Wow, writing a blog post for the first time in almost three years, feels a bit weird I must say...those African adventures of our last excursion seem a lifetime away, and the ability/means to freely wander this planet having been paused for this long has been an for me, having taken for granted the ability to go anywhere I wanted whenever I pleased...the pause has given me the opportunity to refl Read on...
The Castle of the Counts owes its existence to the Counts of Flanders. In the ninth century, Count Baldwin II built fortifications at all strategic places in his realm to protect himself from attacks from outside. His son, Arnulf I, continued with this work and built a fortress in Ghent at the confluence of the Rivers Leie and Scheldt on the site of the present Castle of the Counts.
As well as be Read on...
After a weeks delay due to all the bureaucracy to get into Australia we finally arrived in Sydney to be greeted by daughter Helen and her fiance Blowy. They drove us up the coast to Avoca Beach which is their home town. We settled in to a nice apartment near the sea. The following morning we walked along the beach and Helens dog Metta remembered us and came bounding over to give us a warm The next Read on...
As we drive to our next border crossing there is always a little anxiety, but the reality is that there have never been an issue (long that may continue) There is a little conversation about the dog and its size, we are asked to step out of the van and the border guard peers in and we point at Poppys travel crate, he cant really see her but seems to have expedited some form of diligence.... and wi Read on...
We drove to Pigeon Forge today, set up, made lunch, and headed out for a busy afternoon that did not put us back to the trailer until midnight. We started out with an hour drive to Clingmans Dome which we have been trying to visit for 17 years, all the way back to our first visit to the area in 2005 when Daisy was just a tiny toddler. Unfortunately, the trail is only open April through November, m Read on...
The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of fierce national pride. Unlike the other Angkor monuments, it was never abandoned to the elements and has been in virtually continuous use since it was built.
The sandstone blocks from which Angkor Wat was built were quarried from the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen, more than 50km away, and floated down the Siem Reap River on rafts. The lo Read on...
3rd May - Throughout the 80s and 90s, Comuna 13 was considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. It was run by violent drug trafficking organizations, who used the poor, sprawling hillside barrio as a transit route in and out of the city, and served as a stronghold for guerrillas, gangs, and paramilitaries.
Santi spoke about the raid on Comuna 13 in 2002 where the residents we Read on...
With weve made it to the life raft. Dry land is far away.- Marc Lipsitch (epidemiologist) March 2021
The above quote is appropriate; the daily outpouring of news on the twists and turns of this pandemic are and yet, many people across the globe have adapted to a new normal which largely translates to fatigue and simply moving on. We dont talk about it quite as much, there are many conspiracy t Read on...
Grant Parks beginnings dates back to 1835, when citizens, lakefront development, lobbied to protect the open space. As a result, the parks original area east of Michigan Avenue was designated public ground forever to remain vacant of buildings.
After the Great Fire of 1871, the area became a dump site for piles of charred rubble, the first of many landfill additions.
In 1901, the city transferre Read on...
The Bondi to Manly Walk is a coastal and walking track between Australias two most famous surf beaches, Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. I have not been able to join Elizabeth on all sections of the walk but was glad to be able to join her on the 10th section she had made starting at Shark Beach and yes that is a shark net in the photo.
The entire length of the Walk is 80km and todays section was mo Read on...