgjezGs30jxpUxcPc4cp6CE21BVsIGy8RrpOA/s4032/IMG_0398.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJnLcI_7UV53wzQUJ8LbLOj_cjf-0fGVcUCuPUPsWlN9sEFX2WXWbCBtxO0aLzBOn6QQ07xg7-vf4yP1w1ZKLrI1TmP-B78o1pTCdSGWtjf4YgmYsn5dTQY_s1ZEq1sJ8NRPAmgUvBfbcYhtgjezGs30jxpUxcPc4cp6CE21BVsIGy8RrpOA/s320/IMG_0398.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">we started our food tour in Dali, a town in the Yunnan Province of China.....there were lots of fresh food markets along the way and I was so excited to see mangosteen for sale...plus, I loved the way this woman measured my fruit to determine how much I owed her...if you have not mangosteen...you should...it is amazing (nothing like mango by the way)!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMttAlPUvtXK2EZl07Pp6AicepJ6Y1Ztnb_C55_q4insJNWYd-9aNOOzkrHfhAWGryheYSbRhiYFxYte6HkNa8KT4jzeXgmAHD-hTCeF5vO5-vL4e5XaYVP18WAmZeFF3QBQ9YkuzFsbyi5knAmx2JJoQCwZH8OCBNE1Jrw_HN_XjaU-3_Ic/s4032/IMG_0441.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMttAlPUvtXK2EZl07Pp6AicepJ6Y1Ztnb_C55_q4insJNWYd-9aNOOzkrHfhAWGryheYSbRhiYFxYte6HkNa8KT4jzeXgmAHD-hTCeF5vO5-vL4e5XaYVP18WAmZeFF3QBQ9YkuzFsbyi5knAmx2JJoQCwZH8OCBNE1Jrw_HN_XjaU-3_Ic/s320/IMG_0441.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">this food dish was for 7 people....it was humongous and we did not finish it...you ate the things on this tray with your hands and would take some of the rice and eat it together....there were mushrooms and tofu and peanuts and noodles and three kinds of rice and fresh veggies....and much more...it was a ridiculous amount of food and so very tasty!!!! we knew at that point that this trip was going to be amazing!!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKKzYcWddLvPhErZC9Lewiq4TQOCRFaIs0VkrYWSK9SA8M3TYMlA1E4Ff8nqjTSiBOe4fS4pHDBMR14sOopVGVMbnt9fLLmh5qO2tlImFcaHzb26ndy-HXV-U2IdQZRxH8mOo8aTzCLLsZRlEaZ9cqrf2iiqDgOT7gMJBSmvTAj2JHf3xDDI/s4032/IMG_0468.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKKzYcWddLvPhErZC9Lewiq4TQOCRFaIs0VkrYWSK9SA8M3TYMlA1E4Ff8nqjTSiBOe4fS4pHDBMR14sOopVGVMbnt9fLLmh5qO2tlImFcaHzb26ndy-HXV-U2IdQZRxH8mOo8aTzCLLsZRlEaZ9cqrf2iiqDgOT7gMJBSmvTAj2JHf3xDDI/s320/IMG_0468.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">we did a breakfast tour the next morning and went to a special coffee shop in dali....where we had yunnan coffee as a pour over....the barista was a pro and made an incredible cup of joe 😀 the town was quite cute and I really liked this wall of one of the buildings.....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYQTqcP8fT9yCcYdyvQfVx8YomaIUcbSa9_8urT55W-MxD7VpQFfoyM89fYc9MGX0wdtyKdVz_P3-gHkJIdDji0L_V2cBjvPm9wGLv7hHChYQAiod_bFkKXUUmpPjJ2LybSLxRAT9yZmp3KjqG5ACiMGzNIS5m2i-3wdYmFgFG40eNl5xgmI/s4032/IMG_0522.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYQTqcP8fT9yCcYdyvQfVx8YomaIUcbSa9_8urT55W-MxD7VpQFfoyM89fYc9MGX0wdtyKdVz_P3-gHkJIdDji0L_V2cBjvPm9wGLv7hHChYQAiod_bFkKXUUmpPjJ2LybSLxRAT9yZmp3KjqG5ACiMGzNIS5m2i-3wdYmFgFG40eNl5xgmI/s320/IMG_0522.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">from dali we traveled around the lake it was on, Erhai Lake, to a farm to go make rose pastry....this is a delicacy of the area, and yes, it is made with rose petals.....i had a small amount, but one of the secret ingredients of the pastry was lard....not really something I eat....i of course had to taste it though...the farm was our first glimpse into the phenomenon of selfies in china....most tourist places or places trying to attract tourists, have now set up tableaux to take your selfie with....the a-frame you see above is one of those places.....but the scenery here was spectacular, so I can understand why they do it....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bm8NVFLFP4nsoi7gB9CFQV28KesFUkZc3VzhEKbX3vsITsXskr-u6gcDTljuX2fFGD1UXolI46P0r5um9hjZNv8bAVIfbnK8mHSBsTJF8S27ZCWkf5By9OtlKT7VxtJzW8ie_ZeWIV5kO7RduiyyZa13X8RkAY8hdHeYIzJP49ozkohxCw0/s4032/IMG_0544.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Bm8NVFLFP4nsoi7gB9CFQV28KesFUkZc3VzhEKbX3vsITsXskr-u6gcDTljuX2fFGD1UXolI46P0r5um9hjZNv8bAVIfbnK8mHSBsTJF8S27ZCWkf5By9OtlKT7VxtJzW8ie_ZeWIV5kO7RduiyyZa13X8RkAY8hdHeYIzJP49ozkohxCw0/s320/IMG_0544.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">here is another view from the farm...the mountains are the cangshan mountains to the west of the lake...it was a spectacular day and we came to realize that the scenery in the yunnan province is simply amazing!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKqu4m1XRgKjR9OaaOVb21BX9WYiHwJ0zlnaDeLWMbCg96ko05dyrfxBZCDsjMrCU31CD7X5zO0wYPyjAkzoLWyGJQiP_uFulBPwI7UdHC144JyIrECtKyjNTP3QsSkSKdhwFNy1sTUP5aGBBXO64XXupTowak4KHbYHPSYZ7sVEkDIMg1k0/s4032/IMG_0567.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKqu4m1XRgKjR9OaaOVb21BX9WYiHwJ0zlnaDeLWMbCg96ko05dyrfxBZCDsjMrCU31CD7X5zO0wYPyjAkzoLWyGJQiP_uFulBPwI7UdHC144JyIrECtKyjNTP3QsSkSKdhwFNy1sTUP5aGBBXO64XXupTowak4KHbYHPSYZ7sVEkDIMg1k0/s320/IMG_0567.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">the next town we stayed in, just north of dali, but on the same lake, was xizhou...this town was quaint and filled with amazing food, especially xizhou baba - which is a bread you have with breakfast, plus it had a famous cultural center....this town was populated by the Bai people, another group within china....this was the view over the rice paddies from the cultural center....wow!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAMzhO-a2ziqH9BBpcvTC_fdqzuj0vohhFFTytBOcvEXsSJTtOuBDYjXSwn3ZxTIopyOgjRAUwpE1LoslXXUFj0NPg_4PE9E9fdKls8w4flM8Hejd61SNPNPb6YoEd5Ejiha17cf4PPkNwEq94NUi4gQPuNh4Bb5546AcijQoWsm-C8dRddw/s4032/IMG_0571.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAMzhO-a2ziqH9BBpcvTC_fdqzuj0vohhFFTytBOcvEXsSJTtOuBDYjXSwn3ZxTIopyOgjRAUwpE1LoslXXUFj0NPg_4PE9E9fdKls8w4flM8Hejd61SNPNPb6YoEd5Ejiha17cf4PPkNwEq94NUi4gQPuNh4Bb5546AcijQoWsm-C8dRddw/s320/IMG_0571.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">this is a drawing of the famous Bai round building in the middle of this town, along with the character for double happiness, used when discussing love & marriage....it was everywhere in this town :)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWIQ0kTEbQVFtLLPI2FlpUyMkat2hjWg1q4w1nZ22fEKIlZEISKvts-H3pf9DdilKaS4MfL7_JmRLVvHINin-ZphyNFyZulog2CdosodIcQcBNCjG4muM9nPMtxqxEb0kPADnY-qLT72GqHlC0E75wbmUi9GIbv4uqWfVQnl6MZ4w7X9ZmGo/s4027/IMG_0582.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4027" data-original-width="2472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWIQ0kTEbQVFtLLPI2FlpUyMkat2hjWg1q4w1nZ22fEKIlZEISKvts-H3pf9DdilKaS4MfL7_JmRLVvHINin-ZphyNFyZulog2CdosodIcQcBNCjG4muM9nPMtxqxEb0kPADnY-qLT72GqHlC0E75wbmUi9GIbv4uqWfVQnl6MZ4w7X9ZmGo/s320/IMG_0582.HEIC" width="196" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000;">as we were wandering around xizhou, after our incredible dinner, we ran into this woman...she of course asked us if we had eaten, as is customary in china....most people ask that before they even say hello....it is a way to be gracious and to ask how someone is doing....she had so many textiles and was quite a lovely lady.....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QpQ4mnoAHxwtlJ3V_fow2hZndic2TCacpjvXH1Dx1e9pn-t0MTCxmmHiy0pE7Z-tBAhIZcTUxgH_RR1R6-btcg6j7suKFIMOIqr3lycWh_YhTYkEcZjp886b-jfUEywzAKODwdO6E-vXjUg6xv358HRKdMmdGqooaIDrlWBHBRTrKhmCYtM/s4032/IMG_0610.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QpQ4mnoAHxwtlJ3V_fow2hZndic2TCacpjvXH1Dx1e9pn-t0MTCxmmHiy0pE7Z-tBAhIZcTUxgH_RR1R6-btcg6j7suKFIMOIqr3lycWh_YhTYkEcZjp886b-jfUEywzAKODwdO6E-vXjUg6xv358HRKdMmdGqooaIDrlWBHBRTrKhmCYtM/s320/IMG_0610.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #38761d;"><p>this is what the buildings looked like in the center of xizhou....you will always see the color red in towns, because red is the lucky color of all of china....</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaQiJk_GyiFmQdmDL5yOmPaC3ETnDTKqJA6-GkURWPaZuYWqwKOKQ_ucT3kPI53tig_kPpb7iZ05fObB1L3XJt6NwXybLKrpSoKFcN1VQmwCuagaEMIzxtbS7mLT676qPVVpfGdzap5Uc1adG56xBZprxdGikVY3cizXd590RZrDx_bkhoFg/s4032/IMG_0632.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaQiJk_GyiFmQdmDL5yOmPaC3ETnDTKqJA6-GkURWPaZuYWqwKOKQ_ucT3kPI53tig_kPpb7iZ05fObB1L3XJt6NwXybLKrpSoKFcN1VQmwCuagaEMIzxtbS7mLT676qPVVpfGdzap5Uc1adG56xBZprxdGikVY3cizXd590RZrDx_bkhoFg/s320/IMG_0632.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">in order to leave xizhou, we had to cross this bridge...this is called a moon bridge, and is used by pedestrians only....they can have one, three, five, etc, half moons to cross over....never an even number...the reflection of the sky in the water was just perfect....you can see my friend shannon walking over the bridge...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3Vylhq7Aw8I7zXysJ1KF07MqjRNFYZyOHc-gkAdgXGlhIfxs3VxyDL7fbuvvzJx-JKDaSFX1kLMLnP3wRxTzmQTRbTggCx8enD3ChTNDHN6screXJV5uB7ZlaG588ABsImsXXNVjPlIBaQvmu24gEIEqpTCNQdKNCpjK2QKw_wF8dXdg1mM/s4032/IMG_0641.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3Vylhq7Aw8I7zXysJ1KF07MqjRNFYZyOHc-gkAdgXGlhIfxs3VxyDL7fbuvvzJx-JKDaSFX1kLMLnP3wRxTzmQTRbTggCx8enD3ChTNDHN6screXJV5uB7ZlaG588ABsImsXXNVjPlIBaQvmu24gEIEqpTCNQdKNCpjK2QKw_wF8dXdg1mM/s320/IMG_0641.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">from xizhou we went on a bike ride around part of erhai lake...it was an amazing day, as you can see from the picture.....this was a place I stopped and chilled for a bit because of the wild flowers, clouds and the mountains...i loved it....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8UvKaPjxDtBlmmztr6M4_qXYSfAiYIWKJ52__i9_nqx84uX97bBxsTJ6oez-IwSDgUVT_Lrz-pjyCSQ-Fcinesn4P0ibZ0LhxAtKDtH2dfx5sKe6XaS828QgOXrc3piUJbJPaIoVgcwtw-ycHMm6IMaKOrB4b8YRwXEiSeQp5FojQcueThs/s4032/IMG_0664.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8UvKaPjxDtBlmmztr6M4_qXYSfAiYIWKJ52__i9_nqx84uX97bBxsTJ6oez-IwSDgUVT_Lrz-pjyCSQ-Fcinesn4P0ibZ0LhxAtKDtH2dfx5sKe6XaS828QgOXrc3piUJbJPaIoVgcwtw-ycHMm6IMaKOrB4b8YRwXEiSeQp5FojQcueThs/s320/IMG_0664.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><p>our next stop was a place where we did indigo tye-dying of batik....we each were able to make our own kerchief.... this older woman was intrigued by me and my hips....she did not speak any english, but made it a point to poke me in the hips....so of course I had to take a picture with her....her embroidery on the pieces of batik was incredible....you can see some of the batik behind us.....</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw38zM_h9XPEyLCSAa4iqhjFC193x6aARSBDg8laLuTOSVVN_Zwqr-cLTLrkbPFJkOKJEUlC9ZnizHF3AcJ7Vcft9B1WQUXQMjTPFXSfQKKfSIvkFTEHG_kWz5yNfsFD5QtpzEDjT9J2kLqWiWNnnB7ccLJ9YXbCm6svriYEQ-Y5sOLSJW-w/s4032/IMG_0706.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw38zM_h9XPEyLCSAa4iqhjFC193x6aARSBDg8laLuTOSVVN_Zwqr-cLTLrkbPFJkOKJEUlC9ZnizHF3AcJ7Vcft9B1WQUXQMjTPFXSfQKKfSIvkFTEHG_kWz5yNfsFD5QtpzEDjT9J2kLqWiWNnnB7ccLJ9YXbCm6svriYEQ-Y5sOLSJW-w/s320/IMG_0706.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">from making batik we headed off to shaaxi ancient town....most of the town has been refurbished and they are building a huge highway to get there easily.....i am glad we were there before that happened, because that will increase Chinese tourism one hundred-fold....shaaxi was a huge trading hub on the yunnan-tibet tea horse road....its main plaza had this incredible open-air theater....nothing was being performed, but the structure was beautiful....this town was known for all of the coffee places...so we enjoyed some yunnan coffee while here....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJvqUUCqELtSWjaG9Eh4IUbT-CnaCnPSg0reIyJ3Kn_YgrHhfDymsWCBMOWLSG6WaxBu6cXvtrPSyZkIL2cJGgPbgf4r1ARffPqhXbkRxqsC5n42hz6c11MTfx1NAd4IupA4V-Lq72Kc03vxlTgcVQuRzgYwI-pDDabc3dNBJ_m-RIZ9nh2U/s4032/IMG_0701.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJvqUUCqELtSWjaG9Eh4IUbT-CnaCnPSg0reIyJ3Kn_YgrHhfDymsWCBMOWLSG6WaxBu6cXvtrPSyZkIL2cJGgPbgf4r1ARffPqhXbkRxqsC5n42hz6c11MTfx1NAd4IupA4V-Lq72Kc03vxlTgcVQuRzgYwI-pDDabc3dNBJ_m-RIZ9nh2U/s320/IMG_0701.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">here is another one of the moon bridges to get in and out of shaaxi ancient town....the name of this bridge is the jade ford bridge....i am not sure why....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO3ShXhgaoXnOSUEuyA2bqww_kbPGxRpvNcobg52glq55ZjUJMaQc0tuhS2NPN6jKDfcIGiA_XMCW8Sbp5NgCWirfWh1H2pi6DPmrWM2e_4EccLnJ6JaldjTGmLQgky1xZJbLrkCyjdqQ-zjxwhCu72sfcJsjxb1Y1iHKDw75RKkYpI77-u8/s4032/IMG_0771.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO3ShXhgaoXnOSUEuyA2bqww_kbPGxRpvNcobg52glq55ZjUJMaQc0tuhS2NPN6jKDfcIGiA_XMCW8Sbp5NgCWirfWh1H2pi6DPmrWM2e_4EccLnJ6JaldjTGmLQgky1xZJbLrkCyjdqQ-zjxwhCu72sfcJsjxb1Y1iHKDw75RKkYpI77-u8/s320/IMG_0771.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">on our way out of shaaxi, we visited a library in the next town over....it was a bit random and had been built by a foundation...not really sure why they chose this town to build it in, but it was definitely a lovely library....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEulAvc2e3IxIy9pXOalZHJzxOCos3QmeUHcPXCVpTEtBoDmy0uV_tVCnqQNxO4maI32SD2KY1WSqZskEvMMtS9SKnOl7V1LwaA-kh2SB91gEPfj9vSwv-gJyOxIn0GM2P_0WUlIqtBHKjEcJm0_m0l1463vR4aiAl9eREhn7BEOHoB-w9jBA/s4032/IMG_0796.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEulAvc2e3IxIy9pXOalZHJzxOCos3QmeUHcPXCVpTEtBoDmy0uV_tVCnqQNxO4maI32SD2KY1WSqZskEvMMtS9SKnOl7V1LwaA-kh2SB91gEPfj9vSwv-gJyOxIn0GM2P_0WUlIqtBHKjEcJm0_m0l1463vR4aiAl9eREhn7BEOHoB-w9jBA/s320/IMG_0796.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">from shaaxi we headed to tiger leaping gorge....i was soooooo excited about this part of the trip, mainly for the place we were spending the night....it was in the gorge, with an amazing view....BUT unfortunately we were not allowed in the gorge (my friends shannon, josh and myself), because of somewhere we had traveled to previously, that was having a covid outbreak...luckily we were able to go to a hospital and get negative covid tests to see the gorge, but we were not able to get the results in time to be able to spend the night in the gorge....damn covid 😒</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjhZLJy-EfdTkCvQNNVX8kFLxS01orH1UrPv_OQpaSt0qC1wLftD1hmvc-tZZmC69IKbOfOoa16bP_vBb_amyQ10SO27XegB3YS4vxIApn0AhU-HH39PLfGKflT92-b8G7TCag4Rx2cN5pRCQjKDNusXrwST15eB1Um14OnfkhqNaTQbu5HM/s4032/IMG_0866.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjhZLJy-EfdTkCvQNNVX8kFLxS01orH1UrPv_OQpaSt0qC1wLftD1hmvc-tZZmC69IKbOfOoa16bP_vBb_amyQ10SO27XegB3YS4vxIApn0AhU-HH39PLfGKflT92-b8G7TCag4Rx2cN5pRCQjKDNusXrwST15eB1Um14OnfkhqNaTQbu5HM/s320/IMG_0866.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">at least we were able to get to see the gorge...and it was crazy how much water was rushing past in the gorge...it was rainy and that increased the amount even more than normal...it was wild....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCQ-9FZ6Hp26C5sbqXH1-h_DVa9NPncauA5vBTCGbouACi9-uZPL_sihaomBOJS46CoeZONyBdThqj6HyuxD6pXGZJmLatWC5hfOuHu_YukC-LJeqei0ei1rQblp8Mk7fSaqrFTx7H__e7ESZel8HZ-BUBMizVU-5T7oHK0qkoBNiwaczB9Y/s4032/IMG_0889.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCQ-9FZ6Hp26C5sbqXH1-h_DVa9NPncauA5vBTCGbouACi9-uZPL_sihaomBOJS46CoeZONyBdThqj6HyuxD6pXGZJmLatWC5hfOuHu_YukC-LJeqei0ei1rQblp8Mk7fSaqrFTx7H__e7ESZel8HZ-BUBMizVU-5T7oHK0qkoBNiwaczB9Y/s320/IMG_0889.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; text-align: left;">many places in china, like tiger leaping gorge, the Chinese will write wishes and prayers and dreams on these tags and hang them up so they will happen...i thought this was a great way to frame the river.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqclsYaKIovpxjl8vg9THIULpfSbxl8QxJ4rMETOUr09QC8P3QNoiL-kO3yVxqHPEAchevn_hl-MmzCEA0HBwmc2T6xhv4Kf67CrTnvUhgoy-U-d1wW4GeznX9W4-2YKh4DaxP2KILm4Kugarkmp-1E4noUljwTS2DEasM5lXEn_aPU5PapM/s4032/IMG_0903.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqclsYaKIovpxjl8vg9THIULpfSbxl8QxJ4rMETOUr09QC8P3QNoiL-kO3yVxqHPEAchevn_hl-MmzCEA0HBwmc2T6xhv4Kf67CrTnvUhgoy-U-d1wW4GeznX9W4-2YKh4DaxP2KILm4Kugarkmp-1E4noUljwTS2DEasM5lXEn_aPU5PapM/s320/IMG_0903.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">they also had created these metallic wings in the tourist area for selfie shots...you can see the gorge better behind me in this shot...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6p0Fvbf2zM4VpHQHzAb7JTIAf4GvdPavGjCGVHOgUwFCNjifho3qehekbTywTUCEqOsmlTI3IopANQ0qmgQOBOh2Cwm1NW1GopThcFmh7T4C0FoBoXcEq_nvCsIYKPMYQsoZ5QgGSdu-i-xespyG6o9wiredLBk24owcxXwB9nQvkbdxR3s/s4032/IMG_0938.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6p0Fvbf2zM4VpHQHzAb7JTIAf4GvdPavGjCGVHOgUwFCNjifho3qehekbTywTUCEqOsmlTI3IopANQ0qmgQOBOh2Cwm1NW1GopThcFmh7T4C0FoBoXcEq_nvCsIYKPMYQsoZ5QgGSdu-i-xespyG6o9wiredLBk24owcxXwB9nQvkbdxR3s/s320/IMG_0938.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">the last stop on this tour was lijiang....the craziest thing we kept experiencing in these small towns in yunnan was all of the over-sized stuffed teddy bears....they were everywhere....you can see a bunch of them in this picture....who knows why????</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0jN2VOQ2_3L6MmmbYNoLiXPjtaQndAtWuvf47sVGZMf2G2z2GCvm4UoVOSONF7bTnPVTSE7axgucONEe28ynjvuwouBtp-JGcXk02IP6mjcSu8OZJKta5lGGDFhkw57r0mC8Q9JaNyg5jWWSgquNJ1D2PUDtDcCDjqNmE7mZxzVN_c8cqOY/s4032/IMG_0978.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0jN2VOQ2_3L6MmmbYNoLiXPjtaQndAtWuvf47sVGZMf2G2z2GCvm4UoVOSONF7bTnPVTSE7axgucONEe28ynjvuwouBtp-JGcXk02IP6mjcSu8OZJKta5lGGDFhkw57r0mC8Q9JaNyg5jWWSgquNJ1D2PUDtDcCDjqNmE7mZxzVN_c8cqOY/s320/IMG_0978.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #134f5c;">while in liajiang we visited the largest local market and then went to cook some yunnan food that was famous in the area...here you can see some of the local vegetables....all very tasty, except the bumpy one on the right....this is bitter gourd....to this day I do not know how to make this taste good....soooooooo bitter 😂</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUhYohypCueUudNk62U2hmKVQ2HE2FfJBW7X-PNBDpzjC7R-O_DBG7Djz_r9tmWFHU2kjN8pyT9OsgTc15bz_ZVYy51uWU2GOPYJtllMsNHLjMv_hInmgg1g6YWaCKFWn_rSmFnK2iYgMl2SAgMgtyjKUShgM_JPix-ui1gisxm8kei0RXsA/s4032/IMG_0988.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUhYohypCueUudNk62U2hmKVQ2HE2FfJBW7X-PNBDpzjC7R-O_DBG7Djz_r9tmWFHU2kjN8pyT9OsgTc15bz_ZVYy51uWU2GOPYJtllMsNHLjMv_hInmgg1g6YWaCKFWn_rSmFnK2iYgMl2SAgMgtyjKUShgM_JPix-ui1gisxm8kei0RXsA/s320/IMG_0988.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #0b5394;">I felt I needed to show the meat section of the market....here I am with some pork ribs....not something I would eat, but others on the tour did have the meat and fish along the way....my tour was vegetarian.. although I did taste some of the fish that were native to erhai lake and when they were the main dish of the houses we ate at....</span><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmB7k-Nip3k3-XaHqkG8MrLw8coCe7kBQH9TAwk7y2HSfniWUL3HHK6vmjnlMQ5ch3J26bSTXlZBe_VKmQvbInkQQWjSpF2UdQY5oxQauNRdoGcd6tp-JszxFAZF47gmVAX0uGOFLUhaCr81HumKCa4WftWlSNam0VPrBvdbbCLAad2wpbuI/s4032/IMG_1007.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmB7k-Nip3k3-XaHqkG8MrLw8coCe7kBQH9TAwk7y2HSfniWUL3HHK6vmjnlMQ5ch3J26bSTXlZBe_VKmQvbInkQQWjSpF2UdQY5oxQauNRdoGcd6tp-JszxFAZF47gmVAX0uGOFLUhaCr81HumKCa4WftWlSNam0VPrBvdbbCLAad2wpbuI/s320/IMG_1007.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #351c75;">i loved this picture of the women discussing the topics of the world...sisters??? friends??? relatives??? neighbors??? who knows....but I love their hats and that they did not pay the crazy foreigners any mind while discussing the stories of the world 😊</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu3BwAvHYArP70-xQxTQgDFDH_yqBwUPvQUwKw0iJ7JG6OF6inA8XhUxCnwPLa9XAiRF44e0cG43qFSjeqlje_a9WSIOZpisziQuK61iDtehY5_ZYm3EbD8BYjVCNk5ZDAfATdk5GsXcI5FCFIfdJTr_K-ifWs7dGh3ablTFXxBG2HcMBb3g/s4032/IMG_1024.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu3BwAvHYArP70-xQxTQgDFDH_yqBwUPvQUwKw0iJ7JG6OF6inA8XhUxCnwPLa9XAiRF44e0cG43qFSjeqlje_a9WSIOZpisziQuK61iDtehY5_ZYm3EbD8BYjVCNk5ZDAfATdk5GsXcI5FCFIfdJTr_K-ifWs7dGh3ablTFXxBG2HcMBb3g/s320/IMG_1024.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is where we had a cooking class....with a woman named fancy....here I have a dessert that is composed of shaved ice, milk, fruit and sugar....very tasty....and she was a great instructor...we all really enjoyed the time with fancy 😋</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEmfYFbKHGXXB9XGXsk8DAN6ZdD5qh8y7ZkEUkN3V_mtzrlpJwKQvhUklrqAW_PW72NdGBJdLfO-jSNe9jVCux1B0nWAPYSxrF8LRd7JV6f0a2aAGS5SrVjewRIN18ey14eu7mD49rwaXJFDdVmfceQChxYOJ4IkrVNAUFDoJpesJa4yin1Q/s4032/IMG_1048.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEmfYFbKHGXXB9XGXsk8DAN6ZdD5qh8y7ZkEUkN3V_mtzrlpJwKQvhUklrqAW_PW72NdGBJdLfO-jSNe9jVCux1B0nWAPYSxrF8LRd7JV6f0a2aAGS5SrVjewRIN18ey14eu7mD49rwaXJFDdVmfceQChxYOJ4IkrVNAUFDoJpesJa4yin1Q/s320/IMG_1048.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #990000;">this was the restaurant where we had our last night's meal in liajiang....again - lots of red lanterns for luck...the meal was super tasty and we were really sad the tour was coming to an end....if you are in china...the name of the tour group is the lost plate...it was incredible and if I get a chance to do another with them before I leave china, I feel that would be super lucky </span></div><div><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_bHZ7fEdDxbk6HlsLWJAJyW1TrkAeVPahatkzFxe5Xe4U2wrxOow9zNzSmMIsH18l-vz6fETTK7jsyOV37t8sXRNV68mNVVt9A_lfJ7Dtx5EfOfaAp0wIhlM8KKg_56zrzpb70mFtRLbplFyHJ4JP_ndk6z99llC1KGAF6MDy1XDL2TlXfI/s1440/IMG_1055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_bHZ7fEdDxbk6HlsLWJAJyW1TrkAeVPahatkzFxe5Xe4U2wrxOow9zNzSmMIsH18l-vz6fETTK7jsyOV37t8sXRNV68mNVVt9A_lfJ7Dtx5EfOfaAp0wIhlM8KKg_56zrzpb70mFtRLbplFyHJ4JP_ndk6z99llC1KGAF6MDy1XDL2TlXfI/s320/IMG_1055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #38761d;">here is a shot of our entire crew.....these folks made this tour amazing....and it was so much fun sharing the different meals and many of us ended up in the same book club...such good folks </span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbWSc6NjzV0QWWJemEil9ZPbRlE-pyj2-9L_c4KFHvQ4vT_iyaJxmB02uNevAlD2yQh0oTlNKLlSahI8IjyQYNHh3Hs9tNf-9gyGYjd_K0J86uppa_rdI33QSSxJqB0HfL5oFDEdcfcdRtV_M9GLS17_Fi62VOxTIrO6HgPm1m9ponmQoi0s/s960/IMG_1083.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbWSc6NjzV0QWWJemEil9ZPbRlE-pyj2-9L_c4KFHvQ4vT_iyaJxmB02uNevAlD2yQh0oTlNKLlSahI8IjyQYNHh3Hs9tNf-9gyGYjd_K0J86uppa_rdI33QSSxJqB0HfL5oFDEdcfcdRtV_M9GLS17_Fi62VOxTIrO6HgPm1m9ponmQoi0s/s320/IMG_1083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">we made it!!!!! josh, shannon and I made it to tiger leaping gorge after all of the covid testing stress....it was an amazing visit....just to see the raw force of nature and the water going through this gorge...i will miss these folks in china this coming year and feel very lucky to have gotten 18 months with them in Beijing....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_0lY1Z7M120bJ1ngyxIyczjgull0rsN8kV9IUqACFGkDOqRtHmOiN0-0-zhPPUx3CQEJ0JD1XebWsxdevytCPaKl9nCu0Pgf7HPvfX18mgP2rerYkjIhkDQAkVH81S9F_83KGLXQRCJGzkOuDsbGmkuFiRROu2Yxnywy6TZurNECTsnxzcE/s3022/IMG_0037.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="2531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_0lY1Z7M120bJ1ngyxIyczjgull0rsN8kV9IUqACFGkDOqRtHmOiN0-0-zhPPUx3CQEJ0JD1XebWsxdevytCPaKl9nCu0Pgf7HPvfX18mgP2rerYkjIhkDQAkVH81S9F_83KGLXQRCJGzkOuDsbGmkuFiRROu2Yxnywy6TZurNECTsnxzcE/s320/IMG_0037.HEIC" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is a shot from my mom's birthday and the main reason I came back to the states for the summer...we had a great time celebrating my mom....happy birthday!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjpIBcaxj0OlZmtFHnWh9cGhLNCA03weWMOTmx1dl4gA6JYzdZVBX0SjbQ0wj7riJCtS7-FuQWEeo6g9L5QoyujPrnfvjn0eBbDT3C_aSfUwINg_bHK1wRn_0gA6YqA6vm08mcbECsLOx-ggIinEeGYibEF7X0fboTPlfUkY5r7xD7-Lbdcw/s4032/IMG_0076.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjpIBcaxj0OlZmtFHnWh9cGhLNCA03weWMOTmx1dl4gA6JYzdZVBX0SjbQ0wj7riJCtS7-FuQWEeo6g9L5QoyujPrnfvjn0eBbDT3C_aSfUwINg_bHK1wRn_0gA6YqA6vm08mcbECsLOx-ggIinEeGYibEF7X0fboTPlfUkY5r7xD7-Lbdcw/s320/IMG_0076.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #351c75;">where I live in Pennsylvania gives us pretty amazing sunsets....i watched many of them from my mom's place where much of my time was spent.....thanks for a restful and rejuvenating summer...i think it has been just the right amount for me to make through another year 😉</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEJDqKyzZFxaN5WQjJb56bLqUVWsDpqeLBNyHYSl3W_ZTF6lI4N-9T7-mNvailQTfMwTIRUXySsr8qtSYK51FbtfhTCu1jw0SEHFoaRtQ8PcozotxVKCqZO33SPfUMNLwEEFRBviaB4v0K18nlgCOCvoEho4S2xgXSchqYKNnjbnqAXoS8mw/s4032/IMG_2639.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEJDqKyzZFxaN5WQjJb56bLqUVWsDpqeLBNyHYSl3W_ZTF6lI4N-9T7-mNvailQTfMwTIRUXySsr8qtSYK51FbtfhTCu1jw0SEHFoaRtQ8PcozotxVKCqZO33SPfUMNLwEEFRBviaB4v0K18nlgCOCvoEho4S2xgXSchqYKNnjbnqAXoS8mw/s320/IMG_2639.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">and it wouldn't be a post without me and beer....this is a beer from one of the brew pubs in Beijing I go to - jing-a - they have been in Beijing quite a while....this beer is one of their spring specialties - hawthorne sour - it was quite tasty....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">so there you have it...my trip from last summer and a few pictures from my trip to the states this summer...again, I apologize for not sending this before, but it was a challenge for me to stay in one city for almost an entire year....it made it even more challenging to want to write this blog....i am hopeful I will at least see a bit more of china in the coming year, but am not sure I will get the chance.....fingers crossed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">i hope you all have a lovely rest of your summer/winter....and keep those fingers crossed that my flight goes next week and that I am on it....hoping to not get covid between then and now.....remember to reach out if you have questions or just want to say hi!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">thanks for reading and have a fab day 😀😀</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">dani</span></div><br /><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><p></p></div>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-6088685575733078972021-10-30T12:59:00.000+02:002021-10-30T12:59:06.583+02:00China Take 2 - Update #3<p> <span style="color: #990000;">October 30, 2021</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">Hi all - Happy Halloween!!!! I know, I know....it has been a looong time since you have heard from me, and for that i am sorry....i had a terrific summer here in china...but it was a bit weird because i was not allowed to actually travel out of country....this past week was my one year anniversary of being here in beijing and it feels a bit weird for me to have been in one country for a continuous year....not something i have done in a long, long time.....i did take the chance to travel all over china this past summer, hence why it was a great summer....but i have decided i need to be able to get to the states this summer to see my mom, brother, other family members and friends....so i have signed a contract for a third year, but if they say i cannot travel to the states come may/june, i will be breaking my contract....my bosses already know this, but i am hopeful i will not need to do that....all that being said...last summer was great and next summer will be in the states....</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">below are pictures from the first of the four trips i took...i am hoping i do not overload people with pictures, but china is a huge country, with different landscapes, an immense amount of amazing history and lots of fun places to visit and experience...this summer on my first trip i traveled the silk road from xi'an to kashgar....later i also visited datong, which is about 2.5 hours by high-speed rail outside of beijing...i also went to nanjing and shanghai...and finally, i did a food tour in the yunnan province from dali to lijiang.....all incredible trips with awesome people, sights and food/drink....this update will only look at pictures from the first trip and hopefully, i will get another update out soon....each trip just had so many highlights i cannot just pick a few pictures....sorry....so here are the images from trip number one...the silk road....xi'an to kashgar....enjoy :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyq1K8mCWU4RsP7nOdFEIPoZ8ZievuqOuIazSHf01WoF-RpBI88atpPq4zriKF7woQbFYBOTmp01nVVvvMOktJpGG_wNaPAT8MOkN3P1ltgzzCgOZI675O__3KFWcA6B7ULuFbw/s4032/IMG_9048.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyq1K8mCWU4RsP7nOdFEIPoZ8ZievuqOuIazSHf01WoF-RpBI88atpPq4zriKF7woQbFYBOTmp01nVVvvMOktJpGG_wNaPAT8MOkN3P1ltgzzCgOZI675O__3KFWcA6B7ULuFbw/s320/IMG_9048.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; text-align: left;">This first picture is not from any of my trips, but is from the last day of school with everyone from my cohort...meaning all of us who literally started online teaching for our school in august 2020 around the world, but made it into beijing by winter break 2020....it is a crazy group of resilient folks, who made it through one of the strangest years teaching....most of us have just signed a contract for a third year.....when you make it through a year like we did, you just don't want to look for a job again this soon....here's to us and all of the teachers that started a job in 2020 for making it through the chaos and coming out on the other side....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbRoQ0HRK_0u4NLRaMvJcqzJ0DIGoxXdZbgK9FYJb8s4e0fwn7G6reaDOMl4tQLVUWyZaxycADETAF-s1J9H0oh0Np2A_whKP3H8R2JTh4cDo_9Apf_W-GaDww5I0I7Zj4h3Yvg/s4032/IMG_9175.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbRoQ0HRK_0u4NLRaMvJcqzJ0DIGoxXdZbgK9FYJb8s4e0fwn7G6reaDOMl4tQLVUWyZaxycADETAF-s1J9H0oh0Np2A_whKP3H8R2JTh4cDo_9Apf_W-GaDww5I0I7Zj4h3Yvg/s320/IMG_9175.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">my silk road trip was HUGE....we started at the beginning of it in china and finished it just 100km from the tajikistan border....about 3800 km of travel...trains, planes, buses and lots of fun...this is a picture from the deserted city wall of xi'an...it was a super hot day and we were there in the height of the heat...but it was still amazing to see almost no one there...the tourism of china has definitely taken a huge hit from covid and keeping their borders shut....we rarely saw other expats traveling...but the chinese are making the most of it and traveling their own country...which is a good thing for the business...but just weird when you are used to seeing tons of tourists from around the world at the different historical sites...the chinese were also shocked to see us everywhere we went....our tour guides had to always explain that we worked in beijing and had been there and had not come from overseas....we also were traveling before chinese schools were out for the summer, which we benefitted greatly from...everything was a lot less crowded....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vmcVzftXbWmMtD9E1lEdTsKu1A-nYriOPiZ1BuN53LCfcJsRjxMWf3OdwPVd6Jvcsq5RKli8SD961Uo5XJNZ0S2xNN6va6Cyfw1dOKTwFg80I3elIaTE_HdDaVQcZthBbsCU5w/s4032/IMG_9190.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vmcVzftXbWmMtD9E1lEdTsKu1A-nYriOPiZ1BuN53LCfcJsRjxMWf3OdwPVd6Jvcsq5RKli8SD961Uo5XJNZ0S2xNN6va6Cyfw1dOKTwFg80I3elIaTE_HdDaVQcZthBbsCU5w/s320/IMG_9190.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">including the amazing muslim market and area of xi' an....this is bread we had later on the trip, but here is where we started to see it....also tons of fruits and vegetables....a delicious stop on the trip...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n5a4FS_NsqrXz1g8zhItMP4XolKy8pKX-AX8ptjT2K8qDUV2vFHYGFjBw_WLHpC15MHhtJcV2pkOR8QkbCj7dndiEMFFZNboHTyz36UvSKX2523NjwhYjxJ5HlE-cyuctvofqg/s4032/IMG_9253.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_n5a4FS_NsqrXz1g8zhItMP4XolKy8pKX-AX8ptjT2K8qDUV2vFHYGFjBw_WLHpC15MHhtJcV2pkOR8QkbCj7dndiEMFFZNboHTyz36UvSKX2523NjwhYjxJ5HlE-cyuctvofqg/s320/IMG_9253.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">of course we visited the terracotta warriors...i had not been here since 2008, and some of it has changed... much more tourist-focused with pathways to follow and some more of it has been put together and cleaned up...but i was surprised at how much really wasn't different since i was last here....and yes, they are still amazing and incredible to experience....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_szBm6eBz9lvpzfV39fuwXzbHKik1IkuksiuvDri5ZisNvuMRgcoyqrHlTqD0DcLWpwfkwR-RebUHL-Yk4Hq5BR1eh_XBMF1wcQNIxuQRuhP46UNJWwF18x4h2SSAe4K9fjQDdQ/s4032/IMG_9276.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_szBm6eBz9lvpzfV39fuwXzbHKik1IkuksiuvDri5ZisNvuMRgcoyqrHlTqD0DcLWpwfkwR-RebUHL-Yk4Hq5BR1eh_XBMF1wcQNIxuQRuhP46UNJWwF18x4h2SSAe4K9fjQDdQ/s320/IMG_9276.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">this is a picture of the warriors as they piece them together...it is a complete jigsaw puzzle due to the site having been destroyed by the mongols who found it first...plus, some of the dirt above the burial site has crushed the warriors into pieces in places...but to see what they have put together is incredible, as well as to see how much they still have to go....the emperor qin shi huang really was dedicated to being protected once dead....each of these is full human height and individual for the soldier they were created of...so different hairstyles and facial expressions and jobs....it is amazing....and i am sooooo glad i got to see it again....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNAekE78vMaaKENDSzhFRoTU79k2TdoOxcIjqC61pFO3wZrX7tc1-OeK4Q3txIDDdwfv5Azb5SsmOCtJIBWUTXIps8xm8qv5mgkjCPCvab1la-Mvw7RT2wtTnVmNb6hcxQ3Ux5w/s4032/IMG_9393.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNAekE78vMaaKENDSzhFRoTU79k2TdoOxcIjqC61pFO3wZrX7tc1-OeK4Q3txIDDdwfv5Azb5SsmOCtJIBWUTXIps8xm8qv5mgkjCPCvab1la-Mvw7RT2wtTnVmNb6hcxQ3Ux5w/s320/IMG_9393.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">from xi'an we flew to zhangye to see the part of china i was most excited to visit....the rainbow mountains....i have taught them for many different classes, whenever i have had to teach about rocks and the rock cycle..so to see them with my very own eyes was a moment of pure magic....unfortunately we were not there on a very sunny day, so what you see is without the sun shining...just imagine what it could look like...the boldness of the colors....stunning.....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgPU7SwzQUzquuhB9rcecUg3qwREL4UslMG2Vg0hRF24rh4kgj5Yqr-0_U0CA3jAeOmrLOrDKO62tmB1hsDkZlRiupLX5cEY0o6TCT19npQg7zUbRcnOfmBnNd0Q-1CzwrzjW4g/s4032/IMG_9415.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgPU7SwzQUzquuhB9rcecUg3qwREL4UslMG2Vg0hRF24rh4kgj5Yqr-0_U0CA3jAeOmrLOrDKO62tmB1hsDkZlRiupLX5cEY0o6TCT19npQg7zUbRcnOfmBnNd0Q-1CzwrzjW4g/s320/IMG_9415.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">what you are looking at is sedimentary rock that is located where tectonic plates collided (55 million years ago)....making the rocks twist and turn and make these amazing layers seem like they are facing the wrong way....the reason you get the colors is because of iron and other minerals in the rock....the main red color comes from iron and it "rusting" but the yellow comes from sulfur in the rock as well....there are other colors here all from different minerals, but due to there not being much sunlight, you can't really see them....it is still a stunning place to visit and yes, i used one of my own pictures this year when i taught about the rock cycle and sedimentary rocks!!!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHwYraIp5n5qRTZs2yjxZptxB-1UmubLjoBcx2ORLxR0TJX9lrSz-UkpIpLGvmtC4HIrO_6apoIj5gLMbKkxR-l_kL3w6TYcD9p29bOKm_0XOywJimu8WdP7vNKY57cA5WgopAQ/s3088/IMG_9478.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHwYraIp5n5qRTZs2yjxZptxB-1UmubLjoBcx2ORLxR0TJX9lrSz-UkpIpLGvmtC4HIrO_6apoIj5gLMbKkxR-l_kL3w6TYcD9p29bOKm_0XOywJimu8WdP7vNKY57cA5WgopAQ/s320/IMG_9478.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">the further west we went, the closer we got to the gobi desert and animals and foods started to resemble things closer to a desert community...including camels...these are actually 2-hump camels - called bactrian camels....i am not sure i had ever seen a 2-humped camel...so i decided to take a picture with this one....nope, i did not ride them....i have been on a camel before and really did not enjoy the ride....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXsWjhjebxiK3i1vrzaINeoHfKE8A-mSMgoLBWP408Bm8oOxYVGOnVfKp7U4WOHJ64NL_0oTPcSCprAuxhNT4I3Hn7Sugv8A-adtyMyQEIKtm4WTwDAdFM9L9x_ZXQeX0i6P8eg/s4032/IMG_9527.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXsWjhjebxiK3i1vrzaINeoHfKE8A-mSMgoLBWP408Bm8oOxYVGOnVfKp7U4WOHJ64NL_0oTPcSCprAuxhNT4I3Hn7Sugv8A-adtyMyQEIKtm4WTwDAdFM9L9x_ZXQeX0i6P8eg/s320/IMG_9527.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">we got up really early one morning on the trip to watch the sunrise at the gobi desert...it was actually a full moon the night before....so the image above is the full moon setting over the desert....the hills you see are all sand dunes....amazing!!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwrLCo_MElpgwA84hSTVJ5nA7JunSCz9s4yKyHa1vlNZyng1_bEjdystfYkIE1odpA9DNtzNNeIvor99XVIJxX5i4Eubr_JCy0XptCkqlC1bcRQRbLzN13x6aRPo935MhwwihNw/s4032/IMG_9523.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwrLCo_MElpgwA84hSTVJ5nA7JunSCz9s4yKyHa1vlNZyng1_bEjdystfYkIE1odpA9DNtzNNeIvor99XVIJxX5i4Eubr_JCy0XptCkqlC1bcRQRbLzN13x6aRPo935MhwwihNw/s320/IMG_9523.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">here comes the sun over the desert....tons of folks were racing to see the sunrise on a camel...i just wanted to watch the sunrise and see camels....i did not combine them...it was an early, but beautiful start to the day :)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUjIBGJHDjAbbyTO9OWBAbD2PwYU65sZxLqDYYND_YfmQnzofUIwdx-TfduRdgkCEaTDTIq717VLMixobdVbODZHx9L3-0_ZOWQ9pKC_a_-tTwA0_mRv7dvVfhrQqpU5aCoSXpw/s1440/IMG_9567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUjIBGJHDjAbbyTO9OWBAbD2PwYU65sZxLqDYYND_YfmQnzofUIwdx-TfduRdgkCEaTDTIq717VLMixobdVbODZHx9L3-0_ZOWQ9pKC_a_-tTwA0_mRv7dvVfhrQqpU5aCoSXpw/s320/IMG_9567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">this is shot of me with one of our guides....hassan...he was our uyghur guide in urumqi....the reason we are having watermelon in this spot is because this is where we had to have a covid test along the side of the road....it was really hot and the medical folks running our test site felt bad for us because we were in the heat for about an hour trying to get the tests done.....things here in china are quite regulated and at this point this was my 4th covid test in 36 hours....china has a zero-tolerance for covid and is doing everything its power to not have covid here....has it been successful???? i am not really sure...we are having a slight outbreak again and are up to around 30 cases now...one thing i do know is that it certainly has put a damper on my traveling life....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sUff_w8sfp25Mu6uVc0oI8MsdaKDb_mpoIS9bqGLXtXQV9gnpJc-_Ora3AEAHXGxkkEmQsbMzGPC9Tszn3iJIuWHV7Kdq7HjKwipbTlbqkGOGvZ3kpkR1zUv8Efd-_7RnD2ZFg/s4032/IMG_9682.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sUff_w8sfp25Mu6uVc0oI8MsdaKDb_mpoIS9bqGLXtXQV9gnpJc-_Ora3AEAHXGxkkEmQsbMzGPC9Tszn3iJIuWHV7Kdq7HjKwipbTlbqkGOGvZ3kpkR1zUv8Efd-_7RnD2ZFg/s320/IMG_9682.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #741b47;">one of our most beautiful stops on this trip was at heavenly lake outside of urumqi....what a beautiful day and view...we did not climb to the top of the mountains but had a great cable car ride up and down one of the peaks to get this shot....the red messages in the foreground are all wishes people have left there....most tourist stops of china will have a spot where you see these sorts of messages....people leaving wishes and hopes on red wooden cards...or wooden cards with red ribbons....red is the color of luck here in china....</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpvAOt8z8YWGSTWQbM199zVXIo9zeENq4a2GzYntJHajZKIa0gZ0Vqan6wQT9wGySjNC1nPfGeOA5GV4NRSWLZpNoSExFda8-oGpjJiyWUEZS1-g3QgYlVuqUhCahXU7qb2yr6g/s3088/IMG_9642.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpvAOt8z8YWGSTWQbM199zVXIo9zeENq4a2GzYntJHajZKIa0gZ0Vqan6wQT9wGySjNC1nPfGeOA5GV4NRSWLZpNoSExFda8-oGpjJiyWUEZS1-g3QgYlVuqUhCahXU7qb2yr6g/s320/IMG_9642.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">here is a shot of me with the tasty bread at the night market in urumqi....it is a very meat based culture, but the bread more than made up for it for me...yummy!!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJwkpaY0hyphenhyphen7-hdSlddm4SK5axcLL6Zvb-L8sHLsQOUV1UE_19acpUMvJiIwEG1Jfu10K6Z5H8bAc19tkzl6VCEDCgHV9S_fUt4Wv3vSquY9zRuJ-47jJZ-O97nAq8HcOWnlOhNg/s1922/IMG_9766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1922" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJwkpaY0hyphenhyphen7-hdSlddm4SK5axcLL6Zvb-L8sHLsQOUV1UE_19acpUMvJiIwEG1Jfu10K6Z5H8bAc19tkzl6VCEDCgHV9S_fUt4Wv3vSquY9zRuJ-47jJZ-O97nAq8HcOWnlOhNg/s320/IMG_9766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d;">when we finally made it to our last stop - kashgar, we headed west along the karakoram highway to see the beautiful Pamir mountains....we stopped along this lake by the side of the highway....besides seeing a baby camel! the other side of the lake was sand dunes....the landscape in this area of the world was just so surprising and mind blowing.....at this point we were about 100km from the tajikistan border....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP95LTbaqSyxNtUr250fQnxV9gkuqM_wZUlp85uy5ImeFt7lmGb1LegNZ5Jq3LgHHhSQkjW1DFo_5fpmVyTqUbPzF4-IhT3yf-_1Vc6OfMph4xbmHzrHTG-sQ9R1XRqjvvt8KYTw/s4032/IMG_9767.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP95LTbaqSyxNtUr250fQnxV9gkuqM_wZUlp85uy5ImeFt7lmGb1LegNZ5Jq3LgHHhSQkjW1DFo_5fpmVyTqUbPzF4-IhT3yf-_1Vc6OfMph4xbmHzrHTG-sQ9R1XRqjvvt8KYTw/s320/IMG_9767.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">we also had chinese lunch in a yurt by the highway and mountains....we were told this was next to karakul lake, but in the end i do not think that was the truth, as that lake is located in tajikistan, and we definitely did NOT cross a border....we are not allowed to leave china afterall....well....you can leave, but it is super difficult to get back in....so i am actually not sure what lake we saw...but it was pretty....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbnQ4micGQijCFdVm2w1x-HovWcolwxZxTlYCn2ie1DiaCEJ30cVNLg7tQXhOVUEa8UZdH-R6NAWTD_6sQ8yEbz-ai-R8iPpGTmmbvYzZaakNGhw1BECXDn0mFQn6UexY-gQO6w/s4032/IMG_9849.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbnQ4micGQijCFdVm2w1x-HovWcolwxZxTlYCn2ie1DiaCEJ30cVNLg7tQXhOVUEa8UZdH-R6NAWTD_6sQ8yEbz-ai-R8iPpGTmmbvYzZaakNGhw1BECXDn0mFQn6UexY-gQO6w/s320/IMG_9849.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">we were in kashgar the day before the celebration of 100 years of the communist party in china...so this was a group in front of the gate to the old city, recording a song and dance for the big video from around china the day before the holiday....kind of weird when you think about what is happening in that part of the world with the indigenous groups....i am pretty sure majority, if not all, of these folks were han chinese...not indigienous...but you never know.....even though this area of china is mostly indigenous chinese...like the uyghur people.....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyU0L3XloBUYEDpWH3Dc8ClPeo_tDWnmXzPldOrOBbmA5YKGFN75VhLJBiLwXkytQvsJvQKu-CPS8dSOyuCd6mGGsDj5EqWvCQ9za7UMsg3Vl7eIHeGaz-zbJpVYdFQBpk1N1aQ/s4032/IMG_9886.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyU0L3XloBUYEDpWH3Dc8ClPeo_tDWnmXzPldOrOBbmA5YKGFN75VhLJBiLwXkytQvsJvQKu-CPS8dSOyuCd6mGGsDj5EqWvCQ9za7UMsg3Vl7eIHeGaz-zbJpVYdFQBpk1N1aQ/s320/IMG_9886.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">walking through kasgar's old, walled city was like walking in a muslim location....the markets and alleyways and people - both in dress and in stature....it was wild...it didn't really feel like i was in china....here is one of the stalls of the market...if you look closely you will see a ton of different types of raisins...it is amazing how many different kinds there are....who knew?????</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvPDUizsQdvDB5pf9rmSvO-VnqvLhv3PaUQAnmyXiIzWNuA1fN57kinWXNMDRwte1z9osufV9SlCALtsAhHYyHa9H9mNX7eRQxig1_CjuWAlBsFquafipf_M0OX6BBuBT_z46dw/s4032/IMG_9900.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvPDUizsQdvDB5pf9rmSvO-VnqvLhv3PaUQAnmyXiIzWNuA1fN57kinWXNMDRwte1z9osufV9SlCALtsAhHYyHa9H9mNX7eRQxig1_CjuWAlBsFquafipf_M0OX6BBuBT_z46dw/s320/IMG_9900.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #351c75;">this is one of the uyghur music stall owners....he was playing a traditional uyghur guitar called a rawap...he took no notice of us and was completely enjoying his day...it was terrific....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ4yh4Ao8orOeGdgnc_knpYCB-EJlFvxr4MOx0jlN0QZ8j6pL_s49X4271aAwAfANXK0Z1J33KJDDI6kkv82LXO8hLNf6iMvAJjxuK-xiaEYhDdL27u-zgmeAM40GMmYzWn73Zg/s4032/IMG_9812.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ4yh4Ao8orOeGdgnc_knpYCB-EJlFvxr4MOx0jlN0QZ8j6pL_s49X4271aAwAfANXK0Z1J33KJDDI6kkv82LXO8hLNf6iMvAJjxuK-xiaEYhDdL27u-zgmeAM40GMmYzWn73Zg/s320/IMG_9812.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #741b47;">another site we visited was the tomb of the fragrant concubine of the qianlong emperor....this was in the afaq khoja mausoleum in kashgar....it was said she was allowed by her father to become the concubine of the emperoroonly if he promised to return her body to the family tomb after she died.....he was so smitten by her beauty that he actually agreed to the stipulation and did return her body to her family mausoleum...it was similar in shape to the taj mahal...but nowhere near the size...plus, it had amazing green mosaic on the outside....we were there before any other tourists and had the place to ourselves....very peaceful....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv7cymXeH7mbD1Ot6Lg14hpREc5BxFOmv42c2ruz3h7JkRuhSnAfMMiSxb9OgidkzTl3H5dHQa6NkhLWKNGLcfCaOrGpTYHXm2xiBDMssNy4BaDRfv-UyEtHpKg6qXsasGXC23g/s1440/IMG_9917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsv7cymXeH7mbD1Ot6Lg14hpREc5BxFOmv42c2ruz3h7JkRuhSnAfMMiSxb9OgidkzTl3H5dHQa6NkhLWKNGLcfCaOrGpTYHXm2xiBDMssNy4BaDRfv-UyEtHpKg6qXsasGXC23g/s320/IMG_9917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #990000;">this had to be one of the final shots of this set of pictures....even if it was not at the final stop....we found a map that showed the length of the silk road and here you have all of us that traveled together on this trip except one friend....you can see me all the way to the right at xi'an and claudia all the way to the left pointing to our last stop of kashagr...approximately 3800km/2361 miles.....it was an amazing trip filled with excellent travel partners, history, interesting people along the way and amazing food and drink....another trip of a lifetime for me and i am grateful for being able to do this trip this past summer......</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP7E_yvyDNrYpNjwpV1EoI2scMbTtcjatnUO5CC74FDa3ZkPrdWP4ECEAbmS7Ay-FRabdzAvfrwTyDGprSnvhXJuYjeS5QIVSS2xaPXtMBLzL4ser4wQYJkv7__ET9_KTDLbKAg/s4032/IMG_9585.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJP7E_yvyDNrYpNjwpV1EoI2scMbTtcjatnUO5CC74FDa3ZkPrdWP4ECEAbmS7Ay-FRabdzAvfrwTyDGprSnvhXJuYjeS5QIVSS2xaPXtMBLzL4ser4wQYJkv7__ET9_KTDLbKAg/s320/IMG_9585.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">but of course the last picture of the trip had to be me with a chinese/uyghur beer....rather light in taste, but really cold because our awesome guide hassan called ahead and had the restuarant put the beer in the refrigerator....most times the chinese drink their beer room temperature...but this day was around 39C/102F in temperature and i had already melted once.....the food in the uyghur restaurant was some of the best on the trip.....just amazing!!!!</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">again....i am sorry i have not been in touch with an update in a looooooong while and hope to get the second installment of summer out in the next few days.....we'll see...hope you have all had a good start to your fall/spring....the colors here in beijing are popping....we have a lot of trees that go yellow and lots of ivy on the buildings in places that go red...so it has been rather nice....we also have had a lot of blue sky days in the past two weeks...for which i am thankful for after some of the rainiest july, august, september and start to october months....thanks again for your patience and if you have any questions, please send them my way....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">Happy Halloween and Peace Out...Dani</span></p>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-90811021623652068392021-06-08T15:16:00.001+02:002021-06-08T16:02:40.665+02:00China Take 2 Update #2 - Beijing <p> <span style="color: #990000;">June 8, 2021</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">hey there folks....sorry it has taken me so long to get out an update, but i have not been traveling so much....like everyone in the world....plus, i felt really bad posting fun pictures from beijing when many folks were still dealing with lockdowns and such.....so now with many having access and getting the vaccine and with things opening up, i feel a bit better posting images about my life.....and not like i am rubbing it in people's faces....</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">as for virus news here in china....i have received both shots of my vaccine...it is the sinopharm one produced by china...i felt if i had it and was given an option to leave for the summer, it would be a way for me to get back into china....as that is what is a biggest obstacle about here....you can check-out, but you can never leave....and expect to be able to get back in....easily.....so anything i could do, i did....now, i have been sort of given the green light to travel back to the states....but only sort of...and the plane ticket is about $5000 round trip....so i am not going to be leaving china this summer....if i got stuck in the states, the school might help, but it depends if they gave me the green light as i got on the plane....so i could pay $5000 and they could say no at the last minute and then if something happens, i have no job.....so my mom and i decided it was best i stayed here for the summer.....so i have started making plans and trips here in china...because it is a big place, with a lot to see and do......hoping that by summer 2022 i will be able to get back to the states....</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">the other issue is quarantine time.....i know in the states it is not mandated, but i would not go to my mom's first...i would get a covid test and make sure i was negative before seeing her....which could take up to a week...and when i got back to china, it would be a mandatory 3 week quarantine....so that could be four weeks of the six i have for break....just not cost effective.....plus, the quarantine here in china is in a hotel and mandatory....which i would have to pay for....so it is a no-win situation....BUT that being said...as of this morning here in beijing, we have had 127 days without any cases....some have popped up recently in some other towns in china, but it is crazy how fast things get locked down and how many people get tested in just a few days time.....the WHO has now accepted the vaccines from China and really, life is quite normal.....i still teach with a mask, and when i am on public transport or uber, or when i walk into a mall or restaurant or bar, i need to wear one....but if i am outside, no mask at this point is needed.....so i am feeling safe about being here and not leaving.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">as for life here in beijing.....things are moving along....just like all teachers around the world, this has been a very challenging year on so many levels.....from not being here at the beginning to going online for a few weeks in the middle to trying to adapt to ever changing rules to not really "knowing" my kids away from their masks....when i see them outside with no masks, sometimes i just do not recognize them...and it's june....crazy....plus, all of the traditions and trying to do them in a space that is big enough...it is has been challenging....but i am enjoying being back in china...i have a lovely campus to work on and i get along well with my colleagues in the science department....plus, i have been made head of department next year, which should be a good challenge and help make the program even stronger than it already is....woot!!! i really like the city and the weather has been weird for folks who have been here a long time...rather cool for may/june...but i am happy about the cool weather....i was missing that in panama and ghana.....so i am loving that....beijing is HUGE and has a lot to offer....i am excited to spend some of my summer here exploring what i have not seen yet.....i am also doing a silk road trip for 10 days and a food tour thru the yunnan province for about the same amount of time....i will also take little excursions to places close to beijing in the middle....a water town...olympic park to see how they are getting ready for the winter 2022 olympics...nanjing to see the historical museum there.....so i have things planned....will probably not hit a beach, but am hoping to make it to a river or two and of course, i have the pool across the street for swimming when i am in town....so lots to do and experience....but it will be weird not to be in the states.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">since i last wrote...i have had some great times here in beijing...this update will take you through st patrick's day and fun things i have been doing.....so on with the pictures....enjoy :)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDxfICii-QJm1JLryWzOC35gO9rURqgBitO2J8ZN-ybmSkKw6Cfm6MIjdj_H-Pc4xX4uifKzN3Cxfnqd1r2JGOn_DFlgueafLMr5KAI8taxLXOxBJi8JmaKFzJJMlXXjNMQztag/s4032/IMG_7524.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDxfICii-QJm1JLryWzOC35gO9rURqgBitO2J8ZN-ybmSkKw6Cfm6MIjdj_H-Pc4xX4uifKzN3Cxfnqd1r2JGOn_DFlgueafLMr5KAI8taxLXOxBJi8JmaKFzJJMlXXjNMQztag/s320/IMG_7524.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">during the winter break i went with some other newbies (new folks to my school - my teaching cohort) to a quaint, but chilly hotel by the great wall...it was all decked out for the holiday, and even though it really was cold there during that time, we had a blast!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwYoZ-YwasVfy8lakt2SMjW6oEfWKZUuQCW45ry4pYh_B7hDFWfz2r1O6bFn1clg1hpjgVPWlRlge-NNQGl2bc6gBe5G0sGlPFr4I41U2GmA0PkaG3opulgeZxzTpMOMLNX5HMw/s4032/IMG_7523.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwYoZ-YwasVfy8lakt2SMjW6oEfWKZUuQCW45ry4pYh_B7hDFWfz2r1O6bFn1clg1hpjgVPWlRlge-NNQGl2bc6gBe5G0sGlPFr4I41U2GmA0PkaG3opulgeZxzTpMOMLNX5HMw/s320/IMG_7523.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">these hanging pillars were wild and reminded me of stalactites...made of of zip ties and then they put led lights throughout them....they said they were up all year round and not just for the holiday season.....they were quite cool :)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga232G-BDo3Ib382leExBN6BxxksGs4gVsKueEY1dY9s4gaZEp_8a9U9yjyCjJ26NxHHzzLeURzmI015jeYTW-yS0H-hWKHuW4CPpCARQ8J1-QTZMhbRmwD8ktViRTFp_NpmwduA/s4032/IMG_7548.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga232G-BDo3Ib382leExBN6BxxksGs4gVsKueEY1dY9s4gaZEp_8a9U9yjyCjJ26NxHHzzLeURzmI015jeYTW-yS0H-hWKHuW4CPpCARQ8J1-QTZMhbRmwD8ktViRTFp_NpmwduA/s320/IMG_7548.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">the next few shots are from our day at the wall....it was amazing!!! and sooooo empty!! i was amazed at how few folks were there....it was winter time and during the week, when most chinese were working, but this shot illustrates just how few tourists are here in china.....zero!!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9RCnjEmS94zh4B4sxEFDLLUnER9hZlZ3BducvxVdoD9YxkfmJEwlt7Nu1NtoxuA3zUQvXA6M557QzzCoLPvN09eY25fsasWQuzdOW_Uly092Yn6RYSfCU8Fw09foAyGkZSbVRg/s4032/IMG_7551.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9RCnjEmS94zh4B4sxEFDLLUnER9hZlZ3BducvxVdoD9YxkfmJEwlt7Nu1NtoxuA3zUQvXA6M557QzzCoLPvN09eY25fsasWQuzdOW_Uly092Yn6RYSfCU8Fw09foAyGkZSbVRg/s320/IMG_7551.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">as you can see from my dress, it was a very cold day....but it was also a very clear, blue-sky kind of day....i have also been amazed at how many blue sky days we have had in beijing....they really have worked on lowering their coal usage and their pollution production!!!! again....how crazy is it that there is no one else in my picture....just amazing!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU5iiy5C38pujoIw8aNuA_KJGesBPmZxgzswamdROPLmsI69bfSEJQLZD59VNSJXOMIzUDhLKaM33jvdzpl1G5VxgNle5T1aAqg79qoCQZO5oOjLQsDnRjBBIwxRyZXt_rP7dVw/s4032/IMG_7566.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaU5iiy5C38pujoIw8aNuA_KJGesBPmZxgzswamdROPLmsI69bfSEJQLZD59VNSJXOMIzUDhLKaM33jvdzpl1G5VxgNle5T1aAqg79qoCQZO5oOjLQsDnRjBBIwxRyZXt_rP7dVw/s320/IMG_7566.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">one more shot of this incredible human-made creation....this is only one very small part of the wall that was built but as you can see it stretches on for kilometers and kilometers (miles and miles)...it really was a lovely day at the wall...but i have now been about 8 times, so it may have been my last ;)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2XY4-YDv1VXA_yKxQbdH7TCgLWFjY1NZUHPv5VPUjAPfV1p2Jxq818ibOKXeDIKoabl40LPFENuICO1ucwyl7_cxQ6nH7oZa1RGI51Rc074c8R8m0unSSU7-y4CG87THLtlH2A/s4032/IMG_7634.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2XY4-YDv1VXA_yKxQbdH7TCgLWFjY1NZUHPv5VPUjAPfV1p2Jxq818ibOKXeDIKoabl40LPFENuICO1ucwyl7_cxQ6nH7oZa1RGI51Rc074c8R8m0unSSU7-y4CG87THLtlH2A/s320/IMG_7634.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">beijing did a great job decorating for the holiday season - including christmas and then they really decorated for chinese new year....the street behind my apartment was one of the best sets of lights in the whole area....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwNao3crBjHj5_wOrPjo1E2r84EmohWe39E2qVSDAy9StzetbK8Bc1Lqrtzpafu3vpWqFs3DB3HseXiDrPr_APLXtKHBJTn5rEYwiIQM34hzD9fGgWdpowQPahD55dqyOqjhvqg/s4032/IMG_7658.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwNao3crBjHj5_wOrPjo1E2r84EmohWe39E2qVSDAy9StzetbK8Bc1Lqrtzpafu3vpWqFs3DB3HseXiDrPr_APLXtKHBJTn5rEYwiIQM34hzD9fGgWdpowQPahD55dqyOqjhvqg/s320/IMG_7658.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">over chinese new year (year of the ox), we did some fun things as a newbie group and i got to know more of the city i had been living in for 2 months....we did a dumpling making workshop and had a tasty lunch of the dumplings we created....the veggie ones were green!!!! </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDTFW9Su_NH7SdiwQT76VyMsgmoACzOKJfBjj-z6ou8RVL9ganhTezRMuIEpte3Jgcp3_ohXNacLrRmfJ6_OeA-WOJwHM5CO9uUn88NBoYvkW-cNXYCGLM8xHEaEhN9z120AWBQ/s4032/IMG_7775.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDTFW9Su_NH7SdiwQT76VyMsgmoACzOKJfBjj-z6ou8RVL9ganhTezRMuIEpte3Jgcp3_ohXNacLrRmfJ6_OeA-WOJwHM5CO9uUn88NBoYvkW-cNXYCGLM8xHEaEhN9z120AWBQ/s320/IMG_7775.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">i also did an extensive tour of the forbidden city - it was -15 degrees Celsius this day, so just really, really cold....but again, i was stunned when we saw very few other people.....you can see people in the picture above which is taken in the main courtyard of the entryway to the forbidden city - this was actually the emperor's hall...which is why it is sooooooo grand and huge!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAqxtYFfdDNYpBjmDSYEYMVM9l_BDxTYV29Vq-WP3vq1HlHMG01tGSHsEoHqQar7nYSv9UntBb82eKXQII1cNRlud6c6ev2Nnf89jVU5TBauwPuE9l3UcxnSLA0Bk0O_8_D-KBg/s4032/IMG_7790.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAqxtYFfdDNYpBjmDSYEYMVM9l_BDxTYV29Vq-WP3vq1HlHMG01tGSHsEoHqQar7nYSv9UntBb82eKXQII1cNRlud6c6ev2Nnf89jVU5TBauwPuE9l3UcxnSLA0Bk0O_8_D-KBg/s320/IMG_7790.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">in the corners of these buildings you will find a dragon and on the back of the dragon are mythical guard animals....the more of these you see, the more restricted the entry to the building....there are 10 in this image, which means it was a rather restricted building...no commoners or people not related in a direct line to the emperor were allowed in....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NqRNgy0vyhm6TYe2rI9E5Ap_fj_3HygmFmVu-v1I2pmjzLXdcNHQT5R0M8qYxgLvF0tg91JyB1btAUW_5XIQ3uJoR33rHS4EFTfIvQmBGlHI_4DcMW2nY3CzT2Owbqv2xoUBDA/s2755/IMG_7817.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2755" data-original-width="2299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NqRNgy0vyhm6TYe2rI9E5Ap_fj_3HygmFmVu-v1I2pmjzLXdcNHQT5R0M8qYxgLvF0tg91JyB1btAUW_5XIQ3uJoR33rHS4EFTfIvQmBGlHI_4DcMW2nY3CzT2Owbqv2xoUBDA/s320/IMG_7817.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">there were other people there taking chinese new year photos...like the couple above...these folks were actually taking engagement photos at the forbidden city, as that is considered a way to bring good luck to a marriage.....they were bundled up quite a bit to stay warm.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S2HmdmZo5hjORFllsT5iNQk4zYy80w1NfojlRA_ug92wuiOsbjmWASiYkHMOgaHeh5UG5jcND6yOravrO9fn7469GX7cghTV1ZMUtgCJtUIck2MGb55Qyr5VmVuj29oqSUHtyA/s4032/IMG_7813.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2S2HmdmZo5hjORFllsT5iNQk4zYy80w1NfojlRA_ug92wuiOsbjmWASiYkHMOgaHeh5UG5jcND6yOravrO9fn7469GX7cghTV1ZMUtgCJtUIck2MGb55Qyr5VmVuj29oqSUHtyA/s320/IMG_7813.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">these signs are starting to show up everywhere as beijing is getting ready to host the winter olympics in 2022.....rumors are flying around about whether people from other countries, or even other cities in china will be allowed to attend.....but i live here, so i might get to see it all :) not cool for folks who like to go to the olympics or for the athletes and their families, friends and fans, but i am pretty excited that i might get to see quite a few events!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHB_kBoF0ay3N0el4QMUvVSqQNs8SUulEZhldMenLV7N89sJmueepGHMQZscKncxx8lTCmmJriNEztq-HsadMD6Sid00-_KvG2O-jkHt_jPFSOBwZjRK0RNICiToFDIDhRSUCTw/s4032/IMG_7846.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHB_kBoF0ay3N0el4QMUvVSqQNs8SUulEZhldMenLV7N89sJmueepGHMQZscKncxx8lTCmmJriNEztq-HsadMD6Sid00-_KvG2O-jkHt_jPFSOBwZjRK0RNICiToFDIDhRSUCTw/s320/IMG_7846.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is a shot from the hill in beijing that overlooks the forbidden city...jingshan hill...which stands for prospect hill.....you can see the whole forbidden. city from this hill...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V2JQ5_DqCnUrn5C4LoBykpa0xgmTuSh8V1ofRBX3OhgJj2WyHfp5wN1I8mpTGNwbSc0hG9lUsRIeS9opiAtETf2XQaJi8uHN1XP4BPG778Sa9J1sAYSGoAkVltHmoeM8xH-0TQ/s4032/IMG_7849.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7V2JQ5_DqCnUrn5C4LoBykpa0xgmTuSh8V1ofRBX3OhgJj2WyHfp5wN1I8mpTGNwbSc0hG9lUsRIeS9opiAtETf2XQaJi8uHN1XP4BPG778Sa9J1sAYSGoAkVltHmoeM8xH-0TQ/s320/IMG_7849.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">the shot above is from my school campus....this is our new playground, that was designed by the students for the students.....the slide on the left is rather high and a bit steep and scary....but the kids love the playground and you should have seen the adults testing it all out ;)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ppqdP36UbUI5lVA9w23XBXP6MvbMbHGw8UT3RJ0qPZhcQsywAZM9OtsWzGC7eTpeeJY8iSR2V-8lK5TMPkOBVr1fWOeckUj_TbCHzdreOxykQtZQEK4wtnbYaOHm8X_MmTtsxA/s4032/IMG_7852.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ppqdP36UbUI5lVA9w23XBXP6MvbMbHGw8UT3RJ0qPZhcQsywAZM9OtsWzGC7eTpeeJY8iSR2V-8lK5TMPkOBVr1fWOeckUj_TbCHzdreOxykQtZQEK4wtnbYaOHm8X_MmTtsxA/s320/IMG_7852.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">this is the entrance to the middle school....i actually do not work in this building, but i do like the look of it from the outside....very colorful....i work in a building just across from this building and i kind of like being in the arts, design tech and science building :)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJFXgrDexMSSgYzG50NuNWO3bvsFY9icBi9VSqva6v7M3vug_voCf0YOP2jC15RUffeDWAAwBVFCxfdQ03qUa1hHq4e9TQg2qJZDEZui5mHx2rzui0FNtf89UmeI_brw0dO9kPA/s4032/IMG_7865.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJFXgrDexMSSgYzG50NuNWO3bvsFY9icBi9VSqva6v7M3vug_voCf0YOP2jC15RUffeDWAAwBVFCxfdQ03qUa1hHq4e9TQg2qJZDEZui5mHx2rzui0FNtf89UmeI_brw0dO9kPA/s320/IMG_7865.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">after the chinese new year i finally made it to a wet market....i used to always shop at a wet market when i lived in shanghai....but things have definitely changed in wet markets with covid...and many of them have disappeared completely....plus, the floor is no longer wet...and many things are pre-packaged...not the metas or fish, because you pick what you want and can check if it is fresh....this was one of the fish vendors in the big market that is not too far from my apartment....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUOvyi2La50FLuPJrkRMj2b9SM3WAhyC353ZVXVUqPw3eohEn_J4pE3I9v7_8PqWEzrpAGoyMdBBChQAFFwIiO4BSCnpZtT1bhsB9fF3pC9Babrq-kd-ABN4V79etm7yjT5He0g/s4032/IMG_7869.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUOvyi2La50FLuPJrkRMj2b9SM3WAhyC353ZVXVUqPw3eohEn_J4pE3I9v7_8PqWEzrpAGoyMdBBChQAFFwIiO4BSCnpZtT1bhsB9fF3pC9Babrq-kd-ABN4V79etm7yjT5He0g/s320/IMG_7869.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">this shot is also from the wet market...it is soooooo awesome to be back in a land of mushrooms....yummy!!!! but as you can see from this picture...lots of things are packaged and you cannot touch them before you buy them....big changes in wet markets.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuEublbqXoFEOWpup3mtHzLri6ohBjrQDkw28nc8mgH-CiWpUWkpedXxmfklw5BjpV56-ieXpE3g2W8x1roazvrOxmQHmSogqhWybRHZp76-JwS8GQiC81DGfOz948LO4Yn9_Ag/s2359/IMG_7887.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="2271" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuEublbqXoFEOWpup3mtHzLri6ohBjrQDkw28nc8mgH-CiWpUWkpedXxmfklw5BjpV56-ieXpE3g2W8x1roazvrOxmQHmSogqhWybRHZp76-JwS8GQiC81DGfOz948LO4Yn9_Ag/s320/IMG_7887.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">the shot above is one of my very favorites from my time here...i was walking back to my apartment from a shopping venture when i heard this lady playing her accordion....this was taken through the fence and she lives in the house behind her....this is literally across the street from my place.....she was just sitting there playing and humming....totally reminded me of my uncle tony and when he played accordion for the family, especially at christmas parties...the accordion was the first instrument i learned to play because of my uncle tony...not that i remember any more....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHtkFD1z_WcQzjlGXNY8ObU9jEZ8XGhwMFwvwD67GYxoRvxhsdOidpm7ZhLotbMjYFLv38aOvfkEQxr6n9xsIPxIDzOcsLnkLAQ1F1JuhaoIq5SjspOMeiPormfCayDdZUlGAMA/s4032/IMG_7904.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHtkFD1z_WcQzjlGXNY8ObU9jEZ8XGhwMFwvwD67GYxoRvxhsdOidpm7ZhLotbMjYFLv38aOvfkEQxr6n9xsIPxIDzOcsLnkLAQ1F1JuhaoIq5SjspOMeiPormfCayDdZUlGAMA/s320/IMG_7904.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">during the chinese new year, streets were decorated with lights and presents to celebrate the arrival of the year of the ox and to hope for better health and wealth around china and the world....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA06O6eifwhFQ1jMHkzCd4A3TeaTA1ajX3IYVzbZnrFd95WBc7HQOFWFbsOJ-49IIhK0y1xaBqz0rJQgCdKJkCi51yUwxHXZ6zTl1Z7clZm-zJV1z7kJcTtxCPv8ThyphenhyphenD-wwkwxbg/s4032/IMG_7913.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA06O6eifwhFQ1jMHkzCd4A3TeaTA1ajX3IYVzbZnrFd95WBc7HQOFWFbsOJ-49IIhK0y1xaBqz0rJQgCdKJkCi51yUwxHXZ6zTl1Z7clZm-zJV1z7kJcTtxCPv8ThyphenhyphenD-wwkwxbg/s320/IMG_7913.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">the chinese celebrate for quite a few days, but the fourth and eighth days are quite important....chinese new year goes for about 16 days....the fourth day is a welcoming of the gods day - welcoming them back to earth....and the 8th day is a luck day, because the number 8 is a favorite number of the chinese...and on new year's eve, the night before the whole festival starts, you burn paper money (fake) to the gods to make sure you are starting your new year off with wealth and prosperity....you can see a guy doing this on the street across from my apartment building....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qMKKhJ2trEOvpdBtW-HWnreuUsYKPgyOg3-uyi-3OREn24E_Fh94lGhMcVTxPyhSOmrp8kE2yZPg2ExstGbqptRT7E4n8oeJt1NqVoBxacp6lGTBTgPFIilQqi_XLAFyEzrzHg/s4032/IMG_8029.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qMKKhJ2trEOvpdBtW-HWnreuUsYKPgyOg3-uyi-3OREn24E_Fh94lGhMcVTxPyhSOmrp8kE2yZPg2ExstGbqptRT7E4n8oeJt1NqVoBxacp6lGTBTgPFIilQqi_XLAFyEzrzHg/s320/IMG_8029.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">during the spring festival/chinese new year, i finally made it down into the hutongs - which are neighborhoods of old style beijing houses...they are like mazes and each set of buildings has a courtyard with a certain amount of houses around it....you could have 8 families in one courtyard....the lanterns and area was more colorful than where i live....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj7gXc5-lZY_ysRL88Z2joxSo1qpVstqIqg3QLib5RcUiUAXiJrn30irI9bKbe_O9xEF29DySByuDxLoa8H8szVHa9x5bfB31DEXsloDhzoUKHOxTpPTMABPkaqu2PEgDAch6EA/s960/IMG_8041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj7gXc5-lZY_ysRL88Z2joxSo1qpVstqIqg3QLib5RcUiUAXiJrn30irI9bKbe_O9xEF29DySByuDxLoa8H8szVHa9x5bfB31DEXsloDhzoUKHOxTpPTMABPkaqu2PEgDAch6EA/s320/IMG_8041.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">during chinese new year, everyone has off from work, so you will see many games of mahjong and chinese checkers...plus, lots of different card games....this is definitely not your grandmother's game of mahjong....you should have seen the money flying around this game....including betting by people watching the game...mahjong is big business here ;)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEMOTfh18EOgFXdwvUpHYpF911vfC2lJEuXn_oEPAgW3Medu8LTxrWeash7FZfIMVsJCTRBPUjPDhPKjEe0yLY6uOXRS8EreybNfLjWwRORphe6X_ksBf2_28efImI-uGGWsjVA/s4032/IMG_8043.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEMOTfh18EOgFXdwvUpHYpF911vfC2lJEuXn_oEPAgW3Medu8LTxrWeash7FZfIMVsJCTRBPUjPDhPKjEe0yLY6uOXRS8EreybNfLjWwRORphe6X_ksBf2_28efImI-uGGWsjVA/s320/IMG_8043.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is one of the hutong doors...many of the hutongs facing the street have had a make-over of their outer walls, like the one above....so as you wander they all look rather new, until you peek into the courtyard....however the government is trying to buy the hutongs, but the chinese folks are having none of that....these are traditional and people do not want to move out....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEJnmLXT2jeRs0ircrt-Qy2o6PvrBctR6-Q_i-iYzyAsfE8ClIRbAexPF0nbPI3udulQrBjiRrhRXpz8KQvS1LZIXZ_Dt4R8zDtekOkgdgqDi3wqOZN4jK8x-PaYIw0bXAhlnxA/s4032/IMG_8102.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEJnmLXT2jeRs0ircrt-Qy2o6PvrBctR6-Q_i-iYzyAsfE8ClIRbAexPF0nbPI3udulQrBjiRrhRXpz8KQvS1LZIXZ_Dt4R8zDtekOkgdgqDi3wqOZN4jK8x-PaYIw0bXAhlnxA/s320/IMG_8102.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">above is one of my classes....a rare day where i have my mask off...but i needed to work with fire and masks are flammable....this is the old ball and ring demonstration that shows how the ball expands when heated and can no longer fit through the ring it fit through before it was heated...both parts are made of metal and are excellent conductors of heat...kids are always surprised by this demo....love it...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_X-qoIsm98fcJDnVaZaUrxcA8F08tjYe-bJXQLVMsNDf-6X5gfY2GZqasTy8gucZY38dbVLcy3GmqtHB4m8cQx1bthhj5QgsLXQCVHhkdq6WIoDRbnKEhJFWz5ZDJQbE2XUACA/s1920/IMG_8149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_X-qoIsm98fcJDnVaZaUrxcA8F08tjYe-bJXQLVMsNDf-6X5gfY2GZqasTy8gucZY38dbVLcy3GmqtHB4m8cQx1bthhj5QgsLXQCVHhkdq6WIoDRbnKEhJFWz5ZDJQbE2XUACA/s320/IMG_8149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">during the months since january, we have had three sandstorms due to conditions being sooooo dry in the gobi desert to the north of beijing....i have been told we have sandstorms every year, but never as bad as this year....this is a picture i "borrowed" from a newspaper to show you what our air looked like...we were up over 5000ppm at one point....on a bad day we are usually at 140ppm to give you an idea of just how bad it was....this is a shot of one of the outer gates of the forbidden city....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2Q3_5-VYjLJ_L40hUj0VcEPxnVa7Ay-la0IDvkCEAz3-XTNC1nYlSOwOAu5xrrqTCWBfmHuMZNmG68IgVmYHDOqKhD5wJK5DincFDYNbvLBNLVarhZTt4SxqILQxtxiweQlqg/s4032/IMG_8167.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2Q3_5-VYjLJ_L40hUj0VcEPxnVa7Ay-la0IDvkCEAz3-XTNC1nYlSOwOAu5xrrqTCWBfmHuMZNmG68IgVmYHDOqKhD5wJK5DincFDYNbvLBNLVarhZTt4SxqILQxtxiweQlqg/s320/IMG_8167.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">of course i had to include my final shot with a beer...this me on st. patrick's day at our local irish bar...this is also the bar i play trivia at most thursday nights.....we had a tasty chinese dinner, followed by a tasty irish beer....yummy!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">so there you have it....my time here in beijing from the end of december thru mid-march....i hope to be able to send out another update before i start traveling this summer, but am not sure that will happen....i hope you enjoyed this installment and if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">i hope folks in the northern hemisphere have had a good start to their summer and folks in the southern hemisphere have had a good start to their winter....thanks for reading and looking as always and here's to getting the next update out a bit quicker....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">peace out...</span></div>dani 😎<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><p></p>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-74075022206853971552020-12-17T10:41:00.000+01:002020-12-17T10:41:44.144+01:00China Take 2 - I made it to Beijing! (Update #1)<p><span style="color: #990000;">Monday, December 14, 2020 (when will this ridiculous year end!!!!!)</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">hey there folks....i have officially made it to Beijing, china - sorry it has taken me some time to write to you, but two weeks of quarantine, followed by another week of soft quarantine and then the craziness of the beginning of school, has kicked my butt the past 2 months. I am just about to finish my sixth week at The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). And at the end of the week I will be on vacation for 2.5 weeks. But I want to start this story from when I left the USA to get to China, as quarantine in a hotel room in Shanghai was insane for two weeks.....I refer to that time now as the "dead zone"....</span></p><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">Since finishing that two weeks and then heading to Beijing, things have been super busy....from getting my residential permit, to working with kids in person AND online (yes, I am teaching using a hybrid model - not a huge fan of this, and it will probably be going for the year for me)....to searching for an apartment, to trying to organize that apartment (i have been in it a week now)....to trying to find my shipment and when it might arrive, to having a family member contract COVID and stressing about my mom,....to having my aunt pass away a few weeks after I left....it has been insane....BUT i am uber thankful to be in a place that is taking covid extremely seriously, and a place where I can teach kids face-to-face....with a mask of course, but still face-to-face.....i am meant to be teaching in a classroom (like many teachers), and i am soooooo happy i am getting to do that on a daily basis.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">vacation for us starts at the end of this week, but as a new teacher and because i got to china so late in the school year, i am not able to travel even within china for this break....so i will spend my time organizing my apartment, exploring beijing, getting to know my colleagues and hanging with old friends who live and work here now too.....it should be a lovely break....so...on with the stories.....quarantine....it was a crazy time, let me tell you....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchcnEwReDMkvQvhASgDBbw14W5J2tmtkChp-oovioNRy0dBDCn4FVVbbXInxWG6xQmvMmY2QNjXLp6FCs3nCtPfuNgr4QPAVVlshKRvNIOvo-wzUMYW51XbWDtGYez9j4l8RDug/s3088/IMG_7080.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchcnEwReDMkvQvhASgDBbw14W5J2tmtkChp-oovioNRy0dBDCn4FVVbbXInxWG6xQmvMmY2QNjXLp6FCs3nCtPfuNgr4QPAVVlshKRvNIOvo-wzUMYW51XbWDtGYez9j4l8RDug/s320/IMG_7080.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #351c75;">This was the way i flew to china.....i was not taking any chances....face shield, mask, away from people....on my first flight to zurich, switzerland, i was able to make that happen...as i literally had a whole row across the plane to myself.....but once i was getting ready to fly from zurich to beijing...all bets were off.....the plane was packed...with mostly national chinese folks heading home....i asked one woman about this, as she said she was returning because china was taking care of people with COVID the best....and with the amount of security and protection they have when you land, they are definitely monitoring everyone and everything that comes onto the mainland.....i got off the plane in the fourth section of people...all people working in the airport were wearing full body hazmat suits and taking huge precautions....i was tested up my nose for covid - and it was painful...people were yelling at the nurses and doctors...kids were crying...it was wild...and everyone was in a hazmat suit.....they got me to a bus and took me to a hotel room....just next door to the airport....no one really spoke with me about any of it...i was just herded onto the bus and brought to my room for the next two weeks...almost no one spoke english, so all of this time i was totally in the dark about where i was going, how much it would cost, how i was going to pay...it was crazy....but i think having been in china before, i knew i would be in the dark, but that it would work out in the end....</span><div><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlDzYAi3fgglMUrx2fuOmhS30CDOAJ9P3YXHKHjl9WAOERnNJE_jpfaRLrv7P1Gt7s6g46C5uYsYz5K3brun6YeY4JoX4p8mhmSjpJkve1qzKdqYbrOQNH9m_8I4KKPDz4TfzFw/s3840/6B58BAF4-8DB1-489D-A97D-3D129F9CD313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlDzYAi3fgglMUrx2fuOmhS30CDOAJ9P3YXHKHjl9WAOERnNJE_jpfaRLrv7P1Gt7s6g46C5uYsYz5K3brun6YeY4JoX4p8mhmSjpJkve1qzKdqYbrOQNH9m_8I4KKPDz4TfzFw/s320/6B58BAF4-8DB1-489D-A97D-3D129F9CD313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #741b47;">i was given breakfast, lunch and dinner....a person would pound on my door at 7:30am, 11:30am and 5:30pm and walk away....they were dressed in a hazmat suit and the food would be left on a little table in the hallway...they did not talk with me at all....i was called twice a day by someone who spoke very little english and they would ask for my temperature, and once i gave it they would say bye-bye and hang up....it was the dead zone.....for two weeks i had no in-person human contact with anyone...except on day 12 when they came and gave me another covid test (a throat swab that time).....above you see what i had for breakfast for two straight weeks....2 boiled eggs, a packaged sweet bread thing, sometimes a yogurt, congee (rice soup) and some type of veggie dumplings/bao....it got to the point where i did not bring in congee, but they kept giving it to me.....but i was sooooooo happy that they could figure out the veggie part and therefore tried to eat much of what they gave me....breakfast was always the meal i ate the most of....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtorvuCgZ0WQXy_2xC0HeMXSLk_DlxuzXJ1fhNmiuEOSRrXuVsEUmOLr5-t4sHLQry4ezJbILfcWElNxvDnzouhJKmMkLVyFnbORqIeZkbWEK-CJ0nUQm3mf4ZinJNCCYy0ZMkIA/s4032/IMG_7107.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtorvuCgZ0WQXy_2xC0HeMXSLk_DlxuzXJ1fhNmiuEOSRrXuVsEUmOLr5-t4sHLQry4ezJbILfcWElNxvDnzouhJKmMkLVyFnbORqIeZkbWEK-CJ0nUQm3mf4ZinJNCCYy0ZMkIA/s320/IMG_7107.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">this was my view for two straight weeks....it kind of reminded me of panama, as i was overlooking the shanghai port...so big ships would sail past either on their way to being emptied or having just been emptied in port....this view did change during the second week, as the authorities dug up the green spaces....i am not sure what they were doing, as it was not finished when i left quarantine...but they did add some nice big trees to this view.....it could have been worse i think....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-CvavjSBxe_6babJZcR00wVRdHlDZ2uQcywa3i2SafYsMimofMoSz5MhvSeZOc588l_F6ZkPfU2_7wyHNw1ZUyazP_gTXuQwObSIoNv2xbz1B7dDDuZCGyoPJzKEPUeZkrRp3g/s4032/IMG_7131.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-CvavjSBxe_6babJZcR00wVRdHlDZ2uQcywa3i2SafYsMimofMoSz5MhvSeZOc588l_F6ZkPfU2_7wyHNw1ZUyazP_gTXuQwObSIoNv2xbz1B7dDDuZCGyoPJzKEPUeZkrRp3g/s320/IMG_7131.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is what happened three times a day, every day during quarantine....they would drop off my food and just keep going....you can see the table with the food from my neighbor...never saw him, but could hear him through the wall when he was teaching students somewhere in china, english.....we met on the bus coming to the hotel and ended up being next to each other...most of the time i heard no one though....this little table is also where you left your trash when you finished....so much plastic...and this is just one of a multitude of quarantine hotels all over china....crazy times....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVV_PcHox5ZJER-0z6ppkjpOfxhD7pjZLGFI-k_u-KNDCS1AshZtej6PpKnQ_Z_Gxy_FiidTLK7MS9wXu0auv_XHL_SCQuB_kufDXpGNl3fDgb8I46r0ZIV0r8-Ke20Gwuo13Fg/s3670/IMG_7135.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="3670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVV_PcHox5ZJER-0z6ppkjpOfxhD7pjZLGFI-k_u-KNDCS1AshZtej6PpKnQ_Z_Gxy_FiidTLK7MS9wXu0auv_XHL_SCQuB_kufDXpGNl3fDgb8I46r0ZIV0r8-Ke20Gwuo13Fg/s320/IMG_7135.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this was one of my last lunches...i think by this picture i had lotus root with both lunch and dinner for 10 of the 14 days....followed closely by cabbage and broccoli....i was sooooo excited on this day because they gave me carrots...it was the only time i got them....and of course, rice with every meal....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtybjbvJF_XKwl9fQboyvIb8LjRjo0FVm9En89x-35T7yWoumXUu-Cpgy5hT9dkJZOs0VM6ZUUm6SXGBo9wpv6JESSpjMOK1lbj5vixKbJmSW4ypGndCDVW5U7VBv5V7EfYh9A/s3088/IMG_7141.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtybjbvJF_XKwl9fQboyvIb8LjRjo0FVm9En89x-35T7yWoumXUu-Cpgy5hT9dkJZOs0VM6ZUUm6SXGBo9wpv6JESSpjMOK1lbj5vixKbJmSW4ypGndCDVW5U7VBv5V7EfYh9A/s320/IMG_7141.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this was literally how far my balcony door opened....i left this opened the whole time so i could get fresh air and hear noise from the outside world....it was hard to see the balcony and not be allowed on it...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajd4g-WI9qoManRNFbObJvUK_jW4jODkg62DtO1zf0MTImfAxBhftCAbIdE4Px2-8zJdzGB_lUPMNLKLz4JIvr-SBZlfHXhNVCl_Td9sxj4JD6hEz6VsB2AiGpUL1zzyjq_BN3Q/s3816/IMG_7142.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2858" data-original-width="3816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajd4g-WI9qoManRNFbObJvUK_jW4jODkg62DtO1zf0MTImfAxBhftCAbIdE4Px2-8zJdzGB_lUPMNLKLz4JIvr-SBZlfHXhNVCl_Td9sxj4JD6hEz6VsB2AiGpUL1zzyjq_BN3Q/s320/IMG_7142.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">my last lunch....lotus root, broccoli, cabbage, bok choy and rice.....with some iced tea and a banana...that was one of the things that really saved me...i was given a piece of fruit with every lunch and dinner...usually apples, pears or oranges...but i got a banana three times as well....i also brought along some instant camping meals, instant noodles, instant soups and lots and lots of snacks...nuts, dried cranberries, chocolate, granola bars, breakfast bars, peanut butter and packaged cheese and crackers...i was just fine....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCkjOpYjUmiIwdsP-bB06y6_F-t3eSO1IieK7o4YqKjafLSM3Ye7OXb7MsUoPS8BU9Y3Byi5R4K6SVyhQINmA69M0QJBCccHVYToANIafY8L_-dYssYcxiAMDu7yNlmxu3m0Isg/s4032/IMG_7146.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCkjOpYjUmiIwdsP-bB06y6_F-t3eSO1IieK7o4YqKjafLSM3Ye7OXb7MsUoPS8BU9Y3Byi5R4K6SVyhQINmA69M0QJBCccHVYToANIafY8L_-dYssYcxiAMDu7yNlmxu3m0Isg/s320/IMG_7146.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">this was my room....only one of the beds had sheets and covers...but it was a lot of space and i could walk around all day long....i had to get at least 7,000 - 10,000 steps a day...i walked around this room quite a lot....went a bit crazy....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Mp40nyeYObKEzd3VCC8h8QRKzFZUeMA-3yxPXUGCx9jWpHCcbwiv6a6zxt7I0q4h7CX1ZQrZdDRxEsmYtxnZ6Yq0z8nWydmWvrJ-yeIDcyZqzJTgBh0y2Wn7s2vZK7GPePYmDQ/s3088/IMG_7162.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Mp40nyeYObKEzd3VCC8h8QRKzFZUeMA-3yxPXUGCx9jWpHCcbwiv6a6zxt7I0q4h7CX1ZQrZdDRxEsmYtxnZ6Yq0z8nWydmWvrJ-yeIDcyZqzJTgBh0y2Wn7s2vZK7GPePYmDQ/s320/IMG_7162.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">this is me having just come out of quarantine....14 days in isolation...i learned i would never make it in solitary confinement and i am hopeful i will not need to anything like that again...but i did it....and it was not uber hard, just was not fun in any way.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ23Y-sVP_Xxiwz9RCTTtkzAn2Yyf-9hs680ivyREFJaZ7ltkauzys-GBpzj1jJjqGpGAle9t_FEGmdb_zHTs8ZayY0Dew74FHYismErRKtUy7Q_jdY9PxbXPH-ZB3S7smx3jHg/s4032/IMG_7189.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQ23Y-sVP_Xxiwz9RCTTtkzAn2Yyf-9hs680ivyREFJaZ7ltkauzys-GBpzj1jJjqGpGAle9t_FEGmdb_zHTs8ZayY0Dew74FHYismErRKtUy7Q_jdY9PxbXPH-ZB3S7smx3jHg/s320/IMG_7189.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">this is me and first beer out of quarantine....i went with a couple of newbbies to a brewery....the craziest part was that those of us just out of quarantine, couldn't eat much of our food and most of us got a bit sick from eating non-chinese food....but boy did that beer taste good!!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn8DFrLrU5tyBYJsZRppwK41r7kNh-L9tU4_i2GU2xrA3aPyK5HgNd3_L9sfa2U29gx0Ziqwo-DxQxtVVpm5kahYWAFVZmDB9XV4LvaDPQrnVAIpGtBWiu8qkz51ZG8ukV-kvmg/s4032/IMG_7184.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn8DFrLrU5tyBYJsZRppwK41r7kNh-L9tU4_i2GU2xrA3aPyK5HgNd3_L9sfa2U29gx0Ziqwo-DxQxtVVpm5kahYWAFVZmDB9XV4LvaDPQrnVAIpGtBWiu8qkz51ZG8ukV-kvmg/s320/IMG_7184.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">when i got out of quarantine in shanghai i had to fly straight to beijing to start doing my second quarantine before being allowed on campus...beijing is where the government of china is located, and therefore rules here are very strict...most countries still cannot fly planes directly to beijing...most fly to another city, quarantine and then send people to beijing....once i got to beijing, i was put in a temporary apartment by my school while i took the time to shop for my own place...this was my first sunrise....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFsVIEpPfoS1Ev2H72fYqiRKM-E2EnEbAqF3pyRnDvq-PRTa7WwznxWuppq-XiA9LD5_NcQjTM_t6P52EPAOIZx0wLpcw23yph5qX1cLeZ34FaMl2QKRjIWlaUBXkwv53aJJ5Ng/s4032/IMG_7198.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFsVIEpPfoS1Ev2H72fYqiRKM-E2EnEbAqF3pyRnDvq-PRTa7WwznxWuppq-XiA9LD5_NcQjTM_t6P52EPAOIZx0wLpcw23yph5qX1cLeZ34FaMl2QKRjIWlaUBXkwv53aJJ5Ng/s320/IMG_7198.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this was my bathroom in the temporary apartment....a japanese toilet - always amazing....and a urinal???? which was the sink?!?!?!?! the sign above it says hand-washing....ummmmmmm, no!!! the apartment was fine for the short term, but i am glad i am no longer there, as i tried really hard not to fully unpack, knowing i was going to move in about a month's time and i did not feel like packing everything up again...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShjC-gE9Kh_UlvmGlVwFTlSEi7nwye62RR84Hj02LiTAyht5LjEJLYbKrQA4F2KrbNTayZQK5lwdaZpg94fumFIgiVIkn1oUNagpsptmjIQeEw8NIskMv67g4erI8C_N1NHWFXg/s4032/IMG_7203.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShjC-gE9Kh_UlvmGlVwFTlSEi7nwye62RR84Hj02LiTAyht5LjEJLYbKrQA4F2KrbNTayZQK5lwdaZpg94fumFIgiVIkn1oUNagpsptmjIQeEw8NIskMv67g4erI8C_N1NHWFXg/s320/IMG_7203.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #741b47;">the temporary apartment is located outside an art district in beijing, called the 798....i have now had dinner there a bunch and some coffee and walked around checking out the art...one of my favorite pieces is this transformer....it is about 4 stories high....love it!!!</span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYNou_9pSAf_Zw6g3cMmHYZBPxGzXRQemYhwfKZZz_eGbQwrG7T8PRv_nGIkX6AYcMhSlZC4MJx8riSMNeV6ZiVHbgmJo0Bw2QWIGRVNCdVlkfVm0W3o8pNb35-fK46nplbPWeA/s1550/IMG_7233.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYNou_9pSAf_Zw6g3cMmHYZBPxGzXRQemYhwfKZZz_eGbQwrG7T8PRv_nGIkX6AYcMhSlZC4MJx8riSMNeV6ZiVHbgmJo0Bw2QWIGRVNCdVlkfVm0W3o8pNb35-fK46nplbPWeA/s320/IMG_7233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">one of the reasons coming to beijing has been fun, is because of these folks in the picture above...i arrived on a monday and we all had dinner on thursday...this is an awesome bunch of folks who work here in beijing, who i had the pleasure of working with in shanghai....me, Josh, Lis & Shannon....Josh & Shannon work at ISB and Lis works at WAB, like me....</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoM2GCyosvLdqjr_YftMWv6dB94WcXhLNIAISa1IGNTRVo4oVhBEwDMrN8PQIA86HDLss6Okv153-wNXUpfAhj1WrFzq8mjre16Jo_eH5HIf-TwIrRRCuq-RQ8Vybw6yHq6POwQ/s4032/IMG_7211.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoM2GCyosvLdqjr_YftMWv6dB94WcXhLNIAISa1IGNTRVo4oVhBEwDMrN8PQIA86HDLss6Okv153-wNXUpfAhj1WrFzq8mjre16Jo_eH5HIf-TwIrRRCuq-RQ8Vybw6yHq6POwQ/s320/IMG_7211.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is the front gate to WAB....as you come in the elementary school is in the front, with the early years kids having their own space off to the right....after you go through the elementary school....you walk along the field space to get to the middle school building(not where i teach) and the HUB - the building i teach science in....this is also the arts building and the design building...i love that my lab is in this building....but i do share space with other teachers and do not really have my own space anywhere....this can be very stressful at times....but i have been mostly going to the cafe in the HUB and can have a coffee while prepping - very nice....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m1Cj80dTf0PD8VWq3einWBLXrlc57cNnx620tMWveLyIhSXiTba_jRhSfGN__anQpRTKSaozuKpWsBtIA2nMT3vQRoINW-FbPBZW9swf2f3KR8ZykSVN7cJedBgsWmX25pt0DQ/s4032/IMG_7235.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m1Cj80dTf0PD8VWq3einWBLXrlc57cNnx620tMWveLyIhSXiTba_jRhSfGN__anQpRTKSaozuKpWsBtIA2nMT3vQRoINW-FbPBZW9swf2f3KR8ZykSVN7cJedBgsWmX25pt0DQ/s320/IMG_7235.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this is a shot of the front entrance of the hub....in one of my upcoming updates, i am going to show you all of the cool art on our campus....it is amazing....this building houses the gym on the right...one of the main places to get food just in front...the arts classrooms and theater, and the science and design labs....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qgS9SfZabn8pTrx4mQz7B7bBKunDvYzGM0yDt7CHp9dVIoteqj44Ibl6k3FVmeNGNmGp8ZKn6qgb9-OA0gyL2dl9DS9tfewy59openQqMpIaral4JOcF20QQStivAxvRjX68ZA/s4032/IMG_7245.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qgS9SfZabn8pTrx4mQz7B7bBKunDvYzGM0yDt7CHp9dVIoteqj44Ibl6k3FVmeNGNmGp8ZKn6qgb9-OA0gyL2dl9DS9tfewy59openQqMpIaral4JOcF20QQStivAxvRjX68ZA/s320/IMG_7245.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">this is the bridge...it connects the high school with the rest of campus...and yes, it is a bridge that goes over a lake - duck lake...i have heard it will freeze over and you sometimes will see classes out on the lake skating....kids also can canoe when it is warm....gotta love this on a school campus...i do hope at some point we will do a lab or two with the water of duck lake....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zqrl94b_hLz9DCaanhG3gSpijxviush-3ezYPdtkd_UztPvaC8_EaJGHAP61CmFr_YhKsydtZm_J3OiBwlnwIi01RxPfuQ8L98AsH7ThfpAX3TzTzBXLmS11GrUYBqpr1cLBmg/s4032/IMG_7248.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zqrl94b_hLz9DCaanhG3gSpijxviush-3ezYPdtkd_UztPvaC8_EaJGHAP61CmFr_YhKsydtZm_J3OiBwlnwIi01RxPfuQ8L98AsH7ThfpAX3TzTzBXLmS11GrUYBqpr1cLBmg/s320/IMG_7248.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">this woman is making my favorite breakfast of all time - jian bing....this is a crepe, made with an egg, spices and flavorings, as well as crunchy, fried, tofu skin....and here in beijing, i have found some jian bing makers who put lettuce on their creations....this woman did...and what a tasty addition to the traditional version....still my favorite breakfast....you just can't beat a jian bing!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhPOFNGaBYsk3G0O80JMfrUSJ1tdz7N1CIad4BgxcnqCcM4Gl0Aoqi72jSIYxMBPwcQpmzzkBefnBJWFLoFPNZf4HXdIOYXpU-V2ZJHMq3unlrgXCzg8kL6lHrJN5vAIiO2IgDg/s4032/IMG_7287.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhPOFNGaBYsk3G0O80JMfrUSJ1tdz7N1CIad4BgxcnqCcM4Gl0Aoqi72jSIYxMBPwcQpmzzkBefnBJWFLoFPNZf4HXdIOYXpU-V2ZJHMq3unlrgXCzg8kL6lHrJN5vAIiO2IgDg/s320/IMG_7287.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">I have been on quite a few public buses now here in beijing, as i am always surprised when i see an ashtray when i am on the bus....this one actually had a cigarette butt on it...i normally do not see people smoking on the bus....the buses are fast, clean and very cheap....however, it has become cold these days....so i try to take the school buses, as they go right to the door of the school and drop me close to my apartment....temperatures are around -13C/9F....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....I haven't been in temperatures this low in awhile.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk7yKplie2EJma3wV9FIyF3jdmFaDwU_JoTZBgS9Qsw_qkBJc-n_jtZy024i_NXfgALzR23uKtfKIzpRoDFYQfeWMs_eyevRpTT-a4gop3n4QTRAny1ttbXqfTP-Yzd7hunLTMA/s4032/IMG_7318.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk7yKplie2EJma3wV9FIyF3jdmFaDwU_JoTZBgS9Qsw_qkBJc-n_jtZy024i_NXfgALzR23uKtfKIzpRoDFYQfeWMs_eyevRpTT-a4gop3n4QTRAny1ttbXqfTP-Yzd7hunLTMA/s320/IMG_7318.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">one of the food i really missed outside of china, were dumplings....this shot above is from a pretty famous dumpling shop...and they dye their dumplings with natural colors (purple from purple cabbage, green from spinach, etc) and they dye the dumplings different colors so you know what is inside of them...being a vegetarian, i really appreciated this...i knew i could eat the green and half orange ones....yummy....so happy to be here where the spice is hot and always available....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYo4sf-feowb818EJ76bBfFXYiTcqFUsm2Lwyp9SnHZWPu_5Vr1gRTlUVYJQh2a0DddV-k577BX4iyutL8lBz0xCo_wSKubpFXKWFIV4zx4Tyix0YooP-jbWONMkVHLK2fzOypQ/s4032/IMG_7331.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYo4sf-feowb818EJ76bBfFXYiTcqFUsm2Lwyp9SnHZWPu_5Vr1gRTlUVYJQh2a0DddV-k577BX4iyutL8lBz0xCo_wSKubpFXKWFIV4zx4Tyix0YooP-jbWONMkVHLK2fzOypQ/s320/IMG_7331.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">a couple of weeks back we had our first snow in beijing....it snowed again this past saturday night...so pretty...but neither time did it last....the ground was a bit too warm....when it snows, the clouds hold in the pollution...but today the storm had blown out and it was a cold, clear, blue-sky day...i have been here for 6 weeks now and we have only had a handful of high pollution days...they seem to happen when a storm rolls in...which is not too frequent here in beijing.....it is a very dry place.....</span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZmvjTGVBACGP6TBhIcHd6Wf5WN3X_rvqZUd73c97uTXHkOk0C4HZKTwG_x86WCENErVSxEIwzmyItHJd4IRDNzNT2qSLfHQ4ukqVIACUURGHhy_iPTLxOwKHwLAP5KW2LeHWzQ/s4032/IMG_7351.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZmvjTGVBACGP6TBhIcHd6Wf5WN3X_rvqZUd73c97uTXHkOk0C4HZKTwG_x86WCENErVSxEIwzmyItHJd4IRDNzNT2qSLfHQ4ukqVIACUURGHhy_iPTLxOwKHwLAP5KW2LeHWzQ/s320/IMG_7351.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">and although this looks like a lot of pollution....this is just an interesting angled sunset shot of the summer palace from the pearl market....where we were shopping....i love this shot for the color and the temple and the mountain in the far distance....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v31e6B1z3p58tYUIK9gX2e_hmpE0MBkSngrBaFoSApF1oVVh64kPOl8OASm6O_rNhW7l3K4vy26BFGsNgUAxtGhTWhSzpICO9ROOCFXFxJuBSCYhp4sJNIbrg4ZCGTK-0714jg/s4032/IMG_7344.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v31e6B1z3p58tYUIK9gX2e_hmpE0MBkSngrBaFoSApF1oVVh64kPOl8OASm6O_rNhW7l3K4vy26BFGsNgUAxtGhTWhSzpICO9ROOCFXFxJuBSCYhp4sJNIbrg4ZCGTK-0714jg/s320/IMG_7344.HEIC" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">the reason we were at the pearl market was to see what was behind this door.....behind this door is a knock-knock shop....not only do you have to knock to be allowed in (super secretly hidden with the vines - not)....but it is also a store filled with knock-offs...i got some fake doc martins, fake uggs and fake new balance sneakers...all for less than $100...and they are comfortable and seem to be holding up ok....this is me coming out of the knock-knock shop with my purchases...which have come in handy in this cold part of the world....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWXHupwmK0rEUfn-h6dSvDn-yqwTpE-o6HJ4BLM_FKHoBicqmhplRb1i8Zyvn4UeoNzDWftEExdUnjhF2dEW28FJf7TEHpe_WmaOm8wtb-RJTl9e2r8lVgumTQmrAkA0a11gb2Q/s4032/IMG_7362.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWXHupwmK0rEUfn-h6dSvDn-yqwTpE-o6HJ4BLM_FKHoBicqmhplRb1i8Zyvn4UeoNzDWftEExdUnjhF2dEW28FJf7TEHpe_WmaOm8wtb-RJTl9e2r8lVgumTQmrAkA0a11gb2Q/s320/IMG_7362.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is my science classroom....i am teaching 7th & 8th grade science this year face-to-face and have 6th, 7th and 8th graders who i am working with online....online is soooooooo much more challenging than in person in my opinion...plus, i am teaching three different levels of kids all together and most of them are learning support....just a huge challenge.....i am hoping this will end in january, but i do not really think it will...because china just passed a rule that people who are hired to come and work here, can no longer bring families or spouses that do not have a job as well....i am not sure how embassies will deal with this, plus, i am not sure how long it will go on....but this ruling will definitely change things for my school and any other in china, for getting new families....they are not allowed into country....so i can see WAB making a choice to stay online....a bummer...but i can/will do it for a year....they have supported me through everything to get me here....so i will follow through and work both in person and online....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBoY2-XQ3cE7rVtZ-_apSSTVvRANTzZmt6AInA1hql4G9TZUz-69522DacYef7Uzqo_WKBV8gRlTV_YGKX3zhFNtz9KwZKlV8OEW1vUz_Im_LOxSkm4nTzzf0v7l6r8i2Kxdjpg/s4032/IMG_7380.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBoY2-XQ3cE7rVtZ-_apSSTVvRANTzZmt6AInA1hql4G9TZUz-69522DacYef7Uzqo_WKBV8gRlTV_YGKX3zhFNtz9KwZKlV8OEW1vUz_Im_LOxSkm4nTzzf0v7l6r8i2Kxdjpg/s320/IMG_7380.HEIC" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">and so my last shot is not of me and a beer...but instead of me and the bottle of champagne i just took off the brunch layout....i figured we had enough people to justify having the whole bottle...and a slice of pavlova....and no i did not eat this....i just had a forkful of my friend's....people from australia and new zealand disagree with who owns the rights to calling pavlova their national dish....i just think they are tasty...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">ok...so that is my story at the moment....sorry i did not include pictures of my new apartment, but i will send them out with the next update....which i hope to get to in the next three weeks, when i am on vacation....so here's to that!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">things here in beijing have been great to start....and things just keep improving now that i am out of my temporary apartment.....it is good to be back in a country that has a mail system that works...my mom and i are currently testing it out to make sure it really works before i pass along the address and stuff to others....plus, it has been fun scouting out some of my favorite types of chinese food - sichuan, yunnan, dumplings and hand pulled noodles....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">and in my opinion, the hawking a loogie, which i used to hear everywhere all the time (and if you have lived or visited china for a long stint, i am sure you can just hear the sound as i say this)....but what is amazing is the noise/action does not happen frequently anymore....yahooooo...it was my least favorite thing about china...and i do not know if it is because of covid....but it is so nice not to hear that noise at every turn....yay china!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">so this is how things have started for me in china....i am sooooo happy to finally be here and for being back in the classroom (masked, but live)....i am having a fun time exploring beijing and am in the process of meeting and making new friends...it has been a weird year to start a new school....that is an understatement...but i am glad i am here and seeing kids in person everyday....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">if you have any questions from this post, please do not hesitate to ask them...i am hoping to get the next update out before my break is over...in that one i will put in pics of my new apartment and things that i spot or experience as i explore beijing....thanks for reading through my post...i hope you enjoyed it...i am well and happy and i hope you are too....i wish you and your family/friends a happy holiday season, no matter what you celebrate....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;">peace out....dani</span></div><br />danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-11561825938592352122020-08-23T22:58:00.001+02:002020-08-23T23:14:33.850+02:00Last Panama Update (#18)<p> <span style="color: #990000;">August 23, 2020</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">hey there folks...hope all of you are well and safe, no matter where you are.....i am sorry it has taken me some time to get in touch, but life, as i am sure you understand, has been a bit crazy and busy....from leaving Panama with a week's notice, to moving in with my mom in the States and being here for the summer, to starting my new school in China on-line in the past two weeks, from my mom's basement......just crazy times.....but things are moving forward and i have received permission to head to china....but there are tons of hoops to jump through for this to actually happen...and flights are few and far between, as china has really restricted number of flights allowed to come in...from all over the world....so i could be here another 4-6 weeks....that is a best case scenario...but we'll see happens....i did decide that i should do one more update about my last year in Panama....as there were some cool things that happened along the way in the country......</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;">my trip out of panama was fast and furious, as i needed to pack up my stuff, and store it, close accounts and things, sell my car and hop a humanitarian flight back to the states....and all of this pretty much happened in a week and a half....it was insane....the humanitarian flight from panama to houston was terrific...not crowded, excellent care and following of rules and this happened on june 12, the official last day of school....however, the flight from houston to newark was mind-blowing....as was the houston airport....panama's airport was literally empty...hand washing stations and hand sanitizer everywhere, no stores open....only food and water from a vending machine....it was freaky.....houston...was fine through international, all of that is shut down....but domestic to me, coming from a country that had been in a very strict lockdown for three months, was crazy....all flights were leaving from 2 terminals (not 5)....so it was crowded...there were probably 20 flights leaving that friday night from the same terminal as mine....everyone had a mask...but how you wore that mask or did not wear that mask was surprising...and then most surprising of all was that the flight was completely packed....every seat taken....and some folks just could not be bothered with wearing masks....the flight attendants were excellent....and the precautions taken by the airline, except for filling every seat, were great....but it was very disconcerting....so i quarantined myself when i got to where my mom lives in a hotel for ten days, because i felt if i was going to get covid, it would have been from that experience....luckily, when i took a covid test, it was negative....which meant i could move in with my mom....which is where i am currently....but i am keeping my distance from many folks, because if i test positive when i arrive in china, they can put me back on the plane and ship me back to the states....and i do not want that to happen....so forgive me if i have not really reached out here in the states to visit.....anyway....on with the last year in panama....which was filled with fun in-country trips and celebrations....at least until lock-down in march...it was the weirdest goodbye to a place, in that i could not say goodbye to people or my students in person....couldn't even do a drive-by wave, as i was only allowed out of my house for two hours on monday, wed, fri....from 7:30 - 9:30am....but enough about that...on with the pictures....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhueQUo4t2YztoOnlanZFx3T0LEETUPdQkknqTRAsnrBwe_Ueo14svkKFyVXxSgq55ZxN7bXuQxJE_MHufZvzCzkGt8GLxPaK3ArPTNHSKegZ7eIO8TXEUy9kyfOdS5fwDSIRLw/s3264/IMG_4421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhueQUo4t2YztoOnlanZFx3T0LEETUPdQkknqTRAsnrBwe_Ueo14svkKFyVXxSgq55ZxN7bXuQxJE_MHufZvzCzkGt8GLxPaK3ArPTNHSKegZ7eIO8TXEUy9kyfOdS5fwDSIRLw/s640/IMG_4421.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">when i got back to panama last august, it was whale season....so just like last year, i decided with some friends to go on a whale watching trip one day of the weekend.....the trips always go on the pacific side and head to pearl islands....this is when we were arriving....beautiful water and warm to jump in and swim....and this year, not many jelly fish....woot!!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6rA0q7y-EclPP6FaqpFlLZ4i1LdZTop_sBQkNFXRjzD0YjICXUR1DNwaPB7Kkmypt-Dctf0FkvY83fGkqdHqxCp4a_dd2SXZFF_88LqaYT7HggltBn85zIVfSFMQK4247wJA4g/s960/IMG_4445.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6rA0q7y-EclPP6FaqpFlLZ4i1LdZTop_sBQkNFXRjzD0YjICXUR1DNwaPB7Kkmypt-Dctf0FkvY83fGkqdHqxCp4a_dd2SXZFF_88LqaYT7HggltBn85zIVfSFMQK4247wJA4g/s640/IMG_4445.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">the whale spotting number and proximity was not as close this year as last...but still very impressive....this is actually a shot taken by one of my friends of one of the babies breaching....it was a great day and i am so glad i decided to do this again....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpabu9D6BiIhWY7xFr52-bcgo2VLao-vU1dFpe2707PmfDG77n72lWOLbSOCMmaa4MkXR3RRLcoUzeqpmP2odG9Oyq6rgILjeHVdV5gtU8RXhlKpY4K9eiFltnhUfrqmijmofzCg/s3264/IMG_4612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpabu9D6BiIhWY7xFr52-bcgo2VLao-vU1dFpe2707PmfDG77n72lWOLbSOCMmaa4MkXR3RRLcoUzeqpmP2odG9Oyq6rgILjeHVdV5gtU8RXhlKpY4K9eiFltnhUfrqmijmofzCg/s640/IMG_4612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">i also took the time to go to a flamenco show that happens in my neighborhood twice a week, that i had never attended....i got to see these folks play and dance twice before the shut down....amazing!!!! they are from spain and are masters of their craft...and the guitarist was quite possibly one of the best i had ever seen play live...and if you know anything about me, i have seen thousands of live shows...so that really is saying something....he was incredible....and this was just on a tiny stage at one of my local bars....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iugBnwnSlKedHV9xEZjGbIKRgwz1VsD_oAykMBXoBur_xR9MXc325U2rrupCN0qcY-o9q_Y_K1tpEJvJcf0PgxdlG7gAGBnaGDYTamRydKpCgsGLF0EJl3YWaJJ89pUGUnUMg/s3264/IMG_4626.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4iugBnwnSlKedHV9xEZjGbIKRgwz1VsD_oAykMBXoBur_xR9MXc325U2rrupCN0qcY-o9q_Y_K1tpEJvJcf0PgxdlG7gAGBnaGDYTamRydKpCgsGLF0EJl3YWaJJ89pUGUnUMg/s640/IMG_4626.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">of course i took another trip to see the panama canal....both in the day and this one is a shot from my trip at night to the restaurant....not such good food, but an amazing view....the engineering behind this amazing set of locks, is just incredible....it was great to be able to take people who visited me to this place...as it really is impressive and i never got tired of seeing the ships go through....and my favorite parts are the mechanical mules that escort the ship all the way through the locks...sooooo cool!!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVwrluroGsmY2vqVH68bZ0bV5GabZdTnTsGAPhvMLCtcD3GvexCVy4TmKM4tWWu2vSTboUAv0iVSi7WjbRynWtT4qQQVpr3C-jjVnZB1LMOZcrI3OUEzvoqikD_pDUV2y_G6Pbw/s3264/IMG_4894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVwrluroGsmY2vqVH68bZ0bV5GabZdTnTsGAPhvMLCtcD3GvexCVy4TmKM4tWWu2vSTboUAv0iVSi7WjbRynWtT4qQQVpr3C-jjVnZB1LMOZcrI3OUEzvoqikD_pDUV2y_G6Pbw/s640/IMG_4894.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">as many of you know, i turned fifty last september...and my mom and a colleague of mine actually worked out a way to get flowers sent to me at school from my mom on my day....the balloon is from my very good friend, and it was a lovely surprise at school....some of the kids saw the balloon later, as i left it in my office, and they were shocked that i was 50!!!!! hahahahaha....good genes keep me looking young....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P6vGpbUQlv_Bv_NNAMBRSmWgAugOOgo2lGVUyVOn_g4Dn3yzWbzjWXjSiM66zbk4k8af1xu-dM65M4idVc3Af2dFCLlkcn5Vz-owy1or6dbxogBX252VkBPBvI605e42ssqKJQ/s3264/IMG_4971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P6vGpbUQlv_Bv_NNAMBRSmWgAugOOgo2lGVUyVOn_g4Dn3yzWbzjWXjSiM66zbk4k8af1xu-dM65M4idVc3Af2dFCLlkcn5Vz-owy1or6dbxogBX252VkBPBvI605e42ssqKJQ/s640/IMG_4971.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">to celebrate my birthday, i rented a beach house and was allowed to invite 50 folks down to celebrate with me....this is looking back at the house....12 of us stayed for two nights and then on the saturday, 50 people came down to celebrate...it was a blast..</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtlgOGZ7MgARC-Oh278H5TAJ0cjQG8u6TGfEuzQVElD24TrGPf3HGzeY1MBGVEqJ_-DQsDgUg4Xb9jachydDHGrUYCK42zIq_3XKIu-Y45g_c9vG_4STxV7bsxImx-jDvk7Zusg/s3264/IMG_4974.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtlgOGZ7MgARC-Oh278H5TAJ0cjQG8u6TGfEuzQVElD24TrGPf3HGzeY1MBGVEqJ_-DQsDgUg4Xb9jachydDHGrUYCK42zIq_3XKIu-Y45g_c9vG_4STxV7bsxImx-jDvk7Zusg/s640/IMG_4974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">the walkway you saw in the picture above, went directly to the beach....and we had a pool....this is me headed to the beach when we first got there....panama city would be in the distance in the top right of the picture and if it had been clear enough, we would have been able to see it....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR7u4oIAyQOK6MKU5G4DmMhXAaHC_sIA8Zz-FvXAyPPpqaUCn3bl1Zs15OyCTJy5Z9RxL4xC-wEQugCvmjucmwqtFG4M8YTotimTp27zysDaGX0n5ZqPGDZ1Kvk-AmLGevca1JQ/s1944/IMG_5014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbR7u4oIAyQOK6MKU5G4DmMhXAaHC_sIA8Zz-FvXAyPPpqaUCn3bl1Zs15OyCTJy5Z9RxL4xC-wEQugCvmjucmwqtFG4M8YTotimTp27zysDaGX0n5ZqPGDZ1Kvk-AmLGevca1JQ/s640/IMG_5014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">this is everyone who could make it down to celebrate....the cakes made by my friend sarah, were to die for...everyone had a lovely afternoon hanging, chatting, eating, playing in the pool and ocean...and it was only 90 minutes from the city....it was a terrific way to celebrate my birthday....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv9bYXnnXQeBzITS69o0ioEy2w-k0yW-arvI4xj8yKwoiyzOVP1x8GnVyK1XFAbS9XJ014_9YV8pg6C4E69ARZQHGRvsiuec8hBYxRF-uh8mta_-OtJnuwQ4zT0rBEaeHq5mTug/s676/f93d5a1b-85cd-447a-9528-59906d01f337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGv9bYXnnXQeBzITS69o0ioEy2w-k0yW-arvI4xj8yKwoiyzOVP1x8GnVyK1XFAbS9XJ014_9YV8pg6C4E69ARZQHGRvsiuec8hBYxRF-uh8mta_-OtJnuwQ4zT0rBEaeHq5mTug/s640/f93d5a1b-85cd-447a-9528-59906d01f337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">this is the crew that stayed with me for two nights....such a fun bunch of people....it is interesting to note that out of these folks, only four people are working for ISP this year....personnel and overseas schools are things that are constantly fluid....it is like having family all over the world ;)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipnEkZnAz4mgO3StWMOQoKq0sbTxWT30LCo5MDtnU2lP-38zFcqJVJGpHRC9gZU8EeaOV7LBlQ46j_qQrNsnPHYqwGjbi8ez_w-o-jxcHkVYvec5_2dXmCQA-u1q37zInraw37w/s3264/IMG_5531.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipnEkZnAz4mgO3StWMOQoKq0sbTxWT30LCo5MDtnU2lP-38zFcqJVJGpHRC9gZU8EeaOV7LBlQ46j_qQrNsnPHYqwGjbi8ez_w-o-jxcHkVYvec5_2dXmCQA-u1q37zInraw37w/s640/IMG_5531.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">november is panama month....three times in their history they took their country back in november....so it is a big celebration month....over at the city of knowledge the met, another international school, puts up flags to celebrate....i love this view....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBLdUhQq1Yu3mXSFFKSFL_uzsGOnzHdUTOh0kyaznLIV4j-ecvsz3Bi9CCU5TST13XNiwy8Zpguaxl2ZCIuZxLyfXcaxUHX1_5Rrl35MsrKtD0CNia9Ce3otzrjSh12MXZWkpmQ/s1440/IMG_5618.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBLdUhQq1Yu3mXSFFKSFL_uzsGOnzHdUTOh0kyaznLIV4j-ecvsz3Bi9CCU5TST13XNiwy8Zpguaxl2ZCIuZxLyfXcaxUHX1_5Rrl35MsrKtD0CNia9Ce3otzrjSh12MXZWkpmQ/s640/IMG_5618.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">november is also "movember".....and i was at a fundraiser for prostate cancer down in the old section of town called casco viejo...as you can see from this great shot, taken by my friend chris, it had just rained....as november is still the rainy season in panama....chris has an excellent eye for scenes such as this....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe4Yc3wK9B-wtRfldB36bgsX0Qz_5_H5ujKVf3AcjRdmLMTDj3R58j9YOmFKN0NWVLWVefjtwqE9MbmKw-1yR1dooT8EkVkbob3CcNIBbdqXAbspfpC55dNsPmoH6jW-XP18eaw/s1280/46438611-a7cf-4a23-985a-81ff98a3003a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe4Yc3wK9B-wtRfldB36bgsX0Qz_5_H5ujKVf3AcjRdmLMTDj3R58j9YOmFKN0NWVLWVefjtwqE9MbmKw-1yR1dooT8EkVkbob3CcNIBbdqXAbspfpC55dNsPmoH6jW-XP18eaw/s640/46438611-a7cf-4a23-985a-81ff98a3003a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">as part of the celebration, we always have faculty who dance in a performance, as well as kids...my friend and colleague luz always dances....and she is wearing a panamanian pollera from her outstanding performance....this is me with my science colleagues...with whom i missing working...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO2Fw0LKoG7LEF-b204URzxXvaQuyy5tcagwUvFmPEF1wT4qdx3AiRPAf0H9JE_8pLIy_x0LICI6vVnkSSK6MMf3fJVo0e_0OByF2O7GzkNwD0MXjAWTLkoPcevjKMIbJFc0J7Q/s1280/IMG_5670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNO2Fw0LKoG7LEF-b204URzxXvaQuyy5tcagwUvFmPEF1wT4qdx3AiRPAf0H9JE_8pLIy_x0LICI6vVnkSSK6MMf3fJVo0e_0OByF2O7GzkNwD0MXjAWTLkoPcevjKMIbJFc0J7Q/s640/IMG_5670.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">thanksgiving was actually excellent timing this year, as one of the panamanian holidays fell over thanksgiving....so we actually had thursday off...a rarity....so a bunch of us got together to have a traditional meal...some of the folks in the picture are not from the states, and this was actually their very first thanksgiving....a blast was had by all.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoupZGTfxsbyTw-9rU2DwPBoQLP0BJKkuDaRduI6WYb9gzjKjBWp6ruKvxcq55dmo8rnnT-veAwXpwdR4lpFuY5nIVlbjullZnk3-nljdfWLZk84kID2QTxKz8nuu5FlyWBWQCrA/s3264/IMG_5700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoupZGTfxsbyTw-9rU2DwPBoQLP0BJKkuDaRduI6WYb9gzjKjBWp6ruKvxcq55dmo8rnnT-veAwXpwdR4lpFuY5nIVlbjullZnk3-nljdfWLZk84kID2QTxKz8nuu5FlyWBWQCrA/s640/IMG_5700.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">and before we knew it, it was december.....panama, as i have said in the past, really does lights and festivities for the month of december quite well....the theme this year was "i am panama, i am christmas"....the lights were great, but due to budget cuts were a bit less around the city....but it was fun to celebrate the holiday panama style.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJkSm8XGYXcQ6Is0tWfHXCpw5bNTAAffWmpkKMEI6lkmDQbDL5lUvjl1-qkjsg_cQ6qpscqk8_hwYoAraKcnuFSUTCsRRG-5JuMvU_VOxqoDuJIwvD6dI8Ugbq0rbMza5LaD6Lg/s3264/IMG_5713.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJkSm8XGYXcQ6Is0tWfHXCpw5bNTAAffWmpkKMEI6lkmDQbDL5lUvjl1-qkjsg_cQ6qpscqk8_hwYoAraKcnuFSUTCsRRG-5JuMvU_VOxqoDuJIwvD6dI8Ugbq0rbMza5LaD6Lg/s640/IMG_5713.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">also in decemeber, a few friends of mine and i rented a HUGE house for a weekend, up in the mountains surrounding panama city...we went to a spot called cerro azul - a gated mountain community...filled with enormous houses (noriega used to have one there), trails, waterfalls, streams and weirdness.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wRb8T9ZXUTgacgjGxYXqTNXtvglezuwrTDDlaCEjINFuFTgjvZGK7YeRFnapfrJSsZphc0rAzz3rbey2VIz1xaX1AbjR8riL3xMgAcd3KEB_BVStWXVcQg2bGad17JVAETBAZw/s3264/IMG_5742.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wRb8T9ZXUTgacgjGxYXqTNXtvglezuwrTDDlaCEjINFuFTgjvZGK7YeRFnapfrJSsZphc0rAzz3rbey2VIz1xaX1AbjR8riL3xMgAcd3KEB_BVStWXVcQg2bGad17JVAETBAZw/s640/IMG_5742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this was the trail we decided to explore....and it kicked my butt...it stated it was an easy in and easy out trail to a set of waterfalls....it was completely vertical down and then back up....easy....NOT! and it rained, so it was slick and difficult to get back out once we made it to the bottom....but we did it....was it worth it??? i won't answer that...but the stream at the bottom was pretty.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2aarLfjVBxS3iNtZ4HFJvj2CLpMrClYdyuTYC7v36-zU9SskArgi3jjobJ0smy8nJ73frTGM3TBBa3LlFlN__JOuZlsfp56bdUmpvjxhZQEK8o4L5xL1HW_va41LkBk2Q3IwIg/s3264/IMG_5753.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2aarLfjVBxS3iNtZ4HFJvj2CLpMrClYdyuTYC7v36-zU9SskArgi3jjobJ0smy8nJ73frTGM3TBBa3LlFlN__JOuZlsfp56bdUmpvjxhZQEK8o4L5xL1HW_va41LkBk2Q3IwIg/s640/IMG_5753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">there was a lookout at the top of one of the hills....and if it wasn't so cloudy, behind me you would be able to see part of the panama canal....it was a nice overlook in a weird community....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEnqFxzjQK5X4NpPWAwsQzB1kwYXsVp0yBYk1dkhMhU-rXvSafYY4MrV-0mcDwl7wY2t60OOALP4IJBSFNS_WeTPkwiH6rR9pda2kanWuIdMgH4xl8WHS_8lRmYGwKe-c7O1e-g/s960/IMG_5779.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEnqFxzjQK5X4NpPWAwsQzB1kwYXsVp0yBYk1dkhMhU-rXvSafYY4MrV-0mcDwl7wY2t60OOALP4IJBSFNS_WeTPkwiH6rR9pda2kanWuIdMgH4xl8WHS_8lRmYGwKe-c7O1e-g/s640/IMG_5779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">this was the huge house the four of us stayed in....it was crazy, because it had beds....and two couches and a huge dining room table, but little else....we had no idea it did not have furniture or art or things to make living easy....but it was quirky and interesting and was ok for two nights....definitely would need to ask more questions next time....but many of the properties are for sale in this community...or they are filled with folks who do not want to be found....we met an interesting guy from florida who fit that description quite well....what an adventure.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OJ0vTDpy75dTAKZovFFBrJNq3fq83mRmWfazhXYnI7MNd7FXNNlLwe-GiWRxayyLHVh0AZRVQkgZ21oe1KTgi_V6OaPhThjrQwBY_7pFdJcSrSOGHurPYw5GWJeNxL9082qVmg/s3264/IMG_5819.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OJ0vTDpy75dTAKZovFFBrJNq3fq83mRmWfazhXYnI7MNd7FXNNlLwe-GiWRxayyLHVh0AZRVQkgZ21oe1KTgi_V6OaPhThjrQwBY_7pFdJcSrSOGHurPYw5GWJeNxL9082qVmg/s640/IMG_5819.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">after the decemeber holiday, a new museum opened up, which focus on the "mola" of panama....the mola is a traditional textile that was/is part of women's clothing in the kuna tribe....mola in the traditional language means "shirt" or "clothing" and they are all hand made....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEX7G7s0otbXSWkgMIWxRGA_0W_e7lwsc1-TgTKzG9xOIxd6tWL3GI-RKYuuG3W9xM_EbTIFpAvsovQuooYVICu2ugaiQFaPHcIHpf4DhLEaH8cnd-LfmJEo5UoDgImUUlYdAqw/s1684/IMG_5826.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="1263" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEX7G7s0otbXSWkgMIWxRGA_0W_e7lwsc1-TgTKzG9xOIxd6tWL3GI-RKYuuG3W9xM_EbTIFpAvsovQuooYVICu2ugaiQFaPHcIHpf4DhLEaH8cnd-LfmJEo5UoDgImUUlYdAqw/s640/IMG_5826.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">they did a wonderful job in this free museum of showing the history of how the textiles are made, the different styles historically and how they were designed to celebrate all aspects of life of the kuna....as a going away gift from a friend, i received a mola with my name in the center that she had made for me....so lovely! (thanks sue 😊)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFwWcDoRyBqJ49dMPinJUKx4Y_w27ZIcLCqEoKUUkcuyr400RtW4u0yPj_X57Gw-kZk3orxXAnvTGsQCj86_1wokSQz4cGNdJx4ba3SVjahiVcTlDsjMoP4Ey0OWG4Y00vrQ48A/s3264/IMG_6034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFwWcDoRyBqJ49dMPinJUKx4Y_w27ZIcLCqEoKUUkcuyr400RtW4u0yPj_X57Gw-kZk3orxXAnvTGsQCj86_1wokSQz4cGNdJx4ba3SVjahiVcTlDsjMoP4Ey0OWG4Y00vrQ48A/s640/IMG_6034.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">i returned to panama a week early to do a dive trip to the national park of coiba, on the pacific side of the country....this national park is known to have large animals of the ocean come through in january and february and i was sooooooo lucky to be there at this time....this shot above is the sunset from the airbnb place i was staying at.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNqcBYH04stfyn43-VdpxisGgQKO1fxV564dWInwoGzDMbG1hLY6uSfftXH8Mp3ul-pm10sXRLwPULnC7CS9twVQkwV_xS8wpR8J9y8yrOUd9bRo5Xqob_wLhqars8_F13Pg8yQ/s1616/DSC00847.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNqcBYH04stfyn43-VdpxisGgQKO1fxV564dWInwoGzDMbG1hLY6uSfftXH8Mp3ul-pm10sXRLwPULnC7CS9twVQkwV_xS8wpR8J9y8yrOUd9bRo5Xqob_wLhqars8_F13Pg8yQ/s640/DSC00847.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">i was soooo lucky because i got to dive and swim with whale sharks on three of my six dives.....on the last dive the whale shark wanted to stay around us and we dove with it for about 40 minutes, it decided it wanted to hang with us at the surface for even longer....they are HUGE, but vegetarian, filter feeders, so nothing to worry about....this was definitely a check off of my bucket list....i have not dove since january at this point and am really missing being underwater, but someday again i will get back in and under....til then...it is pretty cool that this was my last dive to remember.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqjPHX4BchcN9nyORm1OtUtSdrCYakq8dwuhIws_BYw-iVDbhXDJFzsP1KaBh6C6_jfIPNRQ7Bb5orW-GFyTQ7CqoD317L8hDqPkAeZILmMO4Zd5sT3WIgZAVYbn8CCS_35HYKw/s1122/IMG_6116.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1122" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqjPHX4BchcN9nyORm1OtUtSdrCYakq8dwuhIws_BYw-iVDbhXDJFzsP1KaBh6C6_jfIPNRQ7Bb5orW-GFyTQ7CqoD317L8hDqPkAeZILmMO4Zd5sT3WIgZAVYbn8CCS_35HYKw/s640/IMG_6116.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">january was also spectacular because we finally were able to connect with the ISS and the two women aboard it - christina koch and jessica meir....both of whom worked in antarctica....and i actually worked with christina at the south pole and we were friends.....it was a plan set in motion from april of 2019...and it was incredible to have it actually all come together this past january...above are all of the kids who asked questions and ran the Q&A....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWKEHPf3p-U_46FggumWisJ50WFgqf_CQEfqXdjiD0o44GfkhyphenhyphentJp6Oerj0kTWoMpXzqMuejj-IldwXMHtE56T3a5laTAFbT-1GqyD1urGnj0puXNJP_V6b_UMoyJjMGZizqenw/s3264/IMG_6141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWKEHPf3p-U_46FggumWisJ50WFgqf_CQEfqXdjiD0o44GfkhyphenhyphentJp6Oerj0kTWoMpXzqMuejj-IldwXMHtE56T3a5laTAFbT-1GqyD1urGnj0puXNJP_V6b_UMoyJjMGZizqenw/s640/IMG_6141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">the PR the school launched with this was amazing...and these are billboards that were set up for this once in a lifetime experience.....it was incredible....plus, i was chosen about three days before the event to do the introduction of our school to the ISS...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRs2k3TK92mEe87ubzOLGDPufrrsQeMnL-t5lnZzLqHW9YLLZZe-4p9y14DpA8xPiAPecN0ukykXIJ-s-kKes_7ZTYPdJBsbCHl3uCYaDs_y3x6ScvK6geEppe9b4481574XNIA/s960/IMG_6162.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRs2k3TK92mEe87ubzOLGDPufrrsQeMnL-t5lnZzLqHW9YLLZZe-4p9y14DpA8xPiAPecN0ukykXIJ-s-kKes_7ZTYPdJBsbCHl3uCYaDs_y3x6ScvK6geEppe9b4481574XNIA/s640/IMG_6162.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">above you can see me doing our check-in and start with mission control in houston and with the ISS...it was so awesome to see this happen and be apart of it....a memory of a lifetime...if you would like to watch the interview....it is available on youtube here, and starts around the 25 second mark- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=nNoPtqg8P_k&feature=emb_logo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=nNoPtqg8P_k&feature=emb_logo</a>. each kid did an amazing job...and how cool is it to have your friend acknowledge you from space....i will never forget it....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1KtnbUoZVqoJW51Tkx5J70TS3hGEg5b7TTBhVYkJG2f_2SGynv4fYKM-LPH6qYqSDqh7Ma9dLnTBfRAKlR9MRWdeA_Sffb3_R1ZWMdGlG5b6tpyxWD0B_usspgcKxInmM7NfWA/s3264/IMG_6201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1KtnbUoZVqoJW51Tkx5J70TS3hGEg5b7TTBhVYkJG2f_2SGynv4fYKM-LPH6qYqSDqh7Ma9dLnTBfRAKlR9MRWdeA_Sffb3_R1ZWMdGlG5b6tpyxWD0B_usspgcKxInmM7NfWA/s640/IMG_6201.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #741b47;">at the end of january, we also took our 8th grade class on an overnight trip to one of panama's many islands....it was a team building and science focus and a great time was had by everyone....we even had a bonfire with s'mores, which was a first for many of our students.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aH2tjN-vELEyjvU0vBzFBOEKQ4O8Uj888O2GeerIOyRaEwlFZUOkrxRvDvk_K1hdA2pJEHkXLv4J86GdEwFwpJu9Gp4C-DeDLz3B2pV25IKnjyZ9bupq9Z5bJODdhGxb_N26yw/s3264/IMG_6219.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aH2tjN-vELEyjvU0vBzFBOEKQ4O8Uj888O2GeerIOyRaEwlFZUOkrxRvDvk_K1hdA2pJEHkXLv4J86GdEwFwpJu9Gp4C-DeDLz3B2pV25IKnjyZ9bupq9Z5bJODdhGxb_N26yw/s640/IMG_6219.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">in february i made what was my last trip to el valle with some friends....this is a town that was built on an extinct volcano...it has hiking trails, beautiful views, places to go birding and some of my friends have a place there.....it was a lovely weekend get-away....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-f4FGbFMQZspzEoeMffGjfJz-CBnP2O05Jw0tAhd7lWghQNmy5h2gIq5aTzMIzU7ak6Y8P5bCaBN8bpxr9WNL-c6_HWrA5rnJTa_ZLVFSVy7SdwekPkk5q6hbYgqjtGH5dzeuA/s1944/IMG_6718.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="1456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-f4FGbFMQZspzEoeMffGjfJz-CBnP2O05Jw0tAhd7lWghQNmy5h2gIq5aTzMIzU7ak6Y8P5bCaBN8bpxr9WNL-c6_HWrA5rnJTa_ZLVFSVy7SdwekPkk5q6hbYgqjtGH5dzeuA/s640/IMG_6718.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">and the very last weekend in march that panama was "open" we took a trip to another resort on an island on the carribean side.....of course we stopped by "black jesus" in portbelo on the way....this black jesus was thrown into the ocean when panama was taken over by the spaniards....but it floated back in...it was thrown out a second time, and floated back in....at the third attempt to throw the statue in, the townspeople asked the spanairds to leave it in the town if it floated back a third time....it did float back and has been in portobelo ever since....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nJ4MVj-X6tT48hD3wKyiH_kBEgf7UCIOBs2hmkEwd3uX573QW5NyKV7TVhMms6TZdKSY4h_NLTXfAw0FSsqe6u6nC68QsIyjpDM3HzND2608h0npcD7j_ICvSV3-12DeLwwyEQ/s1280/IMG_6712.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nJ4MVj-X6tT48hD3wKyiH_kBEgf7UCIOBs2hmkEwd3uX573QW5NyKV7TVhMms6TZdKSY4h_NLTXfAw0FSsqe6u6nC68QsIyjpDM3HzND2608h0npcD7j_ICvSV3-12DeLwwyEQ/s640/IMG_6712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c;">this is a shot from that trip of the last time we got to hang out with the four of us.....who knew such crazy times were ahead....at least we relaxed, had tasty food and got out of the city for a night before everything went into super strict lock down....</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM5yAesbf8RYDurwb2qSmCsaAMXJ2vtuWVGmc3fnYs59GV1uZO6fQX6o_KZ7xG9VnZgTYpKlZ1g04IkcKs-WIQZWcOsMG04EVcmwyZlcZ2edo6O1KQlWk-yumKoKr7565U1REuA/s3264/IMG_6706.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM5yAesbf8RYDurwb2qSmCsaAMXJ2vtuWVGmc3fnYs59GV1uZO6fQX6o_KZ7xG9VnZgTYpKlZ1g04IkcKs-WIQZWcOsMG04EVcmwyZlcZ2edo6O1KQlWk-yumKoKr7565U1REuA/s640/IMG_6706.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;">this was the sunset that night....we also spotted the ISS flying above as we were on the island that night, wondering what the future held in store for each of us as we knew things were about to get crazy....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2aMZSPq1vL_gcffMYhEBJo-nvEdBVaZWWPR8YYd4Sij2gb7PuM0Q7mYkF34FTHC1zc9VK4Hjj-ylLc_f1RzHIHNXWUj3jIWGIdfZCj8XociI6C87LRG5rTw3DnJwK_RG0I0SFg/s3264/IMG_6739.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2aMZSPq1vL_gcffMYhEBJo-nvEdBVaZWWPR8YYd4Sij2gb7PuM0Q7mYkF34FTHC1zc9VK4Hjj-ylLc_f1RzHIHNXWUj3jIWGIdfZCj8XociI6C87LRG5rTw3DnJwK_RG0I0SFg/s640/IMG_6739.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #351c75;">and then lockdown happened...and panama's lockdown was much more severe than anywhere else for longer than anywhere else....it is actually still happening and this coming monday will be the first time they are lessening the rules....numbers have not been good there...but the economy is sooooo messed up now.....but after lockdown started, my life was filled with puzzles, walking in my parking garage, classes on line and sunsets from my balcony......</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNsIZDivkk9rAex2t5jmOJmHwvpYmUTaWmamAcQKNuk6GhobxdaDOK_yqZJ7xwBrDYK8HojuTngGkaY4-01gZk1ov1EkL8SsPbPwczhbPIvfsstwutozXpFJ2qVjjInqPpo-kdQ/s2968/2F57F0AC-0068-4E60-B2FA-98623F5129E7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNsIZDivkk9rAex2t5jmOJmHwvpYmUTaWmamAcQKNuk6GhobxdaDOK_yqZJ7xwBrDYK8HojuTngGkaY4-01gZk1ov1EkL8SsPbPwczhbPIvfsstwutozXpFJ2qVjjInqPpo-kdQ/s640/2F57F0AC-0068-4E60-B2FA-98623F5129E7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">this was one of our crazy first assemblies with the whole middle school.....we did this only once and learned it was not the correct thing to be doing....march to the beginning of june was definitely filled with trial and error along the whole learning curve of how to teach and be successful on-line....i do not like teaching on-line, but have become much better at it...although, my students knew me before we started....this time around i have to build relationships and get to know my students all from on-line....so very weird and challenging.....we'll see how i do.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzD6MyqAmUHSy2uvvmWRmpqdCzV2jNNwTNe5dd8g6mMsP3nkJ1qT6_suoaKdpXNvxqRnjWveVzh2AAXN7GJX1VquZR0v7ay-3GtD7NSLYrBSuQxDzA-30OtukUZhH7fxB1dcOnA/s3264/IMG_6829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzD6MyqAmUHSy2uvvmWRmpqdCzV2jNNwTNe5dd8g6mMsP3nkJ1qT6_suoaKdpXNvxqRnjWveVzh2AAXN7GJX1VquZR0v7ay-3GtD7NSLYrBSuQxDzA-30OtukUZhH7fxB1dcOnA/s640/IMG_6829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">i will say the sunsets from my balcony on many nights were incredible...as was the applauding and cheering for front line workers....but staying in a 2-bedroom apt for days on end, by myself, and not being allowed outside except for 6 hours a week, was very, very difficult.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkLdjFsVpkkgZdijGVnQiQnrcKag1ybv5mn4KsjpHBzDUT7JrVKtfq_4c8BXsxqZEMcjBHxGCgGAYINmiH2ql2SydoPE6IsIwlv8z8aNnVHBBjxsfLorYIHMIMyfO-vdTE5fDlw/s1280/IMG_6901.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkLdjFsVpkkgZdijGVnQiQnrcKag1ybv5mn4KsjpHBzDUT7JrVKtfq_4c8BXsxqZEMcjBHxGCgGAYINmiH2ql2SydoPE6IsIwlv8z8aNnVHBBjxsfLorYIHMIMyfO-vdTE5fDlw/s640/IMG_6901.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000;">and unfortunately this was how i had to end my year....no face-to-face goodbyes with my students....many of who i had known and worked with for 2-3 years....very few face-to-face goodbyes with my colleagues....it was uber strange....this was my parting cheers to a bunch of folks who came to an on-line goodbye party.....just weird....and a very small feeling of closure....bleh.....</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ieAcUFC8ZGVPeqc0fl560weY0momVzvSWUW4ocO_nShfpD7xTVVB6yQVEMgIZO6LJnO_eTFhm8Xelg6Edkuskut2K-RcDgCXyBpRttI3K7f63OwN89m9D8O4ymA1JqMhJdLwUw/s1280/IMG_6904.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ieAcUFC8ZGVPeqc0fl560weY0momVzvSWUW4ocO_nShfpD7xTVVB6yQVEMgIZO6LJnO_eTFhm8Xelg6Edkuskut2K-RcDgCXyBpRttI3K7f63OwN89m9D8O4ymA1JqMhJdLwUw/s640/IMG_6904.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;">as i stated at the beginning of this update...i hopped a humanitarian flight out on june 12th....this is what the panama airport looked like on that day.....i am in my "mola" mask and blown away by the emptiness of the airport....it was never like that......</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxBJKoF7F1rZWFZcQtTW-yZ9bUZ9PJYi6x_SDgD_mTT2yW5qq35oXjtFSUpxoCcPTzp5bv32RCuKD-fnK2P0eV326AfN0tgcfQFQj2fkuaqK3p7n1XQIKBNV5kkPJhvC22x5jEQ/s1280/IMG_6919.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxBJKoF7F1rZWFZcQtTW-yZ9bUZ9PJYi6x_SDgD_mTT2yW5qq35oXjtFSUpxoCcPTzp5bv32RCuKD-fnK2P0eV326AfN0tgcfQFQj2fkuaqK3p7n1XQIKBNV5kkPJhvC22x5jEQ/s640/IMG_6919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #134f5c;">and here is a shot of me and mom after i arrived in PA and was staying in a hotel....she came to have lunch with distance and a mask.....it all ended well......and i still am in PA, waiting to get approved to head to china....</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">and so ends my contract and time in panama....and so begins my contract for china.....i am really hopeful that i get there in the next 4-6 weeks, as the school seems amazing and has gone out of its way to take care of me and keep me as an employee...many international schools have had to cut employees due to numbers of students dropping around the world....families are staying in home countries and businesses have learned that people can do a lot of work on-line.....so i am super appreciative that i still have a job and a school that wants me.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;">i do hope you enjoyed my final installment of my time in panama...it really is a lovely and diverse place to visit....i loved the panama canal, the mountains, the rain forest and the beaches....i will miss people who are from panama and people who are not, and do hope that paths will cross again somewhere in the world....it was the right place for me to be for the past three years and i wish my students and friends all the best in this coming year....crazy times, crazy times.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #351c75;">i also hope that i will be able to continue the blog from china and be able to take you traveling with me once again in the future....but who knows when that will happen....i will be in touch at some point and as always, feel free to contact me and ask questions or just say hi.....</span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47;">finally, i hope each of you is safe and healthy and making good choices for yourself and those you love....enjoy the rest of you summer or winter...and i will catch y'all on the flip side....</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000;">peace out and have a fab day 😎</span></p>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-67542410378977980312020-04-11T00:34:00.001+02:002020-04-11T01:35:24.367+02:00Panama Update #17 - Carnival in Brazil - last trip before quarantine<span style="color: #0b5394;">April 10, 2020</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">hey there folks from quarantine in panama....i know some of you know i have decided to stay in this country for the covid-19 pandemic, but not all....so i have decided to stay here due to the response panama has made to this virus and not come back to the states.....i do not foresee myself coming back until possibly christmas....as a message was sent to all americans abroad stating that possibility....and this is a hard thing to face...as is watching what is happening in my country, state and hometown from afar....and being very worried for family and friends....please make good choices, based on science, and data....listen to dr fauci....and not others in charge...wear a mask and gloves, for someone one's sake, but also yours...and really....just stay home!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">here in panama, we have been on lock-down for four weeks as of today...and our lock-down has progressed quite quickly....four weeks ago all schools closed and we started teaching on-line....then the airport closed, as well as all non-essential businesses closed...then parks, pools, social gathering places, trails and the way to the beach and the mountains closed (to stop this from spreading faster to the interior communities)...then to only being allowed to be out shopping for two hours a day for groceries or the pharmacy based on the last number of your national id and no alcohol for sale....to now only being allowed out two hours a day on specific days of the week due to me being female (mon, wed, fri)...all of this to slow down the inevitable spread that will happen here....so the health care system does not collapse.....all good steps to help this country and its people make it through this horrible time...so much more restrictive than what is happening in my home country....but if it helps this progress at a manageable rate, and helps save lives, and helps me and the folks i know stay safe and not get sick....i am ok with it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">is it difficult???? oh yes...but on some level, i have been trained well.....from wintering in antarctica to living in countries where supplies and food was scarce at times...i know how to deal with this...as well as my mom knowing how to talk on skype and friends knowing how to use meets and zoom and skype all before this to stay in touch easier....aspects of my life has made this much more doable....the part that is really tough though, is the teaching the kids on-line....i am not very good at being a virtual teacher....they, as well as my colleagues, are who i miss on a day-to-day basis....i still laugh with them, teach them and i still see them, but this is nowhere near the same as teaching in person....and i know this is a huge struggle for many teachers....you make it work...but it is just hard.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">at the moment i am actually having a stay-cation for spring break....very rare for me..i was supposed to be visiting my 90th country diving - belize.....so i have decided to send out my most recent adventure to brazil during carnaval, just two months ago...before any of this really was front and center for my life....i mean i was following everything in china, because i am really hopeful i am still headed there come august, but it was not in my face every minute of the day, like now.....as for china...yes....i really am hopeful i will get there...i figure, they may be one place that really will open back up for school in time for the next academic year when i look at what is happening there now....and my visa is still moving forward sort of, and i had a virtual packing inventory take place this week with a moving company here in panama...and schools are opening back up there in about 2 weeks (shanghai at least).....so yes, i do hope that happens...but i know it is not a guarantee with what is happening elsewhere in the world.....so it is time to relive what used to be....and what i am not sure will ever be quite the same again....it is a weird to think about how my life, my profession and everything about my world may never be the way it was....we'll have to wait and see i guess....so until then...let's head to carnival in rio and iguazu falls, brazil...what an amazing trip....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Rio de Janeiro....cool town...and just crazy during carnival....everyone, and i mean everyone is dressed up in costume of whatever they wish for however many days they wish....we were there for three days and it was crazy....one of our days we went up to the peak of sugarloaf....you take a few gondolas up to the peak....as you can see above....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bUCrqNwwmsBOFdSwKQgSvHj3D0x07GYXP8WGbAZn0gjBGPQVFGy96jhWdXZQQYYlMVFXMECQb1uh85FVNmksge_OEzd_MW9NlowCTN_sx62f98xCxO8UOZn0z54LZxGwl7ru2w/s1600/IMG_6290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bUCrqNwwmsBOFdSwKQgSvHj3D0x07GYXP8WGbAZn0gjBGPQVFGy96jhWdXZQQYYlMVFXMECQb1uh85FVNmksge_OEzd_MW9NlowCTN_sx62f98xCxO8UOZn0z54LZxGwl7ru2w/s320/IMG_6290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">once up there we wandered around and checked out the view of all of rio...they made some nice walking areas and i loved this wish tree with the orchids....these are the two awesome women i traveled with...louise and emma....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the view from sugarloaf, a monolithic granite and quartz mountain on the edge of the atlantic ocean, that overlooks the city of rio....you are looking at one of the most famous beaches of rio - ipanema beach.... here the song the girl from ipenema really does come from....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the street art above is one of the many pieces done on the lead up to the most famous steps in rio, which you will see in the next picture....this was one of my favorites, as it shows the world and was created using name of people for the different countries.....no idea if people added their own names or it was done by the artist...but i liked that overall image....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is a shot of the famous steps in rio - the escadaria selaron - they are a set of mosaic steps - with tiles from all over the world - that were created by an artist who did not like how run down they were....he worked on them up to and including the time of his death....he was actually found dead on the stairs...in about 15 minutes of being at these steps i found tiles from most of the places i had lived in the states and around the world....it was incredible...and extremely crowded, which is why you do not see a picture of me on the stairs....but they were really cool....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this was one of our first carnival parties...we were headed back up sugarloaf mountain to party at a vip party...i know...me and vip....pretty darn funny...the can is tonica from a company called antarctica in brazil....i loved all of the antarctica cans i saw....took pictures of many of them....of course there is vodka in the tonica....the stuff on my face...yep, its a decal...easy on, and easy off...and fun to wear...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">here you have the view from the vip party....the little light in the distance at the top is from jesu christo - or the christ the redeemer statue....which we went to see the next day....but rio is definitely a pretty city at night...lots of water and lights and surrounded by mountains....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the most recognized statues in the world is overlooking rio - christ the redeemer - considered one of the 7 new wonders of the world (the 6th i have seen in my life)....it was a long trip to get there with a lot of waiting, but worth it....if only to see the masses of people laying on the ground to take a picture of the whole thing- it was hilarious....things i did not know....the face of this statue was created by a romanian....it is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone....the statue is just slightly taller (30m/98ft) than the width of the arms (28m/92ft)....and that you can take a train up the side of the mountain to go visit it.....it had a spectacular view as well :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this view from the christ the redeemer statue is looking out over the famous copacabana beach...which is right where we stayed in rio....it was actually a wide beach with huge surf...but much of the time we were in rio it rained, so we never made it into the water....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">and then we went to the best part of carnival in rio in my opinion...the competition of the samba schools....holy cow....if you ever get the chance to see this competition, do it!!!! emma, louise and i were soooooooooooo excited about this part of our time in rio!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">there are more than 70 samba schools in the rio area and they all perform over the days of carnival...they are a group of dancers, drummers and marchers.....they get one hour to perform in the samba-drome....which you can see below....above you see the mestre-sala (literally the "master of the room") and porta-bandeira ("she who carries the flag")....they are in the front section, but not first for the samba school....as they carry the flag of the school.....and have lots of rules for their performance...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">above you see the length of the samba-drome to where our seats were....we were about 2/3rds of the way down the stadium....and across the way you can see the blue section of the stadium and that is where the second set of judges sat....so we got to see all of the performers...it was incredible....everything you see in this picture on the floor of the stadium is the same samba school....they come up with a theme filled with dancers, floats, a samba song played by live musicians and amazing costumes....it is unlike anything else i have ever seen....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this float was a play on how tv presenters are just representations of fake news and what the public wants to hear....the puppet in the front moved and the screen was a huge LED screen...with dancers all over it...can you see their copper costumes???? amazing!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this float was the start of a samba school that looked at climate change and how humans were contributing it....this opened and closed and went up and down, and was stunning colors....we really liked this samba school's presentations, but they did not make it to the finals....we watched the last evening of the semi-finals....so these schools really were incredible....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">being the marching band alumna, i had to include a picture of one of the marching bands that played the samba music for their school...in most cases this was the same song over and over with different sections (bells, percussion, horns, etc) taking the lead....these bands were incredible and the choreography that went along with their playing was outstanding....so much fun to see the live marching/samba music being the backdrop of this cultural event!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">the samba school that performed 3rd had a huge amount of fans....people throughout the sambadrome were waving these white & red flags to celebrate this group....they did make it to the finals the next weekend and were very traditional....their theme was the first african-brazilian clown and his pathway through life....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">as you can see from this float, he worked his way through the circus and was a well known performer...so all of the floats and 45 performing groups were related to the telling of his story....and again it took the school one hour to get through the entire sambadrome....simply stunning....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this float was one of the first for the 4th samba school....which focused on architecture of the ages...you might be able to tell that the "head" in the center of all of the people on the float looks like a statue from earlier in this post....christ the redeemer....and it was...it went up and down and the arm span was accurate....but not the height....still it rose at least 25 feet....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">these performers above were an example of part of the dancing groups....but there were not tons of steps for people in these costumes....so many of the people in sections like the one above in a school were actually tourists....that is how they get enough people....you can pay to be a performing member, and you go to the school a few days before the performance and learn the few steps of your part....maybe i will do this someday....as it was a mind-blowing amount of people in each school.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the float above was one of the last ones i saw before i had to head back to the hotel to catch my very early flight.....this picture was taken at 2:30 AM.....the performances by the schools do not start until 9:30pm and each is an hour with about 30 minutes in between....this is not an early evening by any means.....but wow!!!!! what an amazing evening!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">from rio i flew to iguazu falls...i stayed on the brazil side, but this set of waterfalls is located where three countries come together - brazil, argentina and paraguay....although the falls are only in brazil and argentina...and both sides are very different....i also visited the bird park on the brazil side...loved these wings....just call me macaw dani!!!! hahahahaha :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">iguazu falls are the biggest set of waterfalls in the world...and i was told by one of my guides that they were only at 50% capacity due to it being the dry season....whoa!!! the different sides show very different views....the brazil side gives you an overview of most of the falls...except on the last bit of walkway, where the picture above was taken.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is actually the more common shot from the brazil side...as it gives an overview and looks toward the argentinian side....beautiful...this was the side i visited first....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the next morning i headed across the border of argentina and checked out that side...i got on a boat as well, to see the falls up close and personal....we actually "drove" directly into the falls you see on the left side of the picture...the big one with all of the water....we got drenched...it was awesome!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the argentinian side was also built on top of the biggest fall - called the devil's throat...you walked out over it and were able to take some pictures....and i was so fortunate for the sun to come out and then got a double rainbow....overall, i liked both sides, but i am glad i did the argentina side second, as it was a bit more up close personal and overwhelming!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this last shot is a panorama of the devil's throat....so much water....and remember, this is only 50% capacity due to the dry season....i have a hard time "picturing" more water in these falls.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the other thing i visited was the world's most energy producing hydroelectric dam - called itaipu dam located between brazil and paraguay.....it was huge!!! (yes, i have been to the enormous dam - three gorges dam in china)....in 2016 itaipu produced 103,098,366 megawatt hours surpassing china as the dam that produces the most power....it does not stay at that level....but when that was accomplished it was the number one producer of hydroelectric power...and this is considered one of the 7 new modern world wonders according to civil engineers....two world wonders in one trip....go brazil!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">and for my last shot it is me with the national drink of brazil...the caipirinha cocktail.....quite tasty and found everywhere....but i did prefer the one made with vodka more than the one made with cachaca....but overall they were yummy and you could find them everywhere.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">and there you have it...my carnaval (correctly spelled for the country i was visiting) trip to brazil....which is a huge country and only seeing two cities of it was nothing...maybe someday i will get back to this country.....it was a lovely week and i would recommend it to anyone...once we are flying and traveling again.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me...and please, please, please take care of yourself and family and friends in this crazy time of covid.....i am hoping to get back to traveling sooner rather than later, but i know that i have been so fortunate to be where i have been and to have seen what i have seen....fingers crossed i will get back out there traveling....and that i make it to china to teach for the next academic year and that maybe some of you will meet me there or meet me somewhere else along the way.....hope you are well...i hope to get out one more update about this year in panama....more soon....i hope...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">have a fab day :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">dani</span></div>
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<br />danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-76803116463208105712020-02-28T22:44:00.001+01:002020-02-28T22:49:06.342+01:00Panama Update #16 - Mexico City (Day of the Dead) & Cozumel (Diving)February 16 - 28, 2020 - i have been trying to get this finished for the past two weeks...hopefully today is the day :)<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">hey there all....this.is.2020.....thanks to barbara walters for that line 😉 i hope everyone has had a great start to their new decade....a few folks have been in touch about my plans for next year with corona virus and all, but i am still on course to head to beijing, china next year to teach....some have asked if i am worried....and my answer is no....it is a flu....a scary flu because china does not tell the world the truth about things and will not do things to lose face....but it is a flu.... i do find the uproar interesting.....so yes, i am still going to china for the next school year and am very excited about it and my next teaching post, as the school is rather impressive....will china bounce back from this???? i do think so, but it may be rough going for awhile to get things up and running like clockwork again....but again....it is a flu.....thanks for the concern and if my plans change, i will let folks know....but for now it is full steam ahead with my plans and trying to get my ducks in a row.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">things here in panama are busy, busy, busy and i am hoping that my next update is about here....but i am about to head to rio de janeiro, brazil in a week for carnival and then iguazu falls for the second half of the week after the samba parade i am attending.....so i assume that will be an update that will want to be written about the carnival craziness and amazing falls in between three countries.....so i am not sure when i will write about panama....maybe that will be my last update from here....with highlights from the whole year......because it has been fun around here.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">but this update is about where i went for my november break....mexico city for day of the dead and cozumel for diving the second half of the week.....i went with a great bunch of folks and below you will see pictures from both experiences....day of the dead in mexico city is like no other i bet and it was incredible....i wish we had made it to a cemetery to truly see the historical and traditional celebration, but the parade and the floats and the artwork were spectacular....and the food....just wow!!! if you are any kind of foodie at all, you need to get to mexico city and eat your way through it!!!! on with the pictures...there are quite a few....enjoy....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lG4t_QYRGpjMbRjr7pH_tQfnXXU2hu5pIUPbQVFzbtVUQdzFxNYZadl-hdtzG7Isa0ZH-UQBSMkh2aS5zSVftyPsS-Jl2-uUU-_vK2NXNjolgilEqGRIosUmyEODss84msVPOQ/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lG4t_QYRGpjMbRjr7pH_tQfnXXU2hu5pIUPbQVFzbtVUQdzFxNYZadl-hdtzG7Isa0ZH-UQBSMkh2aS5zSVftyPsS-Jl2-uUU-_vK2NXNjolgilEqGRIosUmyEODss84msVPOQ/s320/IMG_5236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is the main cathedral square of mexico city....in the plaza of the constitution....we had breakfast at a restaurant overlooking it....so this is earlier in the morning....in the afternoon this space was heaving with people....i am sooooo glad we got to see it before the crowds and crowds of people were there...as the main parade ended here....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this was the view as you entered the square...this piece of art here was representing all of the different areas of mexico....it had murals made of seeds and plants, paintings of important people who had died and dioramas of the different areas of mexico....there were tons of skulls, pan de muerto (special bread for this weekend), marigolds and people dressed up....also, tons of street foods, which i was so happy to see and experience, as that is one thing i feel panama really lacks....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2eCNXQpiq1V5TtjoGp6LlXmyySG-61a5Jtr8d7W5tbg8r2BTXwMbH79Nw_6Q0EdhsTLSsAc6Zj0g6qmwO44-kuTMauOwwadCOkyzBzeyHD2w_puXRAesNtcv9caezHRZLDWEuw/s1600/IMG_5245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 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/AVvXsEjM2eCNXQpiq1V5TtjoGp6LlXmyySG-61a5Jtr8d7W5tbg8r2BTXwMbH79Nw_6Q0EdhsTLSsAc6Zj0g6qmwO44-kuTMauOwwadCOkyzBzeyHD2w_puXRAesNtcv9caezHRZLDWEuw/s320/IMG_5245.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this was a family who had come from NY to participate in the dia de los muertos celebration in mexico city....there were many folks who dressed up and even more folks who painted their face with a skull....this is said to represent a chance to overcome the fear of death, act recklessly and get up to mischief, as you should not be doing those things throughout the rest of the year....many people mix flowers with skulls....as you can see on the guy's amazing suit!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">there were tons of street performers as well....these folks are dressed in the traditional day of the dead costumes and the gentleman is playing a type of a hurdy gurdy, or crank styled instrument....the woman is wearing a catrina styled dress and a flower head-dress....the gentleman is in a guayabera suit, which many mariachi bands wear for concerts....some people also wear these outfits to symbolize their dead relatives that they are honoring.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is one of the many altars in the main cathedral in the plaza that you can light a candle to remember the names of the people who have died....one of those candles in there was lit for my dad by me....he would have loved the music and the parade and especially the food....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">outside of the cathedral, this is one of the many altars that was set up to remember people....the altars usually have things on them to represent the elements of water, wind, land and fire...plus, food and drink are on the altar for the spirits....marigolds and monarch butterfly representations were everywhere as well....as they are symbols to help spirits find their way to be celebrated by their living ancestors....the symbolism throughout this celebration is enormous and i am sure i am forgetting things....but i hope you can see just how important of a celebration it is to mexico and other places in central america....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the parade was a ton of fun....it had a very cultural and local feel....nothing very swanky...but people were definitely celebrating....this celebration used to only be in cemeteries and private homes, but after one of the james bond movies, it has become something grander and more public....this was only the fourth ever parade in mexico city for this celebration day....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">there were floats and traditional dancers and skeletons everywhere to celebrate those who had died before....and marigolds everywhere....so very colorful as well.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">some of my favorite characters were the puppeteers and i loved the ones of the skeletons and their skeleton dogs.....the dogs would come over the sniff around....the puppeteers were really good....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">here are the folks i was traveling with in mexico city....megan, rachel, david and i......it was a bit colder than panama, so we are wearing sweatshirts and shoes and socks...it was so great to experience fall....and of course, it was not cold enough to say no to ice cream :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">later that night we went to see a production about la llorona....it was overly dramatic, hard to follow in spanish, rather cold and very long....but gave us jokes for the rest of the trip....even though it is not a funny story....she is known as the weeping/wailing woman, who drowned her two sons in a river because she was unloved by her husband who cheated on her....she was not allowed into heaven until she found the souls of her sons and brought them with her to heaven.....she is used as a scare tactic to get young children to do things....like...do this or the weeping woman will catch you.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we got on one of these boast for about three hours in the cold on the evening of the day of the dead to watch a play about when the spaniards took over mexico and it ended with the wailing woman "drowning" in the lake....it was both under & overwhelming....but the coffee was warm and the elote - or mexican corn on the cob was delicious.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">sunday we took a walk down one of the main avenues and came across all of these floats that had been in a different parade....they were either outlandish animal things or skulls....this one of the animals was one of my favorites....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this was one of my favorite skulls, as it was covered in stars and the hands over the eyes....i don't remember its name, but it was stunning....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">i think rachel's face says it all....i am pretending to be attacked by the pincers in the front of this animal/insect/bird piece of art...i have a feeling my picture was taken by other passersby, as the gringa getting eaten....too funny....rachel was not as amused as i was....i think.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">here is some of the tasty elote or corn you can buy on the street.....there also was tons of fruits and tamales and pan de muerto and fried potatoes and drinks....it was street food heaven!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this was a mandala sort of alter set up outside of the national theater, where we were headed to see the amazing folkloric, mexican ballet group....of course it was made from seeds, nuts and corn and marigolds all over it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the folkloric ballet was incredible...if you go to mexico city and they are performing, i strongly recommend you go see them....just wow!!! it was traditional dancing from all over mexico and the caballero above, or mexican cowboy was amazing with his lasso!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">in the same performance there was a couple that tied this ribbon into a bow, only using their dance moves with their feet.....it was awesome!!!</span><br />
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this group was amazing to watch....they had the traditional catrina dresses and the men were in the traditional mariachi suits, guayabera....just their spinning alone was enough to make me dizzy...<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">much of the music of this amazing show was done live....either by drummers or mariachi....the musicians were incredible and all had special suits for their part of the performance....fiddlers, guitarists, buglers and drummers were the highlights for me....especially the buglers....wow!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and then we did a food tour in the main central market and literally ate our way through....in most cases they were able to accommodate a vegetarian....not when we had the hogs-head tacos....but i skipped those....and let me tell you, mexican tacos put tex-mex tacos to shame....here you can see the start of morning....the first set of grilled tacos were made here....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">of course we went to a mole stand....and who knew there were so many types of mole????? it was incredible...usually a mole sauce has some type of fruit (my favorite was the apricot base), chili pepper, nuts and possibly other spices like black pepper, cinnamon or cumin....this stand was incredible....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is prickly pear cactus for sale, known in mexico as nopal....it was used in many dishes starting from the time of the aztecs....today still it is a staple ingredient for many dishes....we had it in tacos and as part of salsa and salads....yummy....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this was the window of a candy store....you just looked through the windows to find what you wanted and then ordered through the middle window....lots of options....loved the windows....so colorful and sweet!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">we saw this car on the way to one of our dinners....i just had to take a picture....i am sure it has had many taken....no idea if it really ran, but i think it would have....cooooool!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">after the day of the dead celebrations finished we were off to cozumel to dive....cozumel let me relive a place i visited in college when i did a spring break trip to cancun....yes....for those in the know....it was senor frogs we went to....still the same as it was a long, long time ago....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxsqpozt4q3QKARzjIJZ7UFX6EBwOLYfisJzcojZOLBF2kSoHqYWuPV8zh53QndoYZg0P48113Vc0lSbGLazV1OFn6tiANlDeQ0DblkKalvZgWbcZ4OIBQsOkt2URhT_JX9YAKQ/s1600/IMG_5465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1600" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxsqpozt4q3QKARzjIJZ7UFX6EBwOLYfisJzcojZOLBF2kSoHqYWuPV8zh53QndoYZg0P48113Vc0lSbGLazV1OFn6tiANlDeQ0DblkKalvZgWbcZ4OIBQsOkt2URhT_JX9YAKQ/s320/IMG_5465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">one more joined our crew to dive together....so now it was david, rachel, megan, linda and i.....david was very excited here at senor frogs....as the majority of us were having tasty margaritas!!!! ole!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">on one of our dives we had to weave through some rocks....it was one of my favorites....we saw many things on our ocean dives...eagle rays, frog fish, nurse sharks...and the best part was, very few lionfish....it was a great two days of ocean diving....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">here we are underwater getting a shot of the crew on one of the dives that did not really have a current....i am on the very right....i have decided that i really love diving and i seem to be almost better underwater than i am above-water....it is one of my happy places....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">our final day diving was my favorite though!!!!! we went diving in a freshwater cenote...that had a halocline....here you see me above....you can't even tell i am in water....diving in freshwater was sooooo much different than when in salt water....it is so clear and really plays around with your buoyancy....also....when you breathe out, your bubbles get trapped along the ceiling of the cave and look like liquid mercury....totally freaky!!!! the light behind me comes from the way out....and we always to could that, because none of us is cave certified....the fun part for me was the halocline - when a salt water river runs at the bottom of the freshwater...it was warmer, more dense and made everything look fuzzy....as i dove i kept playing with the salt water....i would pull it up into the freshwater just to watch it sink back down....the DM thought i was dancing or something....but i LOVED cenote diving....i will do it again in my life, of that i am sure....just amazing!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is a shot of the water as we were taking the ferry back over to playa del carmen from cozumel....just stunning....lovely place to dive....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and of course my parting shot....dani and a beer....not just any beer though....a mix of salt, lime, tomato juice and beer....a bizarre, but tasty beer to have in mexico...especially if you like bloody marys....salud!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">so there you have it...my trip to mexico city and cozumel over my november break....thanks for patiently waiting and here's to me getting the next addition out soon....as i am just finishing up my brazil trip for carnaval and to iguassu falls....it has been incredible....more soon and i hope all of you are diligently washing your hands....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">peace out....dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-12292839073001896762019-12-28T23:38:00.002+01:002019-12-28T23:38:44.982+01:00Update #15 - Havana-na-na-na<span style="color: #134f5c;">December 1 & 28, 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">it's the last month of 2019....oh what a year it has been....pretty devastating in my life, but with rays of sunshine throughout....for those who do not know, this will be my last year in panama....it has been an interesting ride to say the least, but it is time for me to move on....and i am officially letting all of you know that i will be headed back to asia....china more specifically....yes, i am surprised by this as well, but the school that has hired me is one-of-a-kind....and i have friends who work there who have said this to me repeatedly.....so it is exciting....starting august 2020, you will be able to find me in beijing....working at the western academy of beijing, more affectionately known as WAB... you should look at their website....as it is a quite impressive campus and even more impressive to me is the program i will be working within....</span><a href="https://www.wab.edu/">https://www.wab.edu/</a>....<span style="color: #0b5394;">check it out!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">i do have quite a bit of time still in panama and plan on visiting as much of here as possible...plus, i do have some amazing travel plans in the second semester for this region of the world....rio for carnival and iguazu falls, both in brazil....and diving in belize.....but this semester has been pretty spectacular as well....and the first destination in this semester was havana, cuba for a five day weekend....what a soulful, laid back, stuck in time sort of place...look below and you will understand what i mean.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is me on the plane headed to cuba.....soooooo excited for what lies ahead....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is the newly renovated capitol building in havana....they finished it in time for the 500th anniversary of the founding of cuba by the Spanish...it is a a beautiful building....havana seems to be a place of continual, but very slow renovation....but much of the island runs slow....that's island time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the old cars in havana always made me smile....i know my dad would have loved this about the city...when they are owned by the government taxi service, they are cleaned up and functional....but there are people not hired by the government that are still using these cars as well...but the ones around the capitol are definitely government run....loved the colors....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the other thing that always was present when we were in old havana was music...it was everywhere....i loved this band because the woman actually played a clarinet...i never got a shot of that, but it certainly made me smile....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">one of the things i had to do was sit with this woman who was chewing on a cigar...she was willing to read my fortune, but it would have been in spanish and i would have missed half of it....she did have tarot cards and due to the doll next to me and the chewing of the cigar, i figure she also practices santeria....an afro-cuban religion combining catholicism and african beliefs brought to cuba by african slaves....she had an outstanding laugh.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">it is all about the cars in cuba....they are everywhere in old havana....i was always on the look out for a 1957 chevy...my dad's favorite....the cubans said all of the gringos from the states loved that car....so they were more difficult to come by....</span><br />
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above is the fountain of neptune....given to havana by italy....it actually was used as a source of water for boats moored against it....but was decommissioned in 1871 and now just looks over the city with the fort behind it across the river leading out to the ocean....<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is from the revolution museum, housed in what used to be the presidential palace...it was really interesting to see the history of cuba from the cuban perspective....just a bit different than what i was taught in history class....it covers the revolution from the 1950's when batista was ousted by castro up to today.....the building it is located in is stunning.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">of course within the revolution museum is all of the story about how castro came to power, where he was from on the island, the men that stood by his side - camilo cienfuegos and che guevara, and how they took the island back for their people.....i learned quite a bit from this museum....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this was my favorite piece of public art in havana....she is facing the sea down along the malecon....her name is primavera, which is translated as "spring" in spanish...the artist says she was created to represent the spirit of the ballerina Viengsay Valdes....a cuban national ballet dancer....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this building sort of represented some of the feelings i had while in havana...it is a place of old glory, that is being renovated for the 21st century....but only where the tourists go...this building is along the malecon (the sea wall that stretches for 8 km in havana) where people walk and sit and gaze out over the sea towards the states....as you can see, it is being held up by another archway from somewhere else....the buildings are old and falling do</span><span style="color: #990000;">wn, but the past has held them up for a very long time and it will take effort to bring them down....it is a wild place....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is an image from one of the main squares in old havana...no one seems to know what the meaning is behind it....it is a naked woman, riding rooster, holding a fork...but she does have on a pair of stilettos....its is your decision as to what you think that means :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the public art in havana was some of my favorite....it was so creative...like this wall piece, where the hair of the singer is actually created by 45 records....the store it was on the wall of had some really old tvs and radios and such throughout its shelves....it was a step back in time for sure....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is a shot of me and a statue of ernest hemingway....at one of the bars he frequented the most...el floridita....this was his favorite bar for the daiquiri he used to drink.....not very similar to daiquiris in the states....less fruity and more rum filled....one of the bartenders had been there for almost 50 years....simply amazing....and they had the best plantain snacks of any bar.....yum!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">more cars....and still looking for the elusive 57 chevy.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">above is the hotel nacional de cuba....which opened in 1930....this is the symbol of history, culture and cuban identity....visitors to cuba must get a special license to stay here as it is a national hotel...and the cost is quite extravagant...many past dignitaries and artists have stayed here....we just sat on the veranda overlooking the sea and enjoyed the house specialty, a mojito!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">on the outskirts of havana there is a part of town that has been reclaimed by a mosaic artist, called fusterlandia....created by jose fuster....who wanted to create public art spaces similar to gaudi in barcelona...he started off by turning his own house into a work of art and then proceeded to change the face of his entire neighborhood.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">his work has been compared to picasso...and is nicknamed the picasso of mosaics....i loved the colors and his use of all space...both in his house and around his entire neighborhood....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we visited fusterlandia on our car tour that took us around Havana and its outlying areas....this flower girl was located on one of the balconies of the house....what an extremely creative place to hang out....i loved it....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is david and i on our old car tour....our driver was actually an engineer who worked for the government, but became an old car tour operator and driver to be able to afford his life in cuba....as an engineer for the government we was not able to make end's meat....driving tourists around has been more profitable for him....i asked why so many of the old cars were pink, and he replied because the women who visit cuba would prefer to ride in a pink cadillac....good business i think :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is a view looking back over the outlet to the ocean facing havana....this was taken on the top of the old fort overlooking havana, called the morro castle....we just stopped for the view on our car tour...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is the view looking the other way from the fort....this a view towards the east side of the island and if you turned just a bit to the left and looked out over the water, you would be facing the united states, a mere 90 miles away....i never really realized just how close cuba is to florida.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">just like many parts of the world, havana has an imagine park...named for the famed john lennon song...and a statue of course is there.....he used to have gold rimmed glasses, but they had been stolen so many times that cubans employed an around the clock security guard to protect them for a couple of years....but then gave up, so the glasses were stolen one last time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">like many catholic countries, cuba of course has a national cemetery and most graves are in mausoleums....fidel castro is not buried here, as it is not where he was from....i had a beautiful day to walk around and see some of cubas most historical people....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">i found it.....a 1957 chevy....that was in excellent condition....not a convertible though, which was a bit f a bummer....but of course, i had to take its picture in honor of my dad....he would have loved it :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span><span style="color: #741b47;">and the final shot....dani and a national beer....an amber to have to get out of the rain....tasty! and cheers to you from me....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">so there you have it....my trip to cuba....four days in havana-na-na-na.....a place filled with soul and character, but one where the common person really struggles....if you have money or work for the government or are a tourist, cuba is an amazing place....but while we were there there was a gasoline shortage....and lines of cars, a 100+, were waiting for a tank....when a tourist old car pulls up, they jump to the head, fill up and go along on their merry way....difficult to watch....i also visited a grocery store....they did not really want to let me in, but i just wanted some water....it was interesting to see what was not on the shelves and what was....all food seemed to be "white" in color....white bread, white cheese, white pasta, white rice....and the thing that got me was how little of this food was even available.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">do i think people should go to cuba....i do....but make sure you try and give back to some folks and not just the government....the music and dancing and smiles make it worth it...and i am so glad i made it before wifi is available everywhere....time seems to move slower and you are definitely disconnected.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">i am hoping to get my next update out sooner rather than later....as i was in mexico city for day of the dead - dia de los muertos - and then did some amazing diving in cozumel.....again...a wonderful trip...more on that soon....happy holiday season to you and yours, from me and mine....</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">dedicated to my dad....peace out....</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;">dani</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-45617739827959338902019-10-12T23:22:00.000+02:002019-10-13T17:26:32.378+02:00Update #14 - Peru<span style="color: #134f5c;">October 12, 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">hey there folks....how is everyone doing??? sorry its been awhile since the last update, but life is always busier when school is in session...peru was my end of the school year trip this past june...we have now been in school again since the last week of july....so life has been going at full tilt.....in the time since i have returned, i have had some fun weekends, celebrated my 50th birthday, visited cuba (which will be my next update - wow!) and have decided this will be my last year in panama.....it is time to move on after this year....so the job hunt is on for another school, in another country.....fingers crossed it turns out well.....i do have some things moving forward, so that is exciting!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">as for the trip to peru....i went on this exciting adventure for my friend nadine's 60th birthday...it was a bucket list trip for her and i was sooooo glad i could go with her for it....we had a great time and got really lucky for the biggest festival in cusco, peru just before the winter solstice.....it was an amazing experience....also went sand boarding for the first time in my life....tons of fun!!!! so, on with the pictures....enjoy!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the main market in cusco, sometimes spelled cuzco, where you can find tourist things - hats, gloves, sweaters, key chains, chocolate - but also where you can find local goods - fruits vegetables, meats, drinks, etc....you can also sit down and have breakfast or lunch....which we did and it was tasty...rice with eggs and veggies....yummy!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">these are just some of the potatoes you can find in peru....i was reading that peru has over 3500 different varieties!!!! how crazy is that!!! we had a bunch of different sizes and colors of potatoes while we were in peru....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">we were soooo fortunate to be in cusco during the Inti Raymi festival - or festival of the sun...it is the week leading up to the winter solstice - june 24....it was amazing and packed with people....there were days dedicated to dancing (these folks were dressed in traditional clothes for one of those days) and a day for environmental floats and a day for saints to be paraded around the city....the festivities were everywhere and sooooo much fun to experience....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">peru is where the incans lived - well actually all of the andes were home to the incans....they were amazing architects and builders...the stone in the middle of the picture is simply amazing....it is called the 12 angle stone...there are 12 right angles that have been cut and matched perfectly in this stone....just incredible...and all of the incan buildings were this well put together....just mind-blowing...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">because of the raymi festival, many people came into the city for the festivities....which meant we saw tons of folks in traditional dress with their llamas....which was a great way for them to make a bit of money with the tourists...the rainbow flag you see is the city flag....they are quick to point out it is different from the gay pride flag...but it comforted me that this aspect of the flag does not really stress them out....and it meant we saw rainbows everywhere!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">some of the traditional dance outfits were wild...this one was worn by some of the tallest women in the dance group and represented a nest for a stork...not sure if they were hoping to become pregnant or what...but it certainly looked heavy to carry....but they carried it off with style and grace and danced with them on....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">of course one whole day was dedicated to machu picchu...the incan town on the top of a mountain....many people walk the incan trail to get there, however we did not do that...we took a bus, train, bus and then walked a bit....it was a very early start, but here you see the four of us about to get on the train that takes you to the town below machu picchu....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">here is the birthday girl, nadine, and i on the train to the base of machu picchu....very excited for the day ahead....brought snacks and warm clothes to get us through the adventure....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">we made it!!!! this is the famous overlook everyone takes a picture at....so excited i got the shot below with no one really in it...as we were there with about 2,500 of our closest friends....but it is a town so people really just blend in i guess....this is an UNESCO world heritage site and is thought to have been built for the incan emperor pachacuti...the outside world did not know about this place until it was discovered in 1911.....it is sometimes wrongly referred to as the lost city of the incans...but that is still being looked for, as this is probably too small for the empire to have been a city of the incans....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is the quintessential shot that everyone takes of machu picchu and i am so glad i got it....we also experienced a wedding proposal while we were at this point....so cute...and she said yes!!! it was so cool to reach this point and realize so much has happened before you have been around....history is just amazing.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is the whole crew at the overlook....we made it!!!!! once in a lifetime adventure with this bunch and it was great, even though two members had really bad altitude sickness - it is a real thing people! - that we all made it to this point to see this majestic place, rich in history and tradition!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the building in the center of this picture is one of the things i really wanted to see....it is the temple of the sun.....the reason why i wanted to see this is because those windows line up astronomically with the pathway the sun takes on the two solstices (winter & summer)....plus, the building is curved which is rather rare in incan architecture....so the building was of some importance...the platform outside of it may have been used for sacrifices and the part underneath it, which you can see to the right, may have been where they buried important people...it is also where they may have honored pachamama....mother earth....just love this structure....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">they had quite a few temples and this was the one to the condor....the part of the building you see is shaped like a wing of the condor...and the tree to the left, is one of the only full sized trees they left standing once this place was discovered, to show just how difficult it was to find machu picchu...when it was first discovered it was all trees and vegetation that had to be removed to see what was underneath it....just incredible!!!! if you have not been to this location on the earth, you really should go...it is fantastic.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is nadine and i after we have come down from machu picchu....we are celebrating with a passion fruit pisco sour....pisco is a national alcohol, which is distilled from fermented grapes....but is nothing like wine, if you have never had it....later you will see a shot from a pisco distillery....cheers, we made it!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">another day of festival in cusco involved the national dish of peru, cui, pronounced quweeee....this is also a dish served in ecuador, so i had experienced it before....also known as guinea pig, this is a roasted cui....you should have seen how many cui stalls were in the square on this day....so many people enjoying this national dish....i however, did not partake ;)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">nadine and i hopped a bus 24 hour bus...may be the last time i ever do this....to make it to see the nazca lines....but unfortunately along the way we ran into a farmers protest that shut down the road and made our trip 28 hours instead and we missed the nazca lines...i hope i do get to see them some day, but it was not to happen on this trip...i did see a tuk-tuk like cart that had sylvester and a dolphin on it....my current school's mascot is the dolphin....so i had to take a picture.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this was a shot from the bus of a lovely sunset picture and the coast of peru....at this point i just really wanted to get off the bus, it was hour 23 at this point....long and tiring....but comfortable for the most part....just not something i am interested in repeating again.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">but once we arrived at huacuachina, the only oasis in south america, we said maybe the 28 hours was worth it....ummmmmmmm....these are the sand dunes and all of the dune buggies in huacauchina...it was a wild location....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">here's the pisco distillery we went to....all of those bottles you see on the bar are different piscos...we taste tested quite a few and enjoyed our time here before the last part of the trip in huacuachina....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the sand dunes!!!!! it was incredible and i really had no idea how huge they really were....we dune buggy-ed and sand boarded....some folks used snow boards to do this....and stood up...most of us did not....but these are the dunes around sunset....just lovely....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this was our sand dune buggy....it held about 12 of us and the driver....who was a man after my own heart and loved to drive uber fast down the dunes...it was awesome!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">it was also quite sandy, so most of us had something to cover our noses and mouths....not that it mattered once you did the sand boarding...sand just got everywhere....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">me and the sand board...this was my last run down, as i wiped out by putting my foot down too early....you can go on your knees or stomach when there are no straps....if it has straps, you can stand and use the board like a snow board....it was a blast!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">these are some of the other buggies at sunset....turned out well with the silhouette... it was a great time before we hopped on the last part of the bus extravaganza back to peru....not sure i will do a 24 bus ride again....but the sand buggies and sand boarding were a lot of fun!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the coastline in lima, a lovely city, with tons of surfers all year round....it was great to be in cooler weather and to watch them surf from high above.....i wandered around lima for the day and had a fun time in that walk-able, excellent food focused city....maybe some day i will go back....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">and for my last shot :) of course, it is me with a beer....the interesting thing about this beer is that it is a national beer with cocoa leaves in it....peruvians chew cocoa leaves to deal with altitude sickness....i got this beer at a tasty place in cusco that served stews, which were perfect for the cold, winter weather....overall peru did not disappoint....machu picchu was incredible, the inti raymi festival was an added bonus and the time of sand boarding got my adrenaline flowing....if you get the chance, i highly recommend visiting....and as always, this post is dedicated to my dad....mulu....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">i hope all of you in the northern hemisphere are enjoying fall....please savor some of the color for me...this is the one time of year i really miss the seasons...as the only seasons we have in panama are rainy and dry...enjoy sweater weather for me too.....if you have any questions about this trip, please get in touch and i hope everyone is well and happy.....</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">peace out....</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-66326998233106131082019-07-22T17:15:00.003+02:002019-07-22T17:15:35.775+02:00Update #13 - Panama Road Trip<span style="color: #741b47;">July 21/22, 2019</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Hi all - well, i am hopeful i will get this out to you all before i run out of time and am back on a plane to panama tomorrow.....this summer has flown....some good parts....some amazing parts....some busy parts.....some very difficult parts.....i have been trying to help my family deal with the business stuff in pennsylvania since my dad's death.....it is just hard.....but i also went to peru (machu picchu - a future update), saw family & friends, went to cape may with my mom for a few days away and to a friend's wedding in georgia.....a good, but very short 5.5 weeks of summer.....but now onto the update....and as always...this is written for my dad 💜</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this past spring break i actually stayed in panama and took a road trip with my friends laurie and wendy....laurie, i have known since college and this was our first big trip together (hopefully not our last) and wendy, i have known since the ice and she is the one person in my life who has visited everywhere i have been since we met....sooooooo cooooooool.....we decided to check out the country i am currently living in for one more year....speaking of this, if you are planning on visiting, make sure to do it before june 2020....as that is when i will be moving someplace new....not sure where that is, but the job search will be commencing soon.....so let me know if panama is a location you are planning on visiting.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">so our road trip.....we went to three very distinct places in panama besides panama city...boquete - out in the west, santa catalina - the pacific coast & beach, and el valle - the center of an extinct volcano (which you have seen in my updates before).....plus of course the panama canal and casco viejo, of panama city......it was terrific trip and i think we saw a lot of panama as a country....after the road trip i have also included are a few shots from my long weekend in Cartagena, Colombia and a final few shots from my year of school.....i do not always show a lot of people, but i thought i would end with some shots of people that really helped me make it through this school year...on with the update 😎</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">our first stop was to boquete....about a 6-7 hours drive west of panama city....it is a completely different climate and where most of the coffee of panama is grown...it is also a retirement enclave for expats (people living away from their country).....i am an expat of the USA....so once there it was amazing how much english and german we heard....so many retirees....which shows that panama is one of the top ten best places in the world to retire....all over panama they have these signs now....can you find all three of us?????</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;">this is the view of boquete from up where the sign is overlooking the valley....green, luscious, clean air and some beautiful mountains....definitely different from the streets of panama city ;)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">they were having a flower show when we got there...we were told it was an orchid show, as that is what grows in the rainforests of panama, but most of the flowers were not orchids...just a bit confusing....but very, very pretty with all of the colors...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">boquete is also the location of some of the best growing coffee climate in the world...not too hot, a bit more altitude, good amounts of sun and rain....we toured a coffee plantation there called finca dos jefes....which means farm of the two bosses....it is run by a couple who bought the plantation when it was no longer functioning....their coffee is all organically grown....these are the drying racks for the beans once harvested....nice view :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is a coffee plant flower....they only flower for a very short time...and smell a bit like jasmine...these folks also grow their coffee in accordance with the schedule of the moon....their coffee is also direct trade coffee....which means they purchase directly from the farmer...no middle-men....this is much better than fair trade - as farmers and pickers do not get much from that agreement, but direct trade works with the farms & plantations themselves to honor the folks who do the work of planting & harvesting coffee...it is a pretty impressive place....check it out - <a href="https://boquetecoffeetour.com/">finca dos jefes</a> (click on name to visit their website)....and the coffee is pretty amazing as well!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">while in boquete we also visited the bee and butterfly farm called boquete bees....it was terrific...we wandered the grounds learning about how they extract honey and then use it in many different ways....the picture above shows our guide and the old style bee farming methods....they still have some like these, but have started leaving hives in tree types that they have on the property...really interesting....they have a set of killer bees on the property....as well as many other types....no, we did not see any of the killer bees....thank goodness.....but they help the whole process, so they are not exterminating them....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the butterfly house was lovely....you can even do yoga there....they have space for the whole process of egg, pupa, larva and adult and make sure the butterflies have everything they need to survive....it was sooooo peaceful....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and then we did a honey tasting.....it was amazing....they produce 40+ varieties, with some added organic ingredients....plus honey wine and honey liquor....it all depends on the flowers the bees help pollinate and get nectar from...and each bee type has its favorite....so each honey tastes different from the one before...it was a lovely experience.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">from boquete, we headed to the pacific coast....santa catalina....there is a national park there called coiba...where we spent a day snorkeling and exploring.....above you see a shot from the island we had lunch on....the snorkeling was fun, except for the little, stinging jellyfish around the first island....you can see the boat we took around the islands for the day right in front....the pther boat is a floating restaurant/bar, but was not open when we had lunch....bummer....it was a 2-hour bumpy trip back into the mainland, but it certainly was beautiful out there......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">here we are - laurie, wendy and i....hanging on the beaches of the coiba islands....it was a stunning day....relaxing and we saw some great life while snorkeling...i am hoping to get back to this region to dive this year before i leave panama....i would really like to do this in january when the manta rays are jumping and whale sharks are around....fingers crossed....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">our last stop before heading back was el valle....one of my favorite locations in panama...a town that was built in the crater of an extinct volcano...we spent on morning birding with one of the best guides in all of panama...here you can see our crew with mario the birding guide!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">do you see the birds???? where??? look at twelve o'clock to spot them....my favorite spots of the day was a pair of toucans we followed up the valley....such cool birds....ad a green headed parrot hanging around having breakfast....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">and then it was back to panama on good friday....a few days before easter....panama's main religion is catholic, hence the pope's visit earlier this year...so on good friday, no one in the country is allowed to purchase/sell alcohol....except restaurants or hotels if they choose to sell any....this is from our road stop on the way back to the city....no beer for you!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">of course we had to visit the canal....and even though i have been here a multitude of times, i learn something new every time i go...it was a beautiful day and we watched quite a few ships go through the locks....the engineering of the locks is just mind-blowing....this is a shot of the first set of locks of the old set....adjacent to the pacific ocean....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">we also went to some of the areas where you could see all of the city....as you can see it was/is the rainy season....which is happens in panama approximately for nine months....but the skyline is still fabulous to look at....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">here's a shot of laurie in the old town, casco viejo, of panama city....these are the "bones" of an old church there....they have definitely been working to make this part of a panama city a tourist destination....but like the gentrification all over the world....this has good results and not so good results....but overall it was a great visit....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">one last shot of the three of us from the beaches of santa catalina....we had a lovely trip and fun traveling together....here's to the next destination....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">here is a picture from this past year's science team....we were dressed for pink shirt day at my school - which is an anti-bullying day that was started in canada, when a boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school...other kids saw it happening and came to school all wearing pink shirts the next day to stand up to the bullies...this has continued around the world and now pink shirt day is a yearly tradition at many schools including ISP.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">my last quick jaunt of the year was to cartagena, colombia, to meet up with my friend genevieve before she left the area to teach elsewhere.....it is a lovely, beach side city...the old section is quaint and beautiful to stroll through....lots of art and artisans there and bars, restaurants and cafes to hang at....it was a great little get away.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">we had sundowners at the famous cafe on the wall of the old city...lovely views and a huge colombian flag....what a fun, but hot place to wander in and explore....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is genevieve and i toasting her next big adventure...she is headed back to the continent of africa...i hope to get in a visit...but much of it depends on where i end up next...cheers!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">we spent a day on one of the islands off of cartagena....we were some of 80 people in total on this beautiful island where we went snorkeling and had lunch and swam and lounged around...it was terrific...look at that water color!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">i figured i would also include a shot from one of my last classes of the year....the picture credit goes to one of my students....this is what happens when you drop pure sodium metal in water...it is extremely reactive!!!! i love this shot....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this image is one of the last pictures i took in panama....off of my balcony...i really do get amazing sunsets and love this view....the pointy buildings are also really fun to watch during a lightning storm...simply incredible...panama was saying "hasta luego" to me for the summer....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">and what would an update be without a beer shot....here i am with my good friend spicer on his last day in panama...him and his wonderful family are moving to bali to work there in the coming year...i will certainly miss our discussions at rana with our beers about science, books, music and life...i wish him & his family all the best and to the rest of you i say "cheers to wherever you are in the world"!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">and so there you have it...my road trip and some others from panama and colombia....it was a crazy school year, with lots of travel and fun....but also the passing of my dad....i have one more year in panama and really do enjoy parts of this country.....soooooo if you are planning on stopping by, you have until june 2020 to do so....just let me know.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">i do have one more update to get out, which i will try and do before school starts next week...as all of you know, i run out of time more quickly then...it was of an amazing bucket-list birthday trip for my friend nadine....we did peru & machu picchu....simply incredible on so many different levels...fingers crossed that gets done sooner rather than later....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">remember, if you have any questions about this update....send them my way.....</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">hope you are enjoying your summer/winter wherever you are and thanks for joining me for my latest update....and as always, this is dedicated to my dad 💚</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">peace out....dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-4273048772208974842019-07-01T21:30:00.003+02:002019-07-02T01:23:10.506+02:00Update #12 - Trinidad & Tobago - for my dadJuly 1, 2019<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Hi there folks.....sorry it has been awhile since I last wrote, but as many of you know my dad, Tony DiPietro, passed away suddenly on May 8th....life has been a bit of a mess since then and my family and i have been devastated by this loss of such a wonderful human....my dad was my hero and the rock of our family....so i would like to dedicate this update and all that follow to him....he was my biggest cheerleader and loved to tell and share my story with anyone....so the updates will continue and i hope you enjoy them....miss you and love you dad....always 💜</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">this update takes place on the islands of trinidad and tobago.....found in the caribbean, above venezuela....it is an island steeped in tradition and their biggest tradition by far is carnival.....also known to many as mardi gras....this trip was amazing in sooooooo many ways and who knew this tradition was so much fun and included so many who come back year after year.....i knew from the moment we got on the flight to trinidad that something special was about to happen....and the customs line was enormous....everyone we met was soooo excited for what lay ahead and what really surprised me was how many of these folks came back for carnival year after year.....it was incredible how many folks had family on trinidad and then brought their friends and just kept coming back.....the one word that stands out to me for this particular carnival is tradition......</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">we were so very lucky to be staying with local trinis and those folks were showing us around and getting us tickets for all of the events.....and there were sooooooo many events and parties and aspects of carnival, it was mind boggling....I loved the music, the dancing, the costumes, the food, the people....it was a blast....especially pan finals and participating in j'ouvert....but more on those in the update.....really, if you want to experience what i consider the best carnival i have ever been to, you need to make time for trinidad.....after carnival we headed over to tobago (the island next door) to dive and i got my advanced water certification....all-in-all it was an incredible trip....on with the pictures......</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the best parts of trinidad was the local street food....i so miss things like this, as we really don't have much except hot dogs and shaved ice in panama....above you see some women making roti and they have been doing this, in this particular spot for 35 years.....yummy.....trinidad loves pepper sauce....which is spicy and tasty....i grew quite fond of it as well....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">two of the coolest trinis you will ever meet - rashad and vidiya....they and vidiya's husband ronald, were our hosts in trinidad....and on sunday we had a trini meal....spaghetti pie with kalalu....yummy!!! all vegetarian and all chessy and tasty.....perfect prep for a 7 hour march in j'ouvert the next morning....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">so this is me....covered in chocolate....getting ready to march with the coco band for j'ouvert very early monday morning (4am).....this particular masquerade parade was started by slaves when the french were in charge of trinidad....the slaves did not have beautiful costumes and wigs like the french, so they covered themselves in whatever they could find - paint, mud, baby powder....chocolate......and then marched through the streets of port of spain, trinidad's capital.....they also covered themselves so their masters did not recognize them in the march.....so we "tripped on down the road" with the cocoa band......</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">as you can see, early in the evening, we were just covered in chocolate.....you get tickets for a certain group and they give you clothes, some sort of "fun" piece, our devil horns that lit up and blinked, a cup to get drinks (alcoholic or not), they provide music and breakfast....in this shot, the four of us have been covered in chocolate and we have begun the 7 hour walk/dance through the city.....messy....but wait....there's more.....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">as you can see from rachel....as the walk/march goes on, it gets messier.....because other bands are covered in paint and mud and baby powder.....and when you meet up with these other groups, you throw what you are covered in on them, and they do the same to you.....so here is a bit later in the evening, once we had run into bands with paint and mud......</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and this is us by the end of j'ouvert....completely covered in stuff...the sun had come up and we had walked/danced for 7 hours.....it was awesome.....and again, the word tradition is what i think of with this....as we had people of all ages in our band....the youngest being 7 & 8....oldest....who knows....grandmothers and grandfathers.....it was a complete blast and what a way to experience carnival.....I LOVED IT!!!!!</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">there is a parade monday afternoon after j'ouvert, but we did not make it to that one....we were sleeping :) however, then the big masquerade is on tuesday....which we went to and experienced, but did not march....the picture above and the following bunch are all from that.....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is called "playing mas" - for masquerade.....and you can see, some of these costumes are amazing....they have feathers, and back pieces and are colorful.....the first two shots are from a group that got their inspiration from stained glass pieces....they were stunning......</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">in every group, there are the front line costumes....these are costumes many people have seen before....but up close and personal, they are stunning......and rather pricey.....these two women are front liners...which also means they could be the queen of their band....there is a competition for that honor as well....but neither of them won queen....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">many of these people have been partying and parading for the past week.....but this is main event....there are five or six stages around the city and the bands parade between all of them....with speaker trucks blaring trini music and marshals singing along (DJs).....the groups run up on stage.....dance for about 5 minutes and then move to the next stage.....they do not do routines that are are choreographed....they just do things to show off the costumes.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">in the shot above you can see a marshal, on top of the speaker truck, performing for the band they are accompanying....and then you can see all of the costumes and just how many people are in a band.....it is incredible....and there more than 50 groups like this roaming the city at the same time.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is shot to show just how many people are involved in a band....this does not include the drivers or the security crew for each band....the logistics of this day are just amazing....but i guess when you have been doing it as long as trinidad, you know what works and what does not....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">some of the male costumes are as extravagant as the female....this guy's head piece was incredible.....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">and everyone is willing to have their picture taken....they have worked all year for this and just want to know you are impressed with their costumes and feathers and pieces....i loved it....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">so many feathers and different colors and friendly people....and again, the word that comes to mind is tradition....the numbers of families participating in mas, is overwhelming.....and it is alllllllll day!!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniWf-66xkG25ub-0ZF82p1KRSiMElyp2irQa02BK7L7IrRmFKIsAfP_Lf53tE_onPOQMlq90xgjcutN-kK45BozYI7_RA2sZ4TNVgU_xHO6w2iFHRP4B3vVdXNvDVkXzpjlEgYA/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 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/AVvXsEhniWf-66xkG25ub-0ZF82p1KRSiMElyp2irQa02BK7L7IrRmFKIsAfP_Lf53tE_onPOQMlq90xgjcutN-kK45BozYI7_RA2sZ4TNVgU_xHO6w2iFHRP4B3vVdXNvDVkXzpjlEgYA/s320/IMG_2722.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">these guys told me they had been coming their whole life, as their families were trini.....it was the main thing they came back for year after year to watch when they were kids and then to participate in as they got older.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this woman's outfit was awesome, but she wanted to have a selfie with me....i figured, sure.....her head piece and heels alone would have been impossible for me to deal with for mas....but she did it with style and grace.....i just could not stop smiling and dancing throughout this whole day....such a blast and then we were off to tobago for diving that night......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and then we woke up to this view on tobago....a pretty drastic change in the span of a few hours....but oh what a view!!!! our dives happened mostly out by the small island you see the distance - little tobago....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this was the majority of our diver crew....it was with these folks that i obtained my advanced water certification.....just in time to go do some more technical dives in the coming year! woot!!! this was our celebratory dinner....and the woman on the far right also had just completed her open water certification and was a brand new diver.....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this was our view during the day....from the tiny town called speyside....people go there to dive, snorkel, fish or just chill out....we had some lovely weather and some very rainy weather....and most of the dives were drift dives with currents that were strong....great to float along and see the amazing life....the reefs of tobago are very much alive and healthy, which was lovely to see and experience....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is a view of all of speyside....very small and nestled among the hills and green of tropical tobago...</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">and then we headed into scarborough, the capital of tobago for a day to relax and chill by the pool and ocean....this is one the ways to get to the water from our hotel....it was a lovely day!!! and perfect to relax after an amazing carnival break.....</span> <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;">of course the last picture is me and a beer from trinidad and tobago...stag beer.....a tasty lager to celebrate carnival and diving....what a perfect combination!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;">so there you have it....i am not sure you can tell from my pictures or my narrative...this particular trip was possibly one of the best i have ever had....definitely in my top ten....now, i am trying to get to rio for carnival 2020....so i hopefully will be able to compare carnival in trinidad with carnival in brazil....but until that happens....this was the best carnival i have experienced thus far in my life...and if you have a chance to go....GO!!!! one suggestion though....go with a person from trinidad or tobago...the experience you have with local folk is bar-none, better.....</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">sooooooo.....the carnival update is complete, so i am just a few months behind....i am hopeful to get my next update out....spring break in panama.....before i head back to panama.....and maybe even get my peru trip update out as well.....i was there at machu picchu, huacachina, cusco and lima, two weeks ago for a friend's bucket-list birthday celebration.....fingers crossed i get at least one more update out over summer break....hope all of you are well and enjoying winter or summer or the rainy season, depending on where you are located...and for those that celebrate - happy canada day, july 4th for the states and bastille day for france and go usa for women's world cup in soccer....so many celebrations!!!! hope all of you are well and happy and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to get in touch.....</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #741b47;">for my dad....miss you and love you always......</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #741b47;">have a fab day :)</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="color: #741b47;">dani </span> </span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span> </span> </span> </span><br />
<br />danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-13445381588601905812019-04-28T22:13:00.000+02:002019-04-28T22:18:31.793+02:00Update #11 - Diving in Curacao & Paris in the SpringApril 28, 2019<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Hi there folks.....once again I have fallen behind in my updates and 2019 has been filled with some fun trips.....due to traveling with a school group last month, I have actually had four amazing trips in four amazing months and am headed on a fifth and sixth in the next two months....such a lucky girl.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">this update will focus on two trips in particular - a dive trip I took to curaçao during pope-cation....in January, the current pope came to Panama....which gave our school a week off of holiday at a non-normal time....and instead of me staying here and meeting him, I opted to go to curaçao, an island in the carribean, and went diving for the week....it was awesome!!!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">and then in march I was asked to escort a group of kids with another adult for a model UN conference....the kids did very well, we were the school that travelled the farthest, and because of this, we also did some cool things in and around Paris....I also got to connect with some friends whom I had worked with previously...it was a win-win situation for me!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">I will try and get the next update out sooner rather than later and that will focus on my amazing carnival trip to Trinidad and Tobago and then hopefully another will surface about my spring break road trip through Panama with two friends who came to visit.....what a good time....but let's get on with curaçao and Paris....shall we???? I hope you enjoy the pictures and stories....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the view from the place that I stayed at on curaçao....I arrived there my first day just in time for the sunset.....as you can see, it was lovely....and it was really this nice every evening....this was also the way my dive boat went out the three mornings I dove from a boat....captain Andy and the dive crew each time were awesome.....there will be some shots below from the dives.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Curacao has tons of iguanas....and these animals get huge....no predators I think.....but they would hang in the trees and bushes and roam all over the grounds of the place I stayed at...it was rather swanky and would probably not be the choice I would make again if I went back....but it was nice to be pampered a bit on this vacation :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white;">this was the color of the water many places we visited....this was a particular hotel where you could dive by walking down these stairs....due to the water being a bit choppy we did not put in here....but it certainly was worth a picture.....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">it seems that everywhere you go in the world now, you will find one of these signs.....this is a shot of me (I am in the O), my dive buddy and his wife on the one night we went into willemstad....the capital of this island....it is an interesting island, in that it was a dutch colony for a very long time....at this time curaçao is now its own nation and is located just off the coast of Venezuela.....because of its past, people who live here speak Dutch, Spanish, English and <span style="caret-color: rgb(56, 118, 29);">Papiamento - the most interesting one in my opinion....many people speak all four languages....which just blows my mind.....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the art in willamsted is fun and public art seems to be on the uprise....this particular artist paints chichi....a woman of <span style="caret-color: rgb(19, 79, 92);">curaçao....strong, fun and expressive.....its not a very big town, but it is a fun place to come for a night....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">willamsted has a pontoon bridge, just like in Seattle....although it is a walking bridge, not for cars.....it floats on pontoons and it can open and close for boat traffic....it actually is wide enough to let cruise ships come into the main harbor.....and it lights up at night, as you can see behind me in the picture above....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">willamsted does remind me of a European town with some of its buildings and set up....like what you see above.....this is a classic shot for postcards from here :) but this is where the bridge is located that is a the pontoon bridge.....there is also a floating market off to the left of this picture....fun to walk through....the boats are in the water with their goods and you walk along the dock shopping....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">as promised, here are a few pictures from my 12 dives over 6 days....the reefs in curaçao were some of the most healthy I had seen...they even had coral ladders for stag horn coral, where they were growing coral to increase sizes of already established reefs....I was mostly diving in the south west side and the part we took a boat to was private property for the place I was staying....so very pristine and unaffected by humans....except for golf balls...as the resort had a golf course....we picked up quite a few on some of our dives.....the fish you see above is a porcupine fish, a member of the puffer fish family...I find them to be quite adorable....no, I did not take this picture, my dive master on one of my dives did...it is an excellent shot though and I really did see this fish with my own eyes.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">if you have been diving, you know that lion fish have become a huge problem in many locations....they eat everything and do not have many predators....as you can see from the shot above though, they are lovely to look at and if you cook them correctly, I am told they taste delicious....please realize if you cook them incorrectly, they can cause you to die.....they are a problem in curaçao as well.....this is another shot taken by my dive master KK...she was impressive with her camera......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">I did have one day on the island where I did not dive and went exploring....here I am in the national park shete <span style="caret-color: rgb(19, 79, 92);">boka....named for the "seven inlets" that have been carved out by the carribean sea....the water is rough and powerful and creates amazing waves and splashes....just beautiful....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this shot is from boka pistol....where the waves come in and shoot back out like they have been shot from a gun....the height and force from the impact is rather impressive.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">again you see the blue, blue, blue curaçao waters.....this is the place where they make the liquor based on the color of the water....this area was called Alice in wonderland.....simply stunning.....if I do go back, this is one spot I want to dive at....</span></div>
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this is me and my wetsuit on Caracas beach....we did a shore dive from here and rewarded with a line of 11 squid traveling past us....squid look soooooo cool as they swim by.....and they are usually iridescent and can change colors.....it was a great dive.....<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">and of course a country would not be complete for me without a shot of me having a beer....only issue with this is that the beer in curaçao is either from the Netherlands or from Venezuela.....so I voted to have a shot with Venezuelan beer....as that was new for me....what an amazing island to dive and relax on....I strongly recommend it if you are a beach and nature lover...it is very dry and hot though, so realize things should include water either that you drink or dive/snorkel in....all-in-all a lovely time was had here by me!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">in march I had the honor of accompanying a group of middle schoolers to Paris for a model United Nations (MUN) conference....16 kids and 2 adults....and we had a blast....we got to see some things in Paris and around Paris, as well as participate in the conference and I got to meet up with some of my favorite folks from past adventures of mine.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">one of the coolest things we did in my opinion, was go through the Paris catacombs with a guide....I had no idea they were so deep and held skeletons from so many of the dead....the catacombs stretch under most of Paris and were built to deal with a "dead" problem...people were buried in pits before the construction here and these pits started to break and flood basements and places where people did not want decaying bodies......so Paris built the catacombs....they hold the remains of more than 6 million people.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white;">they are 20 meters (60 feet) below the surface of </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(19, 79, 92);">Paris, and there are approximately 320 km (200 miles) of these tunnels below Paris....they only take people on the tours for about 1.5 km of those tunnels....much of the rest of it is unknown...people have gotten lost down there and died....especially from groups who were holding secret meetings below the surface.....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">two interesting things I found out about the catacombs is that they were used by both sides during WW2 for being able to move secretly around the city...I did not find any information on the two sides running into each other down there....but who knows.....the second thing that I thought was pretty crazy was that in the late 19th century the catacombs were used by mushroom farmers to grow mushrooms within the city....well, under the city....it is said in some locations of the catacombs this practice is still be followed....hmmmmmmmmmmmm</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">here is a shot of all of us, not me, I am taking the picture, after finishing the catacombs....all kids and adults made it out alive....phew :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">another trip we took with the kids was to Govern, France, just outside of Paris...this is where Claude monet's house and garden are located....we were about two weeks too early for the full bloom of plants and flowers for the spring, but it was still a lovely spot.....growing up, monet's water lilies series was one of my favorite set of paintings....and this is a shot of me on the bridge that was used in that series.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">his house and gardens were amazing....here was a fabulous spot for the kids to sit and wait after they got bored of roaming around.....hahahahahaha....those of you with teenagers know, it is hard to keep them off their phones and not bored for more than twenty minutes...luckily they had a place that was pretty where they could rest and complain if needed ;)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is a shot of monet's house.....so much of it had a Japanese theme inside....I had no idea he loved Japanese work as much as he did....many rooms were completely dedicated to Japanese styles of art...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">however, one of his rooms was turned into a viewing spot for his works of art....all of these are replicas of the real pieces of art....they no longer reside in his house, they are all in museums around the world....kind of weird in my opinion.....but the replicas were fun to look at as well.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">the kids and I also took a boat ride on the seine....this was one of the activities of the kids from the host of this conference - the American school of Paris.....it was lovely, although there was quite a bit of unrest we steered clear of from the yellow vests....the week before in the protests they had trashed many stores and such on the champs elysees, so getting to the seine was a bit tricky....but once there the views were spectacular....we were even able to see Notre dame from the boat.....glad I saw it one last time before the fire....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">as I said above, one of the reasons this trip was awesome for me was that I saw and met folks I had not seen in a long time or who currently work with past colleagues of mine....the woman on the right, laura, was from Vienna and works with my friend Ariadne....and my friend Tina on the left worked at the American school in Shanghai and all three of us have worked with or currently work with my close friend David (he's in Panama with me)....it's a small, small, small international teaching world.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the other added bonus was spending time with dan, my previous principal/friend in china....he is now the elementary principal in Paris....lucky man!!!! <span style="caret-color: rgb(116, 27, 71);">I</span> love reconnecting with folks like this.....reminds me how many awesome teachers there are in the world, with whom I have had the pleasure and good fortune to work with....man, kids sure are lucky :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">we also wandered around the neighborhood we stayed in so the kids could see the local Paris streets....did you know that Paris had a canal & lock system???? I had no idea, but this was around the corner from where we stayed....pretty cool to discuss this canal system in relationship to the Panama Canal here......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white;">we also took a graffiti tour with the students...it was fun to see some of the street art that has been around forever, that I have tracked all over the planet....like space invaders like you see above.....paris is where this artist started....so it was cool to see his stuff....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we were also taken to a park that overlooked Paris and had quite a bit of mosaics that had been created by members of the community we were in....loved this pillar of mosaics....</span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);"><span style="color: #351c75;">soooooo, this shot is not from </span></span><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">Paris....I don't really have one of me having a beer....not the best choice when traveling with students....however, we did have a stopover in the Netherlands for a night and two special people came by to have a beer with me....both of whom I had not seen in quite a long time...alan, the guy on the right I worked with in Seattle before he and his family started working abroad and Darren, the guy on the left, I worked with in Bucharest a long, long time ago....cool thing was they came for the evening and have been working at the same school for the past four years in the Netherlands together....and during this time it was realized we had all had the pleasure of working together at one time or another...lucky for me they made time for me in their schedules and I got to catch up with them both....love that about international friends....they make the time you have work....it was awesome!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">there you have it....two very different trips, to two very different places, each with their own adventures....I loved both of these trips for very different reasons.....and am extremely thankful I was able to make them happen.....the next update will be about my incredible carnival trip to Trinidad and Tobago....it was just outstanding.....if you have any questions about these trips, do not hesitate to contact me...it has been rather busy in my life with school, but I will try and answer whomever gets in touch....unfortunately personal email seems to suffer the most when school is busy, which it always is....</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);">I hope every one has had a good start to their spring or fall...and that teachers in the northern hemisphere are excited for summer vacations....I will be in the states for a very short period this summer, but if you want to try and meet up, please get in touch.....hope all is well and I'll be back again soon.....</span></span><br />
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6);"><span style="color: #38761d;">peace out....dani</span></span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-5294777107822395832019-01-05T00:10:00.002+01:002019-01-05T00:10:50.797+01:00Update #10 - Chile VacationJanuary 4, 2019<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Happy Holidays to all who celebrate.....i am currently wrapping up a trip to the states to hang with my family and friends to celebrate christmas and new year....it has been relaxing and rejuvenating and it has been great to connect with family and friends.....but alas....it is almost time to head back to panama and school.....so i figured i would get out one more update before i get on the plane back down south, where my year so far has been fast & furious......and remember...i have signed on for another year....so you have until june 2020 to get to panama and have a free place to sleep :) come on down!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this update will focus on my november break trip to chile - i went with my friend emma and was surprised along the way by my friend carla and stopped in for a quick visit and stay over at my friend bonnie's place, who lives and works there.....overall, i loved this country....the people were friendly, the wine was plentiful & tasty and the landscape was lovely....maybe someday i will return.....all-in-all it was a wonderful trip and i highly recommend you head south to this country if you can....if i do make it back, i would love to see the patagonia area and make it out to easter island...but on this trip, it was just not doable......on with the pictures......</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">one thing you should know about chile, as with colombia, is that they have amazing graffiti....it is literally everywhere....this piece was just around the corner from our airbnb in the city....i loved the colors and it really reminded me of one of my favorites from colombia....don't know if it is the same artist...but i loved it.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">as you probably know, the capital of chile is santiago and it has the andes mountains to the east of the capital....splitting argentina from chile.....as you can see in the shot above, the mountains are very visible...with snow...at the start of the summer season....it was cool to see them.....also, chile, even the part not in the andes, is very hilly....as you will see in some of the pictures below......hills in chile are called cerros....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the cerro of santa lucia....this is where the city was officially founded in 1541, by the spaniard pedro de valdivia....this hill is 629 m (2060 ft) tall...and when you get to the top there is a castle turret to look out over the whole city.....there was also a man and his dog and his guitar, just to add to the ambiance.....we did this hill, but not the bigger one of san cristobal....we just did not have time.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">while in santiago we also went to the main cemetery...called the cemeterio general de santiago....we were there just a few days after all souls day, so there were many candles and flowers at the main corners.....there are an estimated 2 million burials in this cemetery, and they still have space for folks to buy a plot or two....and the mausoleums are amazing and very ornate....and just like in argentina, many of the family names are italian....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this was one of my favorite monuments.....this is a memorial to gladys del carmen marin millie....she was a political activist, who campaigned against pinochet's (chile's past US-supported dictator) human rights abuses.... many people "disappeared" or were put in interment camps during his rule....plus, as we learned later in the trip, he affected the progress of chile, in comparison to argentina.....many folks we met, did not speak english, as all english learning in schools was banned during his rule....this definitely makes chile a bit more difficult to travel in if you do not speak spanish....but it is definitely worth the work....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">another one of my favorite pieces of graffiti we saw in chile is in santiago....you can see it above....i love that the little girl is painting the sunflowers with colors....this is located in the barrio known as bellavista....a fun, hip part of town, with some excellent restaurants, bars and graffiti....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">from santiago we headed out to the coast.....this is the view from our balcony.....it looks sunny and warm, but the water, both in the pool and in the ocean, was freezing!!!! as you can see, we are pretty high up on the hills....we were at renaca beach....which was mostly deserted....still was a lovely view and a wonderful place to relax.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">when we arrived at our airbnb, we were told we needed to take the funicular up to where we were staying.....this is a view from the bottom and the other car of the funicular is up on the top right of the picture....the white looking box thing...this whole thing surprised both emma and i, we had no idea chile was so hilly, or that we were staying at the top of one of those hills.....we felt like celebrities and you could not beat the view!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">the evening we arrived here, we grabbed some dinner and watched the sunset from the ocean's edge....the lovely shot from our table is above....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">during one of our days on the coast we took the metro into valparaiso....a seaside port known for its 47 hills, funiculars to get up and down them and the graffiti throughout....this shot is of one of the funiculars we rode in the town....this one is the reina victoria funicular....it climbs concepcion hill, approximately 225 feet at a 57 degree incline....one of the steepest that was built....but they have been operating successfully for over 130 years....so no need to worry....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">up on cerro concepcion you will find colorful houses, amazing artisans, tasty places to eat and of course, incredible graffiti....i loved the 3-D aspect of the piece above, because it was done on the corner of a building....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">i also loved the saying on the stairs we found in this area...."we are not hippies...we are happies"...this was done as a tribute to all who survived the rule of pinochet and some say it is the mantra of valparaiso.....i loved it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and i was soooooo excited when i found this piece on the wall next to a cafe of the little prince....no idea why the artist chose to paint this, but i wonder if the artist is the little boy reading the book in the upper left of the piece....maybe he loves that story as much as i do....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">the shot above is of the famous beethoven piano stairs, located on beethoven street in valparaiso....i am not sure why they were created, but they are a stop everyone makes while walking around this area of valparaiso....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the area we stayed in, renaca beach, was a bit deserted, but you always had an amazing view of the water, both while walking down along it and from high above it....i went on a long walk one day....just to see what i could see.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">one of the weirdest things i saw was this combination of rock types.....the black rock, i assume, is volcanic from some time ago...i guess chile has many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.....who knew??? we did not experience any while there....although i have been been in some earthquakes while i have been in panama...there were 47 in the last year in panama...but nothing too serious or large in the city...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">from valparaiso, we headed to one of the chilean wine valley regions - the colchagua province....it is known for a grape i had not heard of before....the carmenere....a red wine grape....it also is one of the only places in chile you can find malbec....we did a great wine tour of four different vineyards....the first we visited was montes vineyard (vina montes).....their logo is of an angel, plus, the vineyard was designed keeping feng shui in mind....this was the room where their most famous and expensive wines rested...while gregorian chants were played to them.....it was an incredible room....the big cask on the left in the back is their secret wine....no one but mr. montes actually knows what is in that cask....it is called the taita, but no one is really sure if it will be made or not.....the last taita that was created by this winery was in 2012....but our guide said 2018 was an extremely good harvest year, so the winery is hoping for this cask to hold the very special taita.....it was interesting that the guide did not have any idea what was in the cask.....we'll just have to check back again to see if there is a 2018 taita from montes.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this was the view from the montes winery as you walked out the front door.....as you can see, it was a beautiful day for a wine tour....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the second winery we visited was clos apalta....and this place was awesome....the science used in making their wine made me smile....from the lab, that we could observe from the lobby.....to the use of gravity to move the wine, so it did not get jostled in the fermentation process more than needed.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this was the roof of the winery...where our tour started....they were growing endemic plants on the roof and had a large sundial up there too....i am not really sure what all of the bars were, but i know overlook of the valley, was stunning....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the building itself was six stories....three above ground and three below ground....they used gravity to move the wine between floors through the aging process....this is a look down through the building...if you click on the picture and look all the way to the bottom, you will see they have a foucault's pendulum in the center of this stairway.....these pendulums are used to demonstrate the rotation of the earth....i loved all of the science ties in this winery....just made me smile.....they also let us taste a $300 bottle of wine.....nice folks :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">the last vineyard was vina ventisquero....and what a view it had....we definitely needed a 4 wheel drive to get up to this one....we tasted three of their wines, while looking over this valley....it was a terrific day, filled with wines, science, food and beautiful views.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">and then we headed back to santiago for a last night....but we stayed in a different place...my friend bonnie's place....this was our walk along the river to get dinner....again more super cool graffiti along the way...loved the eyes.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and then...on this, last night of our trip...our friend carla surprised me.....she just "stopped by" in santiago, on her way to buenos aires....her and emma had kept this a secret and boy was it a surprise....here are the three of us at a tasty pizza place....we literally hung out for 6 hours....that was it....and then we headed back to panama and carla continued onto argentina.....crazy woman, which is why we are friends!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">chile was a lovely country....and i highly recommend a visit to anyone that can get there....we only saw a very small part, of a very long country....i am hoping that some day i head back to the far south to see the gateway to antarctica.....we'll see if that happens....of course this is my last shot...me saying cheers ("salud" in spanish) to you from the coast of chile - renaca beach....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">hope every one had a great holiday season and a wonderful start to 2019....if you have any questions, send them my way and remember, you have until june 2020 to come on by panama...until the next update.....</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">peace out.....</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-25699486966808377742018-11-26T00:28:00.000+01:002018-11-26T21:55:26.653+01:00Update #9 - Panama Adventures<span style="color: #38761d;">November 25, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">hey there folks....and happy start to the holiday season for many...i hope those who celebrate US thanksgiving had a lovely day...i actually had two thanks/friendsgivings...tasty food, a fun time with colleagues and friends & a way to remember all i am thankful for....i cannot believe it is coming to the end of november....this semester has been fast and furious and really exhausting....we started a new schedule this year, which i was hoping i would adapt to...but it is proving to be difficult and draining...i can only hope it changes next year and that seems to be written in the cards....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">since my last update installment, i have made the decision to stay in panama for another year....this year has been challenging on many levels, and because of this and some other positive things, i cannot imagine leading a job search...one of the biggest factors for staying is the ease to get back to pennsylvania and my parents....it is sooooo nice being in the same time zone...plus, i have put in a lot of time and effort for the current curriculum with my teaching partner, so i am hopeful next year will not be as much initial work and more fine tuning....this being said....the third year will be my last here, so if you are planning a trip....get in touch....there is a spare bedroom and bathroom with your name on it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">panama city is in full "pope" fever....he is coming to this city in the last full week in january....and things are crazy....everything is getting an overhaul...which means the city is in a state of chaos....we are actually required by law to close while he is here...so i am taking the time to go to an island in the carribean and dive for a week...i am really excited.....also...at the beginning of this month, i spent a glorious week in chile...more on that in my next update.....but i do feel like i have not really been sharing my panamanian adventures....so this update will focus on those....on with the experiences here in panama....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">so panama, like every where in the world, has been putting up signs letting you know where you are in the country....this was taken at 6am on the dock before heading out on a whale watching trip....the pacific, off the coast of panama, is a terrific place to see migrating humpbacks...and we were super lucky on this trip as you will see from some pictures friends of mine took....their camera was better than mine...but i was with them for this amazing adventure.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">on our way back to the city, after a lovely time on the pearl island of contadora, we came across two young males trying to win over a pod of females and their babies....they kept spinning and slapping their pectoral fins on the water....it was super loud and i had never seen this before....so the whale would slap the dark fin, keep spinning in that direction and slap his whiter fin....it was wild....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">as you can see, they also breached quite high out of the water....they did this for about 20 minutes non-stop....so it was incredible to watch...this was the second set of whales we had seen and at one point we had about 30 of them on all sides of the boat...we also ran into a pod of dolphins - about 150 strong....the nature guide was freaking out, saying this was one of the best days he had ever seen....lucky us!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this may seem like a random picture, but this is einstein...whose head has been covered and in the middle of a huge construction site for almost a year...this was the first day i actually saw him...it is literally two blocks away from me...how perfect is that! even if it is weird that his head is coming directly out of the ground...it would probably be better with a neck...but hey, its panama.....why einstein, you may ask???? at this point, i still have no idea....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">i finally made it to an open air fruit and veggie market here in panama....it is really hidden and you have to go with a Panamanian, or speak solid spanish, if you want to be successful....i went with one of my colleagues and was soooooo happy to see chinese eggplant and fruits and veggies for good prices....the vendors got kick out of my goofy spanish and i made most of them laugh...one was even wearing a montreal canadians shirt....i asked him if he knew who they were...nope, no idea...love that!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is a different beach i made it to when the fishermen were bringing in their daily catch....the amount of pelicans alone was incredible....they bring in sea bass and red snapper and a couple of other fish....it was fun to watch them bring it all in...as you can see...during the rainy season...not much sun to be had....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">i finally made it to taboga...an island a half an hour away from the city...easy to get to by catamaran ferry and very cute...loved this sculpture they had along the walk to the beach....very small, but great for an overnight away from the city...and we had good weather on top of it!!!</span><br />
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this is taboga's port...and what you see is majority of the town...very few cars here...mostly golf carts....there really isn't room for most sized cars....it was a great night away....<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">i also headed back up to el valle for a women's weekend, which included my first ever birding adventure...el valle is known for its many species and in five hours we saw 50 different species...granted our birding guide was amazing and is known world wide for his panama knowledge....how lucky he is right in my backyard so to speak....i hope to do this again....as it was a lot of fun looking for and spotting all the different bird types....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is a shot from the top of the hill we climbed...it looks over a cloud forest, so it was a perfect spot to see eagles....just amazing and what a lovely day it turned into...rain happened later, but not while we were out birding....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">one of my favorites was this blue-headed parrot....he and his friend, were just hanging out in this tree eating berries...i did not take this picture through the scope, my friend tracy did...he was spotted by megan...and all of us were happy she saw him....i love that he is just looking at us....just like we were looking at him!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">we spent a lovely night at the casa di pietra....yes, you read that right...i was there last year as well...love the name ;P...in the picture above you can see the wonderful group of people i was with, including luis, the owner of this fantastic place...can't wait to go back and hang out in his bar again....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">in october i was given a very special opportunity.....i was given permission to go through the panama canal on a ship...i was given this rare opportunity because i know someone on board, and i am from the states & an educator....so of course i jumped at it!!!! this is view of the city through the windows of the bridge....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is me as we are just starting or trip through the three locks, going from the pacific to the atlantic...as you can see, it is a night crossing...it is cheaper to do this and less crowded....none-the-less, still amazing!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">one of my favorite things about the locks are the mules.....they help pull the ships through and maintain balance and help them stay in the middle of the lock so they do not hit the side....they are these cute little metal train-like cars...one person drives them and we had four helping the ship....two attached to the front and two attached to the back....they hook on at the beginning and once you are through each lock system, they unhook and let you pass through the open water until the next lock system...i just loved watching and listening to them with their lights and bells.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this was taken as we were locked into the first system...so you are looking backwards....the black horizontal part, with the yellow handrails is the lock itself...behind it you can see the water of the previous lock...we are going down....plus, you can see the mule in the back....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">as we were going through the second lock system...this ship was on the other side of the lock, going the other way....it was fun to watch the words "wisdom line" go down as the ship descended in its system...you can also tell from this shot just how much bigger that ship was from the one i was on....and the ship i was on was in no way small.....it is amazing how they can accommodate these ships...and this is small lock system...not the super huge ones for the super tankers....it is just mind-blowing to watch the whole thing in action while on a ship.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">i love this shot, as you can see just how far down the ship has gone....do you see the guy standing on the top of the lock...he is at ground level....we have moved down....simply crazy!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and this is what i had to jump onto to get back to colon and port...its a pilot ship...it pulls alongside the vessel you are on...you climb down this ladder and jump onto its deck and then speed off...i had to do this or i would have been on the ship until charleston, south carolina...as that was the next stop....it made me feel like jane bond....to jump off a ship, while it was moving....talk about an adrenaline rush!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is a view of the ship as i am pulling away and heading back to shore...on they went to their home port of charleston....it was an amazing adventure and i feel soooooooo lucky to have been able to do it....i do hope to go through the canal at some point in the daytime...but a night crossing was incredible and i loved every minute of it!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">sting and shaggy came to panama for their world tour....i went with a friend to see them...i am shocked that at 67 sting can still hit and maintain the high notes...his voice is strong as ever...but i do have to say he is not the best singer for reggae music, which is shaggy's style....i have no idea how they decided to make an album....but i can say their concert was a lot of fun...and sting did many of his old hits from the police.....roxxxxxxxxxanne.....loved it!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">some weekends i have been visiting my favorite beaches....and on this particular day at santa clara we were treated to a rainbow....it has been the rainy season since i have arrived (nine months of the year)...but if you leave early enough...you usually have good weather at the beaches until the early afternoon....this as just before the rain started moving in....we are heading into the summer months (dec, jan, feb)...so more and more folks head to the beaches on the weekends...i have to say, i like it better when there are fewer people....but you may not have a sunny sky all day long....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">i have been exploring aspects of the city more and more....and every day on my way to work i pass a ba'hai temple up on a hill...one sunday we decided to go find it, take a hike in the jungle and visit the miraflores visitor center for the panama canal....above you can see the temple...open air and really interesting....plus, they have a lovely garden....they always do...this one was not as spectacular as the one i visited in israel...but it was a peaceful oasis on a hill overlooking the city....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">at the top of our hike there was an abandoned bird sanctuary....it is slowly being taken over by the jungle....pretty creepy, but a great place to shoot a horror movie....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is when i love looking at the locks...on one side the water is high and on the other the water is low....soooooo cool....the left is low because the ships were heading to the pacific side from where i was at the miraflores locks....i actually finally visited the visitor center....cool history and incredible engineering to get this thing built!!!! simply amazing!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">i had to include a picture of one of my favorite signs here in panama...pedestrian walking...in one part of the city - ciudad del saber - the city of knowledge...where the military base of the USA used to be, they have these pedestrian signs....i have never seen them anywhere else....love the butt of the walker...but i wonder if this was because people from the states lived here????? no idea...but they make me chuckle every time i am over there.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">and of course what would an update be without a shot of dani and a beer....this was taken at a funky bar after the sting & shaggy concert....everyone headed here because there was no way we were leaving straight from the venue due to the crazy traffic here....traffic is insane in this country....so we hunkered down and had some craft brew...yummy!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">and there you have it....my panama adventure so far....i have had a few more things happened this semester, but these are definitely the highlights.....i also had a quick long weekend in costa rica and a week long adventure to chile...they will be my next focus....not sure they will get written about before winter break....but if not, expect the next update around the xmas holiday....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">i hope all of you are well and happy and have a happy start to the holiday season whatever you celebrate....drop a line if you have any questions or want to head this way...talk with ya soon....</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">peace out....</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-11211988493286507192018-10-01T02:00:00.003+02:002018-10-01T02:00:57.291+02:00Update #8 - European Summer VacationOctober 1, 2018<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">hey there folks.....i am sorry it has taken me so long to get out an update....but school this year is a bit more work...some good reasons behind that, some not...but i felt i really needed to now get the summer update out, as i have been in panama for two months and have already had a long weekend in costa rica....more on that in the next update.....but on with my amazing, friend-oriented summer vacation....i was in the states for a short time before heading to europe, but then was there for about a month....stops included my first time in belgium, and repeats in france, portugal and spain....mostly to see people, but of course it was lovely to be in europe where things work more smoothly than central america...and during WORLD CUP!!!! so on with the update.....1st stop brussels, belgium.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">the main square of downtown brussels is where all of the government buildings and guilds are located....amazing gilded buildings....at the time i arrived, belgium was still in the world cup....so the town was covered in flags and excitement filled the air....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">one peaceful spot i found was in the town hall, as the square was busy getting ready for a historical pageant...i just loved the wheel barrow and the flowers....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">did you know belgium was where the smurfs originated???? i had no idea...and was really confused when i started seeing them everywhere....statues, murals, fountains.....wild to see </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">while in belgium i of course did a beer and chocolate tour....quite possibly one of the best things i have done in a long time....the building you see above is a very famous chocolatier's place...pierre marcolini...the chocolate was to die for and extremely creative....the beer houses were interesting too and we tasted quite a few different types of beers and chocolate....but i loved the way he decorated the whole building, for the summer season, in windmills....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">so brussels has a mascot of the city....the manneken pis....and yes, it is a little boy peeing....but this statue is impressive in that they dress him up in a different outfit for important days...he actually has 999 different outfits and special dressers....the people of brussels are quite excited for his 1,000th outfit and it has been a secret of what it will be....can you even see him at the top of the hillside of sheep????? he was dressed like this for a historical festival concerning the farmers of belgium....earlier in the week he was wearing the belgian national soccer team's jersey.....too funny....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">one of my favorite parts of visiting belgium was stopping by the huge sculpture from the 1958 world's fair....yep....its an atom...called the atomium......perfect for a science geek....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and even better...i got to share this with a friend of mine from HIGH SCHOOL...we have both gone into the world of international teaching and have tried connecting before...but this time finally, heather and i got to hang and catch-up...she and her family are currently living in brussels...and i caught them in between summer travel....lucky, lucky me...so cool to catch up and hang out.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">from brussels i jumped a train to die, france (that's the name of the town, honest), where my friends rick and thalia live in the summer....a quaint little town that i have visited before (remember the running of the sheep a few years back?)....but i love their bi-weekly market....i have not found something like this in panama as of yet....love this aspect about france....the cheese!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">berries were also in season and i loved how this was almost the french flag...if only the red and the while were switched....but i had not seen the white berries before.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this time around we made it to 2 different parts of rivers to go swimming....not a bad swimming beach on a river in france...stunning backdrop....and as we were leaving a mountain goat decided to stop by and say hi.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">while i was visiting i read a book about the french resistance during world war 2....and the museum was a few towns over from where they lived....so we went to check it out....the french feel one of the reasons normandy went better than expected, was because 10,000 SS nazi troops did not make it to the beaches, as they were engaged by the maquis, french resistance fighters, in this valley....this is the view from the museum honoring the men and women of the maquis....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">once again it was lovely to visit with rick, thalia and sadie in france...where the air is clean, the wine is flowing and the living is easy.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">i, of course had to take a picture of the bloomin' lavender for my mom....love the blue sky, stone farming building and the rows and rows of lavender....i do not like the smell....but it sure is pretty...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">from france i headed to lisbon, portugal to have a reunion with friends from romania and china....the graffiti in parts of the little town on the edge of lisbon, carcavelos, was amazing....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">while in lisbon, we went to an exhibit of m. c. escher...this is one of his most famous self portraits of himself....but if you look closely you can see madelena, greg, dianne and myself...i have no idea how they did this, but it was sooooooo cool.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we also went to the museum of art, architecture and technology.... it seems these types of signs are everywhere these days...so of course we had to have a shot with it....interesting place...might have been a bit to modern art focused for me...i missed much of the meaning... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">of course we had to try and find an indian meal while hanging in lisbon, as that is our go to meal when traveling together....and how funny that dianne and i each wore a nasa shirt....no, we did not plan it...we just both have really good scientific taste in clothing!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">from lisbon i was off to see kelly and ed in cebreros, spain...i arrived the day of the final game of the world cup....of course wearing my croatian ice hockey shirt...in the bar they had a world cup statue replica....so i had to do this....the men of the bar did not really like all of our cheering, but we did it anyway....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">the area they have a place is stunning....beautiful hills, olive groves, blue skies and it was perfect weather....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">we took a day trip to avila....the town of saint teresa...and walked the fortified walls of the city...it was a spectacular day and the walk was amazing....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we also stopped in the main cathedral of avila....simply beautiful...i was lucky to catch this shot of the sun coming through the stained glass windows...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75;">on our way out of town i caught a good shot of a stork chillin' in it's nest....they were everywhere...and are considered good luck....so of course i had to take the shot :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">from spain i headed to paris for one day before jumping a flight back to the states....i stopped by a church i had not visited, but had read about in one of dan brown's novels...saint-sulpice....loved the fountain outside of it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and the area i stayed in was an amazing location with some incredible street art....loved this one of the two kids at a corner....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this final picture is not from my trip....it is from panama....so panama is now going trough "pope-frenzy"....he is coming for a week in january...and let's just say people are very excited....this is the logo for his visit....i figured some of you might enjoying seeing it....do you see the country of panama, the canal, a pilgrim cross, the virgin mary and her crown containing the five continents???? i have to be honest, when i first saw it, i saw none of those things....i saw an elephant....sorry to be a bit sacrilegious....just being honest....so this place is getting all prepped and ready for his visit and celebration of world youth day...i am planning to be out of the country, as we have a week off during the visit.....more on that in the next update.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">of course there is one more shot of me and beer....a beligian, trappist beer...from a traditional dinner spot....the person i was with had mussels, from brussels...i did not....but the beer was sure tasty....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">so there you have it....my european tour this summer....again, i am so sorry it took me so long to write this, but school is uber busy this year....new classes, new teaching partner, new curriculum, new schedule....and i am having to decide if i am staying by oct 12th....so some thought is taking place right now....we have lots of other stuff happening....so i am not sure what i will decide....there are definitely positives and negatives about being in panama....but one of the positives is how many people have already come to visit....so consider this your invitation once again....this may your last year to do it...i promise to let folks know what i decide....and folks should let me know when/if they want to come on down....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">as always....if you have any questions, please ask....and i hope you have all had a good start to your fall or spring, depending on which hemisphere you are in.....until next time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">peace out....dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-5852201022848432362018-07-02T02:50:00.003+02:002018-07-02T02:50:55.558+02:00Update #7 - Taste of PanamaJune 30, 2018<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">hi there folks....trying to get out one more update about my year before my big european summer vacation trip....i decided i needed to get out the last few months of panama, as i traveled a bit with friends visiting and just on weekend trips to fun beaches, the mountains and the canal.....so below you will see some of the adventures i had on my weekends from the past few months....hope you enjoy them.....on with the show....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">the first beach stop we hit these past few months was chame....this is located on a point, out in the pacific ocean and is about 90 minutes southwest of panama city.....the day we went was beautiful, and the beach was deserted......as was the water....which was a bit suspicious.....but then we got closer.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the beach was covered by three types of stinging jellyfish....the biggest ones were the type above (i actually have no idea what they are called)....but they were massive blobs that were about the size of a dinner plate or bigger....these did not have tentacles....so we were not 100% sure if they stung....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">the second type looked like man-o-war jellies....and had very long tentacles.....and these definitely stung....they actually left stingers all over the beach and as you walked through the water you could feel them...but again...i am not really sure what they are called....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the last type we encountered were these blue ones....i think these are a type of perseus jelly....not sure if these stung as well....and there were not as many of these types....these were about the size of person's forearm....and very pretty....also quite weird.....i was very sad we did not get to be in the water, but it was a lovely day to walk around and check out the jellyfish....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">as i said before, we were in chame....which is a beach location on the pacific side of panama (which is south of the city by the way)....these cool signs have been put up every where in panama...and i am trying to get as many of them as i can....you'll see another one later in the update.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">one of the other locations in panama i visited a few times before the end of the year was el valle....i was there with friends that visited and on two get-away weekends....their market is one of the fun places we always stop....you can find fruits, veggies (like the peppers above), plants and work created by artisans.....and across the street is a bakery with some of the best coconut macaroons i have ever had....i love the colors of the market...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">these are some of the crafts and trinkets you can find in the market....always license plates....why??? well, you have have to buy a new one every year....not just the registration sticker....the whole plate, because each year, as you can see is a different color....talk about a way to make money....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">one of the malls i go to for the movies had a cool art installation for the start of the rainy season....there had to be around 200 umbrellas in the space....loved all the colors...but the rainy season is a bit crazy in my opinion....lasts for 9 months...and really, it rains...with lightning and thunder, almost every day....i have never seen lightning storms like i have seen in panama....hopefully i will catch some strikes in photos in the coming year...its a goal....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this is the oldest catholic church in the city - located in casco viejo - the oldest section of the city that was built in old european city style....this part of the city was destroyed and then rebuilt after 1671, when it was attacked by pirates....i have not seen the spires of this church (to the left and right of the center building), without construction materials around them....however, i love the central part and newly added artwork/graffiti on the front....the name of this catholic church is iglesia felipe neri and can be found in one of the main squares in casco viejo....a tourist stop for sure....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the bus you see above is a diabolo....it is a converted bus from the time when the US Navy was in panama....these used to be the mode of public transport here....but as you can see from the large tail pipe, huge polluters....they are now not supposed to be used in the city, unless they have been converted...and now in the city they are used as party buses....they are all painted by the owners as well....loud and crazy is a way to describe them....i have not been on one....yet....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">panama city is a port city and has quite a large amount of fishermen....this is the giant country flag flying down in the fishermen's port...also where the fish market is and where you can find the freshest ceviche....as you can see, the sun is shining, but the clouds are coming....when this picture was taken it was soooooooo humid.....we were hoping the storm was coming soon....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">i love many of the signs in panama....many times it looks like the person crossing is getting ready to salsa....and some of them have bigger butts poking out, like they are already dancing....this one's butt is not poking out....but it is getting ready to dance....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">panama had two really big things happen last year and the countdown was on for these two happenings.....the first, is that the pope is coming to panama in january 2019.....the clock you see above is the countdown clock to his visit....261 days with 18 hours, 6 minutes and 23 seconds....they are very excited for this visit and expect approximately 3 million people to come to panama....there are only 4 million people in the country....so this is a HUGE thing....i am really hoping not to be in panama for this visit....as i think it will be way too crowded for me....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">the second big happening was that panama qualified for the world cup last september/october....we even had a national holiday because this happened....if you have been following world cup, you know that they did not progress from the group stage, but that they scored their first ever world cup goal...a huge deal for a country that has never qualified before this year....when this picture was taken, there were forty days to go until the start of the world cup....at this point i am cheering for croatia and belgium, as panama is now out!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">another beach we made it to recently was playa blanca....we did an all-inclusive adventure....it was a crazy experience and one i do not really need to have again....but they really did take care of their beach front....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">they also had an aviary on the grounds and it was cool to see toucans up close and personal....i have seen them in the rain forest, but never this close.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is carla and i at one of those signs....for the all inclusive place we stayed at on playa blanca....i do love the colors and that they had a start fish on their placard... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">and the third beach i made it to this spring was farallon....i stayed at a friend's villa at the same resort manuel noreiga used to go to....the resort is a bit tired, but the villas are quite nice and you get access to the beach and pool and beach club, so this is the view at the beach....a beauty of a day :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">i also stopped at a beach place on the way out for lunch.....they had this great artwork of jellies....maybe i should have asked them what the jellies on chame were....maybe next time.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">there was one more quick weekend trip to el valle in the mountains and the place we stayed had an artist from austin living there....she has a dog, which you can see above, that has the same colored hair as her owner.....wild folks in wild places....this pup reminded me a lot of dogs in china.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the things you can do while staying in el valle is hike up the sleeping maiden....can you see her??? she is lying down in this shot....the peak all the way to the right is the tip of her nose...then moving left you can see her lip...and then her chin....now can you see her?????</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the end of the school year of course was very busy...as it is for all school teachers....but we also took the time to celebrate and say goodbye to colleagues who are moving away and retiring...in this picture you can see some of my middle school colleagues....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">well....so i realized i do not have a good picture of me having a beer...and wish i had one with this particular beer can....so you will have to enjoy the beer by itself and me by myself....as you can see this is a national beer brand in panama...balboa...and it is a world cup can.....the celebration for panama making it to its very first world cup....so exciting.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this last shot is of me with some wings created at our school during arts fest....at this moment in time i was drowning in work and tying to get everything done....but as all teachers do, i survived and got it done....and am soooooooo happy to be on vacation.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">i hope everyone enjoyed this glimpse into my every day world and panamanian world....it is a lovely place to visit...the beaches, the rain forest, the canal, the mountains....so think about coming on down and let me know your thoughts....i hope every one has a lovely summer/winter, depending on your hemisphere....i am off to europe for a bit and then will be back in panama...if you have any questions, feel free to send them my way...although i may take some time in returning an answer.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">have a fab day :)<br />dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-16708611172022509082018-06-19T05:00:00.001+02:002018-06-19T05:00:44.523+02:00Panama Update #6 - Colombia and finishing year 1 in Panama<span style="color: #990000;">June 15-18, 2018 (plus maybe a day or two more....depends on when this gets finished and sent)</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span><span style="color: #38761d;">well.....my first year in panama, teaching at ISP, is coming to a close....TODAY!!!! it has been a long and crazy year and the past two months have been super overwhelming....from a death of a colleague to a school board gone crazy....not the easiest place to finish.....i am coming back for at least one more year and if i can possibly make it work, two more years.....but that is no guarantee, as really, the past two months have been filled with a lot of chaos.....however, my time here in panama has been positive and i have seen some amazing parts of this country and countries in central and south america....i have met cool folks along the way, had fun adventures and experiences and look forward to some time away this summer.....i will be in both the states and europe during this vacation and i look forward to time away to clear my head and get ready for next year....but i still have not shared with all of you the adventures i had in colombia at the end of march and the fun things i have been up to in panama......so let's move backward a bit and on with the story......sorry it has taken so long to get this update out....</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span><span style="color: #134f5c;">sorry this never made it out at the end of last week, but it was the last day and then i was on a plane to the states....and now i am hanging at my parents place until june 30th....so now, let's hope i get this out in the next day or so.....on to colombia....i visited bogota, medellin and guatape (a cute little town outside of medellin)....and yes, medellin is where pablo escobar is from and what the series Narcos is based on...but when you mention his name (and really you shouldn't), there are many that are really not happy that this particular series is making it in the states....so if you go to medellin, realize that if you support tours for Narcos, the wrong people are benefiting from this.....and for those of you nervous to go to this country...don't be...it was safe and secure and i had a blast...i am hoping to make it to cartagena sometime next school year, as i loved colombia that much and really want to see that city....anyway...here are some shots for you to see why i loved my time there....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the first thing i noticed about my time in bogota, was that it was raining quite a bit, and that there were tons of green spaces throughout this huge city....one of the cool things i found in the park was this little library...it was not open, but during weekdays and weekend days it would be open and kids could come and take out books....love it!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">bogota is one of the most amazing cities for graffiti....it has become the place where artists from all over the world go and it is one of the ways colombia has dealt with slums...they have been beautified by local artists....one of the most famous locations for graffiti is medellin...however, i was not able to make it to the area with all of the graffiti there...but i did make it to a graffiti tour in bogota...and it was incredible..... </span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">all of these pictures were taken in the la candelaria area of the city....where graffiti is literally on every street....it is a way artists have documented colombia's past and present....the piece you see above was designed by famous graffiti artist Rodez... his work always contains multiple eyes and bold colors....he painted a ton of murals around one park...and his children, who are also graffiti artists help him with the art he creates.....the park they did was important because it was where a young graffiti artist had been shot in the back by a police officer, as he ran away when we was caught doing graffiti....this began a horrible time period between the police and the artists....now graffiti is not legal, but it is not illegal in places of bogota.....confusing, but at least no one gets killed over graffiti these days...however, there is a ton of construction happening in the la candelaria section of town...and as the city tears down the buildings the art is being lost....as they refurbish and renovate, artists come back and paint again...but no one who is sure who will win...the city or the artists.....the works of art may be lost over the next 5-10 years we were told on our tour.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">This one above was my favorite....there is one street artist who does murals of the indigenous folks from colombia...and he has taken the name gauche....which is a slang term for indigenous that is not very nice....his work is stunning....i have to be honest though, i am not sure this one was done by him, but it has much of his style.....so if i am crediting him for something he did not do, i apologize to the artist who did this piece that i love.....</span><br />
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in this picture above, this piece was commissioned by the owners of the restaurant it is painted on....this is the way that some of the art gets to stay, as long as the restaurant or owner of the building is still around, the art stays.....this piece was all cartoon cats....but the black cat in the middle is special...can you see the lamp post running down the cat's face near the right ear???? it was painted to be in the perfect position, but you have to be at the perfect angle (like this picture almost is) to get it to look like the post is part of the original painting.....still can't see it???? find the light grey post above the cat's head to the right of the nose, and follow it down....can you see how the right eye of the cat is just a little off???? love this play on your perspective.....<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">colombia is also home to botero...an artist who is still alive....his home town is medellin, so there is more of his work there, but we went to the botero museum for the day....as you can see, i am hanging with some friends...the schnack family...from panama who were also in bogota.....it is a common place for folks from panama to go to, as it is relatively close by and cheaper than panama.....botero is still alive and more of his work is below....i just like that we all fit into the hand....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">medellin is a town that has been through many changes.....back in the 90's it was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world...and now it is a place tourists flock to because the city has been "cleaned" up....does it still have problems, of course....but the people and government of medellin have worked hard to make it the city what it is today....in the middle of town there is a sculpture that is based on dante's inferno....pretty scary up close....but it is to remind the city what it has been through and how it has fared through all of its history.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">medellin is also the home town of botero....this is in his plaza, where there are 23 sculptures done by him....this is caballo (horse) and i....love the work....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">one of my main reasons for going to colombia was to see my friend and previous colleague genevieve....we travelled from bogota to medellin, where we had a blast exploring the city and gautape, a small town about 2 hours outside of medellin.....the building behind us is rather bizarre...it is called the rafael uribe uribe palace of culture...i really liked this side of it, but the opposite side was built very differently because they ran out of money before they finished the building.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">in 1995 there was a bomb that went off in a place where more than 1000 people had gathered for a concert....the bomb was placed in the botero sculpture called the dove, on the left...it killed 30 people and injured 200 people.....it was never really determined which group did this, but it happened just after pablo escobar's righthand man had been arrested.....when the city discussed the taking down of botero's sculpture with the artist, he requested they not remove it...and he built a replica of the dove, which he placed next to the original, to show that the spirit of medellin could not be stopped....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">outside of medellin by about two hours, there is a cute town called guatape....it is considered the most colorful town in colombia.....the artwork you see on the steps are called zocalos....and they are on most people's houses and commercial buildings....they represent the things that are important to the owners of the houses and buildings....no one really knows why the zocalos were started...but i did hear something about chickens.....still don't understand the connection though....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">even the municipal building is decorated by zocalos....they are the cubes along the bottom of the building...very colorful if i do say so myself....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">as we were wandering through the town we came across this old dump truck....the front of it was super colorful, just like the town it was parked in....in guatape they also had tuk-tuks....hadn't seen them many places outside of asia, so that was cool.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we also came across an old ferris wheel for kids....it was abandoned, and falling apart...but cool looking....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0OVg-7Qs8lxQTqu9VI21sINZBTWUkPDSE0-Uvk9S7EbXaCZHmUGBrxheX9NBpTsYjneTlYMGkjXgZqscSRcHiudUzm1VHWNT6znNZ4NkkxSnbVl-aWkS5bY7SxWLMhUwdJ_pEA/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0OVg-7Qs8lxQTqu9VI21sINZBTWUkPDSE0-Uvk9S7EbXaCZHmUGBrxheX9NBpTsYjneTlYMGkjXgZqscSRcHiudUzm1VHWNT6znNZ4NkkxSnbVl-aWkS5bY7SxWLMhUwdJ_pEA/s320/IMG_9705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">this was the view from our airbnb in medellin....i really had no idea how big this town was or how tall the mountains were that surrounded it....i would go back....especially to do the graffiti tour in medellin...as it is one way they helped clean up this city from being one of the most dangerous places to be, to being a tourist destination.....so glad i got to be a tourist there....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and of course i couldn't forget a toast to you all with a colombian beer, club colombia.....the place i am in was amazing!!!! a true working person's bar....with a live band and as you can see behind me, dancing of all of the local folks....my friend genevieve and i loved this place.....it was called salon malaga and really had a colombian feel to it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">as you can see my time in colombia was awesome....and i didn't even post all of the coffee i drank, hills i walked (its a very hilly place), and tasty colombian food i had while there...you will just have to go check it out yourself.....and of course, there were some fun things i did in panama over the past few months....so i figured i would end with a few shots from there.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">back to panama we go....one of the funniest things about panama is how they put up cardboard/metal cut-outs of police holding a radar gun to cause people to slow down along the sides of the highways....you can see one of them above....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this is it from the back....hahahahahahaha....it is always the same woman and she is rather short...but every time i see one of these i laugh out loud....slow down panama drivers.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">another visitor this past year was my friend julia who i met while working in china....she and her beau came through for a week or so and we took a trip down the coast on the pacific side....on the way to the beach we were heading to we stopped and looked at the chinese gate that is just over the bridge of americas....we got to connect with a chinese lion and each other on this trip and had a blast.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">we also stopped in el valle....a town built in the caldera of an extinct volcano...in a previous post i wrote about el valle...this was very quick visit, but we got to spend the afternoon down in that valley...and it was great!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and on the way back to the city we got to experience one of the craziest things that happens when there is traffic on the highway that leads down the pacific coast to and from panama city...when the police change the direction of one or two of the lanes on the opposite side of the median...as you can see we are in the lane closest to the median going forward...yet just on the other side of the median you can see the brake lights of the gray car going in the same direction, but the taxi coming the other way is not going in the same direction....every time i experience this, i get freaked out....i have not driven on the other side, and i am not sure i will,,,,crazy panamanian driving.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span><span style="color: #351c75;">the last shot is my excitement at finding a japanese place in panama city that serves asahi beer and takoyaki....yummy!!! i am also going to europe this summer and will be connecting with the folks that introduced me to this amazing meal...and i am very excited to reconnect with them....woot!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">so there you have it...my spring break trip to colombia and a small bit of panama at the end...more to come on panama before the end of the summer i hope....as i would love to have something else written about my time from april - mid-june...as i had quite a few adventures....so fingers crossed it happens....hope all of you have a great start to summer/winter (based on where you live)...if you have any questions, feel free to send them my way...and here's to the next installment coming a bit sooner....</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">hope all is well & </span><span style="color: #741b47;">have a fab day :)</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-15050261583550282612018-04-09T04:21:00.002+02:002018-04-09T05:15:58.236+02:00Panama Update #5 - Roatan, Honduras<span style="color: #0b5394;">April 8, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">hey there folks....time for another update....from some place else in Central America....although I have to say, this time it did not feel like central america.....i went for a week to roatan, honduras, to re-certify my scuba diving....what a lovely place to visit....plus, we spent an afternoon in el salvador waiting for a flight (we did get out of the airport and visit parts of the city and a volcano....so i think that counts for a country visit)..however, before that, in january, my wonderful friend david ing came by to say hi and visit panama....he was my second guest...and right after coming back my amazing friends katy and owen came for five days....and then two weeks after that, my lovely friends julia and jamal came by and then i went to bogota and medellin, colombia with my terrific genevieve.....so it has been a bit of a busy two months since i last checked in.....and....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!! YAHOOOOOOO....</span><span style="color: #351c75;">followed by the villanova wildcats winning the NCAA championship in basketball....and now the flyers and sixers seem to both be doing well too....i seriously think this is a sign from philadelphia teams telling me they will win championships, but only if i am not living there ;) so i am taking this as an omen to not live there again for a good long while....i am sure the sports fans of my friends and family are happy i am making this choice......go philly sports teams.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">anyway....below are some pictures from some people's visits and from my trip to roatan, honduras and a quick stop in el salvador....what a lovely island roatan is....but it was a bit strange....my friend carla and i traveled together and our friend tracy was there to dive as well....plus, another colleague was there with her family....so there were quite a few of us on the flight together.......it is a haven for retirees in honduras....and i learned why....it is a lot warmer than canada and the states, the diving is rather cheap, as is the accommodation and there are direct flights....at one point we were at a bar, and we were the only folks without grey or white hair and EVERYONE was speaking english....it was wild.....it was quite surprising was that everyone spoke english....even though spanish is the language of honduras....just not in roatan....however, spanish seems to be making a comeback....but it was weird to land at the airport, speak english with everyone and pay for things with dollars.....just wild....so the first few pictures are of here in panama with david....and then roatan, honduras, followed by a few of el salvador and a few shots of katy and owen and i....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">while david was here, we of course needed to go see the canal....and i finally got the chance to go to the new locks, and not the old ones....the ones for the super tankers....plus, we took a ferry across lake gatun first...you can see one of the super tankers, literally right in front of the ferry....of course, when david and a i hear the word ferry, we always think of the seattle ferries....this is not comparable, but it was cool to be on there with a diabolo - the bus you see to the right in the picture....but literally, the super tanker in front of us....it felt like you could reach out and touch it....crazy....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is a view from the viewing tower and museum for the new locks....we literally made it for the last 30 minutes the museum was open....but we saw a super tanker going through and saw a sloth in a tree in the parking lot....so all around it was a complete score!!!! as you can see above, these locks are very different from the old ones that i posted in one of my first posts....these locks are enormous and the ships that go through them are enormous....and remember, when you go through the locks, you pay by weight....this ship was huge and must have had a pretty big bill....each of the blocks on the deck of the ship is a millvan....so now you can see just how huge it truly is....amazing engineering....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">yes....this is david and i here in panama city....we realized it had been about 5 years since we had seen each other....and how cool is it that he came to visit me here....we spent some time visiting the canal (a few different ways), he went to bocas del toro for the week....and we had some amazing dinners out...this was from our night out in casco veijo...it is always awesome to catch up with friends who i do not see often, yet pick right back up where we left off.....so glad he made it to panama.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">after david's visit, i headed to roatan, honduras with my friend carla....we were mainly going there to re-certify scuba, so i do not have a ton of pictures....i will tell you that the diving was excellent and it was a wonderful place to dive....roatan has an incredible 80 dive sites around the island...and i saw some amazing things...from nurse sharks, to lamprey eels, to two types of turtles, to my favorite, eagle rays....it was an incredible adventure...and i even got to do a dive in a place called the spooky channel...simply awesome....i do not have an underwater camera, so no pictures from the dives, but they were spectacular and filled with life and living, healthy coral.....it was awesome....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">we also stayed in a pretty sweet place....the shot above is the view we woke up to every morning....no beach, as those are lava rocks and would rip your feet to shreds....but the place next door let you snorkel right from their deck....it was incredible....and really, how can you go wrong staying in a place called cocolobo.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">of course we had amazing views of the sunsets during happy hours at a different bar each night...this was the view from our first night,,,,the boat you see in the picture is actually the dive shop's boat i dove with....sun divers....it was terrific and i was sooooo happy to be underwater again.....not going to let a lot of time pass before my next dive trip.....let's see where i go :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">we did not dive on our first full day on the island and instead went for a walk to the beach next to ours....on the way we passed this sign...seemed appropriate for the moment.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">stopped and had lunch from the upper deck of a place on the water and took this shot of west end "town", where we were staying....although we were not in the center of town....which was perfect</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">on the walk over to west bay, we had to cross over this pedestrian bridge.....it was wild, as there was a little half canal it crossed over, but you could not walk on the grounds to get around the canal, as it was a resort....so they built this bridge for people to be able to cross the canal....wild....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">after a long day of hanging at the beach and swimming, we came home to our place on the water and watched a beauty of a sunset....it was the perfect ending to the day....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">while we were in roatan, it rained every day....so one morning, as it was raining and then clearing up, i was privy to a rainbow from our deck....good sign for the diving filled day ahead.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and after the day of diving we came back for another amazing sunset while sitting by the pool of the hotel....lovely shot....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">on the last of our nights in town, carla, tracy and i went to the favorite restaurant of the locals....and it was amazing....they even had a mule in a copper cup....perfect end to a perfect stay in roatan....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">roatan was pretty cool in that it had quite a few recycled art shops and one of them specialized in metal works...the place we stayed even had one of their signs....thanks for a great stay cocolobo....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">on the way back to panama, we had a lay over of seven hours in el salvador....so we contacted a tour company and asked if it would be possible to leave the airport and do a quick trip around san salvador, the capital of el salvador....as we were in the center of town, at the national palace in the historical center, this bus pulled up...and what they were doing was registering people to vote for the 2018 elections....lots of people lined up when they opened their main doors....it was cool to watch....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is a shot of the main historical square and the main cathedral of san salvador....the inside was lovely and a huge part of it was dedicated to a priest that had been killed - oscar romero.....he was made a saint by pope john paul the second...as he was a voice for those who had no voice and had been killed by a bullet shot through his heart when he was saying mass on the altar...pretty gruesome, but fitting that the church holds memorial to him....it was also a murder that happened while the USA was involved in war in el salvador....supposedly the US was going to find his killer, but in the end they never did (and it has been said it was because they financed the killer)....interesting story....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">from the center of town we headed out to the san salvador extinct volcano...on our way up the volcano we past quite a few trucks carrying this many people...it was insane and very steep....and if you look closely you will see in the middle of the back, holding on is a little kid coming up....he is to the right of the guy wearing shorts....talk about holding on for dear life....amazing....but it was a really steep climb, so any way you can get to the top, you will make work....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is carla, tracy and i with our guide at what is left of the summit of the volcano....we were actually almost 2000m/6500ft (approximately) above sea level....you could see all the way down to the caldera, but it was not smoking...as this volcano is extinct....for the moment....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">on our way out there was a very nice museum, where they let you try on clothes and hats of the local folks....i think this is the first time i have worn a skirt since my brother's wedding....so that is saying something :) i love that my antarctic tye-dye t-shirt matched my skirt :) well planned i say.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this was a view of the city from the volcano....as you can see...more mountains in the background....san salvador seemed to be surrounded by them....a quick trip to a cool city steeped in culture....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">then katy and owen came to visit once i was back in panama and we took a trip to the beautiful area of el valle...it is a town that is in the center of an extinct volcano....see a trend :) el valle is known for hiking and being cooler in temperature than in panama city, plus it is home to some tasty pizza, rum, macaroons and cool people....here katy and i have gone for a walk to find the square trees...using our hands we are showing you one of them...there were only two....so the walk was great, but the trees were underwhelming....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">one of the cool folks we met in el valle was daniel....he is an italian living in el valle....owns a restaurant....it was hilarious watching katy, owen (who is fluent in spanish) and i try and figure out daniel's spanish with his extremely heavy italian accent....but man, the pizza was incredible....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">el valle is also home to a butterfly haven...it is actually run by a guy from pittsburgh...i was actually quite impressed with the huge variety of butterflies and how much information the butterfly garden taught people....it was incredible....and of course we spotted the amazingly beautiful blue morph....they had quite a few....including the large one above ;)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">the last night katy and owen were in town, we headed into casco veijo for some dinner and rooftop drinks....i love the art at this rooftop bar called tantalo....it was wonderful to have them come by and visit me here....we have now met up on three different continents....only four more to go :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">and of course there had to be one last shot from roatan....specifically from the bar everyone knows...sundowners....this was a tasty coconut, lime and rum drink....it was as big as my head....and the woman who served it to me was from canada....roatan was just a crazy island, with amazing diving and sunsets....so glad i made it there.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">so there you have it....my update through february....it has been a fun couple of months and in my next update i will include some other trips i have taken here in panama....another set of friends who came to visit and possibly pictures from my trip to bogota and medellin, colombia....what cool places they were....i hope you enjoyed the pictures and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me....hope those of you in the northern hemisphere have a great start to spring and those of you in the southern hemisphere have a great start to fall.....happy april!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">have a fab day :)<br />dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-34849472404120752262018-02-04T22:17:00.000+01:002018-02-04T22:17:13.390+01:00Panama Update #4 - checking things out here in Panama<span style="color: #38761d;">2/4/2018</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">hi there folks and happy super bowl sunday from panama.....i am trying to get another update out, as once again i have fallen behind....and this seems like a perfect way to distract myself until its closer to game time and i am headed out for a super bowl party....before we go any further....i just have to say how nice it is to be able to watch the game in "real time"....not at 3 in the morning, like we had to in ghana....or the next morning or even next evening, like we did in shanghai....this time it's live for me...and very real, as my hometown team, the eagles are playing....not asking for smack talk from anyone....just saying fly eagles, fly!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">so as my time here in panama is getting longer, i have been trying to get out of the city more....at least one day of the weekend, as there is so much to see and do in this tiny country.....plus, it seems that more people are excited to come visit me here, as it seems very doable, yet rather expensive, from the states....so i want to give you pointers of what to do in this country i live in....all of that being said...consider this another invite to come on down to latin america.....just be sure to check in and let me know your thoughts before you buy your tickets.....i would welcome you graciously, as long as i am here and not super swamped with school stuff.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">now, back to panama....well...we have finally hit the dry season, i think....it started about a month later than normal from what every one here says.....but these days are mostly dry and rather hot....but there is usually a great breeze coming from the trade winds i have been told....i love sitting on my balcony these days before school, having breakfast and enjoying the trade winds....a slice of heaven....mornings and evenings are a bit cooler than before, but the days are hotter due to it being sunny and dry...not as humid now though....which i greatly appreciate....perfect pool weather.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">so here are some of the adventures i had before christmas break...plus, two pictures from my xmas gift of a trip to see the eagles play with my brother from santa...it wasn't a pretty game by any means, but we won!!!!! so exciting to be there....enjoy the pictures and as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me....on with update #4</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this first shot is from my balcony at sunset...i have to say that i have a pretty awesome view of the sunset and the sky here in panama does not disappoint....especially during the rainy season....pretty spectacular!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">this is a shot of a beach on the pacific side of the country...looks pretty nice, doesn't it....we arrived during low tide and there was a lot of beach available for us to walk up and down....but as i was walking i was trying to figure out why there were not more places with beach huts for tourists and why houses had walls that were like 10-20 feet/3-7 meters tall....i found out about 4 hours later when the tide started coming in.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">here is the same wall four hours later as the tide came in....check out the stormy-ness of the sky and look at that wave slam into that wall...it was crazy how fast the tide came and how high it came up the beach....no walking during high tide....since coming here i have done some research on it and there is only one other place that has such a high tide fluctuation as panama....some days there can be a 20 foot/7 meter difference in low and high tide....this is really a big difference from the atlantic/caribbean side....and was one of the main challenges tackled when building the panama canal.....very cool....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">we did not have a halloween per se....but we did have a super heroes and super villains day...as you can see...i was one of the ghost busters....trying to rid the school of super villains....not that cathy was one...but this one of the best shots we took....all credit goes to carla for getting these amazing costumes together....so much fun...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">in november i was really lucky to get hooked up with a NOAA ship that was making its way through the canal and scored a quick tour on the boat....this is me at mission control of the okeanos explorer....one of NOAA's research vessels that you can always follow....they had been mapping the ocean floor in hawaii, but were coming back to the states to get some work done....and had to pass through the panama canal to do so....lucky me....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is the ship from the dock....it is a research vessel and the sailors all got a few free days in panama to go explore....i got to hang out with the captain and get a tour of this very cool research vessel....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">docked right next door was a japanese vessel that was off-loading flash-frozen tuna from japan....to be sold all over panama as sushi and such....it took them nine hours to off-load all of the tuna they brought....and each tuna was as tall as the man standing on the truck...wild...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">while on the ship and on the dock i got to see the bridge of the americas from a very different angle....i have traveled over this bridge to get to different places down the pacific side of the country and i have seen it from each end....but this is the direction to see the cargo ships heading toward the canal from the pacific ocean....as you can see, i got to take a shot of one of the big cargo ships coming up to go across the canal....these things are enormous!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">november here in panama is a very busy month....it is called the month of state-hood or patriotism....mes de patria....because this is the month panama was liberated multiple times from other countries who were in charge here....the colombians, the spanish, another group that took over a huge chunk of latin america....so it is a month of festivals....here you can see some of the kids from school dancing some of the traditional dances in traditional dress....i love this shot because of the smiling 8th grader who is second in line....middle schoolers usually do not show such emotion at a school function...so it made me happy to see this....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">the shot above was the closer for our presentation and is a great representation of what is happening over the next two weeks here in panama....carinvale....the parties started just last night....queens and floats and bands....and water fights everywhere....this is what carnival/mardi gras seems to mean here...i am hoping to see some of this stuff over the next week and into saturday of next weekend....hopefully i do not get drenched....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is shot of some of my colleagues who performed in the fiesta de patria...love the costumes and traditions...all lovely people :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">during the month of november there were panamanian flags everywhere....one school even decorated their entire front field with panamanian flags....it is a month of patriotism to the highest degree....which was a pleasure to see and experience....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the other places i finally made it to was the biomuseum here in panama city....i went with the STEM class, so we only looked at the structure from the outside....and then i sang here with the choir i was a part of for our christmas concert....an impressive frank gehry building that was opened in 2014....it is still being completed inside....the outside of the building is to represent the diveristy of colors and life found in panama....gehry's wife is panamanian and it is said he created this museum for the love of this country and his wife...i still have not seen most of the exhibits....but am hoping to sometime this semester....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">on our way to the pacific beaches one time, we stopped to take a picture of the chinese gate, which is on one side of the bridge of the americas....this gate represents 150 years that chinese people have been here in panama....many chinese helped build the canal and many stayed when it was completed to have families here....there is quite a strong chinese presence here in panama...and has been for a very long time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">just one of the many beaches i have now been to down the pacific coast....lovely sand...and no real threat from the tides here...as there is quite a big beach in this section and no walls/cliffs along the water's edge....it was a wonderful day and coconuts were enjoyed :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">people have asked just how much rain we get here in panama....and my response is a lot!!!! i think we had only 10 non-rainy days from when i got here in july to when i left in december....and it really wasn't until 2 weeks ago that it stopped raining as much....the shot above is showing you just how much rain is pouring off the red roof...look at the stream between the red and aqua colored buildings....it is just amazing...as are the thunder and lightening.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">at the beginning of december i headed to new orleans for a weekend of science teaching training....i had not been in NOLA since the Y2K new years party i went to...it was wild being back...plus, i was lucky and got to see bourbon street all decorated for xmas....loved it....and the training wasn't bad either ;)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">on my way back into panama city from new orleans, i got a phenomenal view of the city i live in....people have no idea just what the skyline looks like....so i took this shot from my window seat on the plane....lots of tall buildings here....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">another weekend trip i made in december was to an island here in panama in the pacific ocean with my friend and past colleague, cat...as she came to visit...it was actually me and the four canucks traveling together....in the background on the left side you can see the catamaran we took from the city out to this island, called contadora....its about a 2 hour ride....very choppy...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this was the beach we came in on....as you can see in the distance...still the rainy season...but lots of fun anyway....the sun was out every day for a bit...so that was a plus....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">a bucharest reunion....we realized we had not seen each other since our xmas trip to israel....but like many friends, we just picked up where we left off from....it was a great long weekend of fun and i was so excited cat came to visit....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this island has been used for the show survivor....actually many of these islands in the area have been...they are the shows that deal with the pearl islands....this one was featured in the 2007 season....or so someone in our group thought....having never seen survivor, i was no help...on this island was a demolished casino/resort that used to be one of the best here in panama...it was owned by a colombian drug lord, who was shot out of the sky in his plane about 7 years ago....since then his widow has done nothing with the place....so people have ransacked for anything worth money...leaving behind this shell....which we drove through with our golf cart....too much fun....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">here you can see a shot of the canucks....and the backdrop from the fire pit where the tribal council had occurred during survivor when it was here...i cannot say i was as excited about this stuff as other members of our group....but it was cool to see them get excited....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">these next two shots are from the xmas day game of the eagles vs the raiders....a repeat of the previous super bowl the eagles were in....except this time the eagles won...foreshadowing???? i hope so....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">this is me and my brother before the game, where our seats were located....yes...it was cold....yes...it was amazing....yes....the eagles won!!!! and now i need to go prep for the super bowl....fly eagles, fly!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">of course i had to end with my traditional shot....this is me, chillin' with a local panamanian beer, balboa, on contadora....after a rough day of playing at the beach....woot!!! this is the life....so i hope you have enjoyed this slice of panama and the eagles....next update will contain more panama sites and possible some things from my next trip....next week....to roatan, honduras....where i am hoping to get my re-cert for diving and relax and enjoy the time at the beach....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">off i head to watch the super bowl and cheer on the eagles from panama with a bunch of like-minded folks....i hope you enjoyed this update and remember, if you have any questions, shoot them my way...i am hoping that the next update i send out, the eagles will have won and you will have had a great adventure of your own....until then....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">peace out....</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">dani</span>danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16791033.post-80716844703154824852017-12-31T18:06:00.003+01:002017-12-31T18:30:46.495+01:00Panama Update #3 - Don't cry for me Argentina!!!!<span style="color: #990000;">December 31, 2017</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">hi there all...and happy new year's eve!!!! i am finally getting the chance to catch up on my blog after a crazy finish to my first semester at the international school of panama.....i am now in the states chillin' with my family and friends and tryin' to catch up on the back log of things...including writing my update....so here is my apology and my hope that the next update comes out sooner, rather than later....i am hopeful that i will do it while i am still in the states this break....but that might be hopin' for a bit too much....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">anyway....the second half of the semester flew by...one of the coolest things i did was spend a week in beautiful argentina with two friends of mine from panama....we also hooked up with a friend of mine from ghana who lives and works there now....we spent time in both buenos aires and mendoza (the wine region) and i have found another "b" city in the world i simply love (think budapest, berlin, barcelona, beijing, etc)....let's get on with the adventure and pictures that were....and i hope you enjoy what you see as much as i enjoyed livin' it!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">so one of the first stops we made in this amazing town was the cemetery....specifically the recoleta cemetery....which on the day we went was spectacular....this cemetery is all mausoleums....so all crypts above ground...and the artwork of these mausoleums speaks for itself in the pictures....in the shot above you can see the gorgeous day we had (with no humidity!!!! a huge welcome from panama!) and that the red plant in the foreground is actually a poinsettia tree....perfect for the holiday season we are all in at the moment.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">i love this shot....if you zoom in and focus on the black spot in center of this image, you can see that it is a nun in her habit walking through the mausoleums.....she was also with a priest and some other folks....i was hoping to get them both with this backdrop, but to no avail.....however....this is just one row of the cemetery, which has over 6,400 mausoleums and statues and crypts...it is referred to as the labyrinthine city of the dead....freaky, yet cool at the same time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">some of the crypts were falling down and some were in perfect condition....i loved how many had stained glass windows and when the sun shined through them they lit up the inside of the mausoleums....it was stunning.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">the works of art of some of these mausoleums was incredible....and the statues of angels or the people who had died or the religious icons was just incredible.....and with the blue sky, white cloud backdrop....it was a perfect way to spend a wandering afternoon....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">of course, one of the most famous mausoleums in the entire cemetery was that of eva perone....known by many as evita....she is considered to be the heart of the argentine people and is still revered by all....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">her family mausoleum is the only in the entire cemetery that is allowed to have fresh flowers....no other has any....pretty wild....there was also a line to see her crypt....which was not true for any one else in the cemetery either.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">this is a shot of jess and i, standing in front of a bank.....we have no idea what the people behind us are doing....but we decided that they must love the smell of our hair!!!! hahahahahaha....whatever... it was great to connect with jess....we worked together in ghana....yay team ghana!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">the bridge above is a swing-suspension bridge....called the bridge of women...it actually swings open....i loved it...we walked across it later on the trip....but this is a shot as we were passing by it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">this was my favorite sculpture in the entire city....it is called the floralis generica and is a stainless steel flower....huge, as you can see from the comparison of the people in the picture....it is a mobile public sculpture...meaning that it opens at 8am every morning, like a real flower would, and it closes at sunset, like many flowers do...it is controlled by hydraulics and photosensors.....way cool!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">buenos aires is the host of the 2018 summer youth olympics.....it is refered to by many as just "BA"....they have started getting the city ready for this honor of hosting these games....should be a great place to host them.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">the building above is called la casa rosada (the pink house)....the balcony on the third floor is the famous balcony that eva perone spoke from as she was in the last stages of cervical cancer....they also say she spoke from here when her soon-to-be husband and president of argetina, juan perone, was in jail....when you do the research though, supposedly this never happened....the park in front of this building is where many protests are held and currently there is a long standing camp to remember the veterans of the war of the falklans....interesting stuff and a beautiful building.....don't cry for me argentina!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">here i am on the bridge of women.....the cool one in the shot above....i was soooooo excited to be wearing jeans and closed toed shoes on this spring afternoon.....so much cooler in temperature than panama.....as a matter of fact, i am loving the cold weather we are having in the northeast of the states right now....hats, gloves, scarves, jackets....love it!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">one of the must do's in argentina is to go see a tango show....and we went to one of the longest running and most spectacular versions....senor tango.....they even had a live horse in the performance....but my favorite parts were the musicians....they had all of the older musicians who had played with the show, come back and perform....3 violinists, a bass player, a pianist, and three accordion players....we were not allowed to take pictures, but the passion, especially of the accordionists, was amazing and so awesome to watch.....the tango was amazing as well....but the musicians were really phenomenal.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">from buenos aires we flew to mendoza....the wine coutry of argentina (just think malbec)....on our first day we wandered the city of mendoza and found their hometown chocolate factory....mostly by smell we found it.....even in high season, easter, it only employs about 100 people....very tasty....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">for our second day in mendoza, we went wine tasting....starting at 9am....lots of wine, so very little time....the first stop was trapiche winery, which actually sells all over the world....it is one of the oldest around and has gone through many changes, but is a beautiful place....the egg looking things are the newest ways they ferment the wine....they are pods made of cement....they say it gives the wine more flavor...we saw them at two of the three wineries we went too....so maybe they have something here....aged in our finest limestone and cement pods....hmmmmmmmmm</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">the second winery we hit was la casa el enemigo....the house of the enemy....it was started by a guy who actually also is part owner of the trapiche winery....but he wanted to create a small, boutique winery that focused on art, food and tradition....the winery is not really where we were for this tour....however, what they have set up for tours is hell, purgatory and heaven.....you go into a cellar (hell)...where there is amazing art....out into an open area (purgatory) that has more art, and the image you see above was from that part (the virgin mary holding a glass of wine....she is considered the virgin of the wine and is only found in this part of argentina)...and then you walk up steps into the tasting room - labelled as heaven....a very beautiful and hipster oriented place....they have their own organic farm and are really carving out their own niche in this region....it was lovely and the wine was tasty.....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOR6I8kIFxECpWed4yx7lmwB1OAiQoLObQW0JOGrGnTJMn-0QF1RZKnz-8N0tRDggZQJXJMvAC8NSFZtpiu-TKyLZrwrTyosCcWgcG4gnykdCK8R1BztaJdBTuS6quKo7apmDVg/s1600/IMG_8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOR6I8kIFxECpWed4yx7lmwB1OAiQoLObQW0JOGrGnTJMn-0QF1RZKnz-8N0tRDggZQJXJMvAC8NSFZtpiu-TKyLZrwrTyosCcWgcG4gnykdCK8R1BztaJdBTuS6quKo7apmDVg/s320/IMG_8087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">last stop was a five-course paired lunch at the winery called augustino....and this was waaaaaaaaaay over the top....the plates had edible flowers....they let us try four different wines with lunch and a champagne (as much as we wanted).....it was stunning....and in a meat-focused country as this, i have to say the vegetarian meal i was served, was incredible....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IcIhIqCTxLIYwtUVAeGLxH896VB0VsrvtoFqXaTLu2tMEmkVf2cmHth5727VblZkYfNp_PP4VWfeBI05-XWjFjD4t1lB8eIyjXWpleTRQokE-0fPeO7T3A0Ubv3uWa3FXtT8A/s1600/IMG_8098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IcIhIqCTxLIYwtUVAeGLxH896VB0VsrvtoFqXaTLu2tMEmkVf2cmHth5727VblZkYfNp_PP4VWfeBI05-XWjFjD4t1lB8eIyjXWpleTRQokE-0fPeO7T3A0Ubv3uWa3FXtT8A/s320/IMG_8098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">this is a shot of us after our lovely wine tour day....literally it was alllllllll day....here you see me with our tour guide extraordinaire sal (his wife runs the company), and my traveling friends shawn and tracy....it was a perfect weather day and a perfect wine day.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">then we headed back to buenos aires.....we flew, but if i did this again, we learned that an overnight bus is a better way to do it....you have dinner with wine on the bus....in completely reclining seats and then go to sleep....when you wake up, you have a few hours to enjoy the argentine scenery and then you are at your destination....one thing i really, really loved about buenos aires (and there are many things i loved), was the street art....this was an entire side of a building that was an image of frida kahlo...if you look in the bottom right corner, you can see a shadow of someone's head....to give you an idea of how big this is.....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgjXc-Kcm2BM4MXspbe8pKSxx6k_RwN3lOPF2vv2CjMVFGHIlg-NDAjQJhAuX3NjA7BuEo7bNgbp03endEFoqTzZXPlmgQDBvJ3bkjBtSDDekghS3lLm9N9I5QSUpxIHDFHXEiQ/s1600/IMG_8110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgjXc-Kcm2BM4MXspbe8pKSxx6k_RwN3lOPF2vv2CjMVFGHIlg-NDAjQJhAuX3NjA7BuEo7bNgbp03endEFoqTzZXPlmgQDBvJ3bkjBtSDDekghS3lLm9N9I5QSUpxIHDFHXEiQ/s320/IMG_8110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;">while in BA, we stayed in two very different parts of the city....recoleta and palermo....this is a shot from the airbnb we stayed at in the palermo section.....what a view....it was in the hipster and quirky part of town...so cafes and bars and restaurants and art galleries were on every corner.....it was awesome to just walk around....and BA is a very walkable city....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">we walked down through the amazing parks and the botanical garden in the city to the planetarium....the galileo planetarium....but unfortunately everything is in spanish.....and although my spanish has improved....it has not improved that much.....but it was a cool structure and lovely day to walk around.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">here is a shot of me with one ot the huge meteors they have found in argentina....loved it....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">again....i loved the street art of BA...here is another cool building i took a picture of while walking around in palermo....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">and of course the last shot of me having an argentinian beer - ande s- it was actually a tasty dark beer....this toast comes from me to you....and i want to wish you all a very happy new year and all the best to you and yours in 2018!!!! if you have not been to argentina, i would recommend you add it to your list....the capital city and the country are stunning and i really hope i get the chance to return to see some more areas of this enormous and lovely country....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">and so i have made it to the end of this update...i am hoping to get another out in the next week and a half, but am not sure that will happen....but i have been exploring parts of panama and would love to share them with you....i hope you enjoyed my tour of argentina...i certainly LOVED visiting this country....again...i hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season and i wish you all the best in 2018!!! thanks as always for reading and feel free to shoot me questions if you ave any....catch ya on the flip side and have a fab day :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">peace out....dani</span><br />
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danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035650792816315080noreply@blogger.com0