tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7638850798345358762024-03-16T02:25:21.071-07:00The Overseas Adventures of Annie and Steven Berger 2016This diary is a labor of love for our family and friends back home and around the world. Through Annie's posts you will see what we see as we visit Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, U.A.E. & Denmark. Each year we create a new diary so please click below to view other trips.
Steven Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640530947960068248noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-49274220728119873482017-06-14T21:04:00.002-07:002017-06-15T21:15:03.808-07:00Six Months Later: The Last Highlight Reel of UAE & Denmark!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Figure it's about time I finally get around to finishing the last post on our four-plus month long 2016 trip that began in August in Latvia and ended in mid-December in Denmark! After all, Steven and I have both been already planning for several months our trip to South America this fall.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On December 8th, </span><span style="font-size: large;">after flying all night from Cape Town, South Africa, we arrived before six in <b>Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, </b>a federation of seven hereditary absolute monarchies established on December 2nd, 1971 and sometimes simply called the Emirates. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We hightailed it to</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Abu Dhabi,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a 90 minute drive south of Dubai, as we had long ago reserved two places on the tour of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital beginning at 10.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxUdtJlPD9QcVB19Q6kR-2FePF2-5WJBNmBD1bxDUQJNJX6o4AwBXqbtnxqBgF9omaWqgzDoH6-3PqIIlCMRolV7E86kSZOKMM81zCp8-h9vvVt5VfiqDAhKvJTtKPu9tw0IIqBIdSkxn/s320/004.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital,</b> the largest falcon hospital in the whole world, opened its doors in 2007 to visitors to experience the fascinating world of falcons and falconry.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArsAYWxCoUTKHoVZ9tz08v6Ggl3RWA7UjH5UIdWLU_jHsJ1eEs4CXrvFj59IOfelu42lI4CU-4SP-rheqd-Fyq0rtUQv7w1tAmKFmIg37uqGucKAjG9-jjEea68O6Rpo-suK1Rnah4Cx/s320/014.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We learned that because falcons live in mountains naturally and not in deserts, they are very popular in the Emirates. The white-hooded gyr falcon, the largest of the falcon species breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America, Europe and Asia.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-ZalrT716rP1GErrh1r0IgF6WD4ZFBtuQ-doQ4L94-igaOvKms7HmxsURV98C79kwfgSeGN2OG9VzP1VCosyDpkpCNGI-wayX5u5cFPt54qJgtgTK7Wnx9rhqtMBDEFGB5v6dl85Umrq/s320/028.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A new feather was attached with good old super glue of all things!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIADFxNcOF_ssZtQ1ZmRoSzZ-lBoveSe2Q08YTzG2tTn4hX3_mjG88tybo3hJro5-dpwFJ0GPKdSI3W67Hm82ybIAPUI8Ir9mFOrJQxjV-F-fh2TySP2LCahZfE1-pdAZp9rHpWOIG-_Y/s320/049.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs83p0zTq5lA0uAq87I106Nk4sXUrzDjw0VjKPnSfIYN2bq_HvpeG0vi7AwGf0fT9br_asqkvwlEFBglP4oN8eJFlc462rvZ_nxhigC36-qM8rHW1Z3psCzIkAZ97Zqcrrh6dMFBtsxtX1/s320/063.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of Abu Dhabi's highways was lined with an impressive string of high, glass-fronted towers. These were two of the planned three buildings that comprised the <b>Abu Dhabi World Trade Center.</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi355d1twLsmIxt2UNcLkU1zKU-jzcn5m23f7g7CEC5Ufcsb6EwG9PpQPFOOc0lKt71jldgysuPH_X1yp5-SJq6UbVCEJGyQWxbfFL0kL7l0rth4NPB6apVs3GW5X7nWn0MbCJ18vFs40aA/s320/145.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Rising over the southern part of the city was undoubtedly Abu Dhabi's single most worthwhile attraction, the <b>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.</b> There are almost 19,000 reviews of the mosque on Trip Advisor to give you an idea of why we wanted to visit it! We were phenomenally lucky to take the day's last tour at literally the last moment.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7_yBOBJWrPODrcq0dBr7H0L7K6XJ0_VDfonUzMWZWfFVGHRcoUjhAOkmeYFY6ovWbDI_SWLzD2X_7U0Gze21EfDLD1bYe4SjLUu5uFbfmFlcFM4RYjR_dPXrDr4lQpdehDpjeyl9R9HM/s320/160.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Though the main prayer hall can hold an astounding </span><span style="font-size: large;">7,000 plus worshipers, when we were there, </span><span style="font-size: large;">there was a sense of absolute tranquility and serenity throughout the mosque as few people were present.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6p81gSTmihXK7SFk7f0DnFoJTBuBvL4K-oLi7swslU99gx01Csa2EHsaxJgWACXl2hfM_5NZXgpRUEW_V4i_kOCKYSgUtyyI1l2i83LuGWc9cdhrFw0uBGYX1jbrf3t5fNHoo7NYoroG/s320/242.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoLOWTCf5qAnKEsSwggcwMpAcNfMy4_htwJgyPatiVPfWAGPnc1L-MuWurLqv-myM3JALVj0R2eZlo7EdpZL9_RDQpDL0CtvAvK9XhfCAbE8YIiCV-IDFVdChuXFHAayV9dNBF8GBL9sT/s320/223.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjI0xJlQoy-KIwKhyT4U-_6XSaFwadAEVbw-UVb7ukHLvsqzY4k_Q2CpbEroVpUmkNFJHU70kqTI5cHUXcQBaszad4R7ODiu5ug0Bqjzz2xR9Iuaf3pWTrcUuZf0z4RuF33A64Xk-yweV/s320/205.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of all the thousands and thousands of pictures I took on the trip, the following would certainly make my Top Ten List.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLGq594Re4IdZmC01bXNVheh5KJy1Ng3AEIHLjxW261snFFH-FGeNc1jyrYyS7rIkRCg7TNOM1ylOcTMRKximqn4lZFQwwnUREXI3eg573Mrze6cZLm6qvL34mqQwmed-3JJ3ktgIYvsZ/s320/263.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCeI3XIh1mu8ISO1J0hHOIUNESgwsfjcHAYe1smXsUoIGUKGtxevPTAfOqUIRwk3RiZw9_yyn9gTuK0mk0xHmj5863w66A5MHfDoPK05-9fj3UHdLjsSpQ6oED-n_KOhroejAB8e1o14F/s320/273.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The mosque's unique lighting system was designed by lighting architects to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds were projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiCZj836BO6pwDrk7-Z_SOBF91nyQl_Oh24cMr1Sv0t1KmRjr5Ie_JEYyWj4BHP9D9Jg6he_zIRPcimG_n1j6TuQuz7nUBJ6I_KelPMBLnv1cM9miRTFABksGiS-T24jhyhrLdaCML5qr/s320/282.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't stop thinking how incredibly lucky we were having just made it on time to visit the only two places we wanted to do that day, the Falcon Hospital and the Mosque. Visiting the Grand Mosque was an unforgettable experience. If ever there was a 'must-see' place to visit, this was it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day we got hopelessly lost while driving to the </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">and ended up at the <b>Camel Race Track. </b>What a great place to get lost at!</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdKvbstZWMnPBtmFFuv7zSK4AWu3LlDKO_IKnoYlRapD8Kpa9YZM-9v2NERDM6MOPFUTiEadBiaMUQ3-M2SbfaJ-nLd-Hx97pAs98X8oT8oNFuTRcGgKODrXpMoIsRLfMWbX0x-uIeMi-/s320/111.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yrW7nrcA3sptxXJUM4cVjiK62EEGjLrWTl3yThtRXAvj-cx71TQBAvSAgUJb2z7D4EmWfJf69mPF2VjK1OFlD0SDkBzo405uM5JgVbgmD3A5Lu5cpJiTz_kVDNQtbHV8OB70DD4XjVv9/s320/117.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What made the Heritage Festival especially appealing was that it wasn't just about Emirati culture. Also included was an array of displays, interactive performances featuring traditional cuisine and heritage showing the daily lives of people in Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, India, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Bosnia/Herzegovina. I was totally mesmerized watching the men and boys dance; just a riveting performance with</span><span style="font-size: large;"> no discernible break in the music or dancing. It just continued on and on with men joining in or leaving when they apparently felt like it.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7vKLqW9v8MOS4HcqxiRH9mJfMY7yClNbaOMBY1A9DRgjpoKaqpajPEs2Nzzt8ple32cEJ2DRMygYQJW4CIeML7CYxukOS_FIeGrVB1Ixr-No4-VaxHGsRAN0oic_h2t5PJZOAJblcy5h/s320/164.JPG" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Q96WrU69I_BKMbvd5X96lt3d31X3qNxRvGqwK4RCPDf0fQkP4i2C9eRc_WjNJOreV7WtE0uIoXMdalXsC2G-YBMx2b35J3tTExUwOd5ID-dRsHyAhNBuG8LUwPjQFZQwA6GH3jsWVT0/s320/170.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike a 'real' rodeo here in the States that only professional rodeo riders participate in, the announcer in the camel ring seemed to ask for men willing to sacrifice life and limb by trying to catch and then take down one of the camels by one leg! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0YvplYogswIhyphenhyphenELwlBYu8rxJ0Y7P1EDWeWHe5TqZNFQ9ytiUge9SY602jR3xvMv_tNtQususACN85bu7AS7rnfjc-pviZDfVGU2Mdmc6knVcSoPMDOLzfRU6qR3by8tI89GoGFx8mJPa/s320/259.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On December 10th, we drove north toward <b>Dubai,</b> no doubt the most well-known city in the Emirates. We couldn't help but admire first Abu Dhabi's very intriguing <b>Aldar</b> headquarters building. It's described as the first circular building of its kind in the Middle East and also described as the world's first circular skyscraper.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAgCayGM1raQ00gO1TvTNcylZVitTJ3VCfadmgmG9Z62lYXl9q9Fd2NZEjvBSoa-Jy4JXxanQh5tAwlxay6Z7M2HUwlrQsmxB3E90t5EASNQIdiFNPul1mFZmtxLBhPNMrCd2q6npYkRf/s320/003.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first stop as we neared the city was at <b>Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar, </b>the largest Sikh place of worship in the Gulf serving over 50,000 worshipers. The majority of Sikh expatriates in Dubai come from Punjab in northern India.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2nbYvBECDz-d9-QEXZLygs7oXPzM4g1zOMIIjiag6IpFdyHZGIvhQyyjIl1XCjjUnC0h6Y3SZdDZbyNKCxZZSXSw45nSnMa0FxK7vsyeLrboGAwbFxmdYqYhyphenhyphenNCeyiGwK5-yZQ_XVXrS/s320/007.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had thought we would just wander around the temple on our own for a few minutes before heading onto Dubai itself. However, a wedding was about to take place and we were kindly invited to join in the festivities. So, join in we did even though though we didn't have on our wedding finery! The bride was escorted into the hall by her family and a number of women, possibly her bridesmaids, attired in beautifully colored outfits called <i>salvar kamees.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRAcZ7oSDkTxpLv5VyyjgGYuQpEWh3Z-SS5l9D2oiIGxXFNtPZUFJvun6zPCGcWOLRPzmxUKsAgNDUtSXPnbpDJbSyh4JHgDPkf8cFlsUWwhWfWnLxAfUsoCv6bG7IszW1tFS9Q259H8a/s320/033.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQgBwnonsD9p_zydq1TEJXVYKbiy43fPlcYGk9XxOK3QbkGcrYX3f3lcjhQLqx7__IBs3XkmSKL4oBhWtGuT1iamwz9PMBc_pHzB0VRMkFF76ufQvmeJgO2Y5L3pyCvDl5eo47nf_dge3/s320/049.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">December 12th: The first of several shots of the gargantuan <b>Burj Khalifa,</b> the world's tallest building:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFko6UD99Ri1JB-wRKoMm9FHYq5vxv9UK-A2nwIsNPquIRb7MbP8qvAiIUP060IdX_wjCz7gdLRVBC1iz5QZDEwf30cPZNBpjwHJf2iFri955-quMDPpWiaGHeo8ud-WqoltO-er74uRf/s320/076.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was fascinating to learn that Dubai is now officially the tallest city on the planet. Considering the city only built its first real skyscraper in 1979, that's a stupendous achievement. The city now boasts 28 of the world's 200 highest buildings compared to New York and Hong Kong who, by comparison, have just 13 and 11 respectively. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNua06Y9pNxK7UJaCUCdVGHhQX1CTSwZXzC0AYKvP4hzLj17uoJhWrpLhORHCuhBE4qRZTx8V-kXsf04US3-H2gZ5ISDMu_WEXa3l5MdXwar7u_paDNc6coF7r9zcJINPChT_quZKanXc/s320/073.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0syjywBEriIn6RCAuaOiTyMHBrGnBDpPKLxKNwiiOJCpycCMUTSORbyBeloDlODlcMfG3TEQu-GDODmUXXqOEncVCRbDRSZIX_Fhdm1I94k74U_L-98vJUMCcS9dbLAI1pqxrOzWH7Zj/s320/163.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A close up of the Burj Khalifa which, at 2,717 ft tall, obliterated all previous records for the world's tallest man-made structures past and present. It smashed the previous record for the world's tallest building - formerly held by the Taipei 101 in Taiwan at 1,670 ft - by a staggering 984 ft! It opened in January, 2010, only six years after excavations began. Up to 13,000 workers toiled day and night, at times putting up a new floor in as little as three days!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsprAJVhyVduZuetorMs8Q4Xb-bJnE4widd_TymrOUyFeiV-vzN5VnjN7W8d-ivy6AJ7Jinp-u_DokFN_v6o1jwThP_KDBjVQQi-zotZvkZdenJDuaGByG01SsBOiLc6IWT9p3vlkPQw5/s320/091.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since Dubai is split in two by the Dubai Creek, it can be crossed at several points by either an air-conditioned water bus or in one of the city's traditional <i>abras,</i> the open boat below. I had read that the five minute abra ride was one of the most authentic and inexpensive experiences available in all of the United Arab Emirates. No way were we going to miss that experience!</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRrICWbukFgz45Tklja2s0oUIsC6xAA9VDR1WSSLUZ-5UMQMvTAZiS9Ij-DM3oM7fMnRIo88CnR0v05_w-dpOFeQmNEye_uskiQGOLt241QIkaBM69UPtovjU2xyYT91tSLjFCTnzFeU/s320/120.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a blast it was traveling across the Creek at a high rate of speed in the packed abra that was only inches above the water.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAafHsk3d1MpC5McMUsUrghVB2IRIE46EA4rVUdktFoY116vrJwgbi-lD-5AKTi1afLwU6zZ-PgFq6AH0dmiG0OaZtKt440ovwQf986WIK6uB9Mv8uDuYPjAVGtdLnJtxnhWjMJ3TYFEY/s320/147.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we landed on the Deira side of Dubai, we entered the <b>Old Souk.</b> The commercial heart of the old city still largely resolved around the souk.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ovQ3x0jek_tHK5H19a0z_04NrT4n-NKnV0QcC7tXw4cNoDMPl2tQYmkMKMvT0yMc8WtxsZszC2KzOs1IkZ10K1hBTacn199vZL4arntAJGrxMKnp1IodibXYp87eKbcSgLqy8qMzXs4/s320/160.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We wandered around the Spice Souk, then made it to the <b>Gold Souk </b>where a hundred or so shops were lined up under a wooden roof. The store windows just overflowed with vast quantities of gold jewelry ranging from very intricate designs to more understated pieces. After visiting gold souks in other Middle East nations this trip, neither of us want to see any more gold shops for a very long time!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnDe4rXQNYezOKoF7QwKsfMQI1P1npeHZQW1s513PIUsCAoYHkbACYgiW-u3Ty7pvXoePQdJ9HyNHdM6X3Fa2vsl51IYIxlnQebzjlagEHblnjZSZZCkK2CrWQUyrfAQ7TtlKvpGXm1k/s320/165.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I couldn't get over Dubai's stunning architecture. One of the city's supersized attractions overlooking the Arabian Gulf was the sprawling <b>Jumeirah Beach Hotel</b> or JBH with its wavelike shape.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rGd8J1joxbt_zhFcEcwTpVJOuPS3JpwxRgfbzflUyO5Eu6R22IAxcKMACKEz2nEa68So-qzmOu56AWn9p2l3LZ99Q0l0gdItrpHbbSuRCfFrxpVdRxw0J4hywvyvOTZy6xVM0vKfl6lQ/s320/243.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Towering over the coastline just beyond the JBH was the stupendous <b>Burj Al Arab Hotel</b> that opened in 1999. Also known as the Tower of the Arabs, the luxury hotel is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. The hotel's defining feature was its shape of a huge, billowing spinnaker sail of a J-class yacht. It was constructed from Teflon-coated glass fiber that was a dazzling white by day and lit up with spectacular light displays after dark.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbBcZICJAnJalOcl1g4MhRq4PQZVelFXY3wEVCWUWvBVnJiViAKYhwmQpXaUfAkIWdoc2K_w8VMPM0i_2EHRc3D15RcXYUh3E894dJtfWrrwepzu4yLXxWWbn03nZU6fm02uldwwI4q6_/s320/236.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Burj Khalifa </b>at night:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ddbLp1hwFL2AyhyphenhyphenjxnYmpfRq6dexPKLOyN0-8Q6-VT7BLfpOLF6htUrL1zTyB1QK12WIMF2IA_I2sUkisz_lAgPBkOmQmEbtzUugI6ZhUZbMinW4746vyLaxMhghbbSjtZBGNNX5bYM/s320/276.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On<b> </b>December 13th, we drove to the city of </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sharjah,</b> about 45 minutes up the road from Dubai. We explored the city's souks before spending time at t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he historic</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Al Hisn Fort, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">the most important building in Sharjah </span><span style="font-size: large;">and </span><span style="font-size: large;">built in 1823. The fort recreated the days when it was used as the seat of Sharjah's government, the residence of the ruling Al Qawasim ruling family and a jail. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEJHReBXLiihwN7-k4pKloY9e5vLgJ3j3LA-UYz-DwS1jDUyqyH-YimUgF0y0gL5fs6xiAVeIKax69Px-k-qDQB3ZJcYneKKHxf1vHL-Xd-xEGZyY12G6pyoKhOGAYy97ZR0IgbrnzGBp/s320/111.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Later, we headed to the grand <b>Sharjah Art Museum, </b>located close to the Heritage Area. We've never been to any other art museum where most of the galleries only had just one or two of paintings. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ053n9c0Yrq6zkOBoUDh98KmxbHt7lufQg8jfrvJVJS-lJIi10U3c0HB9Q0JadEUAQO-FopXruMiyxZsg3YYNIRzuqrNBvyunT3-5n5Hd1wyFU3BJOnzL9S0FjEVRh0zarp3Ylr_vA0x/s320/240.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPt9M6LHOs5wgTkCEBShyphenhyphenAftELWHM6BUHisEbsSh4uaK1-e4MQSgoSOfimLQx07RVY71d2EC5DsGEC-lE3sD4HDvrFeHUuWwgHgsL3OTm6iPA7nEwsRhZFqtZlScakUKovZFGCdniBQe8/s320/250.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfbAwCqxdUs4eA6xBLBawu3TqYiXUcb6EAeuDLzzKFn3D1IH3q-38StRudiricyUbquzIQv52Ys9J0SVGk6wLi0r7ckuysW3b2pf3vwKLVLdYgm-KkkHYmh0EaRTfuziAjULZgtueGypc/s320/255.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another five minutes' walk north along the Corniche brought us to one of the city's highlights, the superb <b>Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, </b>originally built in 1987 as a traditional Arab market or souk.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKWd7w1nsqkaT-gWejPB6UXY_pd4d7Yt3KHs9Xi-Nq1o8uXhF8CJfewKZ7LOroBC4vDbDhy0FG8pxhXCkcomcNMTZ1eZiMQm3oYHimfUukBc6gK0kETM-QYwJDrNf2HWP81ZjBe3PrLPH/s320/285.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A model of Al-Jazari's water clock from around 1200. The sophisticated water-powered mechanism was hidden inside. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqVdeQbjA7ZxMyLnA1GXqQJFEfT-ekm5kjbM0hYrFdI1W2Kx65bB5onq-Q1-A4K-uQa_IMV9UdEoB6rLAtrKGs7tThKnNKddEPUrRTMAv-zOnyYjdyP3b_w6nmQ_p-DdvyEfOtVpyFto/s320/345.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The need for accuracy in Islamic religious observations and calendar keeping was a major push in the development of Islamic astronomy. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyhzn9Hk0_YC3CPi3_4DLz8MFAdIsoCdSpu1DF36UICSgXCNAxblojyA6rjLOS3bkbR-Askp29RHQT6HA33KSF27rdyaiewKtRc7StAXxaCtFB_G5ymamAtcgqvYkK1XQTGan5S19VOc/s320/360.JPG" /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum's most outstanding feature was its majestic, gilt central dome located above the rotunda. It was decorated on the inside with an intricate mosaic depicting the night sky and the signs of the zodiac.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKRDOCh3MDlT23wjs5xShpVZvEgkQNJWd8vEc98jP2XJhv-q5g3uJtkA7psFSG337xdvPqq8_bqsYvQbrvLvuJeQC0k2g1P5gX03YKWRQjVfxru9-vmYq7bmIUyXB8UjY-tJ0Le_Ig_g/s320/405.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 10 dirham per person entrance fee to the museum - all of $2.50 - was an absolute steal for one of the best and most enjoyable museums we've had the pleasure of exploring. It had absorbing displays of medieval Islamic scientific discoveries and superb Islamic arts and crafts including beautiful historic manuscripts, ceramics, glass, textiles and jewelry. It was one of the few museums we've explored that we, or perhaps just I, could easily have spent another couple of hours to take in the breadth of the collections!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming across these huge copper coffee pots around Sharjah was so odd but weirdly neat at the same time. Just wish we could have learned why they were there.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGekLCKWDSlKAF-Q_kxonam0vVxQXsFQKSJ97lBVaouLsOOAD302gorXrRV3hpczGP83ydBJo1xxH65jrpLhNyh44LmDobciLnHt6Qa0mOEYfl6Nks-j8O1LKmdmFrOryjZdrKL8QZOY/s320/408.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Sharjah Heritage Museum</b> was dedicated to the emirate's traditions, customs and culture. Sharjah was hardly on our radar before going to the UAE but the city turned out to be an unexpected delight and highlight of our time in the Emirates.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRrjAp636UTfkLn9jatW6zzW-vXtGmMYlvyNjgYLzv8EC6GpCJZo7OTHXknWEKByVArJPirmRybEnSInt2ElvO66OUY9wc-LjuYVL_ZYF5vJsgJ4Gv94bCQnh9DfzfXowhP0hWP5JxUk/s320/428.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On December</span> <span style="font-size: large;">13th, a</span><span style="font-size: large;">fter a lonnnnng flight from Dubai, we were back in Copenhagen again, a city we first visited together two years ago on our way back home after our trip to Eastern Europe, Turkey, Jordan and Israel. Then, we only had one night compared to this time, when we had a full day to explore some castles in nearby towns as a kind of 're-entry' to our lives back home. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We'd forgotten that the sun set so early, about 3:30, in the winter. It was so dark just minutes later.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVQP1NA8BuqMe53Szm8X159OmMrYCC2x0X6Mk_SVG60Hqsk0qFUNLDtLiFkiouUBQcGl7zWRLqtVUmJQ284ahozjpZt2q9MVuiYwol2Y2dkjai9gWgjBoRlqtuU0f318D0vemVzbnkbM/s320/004.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9I0npbuDh2o4Hm83d4ug2R3wt-C2VHajI7RGHLjYjgwM3OAlP1nR7xDi26SDgz5dw2_Y94Nge4UDZlGJSxyfH-a95MXWTZKzAYAcwCzJGEMib66ZRxzhaTx64YDnmQ4PCQ9B5fx9s7E/s320/008.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On December 14th, we decided to follow noted travel writer Rick Steve’s suggestion and see the highlights of <b>Zealand,</b> the island where Copenhagen is located. We took the morning train for the short 40-minute ride to the cute little town of <b>Hillerod,</b> which was near <b>Frederiksborg Castle,</b> our first stop of the day.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6WlhnJ30nk7wHrMhSMeUei_KaTskV0ZHz5-U1Ekd1s1ixReHazNC4yj64avzWPu99TqbzZi6VXkw6jGEcxl3X7fARnii8UWdc__J4nj9IeY64K2PWCabBsRSccYvaqMRjNmsQArQSLI/s320/025.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKWh95ANxkz5uigAU70WCOnZQrXPZXpNMCIS4Yf40Tpx-ngnxMvUe9YG2PRmYoRP1cN1wcrm-MdrI4XcQlhyphenhyphenNIUIiwW3g1Bc8Wom-GfO_ySX90-yQg70zVJiG2N-MEPnsNN-3CVkk198/s320/062.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the castle’s most jaw-dropping rooms was the <b>Great Hall</b> whose walls were lined with stunning tapestries and royal portraits.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4gOi_lHDq7lOV3HsDiv8kHDHMqr0dkKiFxAOBZEvu9s7gQQUe1LyYddzRd-8aukEUoSDRkWwqHm1sQos_4CDWotEPvYLC-mRkWZIm2dpGzsNuGiij8ehpybhihwsD8beHgvKxA9Wb9A/s320/200.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fd1hhabJOYfRS5JRjwW8TvkCG1VfB7C0QzCSnLk0M655PTfzHdOgo00NGMl6s9E4SE6o-a5S_zvGHotWchHK_O_Z421fR5PwXSSQMe1z9jlvriUZZc9BV92VrQvqya8je0-42Pae99o/s320/199.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked back through town to get the train to <b>Helsingor,</b> a town northeast of Hillerod, to tour <b>Kronborg Castle. </b>Also called Elsinore, the Anglicized version of Helsingor, Kronborg is a sight famous for its tenuous ties to Shakespeare. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQVo-VE6sdmSktRu8pshVUr7QA4uPkyKJ9oyUndtkz2DnVFhT1X1lWM9zGC4HVVF_3uN7lgX1uILGHqC7pxuCZvpOEE6IlHWAHak4f8MX8XilrZ9BjKseWJo7HdL8ZPCADPxeko8qkrg/s320/313.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtRTXRjvbr1G8_N3qlm9N95itXI2jrRj88zz18xjuu-g4_rPHLLO21ujknJ40FoURQaO_EfferuPgPo2-RC79hZv2OfuZRFMV4_qtWBdrl0PFjbfORSBS2I8VVAGHU1dYM58IAQLMmZ0/s320/308.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The castle's <b>Little Hall </b>included a series of fine tapestries depicting Danish monarchs.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCtuPbPtX0tkGTkaOg-a84TGC6pvivfK1aR88BddQ5wAaZPYFod96yz-Fm66HgHdENBM3o7EuKPeVmJU3r2IXbkrGVKgwYyiL2MnBY3xGd5oTcnwC3buPeGvXhHiUHL8yHDOC7Nx-0cU/s320/350.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The most famous ‘resident’ of the Kronborg casements, an underground system of corridors and rooms, </span><span style="font-size: large;">was <b>Holger Danske,</b> a mythical Viking hero revered by Danish children. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR09aX1HmkcFP7Ja514nZ7sGEn0jS6l25e7liP78Ldgg6YcnWiiV3QRWA-vW9K0_WavvEXkBE557JyzZTV9EBvtGSqz2ewUOSvi71mwi7M-3jtOyq7d1G-55pVQJAKo5OB7SsqyCryCAw/s320/384.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our final stop of the day AND of our entire trip was the town of <b>Humelback,</b> site of the acclaimed <b>Louisiana Art Museum.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I say tongue in cheek that, luckily for us, we were able to view one of the museum’s favorite item, French sculptor Cesar’s ‘The Big Thumb’ – simply a six-foot-tall bronze thumb – because every time it was removed, museum patrons complained!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt-a1TsnfbWqGb-sVFnCBRdiOd5ywKV4NrZsVl6JjVUwC5sFFIBORm6Cov8SMV2cptytRKFGu71mTiV0kRdHRQCDJ9EWs2cUd5VBD39bf39FYR0hfob1ditFXF5tDlSn-BYz1NteXQL4/s320/449.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNgmVzkJ7pAqPCXguC1aGi6zCj5AJY8nPj7UAPCUKtsY2rYheHfixqkwyWRTt_uHHzcebfhN5CbVrWxqFpLLC9l8af9C7w4DRQW1mkRyMP2WSV9NoYmUyQ8jeKI0whfkOFm1hyphenhyphen03cKlI/s320/421.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I could certainly appreciate why 'The Half Circle' by Spanish artist Juan Munoz was a very popular work at the Louisiana. It was impossible not to be drawn in to the large group of figures. I don't think anyone seeing these laughing figures could ever leave the room not being uplifted.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8B__j12RZsQl_BUQXp1vsCzoKsvvUN_6jBw9UTcdAfly_GSpUqGJdyDp2F5i1crdYagwh-edCv44NHiePHclycCCPlm16Z_QpWsM2iciELp6-kZMPnXGp6KYKXETsoDLzO218e96JIo/s320/454.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A perfect last photo: Even after four plus months traveling another good chunk of the world together, we were both still smiling and having fun.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLbdh2LGJQd4jTHcfj9xnmCDX7F5BB80Tzr-o-IT0KQohfhFi-oKigdUBbU4QLdmzU_73jhUPztK_U8QtAl6l-9GNBATUhWGIKhgtbPnx_Enb_4PY0issmQrVy6h7ZUDXkIIBFSVFl_0/s320/452.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I sure never imagined when we returned home six months ago tomorrow it would take me this long to write the last post. However, it's been a real hoot reliving our travels and a great excuse going through the posts to come up with </span><span style="font-size: large;">what I think qualified to be in the Highlight Reels. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2016, Steven and I were incredibly blessed to discover so much more of this fantastic world and especially to be able to share our love of traveling with each one of you. We can't thank you enough for following us on our travels as that kept me going many a time when I thought of giving up the blog.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In early September, </span><span style="font-size: large;">God willing, we'll be hitting the road again to South America until just before Christmas. You can follow our journey to yet another continent by reading our posts at <a href="http://www.bergersadventures5.blogspot.com/">www.bergersadventures5.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wishing you happy and safe travels until we meet again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on June 14th, 2017 from Beaumont, Texas.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-77358241582743012892017-05-31T18:21:00.001-07:002017-06-03T21:57:50.891-07:00Highlight Reel 5: Stunning South Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After reading this post, I hope you will agree that it was an easy decision to have our visit to South Africa merit its own Highlight Reel. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent two plus weeks in the amazing country, starting in <b>Johannesburg </b>- </span><span style="font-size: large;">often called Joburg and Jozi -</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">on November 22nd by visiting </span><span style="font-size: large;">the city's <b>Apartheid Museum,</b> located strangely enough in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Reef City Casino Theme Park of all places.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> From the first step into the museum, we were made starkly aware of the harshness of apartheid when our tickets arbitrarily identified us as white and non-white and we therefore had to enter through different turnstiles. We were startled by the designation, but it put us in the mindset to learn more about apartheid.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgjGhpIZHUsGv3xlRp-x-zeydIX4_EVxAxZrCMIUsGJRFC6thKcgI5BOoER1hYgE8TBZq-X9Qu4guucxW4182MP1UMk42yWpkQgvDQX6tVxwj-r2uiY9p1o9UIoIOiyg3xmE80JWoBRM/s320/030.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Spending three and a half hours walking chronologically through the apartheid years and eventually reaching the country's first steps to freedom with the democratic elections in 1994 was an emotional journey. Steven and I had both been intellectually aware of what had transpired in South Africa when apartheid was the rule of that country's land since it happened so relatively recently. However, experiencing a taste of the pain and suffering so many South Africans had to live through was gut wrenching.<br /><br />The natural follow-up for us was a private guided tour of the vast township of <b>Soweto, </b>an </span><span style="font-size: large;">acronym for South West Townships, </span><span style="font-size: large;">where the student anti-apartheid uprisings began. </span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZDs4lWoc2G5kMsvT5QtEKbQ6mnA2xPXWhspK2bqEHw4eFxUcZ43GS1qpHxW4v-81pO3cfI_ACujlvL1QxKnWd7MwxymHKhDmtoNNr-7AeHOENl9I7mkJeS8eUgSQQTm6G5CUnIV8qGo/s320/099.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before this tour, Steven and I had always thought of Soweto as having exclusively slums, so when our guide, <b>Booysie,</b> drove us first to this very attractive middle class area of Soweto, our jaws dropped. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrlHvGhTwz19p4-f7J2_FYh7tO28MEeukU7KjVsomvUn-3tp_ZpK2gpB8fgsKIpda6IrumKSrAkembHQOzR0ibQWsiT1ewms3-a4rKt_wlmC7nExL4tfIpYzJ54PSJMLgzPIctHK1XkU/s320/107.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first view of <b>Kliptown, </b>the oldest residential district of Soweto, was what I certainly had imagined all of Soweto would look like. Unemployment there was officially listed as 55% although others report it as high as 72%. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOryWHDTGu3FnyzHtP2fCu2igilXhRprqh1kaKsmcd7j2gOr37xzLTIGm9YMO91AKqePBj-TuvCRIe-yVT6BWWrx2LKnSqNMOgVYqerOIDNymWu5RtgcG5PHMKWAmjZS4sTaYsm1qc1zg/s320/169.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking among the Kliptown residents and their homes and seeing first hand their living conditions was shocking and heart breaking, all the more so, I think, as it was so close to a city of much wealth.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwari99PyMMolSEjO4jJmQyhaNxeepTOhTALhNluNPlt2FOPKUc0_saWTlXQmN9wDxzToL55zQGcugKNkXNKrwiP2sl_0Y7syc3zucQK3TQvnARi9HLWq2Y-EuZB5dQD-5jZGE4tRXlo/s320/183.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A visit to Soweto would have been incomplete without seeing the <b>Hector Pieterson Memorial, </b>the site where students </span><span style="font-size: large;">gathered to peacefully demonstrate</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the implementation of Afrikaans and English as dual mediums of instruction in high schools </span><span style="font-size: large;">in June, 1976. Violence ensued and </span><span style="font-size: large;">13 year old Hector Pieterson became the subject of an iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising when a news photograph of the dying Hector being carried by another student while his sister ran next to them, was published around the world. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The photographer,<b> Sam Nzima, </b>was arrested as he had exposed the horrors of apartheid to the outside world. The student carrying Hector was forced to flee South Africa for his own safekeeping.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkyxpAz76RzvF7sMhRMHhU4y2ZCoCpOVYfyz-A5lubbx6pwLL2IkYjgHEJ8ICHsyAzsj8O6fB4pmjrnJC1dMt-sh3HvLJG9yOmm3Pgok-G61DpKxe5PSMJARLny3cjFouL__nNIJ_VEM/s320/214.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vilakazi St.,</b> the street where the uprising took place, is one of the most famous streets in Soweto and also the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize winners lived: <b>Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.</b></span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeo0kbYDOJUUC01J9wAOF2kxNDjCEfFXwInhrFRNAW7N52EQ0hpOPrdim3qlK8rJvHdyob_NqRNKUzUjnd6gC61w3UGXEROmcJQWEJjIVGfbgs1MV709Z1yRM6R3H8kYjxxF47CgF9I8U/s320/237.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It would be impossible to describe our visit to the Apartheid Museum and subsequent tour of Soweto as uplifting experiences. However, I feel that our visit to Johannesburg would certainly have been incomplete without seeing both as we gained a greater understanding of a horrific part of South Africa's history.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After a quick visit to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, we returned to Johannesburg on November 26th and left the next morning in our rental car for the long but stunning drive to <b>Kruger National Park</b> in northeastern South Africa where we'd stay for the next five nights.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD3rG44RNxqvqZD6DuSauiW4xzQsg0pUJ5ChXyCAeLnhH4OjqD4j_Qo4HbSeTV9RlHzm7HkIEw4AZUdQXg-BHSMXFEPuR9OVq3mXFhQUFTR2YNe8z7pp4yXoIhwPlvZt7T9XeHfhbqgs/s320/012.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5v830mysrGOe6jvzfiUK29tg-ievEforyu5im-07Ni3EEv5BdEznWDhtvqm9DC3xVEthDfgcX-DJhLNg6QTYOCEHqZPKK1Z3U-fp1JzcGya45a1hxXDlma8TRZoCOBbQMXrY40a9v8s/s320/067.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the 350 mile drive from Johannesburg, we were so glad to be finally entering <b>Kruger National Park</b> which was founded in 1898 by <b>Paul Kruger, </b>president of what was then the Transvaal Republic. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our first animal sightings in the park were these <b>steenboks,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">small graceful antelopes identifiable by their very large ears and brick-red coat.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFIyO9Uvhm0KZy3HjxgBXP7VxR_jlg7xKAod4L_ThoS1ID4jpCC5No01kGizRshQpbAABmkFLEZrTchHp_Nlop4zggEekv-8yYL2mo76yEZDsZT6qJFHx22kac6qWXAlrRt6I8iTJzbc/s320/089.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We, like I would imagine most people visiting Kruger, also hoped to see as many of <b>The Big Five</b> animals as possible over the course of the next few days: the elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. Steven and I joked that we were 'Junior Rangers' checking off the animals we spotted in the very long list in the guide. We doubted we'd come anywhere close to discovering the 43 mammals, let alone the 100 or so birds and the 12 reptiles and amphibians.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCp-5QQVhinR51ropz5NvQHdUqooIEqWAxXxUMrqvVEwEDyFUcHXHDWU45tE4zAQXvyOft9cvd2lb1_70AZ61Xcw7tahwsTlzP4gLtFCOcwW0DU5arj94vOUwjCTckd1Ii-YNxqVKH5Dw/s320/103.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvAbM-5H5XzscfGhVjQTnBncuQbywsH34VcCem6b6lJ3qQRx7yb-pTirGYZjONtczZG1yVDAnJ1o4yF2wkJJksbA3bzh1Bu1MRM9z_Uxi0KJw8eEp8TBCs5JAFgh8W3gF7EEOL_-nghE/s320/122.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftrWrGH1-lm8Xe07wYWBWDXWMm1Fviso8g0upLd6D2MSs2tyb6q1woM6loaoMg_Wt0_jsT9Ufc4bSwixz2S9noDEa3GR66OpIABhUAg_MNYH8B9yUumIuT2RQMg6ILnGrnXM06AxhTl8/s320/143.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This elephant made us realize we were on 'Africa Time' as we had to await his slow passage from the bush and along the road before we could pass him!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw_mI9IayxQSh7mSXiD5PIHf9pXK4s6g5yWlr68_cka90EQWU94ewSyakN0sK3wP3ZFGzoc4_9N0Y3XViNKsIyPqrZDXswyQO4K8jX2mX8iWmL_Bzs8wr1n4o6dqGjsH788pqG8-iZzw/s320/148.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On 11/27, we came across </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>blue wildebeests</b> aka </span><span style="font-size: large;">gnus because that's the sound they snort when they're alarmed!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTk_VFxwobSc2vBEC-ReHMTxwAhTcTx7AHMzzUeABffAG0MH2lbyOCr6cl3UlgqANk_Po3diKzt6w_wAz-KNYR-HZbXmzMq-5uF96AZylIPh2w835Y-sxG7gmB_Bys9s6SO2sYBmyG3Q/s320/023.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, we spotted a hippo and could check that off the list of mammals in the back of our guide - yeah!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XGrXrYMaZXn4C_cwNwwLBihCShh5oNH9U9u5uUmALNO9qoENEVg0gePA4zEEf__AE7P_0fnRaIhd7fpWYuUGGxQWm0OBp51rUevg-sZ4ClidOkmGAXQ-rjTwCFTFpbPcqYaxJyduKVE/s320/027.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The adult <b>plains zebras</b> in Kruger had brown stripes unlike their adult counterparts in Kenya who had black stripes. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi721vRvTDmE9jWXdJlcATXkAXizxBFc1GvDiepbwtbd2BEwW_VgfgPMVHbl2GPITaHfylRF1BVKblNXoeRIQBaiEQg5ip1YxU6AUJZwO14YRe85bg_Grewgo3CReXLrB_KRFV65NvHRWk/s320/047.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were so excited when we saw these four rhinos as that had meant we'd now seen all the Big Five animals that most visitors to Africa's game parks give their eyeteeth to see. The rhinos were the only one of the Big Five we'd not caught a glimpse of in Kenya's Maasai Mara. We hoped to discover still the other members of the Big Five here in Kruger but it was early days yet.</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh477NacjpVQqXjALE0ynQ7HN6SuIFWJ26zeUMaZuhBGuKDPdKjxTLMSHEGq2Xp1cWP5pKdPnvdkh8sFDA-LwW1RGeO-Ndqtqj2FCaQFyA-zrBKmMf9eUExkaLbpqbvd9DBC5leh7kNJ_I/s320/067.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We took a short detour to the <b>Nthandanyathi Viewing Area</b> as that was the first opportunity we had that day to get safely out of the car.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf0on_lC56guBLnDsFXzvccN-lHsQSI89LgAgTR-6wIZiZZbVZp4MC0UYTxygQ-wE7KAqtecz7PPNfBeKptkT1KU2m-IRz89_MPk51XuzOHP6hQkqX0amyvD6E-WdEtnL0uvA1G6TAYc/s320/081.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so glad I had my inexpensive Canon focused on these two hippos facing off against each other at the perfect moment.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZIjbevDTFwe9tO9fPNJ79SZ9Oh3HQskRRmMnDpmdjAkCDlvep4BRyXNkdWDMY9YEBJqK-IS6_Ne73-Lzxdl2lTSeebuxbV9mMzZEdwrAQgWgfqCQ-Mj_yb3RLnmo0l80SHKrMzEIn5E/s320/084.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a three-hour sunset jeep game drive later that day, the ranger pointed out a <b>spoon bill stork.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP9Rbqtr2dO3z-KVywyZFIk0RG62loWBwBjxz7w0oJqs-UhIWVyDjGLU-kkeM-8ymV_HBhnv-rRFDSGyAz0vLYXfBH2TZ9MjBxdNJJvQudyyaykIpl1NVRluf-XwnQhjZxazWZ5VayUw/s320/159.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We and the other passengers in the jeep thought that these two giraffes were simply cuddling or 'necking'! But the ranger indicated that in fact that they were both males and were battling for supremacy. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGVuVjdgCqK0dq__hBrJJ66hpsJwGmmn2i-zXW5dFuql3LMbSdHhGwUH2P5KHPn3E4rFpY0yDithMY-cXLG72F_AHszVuKs6cIlqF-Puo8Jt91D2L6E-HGkncf9usBDWfOTDkVvCHt1A/s320/174.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the southern part of Kruger, sunset, known as <b>'African Fire,'</b> was at 6.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNrZUkQqLr8QXzhUFGsEW1xpgMzv6Ml3AcxL8DOPws6aOea_3-F0hkbTD9qd0PWlpRefx80ni4CxJaooizkGVTgfitVoKXQcXLDWFbCOYZR2TUQopxd5mlbFZWzv9oIYo5Xei2mOV1Bg/s320/203.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On November 28th, we were so excited when we caught sight of a leopard, our final Big Five animal at Kruger! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFA8xygkCCFyk2uOfN2xbnespuXkfJnggqhwC1DA0m96yXJlgVGE4Grd0sTG6IYeE0RZCo3QZQvS2eyju7c0xgcQg6nBUvxOaDBcuHil4qvGwXXvYPi-Y3c60JRE5yPh9WOZfio5afi6s/s320/082.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we then saw these two female lions, it meant that we had seen the Big Five animals all in one day - yeah!! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVugRerrPG8NPgeNDkxuyoIxAK2WrmXKyY0GBDaYG4XQ4dvprrSGGvocGUmApb1ZhQTv-kSRnejJ8VcO86oSR1ZwqE6B7XNs_QcdsUNpi337BDi7PAcuc2GmxTxO8gdT6dcd0dDoTm0wuU/s320/140.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a treat seeing a huge number of <b>ostriches,</b> the largest of the 8,600 bird species existing today. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFyWsF3RE-hz9UieIPOCoHTFA2Lj7fXTNAE0he5Pt8zuRcfKuMceAGWVxXwMTMqwuFNtEnZakpC2vGprDPZ0ll8maRhMUjtOE0a5YxNnkZzhAUX6yLbDl4VM4QZ3lTBr4lpfsY2mTxqTS/s320/088.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had great fun watching elephants as they made their way across the <b>Orpen Dam </b>at the Lookout our last day at Kruger. Seeing so many beautiful animals and stunning terrain while spending </span><span style="font-size: large;">about 12 hours a day for </span><span style="font-size: large;">5 straight days in the park was a phenomenal experience. To think we still only managed to discover the southern and central areas of the park means that there would be so much more to view if we're ever lucky enough to return.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhDcugP0h0XeeyYJB3tZx53X0DrqEbnPBubwOJoR_ctCMUkNBbtlXoDCy05taHqI5B87c4nkT4wyRbRHxpqb3lercxxS3pxuYDwtt46AA858vQJrj2gudlmZBLYg0esMtSJGkveZWDp-v/s320/111.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On 12/1, i</span><span style="font-size: large;">t was certainly with mixed emotions that we left Kruger National Park</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><span style="font-size: large;">drove to the <b>Voortrekker Monument in </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pretoria.</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">famous landmark and </span><span style="font-size: large;">biggest monument in Africa, completed in 1949, honored the Voortrekkers who journeyed into South Africa's hinterland between 1835 and 1854 in search of independence and freedom. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGygLT-O12F3GzW_p00W8o2GvuaZO0KPx-SbfR7u67ckjYGMhO-HrmGhg0_uTCJia4sq6Niu4Z1Ql4JzL76uZF3ZgqsIb0c0r7UzA5YdcMz6-b9MLrTTW4hY3t5wCGjshYrwjEhYHKhUYi/s320/035.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That same day, we returned to Johannesburg for a few hours to visit <b>Constitution Hill</b> including the Constitutional Court as well as the Old Fort Prison Complex known as <b>Number Four.</b> The latter was where thousands of political prisoners were incarcerated, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, iconic Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi as well as students from the 1976 Soweto uprising.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpPe1ktB8Cqxs9Txuju5P82Cg8OYwbsKiZajbOTp9Rgj3LDMW5BvsoaI1eOOf4WWUG7HeSjDokPRqWaVtCeoSICxkaOLYCBreTKvCiII_oG-yC0a2oHQFdgjyuGx0ScSQ5CkL1x8UOU61/s320/131.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsw1eip4Kbm0RAXxur75CSDuyFlqpDLWdrVPpKBCBDoUpgPJOqp2P-iL2Tk34tSHDuFjPsNwV4bL61C-yIfpSJnguf50hoSJxPGhB_PHUxfX9FzvnLKS1bJLfmH2tP34083bAOfsl5D1X/s320/138.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PHejBJfk452Czl-2EloCi4yI6FFqPpgZRm2H5LFLHjLvBxTOHfI04-QrHFs_bTcnnroVYH7e9HWpH4_Ham57_5TvKeDtZLoCMWMKy6w9pCJvfruBXWpqoI6bqfKupNLU-yypL4sInbZi/s320/257.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">December 2nd marked our first day in South Africa's gorgeous city of <b>Cape Town.</b> First up was a stop at <b>Bo-kaap,</b> a mostly residential area with brightly colored homes located on the slopes of Signal Hill overlooking the city. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wnlqAy-I5k1F0O7yDhTjr9WNJt9W7jZGMUezGbd9eFoFHVyDFQOWnfpiN_u8F39yj5qWlIdFjeWS2j1seQZmM_XVQSuuyeZwr6S9oLudI0-MNMPL1WgGmmN2b4eVEcch5_F_sJ2zvYdI/s320/008.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkjrnO81ON14rrnWTTzM3SJWCjUXjUafJqStWfmvXHSyfst00zM96EMhW_LK87srVLqydf3OzKa7mQnYqXmTHU-oJCxIb61rVGSN5xXapl6gAvDD-FkWOYKdBCFVizvHnIpv6rPTrranr/s320/009.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In downtown Cape Town was <b>Company's Garden, </b>established in 1652 by Dutch settlers to grow fresh produce for shipping on long voyages, At the end of the walkway was the <b>Iziko SA National Gallery Gallery</b> that I enjoyed immensely while Steven rested outside.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTZuUDu6zjvo6RgaqaAxz1BpfV1xk-MkdrGT3g_-_IfitKwDrFpyBdffG5DUeQjJkexSrb7QUwTV9ylLvNhtBFs9UVhmUJVdqg4lQsHR6BMhdyDevYBYs_D5GLVBUlZP8lYFKUa1oQlr_/s320/033.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">While the country's seat of government is in Pretoria, the legislative capital is in Cape Town. In 1994, the country's first democratic elections were held and Nelson Mandela opened <b>Parliament </b>in Cape Town.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGB94RmQP2FKccTsOQnu-7z7UJ_c0k9rwOlQiX_iIjt-mzzlLT6pt8w1wcOIGNTdKMoeCUCS8zUx_lcnR1Jt53LkcpdRNvZWOSZW4e4eSNtF9wPxuPCaI7Q3qCPAQjtI8wJXXP86kaAuy/s320/133.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was important for us to stop by <b>Cathedral of St George the Martyr,</b> the seat of the Anglican Church in southern Africa. During the height and collapse of apartheid, the Archbishop was Desmond Tutu, the beloved clergyman and Nobel Peace Prize laureate renowned for his anti-apartheid passion.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMFdb6UabD9gCGSdXPe1Mn3CBQbNWwFG3gRR0v8es4owpy17OF_spPoCj0w1e6kLckVFNSg2PyVaoY0UfrdC5VRY9KgVbrhotH1ROJ-KGOOrQT8oX0BL2JNRrpxSZZCWs5PtWDibA8mk3/s320/147.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Iziko Slave Lodge, </b>the second oldest building in Cape Town and the country's oldest surviving slave building, was another key to understanding South Africa's racial history. Up to 9,000 slaves, convicts and the mentally ill are believed to have been confined in the building between 1679 and 1811.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3janrglsyQc8wJznp2XPYaYd_VxctzEaiHildk7J0HDybfwB_B2pF_0_v1tWAa7lvTAwp_Fe9A5kqMa3IZGSYYAZUTBI4ae3-UKjzCZ-nq7U_P-lHQYC7B2ObPFSEIQSUhYRSPga_gMCW/s320/180.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There we read a speech most eloquently written by Nobel Peace Prize winner and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. <i>"The story of South African slavery is one that needs to be told. They were the stonemasons, the blacksmiths, the carpenters, the people whose hands helped build this country. These are the people who had the first thing they were ever given taken from them - their names. They were stripped of the very thing that made them who they were, because they were property. Yet they lifted themselves up. You mustn't forget your roots - we tend to forget that too easily. Your roots make you who you are."</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6RJkfbBiGxhyphenhyphenGF0ehbK8hSCwsQojpT42psVm51vPCu-kius3q_v28Zr2d5PuWDzqZodVipLSGycrF5Yt5DkY9-CCljM6eAB_sRjReNScplp0avOs1jVVnqAtFeD_it0Qq1IeF6Voh9OC/s320/222.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On 12/3 we toured <b>Robben Island, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">quite possibly the most well known island-prison on the planet.</span><b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b><span style="font-size: large;">It was </span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">home' </span><span style="font-size: large;">to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nelson Mandela, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the world’s most famous prisoners, statesmen and leaders who spent </span><span style="font-size: large;">18 of his 27 years there as a political prisoner. Unlike other prisoners, Mandela was only allowed one 30 minute long visit a year and he could only write and receive one letter every six months. Thanks to our incredible guide, himself a former prisoner at Robben Island, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I left in awe of the prisoners' strength, will and humanity when faced with such desperate times. <b>Mandela's cell:</b></span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKcy_mrRT5RhyFNmyv5llSX9zioz50ieaYb_fUiFx9RdF-p_rQfCiqWoBUZFw5kujytayKRZKUtDtLSVXtX8zCT-SBnvzLyxYaicJaH-VsWte6j2MNBTxAfNHV40d-nyqA8ib9jHVJdTp/s320/142.JPG" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After the heart-wrenching </span><span style="font-size: large;">prison tour,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> we later wandered around the <b>Victoria & Albert Waterfront</b> where there were a collection of shops and restaurants. I loved seeing these beautiful bowls made from telephone wire that I'd first noticed in Zimbabwe.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAYvDHMgHK6vpKfR1aVBq47e7hEZAYnbCVWi4nXeXQQP6Qlqx9M5i9sNL9Xr0p78MybYpErjWP24ZB3XI3-gCnoVRbCNbaSCPLN4cu7VOiGv7d1ja50O-qKVOPFR6bsu5kdgiTwhpTGYn/s320/185.JPG" /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Almost from the moment we stepped foot in Cape Town,</span><span style="text-align: center;"> we began falling in love with the city. </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Driving along the scenic coast </span><span style="font-size: large;">south of the city and seeing the nearby gorgeous beaches on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> just reinforced those initial feelings, certainly for me at least.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP2VXr4xsnc8ifMUn6KnrsxolPmCnsoZOcY1F3HgRPmsrQpSzh8_mteH11KyQnW9BBO6lK4wHiPZlCtHyvWx3KreE24ajQUMsd6VT5tGYdW-76BohL_KmycCX375jqEW1xX2FO1Df64Sg/s320/201.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The woman wore a traditional indigo skirt common in South Africa for the last 100 plus years.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-4166NFoxjdWKJ1N3eM_MB0xCXIsHHSsk2agZqOSZeFvkNVhFxWAf1ggY5Ihtfil2Gw4TF_BzPum9iuLDZag2VeBugD12XKyGihlBA0D13rx5XFd53EipGDsObvzUUTHyjCrScmRk3T3/s320/213.JPG" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On 12/4, we drove south of the city to the <b>Cape of Good Hope</b>, located only 60 miles away. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeuMNbdJDSspSrJdsm-6uRSsFY6EADeiZY8aNsEnKhjgIWLebju70xm6z4Gw0qUKRqqS7dNG-mtHOrYgncTZV01uokFVXoSz7pQ0URjq6G0K92bXJFeGx9857XdAOkB1_fUDqW8o75hfC/s320/041.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfz0y60DUvBHDcHOvHWN9Sq9ISo2ibZqUKKKNGRzta6SCNIMiet5gQrOVY3qg1aQrP6HOd-ntt77g0vFalJtPMX_QZew22CFpNC8KM6JRgi5qhpuakw483mYuy1eoGpbZCynx-GhmM0mP/s320/084.JPG" /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This one's for you,<b> Lil Red,</b> as I know how much you love penguins! We were so intrigued seeing the <b>African Penguins at</b> <b>Boulders Beach </b>as they're the only variety of penguin that breeds in Africa and are restricted to the coastline and seas of southern Africa.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Yps8YMvFgCDdeCDFyPfSaXOFsK2stDzzsdcC4rN8bLOu75KJuCU4tqkuB3ILWIgO5ZstS5Fat_MjkCkVaDDDmNnxKemILFTqQItybKlZIQb3f0hyphenhyphene3X6RcFTXhXsuaDE1rriItQoboSK/s320/220.JPG" /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most stunning drives we've ever taken was the 5.5 mile long <b>Chapman's Peak Drive</b> as we returned to the city. It had 114 curves and skirted the coast halfway up the sheer cliffs. Luckily, the speed was limited to just 15 mph.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTANrvIxZ5kN7poQ9fB7vilcwj0vAbLpbaEoV4zDHobipYC06REKd-lxLkydRpc_8tcDTgqHSjpLqgWL7GlaFi3T6TWcQjCoIaPQIPd29ru9jY-awe982PUOWFVSeuLktscucmTIEiO4T/s320/306.JPG" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzS6CoOTWHjsGmzrYdYFydAxFIwzNMvftv9mpxeqz2hxqjPdUUAS179J0jK2-xdKGo7476NC6wDzFVZJqBJsEJCZ7hkknAWlYX2Gc1ylSGugKoQDldckyEjMW1lV_moqsUG7LRobbb695/s320/347.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent a good chunk of the next day at <b>Kirstenbosch National Garden,</b> located just eight miles from the city center, and the largest of a countrywide network of ten botanical gardens. Covering over 1,500 acres and with over 7,000 plant species, including many rare and endangered species, it was the perfect place to visit on a sunny day. Walking on <b>The Boomslang, </b> a curved steel and timber bridge that wound and dipped its way through and over the trees of the Arboretum with the </span><span style="font-size: large;">spectacular mountain backdrop</span><span style="font-size: large;">, was extraordinary.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCDYG-WQhWVcee3HITGR1n5uRTLYBpicUZypSFWgycnmlGsJ7D5qcfl1I338yq3ygtQHfztnp3mNDd5lh1SXAAcQ2vE-OEMC1PZJHzoS6LmeTm9-WDlecHqLSiOgWEFrVbSrHSRwl-8Gg/s320/058.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was nothing short of perfection munching our sandwiches and snacks while relaxing in a shady spot and having this spectacular view in front of us. For a while, it was our own Eden. Looking at this photo, I feel transported to that place and time once again. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrUQ4adccgY1lTlm_ro6w6HAEDoFx08GmQ1stJyvqiQPVIC_i3DuIjyc9WydiPRMD2Ce7VLmtU2MPnl6MDofmwAgwNHIZmD4vG7DaysnyiTpwQiiVsGCZ8OydzVw1hk3VN3h0CSE25E0R/s320/099.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As much as we loved Cape Town, we were always aware it wasn't the safest of cities. </span></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKY7B1_J7mPPJXx_Ww-7z5tcnL1D19mHwNxkf7H_reUUaQ3PSRd6fNLsR3Hm-AjWvk9ZP7s8QUCGUujVkvM_usZ-b_RiTvA4ZSfyHMYufeM7TIklnq17KMEkqFcMIBnJZRbVlSIE_FMIe/s320/156.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since we'd visited the Cape of Good Hope section of <b>Table Mountain National Park,</b> we also wanted to discover <b>Table Mountain</b> itself. The mountain is known as one of southern Africa's most beautiful and impressive natural wonders. The mountain rises more than 3,500 feet above the city and its distinctive flat top is visible to sailors 40 miles out to sea.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFi0h9M5Xy3ABuSesTlnUJID0rilHFzG7nCkFK2JSG3OQzdGuDZD18ztbCvjYulZVB_OANEY-Y-yl8r5tKo2D6uKhqP7HhvKN1KxkvGnpGUXwvp3sKXZefKBdaVWBahXH0Zh-WoXxQ25i/s320/064.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After taking the cable car up the mountain, we felt like we were on top of the world!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9_mP-t3Ogmxm2zW1C9FPq4zZY_VqZBT19KWCigOacmFmGALUeHgrFN3SgkGyCkWAf1aDKukIxUuAzna-RiW4elV4vIsRA0L0YtyVDgcucicyr7dtUIguWkav20Bdm-v3SyaauEqQAnil/s320/044.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so glad Steven didn't dare take another step as it was straight down from there!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih323UCir0IDAHRi_k0fevPSWufRY5Jt6Cj2e89x-Fw2Fv3yqagcUcBNrwKjLtlZ_0gjN_Fu9YK7Bth3bI8xaVIoUIEJ1Vhyj08Sit7zybL943QYJzk9-JiqnFBVc9PIW28d0YQIkEiHLY/s320/094.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of days later, we were entranced by the colorful ba</span><span style="font-size: large;">thing boxes at <b>St. James </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">located in False Bay about halfway between the city and the Cape of Good Hope</span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDs_lksEYHFsgkHUHlW7qSn_LdlzAmQbE69ygzWwo3CIMdssjTnIP_DvYSS24OovBQ5HbJnYyfyvLCuExAQmTQTzTBdsmQYOFxEjMkEkJNksad4G-ZxJVmmwmjWW_U2dsc0WFsYftCEb9/s320/179.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEobvwEsnkFPhtchjLJrUQc4AT8tCGTwoBG0HxfhGelShJk_6evSysms2xQGfSHKbg8fHGpRyDB5Ehwv2KgNNrZAq3HVvtfHvNET_N9HQSPEKKSjZzgPMoDOnYLEPVymZ-aLzFz9_73Jf/s320/152.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the adjacent hamlet of <b>Muizenberg</b> was the humble <b>Rhodes Cottage, </b>named for Cecil Rhodes, one of the richest men in the world in his time, who spent his last days there. Rhodes shaped southern Africa like no other individual: he had two countries, which he virtually owned, named after him and he was a colossus in the diamond industry.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0dMLqs1-JV6yJyBhZ1IUUjM2SyAHJmIi4xmm21n-nIiLrGGOZUDp55wU0gBKjBAW9HluBVENJxQm2f3_yQPuxDetWzys3P6-5vby3DBXus6-63_ke8Wd_S2qctyppeNy0Ef-g-bvm1kM/s320/181.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On December 7th, our last day in South Africa, we explored some of the wineries in <b>Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, </b>two of South Africa's most famous wine growing regions. In 1971, the renowned <b>Stellenbosch Wine Route</b> was founded and it is still one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Western Cape. Though more than 200 wine and grape producers were included on the Route, we only had time to visit a smattering of them. That just means more to look forward to if we ever return to the country!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qsNVe338wCgMiIFBdCTmRdkyWF4j5zux6gXODB-yj8DCL4E0Lse5EpYa-5f8mHPWJHp2shrdb274nF34W3bDnHFnDXY77WXtmJZ1aoP9p452SFxBdci_rLFuavTtaShK08nU_VmoMaY/s320/106.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAEElSa182g0P2dmuOuxo4s54jRErAO4E5U1IQxRUOUlfqX0dZLWM3xLNHQfG_m0Q_ag_17ZoTCJ7AjCtYub_4vMw2mw-pFUJjEUuvDGuBxBdKjaYzw0dHRRnHmlS45Sz-Nz0qwChpJ8/s320/133.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QIcbMwc7nO9uW7SSsROo2jHg1Fx63F84KpdZmxxdEFknHK_IhAx06LwE3u_7BF8Fz6dv8VhDudb51M4PkDXr85EVBJzosCfNE7GDEFKTCvF8YUrXSoE2gOP8avK2NfqINDFLon5fAzY/s320/161.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As regular readers of the blog know, we were lucky enough to visit so many great places on our four month trip. One of the countries that will always hold a special place in our hearts is definitely South Africa because of its magical location situated at the tip of the continent, the amazing game parks, the beautiful city of Cape Town, the combination of mountains and ocean views, the emotional intensity of Johannesburg and Soweto PLUS learning in great detail the horrors of apartheid and the bravery of those who fought against it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At long last, the final post coming soon: Highlight Reel of United Arab Emirates and Denmark!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted from Grayton Beach State Park, Florida on May 31st, 2017.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-43114307859816332142017-05-27T05:42:00.002-07:002017-06-03T21:57:50.882-07:00Highlight Reel 4: Ethiopia, Kenya and Zimbabwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After the opulence of so much of Oman, it was a bit of a shock arriving in <b>Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">on November 8th. Many people questioned why we chose to tour the country which is on the 'tourist map' for more adventurous travelers. We almost didn't go because of travel advisories from the US government warning travelers of the recent violence that beset regions of the country. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Even though it was the most unsettling nation of our trip in the sense of grinding poverty and the locals always regarded us as walking ATMs, discovering Ethiopia was one of the top highlights of our entire trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The day after our arrival, we upgraded to a hotel a minute's walk from where Steven stood as the first one was a far description from its booking.com listing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRM7mkSVa8w4okIaeDtml2rExfqmDPQ3aUX6afIo8PxfJ2_LXLuh6pueC3ImsPiE-PgG2cI6fR0YgFQi2M_EX1w80RIzd8N9dCFiSpEhhuRtHg2Fab2cvxh5uQm1D4U5cr_GCPTW9kqA/s320/008.JPG" /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was humbling seeing women practice their faith by lying prostrate on the ground in front of religious icons just before entering churches.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5g5oEJpYj-QtTpXd5ijACras95vReTDRZOt7YjRLhvMf2a3RlJceeJ1qyvOsLjr9L6ysYciBo6wfTrdDDLydEIjzAJ_kP8ucZWD0_tqx29eHsVzObq3kRTjiFfREnhglEPKb44UhKxg/s320/080.JPG" style="text-align: start;" /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were lucky to tour the very untouristy <b>Addis Merkato, </b>routinely listed as the largest market in Africa, with a young local guide, <b>Addis</b>. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UHm7UIqfgezHFPvILrQ2bX75r4teLjMBD6tAC258BqitQGytgioJwjAOGS5C5Vo6la39wp1zxhDNALnwJvECzj_qDqVQX3c9SiNec_bis326-33NE8XkO2vhZRSg0oeKsunR0ZKY5pE/s320/181.JPG" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Something neither of us had seen previously was banana paste.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGOYIMxJS0fUZCj08En6_mSiWZdLTW7rRWP-1QqX-6wErYRVxpzZpApaph-usfNkO6usr7MUuurhO1uJ4FmL6RClZO_3__Sa1KkhXO7_c2ALbPDLOUUF5yKXyJPlyigkGPOJXMO6iNtE/s320/195.JPG" style="text-align: start;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The word 'recycling' had a new meaning as we walked through the Merkato where every formerly discarded item was remade into something to be sold again.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlJun0WvXf84LynlonjiaikVc9RTuzN43-myGP0dUi8nLE1WY7YLIn2DAsY2X6c8C-zq2GYwzrA5U8GAULWEcEH4-Omcd_MnP1UJ4RyfWqi6n8I-9oZAaTONpP-AU6V96hfrhl9OfG94/s320/200.JPG" style="text-align: left;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On November 10th, we took buses and tuk tuks from Addis Ababa to see the crater lakes near the town of <b>Bishoftu.</b> It was clear that animals had the right of way as the road saw so few cars.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IaZQJRjQdSyd6BMQK0xCFZ5h92Q6Gaw8ZYx_AXrp-4NNamyDj54hChE0g0SEsZHqB3PZXCXq7r_zU1KbwogC5F-tAe7uI7DcRkXSgYfhRluVlHyoIomE-oqJ1yh55TIDrtf4tXshORg/s320/043.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At <b>Green Lake</b> near Bishoftu with Addis:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQXT_dloeeWabKR463fv24x-WNhdVvc-ryRFJAUHq4Xy0ZGlL0qdVj8VnTUQZAhViH-fH_nx8RG1gInkVeKk4ys6dpCmJGXkNe-g-MRqqFsdppPK2ojS6VsVA9QMAktUokds8i-t0Arg/s320/052.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking long distances to obtain water brought home to us how terribly lucky we are.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyboTFq_xou7sA9S5fJKAqv1QsXGH9fgrwKWWQErIvMA6wt9aFEWlVFA_rNe7Y39m73d79_TF5diW3GlKJKGkK4x-GQ5BX-EurCQBtToTRJslSdU6MTWZNBqO-gfSSZj8WNFU2sExYMSI/s320/083.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once back in Addis Ababa, it took over two hours and five minibuses to reach <b>Entoto Maryam, </b>the church behind me in the capital's northernmost suburb. The thrill was not the church itself but the adventure getting there!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3YShjGovTj_Fk-PWW_XzrvN3kMI75pXzb35Xo-0mxSCI-mDvAR-I1-Notwt3J0YbXs6nhAv0o0q0hCy-odFTzyWsWggyt_ImHILv2OUt6pUWqVPFOEQjaa11vtyKV1nPXiXnHGfKZHk/s320/219.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The unfinished stairs monument </span><span style="font-size: large;">at the former <b>Haile Selassie Palace </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">was just one symbol marking Mussolini's rule and Italian domination of Ethiopia.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SY2x5F3aQUsU7OpYxEv8i8ZZdmiZ1fDmeBQUa6-MO6Rd5HIooWljCFv5QQVb13WBPgfbkUni4Ni8PmQ78459naHRk5qdS1a214RCoc0dhHh7YsSQm_9ERYrTtKo8om2J1FoPfKKAnPE/s320/308.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of our highlights in Ethiopia was being able to attend the Saturday weekly market in the town of <b>Lalibela</b> on November 12th as we hadn't known about it before arriving. Being able to witness a culture and way of life so different from everything that is known and familiar to our lives back home is what keeps us on the road for long stretches of time.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GoCE5dXSV9X28FlThyphenhyphenNnk3E5sgdKCAfGM86B5WuJU_tuhaZJP35UYYYiL9JQf1VSZHyvgeURu4bg2UbhEcsAwoWSri11heFC5COkZZ4BBjgZxzfITXP_UQywhyphenhyphenegjx_YjBsHcuDsDXs/s320/069.JPG" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lalibela is described as arguably the one place in the country no tourist should omit from their itinerary. The draw for tourists is the collection of 13 rock-hewn churches and chapels that functions as a kind of living shrine to <b>King Lalibela,</b> the saint accredited for excavating them in the 12th century. The most stunning example was <b>St. George Church or Bet Giyorgis.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyRyT5zX_E_baFCWJvLgWVODIr6Tv-KGzw4rDRTXYllHBV2WRNEGHA4SH0WHt2gsm7QqlA95JWC8H-SfWQpdEo6sX2PK7W_Z8IliItRibG1oT5X3TEG4pB-m8jXvxGfOBrnSKsD8P7Xo/s320/294.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
h<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBEj9o2b3Gfv9ZJD_unwhqT50wddFTtlQ5icHkvIFirlQHlccKu7ZJyW8ID8xQVKsfm1AIUk1gxBbFwFFfA3la9_7Bc3BzoZmqc-doJLeikTjZupFe13d15OIBrz2_kIrMtbG9BbwL5Q/s320/296.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My trusty pair of cheap river shoes was about to give out so I went shoe shopping in Lalibela at the only shoe store in town. I was given the choice of just two pairs of shoes in my size - luckily I liked one of them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iLTgG8QvdmVlXIcvqdLtHbf55QFMLANxjZPgfEW2NNPaFyPADa447dW62CnYUbIlP8fFxstb-bRoBDN2Ho3JFvt3wRci8OLVtXjANx91LO6s_sNsS3pDL_fYi_Mn-TnTUeEMQtJF-FIC/s320/200.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On November 13th, we hired a tuk tuk driver in Lalibela to take us to <b>Asheton Maryam,</b> another rock-hewn church atop the town. After being dropped off at the closest spot, we had </span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the most beautiful and peaceful hikes of our entire trip the rest of the way. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Part of that </span><span style="font-size: large;">was due to the fact we only saw one other tourist the whole time. There aren't many places in this fabulous world that we have come across that are as relatively remote and aren't overrun with tourists just like ourselves!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BEnxKfzBU0JNJZrxVqZvYUrC6RBZyNL46xOCbbCisceZTVXoNuovaT4fKQWuaihxqgd4pUnhR5Aqv_t1vWzMJpjpGN23qV-hAb87ZkDf76i-sw6nmyRhFoi0TOF1dDguk2Uu6gEQZbEH/s320/264.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another part of the church's lure was driving up the incredibly bumpy road was akin to receiving a massage. This one was better, though, as we didn't have to pay any extra for our </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>'Ethiopian Massage'!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BgGJ_KQuP3PAqzfHdWB3QuoyjerzD6wu5a9b0kqPxXHFNEI9p2hEFwkHj12OEGORbXZ9-n8mQJj6kJuXRGLjsGyJWCqjiMZMdbGLv4q_yjY_v86ug7kKtIrc8-zCTqfAw4gTq3tXkl-J/s320/220.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Days later, we were in the city of <b>Gonder,</b> where the most celebrated sight was <b>Debre Berhan Selassie or Mountain of the Enlightened Trinity,</b> one of the most beautiful Ethiopian churches.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc1ZW4gN8btCPXWS_0eUza6LbL7uiizesUsJkMShyalKC47OZeHNXVjOBvhsRvYMiSt6z9wcGXzpWPs8zjv_tYpSPXYvFljrD1G1Qo8OVVOPfBQ6fpTvUskBJKH0V3e5h71ZDDxqkdmU/s320/005.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the moment we had entered the grounds, we could hear over the loudspeakers priests chanting and drums being played. Actually seeing and hearing them sing and play the various instruments in the back of the church was a riveting performance as we hadn't been fortunate to have witnessed that in any of the other churches we had been to in Ethiopia.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h4bD8IQ6DFfz3DtDOuc35ryoYToLmIoFDKY5887UNs5snMvldG_CA287C5fQPgCR4WzWHCX9Lsm0s7KwDSe4o0EA0YMuVIXVXVj0GO-9_SzBHzIg8PeRs8D1_dDHsiy2EqyVYFaonSA/s320/010.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The ceiling, with its rows and rows of winged cherubs, representing the omnipresence of God, was what drew our eyes. There was space for 135 cherubs, though 13 had been erased by water damage.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHk3oocXQu1KxKW1h4GzxjchyW4I91K2SwZnidLp4JdEr-L6K6jKLC7Y9H99Elkn8vL7c1e0UQ3EtzjWMj3nRV2wcH6TElfvrYUYD1BPVcZIQe7hxOikWUOmxRCUC1fBwl-3EaBLOthdY/s320/012.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The most common painting in all Ethiopian churches was of <b>St. George Slaying the Dragon.</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCKMlz4dkqg2BF9tgoT6FQHX8gQNSfKJpEGK_GoFIQ9SYZcgFbLmN2u_Ua19vs3DPD7a1hPx3I1x1tBMSCKsQdQeju9AziRXM5RCNm0B-yAAq9ppD6h76hgWhJJYcvCirzkCXUZlD9Ok/s320/023.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">By November 16th, I was in desperate need of a haircut and found a salon in Gonder. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The woman spoke some English but had never cut a Western woman's hair before. I was generally quite pleased with the cut except for the chunk cut out on the right side. Oh well, I couldn't complain as it only cost $2.50 with tip!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNH8RZLF6e-ysS_Vna5rUrDza2Sbq6ukgN7toqjazHHwOWjuvLIACoCgUrK4J0k47beyE9R4WrJZJiIqcY4Y9E0b2rErYZR6eNsCsIAGO1WgUFtWdf-uBbyjZZmpT_GOvAnjChELHb7Q/s320/219.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, we took a day trip to <b>Simien Mountains National Park.</b> The park was established in 1969 and was the second site to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978 after Yellowstone National Park. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYkf2ZUixyG5yZ5P0dcVoWwt0tXFkYFFWXK-jnSXw6uaMPCeEq2umcK_p_SrjKnyZZa0ezVjbfyYqN5AT7uN3OndHQQBYdeKIs4feJYmsR9dJ1lZeVsGnQ9EqpPbQ7gfT8wfbEZnzaT8/s320/155.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Park rules required everyone entering the park hire both a guide and an armed guard even though there were just the two of us. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you wonder if we felt more than a little disconcerted by having a gun-toting guard always bringing up our rear, you are absolutely right!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdYgmi5e-hlapXiAJmuXeCQZdTurrcNDoC6ty9_j9fiWFlfCOXYrUGB9PH-Zonf-XTQTSV_3GkO2uS3MnZy5zYaWi91IZ2h4vs8Xfk1XIB7t7Yml4SPCxpLIc4W4V-pOWl6O0SrFGiX4/s320/159.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Being able to walk within six feet of the gelada baboons was a surreal experience. It was so incredible being able to watch these and many other animals with no other people around.</span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVzWeHJ-vxK3Sb_H7TWjKO56oJlA6Xz91mDW7YT_1tYps8NaMzdPLt00Ms5UgyDmUAc-rR1aTZYis3xKyw1j2BVKlyVlQydNbCneoMWCbLnIWdmWIZy7T11S9xOKZonWdY4-FPe4V9dY/s320/095.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On November 19th, we traveled from <b>Nairobi to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.</b> En route, we drove through <b>The Great Rift Valley, </b>the name given to the continuous geographic trench, approximately 3,700 miles in length, that runs from Israel to Mozambique in southeastern Africa.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBYowcH7Z6kQqNQ48azJQ_ANXk9vvEih3LNTfaWr2WS3TukywixS_aiBqEXP0PbMjTweh-q94FfkrcBcWYRthpRjRJaZmCD86C6u8zeCexBGoJb5RcVMFvhVo_vVoft4WfRK8wiOFpgI/s320/014.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6-vFBW4xdZlLjeGMhY5bm0UORu25CzM-zQcGITFfupsNE-2V9ik7mnH80oRBubYH-iFR4Yl_SgrQswDIdvskGYM6SbCC6rhRUO6bFkBCcVZ-yO5W8tyLX4JpRs0oDWzQT1H2XwhWSEQ/s320/038.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Maasai men and boys wore checked blankets that were tied at the back of their necks and open in the back as they tended to their oxen, sheep and goats. Our guide cautioned me not to take pictures of any Maasai from the front. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkUdur8-PRU7kO6y8Yq8kgkPO2hjCEUgjKvXbS-TPLMqZFAMvt8_v4_lZN1GDuuYpEOgojOb51rDWYIRKtQFIQhj9itqGwy3sowkYVJlrLBnYDEIelYppr-l4rNqfZC757MJzuuddttI/s320/101.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were there months after </span><span style="font-size: large;">the summertime <b>Great Migration </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">when </span><span style="font-size: large;">1.5 million zebras, elephants and lions travel </span><span style="font-size: large;">from Tanzania to the Mara River in Kenya. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Great Migration must be a sight of a lifetime but we were blown away with the huge variety and numbers of animals we saw. Plus, we were so lucky as there were few other tourists there then. </span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thomson's Gazelle:</b></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5BxNLlqW1pq53aBp9zShsbNLAaVARGo-YPiAgcFvFWXvc5SXlO7bbe4nnpDii7oqncVzNkx2xWG-msdzKU7Pfzk0nwrAXrvt_o4FC9W0CiYMtHqrnOjA1102W0MFjQLkIgYcVpxXHtc/s320/168.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eland Antelope:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ivFiBk9Y8WObIvsP6PwStjoNRM9tks9ks4VfImyGT9PCEr9CQZ-MJCe48a3MxHIjO1F7rUgorMO993MJhTurLEvJJ1qUQghBnWzmOE1Dhl0ZZgmROL9HOAgTHthPTK9FT3th1bmHZD4/s320/174.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqkgum6h8lAVumbfL7eUBEEGePD59AKhr9NrMlXP-htTyRhcH6J4Nj9Z1V0MVB8_7vLYQfx-Hgbcyjuz49RLf6eMye_-o3w43zHwm_6ZwPtWyQwAMYm4zQbSAB0Qa8gz9uKv2eAl4ybU/s320/178.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Topi:</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iJ8dxab5A5xHK9LNB0ePdQPs4xY_MOsMnwrE284zFWlAGEVJL7EdWInQgeWqJrrlAXPtN-ZBIVTwxMVbzDHzPjFaV8TNs11AP1zFZgqwzqLZf-l70XK_Xg4m07Nh6GhxuLzRabumbGg/s320/209.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBYCPSwRjL7yaj-Db2Fzb7B_sWz89ehQo7-0XwkLgym_pdiwgoZY5EKcHeaBQ3-cePrrpZMbdL2HqzIlROWfGN89C2Wtebo7O1ADq8JHo3OQndLKkafGJECqB7KIPbf4tTsitAAgCb1M/s320/228.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cheetah:</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfwXx-yXC6FMq5FbF3H54VxPINpxaErDXUbBYsTSK3Uu5P1tmZDH1UVzM3KFXwNWpVXRY6hupOb6Xm4cJYRPuWWlEfyRtUpNv-IrQQVwNjxKRuL2w-nDPdat-7hTlvc1Uh243F4ZSAoY/s320/299.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was probably the sweetest image we could imagine: that of a baboon family with the father combing the fur of the mother baboon while she was holding the baby.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhjzGWXrxXwvf6mT_WE4vPt7OnCnww2Bh6hTQaheuu9y9aftzD4dnyNV1rgmKGg7_eLlDsUgZdLprg-kri_AzczFi-BUC3wvDZo_E2q4kBK70Hd94bS1bwXuh3QQzpz23PTxZFDPvCAM/s320/315.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so much fun watching this baby elephant gently being nudged along. He was so little, he was almost invisible in the tall grass.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYYWlSG0BKguCTE8aPUBjIJseK0xjImpCVzs4LGdemFYxmjMhaa89aOjFLCVMjgRAPxx6qsQwN9O_0OZfmBtRpJ6a_PK_c4mY48vXvoyT9mum1mzFVwlmkbTmMcfFAwZUD1l8rKN2a58/s320/331.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a few feet away from the van, we saw two female lions eating their kill. </span><span style="font-size: large;">How very lucky we had been having seen all the animals especially the cheetahs as they were normally so hard to spot. Some days, tourists see no animals at all, our guide said.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JrtSWywuhwd7JWgorpXohIiuyRDEvb7LR0eFmdp0awPBCcZHR7WJwKBub-WRmTwqsr5RPWd6Dve1f7x0XQluTT1VEeoJJbwvp-DSP3qVrOe-zF72rmA0-I99zmj0vemIfNKtHLGWM40/s320/086.JPG" /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On November 23rd, we arrived at </span><span style="font-size: large;">Zimbabwe's </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Victoria Falls, </b>the 7th Natural Wonder of the World. Steven stood on </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Victoria Falls Bridge</b> which connected Zimbabwe with Zambia.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZe392il2-kgYvidJXipY6PHJ4d73i1SxalimL0QJ_UHb1U8fBFGpOiitdp6PI-y7uZsK-dNzTQeLGuDNfNN8lsauG-d8PyUe3CCU4QSdDTIci-nlDKMjF7ZMYvps1yr5LWwK07VssEk/s320/034.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Photos from our hike to the Falls the next day:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqes5WPmeQXoIlkBeTc3yvPivgY3TibFfvMH8l4g_7aZs8eRYXBG3CV-GW5shzKgMAz4MI8QJgZ0zJnOGU3X_fjDnTdCHptgUqlHgAkaJmg7p8ZxhN1laJOKJH2i2eVQIbTu4tKVyse_M/s320/027.JPG" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYTG3p_dN803iYax_dRtXO2cGqFYVQVuKFvmjOv2HyIxiuudDkraxdbTI3oHDeyUFsLLPpVUWItSeRRm7kkM7YguuDDDKI7jG9KN2odjtCn7ea3b83Z3ms0tOTBigoaDX4fcBalPjJEc/s320/028.JPG" /><br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MBUxX7doEoxarwZfBRIzzZWYqSyP-LEKUBs4xfGp5jzvGN2uYm0oPp4a-CYJvSZIQbgRH6w8eQGNLt7DZTkM28wt_CkQ8o9mlAsJE1kGLamCK3uIVboyLGt2YWIGPzmQqfs0KA11weQ/s320/140.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMR0Fm5VBM1nF3v_4Xaaw_cESB_BXm7FDdtqobeacXKEALc8d1kpfadkXApxidrc-4jWyim3n1YZrbHsnlqHX8rTZW8ZwhRPIDWHpr04VeuEkhlJHVecfu1C4nuGJtWlgIUpE-x8-_zY/s320/057.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This view certainly rivaled any I think we've seen at Niagara Falls.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XRiKR7GCaK_0GyXu9cDAPdaT4Tvtk4y5NxdpLmhvyNazTGv0qhxbRa0oF6TTsZo-rer0t1Z2Z5vV_j4OCFLva_O1Pm06u_ZHcAVaupaw6R8ncXQQ58Nz8X5kx9Z6a5e-3RhhnH1YwW8/s320/061.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Spending Thanksgiving visiting Victoria Falls had been a huge amount of fun even if we were unfortunately away from family and friends on that special day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Next up:</b> <b>South Africa, a country needing its own Highlight Reel.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on May 27th, 2017 from Grayton Beach, Florida.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-90049302995754728312017-05-19T05:53:00.002-07:002017-06-03T21:57:50.895-07:00Highlight Reel 3: Bahrain, Qatar & Oman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">On October 27th, after ten days exploring modern Cairo and the antiquities of ancient Egypt, we started our tour through most of the Gulf countries in <b>Manama, </b>the capital and only city in <b>Bahrain. </b>What a better place to start than admiring the fabulous gold stores!</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUJ48cOKVBfgQ8sDj3-hOC_kdHvVB_LFU8E22uttPZDJiqTTRRZLoiJDt5ZYykdzr3d9ohmwG8mBG5PyKWubqmSY0ChouEJYiTzsXvjDSpzBhqJWh43JzA9uhlUy-k1dRLRRp0OLxD7Jf/s320/012.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was immediately apparent that the city was full of foreign workers; in fact, there were far more of them than native Bahrainis, something we had never encountered before.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND_RrBvk8RM0QN5BzDBw62z_MP7CKs_6ZZsgRZgs5wGXS1UTmOipkMF7ch5inG3e3og2v_F7v7_b8EWlsZN6AHS8kF9S9dJvaYQOBNZ-ekryy9eQMOgf4pGBS4koXyVypkZWaUjmjRZj6/s320/018.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am stretching a bit that the <b>Bahrain National Museum</b> qualifies entry in the Highlight Reel of Bahrain as the country was not a highlight or standout place for us at all.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw72neo1RACHbSgCc2xc37xK8bSgZxcBfbOtr9N10m08wtfyy9dRLp33hLUmre0qj11IRg8lxBWUiSw_E45BmrFBDnXWjBphsyRPN3ARbndz3p93D_pBAfOt_1cwOxYcyffdEqoiz91cI/s320/013.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Living in such close proximity to the Persian Gulf had strongly influenced many of the painters and sculptors whose works we saw.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuFsT3r7Hf4SR9wqAkm52KRnXqRb60ftzg2qlYWL1dSzUJ-_eodXaJ3e9ZQLJzeMcyoiyAuPbVr8kL8FZSfaCPYERZgq9P5E_mG92GgmRJKNQaJaVd6YBDD-UE4fJZ1ustVp1ZCHz-R_b/s320/025.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrGnzKO19C0rirzR_AJm6WkVrc5egTnv-eX-J9DeMdFGYiHT_-JvMqqrpTGEBeA2RjY5Jvs0rA7OHaKSfEYDyA3qjzw9cVJJcz1DK46peZg5iZx0k9qbVTuQ43TznUJhw2kH_-DzUv5lp/s320/027.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bahrain was famous as the <b>'Land of a Million Date Palm Trees' </b>as<b> e</b>verything in the tree was useful to people. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinat752GzdwcXErRYKdk2yj0JtSTpZxaCX6W4bYtmaqKU-Q0xXU012NVLW42etnBBJdeqiNgJTLSN1L6vOTzTUYgDAF6nE70bzU6KZQgfT00sbQ4M2CF8ICN-6LCI0d8waKviWPlGPD0/s320/346.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For four centuries Bahrain has been a country famous for its almost exclusively natural pearls. In fact, so valuable were the pearls from the island's shallow waters that the country's entire prosperity was built on the collection and trading of the gem. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwBkrXLsFlW8LtjWo4wfNr7lLSj_mhiAdiAfTQz-ahir1iCDYGjxHszEtlbHDS2X3-WjG-34FpbKpn1iBDb8yxwtDX4cd4lVY0GcsYyJlDFKf0n3shzS62pF5vwMNJDMsmaBdFBRqo4o/s320/117.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the first museum we'd ever been to that offered a private boat ride to take us to another part of the museum! Steven and I joked that our ride on the choppy, open waters was almost better than the entire museum!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknL-cSMlISr8n6X_lUGFbt0L8941457EhzZtee2C4pBauxFNkAsg36BlQdMkdj4Sg8xyRfSWF8dulaPqaoG1K-eyFrUOM_CvsEddb0G7BROc2M6znpXNNdzrOcTKl7JJFGli7t1ZzHwM/s320/136.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming from Egypt where we had seen very few modern buildings, few signs of any wealth or prosperity, no modern architecture and overwhelming poverty by and large to the skyscrapers and attractive architecture of Manama was startling. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxO5nldsbzXvpdSmxz2U6NyKJzj0vzPKjftnfnjWh9I3ZDOos5IcLNVIq6eF1uOrs5CP80jfFT7st_ES1uyaUF6YkXih_vIZC5ZQTrduhCwcAjNNCdN319Sj_6WoPSDntL2ZMucT3AEQ/s320/174.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Qala'at al-Bahrain, </b>Arabic for Bahrain Fort:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcZMl63HXeUTNybOpqmOIgFlWrCprM6GNdJe2Zsn1TGwcGYZSOZevLKKhqs2XOnfn_SHeuNdR-Wa9MkOXsFyhrYqna9XlQBz27CGGy0H9bZ0plNNavs32k7HD41gCxYP7pKx-ISMg870/s320/322.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Manama is well known for the massive number of burial mounds, originally estimated at 80,000, </span><span style="font-size: large;">not too far from the capital. </span></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcgNeg9hMpGHFIdkD4yDpJdE9aIgy_FK2ObB_0ko7tq1tJzgU2-ewZi4ZZiK4GN5ffA1kok1nvBBz3AyGchEuDxLCnHB7HPpg1ERWOKxFwuwhR97kjSCDeTtaRyRSOWdv_l5kvykGQpI/s320/073.JPG" style="font-size: x-large;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Muslim women enjoying sunset at the beach by the fort:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7Lotrro5wC9CmFMiD2EHw3KXczbIa6aOwzkGot6befTsfkzqSJIBsM5l5qCWJoHhW03e3bYPKC3K0_hBsk-1XcanFFPWtI9ccd3wXzhiTrMJ9chyphenhyphenLkVDSZIb-5CXw4bm2AFH5yVpNGg/s320/390.JPG" /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By October 30th, we were in <b>Doha, Qatar</b> and at its <b>Souk Waqif </b>about ten minutes away from our hotel. There has been a souk or bazaar on the site for centuries as this was the site where the Bedouin - the Arabic-speaking nomadic people of the Middle Eastern deserts - would bring their sheep, goats and wool to trade for essentials.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0MNKatx-L3Pc2w2uoLAgLI5E7oxIYowlwHEiJNFbhw5ZYnFdAaJhnByRGCo3jNI_8X3jlTIg04tXdnSFYpfpyb0ZRLy3yISSW3L1oN_o0yezyImkeLvEqtj3QPZ5g_DE2UgzqRmtP1Y/s320/165.JPG" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmzkl-rAZeBLSQIoP1hLdS-gILs7JMq4FCmlK9gZYZi0oLkgiVPCIr0FLeaIZMGx-epfOjQ4FNWo4dw-2q7a32wLMCQAhK24noJ23dCDSUWD9LU0ETN4DXVlCEIb9eK7P_76AR5HSo_0/s320/008.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The city's <b>Falcon Souk</b> was a special lure for us as it wasn't anything we had seen anywhere else on our travels.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J__VmvwEJhUujE_R_nFWBJdORTxNidil-TqmgLz7WVaatnMvdrLp0u3Oe3USodmyJB6YRPS9QcPIT7fQL-WtNl9g_8OY9LsUIJ2J8IT2RHx20b-lrY3oZ7QYRASVaH1Rg1SLpOfjp20/s320/079.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtv5Xmp88JrrjvK8KusO4qfyWMRl1MXrO9o0F5ULiLYUwWbJwRH0O-MaoXq_Q_FWs8Zl8gsxczNpICuipEPfUgu7X4E7_EKR81i_i6m8MZKBO8g2-S_AJKf6ipdgAnzZ1i6WPJ7qNZZA/s320/112.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Doha's impressive skyline where the business district was, was located across the bay from the souk and the old part of the city.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ckQQsZuPOwZxEnpgA3KBOHWktzYrGq6vQ1qCZ0-1BrQ3obCOoa9eRiXAAJQalcnQ4DR5FF9gBMQ5RVsooqkO_x2LoieazR4bR-X8dfMxEwovdCu9K8582RDj0eT8YpIbSWQtp6EoRuo/s320/139.JPG" /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The renowned architect I.M. Pei designed the <b>Museum of Islamic Art</b> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">which was constructed on an island reclaimed from the sea. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WQ3LbAQEH0oaUe9rHipXbZ0WVK8-S-EuSCMZoTpBFIJV-iO4Y3kyOCSf5V3KdjdmW1qqJ4N7qxVO75aanEWt5tUI0vjJrndLXEQJnSP0z2ZduR7sJSJTF_aX4wSFFnzPVTCaojXTFpw/s320/156.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmTYcDBavTuRSYh5ngqe5xifgbsez70bZFaf9VB_QE7P3zpX-uQjW056EZ_FfVtDgpaqk66rbb8FKsAsDN4hoj95rwygkh8PSLAJMHWp_WLmWpNs7R3puDsMPLhhlvuvxR-4IuTccLaY/s320/245.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqTrHwVE8QzH7ejgRH4RAnZD0IU2rg_4CRL_sNm2GMrVusW-uehyphenhyphenmOZvPwk7Ca3RVM7jiufPSnBQmyRufiVdOzMkZN6B4xlpLsOWguXM_7yg11rlttd0aGGwGi28PYX8-2Mx6eXfE5Vc/s320/298.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my top ten photos I took on the trip:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5XyQ47AaecY1Wv5bgJn5KrCv78dAjFAdK9p6fvT-zo1pZmHkRPGbmEDucfADBdeyIMBzyup7-7EK0iPelIjl3O55AZIcwD4uR7uI2kKX0EhJAvwxXRdxYPH_Vky4I7pHZ9tT6b817JA/s320/310.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As our Halloween treat, we hired a driver to take us out for a ride in the dunes about 90 minutes away from the capital. First up was a visit with camels.</span></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFBVnSeomnguTPvn125_CiUaShkdnW8jH4aoFMLbwSe8wgcp21yfHnuMsiD68NxQWTca4qtK9JdXNarmUFF_DP7v7uJYY0ffAKtBaA51-tcBNicpKzdZdbBOXd7fhwl5vSVL4df1opd4/s320/032.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was such a thrill roaring up and down the dunes time after time with no other cars around.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOwScwLHJIv2R1hYW790JnepmRcC6v9J12LPsjkC7ogRVVSuPZZMu2Sm8MknD1d6pgBm9rOupi0hFwWn6Z9mnJr3Q5qkDM1y9nKZ7mefEMrCJHx-WhKweL477udtvyH5SsQdkvhSfijM/s320/079.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This particular area was known as the singing dunes as, during the heat of summertime when the temperatures in the desert climb as high as 45-50 degrees, the tires hit the hot sand resulting in a singing sound. It was nowhere near as hot as that but we could certainly still hear the resonating sand.</span></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvcNnci3lkkdOvyStngvrSFMj9uF6awXS7FoyE35of_eK_BMIvC-3v4HqQ-EM2Rcd-l_T9M2qJxUt_UA9eiHjqUZCIOTmYF-mLzpettTxugHwsAuHtTZtGwfmqLYl8W8iUr5RLzWBlKc/s320/053.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Woohoo - straight down the dunes we go! What an incredible adrenaline rush we got rushing up and down the dunes at great rates of speed.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUimCAGosfn1rbuCfE9RqlYkLCe8g0ql77YtSq3OP4d9BsVARF2-RmWUGnbxo8PfoMCaCzT5-dF4ICesiujuDvYEF1-hSx6XyW-IoMGJDz_DlEQ3X1bwFLkXJg2AlZpIZ-smcLprFuZs4/s320/060.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Later, the driver stopped the car just feet from the water’s edge. He said that we were looking at the <b>Gulf Sea,</b> formerly known as the Persian Gulf. In the distance was Saudi Arabia.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_LiG-yBAQRTlJgDmg6WUfS040MTt6BU0M_l8rmRkFPuvzmmokVWuTOboR57ZSNvt2rU-W1DvW6VP7h3FHbXFNAA4WyIXJAi2eySQbIE8gw-KGW45PiiZTwjuKNcN6bYEWfRCRLTDUNg/s320/107.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven first heard about a 'set of jewelry' in Doha, i.e. a matching necklace, pair of earrings and ring. There had to have been about twenty plus jewelry stores in the <b>Gold Souk</b> and each had the most magnificent jewelry displayed in their windows.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16NPctpicogc98WlvBRs-Vl_ILFQw_aJMKL9RSQaRJnpYwRqADtmCyYMF-AUQxwd-DVN4Dpvqlgcz2QEvGqJO51V0vJYEstL5oyxkS-2lcFs_zmn3dUUw5Ja7aqM4MsbUjyZ-luBMt90/s320/179.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After several days enjoying the sights of Doha, Qatar, we flew on November 2nd to the neighboring Gulf state country of Oman and its capital, <b>Muscat.</b> Many stalls in the <b>Mutrah Souk</b></span><b style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </b><span style="font-size: large;">had what we soon discovered was the typical male Omani hat for sale.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SlIiT9WA_Q6q5_nElrijT7ASHArHYFJ8OldYjgDBo3QjbwVC1GlWj_bAgzEKZlbV4ZzqbbtkywSm1ocqEXGfrsYhb6UwcoWdj9vwuVlOVZGu3u51rCStgwld5x7WUrLR-A7U7CoH46Y/s320/037.JPG" /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Outside the souk we saw these traditionally attired Omani men playing cards as we walked back to collect our car.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-woM7t4solCTLKAKd568Nn3nmFTEA0g9ItgqRB3PnVnDtO0EvqNouYduOEBoKz1XrRb6UNbeSyDCCQOCP6f2jJ97h9IK5Gc5VcQPlGeqeXkWkR2rtebgLsbxjrpA5904w4l2qV_0nf4/s320/048.JPG" /></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Muscat's <b>Sultan Qaboos Mosque:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-jcJ-sJ2sx0K4oDJMURHR-EJyQuKRuZkjMC08BXohM5rwTOAwUMSkDq5lhEjGZxxRf_TGZ40W4Z5TmP0TkFv9P55k8elpjHJf6O3-yARgKmNhhoJmgD7jTvF2ZBk4vT2wM98J5SmsPo/s320/054.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftR3jUU-0Wa3oTq4sFOoyYxvWnZhunMxyFShyztXZvG-JPliGWmdbyB2p6a0E4-FRcOidMxWf1i5dJoCliYXgy-LTXkY1CAfAy5c1yImbWvQTgJtY7wdBQ4Va_GqYoiUDLlAW_n_QEpA/s320/070.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our superb guide, <b>Fatima,</b> made the mosque and her love of her Muslim faith come alive for everyone on her tour.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyH6rpAIxOlqG9DpN7X1eAb8i8WIStDlLUzFOZk0ZuaGYSVaMzZ2eMtD_y74ovHDnMy0sulLZ3AxPo3O_NneIJyTX26LEiDf3oH6SLbVhrNo0C0lV8g_S6_U6e5KKPDq500oV0NzCNoM/s320/095.JPG" /></div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Royal Opera House</b> located in the heart of Muscat:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxdxIlBakph_KF-WD33INwzexWDQdLKnleHNcSAo7iZwsAsgmK_YIb4MFrDhKofGA43N0F-WkEgd_L2PP38ONW1BsGsuijFlx0tMTZRjCUpE9fARI_8M3Mv5ZoPnkdoxMajKngwXdszk/s320/104.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MokzSql7LoUzYdeMpYB4wD_mhfvwAv5MQdBPY7PoHn2uDkWFYmusMy78srYwb9Es9rj_-ufUvtGt2mjF0EpCb95KDkUNf7shASeGBgbOunJs9dZcOvI1Ej9xefuID3Jf0awXMS12E1w/s320/125.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A scene driving through one of the two provinces in the Interior of Oman on November 3rd:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9O_xOhiN1tV8Bwycw2v0fDBMad883CQ3J83nxM3vNnUGAQBAGLRNf8k_I30ZfJKZxd2ua2tYloZ9ipAjYkZ0r8P_GbeWYvna1oRBYW-R_hPHp-hQ3XA3etS7Zr558mrftutXScBwvw0/s320/164.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We sure weren't in 'Dodge' any longer when we heard a camel in the bed of the truck at a gas station! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-DVVsRY1OCa2XiKyVwYaijcxOoatY6e0ikAHapBsLNXGxS2rXGFv0Fk_dyvucG3N4AKFWpOHs_zrGZvJhnfvChUeNcLBuEVfEdOT_cU7ea09_8C6qflg5X_cIBqg6qb6FpdFzsDX7CU/s320/263.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thought this should have been the ruling leader's home and not a court complex for a small town.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9bWBn2xR9Oz6Y-2RRVqwcotKxR-w5gtO2GzV71GDjRqpgl6UQV1Zt_e1SQo25my26zhDEHcSh09Q9uCF-tzWgpvvPj-nnG07v_lsZeztSwdOErTsS7kGM9dSAxiJpbg0gTio_gX7dnM/s320/190.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Visiting the <b>Friday</b> <b>Goat Market in Nizwa</b> was unlike anything we'd ever be lucky enough to do again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPTDQ821HibiO9rc2V9z6z9lMBvDSwRsPtfWhNR0tbzzx2sHQEC5JWhNJhw5rRHfFw74ZNSaCUHtW4EdnzQVwtOM6Q7rmOZdNn5rxUWbepkurtZKQdZ1WRCRSWrKCQeJmEc8WTkV3yE8/s320/012.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1CxA4esd1B630e3CEIpJuATDsHWIKIrsAMPL3N8CzRSz2w5Tu2sS2ojwGz3VXnd14ZJXInL-qLbEXIWb0xt2i9CzSdvEFgfv8YrnJTkedCYl3J6Lgp7Lsdu_gAgO23L80G2RdotdMao/s320/028.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Eating a date in Nizwa's <b>Date Souk</b> certainly was a highlight for me as I love dates as you can see from the grin on my face.</div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippa6ZJuh2a4_heJp0drrC011uQylJ602dzCJBiYh9-3XspbxT9N4u2jgAb6wR58R49i9jm8XremjjGa3FmLtWR0_cmZYaIbPumNB4_9tazAoeyiwi6ahoTgY2zjeXfrzqoXyJUqyCFJo/s320/085.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oman's tag line should be <b>'Land of Forts'</b> as there are over 500 of them. We visited several of them around the country; this one was in Nizwa.</div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiEN3589IxJnfmvLI0CfOe4idolaqP3bpi0Etf5NnVJ5aAP5YoysovzoMOfYzQbKprRLw7_L_ARyDov6kFR4wtLtIWL5nAAHMmFAlcUYZD7tvGVJvYhJE7OIsNsIadPNHhyphenhyphen72Bqmub8Y/s320/210.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our tour of <b>Al Hoota Caves</b> reminded us of Carlsbad Caverns back in New Mexico.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdglWPaTkiUv-mLIgN4OYBUpv7eQmpymkHmE6cIRkLAo7uOM4sp6A74qhCPBw_0JY5ZfMOxfmwNyKnCSasOKf02vhB7gZnayj05AH2KmqRzRO63S3jXLiftG6dWod4_VT7bvHVLOs4CVo/s320/259.JPG" /></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Men going to the mosque for late afternoon prayers in tiny <b>Misfat Abryeen</b> on November 4th:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xBGVFzsaVtm7d2DBvV70Cim1IMKiWdkcyP5aPpdC_OfWAhSTBayeMaVaCFTyo1ZSVvOrn6wd4mR521xirIddwuJM_Ri2YcCiAAKNDqqqDL0Ad4BRp8JRJOy_4vOct8n2gxVGIMVI92s/s320/338.JPG" /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Driving to the top of <b>Jebel Shams,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Oman's highest mountain,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on the treacherous, 'gravel' very narrow road strewn with boulders would have been a challenge for any NASCAR driver!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczh2d0YjPq7JiO5rKHZSxuSvtEA3MzWA-ELK553tniGXnnJHTMhKY7ZNPEtqS5bFWj-2P5e4OINSOstlhyLHl7bN1R1RrSrgPMbnTzO8BwKbd08o23KYPTYpXPBAWk9xPAJgA6mPHGD0/s320/008.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jebel Shams is known in English as <b>Mountain of the Sun.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZerENYA0Hm4iQzYONFVdVbK9u747fyMMmZMmUS4GacjkArF9p6g6Wsmp-XA-t5TrW5vQIkNP5pXH7XrnycU-VeCX45fB6YZOpbJLyAFd4D5XzxwmoLQJRKvb8fl71MsSF5YpyyuKUKU/s320/384.JPG" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hiking in what is known as <b>Oman's Grand Canyon</b> at </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jebel Shams is probably as close as I'll ever get to <b>the </b>Grand Canyon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It had to be one of our all time favorite hikes in terms of the difficulty of just getting there, its sheer beauty and amazing views and especially the challenge and thrill of hiking a trail on the edge of vertical cliffs. The hike merited its name as the <b>Balcony Walk.</b></span></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJNxVOti0H9dnrD63o7GdZVgwqEQoOt5GLxXwlXu9knZYmlJWYNi6Y8rC89SFYBYKP_P40aBBsVe5oPIUTrRbEkElXmibfD1uvB-9LDmjs5tU9_Gw0JKOh_4b1Xy_OhqOIrl69-CMlE8/s320/023.JPG" /><br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnWQCCofDnFM4LA9CWzewX95pVBRkinIMivCLcbuv5m10YWlLFOysh9ULDVlIP-V8vSxiWEOGxefCd6FVoRTf3wsxNyr1HZS-4t_DJbt91KUbA_oUQMKaOQDry2De0AymRp2BOek6InA/s320/019.JPG" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">
At <b>Sharqiya Sands,</b> a desert area in central Oman on November 6th:</div>
</span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHdd6X0TLdGjmB-grjNJ8fgiYrpMTcwrVBmDUrrwOCxLavD_zNMdSnFbiaFBI3M-dhp29_FC3ifetVFQGq9zk0y7Kuag6pDO3s4YmnPen1FZoz-NoFwEfRQY35zzhIhI6CP5FvTfINPI/s320/035.JPG" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Wadi Bani Khalid </b>is one of the most famous wadis in Oman. A wadi is a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQzSdLcTugdJN_ZhUnyog7n7YKZZCZycWAm5pk0txCYtNhquqOggPgA6_NCiWOW7R6wRDvwLHAxNbMhDVnU6Z0BTENHohwIZRZOlyHvQPudm0V_Ardhs7ovyDb_JUezR3i71ctNrtYm4/s320/096.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Swimming by ourselves along this gorge at the wadi was nothing short of heavenly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCX5bhyphenhyphen6FbdkJrZITM8mGdsYv7CBb860RafEjjrgmdcuYTqUry8T-UPCqx0O5dHU-k1gRbrAwhcIXFqSWLePcoh99iyEemLXBByujB7hX-WlRvHB0JCBwPJ-E_zuo300wdAercsDqhLY/s320/083.JPG" /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">About eight months before our trip, we made reservations to visit the <b>Turtle Reserve </b>located in <b>Ras Al Jinz,</b> on the Omani coast. Ras Al Jinz beach is the only place in the entire world where green turtles come ashore each night to dig a hole in the sand and lay their eggs, covering them carefully before returning exhausted to the sea. What a thrill watching that process for a couple of hours.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoONUiCXqXlyAV9acWrP-mqT7xEwG1l1EHokZ1JXhZTnmBMnmKC7D-TfodguzJu4ZZUqJVfPAu36evraafpgJ-Q4TZ30mdgfnLy0FIqBBwrEMQ7HVtMTNTNKmPH-dWrvJkvJjqvmXhZA/s320/223.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hiking in to <b>Wadi Shab, </b>a narrow, palm-fringed ravine hemmed in by spectacular cliffs, was an adventure as there were no signs and we had to clamber over rocks and wade through shallow pools. </div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulZH2l1M60ri9jIvrXnhHX7k-mcE-Gy3L8L_AGWyjuz6NN45OgfBoJ1vrlgo7cZiakRrqiJBvPiotz7AmOHq6TzgjZYu7dvwFp5dag1uWgPu6QBUwFHXCBHNaST_SM_-i-wkYGL_eHE4/s320/044.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The 80 minute hike to the wadi was worth every drop of sweat when we encountered the beautiful oasis. We had forgotten our swimsuits back at the car but Steven's Speedo-like underwear and my T-shirt and black panties fit the bill in a pinch!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8wD9hgjiDp_6MyAaK5LNIuQXRfTbd4Vzf0-ct_h6-CQgTLjb2KfNb9DnECqWL0dun7ffb94o-dtgb12LGg-RhXupGhuyuj2RR5yBMTomUbiS6e_iK8cei-g9AdHi6n4DB_skT84WxZs/s320/054.JPG" /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Bimmah Sinkhole, </b>75 miles south of Muscat and one of numerous sinkholes in Oman, was 330 feet in circumference and about 66 feet deep. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5QZL9T9L1AIdSw5WmTk4KKM0nQdYdPtIpQZF3zVi22pM3XiFBqaKLtnnHEp57R1QQmivIutJEwqJ9nslCG8PUNuROATw178_spNsAuFQdluMr0ZADDO_sToB6IN2wIV9PsHyB3GvY2s/s320/068.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyKo5R8ZjVRnwYK50saCcB-DZK9DH2LTZVBcO8_Le0D7JLSP8EskrdzfdV-nruPses3XcIWp3l7sTMPtm9WHB5KsB-m-h0wRFP_eg9taXWEwfWFUgFcGQMZ71eq7sgG8AXW5Y0piWyi0/s320/072.JPG" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oman was one of the few countries we've been to where we would love to come back and visit. We only scratched the surface of what there was to see and do in Muscat, the country's capital, and there were still huge areas of the country we didn't have time to explore at all. The people were very friendly and welcoming; the country was so incredibly varied with rocky terrain, desserts as well as beaches; it had a charming capital and interesting villages, was modern and yet still quaint, and had lots of activities for those either seeking adventure or just wanting to relax.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Posted from Grayton Beach State Park, Florida, on May 19th, 2017.</i></div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-15915182979327725362017-05-10T04:13:00.000-07:002017-06-03T21:57:50.871-07:00Highlight Reel 2: Albania, Greece & Egypt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking you may well want to make yourself a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of wine before embarking on this post as even I would admit it's long. I hope you will bear with me, though, as I tried to recreate what were the highlights of this portion of our long adventure. </span><span style="font-size: large;">After visiting Macedonia, where I ended the last post, we took the bus south to the <b>Albanian capital of Tirana</b> on 9/27. Albania was a country we were largely ignorant of with prior to deciding to include it on our trip. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudQ2A22g_1_xDZcTE-N0tr-2kAmSxQ55cK0zuO4sZ-y2OYZf5Os6vJFBzD5kF5qptXU6-cO_zEpsxYL5w6_RZsB5rE3ejoH-Vjbv-twGQO15vQfxjomTfzCNgVAEOjk-j0YmVdO8fT0U/s320/030.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We learned from our walking tour guide that, of Albania's population of just three million, one-third live in Tirana but one-third of all ethnic Albanians don't live in the country. Albanians only had access to private cars in 1991 as they were banned under the Hoxha dictatorship. Funnily enough, we saw more Mercedes Benzes throughout Albania than any other place ever in our travels.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI39QOda3Qk-z-L-MhFvTGB8jWw0Ek0gA0b12GMieadea2-Ca_q4uhqNMkmod9WYsOCXAIhi_f0lPV7DQtNhGffyiHYjw4YRWms12qDQ1JCpns58OTtex4gaJFpfANexAxaTMHTTGRWJc/s320/007.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The interior of the <b>Et'Hem Mosque </b>in Tirana, the only religious institution left standing in the country after the country's brutal dictator, <b>Enver Hoxha,</b> banned all expressions of faith.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbEIcK71OQLIGYaBTzZvgCaZXXaRA3yxActtGbXfT_mj3KazHtLZFdNY1csKSbkGHt6r-dyTb6n89xelew_BCOYXFnyGCU9N-fP2_rJ4pQjT4UJupIQwvyf0cqjXUQvrTSKlkez_rjg8/s320/014.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the strangest sights in Tirana was this Pyramid that had been the <b>Enver Hoxha Museum, </b>then a nightclub and convention center but was now empty. Some people on our night time walking tour climbed up it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU1oytH12dEAxWOHl0SS4BmGBwHRneqTw0IlgFV5jOEXKJBo0kYvth3pofHvcgfoMREvULJpviJ2JFwa_hBoPY0dGM1J_0ShGUGnH1GNWdlUrUKF5RsN7FuvsJWC_RUvyJcd3YSsjTTM/s320/063.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A visit to Albania would have been incomplete for us without a tour of one of the 173,371 bunkers constructed under Hoxha's regime. <b>Bunk'art,</b> a massive nuclear bunker constructed in the 1970s, was located near Tirana.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41dWIDgX81iC3HY59V9Yz5mXd0YJe4IA8QGLpCB1TG0VBtkIhk_9zOtMzkz_RFQEqklcj4GX6L63FPg8MILhyphenhyphenFQK5sm_tU6NF4VlxxJZVBgaGqQG6UkzDivB6QMj27ol5ZJKQneLnYfg/s320/125.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On 9/29, we took a self-guided day trip to <b>Kruje, </b>a pretty town about an hour northeast of Tirana by car but only accessible by four buses without! The town was famous for its beautiful crafts.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubfxqOEJdWsEEJ4Ke5wdVdqF1S6vBhU5z8FgU3LtUXFzcAFEm-KyZVqqWs6JRjGsy0YpZxtY6A4qNbGWHvpEF8mzxJiVlel_Qar_SFf6o06ijE7FdMkMGfcZW2AbQa_LE3vOVD-sszXg/s320/032.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had been told about this Kruje shop owner who was well-known for making traditional Albanian men's hats from people we had met back in Prizren, Kosovo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2co4lHtxvEK35kq7TzDm-q7dOZaLDxOB_6CFpPfKMEcOkbqMk9BK5ucZeuOss6GYYu9sYMLdmRjBFM9Zn-vV4pZMajzHh6fV3MWqtm6eC-vqrR428vVKajJLnx8Nx97DtP6bmcwpa_Xk/s320/026.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While in Kruje, we spent time wandering around the <b>Skanderbeg Museum, </b>a tribute to Albania's most famous hero.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpGtBDyEHjdY2af3t82IXhxECjtkj5OICHEhyphenhyphen88Av11IZ9uDanmSlTXlfVeEeTX-VlQhjlqiAO-HpP9Kf0aXp-gEYR7LdAtdkh8PhdMPatHLdG0MOel9lGo4pNYphrJtrzXxCtKceebY/s320/036.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So glad we next spent a few days visiting the UNESCO-listed town of <b>Berat.</b> Luckily, it had been preserved as a museum city by the former Communist regime. Berat's main plaza, in a sign of religious harmony, contained both an Orthodox church and a mosque next to each other.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_B550VSUt4fci6RdgU3ZYloRLSEcDmYiaVwbgpWxUN-yy4iORsEAbSbJpwFYR9ZUyw2a0AoMXlZh2EGJcFEZ7w7Ou_7z-hpasNGsHXebrNRcqq-nJiVcXYQbLHKkLaD0Py1tKv9Q8zg/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_B550VSUt4fci6RdgU3ZYloRLSEcDmYiaVwbgpWxUN-yy4iORsEAbSbJpwFYR9ZUyw2a0AoMXlZh2EGJcFEZ7w7Ou_7z-hpasNGsHXebrNRcqq-nJiVcXYQbLHKkLaD0Py1tKv9Q8zg/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The charming town and, for a brief time, the former capital of Albania, certainly deserved the nicknames of a 'town of a thousand windows' and 'White City' because of the striking collection of white hill-side homes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTJEuovxyJA8MKrRl_DmSvkM-WusLc1oxLcADd541-p9CnDDFOklHrNLX85k2Qd4gS6FkkAQbFtk8IvXHwhNappBwjTVZ3UfhCfArNaPSE5XvA4FLNClPGe5_VYabKA635uJrMMN78rI/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTJEuovxyJA8MKrRl_DmSvkM-WusLc1oxLcADd541-p9CnDDFOklHrNLX85k2Qd4gS6FkkAQbFtk8IvXHwhNappBwjTVZ3UfhCfArNaPSE5XvA4FLNClPGe5_VYabKA635uJrMMN78rI/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The very impressive citadel atop the town:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLAss5TNZJacmgCBGly9oCwWXFBf79maofCFGZr-WNR4z19856va0GHEED7_xWG5l3lBWWkEfmXGo1RfIlIYjhbTxyn1c3dEqiuiJZmL4TXMGK1IL3WwCl07yrb0Bk40qFaH48e-klb0/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLAss5TNZJacmgCBGly9oCwWXFBf79maofCFGZr-WNR4z19856va0GHEED7_xWG5l3lBWWkEfmXGo1RfIlIYjhbTxyn1c3dEqiuiJZmL4TXMGK1IL3WwCl07yrb0Bk40qFaH48e-klb0/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Berat's <b>Church of the Dormition of St. Mary</b> dates from 1797 but was built on the ruins of a 10th century church. Only one service a year is held there as </span><span style="font-size: large;">it was transformed into a museum honoring the country's most celebrated painter, Onufrio, in 1986.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu3s4GNQH6XuXoCyiwKN9jnnV9hiA2eo1MiGEpYQ9Gpt8Ly3Qo0EFKHqqqQ_9h3LkVo-S0HWULsiWFKB1DTzbld9zug_gM7t4S1Ormjt3E3mJjE48sC4CdiMhKcGGqLU6GrIzOZu4kVM/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeu3s4GNQH6XuXoCyiwKN9jnnV9hiA2eo1MiGEpYQ9Gpt8Ly3Qo0EFKHqqqQ_9h3LkVo-S0HWULsiWFKB1DTzbld9zug_gM7t4S1Ormjt3E3mJjE48sC4CdiMhKcGGqLU6GrIzOZu4kVM/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout our trip through the Balkan countries, we never saw any spud but French fries. How we longed for mashed, baked or boiled potatoes! Almost always, the fries were included in the pita or bun with a burger or hot dog and covered with a cold sauce, akin to mayo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv8wOvsSjb18EB4fFOI5f5g2cbJQ9HgEFoG1fIVbI-KOgCC6shIQjYl-hE1VTqwqJ3-zMYZnuOlrUEWNwTA5n1M3OJgf6tDIhUvyrr1kOCsxVIj2BE2ZVbWYf1JmCu8BSJ9vll8r2Sd8/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUv8wOvsSjb18EB4fFOI5f5g2cbJQ9HgEFoG1fIVbI-KOgCC6shIQjYl-hE1VTqwqJ3-zMYZnuOlrUEWNwTA5n1M3OJgf6tDIhUvyrr1kOCsxVIj2BE2ZVbWYf1JmCu8BSJ9vll8r2Sd8/s320/228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On 10/1, after climbing one of the mountains overlooking Berat, we reached <b>St. Michael Monastery </b>only to discover it was closed. The views over the Osum River, however, were spectacular so all was not lost.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ikkv8fyMKIGu_njoKLrc50eH2NdN6MznzS9xy70DUPV_Xu7jnd8JbG5MlNXrbHHi_jJ5Az2rmuLtWDAazNknzMIMlvIcBpSK3a6u9tKrdkY47ty8EglHfVBLZru3dJoBLPYdu-4neCs/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ikkv8fyMKIGu_njoKLrc50eH2NdN6MznzS9xy70DUPV_Xu7jnd8JbG5MlNXrbHHi_jJ5Az2rmuLtWDAazNknzMIMlvIcBpSK3a6u9tKrdkY47ty8EglHfVBLZru3dJoBLPYdu-4neCs/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sights of a bygone age were still visible in parts of Albania. This photo was from Berat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVjeyiVIibqFQDbJufzv_9f3OeE0Gy-r_VL4wCzMWPfVlgs88cxybOn7Y6qW_JmSchtJQ4XN9rBtxnaoKRg50RQdTjs_Z5gW28WpF7vz8uSHzmCO4YDtn0nIXzkDujnlVRocCf9pF_lE/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVjeyiVIibqFQDbJufzv_9f3OeE0Gy-r_VL4wCzMWPfVlgs88cxybOn7Y6qW_JmSchtJQ4XN9rBtxnaoKRg50RQdTjs_Z5gW28WpF7vz8uSHzmCO4YDtn0nIXzkDujnlVRocCf9pF_lE/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If any of you ever are ever lucky enough to travel to Albania, I would strongly recommend you stay in Berat with this most wonderful couple at <b>Villa Lili. </b>They were the epitome of graciousness and the most hospitable hosts I could imagine. When we left, I felt like we were saying good-bye to dear friends.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMGX65USVzZGhtV8IrHLIU5dnyPU-FEzshyblbRMzQJBMmfsUKLN1tv0VxZA5Sr8htcY2UKYFPFBwpJueaI5WCfrL3OUC4ZaV6rIh0ZHXt_F5_yFjeTPOJg99U-CpfNoA4f1Cnre9LIA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMGX65USVzZGhtV8IrHLIU5dnyPU-FEzshyblbRMzQJBMmfsUKLN1tv0VxZA5Sr8htcY2UKYFPFBwpJueaI5WCfrL3OUC4ZaV6rIh0ZHXt_F5_yFjeTPOJg99U-CpfNoA4f1Cnre9LIA/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On 10/2, it was on to the UNESCO-listed town of <b>Gjirokaster</b> founded in 1336 and known as the 'City of a Thousand Steps.' As the town was the birthplace of Albania's brutal dictator, Enver Hoxha, special care was taken to retain its traditional architecture during the Communist era. Through our room's lace curtains, we had a marvelous view of the city's mosque and castle in the Old Town.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXBz8-q_qz0o7yn_yMCFxK_IB-nIQyAlQppns638V2G6fDG1wx8d0MFhbKhuGa-yRNTvQ-FOIIhRhvBPiSOphJkhtL-AnYUl7sU6q-3DerYFKS_JR_FYjb9He0xsTqnQNbYH6hfSbYEQ/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXBz8-q_qz0o7yn_yMCFxK_IB-nIQyAlQppns638V2G6fDG1wx8d0MFhbKhuGa-yRNTvQ-FOIIhRhvBPiSOphJkhtL-AnYUl7sU6q-3DerYFKS_JR_FYjb9He0xsTqnQNbYH6hfSbYEQ/s320/018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two stories surround the downed US military jet in the castle courtyard: either the pilot had engine troubles and was forced to land in Albania or the plane was captured.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCNL0BjYZ2iOw2tWrkqACv_UpPmHiYi4N2cx3P3utmufPFhhHrIKrhS6omlKfXWD-XcwKiOkR1DY5aFuTsdOib7d9oUl-kMRCWbTgreCVdGgKzs3gTmnnLLj4yqhluq6MiXSMiHHYAk0/s320/056.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were extremely fortunate to be at the right place at the right time when a parade of people wearing costumes from many Balkan countries walked by as we were eating dinner on the main street.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNuR9IAxrOjnxCltlfbbaPmzl-2K5H2sZWUBziACvrkmm34fz6n12YdISvjIjsHxbpdGspE1ocqzobQTznnSsR5tE-YPtIv4oV15E5lqQWGm93Q-9gNJkIt4djTf6Ue7Lksg-rlMybPA/s320/134.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The following day, we took a furgon, like a small bus, to <b>Blue Eye Spring.</b> The natural wonder was well worth the hike to get there after being dropped off on the highway.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFc2TCD-dL8b9M0O0OjtAlpQbqj42cyCwtz28fFBP5BpPdzttU3JKi_2N5Mdjnp6osw40IU-UA-YNQK5j8HXeS3M322cEk5JhPHmlmo59Icna0m9sCG4-uIaJiqK7qYLvyY8R_zUhgHI/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFc2TCD-dL8b9M0O0OjtAlpQbqj42cyCwtz28fFBP5BpPdzttU3JKi_2N5Mdjnp6osw40IU-UA-YNQK5j8HXeS3M322cEk5JhPHmlmo59Icna0m9sCG4-uIaJiqK7qYLvyY8R_zUhgHI/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9aMYevpj2k_MBPtF0bbjjdJ-uOu4fTEsT5TpZIsQKWQOy00J5Bhl-B_T3DorrOB6IJSg5x5AKbcnD0xvrWYMs8h0wsbVI9DzhtoTfIdagJ1d8StXyuK2DyeCeQ5Dh7VEW21Y81PHVGE/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9aMYevpj2k_MBPtF0bbjjdJ-uOu4fTEsT5TpZIsQKWQOy00J5Bhl-B_T3DorrOB6IJSg5x5AKbcnD0xvrWYMs8h0wsbVI9DzhtoTfIdagJ1d8StXyuK2DyeCeQ5Dh7VEW21Y81PHVGE/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our last stop in Albania was the Albanian Riviera town of <b>Saranda, </b>a short ferry ride from Corfu, Greece. Getting there was a little more exciting than we planned on, though, as our driver was stopped by the traffic police just outside the town as he was not supposed to carry passengers, only make deliveries between Gjirokaster and Saranda. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjSeypFtkmVUbrbbEiIIluI9Qqor8B64Sa2x6dYJmQ9DpI4CvfhJzkpvfiE294OaYKu-yIqvOt0AktvLDZXuHBIQmRUGRx6pT3jp_tT0U6iunHT3vLPfL8-PsPzWwy9SKev-51mHQKt4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjSeypFtkmVUbrbbEiIIluI9Qqor8B64Sa2x6dYJmQ9DpI4CvfhJzkpvfiE294OaYKu-yIqvOt0AktvLDZXuHBIQmRUGRx6pT3jp_tT0U6iunHT3vLPfL8-PsPzWwy9SKev-51mHQKt4/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The weather was absolutely blissful in the charming town in early October. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQRM-SH_n2XpoEL1P3Sq92cDRLaxI6qCW8yjGiTovzLdaS02pQWGHtDcZcfq3foOCwYgA_M4PYPIGRqMKZc3b6OXzuoB-kgm1AlplWnhqcgl0QwXwCUEGIxws6wVkKT7dDpk0goLnkk/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQRM-SH_n2XpoEL1P3Sq92cDRLaxI6qCW8yjGiTovzLdaS02pQWGHtDcZcfq3foOCwYgA_M4PYPIGRqMKZc3b6OXzuoB-kgm1AlplWnhqcgl0QwXwCUEGIxws6wVkKT7dDpk0goLnkk/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2RIwy6s0m1KWa3_ZtuSh5keXUgehe5sASZToGTSXZE662u1GrQOrUn8P6ezn6Jl6B0MJL-h2LNxXNuG5CtbuO0gZtuBa03XBPLAr7pY_Mb5Ebh9MS1t-xOGwDJ7guNhcm33ihgZAwxw/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2RIwy6s0m1KWa3_ZtuSh5keXUgehe5sASZToGTSXZE662u1GrQOrUn8P6ezn6Jl6B0MJL-h2LNxXNuG5CtbuO0gZtuBa03XBPLAr7pY_Mb5Ebh9MS1t-xOGwDJ7guNhcm33ihgZAwxw/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent almost a full day discovering the archeological wonders of nearby <b>Butrint National Park,</b> the most visited cultural destination in Albania. Butrint was settled first by the neighboring Greeks in the 6th century BC and later by the Romans when <b>Julius Caesar </b>declared it as a Roman colony in the 1st century BC.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWnFfNDhDqxhR1yVv-f6ZFHDmCRC3N0qs9GyHr6rqTptuDkuvdD4mqzKKJ4iwC01ZSLTlhjfkFiGarUUHliP3CI_Uw73kvK21hYuTG1i0ZKcPyEa-Gi4fhNKH0sqr0VwhK9ydU6ZxxhA/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWnFfNDhDqxhR1yVv-f6ZFHDmCRC3N0qs9GyHr6rqTptuDkuvdD4mqzKKJ4iwC01ZSLTlhjfkFiGarUUHliP3CI_Uw73kvK21hYuTG1i0ZKcPyEa-Gi4fhNKH0sqr0VwhK9ydU6ZxxhA/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the castle courtyard was a massive bust of Apollo that was discovered by an Italian archeologist in 1928 and then taken to Italy before being returned in 1981.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhVS1_31OCevtY7562BYmyzqRufDI7HaxTyC1NtiI6OKgSRYI-WbZK-MkaYuijMJvOcqzlCXXuuepj6toziW90yHMcTwT9r4ddto7XAPYqgsZQXPrHTHzHJcSoYNC-9ZihtQ0oF0wqP4/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhVS1_31OCevtY7562BYmyzqRufDI7HaxTyC1NtiI6OKgSRYI-WbZK-MkaYuijMJvOcqzlCXXuuepj6toziW90yHMcTwT9r4ddto7XAPYqgsZQXPrHTHzHJcSoYNC-9ZihtQ0oF0wqP4/s320/148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were intrigued by the small car/passenger ferry that ran on a pulley system and took those interested in viewing the <b>Triangular Fortifications </b>on the other side of Lake Butrint.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOldMhr_OqEeHmwgmQhn9B4033V8RKOSlUDotv2k7krOMQNLqfhG_iYMOnSIzjHPDZPjQioUk1HHGfpKanemQJ3Q8a35_D0_pyI07snIehScw_eOiv7v35Q7frmkfNtcvDY5K-vBLr4xA/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOldMhr_OqEeHmwgmQhn9B4033V8RKOSlUDotv2k7krOMQNLqfhG_iYMOnSIzjHPDZPjQioUk1HHGfpKanemQJ3Q8a35_D0_pyI07snIehScw_eOiv7v35Q7frmkfNtcvDY5K-vBLr4xA/s320/157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view at dusk of Saranda's harbor on October 5th:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWsFDfYHwlHMvEclkfMCprUY5qEObNiOCYB5ZUXpQdh0t0TiUiplzcoUT5R8NPYpVeXCeOSkoZJpQtiB4g0e8ODWf4Q53686jHdaAl-LsSge8RGwi8oq8a94ZCQQt__jVmuaoYtJExZo/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWsFDfYHwlHMvEclkfMCprUY5qEObNiOCYB5ZUXpQdh0t0TiUiplzcoUT5R8NPYpVeXCeOSkoZJpQtiB4g0e8ODWf4Q53686jHdaAl-LsSge8RGwi8oq8a94ZCQQt__jVmuaoYtJExZo/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">10/7: Walking from our apartment in Perama outside of <b>Corfu, Greece, </b>to get a meal in the neighboring town of </span><span style="font-size: large;">Benitses, we noticed these gorgeous trumpet flowers. They bloomed so profusely, no doubt, because of the heavy amounts of precipitation the island received. Corfu was fittingly described as Homer's 'well-watered gardens.'</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPPFWKEyDYM2fOylBswYWP0E5Cis-l6WJm5cgySkH54be8hC1sIrcL56Cg-wmimM3E-yKlbtB97nDObtmHxn-BWTiD0gd86q3YaaYu8fskFh8hIalmHxQf8eN98MjezQ_wCly8lKQzNQ/s320/018.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This roadside memorial near Benitses with the typical white Greek church and pale blue roof was the first of many similar full-scale churches we saw while in Greece.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8jrkuaDKvug3nCJKMf_9rSgRe4p-wkz9hhtTcs3j6u-xENBSLZ1WW8T6KIikPE4iCyDXribBDw-qRSeH1sOc6vfsFkDbj8CTlW4kxR61Tf5DaM1UWxMvniYVZgj1rQGWXaHGA97gOcE/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8jrkuaDKvug3nCJKMf_9rSgRe4p-wkz9hhtTcs3j6u-xENBSLZ1WW8T6KIikPE4iCyDXribBDw-qRSeH1sOc6vfsFkDbj8CTlW4kxR61Tf5DaM1UWxMvniYVZgj1rQGWXaHGA97gOcE/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, the sun shone the next day when we explored Corfu's Old Town and meandered along the <b>Esplanade, </b>a huge open parade ground bordered on one side by exquisite Venetian and English Georgian buildings.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk4HBEB644kybVnuMD6DZ8eSxGXaBal_ppHV3KHjiCkX3yH1YlS-Jr-DRw6cP7kY5eRIYr8F8w86BxGTnqA6cRsTi6UqKGQ8irL8zGoEeJIAf0oHJYkCZnZAaeTNu7Ev8piKjhCDd5WY/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk4HBEB644kybVnuMD6DZ8eSxGXaBal_ppHV3KHjiCkX3yH1YlS-Jr-DRw6cP7kY5eRIYr8F8w86BxGTnqA6cRsTi6UqKGQ8irL8zGoEeJIAf0oHJYkCZnZAaeTNu7Ev8piKjhCDd5WY/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most memorable museums we enjoyed throughout our long trip was the <b>Museum of Asian Art</b> that was in the former Palace of Sts. Michael and George built by the British between 1819 and 1824 from Maltese limestone for the residence of the Hugh Commissioner.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22PeclDVlpSXYB2HKCdph7s7bqhe3KCkP8XY_mP2wrXRZ9hnQIZPUPHcdLJEI0MpQG9vvT0APEyPmNwzcsDtC-P0j3aO5GsG7hdup7EVmZ-it88NAecj86mHI9xP1wQJ4XJqC-BcZ7dU/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22PeclDVlpSXYB2HKCdph7s7bqhe3KCkP8XY_mP2wrXRZ9hnQIZPUPHcdLJEI0MpQG9vvT0APEyPmNwzcsDtC-P0j3aO5GsG7hdup7EVmZ-it88NAecj86mHI9xP1wQJ4XJqC-BcZ7dU/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before reading information at the Museum, I had always thought the origins of cloisonne had been Chinese. But, i</span><span style="font-size: large;">n the early 14th century, the Chinese were taught indirectly by the Byzantines through artists who worked in the Armenian and Georgian monasteries, the cloisonne technique or working with inlaid enamel. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeoNwfd1PVyrtSfWwV_Or5h2fTB4Y1J71DtHgOPFBpoBaOR7_4vrIQjafAKCYH6kPJc1EXQa0tmVJxlISNIswLK7l5nXlrIQxqzI_K9y98w_s-k8-DWBVN3T2JD7Dfb_ydbF8_zlDTso/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeoNwfd1PVyrtSfWwV_Or5h2fTB4Y1J71DtHgOPFBpoBaOR7_4vrIQjafAKCYH6kPJc1EXQa0tmVJxlISNIswLK7l5nXlrIQxqzI_K9y98w_s-k8-DWBVN3T2JD7Dfb_ydbF8_zlDTso/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a lovely view we had from the top steps of the <b>Reading Society </b>in Corfu Town:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sa1gjRrtIiI7HNfrgMIZjwJm_Erwe_hkxMrmUj1w20de0bpmxKxwEqZjk6LtNTQ6VW9PZlyLmVWn_SOAYVX28WLhFOrABOoVc4dH_BDvlDvKFHzITPRU5T2DfNHf69fiTnKjwn16log/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3sa1gjRrtIiI7HNfrgMIZjwJm_Erwe_hkxMrmUj1w20de0bpmxKxwEqZjk6LtNTQ6VW9PZlyLmVWn_SOAYVX28WLhFOrABOoVc4dH_BDvlDvKFHzITPRU5T2DfNHf69fiTnKjwn16log/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Corfu Town's Old Fortress or Citadel where Corfu's entire population once lived, was the <b>Church of St. George</b> that was<b> </b>built by the British in 1840 to look like an ancient Doric temple, It had then been converted into an Orthodox church before becoming an exhibit space. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PVA_UTBxOeAoMGI8hr3epPtD452jr2ZsN3sNSq2TrPrwfCz2rRrS-UzBT0eurtMYXfMLb6DoE4NRZu6Gfj5fg_lnspWw74AsCmamsjXXxxKjjuLSTzzfsX2ySsgZY9mVCXkpgvlIm9w/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PVA_UTBxOeAoMGI8hr3epPtD452jr2ZsN3sNSq2TrPrwfCz2rRrS-UzBT0eurtMYXfMLb6DoE4NRZu6Gfj5fg_lnspWw74AsCmamsjXXxxKjjuLSTzzfsX2ySsgZY9mVCXkpgvlIm9w/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On our way back to our lodging outside of town, we decided on the spur of the moment to jump off the bus so we could see the tiny white convent of <b>Vlacherna </b>for a few minutes – how perfectly picturesque the famous landmark was. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We were lucky the boats were still running from the convent every few minutes over to the minuscule</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pontikonisi Island, known more commonly as <b>Mouse Island </b>and said to be Odysseus’ ship turned to stone by Poseidon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD1KMzDvcHCqRqARPBluAnCSISe2jLnv-U95IZWyeXfDp1tcsc3XO-a5shLE6ZBhUClRuQnFS7eRLiVFHQrLwDkTypEJLeMLw8LIRB-V4kc63MYaSb5uWAaoTUsJjkPLWeF4L04gWsLE/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD1KMzDvcHCqRqARPBluAnCSISe2jLnv-U95IZWyeXfDp1tcsc3XO-a5shLE6ZBhUClRuQnFS7eRLiVFHQrLwDkTypEJLeMLw8LIRB-V4kc63MYaSb5uWAaoTUsJjkPLWeF4L04gWsLE/s320/187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On October 9th, we took an intercity bus to <b>Paleokastriska,</b> about an hour from Corfu Town along some narrow roads with stunning views. Immediately after arriving, we jumped on a boat that was leaving to view three caves. The combination of crystal-blue water, rocky cliffs, bright blue skies, interesting caves and peaceful waters made for a lovely time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe2_8nUzACoUMmUdONS5uW8y3btl7viGywH8sp1IGWVp0UaGqtBeFP4idAoYuIKYMXlt5BtyJJ9l_uN4KDDLfyQxSwGeC-cPzQj34edbCuNXGJyH65NsqGYQtDQmJsmDk1mFUBH09qkc/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe2_8nUzACoUMmUdONS5uW8y3btl7viGywH8sp1IGWVp0UaGqtBeFP4idAoYuIKYMXlt5BtyJJ9l_uN4KDDLfyQxSwGeC-cPzQj34edbCuNXGJyH65NsqGYQtDQmJsmDk1mFUBH09qkc/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Overlooking the rugged west coast and perched at the very top of the mountain overlooking the town was the </span><span style="font-size: large;">13th century </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monastery of Paleokastritsa.</b> It was the reason why many tourists visit the town. Its gilded chapel was outstanding with icons going back centuries. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHTW0WqA2NMRgDaOLPML3RgGb2F6FpzvMRtsNUQLeB1j286PWlO_ySdHJo7Le9YpnK_RklMay-emtDnsRNfQa8hkJIElgyo-QGJYE7PvZ1OPPtworFw2LOItY3zWCzTGIvWTn401-rKk/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHTW0WqA2NMRgDaOLPML3RgGb2F6FpzvMRtsNUQLeB1j286PWlO_ySdHJo7Le9YpnK_RklMay-emtDnsRNfQa8hkJIElgyo-QGJYE7PvZ1OPPtworFw2LOItY3zWCzTGIvWTn401-rKk/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I see this photo, I can't help but smile!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pInGYAgJ0owKRGdj1wyFJQjil3cCzfcvYZklasmyiA_Yq3bM1xiSuEELRd73Ga0xL0HsJrDkHYIZ-FgDXB95nUt3GyTpmVnTyvkyUhCoxhvuznOARRtICzhCqWIrb8HmIeWC4P2L4fo/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pInGYAgJ0owKRGdj1wyFJQjil3cCzfcvYZklasmyiA_Yq3bM1xiSuEELRd73Ga0xL0HsJrDkHYIZ-FgDXB95nUt3GyTpmVnTyvkyUhCoxhvuznOARRtICzhCqWIrb8HmIeWC4P2L4fo/s320/126.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Atop a bluff near the monastery was this unusual cross that looked more like a radio antenna. It was the ideal spot to admire the stupendous views as we took in the sounds of waves crashing against the rocks below and the wind whistling through the trees. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCD46CFJCm1hKadoVU21jDUt1NGpAfWCROoJFbeTq-RLj15JHPfmQ-3DSyW8yWYMrqeAMto4urUTZWozhQbSSjRoVdJ8QM8d5OxtBo0qA6Z13-4P5IdXjnPBFNgARdk3hllJrVjWcgS0/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCD46CFJCm1hKadoVU21jDUt1NGpAfWCROoJFbeTq-RLj15JHPfmQ-3DSyW8yWYMrqeAMto4urUTZWozhQbSSjRoVdJ8QM8d5OxtBo0qA6Z13-4P5IdXjnPBFNgARdk3hllJrVjWcgS0/s320/129.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On 10/10 before flying to Athens that night, we toured by local bus Corfu's North Coast. We first stopped at the small town of </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kassioppi,</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>a resort of sorts since Roman imperial times. Tiberius had a villa here and Nero paid a musical visit with his lyre in 66 AD. It and the other towns on the north coast are tremendously popular with British tourists, so much so, that the area is known as ‘Kensington on Sea.’ After traipsing through town and dodging puddles from the constant rain, we hiked up a slippery path up to the 13th century Byzantine castle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh6x4pb6vbawK8sXXkVYDwKxjr5VXgveAzE05AZa9Nu1qYXVwNmQ5Ubn7Xe2XWQDs3m8DMQHT0byvV6kz_jq-FGAuKLBQU7g_x2udSil4xh5gDyTY2L78nmc7xBvqac4M4yGsJqeCIFo/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh6x4pb6vbawK8sXXkVYDwKxjr5VXgveAzE05AZa9Nu1qYXVwNmQ5Ubn7Xe2XWQDs3m8DMQHT0byvV6kz_jq-FGAuKLBQU7g_x2udSil4xh5gDyTY2L78nmc7xBvqac4M4yGsJqeCIFo/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEiqrCKz-GjqZuz3RT8-ih8_TLSGkwVgVZtFyYYyCGhqgc0Uti8NZnrrqMC33gXHDsP2ODC3ync_J3PCQFolIhAEj3iOgx8H8ABfhMNvqEOfWk-7SJajCwYnoyRfZ4IGttV8w80NQ9Q-Ats/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrCKz-GjqZuz3RT8-ih8_TLSGkwVgVZtFyYYyCGhqgc0Uti8NZnrrqMC33gXHDsP2ODC3ync_J3PCQFolIhAEj3iOgx8H8ABfhMNvqEOfWk-7SJajCwYnoyRfZ4IGttV8w80NQ9Q-Ats/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop on the northern coast of Corfu was the town of <b>Sidari, </b>famous for its <b>Canal d'Amour, </b>so<b> </b>named for the legend that by swimming the length of the channel, lovelorn women would gain the object of their affections.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEETbEeRwcmAyeJe2CEAJ9EtEajKIvUeWU5RhW3Nwk2xC5Y3FItyMXpldzXuDq_xotLQYy_tLPp026i_oUZlggabX5U1R5ESEgjzmpKMQraRSfObkoqi9y2OHa0prDQ0avcqiv1aVvr0/s320/IMG_3044.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because it was rainy, we began our time in Athens on October 11th by touring the <b>Acropolis Museum, </b>which occupied a large plot of the city's most prized real estate just below the Acropolis. It opened to worldwide acclaim in 2009 and drew 90,000 visitors in its first month and more than 6.5 million in the first five years.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vMjsKwBnCtuX5ASidLZJCOHZBqmx7m7rxmk3b3lUUt8oD-rlqYUpuulJvJP3eT6V1zbIoyYbfOOIJl8dd7ACkp7HcsHrO37R4uxLqR5ekvv9kggPJwT6MbdVDds5fovN4KkRH3bkxOk/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vMjsKwBnCtuX5ASidLZJCOHZBqmx7m7rxmk3b3lUUt8oD-rlqYUpuulJvJP3eT6V1zbIoyYbfOOIJl8dd7ACkp7HcsHrO37R4uxLqR5ekvv9kggPJwT6MbdVDds5fovN4KkRH3bkxOk/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lil Red: </b>I immediately thought of you when admiring this sculpture as I thought back to a comment you posted on a blog I had written in Budapest a couple of trips ago!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQllsarpaiGeTPE-oZlPWwr7-DpJL_GCiY1Knb7eVqTIndIUlCCkWTR47n7wX1jgJ7ezI1Nmh7uKlaetUdtrrlxjRNjatV9qe040tk3Zm1Fv-NoeaRGaUuAI11j0OSiQM71clXE7dnuc/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQllsarpaiGeTPE-oZlPWwr7-DpJL_GCiY1Knb7eVqTIndIUlCCkWTR47n7wX1jgJ7ezI1Nmh7uKlaetUdtrrlxjRNjatV9qe040tk3Zm1Fv-NoeaRGaUuAI11j0OSiQM71clXE7dnuc/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the museum's 'best' pieces in my mind was this magnificent plaster reconstruction of the combination of leaves and a phoenix fan pediment which once crowned the ridge of the Parthenon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDfsKGvmosJ8mpuz-Bn-Sp0vyw8WqWefRw5ypVv54WwuczotRie78CCj41wXSaok9yUkdhNQC6oQyPxTwhck1HseIauiTPacrIAbP1PQaYsLSTgDMeyHvXm_43JYXGH8OffnS4yKWNF4/s320/061.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Plaka </b>was the historic heart of Athens. At the top of one of its hills was <b>Ayios Nikolaos Ranyavos,</b> an 11th century church built with fragments of ancient columns. Our matching 'apple' raincoats purchased in Hoi An, Viet Nam have come in very handy often since then.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyXkf6pPVVZfQtXXj7y2I9ck7mTnYXbybCXjs8VY7MX249t8eGAf9RQ3t4HYzbNgzGLStwO9aPuzq1VnnN24ouKFO4jejfgir_1C813GjccYTAvt8e61tnf4-Jz2WXt7Yow7R76yiLKA/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyXkf6pPVVZfQtXXj7y2I9ck7mTnYXbybCXjs8VY7MX249t8eGAf9RQ3t4HYzbNgzGLStwO9aPuzq1VnnN24ouKFO4jejfgir_1C813GjccYTAvt8e61tnf4-Jz2WXt7Yow7R76yiLKA/s320/132.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Acropolis and its surrounding archeological sites in ancient Athens were where the most essential aspects of the European and North American identity like democracy, philosophy, theater, sciences and arts later emerged. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This photo was of the <b>Roman Agora,</b> Athens' commercial center from the 1st century BC to the 4th </span><span style="font-size: large;">century AD.</span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p6nSB9FzNq_ZdfdAtIFyfkPiVKA6fnGAaKruYF3PZP2gn5IENvLZDLjTna49g1KtqU2kFSIGKCYFd_CDuWJ2Xceqovp2sKiK1r2oksrL0pFdpeg62r56yCDKgkCD3nAd-NCUORbyC4Q/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p6nSB9FzNq_ZdfdAtIFyfkPiVKA6fnGAaKruYF3PZP2gn5IENvLZDLjTna49g1KtqU2kFSIGKCYFd_CDuWJ2Xceqovp2sKiK1r2oksrL0pFdpeg62r56yCDKgkCD3nAd-NCUORbyC4Q/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A really pleasant walk through the <b>Ancient Agora,</b> another commercial hub, led us to the <b>Temple of Hephaistos,</b> the best preserved Doric temple in all of Greece. A little older than the Parthenon in the Acropolis, the Temple was surrounded by 34 columns and once was filled with sculptures and dedicated to the god of metalworkers. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw21pBWXMhWl2Rg_9KKk5KPEdnHcApZqZK-SF6n8iVKLMbWaQZ5vlrrf11XohyphenhyphenIyeANDuK1UcNy7bfKbf1iRxWaGo5cCx5iTPRUUIAMszWajpAZ0pV3rPobL2Jyo8hKEhssuB0ytBHrn0/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw21pBWXMhWl2Rg_9KKk5KPEdnHcApZqZK-SF6n8iVKLMbWaQZ5vlrrf11XohyphenhyphenIyeANDuK1UcNy7bfKbf1iRxWaGo5cCx5iTPRUUIAMszWajpAZ0pV3rPobL2Jyo8hKEhssuB0ytBHrn0/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Ancient Agora's showpiece was the <b>Stoa or colonnade, of Attalos II</b> where Socrates once lectured and incited the youth of Athens to adopt his progressive ideas on morality and mortality. The two-story building was first designed as a retail complex and was erected in the 2nd century BC.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiwvsbZRzs8RF9ECdAuhtWCJbR4RrDWbAr4ahYnGrRDzxshwSb7LX7KBGo4NkdRzuolu9NwYvwO8Ed18YJcJLAuln8X_KC8zppdAdz_U24UsbbHC6IIp5eGNkw5GvSpRaSoKK7Bvk7EM/s320/231.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the many </span><span style="font-size: large;">3rd and 4th century BC </span><span style="font-size: large;">sculptures of historical and mythological figures in the Stoa was of a</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Sleeping Silenus Herm.</b> Herms were originally cult images of the god Hermes but they were used as markers on roads and graves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqD-_tDsbwP_xB3uEfO6esZbFGoDb6ZzIuUtB1PypfSv5Wfg1JVgPw8q0tI7U4aKZI0fMZzJF3ZnbDxyEwO9u5-_YMIVolCE0jKejaQBhuymAB7k1jYheuTSPGTQChvE71pM_dLwGbM0/s320/252.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We started the following day walking to the Acropolis. The first monument that we came to was the <b>Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereus. </b>Built at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis, it was a major theater in Athens and was dedicated to Dionysus, the god of plays and wine. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz_iY2LkjuLNn52xWIK6fBK-cgfxdlZX7EnXEBTgAaJFthWg-0HrkQZJhzPChdTwhO952ew8J78TbAu1TcK2E_mNs1-5q9X-nt9Q3f9yljr5vR8k-i3W76-UzN29nxoc7sBZjcTI2fQ8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz_iY2LkjuLNn52xWIK6fBK-cgfxdlZX7EnXEBTgAaJFthWg-0HrkQZJhzPChdTwhO952ew8J78TbAu1TcK2E_mNs1-5q9X-nt9Q3f9yljr5vR8k-i3W76-UzN29nxoc7sBZjcTI2fQ8/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had had to wait for a long time to enter the Acropolis. It turned out we had just missed seeing these military guards participate in a celebration of the liberation of Greece from the Nazis.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdF_o8IyT07jY00kMNP39RQl-zkKcKTS01DIlRfYiJvsaYhWDALv89mw7oxo0U1OVjG0990H2mwXJzEib4kHLzLmGyrYmKgkhU8I32_vKpcv3FUgPkYXFFSIWcdRFfbXhRajKdyL6NB4/s320/040.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Parthenon</b> is the best known of the remaining buildings of ancient Greece and was decorated with the best of Greek architecture. The Parthenon is an enduring symbol of Greece and democracy and is seen as one of the greatest cultural monuments of human history. To be able to stand in front of such a monument was nothing short of breathtaking.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd720W3zvNt8vuSE2kj8Goo6IvBdnYZzOyD9dpBeTiTJmRStywfL1bae5Jv510WjXZHhgQ1OPwSrdm5c6qcq6OyCmMpT5B_i7NPmzAlttVZ3G4j6_wYU5rASZcfjcGQ7lyKAbpu-C6sK8/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd720W3zvNt8vuSE2kj8Goo6IvBdnYZzOyD9dpBeTiTJmRStywfL1bae5Jv510WjXZHhgQ1OPwSrdm5c6qcq6OyCmMpT5B_i7NPmzAlttVZ3G4j6_wYU5rASZcfjcGQ7lyKAbpu-C6sK8/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We loved our visit to Athens' <b>Benaki Museum </b>that covered the entire history of Greece with displays from the Bronze Age up to WWII. The museum had a collection of over 100,000 items. A favorite was this stunning wreath of gold oak leaves from the late 4th/early 3rd centuries BC.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC-TmRaBIZDsvS4OCfqQ-wNMvLUsDbmksjGYRAXYw9DNN_-HMBunn7wv0eOVuVYkBAJNAmV-gMZCjbp09MySO8FKH6dZ8seW2GvMgEb4ZS46EwVlNzZglj10szaNZpxau_6fS2cWM3sc/s320/225.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum had a stunning collection of icons. This monumental </span><span style="font-size: large;">one, titled <b>In Thee Rejoiceth,</b> illustrated the hymn of the same name and referred to the Virgin.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4rVFHZIavMKlVVOM2xxWpMA5W3n8x7VhDH-o9rkSW9tA19BL6iuZFQDQ6MefywlJwWjuZstL0hCk-bM1sgnf5oMh2zpIiQEo6yA3MSSdO6Y9pwCGYfRmzyR-fl5FDB-WEvt8mEijjAo/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4rVFHZIavMKlVVOM2xxWpMA5W3n8x7VhDH-o9rkSW9tA19BL6iuZFQDQ6MefywlJwWjuZstL0hCk-bM1sgnf5oMh2zpIiQEo6yA3MSSdO6Y9pwCGYfRmzyR-fl5FDB-WEvt8mEijjAo/s320/247.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Directly across from the museum was the peaceful <b>National Park. </b>I had a blast seeing this bride enjoy her wedding day as we have likewise seen so many other brides and grooms around the world enjoy theirs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlvYIhStrEg-FWOLxUZP9KXTrmLsxznIjyf9DObnvU9OJkgodvKUqwljR1kD9LSOtctyQ8w7__29Dj1nB4RJWde3wmT6M_a0kYyfskyISvCIYxnyOZYgqZS4oLjd568WQFgRDHu5zm5A/s320/294.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From there, it was just a quick hop to the <b>Olympeion, the Temple of Olympian Zeus. </b>It was a colossal ruined temple in the center of the city dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoM96gJIErIAY-giQE2LT90aUbRujBj9yg-kr5jzpbEQ7reKO6WmEofjaJkTSxItD587g_el2Ncyp4HQhRpmteHjRRMTSHyhw3WaIPADhyv6rmYxlJlHr1BrzDWXik6MZSleVsYymj3yQ/s1600/331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoM96gJIErIAY-giQE2LT90aUbRujBj9yg-kr5jzpbEQ7reKO6WmEofjaJkTSxItD587g_el2Ncyp4HQhRpmteHjRRMTSHyhw3WaIPADhyv6rmYxlJlHr1BrzDWXik6MZSleVsYymj3yQ/s320/331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Construction of the Olympeion began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world. During the Roman periods, it was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world. What a sense of awe and wonder as we walked all around it to see it in different lights and shadows as the sun was setting.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR9Sj_vg2E-W8Wki97yYXQMpAbLWPU56JRpKqNwZjLYzRRMpDOjQG4Lp6Lsy3jEflX3p2GsaUokzioz_Z-bG5Q_92XWe1zLCv1_G_QG9eVofRNvkuZpQKgGShAwYvN9nazBYH3eKjNVw/s1600/322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR9Sj_vg2E-W8Wki97yYXQMpAbLWPU56JRpKqNwZjLYzRRMpDOjQG4Lp6Lsy3jEflX3p2GsaUokzioz_Z-bG5Q_92XWe1zLCv1_G_QG9eVofRNvkuZpQKgGShAwYvN9nazBYH3eKjNVw/s320/322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On </span><span style="font-size: large;">a day trip to Delphi on </span><span style="font-size: large;">October 13th, we walked first to the <b>Delphi Archeological Museum</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">as visiting it was essential to understanding the site and sanctuary’s importance to the ancient Greek world. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I loved the fabulous statue of <b>The Winged Victory, </b>the God that Nike was named after. It was all original except for its broken feet and wings. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q_NnSG7NG6sVmRz7hUN7Q9-XLR8PJu94naCAOi7ttji5cK-uEoZKmJIqCjw8m7oHFg_oN4yJnHS-n-2t2NRvvUGxkVnvYgboBW6hHZCt24C4AaXHFdMqCfK1FuCUqyWLYwH9nGh4scm6/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q_NnSG7NG6sVmRz7hUN7Q9-XLR8PJu94naCAOi7ttji5cK-uEoZKmJIqCjw8m7oHFg_oN4yJnHS-n-2t2NRvvUGxkVnvYgboBW6hHZCt24C4AaXHFdMqCfK1FuCUqyWLYwH9nGh4scm6/s320/019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the greatest surviving ancient bronzes and, for me, the most impressive sculpture, was <b>The Charioteer. </b>This was the only statue found with eyes that seemed to move with you, like the famous Mona Lisa smile. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEYwyo2yvrBlPN1CbgYYWNnBQSqfVsDKjo5ShUKdzNSQNgxa3yko5HItfbhW-n36FIFHwcO9B7gVyGaKQHPvZZy8nIpVVAPrT4myKQfADiVIxgoOW0dnqO8YbDtszoIESKHekU-iGgQpg/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEYwyo2yvrBlPN1CbgYYWNnBQSqfVsDKjo5ShUKdzNSQNgxa3yko5HItfbhW-n36FIFHwcO9B7gVyGaKQHPvZZy8nIpVVAPrT4myKQfADiVIxgoOW0dnqO8YbDtszoIESKHekU-iGgQpg/s320/058.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Temple of Apollo,</b> who was the god of music, harmony and light, occupied the most prominent position in the Delphi sanctuary. The partially restored colonnade dated to the 4th century BC.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">According to prevailing theory, the famous <b>Oracle at Delphi </b>operated inside the temple. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IMyQD5RHoMa41ad2YMod-ozgAQ6ABZ7-cjat_Wv1oxIaW0P_7b2rUCnJqZ0cpM_YaWCym1nXypnrmKknKj0q3pvsgQayG1THOHrbXZf74JyfN36sY986jdqiGtP5FPksWR_kpbQ3pFUq/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IMyQD5RHoMa41ad2YMod-ozgAQ6ABZ7-cjat_Wv1oxIaW0P_7b2rUCnJqZ0cpM_YaWCym1nXypnrmKknKj0q3pvsgQayG1THOHrbXZf74JyfN36sY986jdqiGtP5FPksWR_kpbQ3pFUq/s320/108.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Above the temple was the well-preserved <b>Theater</b> which seated 5,000. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1930, there was a p</span><span style="font-size: large;">erformance there of the ancient drama <b>Prometheus Bound </b>at the Delphi Festival.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgFNayf89DLFUA0ybiR2vIgZQ1CpMabqJPlfxhXDmjxgq7v8-WmF0kFFtVcIlqHtjnOb1dV5W9Q8r10KNhaWUOa54sCb__UzX_U6EAmWH2ESjMclET52YMy33XDIYZKoE8YkNVLpXu1A2/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgFNayf89DLFUA0ybiR2vIgZQ1CpMabqJPlfxhXDmjxgq7v8-WmF0kFFtVcIlqHtjnOb1dV5W9Q8r10KNhaWUOa54sCb__UzX_U6EAmWH2ESjMclET52YMy33XDIYZKoE8YkNVLpXu1A2/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On our last day in Athens, pungent meat and fish odors </span><span style="font-size: large;">drew us to the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">neoclassical covered market built between 1870 and 1844</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4-jOAGOz7D5fFdHFnjcGQx-EJai6WrB63v6KSsdawK_ERyDfnvg031xF6a-SjE_yLqrb4c8xsftGJNfhLmcccfTGiEgF8QeEG3ypelR_5J0Lsaap4g5yu2c89XEIwuQXx3offML1Aqxl/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4-jOAGOz7D5fFdHFnjcGQx-EJai6WrB63v6KSsdawK_ERyDfnvg031xF6a-SjE_yLqrb4c8xsftGJNfhLmcccfTGiEgF8QeEG3ypelR_5J0Lsaap4g5yu2c89XEIwuQXx3offML1Aqxl/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Couldn't resist including this photo of an Orthodox priest using his cell phone outside his tiny church in downtown Athens. No more than a couple of hours later, Steven was robbed by a very well organized group of thieves while we were on the metro en route to the airport and Santorini.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRGD4fx7dSf54jVDp0e1jas9XMIl4hOadkj7ur1VrRRjCGEVYIw2Zfu-28S_PUmR9FZrDmpwE6VmxEzsPiY7hIDSjBmjd64IlK8Iypjsy_PjnM4nZM2cuyEn08s-nTUA3fLA1lrri50w/s320/051.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Diane, </b>a dear friend from Denver, had recommended we visit <b>Santorini </b>this trip. I will be forever thankful to her as the group of islands was one of our favorite stops all trip. I so loved the glistening whitewashed and turquoise buildings set against the azure skies and the gorgeous Aegean Sea.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjek7YvRaJVvnxP93BVQ8ULS19mXQ2H8KBotvwYwHC0uVYj1GDOU59gi64GXoE6pbkWl4UxP8mE_oChWM0YllPQEk7sNlNlC1ii2GkMQXGfTi-krYXPaHl1ZlVqfvcRSk-MeArZripBqx8U/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjek7YvRaJVvnxP93BVQ8ULS19mXQ2H8KBotvwYwHC0uVYj1GDOU59gi64GXoE6pbkWl4UxP8mE_oChWM0YllPQEk7sNlNlC1ii2GkMQXGfTi-krYXPaHl1ZlVqfvcRSk-MeArZripBqx8U/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> The <b>Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist </b>included one chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the same name of the church and elementary school I attended while growing up in Ottawa, Canada.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-DjD67ykhsN8Qy4gqnjaZdtfSz9I1Pr8_G-kDrsuYp2eJvGgKCdQPqHTt3x0o_OOuu59PiVuS5qylRWUSdwlRDgVbMf61Z-bJLNmgAXOfZxQEJytJW15wvyeuVlQS3-XoqMPoqjYMzkj/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-DjD67ykhsN8Qy4gqnjaZdtfSz9I1Pr8_G-kDrsuYp2eJvGgKCdQPqHTt3x0o_OOuu59PiVuS5qylRWUSdwlRDgVbMf61Z-bJLNmgAXOfZxQEJytJW15wvyeuVlQS3-XoqMPoqjYMzkj/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who could ever resist loving this picturesque scene as we walked to Santorini's <b>Red Beach?</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmb_XYVDdVBNLfBlAHHtRO61RF9UntU_EfGptzB5nt5N2QMdqoFIGIRm9Q5VWf3udQYPIDGPo7zan3G9pHzQDRay_dHiOCIERnh3s1W1OFUoYDIJdhxNKhMbSNavTVh7Il4eY9rCgUBcs/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmb_XYVDdVBNLfBlAHHtRO61RF9UntU_EfGptzB5nt5N2QMdqoFIGIRm9Q5VWf3udQYPIDGPo7zan3G9pHzQDRay_dHiOCIERnh3s1W1OFUoYDIJdhxNKhMbSNavTVh7Il4eY9rCgUBcs/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjfIs9VVSxoVCdOMsEzhzJuMG0cwOE8t3YLAjjz2cwlwwaRYGC5SyAun-eCCBJ0weLgGbDaD52S42xN4hPYbzGyPcBok99rzf9m3TO3CeQW6FGHgc5QGA7tHOVkOGMct1no-Tvq2jvDj1ox/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIs9VVSxoVCdOMsEzhzJuMG0cwOE8t3YLAjjz2cwlwwaRYGC5SyAun-eCCBJ0weLgGbDaD52S42xN4hPYbzGyPcBok99rzf9m3TO3CeQW6FGHgc5QGA7tHOVkOGMct1no-Tvq2jvDj1ox/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There weren't many times or places this previous trip we chose to OR could just be beach bums. This was one we took every advantage of!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikf1YBBHNg1pobtPt6Dl5slLN9cu33BNKTkeaxf5rkj5UKfTTq8A9zXJYp1Py0GedjOMgWQFHX2y5QrMxe1wVLNZGrfXkHSPCAT9J4SaP7_HMqXwJKf00mP9vNuZuGPbzHHBuXmwlRHJb/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikf1YBBHNg1pobtPt6Dl5slLN9cu33BNKTkeaxf5rkj5UKfTTq8A9zXJYp1Py0GedjOMgWQFHX2y5QrMxe1wVLNZGrfXkHSPCAT9J4SaP7_HMqXwJKf00mP9vNuZuGPbzHHBuXmwlRHJb/s320/076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On October 16th, Steven and I took a day cruise to some of the five islands that comprise Santorini. <b>Thira,</b> the main island and the one everyone thinks of when hearing about Santorini, was settled in the 8th century BC by Spartans and then by the Turks. In 1207 AD at the end of the fourth crusade, Thira was inhabited by Venetians who built six castles on it. A view of our traditional boat, the King Thiras, the dark vessel below, as we climbed to the top of the super volcano on <b>Nea Kameni:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LIkBwqCA2tEgRHVmDbbPTBUtNuL9_q0XPUIYlTdWrg3nmK38KkXntvr7moaSXQCEJs5NJhDzMpdTIA-BaPCjMFSdKPt8GCbvm5j-1b1LrDa7MA0xotw0gpEMCTH6tSzSRDuOGSXdES9I/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LIkBwqCA2tEgRHVmDbbPTBUtNuL9_q0XPUIYlTdWrg3nmK38KkXntvr7moaSXQCEJs5NJhDzMpdTIA-BaPCjMFSdKPt8GCbvm5j-1b1LrDa7MA0xotw0gpEMCTH6tSzSRDuOGSXdES9I/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After visiting a couple of islands and swimming in a hot spring, our next stop was <b>Oia, </b>Santorini’s second largest town located on the northern part of Thira island and the Aegean’s most photographed spot.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaC0UJTPPKKaads5xPoB6a1686PLgF-prHlWdbGgRb9vkPnpQr-n_pnZrlz6llKd6UD61LjVePy-uptmVloPKplJK7SX-UyU7iNI9YwN8veJeFy6IV8O6MaE5EwHuxmhMfpoK7zBK8_lE/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaC0UJTPPKKaads5xPoB6a1686PLgF-prHlWdbGgRb9vkPnpQr-n_pnZrlz6llKd6UD61LjVePy-uptmVloPKplJK7SX-UyU7iNI9YwN8veJeFy6IV8O6MaE5EwHuxmhMfpoK7zBK8_lE/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">To reach the town from the port, we had to make our way among the donkeys also climbing up the steps. Our guide cautioned us to make sure we kept our backs to the wall to allow the donkeys to pass and not push us!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl4RZhnW1kt6Fe-_561NiUgc_bZwRs9iZE2IpsWM6MMJT0faMgLIZ1nYrYv0tH9FtHOFNtVspTZu2B0miYldVd-ZxOd7BVSOWDmYApWWnCc-5GsKn4iOKCwCqqUdQHT57Zluhqw3sjzmz/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWl4RZhnW1kt6Fe-_561NiUgc_bZwRs9iZE2IpsWM6MMJT0faMgLIZ1nYrYv0tH9FtHOFNtVspTZu2B0miYldVd-ZxOd7BVSOWDmYApWWnCc-5GsKn4iOKCwCqqUdQHT57Zluhqw3sjzmz/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Every evening, travelers from all over the world congregate at the caldera’s rim, each looking out to sea in anticipation of the perfect sunset.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I doubt I'll ever forget our guide's advice that, i</span><span style="font-size: large;">n order to see the sunset, we just needed to ‘follow the zombies’ down the one road to the sun!'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zRRzfU1wKp5jN61UBd3m2OBtIITcXtx4lLr5EBlOCeZVyYsuiyqR_mgac3QoVvIZGsJ1z_WI6rAPozAWL49Pq3hHQMdQJ8D-er58KeKEg0IE9anZtJLRZPI_sSi37Mqdnhr5HH732hhy/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zRRzfU1wKp5jN61UBd3m2OBtIITcXtx4lLr5EBlOCeZVyYsuiyqR_mgac3QoVvIZGsJ1z_WI6rAPozAWL49Pq3hHQMdQJ8D-er58KeKEg0IE9anZtJLRZPI_sSi37Mqdnhr5HH732hhy/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On October 17th, we hiked toward Oia, stopping first in the blindingly white village of <b>Imerovigli,</b> set on the highest point of the caldera’s or volcanic crater’s rim. Imerovigli – the name means ‘watchtower’- is quieter and less expensive than other villages on the caldera.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc52gyVC4GFbJyqNnwcIB99E5nKUmhztxE1i-uec2rZ4IDNPglZkS0Y2BKLEjLEmEpfj2bgdelewwmnDxVQ7io8gtGWxnUZ_mrKXV79dXcH-edRDDaQCC2Lvv48YipEnOCDa6whSXgbR1e/s320/025.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were so many spots for getting that classic blue-domed picture in Santorini. I just fell in love with Santorini and would love to go back some time and spend a week or so there with Steven.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8BGK6nIcJPYwEAf3_lR86_T6Yb-ewLVlOE8OOPsiM3-R2pYVOVPSceL4HlGYVziMozOA8rHFhyphenhyphentGUIpeSzNyw7fhzTq0ZemlWz18FIqJ8KYi8Xrb2yW_nJKGPB74g_7U59GOehwWuens/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8BGK6nIcJPYwEAf3_lR86_T6Yb-ewLVlOE8OOPsiM3-R2pYVOVPSceL4HlGYVziMozOA8rHFhyphenhyphentGUIpeSzNyw7fhzTq0ZemlWz18FIqJ8KYi8Xrb2yW_nJKGPB74g_7U59GOehwWuens/s320/061.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a bit of a culture shock going from tiny, peaceful Santorini to the hustle and bustle of Cairo, Egypt, one of the world's largest cities just hours later. We sure didn't complain when we checked into our hotel room just across the road from the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids in <b>Giza, </b>mind you!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDotnfVif19KPU1Vx0MAJJnMwBn8tg9rn2BL2EZiN7jp9S7Vnts7vlgONabhMx46tLIxATyTQfHLjcWFlV9RB01n3iydDfjIkbiVxN5yUjEcT8k0JgpBK0yDDwapJOuI7wpzeI7iITn8Nf/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDotnfVif19KPU1Vx0MAJJnMwBn8tg9rn2BL2EZiN7jp9S7Vnts7vlgONabhMx46tLIxATyTQfHLjcWFlV9RB01n3iydDfjIkbiVxN5yUjEcT8k0JgpBK0yDDwapJOuI7wpzeI7iITn8Nf/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we had arranged day tours to begin the next day of the pyramids in Giza and then for much further afield from Luxor, we took the opportunity to walk around Giza on our own. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD-ODY4HN8HhxFjhkYCSMXxak6FkrmlLxMkpnBrf4UorseSkBczxQEQ0VtO2nfCnVuT22NnUr20TeMmR5aH6PBle9J5HcoDlNltRK6OoKPScXBLY1nQgHvdkXX4RjDJ8j8koqAweVeosT/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD-ODY4HN8HhxFjhkYCSMXxak6FkrmlLxMkpnBrf4UorseSkBczxQEQ0VtO2nfCnVuT22NnUr20TeMmR5aH6PBle9J5HcoDlNltRK6OoKPScXBLY1nQgHvdkXX4RjDJ8j8koqAweVeosT/s320/038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was the first time this trip we encountered such poverty.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYnF4NfG-t-NfzVkI9n3gMviO_W-j3WIhixg30gWsmlsgrigSmsa7CZuqQtwfDTqSaEh2DWwXUYhyyFMB3XWPIBTU8hD4tWK0NkMc-hxB-e90Ha65ogbI-9X24nrWhhDZOIzulVKXxBVI/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYnF4NfG-t-NfzVkI9n3gMviO_W-j3WIhixg30gWsmlsgrigSmsa7CZuqQtwfDTqSaEh2DWwXUYhyyFMB3XWPIBTU8hD4tWK0NkMc-hxB-e90Ha65ogbI-9X24nrWhhDZOIzulVKXxBVI/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I can never overstate the extreme friendliness of the Egyptian people we encountered. So, so many people spontaneously came up to us welcoming us to their homeland, thanking us for coming AND wishing us a wonderful visit. And no, there was absolutely NO sense that they wanted anything in return either. We have naturally become somewhat jaded or skeptical at times on our world travels wondering who wants what from us as we are obviously perceived by many </span><span style="font-size: large;">less affluent </span><span style="font-size: large;">people as having so much money. That was never the case for us in Egypt, however. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinE-TPeIV7v001iTW77Ew_102jumuHw8PK4qjBnjpxtfJ0tvIPHeH3lqA7sUTxjYyFvBL1FeVTesDO_xLBZTn0vgNVwj7ChRCrU7TqCbh5i05Ytc-2owBLr34wAja5czlM1eTrZcmZkuUp/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinE-TPeIV7v001iTW77Ew_102jumuHw8PK4qjBnjpxtfJ0tvIPHeH3lqA7sUTxjYyFvBL1FeVTesDO_xLBZTn0vgNVwj7ChRCrU7TqCbh5i05Ytc-2owBLr34wAja5czlM1eTrZcmZkuUp/s320/069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As I wrote in the blog, I felt like the Pied Piper of Hamelin as kids kept coming up to say a few words to us and then began following us around. None of them asked for any money, unlike so many other countries where we’ve been and have had children follow us. They just appeared thrilled to be with us and have their pictures taken. We were the only foreigners so we were as much a novelty to them, I'm sure, as they and the sights and sounds were for us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29KTAXHDzfFEIzdM3m0ZPtWQTAfnqC0zbnGGDEiY8LicD-AG31trDCQBtuUPZFSqw9IAUNmwj39Sc5kC8N7qn45UUniVnyQEJP6hhojk05C92hK7fSWjdrSuam85ZgevhhE7a76dw3n0j/s320/072.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When our tour guide picked us up on October 18th, he took us to <b>Memphis,</b> the ancient Egyptian city that served not just as an important city but also as the capital of ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom. There we viewed a sphinx of Ramses II. That was where I learned the word ‘sphinx’ was a Greek word because the man who wrote ancient Egyptian history was Greek! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZqyg14br-gh2CI0sNOmIKRInQJsaTiE8QzYX3gPf0JtMhErZQqkgY1ObEzNA9lLEqw_hsy8MweldVkDttkdQ5bLt3K-bV1gv29y0gvj0AFNNgFF53BKG5cSngBBm_bSP2J9JJeYzaFeY/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZqyg14br-gh2CI0sNOmIKRInQJsaTiE8QzYX3gPf0JtMhErZQqkgY1ObEzNA9lLEqw_hsy8MweldVkDttkdQ5bLt3K-bV1gv29y0gvj0AFNNgFF53BKG5cSngBBm_bSP2J9JJeYzaFeY/s320/027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After visiting several underground tombs in the town of Sakkara, we stopped at one of the many carpet schools to learn about </span><span style="font-size: large;">carpet weaving in Egypt. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I asked what age the children can start ‘learning’ or perhaps, more accurately, working, and was told they start as young as ten so they can help support their families. Seeing first hand these very young workers made me wonder who had made the beautiful Turkish, Indian and Afghani rugs we have. Ignorance had been bliss until we were faced with the reality of how young those workers had probably been too.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4bL6h5-1g3wRgP9Vpp6u9sfFRvjT7PLqmKUQFCHokOjxNQ87fOXzWB2zEFqecdWkr9Zr9plaFu3SJ4EcdCFoD3hPNxXB7e4B-rTZwCebDHzrstm_S04FECfsGQ1yzoKPQtQUQbpqZV8l/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4bL6h5-1g3wRgP9Vpp6u9sfFRvjT7PLqmKUQFCHokOjxNQ87fOXzWB2zEFqecdWkr9Zr9plaFu3SJ4EcdCFoD3hPNxXB7e4B-rTZwCebDHzrstm_S04FECfsGQ1yzoKPQtQUQbpqZV8l/s320/138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The oldest pyramid in Giza and the largest in Egypt is the <b>Great Pyramid of Khufu, </b>k</span><span style="font-size: large;">nown as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It took our breath away as we felt the power of long ago civilizations and what they had been capable of accomplishing.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnNrnYLb-A7ngt0ZDbT2xnPbCFqVMLMWHzlJ9FQrFn7bVI762eAagIRYN6knrQJQaHVMBXm6wj38NukID4xhi4phXyTplRRoZOD0JZ65Zw8hXmBzWAFs-OCHo8a5yC07OdTVPCh0Y55k/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINnNrnYLb-A7ngt0ZDbT2xnPbCFqVMLMWHzlJ9FQrFn7bVI762eAagIRYN6knrQJQaHVMBXm6wj38NukID4xhi4phXyTplRRoZOD0JZ65Zw8hXmBzWAFs-OCHo8a5yC07OdTVPCh0Y55k/s320/157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming face to face with an unforgettable look in the eyes of the great <b>Sphinx, </b>the guardian of the greatest pyramids in Egypt, will not be an experience soon forgotten.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3XsFwtFIKoyxChHZqUUSsaiMJhjrEqcmA51fgw0V6Te3FbpszfBmBCYRtGO6ObtTkdF4WzC-CBlMv-uWYfUX7gUCkTQs3wRuhne2GWvDjmQmxWjZkYrrTVPWg45KmU5NQUjhQHOz56Gk/s320/245.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had a day to ourselves in Cairo and chose to visit the Coptic area where there was a maze of ancient and modern churches and monasteries set within the walls of the fortress of Babylon founded in the 6th century BC. More than 20 churches once were clustered in just one square kilometer; the first one we toured was the <b>Hanging Church. </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-KM1S4xqdaffl4vs9PcILst2QzBBeDsoVa85YFBMjlvOdjEbU5AFd3eO-MsH0qdQ491BoYCFYwcdAAkLOP8HC4bCHhfQ5_mjHMp22ssxTmRmowJGB2y5Bc9jWtDgSx4Ss4vKzPnc-sYm/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-KM1S4xqdaffl4vs9PcILst2QzBBeDsoVa85YFBMjlvOdjEbU5AFd3eO-MsH0qdQ491BoYCFYwcdAAkLOP8HC4bCHhfQ5_mjHMp22ssxTmRmowJGB2y5Bc9jWtDgSx4Ss4vKzPnc-sYm/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the <b>Greek Orthodox Monastery & St. George Church,</b> it was extremely touching when one of these Muslim women kissed me on both cheeks after I took their photo in front of the cross. When we hear so often in the news of the hatred expressed between followers of one religion or another, it was hopeful there were a number of Muslims also visiting the churches when we were there. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs99wZMRz6BiAzu6XHkF-ovBkJjBzgWH7rvVEPMFc3l9LRkfSY3sB-jfzAw5r13-PrF_0SAOqewBZqB_8PdBbdWEZh3uJAqni6PejRDDkFFc8MjIiVRJPK-m0yRxGb9BxdYGfTMJF-WbcF/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs99wZMRz6BiAzu6XHkF-ovBkJjBzgWH7rvVEPMFc3l9LRkfSY3sB-jfzAw5r13-PrF_0SAOqewBZqB_8PdBbdWEZh3uJAqni6PejRDDkFFc8MjIiVRJPK-m0yRxGb9BxdYGfTMJF-WbcF/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking through Coptic Cairo showed us the peaceful coexistence of the Christian community in a huge and predominantly Muslim city. The enclave was a testimony to the Christian life of a branch of Christianity that predated the famous great schism of 1054 AD between the East (Orthodox) and the West (Rome) by almost a thousand years. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The<b> Church of the Virgin Mary </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">was a site believed to have been used by the Holy Family while escaping persecution.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdN60nuuc9GuhbPr9qYyh_w3BQQLheFTUsgc9AAe0kDfKvPVSvaiIqjKgrteZYMdJfa5sb7r9wD70OM6NE_ixkeqNS2iBcK8cXry_Gj6ZTe-hqwr2cDpzQuzyyeKCTfT7gocMIRLHTv6D/s320/177.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Amir Ibn al-As Mosque,</b> the first mosque built in Egypt, was established in 642 AD by the general who conquered Egypt for Islam. We've been in a huge number of mosques over the years but this was the first time we saw the imam chant the 'Call to Prayer.' </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKGOaXgc4NXc-PG0JOx2xAAriCbapMGrnnnzmqj8D7JrcB5-GsSkvwuR5lnJgnXqKMFS0xNdTrClHFHdyhpXGTGSDH0sjjuS30Rkh9Wx2Gc13nD1fAA6rXqhBTT6eMcQBbr5qZ8ouO5pq/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKGOaXgc4NXc-PG0JOx2xAAriCbapMGrnnnzmqj8D7JrcB5-GsSkvwuR5lnJgnXqKMFS0xNdTrClHFHdyhpXGTGSDH0sjjuS30Rkh9Wx2Gc13nD1fAA6rXqhBTT6eMcQBbr5qZ8ouO5pq/s320/231.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had certainly appreciated seeing the other areas of Cairo with the fabulous ancient churches and religious sites that were famous the world over but</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I loved the <b>Tentmakers' District </b>the most after learning of its existence in Kuala Lumpur. Seeing the riotous colored fabrics with intricate quilted designs made into wall hangings, table runners and cushion covers made me feel like a kid in a candy store! I had such fun that we returned the next day to splurge once again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5qJBy0JTZsLz8mTcbTzDhNJALsXVMNeUueXTgYdVNfbjMmO8FD66v6PYJ9fOreyw0Avvt48jC1wQScGxtHh56yO_CZPzNdOf0Bo41p51XCkyM5TAoLicCEWjLMeNMETthOu7cifqd2bg/s1600/264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5qJBy0JTZsLz8mTcbTzDhNJALsXVMNeUueXTgYdVNfbjMmO8FD66v6PYJ9fOreyw0Avvt48jC1wQScGxtHh56yO_CZPzNdOf0Bo41p51XCkyM5TAoLicCEWjLMeNMETthOu7cifqd2bg/s320/264.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEisnVVlPf9p7B0_h0PZkDTVCkMGDq3o9eXSkXHliw1dMVf_x8_XYxP-wzG_uj4xnVzKnK87_-vaAnFTilmbwC0_7c6V404_bLrTRYrMHCIS9KNUWgQZECsxbauICvF89-7iiKE5cjD_XRr5/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnVVlPf9p7B0_h0PZkDTVCkMGDq3o9eXSkXHliw1dMVf_x8_XYxP-wzG_uj4xnVzKnK87_-vaAnFTilmbwC0_7c6V404_bLrTRYrMHCIS9KNUWgQZECsxbauICvF89-7iiKE5cjD_XRr5/s320/289.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day, October 21st, we walked to the nearby <b>Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square,</b> known the world over as the site of the Egyptian Revolution in 2011. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The pigments in the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meidum Geese,</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> even though painted around 2500 BC, still remained vivid and the degree of realism made it possible for ornithologists to identify the species with no trouble. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7HdN1n7xdqPPMXCpdlwrU5snXZRm3jB5oIN2eX4mbmXv0qg0LcxON6yvVU8tYBJKTYChOTjmpUi_fbqdSNKi41OdkpFnTXbnhjhq3Wq8HLldbD5tozzYWW7VZjTTLrqe8wUMkG6iVen2/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7HdN1n7xdqPPMXCpdlwrU5snXZRm3jB5oIN2eX4mbmXv0qg0LcxON6yvVU8tYBJKTYChOTjmpUi_fbqdSNKi41OdkpFnTXbnhjhq3Wq8HLldbD5tozzYWW7VZjTTLrqe8wUMkG6iVen2/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing that painting brought tears to my eyes as here is a photo of the same drawing we have at home. It was painted by my maternal <b>Great Aunt Nina de Garis Davis </b>about 100 years ago when she and her husband, Norman, worked in the early and mid-twentieth century drawing and documenting tomb paintings in Egypt. Nina spent half of her time making drawings for the Metropolitan Museum in New York where we have seen many of her other paintings. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQiQh3HYP_nruqHbK6NVnm8g4kwfbky__HhIqw0DUjZPGmsWB91lOrENLa5WtbWbu0VI-keUa5Cd58H_9WfPjQwbapJyyUWa3IS6F53pXq_9P84hHwLYT1FUrySeKBdOVT1a5UcA53gc/s320/20161025_000604.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Museum was so mammoth that </span><span style="font-size: large;">it would take nine months to see it all</span><span style="font-size: large;"> if you were to look at every piece for one minute! It was so hard for me to decide which of the hundreds and hundreds of pieces we saw to include here in this highlight post. Figuring that most readers would be drawn to the mummies was the only reason I included this next photo. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Mummies Halls </b>housed the remains of some of Egypt’s most illustrious pharaoh’s and queens from the 17th to the 21st centuries, 1650 to 945 BC. The mood inside each of the rooms was suitably somber and talking above a whisper was forbidden. <b>King Amnehotep I</b> died in his late 40s during the 18th dynasty, circa 1525-1505 BC. The body was later re-wrapped by 21st dynasty priests and provided with a new mask and a garland of flowers.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4LJn_7W1Hxel82DVm1hNiz8g4NcnPDtYnlMh_Qdtt1tEQMhheucBWb9n6I2ekhZjTT6IlYN285VvfbHRXR7h9Ql1IXPNI0uB6PT-FKAIEnDNZtEk38ohDkAXwJNdNBfFkvSLl6OjmURm/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4LJn_7W1Hxel82DVm1hNiz8g4NcnPDtYnlMh_Qdtt1tEQMhheucBWb9n6I2ekhZjTT6IlYN285VvfbHRXR7h9Ql1IXPNI0uB6PT-FKAIEnDNZtEk38ohDkAXwJNdNBfFkvSLl6OjmURm/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The following day in Cairo, I noticed a young local girl taking a picture of these two other girls so I thought I would also take one. The girl on the left was laughing so hard the basket fell off her head!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOYbpz0A00BxGhYSPb8onFaSUZMs-Kr1v6vEX9rWs9LL_VqfCsSn12Ib9nlZQeXuyZVaujmlZQSd4FmgpMPuC5F3_GSv5zFc8XXWvQHq79Ky_MSOzvIB0Yrqr4ax5yyso6tdGjMxUWiln/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOYbpz0A00BxGhYSPb8onFaSUZMs-Kr1v6vEX9rWs9LL_VqfCsSn12Ib9nlZQeXuyZVaujmlZQSd4FmgpMPuC5F3_GSv5zFc8XXWvQHq79Ky_MSOzvIB0Yrqr4ax5yyso6tdGjMxUWiln/s320/226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A common sight in several areas of Cairo was of men pushing OR carrying large numbers of boxes. What a hard life many Caireans lead.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHGMmL_BlMrj74flr1DXTokTefR3DzTpgbKh5B7pMH7ITaN4UEq7EkCzcUp5-CHdxUS6s1S6PZYy77Pj71fNfvF_OZoTsr0u4u2f6g_w4lrW4Xk-Ti7nbwDwuEDTx3QJd_bc8I-eh_sbb/s320/266.JPG" /></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/AVvXsEhrAyrzkNROMXu8txt4hJ1-zP7ZMv5AX1tZy7lQQFcf_d385ug-NluGkaHJ16t6F_RTR2WgbhaEvxCZ56Giu_BOv0uatvKoL9paDDPyG2nqEuqCrK0VyLhVdtBmkgR7w9hd97Yp1OX55ax-/s1600/286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAyrzkNROMXu8txt4hJ1-zP7ZMv5AX1tZy7lQQFcf_d385ug-NluGkaHJ16t6F_RTR2WgbhaEvxCZ56Giu_BOv0uatvKoL9paDDPyG2nqEuqCrK0VyLhVdtBmkgR7w9hd97Yp1OX55ax-/s320/286.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">These young women wanted their picture taken with me at the <b>Sultan Mosque of al-Nasr Mohammed ibn Qalaun, </b>an early 14th-century mosque in Cairo. I was glad to oblige.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdnZxpIvBIfyvS9yyUUhTzb66051wKGn2RldjUn_5oQEZuDMTepsGoglx1WcYASkKDqPCqYkZj8SmXetH3bewKwMp7MySBMpeZYciB5bs3R41XVfJE1QLs9U3HfcQSgs0R2uot-JwnJAo/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdnZxpIvBIfyvS9yyUUhTzb66051wKGn2RldjUn_5oQEZuDMTepsGoglx1WcYASkKDqPCqYkZj8SmXetH3bewKwMp7MySBMpeZYciB5bs3R41XVfJE1QLs9U3HfcQSgs0R2uot-JwnJAo/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On October 23rd, we flew from Cairo south to <b>Luxor, </b>described as the world's largest open-air museum. At the<b> Temple of Karnak,</b> we learned that Karnak means sacred house and it took 2,000 years to build the great palace as each king or pharaoh added onto the temple during his reign. The word 'remarkable' seems inadequate to describe seeing the color preserved through the millennia. As so much of the original paint still remained, it was still possible to imagine the spectacular vision this place must have been for the Egyptian people of the time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_Sa-8QpZw4Nw93yGVWouRD4_9tnkLDFb9V3jWu4e3gELi7nvxdsutSa72fNdZz5ctdDmh6_VpO-v4pWofnN3IUpqUJyYxtl6ZHg5ZbpcPiy5Of3FVZIXbEBSRJiO5XIpQU-oDkJA7s5i/s320/042.JPG" /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Queen Hatsheput’s</b> face was sadly destroyed by her son, Tuthmosis III, as was her name and record of her achievements.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJbRVxh_I2sh1JwRxtes9EjdQEywUd0jE628rBDOwqK32yx6vjGwqLq05Pk9rpn57UeUnt0EGyY3eUySvsGNuZwI1Y2Ihz6jh_2bMPHBkbcj1E8-BWbEnmd3_d3tbJZ8jFWQtbtacAJVm/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJbRVxh_I2sh1JwRxtes9EjdQEywUd0jE628rBDOwqK32yx6vjGwqLq05Pk9rpn57UeUnt0EGyY3eUySvsGNuZwI1Y2Ihz6jh_2bMPHBkbcj1E8-BWbEnmd3_d3tbJZ8jFWQtbtacAJVm/s320/077.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The deep carvings indicated they were done during the time of Ramses III.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7LtMZKk8PQ2zisa1noBI4dvahsO8HQDS27Xc2weJd1UKcog-bd6CcGQ2xMoW2Ug_qNrG6Xi3lsKW1wLjlvjKkEzCqhXHacpfcQ9h6gGFkIC_YYhGqR_aqX92dbLVRdqpGVTMdL1jCu1P/s320/108.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the <b>Luxor Temple, </b>there was part of a depiction of The Last Supper indicating the Christians' strong influence in the area.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeE2kK4A1SUjFkrsARXrXSFPglE92UqOhSFz2mC2SfgFPOrN9Wk01Bi6vZLk45Mnpw51ccEWUzchQMWCzptiqXzhHRJiNt_JjWrFa7v2X0ZIKug4fOUyE_HRzPTBQM6Iin_3wREEp-r9s/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeE2kK4A1SUjFkrsARXrXSFPglE92UqOhSFz2mC2SfgFPOrN9Wk01Bi6vZLk45Mnpw51ccEWUzchQMWCzptiqXzhHRJiNt_JjWrFa7v2X0ZIKug4fOUyE_HRzPTBQM6Iin_3wREEp-r9s/s320/155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another scene from Luxor Temple:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc5JY6GXlF4d_SjbSNNBo4aDZ9_zCrlq7tlsKviRJ-7VXnu2UjtYmavvH5vHAoimIsaOCxFwEzdn9S1S2XNhWFw-2O_mADtkWHm0xIPYkD3lBvQYxmIDnLmeUiB_ROICLycCYpzBSKWTE/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc5JY6GXlF4d_SjbSNNBo4aDZ9_zCrlq7tlsKviRJ-7VXnu2UjtYmavvH5vHAoimIsaOCxFwEzdn9S1S2XNhWFw-2O_mADtkWHm0xIPYkD3lBvQYxmIDnLmeUiB_ROICLycCYpzBSKWTE/s320/162.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A cartouche, i.e. his name as written in hieroglyphics, of <b>Alexander the Great</b> dating from 330 BC:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5QbogpcydwrpRCCCtU7-pQqLBpzTLqoEVkDACo0_ALewDCQXCVCLV-9kDwDMfSzCO7DQBuyENUKPAN3B1mzevYjiW0tSQk6inmRqFUVMBBJONNx6DZ3wK0gfoeZFp3ifha5LmeOYkP-Q/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5QbogpcydwrpRCCCtU7-pQqLBpzTLqoEVkDACo0_ALewDCQXCVCLV-9kDwDMfSzCO7DQBuyENUKPAN3B1mzevYjiW0tSQk6inmRqFUVMBBJONNx6DZ3wK0gfoeZFp3ifha5LmeOYkP-Q/s320/165.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our last activity of the day after</span><span style="font-size: large;"> crossing over the Nile River from the West Bank to the East Bank was to take a ride at sunset on a <b>felucca, </b>a traditional sailboat that has remained the primary transportation on the Nile. This photo was an easy choice for the highlight reel.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkyDWtdPSe1WDg1twlG4s1VWDYxZxEI3LStiGFk6iCDu7UN6HP5iLHWpioy9hsIzwET-fgsdNtx9vXecwS0GNpw4IBOGssgHGWEOE7BIxlCwiB72bUIuPh5NS8vOLcSui5IfItDmcCUZs/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkyDWtdPSe1WDg1twlG4s1VWDYxZxEI3LStiGFk6iCDu7UN6HP5iLHWpioy9hsIzwET-fgsdNtx9vXecwS0GNpw4IBOGssgHGWEOE7BIxlCwiB72bUIuPh5NS8vOLcSui5IfItDmcCUZs/s320/231.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On 10/25, our guide and driver took us to the temples in <b>Abydos, </b>located 200 kms away. Among the brightly colored wall paintings, we saw <b>Amun-Ra,</b> the oldest and the most worshipped ruler of ancient Egypt who was always depicted in blue. Many considered him as the God of Kings and King of Gods. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZTTaaNV1g_6WJMQy2rn1s1_I-7EBO63a10A368GNKYIvT7UCPCIeKtucAEzGe8-tdqBzDbEGqCUU1Jhbb-65Go9OZkqd06cHpIswMe5hAV2vGjJSZ4wuZHoA4yaPdWIuJGEJftoYsIB6/s320/076.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A temple guard, leaving at the end of the day, asked me if I would like to hop on his motorcycle to avoid the long walk back to the van. I sure wasn't about to say no to that fun and enticing offer! Our guide was astounded as he'd never seen any other tourist being offered the same chance before.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QoMbv4PTMM6ZWjxQ6plmULQnBHZ19vstrgD3FJEwSziTPckpRM8KYH1xJTo4189BwxnJMGBEl6HWuV6ZRq_X5m9XPhxlqTQGILthJXTqN0ITa2X5EXp4SBM7Y11AyKNV_qmyEOOi7AJm/s1600/249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QoMbv4PTMM6ZWjxQ6plmULQnBHZ19vstrgD3FJEwSziTPckpRM8KYH1xJTo4189BwxnJMGBEl6HWuV6ZRq_X5m9XPhxlqTQGILthJXTqN0ITa2X5EXp4SBM7Y11AyKNV_qmyEOOi7AJm/s320/249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Driving from place to place in southern Egypt was an adventure as our guide needed to get permits </span><span style="font-size: large;">from the police </span><span style="font-size: large;">to take us from site to site; the guide had to arrange in advance for a police escort from one city to another; and the police 'required' our driver to take certain highways even though the distance was infinitely further. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoAQ9J9neGXkHyJC2mvavnQMEJEmLQpYVGEeHe4og2lkojTihfvaPWnZ8r_0Lp3hacva7QK-iaN-xJ9KwPeD9kKvFaFsom0rqQjFl5lIagQPuQyCxE7N6fIrXMHi4oPUVtC8Uw4WevRqX/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoAQ9J9neGXkHyJC2mvavnQMEJEmLQpYVGEeHe4og2lkojTihfvaPWnZ8r_0Lp3hacva7QK-iaN-xJ9KwPeD9kKvFaFsom0rqQjFl5lIagQPuQyCxE7N6fIrXMHi4oPUVtC8Uw4WevRqX/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The driver, however, chose to take the shorter route and had us slink down in the back seat as we neared police checkpoints so we wouldn't be seen. No need to have worried about us as we entirely safe at all times! </span><span style="font-size: large;">When we had been with the guide and driver in certain areas of Cairo, the police checked the van's license plate and the time as we arrived at one site and then we were checked again at the next site. Unusual to say the least for us but not unnerving at all.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmarEYkaTG4S3JpFaiANMSjRxd7q6FY-y0OyodDx4AaQ2hsmHJy9jh3XSOcoO26TN9TGuAd9v6qxtnHsjCHPSenLfLOCfv4owlQN8aUtKQfeSyAj5qaIogSnBkAWhGrcyxyIHhZAKMS9v2/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmarEYkaTG4S3JpFaiANMSjRxd7q6FY-y0OyodDx4AaQ2hsmHJy9jh3XSOcoO26TN9TGuAd9v6qxtnHsjCHPSenLfLOCfv4owlQN8aUtKQfeSyAj5qaIogSnBkAWhGrcyxyIHhZAKMS9v2/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our final destination on 10/25 was <b>Dendera,</b> one of the best preserved temple complexes in Egypt. It was a site for chapels or shrines from the beginning of history of ancient Egypt. </span><span style="font-size: large;">After learning previously about so many pharaohs and wars, it was almost comical to see <b>Bes,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">the god of fun and an ancient Egyptian dwarf god who was both a deity and a demonic fighter. He was a god of war yet he was also a patron of childbirth and the home. It was thought that he could scare off any evil spirits lurking around the birthing chamber by dancing, shouting and shaking his rattle!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX7InbOGLa3g3eZ1expUb_aiJNDIpwJWpbglfnJfSHa5RSVKn8Mvz3JAlrxl46wkp5ozhWR2k5Q0f5bre6gDdV8I6xTbKi91uFG0kjhpXISanVG0IarTixJSGtx2FN9JoAPuCSWHKL-Cb/s320/146.JPG" width="240" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Breathtaking scenes and color from the walls and ceilings at Dendera:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZFRgJpP_uV9haYFkMmex5y0_pNamZDQvpnyLKDUhON33WB-XF5X047kvKsNja6Ft7kq-zqCTbCy-1xQzZ2oF5tk8sJdqfvOlpQicYRrLg27WxVtWeZ2YZ0LzjRvwcJKAzQ6x_bU9FMFv/s320/154.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVE80VLcVIy_r_OkJpsBUiNauCj0Y9QXdyIkQAJygHNLi27HJr5tprGCzAtJ9emXlDqjrSOR7QGpMvjqquY6GqyheWEfl6SdgLBCGus8YC-uMO9CddB64ayAq50zX5CTQfN5S7xtWp3F6y/s320/166.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The early morning local ferry we took across the Nile on 10/26 to meet our guide and driver for the long trip to and from the Aswan Dam:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmajdcBG4SLVYqh2qvByhegRdW-3QeYnb85cNge7ZZGZmrEPcv77tYI3RMnM5Q5byYKIjLI0KTucXHIaryYn-7ZnB7QmTk-rSxRlw1eTIcItsYqGfspC-LqGiVuZjEz_syMGU1hWFH-xEu/s320/022.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our view as we crossed from the Old Dam en route to the High Dam in Aswan:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_guZ7nnfru65Id4-y19scIwlkAzUTNZzFMgmuQlw2cEYs7MURc6u0UQ73v8C3e9SIoN06CPumDq91KjOaOb7ONcBkfR2TznoZMR0cvIMxo0VwgehpIVCPxsRHqUcOWGcYshnqXFtHC81/s320/223.JPG" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the <b>High Dam:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUQyH7MC6jQ57urSnnHgh0rq5k0zrv15Pn0nem0Xnzmh2X2_Y91JFATDxKVC7nOQXl-BxvBPWjkof3Wo9i9BFi8wKpuetsKg1g1CTgyOc-4wN2dBMDtn_Ib5Mg9SvOk6Kvorw3Qq8MnaF/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUQyH7MC6jQ57urSnnHgh0rq5k0zrv15Pn0nem0Xnzmh2X2_Y91JFATDxKVC7nOQXl-BxvBPWjkof3Wo9i9BFi8wKpuetsKg1g1CTgyOc-4wN2dBMDtn_Ib5Mg9SvOk6Kvorw3Qq8MnaF/s320/245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkbAUBXTc0bbmf8Z7mefNubg8PdluBTYB1j4eqvaFZ2GgC__M7GsAvKGItdkwfdc5vPVGpEpPAzrgNWTv5-C6Hxub8AiAxGcGgR34b1JWmjk3FG1Oy0KYgFaJX5sXUscjQr9fMa-v38gE/s1600/260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkbAUBXTc0bbmf8Z7mefNubg8PdluBTYB1j4eqvaFZ2GgC__M7GsAvKGItdkwfdc5vPVGpEpPAzrgNWTv5-C6Hxub8AiAxGcGgR34b1JWmjk3FG1Oy0KYgFaJX5sXUscjQr9fMa-v38gE/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Temple at Philae </b>was nearly lost under water when the High Aswan Dam was built in the 1960s. Fortunately, the temple was rescued by a joint operation between the Egyptian government and UNESCO. In an engineering feat to rival the ancients, the whole island was surrounded with a dam and the inside pumped dry. Then every stone block of the temple complex was labeled and removed, later to be assembled, like a giant jigsaw puzzle, on higher ground. The whole project took ten years but it saved one of Egypt’s most beautiful temples from certain destruction.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVS6EZOr4IIKbL5Ur09L_yeFC_3tYOhXIKYuNJDSf5Ej9ZapTnQ9iou9YeFdrfNiDbO5SzpO1Lr_rkuaI9CuslBH8pSJ0NsdEBLarEQIegBMzadX0EbiLBps5ZC_K7IGZcCiTLioXJ8yC/s320/272.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of <b>Luxor Temple</b> on our last night in Egypt:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwsC2W6DM5KoW7bOH9pP_6pIw5s7gI0ERhsGRqxFzRThk14mqGRVqFq-CU7Xxq3gJNn82EgC34lQkq62CIHbEzY_d60NCx47UUuX9LmwEfujmKk98P_RlxjtMHg4gYhwI9LXm_lopuiFE/s1600/335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwsC2W6DM5KoW7bOH9pP_6pIw5s7gI0ERhsGRqxFzRThk14mqGRVqFq-CU7Xxq3gJNn82EgC34lQkq62CIHbEzY_d60NCx47UUuX9LmwEfujmKk98P_RlxjtMHg4gYhwI9LXm_lopuiFE/s320/335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope my trying to condense four weeks of travel through Albania, Greece and Egypt didn't leave you as exhausted as I am now! Reliving that portion of our trip was great fun but trying to determine which were the most scenic, memorable, humorous and/or interesting photos from such a long journey was challenging to say the least. Next up (after I've had a breather, that is) </span><span style="font-size: large;">will be the Highlight Reel from Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on May 9th from Ottawa, Canada.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-56516914836792711462017-05-02T16:28:00.005-07:002017-06-03T21:57:50.887-07:00Highlight Reel 1: From Latvia thru Macedonia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had long planned to write a last email including a 'highlight reel' of our four-month long adventure with the most memorable sights of our journey that began in Latvia in August and ended in Denmark in mid December. However, when I began this post a couple of days ago, I realized it was impossible for me to try and wade through 140 days' worth of photos and basically find just one per day to reflect that day. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So my parameters changed to come up with photos that range, I like to think, from being enjoyable to see, thought-provoking, unusual or amusing, wonderful memories and/or showed the overwhelming kindness of people we met along the way.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 14th:</b> Being a knitter for more than 50 years, I loved seeing the hand-knitted items that were so plentiful in <b>Riga, Latvia, </b>our first stop.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Nj6lAC1Xnki5E5tO_rCfkmQ5prLzIdfXlklYGPbImTJOToxUYcPDYA2_YuHrrPWMpDrA0lMSeIZZubGjSSGojL8NiOlvp4VN594oSmMOZKkx_kZDrOMFDIrQcVbD_ikhvA0_6X3ZAF0/s1600/Riga+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Nj6lAC1Xnki5E5tO_rCfkmQ5prLzIdfXlklYGPbImTJOToxUYcPDYA2_YuHrrPWMpDrA0lMSeIZZubGjSSGojL8NiOlvp4VN594oSmMOZKkx_kZDrOMFDIrQcVbD_ikhvA0_6X3ZAF0/s320/Riga+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Jewish Museum in Riga</b> depicted the horrors suffered by Latvian Jews at the hands of the Germans during WWII. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTSAJEq5aF2WaFhh9LaDGuKTQ4-x2pWXvCmU9TpSYubQZgb1P5P2_MAG1TFh8fNCx9-mMtaP93Lt9YaJDI5AeYTgHdIrGnPPwKsvFyDO2wJy4oLcBz5hdy2EyJ3XagKCCcuMQk1E3TwI/s1600/Riga+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTSAJEq5aF2WaFhh9LaDGuKTQ4-x2pWXvCmU9TpSYubQZgb1P5P2_MAG1TFh8fNCx9-mMtaP93Lt9YaJDI5AeYTgHdIrGnPPwKsvFyDO2wJy4oLcBz5hdy2EyJ3XagKCCcuMQk1E3TwI/s320/Riga+030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-QJAtqg7Vwmp05pDnUiFHnh5qYS0BLBfLqgyya94GupHfcYHEWsWIlIlKTgK0rZtPw-jFS_jOJbGyeYzi911F1d0wIWBjE3dDs2COxOxgbcqxJBJQiiEsJQzUNeuh8eHKKr6QHmmN3A/s1600/Riga+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-QJAtqg7Vwmp05pDnUiFHnh5qYS0BLBfLqgyya94GupHfcYHEWsWIlIlKTgK0rZtPw-jFS_jOJbGyeYzi911F1d0wIWBjE3dDs2COxOxgbcqxJBJQiiEsJQzUNeuh8eHKKr6QHmmN3A/s320/Riga+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErNsYJBVYtUZy9igwivivYkgNFxg8TBzt6C1654TBHlqNKmLVJS-eYAbCAb5gKW593tXz20go4vcXSQlTeaiI_WcOalUHrZMQx_-LBxk2r_1tBKNDdwBMzlK-x1QT2nEG-y2QWXyYbKs/s1600/Riga+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErNsYJBVYtUZy9igwivivYkgNFxg8TBzt6C1654TBHlqNKmLVJS-eYAbCAb5gKW593tXz20go4vcXSQlTeaiI_WcOalUHrZMQx_-LBxk2r_1tBKNDdwBMzlK-x1QT2nEG-y2QWXyYbKs/s320/Riga+122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 17th: The Hill of Crosses</b> near Siauliai in northern Lithuania was a place of Christian pilgrimage and a symbol of peace with over 100,000 crosses.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6HDXh0gMySDCZy9ntz1D_YY3bvT7hl0W8xq6YNeRRGheJitVePrT8UCTNCokd34-rDIlrMDgwj0v3y1z09opQAM1qhhvNBR1mJ7qr61GO6M0oH3dN0BnzY_CZeIaZ03ojd-epac47Pw/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6HDXh0gMySDCZy9ntz1D_YY3bvT7hl0W8xq6YNeRRGheJitVePrT8UCTNCokd34-rDIlrMDgwj0v3y1z09opQAM1qhhvNBR1mJ7qr61GO6M0oH3dN0BnzY_CZeIaZ03ojd-epac47Pw/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgM_jRz1QpbvvIMve_oOjqZreubhZgBAC0pNjmaR3JTWiwD5PjpFWjkKMeoJ9H2FymVr0OWxeXF_8zgqskIUZUDDK472fFI3XO3o4BEP8IJEcOUYJHjvE_jnypga3elox-rfqxCPS2_-zk/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_jRz1QpbvvIMve_oOjqZreubhZgBAC0pNjmaR3JTWiwD5PjpFWjkKMeoJ9H2FymVr0OWxeXF_8zgqskIUZUDDK472fFI3XO3o4BEP8IJEcOUYJHjvE_jnypga3elox-rfqxCPS2_-zk/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 19th: </b>A day trip from <b>Vilnius, Lithuania to Trakai</b> and its island castle:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcs05ftod2_M9mVQqPpcN_1ShAj4KThwA4zvoCbgR_h3l-Ie-9Idtn0HKRT8jUaxGrHoffa-gJTWAFxNR9OEU4tdcX0EosP-ul7V06A0TDAf6rK6ysvVZE8rPvN_GC2_YoBB2qerSX8/s1600/Vilnius+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrcs05ftod2_M9mVQqPpcN_1ShAj4KThwA4zvoCbgR_h3l-Ie-9Idtn0HKRT8jUaxGrHoffa-gJTWAFxNR9OEU4tdcX0EosP-ul7V06A0TDAf6rK6ysvVZE8rPvN_GC2_YoBB2qerSX8/s320/Vilnius+053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the small town was the <b>Karaite Ethnographic Museum. </b>The Karaite, the smallest (at 250) ethnic community in Lithuania who still practice a form of Judaism, were brought to Lithuania during the 11th century from Crimea.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8Bd2t9RTZbPInvsaYQ7BUxQAvQE1gEPp0O-g5tlI5uYQnhyqdhNn6bePRWDPwq74BSZ14NzfXJ4-W_vmXp594jkbJZdmoFVvm5xcbYVOpLoGCYTQm_vYv0nAjWAmOYsUTlVZWUK0t_8/s1600/Vilnius+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8Bd2t9RTZbPInvsaYQ7BUxQAvQE1gEPp0O-g5tlI5uYQnhyqdhNn6bePRWDPwq74BSZ14NzfXJ4-W_vmXp594jkbJZdmoFVvm5xcbYVOpLoGCYTQm_vYv0nAjWAmOYsUTlVZWUK0t_8/s320/Vilnius+057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After poring through each day's photos, I couldn't resist including this one, also from Trakai!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9xOXD8asGdMd4cUgyUeMcRCppDhyl-puMK0OIKMi8ko5V7_Rd91CipEzcOhHZPHmkAHAy0iUCE7Qk7MAfCXTFi2teFgkiJ2g1CvCS78JqdnpTfFWv1mDendAOJIkHL5hYtMPoNz0jhw/s1600/Vilnius+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9xOXD8asGdMd4cUgyUeMcRCppDhyl-puMK0OIKMi8ko5V7_Rd91CipEzcOhHZPHmkAHAy0iUCE7Qk7MAfCXTFi2teFgkiJ2g1CvCS78JqdnpTfFWv1mDendAOJIkHL5hYtMPoNz0jhw/s320/Vilnius+078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 19th: The Hill of 3 Crosses</b> in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, was originally erected in 1916 in honor of seven French Franciscan monks who were murdered in pagan Lithuania in the 14th century. Following the instruction of Soviet authorities in 1950, the crosses were destroyed. They were rebuilt in 1989 against the resistance of local authorities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wfGmQNFK7cpQkgjwn1ivKSxeBBYiiWhFPvPNX420Z2Wv8HL9Di90yO8nFmk8Fy_Jw7izdwuQdA_F-19wQRPXMP5l_MH66FaloNWsOLfvjry7WOfdnM9CcmUmA_ligb1X137xPG2v1Cg/s1600/Vilnius+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wfGmQNFK7cpQkgjwn1ivKSxeBBYiiWhFPvPNX420Z2Wv8HL9Di90yO8nFmk8Fy_Jw7izdwuQdA_F-19wQRPXMP5l_MH66FaloNWsOLfvjry7WOfdnM9CcmUmA_ligb1X137xPG2v1Cg/s320/Vilnius+105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 20th:</b> <b>The</b> <b>Percherska Lavra Monastery in Kiev</b> (or Kyiv as locals describe their city), Ukraine:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjCysRdXikp1lwtdKHLzxeNKNm-XCaug3DFIWN02vdUoavZWahG3naE-J0KmBbVYBX_ckyqBe5JD5pPTJldnx810XShKQAsYFEgx1zMxvboDrbm3ZyvXdhJizXLq4HRubF9XqHp6BBJw/s1600/Kiev+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjCysRdXikp1lwtdKHLzxeNKNm-XCaug3DFIWN02vdUoavZWahG3naE-J0KmBbVYBX_ckyqBe5JD5pPTJldnx810XShKQAsYFEgx1zMxvboDrbm3ZyvXdhJizXLq4HRubF9XqHp6BBJw/s320/Kiev+052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 21st:</b> We felt that no visit to Ukraine would be complete for us without a day trip to nearby <b>Chornobyl,</b> the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNsFTw_HDqzMejHBHU0adovZwsgUpVQC1TDcXq9GFgjrScXv_ODDRWZLJ3iNt87N7CsIiUc6BdzCIyTr4TXITr3QX2w8l_jOpolJeHKkkMfTySLHCqJs1_w-vR29pZK0FVUD9v-YRufU/s1600/Kiev+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNsFTw_HDqzMejHBHU0adovZwsgUpVQC1TDcXq9GFgjrScXv_ODDRWZLJ3iNt87N7CsIiUc6BdzCIyTr4TXITr3QX2w8l_jOpolJeHKkkMfTySLHCqJs1_w-vR29pZK0FVUD9v-YRufU/s320/Kiev+040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0whZXcmpMpYuIKMop5yScGhhyphenhyphenk5LxeAiitOMrshLchKYj7MJLa9Mc1rXbwMS0MYGPlsCQAQQl9colyercNa7g0iOBg7N6oH35y7cXCCXFpBd128_2EQg9ihxT58VdFzRhLjMJMoL4UXY/s1600/Kiev+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0whZXcmpMpYuIKMop5yScGhhyphenhyphenk5LxeAiitOMrshLchKYj7MJLa9Mc1rXbwMS0MYGPlsCQAQQl9colyercNa7g0iOBg7N6oH35y7cXCCXFpBd128_2EQg9ihxT58VdFzRhLjMJMoL4UXY/s320/Kiev+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fMBoogs73JELonLUI-AeqfHkyu-zZNhGtvVrz_DtaS4qaW1PGpbEDUq196FaXwWFdF9p3X0ESYgBtfHcNJ7y1J10Meelc6fEbeC2v48CKBbxTBvpCbWH_SbHs2CsD-NxdSC6jna0eHE/s1600/Kiev+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fMBoogs73JELonLUI-AeqfHkyu-zZNhGtvVrz_DtaS4qaW1PGpbEDUq196FaXwWFdF9p3X0ESYgBtfHcNJ7y1J10Meelc6fEbeC2v48CKBbxTBvpCbWH_SbHs2CsD-NxdSC6jna0eHE/s320/Kiev+074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our Chornobyl guide took several readings on her Geiger counter to show that certain areas in and around Chornobyl still had high concentrations of radiation thirty years after the blast.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJC1VnQy2YZWDfVoSxg4pItubKks5aDVYVQpbdDHX0nlyEodyoBpoMq3NN7q-_lNl8-qcRY6bggkvBDzsdrPouqr2HZ04xrwyV40Prq39HbFMNkzEZAhYXFKYmrlMVceaXvWuBmnNG38/s1600/Kiev+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJC1VnQy2YZWDfVoSxg4pItubKks5aDVYVQpbdDHX0nlyEodyoBpoMq3NN7q-_lNl8-qcRY6bggkvBDzsdrPouqr2HZ04xrwyV40Prq39HbFMNkzEZAhYXFKYmrlMVceaXvWuBmnNG38/s320/Kiev+100.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A moment frozen in time: a children's playground in Chornobyl.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ78iEzOTcuBzXhcmuLEmS5ujR6DKUr5Jo4oGrkAAkyCg1aMG2P33ZT6SlRDs9iLx5hr3luASHoo6uKsGxilgRiI0028buJ3xLLh-BtzrnasHdgPhWb0staBJ8jWf-dAU7NdtYdtGpGE/s1600/Kiev+192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ78iEzOTcuBzXhcmuLEmS5ujR6DKUr5Jo4oGrkAAkyCg1aMG2P33ZT6SlRDs9iLx5hr3luASHoo6uKsGxilgRiI0028buJ3xLLh-BtzrnasHdgPhWb0staBJ8jWf-dAU7NdtYdtGpGE/s320/Kiev+192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending about nine hours touring what remained of the still-contaminated city, we had to make sure we had received no effects from the radiation.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qKLh5A_cpNCvN0KXnSbJ3pn2vBKAGWuXKQWwtaVpLdSL1k02BfsU0vcYw8yf3xRd7LPDH-8pM_gdSo4ToJej7qhg0QfKUIQ0VIEcIS_kokPvxaG7NGXGVaWkHGi5ttfMTJplRqhajMI/s1600/Kiev+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qKLh5A_cpNCvN0KXnSbJ3pn2vBKAGWuXKQWwtaVpLdSL1k02BfsU0vcYw8yf3xRd7LPDH-8pM_gdSo4ToJej7qhg0QfKUIQ0VIEcIS_kokPvxaG7NGXGVaWkHGi5ttfMTJplRqhajMI/s320/Kiev+249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August 22nd:</b> <b>The National Museum Memorial to Holodomor</b> in Kiev. Thirty percent of the country's population starved to death in just one year between 1932 and 1933 because of Stalin's agrarian policies.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTxvjffA71nKRm0Y_fHlGI8HvMWuDjPKpQ8gTiJvq58h6WQB-hY2pE4GsvNBKW_YZq29kRAIYBYeA0IwepSvqhr7EfH2s0Fo6Gg-k370ts1XXFnH1dHetJV_AGhIqW7qHk7tktsNYo1U/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTxvjffA71nKRm0Y_fHlGI8HvMWuDjPKpQ8gTiJvq58h6WQB-hY2pE4GsvNBKW_YZq29kRAIYBYeA0IwepSvqhr7EfH2s0Fo6Gg-k370ts1XXFnH1dHetJV_AGhIqW7qHk7tktsNYo1U/s320/112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the horrors of radiation poisoning and the power of the former Soviet regime, it was delightful to escape to the beauty of <b>Lake Bled near Ljubljana, Slovenia.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNkOWAnStfIjif5NPMiyUnQd6aKiwJcnyoyp0bTexjDOw7gAjIccTLh5TvVDlf7dnrJitBb7CZKV-GKwWxG25NE7l84uQ3RRhsRqwTFe_cZrebxKK8omDs1WeW7dO81ucJ6g8ADb7LEY/s1600/DSCN0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNkOWAnStfIjif5NPMiyUnQd6aKiwJcnyoyp0bTexjDOw7gAjIccTLh5TvVDlf7dnrJitBb7CZKV-GKwWxG25NE7l84uQ3RRhsRqwTFe_cZrebxKK8omDs1WeW7dO81ucJ6g8ADb7LEY/s320/DSCN0064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A gorgeous hike through <b>Vintgar Gorge near Bled:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSV8uZPyV8MWqIr4PY0JwwpR4SW_ZgfSpms911Y4c29j3EskWB3XWfD7giQfoTy03GziRyc9_eyzKBLWvfQ1px3fcirQW4FLbJHwnEl8VD64BGsMIo5Ib_9eYIyhmiX_bglEO2VB5fM/s1600/DSCN0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSV8uZPyV8MWqIr4PY0JwwpR4SW_ZgfSpms911Y4c29j3EskWB3XWfD7giQfoTy03GziRyc9_eyzKBLWvfQ1px3fcirQW4FLbJHwnEl8VD64BGsMIo5Ib_9eYIyhmiX_bglEO2VB5fM/s320/DSCN0157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Late August:</b> A few scenes from <b>Belgrade, Serbia:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBULrqNxvwXzXhqQ3CCUrkscSVOSlqjJCVAcjze7zMB8NioAoC7ZoGYw_flLWabcMrjwg0lgyRA_IhwFp0Zc3JtB1ihjwCITjYrnhatYyrJzsW-Vh7FQTsAcoMUnbgUWKttCw9IkTDR1g/s1600/Belgrade+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBULrqNxvwXzXhqQ3CCUrkscSVOSlqjJCVAcjze7zMB8NioAoC7ZoGYw_flLWabcMrjwg0lgyRA_IhwFp0Zc3JtB1ihjwCITjYrnhatYyrJzsW-Vh7FQTsAcoMUnbgUWKttCw9IkTDR1g/s320/Belgrade+105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The attractive Orthodox <b>Temple of St. Sava in Belgrade: </b>St Sava was the 13th century founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ONIwoFzP_i-Phjv34P2jQ6v54sxqAu7bb6Mqyj_i2a7y7rGMntzUqSGWDIsQINb9xHZPFMIGFuNmo0z-es4VKQsFsE-4OT9mOEV_hVy-1ZBSaHf41If012TUCQgRZELdxzASp6zFe7Q/s1600/Belgrade+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ONIwoFzP_i-Phjv34P2jQ6v54sxqAu7bb6Mqyj_i2a7y7rGMntzUqSGWDIsQINb9xHZPFMIGFuNmo0z-es4VKQsFsE-4OT9mOEV_hVy-1ZBSaHf41If012TUCQgRZELdxzASp6zFe7Q/s320/Belgrade+083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before entering the church, we needed to wait for the wedding party. Even I felt my toes tapping in tune to the accompanying musicians!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-msCXW_QZPJGfVzIyYGsfcwSi7MqXpCBotecYV0Gvs31toAFpH4gec_OlBxs3emIUSsgevdxmlkqrKby7u36WtJvNiJ6ktZh-XUja0cJ-1hA7P3pfasMcxGJLEtC1rfiC5lw1KbukAAg/s1600/Belgrade+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-msCXW_QZPJGfVzIyYGsfcwSi7MqXpCBotecYV0Gvs31toAFpH4gec_OlBxs3emIUSsgevdxmlkqrKby7u36WtJvNiJ6ktZh-XUja0cJ-1hA7P3pfasMcxGJLEtC1rfiC5lw1KbukAAg/s320/Belgrade+089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>National Assembly Building</b> with photos of victims at Srebenica, the worst genocide since the Holocaust.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpAmsiDRfKyi0d65vI22zuPpXsP08Bl_u7TFfdquBB07iJpW7WkFMmmH28dqQHT3LpjGBFFo1vAaBFc0tJhAyxfteYgj1B0miZSvMT8U-9Ze4qM3SlBaio1aG-y8NBuKsYBDgaTfV7j4/s1600/Belgrade+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpAmsiDRfKyi0d65vI22zuPpXsP08Bl_u7TFfdquBB07iJpW7WkFMmmH28dqQHT3LpjGBFFo1vAaBFc0tJhAyxfteYgj1B0miZSvMT8U-9Ze4qM3SlBaio1aG-y8NBuKsYBDgaTfV7j4/s320/Belgrade+121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On to <b>Sarajevo,</b> the capital of Bosnia i Herzegovina, where we learned first hand from our guide about the horrors of the long war.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8mduzy2LdeGdQPCdLdH_wf9Eltj40kgu-1tdFIIeLOZuoSvsjvmSpMcqif-7bG6d5tvP2bW6wukPkr5A_XyJySjXY5hlpHRUg9wgTxcNwD18punQkZLbw6IoDc3nymFfYOrjiWWaWSU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8mduzy2LdeGdQPCdLdH_wf9Eltj40kgu-1tdFIIeLOZuoSvsjvmSpMcqif-7bG6d5tvP2bW6wukPkr5A_XyJySjXY5hlpHRUg9wgTxcNwD18punQkZLbw6IoDc3nymFfYOrjiWWaWSU/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The assassination of <b>Archduke Franz Ferdinand</b> near the <b>Latin Bridge in Sarajevo</b> in June, 1914 by a Serbian nationalist is widely believed to have sparked the outbreak of WWI. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60BzZtcZXszI9ZwpDFK_-VOa7svvZ7Lh7tG7buqN2bIHTow2cyyJrN53naSCXHm5fKj7OinDYeDWkYyNQaqzxiY7XCxbX7VC-FW22coP5b7FSgDZPxk8Rh9MyT-ouratYreqXBzDgWPQ/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60BzZtcZXszI9ZwpDFK_-VOa7svvZ7Lh7tG7buqN2bIHTow2cyyJrN53naSCXHm5fKj7OinDYeDWkYyNQaqzxiY7XCxbX7VC-FW22coP5b7FSgDZPxk8Rh9MyT-ouratYreqXBzDgWPQ/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sarajeveo's City Hall:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlqef9XWlF6fKpfRqEc3QPNbF2UjWVJNKwI5NaaqnhHaP8TOPA_Z4zNChR0r1BFmuH0iPvkkzAwSyB-F2X20Vl3mM8774qdXOKI5Z8zSxv7qGBWn_xck6bzuRqV38yP-iMCgkvzuPmLw/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlqef9XWlF6fKpfRqEc3QPNbF2UjWVJNKwI5NaaqnhHaP8TOPA_Z4zNChR0r1BFmuH0iPvkkzAwSyB-F2X20Vl3mM8774qdXOKI5Z8zSxv7qGBWn_xck6bzuRqV38yP-iMCgkvzuPmLw/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After two days' worth of learning so much about the war in Sarajevo, visiting the city's <b>Sacred Heart Cathedral </b>was a place of peace in that formerly war-town city.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitla_sdEReNSXzjEAY_QKzuaVTGy2zWnED087sHmCRBPYBx_ev6-fo_C0ERB9CzINphyC5l8kwJobShQDeRVoarZEBxiyAOvWmoFBIT7d9940OUHgXWJCaw-IF230K3qdFKs-XQHs3mBQ/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitla_sdEReNSXzjEAY_QKzuaVTGy2zWnED087sHmCRBPYBx_ev6-fo_C0ERB9CzINphyC5l8kwJobShQDeRVoarZEBxiyAOvWmoFBIT7d9940OUHgXWJCaw-IF230K3qdFKs-XQHs3mBQ/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiNH3pENSAovScMxmw6f2YMqYHgPpO4N1QjIDATxaUvymNt1dAKvjCrJYk7GF1v0rwBsQniIhnUEPOJ7Yic4ecq7D3W5XJbNhM02q-8sdgbeS6u-mDNowka3QxIqioDkQQ-fuVQR5JKlh4/s1600/Sarajevo+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH3pENSAovScMxmw6f2YMqYHgPpO4N1QjIDATxaUvymNt1dAKvjCrJYk7GF1v0rwBsQniIhnUEPOJ7Yic4ecq7D3W5XJbNhM02q-8sdgbeS6u-mDNowka3QxIqioDkQQ-fuVQR5JKlh4/s320/Sarajevo+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Impossible not to be moved by repeated sightings of the <b>'Sarajevo Rose'</b> where people were killed by opposing forces.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI0k_Q8KrCKAEUaeRclGVwMSZq5avx6aTdOjAFi8GJe1nHI0ttfSZgvZ6OnYCpJ5gXRWiyw-dkEtoYNpAeF4rSeHGS6maDtd2F25ihlQrBKubdzi-JUmStixLoIT7etug5xHxF2B9xIE/s1600/Sarajevo+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLI0k_Q8KrCKAEUaeRclGVwMSZq5avx6aTdOjAFi8GJe1nHI0ttfSZgvZ6OnYCpJ5gXRWiyw-dkEtoYNpAeF4rSeHGS6maDtd2F25ihlQrBKubdzi-JUmStixLoIT7etug5xHxF2B9xIE/s320/Sarajevo+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a sad indictment of how Sarajevo's residents felt they were ignored by the rest of the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgzt97YUQrhdu5TpmIUamSiDmJSpkQk1F911u3XZW6MjqLNFb9sKZq2xGgOqIAMDKT8UW-buav-zD40CGF07kM5UV_lCsTnGF0AoQpvEkVrj6bFEHIhqvZjRfzyeEgWfbCxRsOt-Nuds/s1600/Sarajevo+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgzt97YUQrhdu5TpmIUamSiDmJSpkQk1F911u3XZW6MjqLNFb9sKZq2xGgOqIAMDKT8UW-buav-zD40CGF07kM5UV_lCsTnGF0AoQpvEkVrj6bFEHIhqvZjRfzyeEgWfbCxRsOt-Nuds/s320/Sarajevo+092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN1ST54sbkMwoC6uMBi-1kVZ74H_XJepGwpRlfNhhfpZpSdrDc5AuyznX06bheeEigvZvQEmSsxL-lgm6GcnFs8otG6CmygxqJWVXyFZVL3mW3IKDLTFY3fJ-_okPSJqpH0dGEYK8SP0/s1600/Sarajevo+118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN1ST54sbkMwoC6uMBi-1kVZ74H_XJepGwpRlfNhhfpZpSdrDc5AuyznX06bheeEigvZvQEmSsxL-lgm6GcnFs8otG6CmygxqJWVXyFZVL3mW3IKDLTFY3fJ-_okPSJqpH0dGEYK8SP0/s320/Sarajevo+118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From Sarajevo we traveled in early September to <b>Mostar, </b>a city in southern Bosnia. It is famous for its <b>Stari Most,</b> the beautiful bridge over the Neretva River.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8jcIvK4YYvtWKPE4lhgO5ZBmUaeNwdFYdg2wLLXvxQzaz4RmizRJTTxvpm2nR8JzNVVINGTRTBE9Dsi6z_56at-MqdEq4VrnsI-z_OSmo585j6S2Qi7GHzXiP2pEtG2y65eEnI7U27k/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8jcIvK4YYvtWKPE4lhgO5ZBmUaeNwdFYdg2wLLXvxQzaz4RmizRJTTxvpm2nR8JzNVVINGTRTBE9Dsi6z_56at-MqdEq4VrnsI-z_OSmo585j6S2Qi7GHzXiP2pEtG2y65eEnI7U27k/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We took a fascinating day-long tour with our Mostar's Hostel Nina to many sights around southern Bosnia. One was to an underground tunnel built to store planes from the nearby military base in the case of a nuclear war.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqNkkCAw2kLxSmNwKDg-8QqMSoTAECdxx4BZvrDEdTNTwoZlw3kOzfKL0aviY1IYfuidKeV6OQHyRT7ISoJFZN2B46DpDJTUW4Dev1bfAOwXVZsqhxP04PHlIcPBJbVztlgxj8ZdhVHA/s1600/Mostar+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqNkkCAw2kLxSmNwKDg-8QqMSoTAECdxx4BZvrDEdTNTwoZlw3kOzfKL0aviY1IYfuidKeV6OQHyRT7ISoJFZN2B46DpDJTUW4Dev1bfAOwXVZsqhxP04PHlIcPBJbVztlgxj8ZdhVHA/s320/Mostar+059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On a far lighter note, was our tour of the <b>Dervish House </b>or tekke, a Muslim place of worship, where this woman showed such kindness to me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRJwL8SrCm_vO1hiI5_tsB7UF09N8uyio4Fu3CEwxyZnBCDGJdXulqMROyzxGV_fvC386wlkF3_dZQJnn6Nw1_5Vgj8CJN80UpYaSB5JJKkh1AEnABxVYsCSx2EeHLaDhhW7IvfaRf9s/s1600/Mostar+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRJwL8SrCm_vO1hiI5_tsB7UF09N8uyio4Fu3CEwxyZnBCDGJdXulqMROyzxGV_fvC386wlkF3_dZQJnn6Nw1_5Vgj8CJN80UpYaSB5JJKkh1AEnABxVYsCSx2EeHLaDhhW7IvfaRf9s/s320/Mostar+038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g49fw_LZF3FS1onHkTQmVxoj9MFqEgtFqJ6HHDSCLPnvjFN55ldWbl4jsYJyxqpi_fcJi1jMjywRph7n2au6xoOpduZ6N0GETsELOIGOfYBTc9f_3ZUY4lBdCdFB8hCgA4A8vAm1vxA/s1600/Mostar+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1g49fw_LZF3FS1onHkTQmVxoj9MFqEgtFqJ6HHDSCLPnvjFN55ldWbl4jsYJyxqpi_fcJi1jMjywRph7n2au6xoOpduZ6N0GETsELOIGOfYBTc9f_3ZUY4lBdCdFB8hCgA4A8vAm1vxA/s320/Mostar+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we reserved the day tour months before the trip, we were told it would include a visit to <b>Medugorje,</b> a pilgrimage site in the Herzegovina region of the country. Though the hostel had changed its itinerary in the interim, we luckily were able to spend a very short time in the town made famous for the vision by six teenagers of Mother Mary.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWVumEzs97jqQ2uDYvr3ju2G9vQ_ImRJexP4ed81cjSH6KdAkkG7wk7QMOXhIT5JKme3mEKLnlQFNcblTdtDgrDg_9ooPSnB6EzSBpzCfEbf5jhAa97h3QzTN764N555hVPtcmc9NyoA/s1600/Mostar+114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWVumEzs97jqQ2uDYvr3ju2G9vQ_ImRJexP4ed81cjSH6KdAkkG7wk7QMOXhIT5JKme3mEKLnlQFNcblTdtDgrDg_9ooPSnB6EzSBpzCfEbf5jhAa97h3QzTN764N555hVPtcmc9NyoA/s320/Mostar+114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Traffic sign showing the ongoing conflict between different ethnic groups in Bosnia:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hltBYBS_jUOBsVd3HHhgAuYwkoMXVyjrmsrWau37Y4GyXvPZ2uh0xf9ZfMtIT4S5E-TEpa8BWwBj6Y0KqeNyLdVQKXqJfQKW8F8gpN3slOOeGEDgI3LOvgscQK3jfwmXnOuOksO3xvs/s1600/Mostar+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hltBYBS_jUOBsVd3HHhgAuYwkoMXVyjrmsrWau37Y4GyXvPZ2uh0xf9ZfMtIT4S5E-TEpa8BWwBj6Y0KqeNyLdVQKXqJfQKW8F8gpN3slOOeGEDgI3LOvgscQK3jfwmXnOuOksO3xvs/s320/Mostar+132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of our day tour around much of southern Bosnia, we took an evening walk with many guests from the hostel. We didn't know when we were setting out that it would take us to this former bank building that had been destroyed in the war AND that we were about to climb the nine-story building.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyTLxiT4dx5bajHBtxQ42XIuUy7dQc5NrHI3NHkN2uMYe5BIMz0KwbO2xR4HBkkF9umw5k14I2qr3EQpAtMFtcKB9-0uPGYNqTGhPl9pCUoHM9MjUNSW8gh4-M3B9RcwfZ8-5er4k3GM/s1600/Mostar+165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyTLxiT4dx5bajHBtxQ42XIuUy7dQc5NrHI3NHkN2uMYe5BIMz0KwbO2xR4HBkkF9umw5k14I2qr3EQpAtMFtcKB9-0uPGYNqTGhPl9pCUoHM9MjUNSW8gh4-M3B9RcwfZ8-5er4k3GM/s320/Mostar+165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The only way to enter (illegally, of course!) the building was over the wall.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0GB7ylXyN-FGdpNArbHcTQCD3El7EJH8uPPvQ_0DMEhOO7OToyvqf6srRUpdykUkTjus4jcWjHSSYZ72E4lOVnmnMBgRuG4-7Ji9fADb1_anldh4-aKowGD7oRSTq1z9D61E6KF7nOk/s1600/Mostar+174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0GB7ylXyN-FGdpNArbHcTQCD3El7EJH8uPPvQ_0DMEhOO7OToyvqf6srRUpdykUkTjus4jcWjHSSYZ72E4lOVnmnMBgRuG4-7Ji9fADb1_anldh4-aKowGD7oRSTq1z9D61E6KF7nOk/s320/Mostar+174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Climbing up the nine floors of the building that had no walls was one of the scariest things I have ever done. It was also likely the most exhilarating, too! </span><span style="font-size: large;">No wonder I titled that post on September 2nd, 'Are We Crazy?! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Some may call what we did foolhardy but the thrill was also one of the highlights of our entire trip. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IadV2YUWLHCfC4FtVG1cuFGwxJ8UG03uUulxAeVmxo6c6ExfrEUWS2IZQF5EV1klCG901BDA4gllkGIyib37mDqg7tCJfGt_GpuI5YTEUCViFl91ynpdqEnfTKGBgFMljqDOFISDQHE/s1600/Mostar+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IadV2YUWLHCfC4FtVG1cuFGwxJ8UG03uUulxAeVmxo6c6ExfrEUWS2IZQF5EV1klCG901BDA4gllkGIyib37mDqg7tCJfGt_GpuI5YTEUCViFl91ynpdqEnfTKGBgFMljqDOFISDQHE/s320/Mostar+187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were both so thankful having the thin red line to follow as we climbed floor after floor to the top.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFy4Btz6g_do8H_GMBqb9iXP5NOksvRiTsl8GUH8PHgl1wlQofVTZONNkPAkDxF0Z_1B6gcCT8ANtF8cO2wk7vEkOcsnhyphenhyphenq8TWqu9PtAtYbzKXQuyihmZBn4QTunB1Sgv8LQVRJC3rA/s1600/Mostar+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFy4Btz6g_do8H_GMBqb9iXP5NOksvRiTsl8GUH8PHgl1wlQofVTZONNkPAkDxF0Z_1B6gcCT8ANtF8cO2wk7vEkOcsnhyphenhyphenq8TWqu9PtAtYbzKXQuyihmZBn4QTunB1Sgv8LQVRJC3rA/s320/Mostar+191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A sign of new life amid such destruction:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygI53oPaXlnUQG7LPhBaUPsNpGg48OZIl8e9E-r6rqODMjjQnFvy-iwb4UAix2tzjS5tXpJww__BK1y6D__gA3iCMXiXvuyLaSrjhNp7RLQJcA1lJi7f5015N3TAkGeZiYi1aTndkGTI/s1600/Mostar+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygI53oPaXlnUQG7LPhBaUPsNpGg48OZIl8e9E-r6rqODMjjQnFvy-iwb4UAix2tzjS5tXpJww__BK1y6D__gA3iCMXiXvuyLaSrjhNp7RLQJcA1lJi7f5015N3TAkGeZiYi1aTndkGTI/s320/Mostar+200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our bus ride along the stunning <b>Makarska Riviera</b> to <b>Split, Croatia:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKknxioUJwZgoN_6l4bQlcQK9C8_DwmhNUzWQJqYK8oKY2rH0hiyqmDffivEShPqf4Trx12BWdcx85XJDv_eeAwR4V1fpnkEFJEGp09GWVn6Uoqpg0r619_4oQ9gtmr-rHEGpLjmD9Tw/s1600/Split+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKknxioUJwZgoN_6l4bQlcQK9C8_DwmhNUzWQJqYK8oKY2rH0hiyqmDffivEShPqf4Trx12BWdcx85XJDv_eeAwR4V1fpnkEFJEGp09GWVn6Uoqpg0r619_4oQ9gtmr-rHEGpLjmD9Tw/s320/Split+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the Balkans, shop after shop sold lavender in every form, shape and description as my mum used to say. I shall forever associate lavender with our journey through that fascinating part of the world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUQrYeo9wcFIeR-Yn2pkl-0gaguUBvaKj4R4hv_zkb6cpQkzgC8vnutH19UgbKD9W-_TUyHAbrtPxt3BQOFCjS8KhnHokc9Tbl0vfIrXMfdd7lkoMC_mR2EtJWqaw3BrUY7KXv9LJuAQ/s1600/Split+220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUQrYeo9wcFIeR-Yn2pkl-0gaguUBvaKj4R4hv_zkb6cpQkzgC8vnutH19UgbKD9W-_TUyHAbrtPxt3BQOFCjS8KhnHokc9Tbl0vfIrXMfdd7lkoMC_mR2EtJWqaw3BrUY7KXv9LJuAQ/s320/Split+220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Panoramic view of </span><span style="font-size: large;">the small town of </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Trogir</b><span style="font-size: large;"> atop the town's Cathedral's Bell Tower on a day trip from Split </span><span style="font-size: large;">on September 4th.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqjs4xv1EWaxIuzch70dbiT27WfUbvysCf7NCUJsUjS1trAjSQ2BJWkpE2qp-uxuqION_XRzGocednI-vcXk6vzC4nC-dMIdv1o9pG1O10Ne4zvW3a0b35ihFELtYiJL_C2OQLxvgu1I/s1600/Trogir+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqjs4xv1EWaxIuzch70dbiT27WfUbvysCf7NCUJsUjS1trAjSQ2BJWkpE2qp-uxuqION_XRzGocednI-vcXk6vzC4nC-dMIdv1o9pG1O10Ne4zvW3a0b35ihFELtYiJL_C2OQLxvgu1I/s320/Trogir+064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">While walking through <b>Trogir,</b> it began to rain so we popped into the nearest place we could find. We lucked out at the peaceful 14th century <b>St. Dominic's Church and Monastery.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rGWvJb7i0n8Tm3L4BlWcNCiyB_nB7Go_DO4bi7xMxqrhYGq2VTSeGqINGJ6j5YCrBXtCFHsT4MvlSB5kYtswJro4bFnsH_hpflXmUlm_561JFpwph7-gP6bOrmFwwpoXeEJ5XTBheos/s1600/Trogir+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rGWvJb7i0n8Tm3L4BlWcNCiyB_nB7Go_DO4bi7xMxqrhYGq2VTSeGqINGJ6j5YCrBXtCFHsT4MvlSB5kYtswJro4bFnsH_hpflXmUlm_561JFpwph7-gP6bOrmFwwpoXeEJ5XTBheos/s320/Trogir+103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another fun day trip from Split was a tour we took to see the waterfalls in <b>Krka National Park, </b>the youngest national park in Croatia.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TbdOUkEX-3kVONzHCQFaFHdpYWu7dptJbSrZlf_EcCRLWbtFoEqaRj-Vf3O7iSCOj3Bqvpa366X_Xocqs9HqxYVdF1vFex3dVlqEXCW62qQWWsxFJ52Afl4SMBa2nY4mwV-hjIiPD0Q/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TbdOUkEX-3kVONzHCQFaFHdpYWu7dptJbSrZlf_EcCRLWbtFoEqaRj-Vf3O7iSCOj3Bqvpa366X_Xocqs9HqxYVdF1vFex3dVlqEXCW62qQWWsxFJ52Afl4SMBa2nY4mwV-hjIiPD0Q/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLcb3GeFl7wHVB7mPFZBZP9mo4oVhs_FXsWOOHG6udlT54SZILM-PJJsty6R1jv022FdaXsafxXqd4gDKFp7vvZ7zjHrkqFcH4ZgPfQLVY_-QnWhvolJf8FKfe7gex0ibqoARFmutc60/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLcb3GeFl7wHVB7mPFZBZP9mo4oVhs_FXsWOOHG6udlT54SZILM-PJJsty6R1jv022FdaXsafxXqd4gDKFp7vvZ7zjHrkqFcH4ZgPfQLVY_-QnWhvolJf8FKfe7gex0ibqoARFmutc60/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We could never get enough of the cobblestoned streets and narrow alleys through so much of the Balkans. This photo was from the UNESCO-listed town of <b>Sibenik</b> on the Dalmatian coast on the same day trip from Split.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxJ-mt0_lcagH_Z4IaqCiCcpfptq1R8De5darAmwGgKicVKuobmBGayDEpspynGwnwCXZPVzq7epxW0AGGm5kFjMdJb0tDOQDnx34ToNwdihF3n18WRs7BHOR68lmGiWI0e6T1pPglVU/s1600/216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxJ-mt0_lcagH_Z4IaqCiCcpfptq1R8De5darAmwGgKicVKuobmBGayDEpspynGwnwCXZPVzq7epxW0AGGm5kFjMdJb0tDOQDnx34ToNwdihF3n18WRs7BHOR68lmGiWI0e6T1pPglVU/s320/216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite photos from the trip: a view of the <b>Dubrovnik tiled roofs </b>on September 8th from atop the city walls:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwgDZualCbUySRI33hIBgNXv4wvXRqFb9ylSY1qcwibHJAmxzLmjBspeaFo-3CgP4u8-U9zEZc6gJZwXPa5LfstMwpIJced7F8UOXKKe_TK6PYMpI4h34pe23pbRNp-KVNIv0blvytNo/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwgDZualCbUySRI33hIBgNXv4wvXRqFb9ylSY1qcwibHJAmxzLmjBspeaFo-3CgP4u8-U9zEZc6gJZwXPa5LfstMwpIJced7F8UOXKKe_TK6PYMpI4h34pe23pbRNp-KVNIv0blvytNo/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From Dubrovnik, we took a ferry to nearby <b>Lokrum Island</b> where we walked around for hours and enjoyed the wandering peacocks and the abandoned <b>Old Fort.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWnrQFUZPDSvcJ0Ujj-njTa5xOe02KkrCc4xgcZQQFDp8pnzrL6N2lQsT8XE4B4TacClwTv4-ZvJhqnC8drCGT_ddwG72inLr7vZTlBnGBVBKRkw1BGX89o_O52OeXwcmZQrkoG1WRI4/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWnrQFUZPDSvcJ0Ujj-njTa5xOe02KkrCc4xgcZQQFDp8pnzrL6N2lQsT8XE4B4TacClwTv4-ZvJhqnC8drCGT_ddwG72inLr7vZTlBnGBVBKRkw1BGX89o_O52OeXwcmZQrkoG1WRI4/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day we took a very enjoyable day-long boat trip to the <b>Elaphite Islands. </b>If any of you are ever near Dubrovnik, I would strongly urge you to consider visiting them, too, as they are spectacular.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUMEf6yMk0pqWGqgGci4Smv6WiwIxAEmaIBfPpBm1HZzW4EuOOZz7Yi5OEl4FpaJTFyLniksrssTzVSUmhI9J7tuYSGYFFZkdzAhRQ_PzEhGl8arvaE32JCekkDs3551I_9KNnphUEIA/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUMEf6yMk0pqWGqgGci4Smv6WiwIxAEmaIBfPpBm1HZzW4EuOOZz7Yi5OEl4FpaJTFyLniksrssTzVSUmhI9J7tuYSGYFFZkdzAhRQ_PzEhGl8arvaE32JCekkDs3551I_9KNnphUEIA/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></b></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Nicholas Church in Kotor, Montenegro's</b> Old Town on September 11th. Just across the same square was another church that was constructed in 1195 as a Catholic church. However, from 1657 until 1812, a Catholic and Orthodox altar stood side by side with each faith taking turns celebrating their faith there.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglThuVpsyZGc_Xpc3W5R22gGqjRdmUAH_qRkIWp2qjXKwb6Ao4mc3iH-TqLNiRIinnRqmojmSYz5TbbdVffWFpsnPVxMzx323y8ngKuTjBqeNWkkPuwDo0Aoyx84CWz8T681wrIkxsEs/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglThuVpsyZGc_Xpc3W5R22gGqjRdmUAH_qRkIWp2qjXKwb6Ao4mc3iH-TqLNiRIinnRqmojmSYz5TbbdVffWFpsnPVxMzx323y8ngKuTjBqeNWkkPuwDo0Aoyx84CWz8T681wrIkxsEs/s320/050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The church's relatively stark exterior belied the exquisite interior including icons of the four apostles painted in 1998 with the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5oWD7oe1xROQLkgnN8DJ7UKjnemL15WeQAoFcVluzTvIHqjIW9bBzQH45ZeylrpJcSFKYaKfv3ANfqV9uhCe6HoMK-nbtk12TtLwx2u2Ge7cyDMDHKNuH9_wTp1fbKm6tejONWXJqkQ/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5oWD7oe1xROQLkgnN8DJ7UKjnemL15WeQAoFcVluzTvIHqjIW9bBzQH45ZeylrpJcSFKYaKfv3ANfqV9uhCe6HoMK-nbtk12TtLwx2u2Ge7cyDMDHKNuH9_wTp1fbKm6tejONWXJqkQ/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Planters full of overflowing flowers were very common throughout the Balkan nations.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNidzh-0QHo4epQ_OCmtSzZtmcGxfL0ZSgBHITOM2Cn2SFpBMb3fuHU_LM3HbiTZCeKbMVlaXtg9t0E2LN66bnJM65gfIAJ7fR1zBYcp-PjfM8cndhCkF1VKMRK2AllnAoFFvPiPl1_Y/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNidzh-0QHo4epQ_OCmtSzZtmcGxfL0ZSgBHITOM2Cn2SFpBMb3fuHU_LM3HbiTZCeKbMVlaXtg9t0E2LN66bnJM65gfIAJ7fR1zBYcp-PjfM8cndhCkF1VKMRK2AllnAoFFvPiPl1_Y/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On September 13th, we took a day trip from Kotor to the small town of <b>Perast.</b> Throughout the Balkans, I had seen more handmade lace and embroidered items than I ever had in my previous 60 some years. If you had asked me before beginning the trip what I thought of items like that and if I'd ever buy them, I would have said emphatically no. However, after seeing so many beautiful coasters, runners and tablecloths, I couldn't help but being drawn to them. Any yes, of course, I 'had' to buy some!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5xVZ34dpWA5lG4LbBTwTn3aarGXSenI_U5jOqP-PpUBFY1k7OO15scfI04vJRIbwecW7V6jYf4MF5H2F2XfCLxK_P_BDl5OUni0U3EiyqRMUbTgvHgSikDfEI4q0OxOhD-Q-vg5hE7w/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5xVZ34dpWA5lG4LbBTwTn3aarGXSenI_U5jOqP-PpUBFY1k7OO15scfI04vJRIbwecW7V6jYf4MF5H2F2XfCLxK_P_BDl5OUni0U3EiyqRMUbTgvHgSikDfEI4q0OxOhD-Q-vg5hE7w/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From Perast, a small boat took us on the five-minute ride over to the idyllic<b> Lady of the Rock Island,</b> a man-made island created when locals would drop rocks in that spot after finding an icon of the Virgin Mary in 1452. The condition of dropping rocks there continues to this day every July 22nd.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68U64vnxLE8bEoh2lQ0WCRo5OgI9ckPuiRkISMkLZJdRyhFnImeDqjhxEPypBm2s2bnhHIfpWVhzzJTjSuudz7UjXqZs_CqAw3reRNuJI-x4l01IWfp38hq_cWVJt93VheNub3C36UBU/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68U64vnxLE8bEoh2lQ0WCRo5OgI9ckPuiRkISMkLZJdRyhFnImeDqjhxEPypBm2s2bnhHIfpWVhzzJTjSuudz7UjXqZs_CqAw3reRNuJI-x4l01IWfp38hq_cWVJt93VheNub3C36UBU/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a great place to take in the beauty of the surrounding mountains while waiting for the boat to return us to Perast. The town was an absolute gem.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_vBr8RzSkYy568knnV1R9LL5ctLtivX1n5aRhyphenhyphenCxuKgE-6TTtRKqaJme8onzC4b7yXh5uy3QVbLtn7ChcxgiqKmaqlqmUuGDM7sNKUrElIV1VkI0kWskW8IysBDK2L6gfF8rnLT69R4/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_vBr8RzSkYy568knnV1R9LL5ctLtivX1n5aRhyphenhyphenCxuKgE-6TTtRKqaJme8onzC4b7yXh5uy3QVbLtn7ChcxgiqKmaqlqmUuGDM7sNKUrElIV1VkI0kWskW8IysBDK2L6gfF8rnLT69R4/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of days later, we had traveled on to <b>Cetinje,</b> the former capital of Montenegro. Our guesthouse host very kindly offered to drive us to the nearby <b>Lovcen National Park,</b> the city's major attraction. Sure glad he was driving so we could admire the views on the mostly one lane 14-mile long road with 25 hairpin turns! Once there, on wobbly legs, we climbed about 500 steps to the top of the <b>Njegos Mausoleum.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsMM-rl7zC-D0vDliESMM8XPPSZsHwtH3rksYWPinnJUvefQVaJWCWTfNtxBWswOcK9DINfttCyUpq08YVUXiCpPTHTHvjtPQwmjzBajbE9LcfIzdphj3Lb2QBVbgupYs2x0iqBAvBww/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsMM-rl7zC-D0vDliESMM8XPPSZsHwtH3rksYWPinnJUvefQVaJWCWTfNtxBWswOcK9DINfttCyUpq08YVUXiCpPTHTHvjtPQwmjzBajbE9LcfIzdphj3Lb2QBVbgupYs2x0iqBAvBww/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Views from atop the world, or at least atop the Mausoleum.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CXkdeLmf4gS8h5McgK2q41O9nrbakygx40wvy0r3xfsZ5Y4zVRfYnGca963pxQPOs0EWGoH2Yh2EptabyXFW0EHEgb778hGnqZfq__h_xFUUmHhmUMH5ZjYWTqvj4pRrJZNs5lxRtYM/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CXkdeLmf4gS8h5McgK2q41O9nrbakygx40wvy0r3xfsZ5Y4zVRfYnGca963pxQPOs0EWGoH2Yh2EptabyXFW0EHEgb778hGnqZfq__h_xFUUmHhmUMH5ZjYWTqvj4pRrJZNs5lxRtYM/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2hgMHpNtt-rXSBGJGnfAP8wBhMA0Cs0zO67Y82TKO5PKon_pKSkL9xi8KDKIH0WsFZPlG99puXRKQMQQf5304hfYAML8xqSU4cNCIQqjiWu2WKZZlujIbCq-AXfobn-pAhkhzzztbT8/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2hgMHpNtt-rXSBGJGnfAP8wBhMA0Cs0zO67Y82TKO5PKon_pKSkL9xi8KDKIH0WsFZPlG99puXRKQMQQf5304hfYAML8xqSU4cNCIQqjiWu2WKZZlujIbCq-AXfobn-pAhkhzzztbT8/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cetinje was another of the picture-postcard towns we were so lucky to discover all over the former Yugoslavia. Here was the <b>Monastery of Crnojevici.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjoDW31sQX733PK5k54AaYSZZj5BktxdpKo9CCSSFVgVGz7k3wYlgVmaqTbtbFkIYcFirvxX2yiehSQDbFEmRUAmu0Bwz7zoX8SGB9nxZuLHhUSPzJUBCkES9w34sdwE_wMHVDnaFChA/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjoDW31sQX733PK5k54AaYSZZj5BktxdpKo9CCSSFVgVGz7k3wYlgVmaqTbtbFkIYcFirvxX2yiehSQDbFEmRUAmu0Bwz7zoX8SGB9nxZuLHhUSPzJUBCkES9w34sdwE_wMHVDnaFChA/s320/217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A large number of very attractive murals adorned buildings in what passed for 'downtown' Cetinje. We whiled away many an hour in the town's great array of museums because of its being the former capital.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39lpMRd5WvwXnLK4EIk66mNNnRXxssKFlyiRChwUurQjwKeINhLNvXQhpmFbeDsScAF9r7vI9FY6nY4peb2dsgQVLauimaXjNS0NW9lEIvyS1_9QYlBiYZUTX1mE1pIHgFIfwfRYlXGQ/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39lpMRd5WvwXnLK4EIk66mNNnRXxssKFlyiRChwUurQjwKeINhLNvXQhpmFbeDsScAF9r7vI9FY6nY4peb2dsgQVLauimaXjNS0NW9lEIvyS1_9QYlBiYZUTX1mE1pIHgFIfwfRYlXGQ/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">By September 17th, we had gone south to <b>Prizren, Kosovo</b> where we had a marvelous few days wandering the capital city and climbing the mountain to <b>Kaljaja Fortress</b> overlooking the town.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WS4C08z9NDb3upJs6pkeJL_b81nHJ2dPkquw0kArj1JXw8gszuF5RssIeW-wQdX7O3OzqA1v-CgMTvNgZPzBCwEOOlyesRZCNBSIo44E6lfP1kl10-dVBoSmMPQQDne7FqDKkFqZGsM/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WS4C08z9NDb3upJs6pkeJL_b81nHJ2dPkquw0kArj1JXw8gszuF5RssIeW-wQdX7O3OzqA1v-CgMTvNgZPzBCwEOOlyesRZCNBSIo44E6lfP1kl10-dVBoSmMPQQDne7FqDKkFqZGsM/s320/074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEt8yzkdN_QBQhAmB7VciISC5OQAOQM-9dG46FbdVfvIn0z-ZDOSYDvoEwmopeCunLcRV8zdIIwaN7z0nYSBg-OSpqy-ztdYpEJ_AOS8VuN6W4ucqQWhXknpQVuGi4WxadWKAk6SgkvA/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEt8yzkdN_QBQhAmB7VciISC5OQAOQM-9dG46FbdVfvIn0z-ZDOSYDvoEwmopeCunLcRV8zdIIwaN7z0nYSBg-OSpqy-ztdYpEJ_AOS8VuN6W4ucqQWhXknpQVuGi4WxadWKAk6SgkvA/s320/135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If any of you have time to explore some fantastic places but limited resources, the nations that once comprised the former Yugoslavia are where you should head. Accommodation, transportation, food AND wine are ridiculously cheap and the sights are spectacular. What are you waiting for?!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDxk7j0yHvTcjbFu-L_-LHVYg0ps8nI_CV1nTowfXGLOKLUoU73vU7Ui8iByG2v3KMth2pShP7pzLvkEh0mQ2E6FhG1LDp4ODSUxHt-J4u9pJ3WE3Iy813aE-IEXMuphk1IbHbayQCeA/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDxk7j0yHvTcjbFu-L_-LHVYg0ps8nI_CV1nTowfXGLOKLUoU73vU7Ui8iByG2v3KMth2pShP7pzLvkEh0mQ2E6FhG1LDp4ODSUxHt-J4u9pJ3WE3Iy813aE-IEXMuphk1IbHbayQCeA/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3kuUGWZ0NrzPGlbtz1Wf7SZt74IGp3-IWnqYDTvz5772coJX_NMYDrdYtZNFg2_W1_iE8wbcPQP3EHZI_v7pyxEQevraaF3MmoXMF9riQ_VeeA_doOXARoiUou_NFU4-JpOB2-TRsBU/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3kuUGWZ0NrzPGlbtz1Wf7SZt74IGp3-IWnqYDTvz5772coJX_NMYDrdYtZNFg2_W1_iE8wbcPQP3EHZI_v7pyxEQevraaF3MmoXMF9riQ_VeeA_doOXARoiUou_NFU4-JpOB2-TRsBU/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of Prizren from the fortress:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52rBWCNmki72268NJphCdzKQmweJDj95w1oUQMBksVAfrsvCYG5tzcrlckHJcU6SftVSog9FRgHBAPCpNH3wG4FmtSa6HY93quIlIR3Wc_rMV_s2eNI6ZWzdTJVQ643Am-iFcQ4zKHZE/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52rBWCNmki72268NJphCdzKQmweJDj95w1oUQMBksVAfrsvCYG5tzcrlckHJcU6SftVSog9FRgHBAPCpNH3wG4FmtSa6HY93quIlIR3Wc_rMV_s2eNI6ZWzdTJVQ643Am-iFcQ4zKHZE/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed for a few nights next in Europe's newest capital of <b>Pristina, Kosovo. </b>It was another town that we couldn't fail to remember the horror of the war in the Balkans in the waning years of the last century. A banner in front of the Parliament Buildings reminded people to remember the Serb genocide in Kosovo in 1999.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVti-WNadqxyTYz9ctLVyqUKh6CmZIRLpq5EE6ys3toRAEeblmWZEwZfXxz8V3C4BoeyKMJCAiOP5CzYw2e8Agznsp_FdDCfKKv66MZOru3BbO0qFJTYJ045Z-uvOeMFSvNT6FFnZ-YU/s1600/DSCN4099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVti-WNadqxyTYz9ctLVyqUKh6CmZIRLpq5EE6ys3toRAEeblmWZEwZfXxz8V3C4BoeyKMJCAiOP5CzYw2e8Agznsp_FdDCfKKv66MZOru3BbO0qFJTYJ045Z-uvOeMFSvNT6FFnZ-YU/s320/DSCN4099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you've been reading our other posts, you know how much we Steven and I love to go to local markets wherever we are in the world. The vast number of stalls selling peppers at the Pristina market immediately caught my eye and camera lens.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF2W_TJMX14peeI-LKQZ-yQOJI9d3wyp2b8WPrPfdtX6AK2KyT4jG7MgoaAupQUBVgnVY78ank309pzwWY7_Ce0Th9-J6MDibtQhLNrGI-RZpykfeWCqDB3qdGqS8OjBQRuJNdcMC7xQ/s1600/DSCN4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF2W_TJMX14peeI-LKQZ-yQOJI9d3wyp2b8WPrPfdtX6AK2KyT4jG7MgoaAupQUBVgnVY78ank309pzwWY7_Ce0Th9-J6MDibtQhLNrGI-RZpykfeWCqDB3qdGqS8OjBQRuJNdcMC7xQ/s320/DSCN4129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWZdHr71JabIfb5pdzhbV5jQZ1V0BRngxWLH_RPjUGV0V_KFShK57dK5mTrr5YApcASbZlgaJNt_CxhctHq6M-VxAj2SRGZCQaeg9yzz-96Xmw3x68F8-yS76_hCuztTS49NKazhVyds/s1600/DSCN4133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWZdHr71JabIfb5pdzhbV5jQZ1V0BRngxWLH_RPjUGV0V_KFShK57dK5mTrr5YApcASbZlgaJNt_CxhctHq6M-VxAj2SRGZCQaeg9yzz-96Xmw3x68F8-yS76_hCuztTS49NKazhVyds/s320/DSCN4133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A statue of <b>Mother Teresa</b> stood in a place of honor on the city's main pedestrian street. Shortly after I took this photo, Mother Teresa was elevated to sainthood.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7BYP399f6C_5dYFTda71Go793oRSXNOicMIIy1jFCS32PwTlWZvJiushlQnLXgjvtPB-y4vhitU8DfIC4C2cpM6HEXMf3nx_i5IAicf02jOEYMLoTfuSfLsU3jwxisty8rnIu_IKk6o/s1600/DSCN4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7BYP399f6C_5dYFTda71Go793oRSXNOicMIIy1jFCS32PwTlWZvJiushlQnLXgjvtPB-y4vhitU8DfIC4C2cpM6HEXMf3nx_i5IAicf02jOEYMLoTfuSfLsU3jwxisty8rnIu_IKk6o/s320/DSCN4168.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The closer we got to the mostly Muslim nation of Albania, we noticed more and more men wearing traditional Albanian-style hats as the man in the middle wore. The man on the right wore a hat or head covering commonly worn by Muslim men.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZysTBkbutKcKNXgu_sjkAY_6EYPQCbuqe6aq_kWmtvKb5rjpxCUk3iL1INjai5A2yD-ScIfAUTOEhlOMJwpDWlfVqPXc_aYcuIMxGsZaUBcLFFDii0eVfOITegG3U1oQuVq-JbqCrGc/s1600/DSCN4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZysTBkbutKcKNXgu_sjkAY_6EYPQCbuqe6aq_kWmtvKb5rjpxCUk3iL1INjai5A2yD-ScIfAUTOEhlOMJwpDWlfVqPXc_aYcuIMxGsZaUBcLFFDii0eVfOITegG3U1oQuVq-JbqCrGc/s320/DSCN4124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This man, wearing an Albanian emblem on his hat, kindly agreed to stop while I took his photo. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPY_OO7ceOtWNXtQcvN_oukGGnIOn6t9U37ifvanfFruO0FWSfsnnYYdNSLnWgcw-2FOi9mar6jPYsLkz9Rqfts_SqPRACEkZ8A2J3D6DFKpIh7H0psxWLx6atF10d0lIs-9x3JlfuBE/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPY_OO7ceOtWNXtQcvN_oukGGnIOn6t9U37ifvanfFruO0FWSfsnnYYdNSLnWgcw-2FOi9mar6jPYsLkz9Rqfts_SqPRACEkZ8A2J3D6DFKpIh7H0psxWLx6atF10d0lIs-9x3JlfuBE/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't resist seeing Pristina's <b>National Library </b>as it<b> </b>was named one of the 30 ugliest buildings in the world! The interior, however, easily made up for the unusual exterior.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsbJ4qdddtpcXKs3ajis6_4gI5Zeq-UKaQTPo2bIKnbsahGlapQzZIjZLeXtHqeK5ipEcKHCVlNj05v1j7JbzeL8lea5r9oZ39QygHc3Gu8gIg2PPSnVEut0W4G0Ig7LQFjK6HAYSnbM/s1600/DSCN4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsbJ4qdddtpcXKs3ajis6_4gI5Zeq-UKaQTPo2bIKnbsahGlapQzZIjZLeXtHqeK5ipEcKHCVlNj05v1j7JbzeL8lea5r9oZ39QygHc3Gu8gIg2PPSnVEut0W4G0Ig7LQFjK6HAYSnbM/s320/DSCN4176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As you may remember from the history of the war, President Bill Clinton had a strong role in ending the war in Bosnia and the Kosovo 'conflict'. As a result, it wasn't surprising to see Pristina's city officials name its main boulevard after Clinton. Next to the large statue was a dress shop named after Hillary Clinton!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs5tnzYsxg4ho3-GLqOOGgKw65SfrplS0qMArYxvzTsmyzfic7lFM7YbUy95cMOd9iJh5Su1D8lhZ4dXGCOCgcGuRvWg50nMWfWmZG-fpUoZQBOrlz3TEUmjZdPDJmlIQv_61XzIPe_U/s1600/DSCN4200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs5tnzYsxg4ho3-GLqOOGgKw65SfrplS0qMArYxvzTsmyzfic7lFM7YbUy95cMOd9iJh5Su1D8lhZ4dXGCOCgcGuRvWg50nMWfWmZG-fpUoZQBOrlz3TEUmjZdPDJmlIQv_61XzIPe_U/s320/DSCN4200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, the <b>Newborn Monument</b> was decorated with the flags of the 99 nations who recognized the new nation. Since then, the monument has been periodically repainted. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDmflJ1_s-bAV2TMrdM9z7YjqAVi3RMYJWnzw9-6Tjnm2Jmye5Ac7PS7Sw88Pah0pwm3ChAGHarcLdNFZNQJ6_sMpYzR2e-ZImPkUOSXX5lfdzCTPEQre6kJP6qumeDlnKSpjyWETWgw/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDmflJ1_s-bAV2TMrdM9z7YjqAVi3RMYJWnzw9-6Tjnm2Jmye5Ac7PS7Sw88Pah0pwm3ChAGHarcLdNFZNQJ6_sMpYzR2e-ZImPkUOSXX5lfdzCTPEQre6kJP6qumeDlnKSpjyWETWgw/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On September 21st, we thought we had arrived in an alternate universe when walking through <b>Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, </b>the southernmost former Yugoslav nation. Had we been transported suddenly to Paris or Las Vegas? For those of you who know nothing of Skopje - and we were certainly among that group before researching it for last fall's trip - Skopje is known as the 'Vegas of Europe.' Macedonia was the only nation in the former Yugoslavia who didn't have to fight for its independence. Instead, there was a <b>'Paint Revolution'</b> in which many of the city's buildings were defaced with paint.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjISjCAjnikAJydQ79tFrsuPVxIEuAbhwAGBcybFvmChCsSK18Nn5_vEWhl0MObTW3sZ_R8mo3LqKPpBIqLEbF07fqtXRz_33iw73m9QK6J5otUS0ZcusCNmdKBRFEQfjB54OiFsEXbs/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjISjCAjnikAJydQ79tFrsuPVxIEuAbhwAGBcybFvmChCsSK18Nn5_vEWhl0MObTW3sZ_R8mo3LqKPpBIqLEbF07fqtXRz_33iw73m9QK6J5otUS0ZcusCNmdKBRFEQfjB54OiFsEXbs/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly though, we also noticed a lot of very young children begging while playing improvised musical instruments. Their parents were normally a good distance away so that only their children could be seen as begging.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dxWAHYPAYj8V8N5RcbwaIXXBk85dqWikiMDWCDa_ShQBJ3ooCA3tU117g1wuCtJ8471TD86dXO1pj9fa__E6b-X8u27Crfc5mnCqX8dzxy-Xk6Q6AuijykGPVsRg-JznDeFk1-R5d88/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dxWAHYPAYj8V8N5RcbwaIXXBk85dqWikiMDWCDa_ShQBJ3ooCA3tU117g1wuCtJ8471TD86dXO1pj9fa__E6b-X8u27Crfc5mnCqX8dzxy-Xk6Q6AuijykGPVsRg-JznDeFk1-R5d88/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The city was probably the biggest surprise of any place we visited in our four plus months. In so many ways, it was eye popping with absolutely fantastic architecture even if much was 'borrowed' or copied from other countries. Virtually every place one looked in the downtown core, there was one seemingly brand-new AND very appealing building after another. Our walking tour guide joking said that city officials want to recreate many of the world's most striking buildings so that tourists will only need to come to Skopje to see everything!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSz5Q3S6p87KTfd04ZCLrpEghzA5q-GuBW_cy3wY_hXPbJFwwIoub1q3S3r66Sulv8YtUflxl6a1jlZplfDClf3mjhD-UPhUmj9uJlWNdOjnl5nQptnTUb2XR2WCMnTuQR2AmNta5-zM/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSz5Q3S6p87KTfd04ZCLrpEghzA5q-GuBW_cy3wY_hXPbJFwwIoub1q3S3r66Sulv8YtUflxl6a1jlZplfDClf3mjhD-UPhUmj9uJlWNdOjnl5nQptnTUb2XR2WCMnTuQR2AmNta5-zM/s320/132.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide commented how sad it was that so much money was spent on this sculpture of this homeless man rather than helping the city's needy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ffUgfGFhyWZkfyqpw7SmBFTLZjN2p0_FoHauAqwilM5TqPRgca9zx_ixs_mAV_rT4JyIF9vzlDmZPnxil9FpMLE0LhiuADEaRKj8HibtFgzULhZadovd-7_aFygrYMvk_l2sI1N6Hu0/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ffUgfGFhyWZkfyqpw7SmBFTLZjN2p0_FoHauAqwilM5TqPRgca9zx_ixs_mAV_rT4JyIF9vzlDmZPnxil9FpMLE0LhiuADEaRKj8HibtFgzULhZadovd-7_aFygrYMvk_l2sI1N6Hu0/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most remarkable churches we saw was this <b>Sveti Spas Church</b> in Skopje that was built partially underground as the Turks banned churches from being taller than mosques. Its massive wood-carved iconostasis was a work of art.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlDWIjOZ5yR5WYFngQ0lvO04qhl5BufHK_vTQVepreG1LjGQAQ_8eyiR1_3DbN6OYQ-AMo0up1BI2PvDu6UaSA3RUHVgRJfTmXoDPXrRKWK_OmrOYhpe5iLdiRUNrqvlSQ9fkyrox6J8/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlDWIjOZ5yR5WYFngQ0lvO04qhl5BufHK_vTQVepreG1LjGQAQ_8eyiR1_3DbN6OYQ-AMo0up1BI2PvDu6UaSA3RUHVgRJfTmXoDPXrRKWK_OmrOYhpe5iLdiRUNrqvlSQ9fkyrox6J8/s320/124.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the beautiful mosques in Skopje:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsNvQySwKfyw3TlRkLVIi-eq1kYoThQaWv1zTTTr7RsW6ee9WYDAyObDC-z1OYtFFhgLhacqLxBG8Ze5YKOIkS48rLU2fDErJC80GjVbPQDSObttzN3W2M6mxET_m_rfkK34kqrg37X0/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsNvQySwKfyw3TlRkLVIi-eq1kYoThQaWv1zTTTr7RsW6ee9WYDAyObDC-z1OYtFFhgLhacqLxBG8Ze5YKOIkS48rLU2fDErJC80GjVbPQDSObttzN3W2M6mxET_m_rfkK34kqrg37X0/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent a wonderful afternoon on September 23rd taking a city bus from Skopje to tranquil <b>Lake Matka </b>beneath steep Treska Canyon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiDO6wV8Fa2Nc5B3P2LSeQx8MfuKKX2-ufm_We6F9RIkcTl3bjbWaYjw3LVhG2TmeGFGo_bIqW-q-q2Xqvpw98rHv9zjOMRGTVMPcyVLY509PP1UMOTRgDgYqRIot6F85l1-Ofu14YK8/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiDO6wV8Fa2Nc5B3P2LSeQx8MfuKKX2-ufm_We6F9RIkcTl3bjbWaYjw3LVhG2TmeGFGo_bIqW-q-q2Xqvpw98rHv9zjOMRGTVMPcyVLY509PP1UMOTRgDgYqRIot6F85l1-Ofu14YK8/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsy2B6Ei7KMGsU69mZggQgw4r7F0AhPdIu3VOPNLMTFNUrD5tNzoIJahZSZ1vkLwyAM8nHZxx-mNdVM3Yxxc9pC6c8_lz38FNa9E694UFluo-rWCxcHZLgL3SygTTn2RX35I5_EOR0gE/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsy2B6Ei7KMGsU69mZggQgw4r7F0AhPdIu3VOPNLMTFNUrD5tNzoIJahZSZ1vkLwyAM8nHZxx-mNdVM3Yxxc9pC6c8_lz38FNa9E694UFluo-rWCxcHZLgL3SygTTn2RX35I5_EOR0gE/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After climbing a very steep trail up a mountain, we finally reached <b>St. Nicholas Monastery </b>located at the very top. Thought it was closed, we enjoyed some fabulous views of the canyon before descending the mountain.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs62n-JN_UdqzQC17z-6xPeQ5brPHIvMAmJkm0Cxky5nCyxh2RrnGdVJO8ppd8WTKNfjnCtQv3XtPXFLA2qkLM8f_tdzDTi087CeAT6TeOzQhc5q8LBMtVX26VpbCYNcxpPTOiYbQwk58/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs62n-JN_UdqzQC17z-6xPeQ5brPHIvMAmJkm0Cxky5nCyxh2RrnGdVJO8ppd8WTKNfjnCtQv3XtPXFLA2qkLM8f_tdzDTi087CeAT6TeOzQhc5q8LBMtVX26VpbCYNcxpPTOiYbQwk58/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">To return to the other side of the lake, we had to ring a gong which would prompt a boat to come and pick us up - definitely a first!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksRVHtxHrqfWc9saI9cZKaE8PusqfVJbue8v_VnGIcUb7lWzWaZlCM790CvGK7K-1LQzYNLYLthK_KA91aeIAJ3ngugfTXGY-BTHgrX5obXcmnjNVFRAuBeSjtTBjoY9bouWnuIZolu4/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksRVHtxHrqfWc9saI9cZKaE8PusqfVJbue8v_VnGIcUb7lWzWaZlCM790CvGK7K-1LQzYNLYLthK_KA91aeIAJ3ngugfTXGY-BTHgrX5obXcmnjNVFRAuBeSjtTBjoY9bouWnuIZolu4/s320/145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was impossible not to be charmed the next day by <b>Ohrid, </b>a city in southern Macedonia very close to the border with Albania, that was dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We were surprised to learn that Ohrid has one of the oldest human settlements in Europe.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37zNZxqFAsjzisgPd65uNOhyphenhyphenFMpOn1_RfRChqnOWr2e2qdDaMYHzHIY055Ye0lX6dzPRNOgFZ3ox4qBB_jC3YRnYZNz6xoidVWwKAFFa-EvsvPGgsoo5dlffhbRiommC79H9uVINSj88/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37zNZxqFAsjzisgPd65uNOhyphenhyphenFMpOn1_RfRChqnOWr2e2qdDaMYHzHIY055Ye0lX6dzPRNOgFZ3ox4qBB_jC3YRnYZNz6xoidVWwKAFFa-EvsvPGgsoo5dlffhbRiommC79H9uVINSj88/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ohrid is known as the 'Jerusalem of Europe' because of its hundreds of churches. The small town was only second after a museum in Moscow for the most number of icons.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNyZWINylUdlGEDw89bLBT8yHZxcyOI0TH-16BN8hLwD48jB_4TfU77vh3U71Q20rtG7G0q05FH-m_mrIIzdNLSDrpubDW0ZQuV7VYUk1m8q7bk1oY1OlamXMs6WYhNzepWwYDyCiPKc/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNyZWINylUdlGEDw89bLBT8yHZxcyOI0TH-16BN8hLwD48jB_4TfU77vh3U71Q20rtG7G0q05FH-m_mrIIzdNLSDrpubDW0ZQuV7VYUk1m8q7bk1oY1OlamXMs6WYhNzepWwYDyCiPKc/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The countrymen of Macedonia must be tremendously proud of their flag as we saw it everywhere, it seemed. This one was at the city's <b>Car Samoil Fortress</b> that we hiked to.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56MOE1uQPIjeoQpnN2lBwrgTBPycKQh4GL5A4y9AeaSbEM97bSG0iOPqCuRg_MpzN8rW8l0S81wOqeywhDXngnMaDNaNp7WoHCaR6PYA9GqsaCTbdCAqNJlvM6heFwO0k6ngfwcEibwo/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56MOE1uQPIjeoQpnN2lBwrgTBPycKQh4GL5A4y9AeaSbEM97bSG0iOPqCuRg_MpzN8rW8l0S81wOqeywhDXngnMaDNaNp7WoHCaR6PYA9GqsaCTbdCAqNJlvM6heFwO0k6ngfwcEibwo/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeLuvBee1JUvsW0pk1lX7XO9GruvuMju2zpJZ_FtXeTncFLsZMO_lzhwKroeyufZ5_VtikCvt_W19Ro-e9aYiPn8aoAZqO2ktJuqxUJZsGDzlnclIPXH11KYXXTJehKZEDdLwaWu06yA/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeLuvBee1JUvsW0pk1lX7XO9GruvuMju2zpJZ_FtXeTncFLsZMO_lzhwKroeyufZ5_VtikCvt_W19Ro-e9aYiPn8aoAZqO2ktJuqxUJZsGDzlnclIPXH11KYXXTJehKZEDdLwaWu06yA/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Possibly Macedonia's most photographed structure was the Church of <b>Sveti (Saint) Jovan (John) at Kaneo,</b> a 13th century church perched on a a cliff overlooking Lake Ohrid.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige-JjLFTvKEFTZ6QDcjTG9y5w3oFWxef4o5m__4CWBGLZVMCxabvPaAkQE3CcNhGKJV7Q-CMpkKnRpcDyNn6_hWdZD9CGmBBT6VSYdacVDnwbUsGRfN3SSY5sKMbiw6mER6q67MMD-Jw/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige-JjLFTvKEFTZ6QDcjTG9y5w3oFWxef4o5m__4CWBGLZVMCxabvPaAkQE3CcNhGKJV7Q-CMpkKnRpcDyNn6_hWdZD9CGmBBT6VSYdacVDnwbUsGRfN3SSY5sKMbiw6mER6q67MMD-Jw/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking back to the town from Kaneo beach past the love locks on the footbridge made it even more special.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4v2zfkjq3Bd6_cWFIa1LsAHvge3b4zqCP8sEMpjM302xDGu7pFRyvywlrU2AnJLgVrjkUChxvIhrMgEb0jEgMfJOVRLFTrFo2gaExXUn71CuB_Rmp8wxNhu0AVsYX9pMdlldUFQoq3o/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4v2zfkjq3Bd6_cWFIa1LsAHvge3b4zqCP8sEMpjM302xDGu7pFRyvywlrU2AnJLgVrjkUChxvIhrMgEb0jEgMfJOVRLFTrFo2gaExXUn71CuB_Rmp8wxNhu0AVsYX9pMdlldUFQoq3o/s320/174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you have enjoyed this recap from our first seven weeks of our trip. Selfishly, I had so much fun looking back at the photos from each day's album and remembering how much we relished discovering new places. Next up will be the Highlight Reel from Albania, Greece and Egypt. No promises as to when I will get to it as Steven and I leave tomorrow morning for our long-awaited summer trip to Florida by way of visiting our daughters in Michigan and New York, seeing my family and childhood friends in Ottawa and driving down the Eastern Seaboard. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven has created a blog for our fall trip to South America. He decided to also include the first post about our summer trip. I hope there will be more posts from our summer trip but I assure you they will be far shorter than the 2016 blog! Here's the link for the 2017 blog: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.bergersadventures5.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1493811806031000&usg=AFQjCNGgmY5QDKuJ00r9JBDcGf9SWFdeAg" href="http://www.bergersadventures5.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;" target="_blank">www.bergersadventures5.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on May 2nd, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
<br /></div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-3844401950891418362017-04-26T06:14:00.003-07:002017-04-26T06:14:47.441-07:0012/14: Castle Blitz on our Trip's Last Day in Denmark's Zealand <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">After experiencing the warm temperatures in Dubai and Abu
Dhabi the last several days, it was definitely a bit of a shock returning to
chilly Copenhagen for the last two nights of our trip. Steven and I had visited
the city en route home at the end of another long trip but this time we had an
extra day to explore the city’s environs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to follow noted travel
writer Rick Steve’s suggestion and see the highlights of Zealand, the island
where Copenhagen is located. That meant we would, using public transportation,
visit both Frederiksborg and Kronborg castles and Louisiana Art Museum, all
located north of Denmark’s capital.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had chosen our hotel well, at least in terms of its
proximity to the train station, as it was just up the block. However, our room
was very ‘cozy’ and the so-called 'facilities' were a good 30 or so feet down the
hallway. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwipwgmuGIO6qZ5rLqcOJ0k1r_xZBCI-SaetbLY9moo5NJJ2v9ZEVGmZu875r2Tyxi-Fr3Z2DpBj7Wq_C_3HkGfj91m-JdnS43UV0pKyHLGBLaCMMzQ88ACnWmYq3lvNGaPV7iD5yvqes/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwipwgmuGIO6qZ5rLqcOJ0k1r_xZBCI-SaetbLY9moo5NJJ2v9ZEVGmZu875r2Tyxi-Fr3Z2DpBj7Wq_C_3HkGfj91m-JdnS43UV0pKyHLGBLaCMMzQ88ACnWmYq3lvNGaPV7iD5yvqes/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We took the morning S-tog train for the short 40-minute ride
to the cute little town of <b>Hillerod</b>, which was near <b>Frederiksborg Castle, </b>our
first stop of the day.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfkFL3KxhmbPNhHJu7hyvWhXRyDtC8kDMh-1sDWCW2e7FooyN4JiGAscdB9eOLQO8UW9YNDU4LPjY766-EIfAoO-qo0kfA008nGvDU2Wxmq9ebNha4fgq0623u0uhYNoWLvUBiUpB-tk/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfkFL3KxhmbPNhHJu7hyvWhXRyDtC8kDMh-1sDWCW2e7FooyN4JiGAscdB9eOLQO8UW9YNDU4LPjY766-EIfAoO-qo0kfA008nGvDU2Wxmq9ebNha4fgq0623u0uhYNoWLvUBiUpB-tk/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bikes were a common sight everywhere in Copenhagen and all over Denmark</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVI_v9kpt2jV8lpXwCQSG0MiWm3yLgmPCMMcXx79yZWGPCBZ9qwyz3sv8Dn6LUJTipZsiFjgYXkuf-tvWok9bEhJAj9bkBquxEVEcUqO5B-0qocfpjJWcg3i5_LEigXbbb1WMUvG7mKo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVI_v9kpt2jV8lpXwCQSG0MiWm3yLgmPCMMcXx79yZWGPCBZ9qwyz3sv8Dn6LUJTipZsiFjgYXkuf-tvWok9bEhJAj9bkBquxEVEcUqO5B-0qocfpjJWcg3i5_LEigXbbb1WMUvG7mKo/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Glad we were nice and warm in the train and didn't have to get outside in the chilly weather quite yet!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXeAs0QLFLEKd4nR-7Q3l-FSqm7t0MQQ0hObHt_DjQ_wJXISWt61JxkuDb40vonPA0J7cy2eo3antdp8QTCJ5wRvXZrEVsPAP5tX1n0EDLS9XYCbEmZGqw3jgSMr87n89Lk89iwM3Guw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXeAs0QLFLEKd4nR-7Q3l-FSqm7t0MQQ0hObHt_DjQ_wJXISWt61JxkuDb40vonPA0J7cy2eo3antdp8QTCJ5wRvXZrEVsPAP5tX1n0EDLS9XYCbEmZGqw3jgSMr87n89Lk89iwM3Guw/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of taking a bus from the Hillerod station to the castle, we chose
a pleasant walk through the mostly car-free town. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbvR1aPW_PEfWhNeWOMnb8SYsPB7IFqXg1SRZ6Q0Q6X41VOC45nlS0SiCNGk2mcKYXHvsYvcb9F0a68id5qZ-P4LpDsWMaxdbVNhkG9_OUraeirff3G-AVDSZuM8qqhM4aHzG1qmebGI/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbvR1aPW_PEfWhNeWOMnb8SYsPB7IFqXg1SRZ6Q0Q6X41VOC45nlS0SiCNGk2mcKYXHvsYvcb9F0a68id5qZ-P4LpDsWMaxdbVNhkG9_OUraeirff3G-AVDSZuM8qqhM4aHzG1qmebGI/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Torvet </b>or town square:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hDQ6PDSTE-ySZYfCA3c7iX85uyHbgTHrRZ2V0-hx2OlwegUQDr1L-cakjOL6xBo6XwE_gXBgVU024lpu67N3yLQ9JxjGCASzBnRljMRMzsEaLIF-Gu6Knv4DRm3De3d4exI8pQV6CM/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hDQ6PDSTE-ySZYfCA3c7iX85uyHbgTHrRZ2V0-hx2OlwegUQDr1L-cakjOL6xBo6XwE_gXBgVU024lpu67N3yLQ9JxjGCASzBnRljMRMzsEaLIF-Gu6Knv4DRm3De3d4exI8pQV6CM/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE2-gMlu6DX9YhLEtZWGGGHdM4FSNCBxPjr6da6QThwYlch-P73PcLxLAQGTzuFzL-hMox-1e4juEG-NcMPCrdWdhQewat8J3O53HWSB4tup7XMyfDS6GKTtZuSBvBuiZ-KMbClKv0K0/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE2-gMlu6DX9YhLEtZWGGGHdM4FSNCBxPjr6da6QThwYlch-P73PcLxLAQGTzuFzL-hMox-1e4juEG-NcMPCrdWdhQewat8J3O53HWSB4tup7XMyfDS6GKTtZuSBvBuiZ-KMbClKv0K0/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66d55hFw9qRIhLlkdTwuYs3csEOO7AQV5dNkNLVdqrpIDwFHIqrmopDIKeZpbD0Wq352bPXMSR_7v8XuDAAmIBVlEOSb1PLmNASHike2dj02rrsBYVSoFE-bBTX3VobDBKTN30XTZkGU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66d55hFw9qRIhLlkdTwuYs3csEOO7AQV5dNkNLVdqrpIDwFHIqrmopDIKeZpbD0Wq352bPXMSR_7v8XuDAAmIBVlEOSb1PLmNASHike2dj02rrsBYVSoFE-bBTX3VobDBKTN30XTZkGU/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These African animals seemed just a tad out of place in the town square!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2-z7AqJV5bN65jSg7Ovkf7bmsLgsD0aAGiM9Ek6ac1rKCopZS1IZ55E_gq7s_IJrvX4Z3aipI__7KrEN02twd74yQ3Y0CE_l8rPGn4hmnTa77wh96cS7lUOlLodteJ-6buOPEe2xWek/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2-z7AqJV5bN65jSg7Ovkf7bmsLgsD0aAGiM9Ek6ac1rKCopZS1IZ55E_gq7s_IJrvX4Z3aipI__7KrEN02twd74yQ3Y0CE_l8rPGn4hmnTa77wh96cS7lUOlLodteJ-6buOPEe2xWek/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder if concerts are held in the town square's pavilion during warm, summer days.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYXxwJqXoJgAEmGXrfRcu1W0AJ3UUsGuTdB4gP606kida5cZLvAUrOfYXF5K25JBW5VFG-C5REIrL-x3FpWi0JTbhOfwQPfQ-TNqUdtYvsP4Srl9ubu0B0lJ9B3XX3OInTt5zn8QIIBY/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYXxwJqXoJgAEmGXrfRcu1W0AJ3UUsGuTdB4gP606kida5cZLvAUrOfYXF5K25JBW5VFG-C5REIrL-x3FpWi0JTbhOfwQPfQ-TNqUdtYvsP4Srl9ubu0B0lJ9B3XX3OInTt5zn8QIIBY/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What fabulous views of the castle as we walked along the
path to the castle.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIemtQaFv9niyctTX7DzS2h6N4jG-XnUiMEtqDr4WPnq6MBH5LDcrcqABEgbXKDsQxzRqoIgnxEzLJF-6sQOpRVPauL-8q-FWqPG3_0SyX8vghhTCoP8Egxe60YnIWJ1qMyQ5XhCBEsY/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIemtQaFv9niyctTX7DzS2h6N4jG-XnUiMEtqDr4WPnq6MBH5LDcrcqABEgbXKDsQxzRqoIgnxEzLJF-6sQOpRVPauL-8q-FWqPG3_0SyX8vghhTCoP8Egxe60YnIWJ1qMyQ5XhCBEsY/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg2ioVv5mCoOvgZ36kfid53Gf9uI1sP56MAwfvi5dZIRebm5RZp7-bxZsgqjLTUnL530_QV8xqaOJUaibhjA_hMyxDZ_ZjZtArpnClHfdni6PlMyqRHWGfWVKg4gBLg6oBUhKzpsa-xJTw/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ioVv5mCoOvgZ36kfid53Gf9uI1sP56MAwfvi5dZIRebm5RZp7-bxZsgqjLTUnL530_QV8xqaOJUaibhjA_hMyxDZ_ZjZtArpnClHfdni6PlMyqRHWGfWVKg4gBLg6oBUhKzpsa-xJTw/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh4ILU0CdsfLaEjmRxNxE7Qe_6IoZJcic-ckS3STbZ6t2iVsvb5LOzbAB9dfGzdnEN2AFWVPm0uUSKOw0A0m96O5phSKfMZR1U_rBXFunaNfbfEiLbGI2gSk4VrfoNfpHi0E_UW6s1GPuc/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ILU0CdsfLaEjmRxNxE7Qe_6IoZJcic-ckS3STbZ6t2iVsvb5LOzbAB9dfGzdnEN2AFWVPm0uUSKOw0A0m96O5phSKfMZR1U_rBXFunaNfbfEiLbGI2gSk4VrfoNfpHi0E_UW6s1GPuc/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgx6WlhnJ30nk7wHrMhSMeUei_KaTskV0ZHz5-U1Ekd1s1ixReHazNC4yj64avzWPu99TqbzZi6VXkw6jGEcxl3X7fARnii8UWdc__J4nj9IeY64K2PWCabBsRSccYvaqMRjNmsQArQSLI/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6WlhnJ30nk7wHrMhSMeUei_KaTskV0ZHz5-U1Ekd1s1ixReHazNC4yj64avzWPu99TqbzZi6VXkw6jGEcxl3X7fARnii8UWdc__J4nj9IeY64K2PWCabBsRSccYvaqMRjNmsQArQSLI/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEYrBWcK8KoJ1iwQB6tw3o5-wFZQpxvLwcHGYowZ6_Y_jFBBNUgCQzTM6Jjn3sCSHbrnWH3Xww9gExacP_UW0N3p2Dg3IOLAYTijAQ6mHmkE7gOY3ssHpItALell5pyBq3DrtoEL1JU4/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEYrBWcK8KoJ1iwQB6tw3o5-wFZQpxvLwcHGYowZ6_Y_jFBBNUgCQzTM6Jjn3sCSHbrnWH3Xww9gExacP_UW0N3p2Dg3IOLAYTijAQ6mHmkE7gOY3ssHpItALell5pyBq3DrtoEL1JU4/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Frederiksborg Castle,</b> which sits on the island in the middle of a lake
in Hillerod, is the grandest castle in Scandinavia and is often called the
Danish Versailles. Built from 1602 to
1620, Frederiksborg was the castle of Denmark’s King Christian IV. Much of it
was reconstructed after an 1859 fire and the castle became a museum 20 years
later. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-QBdoPSf5ma1Rtd4KLSXPBMD-Dttj7a-eYCJkw6fq0Vza5gQjmWbfuBrD7jU51QZ_t46IouE6-huEBGzJkIS6EY6MrjpPh9DDVjSnIH0FN2hcWUqzHG5NxjsTNZBb4Ld2RZyrDzzTKo/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-QBdoPSf5ma1Rtd4KLSXPBMD-Dttj7a-eYCJkw6fq0Vza5gQjmWbfuBrD7jU51QZ_t46IouE6-huEBGzJkIS6EY6MrjpPh9DDVjSnIH0FN2hcWUqzHG5NxjsTNZBb4Ld2RZyrDzzTKo/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuSMVijyA88acl08QO_BpaAVxy9y_ZHM1x-xLrqs1aS1H5WiHKYk0ivB1pxMrlUxrqD1htTXUWggW3sa7NfDYCBfylHbfj7JIf34sv1lRg3moWMEI90BBbuZyUsM8rdWj0o2y0eR89xE/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuSMVijyA88acl08QO_BpaAVxy9y_ZHM1x-xLrqs1aS1H5WiHKYk0ivB1pxMrlUxrqD1htTXUWggW3sa7NfDYCBfylHbfj7JIf34sv1lRg3moWMEI90BBbuZyUsM8rdWj0o2y0eR89xE/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For all you beer lovers: Denmark's Carlsberg Beer:.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPpc6xqXJWZryMQzvhELkTf2XwRzjolGkjKKTiU_hyphenhyphenPp_bPgE8VumfUDPxDSFF2J4MQt3l2rp93zaNfbVtpY6ZMdgVKn4FwNke-lUY8x2oNxHAY1JDq7zHU4i0QfG4fEy64IVAPP8SdI/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPpc6xqXJWZryMQzvhELkTf2XwRzjolGkjKKTiU_hyphenhyphenPp_bPgE8VumfUDPxDSFF2J4MQt3l2rp93zaNfbVtpY6ZMdgVKn4FwNke-lUY8x2oNxHAY1JDq7zHU4i0QfG4fEy64IVAPP8SdI/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NBWKbakhZAtCxKvyhh2yq-tsKyOb6A1nBgz7un2zD6bugS1BT0f0x8mD-UjiXgvBBF8OaLyTBxhWfKJ61wcuv9VZrcuUg4rA4oC_Co5HtVhgQY1q7DAafFqqMlYWoF-Dm-SfSlAxvrA/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NBWKbakhZAtCxKvyhh2yq-tsKyOb6A1nBgz7un2zD6bugS1BT0f0x8mD-UjiXgvBBF8OaLyTBxhWfKJ61wcuv9VZrcuUg4rA4oC_Co5HtVhgQY1q7DAafFqqMlYWoF-Dm-SfSlAxvrA/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As Rick Steves wrote, the entrance to the castle complex was
an appropriately regal approach to the king’s residence. We could almost hear
the ‘clopping of the royal hooves’ as we walked over the moat and through the
first island. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIZUCa5bdr3NqVyj3FGIsVtRvMfCM2-hXLvFe6bI7Qa1Y41FglcZnZQQDZ60vH9poh-yrABmygC94VJDpbTxTKCpn2J5SfPKrgMLvjISeg0Rlr_waJW6iU5Nj5jYMIK6fXtYdga7uM6w/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIZUCa5bdr3NqVyj3FGIsVtRvMfCM2-hXLvFe6bI7Qa1Y41FglcZnZQQDZ60vH9poh-yrABmygC94VJDpbTxTKCpn2J5SfPKrgMLvjISeg0Rlr_waJW6iU5Nj5jYMIK6fXtYdga7uM6w/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">'Slot' is the Danish word for castle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKY_f2f0jYj82nJmRgJ18Vn0Y4Q60ugig5UXyxhLlzRB-sYGesq98U2bKjQboFgwzOGU2I6hSdT0BvH40iwE9Mm7H1byjWjYEwBIn5rwpbSKmToLPwn5_y9fTiGc_6QaLvtHGkHDzf-0/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKY_f2f0jYj82nJmRgJ18Vn0Y4Q60ugig5UXyxhLlzRB-sYGesq98U2bKjQboFgwzOGU2I6hSdT0BvH40iwE9Mm7H1byjWjYEwBIn5rwpbSKmToLPwn5_y9fTiGc_6QaLvtHGkHDzf-0/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The island had formerly contained the stables and small businesses needed to support the royal residence. Now the area was used for a more prosaic reason: parking!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TOLjbwcvNQJ42YvtqEuO62r4TNoAEHmb12Ipfc3rZlGmVyjxOP1miaZDUaWZPH6RX-82kiYhGPezfP1Hd60Vk1uleRwB6t3DFGTgShgPGmYDuL8aCs9T5NN9ObfonIN2IGjapNcyPLw/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TOLjbwcvNQJ42YvtqEuO62r4TNoAEHmb12Ipfc3rZlGmVyjxOP1miaZDUaWZPH6RX-82kiYhGPezfP1Hd60Vk1uleRwB6t3DFGTgShgPGmYDuL8aCs9T5NN9ObfonIN2IGjapNcyPLw/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Where or where is that castle?! Surely, we'll reach it soon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbzm9m2arAzG5FQ1Ph3uaze5ylweW41XewWdpbCLSIRjyHHGM2ZpdleYJ8AHX1S3kyE43XrDOuRZl_rzT49nRIC5wZflJ_wBZH-h28uMSYwKftyIl65iUa05eKUwBWevvUAl8gqGqfVM/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbzm9m2arAzG5FQ1Ph3uaze5ylweW41XewWdpbCLSIRjyHHGM2ZpdleYJ8AHX1S3kyE43XrDOuRZl_rzT49nRIC5wZflJ_wBZH-h28uMSYwKftyIl65iUa05eKUwBWevvUAl8gqGqfVM/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A winding lane, designed so it could be easy to defend, led
us to the second island which was home to the domestic and foreign ministries. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE14hjBsuaR4m-eiTYu1z9RrzagjmyqxzbMjhHVlqP3ioTyFj8iBms7h9fioSvhxe4d0ThJji8hDBW1q1BYXD9zRFNZM9BtdET7ecVj5KJB6H-d_zMQrV9Mz8TX9d91a1m3A_LlxNcQ_8/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE14hjBsuaR4m-eiTYu1z9RrzagjmyqxzbMjhHVlqP3ioTyFj8iBms7h9fioSvhxe4d0ThJji8hDBW1q1BYXD9zRFNZM9BtdET7ecVj5KJB6H-d_zMQrV9Mz8TX9d91a1m3A_LlxNcQ_8/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After finally crossing over the last moat to the main palace, we had almost arrived where the king lived!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHYZR5vSrGc1W0Z_R68USJT4j7IBSKJbHX06M5JYS0Op61nSURd-_mSs4B1ZgVyiNiHQU0O_8nkT8uNtU_nqQTeE_umGFfc5uufqsmykMqvT5QevvRY6OsdcKeYPiJcW_3GhKzPyFcdQ/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHYZR5vSrGc1W0Z_R68USJT4j7IBSKJbHX06M5JYS0Op61nSURd-_mSs4B1ZgVyiNiHQU0O_8nkT8uNtU_nqQTeE_umGFfc5uufqsmykMqvT5QevvRY6OsdcKeYPiJcW_3GhKzPyFcdQ/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Through one final arch, we caught sight of </span><span style="font-size: large;">the <b>Fountain of Neptune</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">in the castle courtyard.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI8XExmyAWdwgovLW5WWs0bvO8Eh1kIBnkM0AqqT2D4H6JQPB047sfoVBFdiXpD3V9NuS2a0a-aYLzpsEoD3GMNxZaQydMCZQCKa4-fUOOMg33LeanyyvnSJ1bgfpnRaBsRG2NBPWYAA/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI8XExmyAWdwgovLW5WWs0bvO8Eh1kIBnkM0AqqT2D4H6JQPB047sfoVBFdiXpD3V9NuS2a0a-aYLzpsEoD3GMNxZaQydMCZQCKa4-fUOOMg33LeanyyvnSJ1bgfpnRaBsRG2NBPWYAA/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank goodness, the view of Frederiksborg Castle was definitely worth the short walk from the station and the stroll across the moats.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYsIPOd3yCNV1CpxekgyDo1rhlsZ0qNhyndbc3bywSmqRJZirgiBAeMY-6Nfng5pzkmH-mfooXCJb4GWE8IXKtKlWchJXgYeybhIrlUuiHukQ28dUEFHKVfty5jEQRLo2inYvhFQC0dU/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYsIPOd3yCNV1CpxekgyDo1rhlsZ0qNhyndbc3bywSmqRJZirgiBAeMY-6Nfng5pzkmH-mfooXCJb4GWE8IXKtKlWchJXgYeybhIrlUuiHukQ28dUEFHKVfty5jEQRLo2inYvhFQC0dU/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The gnome in the fountain looked like the Travelocity one I always see in my favorite TV program, The Amazing Race!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAT9WQAyimm88dVynwxTIi8Bs4vpO405ktwfWXjKvQvR0PwqCD_OLa_a_31XEG1YacbUSvUPWLMMfWV7w0AzrhzehZg_VR4MSwBw3ILGaykZICT-D2_H1VqzVDQXmmlZcmhVqKo0-Dmn8/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAT9WQAyimm88dVynwxTIi8Bs4vpO405ktwfWXjKvQvR0PwqCD_OLa_a_31XEG1YacbUSvUPWLMMfWV7w0AzrhzehZg_VR4MSwBw3ILGaykZICT-D2_H1VqzVDQXmmlZcmhVqKo0-Dmn8/s320/051.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we had arrived before the castle opened at 10, we had time to walk around the castle. Since it was pretty nippy out, at least for us who had just spent so much time recently in far warmer climes, we probably didn't appreciate the lovely sculptures and views as we would have if it were warmer.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhcWdgYaNGvACfFSXaDEF7Yi1u26plRN1eFF7ys4Uks3Tn4IKWA9r5PX5JXW5KU1_LH4cei2KQbyrlJgZq1_tnjxQDm70C78KNCub22aGE5xchqLQSD2jBCEG9Npo872QqvdzOxJIwig/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhcWdgYaNGvACfFSXaDEF7Yi1u26plRN1eFF7ys4Uks3Tn4IKWA9r5PX5JXW5KU1_LH4cei2KQbyrlJgZq1_tnjxQDm70C78KNCub22aGE5xchqLQSD2jBCEG9Npo872QqvdzOxJIwig/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R90m8od-SLas7LP8W7sVHWkwpXQ3MVIoh2v0PKv1yykBNa5x_aaN1rG3og19ok6DjMj36veOu-QSQcepQhNRC7goiWNIplcY6RlJl-tFDkmwcT6Q744FommS2KAf0FXYZjXIyqiIETQ/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R90m8od-SLas7LP8W7sVHWkwpXQ3MVIoh2v0PKv1yykBNa5x_aaN1rG3og19ok6DjMj36veOu-QSQcepQhNRC7goiWNIplcY6RlJl-tFDkmwcT6Q744FommS2KAf0FXYZjXIyqiIETQ/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NRCteWbqew3mvobhlBmikf11LLOEDeIpJEJI711-lmZHCAsb30V0slBESYZcmtV02XzSvzqJnqVvMUW0pvtCWUL2h3ImLf3F-0FQ5PcaULYC1r9ytj5fkK6ySDujraGTv3QMxeamW3Q/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NRCteWbqew3mvobhlBmikf11LLOEDeIpJEJI711-lmZHCAsb30V0slBESYZcmtV02XzSvzqJnqVvMUW0pvtCWUL2h3ImLf3F-0FQ5PcaULYC1r9ytj5fkK6ySDujraGTv3QMxeamW3Q/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZQjuydGH3uCeToDs8hCQhDATmNKkGy1uKZoaj17K8Jx-S0pwkS4-Jz3xa5_SfFFrKFSX5vUiDC3h0QpOw5unk6B5w7bKASjYhdVmFehGIY-EaAkQG8_i7si15D3ZKvpD-EtNyIO12oo/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZQjuydGH3uCeToDs8hCQhDATmNKkGy1uKZoaj17K8Jx-S0pwkS4-Jz3xa5_SfFFrKFSX5vUiDC3h0QpOw5unk6B5w7bKASjYhdVmFehGIY-EaAkQG8_i7si15D3ZKvpD-EtNyIO12oo/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Janina:</b> Seeing this half-naked figure reminded me of your comment from a post I wrote in our trip to Budapest a couple of years in which I had included photos of other half-naked men!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO-01M_JLX7SHRkyfwmzKC0Neo-GEm5GzCwZONCeE9k6d37-P9kgsURkvYssEPa6TgAkAzSLMwUmMfKQWK-wrMbeGcoYFh7x5ocrh7k4NlJCu1Ng6R8cGpwDqWnYRdbAiPuU85tx-BYo/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjO-01M_JLX7SHRkyfwmzKC0Neo-GEm5GzCwZONCeE9k6d37-P9kgsURkvYssEPa6TgAkAzSLMwUmMfKQWK-wrMbeGcoYFh7x5ocrh7k4NlJCu1Ng6R8cGpwDqWnYRdbAiPuU85tx-BYo/s320/056.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if this was a replica of the Danish crown atop the spire.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO8iV2ZOEkoj5PvZXD3Q7GWqIr7eqYLxGpiMlY482VaZkr6wGJh-uR2Qm5iMFSRh1cwuVbI41fOdQH1hPgJRagbIsXvp0v1fFgL1sz1AV827jMOGGo1VmnbxgnifIskvn7VyiZesCTuY/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFO8iV2ZOEkoj5PvZXD3Q7GWqIr7eqYLxGpiMlY482VaZkr6wGJh-uR2Qm5iMFSRh1cwuVbI41fOdQH1hPgJRagbIsXvp0v1fFgL1sz1AV827jMOGGo1VmnbxgnifIskvn7VyiZesCTuY/s320/059.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
\</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dAAhbCbkgf4Xnii8PfXdNqFH4lrmaBdEqCcGcO-hJKEUCmWbWHxjkODXFD5egkgFI87OvbesxsmezkxyLt2BAnInjK3jY4b0zEvW6_WYhdgIn0G_6mzrll3rhGTSKchTMioqPML3-Ks/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dAAhbCbkgf4Xnii8PfXdNqFH4lrmaBdEqCcGcO-hJKEUCmWbWHxjkODXFD5egkgFI87OvbesxsmezkxyLt2BAnInjK3jY4b0zEvW6_WYhdgIn0G_6mzrll3rhGTSKchTMioqPML3-Ks/s320/058.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhyKWh95ANxkz5uigAU70WCOnZQrXPZXpNMCIS4Yf40Tpx-ngnxMvUe9YG2PRmYoRP1cN1wcrm-MdrI4XcQlhyphenhyphenNIUIiwW3g1Bc8Wom-GfO_ySX90-yQg70zVJiG2N-MEPnsNN-3CVkk198/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKWh95ANxkz5uigAU70WCOnZQrXPZXpNMCIS4Yf40Tpx-ngnxMvUe9YG2PRmYoRP1cN1wcrm-MdrI4XcQlhyphenhyphenNIUIiwW3g1Bc8Wom-GfO_ySX90-yQg70zVJiG2N-MEPnsNN-3CVkk198/s320/062.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDWnxDPAQG2Z5SmEO23wWZSqpPOqCztC6byutQVHkw9puJtDkEbmPCUFknA4TG0S2uPeiIrXQHTbSDg8pfOI63q33jLpjAkPciI5FMDXNU5jBzx7Rl0SFESu5tj6hBnLEQd9CMvkw5Dk/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDWnxDPAQG2Z5SmEO23wWZSqpPOqCztC6byutQVHkw9puJtDkEbmPCUFknA4TG0S2uPeiIrXQHTbSDg8pfOI63q33jLpjAkPciI5FMDXNU5jBzx7Rl0SFESu5tj6hBnLEQd9CMvkw5Dk/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After walking around the entire castle, we had an enjoyable stroll in the massive <b>Castle Garden,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the country's national palace gardens. The herb and ornamental gardens were partly designed by Frederik IV in the 18th century as a baroque garden. There was also a small deer park with grand oak trees planted to rebuild the naval fleet after the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jISxaRuCUA6t-P1d9k_CAgSbYLJ21pHBdn0zySk7t3tHErqd2TJf8Ito_OTUbpKNBLnDgzAXXHrvwUyriOH8zVg2g64kTTM-zZ3yL5ZOvh2OMSrAupcDrQrez1sRnLYrQ52Oan66Kzg/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jISxaRuCUA6t-P1d9k_CAgSbYLJ21pHBdn0zySk7t3tHErqd2TJf8Ito_OTUbpKNBLnDgzAXXHrvwUyriOH8zVg2g64kTTM-zZ3yL5ZOvh2OMSrAupcDrQrez1sRnLYrQ52Oan66Kzg/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpccaWz_TCOIWPvNM8XnFWLnAKxYh1518AqqlySmPJIc1MCUxcOpOx8po6sjdcnqLZMHt2ZQuLDa87yvQijY64NKRTDOPSBIGJ0ISS76rbWXDiqGwPBWQuMXnvjyDEmZ9k8I7DLav-zk/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpccaWz_TCOIWPvNM8XnFWLnAKxYh1518AqqlySmPJIc1MCUxcOpOx8po6sjdcnqLZMHt2ZQuLDa87yvQijY64NKRTDOPSBIGJ0ISS76rbWXDiqGwPBWQuMXnvjyDEmZ9k8I7DLav-zk/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiup-B_LmsrksztIjmCz7k-gH-aQNZeaKxR2q_haVTClTAb7Zk3ViTBYYzWsEPTEu1Ts6ECoiyv_j2Cd3Am7SKSRY_Fojve9mAm7CQQ0ZrsuU6UoYOFgBhCqEsQLmK-M7yk_Wk8W9zdb1E/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup-B_LmsrksztIjmCz7k-gH-aQNZeaKxR2q_haVTClTAb7Zk3ViTBYYzWsEPTEu1Ts6ECoiyv_j2Cd3Am7SKSRY_Fojve9mAm7CQQ0ZrsuU6UoYOFgBhCqEsQLmK-M7yk_Wk8W9zdb1E/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were so relieved when the clock struck 10 and we were finally able to enter the castle!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5zSWRT0O5LWWRd_rXcV_KK9g8IwZOjjKzmWVm_pE5XKqX8O6soatINQMC4Q1H5T30wNJ6mViXZQwI8Ep8LlNQuvdE4lSVOVTlSa09GPJTw8QW4kecGElw4hN1o2pj3_Ii9Q9b4kh978/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5zSWRT0O5LWWRd_rXcV_KK9g8IwZOjjKzmWVm_pE5XKqX8O6soatINQMC4Q1H5T30wNJ6mViXZQwI8Ep8LlNQuvdE4lSVOVTlSa09GPJTw8QW4kecGElw4hN1o2pj3_Ii9Q9b4kh978/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the time of Christian IV (1588-1648), t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he first room we entered was called the <b>Knights' Room. </b>After alterations were carried out in 1740, the </span><span style="font-size: large;">enormous room</span><span style="font-size: large;"> was given the name of 'the rose'. I hadn't known that a 'rose' is a dining room for the ladies and gentlemen of the court. The elaborately decorated, vaulted ceiling was supported by five marble columns.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu1jDv1ZPRsLMMLk401ZzDZjkf4r2q_JNqT4Q0pCbiKiidF0xKLoxGxeK9iUdSWoDP-rE2QYoj6Vf3hgx-Rb5g2pldujqmiGjiE1HLAeiu0etdoxeX_LPBCxfwyf0iIA21GTD1pgXOl4/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu1jDv1ZPRsLMMLk401ZzDZjkf4r2q_JNqT4Q0pCbiKiidF0xKLoxGxeK9iUdSWoDP-rE2QYoj6Vf3hgx-Rb5g2pldujqmiGjiE1HLAeiu0etdoxeX_LPBCxfwyf0iIA21GTD1pgXOl4/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Imitation gilt leather covered the walls; above them was a stucco frieze of beasts of the chase. The stag had real antlers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuh1keCojBH_y4HOHLKSflH3LhZQwP-URqssGBoQBZPQOoh-ijOapd8P1jpdN93sqt5Sa1MJi2RdziCHlLGnYNb-OAijtw5ChjuxxpQXStiEQZDjkPTwskQJvq6lzQqMdl6sMhLyEUGE/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuh1keCojBH_y4HOHLKSflH3LhZQwP-URqssGBoQBZPQOoh-ijOapd8P1jpdN93sqt5Sa1MJi2RdziCHlLGnYNb-OAijtw5ChjuxxpQXStiEQZDjkPTwskQJvq6lzQqMdl6sMhLyEUGE/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the ceiling were circular panels with the heraldic figures of the coats of arms of Christian IV and his queen.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr6VIC4jteV-MOSKsZCfZ4P0gNp1_ObNVpWZKXQcH70qVWBU8dZCHr0Epi2imrbX1P8r1VWrhoYvuB4g24qGpMu1XS_sOMVSh3CjgflvWN8lTfYORQqPL-3HbiaAiKnFEdMzVSUFpXBs/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr6VIC4jteV-MOSKsZCfZ4P0gNp1_ObNVpWZKXQcH70qVWBU8dZCHr0Epi2imrbX1P8r1VWrhoYvuB4g24qGpMu1XS_sOMVSh3CjgflvWN8lTfYORQqPL-3HbiaAiKnFEdMzVSUFpXBs/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgGYfxyIjcXZgRo2ml7Y_Uy3OfDeENE-_I4UPgxFza6BnBtbTLr7Hwnvi5G5-oQ8Z9a8KSD-mpJ7XZ84vbKFNBc9QloiBPKZ-gU3tUR1N2HLZLwKCHVkgP2A8FQ8yVxpP1GKZD03SWn7aU/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYfxyIjcXZgRo2ml7Y_Uy3OfDeENE-_I4UPgxFza6BnBtbTLr7Hwnvi5G5-oQ8Z9a8KSD-mpJ7XZ84vbKFNBc9QloiBPKZ-gU3tUR1N2HLZLwKCHVkgP2A8FQ8yVxpP1GKZD03SWn7aU/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The room contained a number of lovely carved and painted chests all dating from the time of Christian IV. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The chests would have been filled filled with objects of everyday life: clothing, linen, bedclothes as well as valuables. The decoration of the chests was linked to the status of the owners and changing styles. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNZRRZDsiwUSdwneE1hsClKotJMu-Hxk-bzV4175oJrTyAdkZ9sFVGy0GIX8PrLRJ3ajVo97IxUO6Xp5ApTzwVpwXlH7K1CCLb6tooLDVMt4FGTDVMj_mO4Um1KC1IgXykHqvf4zOPJY/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNZRRZDsiwUSdwneE1hsClKotJMu-Hxk-bzV4175oJrTyAdkZ9sFVGy0GIX8PrLRJ3ajVo97IxUO6Xp5ApTzwVpwXlH7K1CCLb6tooLDVMt4FGTDVMj_mO4Um1KC1IgXykHqvf4zOPJY/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg0k4_zsvorgI4VuwE-ocfIMZMZ5Zsb9_3AJg_TaypeSvb7JNztcfQhgXCpvr-nA8XBBQcCgtxmK2y2t2ThO6fwpATJ1N3wcIue8PanHFz180ocEselC6Hk4g7i0_aqfyTxkSWutlOLDD4/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k4_zsvorgI4VuwE-ocfIMZMZ5Zsb9_3AJg_TaypeSvb7JNztcfQhgXCpvr-nA8XBBQcCgtxmK2y2t2ThO6fwpATJ1N3wcIue8PanHFz180ocEselC6Hk4g7i0_aqfyTxkSWutlOLDD4/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Two suits of armor from around 1600 were in one corner of the room. They were copies of originals used by King Frederik II during a military campaign in southern Denmark.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOYb1TXF4NSET-JvhC5sZC5AW8ftOeDaEE19cqJ-EN33DMiyPZc7WnkJUwRO-nSHm73tRbmAdh-NQVjYlwNBqaJckwLP51QiEH4lydWhNpbwL-FBSzkw7gqAFYdAgswzPo7cPMaRcm7s/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOYb1TXF4NSET-JvhC5sZC5AW8ftOeDaEE19cqJ-EN33DMiyPZc7WnkJUwRO-nSHm73tRbmAdh-NQVjYlwNBqaJckwLP51QiEH4lydWhNpbwL-FBSzkw7gqAFYdAgswzPo7cPMaRcm7s/s320/093.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Royal Chapel:</b>
Christian IV wanted the grandest royal chapel in Europe – it certainly appeared
that his wish may have been granted! The stunning chapel, dating back to 1620, is nearly all original. For 200 years, it was the coronation place of Danish kings and it is still used for royal weddings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wi7UDH62gd-gJexHOAnJ5fISMahEGeoh6RsG7UqedtP_pod8Yx8XpU5VCXU4eKbop09IKEN4UVKg_U-xXvgQj1u8kevjqg-d2jw7qC3qNzHDj1-R43C9LztX6F-7KZRqjn0TULFKAos/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wi7UDH62gd-gJexHOAnJ5fISMahEGeoh6RsG7UqedtP_pod8Yx8XpU5VCXU4eKbop09IKEN4UVKg_U-xXvgQj1u8kevjqg-d2jw7qC3qNzHDj1-R43C9LztX6F-7KZRqjn0TULFKAos/s320/100.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoW-aaEBx5pwfVxhTU8HldmgnFeepbuBgaW6JdeRS8p3XC6zZb1lh0GWjTsYaBua3i6Kh87RTlaQU-9BJ6I_8ITYRIZFbfzo4NQZyoxjaPXdEiecUn4XDMx0MJIFxmUJ1Z_92RsS1BFQ/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoW-aaEBx5pwfVxhTU8HldmgnFeepbuBgaW6JdeRS8p3XC6zZb1lh0GWjTsYaBua3i6Kh87RTlaQU-9BJ6I_8ITYRIZFbfzo4NQZyoxjaPXdEiecUn4XDMx0MJIFxmUJ1Z_92RsS1BFQ/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiinyxvicecpeS2DvBHGUhIlt-ZTsctpPHiXBmnLDMK-L8rKn5uy1Zc9WWyx-9fbB9frJQ58KjhNOvxT6zeuu3srx8J9TvaeOcbVzYog0I5hjHUMSPAkJ3FMiF-Zw9clp4lHlaYXSBlTWE/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinyxvicecpeS2DvBHGUhIlt-ZTsctpPHiXBmnLDMK-L8rKn5uy1Zc9WWyx-9fbB9frJQ58KjhNOvxT6zeuu3srx8J9TvaeOcbVzYog0I5hjHUMSPAkJ3FMiF-Zw9clp4lHlaYXSBlTWE/s320/115.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6orcwIGBFUlopMVlSFyGfYiYbc9bLv7-5i66N2m5XutZziUGwvyYVhe8qVxme9BaVCADAD8G6ex9Yqhx4PqJMcX7p4lfhFd6FRE5UKreISLsZ2nXfHjqU00xTuXO69izJuuMCxoIXhkE/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6orcwIGBFUlopMVlSFyGfYiYbc9bLv7-5i66N2m5XutZziUGwvyYVhe8qVxme9BaVCADAD8G6ex9Yqhx4PqJMcX7p4lfhFd6FRE5UKreISLsZ2nXfHjqU00xTuXO69izJuuMCxoIXhkE/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An intricately carved organ was located in the upper area of the chapel.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfUWoNoEa9DkfcQTaMdrjDxmKT390gHHks_Nq-OlUCrTcl7d0IhxSnSs13reHL8EBsaaGg0yjEtCHdXgPl9b8bz-Vtz6YRHp6J3MXs_YHquzkl6MjuoiijyMZ06e38tv423XdNWp-Ivs/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfUWoNoEa9DkfcQTaMdrjDxmKT390gHHks_Nq-OlUCrTcl7d0IhxSnSs13reHL8EBsaaGg0yjEtCHdXgPl9b8bz-Vtz6YRHp6J3MXs_YHquzkl6MjuoiijyMZ06e38tv423XdNWp-Ivs/s320/113.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had never seen so many coats of arms lining the walls as
we did in the chapel - there must have been hundreds of them. They belonged to people who had
received royal orders from the Danish crown – similar to Britain’s knighthoods. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqxRaaJ182PhUMEWzSgyZgKcJVAyq-jAC66FfTMYmEqHHQ-3Q-gfTRVdc0k4CvKnhQUSx4eAlDuzC7DUrqOD6judzVhRWLWF6kv3RjOQYhYG4TQGDRksHTHilfoIczKC8T6vFzQQF_GE/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqxRaaJ182PhUMEWzSgyZgKcJVAyq-jAC66FfTMYmEqHHQ-3Q-gfTRVdc0k4CvKnhQUSx4eAlDuzC7DUrqOD6judzVhRWLWF6kv3RjOQYhYG4TQGDRksHTHilfoIczKC8T6vFzQQF_GE/s320/105.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While most of the names were obscure princesses and dukes, there were a few interesting and more familiar names too. </span><span style="font-size: large;">One was the distinctive red, blue, black and green shield of South Africa which marked <b>Nelson Mandela’s </b>coat of arms. He was awarded the very prestigious Order of the Elephant which was normally reserved for royalty.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsevfs7NemnPfN0GcDGPq7uelPv_x9XjcuZMHG191wyzFv1_UlfBSAIMM2Wu8yGLLc0yR0W0OvS3IENEfjqJhWiK28FkBHp_GRsiWyUNcA_Bhb8ohnJqCf__YG5ao8hTIV8FDNDDc5ihY/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsevfs7NemnPfN0GcDGPq7uelPv_x9XjcuZMHG191wyzFv1_UlfBSAIMM2Wu8yGLLc0yR0W0OvS3IENEfjqJhWiK28FkBHp_GRsiWyUNcA_Bhb8ohnJqCf__YG5ao8hTIV8FDNDDc5ihY/s320/116.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We also caught sight of <b>Dwight D. Eisenhower’s</b> with the blue
anvil and the motto “Peace Through Understanding.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tyU_03nIyXtRUcdlXUpzMjq2p6_nUKbtManQfgM9LcMpwDz3l7lZ0iJGE2GwkbTYvORZf2lcKR6H8-OzK73SH9no61NPizHy3aCmzvy7zGutjzrWS6tLOlX1fny1r9EIh68a9baY0m8/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tyU_03nIyXtRUcdlXUpzMjq2p6_nUKbtManQfgM9LcMpwDz3l7lZ0iJGE2GwkbTYvORZf2lcKR6H8-OzK73SH9no61NPizHy3aCmzvy7zGutjzrWS6tLOlX1fny1r9EIh68a9baY0m8/s320/119.JPG" width="240" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Winston Churchill’s</b> coat of arms: he had already come from a royal line.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy-aU_xiTLNFbNpfPZTayEKlogzFov3FnVze9RWouSRLmm_y91MMUdbXadROwt1FH4zZPzDscrD1xxVqWlpC2wU9gsqsKpslFdGThB-RveDofN8nRGfokyjECFwB6ivfoHXQw-c6KrJY/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLy-aU_xiTLNFbNpfPZTayEKlogzFov3FnVze9RWouSRLmm_y91MMUdbXadROwt1FH4zZPzDscrD1xxVqWlpC2wU9gsqsKpslFdGThB-RveDofN8nRGfokyjECFwB6ivfoHXQw-c6KrJY/s320/120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were pleased to see the coat of arms belonging to <b>Haile
Selassie, </b>the former ruler of Ethiopia, as we had visited that amazing country
earlier this trip. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3NAk4qnsp1Ic3vrQn2Cc3irlRP7RyXkp8MZysE5nPODcnxlGYwcSCKmjkvuDklsu2MhgXsUQ33vzckZVOT3crIkSUZujynB9m_upXKj_vFxDPV9YE8YsxDihX1xIC8S-Y-eUTS0E5R0/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3NAk4qnsp1Ic3vrQn2Cc3irlRP7RyXkp8MZysE5nPODcnxlGYwcSCKmjkvuDklsu2MhgXsUQ33vzckZVOT3crIkSUZujynB9m_upXKj_vFxDPV9YE8YsxDihX1xIC8S-Y-eUTS0E5R0/s320/121.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We next saw the <b>Rotunda, </b>a </span><span style="font-size: large;">room, that in the 1680s, was furnished in baroque style. On the ceiling was a painting that showed the personified vices of deception, slander, libel, etc. fleeing from </span><span style="font-size: large;">Christian V. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The silk walls were covered with a pattern of his crowned monogram and flowers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV8c6EretVQAuHu77JEm-NYcG01CnGn-ZSzm0W-3c3aHV7kKDHx6KQBkhkzIGIAhxSHWCEiSUYs0siWSwn7Z68MRB-KcMb_-JhKpxwVUX1JJtK2scmqv63DJLTVcVghirwjs4I8fK1d0/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV8c6EretVQAuHu77JEm-NYcG01CnGn-ZSzm0W-3c3aHV7kKDHx6KQBkhkzIGIAhxSHWCEiSUYs0siWSwn7Z68MRB-KcMb_-JhKpxwVUX1JJtK2scmqv63DJLTVcVghirwjs4I8fK1d0/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YwYbdVqc9FUB2jw2VS7tKA3rFQuhk8CSJRRwaCYpINRvCiGtyYSiKsGK4aKPReOYPNM8S9JZx76eRqtrcw3ZR_8YD0YKcr981hExgIarjNLI3ecp19HkAwE08SAdfCMldYN6Xhmc1GE/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YwYbdVqc9FUB2jw2VS7tKA3rFQuhk8CSJRRwaCYpINRvCiGtyYSiKsGK4aKPReOYPNM8S9JZx76eRqtrcw3ZR_8YD0YKcr981hExgIarjNLI3ecp19HkAwE08SAdfCMldYN6Xhmc1GE/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This impressive corridor led to the <b>Audience Chamber.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlLuo40cLn0y_7torEJsKCgT9VuPFNHAI3ErXJBzPtkRqOhqeJvlsezBw48dVquha0IrrcDYLwtqf07KzT2KXHJW98vj5tj7beTJ2i7UnJLHeD5_OE8nakr6juggZ5Fhtfg61L6FupIg/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlLuo40cLn0y_7torEJsKCgT9VuPFNHAI3ErXJBzPtkRqOhqeJvlsezBw48dVquha0IrrcDYLwtqf07KzT2KXHJW98vj5tj7beTJ2i7UnJLHeD5_OE8nakr6juggZ5Fhtfg61L6FupIg/s320/129.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The ceiling panels represented the four corners of the earth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Djy3vTSuA0TqJwU0YRUJC9mg1f7tyE-EBmRV-1B9LxqG2kqrdZdrPUe9mQKGsNasums9mN39krtc4aYmUfJhVyu7vVhRVQupaqk-pDMbEIYTApHPZckOWoEiCFdTo0T6N4US6bt9iJo/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Djy3vTSuA0TqJwU0YRUJC9mg1f7tyE-EBmRV-1B9LxqG2kqrdZdrPUe9mQKGsNasums9mN39krtc4aYmUfJhVyu7vVhRVQupaqk-pDMbEIYTApHPZckOWoEiCFdTo0T6N4US6bt9iJo/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The paintings in the wall panels were a tribute to Christian V, his family and his achievements. In one, the king was represented as a Roman emperor accompanied by his three sons.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPA4If7jkZJ4eTyFJsZVYbi06RwbYUmPuJR87kCGQTSVlaj40kzJTSPQryilqdqiU_2M4wBk42E_CXU_TZ5YxF2x9CLBdC8Qr7XGCDMS6jWyIsc7i_NCTMhJKgt7cT4z9NsNEih4RQr4/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPA4If7jkZJ4eTyFJsZVYbi06RwbYUmPuJR87kCGQTSVlaj40kzJTSPQryilqdqiU_2M4wBk42E_CXU_TZ5YxF2x9CLBdC8Qr7XGCDMS6jWyIsc7i_NCTMhJKgt7cT4z9NsNEih4RQr4/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The gilded, wooden chandelier with the figure of a stag was carved in 1625. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx5jH5ykrZoGkQ7T3S_N10Ls70Y7udV-eD6cfZ5azvdtegwmNZIE0rre7lMq2gOgxCUWHzyr5OQqfPcHVdf0VwJjqdkv1rhUVd7UOzeS8vHZms2dt8NcF5p_E9BVwmepZLJMzjWw1evs/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx5jH5ykrZoGkQ7T3S_N10Ls70Y7udV-eD6cfZ5azvdtegwmNZIE0rre7lMq2gOgxCUWHzyr5OQqfPcHVdf0VwJjqdkv1rhUVd7UOzeS8vHZms2dt8NcF5p_E9BVwmepZLJMzjWw1evs/s320/136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In a corner of the room was a wooden chair-lift for the king to be lowered to the floor below and then exit there! Built in 1693, the lift was still working!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreZHfzwNplyR1lXdF8FYbZJioI1nAtt2FXGBr0IbhQOrnp1Wylljn-8br7L2PaZ8rVafUc8viFdAK94XbFm5o7LHtCq6i_9E_OggZo_LXSyhAefT_IPvZ_rHpBjYakvVxgNqFJrjqOOM/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreZHfzwNplyR1lXdF8FYbZJioI1nAtt2FXGBr0IbhQOrnp1Wylljn-8br7L2PaZ8rVafUc8viFdAK94XbFm5o7LHtCq6i_9E_OggZo_LXSyhAefT_IPvZ_rHpBjYakvVxgNqFJrjqOOM/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I marveled at the illusions created by some of the materials as they weren't what they seemed to be. It was only upon closer examination that I noticed the 'draperies' were not made of fabric but of stucco. Likewise, the wall panels were not stone, but wood painted to imitate marble. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYjoIgaO6uB4p7SYiq8Pha4pZt7wftKLs_oe8wLrP9LRqzGQBUtsyjssvaHIP-oP76W_8tAdO6iinFNWeyj-WMGrTz7s0fgvOu26zV8R8P5mf6sMctP4TXLIu3jj9NSM8GNcIfEL-nh4/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYjoIgaO6uB4p7SYiq8Pha4pZt7wftKLs_oe8wLrP9LRqzGQBUtsyjssvaHIP-oP76W_8tAdO6iinFNWeyj-WMGrTz7s0fgvOu26zV8R8P5mf6sMctP4TXLIu3jj9NSM8GNcIfEL-nh4/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next room focused on the Reformation. In it was a case
that contained the first Bible translated into Danish in 1550 as access to the
word of God was a big part of the Reformation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2jyaXTz9ALlzveBh52POwy8TvUvVnSRkr6DJJWPnRbcrLebSb7SA3hFaQqd-L4MgUfgWX_W6nvGxpuNH_p1YRJsX-zuV5E0c0FQVc7QoZVONTzdEd6ifwtM7g982EAQL5Qy98QX4usc/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2jyaXTz9ALlzveBh52POwy8TvUvVnSRkr6DJJWPnRbcrLebSb7SA3hFaQqd-L4MgUfgWX_W6nvGxpuNH_p1YRJsX-zuV5E0c0FQVc7QoZVONTzdEd6ifwtM7g982EAQL5Qy98QX4usc/s320/147.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgbpOfGlYVcDDAxdLr9sDE77U9jLxry4wCMnqJcfJHP1oU9SJ-GcAxcvpHCmM9tbckwrr14AjRONfhENe0vO3pIq62CNXAHCwJcs2ya_ScsYfrD16V_W_KXgvg-VeFhI9WtCPEq8T029ys/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpOfGlYVcDDAxdLr9sDE77U9jLxry4wCMnqJcfJHP1oU9SJ-GcAxcvpHCmM9tbckwrr14AjRONfhENe0vO3pIq62CNXAHCwJcs2ya_ScsYfrD16V_W_KXgvg-VeFhI9WtCPEq8T029ys/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the door to the next room was the image of a monk, <b>Hans
Tausen, </b>who was invited by the king
to preach the new thinking of the Reformation.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBepShVSkicMBzM2dfChyphenhyphenhPoAPTxuCH8Oms_4aXPElwUvJeDe5JaWrOAaleyPD0wSvD8_9j1U5jZJ03ZfTGZDhyphenhyphenw_YeDeu4vRlGrJSybcOQJKFJQxjTiADRlAXC_Nrv35W4Ode0L44rsI/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBepShVSkicMBzM2dfChyphenhyphenhPoAPTxuCH8Oms_4aXPElwUvJeDe5JaWrOAaleyPD0wSvD8_9j1U5jZJ03ZfTGZDhyphenhyphenw_YeDeu4vRlGrJSybcOQJKFJQxjTiADRlAXC_Nrv35W4Ode0L44rsI/s320/149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we walked around the upper level, we noticed graffiti
scratched on the windowpanes by the diamond rings of royal kids visiting for
the summer back in 1600!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmoYIoTb5v0u0tV6JE4LeYcxcrTINAhta5UXnv8j-LBJKbbn3JbDxHYEuryDI-_-mC7OwhYuL581pGZphUqgjl9tT9uC0jvK2FOHX2mzDcUnOGhKkmdzZVOsrcT23ePH8xhaET15lF-0/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmoYIoTb5v0u0tV6JE4LeYcxcrTINAhta5UXnv8j-LBJKbbn3JbDxHYEuryDI-_-mC7OwhYuL581pGZphUqgjl9tT9uC0jvK2FOHX2mzDcUnOGhKkmdzZVOsrcT23ePH8xhaET15lF-0/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Several paintings told the story of Christian IV; one of
them was of the chancellor on his deathbed handing over the keys to the realm
to a still-wet-behind-the-ears young Christian IV.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHkolUHmzN-zwFu64HrdFeHgpWvskGIVFRIGNnapjL6FdmeAdSNs05J1nmCPAWyxYWCyh7h1oCSVX4hOSutr5ABYBJsbNnVTuan67S2RhFCU-X3QJ3bWEKkDIPBpZWTK0SGPzZkPP8e0/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHkolUHmzN-zwFu64HrdFeHgpWvskGIVFRIGNnapjL6FdmeAdSNs05J1nmCPAWyxYWCyh7h1oCSVX4hOSutr5ABYBJsbNnVTuan67S2RhFCU-X3QJ3bWEKkDIPBpZWTK0SGPzZkPP8e0/s320/156.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhzGsYcpBDdBTkgYTxcRLRFeW8q_OzICvyjBuMmWCcj3Tvc1DpQfdDxVR5GtDNuHhFga9h6CnR3YuvMRet5xJY4okMb6C4dlvPoEQ_qCqy8sqJfEkvUvXxrLe1TyoMMiH3fFojuZKWPEKM/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGsYcpBDdBTkgYTxcRLRFeW8q_OzICvyjBuMmWCcj3Tvc1DpQfdDxVR5GtDNuHhFga9h6CnR3YuvMRet5xJY4okMb6C4dlvPoEQ_qCqy8sqJfEkvUvXxrLe1TyoMMiH3fFojuZKWPEKM/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Miniatures galore </span><span style="font-size: large;">and various Danish orders, including the most </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">prestigious Order of the Elephant, </span><span style="font-size: large;">were the focus of another room.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34RYcaVvxiWMCKxy5MqcgDg_ENBWpo-DPORvN5Q77lXcGivxLZ3diiawi8arngY6I1SHiC86tqpHgWiQPiaXpHHG3J52D5VQFRLiRxAFazbtUtzNJGEOe6IkBjzHTrAeMikXqy0LAS4w/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34RYcaVvxiWMCKxy5MqcgDg_ENBWpo-DPORvN5Q77lXcGivxLZ3diiawi8arngY6I1SHiC86tqpHgWiQPiaXpHHG3J52D5VQFRLiRxAFazbtUtzNJGEOe6IkBjzHTrAeMikXqy0LAS4w/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AJ9dofSz1vaApbqPcbBucCn1yDENfGVQOetxfe6DS4hi5vTlAiO7MdA8qRoqwGI9nllWPs7GdIQOua-ATqFUhK1XUTGfAR49uPV_ud61xtL0Dgy31RcxTx9pBgHCzTh7o0XhJigLqtc/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AJ9dofSz1vaApbqPcbBucCn1yDENfGVQOetxfe6DS4hi5vTlAiO7MdA8qRoqwGI9nllWPs7GdIQOua-ATqFUhK1XUTGfAR49uPV_ud61xtL0Dgy31RcxTx9pBgHCzTh7o0XhJigLqtc/s320/163.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEi9xe3UrHgR4jWUlz4HPbLNNKaz-KW0HEWjDsb6ZTUuEClk8M7EJ-LVR92LNlvGdO6oTwuQhICj3nXf9w8p4hJKdi-cWsJucc7VxxLI0RfO5OyzZfFM5TiqGhdCviw80BMdNTtzbebvH_g/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xe3UrHgR4jWUlz4HPbLNNKaz-KW0HEWjDsb6ZTUuEClk8M7EJ-LVR92LNlvGdO6oTwuQhICj3nXf9w8p4hJKdi-cWsJucc7VxxLI0RfO5OyzZfFM5TiqGhdCviw80BMdNTtzbebvH_g/s320/165.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet more coats of arms took up almost every inch of wall space as we walked up the stairs to the second floor!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrcASRkkNPOeVRJm5NgJTvEM5Atc2gR7z5G_TFCiomU0WTwhwwH6qFgucOWt24WTvmBsVyBJOEFCf6oqsj6S6L4_y2uiAtPDd-Ts9apClh7iL2sQK6NvMqxrHwE0yk9NG4RaEDq5lxs0/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrcASRkkNPOeVRJm5NgJTvEM5Atc2gR7z5G_TFCiomU0WTwhwwH6qFgucOWt24WTvmBsVyBJOEFCf6oqsj6S6L4_y2uiAtPDd-Ts9apClh7iL2sQK6NvMqxrHwE0yk9NG4RaEDq5lxs0/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This room portrayed <b>Frederik III </b>as an absolute monarch. The ceiling was a copy of a ceiling at Gripsholm Castle in Sweden. The painting represented Aurora, the goddess of dawn. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBRh1Q-Wpx4qkLAde4s5d8rnooowR2tuTVCZqb8BLiQdr7zMWCZsndc0Zpt7psdDvGVK1pdDCNfonXheENGZk0qHXVZjNhGrlspjmDGP2LeeYn4G6FkTplLwNJheV8XbetSEZ1Npi2x4/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBRh1Q-Wpx4qkLAde4s5d8rnooowR2tuTVCZqb8BLiQdr7zMWCZsndc0Zpt7psdDvGVK1pdDCNfonXheENGZk0qHXVZjNhGrlspjmDGP2LeeYn4G6FkTplLwNJheV8XbetSEZ1Npi2x4/s320/174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemFe9hBx4LV8c6H5IYvUOs2SkpJxBfY7CtgTiQ_MnJ5PaW3-vNPhUbbBfS1Yb7jtYGvWVdB3YirYeKPdazuSOh6A7HuMcsIVUgg8dzzd4TaH31NgshRuNGF7LoJL-hhAfidkMIBbpu6I/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemFe9hBx4LV8c6H5IYvUOs2SkpJxBfY7CtgTiQ_MnJ5PaW3-vNPhUbbBfS1Yb7jtYGvWVdB3YirYeKPdazuSOh6A7HuMcsIVUgg8dzzd4TaH31NgshRuNGF7LoJL-hhAfidkMIBbpu6I/s320/175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My eyes were immediately drawn to the ornately carved cabinets.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyYMpr-Bb7QSo3MgTJAY03vhBQKweFI2oWdI2k5pkt3RhUuGk5BPRgDaNbrI6YL3BwusrIRvxImT_eqVyEVnNOgfg9Cdw-VgTXFRq4qN73LCb7yTkia2eJx-QN_7eIMXTn_Pjv-sQXG0/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyYMpr-Bb7QSo3MgTJAY03vhBQKweFI2oWdI2k5pkt3RhUuGk5BPRgDaNbrI6YL3BwusrIRvxImT_eqVyEVnNOgfg9Cdw-VgTXFRq4qN73LCb7yTkia2eJx-QN_7eIMXTn_Pjv-sQXG0/s320/177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicC4HQBcqqRfFLjAPAzgvDcBsXFtnuh6-9FNGwQhGP6Ji1EqzZ_QBoHvzQq8CQI0pcbnw97GFHFDKdOGb7r7CljTHVmbkzXODUfXEYnqs3Qgw3SllpIv4tDHbS_DpCWKHw8lgR6yOvm0/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicC4HQBcqqRfFLjAPAzgvDcBsXFtnuh6-9FNGwQhGP6Ji1EqzZ_QBoHvzQq8CQI0pcbnw97GFHFDKdOGb7r7CljTHVmbkzXODUfXEYnqs3Qgw3SllpIv4tDHbS_DpCWKHw8lgR6yOvm0/s320/178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WPpH6FGzbyuiRZAQaVGQM58FN-upZAhke_WtCoB8RBQUc1DWFQCXzemq6NiPkHi-0WWWRGLWivEXCHQNTk8YikbMefw8cQtibatquw0uWXSOOsilZDXLeUwvUm1bPUpSemmDHmz1ALE/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WPpH6FGzbyuiRZAQaVGQM58FN-upZAhke_WtCoB8RBQUc1DWFQCXzemq6NiPkHi-0WWWRGLWivEXCHQNTk8YikbMefw8cQtibatquw0uWXSOOsilZDXLeUwvUm1bPUpSemmDHmz1ALE/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The small cabinets on high legs were imported from Germany, Holland and France.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxScXluVXk-DMjrd66dNfqxJxHusWDOtvPelE4coMP3KmrD4WucDdZxIBvg6WwphmUGdxr6f64OynnYuzODSL2-4uzR8lQnaiB9oxqGOh14hq4AyV-B2wJFU48MN0sQ1dtATJpMAuMF1Y/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxScXluVXk-DMjrd66dNfqxJxHusWDOtvPelE4coMP3KmrD4WucDdZxIBvg6WwphmUGdxr6f64OynnYuzODSL2-4uzR8lQnaiB9oxqGOh14hq4AyV-B2wJFU48MN0sQ1dtATJpMAuMF1Y/s320/181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After climbing the stairs, was a fascinating golden globe in another room designed to illustrate <b>Nicolas Copernicus’</b> bold theory that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the world. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35nfSQo3ZGa3cuooN1Yzql_Yg_1oihVxQCphC8wudusOJYABqGTQnee0LhLdJG_Tc5O6ZhA6XvcH7QCfi_FXS1JwrBTKvnZmmRy9b97AnNpZuI_pHvJXy6vY4LVtuX93sr8iq7Dmi9k/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35nfSQo3ZGa3cuooN1Yzql_Yg_1oihVxQCphC8wudusOJYABqGTQnee0LhLdJG_Tc5O6ZhA6XvcH7QCfi_FXS1JwrBTKvnZmmRy9b97AnNpZuI_pHvJXy6vY4LVtuX93sr8iq7Dmi9k/s320/185.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq75aHHfRyQ65U-wrggZ3cbxRCQmi94vnyGSsXRtnpFlCq_GOAEnnH8XsS4T2_RyPAW4m6W5W0TCpQRaOV1DYZUm_K0R-YStVXFD8bI_g_Al_adPyt_fa6GbOOhYTO8EqMcf5o5fnhpAk/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq75aHHfRyQ65U-wrggZ3cbxRCQmi94vnyGSsXRtnpFlCq_GOAEnnH8XsS4T2_RyPAW4m6W5W0TCpQRaOV1DYZUm_K0R-YStVXFD8bI_g_Al_adPyt_fa6GbOOhYTO8EqMcf5o5fnhpAk/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">From there, we continued into one of the castle’s most
jaw-dropping rooms, the <b>Great Hall.</b>
The walls were lined with stunning tapestries and royal portraits. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wdFpx39IqMbE3tuGG3O7V8ZnJ42mbfVTywUZhYikn-IQvlk_lrAH2xe_Ej6y467OY9afsA9i9NrQqb9tL_OVgxylALVTtfS1AF2hoGCI1hDxKUKKf5XHv9hVXy8AEGLhfGXUbcvfkQ0/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wdFpx39IqMbE3tuGG3O7V8ZnJ42mbfVTywUZhYikn-IQvlk_lrAH2xe_Ej6y467OY9afsA9i9NrQqb9tL_OVgxylALVTtfS1AF2hoGCI1hDxKUKKf5XHv9hVXy8AEGLhfGXUbcvfkQ0/s320/189.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhG4gOi_lHDq7lOV3HsDiv8kHDHMqr0dkKiFxAOBZEvu9s7gQQUe1LyYddzRd-8aukEUoSDRkWwqHm1sQos_4CDWotEPvYLC-mRkWZIm2dpGzsNuGiij8ehpybhihwsD8beHgvKxA9Wb9A/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4gOi_lHDq7lOV3HsDiv8kHDHMqr0dkKiFxAOBZEvu9s7gQQUe1LyYddzRd-8aukEUoSDRkWwqHm1sQos_4CDWotEPvYLC-mRkWZIm2dpGzsNuGiij8ehpybhihwsD8beHgvKxA9Wb9A/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The elevated platform was where musicians could play without
getting in the way of all the festivities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_D_bjsiEtROtF3XHoloIFA8k_EzZZqLyGfodWhYWFwUUqDsMIudvBpzOL93LWGjgRBD6pCXj7JuL84-DbWkIosASLtdrnkuaUP60x5UrrmuV9G3BS0KBSqWj4kx1djK5peNhP8eZrEE/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_D_bjsiEtROtF3XHoloIFA8k_EzZZqLyGfodWhYWFwUUqDsMIudvBpzOL93LWGjgRBD6pCXj7JuL84-DbWkIosASLtdrnkuaUP60x5UrrmuV9G3BS0KBSqWj4kx1djK5peNhP8eZrEE/s320/193.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have always heard of how beautiful Flemish tapestries are but never Danish ones. Steven and I hope to visit parts of Western Europe, including Belgium in 2018, God willing. It would be fantastic seeing that country's tapestries but it's hard to believe those can outdo the ones we saw on every inch of the walls in the aptly-named Great Hall.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fd1hhabJOYfRS5JRjwW8TvkCG1VfB7C0QzCSnLk0M655PTfzHdOgo00NGMl6s9E4SE6o-a5S_zvGHotWchHK_O_Z421fR5PwXSSQMe1z9jlvriUZZc9BV92VrQvqya8je0-42Pae99o/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fd1hhabJOYfRS5JRjwW8TvkCG1VfB7C0QzCSnLk0M655PTfzHdOgo00NGMl6s9E4SE6o-a5S_zvGHotWchHK_O_Z421fR5PwXSSQMe1z9jlvriUZZc9BV92VrQvqya8je0-42Pae99o/s320/199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The remarkable wood-carved ceiling included panels illustrating various industries. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7HJjUD0lGqJmWExAGap1bLFGAAcCJYRmLQH0aXLrkmWfT0WNeVgq8MZVJb4hO6Ej6ylsKYThLxlUQx8c8TbWf_dC9eESz71xe7XCJdrmbgxXICmVpnv4gedYGYdyczHmKRtAEHCq_w/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7F7HJjUD0lGqJmWExAGap1bLFGAAcCJYRmLQH0aXLrkmWfT0WNeVgq8MZVJb4hO6Ej6ylsKYThLxlUQx8c8TbWf_dC9eESz71xe7XCJdrmbgxXICmVpnv4gedYGYdyczHmKRtAEHCq_w/s320/194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYZSENU4Ur09hAMUQPAwqRPMwxGbX_RTeUML9KpZT6s0h4fzFX5jVYVIlUCCE3KwjZ1kHdz40hsA1nvmdtlitjy9uMpEg16HqJLAUWjvMpODuMVSIcOQsFmaiF4BERvyeiJoqpt9F0qs/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYZSENU4Ur09hAMUQPAwqRPMwxGbX_RTeUML9KpZT6s0h4fzFX5jVYVIlUCCE3KwjZ1kHdz40hsA1nvmdtlitjy9uMpEg16HqJLAUWjvMpODuMVSIcOQsFmaiF4BERvyeiJoqpt9F0qs/s320/195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eXKr1hafurGORUtz4QzGxqwA74ptMP-HJReAHlNXAAlX9cpe5r6ntvLK6ouTzc3gXtdMu71K1p-eYv6Ms6JvZ2Q_xcUYZWYyQwgfCxSG3kKF5lXaZ2-_Ux0MHpc9nB55U3TlWlDOXdw/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eXKr1hafurGORUtz4QzGxqwA74ptMP-HJReAHlNXAAlX9cpe5r6ntvLK6ouTzc3gXtdMu71K1p-eYv6Ms6JvZ2Q_xcUYZWYyQwgfCxSG3kKF5lXaZ2-_Ux0MHpc9nB55U3TlWlDOXdw/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lucky you: I just couldn't take any more photos of the ceiling as I got a crick in my neck attempting to make sure the photos came out straight!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQy45Ey_vRDkdm2KHeAmRJluexWUeJiblNnWGQFDgfcuBrozYiuli9u_cjxy1iEHFO0F_JydFpNBVTWlTiiNzWtAEMvC3ukrX_Nax_vwbwvjSAe7PxU15okfL7nlrfQXugzb3GaWqmQ4/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQy45Ey_vRDkdm2KHeAmRJluexWUeJiblNnWGQFDgfcuBrozYiuli9u_cjxy1iEHFO0F_JydFpNBVTWlTiiNzWtAEMvC3ukrX_Nax_vwbwvjSAe7PxU15okfL7nlrfQXugzb3GaWqmQ4/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi5Q2bAlSqDBlBXGNIHajyV2S4jAQtcwonSLLXuFMlvi7nOtcUvbYpauDCFv4G6BzzJ1UQq64S1pLF_rx5mxqOH8a_NHQ9U6ISCI0Jla4jc4cN4gzuOep9RCzqXKbAzqxVclZi9nGAmAKc/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q2bAlSqDBlBXGNIHajyV2S4jAQtcwonSLLXuFMlvi7nOtcUvbYpauDCFv4G6BzzJ1UQq64S1pLF_rx5mxqOH8a_NHQ9U6ISCI0Jla4jc4cN4gzuOep9RCzqXKbAzqxVclZi9nGAmAKc/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet one more amazing room with massive tapestries and an interesting, possibly ivory box on a center table.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P9c3UmtNKSItVXMvkDoZTtyphaN8b9zW1t5tqwpn4C1JOUsFb5no8zpdgdwLr4l9S8rUgRFAxeKHwadlJaX6EuZNmZHP4RC0jfgw4yyE4vaJd4xUZZl3gjXI_BkfULoew_IL4rzgFss/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P9c3UmtNKSItVXMvkDoZTtyphaN8b9zW1t5tqwpn4C1JOUsFb5no8zpdgdwLr4l9S8rUgRFAxeKHwadlJaX6EuZNmZHP4RC0jfgw4yyE4vaJd4xUZZl3gjXI_BkfULoew_IL4rzgFss/s320/203.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjRj8ho117IbSJ8T6XuUm8Uls6NSVsgFH_OUgbOEdQm1G__TLXidm7E6QEM5oO_LLuzZjxt4RbtMOph7ZG9AjodSE6PL3B455_9TZgI1u12soMF4flbkyEGZdJ-5AEEp1YSvzplx5dYWkM/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj8ho117IbSJ8T6XuUm8Uls6NSVsgFH_OUgbOEdQm1G__TLXidm7E6QEM5oO_LLuzZjxt4RbtMOph7ZG9AjodSE6PL3B455_9TZgI1u12soMF4flbkyEGZdJ-5AEEp1YSvzplx5dYWkM/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEib-61kuLUSJQLBVhstxh9lt_1O0oZPyM0dQ1BjcCYmfGdH-FDOe1KgQDX5vdlckcBKVioOq5Pj4_qmNy919Bi8LQ665WXKBrNMI_rcij-ugnGsMDnjpAdIBsB-8BJn2WwIIwtrgFsWeGg/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-61kuLUSJQLBVhstxh9lt_1O0oZPyM0dQ1BjcCYmfGdH-FDOe1KgQDX5vdlckcBKVioOq5Pj4_qmNy919Bi8LQ665WXKBrNMI_rcij-ugnGsMDnjpAdIBsB-8BJn2WwIIwtrgFsWeGg/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The detail in this ceiling, too, was just eye-popping.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqDygOceT0Q7BuR1nsPxko4ovObgMkklKh0ddyDWl34MryjF0FYw_DEfmciOTyCPMKjeD7Fo5BqAZowi4JRa68yDRt5PWPVGoLfH8idImO6_3r6gHomh0HUiGTAEl9TMv7Q27t8x6Ujk/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqDygOceT0Q7BuR1nsPxko4ovObgMkklKh0ddyDWl34MryjF0FYw_DEfmciOTyCPMKjeD7Fo5BqAZowi4JRa68yDRt5PWPVGoLfH8idImO6_3r6gHomh0HUiGTAEl9TMv7Q27t8x6Ujk/s320/204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have always been intrigued by optical-illusion portraits.
This one showed <b>King Frederik V</b> when viewed from one angle and his wife when
viewed from another.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-d-9v6reKinQ_g8EYcPImQ794rpwQhNKwrXGO0_Z1gJmg1AUP7EgW77OLmQqFfOTN5lTETI0od-Vo4DY1PQpX90QWto6EKnRGF5Cn5e4Lbcskybw1SyyoJRZ_SblEtW0BEBhs37fQwU/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-d-9v6reKinQ_g8EYcPImQ794rpwQhNKwrXGO0_Z1gJmg1AUP7EgW77OLmQqFfOTN5lTETI0od-Vo4DY1PQpX90QWto6EKnRGF5Cn5e4Lbcskybw1SyyoJRZ_SblEtW0BEBhs37fQwU/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAJBHt9A-OrmnBoWsZooknu9yLCjAL6n0JIdthqgEy80GtftKMa8Ey3-6mXF_o94xjbHzNS-4gql9DcKDgY4YyTwQn8DrM4u58KAmgbpOVhX5k8bUNdIIXAaxZyqYjkgXa3eFsVD_nJc/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAJBHt9A-OrmnBoWsZooknu9yLCjAL6n0JIdthqgEy80GtftKMa8Ey3-6mXF_o94xjbHzNS-4gql9DcKDgY4YyTwQn8DrM4u58KAmgbpOVhX5k8bUNdIIXAaxZyqYjkgXa3eFsVD_nJc/s320/213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A portrait of <b>Hans Christian Andersen,</b> the famous Danish writer known for his fairy tales. Remember “The Emperor's New Clothes” and The Ugly Duckling"? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzMSITbh4mtkZNgddgTKsctfBJjyOWDzvadQHSGnN0NrhXaFB1vIIlslsyVl8OsFm7vrT_sZp92aa3DIWWLhvUxVivXvxgyu_LjSTpaoLDKYD05C2B9mWAr4-daBbnEzcOC6QVhNzi34/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzMSITbh4mtkZNgddgTKsctfBJjyOWDzvadQHSGnN0NrhXaFB1vIIlslsyVl8OsFm7vrT_sZp92aa3DIWWLhvUxVivXvxgyu_LjSTpaoLDKYD05C2B9mWAr4-daBbnEzcOC6QVhNzi34/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In one of the next rooms we walked through, the most eye-catching feature was the ceiling. I don't ever recall seeing what looked like 'rolling logs' on a ceiling before! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yoKgvNNmc9k9t3KaQqIjcWDk83sTqHTyJJTM1YoBAhk7K5ZDvSbV-DpcecjXlLZMACXBABY3Zz3F6uhP2Asbl0S8s-XR_YdKoMf6zaUQQ_sKHAX55bgJ1uHi3VeOz3tpnoJaGDg4MME/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yoKgvNNmc9k9t3KaQqIjcWDk83sTqHTyJJTM1YoBAhk7K5ZDvSbV-DpcecjXlLZMACXBABY3Zz3F6uhP2Asbl0S8s-XR_YdKoMf6zaUQQ_sKHAX55bgJ1uHi3VeOz3tpnoJaGDg4MME/s320/218.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgp-QDo6rz3zvSp12OQfYZ2_qDP6Ur1d6kMv5UXxqAG-e8UO1amxoc8L6DBysgiEsCJlJ20NdZITocfo6weLAgBDLfY6hYgB3bk4jzW2fuTRos5R4gx5pU6DAbmZ_0M3ovSimx1IVBS7Iw/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-QDo6rz3zvSp12OQfYZ2_qDP6Ur1d6kMv5UXxqAG-e8UO1amxoc8L6DBysgiEsCJlJ20NdZITocfo6weLAgBDLfY6hYgB3bk4jzW2fuTRos5R4gx5pU6DAbmZ_0M3ovSimx1IVBS7Iw/s320/220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it was time to wander or be thrust into the modern
world with contemporary paintings as Frederiksborg Castle was also the <b>Museum of National History.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I was amazed to learn that the Museum of National History was established in 1878 by brewer J.C. Jacobsen, the founder of Carlsberg Brewery, and is a department of the Carlsberg Foundation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were official portraits of politicians, scientists and governmental officials.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d_7aGgLG6DV6IitFIbaxW8V-GMCeRIMKO7LneyoLjI1vMKXTcsSqMnyfDIxmp5SeFgoQD3weVAmynf6Ki1OwhmEY_RsCDENlu4hWU5iVsHFibT8dDhp9WWQtVp5wAZu2y3AzKYheHiQ/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d_7aGgLG6DV6IitFIbaxW8V-GMCeRIMKO7LneyoLjI1vMKXTcsSqMnyfDIxmp5SeFgoQD3weVAmynf6Ki1OwhmEY_RsCDENlu4hWU5iVsHFibT8dDhp9WWQtVp5wAZu2y3AzKYheHiQ/s320/227.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjLyAKhpIIwZ7aPc231c3T7ybJ9iHP4NhUXN24GZcxanztBi8AjtMw11EWYcmKz6E70i4h-RhA-NzdIRFw8IcKSAN1UxvzJdn_YylcWfuxjXQfN72_K_N2m4WMEWCl0kG5gI7jIcNDI-pc/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyAKhpIIwZ7aPc231c3T7ybJ9iHP4NhUXN24GZcxanztBi8AjtMw11EWYcmKz6E70i4h-RhA-NzdIRFw8IcKSAN1UxvzJdn_YylcWfuxjXQfN72_K_N2m4WMEWCl0kG5gI7jIcNDI-pc/s320/230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were also a slew of history paintings but we spent scant time looking at any of them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1cdPA2MLjfNd7DixkKBKJwxzM0aoRrIf9L5NqLdhnoRXDqlFEGQ0KafbEFheQoA-iPj3Ufj7duHVjjMbaATvnboTEhqp-mNvFrCKWSm-ysbWL2rnmHBBPZyI8Sy3Of_O1iLfVUCmr30/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1cdPA2MLjfNd7DixkKBKJwxzM0aoRrIf9L5NqLdhnoRXDqlFEGQ0KafbEFheQoA-iPj3Ufj7duHVjjMbaATvnboTEhqp-mNvFrCKWSm-ysbWL2rnmHBBPZyI8Sy3Of_O1iLfVUCmr30/s320/231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV0hteX3gRUwKY1_kgiyOV17Qi_RL70KT4JWe0xBesXlrXKAtUfJpEFeVrQAyNic7gQ_SxlTFG5KX7do4x0uuRpcoFg9VYNIvIsSJdpEmoDJ-zDv1TIYjOMNzetRIfdDQ0I3ssh37CHA/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV0hteX3gRUwKY1_kgiyOV17Qi_RL70KT4JWe0xBesXlrXKAtUfJpEFeVrQAyNic7gQ_SxlTFG5KX7do4x0uuRpcoFg9VYNIvIsSJdpEmoDJ-zDv1TIYjOMNzetRIfdDQ0I3ssh37CHA/s320/232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVZKvFsiYW-k4HPbMeAS3Z2Offc_NbGEDhxoOsURppH3xNZssY7DtJZ9238qFY89hIH_3kTzJvL_nsbf-M-lxxsV3tWCw-GCwbVppxHW6YJBuu8WATcaKc_GQuRPQIlufVMRHNNzyKAs/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVZKvFsiYW-k4HPbMeAS3Z2Offc_NbGEDhxoOsURppH3xNZssY7DtJZ9238qFY89hIH_3kTzJvL_nsbf-M-lxxsV3tWCw-GCwbVppxHW6YJBuu8WATcaKc_GQuRPQIlufVMRHNNzyKAs/s320/233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWTeREBWcxKfpzrlWRgcflNLRm4YE9fI0f9-BFvWF6iLVbwS1mUWrPyG0JRfpT99LSN-_8DNjVh_lsPj-lkUWxlowBQ-KV6xT1hhYu1KzgFmJwQjxG6URYtH3XqpA_vnt-zYRqwoaSac/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWTeREBWcxKfpzrlWRgcflNLRm4YE9fI0f9-BFvWF6iLVbwS1mUWrPyG0JRfpT99LSN-_8DNjVh_lsPj-lkUWxlowBQ-KV6xT1hhYu1KzgFmJwQjxG6URYtH3XqpA_vnt-zYRqwoaSac/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh no - just when we thought we'd seen enough coats of arms to last a good long while, there were still more of them on the stairways!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlaQVUfqAA1WJsPWeQMjIza1gmkEWsSpKhlnwl-nTY2IbaNnDMUSbepHHl7EEp-2pWcsRRF_bdVTTmaoTNJz6lRKoG7w_N6IrzWMP0nBHJt8RO0S2eXEcu9YwPwwkN4yl8eVDyJ1zE9Q/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlaQVUfqAA1WJsPWeQMjIza1gmkEWsSpKhlnwl-nTY2IbaNnDMUSbepHHl7EEp-2pWcsRRF_bdVTTmaoTNJz6lRKoG7w_N6IrzWMP0nBHJt8RO0S2eXEcu9YwPwwkN4yl8eVDyJ1zE9Q/s320/239.JPG" width="240" /></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A small room was dedicated to </span><span style="font-size: large;">Hans Christian Andersen. </span><span style="font-size: large;">On his desk was one one of his famous silhouettes </span><span style="font-size: large;">from 1859</span><span style="font-size: large;"> cut out in paper with two dancing figures.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvrov3nWXbwDGvuVWjWAz4Nz5SXsXz-PP7PDD9LSlJx6ovfijXp6pnlaTuXgMxhYYuzUNPURZmzA9ajzm9JGjHox7wu-ms0XkC4_yy6iJV1LOvzx_5Z-2qE9xEAA2ceCd1kjQ016EBZU/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvrov3nWXbwDGvuVWjWAz4Nz5SXsXz-PP7PDD9LSlJx6ovfijXp6pnlaTuXgMxhYYuzUNPURZmzA9ajzm9JGjHox7wu-ms0XkC4_yy6iJV1LOvzx_5Z-2qE9xEAA2ceCd1kjQ016EBZU/s320/240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In a very long corridor was just a section of the <b>229 ft-long</b> <b>Frolich Frieze, </b>a 'painting' paying tribute to the Danish king's dominance in England. The scope of it was absolutely incredible especially since this was just a part of it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMPv2W0y5c7Cm2f-OG6QFn_QW5sALVVXPtll0T0Elpbq-c-N6JU8GVEgB8R_HT6c2hXDpwfDNDJJdXm8NuGdiNlc5Lsg7U1GCfqPeju3LI_lGJH7J66rqbmjMYXoIMWCHID2MsUsC-Vs/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMPv2W0y5c7Cm2f-OG6QFn_QW5sALVVXPtll0T0Elpbq-c-N6JU8GVEgB8R_HT6c2hXDpwfDNDJJdXm8NuGdiNlc5Lsg7U1GCfqPeju3LI_lGJH7J66rqbmjMYXoIMWCHID2MsUsC-Vs/s320/257.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEicrjHAiI6q94QfrEkgpiScSG2Od3JVdAEcjhR6GwWyUDBnYEyt2gOza5jZcfosoP2DMj24M5omKP45CdR22YibURtxUcuTLGocxGzj7cb0TPDbANppmWUENa4uoyI8pPs_yWJCIO_R2Kc/s1600/252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrjHAiI6q94QfrEkgpiScSG2Od3JVdAEcjhR6GwWyUDBnYEyt2gOza5jZcfosoP2DMj24M5omKP45CdR22YibURtxUcuTLGocxGzj7cb0TPDbANppmWUENa4uoyI8pPs_yWJCIO_R2Kc/s320/252.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhAoGqMRA0pxqj7SRw9sA626oZSPF0i9QSuzqcZsiHIjIO6W3S4w2xmd28RSf-Li2WwAy4I-nY7JFRx8zzM7NKGsGiaCMrjgAIKpMaOhXfp3Hw1jPihoBl7CqASXW9nr5hlyAaSoT1H7Vg/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoGqMRA0pxqj7SRw9sA626oZSPF0i9QSuzqcZsiHIjIO6W3S4w2xmd28RSf-Li2WwAy4I-nY7JFRx8zzM7NKGsGiaCMrjgAIKpMaOhXfp3Hw1jPihoBl7CqASXW9nr5hlyAaSoT1H7Vg/s320/255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Near the castle's Wine Cellar was the rather grand entrance to the women’s bathroom!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNKW67hV6f3-R3BgsKMpuKpDgYJZAVvIcM6Bsmpf0eBtERnfOqPF1Ap-Llz3NHsc33bAnxOafYBZbfgNl4S2E0R8tWhmOuwSKz1iPXicBLQujn6zS-BpHTLyGualiUPkP5lYpbDT04UM/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNKW67hV6f3-R3BgsKMpuKpDgYJZAVvIcM6Bsmpf0eBtERnfOqPF1Ap-Llz3NHsc33bAnxOafYBZbfgNl4S2E0R8tWhmOuwSKz1iPXicBLQujn6zS-BpHTLyGualiUPkP5lYpbDT04UM/s320/262.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And to the men's!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExF9dlGEOKuk3ftDjrt96mLbMSYq6aeS7UPAfmTjM69HDl5A5TB2-4qdKvPJJ8cGLAOrN14tAxn0Y7OGlpJ_33Kmx6gnOAhguv_XhzPT-Nrr8MAnFEFUDNLsinti8gJPonHtos8zga7I/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExF9dlGEOKuk3ftDjrt96mLbMSYq6aeS7UPAfmTjM69HDl5A5TB2-4qdKvPJJ8cGLAOrN14tAxn0Y7OGlpJ_33Kmx6gnOAhguv_XhzPT-Nrr8MAnFEFUDNLsinti8gJPonHtos8zga7I/s320/263.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a great choice we had made to follow Rick Steves' advice to visit the stunning Frederiksborg Castle.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily for us, it was much warmer as we left the castle and walked
back through town to the station in time to get the train to <b>Helsingor,</b> a town northeast of
Hillerod, to tour <b>Kronborg Castle.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-338uQmCNqoDEDj_z09YuemqnJY26ex5MIpGIuvAM086Z_TuLsB1NJjSDDS7QuTwRd_CMp99GsT6cUTyLiwMGIEuuGs0-9uBce4gLZshJU-4RBgWoZxTJD9VQw_mz-pXzwTy9SzDhnA8/s1600/268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-338uQmCNqoDEDj_z09YuemqnJY26ex5MIpGIuvAM086Z_TuLsB1NJjSDDS7QuTwRd_CMp99GsT6cUTyLiwMGIEuuGs0-9uBce4gLZshJU-4RBgWoZxTJD9VQw_mz-pXzwTy9SzDhnA8/s320/268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bike racks were common in the trains we took.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4mwU-7Zb_ETXd_8XBsUj4jPeEK6qZqF28ZbnqK9-4qU0rQNBL072xxK_4jZXsSrOJVWD08G8qEAGFvpLG3_R6sYpBpsRC593MrbsopbbssUx5P5QKnZlI9u5blVKQLh04V7O79qvCLI/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4mwU-7Zb_ETXd_8XBsUj4jPeEK6qZqF28ZbnqK9-4qU0rQNBL072xxK_4jZXsSrOJVWD08G8qEAGFvpLG3_R6sYpBpsRC593MrbsopbbssUx5P5QKnZlI9u5blVKQLh04V7O79qvCLI/s320/269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QWZJfDlQ1btphDe8MLK1Ta0urB4LjYUKHQrzc2Q6mJBfS9XKSl5zI3Gu0qpQnO1r69Y55TIhIp5E-iblEm1Lv7WpRYG8cvHLJPIPm3hDVlBTksBljK4VRGSM2uxh0hQYrMeLRJHA7Hw/s1600/271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QWZJfDlQ1btphDe8MLK1Ta0urB4LjYUKHQrzc2Q6mJBfS9XKSl5zI3Gu0qpQnO1r69Y55TIhIp5E-iblEm1Lv7WpRYG8cvHLJPIPm3hDVlBTksBljK4VRGSM2uxh0hQYrMeLRJHA7Hw/s320/271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Helsingor was a small town but had an unusually large train station.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1czP08xUoib61vbS5MoTqmgw17rgKl4OpXjkM5hfpmyMd2-Ftdqp1px5O-b9usnKrGh0wm9HOmxDta2KpP6DD5Buk1H7hjkUocnOqTTZo_2biO6BHsVkqN9LBdtRYtEoWHFKn6s_LPhs/s1600/281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1czP08xUoib61vbS5MoTqmgw17rgKl4OpXjkM5hfpmyMd2-Ftdqp1px5O-b9usnKrGh0wm9HOmxDta2KpP6DD5Buk1H7hjkUocnOqTTZo_2biO6BHsVkqN9LBdtRYtEoWHFKn6s_LPhs/s320/281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The town is located directly on the Oresund channel, just
two miles across from its Swedish counterpart, <b>Helsingborg.</b> I read that many
Swedes come over to Helsingor for the lower-priced alcohol!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIy9xV7j5Ik3zLIgffe8le7TznwrXxq2gVdHH_RjPB-2_mB7aJU2HRmEwzFPTN5loR7Twt8xtqpFOyedvCeDJD-ix9Iic4NhHbasz5zckWSdVyGJbsYmSHhrH9x1LPuO13Ir3K7Yxsgk/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIy9xV7j5Ik3zLIgffe8le7TznwrXxq2gVdHH_RjPB-2_mB7aJU2HRmEwzFPTN5loR7Twt8xtqpFOyedvCeDJD-ix9Iic4NhHbasz5zckWSdVyGJbsYmSHhrH9x1LPuO13Ir3K7Yxsgk/s320/283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we left the station, the castle was dead ahead along the coast. You can just see it on the right-hand side of the photo. First though, we passed through the harbor front which contained the town’s cultural center and maritime museum.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2wgNG5Q2lnm9v7GmBnXiW1zuaI-SdfM4sHm4As2fnqvy1fPO1-8zU9xxTyNn-4lxycK1o_1P_mtFrlL8znk0gzhYLQZgRnlsVkZqaCKPrkBTLCDCpJToZtGfQzgBaaKD5OlQ5WyIQBg/s1600/284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2wgNG5Q2lnm9v7GmBnXiW1zuaI-SdfM4sHm4As2fnqvy1fPO1-8zU9xxTyNn-4lxycK1o_1P_mtFrlL8znk0gzhYLQZgRnlsVkZqaCKPrkBTLCDCpJToZtGfQzgBaaKD5OlQ5WyIQBg/s320/284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This view across the sound was as close as we got to Helsingborg, Sweden.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyVmqa7MuIn1P9MjdlCJ23qKtJdgVlM-mCg_DTagVPSz6wW1EFeOU535pYL5M2MRpVL6Gxo0fkraysjB9QId3bl3wF9iilGoP9dsVi8Uydoy2Ein3q_z1tQN0KIS-eW4VIxAAvr_8mzY/s1600/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyVmqa7MuIn1P9MjdlCJ23qKtJdgVlM-mCg_DTagVPSz6wW1EFeOU535pYL5M2MRpVL6Gxo0fkraysjB9QId3bl3wF9iilGoP9dsVi8Uydoy2Ein3q_z1tQN0KIS-eW4VIxAAvr_8mzY/s320/285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our initial view of <b>Kronborg Castle,</b>
also called Elsinore, the Anglicized version of Helsingor, is a sight famous
for its tenuous ties to Shakespeare. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4EqJMZqFN9u3xCmMpqk36QaPIP8ycuhFKyqR88A5fQOUA_X8V69euofjhWN2shNBmx_UdeadBC8UCVWMHB3N2nftRQEIM9MVH8-0IbPKfF0O_tecutpkUX4ylokKt1wSwVE7byYvKpY/s1600/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4EqJMZqFN9u3xCmMpqk36QaPIP8ycuhFKyqR88A5fQOUA_X8V69euofjhWN2shNBmx_UdeadBC8UCVWMHB3N2nftRQEIM9MVH8-0IbPKfF0O_tecutpkUX4ylokKt1wSwVE7byYvKpY/s320/287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The giant fish on the waterfront was created out of
recycled art people no longer wanted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK378pLrfSa02bTAzxfTHl-7YV5KOhMgKD5PL5yNe7dVp1MvQ_pSrVZiU5o05hR85QixTdlPVRGvcKYiRH6tSkZ0xY35ppJIofi1A8vOtEcsc6FnDuxjNX2ZWu42chEnZeYeVdYjB5V4/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidK378pLrfSa02bTAzxfTHl-7YV5KOhMgKD5PL5yNe7dVp1MvQ_pSrVZiU5o05hR85QixTdlPVRGvcKYiRH6tSkZ0xY35ppJIofi1A8vOtEcsc6FnDuxjNX2ZWu42chEnZeYeVdYjB5V4/s320/288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we approached Kronborg, just as at Frederiksborg Castle,
there were many layers of earthen ramparts and moats.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE5EnlYw-7lpA6Ja1eZSL5IEMHUkUPXPc8RX-ndj4Y-RRMQvtnZ65k4r4HGx8nfuvlBaeczSNoo2iNl66nexldMH1LBdIb5Cy-e543SnBksEBvMqzSZjql3gYwQHGP155i3_ciQSJG7g/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE5EnlYw-7lpA6Ja1eZSL5IEMHUkUPXPc8RX-ndj4Y-RRMQvtnZ65k4r4HGx8nfuvlBaeczSNoo2iNl66nexldMH1LBdIb5Cy-e543SnBksEBvMqzSZjql3gYwQHGP155i3_ciQSJG7g/s320/299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij5fityTx1KDMnW6tha4Rh-Dhf2rtYBaSi7Vie03-VV-GNtTZ7xDmvpffBQ_fxj_hkeBXuv1D1cKRlEiGqHNb_B86JAskWExJiV8-EoADfp7Ag9HxwAhOLaDdqpL_hWUom7rZUwuLZoU/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhij5fityTx1KDMnW6tha4Rh-Dhf2rtYBaSi7Vie03-VV-GNtTZ7xDmvpffBQ_fxj_hkeBXuv1D1cKRlEiGqHNb_B86JAskWExJiV8-EoADfp7Ag9HxwAhOLaDdqpL_hWUom7rZUwuLZoU/s320/300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Just when we thought we were actually at the castle, we found yet another gateway or waterway to pass!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWIU-Nq1wPA5xCtm7cd37B6irRphyPq3h87zWAqb3v-TIZ-kQrIK_xC12As4DSBcvzoVtXomqdvUkLnTAS9MLqDSnrdXXR0f6-C6YfyTwwJhyphenhyphenoHqht6ufLH8mU3uqB07vV12iQu7yUjw/s1600/304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWIU-Nq1wPA5xCtm7cd37B6irRphyPq3h87zWAqb3v-TIZ-kQrIK_xC12As4DSBcvzoVtXomqdvUkLnTAS9MLqDSnrdXXR0f6-C6YfyTwwJhyphenhyphenoHqht6ufLH8mU3uqB07vV12iQu7yUjw/s320/304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWlPMdqnim-xIM32QK_hIoRBYpLfuuAu8hnkiC2XR3EkMSdyVCxCxNiV2g3UTmrEj0DZOtI5T5LNw6EFx4rX4hQbss5qQ2fq9yo8qkNfK3giRBTRoBkT8S6XL0nbW_WFoEPxP0_gFBrE/s1600/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWlPMdqnim-xIM32QK_hIoRBYpLfuuAu8hnkiC2XR3EkMSdyVCxCxNiV2g3UTmrEj0DZOtI5T5LNw6EFx4rX4hQbss5qQ2fq9yo8qkNfK3giRBTRoBkT8S6XL0nbW_WFoEPxP0_gFBrE/s320/306.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As Rick Steves wrote, most of the ‘Hamlet’ castle was built long after the historical Hamlet died and Shakespeare never saw the place. But this Renaissance castle existed when a troupe of English actors performed here in Shakespeare’s time and Shakespeare may have known them. I read that these days, various Shakespearean companies from around the world perform Hamlet in Kronborg’s courtyard each August. “Among the actors who’ve donned tights here in the title role are Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer, Kenneth Branagh and Jude Law."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtRTXRjvbr1G8_N3qlm9N95itXI2jrRj88zz18xjuu-g4_rPHLLO21ujknJ40FoURQaO_EfferuPgPo2-RC79hZv2OfuZRFMV4_qtWBdrl0PFjbfORSBS2I8VVAGHU1dYM58IAQLMmZ0/s1600/308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtRTXRjvbr1G8_N3qlm9N95itXI2jrRj88zz18xjuu-g4_rPHLLO21ujknJ40FoURQaO_EfferuPgPo2-RC79hZv2OfuZRFMV4_qtWBdrl0PFjbfORSBS2I8VVAGHU1dYM58IAQLMmZ0/s320/308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, it was so nice being able to warm our hands as walked toward the castle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuVFJ1Xb6zWyu5ySxFCFFm8HUsmsC6pajzmXju3onTdalQfS4H_jv-RFO0_NObWxcUI1gvGBRZUUZlyr9HOBbbIWZsmaAJQh5wlEVuNfPNd1YOnVSHtnq8f5A-mLoCP7XkL8gW7n88Zc/s1600/309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuVFJ1Xb6zWyu5ySxFCFFm8HUsmsC6pajzmXju3onTdalQfS4H_jv-RFO0_NObWxcUI1gvGBRZUUZlyr9HOBbbIWZsmaAJQh5wlEVuNfPNd1YOnVSHtnq8f5A-mLoCP7XkL8gW7n88Zc/s320/309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUitEoPHWKicZtYZ4ahAFc4Ek5Lm8uwp5D8FMYgAS1m0XBCMhc-eX8jSm5Rw87EgVUTwBxxG03d1FsRfLv7dtkYytcq2-12y6TJ8SBaYButKEYswxxcNJ9PgvI7FnHdvOKQPywcBWHwc/s1600/310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUitEoPHWKicZtYZ4ahAFc4Ek5Lm8uwp5D8FMYgAS1m0XBCMhc-eX8jSm5Rw87EgVUTwBxxG03d1FsRfLv7dtkYytcq2-12y6TJ8SBaYButKEYswxxcNJ9PgvI7FnHdvOKQPywcBWHwc/s320/310.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ4eXB_z6PmjUqLxDgOgAlWPFCU92ZO9LJQC5ixKfonPLr9jgvmQsfsjl0aOPbgFbYtOUQOZVr1nlwN1b4q0wFlYniuJa9WQJDMKnxXvmy4Y3JCIQLb9EO_VJYGMG8s2KnpuSfByZ_wc/s1600/312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ4eXB_z6PmjUqLxDgOgAlWPFCU92ZO9LJQC5ixKfonPLr9jgvmQsfsjl0aOPbgFbYtOUQOZVr1nlwN1b4q0wFlYniuJa9WQJDMKnxXvmy4Y3JCIQLb9EO_VJYGMG8s2KnpuSfByZ_wc/s320/312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQVo-VE6sdmSktRu8pshVUr7QA4uPkyKJ9oyUndtkz2DnVFhT1X1lWM9zGC4HVVF_3uN7lgX1uILGHqC7pxuCZvpOEE6IlHWAHak4f8MX8XilrZ9BjKseWJo7HdL8ZPCADPxeko8qkrg/s1600/313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQVo-VE6sdmSktRu8pshVUr7QA4uPkyKJ9oyUndtkz2DnVFhT1X1lWM9zGC4HVVF_3uN7lgX1uILGHqC7pxuCZvpOEE6IlHWAHak4f8MX8XilrZ9BjKseWJo7HdL8ZPCADPxeko8qkrg/s320/313.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhmU44cLm_8MXdsGUWfufDu2WfrP5jMUnMOrv1-ovwcravsdLmL9LFj_r-3CIL392JDDw7mnIkZvlfPpoD8TruywXeUyM_wiqOmZFXwEBWDKVX__y6Q-Zd_lW98jb6AeG8yHSxUH_dCbHg/s1600/405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmU44cLm_8MXdsGUWfufDu2WfrP5jMUnMOrv1-ovwcravsdLmL9LFj_r-3CIL392JDDw7mnIkZvlfPpoD8TruywXeUyM_wiqOmZFXwEBWDKVX__y6Q-Zd_lW98jb6AeG8yHSxUH_dCbHg/s320/405.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Upon finally entering the castle, we saw the <b>Royal
Apartments</b> first. </span><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: large;">In 1572 a</span><span style="font-size: large;">t the age of 38, <b>King Frederik II</b> met his future bride, <b>Sophie of Mecklenburg,</b> who was then only 14 years old! According to the information panel, from the moment Frederik laid eyes on her, he fell in love. They married that year and "lived happily ever after" although she was only 30 when he died. One of their seven children became the illustrious King Christian IV at the age of just 11. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DrWE2k24KNMaPoIiYg8t4aQbpOMGd0AeNHI0wZC96tesiUq6TH8NiCW0AbZmUwx7BberAJpYAuPJ2ssRQdGf8R8fz15uuKPIDwDe0tDUloYzJyzBn3eyuX5r2ZNEUIpf30124qcV0mw/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DrWE2k24KNMaPoIiYg8t4aQbpOMGd0AeNHI0wZC96tesiUq6TH8NiCW0AbZmUwx7BberAJpYAuPJ2ssRQdGf8R8fz15uuKPIDwDe0tDUloYzJyzBn3eyuX5r2ZNEUIpf30124qcV0mw/s320/314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When the king was in residence at Kronborg, the country was ruled from this room, called the <b>Chancellery.</b> Officials of the realm dispatched everything from royal decrees about moving marketplaces and receipts for altarpieces to letters about major political affairs and laws on everything imaginable.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWsM342-vt0zgGZbCg4mVxP6T711AhRjhzrh-WDKAZVDhhpScfHTW6615mpdXxL2F2HsLLQ_av3Eu6Ke5jN1DJf0Zdws3bY8872dPJQ_B00kW0rDXHqZcT1g7P5HkG2_wj9gy_9tx2mQ/s1600/316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWsM342-vt0zgGZbCg4mVxP6T711AhRjhzrh-WDKAZVDhhpScfHTW6615mpdXxL2F2HsLLQ_av3Eu6Ke5jN1DJf0Zdws3bY8872dPJQ_B00kW0rDXHqZcT1g7P5HkG2_wj9gy_9tx2mQ/s320/316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>King's Chamber</b> was the most important room of the Royal Apartments. When the King was in residence, the chamber was the place where important meetings were held about the future of the realm and it provided the setting for many a party held with good friends. Through the window, King Frederik II could view his realm on the other side of the Sound and could enjoy the sight of the many passing ships paying the obligatory customs duties to him.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfRs1sCgz2fAVUllV5FUbjBzejmfQTwlgFWRkgYdZNcqjRBZLFn9GDqRdriPVjfr_4x-RZIWN_L6xe9HKGJtTigP1O1cyIbOvCEany2cqBq6H6K6KeGWEsX2wt8EvxbO3f5qS8Qcw3EM/s1600/320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfRs1sCgz2fAVUllV5FUbjBzejmfQTwlgFWRkgYdZNcqjRBZLFn9GDqRdriPVjfr_4x-RZIWN_L6xe9HKGJtTigP1O1cyIbOvCEany2cqBq6H6K6KeGWEsX2wt8EvxbO3f5qS8Qcw3EM/s320/320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The castle interior sadly was a far cry from the opulence of
Frederiksborg Castle. While the structure was rebuilt after a 1629 fire, its
rooms were never returned to their former grandeur.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two small rooms were used as the private quarters of the King and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Queen because they were easy to heat. </span><span style="font-size: large;">During the Renaissance, the climate was much cooler than it is today so a small room with a blazing fire was the preferred choice. </span><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-size: large;">ecause many arranged marriages ended up as an unhappy union, r</span><span style="font-size: large;">oyal couples slept apart. I was amused to learn that sleeping apart was also a sign of great status as huddling up to another warm person in bed was a much cheaper option!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpnpGOe7so8wQsM0rrH_z-6W5ym68jMj7Ax_ff74I1byGEzv4W32xo_yd10_rYev7AW3gALL_6wNPK8KLPOvXAh11f9MOnpm0pO2LBKtN-KohyVaRaFY4NlCqN4dL3hNBqCTn-NFl1zE/s1600/325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpnpGOe7so8wQsM0rrH_z-6W5ym68jMj7Ax_ff74I1byGEzv4W32xo_yd10_rYev7AW3gALL_6wNPK8KLPOvXAh11f9MOnpm0pO2LBKtN-KohyVaRaFY4NlCqN4dL3hNBqCTn-NFl1zE/s320/325.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX1mKpinq-LIAT9Kw04NmVUzsa1fLLZwcU1S6u80YiNB68bINOpUm3qThE4od6fR7yxFubjtSttd1wYoUXemKm0iXAkrSd1q6mYyKU61wJVGw-v96Izj67hqi0qNn5_zech2LoCxR4yo/s1600/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX1mKpinq-LIAT9Kw04NmVUzsa1fLLZwcU1S6u80YiNB68bINOpUm3qThE4od6fR7yxFubjtSttd1wYoUXemKm0iXAkrSd1q6mYyKU61wJVGw-v96Izj67hqi0qNn5_zech2LoCxR4yo/s320/326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After passing through the small bedrooms, we came to the <b>Queen’s Chamber</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">which contained lovely tapestries. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This room<b> </b>was where the Queen and her ladies in waiting passed much of their time. They ate here and it was from here that the Queen managed her household, oversaw her children's education and relaxed in front of the fireplace.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK2B1WpHfnR4uMLaCcz9PM71eKgtJyHRRq-Jdt6sJJAb0tBkpmLOkq74w2WIgbkQfpb5tLZi1Q-YfkoRxFIQ9Yc0QxZggVAQH2ns9I7FULRThe5m3_yFNJX_8aIqAl6IEb7VwzPbeP0M/s1600/330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK2B1WpHfnR4uMLaCcz9PM71eKgtJyHRRq-Jdt6sJJAb0tBkpmLOkq74w2WIgbkQfpb5tLZi1Q-YfkoRxFIQ9Yc0QxZggVAQH2ns9I7FULRThe5m3_yFNJX_8aIqAl6IEb7VwzPbeP0M/s320/330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkoWsN_0ng9LpVHv5aw0Xt5y7SwXCPIB0fj9Q6bN0dxzrG66hMgzQsc-2-SZ0npBsHIYOHHJpWQS7KetiZiAtcEAX5b06BgZxY7poHkJMA1pFfYG-0fprfHa78J43bLaQxyGJkLKHJfM/s1600/332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkoWsN_0ng9LpVHv5aw0Xt5y7SwXCPIB0fj9Q6bN0dxzrG66hMgzQsc-2-SZ0npBsHIYOHHJpWQS7KetiZiAtcEAX5b06BgZxY7poHkJMA1pFfYG-0fprfHa78J43bLaQxyGJkLKHJfM/s320/332.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">From there, stairs led up to the <b>Queen’s Gallery, </b>custom
built for Queen Sophie to be able to walk directly from her chambers to the
ballroom or the chapel. </span><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: large;">The gallery was also used on an everyday basis for indoor strolls so the ladies' shoes wouldn't be damaged on outside walks! When the royal court left the castle, all inventory and furniture that was not taken to the next castle was stored in the gallery.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-mpPbWcIZBhVk_wqSVaY_lVaQGFeFTQIH5LD5vjlQYwy0WqKC9AvOCdbIwKlz5Ipi3urba9-1_w4z60wr2x1ylYoOrcKVIThT0H6MVjSUJHcylGVabK2vpVQtpbmXA7wykxhXmrUp6I/s1600/334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-mpPbWcIZBhVk_wqSVaY_lVaQGFeFTQIH5LD5vjlQYwy0WqKC9AvOCdbIwKlz5Ipi3urba9-1_w4z60wr2x1ylYoOrcKVIThT0H6MVjSUJHcylGVabK2vpVQtpbmXA7wykxhXmrUp6I/s320/334.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdNeJ4tSlT4MPwp6emmj5cH_FHl3VQCoFqMy9decgYzxkzOSrgoTW5tsu15Olp4Pi_OqKuQbV9oj64_PmPHsc5v5kAtBCaqg8VLB_VM_9_YKh-_-HigZxMZ9O4K4J3vZul-rz9EbpTYM/s1600/336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdNeJ4tSlT4MPwp6emmj5cH_FHl3VQCoFqMy9decgYzxkzOSrgoTW5tsu15Olp4Pi_OqKuQbV9oj64_PmPHsc5v5kAtBCaqg8VLB_VM_9_YKh-_-HigZxMZ9O4K4J3vZul-rz9EbpTYM/s320/336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Near and yet so far: a view of Helsingborg through the
windows. We didn’t have time to take the ferry across the strait to Sweden. I
had spent about a month in Sweden waaaay back in 1975 after working in Geneva
as an au pair!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa3PayuhiR6SVp3YCwTIpd0DPA0ETjJfl1WsAmxl83GjRIla2Ae1enpQI3evLrTcwSI6Jse0i_6mN21xSgjSL_m7hSY0Dyr8tiBeAbroy21F4umMUMT6qHerN-qV-iIdxREsrvrdZ-j0/s1600/340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa3PayuhiR6SVp3YCwTIpd0DPA0ETjJfl1WsAmxl83GjRIla2Ae1enpQI3evLrTcwSI6Jse0i_6mN21xSgjSL_m7hSY0Dyr8tiBeAbroy21F4umMUMT6qHerN-qV-iIdxREsrvrdZ-j0/s320/340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Great Ballroom</b>, the </span><span style="font-size: large;">largest such hall in all of northern Europe, was </span><span style="font-size: large;">decorated with a series of paintings commissioned by King Christian
IV. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAPHO4sx8RxDOv_TmKoj4mUw_Z-ttxJ9NSA1NTHxmlnJe2xo2z8oBOw6yMOE3nqKmroIaAx5uEjec2Dn-1rd7gunwhjpGSk1kAxSybgC1KE3Q6NH4cYrEplycB3yRO4smAsTRK7fxGZk/s1600/343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAPHO4sx8RxDOv_TmKoj4mUw_Z-ttxJ9NSA1NTHxmlnJe2xo2z8oBOw6yMOE3nqKmroIaAx5uEjec2Dn-1rd7gunwhjpGSk1kAxSybgC1KE3Q6NH4cYrEplycB3yRO4smAsTRK7fxGZk/s320/343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Parties and banquets at Kronborg were known for their lavish splendor and guests came from far and wide to show off their newest party clothes in gold brocade, silk and velvet adorned with lace and ribbons. Entertainment was provided by acrobats, actors and musicians while guests danced.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM_stt5TRWwLPZNHcW9_6hNObI14RGza1ViNbW1d_TmOhkuN3eSDzLZvhHsWso2APIYNFqdAruDLYAkYDSAbGMJMDbvPWuHmK8qoJUVIV7QsC_eaDIBjNxdH8038PqGsWL__E5VqgxQ4/s1600/348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM_stt5TRWwLPZNHcW9_6hNObI14RGza1ViNbW1d_TmOhkuN3eSDzLZvhHsWso2APIYNFqdAruDLYAkYDSAbGMJMDbvPWuHmK8qoJUVIV7QsC_eaDIBjNxdH8038PqGsWL__E5VqgxQ4/s320/348.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ballroom led to the <b>Little
Hall</b> which included a series of fine tapestries depicting Danish monarchs.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCtuPbPtX0tkGTkaOg-a84TGC6pvivfK1aR88BddQ5wAaZPYFod96yz-Fm66HgHdENBM3o7EuKPeVmJU3r2IXbkrGVKgwYyiL2MnBY3xGd5oTcnwC3buPeGvXhHiUHL8yHDOC7Nx-0cU/s1600/350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCtuPbPtX0tkGTkaOg-a84TGC6pvivfK1aR88BddQ5wAaZPYFod96yz-Fm66HgHdENBM3o7EuKPeVmJU3r2IXbkrGVKgwYyiL2MnBY3xGd5oTcnwC3buPeGvXhHiUHL8yHDOC7Nx-0cU/s320/350.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhU4yJcjZJ-lWd8uUK-7u7RjuvxjHFFD1HPjeLdW3k5t7jBTJoj2cLPZYuM-f4HrSU_yKf5o23SE1PrW6v2s4Ber-JAF_Ht0tMwolRPmlLjFfcxHJc0gHwvvCKz1_qwY4OUym6nsCAiXbk/s1600/352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4yJcjZJ-lWd8uUK-7u7RjuvxjHFFD1HPjeLdW3k5t7jBTJoj2cLPZYuM-f4HrSU_yKf5o23SE1PrW6v2s4Ber-JAF_Ht0tMwolRPmlLjFfcxHJc0gHwvvCKz1_qwY4OUym6nsCAiXbk/s320/352.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi-XiUQ-Ru_Hr-ObC1exJLlr5uT_p6lMxN5X2TiaeFUm7GGWV92DVvzokBxKiKgpoXzchw3IeOucM0BnTdhqAZQJ0pLjrn-xvKoIQqCwBvoZeLkcYWDSiYXg_0momn3AzGOBHZ3hdlZf74/s1600/359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XiUQ-Ru_Hr-ObC1exJLlr5uT_p6lMxN5X2TiaeFUm7GGWV92DVvzokBxKiKgpoXzchw3IeOucM0BnTdhqAZQJ0pLjrn-xvKoIQqCwBvoZeLkcYWDSiYXg_0momn3AzGOBHZ3hdlZf74/s320/359.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Leaving that part of the castle, we walked across the
courtyard to the <b>Kronborg Chapel.</b> </span><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: large;">The castle fire of 1629 luckily left the chapel virtually untouched. When Kronborg was handed over to the military in the 18th century, the furniture was removed. The space was needed for fencing, gymnastic exercises and ammunition storage. When the Chapel was restored in 1840-41, the original furniture was returned.The chapel has been the setting of princely weddings. Even today, commoners who belong to the local parish of St. Martin's Church are occasionally wed in the Chapel </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">but they must book long in advance!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gXiU2ohdHin87JTwyBK0A-3kQKpmPCtSqB0NrWPYiv_0OogdH0zdP9Ud327X6jrYsmKRsRd753PrvL4dnvHH9s90J4t3PnaOMS09OBy3UWOA86YzXgYIBR2eGEIg1nXY7VYnLawh2SE/s1600/368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gXiU2ohdHin87JTwyBK0A-3kQKpmPCtSqB0NrWPYiv_0OogdH0zdP9Ud327X6jrYsmKRsRd753PrvL4dnvHH9s90J4t3PnaOMS09OBy3UWOA86YzXgYIBR2eGEIg1nXY7VYnLawh2SE/s320/368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8uGzPXzwskTG1Z2HjL89rivVyOg-IAwO2m0e5S_w84_-Rs7Yht33SNgpgEHSPdC-UyHwC8DIMit5IT6400jh1X9SgSv2BftBQzn5eZAAG9hXK_5he1VSHR617QuqEwhCFoEu4kddvA8/s1600/370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8uGzPXzwskTG1Z2HjL89rivVyOg-IAwO2m0e5S_w84_-Rs7Yht33SNgpgEHSPdC-UyHwC8DIMit5IT6400jh1X9SgSv2BftBQzn5eZAAG9hXK_5he1VSHR617QuqEwhCFoEu4kddvA8/s320/370.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEglsz9p9toFlBdZa09ocqI7XyS7Fa69D8jolbYzMWMKQSVGPitsEWDmyalvzmUIcx_twPkoi6vpu_kscdh9Y773rq-O58ectYRUN6H13byRHBfk3kNlZgTP3TmqFx6seT5C7SB3j1mlehM/s1600/378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsz9p9toFlBdZa09ocqI7XyS7Fa69D8jolbYzMWMKQSVGPitsEWDmyalvzmUIcx_twPkoi6vpu_kscdh9Y773rq-O58ectYRUN6H13byRHBfk3kNlZgTP3TmqFx6seT5C7SB3j1mlehM/s320/378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The altarpiece, completed in 1587, was made of alabaster and marble with wooden side panels. The large center depicted the crucifixion while the side panels had panels from the Old Testament, forecasting the sacrifice of Christ.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXE-WPY0ZdRDXammupt3EF2koKqjmJ9G0I0TbixNh1c8vmy8JY5zyomHvJjIqZlp8osScvec-OI_HptuVChJtaX6TkDLIMTmNJS7oltGZTknhGo12AfmYl21oq3LLcOjHOTMY98shg4Q/s1600/375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXE-WPY0ZdRDXammupt3EF2koKqjmJ9G0I0TbixNh1c8vmy8JY5zyomHvJjIqZlp8osScvec-OI_HptuVChJtaX6TkDLIMTmNJS7oltGZTknhGo12AfmYl21oq3LLcOjHOTMY98shg4Q/s320/375.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The enclosed gallery was the private pew of the royal family.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CPZGLeyTQns3D-Y5hmQUjZan05rcb6cW19MPZCwzqkKkIaTxFXrlYZWz5QQvdOKytQ8hg0tfKWfITCNb0EL7UkOuH6FGkCCT_mDhJLIbSw6B8dqiLmV8RFj3XB4mBqr7tAhaGx0LV6g/s1600/377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CPZGLeyTQns3D-Y5hmQUjZan05rcb6cW19MPZCwzqkKkIaTxFXrlYZWz5QQvdOKytQ8hg0tfKWfITCNb0EL7UkOuH6FGkCCT_mDhJLIbSw6B8dqiLmV8RFj3XB4mBqr7tAhaGx0LV6g/s320/377.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Diagonally across from the chapel, was a door in the main
courtyard to the <b>Casements,</b> Kronborg's underground system of corridors and rooms.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGfbX3Awu5kI_BHWO4kc-qvs59lOb3tbDvNQgIps-yYRXHW4cWU_IkglGDuInFO4jaHjrcAcnDeyg7QBb-8JTkTJxxgDQ6HTyhevbXmv-_2wZ6eMEAPPq0ZxZhPzfBPlwCMdgWzZD8QE/s1600/380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGfbX3Awu5kI_BHWO4kc-qvs59lOb3tbDvNQgIps-yYRXHW4cWU_IkglGDuInFO4jaHjrcAcnDeyg7QBb-8JTkTJxxgDQ6HTyhevbXmv-_2wZ6eMEAPPq0ZxZhPzfBPlwCMdgWzZD8QE/s320/380.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking at this picture again so many months later after being there reminds me of photos taken during a colonscopy!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1zBl-LerwfmDilM9yxdTE-pWSUbeKj4GoKddiseBtm_8lqMJCRIloWyltB8Fmq-jx_7MlnqW0TIw_ZDiWU9zrCFLSIu37qMEss4FWYvbaq50BR0qJaptoVD-6KZ98202ObDNIH6ZOg/s1600/394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI1zBl-LerwfmDilM9yxdTE-pWSUbeKj4GoKddiseBtm_8lqMJCRIloWyltB8Fmq-jx_7MlnqW0TIw_ZDiWU9zrCFLSIu37qMEss4FWYvbaq50BR0qJaptoVD-6KZ98202ObDNIH6ZOg/s320/394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The passages, though not particularly tight, were very dark
and apparently intentionally not very well lit. The extensive network of dank
cellars was a double-decker substructure that once was a hive of activity. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCvHdARPR1IUC0xFhl7Oy-9jWw5ekb77i1mU84mxM_OE5WvXdoFWaZrV7b1IHjl-qKscSaVAsMEx_v1GouLw98T6W-it96ZoV5qi0Be439qUSrnGzg-CLO6Wl-kw6knu-o5y29yRb4m4/s1600/398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCvHdARPR1IUC0xFhl7Oy-9jWw5ekb77i1mU84mxM_OE5WvXdoFWaZrV7b1IHjl-qKscSaVAsMEx_v1GouLw98T6W-it96ZoV5qi0Be439qUSrnGzg-CLO6Wl-kw6knu-o5y29yRb4m4/s320/398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The upper level, which we saw first, was used as servants’
quarters, a stable and a storehouse. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEp-eExBnQ6QCtoClGZzwtWXLWrSZzKujYZmhMnaSUxdatPwZtreT27SsOb5Nh5iiKlbuQkPC5EHPKtt6C5bgKCRDivVSmzdLbdwRqvpq6Cz_kJI4quNWSrgiFuHr0h87sFKM9W9Rc7g/s1600/402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEp-eExBnQ6QCtoClGZzwtWXLWrSZzKujYZmhMnaSUxdatPwZtreT27SsOb5Nh5iiKlbuQkPC5EHPKtt6C5bgKCRDivVSmzdLbdwRqvpq6Cz_kJI4quNWSrgiFuHr0h87sFKM9W9Rc7g/s320/402.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhg9mWDgX-BV4G-1lm9Bz0Oy3bf-xfDHxy1s0QAxug3oqv3VGbTvnFPS0XB2eP0HHSq5a0D8v0QQsq20CSy6bvbxkSyfSksccrn8o__s9JGpK4gb1aAUBlQdHEK5ZTKtFbV_9-RR51ZcKs/s1600/401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9mWDgX-BV4G-1lm9Bz0Oy3bf-xfDHxy1s0QAxug3oqv3VGbTvnFPS0XB2eP0HHSq5a0D8v0QQsq20CSy6bvbxkSyfSksccrn8o__s9JGpK4gb1aAUBlQdHEK5ZTKtFbV_9-RR51ZcKs/s320/401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The most famous ‘resident’ of the Kronborg casements was <b>Holger Danske,</b> a mythical Viking hero
revered by Danish children. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghvSb0ZzFWFDNVY2akGhZDBbx2ZzNmcuRqbcOw2P30mgIQoS51xFGN20ITHvxNdTDpouiIXQaZ9E8__XC4TREd10ke58KTiPLyspIcTxdgml0-583hgRt3SMtFyusqdPi4IAayNCeWRc/s1600/387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghvSb0ZzFWFDNVY2akGhZDBbx2ZzNmcuRqbcOw2P30mgIQoS51xFGN20ITHvxNdTDpouiIXQaZ9E8__XC4TREd10ke58KTiPLyspIcTxdgml0-583hgRt3SMtFyusqdPi4IAayNCeWRc/s320/387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The story goes that if the nation is ever in danger, this Danish superman will awaken and restore peace and security to the land. </span><span style="font-size: large;">While this legend has been around for many centuries,
Holger’s connection to Kronborg was cemented by a Hans Christian Andersen tale.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR09aX1HmkcFP7Ja514nZ7sGEn0jS6l25e7liP78Ldgg6YcnWiiV3QRWA-vW9K0_WavvEXkBE557JyzZTV9EBvtGSqz2ewUOSvi71mwi7M-3jtOyq7d1G-55pVQJAKo5OB7SsqyCryCAw/s1600/384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR09aX1HmkcFP7Ja514nZ7sGEn0jS6l25e7liP78Ldgg6YcnWiiV3QRWA-vW9K0_WavvEXkBE557JyzZTV9EBvtGSqz2ewUOSvi71mwi7M-3jtOyq7d1G-55pVQJAKo5OB7SsqyCryCAw/s320/384.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The lower level was used to train and house soldiers during
wartime. As we explored the labyrinthine, nearly pitch-black area, it was easy
to imagine the miserably claustrophobic conditions the soldiers lived in while
waiting to see some action.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunTKe7iJJLhXQJZbfjN-F_ngbLdug2NXzklADllDO9raYD0Yp7L5zuYdSH6mW4JN9Ri6eIozm2j3YV2S6RsQh_Bvwa4G03Jkl_bNWnMJjDjI42PitssSCX7V8iXLtWp2jsoCzSWJG0Qs/s1600/392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunTKe7iJJLhXQJZbfjN-F_ngbLdug2NXzklADllDO9raYD0Yp7L5zuYdSH6mW4JN9Ri6eIozm2j3YV2S6RsQh_Bvwa4G03Jkl_bNWnMJjDjI42PitssSCX7V8iXLtWp2jsoCzSWJG0Qs/s320/392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Having had enough of dark tunnels, we ‘saw the light’ after
coming back topside! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_tw5sagbBhqwsG0-R-C2L1LcHMjYBdjUzpQbH2bF2bVQuPSjVvddlXK2jYfhoRTby1ZJxbfRk_4tU8qN7tkLNCtnd1kR8GpEqDoFnyuOHfPa6ATB4n1HJY6nXU8m-A8jT2F0uEfPGUY/s1600/406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_tw5sagbBhqwsG0-R-C2L1LcHMjYBdjUzpQbH2bF2bVQuPSjVvddlXK2jYfhoRTby1ZJxbfRk_4tU8qN7tkLNCtnd1kR8GpEqDoFnyuOHfPa6ATB4n1HJY6nXU8m-A8jT2F0uEfPGUY/s320/406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked back to the station, only to discover we’d just missed the train to the town of <b>Humelback,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">site of the acclaimed <b>Louisiana Art Museum.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlj1kHDMWhjALIumvkpfNAMjv7cew7jOzoYG88mv3FtrsThFMzkhoSkHIhcH1bOv-4HcFsDa-U6_rMEt5SyuljzUJgw9195jtbe6fJUe7emJxzlNC_KoyPPbWBszRqfyjEPYn4pD6K5c/s1600/407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlj1kHDMWhjALIumvkpfNAMjv7cew7jOzoYG88mv3FtrsThFMzkhoSkHIhcH1bOv-4HcFsDa-U6_rMEt5SyuljzUJgw9195jtbe6fJUe7emJxzlNC_KoyPPbWBszRqfyjEPYn4pD6K5c/s320/407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R3duBM5pW4Ov3VphDKaap9fSGdsDb9wg7kXJAcR177oiljzUR9AXGSrUkRqv4uznJh_N1Nyh5rCJyDX45eascj8odM592Efpvt1XgGYRULblAl4l0Fvgs_gM7-5trw1hy1_MfyagyNA/s1600/408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R3duBM5pW4Ov3VphDKaap9fSGdsDb9wg7kXJAcR177oiljzUR9AXGSrUkRqv4uznJh_N1Nyh5rCJyDX45eascj8odM592Efpvt1XgGYRULblAl4l0Fvgs_gM7-5trw1hy1_MfyagyNA/s320/408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNbFdYCC2VvAUiN0LojNwGv3sz6vK4mGfzCY_SdxqCt3wsg36XOmhnDzw0LOL0b5pzSCQLIeGFLk7w9s_MVA2sjQn4DJBqQbMq3EwM2fWsaLujH65sxv0bLqzasWvH9nMDLhwluUMoYg/s1600/409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNbFdYCC2VvAUiN0LojNwGv3sz6vK4mGfzCY_SdxqCt3wsg36XOmhnDzw0LOL0b5pzSCQLIeGFLk7w9s_MVA2sjQn4DJBqQbMq3EwM2fWsaLujH65sxv0bLqzasWvH9nMDLhwluUMoYg/s320/409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I, quite frankly, didn’t mind too much having to wait for the next train as it gave me time to
wander through more of Helsingor while Steven stayed warm in the station’s
waiting room. We both have really enjoyed our two brief visits to Denmark but,
if we ever return, I hope it will be in the summertime, as it gets very dark by
just 4 p.m. in the wintertime.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ_De7nUtPYrsBdXP_NEIlvaKvx2iPVjozfJ485VcQuApeKVYHZ5HxKgjtqByuYvfosTftJAC_U3gKaw3sH0NIP46y74DR2imEaK7cTFs7m6MU9Sad1Z_Dl7i_LktpIGCvWzeaeVGKIQ/s1600/412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQ_De7nUtPYrsBdXP_NEIlvaKvx2iPVjozfJ485VcQuApeKVYHZ5HxKgjtqByuYvfosTftJAC_U3gKaw3sH0NIP46y74DR2imEaK7cTFs7m6MU9Sad1Z_Dl7i_LktpIGCvWzeaeVGKIQ/s320/412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">After seeing all the liquor stores, I could now understand they
must do a bang-up business with neighboring Swedes!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3GtMSx-FMEJc9teumU3ydQd6Cyl05uM7u5YjWACxf4o9RyxFQr7EmNZAOOv9XAd-nU_kaeXU2E8I1eVhjICZVAs11VHgaZril-dI0ijZ9E4jbiqQAuAuH9VBRcAOTrL4eyUfYZGGLnE/s1600/415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3GtMSx-FMEJc9teumU3ydQd6Cyl05uM7u5YjWACxf4o9RyxFQr7EmNZAOOv9XAd-nU_kaeXU2E8I1eVhjICZVAs11VHgaZril-dI0ijZ9E4jbiqQAuAuH9VBRcAOTrL4eyUfYZGGLnE/s320/415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Shortly after 4, we were on our way to our final destination
of the day, just a 15-minute ride south to Humelback and 18 miles north of
Copenhagen. The very chilly walk along dark streets to the <b>Louisiana Art Museum</b>
took us the same amount of time as the train had from Helsingor. I am sure that the
path from the station through the trees would have been a lovely stroll in the
daylight but that seemed just too spooky at night. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinctOueht9ijmSM803bEeJzA943hnRUVrDaC3EggpnwcjCPnMs6j4s831FmwE2yx57c2pb80rA-sjBqotCw8ZnNYIszyTSXu2Ox3WdcFtODqa7ew2cLTxKWSszcFwj0Yb35X3JhGrN4QU/s1600/419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinctOueht9ijmSM803bEeJzA943hnRUVrDaC3EggpnwcjCPnMs6j4s831FmwE2yx57c2pb80rA-sjBqotCw8ZnNYIszyTSXu2Ox3WdcFtODqa7ew2cLTxKWSszcFwj0Yb35X3JhGrN4QU/s320/419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike most (all?) other museums we’ve visited over the
years around the world, there was no permanent exhibit at the Louisiana. The museum’s curators
constantly organize their substantial collection into ever-changing
arrangements, augmented with borrowed and special exhibits.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These decidedly unusual and humorous paintings by German artist <b>Hans-Peter Feldmann</b> were our introduction to the museum. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I had never heard of Feldmann so was intrigued to learn that he doesn't sign his paintings and that he "obscures, turns upside down and short-circuits an ostensibly </span><span style="font-size: large;">venerable but also ambitious tradition - salon art."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNgmVzkJ7pAqPCXguC1aGi6zCj5AJY8nPj7UAPCUKtsY2rYheHfixqkwyWRTt_uHHzcebfhN5CbVrWxqFpLLC9l8af9C7w4DRQW1mkRyMP2WSV9NoYmUyQ8jeKI0whfkOFm1hyphenhyphen03cKlI/s1600/421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNgmVzkJ7pAqPCXguC1aGi6zCj5AJY8nPj7UAPCUKtsY2rYheHfixqkwyWRTt_uHHzcebfhN5CbVrWxqFpLLC9l8af9C7w4DRQW1mkRyMP2WSV9NoYmUyQ8jeKI0whfkOFm1hyphenhyphen03cKlI/s320/421.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEilTPKZ3lq1SAywwBqJMmT0gQuY2_MONAXNgDXZo4hZPw2JHjxorXQv-W1S8gIjF9P1BCzlSHZn0rFGSenhjsI1yyltPxrLCeSbEsqsh1DWnOCkUN4YGbI7hLyJZ6E8imoeVIZOZfFt_Cc/s1600/424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTPKZ3lq1SAywwBqJMmT0gQuY2_MONAXNgDXZo4hZPw2JHjxorXQv-W1S8gIjF9P1BCzlSHZn0rFGSenhjsI1yyltPxrLCeSbEsqsh1DWnOCkUN4YGbI7hLyJZ6E8imoeVIZOZfFt_Cc/s320/424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of paintings by another German artist, <b>Daniel Richter, </b>who's had his work shown at the Denver Art Museum and the National Gallery in my hometown of Ottawa. No wonder they caught my eye!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW6dFqD_o06BiJDL-wd5Mw12MMNA0g6S4VprGfZu5iaHMeNE8xcOR5TYWgByHLCMzxiZWjWhIIVu_U4L_-p5cgR0eshXddWr6DsdMIp8Q5obR3Lti3H1Tv59jXpb8siqaSomZvxffhhw/s1600/428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW6dFqD_o06BiJDL-wd5Mw12MMNA0g6S4VprGfZu5iaHMeNE8xcOR5TYWgByHLCMzxiZWjWhIIVu_U4L_-p5cgR0eshXddWr6DsdMIp8Q5obR3Lti3H1Tv59jXpb8siqaSomZvxffhhw/s320/428.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjzmAtUBpFmp8tqjp-ilWYhSmlC_qAWPNixECK7QooR30V6e0i2DJhQw9RgVrcoTtMGiMMPPaYWyhG8P3nsn3cqYthRJv0gZBIdPWuBMIQSllFcWuDw08vTkOLRJWUHv-dUt5DL3jAS7g0/s1600/432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmAtUBpFmp8tqjp-ilWYhSmlC_qAWPNixECK7QooR30V6e0i2DJhQw9RgVrcoTtMGiMMPPaYWyhG8P3nsn3cqYthRJv0gZBIdPWuBMIQSllFcWuDw08vTkOLRJWUHv-dUt5DL3jAS7g0/s320/432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have a moment, the text from an interview with Daniel Richter makes for some compelling reading in my opinion.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7KCVuXWlAxVY2aPc7mUWdBcuRBsX-yQ3HY-nI44_5ECurM22UYkGxgJ5C9Obch1wNXMqjsm40tU2JLKxRwH1x0L_c5GFL8VnxOTUFdw49RzPdHhohOTbaSqLTOLuJGxBElqRn0uzA8Y/s1600/433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7KCVuXWlAxVY2aPc7mUWdBcuRBsX-yQ3HY-nI44_5ECurM22UYkGxgJ5C9Obch1wNXMqjsm40tU2JLKxRwH1x0L_c5GFL8VnxOTUFdw49RzPdHhohOTbaSqLTOLuJGxBElqRn0uzA8Y/s640/433.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw11vJeHVDeE-OJDyuRp1djNyzHHBYBLmzkdWRyrejNLDrhuVEHWUVSIYC7xY8owjmpx_EB_jj1F12YhjbxY_40G0VqM56GNAdIgbphao1KHCA0j1E6tFKZ1qXX18kcjBRYC5Kkx3Askw/s1600/434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw11vJeHVDeE-OJDyuRp1djNyzHHBYBLmzkdWRyrejNLDrhuVEHWUVSIYC7xY8owjmpx_EB_jj1F12YhjbxY_40G0VqM56GNAdIgbphao1KHCA0j1E6tFKZ1qXX18kcjBRYC5Kkx3Askw/s320/434.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think we've ever seen a museum that has so many levels as this one
had. We’d see a few pictures, then walk down to another level.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lErscQNb22o_relI5SSW1GdzDz_xWcQoNWXChC8Vckw9dXDZ9J7eE8MI6Im7YgMl3ZH0AlKECbxIF_BRUWsaLF3TnoZ2gbVc4HIOKNAyf2joTKW7BUU99l9lTLDXxHZatq63dne_T_c/s1600/436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lErscQNb22o_relI5SSW1GdzDz_xWcQoNWXChC8Vckw9dXDZ9J7eE8MI6Im7YgMl3ZH0AlKECbxIF_BRUWsaLF3TnoZ2gbVc4HIOKNAyf2joTKW7BUU99l9lTLDXxHZatq63dne_T_c/s320/436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The painting was called 'Army of Traitors.' I would liked to have known why the artist chose to paint the 'traitors' in red.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SnGMh6SUAaN8Q-gaA37ANxf1vtOyk3N3UuNaetpYzO-V2Sk15I4lJbxAXNLfjOelIEMVh1cphpeRJNE6lO7iHRUiVYVFANIeUgQ0IRdND04YBChmcPiItLei0U4Z9VTbJpVhNXibi74/s1600/438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SnGMh6SUAaN8Q-gaA37ANxf1vtOyk3N3UuNaetpYzO-V2Sk15I4lJbxAXNLfjOelIEMVh1cphpeRJNE6lO7iHRUiVYVFANIeUgQ0IRdND04YBChmcPiItLei0U4Z9VTbJpVhNXibi74/s320/438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Albert Giacometti,</b> the famous Swiss sculptor and his 'Naked Woman.'</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXXGJLR2cxtyutpyIj5wVFRyBqiNHyuSNmtIY3gBHuOBbQrXbGYIewdQJYXH0-8QoU6j3NPQEVFtJbVSYxs2TaJQJiLAU4lKgN9nCaRpd5fj15SJdbImMXZ3FrOfS3TEvazzcl50BFpw/s1600/441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXXGJLR2cxtyutpyIj5wVFRyBqiNHyuSNmtIY3gBHuOBbQrXbGYIewdQJYXH0-8QoU6j3NPQEVFtJbVSYxs2TaJQJiLAU4lKgN9nCaRpd5fj15SJdbImMXZ3FrOfS3TEvazzcl50BFpw/s320/441.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">More of Giacometti's works:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXzCkkcUZXXPrnQIrKwX8zG7MIbfV-lxy3Q-MrDWTGJ4Heh04Sd_hbZnexcNYlAxgO6-aH3EX1FOCqVbCuZglcQNhkKxsGNDHBXrzxsmqxNJ8Pa26GpnxZrVHlCoYI2QWu-Zx00Zzj00/s1600/444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXzCkkcUZXXPrnQIrKwX8zG7MIbfV-lxy3Q-MrDWTGJ4Heh04Sd_hbZnexcNYlAxgO6-aH3EX1FOCqVbCuZglcQNhkKxsGNDHBXrzxsmqxNJ8Pa26GpnxZrVHlCoYI2QWu-Zx00Zzj00/s320/444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pAoFWtIXgnHWmoA30pB5PjxVmqnqlhHIe2qxoc42dtTK61xhBhgw8EVSB43h5Z5_poC_cRDfJ3Xi9cWO18v9P0mkfDmTJE2eMo7IxzkMcEbcPefJ2PRwSXioi3wLHvz4r1GhNTHI6rE/s1600/446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pAoFWtIXgnHWmoA30pB5PjxVmqnqlhHIe2qxoc42dtTK61xhBhgw8EVSB43h5Z5_poC_cRDfJ3Xi9cWO18v9P0mkfDmTJE2eMo7IxzkMcEbcPefJ2PRwSXioi3wLHvz4r1GhNTHI6rE/s320/446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I say tongue in cheek that luckily for us, we were able to view one of the museum’s
favorite item, French sculptor <b>Cesar’s ‘The Big Thumb’ </b>– simply a six-foot-tall
bronze thumb – because every time it was removed, museum patrons complained! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt-a1TsnfbWqGb-sVFnCBRdiOd5ywKV4NrZsVl6JjVUwC5sFFIBORm6Cov8SMV2cptytRKFGu71mTiV0kRdHRQCDJ9EWs2cUd5VBD39bf39FYR0hfob1ditFXF5tDlSn-BYz1NteXQL4/s1600/449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt-a1TsnfbWqGb-sVFnCBRdiOd5ywKV4NrZsVl6JjVUwC5sFFIBORm6Cov8SMV2cptytRKFGu71mTiV0kRdHRQCDJ9EWs2cUd5VBD39bf39FYR0hfob1ditFXF5tDlSn-BYz1NteXQL4/s320/449.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I could certainly appreciate why 'The Half Circle' by Spanish artist <b>Juan Munoz </b>was a very popular work at the Louisiana. It was impossible not to be drawn in to the large group of figures.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8B__j12RZsQl_BUQXp1vsCzoKsvvUN_6jBw9UTcdAfly_GSpUqGJdyDp2F5i1crdYagwh-edCv44NHiePHclycCCPlm16Z_QpWsM2iciELp6-kZMPnXGp6KYKXETsoDLzO218e96JIo/s1600/454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8B__j12RZsQl_BUQXp1vsCzoKsvvUN_6jBw9UTcdAfly_GSpUqGJdyDp2F5i1crdYagwh-edCv44NHiePHclycCCPlm16Z_QpWsM2iciELp6-kZMPnXGp6KYKXETsoDLzO218e96JIo/s320/454.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiHLbdh2LGJQd4jTHcfj9xnmCDX7F5BB80Tzr-o-IT0KQohfhFi-oKigdUBbU4QLdmzU_73jhUPztK_U8QtAl6l-9GNBATUhWGIKhgtbPnx_Enb_4PY0issmQrVy6h7ZUDXkIIBFSVFl_0/s1600/452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLbdh2LGJQd4jTHcfj9xnmCDX7F5BB80Tzr-o-IT0KQohfhFi-oKigdUBbU4QLdmzU_73jhUPztK_U8QtAl6l-9GNBATUhWGIKhgtbPnx_Enb_4PY0issmQrVy6h7ZUDXkIIBFSVFl_0/s320/452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think anyone seeing these laughing figures could ever leave the room not being uplifted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_aWnzVhRSpxK_uXM4yQPEECZj0fC5gm-NWSW7prFQGKxXJBeN_cKQHg65WB-eWv59KZZ-peaxg3mbxwkQ7EUwro15zy5fJgteUZzc8OeKdt3-Pdu_jZHeI-D_t32c84cvGk-g3h9fZU/s1600/459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_aWnzVhRSpxK_uXM4yQPEECZj0fC5gm-NWSW7prFQGKxXJBeN_cKQHg65WB-eWv59KZZ-peaxg3mbxwkQ7EUwro15zy5fJgteUZzc8OeKdt3-Pdu_jZHeI-D_t32c84cvGk-g3h9fZU/s320/459.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, I would strongly recommend reading this explanation of Munoz's work because of the insight it provides. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS39_nQ7SZjFmYMWd__f7F-Do6LMgyNpglIU21I4rTcciNUJDAALD_cfxyzYeQlEVuxyttT72cRaFT3CdR4sUzoW7vzLfPdd2HopCQLxEroaSU4GVzCFVf_45obvkxKgUlass40RwbJLs/s1600/456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS39_nQ7SZjFmYMWd__f7F-Do6LMgyNpglIU21I4rTcciNUJDAALD_cfxyzYeQlEVuxyttT72cRaFT3CdR4sUzoW7vzLfPdd2HopCQLxEroaSU4GVzCFVf_45obvkxKgUlass40RwbJLs/s320/456.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj972F9_Jmxq0UeWV3qz9cN_ZwcsL2M8fdnvkY5vWEgSBTrFZGyE91PRNogo4UpQn3Ze3UvZNJ9lLODwBY0rOCcBDsDxBjBEWAllr7pzB7Ts2NZGWzqSBACcOuKpFKrqtW3BW37dyNgCOQ/s1600/458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj972F9_Jmxq0UeWV3qz9cN_ZwcsL2M8fdnvkY5vWEgSBTrFZGyE91PRNogo4UpQn3Ze3UvZNJ9lLODwBY0rOCcBDsDxBjBEWAllr7pzB7Ts2NZGWzqSBACcOuKpFKrqtW3BW37dyNgCOQ/s320/458.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhs_mO97y7ZzdRN4-Udp1tzid9vcRN8KCasqH1f_7foeopgpMTC-S8VXadMaSx8XMH9eMsTLxqcv8JFAOypL2N71SC5dT6jDKfY8_0FoCptyzGfl8iPulF2LqjXJ7bFdkmwK7__RcHBPpo/s1600/457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_mO97y7ZzdRN4-Udp1tzid9vcRN8KCasqH1f_7foeopgpMTC-S8VXadMaSx8XMH9eMsTLxqcv8JFAOypL2N71SC5dT6jDKfY8_0FoCptyzGfl8iPulF2LqjXJ7bFdkmwK7__RcHBPpo/s320/457.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj3AhGo9DMqTVpVT3kmqKXb7ebpD37_eZAH3fCuB0Wa2SKCGIifKaIf6utMwd8_z-2SQTWAg7cUa2BqoabBVgJJU6zZaOfGvVLikuGzBEhpjxblbDbhhJmVoqTF_tl-GoetUQRQ2QhKkHA/s1600/461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AhGo9DMqTVpVT3kmqKXb7ebpD37_eZAH3fCuB0Wa2SKCGIifKaIf6utMwd8_z-2SQTWAg7cUa2BqoabBVgJJU6zZaOfGvVLikuGzBEhpjxblbDbhhJmVoqTF_tl-GoetUQRQ2QhKkHA/s320/461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Only in a modern art museum would we see an exhibit by US artist <b>Jim White</b> called 'White Bathroom.' I admit to having difficulty seeing the merit of this and the following work and how they are classified as 'art.'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDnHFGGJa0J0q-fxsm0C_PKDDJ-DSKyYCmaOn1fjd8O7cDcYlhAO23ZLXlFH2ay2Zd8mkAWNWSBaXM8YS7ckPlA2fQ9xSilaLjD3FIT8JlJWtRtzRGH-NZTeJGLG8hsMwx0F1fyNXvcw/s1600/463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDnHFGGJa0J0q-fxsm0C_PKDDJ-DSKyYCmaOn1fjd8O7cDcYlhAO23ZLXlFH2ay2Zd8mkAWNWSBaXM8YS7ckPlA2fQ9xSilaLjD3FIT8JlJWtRtzRGH-NZTeJGLG8hsMwx0F1fyNXvcw/s320/463.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhzEcm9EYc0Z1P4jYbeH2Bto3yEcsofimaeKaObtfaqf6mXMKggJVe_OXvsNA7XOK5-njWInjzSiuuUfy5EtrUX4MRx5Cx7-OBSeskpmgbmJezHj0580VXMXUY5yoPTpLTZp8rRU96slOo/s1600/465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEcm9EYc0Z1P4jYbeH2Bto3yEcsofimaeKaObtfaqf6mXMKggJVe_OXvsNA7XOK5-njWInjzSiuuUfy5EtrUX4MRx5Cx7-OBSeskpmgbmJezHj0580VXMXUY5yoPTpLTZp8rRU96slOo/s320/465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Louise Bourgeois' '</b>I leave the Nest, then I Leave my Home' was another different work of art.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY4bC9nD8R7vBcw0sfEimVhuHR5NhMW9uewWhTTpNVrUN9oPIb3AuZOHqDmuXXUjW9oOrgZZsw11inUxMCkc4X90q_BZGNNcfRkplwhLvucu0bjS3YQBvaeKGI6m_X3bZ7t5fVQIDbj8/s1600/470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY4bC9nD8R7vBcw0sfEimVhuHR5NhMW9uewWhTTpNVrUN9oPIb3AuZOHqDmuXXUjW9oOrgZZsw11inUxMCkc4X90q_BZGNNcfRkplwhLvucu0bjS3YQBvaeKGI6m_X3bZ7t5fVQIDbj8/s320/470.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bourgeois is apparently well known for her large spider sculptures. I read that playing on the common fear of spiders, Bourgeois saw "the spider as a caring and protective creature - a weaver, like her mother who restored historical tapestries in the family's tapestry workshop."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9I62ThmE8uDwqhPLftpeKBOYw_fDs0AEEB3B8Vc6sB85tFIZDUC8vFaGSgxwrcqq8zNAGj3x8zWJjgqYWMN7B7u6B8smUTflOsl4lytOE8ADr_1v8anbEIXLSJS7EYoRzygE-aPflYE/s1600/473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9I62ThmE8uDwqhPLftpeKBOYw_fDs0AEEB3B8Vc6sB85tFIZDUC8vFaGSgxwrcqq8zNAGj3x8zWJjgqYWMN7B7u6B8smUTflOsl4lytOE8ADr_1v8anbEIXLSJS7EYoRzygE-aPflYE/s320/473.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We knew the Louisiana had a delightful sculpture garden that sprawls through
the grounds, downhill toward the sea but of course it was too dark for us to see it. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The views over the Oversund, one of the busiest passages in
the nautical world, are said to be nearly as inspiring as the art. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The museum’s interesting collection of modern art took me beyond my 'safe' appreciation of more traditional art. A</span><span style="font-size: large;">s this was Scandinavia’s most raved-about modern art museum, I am glad that we took the opportunity to spend some time there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked back to the station where we were lucky enough to
only have to wait a few minutes for the train for the short jaunt back to
Copenhagen.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">Once there, a band got us in the Christmas spirit as they played familiar holiday carols.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiONDD_ASWFumDOfMMWfNXFGXKpFXMVGFNfjR8lI78WCmxZLN-LYdui2R5OnBFzScKoSCsZgMLZ4_SN73lhQlsF4M3TGoikUncnCCFuTvCMjaOP_TX9qTDK192jJZ6cFI-MxgO8676sh8/s1600/482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiONDD_ASWFumDOfMMWfNXFGXKpFXMVGFNfjR8lI78WCmxZLN-LYdui2R5OnBFzScKoSCsZgMLZ4_SN73lhQlsF4M3TGoikUncnCCFuTvCMjaOP_TX9qTDK192jJZ6cFI-MxgO8676sh8/s320/482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending so much time writing this blog, there is just one post left to do in the next few days before we hit the road for about seven weeks traveling here in the US and Canada. That post will attempt to recap some of our favorite or most compelling stops on our four-month trip last fall. I am not looking forward to determining what makes that list as there were so many stellar experiences.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="font-size: x-large;">Posted at long last on April 26th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado. </i></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-28162536499884874482017-04-08T16:39:00.001-07:002017-04-08T16:39:56.278-07:0012/13: Snapshots from Copenhagen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After a lonnnnng flight from Dubai, it was so comfortable being b</span><span style="font-size: large;">ack in Copenhagen again, a city we first visited together two years ago on our way back home after our trip to Eastern Europe, Turkey, Jordan and Israel. Then, we only had one night compared to this time, when we had a full day to explore some castles in nearby cities as a kind of 're-entry' to our lives back home. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After dropping off our bags at the hotel just steps from the city's train station in the center of town, we bundled up against the chilly weather and headed out to reacquaint ourselves with downtown Copenhagen.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">First though, I finally faced reality and decided to throw out my very trusty Kohl's river shoes that I had worn virtually every day of the trip that had begun more than four months earlier in Latvia. Even I had to admit their best days had been many weeks or even months ago!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk7hi82h1MCu2WroP4lNSJVadX8t15zJxczVnv3h0pQWOcqC5v7S74i92dfDvZy6FLcuE6nhyF1zXMO5i1pgCFucwcrmp59z2pNBccNqAUhHgr0BcVT3yPHoV9HVvGR_gBYWXv57IKOs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWk7hi82h1MCu2WroP4lNSJVadX8t15zJxczVnv3h0pQWOcqC5v7S74i92dfDvZy6FLcuE6nhyF1zXMO5i1pgCFucwcrmp59z2pNBccNqAUhHgr0BcVT3yPHoV9HVvGR_gBYWXv57IKOs/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'd forgotten that the sun set so early, about 3:30, in the winter. It was so dark just minutes later. That just added to the allure of the <b>Tivoli Gardens,</b> located in the center of Copenhagen, and a place for people of all ages to enjoy with entertainment, rides and more than 40 restaurants.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVQP1NA8BuqMe53Szm8X159OmMrYCC2x0X6Mk_SVG60Hqsk0qFUNLDtLiFkiouUBQcGl7zWRLqtVUmJQ284ahozjpZt2q9MVuiYwol2Y2dkjai9gWgjBoRlqtuU0f318D0vemVzbnkbM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVQP1NA8BuqMe53Szm8X159OmMrYCC2x0X6Mk_SVG60Hqsk0qFUNLDtLiFkiouUBQcGl7zWRLqtVUmJQ284ahozjpZt2q9MVuiYwol2Y2dkjai9gWgjBoRlqtuU0f318D0vemVzbnkbM/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tivoli all lit up for the holidays:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbJnzysArWXGLmDOyuhXKyLd6ntPg4IyJNtMMxPWAPvUnXjcqrY35XDMa2Ias7NeTxAwc__S_6jbhyZmbdQyL_YXn7fAkSO29gXdeSodXAoGeadqAcZYfa3eu6LUyNJ0EZjP9PbR4M64/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbJnzysArWXGLmDOyuhXKyLd6ntPg4IyJNtMMxPWAPvUnXjcqrY35XDMa2Ias7NeTxAwc__S_6jbhyZmbdQyL_YXn7fAkSO29gXdeSodXAoGeadqAcZYfa3eu6LUyNJ0EZjP9PbR4M64/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Copenhagen City Hall </b>was one of the tallest buildings in the city.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9I0npbuDh2o4Hm83d4ug2R3wt-C2VHajI7RGHLjYjgwM3OAlP1nR7xDi26SDgz5dw2_Y94Nge4UDZlGJSxyfH-a95MXWTZKzAYAcwCzJGEMib66ZRxzhaTx64YDnmQ4PCQ9B5fx9s7E/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9I0npbuDh2o4Hm83d4ug2R3wt-C2VHajI7RGHLjYjgwM3OAlP1nR7xDi26SDgz5dw2_Y94Nge4UDZlGJSxyfH-a95MXWTZKzAYAcwCzJGEMib66ZRxzhaTx64YDnmQ4PCQ9B5fx9s7E/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1D_g2Yh8YDJptnI_Y1lo9-RDIWWEz8YnXG1a0tgOM125yWE55yfAionlY9VZKlz1EMj54HBBe_3xSpia_s04vMpHYpBUZbT21L1MjQ24T76pTu-vjE0q43sK9B_2TM4wu_EzQ_XjQ6J8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1D_g2Yh8YDJptnI_Y1lo9-RDIWWEz8YnXG1a0tgOM125yWE55yfAionlY9VZKlz1EMj54HBBe_3xSpia_s04vMpHYpBUZbT21L1MjQ24T76pTu-vjE0q43sK9B_2TM4wu_EzQ_XjQ6J8/s320/009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBzTbkZnXB5CL93LbYa7SJ1nrpsF7qIItq2UafuSbt6tZrplKFzm0hPCPJ4oJpJOHpC0JiycZ8Lu0zRifqrfrbRgQ1xyWI-jv3ZWXB7f_46pDwwfqcIUFtLxW4PHU55sV0S9I1IVDwEo/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBzTbkZnXB5CL93LbYa7SJ1nrpsF7qIItq2UafuSbt6tZrplKFzm0hPCPJ4oJpJOHpC0JiycZ8Lu0zRifqrfrbRgQ1xyWI-jv3ZWXB7f_46pDwwfqcIUFtLxW4PHU55sV0S9I1IVDwEo/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fur coats were common in Copenhagen - certainly animal rights activists don't have a strong presence. On the city's almost one-mile long p</span><span style="font-size: large;">edestrian mall, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves on the Tuesday afternoon just a week or so before Christmas. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Smokers were everywhere, it seemed - it was hard getting used to that after smelling so little cigarette smoke the last couple of weeks of our adventure.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeYQ4DB2BLkEmCWiwuRng-xIhwwPhjoFbipsaylxtgRFS7t7BQhN11tzsZ48MTLENtkB-RXdysb4R6chE2eGvcEjsiDRwOj0ByWCiuG0yRbmv3MeaMW0LZO17ANmrJsLPwN3uoABdoJI/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeYQ4DB2BLkEmCWiwuRng-xIhwwPhjoFbipsaylxtgRFS7t7BQhN11tzsZ48MTLENtkB-RXdysb4R6chE2eGvcEjsiDRwOj0ByWCiuG0yRbmv3MeaMW0LZO17ANmrJsLPwN3uoABdoJI/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">No one could plead ignorance as to where to dump their trash as there were painted footsteps to the garbage cans!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1LyCrX8Q4apu6P_mWbSRKmH0a-vmFXJlv_WzWiYz61kNpkJmCLQ0y4ptj3rrfT6UvHnII6XXBWXGTG3tPzL-8Un5pX0ow3dqti3tvi8YswMcCJik8UsDfeCkfWJ-GSIy0RwK7SIR0sM/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1LyCrX8Q4apu6P_mWbSRKmH0a-vmFXJlv_WzWiYz61kNpkJmCLQ0y4ptj3rrfT6UvHnII6XXBWXGTG3tPzL-8Un5pX0ow3dqti3tvi8YswMcCJik8UsDfeCkfWJ-GSIy0RwK7SIR0sM/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3qIDiak-Ez9yOYxD7d1qI2B15jWTDWhnGfd8AZkAN1_2eyP1VmlOqeVdHzgnRcbfRHe7oe3T-pGEBn9G9ySD6Z0pM_s4IdMIoxCJf8tbmAYLdTcpVSa2QocmUs4F3cGP1nN6F9Zuf3g/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3qIDiak-Ez9yOYxD7d1qI2B15jWTDWhnGfd8AZkAN1_2eyP1VmlOqeVdHzgnRcbfRHe7oe3T-pGEBn9G9ySD6Z0pM_s4IdMIoxCJf8tbmAYLdTcpVSa2QocmUs4F3cGP1nN6F9Zuf3g/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9I7C8E8JVVKlV0LdkrD6_augs89d0MNw5WMKSykuYlkOgLX0wAh1CAgGkklIHpc__QdD-DWklFAGNeKs6KZ8AO5Wc9OvWSE3pSogrAdtVxDldPsAipFBsy2PsoeUyFbRZ3-njCGcRs0/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9I7C8E8JVVKlV0LdkrD6_augs89d0MNw5WMKSykuYlkOgLX0wAh1CAgGkklIHpc__QdD-DWklFAGNeKs6KZ8AO5Wc9OvWSE3pSogrAdtVxDldPsAipFBsy2PsoeUyFbRZ3-njCGcRs0/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many European towns and cities are famous for their open-air Christmas Markets. It was fun wandering through the stalls in the Copenhagen Market that contained crafts and delicacies of all kinds.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzQazRDoPAWTZm2wbZ2FcWgukTr9qlthTTvoKkfpciI-J7Wc2o4hrd2oHWA-OB_YJOrldFcXybGQsXH59y4NC4bSJM2vGGR8CSl6legKGZ7B2f61mk9OQGBQ4ItlgcSO8oPRrOrPb1xE/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzQazRDoPAWTZm2wbZ2FcWgukTr9qlthTTvoKkfpciI-J7Wc2o4hrd2oHWA-OB_YJOrldFcXybGQsXH59y4NC4bSJM2vGGR8CSl6legKGZ7B2f61mk9OQGBQ4ItlgcSO8oPRrOrPb1xE/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_EQNUU3tJst9z5C_Nt4tLviXaCgb9Cvb-9n28oXijw7R_0ayWwa8-5AsRwocZ_qeCITCSN0t3rwRFLlti-6HxB9g12joRpbBilWG2ygx6yFpEsOq-WS5vJxf_dymev6nFrU-HJpgcMI/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_EQNUU3tJst9z5C_Nt4tLviXaCgb9Cvb-9n28oXijw7R_0ayWwa8-5AsRwocZ_qeCITCSN0t3rwRFLlti-6HxB9g12joRpbBilWG2ygx6yFpEsOq-WS5vJxf_dymev6nFrU-HJpgcMI/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EM5Ao0NdtGkoos5ayaG8ha_N5Bs16Juw9d4MEs58BEYAON4fTvFigJ1tU6jKm2Dt06c84Azt8VWUvp28cbRcJa_U0-Vwc-wyy-xc58OlC4fywl28HU6-RwQ_3K31Pz31B1nBBX9QPSg/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EM5Ao0NdtGkoos5ayaG8ha_N5Bs16Juw9d4MEs58BEYAON4fTvFigJ1tU6jKm2Dt06c84Azt8VWUvp28cbRcJa_U0-Vwc-wyy-xc58OlC4fywl28HU6-RwQ_3K31Pz31B1nBBX9QPSg/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everything at this booth was made of chocolate - yum, yum! The vendors sure made it easy for people wanting to buy items as we could pay with euros, Danish or Swedish or Norwegian kroner or USD.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq2qy3XfAHOI7N1wsDN5b6ewjll5uGEJeK_IhkkEnpPL_imCbGZhDIHpSS3pWFv1FIB1pJstniyz2j6fIYj0BjGZZ9lXR84q65qEZHF0KMTNKB8P_A65MMjcnDb0TKwza9w_XNlkidSI/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq2qy3XfAHOI7N1wsDN5b6ewjll5uGEJeK_IhkkEnpPL_imCbGZhDIHpSS3pWFv1FIB1pJstniyz2j6fIYj0BjGZZ9lXR84q65qEZHF0KMTNKB8P_A65MMjcnDb0TKwza9w_XNlkidSI/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiD89VXV4-07HEjBZZWGHo5kqzniKzOHZx8RnbFOD3vOAm_RgOt17BnXSsWoFsj2XUJD5z5NjUgMi_FodQ3ZIToz4ex4fdDCqX7-yuOHOQzq_-rvZbEgDW3muvittKKv1sq2TqejVRv-EI/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD89VXV4-07HEjBZZWGHo5kqzniKzOHZx8RnbFOD3vOAm_RgOt17BnXSsWoFsj2XUJD5z5NjUgMi_FodQ3ZIToz4ex4fdDCqX7-yuOHOQzq_-rvZbEgDW3muvittKKv1sq2TqejVRv-EI/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These angora wool socks looked so cozy but they weren't inexpensive by any means.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSwKSx0n5J7Bk7pu0oMi79-5OLO85Ce1jnCHvJmRDjTSep5dHzl_ma3l2uS7RujG-KVXdun4-HSHcYL1B_NIerxPPsXO_Uy1lZwapaZr_nOxB4xecMs9bgWMDOVOQsUgG7Q0-E28UT20/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSwKSx0n5J7Bk7pu0oMi79-5OLO85Ce1jnCHvJmRDjTSep5dHzl_ma3l2uS7RujG-KVXdun4-HSHcYL1B_NIerxPPsXO_Uy1lZwapaZr_nOxB4xecMs9bgWMDOVOQsUgG7Q0-E28UT20/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLcOBGYFBNJCdDaYxIYsosVusEkOCiNTOCZibE5Kx7-tuZtZ6cZgzrecj7rslUm_vX-0Q1ETTjelPECQKGoECUObwiDWG5NDpmMEBz0AiR44ii5iccLJe_PMp3tdilupthj16kZaBKik/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLcOBGYFBNJCdDaYxIYsosVusEkOCiNTOCZibE5Kx7-tuZtZ6cZgzrecj7rslUm_vX-0Q1ETTjelPECQKGoECUObwiDWG5NDpmMEBz0AiR44ii5iccLJe_PMp3tdilupthj16kZaBKik/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I certainly wasn't a gentleman but this 'gentlewoman' always eats fudge!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm_Xtjzi-sRzQxU0O_oD37aYlciLuB7eiv8Jq9sjk0IYwGQEF4EjPzJcb9otxMiqaGbt46YaZmlJYHNRGLyvinfnk3QjA6hGuYeChipnGslu-Uvbkx-0sic_sFqDs9MXuBFQflQEuDxs/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm_Xtjzi-sRzQxU0O_oD37aYlciLuB7eiv8Jq9sjk0IYwGQEF4EjPzJcb9otxMiqaGbt46YaZmlJYHNRGLyvinfnk3QjA6hGuYeChipnGslu-Uvbkx-0sic_sFqDs9MXuBFQflQEuDxs/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb5A1LeD-oLueHerhs1j6FLzU2PM0YYGv5UOcPPEHqcYDkMubtRvFBMqNMYXliOY68FWR3Vllz7R5exFvYpE_o7Zqq4qpk98qPJOEkxkWTDr7gI4K7ZmbCFaI7DsyLiYI4gLAwudYuhs/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb5A1LeD-oLueHerhs1j6FLzU2PM0YYGv5UOcPPEHqcYDkMubtRvFBMqNMYXliOY68FWR3Vllz7R5exFvYpE_o7Zqq4qpk98qPJOEkxkWTDr7gI4K7ZmbCFaI7DsyLiYI4gLAwudYuhs/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Surely, only hardy Copenhageners (yes, that's the word for residents of Copenhagen!) would choose to sit outside at a cafe in the winter in the dark.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDLtrX6QI6fiWcQdTcSF8qibURbFNsKW7JQUtyvFEsJWpzBY4ZYGI5_FsmIlfEigY2MBeOUKztqhS7-UwSNkI1QuJWFbkUg1Q6iqor3mI2nTQF8vyAjowzAin38oqIuZeDT_uPdLnnL8/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDLtrX6QI6fiWcQdTcSF8qibURbFNsKW7JQUtyvFEsJWpzBY4ZYGI5_FsmIlfEigY2MBeOUKztqhS7-UwSNkI1QuJWFbkUg1Q6iqor3mI2nTQF8vyAjowzAin38oqIuZeDT_uPdLnnL8/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EfTPk2ayqLL4CXmmmN9p5UPDejuUuOkHA9KecdG-ql1o4n4YohgfOIW4REQh91fuyBKtffZb_IHdiBn8L0Pml5Kkd_eHkeQQXMPyqwwLYJIe2VhFSNpYQdlDCmmp93cB0FpZeW0PQsc/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EfTPk2ayqLL4CXmmmN9p5UPDejuUuOkHA9KecdG-ql1o4n4YohgfOIW4REQh91fuyBKtffZb_IHdiBn8L0Pml5Kkd_eHkeQQXMPyqwwLYJIe2VhFSNpYQdlDCmmp93cB0FpZeW0PQsc/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas displays after my own heart as they used recyclable</span><span style="font-size: large;"> books, disposable tableware, straws, bubble wrap, etc to create these festive Christmas designs.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaIc6Hv4dnwDxcbzzNAh2idQOx34nFcAVVPzbDib87tD2wEi-rvrS9fvxDFIvFHvq2JTD9ry6pdxJMcI_CWnheXsZ9UYsSvpREI0vCshyaeyCArKDc_aP_kMaduL-ZEHhgT2hyQobmeo/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaIc6Hv4dnwDxcbzzNAh2idQOx34nFcAVVPzbDib87tD2wEi-rvrS9fvxDFIvFHvq2JTD9ry6pdxJMcI_CWnheXsZ9UYsSvpREI0vCshyaeyCArKDc_aP_kMaduL-ZEHhgT2hyQobmeo/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oCWc12-UH6Ch2KcpHEutgCkoaIfMSh3BlF_enJaQGWJBhA_Skb_2KwBmd1CDWUzuoHamu2HbyWQjo2WoCeVEQuCwU91XEKkjTQfQ61B-nxdGDEmK047AcGRvRgRWZTV_rJbCG-XPIno/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oCWc12-UH6Ch2KcpHEutgCkoaIfMSh3BlF_enJaQGWJBhA_Skb_2KwBmd1CDWUzuoHamu2HbyWQjo2WoCeVEQuCwU91XEKkjTQfQ61B-nxdGDEmK047AcGRvRgRWZTV_rJbCG-XPIno/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another store display with recycled items: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K6y4aEHgUfuarIR4YfftRzzOo1BDuvcd0m4RFetQzMfSALM9-gbgGFOqRoUW0dNF4avOwKn8LGpqst0Tiv1xSjjShqNvIv0tiKT0LKLI7jxWvqmxoHyyD2nNz5ziaofIIpzwHjNIFnE/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K6y4aEHgUfuarIR4YfftRzzOo1BDuvcd0m4RFetQzMfSALM9-gbgGFOqRoUW0dNF4avOwKn8LGpqst0Tiv1xSjjShqNvIv0tiKT0LKLI7jxWvqmxoHyyD2nNz5ziaofIIpzwHjNIFnE/s320/032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'd both forgotten how insanely expensive everything was here: the cheapest bottle of water at the 7/11 was well over $3; a glass of water in a restaurant was $1.50; a croissant was a staggering $3.50; a loaf of bread was over $5. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our very small room was $100 per night and for that, we still had to hike about 30 feet down the hallway for the toilet and shower - we felt like we were in a hostel dorm, not in a hotel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But, on the bright side, it was fun being back in a familiar city once again and enjoying dinner at the same restaurant we'd eaten at previously. I wonder if and when we'll return to the lovely city; if so, I hope it will be in the summertime!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted from Littleton, Colorado on April 8th, 2017. </i></span></div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-68632653000182720692017-04-02T15:56:00.002-07:002017-04-02T15:56:16.994-07:0012/12: Sharjah, UAE: World Class Museums & Mammoth Coffee Pots!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending the morning and early part of the afternoon exploring Sharjah's Flag Island, souks and Al Hisn Fort, we headed to the grand <b>Sharjah Art Museum,</b> located close to the Heritage Area.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscQH2ZSDySoA58KiiUCooFSn7uQ-zkr8svM103rAFo1yi6Lh0iEsAlngzkm9VpLeSe6Djay_YswOnL02WmeH3hYiMF5JyN_-gSH1ORq3YL-vek6fJmCKkPoOouDFRHMuSxuxRvm22LKmg/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscQH2ZSDySoA58KiiUCooFSn7uQ-zkr8svM103rAFo1yi6Lh0iEsAlngzkm9VpLeSe6Djay_YswOnL02WmeH3hYiMF5JyN_-gSH1ORq3YL-vek6fJmCKkPoOouDFRHMuSxuxRvm22LKmg/s320/231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5UGseP3e1B6f_dzr2a1Zv2xHKZiRVsEGV-9fJGhn1go2n78ZxmUEohulC8TKn3nRw6hQ6PTp_rOWcpb0EE81F3kqlGiRkG9BpyFiFWlWPajkyyEEj6BpIyZVoQjvcgN826AXLwjQe2PF/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5UGseP3e1B6f_dzr2a1Zv2xHKZiRVsEGV-9fJGhn1go2n78ZxmUEohulC8TKn3nRw6hQ6PTp_rOWcpb0EE81F3kqlGiRkG9BpyFiFWlWPajkyyEEj6BpIyZVoQjvcgN826AXLwjQe2PF/s320/232.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the museum, we were introduced to a term </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>'The Short Century'</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">referring to </span><span style="font-size: large;">the 20th century, an era that saw many of the most dramatic and extreme shifts in human history. The last century "was witness to the most violent wars, the largest human migrations, the rapid expansion of cities, the dominance of mechanical industry, and the rapid rise, conflict and collapse of expansive ideologies that underpinned them."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQMmFwrBfqI5jjwk8OFI5r-K-qXyujYv8YjKkG3wAxC9Qwem5y1xAtRRSVKO51dP9aa8YfbX6Y233Ndao6YRUSFT9AUaysU98Qg5cGzgeDuXe_R5FcAFqWrhpyHiYw9_tZuHHPHC3ZWtv/s1600/235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQMmFwrBfqI5jjwk8OFI5r-K-qXyujYv8YjKkG3wAxC9Qwem5y1xAtRRSVKO51dP9aa8YfbX6Y233Ndao6YRUSFT9AUaysU98Qg5cGzgeDuXe_R5FcAFqWrhpyHiYw9_tZuHHPHC3ZWtv/s320/235.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The temporary exhibition explored a number of artistic narratives in the Arab world, from representations of landscape and portraiture, responses to social and political developments and the rise of nationalism.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the features </span><span style="font-size: large;">about the museum </span><span style="font-size: large;">I loved so much and found intriguing was its long hallway, off which were about twenty rooms or galleries per side. Those galleries only showcased one or just a few pieces of art so there was an amazing sense of openness and space to enjoy and focus on each work of art.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ053n9c0Yrq6zkOBoUDh98KmxbHt7lufQg8jfrvJVJS-lJIi10U3c0HB9Q0JadEUAQO-FopXruMiyxZsg3YYNIRzuqrNBvyunT3-5n5Hd1wyFU3BJOnzL9S0FjEVRh0zarp3Ylr_vA0x/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ053n9c0Yrq6zkOBoUDh98KmxbHt7lufQg8jfrvJVJS-lJIi10U3c0HB9Q0JadEUAQO-FopXruMiyxZsg3YYNIRzuqrNBvyunT3-5n5Hd1wyFU3BJOnzL9S0FjEVRh0zarp3Ylr_vA0x/s320/240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SuWVG_t2PgQqaeUF9XaoO8etZKjPbUNZsk_W6Sp0BkMvTuhGzf2Sv5GeHWSNxqJI2P4Bow28DasxJzAUBliRWwXKlCnoYcsfI3Vkav7ZSwJpvHoCQH21cC0m-f8rjH9YTmFRYk6VauSl/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SuWVG_t2PgQqaeUF9XaoO8etZKjPbUNZsk_W6Sp0BkMvTuhGzf2Sv5GeHWSNxqJI2P4Bow28DasxJzAUBliRWwXKlCnoYcsfI3Vkav7ZSwJpvHoCQH21cC0m-f8rjH9YTmFRYk6VauSl/s320/236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH0vFUzE64X7VH_9eI5zfAiQTP11n_Vc4oQof4SkS9IFfQDWTfoFetXulA6HmH0UD3uVftpdv5KUXwkq-IiGxTIie1rGgiHeZCRWiM2UYjqucevNg8MqBFHTIAuk5RQNXZ2MwsdS0CNYr/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaH0vFUzE64X7VH_9eI5zfAiQTP11n_Vc4oQof4SkS9IFfQDWTfoFetXulA6HmH0UD3uVftpdv5KUXwkq-IiGxTIie1rGgiHeZCRWiM2UYjqucevNg8MqBFHTIAuk5RQNXZ2MwsdS0CNYr/s320/237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As this was the only piece of art in this gallery, we couldn't help but be drawn in to admire it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstQXx2GxGe61uTsBYn_oWARy0X3IwSwoDHUhY0SuMj9xOihsVif4Up3RrwK2XIYsXTZKUwj0kj_QRRTP_9Nx_ZxYAfUYYplvos_S93Wv95EtpAOHju3vHrvX01QStbryMiLLrbRtBQGEO/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstQXx2GxGe61uTsBYn_oWARy0X3IwSwoDHUhY0SuMj9xOihsVif4Up3RrwK2XIYsXTZKUwj0kj_QRRTP_9Nx_ZxYAfUYYplvos_S93Wv95EtpAOHju3vHrvX01QStbryMiLLrbRtBQGEO/s320/239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCfcmnLbEHVVPU7o5vP46rDoWMFbsALVHzI6SFhyuUAOfxNk1ljcD6art_F12BFNnBe8BfTMGGXMdBakJdc-cwte5W3vJfEyJULiwyZhNVCKm2gasgv2hA0zbWMre9zYkyY3yJhjTuuYK/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCfcmnLbEHVVPU7o5vP46rDoWMFbsALVHzI6SFhyuUAOfxNk1ljcD6art_F12BFNnBe8BfTMGGXMdBakJdc-cwte5W3vJfEyJULiwyZhNVCKm2gasgv2hA0zbWMre9zYkyY3yJhjTuuYK/s320/238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QxvI1ZAm5pe2onHSqmyVWmB7ey9iJMR99P68OipFsbDNLZBYSTC7LkbjwYyx5f4TxKS_5YI8HOEGDKKKGWaVqprxOF2bKKleYVCv-lyGXB62lSg9-5Fzg2U0Uajv6CDirw2rkwcdN9ij/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QxvI1ZAm5pe2onHSqmyVWmB7ey9iJMR99P68OipFsbDNLZBYSTC7LkbjwYyx5f4TxKS_5YI8HOEGDKKKGWaVqprxOF2bKKleYVCv-lyGXB62lSg9-5Fzg2U0Uajv6CDirw2rkwcdN9ij/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ornate windows in the hallway helped provide natural lighting to the exhibits.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUE18dYhXE3xasWMHCEx_outXq5EmtxzSEKFmQk49nUEbDgodi_32pdPq773MW8MeSv2kbrfgqQ-vO1AayXzNxLWXGQG79Rey4iiq9iKUl-JCVP9811GK8ImBDMZVGRz9srluG0CPXg2u/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUE18dYhXE3xasWMHCEx_outXq5EmtxzSEKFmQk49nUEbDgodi_32pdPq773MW8MeSv2kbrfgqQ-vO1AayXzNxLWXGQG79Rey4iiq9iKUl-JCVP9811GK8ImBDMZVGRz9srluG0CPXg2u/s320/243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The introduction to the next few paintings described that "lament takes on an universal and historical scale, transforming a single moment of mourning to an expression of loss that transcends time, nation and the individual." </span><span style="font-size: large;">This painting, done by an Iraqi artist in 1978 when he was just 31, was titled <b>Martyrs.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgiX3T6b49DonRGe1-D8CLs7mr4klS2R3pdDHV2DmTq9I2qb9091EJ9m_wI3ujYqc72k5ARpTh4bPYpxkYRGclRMRhGscYVprcRsmDouUEjjYvjtAIGkVkIdvQz7nuYo6eqxCgJPzgcJN/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgiX3T6b49DonRGe1-D8CLs7mr4klS2R3pdDHV2DmTq9I2qb9091EJ9m_wI3ujYqc72k5ARpTh4bPYpxkYRGclRMRhGscYVprcRsmDouUEjjYvjtAIGkVkIdvQz7nuYo6eqxCgJPzgcJN/s320/247.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgWU26BJG1i14EwM2ZTGPZ1BvotxCdcROA87vRhmALzibw5dMbRCuF2dld4SColGjQNtmTd4YjuHIcL6DtJzU0eQIQLYMbTAplxD7-lxOBa71IK7qJEnqpcVPs9tltPs8knceTeghm8zLaW/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU26BJG1i14EwM2ZTGPZ1BvotxCdcROA87vRhmALzibw5dMbRCuF2dld4SColGjQNtmTd4YjuHIcL6DtJzU0eQIQLYMbTAplxD7-lxOBa71IK7qJEnqpcVPs9tltPs8knceTeghm8zLaW/s320/244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The bronze <b>Standing Owl</b> was created by an Egyptian sculptor in 1961.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztYxgo-k2wTOh3wlZvRhrQTtE1ynJnBS0UhyphenhyphenMMquR-eX-gJM-72jq4x707ksaBlQyi4kTTrxnbfKLn0-9qJJ1dmYa-opDm7-AIehFtCCGQ6JbQi6lbuOlCMAufcXTNsveAP3nzFJFaR4O/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztYxgo-k2wTOh3wlZvRhrQTtE1ynJnBS0UhyphenhyphenMMquR-eX-gJM-72jq4x707ksaBlQyi4kTTrxnbfKLn0-9qJJ1dmYa-opDm7-AIehFtCCGQ6JbQi6lbuOlCMAufcXTNsveAP3nzFJFaR4O/s320/248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Luxor Port </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">(in Egypt where we had visited a couple of months ago) </span><span style="font-size: large;">was painted by a 23 year old Kuwaiti in 1964.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPt9M6LHOs5wgTkCEBShyphenhyphenAftELWHM6BUHisEbsSh4uaK1-e4MQSgoSOfimLQx07RVY71d2EC5DsGEC-lE3sD4HDvrFeHUuWwgHgsL3OTm6iPA7nEwsRhZFqtZlScakUKovZFGCdniBQe8/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPt9M6LHOs5wgTkCEBShyphenhyphenAftELWHM6BUHisEbsSh4uaK1-e4MQSgoSOfimLQx07RVY71d2EC5DsGEC-lE3sD4HDvrFeHUuWwgHgsL3OTm6iPA7nEwsRhZFqtZlScakUKovZFGCdniBQe8/s320/250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike any other gallery or art museum we've ever visited, the tags listing the artist's' name, birth date and painting title weren't beside each work of art but rather on the entrance to each room. That worked well as there were so few paintings or sculptures per room, of course.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXOgDh8Lp0ZXTRTlOgM_79-3l_mbC16ciGzU0Cuz-kVA3LUi47FzMMeDKlUxr4ZmOWuHHtQEtTMSCNCSd4c9-tNZpqcdzluhl_QueSMH7NcHOqiK6sY3ASqBc7JnfpFtxTekGjwxG6Gw6/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXOgDh8Lp0ZXTRTlOgM_79-3l_mbC16ciGzU0Cuz-kVA3LUi47FzMMeDKlUxr4ZmOWuHHtQEtTMSCNCSd4c9-tNZpqcdzluhl_QueSMH7NcHOqiK6sY3ASqBc7JnfpFtxTekGjwxG6Gw6/s320/253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Titled <b>Moon Walkers: Women and the Veil</b> series, the painting was done by a Palestinian artist in 1988.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfbAwCqxdUs4eA6xBLBawu3TqYiXUcb6EAeuDLzzKFn3D1IH3q-38StRudiricyUbquzIQv52Ys9J0SVGk6wLi0r7ckuysW3b2pf3vwKLVLdYgm-KkkHYmh0EaRTfuziAjULZgtueGypc/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfbAwCqxdUs4eA6xBLBawu3TqYiXUcb6EAeuDLzzKFn3D1IH3q-38StRudiricyUbquzIQv52Ys9J0SVGk6wLi0r7ckuysW3b2pf3vwKLVLdYgm-KkkHYmh0EaRTfuziAjULZgtueGypc/s320/255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A panel described that the power of painting was in its ability to record the artist's world and give it meaning. In the first half of the last century, Egyptian artists painted idealized scenes of landscape, travel, and the inhabitants of the locations they depicted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FYL2DnMJoF2abL0S-BPe7FOQaLcSTc1Wb9wp2m6XQN8Kdwrwcxa3K8w5ZsoFOrYp1zebjZZYNQ_tQQpLK9BwYv8VHW-68ymhnkxMokqjzw6KKnkMH5ZTArJ6fMg39Efi_hqo64Pq30sE/s1600/258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FYL2DnMJoF2abL0S-BPe7FOQaLcSTc1Wb9wp2m6XQN8Kdwrwcxa3K8w5ZsoFOrYp1zebjZZYNQ_tQQpLK9BwYv8VHW-68ymhnkxMokqjzw6KKnkMH5ZTArJ6fMg39Efi_hqo64Pq30sE/s320/258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the paintings </span><span style="font-size: large;">in the museum's collection </span><span style="font-size: large;">that had the most </span><span style="font-size: large;">impact on me</span><span style="font-size: large;"> was called '<b>Sabra and Shatila.'</b> The painting was included in a section called</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>'Art of the Resistance.'</b> It was interesting to learn that modern and contemporary Arab art often "constitutes a medium to express the reality of social and political contexts. In countries which have or are still suffering the consequences of war and conflict, some artists commit to using art as a form of resistance. These works reflect the everyday struggle of people and the artistic expression represents an alternative weapon to violence. The 'Art of Resistance' also acts as a means of testimony to record history in order to avoid forgetfulness and the progressing erasing of identities."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjjBKV2_Kw2uHL8DRgMbVibJ8wTd14z6ncO_huSuXL_Dac3UGQZJ1kLx_8UuM9kMOJZd0UvIwpNwX1dPKPoFl6EK1wI743Yf92DbqEdPHeiOqw8_DV321mZzLhZFJwgUECGzEihP3d533/s1600/260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjjBKV2_Kw2uHL8DRgMbVibJ8wTd14z6ncO_huSuXL_Dac3UGQZJ1kLx_8UuM9kMOJZd0UvIwpNwX1dPKPoFl6EK1wI743Yf92DbqEdPHeiOqw8_DV321mZzLhZFJwgUECGzEihP3d533/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEigymvbz4brOBPZGq0dQKx2SF-l5hSiO27K6UQXbf2BeZxU8PfJdXno9pZMm43s1Fe9QC3ht1ByQghvZwrEZbRMVLMWaDE2yijICNOjQ5CSMdyXU54i2ZEcK-Nkd-xMP8dWGpMcBR_F-xsX/s1600/264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigymvbz4brOBPZGq0dQKx2SF-l5hSiO27K6UQXbf2BeZxU8PfJdXno9pZMm43s1Fe9QC3ht1ByQghvZwrEZbRMVLMWaDE2yijICNOjQ5CSMdyXU54i2ZEcK-Nkd-xMP8dWGpMcBR_F-xsX/s320/264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the long gallery, museum staff were just installing some compelling new works of art. They were certainly a radical shift from those we had viewed in the other galleries!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmQQ3Ytd_0_ToH5aEnbP7SKcN3ohT5XWszAcl9u1RImnoIDWLMs0vi1VGCSuxldxZlJDHFwRnIurv5X1C4NWdwZq9uGiFNL6bUjpVb03CSknCO4ZG4rTktCZMHsCIqwrA1tnItL_2bg9o/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmQQ3Ytd_0_ToH5aEnbP7SKcN3ohT5XWszAcl9u1RImnoIDWLMs0vi1VGCSuxldxZlJDHFwRnIurv5X1C4NWdwZq9uGiFNL6bUjpVb03CSknCO4ZG4rTktCZMHsCIqwrA1tnItL_2bg9o/s320/266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7sOl3hpumvaSHsJ1fSuq02nSa2rRC3X4Jc8X1ptCeJivbmiWJZMeJhSWStBqAQiUUiBjwvxc7TSSWTKFXIm17V9ddl5B_fSthvMISNz1OVrJBEoVqX6Xo6LeEX-brF7IzfJoHbV9fHmF/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7sOl3hpumvaSHsJ1fSuq02nSa2rRC3X4Jc8X1ptCeJivbmiWJZMeJhSWStBqAQiUUiBjwvxc7TSSWTKFXIm17V9ddl5B_fSthvMISNz1OVrJBEoVqX6Xo6LeEX-brF7IzfJoHbV9fHmF/s320/267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KEJDDaZ8qcRY8YoH9Q9XVeA0zMbLAsut1cA7FrC8cbJ_4-DMJXthHgVtaXFWLyEcRWAhSQ6VYM_cVcgtnf80j5OebSC44bCToN_vl40O2d6-Zz65PkaTJhpKjwbH-mPBbkKV_Fg944jT/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KEJDDaZ8qcRY8YoH9Q9XVeA0zMbLAsut1cA7FrC8cbJ_4-DMJXthHgVtaXFWLyEcRWAhSQ6VYM_cVcgtnf80j5OebSC44bCToN_vl40O2d6-Zz65PkaTJhpKjwbH-mPBbkKV_Fg944jT/s320/270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNYcP59SToZvLjkan-_eCBF6LkjfV7yskU9VMrpHCCRyADgPcfgRTPDuWbG1kX95Sjth-n_r4y4oaLigW_zGLCcNaa5ILBxVt5u9-mbeDvsLp-HnnwAEmJQW0tuAPrQa07IppGlg37moG/s1600/271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNYcP59SToZvLjkan-_eCBF6LkjfV7yskU9VMrpHCCRyADgPcfgRTPDuWbG1kX95Sjth-n_r4y4oaLigW_zGLCcNaa5ILBxVt5u9-mbeDvsLp-HnnwAEmJQW0tuAPrQa07IppGlg37moG/s320/271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOBcD0UiwIuqq6rJtDn-rKKYqpNAJiB4Fag-cPtY-2lEhdIwYXWzUj96LLUiF-0HWBN-EkyOAhS5g35dFJ_-98PXpptl9AugDLEsW_6OGnxLaZ05NybeSEN-l82K6dhvQTd2yOzUVRacp/s1600/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOBcD0UiwIuqq6rJtDn-rKKYqpNAJiB4Fag-cPtY-2lEhdIwYXWzUj96LLUiF-0HWBN-EkyOAhS5g35dFJ_-98PXpptl9AugDLEsW_6OGnxLaZ05NybeSEN-l82K6dhvQTd2yOzUVRacp/s320/272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4PLYKkHVUHsX9uQ3WCnJshvKMEy9eR5-VvIa7wRtGKhH9GEv_Tod8j5AnuVfYwwNxKkfafCLPejN7Qa4uJHjwlFnOJHjtcDOmkxSvJUtgduZdmRYHiFsEYr9ggvMLOor5PaHjNQvncBr/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4PLYKkHVUHsX9uQ3WCnJshvKMEy9eR5-VvIa7wRtGKhH9GEv_Tod8j5AnuVfYwwNxKkfafCLPejN7Qa4uJHjwlFnOJHjtcDOmkxSvJUtgduZdmRYHiFsEYr9ggvMLOor5PaHjNQvncBr/s320/274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_PqKSa4O4E1venhxk3dW6msZO-ZRsih7BJ-QYgCC-hGZgp5W4LuhlZEiK3g2-3tG4HWe-enrZ8ooWbMLGL6jdksUb-UywOBat3QHNleFW3Nu2kPpzUI3_XiHns2STLkJLj1wv3YOsmi0/s1600/275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_PqKSa4O4E1venhxk3dW6msZO-ZRsih7BJ-QYgCC-hGZgp5W4LuhlZEiK3g2-3tG4HWe-enrZ8ooWbMLGL6jdksUb-UywOBat3QHNleFW3Nu2kPpzUI3_XiHns2STLkJLj1wv3YOsmi0/s320/275.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I were so glad we had spent some time at the free Sharjah Art Museum as we had thoroughly enjoyed learning about both The Short Century and the Art of Resistance through the eyes and minds of Arab artists.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps this artistic installation at the <b>Sharjah Art Foundation </b>directly across from the museum should be labelled 'The Stairs to Nowhere'!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BrpKlq-Vn-kyB03X_m9fzB4YcPQgBPO5cQF9u0diPGHQ9Vt3N5KEPW3zF-nNZB8BopKCVGkGcGUDG1F4iNzhEwoFBPs1jUJuFObrY2TuWuFvkZGVG6w9SQCFAlKgp_X4W-L2HE_rHy3q/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BrpKlq-Vn-kyB03X_m9fzB4YcPQgBPO5cQF9u0diPGHQ9Vt3N5KEPW3zF-nNZB8BopKCVGkGcGUDG1F4iNzhEwoFBPs1jUJuFObrY2TuWuFvkZGVG6w9SQCFAlKgp_X4W-L2HE_rHy3q/s640/277.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just outside the museum was another of the Meeting Point signs we'd noticed ever since arriving in the UAE almost a week earlier. We never did find out what might necessitate Emiratis to congregate at such points.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGN_gD9dkz9Vxety_GVvHscGRgOuhwLhtNDNEjGS5jqOX9O4b0AD3aM4Ti43wiZvdhHzdh3VV4rAtvQ2jd7sw9Og1rgOwHpHa0rnqR9ZVCZMe9r8YSpG619LL-ObffgPbk6Pg6w3ARjGF/s1600/279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGN_gD9dkz9Vxety_GVvHscGRgOuhwLhtNDNEjGS5jqOX9O4b0AD3aM4Ti43wiZvdhHzdh3VV4rAtvQ2jd7sw9Og1rgOwHpHa0rnqR9ZVCZMe9r8YSpG619LL-ObffgPbk6Pg6w3ARjGF/s320/279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another five minutes' walk north along the Corniche brought us to one of the city's highlights, the superb <b>Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">originally built in 1987 as a traditional Arab market or souk.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOQhFQPC9VmfN2smJEcmJpaYJmgYsb96ElwPdSqCF7JjJR3sNasrwNUiWhql9DXb67qbjFwM6fp62yvjLYT5wtc6gO_0p81eSgJKmO22VGtbXpRKuLc1nbdoIiX8YqK4kBP1I8m6eSsSU/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOQhFQPC9VmfN2smJEcmJpaYJmgYsb96ElwPdSqCF7JjJR3sNasrwNUiWhql9DXb67qbjFwM6fp62yvjLYT5wtc6gO_0p81eSgJKmO22VGtbXpRKuLc1nbdoIiX8YqK4kBP1I8m6eSsSU/s320/283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The massive museum was topped by its distinctive golden dome. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKWd7w1nsqkaT-gWejPB6UXY_pd4d7Yt3KHs9Xi-Nq1o8uXhF8CJfewKZ7LOroBC4vDbDhy0FG8pxhXCkcomcNMTZ1eZiMQm3oYHimfUukBc6gK0kETM-QYwJDrNf2HWP81ZjBe3PrLPH/s1600/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKWd7w1nsqkaT-gWejPB6UXY_pd4d7Yt3KHs9Xi-Nq1o8uXhF8CJfewKZ7LOroBC4vDbDhy0FG8pxhXCkcomcNMTZ1eZiMQm3oYHimfUukBc6gK0kETM-QYwJDrNf2HWP81ZjBe3PrLPH/s320/285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The original building was constructed in stone intended to resemble that of the Natural History Museum in London which was built in 1881. The two-story building "explored the spiritual symbolism of Islamic culture in its design through the use of light and the traditional patterns incorporated in the building."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yrY60H7mYtBLO3zBSfyE7L1YD6QV4R-CmF2rLk535QqPUxNmPQtE5C4H7ms-u0QUnMNRbj_SHVL2eFqaPMzODlw0gXGDKXU8XuYROkcq0xm6QxMiPgEFhqxHZUvy7qUMjUYhDLadJYdd/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yrY60H7mYtBLO3zBSfyE7L1YD6QV4R-CmF2rLk535QqPUxNmPQtE5C4H7ms-u0QUnMNRbj_SHVL2eFqaPMzODlw0gXGDKXU8XuYROkcq0xm6QxMiPgEFhqxHZUvy7qUMjUYhDLadJYdd/s320/288.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The ground floor had a wide ranging and superbly presented overview of various contributions made by Muslim scientists, artists and scientists to world knowledge over the last 500 years. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc1NAFAPD_5OiB_FbmewEKR3sT78kPgFFB-c6DB6Jyz8vgjU9vxiFQh38KhVddr6HBeV7BEQRU9MeJweiuLtzTjY0BGDEm2v_SQVPIv6KWtYAqBnwMFfPjOwNbHuRbTtA4AciDhe1Dp4i/s1600/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc1NAFAPD_5OiB_FbmewEKR3sT78kPgFFB-c6DB6Jyz8vgjU9vxiFQh38KhVddr6HBeV7BEQRU9MeJweiuLtzTjY0BGDEm2v_SQVPIv6KWtYAqBnwMFfPjOwNbHuRbTtA4AciDhe1Dp4i/s320/287.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Balance of Wisdom </b>marked the high point of early Islamic weighing technology. The five parts of the balance, </span><span style="font-size: large;">which was developed around 1115,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> measured the specific properties of metal alloys and precious stones. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rOUC_oaId-vkdQp5zjsq9QTyVqf9211U1WMVn_UtCHOQzHk1akfBgINu-GvuycxiLi0WT_xlsKU9O692Sap4EmJWb43WDRfuesFhazIQwu7EMtmLGywJ5Y8-I7xo-K23EuwJFJnu5ms/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rOUC_oaId-vkdQp5zjsq9QTyVqf9211U1WMVn_UtCHOQzHk1akfBgINu-GvuycxiLi0WT_xlsKU9O692Sap4EmJWb43WDRfuesFhazIQwu7EMtmLGywJ5Y8-I7xo-K23EuwJFJnu5ms/s320/289.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A model of the <b>observatory in Jaipur, India</b> that we visited on our previous trip:</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWNSoIC3bPoYi2eLTcRK8VIOah4yjMKAVQPhCTjNyDu4WCXw2ey7XWTcEP0ezZwyKJ32EeG-d3dwxt7vqhMvh_ME9uINqO9Vptx4sRzG9V7nav7v_esqKN1cJqluD8KvgUz-BGYtmV5c/s1600/335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWNSoIC3bPoYi2eLTcRK8VIOah4yjMKAVQPhCTjNyDu4WCXw2ey7XWTcEP0ezZwyKJ32EeG-d3dwxt7vqhMvh_ME9uINqO9Vptx4sRzG9V7nav7v_esqKN1cJqluD8KvgUz-BGYtmV5c/s320/335.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Leveling Devices: </b></span> <span style="font-size: large;">These instruments were models of leveling devices described by the 13th century mathematician <b>Al-Marraqushi.</b> The different designs performed the same function: the weight in the center indicated when the surface on which the instrument stood was level. Leveling devices like these were often used to construct water channels. Without an accurately designed gradient, the water wouldn't be able to flow where it was needed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobsuOh7-R2JDZsL61wR5k92mOZqD4jSXT3OysIL75BdWfxWjVNBPowg_JhMbPm2scRVa5T5UM-kmETaXT741W8F72ZgCjyC7xXDhdhhlz9VDXTCcd7GmqRaA9WcIPm83WRszqsx0R_fw/s1600/339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobsuOh7-R2JDZsL61wR5k92mOZqD4jSXT3OysIL75BdWfxWjVNBPowg_JhMbPm2scRVa5T5UM-kmETaXT741W8F72ZgCjyC7xXDhdhhlz9VDXTCcd7GmqRaA9WcIPm83WRszqsx0R_fw/s320/339.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A model of Al-Jazari's <b>water clock</b> from around 1200. The sophisticated water-powered mechanism was hidden inside.</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqVdeQbjA7ZxMyLnA1GXqQJFEfT-ekm5kjbM0hYrFdI1W2Kx65bB5onq-Q1-A4K-uQa_IMV9UdEoB6rLAtrKGs7tThKnNKddEPUrRTMAv-zOnyYjdyP3b_w6nmQ_p-DdvyEfOtVpyFto/s1600/345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqVdeQbjA7ZxMyLnA1GXqQJFEfT-ekm5kjbM0hYrFdI1W2Kx65bB5onq-Q1-A4K-uQa_IMV9UdEoB6rLAtrKGs7tThKnNKddEPUrRTMAv-zOnyYjdyP3b_w6nmQ_p-DdvyEfOtVpyFto/s320/345.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjnA-_lJg1CWRG592DVyHb_3RrCVPp0rLJ4EcsGcyo82BoNcPn7hqkxHcVyHZ_FWwl2zKJQmqauAUb6iYfHZ4k0yLDvMAVcEk8xV6fNOZrlJgCIZ2bMCROIosolKyryvh33-ywYEv5I-b0/s1600/343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA-_lJg1CWRG592DVyHb_3RrCVPp0rLJ4EcsGcyo82BoNcPn7hqkxHcVyHZ_FWwl2zKJQmqauAUb6iYfHZ4k0yLDvMAVcEk8xV6fNOZrlJgCIZ2bMCROIosolKyryvh33-ywYEv5I-b0/s320/343.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Machine for Lifting Water:</b> In this water-raising machine, the oxen walked around in a circle pulling a beam attached to an axle which passed through the floor of the upper platform. The rotation of the axle caused four large hollow beams attached to dippers to rise and fall. As the dippers fell, they filled with water; when the beams rose, the water flowed out through the hollow beam into a water course at a higher level. The model was based on a description and illustration in the <b>Book of Ingenious Devices by Ibn al-Razzar al-Jazari. </b></span><b> </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrNR9iuQWsdP7sq0TKjNUwtSd-J4jYtD4kO-i_MrJ0_HnIOhpuGrWgqj2BqSxmS5Inezt-aiiRkUi42fdFKjgIjSnf4HVWnFKYcNMBPGMaXLObqTduKntnnzN_YM73fNPUaMw2i_CWs4/s1600/348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrNR9iuQWsdP7sq0TKjNUwtSd-J4jYtD4kO-i_MrJ0_HnIOhpuGrWgqj2BqSxmS5Inezt-aiiRkUi42fdFKjgIjSnf4HVWnFKYcNMBPGMaXLObqTduKntnnzN_YM73fNPUaMw2i_CWs4/s320/348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This modern globe based on the world map of <b>Al-Ma'um </b>revealed the extent of Islamic cartography. The original work was commissioned in the early 9th century and was based on numerous astronomers and geographers who were instructed to go out and compile a comprehensive new world map. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pHP9Aa-aywPRshtM-AcY2jeljlycjDeL60sNYXulnDSxd9Pnw9zo_JUMTZjmjfLl4jJgQo9S5oTfuVB1BhjCa4B735z96Nev-ybpxqjvWi_MQSMs0JVaRMwOCXd8hK3A9TxEyYFRLkw/s1600/341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pHP9Aa-aywPRshtM-AcY2jeljlycjDeL60sNYXulnDSxd9Pnw9zo_JUMTZjmjfLl4jJgQo9S5oTfuVB1BhjCa4B735z96Nev-ybpxqjvWi_MQSMs0JVaRMwOCXd8hK3A9TxEyYFRLkw/s320/341.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A world map engraved on a large silver plate by <b>Al-Idrisi</b> in 1154 was commissioned by the Norman King Roger II in Sicily.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZJAkYoUzakaTvH0bM9wr-ujTQX3YqkyLP_DF7jjNc5Z0u03DStmL6BcKjipzuwLxpaZWNZdfae-ouN-XIVNjBuXq2dw5zw4-uv-1qDrnm8XFeTleBTluQVyQd36qZDvuuFzFJCo8Y6g/s1600/346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZJAkYoUzakaTvH0bM9wr-ujTQX3YqkyLP_DF7jjNc5Z0u03DStmL6BcKjipzuwLxpaZWNZdfae-ouN-XIVNjBuXq2dw5zw4-uv-1qDrnm8XFeTleBTluQVyQd36qZDvuuFzFJCo8Y6g/s320/346.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Water wheels which captured the power of flowing water and used to grind grain, were widespread in ancient Rome, the early Muslim world and medieval Europe. The design was based on an Arabic manuscript by Al-Jazari and a surviving wheel built in 7th century Damascus to supply water to a mosque and a hospital.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq3tBxoNdT2BWlB3nkmjEy3xItPjxzHC9GwurKc5lu-GEe1qPnVStydQIAS1QIlfrcQL9JTzlH8MXzVH49LQlQMgbrC_uy1mtYYsm7uNMJenOCXXmkKd186tVN0hSpOAy798Zw4qmYcU/s1600/352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikq3tBxoNdT2BWlB3nkmjEy3xItPjxzHC9GwurKc5lu-GEe1qPnVStydQIAS1QIlfrcQL9JTzlH8MXzVH49LQlQMgbrC_uy1mtYYsm7uNMJenOCXXmkKd186tVN0hSpOAy798Zw4qmYcU/s320/352.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ship Mills:</b> Floating and tightly tethered ship mills captured the power of the river directly. The fast-flowing water turned their huge water wheels while a series of gears transferred that power to the grinding stones within the boat. The advantages of a ship's mill were that is was movable and it didn't need foundations - useful features in locations where the river bank was heavily built up. The ship mill also rose and fell in line with the water level in the water. Where the river was narrow, the ship mill constricted the flow even more, which increased the river's speed and wheel-turning power. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_3T2_vxHsSVHR4uhhfcyKkR1d31lkXqWhOB5PpvCsbvUDgZC2Ywdpi1XQkL9U25wsGQv-q-tnzLrzgX_20AviPPGXPNvHxSmip6PxYcDBmTWtxs6a_92u3s687C4dkb0f3sevfouxOA/s1600/355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_3T2_vxHsSVHR4uhhfcyKkR1d31lkXqWhOB5PpvCsbvUDgZC2Ywdpi1XQkL9U25wsGQv-q-tnzLrzgX_20AviPPGXPNvHxSmip6PxYcDBmTWtxs6a_92u3s687C4dkb0f3sevfouxOA/s320/355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt like a little kid again when looking at and learning about each of the displays as many of them had buttons to push to activate the models! Woohoo!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmvBYFdQgOQ5W_qBrURHCVy6__rtw9fRAk84ICJGys49iq7b54h3FQo27O3-PCY0bnhin853UvPcKCH2LkaP4ljo4-UdE5kd2lbEn1k4Ja3hhPGCPSFsTyncYRupqFVXV5N13QdqGgXw/s1600/354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmvBYFdQgOQ5W_qBrURHCVy6__rtw9fRAk84ICJGys49iq7b54h3FQo27O3-PCY0bnhin853UvPcKCH2LkaP4ljo4-UdE5kd2lbEn1k4Ja3hhPGCPSFsTyncYRupqFVXV5N13QdqGgXw/s320/354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Raising Water:</b> Water was often scarce and so Islamic engineers devised numerous ways of lifting water from lakes. streams and rivers and channeled it to higher ground where it was needed. Where the water flowed, they used its natural rushing power to drive water wheels. Where the water was still, they turned the wheels using animals and gears. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MZG1yHQqFgX_5SA5Hq56ZXJLt0HXo-iNnMHDmqDu6KerzyOHGsAPthTKJsBrOFwp6E0dta-LHMTv06YGqVpRfpx0eXojYXW6sIBBrVYsfdIZ98E5rr0va0Nr50qUoBPYPnLjOXsN_30/s1600/351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MZG1yHQqFgX_5SA5Hq56ZXJLt0HXo-iNnMHDmqDu6KerzyOHGsAPthTKJsBrOFwp6E0dta-LHMTv06YGqVpRfpx0eXojYXW6sIBBrVYsfdIZ98E5rr0va0Nr50qUoBPYPnLjOXsN_30/s320/351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Islam and Astronomy:</b> The need for accuracy in religious observations and calendar keeping was a major push in the development of Islamic astronomy. The lunar year observed in most Islamic countries is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. That is why religiously important seasons such as the fasting month of Ramadan advance slowly through the seasons. A full cycle takes about 33 solar years. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyhzn9Hk0_YC3CPi3_4DLz8MFAdIsoCdSpu1DF36UICSgXCNAxblojyA6rjLOS3bkbR-Askp29RHQT6HA33KSF27rdyaiewKtRc7StAXxaCtFB_G5ymamAtcgqvYkK1XQTGan5S19VOc/s1600/360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyhzn9Hk0_YC3CPi3_4DLz8MFAdIsoCdSpu1DF36UICSgXCNAxblojyA6rjLOS3bkbR-Askp29RHQT6HA33KSF27rdyaiewKtRc7StAXxaCtFB_G5ymamAtcgqvYkK1XQTGan5S19VOc/s320/360.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Islamic months begin when the thin crescent moon is first sighted in the western evening sky. Predicting </span><span style="font-size: large;">when the crescent moon would become </span><span style="font-size: large;">visible was a special challenge to Islamic mathematical astronomers. They had to relate its movement to the horizon - a calculation that involved complex mathematics. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHknMUWYSgx-cKmwHvXMKn5-RFUemfskaBZTfXxjsF-MN_4_S3D8ckeDKbHJnZSWPHEigWzVMehUKFUa-sieFtRvNy_3ZN38KsEz7gBzvg7-ugTlRQcxa5D3oMM43CyVZKTz9DyatdHv0/s1600/366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHknMUWYSgx-cKmwHvXMKn5-RFUemfskaBZTfXxjsF-MN_4_S3D8ckeDKbHJnZSWPHEigWzVMehUKFUa-sieFtRvNy_3ZN38KsEz7gBzvg7-ugTlRQcxa5D3oMM43CyVZKTz9DyatdHv0/s320/366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The requirement to face <b>Makkah al-Mukarramah,</b> i.e. the holy site of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, when praying meant that astronomers had to find the direction of the Holy City from any given location in the Islamic world. They also had to determine the proper local times for prayers. Islamic astronomers resolved these problems through trigonometry. By the 9th century, they were already using the six modern trigonometric functions (remember sine and cosine, etc from your high school days so long ago!), five of which appear to be of Arab origin.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5568yWPLVd-VnCPMQTQz1Bo8o-hQHh39wxT5Sgk-8oB1dctPOH8T4MJz9gvGAesUy0uQHBHLc1Bf3qAB8jP2mb9LVweVZBjLhM8VQTTjqhzu2OX9hWZqt-A3iKZgmL_zWbOuduk9jcQ/s1600/365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5568yWPLVd-VnCPMQTQz1Bo8o-hQHh39wxT5Sgk-8oB1dctPOH8T4MJz9gvGAesUy0uQHBHLc1Bf3qAB8jP2mb9LVweVZBjLhM8VQTTjqhzu2OX9hWZqt-A3iKZgmL_zWbOuduk9jcQ/s320/365.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiGmvnAJB28evt9ohRP3U3cWjbjTQoBowGg3d03J9n8r25YdwmzThItq2ytKpP82BThSDcSoaDfH-jt2asLtBfbEKlaPVVTTsHZpq3CunHhyPoJsolitqLb5l36n_0ysUPkTs0XTpo8g3M/s1600/358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmvnAJB28evt9ohRP3U3cWjbjTQoBowGg3d03J9n8r25YdwmzThItq2ytKpP82BThSDcSoaDfH-jt2asLtBfbEKlaPVVTTsHZpq3CunHhyPoJsolitqLb5l36n_0ysUPkTs0XTpo8g3M/s320/358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An <b>equatorium,</b> a term I had never heard of before, allowed people to work out the positions of the planets. The device was invented by an Arab mathematician in the second half of the 10th century.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_jtD8vY6_K4dY1pti_vxS84crEPKuHQ62DTjcT7anaLTSPI7Myu02ViveF9ug-Av6_DV3Gj2DdCFt-FQYN0qMiUHOAsnA5H-ag2u53pcoXjiZgcNJAKUPxLp0iEqIYvr-2-xF0CIAs0/s1600/368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_jtD8vY6_K4dY1pti_vxS84crEPKuHQ62DTjcT7anaLTSPI7Myu02ViveF9ug-Av6_DV3Gj2DdCFt-FQYN0qMiUHOAsnA5H-ag2u53pcoXjiZgcNJAKUPxLp0iEqIYvr-2-xF0CIAs0/s320/368.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After learning about so many scientific achievements made by Muslim scholars on the museum's first floor, we then explored the second floor. There, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I was amazed to learn that Islam is the world's fastest growing religion. It has more than 1.4 billion believers, roughly one-fifth of the world's population. The word 'Islam' means submission or surrender to the will of Allah or God. I read that it began when Allah conveyed the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad through the Archangel Gabriel in the cave of <b>Hira in Makkah</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">or Mecca as we know it in Saudi Arabia in 609. A Muslim's faith rests on 'the Six Pillars of Iman or Faith. They are the belief in Allah, in his Angels, in his revealed scriptures, in his Messengers, the day of Judgement and the Resurrection and Divine Predestination. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Shahada,</b> </i>which means <b>The Profession of Faith,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">is the first pillar or tenet of Islam.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Xd6Mq_7kzT8P_dzAD0gJf-bC8E2Kny5hBApJcMmCeZr519Co39tlJMmMeYPQ_FRrt6l6svdPP45Tga-YNjwhSYvyqZc9KapQxsy9AuXByaQP5hYWis5060NdZAdCmdDUzazY2PvUZg/s1600/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Xd6Mq_7kzT8P_dzAD0gJf-bC8E2Kny5hBApJcMmCeZr519Co39tlJMmMeYPQ_FRrt6l6svdPP45Tga-YNjwhSYvyqZc9KapQxsy9AuXByaQP5hYWis5060NdZAdCmdDUzazY2PvUZg/s320/295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Salat, </b>another pillar of the Muslim faith</span><span style="font-size: large;"> meaning <b>The Five Daily Prayers,</b> is important to devout Muslims.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwRlAik4nYg8U6jYdiSQeBlrZ-5sOmFCNhyphenhyphenBTj4oiBaxKH0uQVhuBBx9z3cqfBGw8TU-dojBlbgbHFe90CXZZ78ZjNTa9WXpLMcGipYbhbFf5P3OqgEbGngEpm_jJ1ackWTgvHHoUr9U/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwRlAik4nYg8U6jYdiSQeBlrZ-5sOmFCNhyphenhyphenBTj4oiBaxKH0uQVhuBBx9z3cqfBGw8TU-dojBlbgbHFe90CXZZ78ZjNTa9WXpLMcGipYbhbFf5P3OqgEbGngEpm_jJ1ackWTgvHHoUr9U/s320/297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Zakat,</b></i> meaning <b>Monetary Obligation,</b> is<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">the third pillar of Islam. It's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> an Arabic word which translates to blessing, purification and growth. The term is used to refer to the specific amount of money paid to support certain causes. <i>Zakat</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">signifies a monetary and legal obligation for Muslims to give alms to the poor and needy. More specifically, they must give 2.5% of their net income to charity annually. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For Muslims, the giving of <i>zakat</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">is a way of strengthening society both economically and morally. Muslims are, of course, free to give much more than the legally prescribed amount voluntarily, either in monetary form or in kind.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QlW0gRMtkZ74iZLesUtnYhNCRbjSCwrg3Mj6J2L3zRFvEZ7ZX8Z1E7Yrc6exE-P2iwdA4_WDNwfqVTC8Fa-3yiBxoa9MKGhUAmPhirDDDyoA9QQ1qwh1NWzaHlf3HscullyyW1_69yM/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QlW0gRMtkZ74iZLesUtnYhNCRbjSCwrg3Mj6J2L3zRFvEZ7ZX8Z1E7Yrc6exE-P2iwdA4_WDNwfqVTC8Fa-3yiBxoa9MKGhUAmPhirDDDyoA9QQ1qwh1NWzaHlf3HscullyyW1_69yM/s320/299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fourth pillar, <b>Sawm,</b> is <b>fasting</b> during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The fifth pillar of Islam is the <b>hajj, </b>the annual pilgrimage to Makkah or Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which takes place in the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar known as <b>Dhu'l Hijjah. </b>All Muslims must undertake this pilgrimage at least once in their lives, if they are physically and financially able to do so. The rituals and the route of the hajj are precisely defined. Muslims are obliged to attend/go on (?) the hajj to purify their souls and to train them in patience and their submission to Allah. Devout Muslim pilgrims look forward to having their sins forgiven by Allah.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Holy Mosque in Mecca:</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SppmT9iCLEfDcpgQQaE5gLSZTsRdTIZmj6LKXAJbdSkskoKmsgcs_hBmy605Uh4Iv9d0NM4cFs_lGWgF1XtlswTvIyY7Oa9fvzOZcNaWpwRBmpUqlfS79r3VJNSL9QnDg-0bLcEwx6Q/s1600/309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SppmT9iCLEfDcpgQQaE5gLSZTsRdTIZmj6LKXAJbdSkskoKmsgcs_hBmy605Uh4Iv9d0NM4cFs_lGWgF1XtlswTvIyY7Oa9fvzOZcNaWpwRBmpUqlfS79r3VJNSL9QnDg-0bLcEwx6Q/s320/309.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The photo shows the crowds of Islamic faithful performing hajj: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlHjxXUrF4kNYXiRe27J23Djzcnz3sq8oMb9Ijcx_fi65lWy1jmLp75gMEfbze6qOCAkmKGk7k3FQ1OEWyXL16JpFtHow3LLwCagYUDOqknZp7w7O9N5eclRr5qvmUwWNxOfd_IbGGqs/s1600/302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlHjxXUrF4kNYXiRe27J23Djzcnz3sq8oMb9Ijcx_fi65lWy1jmLp75gMEfbze6qOCAkmKGk7k3FQ1OEWyXL16JpFtHow3LLwCagYUDOqknZp7w7O9N5eclRr5qvmUwWNxOfd_IbGGqs/s320/302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtPWJXWfHYGGEeqaH9NdJStZRzIbun_yRtJyR7NDDU_RG66sriQHMSICZPbmmwHAoHXApouY3SYI_1j1M9JFqlimjg45p_sypug5eIgWYplGdrN2NBpHGzhEvRhiJPhHZJaPu11S3ZCQ/s1600/307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtPWJXWfHYGGEeqaH9NdJStZRzIbun_yRtJyR7NDDU_RG66sriQHMSICZPbmmwHAoHXApouY3SYI_1j1M9JFqlimjg45p_sypug5eIgWYplGdrN2NBpHGzhEvRhiJPhHZJaPu11S3ZCQ/s320/307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Kiswah:</i></b> <b>Clothing the House of Allah: </b>The heavy cloth of black silk lined with embroidered gold and silver threads that cover the <i><b>Ka'ba,</b></i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a small building in the courtyard of the Great Mosque in Mecca, is known as the <i>kiswah.</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The tradition of draping the <i>Ka'ba</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">dates back to pre-Islamic times. The <i>kiswah,</i> measuring </span><span style="font-size: large;">almost 46 feet high by 39 feet wide, is changed annually during the hajj pilgrimage during the ninth day of the final month of the Islamic calendar. The old <i>kiswah</i> is taken down and the walls are cleaned with rose water and incense before the new<i> kiswah</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">is put in place. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xYMqWdWegWYrftt-WQ3YW21cUiPTcGSXiMtldHyc5vvfmW9hWanSWLmUB-kgWA_8PZBqWaPKwDurqfRzJrF5O_R_oh_hE8Kpw_22yGuCdtRzlMnJnO0JPCECJxChhoMzv57yvrF6zcE/s1600/313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xYMqWdWegWYrftt-WQ3YW21cUiPTcGSXiMtldHyc5vvfmW9hWanSWLmUB-kgWA_8PZBqWaPKwDurqfRzJrF5O_R_oh_hE8Kpw_22yGuCdtRzlMnJnO0JPCECJxChhoMzv57yvrF6zcE/s320/313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Makkah, the Blessed City for Muslims, has always been a sacred and venerated city. This status is enhanced by the <i>Ka'ba</i> or the House of Allah located within it. The <i>Ka'ba,</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">located at the heart of the central courtyard,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> provides the focus for people from all over the world during the annual pilgrimage. The Holy Mosque at Makkah al-Mukarramah can hold more than one million worshipers! It occupies five levels: two below ground and three above. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1nhMIfGZpKM0i80Z4Qemh7vgboAWprS4kLyQUVjEw0HaawL0qh06cBpgWTa17bW38vB0XNW-byGSp8kd1vVYnjc-3lUm1jbibW3M_3yLcCKTXtKsXBf7wAdArlgH1FIbQf7r6ZFUtz0/s1600/318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1nhMIfGZpKM0i80Z4Qemh7vgboAWprS4kLyQUVjEw0HaawL0qh06cBpgWTa17bW38vB0XNW-byGSp8kd1vVYnjc-3lUm1jbibW3M_3yLcCKTXtKsXBf7wAdArlgH1FIbQf7r6ZFUtz0/s320/318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that each Islamic community has its own mosque. The materials used to build and decorate mosques vary from location to location. Each region or country has developed its own distinctive style depending on local materials. Some mosques are built of simple brick while others are adorned with marble, gold leaf and tiles laid in intricate patterns.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zlv_aP29uK3aTzQLlRTeFi8TmtM5H8vGOHAbLlk2k2MtEfMSI0udo9Q0DutCHN8Z44xeHosR07f66Ll21LZieyStK94YjY3ClTm7RiZ77lDJPLkiQrJd9lE2pjmCHOEpfsMB1NkMfsM/s1600/323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zlv_aP29uK3aTzQLlRTeFi8TmtM5H8vGOHAbLlk2k2MtEfMSI0udo9Q0DutCHN8Z44xeHosR07f66Ll21LZieyStK94YjY3ClTm7RiZ77lDJPLkiQrJd9lE2pjmCHOEpfsMB1NkMfsM/s320/323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This mosque in a village just outside Vilnius, Lithuania was first mentioned in 1558 and is the oldest mosque still in use in that country. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1u8C_sR7lBWM0POOPYyPov87TcSBKjq0COKmEcK_r078FE4jhMp4i8CwAel9oYZk_ZkHEnv0ZM8M7nHsyfJj7iKVMJLyjD3kCMWqogx8TWUUFl8wyFneHV5qNeD9RO81cOFAZ3W6LBk/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1u8C_sR7lBWM0POOPYyPov87TcSBKjq0COKmEcK_r078FE4jhMp4i8CwAel9oYZk_ZkHEnv0ZM8M7nHsyfJj7iKVMJLyjD3kCMWqogx8TWUUFl8wyFneHV5qNeD9RO81cOFAZ3W6LBk/s320/324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A mosque in Poland:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jcjcWzUy1MqXRGHy6Biw7CTQ7r0D42DkeidX7IFyOswMKKnQuzANb7lWywEn4bIcS-ZFgRornGdXCfi7tYK1vVXwqvuYXTCC7Sfnoybxi3-UZr09kINNscaJ1pxyNkyk0b5TxO2eNGU/s1600/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jcjcWzUy1MqXRGHy6Biw7CTQ7r0D42DkeidX7IFyOswMKKnQuzANb7lWywEn4bIcS-ZFgRornGdXCfi7tYK1vVXwqvuYXTCC7Sfnoybxi3-UZr09kINNscaJ1pxyNkyk0b5TxO2eNGU/s320/326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This mosque, located in the small southern German town of <b>Penzberg,</b> was completed in 2005. As the public call to prayer is generally not allowed in Germany, its words were written on the minaret in calligraphic form.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKOpE_FyRVUO4KhGvDBrl8oqcNQwuHgdWU535W2GU27Kxh_s3C9ncKIbz-bcjUKp0MSDYIhGOdQZZbu0n1OGxN2ib_0BvZRmtHF0JZxOJ0kS7pXa1Wwu43rbx7zLh4-2OzRY9fG7NJ1w/s1600/328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKOpE_FyRVUO4KhGvDBrl8oqcNQwuHgdWU535W2GU27Kxh_s3C9ncKIbz-bcjUKp0MSDYIhGOdQZZbu0n1OGxN2ib_0BvZRmtHF0JZxOJ0kS7pXa1Wwu43rbx7zLh4-2OzRY9fG7NJ1w/s320/328.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mosque decoration can be minimal or ornate. The walls and ceilings of many of the great mosques are often adorned with exquisite patterns. Islam forbids the decoration of mosques or religious objects with images of humans or animals. As a result, Islamic artists took their inspiration directly from the Qur'an, aka Koran, geometry and from abstract patterns of leaves and flowers in the style known as <i>arabesque.</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Over the centuries, artists have woven these three elements into the most intricate patterns that proclaim the beauty of the Koran for Muslims.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0GbiLEviyI7h0bHRI7JN4rVyLuCaG9u7YKL-c4PvQBUZaU9L1g6lQ1MJYBcN-SRwRwXer6zex-mKPa65XBd1rsZJ6eG8Kczt4cCPpgzxt8pzaO13Ycm28Bmay4YrrhFCrjKArbsh7yM/s1600/330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0GbiLEviyI7h0bHRI7JN4rVyLuCaG9u7YKL-c4PvQBUZaU9L1g6lQ1MJYBcN-SRwRwXer6zex-mKPa65XBd1rsZJ6eG8Kczt4cCPpgzxt8pzaO13Ycm28Bmay4YrrhFCrjKArbsh7yM/s320/330.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span id="goog_2033930374"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-TGkVIs4cqFxd3-Ut2D7-LIhZYVtMiUfOyP-gBbskpKwnJQ1Ls1Dcv4YRa4BdwUw_QW0HNqIYIG6gzSjSV6wfve3W2_2IqQ3tj7vOkdjvSiOV2hnw0891ll8S0rNgsyhlxxRSx6UNbw/s1600/375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-TGkVIs4cqFxd3-Ut2D7-LIhZYVtMiUfOyP-gBbskpKwnJQ1Ls1Dcv4YRa4BdwUw_QW0HNqIYIG6gzSjSV6wfve3W2_2IqQ3tj7vOkdjvSiOV2hnw0891ll8S0rNgsyhlxxRSx6UNbw/s320/375.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum had a special exhibit called <b>Spectacle and Splendour </b>which contained Ottoman pieces from the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK0mjpyZAI1pke8k443hEHunLM_viJb89HbCkdT3cYOhrvuhp70i0HfJ0F2I9_-dRpGCsTeTOoikAZw6DpXM1EfTJI_T6AKjqTJkXK3IAOiP37d3LSkfr3VZkP30dbbdhW5vt3oOv6wo/s1600/378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK0mjpyZAI1pke8k443hEHunLM_viJb89HbCkdT3cYOhrvuhp70i0HfJ0F2I9_-dRpGCsTeTOoikAZw6DpXM1EfTJI_T6AKjqTJkXK3IAOiP37d3LSkfr3VZkP30dbbdhW5vt3oOv6wo/s320/378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_PJvzxqfXSTkxONlQpI23TyIpuKk5GZFYkf1BNcaiAKXG6nMAZ2GrCjaWdGs_Qm0f375ktiZU3PZax1gthG6YU4idVX-CeiWzEh9uRHHzCnjCk0Qpc6h5N83VhXgZg0oiBRoknU5PBY/s1600/379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_PJvzxqfXSTkxONlQpI23TyIpuKk5GZFYkf1BNcaiAKXG6nMAZ2GrCjaWdGs_Qm0f375ktiZU3PZax1gthG6YU4idVX-CeiWzEh9uRHHzCnjCk0Qpc6h5N83VhXgZg0oiBRoknU5PBY/s320/379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fDRjLHViV43s090mICZCPDReVoSZl1SlvdSfoZo8jNwe6fD0yOcztmtGEX5C-4SiJkIZVjC-LUUn_xf9foBDFef4oYiQlElekcoh2OwLq7R5RIvv3h5USDqvAbozonSLpyecTYXBT1k/s1600/380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fDRjLHViV43s090mICZCPDReVoSZl1SlvdSfoZo8jNwe6fD0yOcztmtGEX5C-4SiJkIZVjC-LUUn_xf9foBDFef4oYiQlElekcoh2OwLq7R5RIvv3h5USDqvAbozonSLpyecTYXBT1k/s320/380.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This late 18th century towel was embroidered with undyed cotton, colored silk and metal thread. According to Ottoman Turkish custom, diners dried their hands on fringed towels after washing before or after a meal. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs8XIYtUFYBCLA0HejxTWeWp4aVSJ46DK3PuEGEeXaTJeQ_xEJoykbCYfvU3qLO6kFvnYtn8ekv5CtJCoh6GLX4BQRpAJ_df2hMWxLnwE34CRtrCplalxG13yZFHKYbuaulTDRl4hkqU/s1600/382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSs8XIYtUFYBCLA0HejxTWeWp4aVSJ46DK3PuEGEeXaTJeQ_xEJoykbCYfvU3qLO6kFvnYtn8ekv5CtJCoh6GLX4BQRpAJ_df2hMWxLnwE34CRtrCplalxG13yZFHKYbuaulTDRl4hkqU/s320/382.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The rotunda on the second floor was was gorgeous. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcj1pS9PlyOqqMmY-dTOyT9BQpaFYWCrkyGjEW2b6AWwsY5cdYf1fMRiSIHit-sz9AYs2XS9ZpykDu3gkXmEmkV8DtNXJ8Oc5BVu3AfOQHso1YnqperR0P5NrWN9CxeE5BrksVN_CCe8/s1600/386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcj1pS9PlyOqqMmY-dTOyT9BQpaFYWCrkyGjEW2b6AWwsY5cdYf1fMRiSIHit-sz9AYs2XS9ZpykDu3gkXmEmkV8DtNXJ8Oc5BVu3AfOQHso1YnqperR0P5NrWN9CxeE5BrksVN_CCe8/s320/386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum's most outstanding feature was its majestic, gilt central dome located above the rotunda. It was decorated on the inside with an intricate mosaic depicting the night sky and the signs of the zodiac. Can you find yours below?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKRDOCh3MDlT23wjs5xShpVZvEgkQNJWd8vEc98jP2XJhv-q5g3uJtkA7psFSG337xdvPqq8_bqsYvQbrvLvuJeQC0k2g1P5gX03YKWRQjVfxru9-vmYq7bmIUyXB8UjY-tJ0Le_Ig_g/s1600/405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKRDOCh3MDlT23wjs5xShpVZvEgkQNJWd8vEc98jP2XJhv-q5g3uJtkA7psFSG337xdvPqq8_bqsYvQbrvLvuJeQC0k2g1P5gX03YKWRQjVfxru9-vmYq7bmIUyXB8UjY-tJ0Le_Ig_g/s320/405.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgg51YWbeNqREzqE_VKazVHMfmQD-lZ4tsE-Br4jZMC16Oay3ipPw2hnMEUqK8HmaEuNawkulhuQK0O0SMJzTnRjOV95a5r7CJOzYpTnhjcExbme-o0AXmjGGcsLLJlWt_KgOrLkky_rEY/s1600/400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg51YWbeNqREzqE_VKazVHMfmQD-lZ4tsE-Br4jZMC16Oay3ipPw2hnMEUqK8HmaEuNawkulhuQK0O0SMJzTnRjOV95a5r7CJOzYpTnhjcExbme-o0AXmjGGcsLLJlWt_KgOrLkky_rEY/s320/400.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjzT9wCgZ_e5NK90D5sVclVZGEgalYGW9w9le84ShemsobX8szYUHH3ZU7ausCOMJoBlBbeIFznraG532xNIAu-L65XLYYBpddIlQTxjw250ZoGWXcCVz-ld-G74ppRTN8R38_gyWtDcIs/s1600/403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzT9wCgZ_e5NK90D5sVclVZGEgalYGW9w9le84ShemsobX8szYUHH3ZU7ausCOMJoBlBbeIFznraG532xNIAu-L65XLYYBpddIlQTxjw250ZoGWXcCVz-ld-G74ppRTN8R38_gyWtDcIs/s320/403.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiWHSStn0SvNQpJLF56Qren52lfvyJTt-NHws9oRcr9ab2RayEkpqJ3xhN5o8-3pd25f9UfLXtOqaHUe3KZaKLmbhsGw5DjgBxu2PWvrjc9A4CgbhqRg0asKKzGHYXb7IX0Br2CSjWhRqc/s1600/404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHSStn0SvNQpJLF56Qren52lfvyJTt-NHws9oRcr9ab2RayEkpqJ3xhN5o8-3pd25f9UfLXtOqaHUe3KZaKLmbhsGw5DjgBxu2PWvrjc9A4CgbhqRg0asKKzGHYXb7IX0Br2CSjWhRqc/s320/404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h_ySqMzNjvtJT-_UcbUN3yCz3wMisa_MDVpAZnIxUIJDNBIRY1FS2HPi5pDjfqUSL4eKUGDAIp3IKhdMZSzyXp_1D88Obl6GQB1F1e5Tav5MMSG6qehtgTvUT5ODw94sPC3Ggp9VRyA/s1600/388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h_ySqMzNjvtJT-_UcbUN3yCz3wMisa_MDVpAZnIxUIJDNBIRY1FS2HPi5pDjfqUSL4eKUGDAIp3IKhdMZSzyXp_1D88Obl6GQB1F1e5Tav5MMSG6qehtgTvUT5ODw94sPC3Ggp9VRyA/s320/388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">which we were lucky enough to see back in 2014, is considered one of the most magnificent surviving examples of early Islamic architecture. It has changed very little since it was built in the 7th century. Architects used the most expensive materials of marble, mosaic and gold in its construction and positioned it so that it stood out against the skyline of Jerusalem as it still does today. When new, the Dome of the Rock heralded the arrival of the new faith of Islam. It was built in an area of Jerusalem that had great meaning to Muslims, Christians and Jews. In later years, it also came to signify the place where the Prophet's ascent into heaven took place.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70-J9OrO4ODuwQ_78dlVJb-9p2R9CWRlhFb6BVHOnR-rfhJf7tWUJQ9PXa0m1NY3DOU3-229Hv0VgJ6TeNJe-Ilz6mwm4TBv3PRgGwWDkp28toToj6-8bQ09GlFLsiDFQP9oA05GWiug/s1600/389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70-J9OrO4ODuwQ_78dlVJb-9p2R9CWRlhFb6BVHOnR-rfhJf7tWUJQ9PXa0m1NY3DOU3-229Hv0VgJ6TeNJe-Ilz6mwm4TBv3PRgGwWDkp28toToj6-8bQ09GlFLsiDFQP9oA05GWiug/s320/389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Architectural Form and Function: </b>Today, the Muslim Call to Prayer is made from a minaret attached to a mosque. However, minarets, weren't always conceived like this. Some minarets were built as free-standing monuments. One example is the 197 ft tall minaret of <b>Jam</b> in central Afghanistan that was built in 1190 by <b>Sultan Muhammad of Ghur </b>who ruled the area after defeating his opponents. Like most minarets, the Jam one is a very tall building that is easy for all to see. As an imposing symbol of Islam, the minaret signifies both the Muslim faith and the presence of a victorious Islamic power. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QAOi0EkP-lKS_zMt2T-ZSTEgv82anC7t4A165yq5_ie9UR1zewU72h5_C6w02IDjU1uJ2qi1QRVyU-PZDHFUjFNzqXBuXB-HLav6Ae8dx5AzIl0IIVTmtHmAFE2iOunAFfjKrrdmuNk/s1600/393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QAOi0EkP-lKS_zMt2T-ZSTEgv82anC7t4A165yq5_ie9UR1zewU72h5_C6w02IDjU1uJ2qi1QRVyU-PZDHFUjFNzqXBuXB-HLav6Ae8dx5AzIl0IIVTmtHmAFE2iOunAFfjKrrdmuNk/s320/393.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some very attractive i</span><span style="font-size: large;">ntricately carved d</span><span style="font-size: large;">oors and window panels:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbVVUpU29aWfEHM8PeBXU3kT66Qe3K3gyawuFILz3naOUxI0q09zjJiEYvJo9NAvLqWTGqyQ8G5esJCrcEyD5VOUCX3NwJ7AMOpChsd4dZ2dNmYSgrBVzSQX4_TIuteivw1oHI5gW19M/s1600/395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbVVUpU29aWfEHM8PeBXU3kT66Qe3K3gyawuFILz3naOUxI0q09zjJiEYvJo9NAvLqWTGqyQ8G5esJCrcEyD5VOUCX3NwJ7AMOpChsd4dZ2dNmYSgrBVzSQX4_TIuteivw1oHI5gW19M/s320/395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xd_ioU_nWVqhyphenhyphendDBrM5uMWRw3XKgnjb8VLPgI5ZRVW3b18CRUnlf5IpBpOxIM_SnBZ9uTSzLBhGgNkQ7Y8oaOKQjeZ20OHJY4mzw6QbfTxu5g6h9uMyxLppSSeD7SKrL2JVfiYXzVJs/s1600/397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xd_ioU_nWVqhyphenhyphendDBrM5uMWRw3XKgnjb8VLPgI5ZRVW3b18CRUnlf5IpBpOxIM_SnBZ9uTSzLBhGgNkQ7Y8oaOKQjeZ20OHJY4mzw6QbfTxu5g6h9uMyxLppSSeD7SKrL2JVfiYXzVJs/s320/397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Arabic script used in decorative architectural elements:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxiwKYNWz_VdB-SHa9LhYcpeQz_-3pNBhD-zFa8oHUK0aDK-5UvofO9kGjv0uKp8W-EPlQgVurNuorBRQkAhl5TtwPsSmoReRFZqZRzjTrnL_nJZnQMXgotiXUSMlHg9pZB7Y1eBJ6VQ/s1600/398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxiwKYNWz_VdB-SHa9LhYcpeQz_-3pNBhD-zFa8oHUK0aDK-5UvofO9kGjv0uKp8W-EPlQgVurNuorBRQkAhl5TtwPsSmoReRFZqZRzjTrnL_nJZnQMXgotiXUSMlHg9pZB7Y1eBJ6VQ/s320/398.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The 10 dirham per person entrance fee to the museum - all of $2.50 - was an absolute steal for one of the best and most enjoyable museums we've had the pleasure of exploring. I know you'll never believe me, but this post only touched on some of the absorbing displays of </span><span style="font-size: large;">medieval </span><span style="font-size: large;">Islamic scientific discoveries and superb Islamic arts and crafts including beautiful historic manuscripts, ceramics, glass, textiles and jewelry. It was one of the few museums we've explored that we, or perhaps just I, could easily have spent another couple of hours to take in the breadth of the collections!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjPaEI0a9Zx2KLhjRJ1-0H-J00z0cM2dr_bL-BGU7UBlLpWzgWVrjtfW2PjgP2eG_MC54r1IKkghN3c-9ZkbPZ_rBP6YC9q_tULAGcvuHiDytUu84JmInjupQLp2bJAeCTG4Mezn1SNs/s1600/399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjPaEI0a9Zx2KLhjRJ1-0H-J00z0cM2dr_bL-BGU7UBlLpWzgWVrjtfW2PjgP2eG_MC54r1IKkghN3c-9ZkbPZ_rBP6YC9q_tULAGcvuHiDytUu84JmInjupQLp2bJAeCTG4Mezn1SNs/s320/399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned in the previous post about our morning in Sharjah, it was so odd but also neat at the same time, coming across these huge copper coffee pots across the city.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUQjZ1weMx9XJ_vvRLyVP711fOWtcElmaO_pLI07rcaF-LRHEeoTyykxWynMo0eKTqjf-gSB-57JeKx6Zbfh0io1bmDcjfnhlssGHmu-W9TG-_9n9mqCNW-qMkFgyQBeNP-lyQMgOBf8/s1600/407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUQjZ1weMx9XJ_vvRLyVP711fOWtcElmaO_pLI07rcaF-LRHEeoTyykxWynMo0eKTqjf-gSB-57JeKx6Zbfh0io1bmDcjfnhlssGHmu-W9TG-_9n9mqCNW-qMkFgyQBeNP-lyQMgOBf8/s320/407.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGekLCKWDSlKAF-Q_kxonam0vVxQXsFQKSJ97lBVaouLsOOAD302gorXrRV3hpczGP83ydBJo1xxH65jrpLhNyh44LmDobciLnHt6Qa0mOEYfl6Nks-j8O1LKmdmFrOryjZdrKL8QZOY/s1600/408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGekLCKWDSlKAF-Q_kxonam0vVxQXsFQKSJ97lBVaouLsOOAD302gorXrRV3hpczGP83ydBJo1xxH65jrpLhNyh44LmDobciLnHt6Qa0mOEYfl6Nks-j8O1LKmdmFrOryjZdrKL8QZOY/s320/408.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the center of the heritage area was the <b>Al Arsa Souk</b> with rustic coral-stone walls and wooden walls. We had walked by it earlier today but we decided to wander inside after visiting the Museum of Islamic Civilization. The souk's winding alleyways were lined with small antique and other shops selling souvenirs and some unusual curios. The market was one of the oldest popular markets in the UAE. We just wandered through for a few minutes before heading to the new Sharjah Heritage Museum.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlXqU-_RsmHQEcI2zV6cEb_IBctYyfO1CHlRUBU0ScebvTlgKtYV-HqMbSV2GDpwuL2Q36wC1pGFo7PqceR7k115YI8nZ6ZYYJxQ1-8Psmn4GconKFVw8cPOOdEAZeUneZC83XRk5Edw/s1600/412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlXqU-_RsmHQEcI2zV6cEb_IBctYyfO1CHlRUBU0ScebvTlgKtYV-HqMbSV2GDpwuL2Q36wC1pGFo7PqceR7k115YI8nZ6ZYYJxQ1-8Psmn4GconKFVw8cPOOdEAZeUneZC83XRk5Edw/s320/412.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE0_sDBdanNU4FaN6KQXKrhXSRbdCojC-d6EosFTA1aZZBsdUi8ghDvU5ssxbw795z6Rxkql6dXzqokcujZ3PPSm8uchw_V19k68mhu1e-9njdZusmk5QA5OG9EoJtteB5WuvxKMSCAI/s1600/413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE0_sDBdanNU4FaN6KQXKrhXSRbdCojC-d6EosFTA1aZZBsdUi8ghDvU5ssxbw795z6Rxkql6dXzqokcujZ3PPSm8uchw_V19k68mhu1e-9njdZusmk5QA5OG9EoJtteB5WuvxKMSCAI/s320/413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmbvz7i2aCeyut1F-HJ13fKYun9O92xU3i32ous_10NU4SUDJ0GNJo_KXb93xhyhnuvh72qdnZJOBbalHGXakiizfKxY0dRxea5k5gsz1-PJh35PJPSzhOAjboQ1tqxVJmJIIWPiDHfE/s1600/414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmbvz7i2aCeyut1F-HJ13fKYun9O92xU3i32ous_10NU4SUDJ0GNJo_KXb93xhyhnuvh72qdnZJOBbalHGXakiizfKxY0dRxea5k5gsz1-PJh35PJPSzhOAjboQ1tqxVJmJIIWPiDHfE/s320/414.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiZkqJSrO1KDAeqq5igJAPgGvGmqMf6aAHZqGs1jr1azR5qvCNptW_5Dapg0XHhQYFFZ2zdMWTK-L0nEIPYWQmJK-Cmlm43nShSFd4y8kT_kl5Em0K19LgTvnDXJVCVKMD43-eeKYprUCk/s1600/416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkqJSrO1KDAeqq5igJAPgGvGmqMf6aAHZqGs1jr1azR5qvCNptW_5Dapg0XHhQYFFZ2zdMWTK-L0nEIPYWQmJK-Cmlm43nShSFd4y8kT_kl5Em0K19LgTvnDXJVCVKMD43-eeKYprUCk/s320/416.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlbqNSmJALtWHGHdpC8onmSOFg8HokfI040vT2ls8CKZ40KOUEgojSwyhZgdILlAyVPxlaQzoDjrTmGE0md8l-hMg_4kP9RevZ2E4m1wKljWhUt2SfjhMe5JyxB6XXJrZ_yJqzJavtBI/s1600/422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlbqNSmJALtWHGHdpC8onmSOFg8HokfI040vT2ls8CKZ40KOUEgojSwyhZgdILlAyVPxlaQzoDjrTmGE0md8l-hMg_4kP9RevZ2E4m1wKljWhUt2SfjhMe5JyxB6XXJrZ_yJqzJavtBI/s320/422.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_KcLYHxteZgXF1KJW5KR8nB3z_zdC2VEVWlTMfcMkDrAyQoXMH8REFtJ0SueQMPem4k36XXOgtqXsjryclLj1RVgNyJfSoo7ZndFNkUskzqnBjtzgQny5k4Qwwzfaosx4sctX8S_AmY/s1600/423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_KcLYHxteZgXF1KJW5KR8nB3z_zdC2VEVWlTMfcMkDrAyQoXMH8REFtJ0SueQMPem4k36XXOgtqXsjryclLj1RVgNyJfSoo7ZndFNkUskzqnBjtzgQny5k4Qwwzfaosx4sctX8S_AmY/s320/423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Sharjah Heritage Museum </b>was dedicated to the emirate's traditions, customs and culture.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRk03BZagSWHWR67A2prbkVXNnEzud7x52-OK3EkMLN30KU-z01vkgWGBCD4v0BhSvdUM87UL27l9EW29KSFUX-7QLS_7UVPZr1OxEbz3I7s5eytaGUROXQTa2pY81rAVyP-o82Z7nF8/s1600/430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRk03BZagSWHWR67A2prbkVXNnEzud7x52-OK3EkMLN30KU-z01vkgWGBCD4v0BhSvdUM87UL27l9EW29KSFUX-7QLS_7UVPZr1OxEbz3I7s5eytaGUROXQTa2pY81rAVyP-o82Z7nF8/s320/430.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjhRrjAp636UTfkLn9jatW6zzW-vXtGmMYlvyNjgYLzv8EC6GpCJZo7OTHXknWEKByVArJPirmRybEnSInt2ElvO66OUY9wc-LjuYVL_ZYF5vJsgJ4Gv94bCQnh9DfzfXowhP0hWP5JxUk/s1600/428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRrjAp636UTfkLn9jatW6zzW-vXtGmMYlvyNjgYLzv8EC6GpCJZo7OTHXknWEKByVArJPirmRybEnSInt2ElvO66OUY9wc-LjuYVL_ZYF5vJsgJ4Gv94bCQnh9DfzfXowhP0hWP5JxUk/s320/428.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was thrilled when we entered the museum and caught sight of the water and free and fresh dates. Dates have long been a treat I've loved and the museum's sticky, yummy ones were far superior to those available back home. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARmYlP_sAofG8yfzSbQUQ5etaz7QisWHl9a09umfmApNliXadzs0qZ2M-479nmPmcs_n221emV7pz6_h1G58qPEAwEXqZuzwL42CrN5hCGLntu6zb_3j9navIiYopE1jBtrkJX1U08o4/s1600/431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARmYlP_sAofG8yfzSbQUQ5etaz7QisWHl9a09umfmApNliXadzs0qZ2M-479nmPmcs_n221emV7pz6_h1G58qPEAwEXqZuzwL42CrN5hCGLntu6zb_3j9navIiYopE1jBtrkJX1U08o4/s320/431.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A </span><span style="font-size: large;">photo of yet another </span><span style="font-size: large;">unusual women's bathroom sign:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt8hhCq-oneGSqntVHJU9ZCOLsqJBwIFx85vTmTzLa6csz5fSXcNGq5NUaiSj1PLoNrJb4D1ohWMKjwycjjgbQrmH3WydeqQNtCI9cYMNyvOYA6hOuAGyMEh0uwaDf4fkeoNwm93Vczo/s1600/429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt8hhCq-oneGSqntVHJU9ZCOLsqJBwIFx85vTmTzLa6csz5fSXcNGq5NUaiSj1PLoNrJb4D1ohWMKjwycjjgbQrmH3WydeqQNtCI9cYMNyvOYA6hOuAGyMEh0uwaDf4fkeoNwm93Vczo/s320/429.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah is the only one that has territories along both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. </span><span style="font-size: large;">These two bodies of water are separated by the Straight of Hormuz. The Arabian Gulf is shallower, warmer and saltier than the Gulf of Oman. As a result, each body of water supports marine life suited to its environment. Sharjah's islands are important habitats and breeding grounds for wildlife such as seabirds and turtles. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-NIAYYSDF5eYfDBLTCPmh8ISlsS0jCIxz9LUlk9fbjLQkIU-DuKFZWF-fTpOjeM2WjiiL7xxeeyoIloTZnnc4nXq7r8mKM76Z5pYEHb52ov5BQzuslF-Z6WNXsZc2z8uqplC5tiX2fk/s1600/443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-NIAYYSDF5eYfDBLTCPmh8ISlsS0jCIxz9LUlk9fbjLQkIU-DuKFZWF-fTpOjeM2WjiiL7xxeeyoIloTZnnc4nXq7r8mKM76Z5pYEHb52ov5BQzuslF-Z6WNXsZc2z8uqplC5tiX2fk/s320/443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6aNes8zuW0EHSOQAZSdcMuOv1-8mk_1_mnkr5L6blNH-PsoQSnyAdyX2zluXwciMtD6LxCY51zeDivMUOt3gIlYUMHq3at5lCgmAc8fEsh5Hr1fVDdq1xvSuhDuyySeFaydQ3b3AiY0/s1600/442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6aNes8zuW0EHSOQAZSdcMuOv1-8mk_1_mnkr5L6blNH-PsoQSnyAdyX2zluXwciMtD6LxCY51zeDivMUOt3gIlYUMHq3at5lCgmAc8fEsh5Hr1fVDdq1xvSuhDuyySeFaydQ3b3AiY0/s320/442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Excluding the islands, Sharjah is approximately 1,616 square kilometers, which make up about 3.3% of the UAE. Within the Sharjah emirate is the tiny enclave of <b>Nahwa,</b> which is surrounded by Omani territory.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl0rYBOLb8RcZap8YDXa_JN0UpD8uVPyb9Jd-pEBrQKTksTiyLd-4VeG8dVzoB4rvzcrmcFEYp47wfXtB6a4TNcVsv2Z1ux-7LYvxqwThIA6L0X4U2R8y6ldhSTBPfnvZzM0SBnVHMZM/s1600/435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl0rYBOLb8RcZap8YDXa_JN0UpD8uVPyb9Jd-pEBrQKTksTiyLd-4VeG8dVzoB4rvzcrmcFEYp47wfXtB6a4TNcVsv2Z1ux-7LYvxqwThIA6L0X4U2R8y6ldhSTBPfnvZzM0SBnVHMZM/s320/435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A large portion of Sharjah's landscape is desert. Sand, eroded from rock, is carried by the wind and water to form dunes and beaches. Most of Sharjah's desert sand comes from the surrounding mountains that contain limestone, iron, lead sulfide and organic materials. This composition gives the sand its reddish-brown color.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttHm7nyvADZPsPDvmKvaHunDyy8lhKTR0DM_r0MlDNahLaTwnl_sjVMiMoNhYoRMelSic5_JVWe8fax84g5VBf0YXYr-k7gQ807u1-ZLgXRxIiBLizMjiJTOz-X6UTqoga-psk-dYBf8/s1600/438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttHm7nyvADZPsPDvmKvaHunDyy8lhKTR0DM_r0MlDNahLaTwnl_sjVMiMoNhYoRMelSic5_JVWe8fax84g5VBf0YXYr-k7gQ807u1-ZLgXRxIiBLizMjiJTOz-X6UTqoga-psk-dYBf8/s320/438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Western term Bedouin is actually a double plural; in the Arabic language the people we know as Bedouin refer to themselves as <b>"Bedu". </b>The Bedu were able to survive in the harsh desert environment by leading a nomadic lifestyle and by using local resources. Camels provided the Bedu with both sustenance and transportation. Men used rifles, falcons and a particular breed of dogs to hunt gazelles, hares and birds. They also looked after domestic animals by leading them to grazing land. Women used animal hair to make tents, carpets and crafts and also made dairy products. The Bedu' primary sources of income came from selling livestock, wool products, charcoal, dry buttermilk and tree honey.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIQmiLN9vCz2AkbRac3Mb2a29P8QI8vHknNtG5avPn8v3aE_mMHy0Cxin4xOeKirR0r3MTexkO1EYYUvn-drjiH2tcgr3INPh4_KdXoL4sHeqz92Z6UdKbHlimyxdodRgREch0UmbYj4/s1600/440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIQmiLN9vCz2AkbRac3Mb2a29P8QI8vHknNtG5avPn8v3aE_mMHy0Cxin4xOeKirR0r3MTexkO1EYYUvn-drjiH2tcgr3INPh4_KdXoL4sHeqz92Z6UdKbHlimyxdodRgREch0UmbYj4/s320/440.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Greetings: </b>Besides shaking hands, when Emiratis meet a relative, friend or notable person, they may touch noses, or kiss each other on the cheek, forehead or hand. These gestures are usually done in conjunction with specific verbal greetings. All greetings are performed as a sign of courtesy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70v5FdlH86JL0dpep0cRjII10dXNfb5rn-kEnGapTY0Mn9rvJCVr_JqkTWuSIsq0mq7qaC131Ykg3Fs2Pu8EJS1WmJSAWXwqurnVXZ5LPVENhWhZdHsDI6njnc-Z0Z5dxmulHbh-0Wpw/s1600/444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70v5FdlH86JL0dpep0cRjII10dXNfb5rn-kEnGapTY0Mn9rvJCVr_JqkTWuSIsq0mq7qaC131Ykg3Fs2Pu8EJS1WmJSAWXwqurnVXZ5LPVENhWhZdHsDI6njnc-Z0Z5dxmulHbh-0Wpw/s320/444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a sign of <b>hospitality,</b> guests are given<i><b> fuala</b></i> or light refreshments consisting of coffee, dates, <b><i>betheetha </i></b>(a sweet made of dates and fried flour), leavened bread and <i><b>dibs</b></i> (date molasses) all served on a palm mat and covered with a palm food cover to protect the food from dirt and insects. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBnGtmvRIIjV-WxBmA-EAx8zv-LRxnlTZl6zjfDFnPdCZyzdZrCFd3zA5aPh8SlT-zd2lFB6yxZqL-twSgl5QQKGBmg94dsmtWQkoaSkLeD2QSycWX3wlWHao24CSvs-5wO4V7sourrs/s1600/451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBnGtmvRIIjV-WxBmA-EAx8zv-LRxnlTZl6zjfDFnPdCZyzdZrCFd3zA5aPh8SlT-zd2lFB6yxZqL-twSgl5QQKGBmg94dsmtWQkoaSkLeD2QSycWX3wlWHao24CSvs-5wO4V7sourrs/s320/451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When guests were finished eating, they were offered a bowl of water or a pitcher to wash their hands. At the end of a visit, gusts were 'perfumed' with rosewater and other incenses and 'oud' incense!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibVcRoEIXPtgUjQsC0hXvtbH82A0pJFupD323FR9vGTTVJFavynfGotveV6AHY7oOqakXln926zXQhPYjLoQJLPHtd9RpBpg2mn0a-4nuauOYrX0mK50b8zi9F2Wlebk1MFsQLiRDhIo/s1600/452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibVcRoEIXPtgUjQsC0hXvtbH82A0pJFupD323FR9vGTTVJFavynfGotveV6AHY7oOqakXln926zXQhPYjLoQJLPHtd9RpBpg2mn0a-4nuauOYrX0mK50b8zi9F2Wlebk1MFsQLiRDhIo/s320/452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Coffee</b> is always served at the beginning of a visit and is repeatedly offered until guests politely signal that they have had enough by rocking their cup from side to side. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In order to keep coffee hot and fresh for unexpected guests, it goes through many stages. After roasting and grinding the coffee beans, the grains are added to boiling water inside a large coffee pot. Cardamom seeds, saffron and rose water may be added for flavor. The coffee is then poured into another coffee pot where it is refined and filtered. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8dpqfMWsIQ5mJx6ACIG9e6CIKGrn3e6wuwsVWFmeccYgfx92QXpF73aSoaFRz1c7W-9Ef0buU1yurdO-lf7RRkNk6mrtuh7xg2bvltxIYueclkwSEacaPiYu7QXCcZj4-jfJ7qIsCu4/s1600/450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8dpqfMWsIQ5mJx6ACIG9e6CIKGrn3e6wuwsVWFmeccYgfx92QXpF73aSoaFRz1c7W-9Ef0buU1yurdO-lf7RRkNk6mrtuh7xg2bvltxIYueclkwSEacaPiYu7QXCcZj4-jfJ7qIsCu4/s320/450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Emirati Taboos and Etiquette:</b> I don't ever remembering visiting a museum where there was information on taboos and etiquette. A taboo is something that a culture has determined to be sacred or forbidden. Taboos are often based on morals and religion while etiquette is based on social behavior. The museum described the consequences of poor etiquette or breaking a taboo may be embarrassment, shame or social exclusion.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEVJOAY0iY2yG5OA4lMbQwH6LdRftQUVxKcW3BK1tR-89JgaYyXzLlMRfLOUehIXhsJfleJs80NlKrXAPNFAjxMmF5q7cfDTvzAIiXxwOARmK3n6ekc2E4GJV5b9O0OgabESiHqnWVZU/s1600/453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEVJOAY0iY2yG5OA4lMbQwH6LdRftQUVxKcW3BK1tR-89JgaYyXzLlMRfLOUehIXhsJfleJs80NlKrXAPNFAjxMmF5q7cfDTvzAIiXxwOARmK3n6ekc2E4GJV5b9O0OgabESiHqnWVZU/s320/453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In Sharjah (or possibly throughout the UAE?), girls aren't supposed </span><span style="font-size: large;">to </span><span style="font-size: large;">wear makeup in the same way married women do. It is inconsiderate to eat from the middle of a shared plate; instead people must start at the edge of the plate closest to them. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If a person is upset and refuses to join the family for dinner, they will be given a cooking pot with a large rock inside! Boy, how I wish Steven and I knew of this umpteen years ago when our four children were young!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next display was on birth. After giving birth, an Emirati baby is washed with a mixture of hot water, salts and herbs. The father recites the call to prayer into the baby's right ear and a saying recited before prayers begin is said into its left ear. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRDAajtfHZ8i0pEQD2tTMJBYBNsjeEW551vPesiFmJMxhkcNeZzyxfwNbeSxf_-aIJgGHiylofATch2Fh5Gy_q16iKalIh0C8saeT_6gdJWL0eCKLAeYO_Bu-vIVPxC2h9FTZ8JxZqRQ/s1600/456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRDAajtfHZ8i0pEQD2tTMJBYBNsjeEW551vPesiFmJMxhkcNeZzyxfwNbeSxf_-aIJgGHiylofATch2Fh5Gy_q16iKalIh0C8saeT_6gdJWL0eCKLAeYO_Bu-vIVPxC2h9FTZ8JxZqRQ/s320/456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the first or third day, the father chooses the child's name based on the names of family members, religious figures or desired characteristics. A celebratory meal, consisting of two animals slaughtered for a boy and just one for a girl, and head shaving commonly take place when the baby is seven days old. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NZv5SrxNyUl-ATu2O1W1czgzqhOnLyG2esEszZKwsNaNMoeQEQrAHOJD1qZDL2VA4trjZvTW1BETYOspKrVlHHwmJCNhS7Y-_8aRk98krXaFIhwRu_rtuMCvj7o_bfM_AO51JRA9Vs0/s1600/458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NZv5SrxNyUl-ATu2O1W1czgzqhOnLyG2esEszZKwsNaNMoeQEQrAHOJD1qZDL2VA4trjZvTW1BETYOspKrVlHHwmJCNhS7Y-_8aRk98krXaFIhwRu_rtuMCvj7o_bfM_AO51JRA9Vs0/s320/458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The baby's hair is weighed and the weight is equivalent to the amount of silver, gold or money that the family will donate to the poor. During this time, a softened date is rubbed along the newborn's gums according to Islamic teachings.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_5XJGO-cHzqJmUjRZg3a4pEwYugliokVDZUB8SKf4u0D1N_0uhXw785RGnE6LD9-QKSohodGLMX4POpDudFbujdbpfjwq7Dxcjq6eEvkJa943v-0eE4jNHIsRiHRERkeXdHlStIdmZg/s1600/459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_5XJGO-cHzqJmUjRZg3a4pEwYugliokVDZUB8SKf4u0D1N_0uhXw785RGnE6LD9-QKSohodGLMX4POpDudFbujdbpfjwq7Dxcjq6eEvkJa943v-0eE4jNHIsRiHRERkeXdHlStIdmZg/s320/459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Muslims are buried soon after they die, normally within 24 hours. Before being buried, the body is washed by members of the same gender, either by a family member or by someone whose job it is to prepare bodies. Dead bodies are wrapped in a clean, white and perfumed shroud and buried in a cemetery with the head pointing toward Mecca. Before burial, funeral prayers are performed, typically inside a mosque. Only men are allowed to enter cemeteries. Elderly people usually have their own shroud stored away for when they die. However, they will often give it away if someone dies unexpectedly. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqMzX6YOUTakzSThLL6P_HT5PY3r-yn58OWLtBlgX57cR67acNreCRfAKaigvzYm5IyX6Z1X6jQ7QopTE48BkSWnhn9Tf216DCi7dX3xDhEdonDrDVa8tVVB4eMlzfTH5DtYlyfNSThg/s1600/460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqMzX6YOUTakzSThLL6P_HT5PY3r-yn58OWLtBlgX57cR67acNreCRfAKaigvzYm5IyX6Z1X6jQ7QopTE48BkSWnhn9Tf216DCi7dX3xDhEdonDrDVa8tVVB4eMlzfTH5DtYlyfNSThg/s320/460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the past, people's wealth was often measured by the jewelry they owned. Instead of keeping money in banks, people invested in silver, gold, pearls and precious stones.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Nj3RJquwiLR896LcKG5YQbuNpGcXnUpBe_Fvy5DDTNQaCOtxundX2cFlUT_KucL4GS01RCMg-pHExhxInE6D5EJqobEHnzUAIcNNO1q79mAyvjN3LTBcCCK4tewQ4qu5VbTsNobj2x4/s1600/464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Nj3RJquwiLR896LcKG5YQbuNpGcXnUpBe_Fvy5DDTNQaCOtxundX2cFlUT_KucL4GS01RCMg-pHExhxInE6D5EJqobEHnzUAIcNNO1q79mAyvjN3LTBcCCK4tewQ4qu5VbTsNobj2x4/s320/464.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEghOY8-VO6qeIL7FU8SJms_dLRD50UTcZcbufxcCU_1ddsG05q00UfLc-XJ2YOBn6beikHI8eLGWOOxa3-_6Ah4t0I75lcJmumcPl_cf5lb3_9JCV-W9wRLNBvRe8PRzvtxxv-gq_Av0cA/s1600/468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOY8-VO6qeIL7FU8SJms_dLRD50UTcZcbufxcCU_1ddsG05q00UfLc-XJ2YOBn6beikHI8eLGWOOxa3-_6Ah4t0I75lcJmumcPl_cf5lb3_9JCV-W9wRLNBvRe8PRzvtxxv-gq_Av0cA/s320/468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Women were given jewelry as wedding gifts and were entitled to keep them if they divorced. Men sometimes wore silver jewelry but Sharia or Islamic law forbids men from wearing gold.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RjggEOjhENL6pNFTumNEP2h2ARLgHMTDFauH5Dq-W-CDfNnjlAzA8jkywKIWwwZKe-oaHYy0ddlEEquodaoLtlnbHZKBnmoSoqH2WnB5EnFXAIkrPCsj11YcSdTRiP4gQqEsmKZmeO0/s1600/469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RjggEOjhENL6pNFTumNEP2h2ARLgHMTDFauH5Dq-W-CDfNnjlAzA8jkywKIWwwZKe-oaHYy0ddlEEquodaoLtlnbHZKBnmoSoqH2WnB5EnFXAIkrPCsj11YcSdTRiP4gQqEsmKZmeO0/s320/469.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Textiles made from cotton, wool and silk were used to create traditional clothing. Decorative and expensive fabrics were generally reserved for special occasions.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wtZ7JEQuxASb3vhkSD8SIG3_X4DpxG5ppi23N8KzFnyDC7HBkCoQoSHyRMugSNheIOg0lvLZG7ehPXV3BSGPnBWuhiy7maT9ooa7QEBa0M-LUt7TmT5APa6_BbzYiL77BZR8sM_t6DI/s1600/471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wtZ7JEQuxASb3vhkSD8SIG3_X4DpxG5ppi23N8KzFnyDC7HBkCoQoSHyRMugSNheIOg0lvLZG7ehPXV3BSGPnBWuhiy7maT9ooa7QEBa0M-LUt7TmT5APa6_BbzYiL77BZR8sM_t6DI/s320/471.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Henna</b> leaves contain a pigment that is responsible for producing traditional dye. The pigment is activated by mild acids, such a lime juice. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVa7dRwdo0cmd_iwKQZ6Vuy7v4ADu_gTtT8xZSOczdDy-Eee72b-E1nANNp1juVKq8UqVp0VNvSwbJJwed3GK3ndSIUBLeY-egdP8ftQq-_Z72dNHmteNJ-xFV-dF6Bq6l7GoLLVVYsg/s1600/472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVa7dRwdo0cmd_iwKQZ6Vuy7v4ADu_gTtT8xZSOczdDy-Eee72b-E1nANNp1juVKq8UqVp0VNvSwbJJwed3GK3ndSIUBLeY-egdP8ftQq-_Z72dNHmteNJ-xFV-dF6Bq6l7GoLLVVYsg/s320/472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Henna has been used for centuries and is an important component of many Emirati celebrations specifically for women. It is most commonly applied to hair, hands and feet. Men use henna to dye their hair, mustache and beard. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb7qrQp2i9OKWwlaJZo832oIa6q_SefaXDxAsVAKjwnM9dHxfbxbLFHBXvNct9qC0HeNcqevBN0YTnDwltrh6rttekiXm2AeqVHp4X_XPVd6Em9fFfkwadHL_L9qPrwPeaSg_41SFuFQ/s1600/476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb7qrQp2i9OKWwlaJZo832oIa6q_SefaXDxAsVAKjwnM9dHxfbxbLFHBXvNct9qC0HeNcqevBN0YTnDwltrh6rttekiXm2AeqVHp4X_XPVd6Em9fFfkwadHL_L9qPrwPeaSg_41SFuFQ/s320/476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To prepare traditional henna, a large branch is cut from the tree and is dried in the sun until it turns brown. The leaves are removed by hitting the branch with a stick. Next, the dried leaves are crushed into a powder and mixed with either fresh or dried lime and hot water. The mixture is placed in the sun and left to settle for an hour before being used. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH9FR5PPeZUEFJIm_YpZdvMreeAJuzg1sH6LrjZ0xy6zSkiTzVhnLOQP_x8yxfE73NDoHtPpo9zO7P_rnfT2uDFHKpYM-hokRfn8R1A4ZkSQgW4lcCuTGLkaWxaQ7gwyfi7DjXEFArIE/s1600/477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOH9FR5PPeZUEFJIm_YpZdvMreeAJuzg1sH6LrjZ0xy6zSkiTzVhnLOQP_x8yxfE73NDoHtPpo9zO7P_rnfT2uDFHKpYM-hokRfn8R1A4ZkSQgW4lcCuTGLkaWxaQ7gwyfi7DjXEFArIE/s320/477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Heritage Museum had provided us some interesting insights into the life and times of Emiratis from the time they were born until they died. We had learned much of their customs and taboos but even my eyes were beginning to glaze over somewhat after having explored the top-notch Art Museum, Museum of Islamic Civilization and finally the Heritage Museum in the space of five or six hours!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8lQ8h-1BxrzVp_TbSnCkPKEoHfF7LIwHkrB6Kx0XLQQv5VpNoeOsJgZIj25m5xLwBC_TKJRU4Tjdk9L-DoJJPRNpAVY3KjAlyVP58__OF24COKKCAst6X743R76pVBLrApwP4U2H8N4/s1600/479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8lQ8h-1BxrzVp_TbSnCkPKEoHfF7LIwHkrB6Kx0XLQQv5VpNoeOsJgZIj25m5xLwBC_TKJRU4Tjdk9L-DoJJPRNpAVY3KjAlyVP58__OF24COKKCAst6X743R76pVBLrApwP4U2H8N4/s320/479.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh my - our last coffee pot in Sharjah!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEczm5CJ_A6uOA8QmYl-ztZgM3wAulF5eKQ0jq8t033wG4rATGCYd7JXJs-aoczOkq7aB19Y9sT-8TC3DbD8sYxLqmho7ruCF9sKAMa_kbfiTgk1csg0FZIOf1-DhxoUSLLAZtICcZSg/s1600/480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEczm5CJ_A6uOA8QmYl-ztZgM3wAulF5eKQ0jq8t033wG4rATGCYd7JXJs-aoczOkq7aB19Y9sT-8TC3DbD8sYxLqmho7ruCF9sKAMa_kbfiTgk1csg0FZIOf1-DhxoUSLLAZtICcZSg/s320/480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had a longish hike back to our car that we'd parked by the Bird and Animal Souk so many hours earlier. I don't think either of us had envisioned then that we'd spend so many hours visiting the three museums in Sharjah's Heritage Area when we embarked on a walking tour of downtown Sharjah. The $1.75 parking fee was certainly a fabulous deal for all that time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpQMw8qn4Gn5eDO5LXWTHZV-QTt7lUCY81UzQWQuvneDOkPMAofgO5TRtAxbKxPxxrUvVvs1a4R6QUIrpcFLrUmuolweCUX2N4Ul3VLxdUMwSRWpWQ-sg4eH1F_hSTy4o8dsRsBf57tY/s1600/484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpQMw8qn4Gn5eDO5LXWTHZV-QTt7lUCY81UzQWQuvneDOkPMAofgO5TRtAxbKxPxxrUvVvs1a4R6QUIrpcFLrUmuolweCUX2N4Ul3VLxdUMwSRWpWQ-sg4eH1F_hSTy4o8dsRsBf57tY/s320/484.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though Sharjah was only about 45 minutes up the road from Dubai, it wasn't easy navigating the maze of highways to get back to our hotel in the dark. It was sad to think that our trip to the UAE had come to an end and that we'd be flying onto <b>Copenhagen</b> the next day, our last stopover of our great trip that we'd started back in August. At least we had something exciting still to look forward to before heading home!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Posted, finally, on April 2nd, 2017, from Littleton, Colorado! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-36130375162138658052017-03-25T09:57:00.001-07:002017-03-25T09:57:08.765-07:00 12/12: Sharjah, UAE: Flag Island & the Emirate's Heritage Area: Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My apologies for not writing this post before now. I have been preoccupied with my responsibilities on our Homeowners' Association Board of Directors and planning our next two trips: leaving in early May for a six week trip to </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> visit our daughters in Michigan and New York and reconnecting with family and friends in Ottawa, Canada before driving down to Florida to be beach bums at our favorite state park. I have also been a tad busy fleshing out details of our 3.5 month long escape to South America this fall. Thanks to Lil Red for getting me back on track to finish writing the last few blog posts since our trip ended in mid-December!</i></span><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">After enjoying a few days in the United Arab Emirates' best known cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we wanted to explore <b>Sharjah,</b> the capital of the country's third largest emirate located north of Dubai. Even though the city is overshadowed by both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is older than both. Recorded references to Sharjah, which means 'Eastern' in Arabic, date back to at least 1490.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeAtY9N7el4xYN9QFZcnFXiVKDTNSq4QboY852srfgiE-O66WtCzmSniqcmY5tG8pccK6NU25oy3xKRWwnQWYajpi3edcP-h48sYoJNI0jru19RRZYFH3xZpLjYX8YOg20V8_4TBGJeW1/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeAtY9N7el4xYN9QFZcnFXiVKDTNSq4QboY852srfgiE-O66WtCzmSniqcmY5tG8pccK6NU25oy3xKRWwnQWYajpi3edcP-h48sYoJNI0jru19RRZYFH3xZpLjYX8YOg20V8_4TBGJeW1/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we drove toward Sharjah, it was as if the city was just another Dubai suburb because there was no discernible break between the cities on the highway. We headed first to <b>Flag Island </b>which boasted a giant UAE flag and the large <b>Khalid Lagoon,</b> home of one of the world's largest fountains. After several days in the UAE, we had almost gotten used to reading about the world's largest fountain, the largest mall, the largest mosque, the tallest building, the biggest hotel, etc!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yhRaFgjZ_FWWaB-JHcawBqsWuuhHRcHPqkPoZSe6LSnn6VzAk2Uved55AqN4ZbQD5obPTNIG9FUL6vhOoBTHzSmAeTyVoi_cVcoVTpEj1CIIuKaUB_3lSNQ0DoEaillpwx66eEPCAv1x/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yhRaFgjZ_FWWaB-JHcawBqsWuuhHRcHPqkPoZSe6LSnn6VzAk2Uved55AqN4ZbQD5obPTNIG9FUL6vhOoBTHzSmAeTyVoi_cVcoVTpEj1CIIuKaUB_3lSNQ0DoEaillpwx66eEPCAv1x/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgYOyysiImaYv8J6KAcSKNhUzm9oEER__UXATVFj38hybPFw5I-FxBOZXNxL2yqzuCkrLW2mUyIa_heBPl_I-85caxX9cRumS03V1f-Ri4r1czK91270FLBXsFeWs8-VNjSSIjFT35HWvrs/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOyysiImaYv8J6KAcSKNhUzm9oEER__UXATVFj38hybPFw5I-FxBOZXNxL2yqzuCkrLW2mUyIa_heBPl_I-85caxX9cRumS03V1f-Ri4r1czK91270FLBXsFeWs8-VNjSSIjFT35HWvrs/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj20u68WnDu2lw8-ayb8e-DJwPgwhziZacmZZ_pkIBgteaVap1UdceCIG9lBKPAkmsEcTFW9ZvTj5alKieEskcZ6MTFraQLGJdGXtn_jYuVqMGROxrObjiC_KL0L22eMuWtlqjz3-IVqTxS/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20u68WnDu2lw8-ayb8e-DJwPgwhziZacmZZ_pkIBgteaVap1UdceCIG9lBKPAkmsEcTFW9ZvTj5alKieEskcZ6MTFraQLGJdGXtn_jYuVqMGROxrObjiC_KL0L22eMuWtlqjz3-IVqTxS/s320/006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Flag Island Amphitheater:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SCm0eSsDHrGBvRiQyeN7I21Y1OqMmGK4RL9YAincUWoRXephVvgJsnDyqpQ_RBLTDP_ZejHwQj9ZJJhPRckp8HkVEk7GjlPrAvWMdTBmeaVvMyDsqogMT803y0SEFhade4wXrDk75nCt/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SCm0eSsDHrGBvRiQyeN7I21Y1OqMmGK4RL9YAincUWoRXephVvgJsnDyqpQ_RBLTDP_ZejHwQj9ZJJhPRckp8HkVEk7GjlPrAvWMdTBmeaVvMyDsqogMT803y0SEFhade4wXrDk75nCt/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From Flag Island, we enjoyed fabulous views across the lagoon of the <b>Sharjah Real Estate Registration Directorate! </b>The boats moored in the lagoon weren't too shabby to look at either.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5pOZM1VjU8bqbcc5DTNZj0R231-xcouwNNtTc00cgk9Zlw9qHMMCI2AuHrmCQdHBqfEJEWaFFdDyIZzE7ZC7G2saazPsYO-62Y8OUoZBBEwTcHwIVxXlvcG1qn1D63abEu8bpvqFZVvP/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5pOZM1VjU8bqbcc5DTNZj0R231-xcouwNNtTc00cgk9Zlw9qHMMCI2AuHrmCQdHBqfEJEWaFFdDyIZzE7ZC7G2saazPsYO-62Y8OUoZBBEwTcHwIVxXlvcG1qn1D63abEu8bpvqFZVvP/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Sharjah Department of Culture and Information and Media Center </b>was housed in an equally ostentatious building.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDafJ_nzgWQpbzRYhKWwzEtcVtvq6yqqRmp-0fV1DS9W-6rMcbxRqfmi6Wf3vpUtV3WiE3jo4ZRm4EOO_px9q3smENDKwTYQlrn7z4yn5cinGOZeA9L7ERzsqzlfupr_Dq1aCj6ymSE-4l/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDafJ_nzgWQpbzRYhKWwzEtcVtvq6yqqRmp-0fV1DS9W-6rMcbxRqfmi6Wf3vpUtV3WiE3jo4ZRm4EOO_px9q3smENDKwTYQlrn7z4yn5cinGOZeA9L7ERzsqzlfupr_Dq1aCj6ymSE-4l/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And finally, the <b>Sharjah Finance Department:</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbeD1x5H8VuNOX7rqqM_XCpLGrzP5CkyuBuW-FNCoTZ-Bu4uSyIhks65zv4VFrY7yCgB9o7r3pGobw0aetVek0OAL1t0uIBV4-Jl8dVHOQ4gPGrcIlV_4dCtdgjUMcmrCaHEafahIIzut/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbeD1x5H8VuNOX7rqqM_XCpLGrzP5CkyuBuW-FNCoTZ-Bu4uSyIhks65zv4VFrY7yCgB9o7r3pGobw0aetVek0OAL1t0uIBV4-Jl8dVHOQ4gPGrcIlV_4dCtdgjUMcmrCaHEafahIIzut/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking around the tip of Flag Island gave us great views of ships of all sizes and descriptions.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq5hGC-FyRi1qPbp6OrBhElkc8eYKNQ5AgR5Gpw_kVlqcziKljPt_VeD2f20LItgQwB2Dd0lzmc_bmlWrw17xv5R1igxV_FvOVk1_AypFDnz-Zb8iQSgdW1D6wgtr0j6eGANjMgMX2MMU/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQq5hGC-FyRi1qPbp6OrBhElkc8eYKNQ5AgR5Gpw_kVlqcziKljPt_VeD2f20LItgQwB2Dd0lzmc_bmlWrw17xv5R1igxV_FvOVk1_AypFDnz-Zb8iQSgdW1D6wgtr0j6eGANjMgMX2MMU/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBoM0F8kaPgubdF3WOqfoSEQo3txcPeEIs_s5DeTaBOAFzFoYKPjfnvcImsIGYvq5f1H1emoplHjnNiV-2vQdX-vadMPAc1SZ7yBd-J-FN8vU6wQSA0krjWpqFilCkr8uULTrG4v1tyTQ/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBoM0F8kaPgubdF3WOqfoSEQo3txcPeEIs_s5DeTaBOAFzFoYKPjfnvcImsIGYvq5f1H1emoplHjnNiV-2vQdX-vadMPAc1SZ7yBd-J-FN8vU6wQSA0krjWpqFilCkr8uULTrG4v1tyTQ/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgjmkcVZnz00QVsCP33gqI7mOS0FFIFq2apntZ3RrXUwMIURbTb_pSC3GeO3p4hrg5K-deuHUXptSksntngeyw2PZtUdVLYiAbBc21dA_Pn8mi0kIOpm_-3Y2Cl00W1y3ywPlXHg4VQ4Q5Q/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmkcVZnz00QVsCP33gqI7mOS0FFIFq2apntZ3RrXUwMIURbTb_pSC3GeO3p4hrg5K-deuHUXptSksntngeyw2PZtUdVLYiAbBc21dA_Pn8mi0kIOpm_-3Y2Cl00W1y3ywPlXHg4VQ4Q5Q/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj4rHwYDshLit8OKyhAlAfpgLZxVmDTt1DucoxzxAurEE-eBj12NPpWg_A6Jva4uaZ01UClwc_Elm3L7iP-4VqDp12MYsYF3Y0EL28FqSKysC2er_71TnnoKPx0pVFS-s4Ll5mOwSF3QeKg/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rHwYDshLit8OKyhAlAfpgLZxVmDTt1DucoxzxAurEE-eBj12NPpWg_A6Jva4uaZ01UClwc_Elm3L7iP-4VqDp12MYsYF3Y0EL28FqSKysC2er_71TnnoKPx0pVFS-s4Ll5mOwSF3QeKg/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There were so many gardens of petunias all over the island - I don't think we've ever seen that many before in one place. But of course, we were in the UAE where everything must be bigger than anywhere else.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVKqb6Xjeur6oIzb6YzCSneegZRqXM6OxdU4gljyEXjffuhzsg1QuPInjybYNZ_If9-oLreprs8Wit4GU4zibC6PInEbO6n_noqCQWPSDNaQMNxGdzcgZVtkNfnrCi-ebg0HITMibqJVF/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVKqb6Xjeur6oIzb6YzCSneegZRqXM6OxdU4gljyEXjffuhzsg1QuPInjybYNZ_If9-oLreprs8Wit4GU4zibC6PInEbO6n_noqCQWPSDNaQMNxGdzcgZVtkNfnrCi-ebg0HITMibqJVF/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The cute 'See You Next Time' sign as we left Flag Island to explore other areas of the city:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jYgP7KBhr5-RzpYrU94zP8o10NotQxMOHJFfQjDliNpk0-rCvzCP8FjOf0HaAjWRwVVe0WVDlbhlEWg-QhD-zL-E4EI_qKgPdW8tLSfyTTb4HOpj5hn2_GAq9lQvd8E-LQLUfx_kRPT7/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jYgP7KBhr5-RzpYrU94zP8o10NotQxMOHJFfQjDliNpk0-rCvzCP8FjOf0HaAjWRwVVe0WVDlbhlEWg-QhD-zL-E4EI_qKgPdW8tLSfyTTb4HOpj5hn2_GAq9lQvd8E-LQLUfx_kRPT7/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The impressive<b> King Faisal Mosque</b> was close by. One of the largest mosques in the UAE, it had room for 3,000 worshipers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FkhS5cln4rVejRu8DLcUtpU4l_MrH0w5wea4317RkHKI-thp4pXYNq1PsWzyR2HJH_YZfZ5TdzS1ql7bqQHyDYuDL30M-3oKUPP60y55ZJBx45JLVBxdbOC4YjbfDWjevu1rVLTMzkbs/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FkhS5cln4rVejRu8DLcUtpU4l_MrH0w5wea4317RkHKI-thp4pXYNq1PsWzyR2HJH_YZfZ5TdzS1ql7bqQHyDYuDL30M-3oKUPP60y55ZJBx45JLVBxdbOC4YjbfDWjevu1rVLTMzkbs/s320/031.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEi-f0R2w8WLA1rlzcOJhpjo_dQD_FcflqqeBWW5rYnispSXPovIbTJrH-ewy1ZIDMfCxQ5rJpUNS8FOifPBtL_CEegHDVMuyZuSAVXnuZAtaS_oxE7keJ7EQ__7xJnmVnOozGSVsKSQ0PcV/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f0R2w8WLA1rlzcOJhpjo_dQD_FcflqqeBWW5rYnispSXPovIbTJrH-ewy1ZIDMfCxQ5rJpUNS8FOifPBtL_CEegHDVMuyZuSAVXnuZAtaS_oxE7keJ7EQ__7xJnmVnOozGSVsKSQ0PcV/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjLi4n-4-FkxYKTIjE2S6HBVD0PgqAWiOFiElg2FCjrKr-lT2VZZJKckIv_t6DorJ94k8KW3bIuGzGMCx0CFlH9QUENMzakh6EBWrk6VszHkkklJm0zqyAhZ8n4Badh-q-yGmo3iCt2l7g1/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi4n-4-FkxYKTIjE2S6HBVD0PgqAWiOFiElg2FCjrKr-lT2VZZJKckIv_t6DorJ94k8KW3bIuGzGMCx0CFlH9QUENMzakh6EBWrk6VszHkkklJm0zqyAhZ8n4Badh-q-yGmo3iCt2l7g1/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi5iM2fu0ZAiTFyCnut5KP1_VYnN0UranXm5MsDp0y9S9NPfiAvY9i-siXXGeZ3YBdTimqRZQ_mB57PpBTn6MaoPmYGXtLRIS7nS0hx_DthUpPmLhPqsqNNH_y0CZ7GNeSwbtBSd7NUgHdw/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iM2fu0ZAiTFyCnut5KP1_VYnN0UranXm5MsDp0y9S9NPfiAvY9i-siXXGeZ3YBdTimqRZQ_mB57PpBTn6MaoPmYGXtLRIS7nS0hx_DthUpPmLhPqsqNNH_y0CZ7GNeSwbtBSd7NUgHdw/s320/034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was wandering around the interior courtyard by myself when I noticed only the 'Gents' Entrance' to the prayer hall. A man came up to me and said very kindly he would take pictures of the mosque's interior for me. I was so touched by his thoughtfulness.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qlMuELja3r3h4UXBeVhOcJeUD3_TmyV4raO4phx307WDMKSmxZPUn_oute5yVS6QmL0_d7A_Uz2rUEA95QuyK1rWYQyvLfZzLKhSySWsF1EGxr-822KLv17Ryqx_frmMlfTlec5GXe9R/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qlMuELja3r3h4UXBeVhOcJeUD3_TmyV4raO4phx307WDMKSmxZPUn_oute5yVS6QmL0_d7A_Uz2rUEA95QuyK1rWYQyvLfZzLKhSySWsF1EGxr-822KLv17Ryqx_frmMlfTlec5GXe9R/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrws0zQ8kGuuO9goLxpIrCc5cC8Jbmcj1o8ABzx9S1bKDmH9pZaA2qK5jCo5bwEiBNhNRD3DjKMTmVEmMAzc7-mDj2GtXIA1mMjygfMLlYXCAsbbp2JLeoEOiU6qfrPzPg6CaLcxTysBR/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrws0zQ8kGuuO9goLxpIrCc5cC8Jbmcj1o8ABzx9S1bKDmH9pZaA2qK5jCo5bwEiBNhNRD3DjKMTmVEmMAzc7-mDj2GtXIA1mMjygfMLlYXCAsbbp2JLeoEOiU6qfrPzPg6CaLcxTysBR/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Abdel</b> said he was visiting Sharjah from Algeria. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU33etb0mwUoQiyMy6sMdFEjt0ZDfx7dyDHcXckKaITAS1X3CVh81YUJxiGm-_bJpfe7xg4UHCWvv8NZlfd1lqeBWAmPuipEKzT_Y3Xvev79k9LTq9ht8L3W9oIxSK1VRp7x_LGRAPx0i3/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU33etb0mwUoQiyMy6sMdFEjt0ZDfx7dyDHcXckKaITAS1X3CVh81YUJxiGm-_bJpfe7xg4UHCWvv8NZlfd1lqeBWAmPuipEKzT_Y3Xvev79k9LTq9ht8L3W9oIxSK1VRp7x_LGRAPx0i3/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few minutes later as Steven and I walked across the huge <b>Al Ittihad Square,</b> Abdel caught up to us to give us a couple of bottles of water as it was so hot - what a marvelous act of kindness to two strangers. His gesture was so typical of so much thoughtfulness and generosity we've received by so many other Muslims in our travels. The square was once used a turning circle for aircraft using the original Sharjah airport!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVdKQ4NB0AXvlJkglWhBc7kM4gmGjeicfRQXfTqcvEaP7mHLuN_XmIfFWwwD4OqzAnJfpSW01sWQ3i3fjp1aUoS3dz9krM0QsqD8jPtBRlZiGqUkkkUprUs29q3YubikekeT5yMaddcq/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVdKQ4NB0AXvlJkglWhBc7kM4gmGjeicfRQXfTqcvEaP7mHLuN_XmIfFWwwD4OqzAnJfpSW01sWQ3i3fjp1aUoS3dz9krM0QsqD8jPtBRlZiGqUkkkUprUs29q3YubikekeT5yMaddcq/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At one end of the square was the soaring <b>Al Ittihad (Union) Monument </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">which was unveiled in 1989.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX85ojJ2eizwIAIK1d9InoMpshKn3-a7XqLFgmFcnilxUoroM5W42LgQFEKfcX1MhegVhJYxh5kFOqtk0OKo-zOQ0xFWjdwdCl3dpqpV35qHsf5SO61sABNkqLxOTazUUf8TZdOicRYzSb/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX85ojJ2eizwIAIK1d9InoMpshKn3-a7XqLFgmFcnilxUoroM5W42LgQFEKfcX1MhegVhJYxh5kFOqtk0OKo-zOQ0xFWjdwdCl3dpqpV35qHsf5SO61sABNkqLxOTazUUf8TZdOicRYzSb/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhUTfVSdpl136-NpthslFqqKjACImiJkVSzEL1duIuwja0UXy2Cqshf0d7vbEdc1mFaAJaJhgqF4hJOj6m_iO0qesZkiPy8goWijq1hc3ZAZdnK3lNLO-jgQ1vfh2-XSbCBsSygG5FLVbCW/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTfVSdpl136-NpthslFqqKjACImiJkVSzEL1duIuwja0UXy2Cqshf0d7vbEdc1mFaAJaJhgqF4hJOj6m_iO0qesZkiPy8goWijq1hc3ZAZdnK3lNLO-jgQ1vfh2-XSbCBsSygG5FLVbCW/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From a distance, the monument looked very impressive but, once we were up close, we noticed it hadn't been maintained well. There were broken tiles, lots of trash, missing bricks, etc. It reminded us of many parts of Abu Dhabi that were similarly poorly maintained.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRrXapSV9YKhkVeXA1j7V1weM6L5TfMujJMs0cVibHJo7Nk2o8y22qE-naCfW5-vihao9c6QnnTP3iEtld9IIjSaJ7DN2_xASTm_gUqI0j6m4-mSHYwmaJG1CqnI_NQqWglvSGZVte0vn/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRrXapSV9YKhkVeXA1j7V1weM6L5TfMujJMs0cVibHJo7Nk2o8y22qE-naCfW5-vihao9c6QnnTP3iEtld9IIjSaJ7DN2_xASTm_gUqI0j6m4-mSHYwmaJG1CqnI_NQqWglvSGZVte0vn/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove next to visit a number of souks near the Corniche or road bordering the waterfront. We found a parking spot where we didn't have to return for about eight hours but thought, surely, we'd be back well before then and on our way back to Dubai. We should have known better!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even before getting out of the car, we knew we were near the <b>Bird and Animal Souk </b>from its odors!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwVLuAf6Qk0VONI3glshQ1KQanobqdIyLjgDMnEbE2uz4cY1XAkzWYWlDal_SwrhkO4Ql2L4wXWQ5ALIOtePuctELcPJdgMcdK6nIEBVLewTZO1nxYctNsZE5Qry03vnN3ehwzw075OS5/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwVLuAf6Qk0VONI3glshQ1KQanobqdIyLjgDMnEbE2uz4cY1XAkzWYWlDal_SwrhkO4Ql2L4wXWQ5ALIOtePuctELcPJdgMcdK6nIEBVLewTZO1nxYctNsZE5Qry03vnN3ehwzw075OS5/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was a <b>sugar glider, </b>an animal I'd never heard of before.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMj4e8TklMdwDiV4W5pUilEx4CAu_pmOTY97M-u0euXfxB9x-dCR0VgHtNkvvVkOLhB3iRyb19JQoU_UdMrAXGC8unwLgVYITPjZ_7RxaEVWuCFw4rf7MTJ4-F0arBhydGpH8IsYwpph5/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMj4e8TklMdwDiV4W5pUilEx4CAu_pmOTY97M-u0euXfxB9x-dCR0VgHtNkvvVkOLhB3iRyb19JQoU_UdMrAXGC8unwLgVYITPjZ_7RxaEVWuCFw4rf7MTJ4-F0arBhydGpH8IsYwpph5/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhZ1wK2Rpsz3h_-MSocFd7h9qCq0oYKdlpscCwEsShF6vm6rRbcWG6CcInypmKqzNbTyLRbNF0YtDOPbGllJqVzPjUtkmkozoIkOq7dOJzNMZgJ6hzejgZIwnmhsAGxFgValONi6LyTO6t5/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1wK2Rpsz3h_-MSocFd7h9qCq0oYKdlpscCwEsShF6vm6rRbcWG6CcInypmKqzNbTyLRbNF0YtDOPbGllJqVzPjUtkmkozoIkOq7dOJzNMZgJ6hzejgZIwnmhsAGxFgValONi6LyTO6t5/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Freda</b> - this photo of turtles was for you.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVqdOfETA_lic-lnpoiHurwcj_Za9oX0wavvX56li33WbEboC-ZhfimWve8xogvqSqRThdeaiF8N5BfuWDkxwUMNAgC2-T-ciOv9NfMaqHexjBYNAYyPDAjXoiiGQXzlUo0QnTKlc3WRy/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVqdOfETA_lic-lnpoiHurwcj_Za9oX0wavvX56li33WbEboC-ZhfimWve8xogvqSqRThdeaiF8N5BfuWDkxwUMNAgC2-T-ciOv9NfMaqHexjBYNAYyPDAjXoiiGQXzlUo0QnTKlc3WRy/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjhbzkAaFyZEBDkSCI54kV1njV-zvOykjwUKSpz9zgF0ARDLfIOZsLYlCyFFFT8Y-jYa_AvkLl-SADBLQ4tkVScEaZWott0M2e2R58O2E3Rlh6J2Pv2fdcZlSs2JJvSjog7Ft2H7OSr_xjI/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbzkAaFyZEBDkSCI54kV1njV-zvOykjwUKSpz9zgF0ARDLfIOZsLYlCyFFFT8Y-jYa_AvkLl-SADBLQ4tkVScEaZWott0M2e2R58O2E3Rlh6J2Pv2fdcZlSs2JJvSjog7Ft2H7OSr_xjI/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just in case you wanted to see yet another photo of a falcon!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLlPoK_3U1NrGF-JnZsBBbxli3Ttto60ptV4TJB0uVrHreHu9v6gwtOZRTY_C8EBNjYX2m07bAfH2oowEnq_2rDxXwicCDqNc3qib__PY6TNcjvtstI08igQ5hWYRTacSKHNbTRDjbtaV/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLlPoK_3U1NrGF-JnZsBBbxli3Ttto60ptV4TJB0uVrHreHu9v6gwtOZRTY_C8EBNjYX2m07bAfH2oowEnq_2rDxXwicCDqNc3qib__PY6TNcjvtstI08igQ5hWYRTacSKHNbTRDjbtaV/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjC0mobBrXbucRcgWAWWwb7qJC1mqMOotVW7l-JWOmcLEyIo0flP94qiYVnN0VIQpQvnoTxvKSCX2lGwvx-WEvEh3TvN5XgyP_tysuIJttYoXazmHMMCZrzGsR0azUeVNm9zg3dH933DQhB/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0mobBrXbucRcgWAWWwb7qJC1mqMOotVW7l-JWOmcLEyIo0flP94qiYVnN0VIQpQvnoTxvKSCX2lGwvx-WEvEh3TvN5XgyP_tysuIJttYoXazmHMMCZrzGsR0azUeVNm9zg3dH933DQhB/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing these turkeys reminded us of how much we sure missed eating turkey at Thanksgiving for yet another year.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNUI4h0ZHWU4mv13B2gyXTYcGaOAX6lCHD6VjvEFUBa8OA9tGRfSHl-cXZxfd3ZwSHduXM-W9aglnlPqlgKSv3a4-_HQqbNR4CV8YYJOm6N6gLnZPxSaZ_4PtVHbnm2nOiYKqh6o_hUxh/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNUI4h0ZHWU4mv13B2gyXTYcGaOAX6lCHD6VjvEFUBa8OA9tGRfSHl-cXZxfd3ZwSHduXM-W9aglnlPqlgKSv3a4-_HQqbNR4CV8YYJOm6N6gLnZPxSaZ_4PtVHbnm2nOiYKqh6o_hUxh/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgMQ7tnAjYAqumf384-fyVVMHhUzCWW11v6Sv12b0TWH8uxXEfu1t1pyLhF122ssOw1pUaYc2nEM_rsQygYOYuA7TX15u658c9uSLyZinB_qrONpWU_KtOOWiYdepPBaNZG5fGy0atOpFWv/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ7tnAjYAqumf384-fyVVMHhUzCWW11v6Sv12b0TWH8uxXEfu1t1pyLhF122ssOw1pUaYc2nEM_rsQygYOYuA7TX15u658c9uSLyZinB_qrONpWU_KtOOWiYdepPBaNZG5fGy0atOpFWv/s320/073.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nXp71jWGxgSengBbVIcaFSEPXSPqkD-sbKEsnG9K1DGyK391y3l51LW1RAJ43gdq3EhIWUtyOanHA-hExWgw0N1aqz9TyqPMMDrV1ot-AyJCoT4bHCmVx9xvRjBvsGmbXFhy2ZsrX7Xp/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nXp71jWGxgSengBbVIcaFSEPXSPqkD-sbKEsnG9K1DGyK391y3l51LW1RAJ43gdq3EhIWUtyOanHA-hExWgw0N1aqz9TyqPMMDrV1ot-AyJCoT4bHCmVx9xvRjBvsGmbXFhy2ZsrX7Xp/s320/074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing like getting your food fresh; customers picked out their live chickens and then saw them prepared right in front of them! I love chicken but do prefer buying our chicken all packaged neatly in our local grocery store meat shelves.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpsy8QIOjkf9eyM9qSastJJ2oAEokAH2186FCdZo9ol2Tk6DzwCQccwr9jfCzZp2NFsWgrAzLx7HuCCgvRqtdiV8J4AZVm7Z5ic5BKRfh7kdQeFfswBWsq07eFkVGPc-xPp2VPTxt5RbU/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpsy8QIOjkf9eyM9qSastJJ2oAEokAH2186FCdZo9ol2Tk6DzwCQccwr9jfCzZp2NFsWgrAzLx7HuCCgvRqtdiV8J4AZVm7Z5ic5BKRfh7kdQeFfswBWsq07eFkVGPc-xPp2VPTxt5RbU/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Outside the souk, there was store after store selling every variety of bird food. It was all laid out like buying spices at one of the many spice souks we'd seen in other Arab cities.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2ew5BVSAcfvNOjV5_vjoRiTPmvRukKM1URBNq9hDXx3Hy2GsHBjWjYtXx0qx-jVa_3nRmdZypqa_EwsLORQP3bhr_uaOO8XbFBGizb7GVi5ed9NX6d0z2Ek9FVOtPA1KB33MjX2ZAlVo/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2ew5BVSAcfvNOjV5_vjoRiTPmvRukKM1URBNq9hDXx3Hy2GsHBjWjYtXx0qx-jVa_3nRmdZypqa_EwsLORQP3bhr_uaOO8XbFBGizb7GVi5ed9NX6d0z2Ek9FVOtPA1KB33MjX2ZAlVo/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgDE4xWkwzWkhp26Hvw_Fl2CNcuGnyrM09h5b4j9AW0L7IZA549O9GbXFTN7KNipjRxImvVKa7uRukUgTIBMLvgTVjRlyV1tXlmS90JLoBdmT0RjZ5naf2Mh7O1Uj1EVhUA7J7s6_jLnpDs/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE4xWkwzWkhp26Hvw_Fl2CNcuGnyrM09h5b4j9AW0L7IZA549O9GbXFTN7KNipjRxImvVKa7uRukUgTIBMLvgTVjRlyV1tXlmS90JLoBdmT0RjZ5naf2Mh7O1Uj1EVhUA7J7s6_jLnpDs/s320/082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNDUC6sWi6BidlUvL5cmE-KvlgNE8oY4jY6q17yCJ8Tt9eZEkS72eQ-ubak31McEqOofYLb5uUwudIGy2h5Vr_KXGej4B4lfq2o3imCM01Kz7vKXJipqwFgjWLDEalaW-ngCSEudbnJbR/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNDUC6sWi6BidlUvL5cmE-KvlgNE8oY4jY6q17yCJ8Tt9eZEkS72eQ-ubak31McEqOofYLb5uUwudIGy2h5Vr_KXGej4B4lfq2o3imCM01Kz7vKXJipqwFgjWLDEalaW-ngCSEudbnJbR/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kArHJQkODNtVSC9qWba1aebT-FuA0nHS6SQYcYoUH9FZJo8oulpsniwlR0aL-Xv3eMNdgCzdmaP9CC1JTw7V3TznmUN9-vye1KIrsF5NEg6VrcNfovXUaTQzybGr8Uj1vCfIh1U15dGJ/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kArHJQkODNtVSC9qWba1aebT-FuA0nHS6SQYcYoUH9FZJo8oulpsniwlR0aL-Xv3eMNdgCzdmaP9CC1JTw7V3TznmUN9-vye1KIrsF5NEg6VrcNfovXUaTQzybGr8Uj1vCfIh1U15dGJ/s320/080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking along the very busy Corniche Road toward the <b>Heritage Area</b> in downtown Sharjah was a tad nerve wracking but at least it was made more pleasant by all the nurseries we passed. <b>Janina and Pat:</b> You both would have loved the marvelous selection of plants.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5NWT5rJFmOBZuLatrQAOHTWbnU8KeisOubnuOkn-H30a5uVAXvL9TWmD0uaxnfmswFReV2MGNxOvPQqGHL_TkBIIBvSlOeKb0PmlWabOs0Q-xPUoBEPpwqYY4_hyphenhyphenQT_AaRH_5pwt71IE/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5NWT5rJFmOBZuLatrQAOHTWbnU8KeisOubnuOkn-H30a5uVAXvL9TWmD0uaxnfmswFReV2MGNxOvPQqGHL_TkBIIBvSlOeKb0PmlWabOs0Q-xPUoBEPpwqYY4_hyphenhyphenQT_AaRH_5pwt71IE/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU_2oNjFk1eXFWkJTBtD0kO63JhHQ2iYYTrG-gZZLss24S_cjTf7fEmx0SzjSMb4kn-_22LOHrcK6TdbkQkw0L9wMGJ-2aG4bsCiWmNUDMRhPTRI_PaapyGwZQ9SGC2ZpWEvBeTfmnyIR/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU_2oNjFk1eXFWkJTBtD0kO63JhHQ2iYYTrG-gZZLss24S_cjTf7fEmx0SzjSMb4kn-_22LOHrcK6TdbkQkw0L9wMGJ-2aG4bsCiWmNUDMRhPTRI_PaapyGwZQ9SGC2ZpWEvBeTfmnyIR/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAoZYlGH62Vs_844mmivUst1_4WQfeny5tX4OyBtNGJAYNE2KrPTWMXsQkGUiZpVlySNfYgwI3l4RcYOwUmQ1M7XeZC2aA6oz6SryZNzfr1YXJHJNie4Qfrp4YvK2HhT_bt6_dEvn5K23/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAoZYlGH62Vs_844mmivUst1_4WQfeny5tX4OyBtNGJAYNE2KrPTWMXsQkGUiZpVlySNfYgwI3l4RcYOwUmQ1M7XeZC2aA6oz6SryZNzfr1YXJHJNie4Qfrp4YvK2HhT_bt6_dEvn5K23/s320/087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The bags of <b>Dubai Natural Fert(ilizer)</b> cow manure from the Green Desert Fertilizer Factory looked like the ones at our local Home Depot back home.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcun_Zl_tmyWJmV2w8Dm9E15HS6kE2EsNO1VZaB0-909WNIHc979foYaljqAC2L2LBWdsiHY070YeJgLkOpo3i160guEjhAXfEu2JEiaxcbKHCGnxwCuKKCHymdvbU0zPstwp2g44VXTEe/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcun_Zl_tmyWJmV2w8Dm9E15HS6kE2EsNO1VZaB0-909WNIHc979foYaljqAC2L2LBWdsiHY070YeJgLkOpo3i160guEjhAXfEu2JEiaxcbKHCGnxwCuKKCHymdvbU0zPstwp2g44VXTEe/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Admiring all the boats in the Khor Khalid harbor made me think I must have inherited some of my maternal grandfather's seafaring blood. He spent his entire professional life sailing the world as a captain on the P and O, the world's oldest cruise line.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1g9aJWmky0cwwqBn6fr2WiM2tCxyiCQszYjy68QP9B_9bXgo42Rk9NFk_5Loh6qmC7kK8qddHOEnv2Jy6SKiTtrEctTXL7hZVSn-2gLfhvzybZpFSsSKQu_rWiwDMNge30d61tXnExHV/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1g9aJWmky0cwwqBn6fr2WiM2tCxyiCQszYjy68QP9B_9bXgo42Rk9NFk_5Loh6qmC7kK8qddHOEnv2Jy6SKiTtrEctTXL7hZVSn-2gLfhvzybZpFSsSKQu_rWiwDMNge30d61tXnExHV/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pc0OItNLdVh4o3P-Efy1ovud0Q7I4bze0pGl9hbEQs9oqs4kqLOsQJVBmLmN5LelS38yapHVdfnLlqiRYCEadmKIGck_sjff7rVm97w__WvRLEXdGW_Jk91Cvn3Xd5yEmt_lTo3vT2hU/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pc0OItNLdVh4o3P-Efy1ovud0Q7I4bze0pGl9hbEQs9oqs4kqLOsQJVBmLmN5LelS38yapHVdfnLlqiRYCEadmKIGck_sjff7rVm97w__WvRLEXdGW_Jk91Cvn3Xd5yEmt_lTo3vT2hU/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sharjah Court </b>seemed immense for such a small emirate.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIlQinFe2OQGjM8TiOLnlXDJF7uDB3sJRL0KPrq0YOYpKkFw97Qh2wroieRrcU4HXa8k2LIn2GMIZHjmQPHeMDfy-w56Hr39P4TJnIDGnR7ptScuVuaCFxezkAU0FpaQ4MfUFeHYK5RGh/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIlQinFe2OQGjM8TiOLnlXDJF7uDB3sJRL0KPrq0YOYpKkFw97Qh2wroieRrcU4HXa8k2LIn2GMIZHjmQPHeMDfy-w56Hr39P4TJnIDGnR7ptScuVuaCFxezkAU0FpaQ4MfUFeHYK5RGh/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgCcFVLLo_OSfrJZaaB4VPQzeVZVYk4B8VzIKY58Wh5Ayf_HEOfUbm1BlILc-4MsX3Mqit_MVW4Ci9eq9r_oouC6P-zq97NwwkwCAHWPk1D2hdjWbLlX8Lu8H6j9F7jBTG5hS6Jv0E5BxpC/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcFVLLo_OSfrJZaaB4VPQzeVZVYk4B8VzIKY58Wh5Ayf_HEOfUbm1BlILc-4MsX3Mqit_MVW4Ci9eq9r_oouC6P-zq97NwwkwCAHWPk1D2hdjWbLlX8Lu8H6j9F7jBTG5hS6Jv0E5BxpC/s320/099.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Masjid al-Maghfirah Mosque </b>was one of the few we didn't stop in or look at more closely this trip.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CPm0k4I2RGIe60n7auv-yzP4FYRYeXpFEvKnRgDWZ7jJde1-34afbLGdqscusVciIopNb2z3p3_OABt5NSXdUUqYFZbFVhALlQzuam6u1d2zEIf4JDSYXfIwmfrD-qUiDpFFK9F_Iq5n/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CPm0k4I2RGIe60n7auv-yzP4FYRYeXpFEvKnRgDWZ7jJde1-34afbLGdqscusVciIopNb2z3p3_OABt5NSXdUUqYFZbFVhALlQzuam6u1d2zEIf4JDSYXfIwmfrD-qUiDpFFK9F_Iq5n/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the first of several huge copper pots we saw in Sharjah; no idea why they were there and nowhere else in the UAE.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtahabHLP5tPr5Mv-ujkJp3PIzBfj4rvVDtAG2huCIX6ixHXyBjOCJwVs45jaFTiUP70ILiQ9t_EwICFhlcg9korwJVEh7mCl5TjnqRZcL-rhhTa_qolMNEdtAp4qOgx4fCrRbyMeNwiPy/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtahabHLP5tPr5Mv-ujkJp3PIzBfj4rvVDtAG2huCIX6ixHXyBjOCJwVs45jaFTiUP70ILiQ9t_EwICFhlcg9korwJVEh7mCl5TjnqRZcL-rhhTa_qolMNEdtAp4qOgx4fCrRbyMeNwiPy/s320/103.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The rather swish Radisson Hotel marked the northern tip of the Corniche before we headed inland.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpzxbZwfrrbmkkkUKFVbHO89WIjcrAbIp5wPqFiGRM06FR9zjaDyexwvPt-cHpP7K6XI8WIuijTNrxWZs4vpW8rQozpO6NYAlJdyIzMPJE32Qf8euTZBPdiL63nw3mZqYEUnBmHEKCsYL/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpzxbZwfrrbmkkkUKFVbHO89WIjcrAbIp5wPqFiGRM06FR9zjaDyexwvPt-cHpP7K6XI8WIuijTNrxWZs4vpW8rQozpO6NYAlJdyIzMPJE32Qf8euTZBPdiL63nw3mZqYEUnBmHEKCsYL/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that Sharjah's reputation for tourism and culture has been steadily growing; the city was the Capital of Arab Tourism in 2015 and the Islamic Culture Capital of the Arab Region in 2014. Sharjah previously served as the UNESCO Cultural Capital of the Arab World. Evidence of this could still be seen in the beautifully restored Heritage Area, a cluster of traditional mud-brick buildings scattered around a number of irregular squares and alleyways.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the center of the heritage district was the <b>Al Arsa Souk</b> that we walked through to escape the hot sun. Few of the shops in the winding alleyways were open.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVLhsNtrQlnI6gbK8Kafm9QZJq_tSyaK3Uu8XQgNGjup8pV5fl4pxc4agpodBNLUahv-wBVkhD0oPgKajMAd821mELJEWC_CWKnsqU8wPohoN3Fz3xltK-VzReaHl-i1pTlJzU3CH5ETC/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVLhsNtrQlnI6gbK8Kafm9QZJq_tSyaK3Uu8XQgNGjup8pV5fl4pxc4agpodBNLUahv-wBVkhD0oPgKajMAd821mELJEWC_CWKnsqU8wPohoN3Fz3xltK-VzReaHl-i1pTlJzU3CH5ETC/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not sure if this design on a building near the historic area was a stylized 'S' for Sharjah or a snake?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQC7wxLHVa-_8tyX58JvjhNwwJejIaka5AWKuQGj81AzPsN27mmmShhnYzIzKF-_YpLRyXwZjpZoyRGN5v23T0DnMGxtlaHrU_cWmLz7R6IEZL8wGkvfbjeA2VMiEOg6ANmbELCbW2PU2/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQC7wxLHVa-_8tyX58JvjhNwwJejIaka5AWKuQGj81AzPsN27mmmShhnYzIzKF-_YpLRyXwZjpZoyRGN5v23T0DnMGxtlaHrU_cWmLz7R6IEZL8wGkvfbjeA2VMiEOg6ANmbELCbW2PU2/s320/107.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The historic <b>Al Hisn Fort,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">built in 1823, was in the heart of Sharjah and recreated the days when it was used as the seat of Sharjah's government, the residence of the ruling<b> Al Qawasim </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">ruling family and a jail. As the most important building in Sharjah, it endured various changes over the years, including almost complete destruction, until it was restored in 2013-14 to resemble its original appearance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A plaque in the square marked the area where <b>Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr II </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">sat on a stone bench constructed along the front wall while people gathered around him for conversation and counsel.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEJHReBXLiihwN7-k4pKloY9e5vLgJ3j3LA-UYz-DwS1jDUyqyH-YimUgF0y0gL5fs6xiAVeIKax69Px-k-qDQB3ZJcYneKKHxf1vHL-Xd-xEGZyY12G6pyoKhOGAYy97ZR0IgbrnzGBp/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEJHReBXLiihwN7-k4pKloY9e5vLgJ3j3LA-UYz-DwS1jDUyqyH-YimUgF0y0gL5fs6xiAVeIKax69Px-k-qDQB3ZJcYneKKHxf1vHL-Xd-xEGZyY12G6pyoKhOGAYy97ZR0IgbrnzGBp/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sign in front of this room as we entered the fort said it was the jail's former <b>'Arrest Room' </b>- it looked more like a Resting Area to me!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR3GTZHHSZflc4UY8TLcTgYvkECjTY4fyKXijffjNRkQq-qSfLaTY-zWago1S9ynFrQ9HGegRbGVMHxNvlLyL1sSO3SBzvb-Hgz74PcHLWyF05fhcxASTtGE78Ap71iLG4gGBtt3jrdXf/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR3GTZHHSZflc4UY8TLcTgYvkECjTY4fyKXijffjNRkQq-qSfLaTY-zWago1S9ynFrQ9HGegRbGVMHxNvlLyL1sSO3SBzvb-Hgz74PcHLWyF05fhcxASTtGE78Ap71iLG4gGBtt3jrdXf/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we toured the recreated jail in the fort, we learned that crime was a rare occurrence in generally peaceful Sharjah but that, when the law was broken, criminals were imprisoned here at the <b>Al Muhalwasa Prison.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMGXaumfa7geQBUqB8ElVal8kPi3x5na4WiH4Kztm1nx6edk7e9Rhw9yKbJbRKTXoe4yFg2wYamXfJnu_FGteX1ghmzQAJMMBCZxK1a_mqwCBrmKCh7ua7MG5bkLT5yTwiAhf260L8z_/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAMGXaumfa7geQBUqB8ElVal8kPi3x5na4WiH4Kztm1nx6edk7e9Rhw9yKbJbRKTXoe4yFg2wYamXfJnu_FGteX1ghmzQAJMMBCZxK1a_mqwCBrmKCh7ua7MG5bkLT5yTwiAhf260L8z_/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The floor directly above the prison was used by guards to keep an eye on the inmates. If a guard addressed one of the prisoners and he failed to respond, a group of three soldiers entered the jail through the ground floor entrance to investigate. Silence from the inmates could have resulted in injury or death. According to the information we read, prisoners ate the same type of food as the average citizen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Iron shackles were used to immobilize the prisoners by locking their legs in place. A rope could be tied between the ankle shackles and around their wrists to further hinder movement. Some of the shackles didn't have a key; instead, the cuffs were hammered to secure them in place. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0t__XHB6MuwDxUZ2EQmTRJtK7LVqQtq-MYuvQivFP7h_QVDo1cWw8gkZkFQ8gUMLzJuSjILKMbx3KlbZe33iul71fPajJuFhGN8HVmNJuclrAd40CZI_tZlRDdvsFbuVrTWhvXNv6VFYR/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0t__XHB6MuwDxUZ2EQmTRJtK7LVqQtq-MYuvQivFP7h_QVDo1cWw8gkZkFQ8gUMLzJuSjILKMbx3KlbZe33iul71fPajJuFhGN8HVmNJuclrAd40CZI_tZlRDdvsFbuVrTWhvXNv6VFYR/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Breaking the Law: </b>The punishments criminals faced seem harsh by today's standards. However, at a time when daily survival was a challenge, the laws helped deter crime and maintain order. <b>Theft: </b>First offenses for theft were punishable by whipping. Re-offenders and those who stole valuable items, such as gold, money or camels, might have a hand cut off. The severed hand might be displayed in from of Al Hisn as a deterrent for potential thieves. <b>Murder: </b>Typically, murderers were held for one to two weeks before being executed. Punishment might have been less severe if the murder was in self-defense or accidental. <b>Treason: </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">The consequences of committing treason could be disastrous for the government and put the safety of society in peril. Traitors were therefore sentenced to some of the most severe punishments. They were occasionally punished in public as a warning to others not to commit the same crime.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOC-9-FppfT_gxip1GF-bcMxBndt5RirHe9dc4xOYJj-FMasmdYO-NNN6q5zBo0XiC_ICMo6lthDiOJA-O0Iq2v_KtpfhI8vDIB8Ad_S5tCXk19ev3g8a32Ah3pDjLuaOQUE8-2aM3IWx/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOC-9-FppfT_gxip1GF-bcMxBndt5RirHe9dc4xOYJj-FMasmdYO-NNN6q5zBo0XiC_ICMo6lthDiOJA-O0Iq2v_KtpfhI8vDIB8Ad_S5tCXk19ev3g8a32Ah3pDjLuaOQUE8-2aM3IWx/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Early Release: </b>When the holy month of Ramadan was approaching, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr II considered releasing people from Al Muhalwasa. Prisoners could also be released or given a light punishment if the victim or victim's family forgave him for his crime. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4C4wHCaTj6-N2s3vBtuLU7O4Q_ss0AQICC5P1DVBkSWRHnCRFx481Wz7ETtaaAg6sYEjO9eUf7Vyta1HcUZKP7exnzSbxNAAaxlvUOVsko1bzUr7XekuZn53zMRFmYgr6UVd_ULWUJ7m/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4C4wHCaTj6-N2s3vBtuLU7O4Q_ss0AQICC5P1DVBkSWRHnCRFx481Wz7ETtaaAg6sYEjO9eUf7Vyta1HcUZKP7exnzSbxNAAaxlvUOVsko1bzUr7XekuZn53zMRFmYgr6UVd_ULWUJ7m/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Trial Process: </b>The judicial process was simple yet reportedly effective in the past as most disputes were solved through mediation</span><span style="font-size: large;">. Some people directly approached the Sheikh who was the Ruler or his Deputy Ruler when they had a conflict. They and other dignitaries either solved disputes or referred trials that needed to be addressed by Sharia law to <b>Judge Saif bin Mohammed Al Midfa.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">He determined the appropriate punishments for criminals. Once Judge Saif announced his verdict, his decision was sent to the Ruler in order for the punishment to be enforced. Male criminals were taken to Al Hisn; it is believed that women were detained elsewhere. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LyD-3TlYClM1-IQwKJUrc7rkes8Yehyphenhyphenx65ElD2eA2odTV8IcG_0IZm1SC59czLvDj-XQOkH7vPMWkPaHTB1QQYXkNpUOKjo_KXs8BeNtbyDLKVORkF0T2vMTpqeyXova6eYVTAByW56o/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LyD-3TlYClM1-IQwKJUrc7rkes8Yehyphenhyphenx65ElD2eA2odTV8IcG_0IZm1SC59czLvDj-XQOkH7vPMWkPaHTB1QQYXkNpUOKjo_KXs8BeNtbyDLKVORkF0T2vMTpqeyXova6eYVTAByW56o/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A document issued by a Sharjah judge: </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oPIbtNDpErqhfb5Hd8VuAUf6vbuUUupq6f_IwM6Hg_ocrwTPkyL8SgZzaApzg4nE_Z2sUau2HchnJok3O1ISJIQuHDOuiiHCCVs_A1xyC0HVfexRCbgqtBSvsZF0Hs0zW3kATvDC2ySV/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oPIbtNDpErqhfb5Hd8VuAUf6vbuUUupq6f_IwM6Hg_ocrwTPkyL8SgZzaApzg4nE_Z2sUau2HchnJok3O1ISJIQuHDOuiiHCCVs_A1xyC0HVfexRCbgqtBSvsZF0Hs0zW3kATvDC2ySV/s320/131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the jail, we then peaked in the fort's <b>Armory,</b> a small room used to store the fort's weapons, located near the main entrance to allow guards to quickly grab weapons. The teak door was rescued from the 1969 demolition of Al Hisn, making it one of the oldest components of the fort.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTiS566_ms6aM5MDgsjHUXJDNzUi1rjRvx_6V4Llmxhl27JeychvovfluT3JMJiPo6Xe1P9AY8Dv29ezWOx6vpAEJBvbcxn99ZeUcByjSsBPEjhk8fKCxtqtFM2-75jV7ZLpbwe2aCb_/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktTiS566_ms6aM5MDgsjHUXJDNzUi1rjRvx_6V4Llmxhl27JeychvovfluT3JMJiPo6Xe1P9AY8Dv29ezWOx6vpAEJBvbcxn99ZeUcByjSsBPEjhk8fKCxtqtFM2-75jV7ZLpbwe2aCb_/s320/138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fort was built for designed both for comfort and privacy. The courtyard provided a space for people to enjoy the outdoors without leaving the fort. The ground floor was built without exterior windows except for the one in the arrest room which provided both seclusion and security. The layout of the building also allowed for airflow throughout the corridors. Plants and trees in the courtyard created shade, which also aided in reducing the heat. The building materials also helped to keep the interior of the fort cool.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo1BDrb5lsxZUY2FOBhyjqNOs7zxSKg5aocvKKW9Dw2PJgbBuSeEOVbh7XwY26BbYLHRJxMGpw_4DQ80ufJxdhPZMMUZzIKNi-SFc34pjlR-SZzmVtLVXdXOQibazWTe4x4VCjZqIYm-F/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo1BDrb5lsxZUY2FOBhyjqNOs7zxSKg5aocvKKW9Dw2PJgbBuSeEOVbh7XwY26BbYLHRJxMGpw_4DQ80ufJxdhPZMMUZzIKNi-SFc34pjlR-SZzmVtLVXdXOQibazWTe4x4VCjZqIYm-F/s320/140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVGwk1a66746zK8Pi4dlY2bDqlvYBjq40j7KNpiQHsBkHydteWioO8o-qtvTc0-LuXKbQ70jHt1UT6FxaEhOxMLaA2M5tu4Le7yE3hsBcCROzGNa0BpkklcVG2_chH0MsT_2vLEU9aUdn/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVGwk1a66746zK8Pi4dlY2bDqlvYBjq40j7KNpiQHsBkHydteWioO8o-qtvTc0-LuXKbQ70jHt1UT6FxaEhOxMLaA2M5tu4Le7yE3hsBcCROzGNa0BpkklcVG2_chH0MsT_2vLEU9aUdn/s320/166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first floor had windows and ventilation openings or 'wind scoops' designed to circulate the air. The windows could be shuttered for privacy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFNOCVRaUxtsp5qKAK3yYZJcmxlhahcdwy2UlWGckqZRnS1PPvsLMqZQSs8vBzo4B3PdRBzEifFzguJLsWke99auBF2eEBGFPY0ej8cyywAka5hZSq8vFv5ogkIbDGOO2O-DJc_dKm6F_/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFNOCVRaUxtsp5qKAK3yYZJcmxlhahcdwy2UlWGckqZRnS1PPvsLMqZQSs8vBzo4B3PdRBzEifFzguJLsWke99auBF2eEBGFPY0ej8cyywAka5hZSq8vFv5ogkIbDGOO2O-DJc_dKm6F_/s320/196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of having a guest book as so many museums had, I liked that Al Hisn had a 'memory tree' in which people wrote down on notes what they had seen and liked.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMMRPb_PL1dwdYKjQRmp13bkxmSD13bjoautzV9QahelhWd9KIsvhBnW0UN_cMb6tJkaRCt41Nz2TDOb2AEKLfotKpm-rcu93X0I222fEnX3Cf1kGFEBpujMSwOiaBRE5KTeXd3RsCODO/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMMRPb_PL1dwdYKjQRmp13bkxmSD13bjoautzV9QahelhWd9KIsvhBnW0UN_cMb6tJkaRCt41Nz2TDOb2AEKLfotKpm-rcu93X0I222fEnX3Cf1kGFEBpujMSwOiaBRE5KTeXd3RsCODO/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXSQOW31CJlxIDFXgWYaeHka5dY3g3qTcOoGXZ8nf5_uJZqj4W1ImaHRpVlP2bvHSmBKGUM2llRu15ke5Il82mFtnqiGGLvKhUTgPj7w2wg1hKA25TC-Ep2dzc1WA3n52YMNbHH10ao_5/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXSQOW31CJlxIDFXgWYaeHka5dY3g3qTcOoGXZ8nf5_uJZqj4W1ImaHRpVlP2bvHSmBKGUM2llRu15ke5Il82mFtnqiGGLvKhUTgPj7w2wg1hKA25TC-Ep2dzc1WA3n52YMNbHH10ao_5/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign6SyCUvAD1zfcopAzsmCwa9tlB-lOv4SfGPoFtFttyenF1zI-xRaYqOf7d_yaX9APTiLDrqupT9jxNZ1gRu5AuEtxeoyw73Jp97jkzsW_of79tVeeh210P9hh07_cyFrZcJabxjM5Nw8/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign6SyCUvAD1zfcopAzsmCwa9tlB-lOv4SfGPoFtFttyenF1zI-xRaYqOf7d_yaX9APTiLDrqupT9jxNZ1gRu5AuEtxeoyw73Jp97jkzsW_of79tVeeh210P9hh07_cyFrZcJabxjM5Nw8/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next exhibits were on the building materials of the fort and the city.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv45YQHJ_6mSnqEGyWbSKxEgiZLU8y4T9xBvE3IUn8QrGVOZyqZOfb-MRLCADEq6MYe1yOCVm9F5KxlVLio4dCXRTdw-QrhT6a11Hbm5m0lGi1XxfjkhCBCKGpXdSRtxLmAI8sCZiwKkT/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv45YQHJ_6mSnqEGyWbSKxEgiZLU8y4T9xBvE3IUn8QrGVOZyqZOfb-MRLCADEq6MYe1yOCVm9F5KxlVLio4dCXRTdw-QrhT6a11Hbm5m0lGi1XxfjkhCBCKGpXdSRtxLmAI8sCZiwKkT/s320/146.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We learned that men working out at sea cut coral blocks from the seabed for use in constructing the city's walls, buildings and towers. Fan and brain coral were extracted from old coral beds at low tide and left to dry in the sun to reduce the salt content. When the coral was used to build the fort, <i>jus</i> or mortar was sandwiched between layers of coral as you can see in this photo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjhiMI7iYbKG_EANS4ewIvCX5AhzA9OzaglCxJZYZpw1f_RS7KqdzHnc5T0Fe3yFffTkxQbKyXXZNHIKMr9f4Eq7AsTdMjk9TYTN8-546rz3JOQPJo9CAN5ePwLj0gzql0Nh4map_wche/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjhiMI7iYbKG_EANS4ewIvCX5AhzA9OzaglCxJZYZpw1f_RS7KqdzHnc5T0Fe3yFffTkxQbKyXXZNHIKMr9f4Eq7AsTdMjk9TYTN8-546rz3JOQPJo9CAN5ePwLj0gzql0Nh4map_wche/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <i>jus</i> was made from crushing and mixing coral and shells with water before sand was added. The mixture was then dried and heated in a kiln, crushed again and mixed with water. The walls were covered with mortar to make them smooth. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Together, the materials were strong and helped insulate the buildings against the harsh climate. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Alcoves were built into the walls to provide shelving.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Brain Coral and Fan Coral</b> on the left and right, respectively:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF_2_yVcbhlROkj8CuSV9FafQcjkgjNgmiQfOCuUcLowWZQ-jnA_E9icYKxZ4S4fjJTl2p5cXJvAnfXIxKFr0AkXspOoCOYfYIbXzIPYMgOJTxp2WUnZawfa8DmgEzBrjZzIaffkE5gAf/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjF_2_yVcbhlROkj8CuSV9FafQcjkgjNgmiQfOCuUcLowWZQ-jnA_E9icYKxZ4S4fjJTl2p5cXJvAnfXIxKFr0AkXspOoCOYfYIbXzIPYMgOJTxp2WUnZawfa8DmgEzBrjZzIaffkE5gAf/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A sample of <b>jus or mortar:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Azz7j9ZDH6kRynUKQ4g72Wn4bBT9F4DBcP20qcp0YnxAMVSpeax0fFTPIeTVmRgZ4KqiuK_kpHc7wqXukzAWWtwkSCH0sW8bQT4xOEXMYtuLtNX1x6dvQZ7wZ8P_R9a9zo3RlAhBIOMO/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Azz7j9ZDH6kRynUKQ4g72Wn4bBT9F4DBcP20qcp0YnxAMVSpeax0fFTPIeTVmRgZ4KqiuK_kpHc7wqXukzAWWtwkSCH0sW8bQT4xOEXMYtuLtNX1x6dvQZ7wZ8P_R9a9zo3RlAhBIOMO/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The wood doors were made of teak and reinforced with metal studs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ACxP9PdzXGW_HNo8Hn6WDtAGgLlh-iYoYcSnJFD_gTGpCgBK5O_WLVZdnnBXoPwYv0QUV17AwbBKv7fn3oxaikFE_q-xUX4dd8Ei6JrxFxoEM_3FveJiHZmkhaZgMU8DtymciTjQUwmi/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ACxP9PdzXGW_HNo8Hn6WDtAGgLlh-iYoYcSnJFD_gTGpCgBK5O_WLVZdnnBXoPwYv0QUV17AwbBKv7fn3oxaikFE_q-xUX4dd8Ei6JrxFxoEM_3FveJiHZmkhaZgMU8DtymciTjQUwmi/s320/156.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Palm trees were an important building material for traditional coral homes. The people who built Al Hisn, and those who reconstructed it in 2013/14, relied on palm leaves, fronds and fibers to make the ceilings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwlg31zNZOgjFpoUhCBY7Sg410U0QVavKAVkCBxSNM66tgHgktbWpdBD5wMl8O2n7CGAP7UTGAv5cvDuRxO6YwV_pmaW1w1ZOC26KELeeJyqUVC-CcjJFG5KUDkbAO9Z2mSRDXVHTgQrC/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwlg31zNZOgjFpoUhCBY7Sg410U0QVavKAVkCBxSNM66tgHgktbWpdBD5wMl8O2n7CGAP7UTGAv5cvDuRxO6YwV_pmaW1w1ZOC26KELeeJyqUVC-CcjJFG5KUDkbAO9Z2mSRDXVHTgQrC/s320/157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Al Medbasa</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">room was used to make</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>dibs</i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">or date molasses. As we had already learned from visiting museums in other Arab countries this trip, different variations of medbasas were found all over the Gulf. Some were designed like a ladder or a shallow staircase in the ground. Others, such as this one in Al Hisn, were built with grooves in the floor. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc7WMPB97L4kkDcE9G6VSmelL5KZ9hfDSGzEkYR8LZdAaNZHwEKkLyZtleHDjt35-m26gb6SiyeGtKqCEES8SfKy5kknygW_6hg-nm1oNFVftC1HnxlZmulSeEPGCeLRFq4ZwFxRdUdXT/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOc7WMPB97L4kkDcE9G6VSmelL5KZ9hfDSGzEkYR8LZdAaNZHwEKkLyZtleHDjt35-m26gb6SiyeGtKqCEES8SfKy5kknygW_6hg-nm1oNFVftC1HnxlZmulSeEPGCeLRFq4ZwFxRdUdXT/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Dibs</i></b></span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">flowed along the channels and into a pot set in the lowest corner of the floor. Collecting dates was a social event and something that people looked forward to each year. The <i>medbasa </i>enabled the residents of Al Hisn to be self-sufficient. <i>Dibs</i> could last up to a year without spoiling.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFP7gocRpqwZqS0vQ-lDBpqDHjqJ3SqzkgYAJmE92NH9tU0mHcx-mCJcKszIckcnP9VVifiz6YZUTqzZyHvg0u_sNnD2TI2TGKhM1JZDXCiAI1sxnkPwS2SVHucZR4fhw8QbMEsdhDbXc/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFP7gocRpqwZqS0vQ-lDBpqDHjqJ3SqzkgYAJmE92NH9tU0mHcx-mCJcKszIckcnP9VVifiz6YZUTqzZyHvg0u_sNnD2TI2TGKhM1JZDXCiAI1sxnkPwS2SVHucZR4fhw8QbMEsdhDbXc/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Each bag of dates weighed 50-60 lbs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YjTs89P6YvhWpJtrrh68pE2m_XtLsTZi3KkzIMTXYRlZAfAoFamkMpZUY6W7udKhK4fVplgDT40s9xzndsAR-UHUdLGuFBlNqZkn6BcyqZ6YQ1gFUtewVBsyeXFCTjiA-2p1vyi9WR-n/s1600/170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YjTs89P6YvhWpJtrrh68pE2m_XtLsTZi3KkzIMTXYRlZAfAoFamkMpZUY6W7udKhK4fVplgDT40s9xzndsAR-UHUdLGuFBlNqZkn6BcyqZ6YQ1gFUtewVBsyeXFCTjiA-2p1vyi9WR-n/s320/170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Gulf was known for its pearl banks as early as 4000 B.C. In fact, travelers often referred to the coast as 'The Pearl Coast.' The abundance of pearls enticed merchants from all over to find the most valuable specimens. Pearls were once the most sought after local trade product. The scattered islands in the Gulf became temporary homes for those searching for pearls.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Map showing the Pearl Banks:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LxXRbxn7dhnNoagt4JZOC6KtZSUxAJqmgyQQ98lOhC6ZXwmTlYPbLh1qzoYKHL27wvhmV8i_llMWmYv_jcuPQYQ2dksjGGjv0VKBNR-NCdGFNIO76ZaqL0QJybJblUOQJIpk8RJKFPey/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LxXRbxn7dhnNoagt4JZOC6KtZSUxAJqmgyQQ98lOhC6ZXwmTlYPbLh1qzoYKHL27wvhmV8i_llMWmYv_jcuPQYQ2dksjGGjv0VKBNR-NCdGFNIO76ZaqL0QJybJblUOQJIpk8RJKFPey/s320/176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRECdHs8tulgSC9Z-JayZ4LJqUzkZcXq9LeIyQqshoQjeXQyxINj90tUJrGrDA6SnVj6eakUb2XdKr8fFL4xuH0sH_Otf8kIOGVGw_-R_qbewcI3JlGvZxZAKEWLfcXuboOtrvr30LPrgx/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRECdHs8tulgSC9Z-JayZ4LJqUzkZcXq9LeIyQqshoQjeXQyxINj90tUJrGrDA6SnVj6eakUb2XdKr8fFL4xuH0sH_Otf8kIOGVGw_-R_qbewcI3JlGvZxZAKEWLfcXuboOtrvr30LPrgx/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The name <b>Qawasim</b> is the plural of Qasimi. The Qawasim, who are believed to be descendants of the Prophet, left the area now known as Basra, Iraq, around 1500 to escape aggression from various tribal leaders. They came to Sharjah briefly before going to Persia, now called Iran. Years later, some of them returned to Sharjah in search of security and to establish themselves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Qawasim relied on the sea for their livelihood in the 18th and 19th centuries. They supported themselves through fishing, pearling and trade. They sailed trade ships to ports near and far, including India, Yemen, Africa, Iran and Basra. Products such as pearls and dried fish were traded for food, textiles and wood.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqLThAG35BJAtPTtZa1_ncxuhpfD4EHgIsYPR_Aoo_CqRzaOZ2dsMqEai0ZdEjJl4atF_2vVKQX6z_e6mT_9ZctRXCJUvymWUKlvpPyx2b8wq0jz700ZjptUTxROAurXGtIJox-LmOn2p/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqLThAG35BJAtPTtZa1_ncxuhpfD4EHgIsYPR_Aoo_CqRzaOZ2dsMqEai0ZdEjJl4atF_2vVKQX6z_e6mT_9ZctRXCJUvymWUKlvpPyx2b8wq0jz700ZjptUTxROAurXGtIJox-LmOn2p/s320/182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Well: </b>Al Hisn was equipped with a <i><b>khareeja</b></i> or saltwater well. The water was mostly used for domestic purposes, as it wasn't suitable for human consumption. It was used to clean the fort, wash clothes and dishes. People also bathed in the brackish water. By using the </span><span style="font-size: large;">khareeja, pure water could be reserved for drinking and cooking. At the time, this was particularly important because of the scarcity of fresh water. The water was collected using a bucket made from animal skin tied to a rope. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMPrSVGx1m4g9i7DSg8EZFHdKtwuGMS8OlH-4mHTJzKKmW5HRlhFQ0zHjFtBU51v7ZcLDTN8d-ggmaYic0XpsS7fk2GEaT0vfiJRUb0HyiYZgY_YJ1wW4MXQgAHlNyDA4yg6jJAkmG8tj/s1600/183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMPrSVGx1m4g9i7DSg8EZFHdKtwuGMS8OlH-4mHTJzKKmW5HRlhFQ0zHjFtBU51v7ZcLDTN8d-ggmaYic0XpsS7fk2GEaT0vfiJRUb0HyiYZgY_YJ1wW4MXQgAHlNyDA4yg6jJAkmG8tj/s320/183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Al Ghurfah room</b> was first used as a meeting place around the early 1930s. It hosted local and foreign dignitaries, such as sheikhs, ministers and merchants. Translators, economists and lawyers would also have met there. They all played a significant role in helping to accomplish important projects such as the negotiation of oil concessions.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEzfPrxPPKy8J5oOFi-pkoA5tsPgeSAYFGEZbSjdBee-ELad_mc3-_agoeK7MBkkSDNiCFtdTHv5bPEKv85gyjf7ukm_grBXDmiPYVwXBTwUcIPvmBXMvXLOWhb-LVen_QoI9S9voTP1/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEzfPrxPPKy8J5oOFi-pkoA5tsPgeSAYFGEZbSjdBee-ELad_mc3-_agoeK7MBkkSDNiCFtdTHv5bPEKv85gyjf7ukm_grBXDmiPYVwXBTwUcIPvmBXMvXLOWhb-LVen_QoI9S9voTP1/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A portrait of</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">who was responsible for the restoration and reconstruction of buildings in the old city center in the early 1990s. On a map in 1669, Sharjah was called Quiximi, after the Qasimi family, ancestors of the current ruler. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACYOf-yamb-ZKWkNy0VGCGmJpVljPLR875O9GpjIRSWQPRrEc10kGTU78af4J1Wp1FVc28_MZfwbD7adjkRRDF2NcL1ruNXg3QTFv5pu2mrgGMa8thYAh7QaET69r7lwFUTNKeADWg8mm/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACYOf-yamb-ZKWkNy0VGCGmJpVljPLR875O9GpjIRSWQPRrEc10kGTU78af4J1Wp1FVc28_MZfwbD7adjkRRDF2NcL1ruNXg3QTFv5pu2mrgGMa8thYAh7QaET69r7lwFUTNKeADWg8mm/s320/163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We also explored the galleries on the fort's upper level.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbMx_mT016ISbuAgZqvrH4TqmwwYTuSY7orlSfcHTm1uXisva4iw9BiOiZQWIU91QmcmISFCOQjF6MW19xE6eVnvQXOpxcyWjULMdjYgewDEK-v91MF0n0eGBhgLbvmanJgGgpV8EWbCT/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbMx_mT016ISbuAgZqvrH4TqmwwYTuSY7orlSfcHTm1uXisva4iw9BiOiZQWIU91QmcmISFCOQjF6MW19xE6eVnvQXOpxcyWjULMdjYgewDEK-v91MF0n0eGBhgLbvmanJgGgpV8EWbCT/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first was the <b>Majlis</b> or meeting room. The pictures illustrated the evolution of Sharjah during the last two centuries. Sharjah dominated maritime trade, which led to conflicts with various powerful countries. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Despite international competition, the Qawasim, Sharjah's rulers, were able to continue earning a living through maritime trade by using traditional ships. Sharjah's markets flourished with the trade of pearls, fabrics, wood and seafood. I read that after WWI, Britain sought to link its colonies and Sharjah was chosen as the headquarters for the region's airport. With the discovery of oil in the Arabian Gulf, many people competed for rights over oil concessions. Sharjah's rulers used the proceeds of oil, and later gas, to improve education and the Emirate's development.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirupvA_y-uiwtcoO4al7cq5LicZhKRpIGYCcEwtRiZ9_3rCFdn3Gaf1rJAUMiv8WakEzRMJONG86l6ioofZtBYhFIs7PdYtR-fc2Xzvmoe7asSXZcmVGhng3cTr6hdzDuOZmXFbJ7xsGtQ/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirupvA_y-uiwtcoO4al7cq5LicZhKRpIGYCcEwtRiZ9_3rCFdn3Gaf1rJAUMiv8WakEzRMJONG86l6ioofZtBYhFIs7PdYtR-fc2Xzvmoe7asSXZcmVGhng3cTr6hdzDuOZmXFbJ7xsGtQ/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Al Mazaghel or Loopholes: </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">This space was designed with special openings where guides could fire upon people from behind the safety of the wall. The guards would position themselves on the floor across from the openings. The loopholes were an important means of defending the fort and were unique to this <i>majils </i>because of its location in the fort and the need to protect the building from all angles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGh-O0DJUNO3hlslpZZ_D37gj3Gg-bgAaCwSqv1zVUjQikN8rdUW8QD2hrRKLQ03Fcyl0AwKctRuRESAc2dj1w67SNbjQXrpy9VesesrVNf3yBl5cT8z2bh1w4Iatvq2M1fesX-rLdCSP/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGh-O0DJUNO3hlslpZZ_D37gj3Gg-bgAaCwSqv1zVUjQikN8rdUW8QD2hrRKLQ03Fcyl0AwKctRuRESAc2dj1w67SNbjQXrpy9VesesrVNf3yBl5cT8z2bh1w4Iatvq2M1fesX-rLdCSP/s320/203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The uniquely-shaped</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Muhalwasa Tower</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">was an important safety feature of the fort. The battlements, loopholes and the lack of windows were used to help defend the fort and provide safety for the guards during an attack. <i>Muhalwasa</i> is derived from the Arabic word</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>'mehalwas'</i> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">which means twisted. The name also has connections to the verb</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i>'hils' </i></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">- to embed - which implies that the prison was difficult to escape from.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsZ_f55AzgQEVnkJc8uZi3MrJGEww5rWj4wedWtoc4o8xxqd0IAAztdUtOvs8BNqi2rhdcpJVigBBdJoUaMCQEvIB-kcfAwaqTwJ4xTmc3kvMIAL5l3ScsNZA0QP5-lgs603ybpd8UfIT/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsZ_f55AzgQEVnkJc8uZi3MrJGEww5rWj4wedWtoc4o8xxqd0IAAztdUtOvs8BNqi2rhdcpJVigBBdJoUaMCQEvIB-kcfAwaqTwJ4xTmc3kvMIAL5l3ScsNZA0QP5-lgs603ybpd8UfIT/s320/206.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A guard was stationed outside Al Muhalwasa tower to help defend the fort. The guard also helped monitor the inmates inside the prison from the first floor.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvQspbVkaPvUJfgOagMvV0iOPQjoOLwSsCJ0upRv2LNOg5IY5zqHU9OlZs-KG7tS9ewMl7kAQGDdVS9d3YGuCSMr1Jjral4bZTtAdmf_8-w2qpfJ7TLQClSOFCz_EhvPkowYtI4XL2o8s/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvQspbVkaPvUJfgOagMvV0iOPQjoOLwSsCJ0upRv2LNOg5IY5zqHU9OlZs-KG7tS9ewMl7kAQGDdVS9d3YGuCSMr1Jjral4bZTtAdmf_8-w2qpfJ7TLQClSOFCz_EhvPkowYtI4XL2o8s/s320/209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cannon:</b> Al Hisn was built in a strategic location, overlooking both the desert and the sea. The two cannons in the tower were used to defend the land-based side of the fort. The wooden carriages the cannons sat on made them mobile.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qKcAnuJIuCVYhyenCxNtss75wqzB10Yc6Q4puuO3csIjXjww3VS-T2D9S6Tec0H6x-NZUZHUa1GM_ENnwTnVp0ZaJUit39LR0cb2ZgOX8M_mBTWNu_sXp5ihfw_ZPPy0JaQ8UUK038m1/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qKcAnuJIuCVYhyenCxNtss75wqzB10Yc6Q4puuO3csIjXjww3VS-T2D9S6Tec0H6x-NZUZHUa1GM_ENnwTnVp0ZaJUit39LR0cb2ZgOX8M_mBTWNu_sXp5ihfw_ZPPy0JaQ8UUK038m1/s320/210.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Tower Guard:</b> From this spot, the guard could keep a close eye on the prisoners below. Guards were armed with rifles and also wore traditional ammunition belts.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5EU-h6iLrlUqM6y7uRMP9z39hNqljRFQVKPfM1uog3vYzBfYhJDxfPXbcoNnQyvLOJQX1OkKSvSddSaIiDc0_cQ3g4E53LNHXdpeBxjHmH9YJS4jjVCkntCQr6rakMY7eHYVj00nUWfR/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5EU-h6iLrlUqM6y7uRMP9z39hNqljRFQVKPfM1uog3vYzBfYhJDxfPXbcoNnQyvLOJQX1OkKSvSddSaIiDc0_cQ3g4E53LNHXdpeBxjHmH9YJS4jjVCkntCQr6rakMY7eHYVj00nUWfR/s320/212.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSSMGSTgvl6IQ3D7jMmY0moR3-qcrKapdpIOAPM4CdAfhPPEfyQaxhoilPwjggidG-Cy77qJ6QwI8SOUagCw3bVzADsyKUFMxD4VKryUvdgKJfBWdPcdd_-3wR5OSRBy9AaGSK0KJ0Jp8/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSSMGSTgvl6IQ3D7jMmY0moR3-qcrKapdpIOAPM4CdAfhPPEfyQaxhoilPwjggidG-Cy77qJ6QwI8SOUagCw3bVzADsyKUFMxD4VKryUvdgKJfBWdPcdd_-3wR5OSRBy9AaGSK0KJ0Jp8/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The door was extremely low but at least, if you hit your head, you wouldn't take a chunk out because of the sisal heading!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsaORb2cuYqs7LPA2PvaglfucGixHF2B52q0XryB5Mo0rDh7UlOllRWSU6Swfka7lVgnnp9IZpanYRNehzVyy5yOrAVqlIXMY0mTPbP1wrCGsbujLw6UOw7eTLIhgko965gD8_6-D0Ehw/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsaORb2cuYqs7LPA2PvaglfucGixHF2B52q0XryB5Mo0rDh7UlOllRWSU6Swfka7lVgnnp9IZpanYRNehzVyy5yOrAVqlIXMY0mTPbP1wrCGsbujLw6UOw7eTLIhgko965gD8_6-D0Ehw/s320/217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Sheikh's Room</b> was certainly attractive but in no way luxurious or even very spacious given that he was the ruler of the emirate.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBacbXZlrKyaRwEWCzNHziCs2mMVZ-QLXnKlBA2GaSmX263hdfnb9BseV8EJbwOp9_fq-P9EEWzO6gkG4p51cRA6fqJlfJM5-jSoNQcCrSJzJKwkVM99jomwxb0FUKji4E3mVu54sxNRjG/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBacbXZlrKyaRwEWCzNHziCs2mMVZ-QLXnKlBA2GaSmX263hdfnb9BseV8EJbwOp9_fq-P9EEWzO6gkG4p51cRA6fqJlfJM5-jSoNQcCrSJzJKwkVM99jomwxb0FUKji4E3mVu54sxNRjG/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNamH0lZWvuj8GKBTOQVR2z-Ezs50ZJGFixSnZbzQW_xELy6ovgXNQOyZk2UI5fWT2zx5e5PiGPGywagAlxOTDhRx-JgyIViTbw3vWiZeqaXULQyq-g1Ty5LSfCtCSDUANmOLtUpxL9MRL/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNamH0lZWvuj8GKBTOQVR2z-Ezs50ZJGFixSnZbzQW_xELy6ovgXNQOyZk2UI5fWT2zx5e5PiGPGywagAlxOTDhRx-JgyIViTbw3vWiZeqaXULQyq-g1Ty5LSfCtCSDUANmOLtUpxL9MRL/s320/223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRwtNmqNpUbiDphV-o8LD5P6Z0Z0qb6dVGT8YDVvLQ54oX1FIcrzxG2QLfzRzMuRAjdg03z-yoly7gMDrP8mZIMSE9wPftFfpHg6bgWlNy_KWQc_Jpdcejvxtw1qS6QAFpPGfaZ2JjWtW/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRwtNmqNpUbiDphV-o8LD5P6Z0Z0qb6dVGT8YDVvLQ54oX1FIcrzxG2QLfzRzMuRAjdg03z-yoly7gMDrP8mZIMSE9wPftFfpHg6bgWlNy_KWQc_Jpdcejvxtw1qS6QAFpPGfaZ2JjWtW/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hatabat Al Tawba or Repentance Wood: </b>The repentance wood was placed in front of Al Hisn over a century ago. Criminals were punished while tied to the post. This post was a replica. The original came from the mast of a pearling ship that was burned in a raging fire when a blind man's home made from palm fronds caught fire while he was cooking fish. The fire spread throughout the neighborhood and the wind carried the fire toward the creek where the pearling ship was anchored. The post was placed outside of Al Hisn as a means of openly punishing criminal behavior. Before the fire, pearl divers who refused to work were tied to the ship's mast as a form of discipline. The repentance wood was there as a witness to the fire, the difficulty of life at sea and to Sharjah's early discipline system.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZI3OXvxpTMdzjHEG8NvH9llMkXXn5cUTHl4Af45zUWnl7X4Tkmz2HFnaZ6N_E2YzJ1I8Rtfkt7YFOxf3apWDxDV8KGJNKwVVyYSiXjpL1ewy2fia_7Z-Su7bXBUbLJ8LLhCmxNn07oF/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZI3OXvxpTMdzjHEG8NvH9llMkXXn5cUTHl4Af45zUWnl7X4Tkmz2HFnaZ6N_E2YzJ1I8Rtfkt7YFOxf3apWDxDV8KGJNKwVVyYSiXjpL1ewy2fia_7Z-Su7bXBUbLJ8LLhCmxNn07oF/s320/228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our tour of Al Hisn had been very informative and interesting as the exhibits had excellent English information panels unlike so many other museums we'd recently visited. I was so surprised that there were only a couple of other tourists wandering around the fort when we were there. After leaving the fort, we explored other sights in Sharjah's Heritage Area. I hope to share those with you soon in the next post.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on March 25th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-19243047857590406272017-03-15T16:32:00.000-07:002017-03-15T16:32:45.914-07:0012/11: Dubai's Jumeira Janes, Chicago Beach & Mega Fountain!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After wandering the Dubai Museum, taking abras across Dubai Creek and getting 'all souked out' exploring so many souks, we walked back to the hotel to get the car by 3:15 so we could discover areas of the city further afield.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9XR-VCJ4u6AfcQ4cQJGU2j7tq8SIhwT4wAoPqVlk0091o0nqy7pldpfWJazfZln_nNSvwvYyJIs_GjDxQd2f6lP7LShgl1R8C8wzxXZrFcdIWG3E-BTDfNbrtZPpYAXtB3dYgrqlXAPP/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9XR-VCJ4u6AfcQ4cQJGU2j7tq8SIhwT4wAoPqVlk0091o0nqy7pldpfWJazfZln_nNSvwvYyJIs_GjDxQd2f6lP7LShgl1R8C8wzxXZrFcdIWG3E-BTDfNbrtZPpYAXtB3dYgrqlXAPP/s320/181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dubai's version of the Dollar Store - guess that should be the <b>Dirham Store</b> as dirhams are the currency in the United Arab Emirates!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MunkGNL76Q9xui2-wvjUL8nmjCCeQSONTp_2JCqds623Heb3998pYukq_5trUUG9WQ9VhBWj1I_q5qbbseOkDDRpf08bDGbo3K7y1M45U-3IXYyQJp89BcXUda3aTeVkKZ4Yv6FQX7Nb/s1600/183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MunkGNL76Q9xui2-wvjUL8nmjCCeQSONTp_2JCqds623Heb3998pYukq_5trUUG9WQ9VhBWj1I_q5qbbseOkDDRpf08bDGbo3K7y1M45U-3IXYyQJp89BcXUda3aTeVkKZ4Yv6FQX7Nb/s320/183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I found the cascading roof of this building appealing - don't know which it was though.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIEizXcl4UiYXEZVMQcf7mqskyrmy0ulrHu2bwHva1nQw79DYvJ6kD-VtFmWwrqGRW6q8Fn9MUUnPcptb8TyE2-zSACCbEh-Ekr3wulmh2cv4gRKikI0-0eLTMs8F_z5n1DehXdyILMek/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIEizXcl4UiYXEZVMQcf7mqskyrmy0ulrHu2bwHva1nQw79DYvJ6kD-VtFmWwrqGRW6q8Fn9MUUnPcptb8TyE2-zSACCbEh-Ekr3wulmh2cv4gRKikI0-0eLTMs8F_z5n1DehXdyILMek/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A nod to my fellow Canadian readers: The <b>Second Cup</b> coffee franchise even had a location in Dubai! See the <b>Fuddruckers</b> logo too? Unfortunately, the hamburger chain closed all its restaurants in Denver back in 2010.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5AETX6djgdDsnE32vRqCKgOqVCfXJWOYbBC1jHm-AbOv7RR9LDIt-Fqq0335ZGdfmoNH6WTWvQRa2cc_0i8Wq9LCKSFqoH8k8LPdpkKORCd5eOIUUwKBkb107jtXejJ_3-XDAq5ySKrr/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5AETX6djgdDsnE32vRqCKgOqVCfXJWOYbBC1jHm-AbOv7RR9LDIt-Fqq0335ZGdfmoNH6WTWvQRa2cc_0i8Wq9LCKSFqoH8k8LPdpkKORCd5eOIUUwKBkb107jtXejJ_3-XDAq5ySKrr/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first stop was </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jumeirah, </b>a district that paralleled the coast for several miles but was only about three blocks wide on either side of the main </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jumeirah</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Road for that entire area. Jumeirah was </span><span style="font-size: large;">one of Dubai's wealthiest residential areas, and home to many of the city's rich European expat executives and ''their tanned and manicured wives popularly known as Jumeirah Janes''! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The district was home to the <b>Grand Mosque, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">built entirely of white stone in the 1970s, and one of the cit's largest mosques. With its pair of soaring minaret and intricately filigreed domes, it was perhaps the most attractive mosque in Dubai.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoqbOtg2sjz9yKFf5AD3Vchnvdm0trq5aqjnoC3l8mZ-98M0-VHbBXBkeixJVWXG450bSXqV-mVkUhppdiiK7XmHRIHFFp8RTbcrStMseSCP9M3dZSEev5aQ8q3dcNzg9wpQUrCRSR8aV/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoqbOtg2sjz9yKFf5AD3Vchnvdm0trq5aqjnoC3l8mZ-98M0-VHbBXBkeixJVWXG450bSXqV-mVkUhppdiiK7XmHRIHFFp8RTbcrStMseSCP9M3dZSEev5aQ8q3dcNzg9wpQUrCRSR8aV/s320/189.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtZVlyMsVzxEL-0TKpi_GRTvHA0nLytM9mY7KB3B3JnQN4orIkS_Dl1TxK-XYtfQnuBcdXH7emIc5I96AzCuOeNOCzPr3uodM8sZ6WYm0WN1aeUHQJo0CU1JyoDv8RW3pNRO7Liy_J5kz/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtZVlyMsVzxEL-0TKpi_GRTvHA0nLytM9mY7KB3B3JnQN4orIkS_Dl1TxK-XYtfQnuBcdXH7emIc5I96AzCuOeNOCzPr3uodM8sZ6WYm0WN1aeUHQJo0CU1JyoDv8RW3pNRO7Liy_J5kz/s320/191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1knFUyYpvZ_QlLVPbCOxn7oxUlA4bYySfO4tzMZlof9ELL2ABCGOO6QLJNEjE_o3k5i82bUlpe51ZkKmu4MsrI7XWptyebfDJdP4QSQmTHCHb51iWzOTeQ2tmb2_eST7_pnUSxqPY7NxO/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1knFUyYpvZ_QlLVPbCOxn7oxUlA4bYySfO4tzMZlof9ELL2ABCGOO6QLJNEjE_o3k5i82bUlpe51ZkKmu4MsrI7XWptyebfDJdP4QSQmTHCHb51iWzOTeQ2tmb2_eST7_pnUSxqPY7NxO/s320/192.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5V4F4Gbk7y_5Ufgh-PgSDUT-kW1ZcCUzZ_mJRGVesQanQBwxfWMa3N1A7I9_YgmiFd9QYEcHuPGbl_Ho9HpbGUgA9GReKX-AVCN5GbCxqp32RlyDpyAwCsirHB_eTcgXIg_vrJpcOfca/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5V4F4Gbk7y_5Ufgh-PgSDUT-kW1ZcCUzZ_mJRGVesQanQBwxfWMa3N1A7I9_YgmiFd9QYEcHuPGbl_Ho9HpbGUgA9GReKX-AVCN5GbCxqp32RlyDpyAwCsirHB_eTcgXIg_vrJpcOfca/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Grand Mosque was the only mosque that non-Muslims could visit but, alas, only via tours run by the <b>Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding</b> six mornings a week. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Centre was an unique institution "founded by Sheikh Mohammed in 1995 to build bridges between cultures and help visitors and expats understand the traditions and customs of the UAE." </span><span style="font-size: large;">The mosque has become the focal point of the Centre's "Open Doors. Open Minds" program.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdj4z4p4xSjkMRkPuWFN19JLq7ZI8CWy0AKJe0N5qpxKlN-j79SsVNzYATso2f6Esfm0oPaZjYruNQMI7WjhlYTnUCPFDzJF7atNKvbW1i7YSQAZgfBEshrF64VcjrVDB5qkMxRJX2TU0/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdj4z4p4xSjkMRkPuWFN19JLq7ZI8CWy0AKJe0N5qpxKlN-j79SsVNzYATso2f6Esfm0oPaZjYruNQMI7WjhlYTnUCPFDzJF7atNKvbW1i7YSQAZgfBEshrF64VcjrVDB5qkMxRJX2TU0/s320/194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, no one barred Steven from entering the mosque so he discreetly took some photos to show me its interior.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f60MuwRnU9A0wqQg7QRapfVcb2maIm0FpSu42UPi8aFb4r31LYfQeJEL8VTUWq-Is4RdWadLTwkLs1BvYx9e_nNa9rYlqdnWtgLRx5rrspnCiBLpiE8VrhjiPF4e2g56MsaVabwJaIvK/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f60MuwRnU9A0wqQg7QRapfVcb2maIm0FpSu42UPi8aFb4r31LYfQeJEL8VTUWq-Is4RdWadLTwkLs1BvYx9e_nNa9rYlqdnWtgLRx5rrspnCiBLpiE8VrhjiPF4e2g56MsaVabwJaIvK/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCq2JOC3fFMr9F667NCiPKJYHjqVZugXh7XJav5daU81jIlp0imedhUR2O1GcRNWbQik3F479gI1rYFzqM7_fVZevJLoKv4fZ3YPUVCPE0-5Hqt4zczIuXPP_OH2uMwukFkJnfaDsKXz0/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCq2JOC3fFMr9F667NCiPKJYHjqVZugXh7XJav5daU81jIlp0imedhUR2O1GcRNWbQik3F479gI1rYFzqM7_fVZevJLoKv4fZ3YPUVCPE0-5Hqt4zczIuXPP_OH2uMwukFkJnfaDsKXz0/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE_uhzFkJI49arRTVG1ZCKBp1lgXwgQoblYpmdjQEYczdyMvxZzFmZDI0FDqrbtK6roXm8loqnJ2zwsfNZpM37jazjmLpgfk9NPv0ZtFvVWdsW83ZoFShF03TuAfusEcBVwWpYYtyu50K/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE_uhzFkJI49arRTVG1ZCKBp1lgXwgQoblYpmdjQEYczdyMvxZzFmZDI0FDqrbtK6roXm8loqnJ2zwsfNZpM37jazjmLpgfk9NPv0ZtFvVWdsW83ZoFShF03TuAfusEcBVwWpYYtyu50K/s320/198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ122g9eNLko2r9FhoaOOXGnlGCC70h1KVRbLrnpkys8ipZoXIuKxX3qh9l37kgG4uOV9uPrCRZbytWSN46gv5pdAI0H5pQkGvp5zrkTL1kdtcqf5533Fks67iBFE0pwJmGnsbG0PcsOZZ/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ122g9eNLko2r9FhoaOOXGnlGCC70h1KVRbLrnpkys8ipZoXIuKxX3qh9l37kgG4uOV9uPrCRZbytWSN46gv5pdAI0H5pQkGvp5zrkTL1kdtcqf5533Fks67iBFE0pwJmGnsbG0PcsOZZ/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz70bVcoYODrcriMYSt3nG3Zhq8GNY7BdaUAiTs7KXtGPi6ZnM0gEjeIGrVKgBKjrnqEwbQ8RShZRL6G5w8Q2wZmu_8csYgblJfmK4N-yrqmQIQi6Ch6-lGCPV2vB_OsRGCWdz6c5NzNO/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz70bVcoYODrcriMYSt3nG3Zhq8GNY7BdaUAiTs7KXtGPi6ZnM0gEjeIGrVKgBKjrnqEwbQ8RShZRL6G5w8Q2wZmu_8csYgblJfmK4N-yrqmQIQi6Ch6-lGCPV2vB_OsRGCWdz6c5NzNO/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Immediately across the street from the mosque was a Starbucks which seemed like an odd place initially to locate the coffee behemoth. In the same strip mall was a Haggen Dazs outlet too - guess people need a fix of caffeine and ice cream after so much praying!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fLTcXJ9KyuiZserzTEsa-OWVTJi-LF3lN_ZrbaZ-3a9yaW2PC_6GcONLVpX2OCjeRqM5Eph1t7hvM1GrZz8p_cqgoKkzOGdulqzBOp6OYPgT9w2x4znRwwxfFUNpNCDtWF-kbIUog20i/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fLTcXJ9KyuiZserzTEsa-OWVTJi-LF3lN_ZrbaZ-3a9yaW2PC_6GcONLVpX2OCjeRqM5Eph1t7hvM1GrZz8p_cqgoKkzOGdulqzBOp6OYPgT9w2x4znRwwxfFUNpNCDtWF-kbIUog20i/s320/195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I noticed both the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai had a fascination with large openings between attached buildings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rjyfbXNI5bsXEN1ybSLbJQ0cLMTgiYpbbwW6sRBvYTkPthdun4iYUiUcURoM0tqrWA6jIe51EYeS8iDLPQYVAlZ97OzxkqlQ5Uc4W_Ad6kyCVCxEsL9qjwZTja1ylZdu5e_LnYFcmgzF/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rjyfbXNI5bsXEN1ybSLbJQ0cLMTgiYpbbwW6sRBvYTkPthdun4iYUiUcURoM0tqrWA6jIe51EYeS8iDLPQYVAlZ97OzxkqlQ5Uc4W_Ad6kyCVCxEsL9qjwZTja1ylZdu5e_LnYFcmgzF/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Driving through Jumeirah did indeed feel like we were in a non-Arab enclave as we only saw Westerners on the street and in the many cafes. The area was full of American and Canadian dental clinics and medical centers, spas, aesthetic clinics, wellness centers and the like - all very bizarre.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLLoagaNGIR7hR0bZo90VWjdT6g0AYWf9-SI45Om17291YFqeriwF57Hd-96QU6BOF0jTy7Ag7dmaUa5WhyphenhyphenFLSgk81HqdkSaCvBbdz6j0Ac9Nut5Nr11EcKpW5n-5aR8cEzXqjXYQd2Ej/s1600/208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLLoagaNGIR7hR0bZo90VWjdT6g0AYWf9-SI45Om17291YFqeriwF57Hd-96QU6BOF0jTy7Ag7dmaUa5WhyphenhyphenFLSgk81HqdkSaCvBbdz6j0Ac9Nut5Nr11EcKpW5n-5aR8cEzXqjXYQd2Ej/s320/208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWD9XcuPZCHJoAHz8CDpmfS4So5RSsauhDjZY255mrU8CJobZ5vlebT0Juu5qo2qiTQ6bbB-vBbf1CWam9K43GnRSvdDloN43M_kuHlQHlt9M7nwNJnGgcDbcHbTqE5-Hj0ylsB2KHCPm/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWD9XcuPZCHJoAHz8CDpmfS4So5RSsauhDjZY255mrU8CJobZ5vlebT0Juu5qo2qiTQ6bbB-vBbf1CWam9K43GnRSvdDloN43M_kuHlQHlt9M7nwNJnGgcDbcHbTqE5-Hj0ylsB2KHCPm/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgYz-Zz7B5ze7vjnv4RW46ghchXT36I4XlhB_78UO-YhAG6wuqLt_soyPuTisYfYrF1uYV4uIudn5x8QyLxitFEUB8exH39rNfNAe2WdpG7WHnVOO6GLb7JEDCduSXVw0z16K6OSTwq6wat/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz-Zz7B5ze7vjnv4RW46ghchXT36I4XlhB_78UO-YhAG6wuqLt_soyPuTisYfYrF1uYV4uIudn5x8QyLxitFEUB8exH39rNfNAe2WdpG7WHnVOO6GLb7JEDCduSXVw0z16K6OSTwq6wat/s320/218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Part of Dubai's skyline close to dusk:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KpmyIDLYC2ZESZMsfQHh1r2NgSnWBMJUq_OUN7pSZwuMBx4xXfY1TeWHSFdGGbWMsN9YwK63qIzB4eILI3YdCwXHriWEAOZtrdp5J50ghQ-A7qeqE0L8xwte8GpL8jdgRPAmstEC5c81/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KpmyIDLYC2ZESZMsfQHh1r2NgSnWBMJUq_OUN7pSZwuMBx4xXfY1TeWHSFdGGbWMsN9YwK63qIzB4eILI3YdCwXHriWEAOZtrdp5J50ghQ-A7qeqE0L8xwte8GpL8jdgRPAmstEC5c81/s320/211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Every single home we saw in the wealthy Jumeirah district was behind high walls and all were gated communities. None looked very appealing from the little we could observe.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9NhwMKhs02-VUbSxdogj2Z9xE_0zlg-w6V8IR6T42yyYKvPTZL3NQB5O7ijoDjHcdc45CaX0z304npqQMo21AWyYi86C9369J-5GH2qY9ZarUj6vHDNP5pWGPZcz8p6EaaLqdQLW4h5K/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9NhwMKhs02-VUbSxdogj2Z9xE_0zlg-w6V8IR6T42yyYKvPTZL3NQB5O7ijoDjHcdc45CaX0z304npqQMo21AWyYi86C9369J-5GH2qY9ZarUj6vHDNP5pWGPZcz8p6EaaLqdQLW4h5K/s320/213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_Sl7mDR12aEtaAHh9oZSbe6-pS3apBzKEHPBj0bptQCb3BpJHddJuyGjzGzeveJdgxZDXrG9FZ6Ef9rvfaAGD8OyJAQs4Ebd9m0SZie2b7bJStlfL8zJid0HDyiVISt5UlsIy2J5Miz3/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_Sl7mDR12aEtaAHh9oZSbe6-pS3apBzKEHPBj0bptQCb3BpJHddJuyGjzGzeveJdgxZDXrG9FZ6Ef9rvfaAGD8OyJAQs4Ebd9m0SZie2b7bJStlfL8zJid0HDyiVISt5UlsIy2J5Miz3/s320/217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After driving the length and breadth of Jumeirah, we entered the adjacent suburb of <b>Umm Suqeim,</b> although the entire area was usually, if inaccurately, referred to as Jumeirah. We drove inland the few blocks to the beach hoping to find a place to park so we could enjoy the waning sunset on the beach. Far too many other people must have had the same brilliant idea before we did as there was no parking spaces to be had!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq2Sd-kRMCLK9m1ttI86EduSzNPVCAAW93xqOKmR7xDrKlbtehj5yHWKjcjErK0CW_9YgBEmpH8_Cc5Pt1cjGOcRtBzZ3MVPSTVhYtNQq_v8au1UDq_ok3CnNfhOsYWaTRBb_ojY_F539/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq2Sd-kRMCLK9m1ttI86EduSzNPVCAAW93xqOKmR7xDrKlbtehj5yHWKjcjErK0CW_9YgBEmpH8_Cc5Pt1cjGOcRtBzZ3MVPSTVhYtNQq_v8au1UDq_ok3CnNfhOsYWaTRBb_ojY_F539/s320/229.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhj8GUEPnaLNW-MtRkwBiVzCNFk47f0EJO8NKdVFOEN4TXEO1D3kWeTCfWq0bI6CbFF2lbSYa6c57Z7W5zsDlBxly2qMJMArPAHbYOnJQ-FA2cyw7ncU6PzxRfxav1aizwSPU6UgoG5bLrx/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8GUEPnaLNW-MtRkwBiVzCNFk47f0EJO8NKdVFOEN4TXEO1D3kWeTCfWq0bI6CbFF2lbSYa6c57Z7W5zsDlBxly2qMJMArPAHbYOnJQ-FA2cyw7ncU6PzxRfxav1aizwSPU6UgoG5bLrx/s320/222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Umm Suqeim was home to three of Dubai's most famous landmarks. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The first of the area's supersized attractions that </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">overlooked the Arabian Gulf </span><span style="font-size: large;">was the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">sprawling <b>Jumeirah Beach Hotel or JBH </b>with</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> its wavelike shape.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fKayBHz9cCLTcjLL7jQf7pi-KE0yLBwV4zKPGcm7EUEBizETKSH9At3YqVY0FIEDG4b04nNGkWxsFN5tnbP-04nSO4tCHeeTnO8RKpJ1kK_C0lKGVcCA7OA94GBz5P68bJcCHX2oWuKE/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fKayBHz9cCLTcjLL7jQf7pi-KE0yLBwV4zKPGcm7EUEBizETKSH9At3YqVY0FIEDG4b04nNGkWxsFN5tnbP-04nSO4tCHeeTnO8RKpJ1kK_C0lKGVcCA7OA94GBz5P68bJcCHX2oWuKE/s320/244.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi6rGd8J1joxbt_zhFcEcwTpVJOuPS3JpwxRgfbzflUyO5Eu6R22IAxcKMACKEz2nEa68So-qzmOu56AWn9p2l3LZ99Q0l0gdItrpHbbSuRCfFrxpVdRxw0J4hywvyvOTZy6xVM0vKfl6lQ/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rGd8J1joxbt_zhFcEcwTpVJOuPS3JpwxRgfbzflUyO5Eu6R22IAxcKMACKEz2nEa68So-qzmOu56AWn9p2l3LZ99Q0l0gdItrpHbbSuRCfFrxpVdRxw0J4hywvyvOTZy6xVM0vKfl6lQ/s320/243.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Towering over the coastline just beyond the JBH was the stupendous </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Burj Al Arab Hotel</b> that opened in 1999. Also known as </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the <b>Tower of the Arabs,</b> the luxury hotel is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">However, 39% of its total height is made up of non-occupiable space. Burj Al Arab stood on an artificial island 920 ft from Jumeirah Beach and was connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The hotel's defining feature was its</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> shape of a huge, </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">billowing spinnaker sail of a J-class yacht. It </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">was constructed from Teflon-coated glass fiber that was a dazzling white by day and lit up with spectacular light displays after dark.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfZmAwy1PcKvEzHyqjw9xb8MrDwrIIx-3ikgFeHjlmpJMxE5K24PcyrpHu4SsL8hNYYoZDUC8pGEqVpH5b_yDFwEyv2RR9Gi-J1z5eVBuOh9mdfhKKxjas4PasWSqFBqzAeAK2PBMZmY2/s1600/246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfZmAwy1PcKvEzHyqjw9xb8MrDwrIIx-3ikgFeHjlmpJMxE5K24PcyrpHu4SsL8hNYYoZDUC8pGEqVpH5b_yDFwEyv2RR9Gi-J1z5eVBuOh9mdfhKKxjas4PasWSqFBqzAeAK2PBMZmY2/s320/246.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">he high-rise hotel is said to be "Dubai's most memorable modern landmark with its distinctive, instantly recognizable outline providing the city with a defining landmark to rival the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and Big Ben." I would have thought the city's ginormous Burj Khalifa that we'd seen the previous day would have been the city's 'defining landmark.'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbBcZICJAnJalOcl1g4MhRq4PQZVelFXY3wEVCWUWvBVnJiViAKYhwmQpXaUfAkIWdoc2K_w8VMPM0i_2EHRc3D15RcXYUh3E894dJtfWrrwepzu4yLXxWWbn03nZU6fm02uldwwI4q6_/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbBcZICJAnJalOcl1g4MhRq4PQZVelFXY3wEVCWUWvBVnJiViAKYhwmQpXaUfAkIWdoc2K_w8VMPM0i_2EHRc3D15RcXYUh3E894dJtfWrrwepzu4yLXxWWbn03nZU6fm02uldwwI4q6_/s320/236.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjnh5VbZF3D6h4l5epqlx1M_oOd04fXFZzSOANmpxKlJPQdrqSFU-GPtaccmjOA0HrRza0HFzI_a5sSENKg5AnbnBnjmt8UIZa7VPosxKRVH-oYKIM7dEtPyhgKJ_DgjUi1xi10WroZ-W6N/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnh5VbZF3D6h4l5epqlx1M_oOd04fXFZzSOANmpxKlJPQdrqSFU-GPtaccmjOA0HrRza0HFzI_a5sSENKg5AnbnBnjmt8UIZa7VPosxKRVH-oYKIM7dEtPyhgKJ_DgjUi1xi10WroZ-W6N/s320/223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After much searching, we were finally able to find a parking spot a few blocks from the beach. I wandered over to the beach for a bit while Steven took a cat nap in the car. The beach was just beautiful shortly before sunset.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXeUfNLQAMuKUTkRZrjX6V3x_A6Wq5nhPglG_S2o_DASF_nUthx6mdNeP7Db23Qkygxk1bUFvAYt39xeLPwbxKNt5BS81jO9sTAfaQAwGfBe-5zv76rV9OZ1B77u5cnN6XPIhQkyEc2So/s1600/235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXeUfNLQAMuKUTkRZrjX6V3x_A6Wq5nhPglG_S2o_DASF_nUthx6mdNeP7Db23Qkygxk1bUFvAYt39xeLPwbxKNt5BS81jO9sTAfaQAwGfBe-5zv76rV9OZ1B77u5cnN6XPIhQkyEc2So/s320/235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The beachfront area where Burj Al Arab was located was strangely enough previously called <b>Chicago Beach </b>and was the site of the former Chicago Beach Hotel. The locale's name had its origins in the <b>Chicago Bridge & Iron Company</b> which at one time welded giant floating oil storage tanks on the site. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The old name persisted after the old hotel was demolished in 1997. Dubai Chicago Beach Hotel remained as the name for the construction phase of Burj Al Arab Hotel until <b>Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum </b>announced the new name.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyf6z0OXp9azMCWXDPcBuScBmt0uATDn3ASz-TRAIvUqWBUViUyglWJvJkj8evXpB8JMEvcc7MnR3K84jm7qgx8OjdoEnQOMBtpMYVc2oDvVzbn2U3Lz6Vht8IQCf6u6SBlcRSr9LBnVL/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyf6z0OXp9azMCWXDPcBuScBmt0uATDn3ASz-TRAIvUqWBUViUyglWJvJkj8evXpB8JMEvcc7MnR3K84jm7qgx8OjdoEnQOMBtpMYVc2oDvVzbn2U3Lz6Vht8IQCf6u6SBlcRSr9LBnVL/s320/237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgWTAOsf-Yd435uAnvy26PMh5nrrZTzcAVkLnpAb6pTqxQUDVFUkGXgBLpb4Qdv7T1WuSQJtkWQiOC9vzy2kljajEZsgUwVvANuXwskxRW1XWlvrN9dwE01G1c8ix13oDIlv3spk2LqqX/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgWTAOsf-Yd435uAnvy26PMh5nrrZTzcAVkLnpAb6pTqxQUDVFUkGXgBLpb4Qdv7T1WuSQJtkWQiOC9vzy2kljajEZsgUwVvANuXwskxRW1XWlvrN9dwE01G1c8ix13oDIlv3spk2LqqX/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Immediately south of Burj al Arab was the mighty <b>Madinat Jumeirah </b>complex that opened in 2004. Considered to be one of Dubai's most memorable developments, it was built in the form of a self-contained faux-Arabian city with huge sand-colored buildings topped with countless wind towers and crisscrossed by miniature canals on which guests at the complex's hotels are ferried around by abras.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_Ym4KV9m7QF6tvVToEHZdgjE8oQhldK1mLAW1ulwYb1UKaKxzfn3qk26ksDrRcnE5FGbJoARHTFoj7L8cDXrXAcR5RgNixXulPHjKdgF362Kk13DM7vMA-uAR5FxcldJdXqTNOufFGf5/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_Ym4KV9m7QF6tvVToEHZdgjE8oQhldK1mLAW1ulwYb1UKaKxzfn3qk26ksDrRcnE5FGbJoARHTFoj7L8cDXrXAcR5RgNixXulPHjKdgF362Kk13DM7vMA-uAR5FxcldJdXqTNOufFGf5/s320/251.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiTbx1KvyPKyMVBpNoFbLaMliftyOVFehrTtJsq2N_UvN7dI0mjG3flGbJpdbTceSHCI4yuh1hMqaHfU_1T0FJilmRfZUnKgHX4AgtBgNubRFQCMWwhhOHr3LkKEAyU0KfIe3IGfAuOGjDI/s1600/258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbx1KvyPKyMVBpNoFbLaMliftyOVFehrTtJsq2N_UvN7dI0mjG3flGbJpdbTceSHCI4yuh1hMqaHfU_1T0FJilmRfZUnKgHX4AgtBgNubRFQCMWwhhOHr3LkKEAyU0KfIe3IGfAuOGjDI/s320/258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE-oaChZ5Cp-Uxyyk6ODUzmVNJjIhWvwpB4T_pHdC_Hsc1mTzITvWSPBaWc31R31gqiWK_-Hj5PxE5r6rQ8NFpISENAnpook_kqOWiJfP1A-GkGLyjjkfC2rAIuID1oBVDfEArhoEKH1e/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE-oaChZ5Cp-Uxyyk6ODUzmVNJjIhWvwpB4T_pHdC_Hsc1mTzITvWSPBaWc31R31gqiWK_-Hj5PxE5r6rQ8NFpISENAnpook_kqOWiJfP1A-GkGLyjjkfC2rAIuID1oBVDfEArhoEKH1e/s320/253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We only walked around for a short while because Dubai's 13th Annual International Film Festival was taking place at the same time so it was rather chaotic.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf46NxtVOgJnqH3X57YbK4Wm-OWlpzz46BJ9qUcqgT1giTBCb8a51GQ8_8qeTT-gebDa0Iz78_mdS_hPot1qnqiTw57lmBShmYGmGDkiquJWzQZ2wabCowVaIV7lS9hv8jKAxQ9RID9Loe/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf46NxtVOgJnqH3X57YbK4Wm-OWlpzz46BJ9qUcqgT1giTBCb8a51GQ8_8qeTT-gebDa0Iz78_mdS_hPot1qnqiTw57lmBShmYGmGDkiquJWzQZ2wabCowVaIV7lS9hv8jKAxQ9RID9Loe/s320/255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaChdi3WkTskPBi6rqpSXGs5Tn8p6ky7MedmNipIamUvYYJe_vy41kCSCJsXLWlXg7IVXV08R7b1gXQu5hoWkTkRWDhXAewjBK0r2TmogfkXsj9Va7lziowiwyxEfQOcDib3FmtIN1C5i/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaChdi3WkTskPBi6rqpSXGs5Tn8p6ky7MedmNipIamUvYYJe_vy41kCSCJsXLWlXg7IVXV08R7b1gXQu5hoWkTkRWDhXAewjBK0r2TmogfkXsj9Va7lziowiwyxEfQOcDib3FmtIN1C5i/s320/257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove inland from the Madinat Jumeirah and along the 12 lane-wide Sheikh Zayed Highway, back to the glitzy Dubai Mall. We'd stopped by there yesterday but wanted to return to view the 'spectacular' <b>Dubai Fountain </b>at night.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg919AYJrU_vhsmuChpguLGOZfDJDRyqKXaPeYKJDqd9xEO6QhNtIayn7eJOdOOu4k1svKziIZ_JkHRrI5vy1bjHhVLAtnsSlBWClDaw0st9SW09n7GLQ71OEVglif0tES7hjKqsKJFQ2DO/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg919AYJrU_vhsmuChpguLGOZfDJDRyqKXaPeYKJDqd9xEO6QhNtIayn7eJOdOOu4k1svKziIZ_JkHRrI5vy1bjHhVLAtnsSlBWClDaw0st9SW09n7GLQ71OEVglif0tES7hjKqsKJFQ2DO/s320/261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Returning to the downtown area, it was hard not to be struck again by the magnificent skyscrapers that dotted both sides of the major highway.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWgZD-msA-tn6xKqBFJj1pPgGDWQFcUBUnLBhRlVeWi4iZdp0trCE4cz7-VxV4zDdo6xfQkMjU9vUZn2DeHeyFEmD-10E8-9iJBhvW4nR4T9KvyAbeTzMZVji6Uhi5iwa04yY6LIUlTVT/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWgZD-msA-tn6xKqBFJj1pPgGDWQFcUBUnLBhRlVeWi4iZdp0trCE4cz7-VxV4zDdo6xfQkMjU9vUZn2DeHeyFEmD-10E8-9iJBhvW4nR4T9KvyAbeTzMZVji6Uhi5iwa04yY6LIUlTVT/s320/262.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was amazing to read that there were 100,000 hotel rooms in the city but even so, there are often no rooms available to rent!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCysHNnz3XwVnoi_Rw0mSF-3e2jV5HZIjO5C-OkC-x4ZZxxHmFuqZqTSAqL8EZOQ3SVsRvktI-RVPb_O2MUjD7EQZYcmksiV13WzUr9JyVOQR5bd_7xU5jMi_D0swUNrTnHXgaG9WClp2X/s1600/264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCysHNnz3XwVnoi_Rw0mSF-3e2jV5HZIjO5C-OkC-x4ZZxxHmFuqZqTSAqL8EZOQ3SVsRvktI-RVPb_O2MUjD7EQZYcmksiV13WzUr9JyVOQR5bd_7xU5jMi_D0swUNrTnHXgaG9WClp2X/s320/264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The 12 million sq ft mall with over 1,200 shops spread across four floors was so enormous we needed a a ten page guide and also exact directions where we had parked our car in the biggest parking garage we'd ever come across!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48Nh9mYtTk3O7PHbqJ95jyo62N-S5q5nWw67gIMKvQmgD91QO5Jy2xNIPPQvAsIdnYfEPpRdRe31ro6pL5K-1SzhGjVpkt6_OrxeISUlyANKR16NZ6iU7eyPQkMlVbOrkuj24RpWeLl8G/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48Nh9mYtTk3O7PHbqJ95jyo62N-S5q5nWw67gIMKvQmgD91QO5Jy2xNIPPQvAsIdnYfEPpRdRe31ro6pL5K-1SzhGjVpkt6_OrxeISUlyANKR16NZ6iU7eyPQkMlVbOrkuj24RpWeLl8G/s320/267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember the large lake we walked all the way around to reach the mall after passing the Burj Khalifa in yesterday's post? If so, that was where we'd returned so we could see the incredible Dubai Fountain. As you can see, there were massive numbers of people who also had the same idea that evening!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgZLJVozatmPp3cx-ahyyawxM8KlPPnmNznrkOX8Vs-6EaVPsa1_LSy5hVNXDa0nNRvXn0PEpW5Pinckr07-FK9n6fRGqjuUwaX4joRrLvnf_02F3i5tkI6E9_Lc1IzOJj3dGs8mZJDFz/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgZLJVozatmPp3cx-ahyyawxM8KlPPnmNznrkOX8Vs-6EaVPsa1_LSy5hVNXDa0nNRvXn0PEpW5Pinckr07-FK9n6fRGqjuUwaX4joRrLvnf_02F3i5tkI6E9_Lc1IzOJj3dGs8mZJDFz/s320/270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The 902 ft high fountain was illuminated with over 6,000 lights and had water cannons capable of shooting jets of water almost 500 feet high!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOSE7pGAwAsNywNfNW8GwbbhIu9ypr2YccFVMM0ly2RLYswinrwnMaLh5bm03GAIGhgkD-g0BPGCGDtFhlPeyb1mKyYkSNcsNiUABLia-bWl2ThwScGuCyIgj2YiaiR7Dcc9-7Zm-ovW6/s1600/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOSE7pGAwAsNywNfNW8GwbbhIu9ypr2YccFVMM0ly2RLYswinrwnMaLh5bm03GAIGhgkD-g0BPGCGDtFhlPeyb1mKyYkSNcsNiUABLia-bWl2ThwScGuCyIgj2YiaiR7Dcc9-7Zm-ovW6/s320/287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9Bj8Gi6M1qITOM2eqg6BGGrV-KQywlYfrUX3_m5t1YZ1V1xH_w39Yys9dPu9NMgWII49DrCIyq4B1xKJQTJltMU8YXVWFsfiR_Dap7E3g1ZF8KXTaXJEP2H4mt5KNPgXJBjeyK1qr2cD/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9Bj8Gi6M1qITOM2eqg6BGGrV-KQywlYfrUX3_m5t1YZ1V1xH_w39Yys9dPu9NMgWII49DrCIyq4B1xKJQTJltMU8YXVWFsfiR_Dap7E3g1ZF8KXTaXJEP2H4mt5KNPgXJBjeyK1qr2cD/s320/288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOISwo-s1Cv23tmpEHfcNF5Z3927c4oTEx36nI0G8IzROQ0UhKTEfpL2nD5W3q7eTUEoo9XuCpgKik8iiOzv0vZN0N53fjpVcHlVA94jiLASWrne7H3Mah9it7PJ7QflFhi9B8JjC5Uc8R/s1600/291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOISwo-s1Cv23tmpEHfcNF5Z3927c4oTEx36nI0G8IzROQ0UhKTEfpL2nD5W3q7eTUEoo9XuCpgKik8iiOzv0vZN0N53fjpVcHlVA94jiLASWrne7H3Mah9it7PJ7QflFhi9B8JjC5Uc8R/s320/291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoz19qMZdjyDs_dP8xVkcUcfxSDpfiPw1wT1aO5iHVpr5ltYDi9c64iUzsxBGwxL487aGDApUhfm5jEp7RBw2vvgOz65U8952llpg3LqnnE9Kve3q9y8HCUryCwXWsmPnwXcRdEe__BpE/s1600/294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoz19qMZdjyDs_dP8xVkcUcfxSDpfiPw1wT1aO5iHVpr5ltYDi9c64iUzsxBGwxL487aGDApUhfm5jEp7RBw2vvgOz65U8952llpg3LqnnE9Kve3q9y8HCUryCwXWsmPnwXcRdEe__BpE/s320/294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQG2ClFkahftGtkvaRc0t7Dl81eVOyMRJl3dR_RWmgEtxhqcZsl2QBb3lBVU5V8JvUocKbyGrQI_YjsQj_aRHt85VI_x4rwEdUEwgfi6dMqz22KsI5x02BxwVYtsIL_mhyYJ6jYboQs-y/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQG2ClFkahftGtkvaRc0t7Dl81eVOyMRJl3dR_RWmgEtxhqcZsl2QBb3lBVU5V8JvUocKbyGrQI_YjsQj_aRHt85VI_x4rwEdUEwgfi6dMqz22KsI5x02BxwVYtsIL_mhyYJ6jYboQs-y/s320/300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were glad we'd returned to see the Fountain but I thought the light display at the <b>Burj Khalifa</b> looked far more spectacular!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1P7XOf-wo82SjAG8y5T4z3IDxRB3sPxicL-FgDzkpirhX6f9kY1hKmzyc-hGVI7LKRZApcknPFnxz7PQ0OOCVjDS0jTWI6sfX8_GOWDs3rEF6o4tP2bbxzvMoEuyaQkLyrZNY_Y4ZH6q/s1600/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1P7XOf-wo82SjAG8y5T4z3IDxRB3sPxicL-FgDzkpirhX6f9kY1hKmzyc-hGVI7LKRZApcknPFnxz7PQ0OOCVjDS0jTWI6sfX8_GOWDs3rEF6o4tP2bbxzvMoEuyaQkLyrZNY_Y4ZH6q/s320/272.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5BLok58nJjF5vZUadKK0cwUzY73lrusl3mza88E-hxv9e8FJjygCaRK5xxb_enXNYM4yZjPYPa4D5U4HyV2OpBbId84aucIro_nBNVT-XxMI37_UczlJ8eHApAqRuP1OFMDya9D-PsbP/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5BLok58nJjF5vZUadKK0cwUzY73lrusl3mza88E-hxv9e8FJjygCaRK5xxb_enXNYM4yZjPYPa4D5U4HyV2OpBbId84aucIro_nBNVT-XxMI37_UczlJ8eHApAqRuP1OFMDya9D-PsbP/s320/274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ddbLp1hwFL2AyhyphenhyphenjxnYmpfRq6dexPKLOyN0-8Q6-VT7BLfpOLF6htUrL1zTyB1QK12WIMF2IA_I2sUkisz_lAgPBkOmQmEbtzUugI6ZhUZbMinW4746vyLaxMhghbbSjtZBGNNX5bYM/s1600/276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0ddbLp1hwFL2AyhyphenhyphenjxnYmpfRq6dexPKLOyN0-8Q6-VT7BLfpOLF6htUrL1zTyB1QK12WIMF2IA_I2sUkisz_lAgPBkOmQmEbtzUugI6ZhUZbMinW4746vyLaxMhghbbSjtZBGNNX5bYM/s320/276.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ARVmaNaNnzdytMNngQc2J1IdKbmTx0PudKVIa_3bvL4L-DRnbq1aV9g3nwrXAHR6A2a2BALDThEw63cT6SdNgrC7G0sllXErVgjbk1tSwaCTCe6padP5jNTZLp5SZoioOxLpuzDGK_tD/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ARVmaNaNnzdytMNngQc2J1IdKbmTx0PudKVIa_3bvL4L-DRnbq1aV9g3nwrXAHR6A2a2BALDThEw63cT6SdNgrC7G0sllXErVgjbk1tSwaCTCe6padP5jNTZLp5SZoioOxLpuzDGK_tD/s320/289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdR_a0dn9jdn9srjP00dlKto1s3hH6-bqR-C8eeVJGuO2YSQNwtLAvy355zkAOP2uOVLLkHKCFBqQEN9gERjjNlIv-EmORy2pEUQUzOP3q-X0wLoi1HLMs7cEpPd9Kk9Ev3IQJHuEB4dq/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdR_a0dn9jdn9srjP00dlKto1s3hH6-bqR-C8eeVJGuO2YSQNwtLAvy355zkAOP2uOVLLkHKCFBqQEN9gERjjNlIv-EmORy2pEUQUzOP3q-X0wLoi1HLMs7cEpPd9Kk9Ev3IQJHuEB4dq/s320/297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm4WzGWjS15W3eJEMJoxCGkJ23SRYXCgcB29YXQ0lU4lzbn8eqDj9UFr0pUISN0vwE_ujwutla-xjpNQ5SZ3Mg5zife9iI0t-aU7iHs_6TfrV4Vx1Ug2UrQPF8PJJc3whLQIa8CCQ2Grr/s1600/298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm4WzGWjS15W3eJEMJoxCGkJ23SRYXCgcB29YXQ0lU4lzbn8eqDj9UFr0pUISN0vwE_ujwutla-xjpNQ5SZ3Mg5zife9iI0t-aU7iHs_6TfrV4Vx1Ug2UrQPF8PJJc3whLQIa8CCQ2Grr/s320/298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The 'performance' only lasted three minutes so it seemed over before we knew it and there were far fewer lights than we expected.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_VwulCVazNTjVJzQAqBU9dC_G4lu_l7b4Xk7mUPGubfnV5CZWOapcFzsgyXeORSwiBx71MS4rFok21VGWOufpM51EzsUsEkekhy9kR7iHRT1Rv1rqyA1YC4cPD6TEYVYdulTUDhP6oUH/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_VwulCVazNTjVJzQAqBU9dC_G4lu_l7b4Xk7mUPGubfnV5CZWOapcFzsgyXeORSwiBx71MS4rFok21VGWOufpM51EzsUsEkekhy9kR7iHRT1Rv1rqyA1YC4cPD6TEYVYdulTUDhP6oUH/s320/301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfQ63M6FlCn666qanb2w_ArprmOXHG7C9pDjdipp7HlRQBIR2j364ChXesetJaqgzGNB4dmXWmHsAk7Sx3ESrlAIjC5tGyAjSq7Z2UJOolA5PUC4NZeE_w0GmDiUBx9iaKm9BuZRm3nYh/s1600/304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfQ63M6FlCn666qanb2w_ArprmOXHG7C9pDjdipp7HlRQBIR2j364ChXesetJaqgzGNB4dmXWmHsAk7Sx3ESrlAIjC5tGyAjSq7Z2UJOolA5PUC4NZeE_w0GmDiUBx9iaKm9BuZRm3nYh/s320/304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps Steven and I have become jaded after being so incredibly lucky touring and visiting so many of the world's so-called Top Attractions, that the Dubai Fountain left us a little 'meh'. Yes, it was beautiful and attractive but was it worth the hike back across the city to see it? I don't think so in hindsight, but I would have hated to miss it and wondered what we might have left unseen!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up: A day trip to Sharjah, a city north of Dubai.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on March 14th, 2017, from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-58967834810913415222017-03-09T08:03:00.000-08:002017-03-09T08:03:33.556-08:0012/11: Dubai Museum, Abra Ride Across the Creek & All Souk'ed Out!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After exploring the so-called 'Downtown Dubai' yesterday, Steven and I wanted to discover the real vibrant parts of Dubai today. We headed off, in the car, for the <b>Dubai Museum</b> only to realize after driving around in circles for a long while trying in vain to find a parking spot, that the closest one was actually in our own hotel's parking garage! Arggh - what a waste of time!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwN7Jw6o1SsJFwTPHWPkEN3kEwvwnwmtuZIu2yeaiHg7rzS5aVCsUzZEbj5ZqaN1fopjE19F7xZzvwVk0vV01GNtK8840_F47lsu5560d3xQs4cY-wztUuv-KpgPDa8JHwwn-wxChOjR3/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwN7Jw6o1SsJFwTPHWPkEN3kEwvwnwmtuZIu2yeaiHg7rzS5aVCsUzZEbj5ZqaN1fopjE19F7xZzvwVk0vV01GNtK8840_F47lsu5560d3xQs4cY-wztUuv-KpgPDa8JHwwn-wxChOjR3/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum was located in <b>Al-Fahidi Fort,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">considered the oldest building in Dubai and once the seat of government and residence of Dubai's rulers. Dating from around 1787, the fort was originally built to defend the town against raiders with large towers at three corners and a spacious central courtyard.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9RGguVl8-7S_y76-lRch3KVpgnxCP-Q-43szuxl-3r2faJEf3uNDTCI4WEsztv-x2hePpaMR5w6mQPl6vCLyf7M6Np0qThmekSJCX2tWZcjlcugXoDoQEu3kqYQns1drBgslOW-cPdFc/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9RGguVl8-7S_y76-lRch3KVpgnxCP-Q-43szuxl-3r2faJEf3uNDTCI4WEsztv-x2hePpaMR5w6mQPl6vCLyf7M6Np0qThmekSJCX2tWZcjlcugXoDoQEu3kqYQns1drBgslOW-cPdFc/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Walls of Old Dubai: </b>I read that city walls are one of the most prominent architectural features of old cities as they were built to defend its residents and safeguard them from attack. The oldest walls in Dubai, constructed about 1800 and built using coral stones and gypsum, were about 2,000 feet long and 18 inches thick. They were demolished at the beginning of the 20th century to accommodate the city's expansion. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The only remaining evidence of one of the walls was a part that was restored in 2001.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKedvKrScwtrQz3hjVEIa-DDMsTTY2xibXtnzH1eS8snPCZ7Hh6T8cadYlFMiX7yghR8pXDvKGV05Wym2YaVaPGLLutsb_ULkap9R8RePbv_pBsoe3OsO0-VgUTtE4vhHHm7E_DzzJL0T2/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKedvKrScwtrQz3hjVEIa-DDMsTTY2xibXtnzH1eS8snPCZ7Hh6T8cadYlFMiX7yghR8pXDvKGV05Wym2YaVaPGLLutsb_ULkap9R8RePbv_pBsoe3OsO0-VgUTtE4vhHHm7E_DzzJL0T2/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the museum's courtyard were a variety of old-time fishing boats called dhows and traditional dwellings. The dhows were used for pearling, fishing and transporting people across the Dubai Creek.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nVwQaREb6iUG1CbpqYGFa6lnQSKXlxSmk5uq2Y9p2O0jfEWCWM8Y6LYWVK2VSSzjbfsZZz92R2rT8VPiPnUnTn5YQ8YXs-2P7pYYVvq5Rur4XRAl9f6wMUAbC1zUlJA9jKarGYrqnFxf/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nVwQaREb6iUG1CbpqYGFa6lnQSKXlxSmk5uq2Y9p2O0jfEWCWM8Y6LYWVK2VSSzjbfsZZz92R2rT8VPiPnUnTn5YQ8YXs-2P7pYYVvq5Rur4XRAl9f6wMUAbC1zUlJA9jKarGYrqnFxf/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the right side of the photo was a <i><b>barasti </b></i>or a palm thatch hut.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJChFTQAVzVFm-7OJBz4YSCdVJNRYjq-q6cwu5DL7h8yHcWHdsaWi9pGqtY9laSYFTGJieQ02GOL5tYzu6M4MAcT9CJWzyyz9nsbYWq7Ib7y37v5-L1ThKdgWE5PvnC0DusHCRSBKP2Hur/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJChFTQAVzVFm-7OJBz4YSCdVJNRYjq-q6cwu5DL7h8yHcWHdsaWi9pGqtY9laSYFTGJieQ02GOL5tYzu6M4MAcT9CJWzyyz9nsbYWq7Ib7y37v5-L1ThKdgWE5PvnC0DusHCRSBKP2Hur/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgkA7Nu-vQK0E25mXZlLLut6xXk6yNEV6RdCEGnNzQ1BSAy2HmspO4fIasybjhSBRTZ_BMDFs8-s5dHkKpvJUCDcyq2R-M_JS1SqaaxQcUQdyIBdSD6C5WcvJSQYFmlhRVD1GkNrIhPONPM/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA7Nu-vQK0E25mXZlLLut6xXk6yNEV6RdCEGnNzQ1BSAy2HmspO4fIasybjhSBRTZ_BMDFs8-s5dHkKpvJUCDcyq2R-M_JS1SqaaxQcUQdyIBdSD6C5WcvJSQYFmlhRVD1GkNrIhPONPM/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgzfZG7HYueK1WPMjbyLgfb4kp7Jxn1_gpQomeTvp7V1plx0HuYtVCrSD4s7CNzzzuDRojPjcpfe37pEGNX0dKADURGya4Ys_awACNxec0a3j3BpFAjNgoqOJodnwpk4EfY8Gs9gbQjjXmH/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfZG7HYueK1WPMjbyLgfb4kp7Jxn1_gpQomeTvp7V1plx0HuYtVCrSD4s7CNzzzuDRojPjcpfe37pEGNX0dKADURGya4Ys_awACNxec0a3j3BpFAjNgoqOJodnwpk4EfY8Gs9gbQjjXmH/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad that we noticed the sign alerting us to the 'sharp metal edges' (I think they meant spikes!) on the doors!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TuE6AlBLEC8HXZr-cVkrFR5S_mFa9ElxHpT1fmyS7Y9vqIRXyzgnzAtAA-ebhknum-0TbRDgMv4U59ELNntbEJcbeZkhtKRtmWGpXrJNka8CkabPBCnMHaAnt87akDszyTJRUqY84C0L/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TuE6AlBLEC8HXZr-cVkrFR5S_mFa9ElxHpT1fmyS7Y9vqIRXyzgnzAtAA-ebhknum-0TbRDgMv4U59ELNntbEJcbeZkhtKRtmWGpXrJNka8CkabPBCnMHaAnt87akDszyTJRUqY84C0L/s320/016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The majority of the museum's exhibits were located in a series of modern underground galleries buried below the fort. One of the exhibits contained a display of traditional weapons favored by Bedouin men who "wears his dagger at all times and keeps his rifle beside him while he sleeps." Sounds so safe!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qHX9bMsD3721fqVAJpxhzCz-YXFsT6EzC17vE1TwnOthaMRGYF1osIGAxFLaAAPR5GD2gjN_mPocQJkVWu4CteN0EeTOnVaBkovYY1Ictt3zeFnKEJ2GStd73gzjqVm7oTY6yLJ1cDCK/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qHX9bMsD3721fqVAJpxhzCz-YXFsT6EzC17vE1TwnOthaMRGYF1osIGAxFLaAAPR5GD2gjN_mPocQJkVWu4CteN0EeTOnVaBkovYY1Ictt3zeFnKEJ2GStd73gzjqVm7oTY6yLJ1cDCK/s320/021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63qc_7wSAy5OHsIewdtWEQPfc3Bpa776RM0nktFNr7GYNb_hyu7x3SaIxLipILIu5DEd1CezytOA-cVKner9AXLMcewXxZUhlu3TrHmNwYrEHN3Ybr-wWfHere6awPQkQt68Gvc87PVuV/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63qc_7wSAy5OHsIewdtWEQPfc3Bpa776RM0nktFNr7GYNb_hyu7x3SaIxLipILIu5DEd1CezytOA-cVKner9AXLMcewXxZUhlu3TrHmNwYrEHN3Ybr-wWfHere6awPQkQt68Gvc87PVuV/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFbNveX2nH-PEwYWYv-P4daM52Cocla2O4LBzBkCJgAtCRSBgeA5I4p_23JfgVvrqO46pwMVu7YhNeM2zofaEoYQY00DmrRZ1B-bSWrhgGwJQtNrEEhJDDpNbQ9y-EfIml8uV_s_cZPb4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFbNveX2nH-PEwYWYv-P4daM52Cocla2O4LBzBkCJgAtCRSBgeA5I4p_23JfgVvrqO46pwMVu7YhNeM2zofaEoYQY00DmrRZ1B-bSWrhgGwJQtNrEEhJDDpNbQ9y-EfIml8uV_s_cZPb4/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dubai is situated on a natural creek <b>Khor Dubai</b> which runs inland for about six miles and was the center around which the city developed. The ancient Greeks used to call <b>Dubai Creek</b> the River Zara. People settled on both sides of the Creek at Dubai and at <b>Deira</b> on the opposite side. The city's prosperity as a port began in the early 1900s when Dubai became the main anchorage for dhows coming from neighboring ports and as far away as India and East Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">North winds caused silting in the middle of the Creek which made the passage of large vessels difficult. A large dredging scheme in the late 1950s deepened the channel and reinforced its banks which resulted in a much-needed boost to Dubai's economic development. The two sides of the city were connected by a bridge built in 1962 and a tunnel constructed in 1975. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Dubai Creek is now the main trade artery in the Emirate.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Map of Dubai showing the 'Backwater of Dubai' in 1822:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGui5FmMuZh3gsQcaC_9dJMymBEMhlEwoD_UGcfS9uX0YVQVF9TTszqed_QajKe5dUPyQKj1tdBFaWJc4HvaC6-ZDH5fX4Olz_h4N6WrayAf_dkBiMKy5eliuBiWX8OA-Fv6T8m-5xxZJ/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGui5FmMuZh3gsQcaC_9dJMymBEMhlEwoD_UGcfS9uX0YVQVF9TTszqed_QajKe5dUPyQKj1tdBFaWJc4HvaC6-ZDH5fX4Olz_h4N6WrayAf_dkBiMKy5eliuBiWX8OA-Fv6T8m-5xxZJ/s320/032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Archaeological excavations have revealed that there was a high degree of civilization around Dubai as early as 3,000 BC. An Italian explorer in 1580 described Dubai as a prosperous community with its people engaged in pearl diving. Dubai first became an independent political entity in 1833, when 800 men of the <b>Bu Flasa</b> tribe mostly settled in <b>Bur Dubai</b> which was surrounded by a defensive wall. Bur Deira, located on the south side of the Creek, was not populated in large numbers until 1841.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the beginning of the 20th century, Dubai, which grew up around the Creek, was about two miles long and just over a half-mile wide. Most of the houses were made from palm fronds except for those along the edge of the Creek which were constructed using sea stones. The countryside around the old city was flat and surrounded by oases of palm trees and was no more than six feet above sea level.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCaU0M3yNRqrasb8Xat_4YUWvneK9hLr5VoYK3AlUKxt5U68-8Zdbz2cuZT1vCAKryp3wkm7mfRo7R2iSt57lZg0Wp_kFF5azIlj3681l4rtU1vMMUnVPJ12xKLDcCp3oXzTQpcMI_MUE/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCaU0M3yNRqrasb8Xat_4YUWvneK9hLr5VoYK3AlUKxt5U68-8Zdbz2cuZT1vCAKryp3wkm7mfRo7R2iSt57lZg0Wp_kFF5azIlj3681l4rtU1vMMUnVPJ12xKLDcCp3oXzTQpcMI_MUE/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1960s</b> were years of massive growth in Dubai, both politically and economically. Oil was discovered and the city began to reap the benefits of the hard work from the previous decades. By the end of the decade, most of the infrastructure for the modern city were in place: electricity, airports and roads, etc. The British withdrew and, in 1968, the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai agreed on unity between the two Emirates. Oil exports began in 1969 and the population grew to 95,000 people. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfhhrhrmfYgLIbAkIBeRjZA_F3Jz9h1vtglBWZX88_9-PK-EqAT826oF6DqopZv6W4lfCQBdNAU3aKih2cSBb1u6B5Xma7PLJ0-4HW-QHbROj2vE2Gz3dBlcCPvI4_BE5cNAYip637W1f/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfhhrhrmfYgLIbAkIBeRjZA_F3Jz9h1vtglBWZX88_9-PK-EqAT826oF6DqopZv6W4lfCQBdNAU3aKih2cSBb1u6B5Xma7PLJ0-4HW-QHbROj2vE2Gz3dBlcCPvI4_BE5cNAYip637W1f/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When the UAE was formed in 1971, Dubai became the commercial capital for the newly established country. <b>Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum</b> took advantage of the high price of oil to "create the miracle of modern Dubai." The 1970s ended with the opening of a large port, a dry dock, the World Trade Center and some huge infrastructure projects including a water desalination plant. By 1977, Dubai's population rose to 207,000.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1mb1rbY2TnmIoA6aTmYYoEcsEiEt794N5pXEImPIKDecIoQYCHrDmOCUF-x184bJXmWr8bcGjp6cu4J2FrtePHzOOOUZZPmVnHf6OCanVe1M_1kj2OfEryYdMrlIKhe1VXyoxuQdpOkV/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1mb1rbY2TnmIoA6aTmYYoEcsEiEt794N5pXEImPIKDecIoQYCHrDmOCUF-x184bJXmWr8bcGjp6cu4J2FrtePHzOOOUZZPmVnHf6OCanVe1M_1kj2OfEryYdMrlIKhe1VXyoxuQdpOkV/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cutesy dioramas recreated Old Dubai complete with a souq, a school, a traditional home and other settings.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpiKDIZImLett-V2_l55xdYit9ZUsyeMRfA18MAuetvxWTYfm5NoJfIXb31In0lrYSBOqgk6gK2O3viDPmmIY3whAKakgotYowAfqoJnl1ydHtZUAenaRoZzNvCpjyn0DBQeUCXft9LOF/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpiKDIZImLett-V2_l55xdYit9ZUsyeMRfA18MAuetvxWTYfm5NoJfIXb31In0lrYSBOqgk6gK2O3viDPmmIY3whAKakgotYowAfqoJnl1ydHtZUAenaRoZzNvCpjyn0DBQeUCXft9LOF/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheObBKf6bITSzqvGk4lWoTt3EGqODmv4DKZ5R-gbP_eR5IFTI1YgkFTJ_CaDCV-4OKNhznZQ6Arttq1VFjYRkGNUkuRPkEpBYEtfiKjKl7K7wxFowikDaRlQP30UZpx_9RnJeSkgzce91r/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheObBKf6bITSzqvGk4lWoTt3EGqODmv4DKZ5R-gbP_eR5IFTI1YgkFTJ_CaDCV-4OKNhznZQ6Arttq1VFjYRkGNUkuRPkEpBYEtfiKjKl7K7wxFowikDaRlQP30UZpx_9RnJeSkgzce91r/s320/045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMLeY4uk3mvpTr9joMIxAcEUIvfbGnZyU0nUEYVV9NezKutw3YrmmoQPa41aoilrbMq-LH7_tcdatWZAUOyA4UvD0hZmXUekn2AJySjnLYBcLvjFyoW8kgPVAauP5C6yToJYM1L7c358R/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMLeY4uk3mvpTr9joMIxAcEUIvfbGnZyU0nUEYVV9NezKutw3YrmmoQPa41aoilrbMq-LH7_tcdatWZAUOyA4UvD0hZmXUekn2AJySjnLYBcLvjFyoW8kgPVAauP5C6yToJYM1L7c358R/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhOPn4Vo51mZBnrPkKP5FNRwOj6YjXi0ZCZH72XljkqXMWCPeAWbi2IcfAh2-6TUD24lvYnPw1Jrfou6yRsHVlJqrFuLo85-ebTBUHbKtSV_1PYHLoxHPp5GUhOw2nPzTvnhzn3jpx4rCcI/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPn4Vo51mZBnrPkKP5FNRwOj6YjXi0ZCZH72XljkqXMWCPeAWbi2IcfAh2-6TUD24lvYnPw1Jrfou6yRsHVlJqrFuLo85-ebTBUHbKtSV_1PYHLoxHPp5GUhOw2nPzTvnhzn3jpx4rCcI/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Pottery Shop:</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">Clay pots were used in many aspects of life in the Emirates where clay was available or when imported from Oman and Iran by dhows, the local boats. Specific pots were used for storing food, others for carrying water from wells or for keeping water cool, for making coffee, cooking, for animals and birds to drink from and even to burn incense and scented woods to welcome guests.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RguQk7bLzezy5DW_ceKrQzfZb0BA7OeerRkvETzbYTW4WQsLKyCmzltyoMyHTzk5Stluu_Xj0xRXuaTlvxjhRVs6fhOivA6acu0Liij_EEgcAQc6aVimjVQwBqH3lcjBAU7-iGg7dv8v/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RguQk7bLzezy5DW_ceKrQzfZb0BA7OeerRkvETzbYTW4WQsLKyCmzltyoMyHTzk5Stluu_Xj0xRXuaTlvxjhRVs6fhOivA6acu0Liij_EEgcAQc6aVimjVQwBqH3lcjBAU7-iGg7dv8v/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Local pottery, made of hard red clay, were arranged according to type in the pottery store so that customers could easily find the one that they wanted.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTKiwn6qwd7npcoPMVUhLsO3p-zUYkJnj4jzlFRtaQz9hTG12pHA8Dx0BHhJF7tc7dnoXK7mJl0RTVvsOl8vCtnMvhw3EQc_nXm33K6_CQ2N_sfh3cZ_XPnczOizL4oWGPU-uceQ9gof6/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTKiwn6qwd7npcoPMVUhLsO3p-zUYkJnj4jzlFRtaQz9hTG12pHA8Dx0BHhJF7tc7dnoXK7mJl0RTVvsOl8vCtnMvhw3EQc_nXm33K6_CQ2N_sfh3cZ_XPnczOizL4oWGPU-uceQ9gof6/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The proximity of mountains, desert and the sea strongly influenced how the lives of people of Dubai developed. The Bedouin, with no fixed homes, spent their lives traveling in the desert with their herds of camels, sheep and goats. Semi-nomads settled near the oases and water sources where they developed agricultural skills. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIhC5k21DslJClfxD6XK4dR0YSwoif5_kswudIwpsFI_pGQgO4eI1CanxUTzA7wACUZ6wCRfD1HiHykY3xE7Ay6fgG1BqnSbOfgdEcE7mJswEe6O0bn_WBIhtHk9z5mGvsIpQzYRz_qec/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIhC5k21DslJClfxD6XK4dR0YSwoif5_kswudIwpsFI_pGQgO4eI1CanxUTzA7wACUZ6wCRfD1HiHykY3xE7Ay6fgG1BqnSbOfgdEcE7mJswEe6O0bn_WBIhtHk9z5mGvsIpQzYRz_qec/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was interested to learn that the Emirati desert thrives during the winter when grazing and agricultural activities are at their peak. That's the time for hunting and camel racing before the hot summer, when people settle in the oases or take part in coastal offshore activities.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_YwG7Cwgd4cyBboypvzsGYKKRIrROPs1IGJIn-yAlz_amJrovt8eHHwpvIK_V3XCV-esHqZJkl2TcabdIrqHIzNuME-TPMbBvYdtOx_SlqhOu99lhAyFB9Llke7tHuRKMvwk9GND9GJQ/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_YwG7Cwgd4cyBboypvzsGYKKRIrROPs1IGJIn-yAlz_amJrovt8eHHwpvIK_V3XCV-esHqZJkl2TcabdIrqHIzNuME-TPMbBvYdtOx_SlqhOu99lhAyFB9Llke7tHuRKMvwk9GND9GJQ/s320/060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G3U9PPWbymVCmEqOPvxwI2xheGP68VrCQTf0hIrdZsSLNBjGyZ8L_1TcpdUhyphenhyphenL6FH0YGAUY9HSHp7cBM05NNnHtmr5gKnsZyuy9e3JcTXux4ew3_DSP9wq78zTWPjWFwpU2RKl_ElN5H/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2G3U9PPWbymVCmEqOPvxwI2xheGP68VrCQTf0hIrdZsSLNBjGyZ8L_1TcpdUhyphenhyphenL6FH0YGAUY9HSHp7cBM05NNnHtmr5gKnsZyuy9e3JcTXux4ew3_DSP9wq78zTWPjWFwpU2RKl_ElN5H/s320/061.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The camel</b> was, and in many ways still is, the most important animal in the area. It is known to the Bedouin as a friend providing him with the essentials of life such as meat, milk, and hair (used to make household necessities) and their dung was often used as fuel. It was interesting reading that the camel was also a unit of measurement in financial transactions, for dowry payments, ransom and legal compensation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The camel carried the Bedouin and his possessions across the desert in the summer heat and the winter cold. Camels can go </span><span style="font-size: large;">without water for </span><span style="font-size: large;">over two weeks in the summer and up to three months in the cooler winter. They can smell water over a mile away and can walk continuously for 18 hours and follow the direction of lightning and clouds. The Arabian camel is still famous for its speed and endurance. Annual camel races are organized with valuable prizes for winners. A god racing camel can sell for more than one million <b><i>dirhams,</i></b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">about a quarter of a million dollars!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjH-WKZ-j2TBatBUXaIknnpt3wQ-KiyzhMSjUfMZA_TF9Z9dED8dAMRwQoZMwR6ibcd9t67kQoHtRyb_OOvJ8K-Nto8kyy-j8byqfWA7dHMtR8mxbDxX6FAm8sT77_DqUhj0FxT6LV5CL/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjH-WKZ-j2TBatBUXaIknnpt3wQ-KiyzhMSjUfMZA_TF9Z9dED8dAMRwQoZMwR6ibcd9t67kQoHtRyb_OOvJ8K-Nto8kyy-j8byqfWA7dHMtR8mxbDxX6FAm8sT77_DqUhj0FxT6LV5CL/s320/058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Falconry </b>is the most valued, traditional sport in the region today, as it was in the past. Skill is needed to train the birds to hunt and to teach them to respond to commands. Some falcons are known to be the fastest flyers while others are good hunters and famous for their endurance. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy4wn2wRleNUbhzbLLx-XPg3UXfL_2mlAwPSgUzkfnTF7NV6rO7xK9OoGZIlHlmVnJf3zGsnZay6cZisc0qio2KcXvcrEpaxUp7O9R488UAeZB45MvfyCtgEjgZbWH5d1i27lVsVrHDYv/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNy4wn2wRleNUbhzbLLx-XPg3UXfL_2mlAwPSgUzkfnTF7NV6rO7xK9OoGZIlHlmVnJf3zGsnZay6cZisc0qio2KcXvcrEpaxUp7O9R488UAeZB45MvfyCtgEjgZbWH5d1i27lVsVrHDYv/s320/074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wild rabbits, bustards and other birds are the falcons' natural prey. Simple tools are used to prepare a falcon for hunting. The bird sits on a <b><i>waker</i></b> - a piece of round, flat wood attached to an iron rod fixed in the ground and tethered with a thread. The falconer protects his hand with a thick glove that stretches up his arm.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The hunting season is usually during the winter and spring when birds migrate from Iran, Turkey, Russia and Syria to escape from the cold weather.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49r90YLwqSJx-LXnAIadxpxVkIzYzotQsynzoN5cqs9mdwoyhexwS-ohRpWD6b37vWhQFPP5JIwoNN0X7kW7KAkAURsLzILBW6aiiINubMzBUJZTfWm0ra0-9ITCSysZk3lfMtP7zx29Q/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49r90YLwqSJx-LXnAIadxpxVkIzYzotQsynzoN5cqs9mdwoyhexwS-ohRpWD6b37vWhQFPP5JIwoNN0X7kW7KAkAURsLzILBW6aiiINubMzBUJZTfWm0ra0-9ITCSysZk3lfMtP7zx29Q/s320/067.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Survival in the desert: </b>The United Arab Emirates has a desert climate with less than five inches of rain per year. The average summer daytime temperature reaches 104 degrees and about 70 in the winter. Climatic conditions, the nature of the soil and the quantity and quality of the water have shaped the environment. Plants that grow after the winter and the rainy season have a short lifespan. Desert animals have also had to adapt to the harsh and tough environment: they rarely go out during the burning heat of the day and stay in deep holes or under rocks and trees. They forage for food during the cooler nighttime. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJFngYSxlt8tuDkLIQLGoOXu4XupM5Tt1n6w4PWIxXqgGH-_ny6NTNpJLFyF2wKqyFUAVGOkG73z5GkizLA8cAvh403O838fcrLgyLvdm6Zepgyd-3R9oFL9tgPSL9V6FHfqolESmlW5B/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJFngYSxlt8tuDkLIQLGoOXu4XupM5Tt1n6w4PWIxXqgGH-_ny6NTNpJLFyF2wKqyFUAVGOkG73z5GkizLA8cAvh403O838fcrLgyLvdm6Zepgyd-3R9oFL9tgPSL9V6FHfqolESmlW5B/s320/070.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEj-JXHMIG6cw85x5T7FztyuIiP2pC77_hAq4BWqE9B5fQp1L2bLWxsCLJfCi2m8uWo4EgciYi6z2CuL7-_99JYNC-82Jn93P_crJE1fzV7VWWqdZ7my7MvAES74DpRHMJ1ayqxgpHvdve9U/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JXHMIG6cw85x5T7FztyuIiP2pC77_hAq4BWqE9B5fQp1L2bLWxsCLJfCi2m8uWo4EgciYi6z2CuL7-_99JYNC-82Jn93P_crJE1fzV7VWWqdZ7my7MvAES74DpRHMJ1ayqxgpHvdve9U/s320/072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Museum had been a good choice to explore Dubai's history, culture and traditions. One very interesting feature was the very sandy floor throughout that gave an aura of reality to what life must be like in the desert!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLbD8mozz8wszXIHvIGZmECbYJKuZfKd_HFcL5QijMjPLvZX5mm_KZvaiRyYS7sSJ3I8HyYNrcKuOJp2dQZ1PmdE7ARuYvIMrYKwOv4Yu9BxjSVL9dFH22HOeDOJhXKeZ-ONdmaXCkASs/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLbD8mozz8wszXIHvIGZmECbYJKuZfKd_HFcL5QijMjPLvZX5mm_KZvaiRyYS7sSJ3I8HyYNrcKuOJp2dQZ1PmdE7ARuYvIMrYKwOv4Yu9BxjSVL9dFH22HOeDOJhXKeZ-ONdmaXCkASs/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjjaDaMLb0RVuaEcjUYwqSQhZlJ8oz4pW0_0gTS3NSlzXTMI7ZTZhIE5XOCf8__vB2j9Ib5H6Qoiyv2ThJKmYWGkjXEirVWo7u_zjFLcZr6aHaewEAlpf6HUtUqRE0hGRAa-fmfZSZHZUQk/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaDaMLb0RVuaEcjUYwqSQhZlJ8oz4pW0_0gTS3NSlzXTMI7ZTZhIE5XOCf8__vB2j9Ib5H6Qoiyv2ThJKmYWGkjXEirVWo7u_zjFLcZr6aHaewEAlpf6HUtUqRE0hGRAa-fmfZSZHZUQk/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the museum, we walked for a few minutes until we reached the historic <b>Al Fahidi Neighborhood,</b> formerly known as the <b>Bastakiya quarter, </b>as it was built in the early 1900s by merchants from Bastak in southern Iran. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This was the best-preserved traditional quarter in the city with its small but surprisingly disorienting labyrinth of narrow alleyways, flanked with tall coral and limestone houses topped with dozens of wind towers called <i><b>barjeel. </b></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT00pYhpaBbAcOYhgojApD7Ebk3dhXyupoelw52Cqwxcom1Lc_pMIE_Qd7PeasDyLn21JYC-6kpR9MwTiedi9pXyeKf-qX7CwU-ho4ULj4cNBz0nALhEJMinUZhJWPSAOE1lvhluG305mq/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT00pYhpaBbAcOYhgojApD7Ebk3dhXyupoelw52Cqwxcom1Lc_pMIE_Qd7PeasDyLn21JYC-6kpR9MwTiedi9pXyeKf-qX7CwU-ho4ULj4cNBz0nALhEJMinUZhJWPSAOE1lvhluG305mq/s320/090.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Though first introduced to Dubai by Iranian settlers, the wind towers have now become synonymous with the UAE. An early form of air-conditioning, these square towers capture cool air and funnel it down into the houses below, while also allowing hot air to rise and escape. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeUGIbw_EdhemENopfu4nbBZUXfftRDYGC4qTTlQVHl7AwcqmEgjrmnC9-dTvV3jvV6S2Kg0aY80Zr7HytkBGPjlV0IbyvXXRtaCD1E6Qn5xAuyqlO2pCJqaoU6K4fagSrghqDhIpOUO4/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeUGIbw_EdhemENopfu4nbBZUXfftRDYGC4qTTlQVHl7AwcqmEgjrmnC9-dTvV3jvV6S2Kg0aY80Zr7HytkBGPjlV0IbyvXXRtaCD1E6Qn5xAuyqlO2pCJqaoU6K4fagSrghqDhIpOUO4/s320/091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At the entrance to the quarter was the <b>Majils Art Gallery</b>, the first fine art gallery in the UAE when it officially opened its doors in 1989. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Its </span><span style="font-size: large;">origins date back to 1976, h</span><span style="font-size: large;">owever, when the founder came to the UAE to work as an interior decorator. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The gallery showcased the work of UAE artists as well as international ones with Emirati ties. Apparently, the neighborhood particularly throbs during the annual SIKKA Art Fair in March.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xEjXAu2-xCUzye6Sfi2Sd53w7UAFGqvWkuSHRm4Jc8I73noi2Yi0auP8dW1Lr1E1a7jYoYEYNvNhsTNa7pnj4Bi6o5pm123uz10gL6RBFsInl29uArlTn_x3_CeLVkc-CZErDq-b9WxT/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xEjXAu2-xCUzye6Sfi2Sd53w7UAFGqvWkuSHRm4Jc8I73noi2Yi0auP8dW1Lr1E1a7jYoYEYNvNhsTNa7pnj4Bi6o5pm123uz10gL6RBFsInl29uArlTn_x3_CeLVkc-CZErDq-b9WxT/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWF7r_4Y5OLEYtkF14wAOalRRM54lzq2Y640_h99l5eIaTvolRUVyp6Y2e7qwilh-5ZLNUsQsQACx1cbhVMPc-FqYh0l0BCowfdQLTevJWmcsw5B1PoleDusy5r42t-DiSc_5bcDMAkr_/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWF7r_4Y5OLEYtkF14wAOalRRM54lzq2Y640_h99l5eIaTvolRUVyp6Y2e7qwilh-5ZLNUsQsQACx1cbhVMPc-FqYh0l0BCowfdQLTevJWmcsw5B1PoleDusy5r42t-DiSc_5bcDMAkr_/s320/086.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the neighborhood homes were fairly plain from the outside but are said to be surprisingly ornate within, usually with spacious inner courtyards shaded with trees and surrounded by delicate arches and doorways.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbkD9hSWA4UMlO-N8joEAtoy4XcfelMxHyb-OZt5LJU-K-i4FyBOt0EQRXITY9S_ETVfnnHEEhtjnW-5CtsfvFC8HaFl34Vp3YC5bObSbi2fFNd7lsdODdewDvguPAtn1ZP9lNWBN0m2F/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbkD9hSWA4UMlO-N8joEAtoy4XcfelMxHyb-OZt5LJU-K-i4FyBOt0EQRXITY9S_ETVfnnHEEhtjnW-5CtsfvFC8HaFl34Vp3YC5bObSbi2fFNd7lsdODdewDvguPAtn1ZP9lNWBN0m2F/s320/088.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0FMNyeLmTBSgVAidoYCneUaKWFUTBuGWz8HOiUhtAQ5z-bMteA_x1uCw-yvLAUvWSCxca301HUDeZM3pYQUXZY5MS91jiCdXKpA75Z_rux8O84uSxSmfhBlk56JuzeTf5eWUcqK82gK/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0FMNyeLmTBSgVAidoYCneUaKWFUTBuGWz8HOiUhtAQ5z-bMteA_x1uCw-yvLAUvWSCxca301HUDeZM3pYQUXZY5MS91jiCdXKpA75Z_rux8O84uSxSmfhBlk56JuzeTf5eWUcqK82gK/s320/087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were lucky enough to be able to peer in some open courtyards and confirm what we had read about them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGepvlulvwTvDBL3b64RWJ4b6Z1TPqeVX8ePH88mFwI-CQUACClXxOlolG7695aWKTmqHw6oD0OjKeSZxZslucInDhhr2n8i7MebHhVSj8ke4oCKjh-YV5NogMRda9-XUq0kaQfskRhbdf/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGepvlulvwTvDBL3b64RWJ4b6Z1TPqeVX8ePH88mFwI-CQUACClXxOlolG7695aWKTmqHw6oD0OjKeSZxZslucInDhhr2n8i7MebHhVSj8ke4oCKjh-YV5NogMRda9-XUq0kaQfskRhbdf/s320/092.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgukWC2rhkC52GgDxPjZYSCZSwY5_w5OVIff23BNsRfr-Yzn3SzZpoXvVthAzXem0VNwjiuAennPkkU9NVNJT0mx8CortvwdevDuosWaR9sYRXELbRk-PL5EdXGJEU_hKOeRvhDYB5UlWNO/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukWC2rhkC52GgDxPjZYSCZSwY5_w5OVIff23BNsRfr-Yzn3SzZpoXvVthAzXem0VNwjiuAennPkkU9NVNJT0mx8CortvwdevDuosWaR9sYRXELbRk-PL5EdXGJEU_hKOeRvhDYB5UlWNO/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now what ice cream would YOU choose - camel milk, chocolate chip or date?! I so wish I had chosen the latter when we were there.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GGmraKZZZCIOPl6D8kx1CI3N5Uz6sumyu3tYLLlnHdG8xWIp4qbvRi9RMyXoNxti9cPODgq2cuo6c4bHue3NyeyfQY6YHOx8gQ9KLi6uGAYTXgfttxvCvtOXC7Ndyqs9KqcSLizXRZSX/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GGmraKZZZCIOPl6D8kx1CI3N5Uz6sumyu3tYLLlnHdG8xWIp4qbvRi9RMyXoNxti9cPODgq2cuo6c4bHue3NyeyfQY6YHOx8gQ9KLi6uGAYTXgfttxvCvtOXC7Ndyqs9KqcSLizXRZSX/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I think both Steven and I were more intrigued with this art gallery's courtyard than the gallery itself!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCecyFoZfBJu4VnL1SmZ5Vc6Wgpps6q4zUSKOgi6hNAMzwRqbDR6VPZjqgx0GWkNRKuRCVnz4BAf3aMuvFqXaAJraL4tmR7pGWHhCAExTK3mICdgBctBcIzmlXorqKv75_2bwXM4Mi4wo/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCecyFoZfBJu4VnL1SmZ5Vc6Wgpps6q4zUSKOgi6hNAMzwRqbDR6VPZjqgx0GWkNRKuRCVnz4BAf3aMuvFqXaAJraL4tmR7pGWHhCAExTK3mICdgBctBcIzmlXorqKv75_2bwXM4Mi4wo/s320/097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8qNR1vc5UEzRCaXWeGC4CuV2s3KoSOz1zUzrTm8PIshU-iFy9j9hgEM6wyPLbEeIrZENbh-4o3saIrtD4sdxsqyKRKCzTEeh-axB4T06JrF8n52eGWlyuYfrk7od0UOT_21D3a1ZVR91/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8qNR1vc5UEzRCaXWeGC4CuV2s3KoSOz1zUzrTm8PIshU-iFy9j9hgEM6wyPLbEeIrZENbh-4o3saIrtD4sdxsqyKRKCzTEeh-axB4T06JrF8n52eGWlyuYfrk7od0UOT_21D3a1ZVR91/s320/098.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved the shadows though!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0uxQxkqVxqGSo5H4w0fkLV83WrYZFmrrpazUT3WJ7YP2Yx-iWrrbb1akneuGmgC6583sJ1dGyCtTyNrqtDdCUKO8pKdkhps8KPfTe2rwGlkyC0cjsINtlGLz21DSYM1ArGV1i99xveTP/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0uxQxkqVxqGSo5H4w0fkLV83WrYZFmrrpazUT3WJ7YP2Yx-iWrrbb1akneuGmgC6583sJ1dGyCtTyNrqtDdCUKO8pKdkhps8KPfTe2rwGlkyC0cjsINtlGLz21DSYM1ArGV1i99xveTP/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjJY6HrZLFsuHbPlpU-ffJ_tFelU8lBEQU7TSLBPpdnwHSDWG6rrpCYglP6fKmGdnyqZI67cHHonrJd86AAVsR5bYLZBX93E4nUOdTOnZv4qW4MF6-HEGjVUlVO7e3M2XSlSdykFeFC0VUI/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY6HrZLFsuHbPlpU-ffJ_tFelU8lBEQU7TSLBPpdnwHSDWG6rrpCYglP6fKmGdnyqZI67cHHonrJd86AAVsR5bYLZBX93E4nUOdTOnZv4qW4MF6-HEGjVUlVO7e3M2XSlSdykFeFC0VUI/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Loved the sign indicating the 'Beautiful People'.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc22oymYBzWIRJvposNqmt-9AlO36WV6nf9pM1j1KrQCnsIV_ypwH0rlbuNbgenWNj1dU3lLzmFI3teQ-6nkWNmqlZbHNYctk-6SLlDWu-4VYApgmnKSYcbPqaRRj5kT4tuZmVrRlInsG/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc22oymYBzWIRJvposNqmt-9AlO36WV6nf9pM1j1KrQCnsIV_ypwH0rlbuNbgenWNj1dU3lLzmFI3teQ-6nkWNmqlZbHNYctk-6SLlDWu-4VYApgmnKSYcbPqaRRj5kT4tuZmVrRlInsG/s320/104.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">These women and Steven and I were among the very few people wandering through the neighborhood.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaQwV8Gr22km0jlu1d0UVvR7VVB50luHRD61qm1-xmxP6U2VnqrQXeBIhxpcMIF9CESm7R7gDOcyQO0PjoMAFP381XtfYFT_r7j2N5ZfwSQEu1d_eWmSF2Qkf7Bv01rt35FIcStOYAWXN/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaQwV8Gr22km0jlu1d0UVvR7VVB50luHRD61qm1-xmxP6U2VnqrQXeBIhxpcMIF9CESm7R7gDOcyQO0PjoMAFP381XtfYFT_r7j2N5ZfwSQEu1d_eWmSF2Qkf7Bv01rt35FIcStOYAWXN/s320/105.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgN6PqH8deYG0qGzZ-Umup2kGyxePOEx9P7WfJODJGnyYK0tbv2xwwY31QqjHgqXsIYyOU1s-mHbdTvjVacwfIiDvxMXiE7leHi9xHt6LLmtQsxVlELk67zRP-TgyGZEo_YnIBr7QBD9Pzs/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6PqH8deYG0qGzZ-Umup2kGyxePOEx9P7WfJODJGnyYK0tbv2xwwY31QqjHgqXsIYyOU1s-mHbdTvjVacwfIiDvxMXiE7leHi9xHt6LLmtQsxVlELk67zRP-TgyGZEo_YnIBr7QBD9Pzs/s320/107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS78wKpDVv8i01Vg7hrxKHsiIKdGiWNvrGmiY_DesDjnMqU2w6O0Mob36Q5o-R2GYfWGSFneiNWzax_wFzxXVyC_K7h-ffvvlofgKJwxGd_Xee46bxLMi_BK23mM2VoTtFehbBDerWtZIY/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS78wKpDVv8i01Vg7hrxKHsiIKdGiWNvrGmiY_DesDjnMqU2w6O0Mob36Q5o-R2GYfWGSFneiNWzax_wFzxXVyC_K7h-ffvvlofgKJwxGd_Xee46bxLMi_BK23mM2VoTtFehbBDerWtZIY/s320/109.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgdD7ye5FWw4eltSAsTssccHxtg2edI5vaQn4OKwJpM1YSyMyKtLk-rWS4lIimJ9ezsu9PaqpobRbSWpT4N3uGBUj9SpbQl8YAAqJYxOGrNsrfY3e2Nw5UHbBKsAyUc1dtTCuQhZ1BNmrAs/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD7ye5FWw4eltSAsTssccHxtg2edI5vaQn4OKwJpM1YSyMyKtLk-rWS4lIimJ9ezsu9PaqpobRbSWpT4N3uGBUj9SpbQl8YAAqJYxOGrNsrfY3e2Nw5UHbBKsAyUc1dtTCuQhZ1BNmrAs/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we exited the neighborhood was a display of what was likely a Bedouin's home in the desert.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-fA-IiNbZfVub-LceZzDtQOeWsypMSP9uIyAY7T6BU7VsJfegog-otci3GhQC_4BcraMj3qHQsVU6UWS0Twoeb3LOyArtlTgBf2eEqeF-dg8vZqD_CvTnOUkW_vTtv6ZvENU29bNS0-M/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-fA-IiNbZfVub-LceZzDtQOeWsypMSP9uIyAY7T6BU7VsJfegog-otci3GhQC_4BcraMj3qHQsVU6UWS0Twoeb3LOyArtlTgBf2eEqeF-dg8vZqD_CvTnOUkW_vTtv6ZvENU29bNS0-M/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We needed to have an escort to enter the neighborhood's <b>Dubai Grand Mosque</b> but one was only available two days a week. Dating from 1900 although rebuilt in 1998, this was one of the oldest mosques in Dubai. It boasted the city's highest minaret at 231 ft and had space for 1,200 worshipers. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6KZqFp5RKhdgyt50Nx_cp4FX30Ik0zZLL3fsEe6XV5jWMobereYU4AItpS_6m11tTOoIGxNJIiah_jxfgRps9j6bK0l1xcngm9-7uw1bhJcI4SEoa96IsAEjW7gfpzHdslEasZt3QleT/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6KZqFp5RKhdgyt50Nx_cp4FX30Ik0zZLL3fsEe6XV5jWMobereYU4AItpS_6m11tTOoIGxNJIiah_jxfgRps9j6bK0l1xcngm9-7uw1bhJcI4SEoa96IsAEjW7gfpzHdslEasZt3QleT/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjgK91R3b5g8yDwln_44qy1dHOszK0CqS7yzhBpVi0IctK2ijSRi0rK9FbqVqw2Mzp4cHh38yWpWSyMr1VLYb3xGGHn7a9SaGxiciFllnF0E-JcUWG5lFVgC2lHazyDRxdhPhVKNCDKqAMl/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK91R3b5g8yDwln_44qy1dHOszK0CqS7yzhBpVi0IctK2ijSRi0rK9FbqVqw2Mzp4cHh38yWpWSyMr1VLYb3xGGHn7a9SaGxiciFllnF0E-JcUWG5lFVgC2lHazyDRxdhPhVKNCDKqAMl/s320/112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Beyond the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, an alleyway took us to a promenade which continued along the Creek and offered views of high-rises over the water on the Deira side of the Creek.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9GtvthunAIkLc1AZhE0WhlSGoBv65zRwg84kedhgHSM4F7RozScs9GjWAr2D_WYFsP_3RAYab1FcbJtYdG-IbNpbzJVbw6uBgEymuoa07nWoIYYSZlKNommHM3oGec2TTMtX_5j7WAo/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9GtvthunAIkLc1AZhE0WhlSGoBv65zRwg84kedhgHSM4F7RozScs9GjWAr2D_WYFsP_3RAYab1FcbJtYdG-IbNpbzJVbw6uBgEymuoa07nWoIYYSZlKNommHM3oGec2TTMtX_5j7WAo/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgEdwD9MKHTFmcnuQrM201k8VrIw60f3FmpKNMtndB9URamUep-M3rsIuS0CT3nLsfHG0a50RL_MRRG6eW1a_QKdTesaWsd773Q6fB8zQtB61k5KprrgkprXf0X_vFuz5_dH8b5QT2dzS4/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdwD9MKHTFmcnuQrM201k8VrIw60f3FmpKNMtndB9URamUep-M3rsIuS0CT3nLsfHG0a50RL_MRRG6eW1a_QKdTesaWsd773Q6fB8zQtB61k5KprrgkprXf0X_vFuz5_dH8b5QT2dzS4/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At last, after reading so much of the Dubai Creek, we finally had our first glimpse of it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j15k9muRpU_iJXXtb8U3EAQTA1zpz0RJqXpiLQTODcP_EO33r0JhOIM2TfQh3QwMnd2sJ1wyCDuPIhEWm6Yp-6esEkD7PtAjxnTLyidvKG25FHrlhgltyAaPwnZEqidUYue5eZZlf08/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j15k9muRpU_iJXXtb8U3EAQTA1zpz0RJqXpiLQTODcP_EO33r0JhOIM2TfQh3QwMnd2sJ1wyCDuPIhEWm6Yp-6esEkD7PtAjxnTLyidvKG25FHrlhgltyAaPwnZEqidUYue5eZZlf08/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since Dubai is split in two by the Creek, it can be crossed at several points by either the air-conditioned water bus above or in one of the city's traditional <b><i>abras, </i></b>the open boat below. I had read that the five minute <i>abra</i> ride was one of the most authentic and inexpensive experiences available in all of the United Arab Emirates! No way were we going to miss that experience.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7BEtCT6hzuWDF5aIZ9yCjuoND7lb_mLtcVk_gZcX_59frNe2y5ttKA6a0egXtF6EwhgiP8VZ9HuMB-Kvj6-NxNI4ut9D_Ktn1TMnaAnFF4_Yrcy1t7K6anQAWd2sSvb5cWaroKZBWIE/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7BEtCT6hzuWDF5aIZ9yCjuoND7lb_mLtcVk_gZcX_59frNe2y5ttKA6a0egXtF6EwhgiP8VZ9HuMB-Kvj6-NxNI4ut9D_Ktn1TMnaAnFF4_Yrcy1t7K6anQAWd2sSvb5cWaroKZBWIE/s320/118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN-jZepqghltkF8uR7-ev2gs9QEXBGyoBT722HZssQ-wFXdbOwRQm5QMoE3onFMCkxoW3UMeZZhkGez6qv_Ys-7rzAgFPjDDh1JUn4JLcvh9dSatwB3AWL7tF0W6CKjWHjnsxAp2EDZI/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN-jZepqghltkF8uR7-ev2gs9QEXBGyoBT722HZssQ-wFXdbOwRQm5QMoE3onFMCkxoW3UMeZZhkGez6qv_Ys-7rzAgFPjDDh1JUn4JLcvh9dSatwB3AWL7tF0W6CKjWHjnsxAp2EDZI/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRrICWbukFgz45Tklja2s0oUIsC6xAA9VDR1WSSLUZ-5UMQMvTAZiS9Ij-DM3oM7fMnRIo88CnR0v05_w-dpOFeQmNEye_uskiQGOLt241QIkaBM69UPtovjU2xyYT91tSLjFCTnzFeU/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRrICWbukFgz45Tklja2s0oUIsC6xAA9VDR1WSSLUZ-5UMQMvTAZiS9Ij-DM3oM7fMnRIo88CnR0v05_w-dpOFeQmNEye_uskiQGOLt241QIkaBM69UPtovjU2xyYT91tSLjFCTnzFeU/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgrvqtv62tYdEVBrcqWyxKcvL-0mwQdeoF9a0yClwL95XDeYsnL7YM_sfquUSbytwsLnC4HbU3ITQHVPepgDD-LRttYwW-_QPBXIofQavcNLukztpPPOI3UTIz_-EJeh29iZw0aorOVg5U/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvqtv62tYdEVBrcqWyxKcvL-0mwQdeoF9a0yClwL95XDeYsnL7YM_sfquUSbytwsLnC4HbU3ITQHVPepgDD-LRttYwW-_QPBXIofQavcNLukztpPPOI3UTIz_-EJeh29iZw0aorOVg5U/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Paralleling the Creek was the <b>Textile Souk or Old Souk</b> where we spent time wandering through before boarding the abra. In the souk were dozens of little shops lined up in old coral and stone buildings under a high wooden roof.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQr1354T1vHeEQC3-_qHUI6J96G_fdlBv_AjTXhm4HMTbkkc0O7Vs-InvlGat7b5VPeoorRZx_k-2Dbye15bVup01aMA-Ohw0n0lL9g_5yg9IvhEYpTF1dNwNy0RcgcLTlCEjE9uzbmQ/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQr1354T1vHeEQC3-_qHUI6J96G_fdlBv_AjTXhm4HMTbkkc0O7Vs-InvlGat7b5VPeoorRZx_k-2Dbye15bVup01aMA-Ohw0n0lL9g_5yg9IvhEYpTF1dNwNy0RcgcLTlCEjE9uzbmQ/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6L-cnCMs0AaGzJLhI13GbbULxVi14I7sqCZgBf4YhXWQ83jlkc4Qp8dGRQKDOp4iUhw29RmphnxRpz_7Ewptd7_cc7t_j-v5DUU6Zc1UlgV9Z23RvrtOHQHu8QuM5_EEivGegZMpfzk/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6L-cnCMs0AaGzJLhI13GbbULxVi14I7sqCZgBf4YhXWQ83jlkc4Qp8dGRQKDOp4iUhw29RmphnxRpz_7Ewptd7_cc7t_j-v5DUU6Zc1UlgV9Z23RvrtOHQHu8QuM5_EEivGegZMpfzk/s320/126.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-EfyHRne_JH67xhJ5YnQuvVZ4Kf8WlJZsvzvE9mPFTJi5Sxnwmci1vzKIx7xC_sd21nAhdveX68RkuawXjHsnZqyajJVN4KbZbX5FQ7SoyYJlvNIjq165BSjslDxLdnSiiE7u_ffOd0/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-EfyHRne_JH67xhJ5YnQuvVZ4Kf8WlJZsvzvE9mPFTJi5Sxnwmci1vzKIx7xC_sd21nAhdveX68RkuawXjHsnZqyajJVN4KbZbX5FQ7SoyYJlvNIjq165BSjslDxLdnSiiE7u_ffOd0/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wondered who could possibly wear this very heavy fur-lined coat in the warm climes of the Emirates.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxbo69-FhnxKHYepBVjQqWO9xkIIWBnAZ1R230ImfTiojqBZIetgEiKmUzTu9PJw0cCVAeoUf5EaUXCQxLz29XOcMH9m3mYAMMY7vFCQb-8Vt_Ef_fSZIvc6YLUAty0v8IV9cnE5sh4I/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxbo69-FhnxKHYepBVjQqWO9xkIIWBnAZ1R230ImfTiojqBZIetgEiKmUzTu9PJw0cCVAeoUf5EaUXCQxLz29XOcMH9m3mYAMMY7vFCQb-8Vt_Ef_fSZIvc6YLUAty0v8IV9cnE5sh4I/s320/129.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjCqa9qKe93lrjRX0QsBJoqWpfsnZ3BeOwATdO9jw-XE-RxG0xzHIu8Aq2w9_gnwqq90zOYs6_ps-OyovGahiULupEghG4TCbo_twKBqfc7h9lYAe_Sq_WjmJQN8BfV9k18XKBfY3t-7cw/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqa9qKe93lrjRX0QsBJoqWpfsnZ3BeOwATdO9jw-XE-RxG0xzHIu8Aq2w9_gnwqq90zOYs6_ps-OyovGahiULupEghG4TCbo_twKBqfc7h9lYAe_Sq_WjmJQN8BfV9k18XKBfY3t-7cw/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite memories of traveling through so much of the Middle East this trip is having some of the best orange juice anywhere. The man in this little stand in the souk made me a tall glass of OJ - what heaven as I was so thirsty!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIEmdh_uLxC8LQLjxxX_y3509gXR3F_ZTqGlDcVBv_SJ0MuOr3zrF6iZ6Jak1TCs3KSZf6A4Pnx96_qak0UWdGFhZcNGAGlP4zOxSbcKaTm6UO3VtppXeu06D6YYKPNB3rqcZsPA3IxI/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIEmdh_uLxC8LQLjxxX_y3509gXR3F_ZTqGlDcVBv_SJ0MuOr3zrF6iZ6Jak1TCs3KSZf6A4Pnx96_qak0UWdGFhZcNGAGlP4zOxSbcKaTm6UO3VtppXeu06D6YYKPNB3rqcZsPA3IxI/s320/133.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the shops sold cheap clothes and textiles but a few offered souvenirs and a few antiques. We weren't interested in looking at any of them, only in the experience of walking through the souk.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPjhvk7XJ5BN-m6Ih4CVayl126cUdxkiG96BKJk1PgB8ikZVgCtuXEQCvcSArJRB4F8rRr7K_TXs4MCiqYWHMh4owOr7ndlMWnp4naARLl-u-BdGhrS2V-Gxnyt0gyxsGIrp-_f2We-E/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPjhvk7XJ5BN-m6Ih4CVayl126cUdxkiG96BKJk1PgB8ikZVgCtuXEQCvcSArJRB4F8rRr7K_TXs4MCiqYWHMh4owOr7ndlMWnp4naARLl-u-BdGhrS2V-Gxnyt0gyxsGIrp-_f2We-E/s320/134.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C-802XrJ9m2X5MTPj57BJrLwLGA4jurR7_ODlpYGyIoRKUoDaeAGY3e8p5qiZdaGuj5UpkEg9jZDbcfwjwvCjjs1jumWJv-C__1H6SncKgseLN3MJsqB5mRwPN-8JaygyfmTfO24Nvo/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C-802XrJ9m2X5MTPj57BJrLwLGA4jurR7_ODlpYGyIoRKUoDaeAGY3e8p5qiZdaGuj5UpkEg9jZDbcfwjwvCjjs1jumWJv-C__1H6SncKgseLN3MJsqB5mRwPN-8JaygyfmTfO24Nvo/s320/135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I must confess, however, to being drawn to cushion covers on our travels the last few years. It's probably best that Steven hasn't been such an admirer of cushions or else, who knows how many we'd have dragged home?!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Itk0CK403pHrx2EYpbigG0T9jOPv3YOdW2-FiJIUXo5Eb8PEWictzBZC6r58hvG0omeR3zRgnGbaLqhExOgn6dhK9L0mCG_YI_mhNuXJIh1Hjy4VK4E2mz5uY6RRHKB7LtbRxzUQUU/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Itk0CK403pHrx2EYpbigG0T9jOPv3YOdW2-FiJIUXo5Eb8PEWictzBZC6r58hvG0omeR3zRgnGbaLqhExOgn6dhK9L0mCG_YI_mhNuXJIh1Hjy4VK4E2mz5uY6RRHKB7LtbRxzUQUU/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP-lVoucP94wv-geTm_b9R2Wz_QPSnIec0CStSL4pFvjpjnGOa3OC7e7NErgnnQT-Mc3xqwUBGEpRqc4rUV0gS_DAf-2rQRHkR04a0phPhRroJauY6NjwTyxkjW9QX-zpUAAoaHX5MWY/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP-lVoucP94wv-geTm_b9R2Wz_QPSnIec0CStSL4pFvjpjnGOa3OC7e7NErgnnQT-Mc3xqwUBGEpRqc4rUV0gS_DAf-2rQRHkR04a0phPhRroJauY6NjwTyxkjW9QX-zpUAAoaHX5MWY/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Though there were two main abra routes across the Creek, we were only interested in the one that ran between the Bur Dubai Abra Station at the end of the Textile Souk and Deira Old Souk Abra Station. We only had to wait a couple of minutes for the .25 ride across the Creek.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM90gTvNZ6iNGEwl1sstNGuIj5MkOJPXh9yyfgAoUfMDFopuLFKes4r83POnu1aX4X2yHV2JhMhFEF1fAMus2yXbvwAjrdk_LtvgpQwadkLGAJNjokGhmI34zNYuSQ0dJctOH7rfTjus/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM90gTvNZ6iNGEwl1sstNGuIj5MkOJPXh9yyfgAoUfMDFopuLFKes4r83POnu1aX4X2yHV2JhMhFEF1fAMus2yXbvwAjrdk_LtvgpQwadkLGAJNjokGhmI34zNYuSQ0dJctOH7rfTjus/s320/140.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgmdK0wNTyUKeezvnPQWzQm0PKg9SyiP5h6FsT7SsthY9OEPU3J1YVGLn_wykkdtTGfLLebqxQcP8_otnWdjCLtWRvx3x9gVeEgqzDkiPezQwIlMWBdSWuj-CuIHtKtQGATHhTp6_1HGx4/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdK0wNTyUKeezvnPQWzQm0PKg9SyiP5h6FsT7SsthY9OEPU3J1YVGLn_wykkdtTGfLLebqxQcP8_otnWdjCLtWRvx3x9gVeEgqzDkiPezQwIlMWBdSWuj-CuIHtKtQGATHhTp6_1HGx4/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a blast it was traveling across the Creek at a high rate of speed in the packed abra that was only inches above the water.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAafHsk3d1MpC5McMUsUrghVB2IRIE46EA4rVUdktFoY116vrJwgbi-lD-5AKTi1afLwU6zZ-PgFq6AH0dmiG0OaZtKt440ovwQf986WIK6uB9Mv8uDuYPjAVGtdLnJtxnhWjMJ3TYFEY/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAafHsk3d1MpC5McMUsUrghVB2IRIE46EA4rVUdktFoY116vrJwgbi-lD-5AKTi1afLwU6zZ-PgFq6AH0dmiG0OaZtKt440ovwQf986WIK6uB9Mv8uDuYPjAVGtdLnJtxnhWjMJ3TYFEY/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can't think of any other places in the world we've seen where we had such great views from the water at so cheap a price - definitely, the best quarter we spent in a long, long time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAjgyc_QZablyawHTDeymHNof0JYaP-cV9wjDl7GKgdvhpxEyQWF9H52ezNp42J6Zaa0j_jYbeOMhL-Ou335TlUylWgXdjmnT-Pqmb3vuaPI8pmQ7GH5SadoCo93aFoyAeKFaStYhC50/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAjgyc_QZablyawHTDeymHNof0JYaP-cV9wjDl7GKgdvhpxEyQWF9H52ezNp42J6Zaa0j_jYbeOMhL-Ou335TlUylWgXdjmnT-Pqmb3vuaPI8pmQ7GH5SadoCo93aFoyAeKFaStYhC50/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dubai Grand Mosque with its distinctive minaret:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNwEFjOm-JFQJabwgbYGQDCJUvtXIni6l-sTgy6z0pmwVKplhivQKYxVzopEu-DCTFQh-BfDi3YfIjUHRwPjVExY7qi2o8qj1Se8O2NNx-Nxg0qr2Q5cmaFJdI-PNW_yBqTZFsaYg3uo/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNwEFjOm-JFQJabwgbYGQDCJUvtXIni6l-sTgy6z0pmwVKplhivQKYxVzopEu-DCTFQh-BfDi3YfIjUHRwPjVExY7qi2o8qj1Se8O2NNx-Nxg0qr2Q5cmaFJdI-PNW_yBqTZFsaYg3uo/s320/145.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEihd_J0xSeuDz1ntac852vu43atDoqbLNZvL1xbwTKXdO1bnU3vccX-ZnMxstNwm6OUOV32mzTzV7439ClSTOKwFVVGG8eGZ5zI5ojcCuzoxYUSZ0Ruu9klYxP5Hl7eLHq3kmIL6AsJUus/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihd_J0xSeuDz1ntac852vu43atDoqbLNZvL1xbwTKXdO1bnU3vccX-ZnMxstNwm6OUOV32mzTzV7439ClSTOKwFVVGG8eGZ5zI5ojcCuzoxYUSZ0Ruu9klYxP5Hl7eLHq3kmIL6AsJUus/s320/151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This abra, returning from Deira to Bur Dubai, gives you a sense of what it was like to be a passenger on the abra:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRa4xOSDIN-AZ1iqvNYgnUpf9GUsXW04Uk8REUiaIE-iQyu7qqtTjHeZLoOWF_8T6g8C0LUXnVTkuZfW0isUHAI2vjQv0fW99I6BtTyYV9ODpfp_bnjVMNSHDeUUlSnXOXTdKROqolwg/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRa4xOSDIN-AZ1iqvNYgnUpf9GUsXW04Uk8REUiaIE-iQyu7qqtTjHeZLoOWF_8T6g8C0LUXnVTkuZfW0isUHAI2vjQv0fW99I6BtTyYV9ODpfp_bnjVMNSHDeUUlSnXOXTdKROqolwg/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we landed on the Deira side, we entered the <b>Old Souk.</b> The commercial heart of the old city still largely resolved around the souk. Even though the shops were largely modern and jazzy, neon signs have mostly replaced the traditional hand-painted boards, business in the souk was still conducted more or less as it had been for more than a century. Thousands of minuscule shops, wedged into the district's rambling bazaars, sold everything from cheap toys and textiles to gold and spices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing this photo again three months later, how I wish I had tasted some date gelato then as it sounds so appealing to me now on this 70 degree March day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Dx1lglaqHBlGzifJn8g6HDBdB3Ef9igEkkRzd08O3ta0o3PedO1zQmLY-ADH7Ggw_tqxcUDvupItqxFJDEhzzZ_QguJOUdj5QbolDYjYBwIp-XTqHrEDkDh4YvFhaeGpiPVMunpX_U/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0Dx1lglaqHBlGzifJn8g6HDBdB3Ef9igEkkRzd08O3ta0o3PedO1zQmLY-ADH7Ggw_tqxcUDvupItqxFJDEhzzZ_QguJOUdj5QbolDYjYBwIp-XTqHrEDkDh4YvFhaeGpiPVMunpX_U/s320/153.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We reveled in the scents of the <b>Spice Souk</b> but didn't buy a thing.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF2sPgDwytRRXY0ULuXrzmwHSqsMzaKez8HH4GO0nYZUKEolETORbqFFDaD663wndNbFP64jkssrHdSikOmxkz-kEVtmXGq4SFNq8svE0PerdlJhqL8PqW3nowVE4-GXqjstlhWJjNpg/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwF2sPgDwytRRXY0ULuXrzmwHSqsMzaKez8HH4GO0nYZUKEolETORbqFFDaD663wndNbFP64jkssrHdSikOmxkz-kEVtmXGq4SFNq8svE0PerdlJhqL8PqW3nowVE4-GXqjstlhWJjNpg/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiI0l_mJR-s8jVZ_fYXo_Z2_X4p4lt4Gflw2BwUBm9MMJoRsVc9xBPBJbkTliQOXQAR6myyy7eFhyphenhyphenWo90y1Q5T75upIdtKcPQRYzKKSGW2gT33RrICccELn0YgcYlAggILyZa414qumpG4/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0l_mJR-s8jVZ_fYXo_Z2_X4p4lt4Gflw2BwUBm9MMJoRsVc9xBPBJbkTliQOXQAR6myyy7eFhyphenhyphenWo90y1Q5T75upIdtKcPQRYzKKSGW2gT33RrICccELn0YgcYlAggILyZa414qumpG4/s320/158.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg0-bOl3ImshVytaot6V6UUz7LRF1weopRrwEWYuWhC5D5vc0nENO_q71yNuQYLp2FcjGV5rcnXTJDian09ryA1EltXq1VlpHsT68QMdyYNpmAXK9r8KBX7W8oItHvP8UcOWI5-xpdPY/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg0-bOl3ImshVytaot6V6UUz7LRF1weopRrwEWYuWhC5D5vc0nENO_q71yNuQYLp2FcjGV5rcnXTJDian09ryA1EltXq1VlpHsT68QMdyYNpmAXK9r8KBX7W8oItHvP8UcOWI5-xpdPY/s320/155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">UAE flags were displayed everywhere because it was a national holiday the following day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcamb2rOWPSIOp5yqKSrJkk7YUsUM1Ps3hgHmKi16_ykylNSiLzSMCKhm5XD7m7IbtUzX8hqzqsQnDerogvsKAvkOf5yT9Sct34FeMk2NvSC2jCfMQifTzGBAGH7d_0Kf7sSkJY9NcKUM/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcamb2rOWPSIOp5yqKSrJkk7YUsUM1Ps3hgHmKi16_ykylNSiLzSMCKhm5XD7m7IbtUzX8hqzqsQnDerogvsKAvkOf5yT9Sct34FeMk2NvSC2jCfMQifTzGBAGH7d_0Kf7sSkJY9NcKUM/s320/157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so much fun wandering through the souk's tiny alleys and wondering what we would see and smell and hear around the next corner. The pressure to buy something from eager merchants selling their wares was thankfully far less than in so many similar places we'd recently been to.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ovQ3x0jek_tHK5H19a0z_04NrT4n-NKnV0QcC7tXw4cNoDMPl2tQYmkMKMvT0yMc8WtxsZszC2KzOs1IkZ10K1hBTacn199vZL4arntAJGrxMKnp1IodibXYp87eKbcSgLqy8qMzXs4/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ovQ3x0jek_tHK5H19a0z_04NrT4n-NKnV0QcC7tXw4cNoDMPl2tQYmkMKMvT0yMc8WtxsZszC2KzOs1IkZ10K1hBTacn199vZL4arntAJGrxMKnp1IodibXYp87eKbcSgLqy8qMzXs4/s320/160.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Dubai City of Gold aka the Gold Souk</b> sounded like an intriguing place to walk around and get out of the sun, don't you think?! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MkJUCfumRLAdwD9FEJ6Rkov58CAhGj6u7gMiJ0tILFM4UoRy3qUeVHvmKMUmETRYtj5cYuZzvhigiHPwFshvn-eUfk5dWQDJ9Eoo_7vzbAsfEriWwWZJnUqPk6LzNBT8puXIbGrWeXo/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MkJUCfumRLAdwD9FEJ6Rkov58CAhGj6u7gMiJ0tILFM4UoRy3qUeVHvmKMUmETRYtj5cYuZzvhigiHPwFshvn-eUfk5dWQDJ9Eoo_7vzbAsfEriWwWZJnUqPk6LzNBT8puXIbGrWeXo/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were a hundred or so shops in the Gold Souk lined up under a wooden roof. Their windows just overflowed with vast quantities of gold jewelry ranging from very intricate designs to more understated pieces. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQi1_XgLMrxWjRpn6TimjDtkzC8GPulwsrPzKGiWfIMdgKrGFbTeFUVIQKAWXALPzxJuLUeYXxBIGyQV_9gMn_WiWmr1i2K3wGGp-dHyRml41iXMt_Z0dc3Tft7SUnqyOUo1Edlhl7Qk/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQi1_XgLMrxWjRpn6TimjDtkzC8GPulwsrPzKGiWfIMdgKrGFbTeFUVIQKAWXALPzxJuLUeYXxBIGyQV_9gMn_WiWmr1i2K3wGGp-dHyRml41iXMt_Z0dc3Tft7SUnqyOUo1Edlhl7Qk/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that because gold in Dubai was among the most competitively priced in the world, the souk attracted shoppers from West Africa, Russia, India and elsewhere.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Jewelry was priced according to weight as the quality of workmanship wasn't usually factored into the price. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0LIK8UGQ4G9KGtEdxd3YJWdZnGGjT9flFqejCDKSHUQqYgRYEDCGQZd6BE3YERTICjaoFYeE2-xrcJMNYcjdcBxBoCV_Ap_RTG04bQl3QVyziXJ3k_4o5aQ-HIxRkJiQl_lmI4_dBX0/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0LIK8UGQ4G9KGtEdxd3YJWdZnGGjT9flFqejCDKSHUQqYgRYEDCGQZd6BE3YERTICjaoFYeE2-xrcJMNYcjdcBxBoCV_Ap_RTG04bQl3QVyziXJ3k_4o5aQ-HIxRkJiQl_lmI4_dBX0/s320/167.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I had never seen so many gold shops before in our lives as we had this trip having </span><span style="font-size: large;">stopped in so many gold shops when we'd been in Bahrain, Qatar and Oman earlier in the trip.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnDe4rXQNYezOKoF7QwKsfMQI1P1npeHZQW1s513PIUsCAoYHkbACYgiW-u3Ty7pvXoePQdJ9HyNHdM6X3Fa2vsl51IYIxlnQebzjlagEHblnjZSZZCkK2CrWQUyrfAQ7TtlKvpGXm1k/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnDe4rXQNYezOKoF7QwKsfMQI1P1npeHZQW1s513PIUsCAoYHkbACYgiW-u3Ty7pvXoePQdJ9HyNHdM6X3Fa2vsl51IYIxlnQebzjlagEHblnjZSZZCkK2CrWQUyrfAQ7TtlKvpGXm1k/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I would never have thought I could possibly ever say that we'd already had our full of gold stores as I love gold jewelry but I had no interest in seeing even more gold in the Dubai souk. Steven generously offered to buy me a gold bauble but all that gold was just too overwhelming!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5GDj3I6YNelUZnMV1UsLvHPE27PWdJEXHLcicQLknK7S2iAyY3x-vj1ApgsK6blxNMqfzger1gUHWeOkZPTY2UfcLLJ7Ns9Z3grsFMHdX0gQu8tNWmA-IHR3iVXUzXBAIaUjh1X5LDM/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5GDj3I6YNelUZnMV1UsLvHPE27PWdJEXHLcicQLknK7S2iAyY3x-vj1ApgsK6blxNMqfzger1gUHWeOkZPTY2UfcLLJ7Ns9Z3grsFMHdX0gQu8tNWmA-IHR3iVXUzXBAIaUjh1X5LDM/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgrOR9sqndPP6qAILQCyYNw9qock2aaCQQjZe_wRUmok9z3b5-sknVHq7WB3shLoOAcQ-x_7xPPZiHUOXWVPXi6MOxAG-5uPY7gTbnyBcp1J-xdo7xxOh0-Ti-hxKt00jDn2lujLhhEB1A/s1600/170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOR9sqndPP6qAILQCyYNw9qock2aaCQQjZe_wRUmok9z3b5-sknVHq7WB3shLoOAcQ-x_7xPPZiHUOXWVPXi6MOxAG-5uPY7gTbnyBcp1J-xdo7xxOh0-Ti-hxKt00jDn2lujLhhEB1A/s320/170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending enough time traipsing through the Deira souks, we were happy to be back on the abra for our .25 ride back to Bur Dubai on the other side.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fNME8AaNCDmM0FHxHf_Nx64Is2P7QCy-kXxXz18xqk1p7nfQ5XoE8xo58URZxmd7gfe3QbooHrs2EQbR4xxRke_vFUQ4oYr_P0URRJoPs-piP2Q-N3gYQr9XWcIhhLavO6WcXZ14KVY/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fNME8AaNCDmM0FHxHf_Nx64Is2P7QCy-kXxXz18xqk1p7nfQ5XoE8xo58URZxmd7gfe3QbooHrs2EQbR4xxRke_vFUQ4oYr_P0URRJoPs-piP2Q-N3gYQr9XWcIhhLavO6WcXZ14KVY/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our boatman:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYTEWRUK-g23TWogpodVbvKPWHznu_3Ry8jM4c5eFpiG_ekiL3m1hnba9jM8yvVT-ZgKSzfKj54biNpHh5fEMpgEbMu4eUN0LfzJx981aldJErgAqg1P3ib6SQD3iiIRU__H6-P6fIsw/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYTEWRUK-g23TWogpodVbvKPWHznu_3Ry8jM4c5eFpiG_ekiL3m1hnba9jM8yvVT-ZgKSzfKj54biNpHh5fEMpgEbMu4eUN0LfzJx981aldJErgAqg1P3ib6SQD3iiIRU__H6-P6fIsw/s320/175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Approaching the Bur Dubai Abra Station:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLynvnEvyiVi7z_3Xpr27uTjV9eCjUpU5pwmZ1NW_u8UcL89zmCi-EYsjcUkMkOrXNC3VdX-rk_k_PaY4t7W3V9kF3I3UJEBNxNiiJ8Ewo_zP1D9Ic_ENKHP6dwcIPIrRDusw2Of0YMjg/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLynvnEvyiVi7z_3Xpr27uTjV9eCjUpU5pwmZ1NW_u8UcL89zmCi-EYsjcUkMkOrXNC3VdX-rk_k_PaY4t7W3V9kF3I3UJEBNxNiiJ8Ewo_zP1D9Ic_ENKHP6dwcIPIrRDusw2Of0YMjg/s320/176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had all of seemed like five seconds to hop off the abra before people were eager to take our empty spots!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNan5PXHDEdcoZJSLAy5IeWdC_83FCiCJiS53TWRWg_bHOSGUSKyMxsVnoLDJ8A-wsMD8Q9ON4qwoHWFGIgYfjk574dYfuT7EPVuDb8hyloNiG0gFv0w1O5cIq3Pu1TmcWinOYyb2lfcY/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNan5PXHDEdcoZJSLAy5IeWdC_83FCiCJiS53TWRWg_bHOSGUSKyMxsVnoLDJ8A-wsMD8Q9ON4qwoHWFGIgYfjk574dYfuT7EPVuDb8hyloNiG0gFv0w1O5cIq3Pu1TmcWinOYyb2lfcY/s320/178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing Dubai's Downtown stunning high-rises yesterday had been exciting and thrilling but totally soulless for us compared to the vibrant sights in Bur Dubai so far today. For us, what we had seen represented the 'real' Dubai as it was chock full with an interesting museum, a fascinating, historical neighborhood, lively souks and it teemed with people going about their normal everyday lives. Our day's activities will continue in the next post - hopefully you won't have to wait too long for it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on March 9th, 2017, from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-87367171613501306942017-03-03T09:08:00.001-08:002017-03-03T09:08:33.858-08:0012/10: Dubai: A Sikh Wedding in the World's Tallest City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My apologies that the blog is still not finished so long after our return on December 15th from our four month long trip. I hope you will be patient as I find the time to write the remaining posts while also planning our trip this fall to South America!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending a very enjoyable few days in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, we drove north toward Dubai, no doubt the most well-known city in the Emirates. We couldn't help but admire first </span><span style="font-size: large;">Abu Dhabi's very intriguing <b>Aldar headquarters building. </b>It's described as the first circular building of its kind in the Middle East and also described as the world's first circular skyscraper. The distinctive building was voted the “Best Futuristic Design” by The Building Exchange Conference held in Spain. The shape of this building was achieved using structural diagrid, a diagonal grid of steel. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dML7a6Y1ia6sVrk1UMhqo4RAf7v5h8cIfFdQ_3VE1V8nDPcNtLSjidWRJJIdJnlfhaVUk5j1jq8tApqd-Bb6HihmKEkBiuS2Lp6lP3840EBB7VzYlkcq5YuyrrgbKv9a4xrt7o3jKaw7/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dML7a6Y1ia6sVrk1UMhqo4RAf7v5h8cIfFdQ_3VE1V8nDPcNtLSjidWRJJIdJnlfhaVUk5j1jq8tApqd-Bb6HihmKEkBiuS2Lp6lP3840EBB7VzYlkcq5YuyrrgbKv9a4xrt7o3jKaw7/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">According to Wikipedia, the building, which o</span><span style="font-size: large;">pened in 2010, </span><span style="font-size: large;">features 12 passenger elevators, 3 mono space elevators and 2 service elevators. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you’re interested in finding out more, YouTube has a fascinating National Geographic documentary titled "Can it be Built? Circular Skyscraper.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAgCayGM1raQ00gO1TvTNcylZVitTJ3VCfadmgmG9Z62lYXl9q9Fd2NZEjvBSoa-Jy4JXxanQh5tAwlxay6Z7M2HUwlrQsmxB3E90t5EASNQIdiFNPul1mFZmtxLBhPNMrCd2q6npYkRf/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAgCayGM1raQ00gO1TvTNcylZVitTJ3VCfadmgmG9Z62lYXl9q9Fd2NZEjvBSoa-Jy4JXxanQh5tAwlxay6Z7M2HUwlrQsmxB3E90t5EASNQIdiFNPul1mFZmtxLBhPNMrCd2q6npYkRf/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to popular belief, Dubai wasn't born yesterday! Although much of the city - and many of its most famous landmarks - have sprung up during the past couple of decades, the city's roots go back far earlier. I read that archaeological sites in the metro area indicate that Dubai was an important stop for caravans traveling between Mesopotamia and Oman as back as the Bronze Age! In recent years, Dubai has experienced unprecedented urban development and its attractiveness to both visitors and expats has been steadily growing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Living formerly in Ottawa, Canada, and now in Colorado, I've certainly seen my fair share of snowstorms but the outskirts of Dubai was the first time I'd encountered such a fierce sandstorm.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLqPE-WMiV8P0gYQUepUHJXbnxghj5uZmeA1H2s7tCCLFzFCj7hWcv2jNvB4uytwZVK_CJNxw9LwbG8l0xZuEMhC9s5AHmzUyG5HNhy2yVtHtLJSri31lR0MuINsN1iBhnDf_zAm972a7/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLqPE-WMiV8P0gYQUepUHJXbnxghj5uZmeA1H2s7tCCLFzFCj7hWcv2jNvB4uytwZVK_CJNxw9LwbG8l0xZuEMhC9s5AHmzUyG5HNhy2yVtHtLJSri31lR0MuINsN1iBhnDf_zAm972a7/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg43fu1DNN4TW7_dTROmXtxst08N-l9kQPvn5y8wDzqAuxwQYqr6tHeX0N6N5xy7GexKgPY9Lxgw5HXjd0BFr0xXUJlp6BPrU9atfJ0SSu8P2wbbFzyz2Udf3sjz2_dmrFDBJbRAUQP6B5I/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43fu1DNN4TW7_dTROmXtxst08N-l9kQPvn5y8wDzqAuxwQYqr6tHeX0N6N5xy7GexKgPY9Lxgw5HXjd0BFr0xXUJlp6BPrU9atfJ0SSu8P2wbbFzyz2Udf3sjz2_dmrFDBJbRAUQP6B5I/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first stop as we neared the city was at </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar,</b> the largest Sikh place of worship in the Gulf </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">serving over 50,000 worshipers</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The majority of Sikh </span><span style="font-size: large;">expatriates in Dubai come from Punjab in northern India. </span><span style="font-size: large;">According to the temple's or </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Gurudwara's </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">website, "</span><span style="font-size: large;">The very thought of building a permanent and official Gurdwara in the heart of an Islamic state was considered nothing short of an Arabian mirage." It was made possible by</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum </b>who donated the land to build a Sikh place of worship.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2nbYvBECDz-d9-QEXZLygs7oXPzM4g1zOMIIjiag6IpFdyHZGIvhQyyjIl1XCjjUnC0h6Y3SZdDZbyNKCxZZSXSw45nSnMa0FxK7vsyeLrboGAwbFxmdYqYhyphenhyphenNCeyiGwK5-yZQ_XVXrS/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2nbYvBECDz-d9-QEXZLygs7oXPzM4g1zOMIIjiag6IpFdyHZGIvhQyyjIl1XCjjUnC0h6Y3SZdDZbyNKCxZZSXSw45nSnMa0FxK7vsyeLrboGAwbFxmdYqYhyphenhyphenNCeyiGwK5-yZQ_XVXrS/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I had noticed a number of these same signs also in Abu Dhabi. No idea why people would need to 'assemble' in certain areas, though.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_C_tXs3FM4-6WFrPc4kxjvrGUQM3pRgz85sajyyc1k4W54J-R3h9-9KHnHi6PqmoV3hTpru7fvA7JYokliT6xi0iKntaY8amjpe9E3TWokj7S6N9iHgTtMd0JWvcUpbgPBY7-vtWnzFu/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_C_tXs3FM4-6WFrPc4kxjvrGUQM3pRgz85sajyyc1k4W54J-R3h9-9KHnHi6PqmoV3hTpru7fvA7JYokliT6xi0iKntaY8amjpe9E3TWokj7S6N9iHgTtMd0JWvcUpbgPBY7-vtWnzFu/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The wind was so strong that we needed to cover our mouths from the sand that was whipped up from the nearby desert. A lot of sand had also been deposited in the shallow pool surrounding the temple. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The moat resembled the <b><i>sarovar</i></b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">or man-made lake built around the <b>Golden Temple </b>in Amritsar, India, the highest place of reverence for Sikhs.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqi3E-KcOzVrx2oJ-3VZ8Xy9pDr5aFOXHvC_uQ_gPr0HKcQD9xnd3PNHyQNbEc-yrLZEn_tc7teTePQLDj9IPqv6VpgzCvUAmTR4kprHCvGzVdHcamH0WbG9zeo8F26GVx2cdVzIf8ekd/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqi3E-KcOzVrx2oJ-3VZ8Xy9pDr5aFOXHvC_uQ_gPr0HKcQD9xnd3PNHyQNbEc-yrLZEn_tc7teTePQLDj9IPqv6VpgzCvUAmTR4kprHCvGzVdHcamH0WbG9zeo8F26GVx2cdVzIf8ekd/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone entering the temple was asked to observe certain traditions to maintain its sanctity. One of those was to remove footwear </span><span style="font-size: large;">before entering a <i>gurdwara</i> worship hall. Although western styles are worn, many Sikhs still wear the traditional Punjabi style slipper known as a <b>Jutti.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">These are made of leather, embellished with embroidery, and may sport a curled up toe. Initially both slippers in a set are identical and must be worn for a while to conform to the left or right foot.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKko22c04Bp-gSXLA3EjahEDf6_GsFelRrHsHlqUjgRsKWAevim2SYE4oaaIXO6LDBlUO_NGwPOa5FqRBSCPRhqF2LFD5lAafSmh0nscoPJsE7PKEdJMyf0LJYDkxKa7Y0ExHGFztqew77/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKko22c04Bp-gSXLA3EjahEDf6_GsFelRrHsHlqUjgRsKWAevim2SYE4oaaIXO6LDBlUO_NGwPOa5FqRBSCPRhqF2LFD5lAafSmh0nscoPJsE7PKEdJMyf0LJYDkxKa7Y0ExHGFztqew77/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ACJLYi2dQknf4wlsN0QUUxkTcwfWIc8onOqE2y3fHmJJBttmHDcIu5fXUUBUsPgqBRLxfFHsPQfDoN1uQ0P_d52YN5RE5hld35B9ufkgmQZdVnq1mLY2LsxJP3NnickXg2b0_pAgaKoK/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ACJLYi2dQknf4wlsN0QUUxkTcwfWIc8onOqE2y3fHmJJBttmHDcIu5fXUUBUsPgqBRLxfFHsPQfDoN1uQ0P_d52YN5RE5hld35B9ufkgmQZdVnq1mLY2LsxJP3NnickXg2b0_pAgaKoK/s320/014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike the Sikh temples we'd visited in India in 2015, Steven needed to have his head covered at this one.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOFamzV9_fhyYZ-bqNclTdZLw28oL2hKnaSX_nrOlUzrtncE1vA6tMNPT5ioLr-mdqtykXOWMsOPGTZRvrLgl2Yr95CNtYmOlI4VvngpF5usBssu8sCE1zoDZspMCIDwV5fBOWSfpgL2h/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOFamzV9_fhyYZ-bqNclTdZLw28oL2hKnaSX_nrOlUzrtncE1vA6tMNPT5ioLr-mdqtykXOWMsOPGTZRvrLgl2Yr95CNtYmOlI4VvngpF5usBssu8sCE1zoDZspMCIDwV5fBOWSfpgL2h/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had thought we would just wander around the temple on our own for a few minutes before heading onto Dubai itself. However, a wedding was about to take place and we were kindly invited to join in the festivities. So, join in we did even though though we didn't have on our wedding finery!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxUO5G6L3Wefyh9ikZl4tOdH-3A150oKiDQA5PjZyI8OdypduG6FjHvLwCJMOqj5AtzvRVEPn9n_KAtESHi6CUUSdLat5nWZyIG1FbTWcYy-su_L4l1cqlTAT1nDTz3t5QiAM7Ki_qWI5/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxUO5G6L3Wefyh9ikZl4tOdH-3A150oKiDQA5PjZyI8OdypduG6FjHvLwCJMOqj5AtzvRVEPn9n_KAtESHi6CUUSdLat5nWZyIG1FbTWcYy-su_L4l1cqlTAT1nDTz3t5QiAM7Ki_qWI5/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMJf8_SgKEjFR9PBynBBxI_g6j9-ZwcR8sqXTILe8TVbqa4EL9iS47cpeRHnW6xf9dpRapBkIMBet8EqlNmasmO-t8hMKPMT8a6l1Lcv6RWEpf5R7A10Ypma_WT8mvlv67hfxcCSnwzVF/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMJf8_SgKEjFR9PBynBBxI_g6j9-ZwcR8sqXTILe8TVbqa4EL9iS47cpeRHnW6xf9dpRapBkIMBet8EqlNmasmO-t8hMKPMT8a6l1Lcv6RWEpf5R7A10Ypma_WT8mvlv67hfxcCSnwzVF/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_T9KiTfriz8hWh3Azf9gNWMhV9LIz_81STPYThdZIOXjTrJLbnbUM8y2iObImnNVw892xsy5B805SJYNgYE-BeTRNqDiVGklZvB5IWnaTtcWYJ2BSjz-1qfBmyshzrydTQl244LNNdX2/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_T9KiTfriz8hWh3Azf9gNWMhV9LIz_81STPYThdZIOXjTrJLbnbUM8y2iObImnNVw892xsy5B805SJYNgYE-BeTRNqDiVGklZvB5IWnaTtcWYJ2BSjz-1qfBmyshzrydTQl244LNNdX2/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">All religious ceremonies took place in the temple's <b>Darbar Hall, </b>located </span><span style="font-size: large;">upstairs. Steven jokingly asked me if I thought we'd arrived at a good time to witness the wedding!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HnY-tE-sTRuaAKKU31fk-y6rwlH7TLp7x8Q9frzmmL6xw-ssrgf3yi106bhgw1IfXZKYLDu4GByKDjYztElD0zUeQNwszzAbBvwVyEfa9r6WXbcJnNrQCMh5HCVKGJjE6MmyWEaPLOVO/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HnY-tE-sTRuaAKKU31fk-y6rwlH7TLp7x8Q9frzmmL6xw-ssrgf3yi106bhgw1IfXZKYLDu4GByKDjYztElD0zUeQNwszzAbBvwVyEfa9r6WXbcJnNrQCMh5HCVKGJjE6MmyWEaPLOVO/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEilt8irP3oGP6XhFdxHBWt_iGfYnF0wvUX6-WqYMKYY8fRP10NP1fxpckPMITzoBSxe6iu7O4NGae5j8dNBwyp8wDmj5bzcoYcNMSTLfIFGPMyRlZcRek4teqzyN_WSioRSASqcIuhovB3a/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt8irP3oGP6XhFdxHBWt_iGfYnF0wvUX6-WqYMKYY8fRP10NP1fxpckPMITzoBSxe6iu7O4NGae5j8dNBwyp8wDmj5bzcoYcNMSTLfIFGPMyRlZcRek4teqzyN_WSioRSASqcIuhovB3a/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjFZZPl84dfiZBCOg-qcaPIf9JKpsG7EuhU586RYf_gsCGDpzbq6m02ZQ1-1rOLtYtT-4Z8yRIQAry3xfhHuUGo57RrInnqX7uHQQjzATJkDXdX-e3TwGOqvo63Jly6kr7ZgS_LqokkJrDw/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZZPl84dfiZBCOg-qcaPIf9JKpsG7EuhU586RYf_gsCGDpzbq6m02ZQ1-1rOLtYtT-4Z8yRIQAry3xfhHuUGo57RrInnqX7uHQQjzATJkDXdX-e3TwGOqvo63Jly6kr7ZgS_LqokkJrDw/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi-C6bvxlyV9CkiNdhLUjKKwkqDMuBObAcCXBhAXi1stkWrPBZjprq4bw9s2LL0W12fj3PywauPOkMDQpjfdr2Z2EGuXqx6Efiyxrtqq5v0vd2P6Dv6V-1NpnaFdJnvJ2Fqe6jLILLFcl/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi-C6bvxlyV9CkiNdhLUjKKwkqDMuBObAcCXBhAXi1stkWrPBZjprq4bw9s2LL0W12fj3PywauPOkMDQpjfdr2Z2EGuXqx6Efiyxrtqq5v0vd2P6Dv6V-1NpnaFdJnvJ2Fqe6jLILLFcl/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The hall's meditation room was closed, probably because of the wedding.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUWXQ2z_6ZtDv47MhC6BvDjiwLtaTKZU532QGYE9Dik2TlKVhyphenhyphenvNypIDN4dSUOsyg3BhEfNDZqY1LUVcIl7sAjsdXuxQkPxIDA2RXaEkY0QdTYblusOnLVwgwfvf-c6yhaGqwRlnIrS0B/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUWXQ2z_6ZtDv47MhC6BvDjiwLtaTKZU532QGYE9Dik2TlKVhyphenhyphenvNypIDN4dSUOsyg3BhEfNDZqY1LUVcIl7sAjsdXuxQkPxIDA2RXaEkY0QdTYblusOnLVwgwfvf-c6yhaGqwRlnIrS0B/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Musicians sat cross-legged on a platform at the front.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KUcAzROzln4noCQ5CKMnslwx7PjYUuKU0xNC4CHBWJbVPaPKa4HtOjEK9nsibWEW1hgwYh_e0A0d5rZeEYSswiua4D9jds3lpC90hXXvGxYhtHJmpNLQwzeZivq_YolKWoGlfVfK5TpE/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KUcAzROzln4noCQ5CKMnslwx7PjYUuKU0xNC4CHBWJbVPaPKa4HtOjEK9nsibWEW1hgwYh_e0A0d5rZeEYSswiua4D9jds3lpC90hXXvGxYhtHJmpNLQwzeZivq_YolKWoGlfVfK5TpE/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhGY1ObrQFJkFc4tykbW9mlJzNVk-QH4FAEWWaalUqIAxfAgIwC_mHlp3mHp0mrueqGGGgXQIErrqutUVv3-oE9niNdNo35wuEWKy4SWxtq_rOVc-31ftFarbKJKq-tNCl5mHZR1x3wNldL/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY1ObrQFJkFc4tykbW9mlJzNVk-QH4FAEWWaalUqIAxfAgIwC_mHlp3mHp0mrueqGGGgXQIErrqutUVv3-oE9niNdNo35wuEWKy4SWxtq_rOVc-31ftFarbKJKq-tNCl5mHZR1x3wNldL/s320/062.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3979fGOeWqn4xfCZkWQKiz4z287sKJM0w4V0PF5mbTZyDEs5oJm-iD4qskrWudip7RKjoI3DcztHksGXKiV3j6fMEzZiRzS8bLr3uFp_mYzqxdkb79sv3UcgQ5BLtYegT1Km-F0QZ_up9/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3979fGOeWqn4xfCZkWQKiz4z287sKJM0w4V0PF5mbTZyDEs5oJm-iD4qskrWudip7RKjoI3DcztHksGXKiV3j6fMEzZiRzS8bLr3uFp_mYzqxdkb79sv3UcgQ5BLtYegT1Km-F0QZ_up9/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Huge screens constantly displayed </span><span style="font-size: large;">in Hindi </span><span style="font-size: large;">all the songs and prayers sung throughout the 45 minute ceremony. The groom awaiting his bride:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba4KbA4YL-O2tK_5WVpqjoerkFz-1tnfm5HMgo99X1LRt9mAKWlkYhBQfBBVVTE2qODDvrew-JV96ouf0mNqNlDp4hQGc98JvJ0yumqQjFg1Rce76OvQSwpIyU_ujEJqiaxb3fNe3CFds/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba4KbA4YL-O2tK_5WVpqjoerkFz-1tnfm5HMgo99X1LRt9mAKWlkYhBQfBBVVTE2qODDvrew-JV96ouf0mNqNlDp4hQGc98JvJ0yumqQjFg1Rce76OvQSwpIyU_ujEJqiaxb3fNe3CFds/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The bride was escorted into the hall by her family and a number of women, possibly her bridesmaids, attired in beautifully colored outfits called </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>salvar kamees.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRAcZ7oSDkTxpLv5VyyjgGYuQpEWh3Z-SS5l9D2oiIGxXFNtPZUFJvun6zPCGcWOLRPzmxUKsAgNDUtSXPnbpDJbSyh4JHgDPkf8cFlsUWwhWfWnLxAfUsoCv6bG7IszW1tFS9Q259H8a/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRAcZ7oSDkTxpLv5VyyjgGYuQpEWh3Z-SS5l9D2oiIGxXFNtPZUFJvun6zPCGcWOLRPzmxUKsAgNDUtSXPnbpDJbSyh4JHgDPkf8cFlsUWwhWfWnLxAfUsoCv6bG7IszW1tFS9Q259H8a/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Salvar </i>are a baggy loose fitting pant with an ankle cuff called a <b><i>ponche. </i></b>The <i>salvar</i> is worn beneath the <i>kamees,</i> a dress top which is available in as many </span><span style="font-size: large;">colors and </span><span style="font-size: large;">styles as there is imagination, and often decorated with embroidery. The colors of the <i>salvar</i> and <i>kamees,</i> which may match or contrast, are worn with a color coordinated matching or contrasting </span><span style="font-size: large;">scarf or head covering. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The very devout tend to wear simple prints, or solid colors with little embroidery, as an expression of humility.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYuYDfJPM2vebL-wV3Soly3MDXQ8FriYVQ_YwVuMVZSKgapWTMJCcYJSex8SJfiYiZLnrSiRSa187NIImaLkO0-YjTUbX7qnjTiYEaGJTqYRuSxyp7nK_ic4j_7wrfztifrOVyGCW8Z8f/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYuYDfJPM2vebL-wV3Soly3MDXQ8FriYVQ_YwVuMVZSKgapWTMJCcYJSex8SJfiYiZLnrSiRSa187NIImaLkO0-YjTUbX7qnjTiYEaGJTqYRuSxyp7nK_ic4j_7wrfztifrOVyGCW8Z8f/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2BxbMFomLs89ZVhZIuXYSnyzKff0BZTPOGixJFlwoRl6KBCCX_UtXCLV91muub95BAz6ZavFwVGuO_Tww6e_dzVkTxM8SZrh5QBFACXo9yntvolwI9-KdhErPR6ES9yvPsj2jefIWZgF/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2BxbMFomLs89ZVhZIuXYSnyzKff0BZTPOGixJFlwoRl6KBCCX_UtXCLV91muub95BAz6ZavFwVGuO_Tww6e_dzVkTxM8SZrh5QBFACXo9yntvolwI9-KdhErPR6ES9yvPsj2jefIWZgF/s320/036.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCPRG5d-4-vfeojxDtU9mwg6wMx-kxf2OzF712aC0zGei-gYX8Ng5lDrgZORnGlReTcAWnW5sNqm7lV9gFYeOJY5-u4pZbj3LeNbIppBmAqHjlip9uBwVNzo8bx3PVG1Bio-lGbBkfWvX/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCPRG5d-4-vfeojxDtU9mwg6wMx-kxf2OzF712aC0zGei-gYX8Ng5lDrgZORnGlReTcAWnW5sNqm7lV9gFYeOJY5-u4pZbj3LeNbIppBmAqHjlip9uBwVNzo8bx3PVG1Bio-lGbBkfWvX/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEiTs4MNytn7noNUqn3Hq0YL012kcmYMsl2MCztgAF7BU_LyjZl87Vx2A5ONK_nEqYgICbVxzR7dB66xJkaqEzK-TP3yHwEXoN4oTrdlfqvE8JwANmQgtyViPJVO8E3gLkr4YgpapJ9GZ0hs/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTs4MNytn7noNUqn3Hq0YL012kcmYMsl2MCztgAF7BU_LyjZl87Vx2A5ONK_nEqYgICbVxzR7dB66xJkaqEzK-TP3yHwEXoN4oTrdlfqvE8JwANmQgtyViPJVO8E3gLkr4YgpapJ9GZ0hs/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the youngest, and cutest, guests:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R3y9LGzRTDdVRVui2kItHvKosY2X3ur-3Z6QfghWMeRJR5nEyWQCBomAoRRv_6-safXqGvE_NlMd-4_JMvRGmCpNjMnEjkTmt1E7EckRcG4KltP_qM46OTiUqCzC_evUn5WfeMRlOikv/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R3y9LGzRTDdVRVui2kItHvKosY2X3ur-3Z6QfghWMeRJR5nEyWQCBomAoRRv_6-safXqGvE_NlMd-4_JMvRGmCpNjMnEjkTmt1E7EckRcG4KltP_qM46OTiUqCzC_evUn5WfeMRlOikv/s320/041.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEh6l7quAavhKYFGDTrc4EUaMJG_8A_RlYGCk8xGVRKt7Hb2wonkECgSUK4Bvxj4rHgn8nLpwC0ZEPLUmMuH57KV6J8XegEde5w7IFMHLzUan7uXr8dMAi-NaqbZNBIAigBSgtBq0VY6xt12/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l7quAavhKYFGDTrc4EUaMJG_8A_RlYGCk8xGVRKt7Hb2wonkECgSUK4Bvxj4rHgn8nLpwC0ZEPLUmMuH57KV6J8XegEde5w7IFMHLzUan7uXr8dMAi-NaqbZNBIAigBSgtBq0VY6xt12/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The audience/guests sat throughout the ceremony with almost entirely women on one side of the aisle and men with young boys on the other. Steven and I appeared to be the only Westerners there lucky enough to witness the wedding.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1xE4NmtTuX644c8bIJq1e1Ekk0hLrqFXxv_ShV-6Dw1KDZVgHMZSh7IRAggZ5WreUSvWsZUn3ShGpCyqBEiM5SBTteFL6rgqvaj3kV0Y0xXZxrw9r9e_T8cc4DWKuy4f_sezQqSMYJLc/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1xE4NmtTuX644c8bIJq1e1Ekk0hLrqFXxv_ShV-6Dw1KDZVgHMZSh7IRAggZ5WreUSvWsZUn3ShGpCyqBEiM5SBTteFL6rgqvaj3kV0Y0xXZxrw9r9e_T8cc4DWKuy4f_sezQqSMYJLc/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The bride and groom walked around the 'bower' (?) twice during separate parts of the ceremony.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQgBwnonsD9p_zydq1TEJXVYKbiy43fPlcYGk9XxOK3QbkGcrYX3f3lcjhQLqx7__IBs3XkmSKL4oBhWtGuT1iamwz9PMBc_pHzB0VRMkFF76ufQvmeJgO2Y5L3pyCvDl5eo47nf_dge3/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQgBwnonsD9p_zydq1TEJXVYKbiy43fPlcYGk9XxOK3QbkGcrYX3f3lcjhQLqx7__IBs3XkmSKL4oBhWtGuT1iamwz9PMBc_pHzB0VRMkFF76ufQvmeJgO2Y5L3pyCvDl5eo47nf_dge3/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nyBTKjCjQp6dtdKGSVOvx86ga4WNyM6_ekUxL2E6oslDn6l4MzSiqnIazyZsvEzgQAXHy7ZcLSpO54PSq_9ZOYeNBnsI1vhFekgK4aCcmtwJ-CTIcTLpvAfk77pq4Js4veApkNh3lPWF/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nyBTKjCjQp6dtdKGSVOvx86ga4WNyM6_ekUxL2E6oslDn6l4MzSiqnIazyZsvEzgQAXHy7ZcLSpO54PSq_9ZOYeNBnsI1vhFekgK4aCcmtwJ-CTIcTLpvAfk77pq4Js4veApkNh3lPWF/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Toward the end of the ceremony, a procession of men stood up to walk up to the front to place money in a dish. We didn't know whether it was gifts for the wedding couple or offerings to the temple.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcumhsAEZDmnhFznFtXkHZFfCtddt-2sHw164-3XvKBVZFrqD8Rwe4ps-KHn79FEkxtdmjC8pgBLFhTuAfKVPpN5pOh-I42YWT4lxUmeMYcEi5t3-ZgBldpAgzc8wZZehwdqYXCzQg-BK/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcumhsAEZDmnhFznFtXkHZFfCtddt-2sHw164-3XvKBVZFrqD8Rwe4ps-KHn79FEkxtdmjC8pgBLFhTuAfKVPpN5pOh-I42YWT4lxUmeMYcEi5t3-ZgBldpAgzc8wZZehwdqYXCzQg-BK/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhlVlboPVbMQkORgqJCfnV9sIM1lAA8k6IFK2BreUEkKLPzrj_zZHUtCHdhQp3nypSFMQIv6GNF3JUFuXmsUb7Am2UW_fh8L-0Q_fvdOgRvgCn9bO0wm037Tm4w5V7lw4XErGlIio6LF6v4/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVlboPVbMQkORgqJCfnV9sIM1lAA8k6IFK2BreUEkKLPzrj_zZHUtCHdhQp3nypSFMQIv6GNF3JUFuXmsUb7Am2UW_fh8L-0Q_fvdOgRvgCn9bO0wm037Tm4w5V7lw4XErGlIio6LF6v4/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After the ceremony we, too, were invited to join the reception for the happy couple but we gratefully declined, having already spent far more time there than we'd anticipated and because we didn't feel comfortable participating in the celebration intended for family and friends. What an honor and a stroke of incredible luck it had been to witness the wedding!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sign downstairs thanking the Sheikh for allowing the building of the temple:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjMnSFg6jB3r2jJmOEWqG-CX1jvhDSK8kSwszucmJHhPMtpvREqq2PZdIEJyrHLRv6hkMMyPkMJqM1Ic0ZbglfeNG2KwbHmhpUnNvO_KEh4Pb0zSCwjGdOR6YZuVmnJcm_8fjW6DXpVZc/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjMnSFg6jB3r2jJmOEWqG-CX1jvhDSK8kSwszucmJHhPMtpvREqq2PZdIEJyrHLRv6hkMMyPkMJqM1Ic0ZbglfeNG2KwbHmhpUnNvO_KEh4Pb0zSCwjGdOR6YZuVmnJcm_8fjW6DXpVZc/s320/063.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The temple, in the heart of Dubai's industrial area, was next to a church complex that comprised Coptic, evangelical and orthodox churches. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKnHpmtqm5LRy1zMUaCFwg8yP1DtW3D2Jyzb4zKXF697VdXN5y_rFtHbDJlDPMK5rnyErsfQhx1vbLsTTZNwHChSQJny7HuiCmUerT8keZ19fVY-CEre8ltAJA414alGkLr2xqQ5eGI1w/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKnHpmtqm5LRy1zMUaCFwg8yP1DtW3D2Jyzb4zKXF697VdXN5y_rFtHbDJlDPMK5rnyErsfQhx1vbLsTTZNwHChSQJny7HuiCmUerT8keZ19fVY-CEre8ltAJA414alGkLr2xqQ5eGI1w/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VDpQFJPsp5CE7eU44QOHmO-HcrUDrfpECWbUH900NetxyolBjcKIeTa7rfe_yHA0eTgOykPy46FjJSPPfl6coU8yDzfb_AUh8u6l34NTEX2fWo2v5dHAWESTghGYH9LKwEJ6r0nS74a9/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VDpQFJPsp5CE7eU44QOHmO-HcrUDrfpECWbUH900NetxyolBjcKIeTa7rfe_yHA0eTgOykPy46FjJSPPfl6coU8yDzfb_AUh8u6l34NTEX2fWo2v5dHAWESTghGYH9LKwEJ6r0nS74a9/s320/068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0bxIm3VNmYDCpp-fgsKiApGWrCzzx1lWnT5luORkW2d8Sv32RycvmQSxFgsgECb0efI65gjqGFlc3CsZC2ETII8fyRb7a95-ugIUSvKy-8BirB9lGnjogYQjTyMFVxSAttnDmbnXs9wc/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0bxIm3VNmYDCpp-fgsKiApGWrCzzx1lWnT5luORkW2d8Sv32RycvmQSxFgsgECb0efI65gjqGFlc3CsZC2ETII8fyRb7a95-ugIUSvKy-8BirB9lGnjogYQjTyMFVxSAttnDmbnXs9wc/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first of the many skyscrapers dotting Dubai's skyline:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5H1ZbM4XljV2exEi6xB5uUQX9IuX3pk9r0SntAzi0aklQUsF8ddqve3MsgqFvUglhWJec6njo3wfTwgZqFlOo2ZkI4I8qu9s3P5BszFmKeQkQ58gtUDRa70oVBfR3Zlo85acqYbUWst5/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5H1ZbM4XljV2exEi6xB5uUQX9IuX3pk9r0SntAzi0aklQUsF8ddqve3MsgqFvUglhWJec6njo3wfTwgZqFlOo2ZkI4I8qu9s3P5BszFmKeQkQ58gtUDRa70oVBfR3Zlo85acqYbUWst5/s320/071.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Dubai on the futuristic <b>Sheikh Zayed Road,</b> a huge 12-lane highway flanked on both sides by rows of densely packed high-rises whose "towering facades create an almost unbroken wall of glass and metal, like some kind of architectural Grand Canyon." At the southern end of Sheikh Zayed Road was the massive Dubai development, built at an estimated $20 billion. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNua06Y9pNxK7UJaCUCdVGHhQX1CTSwZXzC0AYKvP4hzLj17uoJhWrpLhORHCuhBE4qRZTx8V-kXsf04US3-H2gZ5ISDMu_WEXa3l5MdXwar7u_paDNc6coF7r9zcJINPChT_quZKanXc/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNua06Y9pNxK7UJaCUCdVGHhQX1CTSwZXzC0AYKvP4hzLj17uoJhWrpLhORHCuhBE4qRZTx8V-kXsf04US3-H2gZ5ISDMu_WEXa3l5MdXwar7u_paDNc6coF7r9zcJINPChT_quZKanXc/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The first of several shots of the gargantuan <b>Burj Khalifa, </b>the world's tallest building, and the centerpiece of the development. Burj Khalifa was a mix of offices and apartments and the Armani Hotel. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefwjA-X_QfTp4f6dn-1FKD5DaPbTZS4ENqWGbcTo33wel7EuL8WuMAmKrMzAl5aMqEztew-_8jHiuCGz7mmCuPakc4FnqhnPD9cRf1YW3VhyI8GQylJ0T1ZipWiNfQNMGcXcZI7PxDWAf/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefwjA-X_QfTp4f6dn-1FKD5DaPbTZS4ENqWGbcTo33wel7EuL8WuMAmKrMzAl5aMqEztew-_8jHiuCGz7mmCuPakc4FnqhnPD9cRf1YW3VhyI8GQylJ0T1ZipWiNfQNMGcXcZI7PxDWAf/s320/074.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFko6UD99Ri1JB-wRKoMm9FHYq5vxv9UK-A2nwIsNPquIRb7MbP8qvAiIUP060IdX_wjCz7gdLRVBC1iz5QZDEwf30cPZNBpjwHJf2iFri955-quMDPpWiaGHeo8ud-WqoltO-er74uRf/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFko6UD99Ri1JB-wRKoMm9FHYq5vxv9UK-A2nwIsNPquIRb7MbP8qvAiIUP060IdX_wjCz7gdLRVBC1iz5QZDEwf30cPZNBpjwHJf2iFri955-quMDPpWiaGHeo8ud-WqoltO-er74uRf/s320/076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We managed to find a great (and cheap!) parking spot downtown just across from the <b>Dubai Opera,</b> a 1901-seat, multi-format, performing arts center. It had opened just a few months previously with a performance by<b> Placido Domingo. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzdRsFqiQo-lcPgVSQfsmx9v4ik_IHcxXYtFLvARzQNzphSjzTplF7t4ItypCELrpMeT5LNx3b3iRKYqzWUEsAZlL6C1IJzVYXMo_mWjKsDXAAGXWeH2E4_wNyGvqXhjXuFZNw7ce_u9p/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzdRsFqiQo-lcPgVSQfsmx9v4ik_IHcxXYtFLvARzQNzphSjzTplF7t4ItypCELrpMeT5LNx3b3iRKYqzWUEsAZlL6C1IJzVYXMo_mWjKsDXAAGXWeH2E4_wNyGvqXhjXuFZNw7ce_u9p/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgMseqPlh6aHPz06U-RuRn8vodytONQq0-gHCsWzcNf30rN4yHt8g-0Xsr1OmjLzdGA97llL4uLOpAwk9120YNyFUY9HdGTES_FKrwHgA5Fl8bslvMN6sDzScBwFWA96iQ6Hd32ZhFQx8Nq/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMseqPlh6aHPz06U-RuRn8vodytONQq0-gHCsWzcNf30rN4yHt8g-0Xsr1OmjLzdGA97llL4uLOpAwk9120YNyFUY9HdGTES_FKrwHgA5Fl8bslvMN6sDzScBwFWA96iQ6Hd32ZhFQx8Nq/s320/081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Opera was part of a still unfinished, larger area called the <b>Opera District, </b>which will include galleries, museums, design studios and other cultural venues as well as several hotels, a shopping center, recreational spaces and residential towers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The District</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">faced Burj Khalifa and <b>The Dubai Fountain. </b>Granted, we didn't walk inside the Opera building but the exterior held little appeal for us. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJnuxYLXpcErrTP90OnzVvUAW4VpsreyMldEdqVcfmUKSgh8nvTvNgc3KX4CPnniCXZp9xd5fWhAVccRA8AIF94MlleVR0nYo3S7bSLGrDZPs5O8yoFSEAUDHyGZhmjcCufvDULG3QNSe/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJnuxYLXpcErrTP90OnzVvUAW4VpsreyMldEdqVcfmUKSgh8nvTvNgc3KX4CPnniCXZp9xd5fWhAVccRA8AIF94MlleVR0nYo3S7bSLGrDZPs5O8yoFSEAUDHyGZhmjcCufvDULG3QNSe/s320/082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was more than a tad bizarre seeing so many water features in Dubai, a city in the middle of the desert. However, it was delightful strolling along the water course on our way to the Dubai Mall and Fountain!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWzDehOSWTOrwxw36n66rhC7pZHuX9iucWKmb93qtJuAGgvGm1cVf-egCQhocMKWlM3t78mT-uOQxLlaSukTRSFRQ4yLImzNnzQZJZWCpWYYGfl0nBwS4vvDFpczQt2p3CRynVh6HBC_V/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWzDehOSWTOrwxw36n66rhC7pZHuX9iucWKmb93qtJuAGgvGm1cVf-egCQhocMKWlM3t78mT-uOQxLlaSukTRSFRQ4yLImzNnzQZJZWCpWYYGfl0nBwS4vvDFpczQt2p3CRynVh6HBC_V/s320/084.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">View of the Dubai Opera in the background:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCm-WEO5WVYWjo40tkY0MI1x0wrvC9kIZNv_MAO7te9m3VZCdzpY16Vo4e0j5S6MKCdG7dqmzn654kFLydPh7MFOKgmBAEolIvIS6cZq0lDLClVbBV-7qw3l-Icw_OXlfIu3MnejL9GzY/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCm-WEO5WVYWjo40tkY0MI1x0wrvC9kIZNv_MAO7te9m3VZCdzpY16Vo4e0j5S6MKCdG7dqmzn654kFLydPh7MFOKgmBAEolIvIS6cZq0lDLClVbBV-7qw3l-Icw_OXlfIu3MnejL9GzY/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Q8JEQU1nptuKyQgW-QO1zMkI3Vdu9QyiLjRsZoQiSBpn3cYOxuj6npRv55vDZ6BjMjAUzK1gfwFsjBUpd3ASGZ-NUXRiVvlWP2j0p51eIbVu8W0GjHasXDWlu1vu_VmQKos5n4H7ju-2/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Q8JEQU1nptuKyQgW-QO1zMkI3Vdu9QyiLjRsZoQiSBpn3cYOxuj6npRv55vDZ6BjMjAUzK1gfwFsjBUpd3ASGZ-NUXRiVvlWP2j0p51eIbVu8W0GjHasXDWlu1vu_VmQKos5n4H7ju-2/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was fascinating to learn that Dubai is now officially the tallest city on the planet. Considering the city only built its first real skyscraper in 1979, that's a stupendous achievement. The city now boasts 28 of the world's 200 highest buildings compared to New York and Hong Kong who, by comparison, have just 13 and 11 respectively. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlFxPwzUdYOReiaC4Lz1tmf3YBNpds3oAy06uGUBpHthtOuFgoalsdRcJAyY_pxBu9hd3P3KVv92ygLJ41MLKmDR0ppvpzInMuyxTHcYSN0_WzPXbmKe_wpXT_WsDPfl1vAjmiMp4LoMg/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlFxPwzUdYOReiaC4Lz1tmf3YBNpds3oAy06uGUBpHthtOuFgoalsdRcJAyY_pxBu9hd3P3KVv92ygLJ41MLKmDR0ppvpzInMuyxTHcYSN0_WzPXbmKe_wpXT_WsDPfl1vAjmiMp4LoMg/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rNbm8eJU0kWF5b_VYijHXAb26Sehz5JNXx-w3E_GSH1Yfats7hwRCQoZFTqMEhHjHK-wFrEkG7QyIDx2V8RKYp_71i2h6lG6Wwya_ns9AaPjanMMEAuju1J5rMy8l-lEkd45LxXqNS6_/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rNbm8eJU0kWF5b_VYijHXAb26Sehz5JNXx-w3E_GSH1Yfats7hwRCQoZFTqMEhHjHK-wFrEkG7QyIDx2V8RKYp_71i2h6lG6Wwya_ns9AaPjanMMEAuju1J5rMy8l-lEkd45LxXqNS6_/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking around the man-made lake would take us, in time, to the <b>Dubai Mall,</b> the </span><span style="font-size: large;">mammoth, </span><span style="font-size: large;">low rise complex on the lake shore. Covering over 12 million square feet and with more than 1,200 stores spread across four floors easily made it the world's largest mall by total area although other malls contain more retail space.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WiWzcbyQHRs_OkUo8nGtvDB-jgBjWWeIiU9USQxXY1-tHOnJ5wMVhr08N1-nEhcemo-ODDfhTy-0nbGf9S_bXtL98MLv2aNDNCu1omgeQHk69Sjc34zgHmLvIv2b7XYlkE31IhV7MgSi/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WiWzcbyQHRs_OkUo8nGtvDB-jgBjWWeIiU9USQxXY1-tHOnJ5wMVhr08N1-nEhcemo-ODDfhTy-0nbGf9S_bXtL98MLv2aNDNCu1omgeQHk69Sjc34zgHmLvIv2b7XYlkE31IhV7MgSi/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A close up of the Burj Khalifa which, at 2,717 ft tall, obliterated all previous records for the world's tallest man-made structures past and present. It smashed the previous record for the world's tallest building - formerly held by the <b>Taipei 101</b> in Taiwan at 1,670 ft - by a staggering 984 ft! It opened in January, 2010, only six years after excavations began. Up to 13,000 workers toiled day and night, at times putting up a new floor in as little as three days!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsprAJVhyVduZuetorMs8Q4Xb-bJnE4widd_TymrOUyFeiV-vzN5VnjN7W8d-ivy6AJ7Jinp-u_DokFN_v6o1jwThP_KDBjVQQi-zotZvkZdenJDuaGByG01SsBOiLc6IWT9p3vlkPQw5/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsprAJVhyVduZuetorMs8Q4Xb-bJnE4widd_TymrOUyFeiV-vzN5VnjN7W8d-ivy6AJ7Jinp-u_DokFN_v6o1jwThP_KDBjVQQi-zotZvkZdenJDuaGByG01SsBOiLc6IWT9p3vlkPQw5/s320/091.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The astonishing size of the Burj Khalifa and its distinctively tapering outline was difficult to grasp close up. We had been best able to appreciate the building earlier from a distance where we could properly sense the jaw-dropping size and the degree to which it dwarfed the surrounding high rises. It wasn't as if its neighboring buildings were 'small potatoes' in the height department either! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRn2LfB2MmQmQ2ZYb3XZR6120caQ5LYu6-Ii9FRmVj_yQWZrnjBBfku_VXTWr0JA7hf9vu3p4LPF5UfocHbyH8UioU5TjYk3muKaMwyLybVuq39jkj-J5eVrTyMCRJEyI2S-WxkqrgklF/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRn2LfB2MmQmQ2ZYb3XZR6120caQ5LYu6-Ii9FRmVj_yQWZrnjBBfku_VXTWr0JA7hf9vu3p4LPF5UfocHbyH8UioU5TjYk3muKaMwyLybVuq39jkj-J5eVrTyMCRJEyI2S-WxkqrgklF/s320/097.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1ooIGNz9JNrA_jdHDQpHhpSEoM3iHcplH4UKIhKOA54vy4TVjB8JZUAYBBS0WDF98Kwyk5i9FvafDIWhdAf-u0tLtmmQ0g5vXgzVbyWTMWVmFRxDq6Q4AzDfBM2PI-seyswmP_Wz9zOh/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1ooIGNz9JNrA_jdHDQpHhpSEoM3iHcplH4UKIhKOA54vy4TVjB8JZUAYBBS0WDF98Kwyk5i9FvafDIWhdAf-u0tLtmmQ0g5vXgzVbyWTMWVmFRxDq6Q4AzDfBM2PI-seyswmP_Wz9zOh/s320/098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The footbridge to <b>Souk al Bahar,</b> an Arabesque shopping, entertainment and dining destination located adjacent to the Dubai Mall. We headed first to the Mall. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uvm5FoH7ZHLyjbzIPkr7oxdai7qM2v8lw-LT9vSyw-hmMIAdXSR9eluVJ2tN4tIonNIOjaDRvRlUaKnmLg1lU0Hv0RPE_QgheHjMFSZc8jhDGmfb_YoVLsrnCO0m_mx5ka08Mw3W9p7a/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uvm5FoH7ZHLyjbzIPkr7oxdai7qM2v8lw-LT9vSyw-hmMIAdXSR9eluVJ2tN4tIonNIOjaDRvRlUaKnmLg1lU0Hv0RPE_QgheHjMFSZc8jhDGmfb_YoVLsrnCO0m_mx5ka08Mw3W9p7a/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This photo of the <b>Tim Hortons</b> is for my Canadian readers!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ8kFWSeWdmc9w45gf4wjvU1y7Yi_TepGuCroGSxDo4Fgmv6JphzOnJuN9GuV5QxVvvbZZXZtZR5FlLFBmsmlYr9XrlzS5I778Lnx5aItCOEg3CQYx3sIlk_qGCC-v3-sG_h-cEzWQxgx/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ8kFWSeWdmc9w45gf4wjvU1y7Yi_TepGuCroGSxDo4Fgmv6JphzOnJuN9GuV5QxVvvbZZXZtZR5FlLFBmsmlYr9XrlzS5I778Lnx5aItCOEg3CQYx3sIlk_qGCC-v3-sG_h-cEzWQxgx/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">No other mall we've been to has had a <b>Courtesy Policy</b> that I can remember. The Dubai Mall stipulated that people wear respectful clothing with shoulders and knees covered. Plus, kissing and overt displays of affection - and that included even the holding of hands - weren't allowed! We obviously respected those Arab sensitivities but the rebel in me wondered what might have happened if ...!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4GiLHNNkOwc_6EtdtvgTwg7KbAOYivGeX5f4EIVBdVk-r7qOOd-SnJt5uaQVzMQkxkxgxMKcGRGVIem1If4PxWUyXQu_YAY5xCvMX4KQnvQV18iwS3ZTEh6EkvP_yUf8z1bEEE2b3F2j/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4GiLHNNkOwc_6EtdtvgTwg7KbAOYivGeX5f4EIVBdVk-r7qOOd-SnJt5uaQVzMQkxkxgxMKcGRGVIem1If4PxWUyXQu_YAY5xCvMX4KQnvQV18iwS3ZTEh6EkvP_yUf8z1bEEE2b3F2j/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Did you recognize the Arabic sign for Bloomingdales?!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sK-bRGm-kLn0RLehPFNp8FzE1JwrApes069av7IVerEXseGvwLS6Cjc2-sZuI7-HEEINfyB6ykrBlc0lNsUnPjaK6Q-lGt96LINM673KdN0GrDSisTHrU8DH_UoMdnW5cMmeQ0pyBP_o/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sK-bRGm-kLn0RLehPFNp8FzE1JwrApes069av7IVerEXseGvwLS6Cjc2-sZuI7-HEEINfyB6ykrBlc0lNsUnPjaK6Q-lGt96LINM673KdN0GrDSisTHrU8DH_UoMdnW5cMmeQ0pyBP_o/s320/107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The biggest mall directory I have ever seen!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4iCGEvkoJELC8eiFqxgjWrUSgryGUWM2LoHkdqLss1fhaQ7_LM01Mkm-fioX0T7iElH3X-PWSyjZ2LMLy00mVwpe7eSEDthuF44QwC-wUYPG1ywhbUC50a8CuKa-ACoD_ECOFTbbmnT_/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4iCGEvkoJELC8eiFqxgjWrUSgryGUWM2LoHkdqLss1fhaQ7_LM01Mkm-fioX0T7iElH3X-PWSyjZ2LMLy00mVwpe7eSEDthuF44QwC-wUYPG1ywhbUC50a8CuKa-ACoD_ECOFTbbmnT_/s320/108.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We weren't really interested in seeing the 70 flagship stores from the world's most desirable luxury brands so headed to the mall's <b>Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo </b>instead. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Not surprisingly given this was Dubai, it was one of the largest aquariums in the world and had the largest viewing panel on earth!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FUcyCtrdLE8kas05_x-2SfVwdP4zAnbSRbF638_ePz_4pu6n38LExvKvqC2Fhe8CM07A_-6YHquLoLO0OD_Os8txllTn_FUZOPgL5gc7pKg09VRNk2hNnAtAg4HHY_EaSf5Ua9yK7kPl/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FUcyCtrdLE8kas05_x-2SfVwdP4zAnbSRbF638_ePz_4pu6n38LExvKvqC2Fhe8CM07A_-6YHquLoLO0OD_Os8txllTn_FUZOPgL5gc7pKg09VRNk2hNnAtAg4HHY_EaSf5Ua9yK7kPl/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiK3bBmNbOmgpgro0C1BMH3BjX9OaFVRkjGeKwgpoXucXxjD02QifUSBtCAFrHJhcq85VUXjn4IOIupcG_hSoVp4W4ivYLRUp7pdEnWr9N7Tzyw9Gzkq1pi33dNzU-wK07UR4DEHNUxvwYA/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3bBmNbOmgpgro0C1BMH3BjX9OaFVRkjGeKwgpoXucXxjD02QifUSBtCAFrHJhcq85VUXjn4IOIupcG_hSoVp4W4ivYLRUp7pdEnWr9N7Tzyw9Gzkq1pi33dNzU-wK07UR4DEHNUxvwYA/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The viewing panel was a huge, floor-to-ceiling transparent acrylic panel filled with an extraordinary array of marine life, ranging from sand-tiger sharks and stingrays to tiny tropical fish.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB97pVZ2kcHj-aMu5_SCXBrZI7zWKv4d4hVvylkZt-knL1L_UsWmcq2uFaFfO63SwyvtvCRHsNVbgqm-76PmZZqu7yuplI1Yh0N1yoTguYlicChLhbEKvtd6atnaFRkfAxCE-K4PbdcV-y/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB97pVZ2kcHj-aMu5_SCXBrZI7zWKv4d4hVvylkZt-knL1L_UsWmcq2uFaFfO63SwyvtvCRHsNVbgqm-76PmZZqu7yuplI1Yh0N1yoTguYlicChLhbEKvtd6atnaFRkfAxCE-K4PbdcV-y/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjZBIZiz67CJRYHeFd1CspkmknNHSR6hzvT74gcGxgrxs6Vqi6W6PYgxzqfl9FOaWliSvWEpJI0hQzBdVcXnSx7fGaXjiEL3HN2xYJd7EKhGSdbMfCaBRIwv3V86mj7SUk732gbiQadGBiQ/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBIZiz67CJRYHeFd1CspkmknNHSR6hzvT74gcGxgrxs6Vqi6W6PYgxzqfl9FOaWliSvWEpJI0hQzBdVcXnSx7fGaXjiEL3HN2xYJd7EKhGSdbMfCaBRIwv3V86mj7SUk732gbiQadGBiQ/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiqr_uduf5MkfRUUOR0eppreyY8iDiG1FKDFQy4ecbnDtJgCeV8pGPjQKff4aNDRaaBf-_C6jVgNJMVOGs23sVrRrkjEMI7ORt9J-HzloK70QU-QY_fjTMHTUCMqSmkVrcF5DW8QY8jOxs7/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqr_uduf5MkfRUUOR0eppreyY8iDiG1FKDFQy4ecbnDtJgCeV8pGPjQKff4aNDRaaBf-_C6jVgNJMVOGs23sVrRrkjEMI7ORt9J-HzloK70QU-QY_fjTMHTUCMqSmkVrcF5DW8QY8jOxs7/s320/118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnsVCejOdcmL_pLHKrwwPOcOA3hGO4LiMYxGMKbNU0gstBVEtkqD5Kw8gafKmKEwFh5EmN6pnjbXHgdWs7gtMebF6sSx0hzp8HTZNNj1c_h_P3DwoeZiaLUu3dhL5XFTeQU2KKLf556cC/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnsVCejOdcmL_pLHKrwwPOcOA3hGO4LiMYxGMKbNU0gstBVEtkqD5Kw8gafKmKEwFh5EmN6pnjbXHgdWs7gtMebF6sSx0hzp8HTZNNj1c_h_P3DwoeZiaLUu3dhL5XFTeQU2KKLf556cC/s320/119.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We didn't feel any need to participate in any of the diving activities as we were able to enjoy a perfect view from just where we stood for about an hour.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gz1lwAMB-W6eiqZ_SC0KXfjBuiEemUmWPk-9tIV0-rpmvQ3C5EiYMSz7CIGm_9LcX8_Ty2snerLtqGhKexJTRzZPL2oMic8nSk2CxDpHYWgUtpQmXHnxUAEkKeS0wa1yqX-JTme3h6-l/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gz1lwAMB-W6eiqZ_SC0KXfjBuiEemUmWPk-9tIV0-rpmvQ3C5EiYMSz7CIGm_9LcX8_Ty2snerLtqGhKexJTRzZPL2oMic8nSk2CxDpHYWgUtpQmXHnxUAEkKeS0wa1yqX-JTme3h6-l/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByq8lkOVqxDOvPv9BONeEdmYbGtzCIwS5B1tkKlS0T-72wwkl4AObjRHUwWngwayptXNafTdYTqPDsZ-i-CGkhTUX-6R8xJGGpTEarNxQvg9Gka3ghudbjmCerZlHDHFbkd986TzVmc2n/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByq8lkOVqxDOvPv9BONeEdmYbGtzCIwS5B1tkKlS0T-72wwkl4AObjRHUwWngwayptXNafTdYTqPDsZ-i-CGkhTUX-6R8xJGGpTEarNxQvg9Gka3ghudbjmCerZlHDHFbkd986TzVmc2n/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiL8UC0ikTzd2PP4WqtYM1AeSHiDrAmSegFPf4iJkYMqMDZhUbKPmKRxk1K54EFt3i6-8jyCaH37FqRjZt8q6hHqhxNY4HbXhU19E8ZkUNoq54CtZB0Aas5bElSPnHwqMEvAl2p111XF0cu/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8UC0ikTzd2PP4WqtYM1AeSHiDrAmSegFPf4iJkYMqMDZhUbKPmKRxk1K54EFt3i6-8jyCaH37FqRjZt8q6hHqhxNY4HbXhU19E8ZkUNoq54CtZB0Aas5bElSPnHwqMEvAl2p111XF0cu/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A8cSOvbG8vVsiJQD85cG6cOyU25ehaTLMUc2MK_Gop2ouCGn4YPIyujiBWMHaBSdhFVjRUrAeglbyNavYAxKQjssC8WPDwLs0GyJFNxkPWi97aUp_unjtruv5eg1xFpEI4Cu3v_IfOM8/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A8cSOvbG8vVsiJQD85cG6cOyU25ehaTLMUc2MK_Gop2ouCGn4YPIyujiBWMHaBSdhFVjRUrAeglbyNavYAxKQjssC8WPDwLs0GyJFNxkPWi97aUp_unjtruv5eg1xFpEI4Cu3v_IfOM8/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">People interested in buying aquarium tickets could purchase them from this <b>Robo Ticket Sales</b> kiosk that moved around on the floor as it sensed people nearby!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjQdDFHXkbM-OpYY3bHd8m4cejHEI7LxMZZ0kE1o_otNIfH-PjNqHOerYyVrUFV9FaDEnCzFt8mz0yiQDS54r37z_SxyhyMFqHRyupz0STvfJYwFeeENYhsQXedSt1LMi6x6zh2Ycy_Zt/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjQdDFHXkbM-OpYY3bHd8m4cejHEI7LxMZZ0kE1o_otNIfH-PjNqHOerYyVrUFV9FaDEnCzFt8mz0yiQDS54r37z_SxyhyMFqHRyupz0STvfJYwFeeENYhsQXedSt1LMi6x6zh2Ycy_Zt/s320/130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven finally lured me away with a promise we'd visit the souk area of the mall next. That sounded more enticing than the actual reality although the architecture was very pleasing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqEpvB8XTthrvhzsB3EqxGrYFOW0VyHKcK3wL0jmMm641ovF31BwqArJOaGZWUSc_ZNEk_6fWtO1AEP1qAsI1IBD-AfZKiH6AClqEYRzzy1V5Jrc2esAD-z6rvbAlsD2ws_rMyTAcsnnw/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqEpvB8XTthrvhzsB3EqxGrYFOW0VyHKcK3wL0jmMm641ovF31BwqArJOaGZWUSc_ZNEk_6fWtO1AEP1qAsI1IBD-AfZKiH6AClqEYRzzy1V5Jrc2esAD-z6rvbAlsD2ws_rMyTAcsnnw/s320/134.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z-3F9pwY_xEEsuqjsvBJoHVtG1BTQHwVpVEAfTmXai5CSkrKGK2uyiHgNDwTn4o4kvDCOzkSgkpy6qGP_NhTX7iwImLpS2P98u75WnLc62DFc19v4FT_dVf-EVtb3kRfXu6nIai3jyh1/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z-3F9pwY_xEEsuqjsvBJoHVtG1BTQHwVpVEAfTmXai5CSkrKGK2uyiHgNDwTn4o4kvDCOzkSgkpy6qGP_NhTX7iwImLpS2P98u75WnLc62DFc19v4FT_dVf-EVtb3kRfXu6nIai3jyh1/s320/135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDeC5EJtyEj5lF9WPqOvqJlUPw-MfncPZIaXOghhRkOXkSaQA_v6MN5qu2deuzxxT3_nIHxrG-N-na4bEEPN28rnGYrSnFohRbgDllfWhm4L8KhOnA966nUmvSTgJMSFzjC1UkECbrwDk/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDeC5EJtyEj5lF9WPqOvqJlUPw-MfncPZIaXOghhRkOXkSaQA_v6MN5qu2deuzxxT3_nIHxrG-N-na4bEEPN28rnGYrSnFohRbgDllfWhm4L8KhOnA966nUmvSTgJMSFzjC1UkECbrwDk/s320/136.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A trip to the mall's ice rink sounded more promising but alas, there was a huge men's weightlifting competition and relays going on there instead.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH58iEj2b0hIc-nxH65I_oJ_RKq66v1eKnL1LyJ0FepqQYCD58LAO58SaqX7ELYa1ZjWCR_OU4D8W8dee-3O8CJR2V4wuvhWwPE-2hNITTMO7q1QxnqGePfzLN4_C4s_PQtK2PGQTSPXqT/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH58iEj2b0hIc-nxH65I_oJ_RKq66v1eKnL1LyJ0FepqQYCD58LAO58SaqX7ELYa1ZjWCR_OU4D8W8dee-3O8CJR2V4wuvhWwPE-2hNITTMO7q1QxnqGePfzLN4_C4s_PQtK2PGQTSPXqT/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhe99GsIph_TTFBxeKAusGmD0wJwyZExlf0aIP9RtNoqL_Wwm-75Qyrn3D3eg_KC6P6PMgSWMR_WfIVlsPysLSqE_UEHQyHnv5FA5HjB4FNxtcMM9dDtvM3oYrP8fKkoaoCtTOxUg4tjkjl/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe99GsIph_TTFBxeKAusGmD0wJwyZExlf0aIP9RtNoqL_Wwm-75Qyrn3D3eg_KC6P6PMgSWMR_WfIVlsPysLSqE_UEHQyHnv5FA5HjB4FNxtcMM9dDtvM3oYrP8fKkoaoCtTOxUg4tjkjl/s320/140.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9RJeYOhmM02pUeomGsEG0KBKZ8cZVoHW5NMW0JLbTZFN1D-G8eG_MfvgUKjTP7kAoRpQn-3iuz0MO94tMR6s4wlKR29Dm4gSCwCne-anBqa1PI02zlIaTuBpSQe9VQ8E3YgHKFCTnIs-/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9RJeYOhmM02pUeomGsEG0KBKZ8cZVoHW5NMW0JLbTZFN1D-G8eG_MfvgUKjTP7kAoRpQn-3iuz0MO94tMR6s4wlKR29Dm4gSCwCne-anBqa1PI02zlIaTuBpSQe9VQ8E3YgHKFCTnIs-/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't too hard on the eyes watching very buff young men competing for a while!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkvANubzi-dB7H8-Wd7mJx912s7a3aOCfJWerVGagulMJ7TZ6QxxYguthl5rmaliVC2ggdghgXE1Er22cY1XcPPsmwjr7uRL2yhu8MHbjBSQK89yB4Bxr8cxNZwijbxIPjV2X1jvNzPdZ/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkvANubzi-dB7H8-Wd7mJx912s7a3aOCfJWerVGagulMJ7TZ6QxxYguthl5rmaliVC2ggdghgXE1Er22cY1XcPPsmwjr7uRL2yhu8MHbjBSQK89yB4Bxr8cxNZwijbxIPjV2X1jvNzPdZ/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh_jNslNnTpwv84IrnKo4javZ7yLWrv1D7hHuZyAhF7f9AECu-6t0is4JwAxksQT8qv-TsuDkMwmWqOu1fwxvzyVdXNwo_RRNHO5fE0FuExLhOM9p28_uw3K_36hphL1WPD7SFn1ctYXc/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh_jNslNnTpwv84IrnKo4javZ7yLWrv1D7hHuZyAhF7f9AECu-6t0is4JwAxksQT8qv-TsuDkMwmWqOu1fwxvzyVdXNwo_RRNHO5fE0FuExLhOM9p28_uw3K_36hphL1WPD7SFn1ctYXc/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiLix_-L6vxIGUn4vvtotsSplrTcDf6yoX1u3Tq8qACj9DDCW8E8MUqJVGOxMruO432oilICFL-AdfIZeZr2B5PQlbTR_5jK57k2GEMBGMKuxOirdPi6kFbyp8CJVb2fWy-7e9WfIF4Y2XT/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLix_-L6vxIGUn4vvtotsSplrTcDf6yoX1u3Tq8qACj9DDCW8E8MUqJVGOxMruO432oilICFL-AdfIZeZr2B5PQlbTR_5jK57k2GEMBGMKuxOirdPi6kFbyp8CJVb2fWy-7e9WfIF4Y2XT/s320/147.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who could resist having a camel cookie?!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhGcP02T6E6fUgXp_WC-9kr_XeVGoGSARvdyxXyYqd-3XWAiFetqrZi4TQEVgLa4YinCEvBMGYbxgqAmamKZd-JclAjQJVEEzHylBTEIii8avfbrLbO-YyeIlpbmGM_mrHWduNyxbd2WU/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhGcP02T6E6fUgXp_WC-9kr_XeVGoGSARvdyxXyYqd-3XWAiFetqrZi4TQEVgLa4YinCEvBMGYbxgqAmamKZd-JclAjQJVEEzHylBTEIii8avfbrLbO-YyeIlpbmGM_mrHWduNyxbd2WU/s320/148.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7lipNp6wwzfZTkO6jNOPFj1PMPID4TIIJosybLr7dY2rQLh3YwvVTNF3TXv6uUm6ozypCkazhjrGNZR5P3bt5CL5-6BQOMwVD2rzk9rLb8wLZDbY5pO0To-Cik_NYQKw_E7gIF9m09hw/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7lipNp6wwzfZTkO6jNOPFj1PMPID4TIIJosybLr7dY2rQLh3YwvVTNF3TXv6uUm6ozypCkazhjrGNZR5P3bt5CL5-6BQOMwVD2rzk9rLb8wLZDbY5pO0To-Cik_NYQKw_E7gIF9m09hw/s320/149.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A pretty cool water feature:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyfUTwSFPQ0ZKc05t2G3ijhWHkLlW5JlGqarI6vuyJJS8neKh9hgqZ7eIgu87DNDBPSu3L2Z-j5nghkzCwlaQVtJ7vlVh4KWRaUgxi0wvUZ4jn6Vu6Gx3_hVjKZVHumbIPFm6nvK8hj3t/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyfUTwSFPQ0ZKc05t2G3ijhWHkLlW5JlGqarI6vuyJJS8neKh9hgqZ7eIgu87DNDBPSu3L2Z-j5nghkzCwlaQVtJ7vlVh4KWRaUgxi0wvUZ4jn6Vu6Gx3_hVjKZVHumbIPFm6nvK8hj3t/s320/151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zachary:</b> Bet you would have loved to have eaten at the Texas Roadhouse location in Dubai!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAnzqBZbl1KU8QCVYNa3LT8Wk1OC3kNvE54UBzZ6KqEQoVqoEXk5wCPT_l-V_oOVjtDbXMYjSeHQUfZLd3AybXxvyaDHJ44L8BItEUhFZ2RYLa1euRM9t1TGnxeZylX1TOJy_onrLrCk3/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAnzqBZbl1KU8QCVYNa3LT8Wk1OC3kNvE54UBzZ6KqEQoVqoEXk5wCPT_l-V_oOVjtDbXMYjSeHQUfZLd3AybXxvyaDHJ44L8BItEUhFZ2RYLa1euRM9t1TGnxeZylX1TOJy_onrLrCk3/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Natalie and Adam:</b> Thought of you both and our going together to the <b>Eataly store</b> in Chicago last year.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHht0AIt6c4HhI6X_7Yrm4Nx6g37A3jR-wPYeOf4x2IggOdFzskP5Iq_yXkD9trOG7UNbyDJ3WG-5XhXO0RB0xpPHUSYL6Sqvxa76M8CkLDRYKpqnlrsLcEOc0_YnF9_jnc3aePqc4JXb/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHht0AIt6c4HhI6X_7Yrm4Nx6g37A3jR-wPYeOf4x2IggOdFzskP5Iq_yXkD9trOG7UNbyDJ3WG-5XhXO0RB0xpPHUSYL6Sqvxa76M8CkLDRYKpqnlrsLcEOc0_YnF9_jnc3aePqc4JXb/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We then walked over to the attached Souk al Bahar that we'd seen from a distance earlier. We didn't spend much time there as it felt like just another modern mall.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYaZKiwbSNcqoRO_tajXNJM4nlHogHrLUZeWhuboF1d0HR4tVvy3JrhwfusF1_kwy26S7MCoR2ky6F8TLe7HGzl3L_sHJcrdULt4G7v4qPVAjVqsGYLqOiOkqYKEqcj7VgSlury0qFMEC/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYaZKiwbSNcqoRO_tajXNJM4nlHogHrLUZeWhuboF1d0HR4tVvy3JrhwfusF1_kwy26S7MCoR2ky6F8TLe7HGzl3L_sHJcrdULt4G7v4qPVAjVqsGYLqOiOkqYKEqcj7VgSlury0qFMEC/s320/156.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh8TRzsLzQs0YxMguxhaUxE6QoZZZIN8tjnWxcIRK1IQjqjlaEtNEX6BMoRvKsCIAZI6en0Saj_YyVnYi21_mVtGEC-uhanPxwnIwLS5FGBQEVfu1Dp7uY9RMw4GrUVwnT3rdlaCpfdPBNm/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TRzsLzQs0YxMguxhaUxE6QoZZZIN8tjnWxcIRK1IQjqjlaEtNEX6BMoRvKsCIAZI6en0Saj_YyVnYi21_mVtGEC-uhanPxwnIwLS5FGBQEVfu1Dp7uY9RMw4GrUVwnT3rdlaCpfdPBNm/s320/158.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet more water features in the former desert. We decided to make our way to our hotel as we hadn't checked in yet but hoped we'd make time another day to see the supposedly spectacular <b>Dubai Fountain</b> illuminated with over 6,000 lights.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYdISi7ixNN5hIESTA7rxrwKSf0R27J3JoX3YSabgu31_9472oQUMf-9YHHfGNk3hjy0YrF-Fcfxh_S61F5NfwKLy3bdXlTw_pHezffnQDguzJ0Jogdj-dBhxOuCrJGqRXpTn-EmRsSnV/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYdISi7ixNN5hIESTA7rxrwKSf0R27J3JoX3YSabgu31_9472oQUMf-9YHHfGNk3hjy0YrF-Fcfxh_S61F5NfwKLy3bdXlTw_pHezffnQDguzJ0Jogdj-dBhxOuCrJGqRXpTn-EmRsSnV/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Neither Steven nor I are car fanciers but this one did leave us with our mouths agape for a moment or so. Anyone know what it is?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIzwL2H4UoyCOAlbDKZOZT4X53ERqnWf6czsPw4yharBs66tPfSr-jtiQjU8BhBVPHGkpYWSXwcZwclHuVhZGkZhaOpx8MW3Z1GkmnlTJQcbjxk_o9rhmOxIJm2QwC4b3GQmNdXBm-pQl/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIzwL2H4UoyCOAlbDKZOZT4X53ERqnWf6czsPw4yharBs66tPfSr-jtiQjU8BhBVPHGkpYWSXwcZwclHuVhZGkZhaOpx8MW3Z1GkmnlTJQcbjxk_o9rhmOxIJm2QwC4b3GQmNdXBm-pQl/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrSGkWn2T1aSnGIurp2WEt8zw8eDbl-vSZN46xkSxVSnpQ9gekG2JguRxJ3LZ1TNabJLAvNfGxLAnJQdDj9XL0UkKLNT_wkhHcEU56Xa0wvb3nfxwUP4Yex4bF0TPIdqIabQWPCX1Qnjv/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrSGkWn2T1aSnGIurp2WEt8zw8eDbl-vSZN46xkSxVSnpQ9gekG2JguRxJ3LZ1TNabJLAvNfGxLAnJQdDj9XL0UkKLNT_wkhHcEU56Xa0wvb3nfxwUP4Yex4bF0TPIdqIabQWPCX1Qnjv/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though we had a longish walk back through mostly a massive park to the car from the other side of the lake, we were greeted with some more stellar views of the city's skyline.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0syjywBEriIn6RCAuaOiTyMHBrGnBDpPKLxKNwiiOJCpycCMUTSORbyBeloDlODlcMfG3TEQu-GDODmUXXqOEncVCRbDRSZIX_Fhdm1I94k74U_L-98vJUMCcS9dbLAI1pqxrOzWH7Zj/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0syjywBEriIn6RCAuaOiTyMHBrGnBDpPKLxKNwiiOJCpycCMUTSORbyBeloDlODlcMfG3TEQu-GDODmUXXqOEncVCRbDRSZIX_Fhdm1I94k74U_L-98vJUMCcS9dbLAI1pqxrOzWH7Zj/s320/163.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The design of the Dubai Opera was supposed to rival that of the famous Sydney Opera House. Having now seen both, we far preferred the latter. We walked back to the car via <b>Burj Park</b> where we came across a rather unusual sculpture that you can see on the right below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIveSVGUhltJSP-emn-s1Uvi0zJIR4oUAhrptTV-zovOTrY1VijqZQaeMmmfgRnSyGDn8VYvJWHA-kuoPAkgBff2MGFpMqVvejbOFagPq2nScOMcf-2YoYJC6U6gkZEdnckJay_zE8tXw/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIveSVGUhltJSP-emn-s1Uvi0zJIR4oUAhrptTV-zovOTrY1VijqZQaeMmmfgRnSyGDn8VYvJWHA-kuoPAkgBff2MGFpMqVvejbOFagPq2nScOMcf-2YoYJC6U6gkZEdnckJay_zE8tXw/s320/164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Started by</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">in February 2013 during the Government Summit in Dubai, "the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Three Finger Salute</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">has become a trademark of the nation. Locals, expats and prominent Emiratis have adopted it as a symbol of love for the UAE." With one </span><span style="font-size: large;">hand in the air and the thumb, index finger, and middle finger raised and spread apart, it symbolizes work ethic, success and love for the nation. After knowing what the salute meant, we could understand that the placement of the fingers represented the letters 'w', 'v' and 'l' for</span><span style="font-size: large;"> "win, victory, and love." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH07Qgj0hPJnllUOknK5v-tKrKvj3ggxSjewg8vTjeiCOARGtFVm_uphnnBzStsVByp4N6FPvznVRM_S6w07tq6aRfdmKwL5YxIZKWsbezKqxNegQrGh8SHpB_1ICzr1f-x7nJ2bA2GkI/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH07Qgj0hPJnllUOknK5v-tKrKvj3ggxSjewg8vTjeiCOARGtFVm_uphnnBzStsVByp4N6FPvznVRM_S6w07tq6aRfdmKwL5YxIZKWsbezKqxNegQrGh8SHpB_1ICzr1f-x7nJ2bA2GkI/s320/166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have tried without success to figure out what these unusual stone figures were that we saw. They looked like they belonged on <b>Easter Island </b>and not on a Dubai sidewalk! Later this year, we'll be travelling to the island off Chile so stay tuned for posts from there.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly7LExe47Xg7kDqkh3RPswad_xxHv5-50nj_43irvvFyS1kwJ5khtm_E7V8tZHGfC_mxM0FVsgdGCeZSSO9rt0IuglPJLzOsgQV38GcLWhJfYAjqmZwF52u78h2ZMjA46baaFPULz3aaL/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjly7LExe47Xg7kDqkh3RPswad_xxHv5-50nj_43irvvFyS1kwJ5khtm_E7V8tZHGfC_mxM0FVsgdGCeZSSO9rt0IuglPJLzOsgQV38GcLWhJfYAjqmZwF52u78h2ZMjA46baaFPULz3aaL/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg028W0vVehhpgoBUQCX8Kdm_7fp5Vm8iUxz164cp80NevXKmWWTCNJY_HHoMOQ0vfex5dKzzf7t3pBHtJDwp1x3x2SahrxyDax1Wuh9mLTmpkpU9FylOT9R8WJvM0gt9w-OEBkWAlajMfT/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg028W0vVehhpgoBUQCX8Kdm_7fp5Vm8iUxz164cp80NevXKmWWTCNJY_HHoMOQ0vfex5dKzzf7t3pBHtJDwp1x3x2SahrxyDax1Wuh9mLTmpkpU9FylOT9R8WJvM0gt9w-OEBkWAlajMfT/s320/173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The almost total absence of </span><span style="font-size: large;">very few cars</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><span style="font-size: large;">so few people wandering around what constituted Dubai's downtown made it appear so soulless </span><span style="font-size: large;">to me</span><span style="font-size: large;">. It felt somewhat </span><span style="font-size: large;">like a movie set - we could see, but not touch, </span><span style="font-size: large;">these fantastically huge and modern buildings that looked like they had been just plonked down in the middle of nowhere with no one living or working in them. We were 'downtown' but there was absolutely no sense of hustle and bustle and certainly no sense of the city's history or what had transpired before the building of the new metropolis. Since this was just our first day, we held out hope we'd see more vibrant areas of Dubai in the coming days.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on March 3rd, 2017, from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-44227263028115243212017-02-25T15:55:00.000-08:002017-02-25T15:55:01.403-08:0012/9: World's Most Expensive Hotel & Heritage Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Until yesterday, on our first day in Abu Dhabi, we hadn't seen so many intriguing murals painted on highway underpasses. They sure helped to make highway driving far more enjoyable in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWXEWVGTHeyN019IA3HegHUnaqb8fnEpoV9bDNY6IQ_ckaqF6j8Unq14TzxtscdvhZdyRFXzcuO0QLjvqBgzWjhNozOUJvBGJKpUFyAapxuIjtUWIJQrdabayWXYFP_NKd3010aKDrML6/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWXEWVGTHeyN019IA3HegHUnaqb8fnEpoV9bDNY6IQ_ckaqF6j8Unq14TzxtscdvhZdyRFXzcuO0QLjvqBgzWjhNozOUJvBGJKpUFyAapxuIjtUWIJQrdabayWXYFP_NKd3010aKDrML6/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjSlWwqshfg9rTq7E3K7M8_VPF1tDhXPADBPVLIKvmCjW_eyD53l9fOC7VyxsKQYFri5_LW2lEBwq-030hSH-JNA74wLF_ZUC45wlM-63jRuy28gqc4LNQRaBxE1A0I28yJ7TBydy7qsp6e/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlWwqshfg9rTq7E3K7M8_VPF1tDhXPADBPVLIKvmCjW_eyD53l9fOC7VyxsKQYFri5_LW2lEBwq-030hSH-JNA74wLF_ZUC45wlM-63jRuy28gqc4LNQRaBxE1A0I28yJ7TBydy7qsp6e/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5WmL1WCHg5WLhLCN0wVCwEJ8_84XwXsrCQGyHdRQvqWv-88P3HcPB2XbP1CIUclF1h2Z9I1cOKo6chJW_K_o7d5WA_1NOTUCHUCRlUmiCxdEJHvfPsqjYsibd33LOwScd9LR641enhLg/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5WmL1WCHg5WLhLCN0wVCwEJ8_84XwXsrCQGyHdRQvqWv-88P3HcPB2XbP1CIUclF1h2Z9I1cOKo6chJW_K_o7d5WA_1NOTUCHUCRlUmiCxdEJHvfPsqjYsibd33LOwScd9LR641enhLg/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove for some distance along Abu Dhabi's <b>Corniche </b>or waterfront road as it </span><span style="font-size: large;">formed a sweeping curve on the western side of the main Abu Dhabi island. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zfsm9qHFqjuGPLFVUG9taRoaKPfmED2CuH4JCSW4g4tufUrm7_-HNC7FpWwU46vMpCKo4d8Yz_8ccrJAeAkAumhIK8bYvIlZpUtQm3gk82Q3Z8XgS1kXcG3nYneYvrWTAu472t9qdO1k/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Zfsm9qHFqjuGPLFVUG9taRoaKPfmED2CuH4JCSW4g4tufUrm7_-HNC7FpWwU46vMpCKo4d8Yz_8ccrJAeAkAumhIK8bYvIlZpUtQm3gk82Q3Z8XgS1kXcG3nYneYvrWTAu472t9qdO1k/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-_VDfivuufj1pJkQZYvXpwvdB5ufIaWEl0GvhXsVuVtt15fMi9mPMMe7ooO_SxsTa_vUrUjqw3xBRXmCf5K-Fm1h-ZwbLd8AANGTHI6UdrsuYVQw54OkKD2tMit-HEuBkzR3d5bffzdt/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-_VDfivuufj1pJkQZYvXpwvdB5ufIaWEl0GvhXsVuVtt15fMi9mPMMe7ooO_SxsTa_vUrUjqw3xBRXmCf5K-Fm1h-ZwbLd8AANGTHI6UdrsuYVQw54OkKD2tMit-HEuBkzR3d5bffzdt/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Corniche, which</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was extended </span><span style="font-size: large;">between 2002 and 2003 when land was reclaimed from the sea</span><span style="font-size: large;">, included cycle paths, fountains and park areas. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We later discovered that parts of the Corniche had significant deposits of sand, with people using the area as a public beach. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdoVqqTB92ya5YZEeKu0tWeqiozutpqw_hwGwGfyOIcNyXzraD4nVr2xzuQtY3k1Fb0nc0OtjxOQWZniB7LJutmjIYsmsmnQnCyNGnXNuUF6C4oB2eBQsS2pL0EezoG508ysoANGChPKq/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdoVqqTB92ya5YZEeKu0tWeqiozutpqw_hwGwGfyOIcNyXzraD4nVr2xzuQtY3k1Fb0nc0OtjxOQWZniB7LJutmjIYsmsmnQnCyNGnXNuUF6C4oB2eBQsS2pL0EezoG508ysoANGChPKq/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a panic seeing what appeared to be Christmas decorations in the devoutly Muslim country! Or were they perhaps. more logically, just 'decorations' using some of the colors of the UAE's flag? I unfortunately will never know because I can't read Arabic but I like my idea that they were celebrating Christmas for the expatriate workers who make up approximately three quarters of the population of the UAE.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDn7DS89OOvXCN6y1v-xbYI8U2sznsAaHQbySAd7pzh0PBiCYfM6tV5QpR03UiUWoFyBcpGAJ2nYYlFX22eV0LUsAwlmXxQZ4G9TgVcWLD21T52bttQFS2AnA6HqDegcjNOHoXjxwX6VN/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDn7DS89OOvXCN6y1v-xbYI8U2sznsAaHQbySAd7pzh0PBiCYfM6tV5QpR03UiUWoFyBcpGAJ2nYYlFX22eV0LUsAwlmXxQZ4G9TgVcWLD21T52bttQFS2AnA6HqDegcjNOHoXjxwX6VN/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1lVkx9BFtTZbySzXuiNqaWPNAB5IupyWALPPeXn-lgSwmKd_B7lvCuzG902n_N2Crn2Zi1U8pFO0tMy6QmQfuas2Xt97r36tnFHtRZpOarTh8IG6NLq15xyQ6hwWQrm-tIjtksKwC6x_/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1lVkx9BFtTZbySzXuiNqaWPNAB5IupyWALPPeXn-lgSwmKd_B7lvCuzG902n_N2Crn2Zi1U8pFO0tMy6QmQfuas2Xt97r36tnFHtRZpOarTh8IG6NLq15xyQ6hwWQrm-tIjtksKwC6x_/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEieuEGmEYKGm131hYYISSFws56GZyJtchxdmOGjQ5AfLCuMPS_Z5mOYK9iLcOY_Cl-TNirpnzoVN4BRAAhxQx_scGpk7ysQwi6A3eUkYQWtvL_kRwHCjS64YaGM6M1m00T07FYfIiioJ352/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuEGmEYKGm131hYYISSFws56GZyJtchxdmOGjQ5AfLCuMPS_Z5mOYK9iLcOY_Cl-TNirpnzoVN4BRAAhxQx_scGpk7ysQwi6A3eUkYQWtvL_kRwHCjS64YaGM6M1m00T07FYfIiioJ352/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjUBhh0U4hEB5rnys9l6xwxG6RimpRi9FQWOo4A5hMZRTBbjvGRAWdHnBZgijM7GowmNS7BLIfcizHXatHF4jtTARBr63nhkQDNxDRaGPBrqbmv9rSkMYEBkHKAFB0ZcgS2VKrCYtJ0cbCI/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBhh0U4hEB5rnys9l6xwxG6RimpRi9FQWOo4A5hMZRTBbjvGRAWdHnBZgijM7GowmNS7BLIfcizHXatHF4jtTARBr63nhkQDNxDRaGPBrqbmv9rSkMYEBkHKAFB0ZcgS2VKrCYtJ0cbCI/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nation Towers, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">the name of two skyscrapers near the southern end of the Corniche, </span><span style="font-size: large;">was just one example of several buildings we saw in Abu Dhabi connected together by a sky bridge. Joined at over 664 feet made it the highest sky bridge in the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyblMDoBMMmIWkmwXlnjSfV5fqcQdhUZaQgYsVvXcRyGFR6mpLJL7aDylpHGIPBouXu6iwjHmXJrUJ8kTwCw_l1hAGJweBOmufQczBEP9IWDHeQj9zAUGu45Lh3wi2vck6uzXdhUbzeXf/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyblMDoBMMmIWkmwXlnjSfV5fqcQdhUZaQgYsVvXcRyGFR6mpLJL7aDylpHGIPBouXu6iwjHmXJrUJ8kTwCw_l1hAGJweBOmufQczBEP9IWDHeQj9zAUGu45Lh3wi2vck6uzXdhUbzeXf/s320/019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our Father Zayed</b> <b>aka Sheikh Zayed</b> was the </span><span style="font-size: large;">the emir or ruler of Abu Dhabi and the </span><span style="font-size: large;">principal driving force behind the formation of the UAE. He became the country's first President, a post which he held for over 33 years until his death in 2004.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4hmMGG-I1zLP7dyIhnaUnXCWxUVIyOdpeKaj-oCGxPHjsRAp_qSm3UYnAcYhdfn5pFW21_UL5dU1Q63SNVWt02EPFen4tGhV8OuHl88VbtkOilRkBYRr-93KWj5WjBrFC9p2tDboDn3Z/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4hmMGG-I1zLP7dyIhnaUnXCWxUVIyOdpeKaj-oCGxPHjsRAp_qSm3UYnAcYhdfn5pFW21_UL5dU1Q63SNVWt02EPFen4tGhV8OuHl88VbtkOilRkBYRr-93KWj5WjBrFC9p2tDboDn3Z/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our goal since leaving the hotel had been to visit the <b>Emirates Palace Hotel, </b>a seven star hotel. I had never known that hotels were ranked that high! Located near the southern end of the Corniche about two miles from the Al Hosn Fort downtown, it was one of the city's most eye-catching landmarks and one of the world's most spectacularly opulent hotels.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEl1x1ftIpnVm9VyaTvqI06dhC4QO0fFQoOepZgu3bPifw3hgETAcXNJeQM6NqN1t-SYsMKhL3S70OtVMUkbZV-SglAm7_vdJUXEec6TlE6ExO9h_oaiEpKt1sftPVWuUN0KDoj4u7g6V/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEl1x1ftIpnVm9VyaTvqI06dhC4QO0fFQoOepZgu3bPifw3hgETAcXNJeQM6NqN1t-SYsMKhL3S70OtVMUkbZV-SglAm7_vdJUXEec6TlE6ExO9h_oaiEpKt1sftPVWuUN0KDoj4u7g6V/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiwyiCMMgXjDFa0UMF7MR78rAL77IFj-ZkkCE2Hdk-2HhnuraWas3ltlWkkP4LjwZhyphenhyphenkqlS4tmaJ191GXTYyjyeg16C1QV6XsjvArEmg8aIbbXBU-o2rj39LMANTS_rdJ0T8-giGJfdbH8_/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyiCMMgXjDFa0UMF7MR78rAL77IFj-ZkkCE2Hdk-2HhnuraWas3ltlWkkP4LjwZhyphenhyphenkqlS4tmaJ191GXTYyjyeg16C1QV6XsjvArEmg8aIbbXBU-o2rj39LMANTS_rdJ0T8-giGJfdbH8_/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhTcuZZwrfFLXqSht-hfSpsw1qQNTiw6nkdB_xrezbNQVJ3dOXNev8sX8j08ecylXLNS-d-MQbX4tkQ5AEixX-jxkLNQbjkVDVc4u660dFJnwqxZ3euIfZ69TDTRkfBw0tZd4TTAXLE81Vj/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcuZZwrfFLXqSht-hfSpsw1qQNTiw6nkdB_xrezbNQVJ3dOXNev8sX8j08ecylXLNS-d-MQbX4tkQ5AEixX-jxkLNQbjkVDVc4u660dFJnwqxZ3euIfZ69TDTRkfBw0tZd4TTAXLE81Vj/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately we couldn't enter as the guard at the gate told Steven he needed to wear pants, not shorts, to enter the hotel complex. So, after taking a few pictures, we returned to the hotel so he could change and came back later.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1kU7vR5lRlzax9437Q4INfb3jHMeoVkh7QwKlwp1a9oUtY4aQaztHzsMDrKHbkkd9KCaV5M0IEY_2A97F7dlIAnds-BMLFunCad6mDLWH5YKeBxHCmNOF4cSaQ57dQ4oA1rPFy-wDSL-/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1kU7vR5lRlzax9437Q4INfb3jHMeoVkh7QwKlwp1a9oUtY4aQaztHzsMDrKHbkkd9KCaV5M0IEY_2A97F7dlIAnds-BMLFunCad6mDLWH5YKeBxHCmNOF4cSaQ57dQ4oA1rPFy-wDSL-/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S8ijHZhvQFbpHzQYnnKrYPnl3vArydiChXyQb4ITUsJzN7TqwwXbZQizY4NDQaCHRdDu3UtJIe7Lw_KYXjiDjDB9IQWyQ65545Uj2AyRoZ10Qp6yVGy4ZH83nIhVC-lnMIDmvke7PjZA/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S8ijHZhvQFbpHzQYnnKrYPnl3vArydiChXyQb4ITUsJzN7TqwwXbZQizY4NDQaCHRdDu3UtJIe7Lw_KYXjiDjDB9IQWyQ65545Uj2AyRoZ10Qp6yVGy4ZH83nIhVC-lnMIDmvke7PjZA/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was all we could see of the entrance to the <b>Presidential Palace</b> located at the southern end of the Corniche.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKj66w0DmNOrvbbmvJljHKSf0PF-Hpdx7lShTOSj4BqTWfrnKffmcmTC8_OLAviuC9wbnv2Xvx-pkeDnyFWZHroCrPmMAourmBd4bVLqLQKIH1hpc0nj4L0FBFqe6VoTea3KzCt5SXTGC/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKj66w0DmNOrvbbmvJljHKSf0PF-Hpdx7lShTOSj4BqTWfrnKffmcmTC8_OLAviuC9wbnv2Xvx-pkeDnyFWZHroCrPmMAourmBd4bVLqLQKIH1hpc0nj4L0FBFqe6VoTea3KzCt5SXTGC/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the more architecturally interesting buildings opposite the Corniche on our way back to the hotel in downtown Abu Dhabi:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD4767rbUl2tQSed2AMx_vSCZ7YAB2qyE53LdN6LA-qXgKsUOFpwqscBQaPxGSooHiEakcdslqjVATmlLJWM-lONhw-pxrBZoddON4cJn6xEag8bJE0F-GAcFI_AclpqYkY2YFxIVCxsD/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD4767rbUl2tQSed2AMx_vSCZ7YAB2qyE53LdN6LA-qXgKsUOFpwqscBQaPxGSooHiEakcdslqjVATmlLJWM-lONhw-pxrBZoddON4cJn6xEag8bJE0F-GAcFI_AclpqYkY2YFxIVCxsD/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg4BrXPoIMZMGFeSPZsrATzWz7UHNtSOpRQ-J7hH6hQkZ8VRmPokL_na_aBourNTWqNWbU9YzeAqiJBKyGZ6-Ubd7UFpxm_uRPWOdoNk5rxzBZWWeqXKOAUxpQsjTcBwkgkl7acxl567C/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg4BrXPoIMZMGFeSPZsrATzWz7UHNtSOpRQ-J7hH6hQkZ8VRmPokL_na_aBourNTWqNWbU9YzeAqiJBKyGZ6-Ubd7UFpxm_uRPWOdoNk5rxzBZWWeqXKOAUxpQsjTcBwkgkl7acxl567C/s320/034.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Bab Al Qasr Hotel </b>looked pretty fabulous, I thought, with its copper accents.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e43c91LjsyvrhDL_AVALqCnWGEUG9LFN8p0nqLi9MH7UAPTmJw_RglQLrekGrDbiE_IXWMUlpUHpdUtFslnEuvgRrI2ZcumxXAfuTD8C5hqfiPOSr34otMsf7DuMXNX3LlQ97ywzpTCW/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e43c91LjsyvrhDL_AVALqCnWGEUG9LFN8p0nqLi9MH7UAPTmJw_RglQLrekGrDbiE_IXWMUlpUHpdUtFslnEuvgRrI2ZcumxXAfuTD8C5hqfiPOSr34otMsf7DuMXNX3LlQ97ywzpTCW/s320/036.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhotomyCzc6aEXXT3_BD2qYfFJxEIpiUsQAYu-uF0xD8U1n1lLoWUVeJ6ud0Xxiy8iXiNxV73QonB6Z7QhmNkZFI8WbWg8kUYfWxff0H_AvPGvpUyys4ZHJiUJHfIuxjeN0U3rJbRiLjnS0/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotomyCzc6aEXXT3_BD2qYfFJxEIpiUsQAYu-uF0xD8U1n1lLoWUVeJ6ud0Xxiy8iXiNxV73QonB6Z7QhmNkZFI8WbWg8kUYfWxff0H_AvPGvpUyys4ZHJiUJHfIuxjeN0U3rJbRiLjnS0/s320/052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the stunning skyscrapers common in the newer part of Abu Dhabi included the <b>Etihad Towers,</b> a complex of buildings with five towers. The towers were used as a filming location for the 2015 film <b>Furious 7.</b> In the film, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker stole a very fancy sports car and drove it through three of the towers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7HwtUURFThVwqylCwGIvflnDTg-btaEKVli3qiqfaFyZWkSNdT38KW4FloN3DPds_lJ-1byQujShtXHyLwna4WuSGtBG1x7CkmJZ8WLMYLgjpWYjE7OGc0ntn-THL49B-_kFmuymdZvE/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7HwtUURFThVwqylCwGIvflnDTg-btaEKVli3qiqfaFyZWkSNdT38KW4FloN3DPds_lJ-1byQujShtXHyLwna4WuSGtBG1x7CkmJZ8WLMYLgjpWYjE7OGc0ntn-THL49B-_kFmuymdZvE/s320/038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>ADCO building</b> was the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations which operates onshore and in the shallow coastal waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYHA-Rx6jF9p8Ys6HS5GC4EnYCGTwVcraQqH-zDqIlKmijOfJE1BVFVejU9-l-lNR6o74JqGEkxfcg95-7-JXCmcPTg5aOJZwVpNqkUEUo3ZUIudrbvhman3V7QWSefUaWGJYA86eyHJD/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYHA-Rx6jF9p8Ys6HS5GC4EnYCGTwVcraQqH-zDqIlKmijOfJE1BVFVejU9-l-lNR6o74JqGEkxfcg95-7-JXCmcPTg5aOJZwVpNqkUEUo3ZUIudrbvhman3V7QWSefUaWGJYA86eyHJD/s320/040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hard to miss the enormous UAE flag!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPjQ-uUMaP-2d3wCDIZSoLNgTidA73cDEZgPRMPtIYqipZVACB6wLVORvOCJdkw_S7H-fdOkF_OjsV7LigEBpMcfgg9Iq832dpIpkOas1wzXRHtr4d2Rj02UI5-7tYdlsttq0ydV45wTf/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPjQ-uUMaP-2d3wCDIZSoLNgTidA73cDEZgPRMPtIYqipZVACB6wLVORvOCJdkw_S7H-fdOkF_OjsV7LigEBpMcfgg9Iq832dpIpkOas1wzXRHtr4d2Rj02UI5-7tYdlsttq0ydV45wTf/s320/042.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On <b>Lulu Island,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a 1,050-acre man-made island</span><span style="font-size: large;"> across from the Corniche, the Burj Al Marina Office Tower was being built. It also contained a sky bridge. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj6Hjtr9KtItvEUmme7hh2ORrnnKE_dGXqlVgt6sqKRnoCaUMokKKRdCRKn6rueiD4AZrIPFYWNRikRYyLTp70OoLk0_Vnmc0XHNtiyIRTLfttuuXosPUoFLzURw15oh0pq3C9MugemvI/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbj6Hjtr9KtItvEUmme7hh2ORrnnKE_dGXqlVgt6sqKRnoCaUMokKKRdCRKn6rueiD4AZrIPFYWNRikRYyLTp70OoLk0_Vnmc0XHNtiyIRTLfttuuXosPUoFLzURw15oh0pq3C9MugemvI/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful </span><span style="font-size: large;">beach area on the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Corniche:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Ik7qvT2iCq8tZmQf8qHf-O8HYA5sU_EhgZpWTfudQTQ2MNPes96aMRJ6zqyzDuyQdLsDrEvNplC3CYjJ6FOvmJQUiJ6dqw3f23EPXl3n9ZLerkLonX08RYyta9eoCHet4AHY0syiMkp/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72Ik7qvT2iCq8tZmQf8qHf-O8HYA5sU_EhgZpWTfudQTQ2MNPes96aMRJ6zqyzDuyQdLsDrEvNplC3CYjJ6FOvmJQUiJ6dqw3f23EPXl3n9ZLerkLonX08RYyta9eoCHet4AHY0syiMkp/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another view of the Eithad Towers from the car:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLGgrsyBmkYJg0cvc1NiGfVFGb-w6xkXfvAiLb3P-rAl6ALCHqsu8PVP45NDuAlqrm4rMcQD0N795tcWo0TMK7N48gryeXOIQhRY1MIkCIQGAUZR1RBc7LcsGglXadFeuT1DbziyHF_Py/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLGgrsyBmkYJg0cvc1NiGfVFGb-w6xkXfvAiLb3P-rAl6ALCHqsu8PVP45NDuAlqrm4rMcQD0N795tcWo0TMK7N48gryeXOIQhRY1MIkCIQGAUZR1RBc7LcsGglXadFeuT1DbziyHF_Py/s320/049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Back for a second time at the Emirates Palace Hotel! This was just the entrance gate if you please!! The hotel also appeared in the Fast and Furious 7 film.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfGI8F8ukMKCizSeM4VvYLIHe3KG1IjPUX4OlhmhK6ipV_T6DK0isl4_-ItJyLSWSBnyOQVaPb35OoZljU7bPkNyy15Mx-dncLEzfHIbMmSAxrjdwPlDQK0ky9T759115X-zqrhAwSyb-/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfGI8F8ukMKCizSeM4VvYLIHe3KG1IjPUX4OlhmhK6ipV_T6DK0isl4_-ItJyLSWSBnyOQVaPb35OoZljU7bPkNyy15Mx-dncLEzfHIbMmSAxrjdwPlDQK0ky9T759115X-zqrhAwSyb-/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgWnJ5HX-fQlYLk0fWNq21ECJiCSEfQT4yf8Sx7x5AZFzkQFgOpR1FAxeU-Ox2DTrWyEnG50qQKvJLsczsUXLfLpzGnCqbQSpYaxPPM3s_a4lUOwNNfNuX2j2JxA-gBNgv_84QWP8gUStR9/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnJ5HX-fQlYLk0fWNq21ECJiCSEfQT4yf8Sx7x5AZFzkQFgOpR1FAxeU-Ox2DTrWyEnG50qQKvJLsczsUXLfLpzGnCqbQSpYaxPPM3s_a4lUOwNNfNuX2j2JxA-gBNgv_84QWP8gUStR9/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Hotel's Dress Code and Code of Conduct were pretty extensive!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG7RaPHHp7LGNlu8p0OJLfPXF1806QhdiLwcvzrT1bznvNN6wWwZvN5az7Jw4rJZBCl4hcoQvqv_NvzvBQxSti_u_kbOP3QO183rqH9ohHy5MC28CGOpmXibjOOkh992EdwWlVcI5_Mv2/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG7RaPHHp7LGNlu8p0OJLfPXF1806QhdiLwcvzrT1bznvNN6wWwZvN5az7Jw4rJZBCl4hcoQvqv_NvzvBQxSti_u_kbOP3QO183rqH9ohHy5MC28CGOpmXibjOOkh992EdwWlVcI5_Mv2/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The world's most expensive hotel,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> located on a mile long stretch of private beach, </span><span style="font-size: large;">was built</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The colors of the building reflected the different shades of the Arabian desert. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BfYuKE1q8_NNrRk7wvqzyYq34tInWBvg8k2NL4UhXyz8wRDeMJRH5uGTGaJNiGIyg3Dbx8lfuPYPgaG_IXW76XsdyCNFsi3bEE6LTnR2wfJM8Jk_TP_Gmjr-q0cmA1z_vtjr-NbLF6l-/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BfYuKE1q8_NNrRk7wvqzyYq34tInWBvg8k2NL4UhXyz8wRDeMJRH5uGTGaJNiGIyg3Dbx8lfuPYPgaG_IXW76XsdyCNFsi3bEE6LTnR2wfJM8Jk_TP_Gmjr-q0cmA1z_vtjr-NbLF6l-/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj3tlIIXl-nzDDRQMJfPGN1RMt_w40U9CI8zFsFYR0wfcdxOH500DDaCNo79rLM18JzMhX8vAoecDXb5g5U7bf9cqgQJRY-dT3IQoi8hIhNK6lHN2uwKk6L7vBmGikkyT_nqrrGapFr4BTn/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tlIIXl-nzDDRQMJfPGN1RMt_w40U9CI8zFsFYR0wfcdxOH500DDaCNo79rLM18JzMhX8vAoecDXb5g5U7bf9cqgQJRY-dT3IQoi8hIhNK6lHN2uwKk6L7vBmGikkyT_nqrrGapFr4BTn/s320/056.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH_FJYMqZpWf7I5BzE0Y9ESzbijIMHj132ub35-GRQtJDvwDbetsFhlYsutABGOgyMpWc5qaPRebN3LI7dlAFSEpQIxaGQWZpzDyv9r3V6VpMznnm0gYVlda06CZ6IRN2qQ0RDZ5ZfuhD/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH_FJYMqZpWf7I5BzE0Y9ESzbijIMHj132ub35-GRQtJDvwDbetsFhlYsutABGOgyMpWc5qaPRebN3LI7dlAFSEpQIxaGQWZpzDyv9r3V6VpMznnm0gYVlda06CZ6IRN2qQ0RDZ5ZfuhD/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Emirates Palace Hotel was designed to show the beauty of Arabian culture. Traditional decor was used inside mostly in silver, gold, marble and glass mosaics. I read that the chandeliers were made of Swarovski crystal. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A3Pu_GTlGIJA2VG1t6OtCSoDI7upn97KwgSWeqO4Sy8V0JtTlh8H_jdK0kbESRnowA1zm9EKwD7BWiNeup3xv0HXdYi0nG2U0LaXWdwJu9_EwYjlCUIPrsJDskYiUAZh88K-z2TKUlf6/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A3Pu_GTlGIJA2VG1t6OtCSoDI7upn97KwgSWeqO4Sy8V0JtTlh8H_jdK0kbESRnowA1zm9EKwD7BWiNeup3xv0HXdYi0nG2U0LaXWdwJu9_EwYjlCUIPrsJDskYiUAZh88K-z2TKUlf6/s320/058.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEiFSY7UwzffpyHL5CYV1UQnr4-YkRUWTVo76bxmTM6RE4DvCX0mOG1BCDXqH0KV84Kj3yjJ15EK_o3B1mODywFr4Dd_dSm0sM0KjoMf6oX3xzY8Upmvj4O4msaiv7w8unqFn9MO1m-1kpzS/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSY7UwzffpyHL5CYV1UQnr4-YkRUWTVo76bxmTM6RE4DvCX0mOG1BCDXqH0KV84Kj3yjJ15EK_o3B1mODywFr4Dd_dSm0sM0KjoMf6oX3xzY8Upmvj4O4msaiv7w8unqFn9MO1m-1kpzS/s320/081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were 114 domes (including the Grand Atrium which is higher than the dome of <b>St. Peter's Basilica</b> in Rome!), 200 fountains and</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the hotel </span><span style="font-size: large;">contained 394 residences, 302 of which were rooms and the remainder were suites. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdGcbd9YvlvtbcqEzmqdD7K4_b8eZWeIS1QrOnQw-1xrEq7OwbhDU4SIpNEw9E3luuGWt2YBXQulw_tNZbdWRHP8QIBnVRUs2k3vzg0sulOTnkW-ehzwTUOfq5V15RjZbbdRRavkvgDk/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdGcbd9YvlvtbcqEzmqdD7K4_b8eZWeIS1QrOnQw-1xrEq7OwbhDU4SIpNEw9E3luuGWt2YBXQulw_tNZbdWRHP8QIBnVRUs2k3vzg0sulOTnkW-ehzwTUOfq5V15RjZbbdRRavkvgDk/s320/059.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The penthouse floor had six <b>Rulers' Suites</b> which are reserved exclusively for dignitaries, such as royalty. The hotel's other domes </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">were also about 280 feet high! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n0IaYh5ATRAFPn_I1c0oHEmcLhY76vEcUSuISi1aNYlo_L1WIKyetvGbh6GmdyaEnd0k-zI3hV4arb0rsJENteVGLcxVDRlNYY32XO8mCrAjx3cuurZVMB1PWYkieuue5PV8ldKZhg1l/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n0IaYh5ATRAFPn_I1c0oHEmcLhY76vEcUSuISi1aNYlo_L1WIKyetvGbh6GmdyaEnd0k-zI3hV4arb0rsJENteVGLcxVDRlNYY32XO8mCrAjx3cuurZVMB1PWYkieuue5PV8ldKZhg1l/s320/060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt like we could have been in any Christian country when I read the letter from Santa's little helpers telling children Santa was in town and was waiting for them to see him daily until December 23rd!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKepgW3de0jqnWONyYtsKYgHcjUBNCZZ1kDyEYspz7xcd0rWOzMgB8ekRR5Tn6zuB31Qr1HIn0ZlP3_pUa7iMnZB92W6GHFvR9oqt7hfWym_8KbEeTOL8wsKEAW4Cwb2TOms3xtpG-Ri1V/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKepgW3de0jqnWONyYtsKYgHcjUBNCZZ1kDyEYspz7xcd0rWOzMgB8ekRR5Tn6zuB31Qr1HIn0ZlP3_pUa7iMnZB92W6GHFvR9oqt7hfWym_8KbEeTOL8wsKEAW4Cwb2TOms3xtpG-Ri1V/s320/061.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a fairy tale wonderland for children AND children at heart!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-F1WCahpleKjBLDGBMMmCaiXRvAIja8cUgT1B111NOiayd8QsHw8iyCt4nMas9ewXYGiWbguIp0yM6GtpalOCRq-SJ4EFvhIvKheo71DXR89i1rgG06hNsW6v1-ahp3eE73vByUuG3tt/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-F1WCahpleKjBLDGBMMmCaiXRvAIja8cUgT1B111NOiayd8QsHw8iyCt4nMas9ewXYGiWbguIp0yM6GtpalOCRq-SJ4EFvhIvKheo71DXR89i1rgG06hNsW6v1-ahp3eE73vByUuG3tt/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjnBAvAa-FxyTNoqmDn4XVIQG9v_O18cZPEcICI5aPPcSXfU1cujhxOM-kquMmgxuBF5KHTSgtw6ynkY1afb_GWlqRq4ox2lXNGamFqYcAXhXKlksNWc18mUbCJ0Xb4_HtilP-3A6Nny5Fd/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBAvAa-FxyTNoqmDn4XVIQG9v_O18cZPEcICI5aPPcSXfU1cujhxOM-kquMmgxuBF5KHTSgtw6ynkY1afb_GWlqRq4ox2lXNGamFqYcAXhXKlksNWc18mUbCJ0Xb4_HtilP-3A6Nny5Fd/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCWQl7JPdGfWIKhaUOxsV3z1vkqI5g53eD52I3olIzsLnvy9aTJeqqBhLChZf0PL3Ws5FV6xdsC_843Z4LdLNpJ5y_c-EPqeds8LMyxO5EnI3I3mrRnIL-JZNfSA3Yf2PCOhmP8w5y1t/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotCWQl7JPdGfWIKhaUOxsV3z1vkqI5g53eD52I3olIzsLnvy9aTJeqqBhLChZf0PL3Ws5FV6xdsC_843Z4LdLNpJ5y_c-EPqeds8LMyxO5EnI3I3mrRnIL-JZNfSA3Yf2PCOhmP8w5y1t/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgecilBIKyggNnh11syz9WtI1NCIvDB9W9b-vKKSPfIWQreIoPrSKaPlS7VOLkcHmxpeR1KaiadCNWfIlVEI6_M8LE_Lf889Cs1GU0SFTz4Q_l1Vo1BQI_xOOwmWL0YbP64DbaKNsKnrmyD/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecilBIKyggNnh11syz9WtI1NCIvDB9W9b-vKKSPfIWQreIoPrSKaPlS7VOLkcHmxpeR1KaiadCNWfIlVEI6_M8LE_Lf889Cs1GU0SFTz4Q_l1Vo1BQI_xOOwmWL0YbP64DbaKNsKnrmyD/s320/070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg991W5_jNRudGEgV0bV58Z8CZFeZCmoQMExly8UNNYA0tV8AHBcJvmWiTDXbStMc_xmARHVqehXXIRE3WaTvNJSZLkSsufZCg7gWnlnaosyo9TnWXIfDAbPOY2DR-oNNhPNDEQkgD-Ge_a/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg991W5_jNRudGEgV0bV58Z8CZFeZCmoQMExly8UNNYA0tV8AHBcJvmWiTDXbStMc_xmARHVqehXXIRE3WaTvNJSZLkSsufZCg7gWnlnaosyo9TnWXIfDAbPOY2DR-oNNhPNDEQkgD-Ge_a/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQaJ0QaqFZKWNyr8v-8Eq-RLPmR9Hx-rtNV5zWwS0tjfle3siOhLMfRdsZFaSA91gL0RqEQxeY7MLbFQM86zpsitQwbgWvg0waK4zb4UaFE8DSAAPZTy8GHq1zSiYeQnR24IRTtU03zva/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQaJ0QaqFZKWNyr8v-8Eq-RLPmR9Hx-rtNV5zWwS0tjfle3siOhLMfRdsZFaSA91gL0RqEQxeY7MLbFQM86zpsitQwbgWvg0waK4zb4UaFE8DSAAPZTy8GHq1zSiYeQnR24IRTtU03zva/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the items available for sale in the hotel gift shop - think they were just a little out of our price range, though!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuYl2-whS1GeAkKlbgS8hUF-kcwv7o5p2JdJagWvBUmhWHWAisRG6ImmcLHZcIiCSvajgpbwaNUwY79Yu-Be0MBoufB-c_haL5GTnalOX5PZszBGee9LcpAme4x7jCQh3-XlOoLGH4XcI/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuYl2-whS1GeAkKlbgS8hUF-kcwv7o5p2JdJagWvBUmhWHWAisRG6ImmcLHZcIiCSvajgpbwaNUwY79Yu-Be0MBoufB-c_haL5GTnalOX5PZszBGee9LcpAme4x7jCQh3-XlOoLGH4XcI/s320/073.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjlQ1vnS6Oo3W3F8K-XjG-bJICfCETJGo_EfE4zopqQmCOaLQedKDUSdZ5yXBiv91LnAhSyyLHKElZBRfSncstlzKE8JNZ4WYxCxqpqt25q4AnsWS4A6KlYDzADA3IBmVdqygeKNkvtR6Gr/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ1vnS6Oo3W3F8K-XjG-bJICfCETJGo_EfE4zopqQmCOaLQedKDUSdZ5yXBiv91LnAhSyyLHKElZBRfSncstlzKE8JNZ4WYxCxqpqt25q4AnsWS4A6KlYDzADA3IBmVdqygeKNkvtR6Gr/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone care for a spot of afternoon tea?!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dWmhHfC_zZxhluzaMe2ViaG6OLH_vRKBV9jnoXFoDtKN-7HwOB3_8DL_wr-eDiJY3nItmTErdED-kVE4ydOlZGKQ2hpQP2x_PqjeDuWiA8vo3rX3dL7tnBcf7K_sce1b8_TzgPrkCB9t/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dWmhHfC_zZxhluzaMe2ViaG6OLH_vRKBV9jnoXFoDtKN-7HwOB3_8DL_wr-eDiJY3nItmTErdED-kVE4ydOlZGKQ2hpQP2x_PqjeDuWiA8vo3rX3dL7tnBcf7K_sce1b8_TzgPrkCB9t/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigydb68brqUa9KDaYDuggTYW-UsbpAFII6wkh7SNhiQS9wviNYPy5KZZ2j3_DxgS0UsHMNNbfyI8_8QVLZjHtx2LOyLj9hbDaJ6jmZ7VzndXBgsfF-d1VmFCqfj9WYiGy-mrBuf9y8ggf6/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigydb68brqUa9KDaYDuggTYW-UsbpAFII6wkh7SNhiQS9wviNYPy5KZZ2j3_DxgS0UsHMNNbfyI8_8QVLZjHtx2LOyLj9hbDaJ6jmZ7VzndXBgsfF-d1VmFCqfj9WYiGy-mrBuf9y8ggf6/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In partnership with the Emirates' branch of the <b>Make A Wish Foundation,</b> the hotel had established <b>Golden Hearts</b> "to raise money to create special moments for children in the UAE with life-threatening medical conditions." G</span><span style="font-size: large;">uests could donate just $4 on top of purchasing one of the hotel's exclusive selection of desserts to make a wish come true.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaE0mP3PnKbQS2ptWnbl3U4xwfWArJ_sGDUDV6lcW2UMLhRkF_nS0qMs5CBQWkL5Su43TmnzXVs0NdlCgbx-ektyMQbHiEICEhfkbwGOroBly5iJ6Pc7kCcuKuvnxb-57akvcF7G2L9ud/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaE0mP3PnKbQS2ptWnbl3U4xwfWArJ_sGDUDV6lcW2UMLhRkF_nS0qMs5CBQWkL5Su43TmnzXVs0NdlCgbx-ektyMQbHiEICEhfkbwGOroBly5iJ6Pc7kCcuKuvnxb-57akvcF7G2L9ud/s320/079.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another one of my collection of </span><span style="font-size: large;">interesting toilet signs from around the globe!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbGNEjbREUCKdngwXhWT6Ky65edlEZ-cr0iqHpHP0qS9NzZtXGhRigFyrI-YvXhN4X4CHKv7DNOpwcxa7iicxtImRx2UT-D1DH2s3CD09cXOD2QQi3pVKNZLzNVYHOCT0x9wD4K3FV5CM/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbGNEjbREUCKdngwXhWT6Ky65edlEZ-cr0iqHpHP0qS9NzZtXGhRigFyrI-YvXhN4X4CHKv7DNOpwcxa7iicxtImRx2UT-D1DH2s3CD09cXOD2QQi3pVKNZLzNVYHOCT0x9wD4K3FV5CM/s320/082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As visitors we couldn't explore any of the 210 acres of lawns and gardens surrounded the hotel or enjoy the beachfront. Oh well, we had been quite content to stroll around the hotel's massive Grand Atrium instead before finally leaving around 2:30.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj01__59xc7ACzVzVqkUjveHPLlfRkpC37DzgyQsEMrYN1V3x9Pv1IaQ_TAeqssOswflz4uBSJagHAbC02sDyh0wOl9ptZBw_S6WaZVpSGhNlVq-fkqWHl9DOriZ1s3v-ap0eqFEdyogD/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj01__59xc7ACzVzVqkUjveHPLlfRkpC37DzgyQsEMrYN1V3x9Pv1IaQ_TAeqssOswflz4uBSJagHAbC02sDyh0wOl9ptZBw_S6WaZVpSGhNlVq-fkqWHl9DOriZ1s3v-ap0eqFEdyogD/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This enormous <b>flagpole</b> was visible for miles around. Erected in 2001, it was formerly claimed to be the tallest unsupported flagpole in the world at 404 feet tall. It has since been surpassed by a number of even taller flagpoles elsewhere.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqaZilmiX1JHi7vz9PazRYbv1eZSwMcVGqz_Q1ZD8i6HTXa2wLAzM2RGVYLVCeuNtuH-HsSNh4deoBj64xwqjq-gPmsI1aK5rNzpkcwhPPa7hbcLsNKRVsZ1f8FZ1qsAQWgJWZLUk2MPK/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqaZilmiX1JHi7vz9PazRYbv1eZSwMcVGqz_Q1ZD8i6HTXa2wLAzM2RGVYLVCeuNtuH-HsSNh4deoBj64xwqjq-gPmsI1aK5rNzpkcwhPPa7hbcLsNKRVsZ1f8FZ1qsAQWgJWZLUk2MPK/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGBm-KRX7rneWQp2BARBoYo91Q-HNkbqeFGQPwsyW8OzQaAqV0Lh5TQZICCU1x9WDVuNaFnlCP5f0dKm1OYKtcD8Hik4poglNODs59g_PfaFj4Njg0t6U3fbxOu-mfecCHhvUSDKprWBC/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGBm-KRX7rneWQp2BARBoYo91Q-HNkbqeFGQPwsyW8OzQaAqV0Lh5TQZICCU1x9WDVuNaFnlCP5f0dKm1OYKtcD8Hik4poglNODs59g_PfaFj4Njg0t6U3fbxOu-mfecCHhvUSDKprWBC/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Located some 12 miles from the city center was <b>Yas Island,</b> home to the city's new Formula 1 racetrack, which has staged the <b>Abu Dhabi Grand Prix F1</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">race since 2010. Also on the island was </span><span style="font-size: large;">Ferrari Park, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a state-of-the-art entertainment complex which featured the world's fastest roller-coaster and F1 simulators. We decided to give all that a pass as that sort of thing wasn't really our style.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i0AdXy2m17Wc77flZDK6_yWFs5rNxUakJEFvQ8mahAGIiusMaq665ENPxHMUYnH2P6HT3INSXmlWO17qt2QrUTqw_uIjRE4-DhSOoYIJAl_fltSut-nUt09wxnk8vQykk85El8c0DnLB/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i0AdXy2m17Wc77flZDK6_yWFs5rNxUakJEFvQ8mahAGIiusMaq665ENPxHMUYnH2P6HT3INSXmlWO17qt2QrUTqw_uIjRE4-DhSOoYIJAl_fltSut-nUt09wxnk8vQykk85El8c0DnLB/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yas Marina,</b> situated on Yas Island, is regarded as one of Abu Dhabi’s finest marinas and the premier destination in the Middle East for yachting enthusiasts. The 227-berth marina catered to yachts from 26 feet up to 490 feet in size!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfy8YNwFzVwtZwbhxwHGrrrINFBz3ubjmPcXIi62qzrW1kRCBJ-Qp67liXxOfA_WNf0v8zlZH85-sg0leKxNGXqLKZG2cChxyyKhN1QmRffUVABE7g6HGP1wYyxs_zzcBX_7lIs-86kLq/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfy8YNwFzVwtZwbhxwHGrrrINFBz3ubjmPcXIi62qzrW1kRCBJ-Qp67liXxOfA_WNf0v8zlZH85-sg0leKxNGXqLKZG2cChxyyKhN1QmRffUVABE7g6HGP1wYyxs_zzcBX_7lIs-86kLq/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was a Formula One motor race held on November 27th, 2016 at the<b> Yas Marina Circuit.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The race was the final round of the 2016 season and determined the 2016 World Drivers' Championship.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw9zKbMwFJBGryYLd8TFVtk-us3Xqm7yXQvoQSJ8XCyc0IQTMrJnH6is1HzFt1MqS2Cf923MHdvsM0d88-MLLm15stnYJvSURtODbeFpljBFwjlHTp2UYs9eVZIeArLVWDm-OmEdEm9B7/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw9zKbMwFJBGryYLd8TFVtk-us3Xqm7yXQvoQSJ8XCyc0IQTMrJnH6is1HzFt1MqS2Cf923MHdvsM0d88-MLLm15stnYJvSURtODbeFpljBFwjlHTp2UYs9eVZIeArLVWDm-OmEdEm9B7/s320/092.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were getting more than a tad hungry at this point so we drove across a bridge that led to the <b>Breakwater,</b> an area of reclaimed land which is most famous for the glitzy <b>Marina Mall, </b>one of the city's top shopping destinations.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGklATzn4b51rVR26plyabfc9tI4iJCGV6q63Gdoord_EGWdQtdE9YNzV2OVjN2rWjkc4XpxHOeky6S6x4_HNI6vCLErD3TOUO3QJ34DhYN3p-4Jg6364iN2o7Xvz_DM2JJLhxOQQ27rOL/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGklATzn4b51rVR26plyabfc9tI4iJCGV6q63Gdoord_EGWdQtdE9YNzV2OVjN2rWjkc4XpxHOeky6S6x4_HNI6vCLErD3TOUO3QJ34DhYN3p-4Jg6364iN2o7Xvz_DM2JJLhxOQQ27rOL/s320/096.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing the Popeyes restaurant at the mall wasn't glitzy but reminded us of home where we were headed in just six days after being away for four months.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf3BOSATVHuCoOzEj1UhIhLmi3TaQKepL0nHV9DqGfldpTYKK-9htV5gs_KgctdMV6CkhQGyB8WSc14joT28S-nVlBz25Hm6yG4VVOtC8nfORzvfqW5VVN_9fVU45p2GcIx-zVteM5OWp/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf3BOSATVHuCoOzEj1UhIhLmi3TaQKepL0nHV9DqGfldpTYKK-9htV5gs_KgctdMV6CkhQGyB8WSc14joT28S-nVlBz25Hm6yG4VVOtC8nfORzvfqW5VVN_9fVU45p2GcIx-zVteM5OWp/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas was obviously also a big reason to celebrate at the mall which seemed like any other mega US mall.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmbNB2BewGZFB3RHBVZaFTSADp7TU5aW1xRau37DE_xH50CAao82A3KChc4W9UpcbPV0c89nhjtcJ5kgKwwbjpf8ulJx2AGFLVfEtkFeduPrzoZ18YUiVNvd5nsLvu6kVzWdAnmlGtpt6/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmbNB2BewGZFB3RHBVZaFTSADp7TU5aW1xRau37DE_xH50CAao82A3KChc4W9UpcbPV0c89nhjtcJ5kgKwwbjpf8ulJx2AGFLVfEtkFeduPrzoZ18YUiVNvd5nsLvu6kVzWdAnmlGtpt6/s320/098.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Briton <b>Kevin Dean</b> who designed much of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the focus of the previous post, had also designed for the very popular British <b>Marks&Spencer</b> store.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqfKiAnyFaJwAyRBrSQD93CMS9-QFkCtUP93J0q8mDyRrCm20915CUqlcQzwNCkXsrRNZPqEc6LS3-q5gS5SZSd0chVSPlySJ4zrTeAZ-g3QP_XKOpst7LLSOcX9Vj2rb8pcmGZtVf8s3/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqfKiAnyFaJwAyRBrSQD93CMS9-QFkCtUP93J0q8mDyRrCm20915CUqlcQzwNCkXsrRNZPqEc6LS3-q5gS5SZSd0chVSPlySJ4zrTeAZ-g3QP_XKOpst7LLSOcX9Vj2rb8pcmGZtVf8s3/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zachary:</b> This is for you as you're such a <b>Chili's</b> fan! I was only able to recognize the ad because of its telltale logo at the top!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoN_J1jicH0EzogROqKrEUBuoFCCF_xdps4d9ndBxRx3LmZwXtPu_uS8LcSmyJKLc4lHMCnpp19jat3UDo08r-DNXFwrnuzbCfe_K0mcpGPSfXqtk3FTFOs8i1K6NMqPtJNIO_TRCS7RW/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoN_J1jicH0EzogROqKrEUBuoFCCF_xdps4d9ndBxRx3LmZwXtPu_uS8LcSmyJKLc4lHMCnpp19jat3UDo08r-DNXFwrnuzbCfe_K0mcpGPSfXqtk3FTFOs8i1K6NMqPtJNIO_TRCS7RW/s320/101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Where, oh where, is our white car? It was hard to find when there were 12 other white cars in a row!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fkOQ9fe9MoT3_WZrKm3mAfC4xhS1dJPGdpVG0jVMvNccI5PTQyeGC5IeW_H7KdRTGfMhbq-wBKmhPNryN3WVpOih03NaXmC3Lu4wqyYAMf5QTAmR9Q94UwfJXj6QFKvPSKOSzHyqTLJF/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fkOQ9fe9MoT3_WZrKm3mAfC4xhS1dJPGdpVG0jVMvNccI5PTQyeGC5IeW_H7KdRTGfMhbq-wBKmhPNryN3WVpOih03NaXmC3Lu4wqyYAMf5QTAmR9Q94UwfJXj6QFKvPSKOSzHyqTLJF/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We headed next to <b>Al </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wathba </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">about 30 miles east of Abu Dhabi trying to find the location of the annual <b>Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival</b> located somewhere in the vicinity! After driving around for more than an hour in the desert trying to find the Festival, we came across signs directing us to the <b>C</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>amel Race Track.</b> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiForH3jSQFirroqIRDzJ5F-RANyze4v-E_zwBFsoDTo4p29wD2SKqs-mtm7RqkvgbFbOvzN-MBkYiWXb_pVwNwX3AMvd-XfB8jjMW-_L77PDRBNIgjkHKUmAC_y3GmXNUPtCmcGcwGJs4K/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiForH3jSQFirroqIRDzJ5F-RANyze4v-E_zwBFsoDTo4p29wD2SKqs-mtm7RqkvgbFbOvzN-MBkYiWXb_pVwNwX3AMvd-XfB8jjMW-_L77PDRBNIgjkHKUmAC_y3GmXNUPtCmcGcwGJs4K/s320/123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_c6JRsPL_wOJPn5iVIPfTZ0Xx9vt13QEmXn6KyYHi3Eis61rSzVChhTC4K-AN4znsh62C33D8bGKNP4FOZCk0d6NIiRnvTpnOv0eq7YcoSIh1QoJdJIpao95qWI_AMSBRmJl5qi6VReS/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_c6JRsPL_wOJPn5iVIPfTZ0Xx9vt13QEmXn6KyYHi3Eis61rSzVChhTC4K-AN4znsh62C33D8bGKNP4FOZCk0d6NIiRnvTpnOv0eq7YcoSIh1QoJdJIpao95qWI_AMSBRmJl5qi6VReS/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to stop there as the prospect of</span><span style="font-size: large;"> a trip to the camel races sounded really exciting and meant that we would actually see <b>something</b> after driving for what seemed like forever! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEprH8V2wfQB_poB8h3YwTlSygMc_Ug0A5yXyLrXIL9B9HMFdCwbw5Cq6bgooFdmRHaAH7ZIFM0GAPxhm3APfw-ltgvUid5CpVYyn0hIS7p4Sdj_Jh6IDGAE_sAsNIKL8XRoGk1O4vIu4Z/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEprH8V2wfQB_poB8h3YwTlSygMc_Ug0A5yXyLrXIL9B9HMFdCwbw5Cq6bgooFdmRHaAH7ZIFM0GAPxhm3APfw-ltgvUid5CpVYyn0hIS7p4Sdj_Jh6IDGAE_sAsNIKL8XRoGk1O4vIu4Z/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhw6zPqufoFX4G-ka3GWbu9igg13jmTGqDgreITmFgkUg_wSNndU6fV-oC6s22kQpYgmqWWkG4Luc2Lehh6C6exFSYATooCpYOPfFWUQXmkIJ0DLqLjnoeGRasWLf-PM-yuWxjMBhJvdl/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhw6zPqufoFX4G-ka3GWbu9igg13jmTGqDgreITmFgkUg_wSNndU6fV-oC6s22kQpYgmqWWkG4Luc2Lehh6C6exFSYATooCpYOPfFWUQXmkIJ0DLqLjnoeGRasWLf-PM-yuWxjMBhJvdl/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjdEDCul1_cPZTv1-HgY6P__4wfTinRT9TwoWf4O-G8LMYCm-BF__LaJP0rAyhYKrvt3nroA9eFwxals7FSBKkBU4kvdyDrrRxL8i5TgNPckht2Uoh1vYgRVL4rEECqo7TX6AM5VsAjJVm2/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEDCul1_cPZTv1-HgY6P__4wfTinRT9TwoWf4O-G8LMYCm-BF__LaJP0rAyhYKrvt3nroA9eFwxals7FSBKkBU4kvdyDrrRxL8i5TgNPckht2Uoh1vYgRVL4rEECqo7TX6AM5VsAjJVm2/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0tlZvHF2X7ZOVHR9-qjUeLu0WxOIapfv597vmQ5LAByN_zuKBo9bpebu3ZIa4tMvFv4b-fBhO5vo9FCosFjVA6M-D_D12k1WCJfmXch8aBfqSiwxIydPtBfd7O-_mIT7u2UuthegkxE1/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0tlZvHF2X7ZOVHR9-qjUeLu0WxOIapfv597vmQ5LAByN_zuKBo9bpebu3ZIa4tMvFv4b-fBhO5vo9FCosFjVA6M-D_D12k1WCJfmXch8aBfqSiwxIydPtBfd7O-_mIT7u2UuthegkxE1/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It turned out we had arrived too late to actually see any camel races but had fun anyway seeing so many camels. I learned that t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he camels galloped around a specially made track and that these seemingly ungainly creatures can reach such high speeds. Perhaps we'll see camel races some other time - I'd sure like to!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdKvbstZWMnPBtmFFuv7zSK4AWu3LlDKO_IKnoYlRapD8Kpa9YZM-9v2NERDM6MOPFUTiEadBiaMUQ3-M2SbfaJ-nLd-Hx97pAs98X8oT8oNFuTRcGgKODrXpMoIsRLfMWbX0x-uIeMi-/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdKvbstZWMnPBtmFFuv7zSK4AWu3LlDKO_IKnoYlRapD8Kpa9YZM-9v2NERDM6MOPFUTiEadBiaMUQ3-M2SbfaJ-nLd-Hx97pAs98X8oT8oNFuTRcGgKODrXpMoIsRLfMWbX0x-uIeMi-/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg859eCR8EKH-FS9c3a5gidtxQvInISaKZl0CPfb4MAdx9R4GXioCRDY0aswiBlIDPyEY4MF1LKOe0MaHtbJY2y8D0_-lWS0Li0uGPTEZMRNJZMNUc2nyj7SouUr3zgmSfkbHe8Oa1cPIA7/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg859eCR8EKH-FS9c3a5gidtxQvInISaKZl0CPfb4MAdx9R4GXioCRDY0aswiBlIDPyEY4MF1LKOe0MaHtbJY2y8D0_-lWS0Li0uGPTEZMRNJZMNUc2nyj7SouUr3zgmSfkbHe8Oa1cPIA7/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKcAc10eeqToW5ghTjaaulvPNjWzi5fEaTcbODApawYk2dSFrmTzaDk4NWK6F-ksVsyMGkXjaR3xMi6ueTd7_UFlM9Aes6MVyO7fGpGB97OM3F4GAeIU6mFY7lhOWTp9OVAo-vNPxuR7q/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKcAc10eeqToW5ghTjaaulvPNjWzi5fEaTcbODApawYk2dSFrmTzaDk4NWK6F-ksVsyMGkXjaR3xMi6ueTd7_UFlM9Aes6MVyO7fGpGB97OM3F4GAeIU6mFY7lhOWTp9OVAo-vNPxuR7q/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjIfdRVVrMK3KV-vvq7bhWCV6_jqDIK0b9rHhmk9tlb08as3kKHpnSKrKa3pDOtqLjB7oZWaa2I2rMtoNjUe3PFKb_sZHgAV97ZKqLny3bomhOjZlfrznSCxlpbNZ-f7d3AByerVXBueLB9/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfdRVVrMK3KV-vvq7bhWCV6_jqDIK0b9rHhmk9tlb08as3kKHpnSKrKa3pDOtqLjB7oZWaa2I2rMtoNjUe3PFKb_sZHgAV97ZKqLny3bomhOjZlfrznSCxlpbNZ-f7d3AByerVXBueLB9/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Camel racing in Abu Dhabi must be an exclusively male sport as I don't think there were any other women at the track.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yrW7nrcA3sptxXJUM4cVjiK62EEGjLrWTl3yThtRXAvj-cx71TQBAvSAgUJb2z7D4EmWfJf69mPF2VjK1OFlD0SDkBzo405uM5JgVbgmD3A5Lu5cpJiTz_kVDNQtbHV8OB70DD4XjVv9/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yrW7nrcA3sptxXJUM4cVjiK62EEGjLrWTl3yThtRXAvj-cx71TQBAvSAgUJb2z7D4EmWfJf69mPF2VjK1OFlD0SDkBzo405uM5JgVbgmD3A5Lu5cpJiTz_kVDNQtbHV8OB70DD4XjVv9/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was well after 7 pm when we left the Camel Race Track hoping to still find the site of the Sheikh Zayed Festival. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk5xuoEE_52TSfM9Hqq5dTj1k4MGsRlIJZbusDp5MwoJzrN5xmsuVEUXGbzO19HbbEmQbDXwvtmpdFRCJX4XdsOW_qb5fqR4LvFusJ94Iw6bLNMBx0f4bygV-fycHK4qj_es15FoCZ_I4/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk5xuoEE_52TSfM9Hqq5dTj1k4MGsRlIJZbusDp5MwoJzrN5xmsuVEUXGbzO19HbbEmQbDXwvtmpdFRCJX4XdsOW_qb5fqR4LvFusJ94Iw6bLNMBx0f4bygV-fycHK4qj_es15FoCZ_I4/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We asked someone at the track to point us in the right direction but he kindly told us to follow him part of the way and then told us where to go next. What a difference he made as we were finally able to find the place close to 8 pm.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D8HNiNULI1KVpZqO9tayCod9ShGBtthEPtAD9ZHKVSwhS07yyix0VATIFlbzSOXZ7MmLIP7EyyNdkfnHBR2T9YHuZp6Hj2ApVT8HXeI5VIhNkvUsk-NSmTCW9m2S8YrbYU-ZYigr4Yyy/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-D8HNiNULI1KVpZqO9tayCod9ShGBtthEPtAD9ZHKVSwhS07yyix0VATIFlbzSOXZ7MmLIP7EyyNdkfnHBR2T9YHuZp6Hj2ApVT8HXeI5VIhNkvUsk-NSmTCW9m2S8YrbYU-ZYigr4Yyy/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It looked like others had had no difficulty finding where </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">one of the largest cultural demonstrations was taking place almost all month long in the UAE</span><span style="font-size: large;">!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlP-Qq-mxuZoZyIs7m7PRjvTGvCaVSl4-u0QRwnA_79tJH0o3uqs5u9SY-q8HeWKdKd-ptsDw0mbRNalPGZm4LNziIo5k_aDLSeRiZ1s1Rlt0BrILtpiYodFe6HCNX9nQhYYqJKc4G-El/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlP-Qq-mxuZoZyIs7m7PRjvTGvCaVSl4-u0QRwnA_79tJH0o3uqs5u9SY-q8HeWKdKd-ptsDw0mbRNalPGZm4LNziIo5k_aDLSeRiZ1s1Rlt0BrILtpiYodFe6HCNX9nQhYYqJKc4G-El/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uuSblAaoBRw_KpXymNzJKfiBNlMqLMPzqNHgUVgOdfEZb4BQ5IV9Uu5VuGUZ65KGemQlV4BopBRY7_ZD8ZzaLIvp6-6xEabE91ZAcAtH4U5RFDD5nVPEBXMvaB6gkJ9-GYYWrpiaXE7B/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uuSblAaoBRw_KpXymNzJKfiBNlMqLMPzqNHgUVgOdfEZb4BQ5IV9Uu5VuGUZ65KGemQlV4BopBRY7_ZD8ZzaLIvp6-6xEabE91ZAcAtH4U5RFDD5nVPEBXMvaB6gkJ9-GYYWrpiaXE7B/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think I'll soon forget what the UAE flag looks like as they were everywhere!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CEOrpObKoZAuQUmT_fAelM9A4IqFGjTDaoJo7VcMvVkgkaZ1DS7T6DvGApM0Cb-xaQtIjOy2E-D9BLHSrdygBkn_8UCzWroGiICutL3TAgImORBTCrjJcuBXOkHvrgp-t-t8xI1s5xaF/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CEOrpObKoZAuQUmT_fAelM9A4IqFGjTDaoJo7VcMvVkgkaZ1DS7T6DvGApM0Cb-xaQtIjOy2E-D9BLHSrdygBkn_8UCzWroGiICutL3TAgImORBTCrjJcuBXOkHvrgp-t-t8xI1s5xaF/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj8T8BiDNUEUqY6gzZznIrwuBfdzBhJD48uZaal60BIMSDGZ7_lCMUD3ycpQQv4A3fvw0OJZXYHHSSMqemBGltVAHwjbMhGOEhi3fb6-fA4xgeiuT1g2e4MB-w1UElA6fq5FMK2V4iVxS77/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T8BiDNUEUqY6gzZznIrwuBfdzBhJD48uZaal60BIMSDGZ7_lCMUD3ycpQQv4A3fvw0OJZXYHHSSMqemBGltVAHwjbMhGOEhi3fb6-fA4xgeiuT1g2e4MB-w1UElA6fq5FMK2V4iVxS77/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Named after UAE’s founding father, <b>Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,</b> the annual heritage festival celebrates his commitment to preserving the UAE’s rich heritage and history. The festival's theme in 2016 was "The UAE as a crossroads of civilization."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgmuDWP4bRAoZKScl8gAmG5PG6zXyUrEC0sWLzPUOdVbN7xZcBiETDHCXfHfxvTMHsCobz6ue4zCQuTUfs1OUGzOKEjkIuJcXneW_iy9U9J5I2_MP212NUB-emFhX5kciQU7RqbdK_AYo/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgmuDWP4bRAoZKScl8gAmG5PG6zXyUrEC0sWLzPUOdVbN7xZcBiETDHCXfHfxvTMHsCobz6ue4zCQuTUfs1OUGzOKEjkIuJcXneW_iy9U9J5I2_MP212NUB-emFhX5kciQU7RqbdK_AYo/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhsrLSV0MuaDkWWi1U8pVKBHNRQ29H16IrXHLuzx8gJxB6AaoF1pPhTLe0r_1VS-EyoAvM_QlLS7R3vUs_bckfhXVmk_21lfOPoS1z3_9Xu9vz6t83r4I7fg6R2mMjrDFFeBi4iJ5zmEbWE/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrLSV0MuaDkWWi1U8pVKBHNRQ29H16IrXHLuzx8gJxB6AaoF1pPhTLe0r_1VS-EyoAvM_QlLS7R3vUs_bckfhXVmk_21lfOPoS1z3_9Xu9vz6t83r4I7fg6R2mMjrDFFeBi4iJ5zmEbWE/s320/134.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The goal of the Festival was to offer an enriching experience that combined authentic Emirati culture with the diversity of world heritage. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdYF8vgKnelsoFEoEJPYzre9Af6hIiNv730qFQ6U3w5yt4HIYXtRIf5dn1gZ3-hKzEHjDIA91bQOVMAUgnCDBc5ttA_iUoZm23n8r_HRA6P0P2nKVWEa3mGdKv49Q5UfczdPvVE-Qz3xX/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdYF8vgKnelsoFEoEJPYzre9Af6hIiNv730qFQ6U3w5yt4HIYXtRIf5dn1gZ3-hKzEHjDIA91bQOVMAUgnCDBc5ttA_iUoZm23n8r_HRA6P0P2nKVWEa3mGdKv49Q5UfczdPvVE-Qz3xX/s320/135.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I almost laughed when I noticed the Lost and Found sign right inside the entrance as all the black abaya-clad women looked identical to me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2d5VIniGuweJQ_ebxI5lblb5HUzU1ejbvhB-TRMbJzkhRwQUrtl5xbE5ldtNGAjfy9KHLqsFfiQuTeJQgANa1ZRtIJtKE59PFt6ga5mwVV97phBhXieS26thKH43jDZ06gfZl5z4HoO6/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2d5VIniGuweJQ_ebxI5lblb5HUzU1ejbvhB-TRMbJzkhRwQUrtl5xbE5ldtNGAjfy9KHLqsFfiQuTeJQgANa1ZRtIJtKE59PFt6ga5mwVV97phBhXieS26thKH43jDZ06gfZl5z4HoO6/s320/136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfhtMKCiGAJPnFTM4bQvh_nSdfQkl04rNFfOEkvE5uDuRmx9y6RN3gu0UHkh1CNLLBjx0g9Hi8O1W-tidruXTPIG_f-vjxMIIxotDAijZkBa68dUwx-syNURw3S8cxaa3dDr2iFEomcXv/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfhtMKCiGAJPnFTM4bQvh_nSdfQkl04rNFfOEkvE5uDuRmx9y6RN3gu0UHkh1CNLLBjx0g9Hi8O1W-tidruXTPIG_f-vjxMIIxotDAijZkBa68dUwx-syNURw3S8cxaa3dDr2iFEomcXv/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the US and most Western countries, there are pony rides. Th equivalent in the Middle East was camel rides!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd1COfd53eBLJOjCYJg57EigOHa3xgF3ZqwZYxAd-NmEWf9gekZ8o7yAAYlWmfxsWnziOwx7KNKsU1qYTNs7lvYQKdv16b5q1JY4zjYrCj9hkgO6Z-1iOyVwYub722EI0Um4ZcEJ7TBbL/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJd1COfd53eBLJOjCYJg57EigOHa3xgF3ZqwZYxAd-NmEWf9gekZ8o7yAAYlWmfxsWnziOwx7KNKsU1qYTNs7lvYQKdv16b5q1JY4zjYrCj9hkgO6Z-1iOyVwYub722EI0Um4ZcEJ7TBbL/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTnsc6JybRHzEg17ZT8NuUNur8Qv0J1ZV6NA4LZV4eCDGLfrCYlXDb7kiZ5DMV8N45RX56W4kJJuQIlb7medhBVAP0ILDww8okK3UzStCnJzZaGjeM1wHkDQSBhR-X_Nx-Yih_TpTKBn/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTnsc6JybRHzEg17ZT8NuUNur8Qv0J1ZV6NA4LZV4eCDGLfrCYlXDb7kiZ5DMV8N45RX56W4kJJuQIlb7medhBVAP0ILDww8okK3UzStCnJzZaGjeM1wHkDQSBhR-X_Nx-Yih_TpTKBn/s320/139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There were a large number of displays to highlight authentic Emirati culture. This one showcased the<b> 'Wild Environment,' </b>depicting the Bedouin people who normally live in the desert.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumfkYMRwEZeZ4c4lzqwHl9oiLpNViPqWozxG9E9XwDAEOS5J_fx3hiUeo7ye6TDk594KZ47QV2h05r4Lzh8SSgPJviuQEi6U53ssrKvPvdQ6RhN4oxPXrbHo6WEXbGBDgmm4d9rlAHFIX/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumfkYMRwEZeZ4c4lzqwHl9oiLpNViPqWozxG9E9XwDAEOS5J_fx3hiUeo7ye6TDk594KZ47QV2h05r4Lzh8SSgPJviuQEi6U53ssrKvPvdQ6RhN4oxPXrbHo6WEXbGBDgmm4d9rlAHFIX/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These photos were from an exhibit entitled the <b>'Mountain Environment' </b>but I didn't figure out what living there entailed!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIDU7pEFtse_xfnRtj_G4ZR4-Vkv9Sea991c5d09MwiZy7WAMczK5vXZStDGb80Bz_FPAZDztyP71EYeU2UObPiLdY7A3-7U-oGFDi0FucvoC-lyu_4NbtZA70wutEuSrQekHfSCPkaRP/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIDU7pEFtse_xfnRtj_G4ZR4-Vkv9Sea991c5d09MwiZy7WAMczK5vXZStDGb80Bz_FPAZDztyP71EYeU2UObPiLdY7A3-7U-oGFDi0FucvoC-lyu_4NbtZA70wutEuSrQekHfSCPkaRP/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfs8gYfrH-JquMcWuOfFLKFpSW0F_VZI_hBehQvrtrwojN-7bBkwHGcIN3HPM6L02J1JuIr3jrdPLPguV6L5I_jvr7pbTj9ZVQ5-B3_Pgepb0dvxIkcLQjz142E2L5Ad0XIVGl-heVDbt/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfs8gYfrH-JquMcWuOfFLKFpSW0F_VZI_hBehQvrtrwojN-7bBkwHGcIN3HPM6L02J1JuIr3jrdPLPguV6L5I_jvr7pbTj9ZVQ5-B3_Pgepb0dvxIkcLQjz142E2L5Ad0XIVGl-heVDbt/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sadou </b>is one of the traditional handicrafts that was famous among women living in the desert areas though some still practice it. Women practice it by weaving wool from goats and camels which are widely available in their desert habitat. <i>Sadou</i> has different uses but is mainly used to build tents that were used by Bedouins as a shelter and movable houses. Usually <i>Sadou </i>crafting is dependent on each women's style and her taste so she can express her traditions through a variety of bright colors and shapes which represent different Bedouin symbols. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHWTDh7qaBAWv-vmoJBluE4GQZXgZKEmJVI7V4iFTOqwaPJTvuCZk_jrYBIWs-jfCUBiiT5IKLkvbFLZf0IsEq7n6V2hdSqE2A6pMDLyyd11pqM_xeFE3Z1LvYZiZrESruyIjdhIzfjqM/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHWTDh7qaBAWv-vmoJBluE4GQZXgZKEmJVI7V4iFTOqwaPJTvuCZk_jrYBIWs-jfCUBiiT5IKLkvbFLZf0IsEq7n6V2hdSqE2A6pMDLyyd11pqM_xeFE3Z1LvYZiZrESruyIjdhIzfjqM/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgPSOzONuQr-n83gMPlsw5B9w8i62rfKuyc0Hn-8Wyka89ZIWRcM1q1ZPOZXl4_qAwL2wKtNaIa0wtE_tvTuOcqOeBWD9dl5OHwBVrjQm_Zq-JFf8gMSa1QDWpF8GMS-PIDPTjksMbFsMyh/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSOzONuQr-n83gMPlsw5B9w8i62rfKuyc0Hn-8Wyka89ZIWRcM1q1ZPOZXl4_qAwL2wKtNaIa0wtE_tvTuOcqOeBWD9dl5OHwBVrjQm_Zq-JFf8gMSa1QDWpF8GMS-PIDPTjksMbFsMyh/s320/151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Y9I-2pJElTB9hjpR9MnOCBQlWZjJnYb9xapw4a4t5W8pZ9tlPc-feWd5f5zB8YZtN-4xLBkpRvGLAAl1BHzvComG2s4Noyz-qa9MBSCYmk9L8L0DdgpKbEynlGZDYnXRvHcCIouNJup/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1Y9I-2pJElTB9hjpR9MnOCBQlWZjJnYb9xapw4a4t5W8pZ9tlPc-feWd5f5zB8YZtN-4xLBkpRvGLAAl1BHzvComG2s4Noyz-qa9MBSCYmk9L8L0DdgpKbEynlGZDYnXRvHcCIouNJup/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEglXJFUOuqtJfq-FXFt_la5SSj1FZcQUSYLJQcZKGswqGqLB109oRYcYPyKh7Sg2hcZ3O7GqPn0ry3314YRD3mdIEzV0CkCvkTkGwyH3sYVhu6H3Yf6-1zpT12cOu0iRGCM39va7ttilEnb/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXJFUOuqtJfq-FXFt_la5SSj1FZcQUSYLJQcZKGswqGqLB109oRYcYPyKh7Sg2hcZ3O7GqPn0ry3314YRD3mdIEzV0CkCvkTkGwyH3sYVhu6H3Yf6-1zpT12cOu0iRGCM39va7ttilEnb/s320/154.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx95eKXJKERjj-az4aHbNcKV6WmbvpvItcMlf0Twe8PPjJemLvCKvrZDibwavHnzP2rWrprXXYAADXuK0rW6YCSn-NfwBK0aKqGtuF9benJFHQyIjowxtfqJPJXJp-pvgz7glZTVTRxnsH/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx95eKXJKERjj-az4aHbNcKV6WmbvpvItcMlf0Twe8PPjJemLvCKvrZDibwavHnzP2rWrprXXYAADXuK0rW6YCSn-NfwBK0aKqGtuF9benJFHQyIjowxtfqJPJXJp-pvgz7glZTVTRxnsH/s320/155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Henna</b> is a tall, shrub-like plant that Emirati people used to plant in their homes long ago. The leaves of the plant are ground into a powder which is then made into a paste. The paste, when applied to the hair or skin, leaves a reddish-brown stain which is considered as a symbol for beauty care. Henna tattoos are considered to be an old Arab tradition that is used as a way to mark a celebration, feasts and weddings. Those of us in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">West normally think of henna, when mixed with additional components, as being used for hair care and coloring. In our travels throughout much of the Middle East this trip, we have seen so many women with striking henna tattoos on their hands.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRheEhnnbaVAim8VBnT158di4ZUPAEAV3ZdLYdRktqsNEqlqPasSRp3E-r7F-wnJzI2z2ueQcSjmwxonJVWx1VSsySWULIl2XW4Q-7C27MQlWgI-s1Nwb_bU0vOQTWwUStTGjsvm9R-K3t/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRheEhnnbaVAim8VBnT158di4ZUPAEAV3ZdLYdRktqsNEqlqPasSRp3E-r7F-wnJzI2z2ueQcSjmwxonJVWx1VSsySWULIl2XW4Q-7C27MQlWgI-s1Nwb_bU0vOQTWwUStTGjsvm9R-K3t/s320/156.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEh8QZWBp6s8z3vIleWqMYM3E6WuTzIQAGrcAMWu9C52EUmJdjcj1kX7MhMbTfnN_oHBcE48Sn5Lh2wfnbiYEMhSLqm-GB4h6tEYtUZFLoWL9qiOEN5SfWNLYCbW9_o55kfRKNFbZtazBgzL/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QZWBp6s8z3vIleWqMYM3E6WuTzIQAGrcAMWu9C52EUmJdjcj1kX7MhMbTfnN_oHBcE48Sn5Lh2wfnbiYEMhSLqm-GB4h6tEYtUZFLoWL9qiOEN5SfWNLYCbW9_o55kfRKNFbZtazBgzL/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We heard the beat of some drums nearby so headed in that direction. In a huge open area, were a large number of men and young boys dancing with each other and each one holding a stick.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDUpZxj2Mt68qkmnpsCp_m46UFNwIS087SbNZrY-BtHEvMObFy2KG384QEBne9P1WbvNC484VBfoUd_wtmq3Ea4LU0rgg7JgJMOKBlKwwKsu-O57HUjpueDGZFhSqF2lKgCwwBZL93wqX/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDUpZxj2Mt68qkmnpsCp_m46UFNwIS087SbNZrY-BtHEvMObFy2KG384QEBne9P1WbvNC484VBfoUd_wtmq3Ea4LU0rgg7JgJMOKBlKwwKsu-O57HUjpueDGZFhSqF2lKgCwwBZL93wqX/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNpuand-iUvp_Le3FsZh6p9Bb77vimgL3JihdiUK9goXY86Q9JtEeV7mzFsV-_KYSxpCu0xfFK_w32kRrjHsm5oRiy8o_Pf2KVuMiZ8MPMGVor8Mn3AdErV2EALFGp-nXME7cydO9uqU/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNpuand-iUvp_Le3FsZh6p9Bb77vimgL3JihdiUK9goXY86Q9JtEeV7mzFsV-_KYSxpCu0xfFK_w32kRrjHsm5oRiy8o_Pf2KVuMiZ8MPMGVor8Mn3AdErV2EALFGp-nXME7cydO9uqU/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1lXBmEGd347MYOaHLIXcexVXe15odjLOHFTcHeWbaFNGMxF0vOv1kxEAMd7pLwppam04VtZwa6QPxMioqbsUHfX9DWOKEN1MqHgCYbSjQCr0Esqm4NHAMaLmGv-7DBBPG7mtstMla49f/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1lXBmEGd347MYOaHLIXcexVXe15odjLOHFTcHeWbaFNGMxF0vOv1kxEAMd7pLwppam04VtZwa6QPxMioqbsUHfX9DWOKEN1MqHgCYbSjQCr0Esqm4NHAMaLmGv-7DBBPG7mtstMla49f/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most popular traditional dances across the UAE is the <b>Ayyalah.</b> Performed with at least 25 men, and often many more, it is a particularly theatrical dance that depicts victory in battle. The men form two lines and face each other with arms linked. To the beat of drums, they brandish sticks, recite poems and move back and forth.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf5gPpSPUGOxCRY7bI-hsUdtYlSFiDzvpARsGli8G38B9XBT6w-RY4cyvIctT3X-pEaEOBwdyTUfT0lT5NEJf9TOY1lQaAV_mCMcCJKfZbgxvnJD9H8ZnMhJvGhz8W97eEWNRInaIc3_L/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf5gPpSPUGOxCRY7bI-hsUdtYlSFiDzvpARsGli8G38B9XBT6w-RY4cyvIctT3X-pEaEOBwdyTUfT0lT5NEJf9TOY1lQaAV_mCMcCJKfZbgxvnJD9H8ZnMhJvGhz8W97eEWNRInaIc3_L/s320/181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was clearly a very orchestrated dance with set moves or dance steps. We didn't hear anyone reciting poems however.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOIoPmyeeMo9uE_JpWvTqs536-UShIeQrBXXUgXpkBeatmPKNIkI7NgPc8xA2COObYgGI5zg96UDDd2HfNvzkWibntEJUjwBhIzk2OUOQLBq_cgPAQbTGmxyYzAApp5YrQY_BO-R1hmaZ/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOIoPmyeeMo9uE_JpWvTqs536-UShIeQrBXXUgXpkBeatmPKNIkI7NgPc8xA2COObYgGI5zg96UDDd2HfNvzkWibntEJUjwBhIzk2OUOQLBq_cgPAQbTGmxyYzAApp5YrQY_BO-R1hmaZ/s320/178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5vz1xh7xW0m1gHzWZ9TOtbmiljTSU1O34rOPGXop_sLQ91q5sD2MGvyoiqmmvviPV-ruri_OCQnQY6MRHogen__yVpjOSbReDuPqTdn_p5-kYKk1o-Dl42PnlSKIiHMEq18pxHZDOJSz/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5vz1xh7xW0m1gHzWZ9TOtbmiljTSU1O34rOPGXop_sLQ91q5sD2MGvyoiqmmvviPV-ruri_OCQnQY6MRHogen__yVpjOSbReDuPqTdn_p5-kYKk1o-Dl42PnlSKIiHMEq18pxHZDOJSz/s320/163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was mesmerized watching the very ritualized dance and listening to the rhythmic music and would have been very content to stand there for an hour taking it all in. Steven wasn't as enamored as I, so he wandered off for a while to look at some other exhibits.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7vKLqW9v8MOS4HcqxiRH9mJfMY7yClNbaOMBY1A9DRgjpoKaqpajPEs2Nzzt8ple32cEJ2DRMygYQJW4CIeML7CYxukOS_FIeGrVB1Ixr-No4-VaxHGsRAN0oic_h2t5PJZOAJblcy5h/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7vKLqW9v8MOS4HcqxiRH9mJfMY7yClNbaOMBY1A9DRgjpoKaqpajPEs2Nzzt8ple32cEJ2DRMygYQJW4CIeML7CYxukOS_FIeGrVB1Ixr-No4-VaxHGsRAN0oic_h2t5PJZOAJblcy5h/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKNf0tP3IL_fi_gGumrXbku_WgI-n1YUu2hrAeDwdTJLUAjtr3CAo8aALGy3hWq0D7ETNQLanVBr2UJgOpLDCqXBYDftXHU5MEIRxgHEMr3VKqx2Wqsq_HgDwitIn1OapkSWT9xnga-Uq/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKNf0tP3IL_fi_gGumrXbku_WgI-n1YUu2hrAeDwdTJLUAjtr3CAo8aALGy3hWq0D7ETNQLanVBr2UJgOpLDCqXBYDftXHU5MEIRxgHEMr3VKqx2Wqsq_HgDwitIn1OapkSWT9xnga-Uq/s320/165.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEiEkgDTYgX21UTpGEWfyM0azw6t0-KVLcmpqHe4ZJ8ZS2vdTyGZZadGYxBxUmWvwn6WztuvzoePEQJhWqTEK4EWs8EWJxDNDo9JcZrzVsDvk8ZRNSdSaZbvG2OaV11Rl_-P71Fu_wNz7Q1V/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkgDTYgX21UTpGEWfyM0azw6t0-KVLcmpqHe4ZJ8ZS2vdTyGZZadGYxBxUmWvwn6WztuvzoePEQJhWqTEK4EWs8EWJxDNDo9JcZrzVsDvk8ZRNSdSaZbvG2OaV11Rl_-P71Fu_wNz7Q1V/s320/167.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved seeing how each man and boy seemed to be really enjoying themselves throughout the long dance or performance.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zoTdASvcLYRCBNBfzfKdjkf25YhtVWd8XJGvdSF7bDv2BPbb6Up6vcfI_SoYCcRJr6UqeMkwxBcviYQYOSQv8oiFWNuurgXhg04YIlHODpUGzr7cEYR1vY2mCk4rlsafOYFnHGUFEHX-/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zoTdASvcLYRCBNBfzfKdjkf25YhtVWd8XJGvdSF7bDv2BPbb6Up6vcfI_SoYCcRJr6UqeMkwxBcviYQYOSQv8oiFWNuurgXhg04YIlHODpUGzr7cEYR1vY2mCk4rlsafOYFnHGUFEHX-/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Q96WrU69I_BKMbvd5X96lt3d31X3qNxRvGqwK4RCPDf0fQkP4i2C9eRc_WjNJOreV7WtE0uIoXMdalXsC2G-YBMx2b35J3tTExUwOd5ID-dRsHyAhNBuG8LUwPjQFZQwA6GH3jsWVT0/s1600/170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Q96WrU69I_BKMbvd5X96lt3d31X3qNxRvGqwK4RCPDf0fQkP4i2C9eRc_WjNJOreV7WtE0uIoXMdalXsC2G-YBMx2b35J3tTExUwOd5ID-dRsHyAhNBuG8LUwPjQFZQwA6GH3jsWVT0/s320/170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was no discernible break in the music or dancing - it just continued on with men joining in or leaving when they apparently felt like it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxNRLZuse75v26iV0cWf3rPp1ovRK_zu-_d8oAulWohzrwZK8W9rEa6dru3vwLu-4z8m6_tsaLesNvujSfXQUOBU8pYrpZQ_MGw3Q_MmzfaGFhO-tTjY0S9ew3Etee6kEdwv1tPkRH49a/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxNRLZuse75v26iV0cWf3rPp1ovRK_zu-_d8oAulWohzrwZK8W9rEa6dru3vwLu-4z8m6_tsaLesNvujSfXQUOBU8pYrpZQ_MGw3Q_MmzfaGFhO-tTjY0S9ew3Etee6kEdwv1tPkRH49a/s320/177.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhQKk6x01CjCHScAif3i3gRBrKIEkTOzFV8ppFmtmy0kQbDpXv_TuQqobFi2iG4ugVfWOg5l2VU592z-9cFRY-_hYyKTaeQgu3iFqnl5bGy7fIyIywnGNillPkUlhVRPIpFeY7vLfG3hzr0/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKk6x01CjCHScAif3i3gRBrKIEkTOzFV8ppFmtmy0kQbDpXv_TuQqobFi2iG4ugVfWOg5l2VU592z-9cFRY-_hYyKTaeQgu3iFqnl5bGy7fIyIywnGNillPkUlhVRPIpFeY7vLfG3hzr0/s320/190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There was a large group of people, including Muslim women, watching the 'show' from one side. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I think Steven and I were among the very few Westerners present at the Festival. There were some other foreign women but it was evident they were definitely there to take care of their employers' children.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dlLL_fNvMjObGHOgBHk3joWB0tS9nTARexJQSzJB_MTeKE1JvFPE7H7h10bKQ7tz-iqCimxwPfXNBKVGZiEFKi2Vfku3WgAmPu-BbnGPsSxqCBEn_8fobPF8FghrJsO8ncyTj-PP2CNP/s1600/180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dlLL_fNvMjObGHOgBHk3joWB0tS9nTARexJQSzJB_MTeKE1JvFPE7H7h10bKQ7tz-iqCimxwPfXNBKVGZiEFKi2Vfku3WgAmPu-BbnGPsSxqCBEn_8fobPF8FghrJsO8ncyTj-PP2CNP/s320/180.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo8cMSVcMge73aA8jEY02z4nII_OqK0zOY5Ce_gLBFyUBE_xdqqcEmqDE4cbuJ7qhqumpD_KMXu7I2yhSpiDgge9qJV0ifIbz03MWak4pfOgzyYZi8k-qLc40fvLNRHdFybEljbihL0Kq/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo8cMSVcMge73aA8jEY02z4nII_OqK0zOY5Ce_gLBFyUBE_xdqqcEmqDE4cbuJ7qhqumpD_KMXu7I2yhSpiDgge9qJV0ifIbz03MWak4pfOgzyYZi8k-qLc40fvLNRHdFybEljbihL0Kq/s320/182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUr7swJOCLk5PssZx9TwVoC2TVMNeO8Bvz-XZstHBXrgYh-EWD3p8X_0JznIAzrtSRWbuWYiYCWSDXq7a4ZkGWSI4PyA2baHE7jwKGm4o2gwvBWEJcXEt8M7_p8JLtLaIdiZh3SInbK_H/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUr7swJOCLk5PssZx9TwVoC2TVMNeO8Bvz-XZstHBXrgYh-EWD3p8X_0JznIAzrtSRWbuWYiYCWSDXq7a4ZkGWSI4PyA2baHE7jwKGm4o2gwvBWEJcXEt8M7_p8JLtLaIdiZh3SInbK_H/s320/188.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEj7sS8hmJJH_P5NuuO9L5Co8C_wm64xWsLaN4McY_GHPyYwCuMjgo1ODRT0nA8t_HXDMUeZMR6RDBKrRDYvTSOJbHErNkEPJ53thMBIl1LpegFv8LD_T2i78g6GOZ1RHu6TTnZDzILA3DJw/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sS8hmJJH_P5NuuO9L5Co8C_wm64xWsLaN4McY_GHPyYwCuMjgo1ODRT0nA8t_HXDMUeZMR6RDBKrRDYvTSOJbHErNkEPJ53thMBIl1LpegFv8LD_T2i78g6GOZ1RHu6TTnZDzILA3DJw/s320/189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">How adorable these little boys were - I wonder if they'll participate in next year's Heritage Festival? Steven finally persuaded me to tear myself away so we could visit some of the many exhibits.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SZp6zzKkeCVtdRby5mgEZoTJ8X2R399pG5SWXKCoXA7mx2pop2KplZaxgH5vGvWAJ6B-5mSpBW-vTumu63-FJG_qo9UTq6mh-fh01mmcBEUqBvpdIwQy9DTDnS7vFPLlOGH6lvE7qgpM/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SZp6zzKkeCVtdRby5mgEZoTJ8X2R399pG5SWXKCoXA7mx2pop2KplZaxgH5vGvWAJ6B-5mSpBW-vTumu63-FJG_qo9UTq6mh-fh01mmcBEUqBvpdIwQy9DTDnS7vFPLlOGH6lvE7qgpM/s320/184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 2016 festival featured 17 mostly Muslim countries and cultures to present their own heritage, including cuisine, traditional crafts and musical performances.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbOs5GPSKuAvAr7IMresrNcPXX2HX8N96eX7EPMYsTRv0AiBhNGFc7ALudI5XmhXTj96LUR0RVBygew8MaxouUhgua7T2XcZQzmYey7c_TTUHX2k5WS5eIQ_x1XKly4hXPV04auJ9Q_q/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wbOs5GPSKuAvAr7IMresrNcPXX2HX8N96eX7EPMYsTRv0AiBhNGFc7ALudI5XmhXTj96LUR0RVBygew8MaxouUhgua7T2XcZQzmYey7c_TTUHX2k5WS5eIQ_x1XKly4hXPV04auJ9Q_q/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35IUMWl4-3Bb02JIbzpBrmidD7a460_GyLSd-8-0JBz8c5FF5kkfV9DC8crxyMGis8sgG2k1a1WBoknLMMy1kU2-NAp5aj0qAo8s-fjfOOEiuJnpbfPf4DBfDE0GsdALM12_C0VajsKC4/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35IUMWl4-3Bb02JIbzpBrmidD7a460_GyLSd-8-0JBz8c5FF5kkfV9DC8crxyMGis8sgG2k1a1WBoknLMMy1kU2-NAp5aj0qAo8s-fjfOOEiuJnpbfPf4DBfDE0GsdALM12_C0VajsKC4/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Inspection of local soldiers prior to a short parade:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcARB3-cbS_4hiNRx_Xgs1AHg5gjbdyUJ26E3GnZKW8erzHw0jQT1Zv0rpmNk13DSkrkYX71q75I8pgVZJiJUCIqc7Z5-kV2MPAhX5MqhI_ufxi3mVtlh3G41NrpcjTcmNCzlyHnizH4vK/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcARB3-cbS_4hiNRx_Xgs1AHg5gjbdyUJ26E3GnZKW8erzHw0jQT1Zv0rpmNk13DSkrkYX71q75I8pgVZJiJUCIqc7Z5-kV2MPAhX5MqhI_ufxi3mVtlh3G41NrpcjTcmNCzlyHnizH4vK/s320/196.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgXOBUSC6aaZK5xc7wqtu7A79JOBKvbsxCM0grZYIZDgsJ2xxOnJUZI5v_XYv6SOgCljCXoRy8jorjDjW6S6aVQIouc1rOy3Y0Byt6Nuoka-8lgxTpzJfoenl-m7h6al1eMMwu-nik1oDjW/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOBUSC6aaZK5xc7wqtu7A79JOBKvbsxCM0grZYIZDgsJ2xxOnJUZI5v_XYv6SOgCljCXoRy8jorjDjW6S6aVQIouc1rOy3Y0Byt6Nuoka-8lgxTpzJfoenl-m7h6al1eMMwu-nik1oDjW/s320/195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We happened on a group of musicians practicing before they too participated in the parade.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJYz0EBXz8y9IDFVJPMLqwfrAP1Fpot3KHKkIEhTeve0oSGuBjSyZXh0R9tZ2agb-NCTnJ4JEgocnKaA8z83wdk6TQt52iPXVcRaJ3KFIACda9o0DzfyNQA7B5_jgnE88cvcTZRqb-rJn/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJYz0EBXz8y9IDFVJPMLqwfrAP1Fpot3KHKkIEhTeve0oSGuBjSyZXh0R9tZ2agb-NCTnJ4JEgocnKaA8z83wdk6TQt52iPXVcRaJ3KFIACda9o0DzfyNQA7B5_jgnE88cvcTZRqb-rJn/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjGPmOzL2P9G2pXhQFXlzOJGY6KJM3fpAcVr3M-BImkhbRS7dcRMmzzGBACGSHEVlTOTMSYp93Rg01PqMUzxWJ0HSYLPaNpDCNT-Bvnn1Not-3Mwha3R76wDf9qcD7xQ7JZcWIXAqJYkwEh/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPmOzL2P9G2pXhQFXlzOJGY6KJM3fpAcVr3M-BImkhbRS7dcRMmzzGBACGSHEVlTOTMSYp93Rg01PqMUzxWJ0HSYLPaNpDCNT-Bvnn1Not-3Mwha3R76wDf9qcD7xQ7JZcWIXAqJYkwEh/s320/202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLemUE8qBL4E8NK576jTV7BaWkDL2tpNbCnVgPs9iYLOWdYbRcqHxy60uRj8eddJ_PIW2EuAtqs-q7aUJAlvUgrUy2O4VmQihTTnwKJ4MhkWVp_WxbaK99qDT4nbONXCQ3sh1H8ypjrpf/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLemUE8qBL4E8NK576jTV7BaWkDL2tpNbCnVgPs9iYLOWdYbRcqHxy60uRj8eddJ_PIW2EuAtqs-q7aUJAlvUgrUy2O4VmQihTTnwKJ4MhkWVp_WxbaK99qDT4nbONXCQ3sh1H8ypjrpf/s320/203.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh4lpi4pja0OPvW48v0Vge828oO1Etz_2wgru7B2xHnMoSSYCLuf8GdmLCVynAfSPfnNPkOa1SSvNUEDvk_1VaywKbAvPp25ZrBUFcOcodKVEeQ_VlsnA4joGvU59j6NjW1YL3nFV1i7Hgz/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lpi4pja0OPvW48v0Vge828oO1Etz_2wgru7B2xHnMoSSYCLuf8GdmLCVynAfSPfnNPkOa1SSvNUEDvk_1VaywKbAvPp25ZrBUFcOcodKVEeQ_VlsnA4joGvU59j6NjW1YL3nFV1i7Hgz/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What made the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Heritage </span><span style="font-size: large;">Festival especially appealing was that it wasn't just about Emirati culture. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Also included was </span><span style="font-size: large;">an array of displays, </span><span style="font-size: large;">interactive performances featuring traditional cuisine and heritage </span><span style="font-size: large;">showing the daily lives of people in </span><span style="font-size: large;">Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, India, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Bosnia/Herzegovina</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYIOqyBOpowQkvLzGAQq61IYHNP6aGpx8feAe5Y2T35ndDceEy6cc-zF5cfPLtLyrzwUq6KBnqB1ZUZvDHH7KwAYsbrsxrGmWaD4843ee7tkKDJSxNZ7f9HqiQjmUlWH70dlbSjJhQmlp/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYIOqyBOpowQkvLzGAQq61IYHNP6aGpx8feAe5Y2T35ndDceEy6cc-zF5cfPLtLyrzwUq6KBnqB1ZUZvDHH7KwAYsbrsxrGmWaD4843ee7tkKDJSxNZ7f9HqiQjmUlWH70dlbSjJhQmlp/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked around the <b>Kingdom of Morocco</b> space first where a musical performance was taking place.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PaxdYt1nJOlS3yFnbJZKyuuBSMJ4vaNiobhjEQcg50oAHibgXghCRd7K4VCDVnqj3Nxv7RucL93g9E4EYMeI32XUDRcj_V58tw-wo1MDy6iC_7qZpSsnqFGMTR4j359DAa6sEXQ6opZk/s1600/207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PaxdYt1nJOlS3yFnbJZKyuuBSMJ4vaNiobhjEQcg50oAHibgXghCRd7K4VCDVnqj3Nxv7RucL93g9E4EYMeI32XUDRcj_V58tw-wo1MDy6iC_7qZpSsnqFGMTR4j359DAa6sEXQ6opZk/s320/207.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3chlpCMWefWhoZlQ773iiLGlh38U4CvFeb_9nOIFLqmymlRuxhKZbMs5TchMqb0z2dlMCfnML0C28disaqRiCCggTtR-0OwUw3GKZTsjo4-9XWPhCWKOC9iHTQt0LhR_KQUWNLJgJAU-D/s1600/208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3chlpCMWefWhoZlQ773iiLGlh38U4CvFeb_9nOIFLqmymlRuxhKZbMs5TchMqb0z2dlMCfnML0C28disaqRiCCggTtR-0OwUw3GKZTsjo4-9XWPhCWKOC9iHTQt0LhR_KQUWNLJgJAU-D/s320/208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nGq3A1niVX9jiZkayQHmGZ8LEaJKbIaQXFztMmapE0AxCnMxrLa4dlNNCAjhvTvhcoXp0ftIqGAFAuxdF_7IoUAEoRNytUEyKdooSPdH1pkXDs_LDBpxTeZ1OHIRSaAcmJrMIqYDAKts/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nGq3A1niVX9jiZkayQHmGZ8LEaJKbIaQXFztMmapE0AxCnMxrLa4dlNNCAjhvTvhcoXp0ftIqGAFAuxdF_7IoUAEoRNytUEyKdooSPdH1pkXDs_LDBpxTeZ1OHIRSaAcmJrMIqYDAKts/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7v9aeWOEHGcDyMPdFz7NDXskPdE7v8T5hPx8xfzg5uDJH0KV22Oc8VyV6M_gGTuM31Km1FEOIuEIo_k7qrQ2OHbqE6vZGg8gkSNW0sbtuBrcCcfKHXKSMpW25pAl76tKjWXGfzmxE5Fn/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7v9aeWOEHGcDyMPdFz7NDXskPdE7v8T5hPx8xfzg5uDJH0KV22Oc8VyV6M_gGTuM31Km1FEOIuEIo_k7qrQ2OHbqE6vZGg8gkSNW0sbtuBrcCcfKHXKSMpW25pAl76tKjWXGfzmxE5Fn/s320/211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wondered if this was a gyr falcon. I felt like we should have known after our visit the previous day to the <b>Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdoELhmHRAOkNVfS0W6OaDPxF2mipfm2DXC_yM8PypXPXeUcs-z0Dp86R8gW2sMBeXx4nj7EupDwkkifQWli1ZSM9m3oPmxEHIBCWGBJZo1tf5KTBBNWpKVRVgAkVL3DY5VsnvSgkPyO9/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdoELhmHRAOkNVfS0W6OaDPxF2mipfm2DXC_yM8PypXPXeUcs-z0Dp86R8gW2sMBeXx4nj7EupDwkkifQWli1ZSM9m3oPmxEHIBCWGBJZo1tf5KTBBNWpKVRVgAkVL3DY5VsnvSgkPyO9/s320/213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkzXd1OWqGukeDl_Uck-60u1vf9_QFahnffgZ_TWKoPo4qn4-B60ERK5wGk_96MxPLZtO6ivZUV18HSw6WIF2i9Kz2xvnMHE7KZcFjsc2KlwFztacubsKX5WQBa1sQAJFQTDjrTXz83ZE/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkzXd1OWqGukeDl_Uck-60u1vf9_QFahnffgZ_TWKoPo4qn4-B60ERK5wGk_96MxPLZtO6ivZUV18HSw6WIF2i9Kz2xvnMHE7KZcFjsc2KlwFztacubsKX5WQBa1sQAJFQTDjrTXz83ZE/s320/214.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A large number of shops and cafes displaying Moroccan handicrafts and cuisine was on the perimeter of the performance area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTXjXzg3pVP27GDrQharmAdCwJIJbQZMLitd2isXVB16FrwwFQDXV6PYVyBFiFS8QUY__juxl-3qdhv6DDWx9rnWr9xgJqR9lEk99H0bywqMvoHtUOaYN5e5CWBWwKkVkDiv5uNVtZ5td/s1600/216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTXjXzg3pVP27GDrQharmAdCwJIJbQZMLitd2isXVB16FrwwFQDXV6PYVyBFiFS8QUY__juxl-3qdhv6DDWx9rnWr9xgJqR9lEk99H0bywqMvoHtUOaYN5e5CWBWwKkVkDiv5uNVtZ5td/s320/216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We spent some time admiring the leather items as our hope is to visit Morocco, among other countries of course, in the fall of 2018!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvnmPKQa4FQMho5gUjVUjr-SCgaJ8YRTTzgNSWFP-Us6ILqAgpVs_-OchCY4DuWCQJ3EJOAV1BpxXQn9J2yKvCFM-qWKw3bptUqO3w3fIGoCMZTfr-O8k9hlfVq5UI-d62eRVelRk89FZ/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvnmPKQa4FQMho5gUjVUjr-SCgaJ8YRTTzgNSWFP-Us6ILqAgpVs_-OchCY4DuWCQJ3EJOAV1BpxXQn9J2yKvCFM-qWKw3bptUqO3w3fIGoCMZTfr-O8k9hlfVq5UI-d62eRVelRk89FZ/s320/218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbmqNCyNmKGhwj7QE_Rl-xhF1b55vYIuzh8l208NoqGZiGqXTkFpotESoz5twKDlD2YqOVc9W63MA2zWLAl5NJBgFW6G29qdH0f2b4iT2PiLLNUB64maK8oKwXgvsGcZ5lKGyg1MNnnK8/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbmqNCyNmKGhwj7QE_Rl-xhF1b55vYIuzh8l208NoqGZiGqXTkFpotESoz5twKDlD2YqOVc9W63MA2zWLAl5NJBgFW6G29qdH0f2b4iT2PiLLNUB64maK8oKwXgvsGcZ5lKGyg1MNnnK8/s320/219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdD4Y83SlJaeZM6TqoR7IFz9cYcI26lIGy_1gPkJO2TQ_w2bQFJZc3iIBtXAJrlLH9Ypl4r-bohQCDZWcYuWC7KWWO-X9a98pZKb1C4dSM9K6ct1YJqm8R-8digisi-zqUzkTxmK9kHcj/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdD4Y83SlJaeZM6TqoR7IFz9cYcI26lIGy_1gPkJO2TQ_w2bQFJZc3iIBtXAJrlLH9Ypl4r-bohQCDZWcYuWC7KWWO-X9a98pZKb1C4dSM9K6ct1YJqm8R-8digisi-zqUzkTxmK9kHcj/s320/220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Algeria</b> was the next country we 'visited' at the Festival.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhbaS-B7Fs7mNWhamADcSpP4jOXjvD-MPWHwChQ5gHaZW6NXV3WX8angKaCYU3KeFZeQG044UCG1_dr4I01Fh0qTdDJcJ2irWHhcwHP9_BMlKCms0HnaYuLckA5O2NEKetAtRCDWyG5cP/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhbaS-B7Fs7mNWhamADcSpP4jOXjvD-MPWHwChQ5gHaZW6NXV3WX8angKaCYU3KeFZeQG044UCG1_dr4I01Fh0qTdDJcJ2irWHhcwHP9_BMlKCms0HnaYuLckA5O2NEKetAtRCDWyG5cP/s320/224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe-pXctMxQIzInTyFWZm91yj5TWrX_pIVvUyLSrYU9MSIOH1d1T074dqOM-XSnIA1BEsvWr_mAEPlgfu0gV7IcVs_3OrM2EVuG_L-iSDs6m-0YjAupWShK8FMcQefMIGRFxLhv_6Cm1HH/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe-pXctMxQIzInTyFWZm91yj5TWrX_pIVvUyLSrYU9MSIOH1d1T074dqOM-XSnIA1BEsvWr_mAEPlgfu0gV7IcVs_3OrM2EVuG_L-iSDs6m-0YjAupWShK8FMcQefMIGRFxLhv_6Cm1HH/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ93bbb05hdyULebZEf4A5eQw_3d2dzK1KBScgvu3d6NSDEOpiN5yTaUMqxwHPXwnhkpCi61E_RAYkAWmiGuWQP8i_MFjF_dkz6bWXAq99QIUoFGwkBf-t2qH_DsG1hnHzt1RsHBrXbBvg/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ93bbb05hdyULebZEf4A5eQw_3d2dzK1KBScgvu3d6NSDEOpiN5yTaUMqxwHPXwnhkpCi61E_RAYkAWmiGuWQP8i_MFjF_dkz6bWXAq99QIUoFGwkBf-t2qH_DsG1hnHzt1RsHBrXbBvg/s320/226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fynVq_oyEWdCSm0XwNkxFS81p7sTNVmRLqpM6ltpuWTqGPf9f8Uxu6ErDB9bNhBs363qQrOIXIH7wr5DqkaBHKtkeGoolgLRGTnBN3XqVlESD0fuNCfwvQem5s3c8957H7rrXvnlBaHV/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fynVq_oyEWdCSm0XwNkxFS81p7sTNVmRLqpM6ltpuWTqGPf9f8Uxu6ErDB9bNhBs363qQrOIXIH7wr5DqkaBHKtkeGoolgLRGTnBN3XqVlESD0fuNCfwvQem5s3c8957H7rrXvnlBaHV/s320/227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Racine's </b>is the name of a famous restaurant here in Denver.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE8HZf5tRm_D86ZXWnEcixxBd23VixP0lqG-8bxTZD1FE8bV1vENsmTXRitOFHD0eHYInyKa7HH-6590yBbNnOidfpLmFjtK4r6jb0yBea_GDfCG_a9EUuwRUcRd0DWS9hefO4HyWv3yl/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE8HZf5tRm_D86ZXWnEcixxBd23VixP0lqG-8bxTZD1FE8bV1vENsmTXRitOFHD0eHYInyKa7HH-6590yBbNnOidfpLmFjtK4r6jb0yBea_GDfCG_a9EUuwRUcRd0DWS9hefO4HyWv3yl/s320/229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MIjX91AH5DbpUp9HG8Hdte7LHuhxKVhO2EYVblxcb9-nPtxEg9W8VMCGrMOSftV0E4_vr0qNuyltI5Se87_Ks-lLmjZPqZBgdrm43_o-PnMfA7N232yAgAnoDj-7l4O2STYoV7AaGvGS/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MIjX91AH5DbpUp9HG8Hdte7LHuhxKVhO2EYVblxcb9-nPtxEg9W8VMCGrMOSftV0E4_vr0qNuyltI5Se87_Ks-lLmjZPqZBgdrm43_o-PnMfA7N232yAgAnoDj-7l4O2STYoV7AaGvGS/s320/230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone feel for camel burgers? You could have had one here!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1-oY_eghLbcuvMGOGybDKT_cmfneu5rCpyr1c2aib-CMvvBsP1xyIyyclmnuIGmLHbkBVvBlYgcXLYQJ1F6zaMeLgUPMw8pXu0xFTWGeH6Cf1TT5m_-CnqScnvF_MuA8sLDM6LSrcy6Y/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1-oY_eghLbcuvMGOGybDKT_cmfneu5rCpyr1c2aib-CMvvBsP1xyIyyclmnuIGmLHbkBVvBlYgcXLYQJ1F6zaMeLgUPMw8pXu0xFTWGeH6Cf1TT5m_-CnqScnvF_MuA8sLDM6LSrcy6Y/s320/231.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhOEbfAb0RVrknsY9SZ-jgMvP_gKUIA2VMXnV4lNxxtSJaW3-MHqApojE5iZLRoNl1TTrdw8YFuk6i4H7B1YeRovytiPEqG4lSOhbOp_HEIn4QdAaEMXnvs0ICxm9Up0JvQoWZx8ve04Oa6/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEbfAb0RVrknsY9SZ-jgMvP_gKUIA2VMXnV4lNxxtSJaW3-MHqApojE5iZLRoNl1TTrdw8YFuk6i4H7B1YeRovytiPEqG4lSOhbOp_HEIn4QdAaEMXnvs0ICxm9Up0JvQoWZx8ve04Oa6/s320/233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0n-krG8Dt5uHKZSilc6ZuDZ4ivzbsxASVRarorZZwN3J-Mp1AVlMmQdryxKpMN_9YK2gz1h4FIeqVELENKS8u8q5x2h3EakB_hkPrRqUocG6Whsl_s8Zo89ql5ngjAyhmv-Wpl9TKOnk/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0n-krG8Dt5uHKZSilc6ZuDZ4ivzbsxASVRarorZZwN3J-Mp1AVlMmQdryxKpMN_9YK2gz1h4FIeqVELENKS8u8q5x2h3EakB_hkPrRqUocG6Whsl_s8Zo89ql5ngjAyhmv-Wpl9TKOnk/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An ear of organic corn was more Steven's style than camel burgers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAy_0g0sO4F_O1HGaIiuR_HJnH_22Vr177wnOE4Nku43ojPLUTxFFHv5wOlQAUIp063bKIoExfRu_jgjAaUksoyuNZM7I8LgxBgSEvaQ9jgGiBaCH5oiHROdRnH4xnfOfcD-RGEXzHSJ0/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAy_0g0sO4F_O1HGaIiuR_HJnH_22Vr177wnOE4Nku43ojPLUTxFFHv5wOlQAUIp063bKIoExfRu_jgjAaUksoyuNZM7I8LgxBgSEvaQ9jgGiBaCH5oiHROdRnH4xnfOfcD-RGEXzHSJ0/s320/236.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi62frWB5lEKAaS4MRY6p5o1DeU5PKBqJBAu2JMOGpqpaT26YwBI7uXRWNhElFK-aQweWtV1d9NmTgkj20zxm8cPL-kHTCIViwbNbo5Sdmd_NeEebP_RV4X04e1xElhC9X9A3OxKSkOSefN/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62frWB5lEKAaS4MRY6p5o1DeU5PKBqJBAu2JMOGpqpaT26YwBI7uXRWNhElFK-aQweWtV1d9NmTgkj20zxm8cPL-kHTCIViwbNbo5Sdmd_NeEebP_RV4X04e1xElhC9X9A3OxKSkOSefN/s320/239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think this was likely to be the closest we'll ever get to <b>Kazakhstan.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv9HBCEbiXEYwvIa8x5ATlFTAbP81XQX4bgY_TUIhiSYa5_nRtgGqSp5p9xOryIhAzLwGZByXXrYfVdgyq667IRV_nycvS4MEg6f-uQHq_ip4hGMp5AqYSwG0RZl3q2D9cY0dvu6HGbVg/s1600/241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv9HBCEbiXEYwvIa8x5ATlFTAbP81XQX4bgY_TUIhiSYa5_nRtgGqSp5p9xOryIhAzLwGZByXXrYfVdgyq667IRV_nycvS4MEg6f-uQHq_ip4hGMp5AqYSwG0RZl3q2D9cY0dvu6HGbVg/s320/241.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJByFPb_pRAyjgYstXQcKYY0p_adRtOhIWA88g801PJPSYX6pjbgvEGQiV-oiTAyoHuaAtSYLPtmRN-GJkvhYIXHj1pI3UHE1rgXaTaAqVHlTLVHRlvMo_wP7HQdK8TKrQlggX3wcFDlkm/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJByFPb_pRAyjgYstXQcKYY0p_adRtOhIWA88g801PJPSYX6pjbgvEGQiV-oiTAyoHuaAtSYLPtmRN-GJkvhYIXHj1pI3UHE1rgXaTaAqVHlTLVHRlvMo_wP7HQdK8TKrQlggX3wcFDlkm/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgkA_KnjHtsYCYvLorSU-8D5hgzkNVX30b80uF9F-CSCD2y8bO70E2nkJfS0EWk6rQpvzkY8fQH0lIuMWnkWMmCZ2T5MyEq6CKkYZrOSb1KAF2T8UI6x1BluuN0JtFhKUC_mFbTHPpUkrcK/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA_KnjHtsYCYvLorSU-8D5hgzkNVX30b80uF9F-CSCD2y8bO70E2nkJfS0EWk6rQpvzkY8fQH0lIuMWnkWMmCZ2T5MyEq6CKkYZrOSb1KAF2T8UI6x1BluuN0JtFhKUC_mFbTHPpUkrcK/s320/244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we were in the Balkan countries at the beginning of our trip, way back in August and September, I had bought small mats just like these. If I had only known, I could have waited to buy them just a few days before we headed home instead of lugging them around for months and months!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN51VBHInJA3f5k0ziSJNsPLEVAvimDfe8LsNvuxzOQgw_0VfRv4_DsnMvBQ7jf9bdgQxXUFxR6PRhkB4H1JKJgSrdxxBnINVKNdqVU0G4-Quf51vOuWp33_Y_hgN4_sqpuLzggK3vo8mD/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN51VBHInJA3f5k0ziSJNsPLEVAvimDfe8LsNvuxzOQgw_0VfRv4_DsnMvBQ7jf9bdgQxXUFxR6PRhkB4H1JKJgSrdxxBnINVKNdqVU0G4-Quf51vOuWp33_Y_hgN4_sqpuLzggK3vo8mD/s320/245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We only spent a little time wandering around the <b>Bosnia and Herzegovina</b> exhibits since we'd been already spent time in the country. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBIeLHQNBahyphenhyphenBAMNUqn9BBaqUlmOYjDIPXhGmknIRjd6ByZyOEPIpf6IGa7xEpsQ5YOqSaMsbJmtIQCvXbdoaD4LPFb5Gn18h0RnfBaEDCCJOE-9AwYDZqt4v5pjy1wZztLGT0CHXbQC4/s1600/246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBIeLHQNBahyphenhyphenBAMNUqn9BBaqUlmOYjDIPXhGmknIRjd6ByZyOEPIpf6IGa7xEpsQ5YOqSaMsbJmtIQCvXbdoaD4LPFb5Gn18h0RnfBaEDCCJOE-9AwYDZqt4v5pjy1wZztLGT0CHXbQC4/s320/246.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxvpGleDABArfCPXwMcKL-__5jolj-34inh1qeOsHp4kXV2nXpPnTKsHL785NxJ6jvA3siSetor_hzZTLP4Bscrm1bHmhjgcXyPnqiHzuRTfwRPmCbCBTJus3pmSVOWFl5lQ96WZCb9RT/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxvpGleDABArfCPXwMcKL-__5jolj-34inh1qeOsHp4kXV2nXpPnTKsHL785NxJ6jvA3siSetor_hzZTLP4Bscrm1bHmhjgcXyPnqiHzuRTfwRPmCbCBTJus3pmSVOWFl5lQ96WZCb9RT/s320/247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX59wz-LXcKvlsnBOWFBGMj2F-OFu7d6mJHCjHeU0GmctGaocwcP9TZ_I6mCwczG_ZhWCaMgOW6OXYfx5xOPsbgW6xbqvlIBrpSzIcCiRc9Q_sdMmx-9KLM8st3jusYQuzcjvKVDqimSWl/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX59wz-LXcKvlsnBOWFBGMj2F-OFu7d6mJHCjHeU0GmctGaocwcP9TZ_I6mCwczG_ZhWCaMgOW6OXYfx5xOPsbgW6xbqvlIBrpSzIcCiRc9Q_sdMmx-9KLM8st3jusYQuzcjvKVDqimSWl/s320/248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZiiR0DdiW40KaETV3hFx-pSMPLXlQOtc8ZRZpzQR7X_m5Hy0OyjkXcMdmF6XWt__Uka63F14s4op9Qt_BV_1IWewNdnMOc_VZkt4yuUIp6MWJJXtaK-4Rlsbktq2QjipTbkc-0aH8LSH/s1600/249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZiiR0DdiW40KaETV3hFx-pSMPLXlQOtc8ZRZpzQR7X_m5Hy0OyjkXcMdmF6XWt__Uka63F14s4op9Qt_BV_1IWewNdnMOc_VZkt4yuUIp6MWJJXtaK-4Rlsbktq2QjipTbkc-0aH8LSH/s320/249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was getting late and we still had a long drive back to the hotel, even if we didn't get hopelessly lost this time, so we made time just for the <b>camel rodeo. </b>I don't think it was called a camel rodeo but it sure appeared to resemble some of the rodeo events we've been to over the years!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdZIqux_lI9MOvz0pyMldnU0Eewzz1CJ7_EEHSMnV1KP4oZP-aD3dejcWX-Wvrgx1wuwIL86SPQA6RGEstentEAbf-IURS-NxtpRAM1aSU0rML0Et5SGnx0it7dOlxoMqWkU7AOO2mTkk/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdZIqux_lI9MOvz0pyMldnU0Eewzz1CJ7_EEHSMnV1KP4oZP-aD3dejcWX-Wvrgx1wuwIL86SPQA6RGEstentEAbf-IURS-NxtpRAM1aSU0rML0Et5SGnx0it7dOlxoMqWkU7AOO2mTkk/s320/253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaXGApYcpT7_zSXzw3oofexiZd71POemtncJKt5LomY2frWZx6vUPBSTg0jYQ2qsuvRQaRSx5LJG8qZhFGaemNhhDYHt_XxwntnmZMFXYBE5XN-f5HyPKOpW-Fch3ufBOfkvozPgYIOHW/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaXGApYcpT7_zSXzw3oofexiZd71POemtncJKt5LomY2frWZx6vUPBSTg0jYQ2qsuvRQaRSx5LJG8qZhFGaemNhhDYHt_XxwntnmZMFXYBE5XN-f5HyPKOpW-Fch3ufBOfkvozPgYIOHW/s320/250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J4-8i54RMLShWGBil7n3PzsrA-166gPow1-u8voSgitEKuv9VBI2KHlIwNsHR6vF8rzHVCN_NWKSCo5l8rBulX5T36kuYZuVaLDs_GOUo7jq1LjWW7M1bgqMfqL0YwipW-mRN_njOZXg/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J4-8i54RMLShWGBil7n3PzsrA-166gPow1-u8voSgitEKuv9VBI2KHlIwNsHR6vF8rzHVCN_NWKSCo5l8rBulX5T36kuYZuVaLDs_GOUo7jq1LjWW7M1bgqMfqL0YwipW-mRN_njOZXg/s320/251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike a 'real' rodeo here in the States that only professional rodeo riders participate in, the announcer in the ring seemed to ask for men willing to sacrifice life and limb by trying to catch and then take down one of the camels by one leg! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJY8PC34wwZXBhOiJaZBaBzyDZOkkX2CdFiBqD-XyjvOn3xV7Brzq4JZeXO36lOuvotWdOfIPMlbEBu4aBfGToBoaAfuo_wd4WWBash_QLG30TnARHEGiZJ0KzRCT-MIFWLrdZsyQfwlO/s1600/254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJY8PC34wwZXBhOiJaZBaBzyDZOkkX2CdFiBqD-XyjvOn3xV7Brzq4JZeXO36lOuvotWdOfIPMlbEBu4aBfGToBoaAfuo_wd4WWBash_QLG30TnARHEGiZJ0KzRCT-MIFWLrdZsyQfwlO/s320/254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdb9LJBP6yo1GwXwnMdKnwdC5UKuSKBbSQiqmobQ5_Y_EYm6ycKiwv5Nt7cAP0Zw_HCLrB-XRk-wtGeHAmlMIRFJO4-3qkLy77vTuw3PZ5GII2T95F-6HxrV6bprq5RGjHvtt7qmvExIf/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdb9LJBP6yo1GwXwnMdKnwdC5UKuSKBbSQiqmobQ5_Y_EYm6ycKiwv5Nt7cAP0Zw_HCLrB-XRk-wtGeHAmlMIRFJO4-3qkLy77vTuw3PZ5GII2T95F-6HxrV6bprq5RGjHvtt7qmvExIf/s320/255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFEYtAjhboWdlRVLUsYQ6jr3wjaIy5Cn0_z-Eo1ouh9yZM58PvrYHtmKeKdK-PBshMtSGHnprFCM8DlmCLzKHBLyAkj0zlqS_INzjUdFnhhnXUcuUgDqTPOWsH9ccsi7QN9KnCN2VDgDw/s1600/256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFEYtAjhboWdlRVLUsYQ6jr3wjaIy5Cn0_z-Eo1ouh9yZM58PvrYHtmKeKdK-PBshMtSGHnprFCM8DlmCLzKHBLyAkj0zlqS_INzjUdFnhhnXUcuUgDqTPOWsH9ccsi7QN9KnCN2VDgDw/s320/256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Each participant had to sign a waiver in the ring before attempting to try his luck. There didn't appear to be any shortage of men wanting to try!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0YvplYogswIhyphenhyphenELwlBYu8rxJ0Y7P1EDWeWHe5TqZNFQ9ytiUge9SY602jR3xvMv_tNtQususACN85bu7AS7rnfjc-pviZDfVGU2Mdmc6knVcSoPMDOLzfRU6qR3by8tI89GoGFx8mJPa/s1600/259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0YvplYogswIhyphenhyphenELwlBYu8rxJ0Y7P1EDWeWHe5TqZNFQ9ytiUge9SY602jR3xvMv_tNtQususACN85bu7AS7rnfjc-pviZDfVGU2Mdmc6knVcSoPMDOLzfRU6qR3by8tI89GoGFx8mJPa/s320/259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ09nmtz1lQSCL5P8h7SEq2U0eB_-vx49oP-s93ACdxqFjwTyHOg76iixvejQVRQoO1hVrbMiHgUWlK_-L3oxyFxX1HPADKnT8i7QvrKdeaEzrv57LCU6Cp9A-luGlUGmZa-y9vjy9D-Rr/s1600/260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ09nmtz1lQSCL5P8h7SEq2U0eB_-vx49oP-s93ACdxqFjwTyHOg76iixvejQVRQoO1hVrbMiHgUWlK_-L3oxyFxX1HPADKnT8i7QvrKdeaEzrv57LCU6Cp9A-luGlUGmZa-y9vjy9D-Rr/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhN5q3HVLaMndq406ZO6giAYaphuOV0ieMiZrdkmHvOnAE6YiCMfXRc621apoH2hNPAjHUcl4B5VcFUKMGY2boKXtehhyphenhyphenjwtx1JPSprtDLM5J7C6l8pAtCjEMT48L77kDcpM2ck0Gp8HBWS/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5q3HVLaMndq406ZO6giAYaphuOV0ieMiZrdkmHvOnAE6YiCMfXRc621apoH2hNPAjHUcl4B5VcFUKMGY2boKXtehhyphenhyphenjwtx1JPSprtDLM5J7C6l8pAtCjEMT48L77kDcpM2ck0Gp8HBWS/s320/262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a hoot watching the wannabe camel riders since that was a first time we'd seen anything quite like that!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHga65II3dRyCVdkC5-_oLL3pYAC5Ds0_CaN1ldJls6t1xCLliS43rIiIBRNvvvwCQ7dIvGp0tpJB7Qtp2wKdbMqShpu-vGdSvSwaC93R8E1wxV0yEQJuvhS-FbhaXe0FEvbrTQX49INq/s1600/264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHga65II3dRyCVdkC5-_oLL3pYAC5Ds0_CaN1ldJls6t1xCLliS43rIiIBRNvvvwCQ7dIvGp0tpJB7Qtp2wKdbMqShpu-vGdSvSwaC93R8E1wxV0yEQJuvhS-FbhaXe0FEvbrTQX49INq/s320/264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXSfOjz1a4AQ7hUKMYDw6ukskmj72GyG9cvrjGzRjpHLmwDX9ILJ6q6w4VbMWFVRXFeUQ4MHYc77fyuj95I0giLu2ivbUyCk0DcBIU8tF5okZL83epTPhWI8OJrTZG8VHkdq1s3axVuQd/s1600/265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXSfOjz1a4AQ7hUKMYDw6ukskmj72GyG9cvrjGzRjpHLmwDX9ILJ6q6w4VbMWFVRXFeUQ4MHYc77fyuj95I0giLu2ivbUyCk0DcBIU8tF5okZL83epTPhWI8OJrTZG8VHkdq1s3axVuQd/s320/265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Festival ended with fireworks close to 11 pm. We were both glad that we hadn't given up trying to find where it was held as it had been so much fun. We both really liked the fact that the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival was held for Emiratis and wasn't a tourist show.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_65-8BCoylkrUiJyvcWhYc3SV61JJl7nE1MKjZWrpgh0H0GwFuloc8rsNSecrndRBMPgW0Nefa5I0QY-7KcaXyvsbIwNjynL6Zc5kbpH6Sp0SAL-lJM9vySR_N6RCjBLyODzaTr6fdpT/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_65-8BCoylkrUiJyvcWhYc3SV61JJl7nE1MKjZWrpgh0H0GwFuloc8rsNSecrndRBMPgW0Nefa5I0QY-7KcaXyvsbIwNjynL6Zc5kbpH6Sp0SAL-lJM9vySR_N6RCjBLyODzaTr6fdpT/s320/266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As some of you often remind us, we had sure packed in a lot of activities once again in our relatively short stay in Abu Dhabi. The city was one of contrasts for us with its spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, stunning skyscrapers along the Corniche, the over the top Emirates Palace Hotel and the rather gritty and close to ugly downtown area. The next day we were on to Dubai - stay tuned to find out soon about that metropolis!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 25th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-50205094752854648772017-02-24T13:03:00.001-08:002017-02-25T04:48:37.370-08:0012/8: Abu Dhabi's Handicraft Center & GORGEOUS Grand Mosque<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After flying from Cape Town to Dubai in the </span><span style="font-size: large;">United Arab Emirates</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and then immediately driving south to the city of Abu Dhabi to visit the mammoth Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, we were on our way in the early afternoon to the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Women's Handicraft Center</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">as it closed shortly for the weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">En route, it was sort of hard to miss the giant UAE flag and portraits of UAE leaders! I couldn't find out who the man was on the right but the one on the left was <b>President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, </b>known simply as Sheikh Khalifa. He became the head of state in November 2004, following the death of his father, <b>Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan </b>who was </span><span style="font-size: large;">known as Sheikh Zayed</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>. </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">Officially, </span><span style="font-size: large;">the president</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is elected every five years by the Federal Supreme Council, but because the ruler of Abu Dhabi customarily also holds the presidency of the UAE, the office is de facto hereditary. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmP6jyW3JctUsrNYrA6hTjrhdj9OsADLy-Lf1BhL5N3v3lef6zj3Edyo31FmEBTs2Ly7TLIJSYxqpsuuDm0uTUEoSXbKkBnO0BLbsLcYmw5epSE-U9lTI5NwEGCh9jMnn5aJk0rRen1Am/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmP6jyW3JctUsrNYrA6hTjrhdj9OsADLy-Lf1BhL5N3v3lef6zj3Edyo31FmEBTs2Ly7TLIJSYxqpsuuDm0uTUEoSXbKkBnO0BLbsLcYmw5epSE-U9lTI5NwEGCh9jMnn5aJk0rRen1Am/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A sneak peak of the </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque </b>that was on our list to tour after the Handicraft Center.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEZwsuXlgyLok5PmJIza1nDoFuMNGRljwicjDMO1U6sSId7KLLlWuf0vceOE9Q_uhsodKOJdSfclqNF2aEbkC-6Z6FrjZ1qWR7FuXBD9cUB9FcS4JvMcUlz09lEhUAKUIfpKbUOcLii7i/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEZwsuXlgyLok5PmJIza1nDoFuMNGRljwicjDMO1U6sSId7KLLlWuf0vceOE9Q_uhsodKOJdSfclqNF2aEbkC-6Z6FrjZ1qWR7FuXBD9cUB9FcS4JvMcUlz09lEhUAKUIfpKbUOcLii7i/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This mammoth image of UAE soldiers graced the exterior of another building.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxrGD-XbTyH4C0DHRgKOshyphenhyphennxry0uiugmW75wZ_N8X2fOFv0Rl3MDJvHFqJV4MF1W_N35HdLvSbwUkbpoMjBGsUr6cuALy6x1IrmnfYrMnnaOVkrO9Vdx9dp2dw3Op7aAhcpmaHkhkX0W/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxrGD-XbTyH4C0DHRgKOshyphenhyphennxry0uiugmW75wZ_N8X2fOFv0Rl3MDJvHFqJV4MF1W_N35HdLvSbwUkbpoMjBGsUr6cuALy6x1IrmnfYrMnnaOVkrO9Vdx9dp2dw3Op7aAhcpmaHkhkX0W/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Women's Handicraft Center was a creative initiative run by the <b>Abu Dhabi Women's Association</b> and funded by the government to showcase and </span><span style="font-size: large;">help preserve</span><span style="font-size: large;"> local arts and crafts, including jewelry and dressmaking. </span><span style="font-size: large;">All the workshops were unfortunately closed but at least the museum was open.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26oXEcOgBFBzbEU1aMHgvj023N_F11q2YTIG_QoCbC6pxW_OXSkxO4JhwMZlGMszn2Lc6gAmCeUjG1qFGsIFN548ergOtTN80QaEvKWFeOtjy1bEMbdkURpU7DmN3-Kse7uHIoLycQ42i/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26oXEcOgBFBzbEU1aMHgvj023N_F11q2YTIG_QoCbC6pxW_OXSkxO4JhwMZlGMszn2Lc6gAmCeUjG1qFGsIFN548ergOtTN80QaEvKWFeOtjy1bEMbdkURpU7DmN3-Kse7uHIoLycQ42i/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was our only opportunity to examine and learn about local artists' handiwork. After welcoming us with tea, the guide told us that all items made in the workshops were done by local single women who were either divorced or widowed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeBSccrUFdsVRwYPnPor06Sy93BoXmSjAP7m1ofjwSeSDG-2CwMol0O_DbfPRoJJWvJC83nQNgSz7MhMg_iar2D1IpqJMbQwzqSd7u6MsP7Bhglzv4RabZoXhO_FnctXKvpxAHIQxMJj5/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeBSccrUFdsVRwYPnPor06Sy93BoXmSjAP7m1ofjwSeSDG-2CwMol0O_DbfPRoJJWvJC83nQNgSz7MhMg_iar2D1IpqJMbQwzqSd7u6MsP7Bhglzv4RabZoXhO_FnctXKvpxAHIQxMJj5/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Telli exhibit,</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">we learned that <i>telli </i>is one of the well known handicrafts in the UAE. Telli, used in decorating dresses, is a strap of colored, lapping silk threads.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_qr4tRhpJCmkr_Oj7l7RiYIQfQKOeihe-wBrWpHA2CagqwR4d73ji3Ld-oa1F6ejZGgaRLuimzviFKr64tcULF3CbSbFSTulIvmjMndk5nGJ9t-rLEefuv9AwQLym6EFU8sD-8ZTxn8J/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_qr4tRhpJCmkr_Oj7l7RiYIQfQKOeihe-wBrWpHA2CagqwR4d73ji3Ld-oa1F6ejZGgaRLuimzviFKr64tcULF3CbSbFSTulIvmjMndk5nGJ9t-rLEefuv9AwQLym6EFU8sD-8ZTxn8J/s320/127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">UAE women in the <b>Khous Workshop</b> at the Center use palm tree branches to make many products including mats. The branches are cut and exposed to sun until the color changes from green to white. In making <i>khous,</i> the women don't just rely on the palms' natural color but combine that with other colors.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjnlX3Cgxtuo5d_HwiNHQonLjZgXhUEG1ADQvOu9bt7IYiprqkBICUNFkGa9DEKpX-jk-yhjMgP7oRIV73s7CgFRr1G-eGxyf1_A1InAoCuwJiE7XebAhIaFleE0-7myrr3LY-IQYLEl4/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjnlX3Cgxtuo5d_HwiNHQonLjZgXhUEG1ADQvOu9bt7IYiprqkBICUNFkGa9DEKpX-jk-yhjMgP7oRIV73s7CgFRr1G-eGxyf1_A1InAoCuwJiE7XebAhIaFleE0-7myrr3LY-IQYLEl4/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg8r9R2vgqj_-379Q5RjKLCrpNASrjtHksGjJLwMwUDRXswwuK-pSMCsl7MDBYr3hjlGwbbiuAMsGs-d7WwpKMWlypC95nRNzGWOvCGlI_YnZj3x3Alxn0ffD3tmtjSyLCf9O0Ef31evJ/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJg8r9R2vgqj_-379Q5RjKLCrpNASrjtHksGjJLwMwUDRXswwuK-pSMCsl7MDBYr3hjlGwbbiuAMsGs-d7WwpKMWlypC95nRNzGWOvCGlI_YnZj3x3Alxn0ffD3tmtjSyLCf9O0Ef31evJ/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After appreciating the example of weaving brocade called <b>sidduh, </b>we left the Center.<b> </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlt0EbsBDcpzvuWnn8O_6m6W_2QnXsPl1v0M7BA7FxAzCdNNilWb4zKvzYzGl1tGq5BjZL9Kug54cQbR_2jcxOiLTdvlqCxNmlW2A2ZnKcGJ3XjuRf8PO3VfHUu6S9pMw0s_t4rW2utlsj/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlt0EbsBDcpzvuWnn8O_6m6W_2QnXsPl1v0M7BA7FxAzCdNNilWb4zKvzYzGl1tGq5BjZL9Kug54cQbR_2jcxOiLTdvlqCxNmlW2A2ZnKcGJ3XjuRf8PO3VfHUu6S9pMw0s_t4rW2utlsj/s320/130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">More views of the Grand Mosque:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzDOtvjKGxGUq5VC6W0i95UEX0cM87CCv3FsMGC_2Ewq7VRFJvpUadHAXP3dYXqIIEpY72F7-4snJVVw17mpzygDHGzX0NL9CyNe-Q-ZvIZhQ7O9HMzroGSAmysxI85NOPZSMtd3jpA1i/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzDOtvjKGxGUq5VC6W0i95UEX0cM87CCv3FsMGC_2Ewq7VRFJvpUadHAXP3dYXqIIEpY72F7-4snJVVw17mpzygDHGzX0NL9CyNe-Q-ZvIZhQ7O9HMzroGSAmysxI85NOPZSMtd3jpA1i/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UZGdfoKY7zGpu8XUjfkFlyTF936W4HKqLWbslp00goJvddMVTndhLiGL2LE_E96h7dpYIds4p0-rX7hpU8r8xt8f8hMVpgxIIrObQ-HEysRRRUu5M81BAOF7IVpulA3W8YdxKEB6Q_5P/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UZGdfoKY7zGpu8XUjfkFlyTF936W4HKqLWbslp00goJvddMVTndhLiGL2LE_E96h7dpYIds4p0-rX7hpU8r8xt8f8hMVpgxIIrObQ-HEysRRRUu5M81BAOF7IVpulA3W8YdxKEB6Q_5P/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I liked how the sound barriers were decorated with the desert motif.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8hEWWRWqdsGVHw1aM4oRD0eEHcG12EptvWSPb_pEmTGJL89eHQfAMhnHOIf9RZ6uIjL5f9JMGynFiHh7evJXby276JvB_vBMeqKfYpmDHnt_zfA0HredIX8kToAOZoZRGN9Ji-LIPOux/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8hEWWRWqdsGVHw1aM4oRD0eEHcG12EptvWSPb_pEmTGJL89eHQfAMhnHOIf9RZ6uIjL5f9JMGynFiHh7evJXby276JvB_vBMeqKfYpmDHnt_zfA0HredIX8kToAOZoZRGN9Ji-LIPOux/s320/140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove along the splendid waterfront corniche en route to checking into our hotel located in the downtown area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvc3IshW_-se0P-ZsRO6aA1AhAM8ZONfpEuK_C8k2qPQBIcy6iPyXVZ3MgvGngWENX9xrte7XEKag7_FU9mmUDUiRbGtT-GVLAzPdoLyNmd2ioiz38twJvlR_epWnovgoMMAh_YejtOVr/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvc3IshW_-se0P-ZsRO6aA1AhAM8ZONfpEuK_C8k2qPQBIcy6iPyXVZ3MgvGngWENX9xrte7XEKag7_FU9mmUDUiRbGtT-GVLAzPdoLyNmd2ioiz38twJvlR_epWnovgoMMAh_YejtOVr/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4IJYl-SFDcT4R0Xgfk0UGmcnUry9MdyzDjPnZldbe1AioqFHJ81lNjeyAfbZs2OVCcglBePwSXc7ac37if26xXzV58jvRrCBF1CHbL7Jgp1qiATVGFsSVQ73MiPkOEm3ykUu-oO9mJxL/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4IJYl-SFDcT4R0Xgfk0UGmcnUry9MdyzDjPnZldbe1AioqFHJ81lNjeyAfbZs2OVCcglBePwSXc7ac37if26xXzV58jvRrCBF1CHbL7Jgp1qiATVGFsSVQ73MiPkOEm3ykUu-oO9mJxL/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The road was lined with an impressive string of high, glass-fronted towers. These were two of the planned three buildings that comprised the <b>Abu Dhabi World Trade Center.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi355d1twLsmIxt2UNcLkU1zKU-jzcn5m23f7g7CEC5Ufcsb6EwG9PpQPFOOc0lKt71jldgysuPH_X1yp5-SJq6UbVCEJGyQWxbfFL0kL7l0rth4NPB6apVs3GW5X7nWn0MbCJ18vFs40aA/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi355d1twLsmIxt2UNcLkU1zKU-jzcn5m23f7g7CEC5Ufcsb6EwG9PpQPFOOc0lKt71jldgysuPH_X1yp5-SJq6UbVCEJGyQWxbfFL0kL7l0rth4NPB6apVs3GW5X7nWn0MbCJ18vFs40aA/s320/145.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Near the hotel was the interesting <b>Al Ittihad Square</b> which was dotted with a striking sequence of four quirky over sized sculptures, including an enormous perfume bottle and a gargantuan coffee pot!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZOtziIEQTBUC-8oxL2C4LSth1A3UurLACnLOJcbLUeljk2B_aGkKMnGwyvbfip7GWSpfUIhskZqR3ATIdzNVFb_oePKnGLrSBhr6LFjqp8r8Ir46rfKd3fKwa805qE2TWgrnD5ieNd7T/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZOtziIEQTBUC-8oxL2C4LSth1A3UurLACnLOJcbLUeljk2B_aGkKMnGwyvbfip7GWSpfUIhskZqR3ATIdzNVFb_oePKnGLrSBhr6LFjqp8r8Ir46rfKd3fKwa805qE2TWgrnD5ieNd7T/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I felt like we were in scenes from Alice in Wonderland looking at these immense sculptures!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0WkNa4pQp7FtxG2AwTdP6xu5QpsFZzrzn3DBdzCQkM-raFH_HsUBqYoctcsyzLa0AFMQ4nQCMEVQ10iPl1Q8-d6Buacv6whKuvdmvP4G67UtIE2XmExzwOqCPNAvd5YYhYEoO93pTlQe/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0WkNa4pQp7FtxG2AwTdP6xu5QpsFZzrzn3DBdzCQkM-raFH_HsUBqYoctcsyzLa0AFMQ4nQCMEVQ10iPl1Q8-d6Buacv6whKuvdmvP4G67UtIE2XmExzwOqCPNAvd5YYhYEoO93pTlQe/s320/149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There were supposed to have been five sculptures but one was missing!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhMezHq30XMlepkbiCl4iIzu8TapQ5GRMgR_tUmMnPguW-SbfafRGx5J3gKYJkMvH7AZ1lU9YFa1blUDjGU1lkmapuAkD0S3th-PUoRogNBrqhtFk3QI9U7UE25Fu96gr0E9ewGEQB_ro/s1600/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhMezHq30XMlepkbiCl4iIzu8TapQ5GRMgR_tUmMnPguW-SbfafRGx5J3gKYJkMvH7AZ1lU9YFa1blUDjGU1lkmapuAkD0S3th-PUoRogNBrqhtFk3QI9U7UE25Fu96gr0E9ewGEQB_ro/s320/150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">FYI: In 2013, the UAE's population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million were Emirati citizens and 7.8 million were expatriates. The Emirates is divided into seven emirates or </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">hereditary absolute monarchies</span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">. Dubai is the most populated Emirate with 35% of the UAE population. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has an another 31%, meaning that over two-thirds of the UAE population live in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMesYAVv8qPEK5rv9VwMFWW6XxSNDdkNYzTVcdPPeD6BFfuNXp_PIu3sjRxpXoffrtrpSfh3PTcv-G974zGqL86LI8Y13gAUWBmHN3ldnNHtNktrChpEyw2lq6Ec_T-W1knqs4wQZMqqT/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMesYAVv8qPEK5rv9VwMFWW6XxSNDdkNYzTVcdPPeD6BFfuNXp_PIu3sjRxpXoffrtrpSfh3PTcv-G974zGqL86LI8Y13gAUWBmHN3ldnNHtNktrChpEyw2lq6Ec_T-W1knqs4wQZMqqT/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked next to the <b>Al Hosn Fort</b> in the very heart of the city. The large white fort was built in about 1763 to protect the town's water source. The outer walls and towers were added later. At one time, it was the only noteworthy building along the coast between Dubai and Doha in Qatar. Until 1972, when Sheikh Zayed moved into a new palace, it was also the ruler's residence. The entire complex had been closed for years for redevelopment and no one knew when it was slated to reopen.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vkH9HavxlpH_JQBOiLU4ho_Dt0uqnz7a29zxd-veAWGthhvi5Qklk9SS1KUaYq3bONuVL5CZj9YRJIZ5Qna4xZ68shKvGeISF3Ovdt8s5TPKrdwEacIV998tSUhkdPXnGnPB4JTWvAXm/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vkH9HavxlpH_JQBOiLU4ho_Dt0uqnz7a29zxd-veAWGthhvi5Qklk9SS1KUaYq3bONuVL5CZj9YRJIZ5Qna4xZ68shKvGeISF3Ovdt8s5TPKrdwEacIV998tSUhkdPXnGnPB4JTWvAXm/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After walking for a good while downtown, Steven and I both thought that downtown Abu Dhabi was pretty dumpy with generally unimaginative architecture and cracked sidewalks everywhere. It felt like it was the proverbial 'ugly stepsister' to Dubai up the road even though it was </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the capital city of the United Arab Emirates</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBuyV1uFKXaIodB4LZ5jhUZZbfhjnQXV8NRRU8yp9swVr_iGuSOb8QbRB2zUonlXCSB_t1_TM5HyaLFw8uIqSTeG5XHQSSmBGSh5Tk4MPGKIADhNUdjj_iJxIdGkOgNCwsZ1kFinxORar/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBuyV1uFKXaIodB4LZ5jhUZZbfhjnQXV8NRRU8yp9swVr_iGuSOb8QbRB2zUonlXCSB_t1_TM5HyaLFw8uIqSTeG5XHQSSmBGSh5Tk4MPGKIADhNUdjj_iJxIdGkOgNCwsZ1kFinxORar/s320/154.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These high rises were more interesting, granted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V7c9aBNDbAKqaDD5mZQseoCEMFKQ32NrjDkUld8-6yFkjl1RwmYfnyVIvTIRQwnwT69hj104IalGQVl-KlThrtLECzD1-N-0_tEKN-IWq3bOmn6nxLebiDA-ZMFIEUIVwGSpqPECv6RH/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5V7c9aBNDbAKqaDD5mZQseoCEMFKQ32NrjDkUld8-6yFkjl1RwmYfnyVIvTIRQwnwT69hj104IalGQVl-KlThrtLECzD1-N-0_tEKN-IWq3bOmn6nxLebiDA-ZMFIEUIVwGSpqPECv6RH/s320/155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Although it was far from obvious, Abu Dhabi, which means <b>Father of the Gazelle,</b> was actually built on an island.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYwjaBj5VJUQIdrKw0r5hDY_PGWzex4AgdPqW1iieaO-J06guN-YN3tW7O_pgvdBl46prqX4gNX-9rv7yN0YdNVlo-EQDrw-wBvvYsprWbX8NA2getgP5VI-h2-vMoP6aw2R1DTHu1-21/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYwjaBj5VJUQIdrKw0r5hDY_PGWzex4AgdPqW1iieaO-J06guN-YN3tW7O_pgvdBl46prqX4gNX-9rv7yN0YdNVlo-EQDrw-wBvvYsprWbX8NA2getgP5VI-h2-vMoP6aw2R1DTHu1-21/s320/157.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rising over the southern part of the city was undoubtedly Abu Dhabi's single most worthwhile attraction, the <b>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. </b>There are almost 19,000 reviews of the mosque on Trip Advisor to give you an idea of why we wanted to visit it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7_yBOBJWrPODrcq0dBr7H0L7K6XJ0_VDfonUzMWZWfFVGHRcoUjhAOkmeYFY6ovWbDI_SWLzD2X_7U0Gze21EfDLD1bYe4SjLUu5uFbfmFlcFM4RYjR_dPXrDr4lQpdehDpjeyl9R9HM/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7_yBOBJWrPODrcq0dBr7H0L7K6XJ0_VDfonUzMWZWfFVGHRcoUjhAOkmeYFY6ovWbDI_SWLzD2X_7U0Gze21EfDLD1bYe4SjLUu5uFbfmFlcFM4RYjR_dPXrDr4lQpdehDpjeyl9R9HM/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The spectacular, snow-white </span><span style="font-size: large;">mass of </span><span style="font-size: large;">domes and minarets had been visible for miles around. Completed in 2007, the mosque was one of the world's biggest and certainly the the most expensive, having cost some $500 million! It was only one of three mosques in the Emirates open to non-Muslims.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKAm9GolYKlKmj_EtKDmMdsBDQyxvBNkRzc3ixirRJbJtZsaSYrnyJSuplwAA85-izdX37ZCDqkCuiPkMOYjtKC68vq9yO9j34is6qQ-iG_yPIKUB-S1dEKZAJCvqmId4eQw6JEyKScTD/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKAm9GolYKlKmj_EtKDmMdsBDQyxvBNkRzc3ixirRJbJtZsaSYrnyJSuplwAA85-izdX37ZCDqkCuiPkMOYjtKC68vq9yO9j34is6qQ-iG_yPIKUB-S1dEKZAJCvqmId4eQw6JEyKScTD/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The dress code to enter the mosque was very explicit for both men and women. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A woman's arms and legs had to be fully covered in order to enter the mosque. I</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">n 2013, singer <b>Rihanna</b> received negative criticism for taking photographs, with the mosque in the background, during a private visit. During the incident, when she was reported to have posed in a manner deemed offensive and provocative, staff asked her to leave following the incident! </span><span style="font-size: large;">More recently, <b>Selena Gomez</b> was criticized by Instagram users for posing for pictures at the mosque with her ankle shown.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbm038nAAAPgSmtxEdgKtsbq0NJZJ85S79q5Zxs9G3BVAOXmfot5t7FneIAf4l0cBT043bjJTruqvWSzKGu_wHmpdD9vEnPRabZtpf2zETjiJS1QskrUCgj7euNhL6YZIf0YFTvD8rKUc/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbm038nAAAPgSmtxEdgKtsbq0NJZJ85S79q5Zxs9G3BVAOXmfot5t7FneIAf4l0cBT043bjJTruqvWSzKGu_wHmpdD9vEnPRabZtpf2zETjiJS1QskrUCgj7euNhL6YZIf0YFTvD8rKUc/s320/162.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The project to build the mosque was begun by the late president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the "cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art." His final resting place was located on the grounds beside the mosque. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfAkj5xwFO9Am_ZuCKv2TdLxOP51CbFWZoNUMXcGclNsLHUL8H-UxB9csGuIPDN5BCoaUlOV9pmns2M2Cpz1efq77CUjaGTp2rt9V19X0PzWEy3mIP-2fesU6nQWDgFMO4hdxcp2ZlCec/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfAkj5xwFO9Am_ZuCKv2TdLxOP51CbFWZoNUMXcGclNsLHUL8H-UxB9csGuIPDN5BCoaUlOV9pmns2M2Cpz1efq77CUjaGTp2rt9V19X0PzWEy3mIP-2fesU6nQWDgFMO4hdxcp2ZlCec/s320/163.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The enormous building complex measures approximately 960 ft by 1,380 ft, covering an area of more than 30 acres, not including exterior landscaping and parking!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeUz4ZrELHvDDSJlCOyDblNIRjS3mH1t0tzgk7CwUy3uhjrekK-a72udo1gyPYH2fJ_n3m_pOZ4-jv4X9s838GKSU7IDga_pcjUTsuslMXclS_4CSPpLkx6IqRIoKLruMM9irWXz2_Gp0/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeUz4ZrELHvDDSJlCOyDblNIRjS3mH1t0tzgk7CwUy3uhjrekK-a72udo1gyPYH2fJ_n3m_pOZ4-jv4X9s838GKSU7IDga_pcjUTsuslMXclS_4CSPpLkx6IqRIoKLruMM9irWXz2_Gp0/s320/164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque's design and construction "unites the world", using artisans and materials from many countries</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">including India, Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Macedonia and the UAE. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sJM0Pu7baywaJCY8bSaS73KbK0VBgBwHB6QXoDmqLMRILc7X1WOg7WW0C8OTWiSyyTi_cFYp3kAVkunFhok5GicLKdZdcQaxj-1n-f9WzqPPbsTO7RTVzJ7HThl7ul3Y86MO1PHWhV11/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sJM0Pu7baywaJCY8bSaS73KbK0VBgBwHB6QXoDmqLMRILc7X1WOg7WW0C8OTWiSyyTi_cFYp3kAVkunFhok5GicLKdZdcQaxj-1n-f9WzqPPbsTO7RTVzJ7HThl7ul3Y86MO1PHWhV11/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">More than 3,000 workers and 38 contracting companies took part in the construction of the mosque.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9gxOXujUkxycp9e74EM0_hrzLGdXEFziW1fbPFHE69qWgNhReqJ71pqgySEkKNK8YrOmQ8HIExBVBdKExlhx-ujlx3ML4cpKT7YbcgCZQOuGQiS1UtuFrVG9xT6dTWn6GwsxLfLuaRIL/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9gxOXujUkxycp9e74EM0_hrzLGdXEFziW1fbPFHE69qWgNhReqJ71pqgySEkKNK8YrOmQ8HIExBVBdKExlhx-ujlx3ML4cpKT7YbcgCZQOuGQiS1UtuFrVG9xT6dTWn6GwsxLfLuaRIL/s320/166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM-sgzRCujMZMcCw1yCqTvquImizKiyVm49FN4_0SzO8sVUhnpJphmPunZ553n08ozvKvcKtSHWNdMISHLQPhXmXADNgtynuGIaAVzK4ujQZi268RtwJKfrnBCgQiMdZ5eGkYigQMF9ii/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtM-sgzRCujMZMcCw1yCqTvquImizKiyVm49FN4_0SzO8sVUhnpJphmPunZ553n08ozvKvcKtSHWNdMISHLQPhXmXADNgtynuGIaAVzK4ujQZi268RtwJKfrnBCgQiMdZ5eGkYigQMF9ii/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We hadn't known when we arrived at the mosque that the last tour of the day was about to start at 5 so we had spent time wandering around the most impressive complex before entering it. It was only after a good amount of pleading on my part and saying (truthfully, of course) this was our only chance to take a tour that we were finally able to join in as it had already started by then. I can't tell you how thankful we were!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ_15vA_g4rPBIL_qCmJB8HaMWNtX5gYeUksIOgYQHq4703lP0QADjv_ojjng9rx89VgOfb2LLb1x94qytg8ENJxDA67SzNfNgm6sRXs7Ocf-t8ipgghyphenhyphenvLavXEm24vh6pH8wdobE9Iur/s1600/170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ_15vA_g4rPBIL_qCmJB8HaMWNtX5gYeUksIOgYQHq4703lP0QADjv_ojjng9rx89VgOfb2LLb1x94qytg8ENJxDA67SzNfNgm6sRXs7Ocf-t8ipgghyphenhyphenvLavXEm24vh6pH8wdobE9Iur/s320/170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2nYidYKqk2dfpbvblx2GiS2zSDSnqohbLfq0Vc9O1PWSqwura57ZzMwdGzGa_rNvYn5iuIoJGV3Q81_N0SzhgHaN512M5yJPUOpeEEG3cjtBaOsncIE2_FWZiTEn4fph8-9hWXi37a0G/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2nYidYKqk2dfpbvblx2GiS2zSDSnqohbLfq0Vc9O1PWSqwura57ZzMwdGzGa_rNvYn5iuIoJGV3Q81_N0SzhgHaN512M5yJPUOpeEEG3cjtBaOsncIE2_FWZiTEn4fph8-9hWXi37a0G/s320/171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There were four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard which rose about 351 ft in height. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzOfhSoTk6RM5bRLFKDxxLMwnnUCuvLxdfkFLGuEECW6r8EFknI3emu92TPXgJMERy6nWh6SrTvMUPGuR8nWZ9MMo9QtlWycejaQ2OG03xmpHwFvmhrq5OSSDY2F1oed9fFTYoxv5AOL-/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzOfhSoTk6RM5bRLFKDxxLMwnnUCuvLxdfkFLGuEECW6r8EFknI3emu92TPXgJMERy6nWh6SrTvMUPGuR8nWZ9MMo9QtlWycejaQ2OG03xmpHwFvmhrq5OSSDY2F1oed9fFTYoxv5AOL-/s320/172.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKKgeDdeXlp55H1PDkbhw_sIYV276ArlF03kaMHY0KozYCEGPsOGxfEv-9xX3noscRYBz0PzH0daY28JUjS21XPa7mzO-Zthgi1WZpH1CevelwyFR4YuJj1LQiLuMgCLfH70p8QBTZhPK/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKKgeDdeXlp55H1PDkbhw_sIYV276ArlF03kaMHY0KozYCEGPsOGxfEv-9xX3noscRYBz0PzH0daY28JUjS21XPa7mzO-Zthgi1WZpH1CevelwyFR4YuJj1LQiLuMgCLfH70p8QBTZhPK/s320/174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPMpXlsoiQTypISkm6Xnuo7XyN-tqnkmQe-4e2AMTAXh_pGi8aM0zWoSNk1lqKCyPZNmKf_RJD55OVRukx5tcBlf-yqT6N1xzDJ2uEyGCGd5opHhqrLAsMyHOxaL7MQ7sVEmLmMogf3oB/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPMpXlsoiQTypISkm6Xnuo7XyN-tqnkmQe-4e2AMTAXh_pGi8aM0zWoSNk1lqKCyPZNmKf_RJD55OVRukx5tcBlf-yqT6N1xzDJ2uEyGCGd5opHhqrLAsMyHOxaL7MQ7sVEmLmMogf3oB/s320/175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK1_XlGjg51rAplkFVGIqPkxVtWzNR0dOdk1fLxcL39Bhxw7_Q_B0yX67Lo01_PwdNMRepBxOaCieojwZhRgeZ33j5x7TSI2qkpRN9awRRPX6xavCf4UkfLDTudBnr47PrKw0ksyLFtTN/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwK1_XlGjg51rAplkFVGIqPkxVtWzNR0dOdk1fLxcL39Bhxw7_Q_B0yX67Lo01_PwdNMRepBxOaCieojwZhRgeZ33j5x7TSI2qkpRN9awRRPX6xavCf4UkfLDTudBnr47PrKw0ksyLFtTN/s320/176.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As the country's grand mosque, Sheikh Mosque is the key place of worship for </span><span style="font-size: large;">gathering on </span><span style="font-size: large;">Friday mornings - the beginning of the Muslim weekend - and holiday prayers. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNbSdVJHWM3RQ14J4CfN1FMhE8taUfhoZykr0xXC4Aql66uYUy79rj0PgciAIDoepgTfUXbosMFgm39VyPBrLZ82d2RZ9zuM2s_-ccsdJ395Fssb08Vk3nY7jRwxCWKmhll3iNc2KfGKm/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNbSdVJHWM3RQ14J4CfN1FMhE8taUfhoZykr0xXC4Aql66uYUy79rj0PgciAIDoepgTfUXbosMFgm39VyPBrLZ82d2RZ9zuM2s_-ccsdJ395Fssb08Vk3nY7jRwxCWKmhll3iNc2KfGKm/s320/178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">massive </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">courtyard, with its stunning floral design, measured about 180,000 sq ft, and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">It could accommodate 17,400 worshipers but, when the additional halls are full during the Muslim religious holidays of Ramadan and Eid, <b>31,000 faithful</b> can pray at the mosque! </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The main prayer hall could accommodate over 7,000 worshipers. Two smaller prayer halls, with a </span></span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">capacity of </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">1,500 each, one of which is the female prayer hall, were also part of the mosque.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp7HNKIT_AEmdp_Z_HGdema_6QZmgb8cpEBZmP1SA-u8KR5yJnPs17MJlgiZpshYYUYu-akonpKvwtcjT9DFEZLMrh9VZ28zdXRosSAYauiFnE1jKFMWwz2JyWxaXT_OtZSTqgIKg9Afe/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp7HNKIT_AEmdp_Z_HGdema_6QZmgb8cpEBZmP1SA-u8KR5yJnPs17MJlgiZpshYYUYu-akonpKvwtcjT9DFEZLMrh9VZ28zdXRosSAYauiFnE1jKFMWwz2JyWxaXT_OtZSTqgIKg9Afe/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide explained that there were more than one thousand million pieces of mosaic in the courtyard floor which was designed by a Briton.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOivw6rfHYdpEvQD3h-pR1AaC1m0zSUHUN8sQCIdNi_IISOqzvLSEJao6Z3iMX4jqFcUDHdrU0whHMwg0_PQHJQPLLM-XrzS9HySHdf_GTIttr-f8CniK1fdSThIaQ6dsj5L2H3n721Dk/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOivw6rfHYdpEvQD3h-pR1AaC1m0zSUHUN8sQCIdNi_IISOqzvLSEJao6Z3iMX4jqFcUDHdrU0whHMwg0_PQHJQPLLM-XrzS9HySHdf_GTIttr-f8CniK1fdSThIaQ6dsj5L2H3n721Dk/s320/181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Gold adorned the top of each of the 82 onion-shaped domes, according to the guide. This dome, which contained the first <b>library </b>ever included in a mosque, </span><span style="font-size: large;">served the Muslim community with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilization, calligraphy, the arts, coins and included some rare publications dating back more than 200 years. In reflection of the diversity of the Islamic world and the United Arab Emirates, the collection included material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Korean.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWXIh-0kQaxdxCx3vREsl5pgcoW000kSJhq-u39ybBXiO_LVKNmoo4iy7xzU60kP2X9rhQCVD5CWIm7Qj__N24vjt5NpOgKfg9e2cXo7uFq4s2ilMmNWb4fGA05vpqAK7mx8bv-Hmm4P0/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWXIh-0kQaxdxCx3vREsl5pgcoW000kSJhq-u39ybBXiO_LVKNmoo4iy7xzU60kP2X9rhQCVD5CWIm7Qj__N24vjt5NpOgKfg9e2cXo7uFq4s2ilMmNWb4fGA05vpqAK7mx8bv-Hmm4P0/s320/182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another of the four minarets:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EuvAtg8iDFeFnR-Sr9VssFpii_m2uoY_Zlh3XVhmtNCQOieCc3zoTe8IUj0jPxg8i30q5rPbvopbTw1uS4q49BBdKWGTiEG4IaNuRSEsi8angEndD5IfbbaItSyLh6RAQfmXlBl9lie/s1600/183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2EuvAtg8iDFeFnR-Sr9VssFpii_m2uoY_Zlh3XVhmtNCQOieCc3zoTe8IUj0jPxg8i30q5rPbvopbTw1uS4q49BBdKWGTiEG4IaNuRSEsi8angEndD5IfbbaItSyLh6RAQfmXlBl9lie/s320/183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Three calligraphy styles were used throughout the mosque. The style in the ceilings of the long corridor was called <b>Kufic.</b></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgWCqXLYIbnGV3tBqpf13eOf7ODT85iwKLYjU5O50PMBR7T1nTsH3jFqA7McsD9klSxap6h5BlxBboA5S6exPiP6B3rIIXZ-zl_Tu3H_5wFIlLJYT3NKudVCkyNFVAc7qB__6uzR-Tb49/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgWCqXLYIbnGV3tBqpf13eOf7ODT85iwKLYjU5O50PMBR7T1nTsH3jFqA7McsD9klSxap6h5BlxBboA5S6exPiP6B3rIIXZ-zl_Tu3H_5wFIlLJYT3NKudVCkyNFVAc7qB__6uzR-Tb49/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN4R2nYT0y7Iu-Odg2YOwonhBUfScBO9VOMYrPSBJMrcrZcsrFk-RVEQ7cFw9HHkGRvI902S5wGw8bXcuYb-mgeHu7DVylmEVUhaE-1ZVWbiaco_DB-vAzaelf55UxWBEmz25wDmmt5XW/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaN4R2nYT0y7Iu-Odg2YOwonhBUfScBO9VOMYrPSBJMrcrZcsrFk-RVEQ7cFw9HHkGRvI902S5wGw8bXcuYb-mgeHu7DVylmEVUhaE-1ZVWbiaco_DB-vAzaelf55UxWBEmz25wDmmt5XW/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the main prayer hall alone, there were a staggering 1,096 pillars and either 94 or 96 columns depending on what source you believed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISCe0mTQ3KBZoFG3zooMiqv_2nQBpQo4yYY7YPTwlCY1Teq5txnRlJnq5M8JAtNJT2Ukh9DPxkFm-lxkyOYIYWa9f83kblKfaWLGzDg49qTMLbrZIIHZZDPLRFIHlSHKXAsgO2VQhSooX/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISCe0mTQ3KBZoFG3zooMiqv_2nQBpQo4yYY7YPTwlCY1Teq5txnRlJnq5M8JAtNJT2Ukh9DPxkFm-lxkyOYIYWa9f83kblKfaWLGzDg49qTMLbrZIIHZZDPLRFIHlSHKXAsgO2VQhSooX/s320/188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide mentioned that t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">six-sided </span><span style="font-size: large;">columns </span><span style="font-size: large;">represented date palms and </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">were clad with Italian marble and inlaid with mother of pearl and semi-precious stones, including lapis lazuli. To say that they were magnificent was an understatement!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpgvbLsmoSHwd95qXD2MBPPLSEsjEb23Em4qk0QaqVaLMomxryujAb-r7-KeL7x99tzV5t0WOt1SufEakK6pghHqNkk5s-U8Hom_HsPlsnFlKwmsKKXLWJTENFE1vcnsK6V3rELZunP1-/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpgvbLsmoSHwd95qXD2MBPPLSEsjEb23Em4qk0QaqVaLMomxryujAb-r7-KeL7x99tzV5t0WOt1SufEakK6pghHqNkk5s-U8Hom_HsPlsnFlKwmsKKXLWJTENFE1vcnsK6V3rELZunP1-/s320/190.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHBd1f1CdrfdWGbyTgAiBmsai2u843VkP3TWttioUzvxrxW4eHKLS1tLF_YW8O6Juo0lGipQUiVKuZM1QPbT0rAVzK_IQsv3FGBxa8KBXQuEle2U1WMwEefrQeVEdivs7e0RTOzUcU464/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHBd1f1CdrfdWGbyTgAiBmsai2u843VkP3TWttioUzvxrxW4eHKLS1tLF_YW8O6Juo0lGipQUiVKuZM1QPbT0rAVzK_IQsv3FGBxa8KBXQuEle2U1WMwEefrQeVEdivs7e0RTOzUcU464/s320/191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_WAA-c95UEjj3YykplTyd5wOzCOw8YCgQHRN2TT6MGp7LxVIHhMHVVlL6W6fC9AKgDijT7fRYWmIpLiYxKq7SoG6iojQxmBGP19Qd0TkGIltH7o2l4Lo6Z5pH9L8rf_y2eAZKzc-D-Yt/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_WAA-c95UEjj3YykplTyd5wOzCOw8YCgQHRN2TT6MGp7LxVIHhMHVVlL6W6fC9AKgDijT7fRYWmIpLiYxKq7SoG6iojQxmBGP19Qd0TkGIltH7o2l4Lo6Z5pH9L8rf_y2eAZKzc-D-Yt/s320/193.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iI3woS9Fyj-k_3_G72KcYvd4TL9_wl9qUx5VcoWOtecPH80u_RMBtDB99Sv1P-M-LoY05e52l_j1DVlGBUF06985JhCXEQWTgi2WGNS7lh4dUTwTkeV7KnqrnN1Dl_Sf1LoJnsxex1jQ/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iI3woS9Fyj-k_3_G72KcYvd4TL9_wl9qUx5VcoWOtecPH80u_RMBtDB99Sv1P-M-LoY05e52l_j1DVlGBUF06985JhCXEQWTgi2WGNS7lh4dUTwTkeV7KnqrnN1Dl_Sf1LoJnsxex1jQ/s320/194.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Surrounding the mosque were 22 towers with different types of lighting and each with 10-15 projectors to reflect the clouds and phases of the moon onto the pools, according to our guide.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx-I5dQBLbdBCcRS597jRZNIdB1rpAvuvdhcrWXUNAQou5ulOdidlJ_5h7_2oE_CZP2tlmzbcbv0bNOA6eG_7Gj45tTWYacwPw0FRc59tsrTfwRlMyHsdI4atxaJXgJWlUCRwVlSRomSn/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx-I5dQBLbdBCcRS597jRZNIdB1rpAvuvdhcrWXUNAQou5ulOdidlJ_5h7_2oE_CZP2tlmzbcbv0bNOA6eG_7Gj45tTWYacwPw0FRc59tsrTfwRlMyHsdI4atxaJXgJWlUCRwVlSRomSn/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbf-A3j8pHeoPdfL7S-Rb8s-RrCgU6TMWGBdUGcYT1l9A5CSY4RuctX0_Y9kVQBxR3ReOIiODA74CckVWgQcQUYI0XNtLG3VnDxf_OA6i6pipdtaLbtwD0VBOLyaErmNir7XH-w8xYxt2/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbf-A3j8pHeoPdfL7S-Rb8s-RrCgU6TMWGBdUGcYT1l9A5CSY4RuctX0_Y9kVQBxR3ReOIiODA74CckVWgQcQUYI0XNtLG3VnDxf_OA6i6pipdtaLbtwD0VBOLyaErmNir7XH-w8xYxt2/s320/196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickVKDYcBb_pRqPd0lI9m8p51Hd5aUpjWXEXFBFgp5zS1OlwtzlGEacV5yWwkdDtyQATBPC0FrmYpdoyU8kqn7-wKjQVmg3dnsUv_OnjqtxUO5eNM-7AxEn_xCbv3nGAG_b3EH4OQmM0VM/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickVKDYcBb_pRqPd0lI9m8p51Hd5aUpjWXEXFBFgp5zS1OlwtzlGEacV5yWwkdDtyQATBPC0FrmYpdoyU8kqn7-wKjQVmg3dnsUv_OnjqtxUO5eNM-7AxEn_xCbv3nGAG_b3EH4OQmM0VM/s320/199.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzvrwbIbQqgAFw7B9TdiPMhgZMxyECoxgU5IKL6meYqw2EhXyq-mDC0XQFhtkLLviqUJK3S_WFEV1Z3m05FgHRSdivTfxb7j0HhD1pu5nLSMntpj0TYMJ_xgwRjn7AGfXtaHnGFAgNtz8/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzvrwbIbQqgAFw7B9TdiPMhgZMxyECoxgU5IKL6meYqw2EhXyq-mDC0XQFhtkLLviqUJK3S_WFEV1Z3m05FgHRSdivTfxb7j0HhD1pu5nLSMntpj0TYMJ_xgwRjn7AGfXtaHnGFAgNtz8/s320/201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I would hazard a guess that this had to be the fanciest water fountain we've ever encountered!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvEWxoEtdiCBulDf6wJIaH-Nyf9rCEBv2E9Sht0v13bcQ_m2wRdDsxHpjDa2k097rrpP5KY0vugYcTQIrR4P53Rm0dQtDqFYGOkauAkhpv0vyrKMZgM-4thrfLIbVmkEWmi5SRyH6Hp6M/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvEWxoEtdiCBulDf6wJIaH-Nyf9rCEBv2E9Sht0v13bcQ_m2wRdDsxHpjDa2k097rrpP5KY0vugYcTQIrR4P53Rm0dQtDqFYGOkauAkhpv0vyrKMZgM-4thrfLIbVmkEWmi5SRyH6Hp6M/s320/203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjI0xJlQoy-KIwKhyT4U-_6XSaFwadAEVbw-UVb7ukHLvsqzY4k_Q2CpbEroVpUmkNFJHU70kqTI5cHUXcQBaszad4R7ODiu5ug0Bqjzz2xR9Iuaf3pWTrcUuZf0z4RuF33A64Xk-yweV/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjI0xJlQoy-KIwKhyT4U-_6XSaFwadAEVbw-UVb7ukHLvsqzY4k_Q2CpbEroVpUmkNFJHU70kqTI5cHUXcQBaszad4R7ODiu5ug0Bqjzz2xR9Iuaf3pWTrcUuZf0z4RuF33A64Xk-yweV/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Prior to entering the main prayer hall, everyone had to remove their shoes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXsHcY5zz-XWLNLDvN7Afx8YjyQcfl6O0nZ-rGCgSi_cRii-FpWYVCg7WVpN9h9bzdtYjBaghCBEuCC3solEwtGwLpOJoBRuLbzRnmeZr7dILhnaiUacevUK8hLWJA9guTvIb7wOV7SXm/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXsHcY5zz-XWLNLDvN7Afx8YjyQcfl6O0nZ-rGCgSi_cRii-FpWYVCg7WVpN9h9bzdtYjBaghCBEuCC3solEwtGwLpOJoBRuLbzRnmeZr7dILhnaiUacevUK8hLWJA9guTvIb7wOV7SXm/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide led us through the middle of the three entrances; the others, she explained were on the north and south sides of the hall. She told us that males and females don't pray together because Muslims believe women want privacy when they pray. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIH4qqkApAiNOYbd9tDR7BxlYyMJeipWxICDu7h0soxVUQWKzgbG7vcl-_Eaha4oW6HkH2Ml8gUcEWYSxoFPCM7B0c4fEMMTrUn94DZkReHcPNbPnPVlqGMZJVQBov7yoZcSV8j8sQFUz/s1600/208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIH4qqkApAiNOYbd9tDR7BxlYyMJeipWxICDu7h0soxVUQWKzgbG7vcl-_Eaha4oW6HkH2Ml8gUcEWYSxoFPCM7B0c4fEMMTrUn94DZkReHcPNbPnPVlqGMZJVQBov7yoZcSV8j8sQFUz/s320/208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide revealed that there were seven domes in the mosque but this one was just the 'baby one' weighing only 1.5 to 2 tons! The chandeliers, incorporating millions of Swarovski crystals, came from the Faustig Company in Munich.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jhLvA9U53UpENW0OA73kmC4rSuI2Zpb0qK2fDqEBrrhtBdrCSHb52OcVO0vY33JKCgk2hVlzMdnbexozpcRhP1TUaZrGhFT_96ltskQYO0CCaH-yv7hq0PhmIAlfTCv-qVt1z7VeXnJg/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jhLvA9U53UpENW0OA73kmC4rSuI2Zpb0qK2fDqEBrrhtBdrCSHb52OcVO0vY33JKCgk2hVlzMdnbexozpcRhP1TUaZrGhFT_96ltskQYO0CCaH-yv7hq0PhmIAlfTCv-qVt1z7VeXnJg/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK2GKNol20knVeKw9qHhU4Qhe3XFXQPqzI-C_hVLXuWPLMK14kK7BRzAaiEtr7xre7te4iUH9SY2hwoL5qY-RrkJdsaqveBbpjB6-7BmBlDb5tD3y-I3DIG0QglPjLD1U3-dNPam8rmAD/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK2GKNol20knVeKw9qHhU4Qhe3XFXQPqzI-C_hVLXuWPLMK14kK7BRzAaiEtr7xre7te4iUH9SY2hwoL5qY-RrkJdsaqveBbpjB6-7BmBlDb5tD3y-I3DIG0QglPjLD1U3-dNPam8rmAD/s320/209.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The flowers decorating the walls and floor represented the image of the garden Muslims have in heaven, according to their faith. The mosque’s main floral displays are not the work of a garden designer or a landscape architect but of <b>Kevin Dean,</b> an English artist and designer trained at the Royal College of Art. He had worked for clients such as the Natural History Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Yn3CgQKSgZBGDJ3J-kO3RV_2E3W9zOd2aSASF6714wasqFJyhVy-xnF4ZHCh69UHA9Ge3WGirIZf9z5h-5f0tZ1cN2cKxQsMSxdrLkyOsN0rbFslVstO3KU36IO1gyoya8-vGNDirsJn/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Yn3CgQKSgZBGDJ3J-kO3RV_2E3W9zOd2aSASF6714wasqFJyhVy-xnF4ZHCh69UHA9Ge3WGirIZf9z5h-5f0tZ1cN2cKxQsMSxdrLkyOsN0rbFslVstO3KU36IO1gyoya8-vGNDirsJn/s320/211.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dean was already an established designer of floral designs and motifs, producing designs for clients such as the British stores Marks & Spencer and Laura Ashley. He had also provided the botanic illustrations for several best-selling children’s books. In an interview, </span><span style="font-size: large;">Dean explained that he had come </span><span style="font-size: large;">from a family of gardeners </span><span style="font-size: large;">and he'd always been interested in flowers and drawn them since he was quite young.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zp0-otz2RuCC6fhtILeEygVFIw2NJms0Y7GARM9U7cRTFOhsqR31Wmg_oookKI65EcqrjUtojUzkom0yeq-EKDG7wka_lESKP406-xc9f7naM-qMWE0oBrBgR-66AfP6zlorztOfevDq/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zp0-otz2RuCC6fhtILeEygVFIw2NJms0Y7GARM9U7cRTFOhsqR31Wmg_oookKI65EcqrjUtojUzkom0yeq-EKDG7wka_lESKP406-xc9f7naM-qMWE0oBrBgR-66AfP6zlorztOfevDq/s320/212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite this experience, however, Dean stated that the scale of the project took a little getting used to. The mosque’s main courtyard alone provided an almost 200,000-square foot canvas. </span><span style="font-size: large;">"It’s a bit daunting when you think about the scale, but if you forget about all that and just treat it as a design within a space then everything follows," he recollected. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom788Wp8vYmsV14EsJ2p12iDKs7yQuYgIDNKbSAKHnC7nSYkd86qmp0bFBGs2uMPBLcdB8teNXSOfZ0NOGCc3uGMJ3FVTH4VpmTa-QF9PIOjMyrDZeWFG6ObrcSx_NNOG3kocQlrT1fpj/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom788Wp8vYmsV14EsJ2p12iDKs7yQuYgIDNKbSAKHnC7nSYkd86qmp0bFBGs2uMPBLcdB8teNXSOfZ0NOGCc3uGMJ3FVTH4VpmTa-QF9PIOjMyrDZeWFG6ObrcSx_NNOG3kocQlrT1fpj/s320/213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWLoz-WmGHUdoIVZLgenNjGpmf4Tc-1ggGi85OUUCVHA7YozK3FqXNo7r8L8WrAEx5M3pFUBkvQamCMlk5H_m3ds55exEwiRsqB64eG7JKLScFBFxG-oi45vgnKlaf6YEt-sWlLqoItoN/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWLoz-WmGHUdoIVZLgenNjGpmf4Tc-1ggGi85OUUCVHA7YozK3FqXNo7r8L8WrAEx5M3pFUBkvQamCMlk5H_m3ds55exEwiRsqB64eG7JKLScFBFxG-oi45vgnKlaf6YEt-sWlLqoItoN/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dean</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">used flowers found in the Middle Eastern region, mostly irises, tulips, lilies and roses.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGyu9gj3sMvVOAWqUxNFNo_5cIYeX43N15dMpKn8C5OALtfKPNE_feX4-JmKtTxF2KpvcCnm6lY9MqJZmiSyIvsXndyZjglww8KmtazqaxrHRun0869ACD340m7jwnCazOvIvNjfWCd1V/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGyu9gj3sMvVOAWqUxNFNo_5cIYeX43N15dMpKn8C5OALtfKPNE_feX4-JmKtTxF2KpvcCnm6lY9MqJZmiSyIvsXndyZjglww8KmtazqaxrHRun0869ACD340m7jwnCazOvIvNjfWCd1V/s320/218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was one of twelve clocks in the prayer halls and each was decorated with mother-of pearl. They listed the daily times for prayer as observed by the most faithful Muslims and also reminded Muslims when both Ramadan and Eid began and ended. The guide said Muslims can only pray in a clean place and must have washed some part of their bodies before praying.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViMb0KnaFekmRVcfZiO7LU8MJ6xOFa2VhqSEeCjZoCHRGkFVmO3BBzdKJqoMND88XOPkQlmbTvZNwQnuk5Iv12o3XE1gtGde59P13oyITBz4YKOMhZHm7GuxEF5OAgiWiIs2PAYN40p-g/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViMb0KnaFekmRVcfZiO7LU8MJ6xOFa2VhqSEeCjZoCHRGkFVmO3BBzdKJqoMND88XOPkQlmbTvZNwQnuk5Iv12o3XE1gtGde59P13oyITBz4YKOMhZHm7GuxEF5OAgiWiIs2PAYN40p-g/s320/219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTPAejfMwQf_dqltmU8gxp4J0BB7rB5OCgAq9U-buaZ-K-njgb8zjtOJI7YrTfh9B9UjBHFBgOFMp38RPMMpcDh1vEXBp4929lXpqVvG1orKpyhlO5-7Nxdc3kRx1BhXpdVIyWLGPjooD/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTPAejfMwQf_dqltmU8gxp4J0BB7rB5OCgAq9U-buaZ-K-njgb8zjtOJI7YrTfh9B9UjBHFBgOFMp38RPMMpcDh1vEXBp4929lXpqVvG1orKpyhlO5-7Nxdc3kRx1BhXpdVIyWLGPjooD/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world and had a 33 ft diameter and a 49 ft height. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The 12 ton chandelier was held up by a wire that could support 13.5 tons! Cleaned twice a year, it uses 155,000 LED lights, our guide said. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoLOWTCf5qAnKEsSwggcwMpAcNfMy4_htwJgyPatiVPfWAGPnc1L-MuWurLqv-myM3JALVj0R2eZlo7EdpZL9_RDQpDL0CtvAvK9XhfCAbE8YIiCV-IDFVdChuXFHAayV9dNBF8GBL9sT/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoLOWTCf5qAnKEsSwggcwMpAcNfMy4_htwJgyPatiVPfWAGPnc1L-MuWurLqv-myM3JALVj0R2eZlo7EdpZL9_RDQpDL0CtvAvK9XhfCAbE8YIiCV-IDFVdChuXFHAayV9dNBF8GBL9sT/s320/223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The light at the bottom of the chandelier represented the fruit of the date palm and the chandelier mirrored the carpet design just below it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKLSyyL2Uf1fRLSD4rmTp1KAwpmjo6C_UoxMb-vxRX1xvvDXS5xbNHnlEwzFta-5O2JsXR_KMJ3BACUxbPFI3-RjeJBtFMXMTCXhuz1273G7lywZvIfdS-OWsPGfLnvbpWt2y7aOYh4A/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKLSyyL2Uf1fRLSD4rmTp1KAwpmjo6C_UoxMb-vxRX1xvvDXS5xbNHnlEwzFta-5O2JsXR_KMJ3BACUxbPFI3-RjeJBtFMXMTCXhuz1273G7lywZvIfdS-OWsPGfLnvbpWt2y7aOYh4A/s320/228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The carpet in the main prayer hall was declared by the Guinness </span><span style="font-size: large;">Book of World Records in 2007 to be the world's largest carpet. Designed by Iranian artist <b>Ali Khaliqi,</b> the carpet measured 60,570 sq ft, and was made by approximately 1,200-1,300 carpet knotters. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt2wgW0VlPCQVPCnqnLr8fIJtIOhXHH1ZUrHdbbsul0AC9DDr8VRv5YvuGOOuC-AiiH4lyIRTN5zvKjfwLTrXcIk0C_AvIQ3j2CnRfX1SyMY1I-18i_9ZJcn8d7fT6Hw_C0YUDF5QdKiS/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt2wgW0VlPCQVPCnqnLr8fIJtIOhXHH1ZUrHdbbsul0AC9DDr8VRv5YvuGOOuC-AiiH4lyIRTN5zvKjfwLTrXcIk0C_AvIQ3j2CnRfX1SyMY1I-18i_9ZJcn8d7fT6Hw_C0YUDF5QdKiS/s320/226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dkH-VCUBGVQEaHmUPRdVpVMG11Dh7ZVIX_qP8xXR0f5VPg9Q2pOimnPhCUCPmEtC2DMP5C_58oCcQBiv6oRr5UsCeRkx0V7nbHua4eKJnEFHE9CKXf4hdJrYDyJKuuQm2o6Kg6bS_9ap/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dkH-VCUBGVQEaHmUPRdVpVMG11Dh7ZVIX_qP8xXR0f5VPg9Q2pOimnPhCUCPmEtC2DMP5C_58oCcQBiv6oRr5UsCeRkx0V7nbHua4eKJnEFHE9CKXf4hdJrYDyJKuuQm2o6Kg6bS_9ap/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">35-ton</span><span style="font-size: large;"> carpet was predominantly made from wool originating from New Zealand and Iran. There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete. It was brought into the mosque in nine pieces where it was then sewn together. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U5zNYyvTheZDQh3PwS2f3hB8TJk-9uSEe8ElxFxd0KHrzJI3FZOBkstDHl9by-MBuQJSJVf5Ms0KgfPPVivRfLm81k0j2-SxkW6WxPGp5DX42PJ4v_poiKAOAb2KKGpsU32a8LLPqnho/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U5zNYyvTheZDQh3PwS2f3hB8TJk-9uSEe8ElxFxd0KHrzJI3FZOBkstDHl9by-MBuQJSJVf5Ms0KgfPPVivRfLm81k0j2-SxkW6WxPGp5DX42PJ4v_poiKAOAb2KKGpsU32a8LLPqnho/s320/227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I forgot to write down what this part of the prayer hall was called next to the pulpit but </span><span style="font-size: large;">our guide reported</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the gold represented the 'rivers of honey' and the white represented 'rivers of milk.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqMgh-duhDIIIDq4yqpolS6K0j5odTqwaeV7O40F3SRDuGteAJzu7KuEm2SHepfj4RlnD_TnIZ-SVnRbPGE4_31pj3GFcJhFa0gmsSuLW-QoPYhRQKnjbTO_DyjBd-A8v1utWl4dDtbYS/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqMgh-duhDIIIDq4yqpolS6K0j5odTqwaeV7O40F3SRDuGteAJzu7KuEm2SHepfj4RlnD_TnIZ-SVnRbPGE4_31pj3GFcJhFa0gmsSuLW-QoPYhRQKnjbTO_DyjBd-A8v1utWl4dDtbYS/s320/229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LKAC2LYbKwAzXJZDVK7YFqo041hrkmRAaKDQvnsWBCxd44rZQ4Lq9v3FC7fSCcXMLJz6VTYEXpe664yUXMnWadCaQsMPbpBTGNNYwscvYBLKIqJqGqaCx2zLrsItru7mkaUnehbQB_Pq/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LKAC2LYbKwAzXJZDVK7YFqo041hrkmRAaKDQvnsWBCxd44rZQ4Lq9v3FC7fSCcXMLJz6VTYEXpe664yUXMnWadCaQsMPbpBTGNNYwscvYBLKIqJqGqaCx2zLrsItru7mkaUnehbQB_Pq/s320/230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All Muslims have to learn the 99 qualities </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">or attributes </span><span style="font-size: large;">of </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Allah or </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">God,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> she said, that were inscribed in the flowers that almost reached the ceiling. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The qualities were featured on the <b>Qibla wall</b> in traditional Kufic calligraphy. The Qibla wall also featured subtle fiber-optic lighting as part of the organic design.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDePOdV_sSgoHjgbjP5XUVX-GCvqVMx2l8ilYL3V7D_njjY_laRFteMMs_JVwKPljB3emEdbOwC1hSkn5898kzL7T4clzVwYMMVm6uos-5hi_mHnLZkFT8shwAy5TTwm5EMxdaaLhH2sd/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDePOdV_sSgoHjgbjP5XUVX-GCvqVMx2l8ilYL3V7D_njjY_laRFteMMs_JVwKPljB3emEdbOwC1hSkn5898kzL7T4clzVwYMMVm6uos-5hi_mHnLZkFT8shwAy5TTwm5EMxdaaLhH2sd/s320/232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sermons given by the <i>imam,</i> the leader of the mosque, normally last 10 to 15 minutes. The topics, not necessarily religious themes, are chosen by the country's Islamic leaders, not by the government, our guide pointed out.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd7Alkqr6WpKgBpNzAY9YAJ5Vr-EH1s4fq_Wjozw4ZZSPfkfGgYs4nOleS0okZoREj0ivLcGOz2SBqgfQwi2J0hndgFPkNdGb76U_u6vhzwKVmxQRx-lNZMoC7GTDmKNwDIg4CRH8MG2n/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd7Alkqr6WpKgBpNzAY9YAJ5Vr-EH1s4fq_Wjozw4ZZSPfkfGgYs4nOleS0okZoREj0ivLcGOz2SBqgfQwi2J0hndgFPkNdGb76U_u6vhzwKVmxQRx-lNZMoC7GTDmKNwDIg4CRH8MG2n/s320/233.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking barefoot on the cool white marble or on the immense silk carpet was an experience we won't soon forget.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMPr7c6XDzqxgfZC_xqNW7jggNfHamttqvpHs36hBaHbF2cLuqkzzmrfMSddhxDipDvjhG7L2z1cq60nufRYTJ-ZZetpCxtODJqCjDByvm74cMrNG6wmzJVehVnV-fhtW1SzDgL31lKpy/s1600/235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMPr7c6XDzqxgfZC_xqNW7jggNfHamttqvpHs36hBaHbF2cLuqkzzmrfMSddhxDipDvjhG7L2z1cq60nufRYTJ-ZZetpCxtODJqCjDByvm74cMrNG6wmzJVehVnV-fhtW1SzDgL31lKpy/s320/235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_csZeN5j6MOG0ILwZoJ-ZQ9vx-WqKnJGFUfZKO_UvTVpHSjIEU9Idqmu4tixVaBNeybIJ0BekkbzJC-a6HeLAm6Tgyu_NWGn3P5LXA_D7ZSri2DISbDvdZmZCfJNskJPHhcu5_h-U_iN/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_csZeN5j6MOG0ILwZoJ-ZQ9vx-WqKnJGFUfZKO_UvTVpHSjIEU9Idqmu4tixVaBNeybIJ0BekkbzJC-a6HeLAm6Tgyu_NWGn3P5LXA_D7ZSri2DISbDvdZmZCfJNskJPHhcu5_h-U_iN/s320/236.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RD87WGiGdCzQGZqfthLcTNOqUOX3rCIoiFd1SOeoU3s67X0ztN69_S-ME_baIhBpb6oCIGvRPG4LGX7F1fK9XSiC2ICcac0fO_org_dtxdYk0nJ48ti_w4IROCDz0krJuvssxInEHBn6/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RD87WGiGdCzQGZqfthLcTNOqUOX3rCIoiFd1SOeoU3s67X0ztN69_S-ME_baIhBpb6oCIGvRPG4LGX7F1fK9XSiC2ICcac0fO_org_dtxdYk0nJ48ti_w4IROCDz0krJuvssxInEHBn6/s320/240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwaeg5hxKvVVQcWpMrVTw8QYMTY0wGM6PVTbgEwo78fyqgp6ZujohNFeS9b-3cT7jTDBylMFwo4WsZmpRGVcgxxW4upL-pcT0pe9awdEaslN1A1dL7gpFlJoOQRpCHtmmFce9YuqmIVwe/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwaeg5hxKvVVQcWpMrVTw8QYMTY0wGM6PVTbgEwo78fyqgp6ZujohNFeS9b-3cT7jTDBylMFwo4WsZmpRGVcgxxW4upL-pcT0pe9awdEaslN1A1dL7gpFlJoOQRpCHtmmFce9YuqmIVwe/s320/237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could only marvel what an experience it would be to see 7,000 plus worshipers in the main prayer hall. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> With so few people though, there was a sense of absolute tranquility and serenity throughout the mosque.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6p81gSTmihXK7SFk7f0DnFoJTBuBvL4K-oLi7swslU99gx01Csa2EHsaxJgWACXl2hfM_5NZXgpRUEW_V4i_kOCKYSgUtyyI1l2i83LuGWc9cdhrFw0uBGYX1jbrf3t5fNHoo7NYoroG/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6p81gSTmihXK7SFk7f0DnFoJTBuBvL4K-oLi7swslU99gx01Csa2EHsaxJgWACXl2hfM_5NZXgpRUEW_V4i_kOCKYSgUtyyI1l2i83LuGWc9cdhrFw0uBGYX1jbrf3t5fNHoo7NYoroG/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiB5_otFO2mmPGuPUY_AMEisPW3nYnWBv7dRjG5DJnTQTZgLP9o0biOSxt1wAgvSfy9d4neWy5PYdgvlD2XYRH5h83yBABV7AUwVUSw1pRA2fc6wMbTHFgGq80JeASogSZHzyxLZu73zq/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiB5_otFO2mmPGuPUY_AMEisPW3nYnWBv7dRjG5DJnTQTZgLP9o0biOSxt1wAgvSfy9d4neWy5PYdgvlD2XYRH5h83yBABV7AUwVUSw1pRA2fc6wMbTHFgGq80JeASogSZHzyxLZu73zq/s320/243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another of the amazing chandeliers:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrWSJIk9kFj_D88MPlkEbwqehq1cHAT-PYXrvTK0T7yFXnRcpnmlhQRhHNuGGfz-0OLf6X57Yj3_OcQ8oIps2n-4zrcU5KUVXkC1mQllj4zfOkZXcfJMPTQizENMuE7dmjtMcnYcWhz8x/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrWSJIk9kFj_D88MPlkEbwqehq1cHAT-PYXrvTK0T7yFXnRcpnmlhQRhHNuGGfz-0OLf6X57Yj3_OcQ8oIps2n-4zrcU5KUVXkC1mQllj4zfOkZXcfJMPTQizENMuE7dmjtMcnYcWhz8x/s320/247.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful wood doors were made of teak from India.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_b1ha8NCmd6oLzJy5eMqKm0Fw2plOeqox-Mvtsi3BzsS8hHEzmUvOGOpI-ks-O5Rt0OnIyPkaFguyCoyKQrrjP60Tm7v92ikvfECOej2WMtob46qpPLwlowlqyv5lfMLW-rzNK_jjBgh/s1600/249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_b1ha8NCmd6oLzJy5eMqKm0Fw2plOeqox-Mvtsi3BzsS8hHEzmUvOGOpI-ks-O5Rt0OnIyPkaFguyCoyKQrrjP60Tm7v92ikvfECOej2WMtob46qpPLwlowlqyv5lfMLW-rzNK_jjBgh/s320/249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeHgJ67pq1SV_HEBdUkj8UEUFWFDmxkieWvI_985Umlc5DZ39l-7_9ooabrKsDUqLkh-bsS3neZ_9NfDwMLGe1GZlmm08_9LZ99Vw0egxyBIpcrhvTCRqT-gKaaR5Mp3NVchCPaBsL2v8/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeHgJ67pq1SV_HEBdUkj8UEUFWFDmxkieWvI_985Umlc5DZ39l-7_9ooabrKsDUqLkh-bsS3neZ_9NfDwMLGe1GZlmm08_9LZ99Vw0egxyBIpcrhvTCRqT-gKaaR5Mp3NVchCPaBsL2v8/s320/248.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2QapFl953WhLESqok3CVK89aGJm_r8jRQxu0S6Tf6Iks-NatrpL4FVAM14JVZo2S0n-B0gS6tYld9p_JT_9kq0V9CV3m6lYpi7w6uD_6yuRxTyzQ_yyl65XJslOAn07c9zl-Czr2-oGg/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2QapFl953WhLESqok3CVK89aGJm_r8jRQxu0S6Tf6Iks-NatrpL4FVAM14JVZo2S0n-B0gS6tYld9p_JT_9kq0V9CV3m6lYpi7w6uD_6yuRxTyzQ_yyl65XJslOAn07c9zl-Czr2-oGg/s320/250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyz2VJVYiuMPLkoovRERgiia7AFhZc6j7BgEJd5462PSEow420Mu-nuAyDGGqWYtWYI_IrtkOW0LLri7Rrv2DTKCqBO-usCQcMhzAvtpHNYkRJBFJ_d4lv0tcNBWKuC63biul3Xf9vbXd/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyz2VJVYiuMPLkoovRERgiia7AFhZc6j7BgEJd5462PSEow420Mu-nuAyDGGqWYtWYI_IrtkOW0LLri7Rrv2DTKCqBO-usCQcMhzAvtpHNYkRJBFJ_d4lv0tcNBWKuC63biul3Xf9vbXd/s320/255.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41hPffTi8pyT3tJS1GavJKfogGt7TXiuklvmSdDgxA4yAPpSGki_kH0NhWiPgRNnG02cWtdGYVVUeUAQxy2lrJHPw1R7TyHvj0L7iGBxcCCfdmHdEBUP6qj4uTWM9XRxpvOu20_nfTPEv/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41hPffTi8pyT3tJS1GavJKfogGt7TXiuklvmSdDgxA4yAPpSGki_kH0NhWiPgRNnG02cWtdGYVVUeUAQxy2lrJHPw1R7TyHvj0L7iGBxcCCfdmHdEBUP6qj4uTWM9XRxpvOu20_nfTPEv/s320/257.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The attention to detail throughout the mosque was unbelievable. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8k1-gVyZK8QsGRxWUNFWmHA2UTfCKtlEj3Uco1r_lsMqastAYtcOk-xH0dShiC0U9s1hW0raNVq2DSd12R2DxT-rN9QCGBmCYgA9880ZYzeltrmQqhRo7qEhaxAjaLKgt6RZYXqcJlwW/s1600/258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8k1-gVyZK8QsGRxWUNFWmHA2UTfCKtlEj3Uco1r_lsMqastAYtcOk-xH0dShiC0U9s1hW0raNVq2DSd12R2DxT-rN9QCGBmCYgA9880ZYzeltrmQqhRo7qEhaxAjaLKgt6RZYXqcJlwW/s320/258.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The mosque's floral motif was extended to each of the entryways.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E6rXlkFlU0xNkN24D7zWRECtEqeSpbuY8tDGDkn_eJUj-sHJdYd7e12O7nzjWc5qKmLrue-4idOV67zbD29eWMgPdxsk9FxVeCxxfTcGCvJW4aqnmq0ve3nyQT8v0lrhSdKGO4V_qtde/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E6rXlkFlU0xNkN24D7zWRECtEqeSpbuY8tDGDkn_eJUj-sHJdYd7e12O7nzjWc5qKmLrue-4idOV67zbD29eWMgPdxsk9FxVeCxxfTcGCvJW4aqnmq0ve3nyQT8v0lrhSdKGO4V_qtde/s320/261.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs286JCr3SbmZhBDnw1O5PtGf6BMKnL7FUc1NMS-DO1cmZX4ergg5Sds1NP-N_ZapJ4HzzUdy4amHZ1n6qAzgkxH8GGEpgiINp-mrGoECV1TPBoZAurRvSTofHfynNtV3RweSvQnWCZ7Bv/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs286JCr3SbmZhBDnw1O5PtGf6BMKnL7FUc1NMS-DO1cmZX4ergg5Sds1NP-N_ZapJ4HzzUdy4amHZ1n6qAzgkxH8GGEpgiINp-mrGoECV1TPBoZAurRvSTofHfynNtV3RweSvQnWCZ7Bv/s320/262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLGq594Re4IdZmC01bXNVheh5KJy1Ng3AEIHLjxW261snFFH-FGeNc1jyrYyS7rIkRCg7TNOM1ylOcTMRKximqn4lZFQwwnUREXI3eg573Mrze6cZLm6qvL34mqQwmed-3JJ3ktgIYvsZ/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLGq594Re4IdZmC01bXNVheh5KJy1Ng3AEIHLjxW261snFFH-FGeNc1jyrYyS7rIkRCg7TNOM1ylOcTMRKximqn4lZFQwwnUREXI3eg573Mrze6cZLm6qvL34mqQwmed-3JJ3ktgIYvsZ/s320/263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can't imagine ever seeing more cottony clouds in my life than these were; they were simply spectacular and added to the entire experience.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo20Hd3Vm4jrEL-Uj-AvTvXKkhKCkNqiT80Y8pHCu15HLqSsgkDTlfYIG2JYmKKnaH2IGPzGuKkm96qF0g5Axbnq_VQChr15nQTHV7QH5pQHDRDtSjGK7_O8hUE_TtBrgkmUHjz3aJEa9V/s1600/264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo20Hd3Vm4jrEL-Uj-AvTvXKkhKCkNqiT80Y8pHCu15HLqSsgkDTlfYIG2JYmKKnaH2IGPzGuKkm96qF0g5Axbnq_VQChr15nQTHV7QH5pQHDRDtSjGK7_O8hUE_TtBrgkmUHjz3aJEa9V/s320/264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs8_q6vBOZbKcP_FGUMqGz0gEfXYGusahmx8KqMRwfA94wGaHCol58LKWHcCtUVGi36-kJdN80sQBmYkDZz_7kxtlwsZhhRkjkA_olRQvKD0Z4DBn9FtP55ObuDBK4tuu_nyyvrHdgNbM/s1600/265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs8_q6vBOZbKcP_FGUMqGz0gEfXYGusahmx8KqMRwfA94wGaHCol58LKWHcCtUVGi36-kJdN80sQBmYkDZz_7kxtlwsZhhRkjkA_olRQvKD0Z4DBn9FtP55ObuDBK4tuu_nyyvrHdgNbM/s320/265.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Retrieving our shoes from the shoe rack after the tour ended at 5:45.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7aECSkG3nULM1iHBcKSkG3nZgNjT9LVQwqSsUp_HMckyZ53BtnWnROZroORhvj2TIVLUGbLhaFSqt_UH6NbfiAVNLMRhwDKRB1lUMKOamsBPFqqlv4jXoMutrWpQ_wz6IXyX19fvLzU5/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7aECSkG3nULM1iHBcKSkG3nZgNjT9LVQwqSsUp_HMckyZ53BtnWnROZroORhvj2TIVLUGbLhaFSqt_UH6NbfiAVNLMRhwDKRB1lUMKOamsBPFqqlv4jXoMutrWpQ_wz6IXyX19fvLzU5/s320/266.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved how one of the minarets was framed between the columns.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPcjFlQy9OfJgWPcIwf9y7IXpnGVyuaIZOeGVRQWusIf4TLsSccgc0rJyrmPkTfc6e8hg5CoT9YnwAlVIjz3CZeM1eEC21JUpTicXPEdfRiTsACj1_6SqvwDIKvbaXfUDZ864pv4KgNM7/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPcjFlQy9OfJgWPcIwf9y7IXpnGVyuaIZOeGVRQWusIf4TLsSccgc0rJyrmPkTfc6e8hg5CoT9YnwAlVIjz3CZeM1eEC21JUpTicXPEdfRiTsACj1_6SqvwDIKvbaXfUDZ864pv4KgNM7/s320/269.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I have been lucky enough to visit some other stunning mosques in our trips around the world the last few years. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque had to have been the most amazing modern mosque we have ever been to. With all the beautiful stark-white marble, it reminded me of a modern version of the <b>Taj Mahal.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8TJjrN4GRik8YgiNkSCBJKc7rVO0i0BzvgVkXxEOlTVH7A4nAt9dw6eOQ4LHK3oHJ_886_YSB0fIBC3sksnPNaMTKRlq6zpCPiSQTpU12ejnr5XDNjNE-4Y1r2ud9czC7TUNZEQ7fXzr/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8TJjrN4GRik8YgiNkSCBJKc7rVO0i0BzvgVkXxEOlTVH7A4nAt9dw6eOQ4LHK3oHJ_886_YSB0fIBC3sksnPNaMTKRlq6zpCPiSQTpU12ejnr5XDNjNE-4Y1r2ud9czC7TUNZEQ7fXzr/s320/270.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the tour, it was dark and the building was completely different with lights. That just meant even more photos of the mosque in the vastly different light!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSSOSV11P2jY16S-ppmmhlUtclXUHejn0zyp2PH-at1cKPME9ggcY3XHg7f3TIOn1Kq6uo3C4n7Pa5YvRitTcvmrpYCV9l6Gt3h65mq46UWsr6-8vwleSJu5Ao4io1GmCGo1_-J4ePUgt/s1600/271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSSOSV11P2jY16S-ppmmhlUtclXUHejn0zyp2PH-at1cKPME9ggcY3XHg7f3TIOn1Kq6uo3C4n7Pa5YvRitTcvmrpYCV9l6Gt3h65mq46UWsr6-8vwleSJu5Ao4io1GmCGo1_-J4ePUgt/s320/271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3iX2cSITVxmxg-WWnZLVcyCVklSBPJxoqVWUJ1HuMRKmF804iarOJ-nRu1teOz-JFUlm7JLh1b2EssOUiaAHRWRMn6AoLXlmh3gVv-8dknF5fYD_JOoKJs2wQAVIpW7kHFa9kyhvh1Hg/s1600/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3iX2cSITVxmxg-WWnZLVcyCVklSBPJxoqVWUJ1HuMRKmF804iarOJ-nRu1teOz-JFUlm7JLh1b2EssOUiaAHRWRMn6AoLXlmh3gVv-8dknF5fYD_JOoKJs2wQAVIpW7kHFa9kyhvh1Hg/s320/272.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCeI3XIh1mu8ISO1J0hHOIUNESgwsfjcHAYe1smXsUoIGUKGtxevPTAfOqUIRwk3RiZw9_yyn9gTuK0mk0xHmj5863w66A5MHfDoPK05-9fj3UHdLjsSpQ6oED-n_KOhroejAB8e1o14F/s1600/273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCeI3XIh1mu8ISO1J0hHOIUNESgwsfjcHAYe1smXsUoIGUKGtxevPTAfOqUIRwk3RiZw9_yyn9gTuK0mk0xHmj5863w66A5MHfDoPK05-9fj3UHdLjsSpQ6oED-n_KOhroejAB8e1o14F/s320/273.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The mosque's unique lighting system was designed by lighting architects to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds were projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr7mGYrKgTlLpnCJpD7kos6SbSjmiAPhTFX1XgDpD565Z59ex81Z2oh83MbP1K_7amMVJzHPK6mybGDKdpTQUWxLu2_Rks37gledwbzdigWOk-8TgGIQpZg30BDRfUSnENjtZ8_fA54gy/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr7mGYrKgTlLpnCJpD7kos6SbSjmiAPhTFX1XgDpD565Z59ex81Z2oh83MbP1K_7amMVJzHPK6mybGDKdpTQUWxLu2_Rks37gledwbzdigWOk-8TgGIQpZg30BDRfUSnENjtZ8_fA54gy/s320/274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkoAVUbXsY5xTiH4cKf-IUTIN70lslSc5Xqn19pMpKLP1MnMtSuPaaHiGxhVZvrykXsLDV24O7gXVeyyFh7QRdEiaBrj-Vz1E6ip8exLJTFU52VEbWoruSmn4G0qYkrkyoZnc6hs1BgUY/s1600/275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkoAVUbXsY5xTiH4cKf-IUTIN70lslSc5Xqn19pMpKLP1MnMtSuPaaHiGxhVZvrykXsLDV24O7gXVeyyFh7QRdEiaBrj-Vz1E6ip8exLJTFU52VEbWoruSmn4G0qYkrkyoZnc6hs1BgUY/s320/275.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2GR5qwBlIYUO63bExSYGDjL1mq-mfhJi8er4E_81pbEkAD7JFHNJDFlxYWl1PhMX3m-gd1cy8F48O5aiwqdeztUAp7YvYbO-UCf_3wbSSyiqaoINrT254nn6lQan-XQi74QcjHU7TGGK/s1600/276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2GR5qwBlIYUO63bExSYGDjL1mq-mfhJi8er4E_81pbEkAD7JFHNJDFlxYWl1PhMX3m-gd1cy8F48O5aiwqdeztUAp7YvYbO-UCf_3wbSSyiqaoINrT254nn6lQan-XQi74QcjHU7TGGK/s320/276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fT-PBGYTyMxzS_0iCKLoijle0OwAHbjWgx6kJKp6pAFnNPmyStvJ5fQWqZGxTWfzn4HhIV9XetAt9KQdXQKiV4JiU5XW0bcN2kwtzO5xvny6am17xTgr7yWMQJsHZ7PlLVpD6lHyU3zj/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fT-PBGYTyMxzS_0iCKLoijle0OwAHbjWgx6kJKp6pAFnNPmyStvJ5fQWqZGxTWfzn4HhIV9XetAt9KQdXQKiV4JiU5XW0bcN2kwtzO5xvny6am17xTgr7yWMQJsHZ7PlLVpD6lHyU3zj/s320/277.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh_N8DGgAl6xVuvTR5YezCGhaQR23Mb-fDKNtVwJ23ihgsu1RlwhyphenhyphenR85T5NC5aMoNb5GAHJ4z5WqSIPY9x4uATASpyBffcfZkIhFlFv4BbZFid_SWdMag213YC4mazjJLHeotUpcypWm8/s1600/278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh_N8DGgAl6xVuvTR5YezCGhaQR23Mb-fDKNtVwJ23ihgsu1RlwhyphenhyphenR85T5NC5aMoNb5GAHJ4z5WqSIPY9x4uATASpyBffcfZkIhFlFv4BbZFid_SWdMag213YC4mazjJLHeotUpcypWm8/s320/278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_SYXMuOg791GJt94cfN_EhNFXWkv5w2En4EqMsHn1E6R6cFvQUw70ZQPi32XGvs47Vpl72YLdMmrvAwf1d2fXPDp1K5jT3V3nP0R6B4j3uYWhbp1tmTeWIjBBuHMlKdUZmlNhiah03ue/s1600/280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_SYXMuOg791GJt94cfN_EhNFXWkv5w2En4EqMsHn1E6R6cFvQUw70ZQPi32XGvs47Vpl72YLdMmrvAwf1d2fXPDp1K5jT3V3nP0R6B4j3uYWhbp1tmTeWIjBBuHMlKdUZmlNhiah03ue/s320/280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFHQY1QPZ358Tk0lqA1tKLWt20pDWcRA3vVr1_IWU9Z_Jb4MBo0rmImSB3-OqRzX3T6WMDJo_7jY5u0tnS96xIxG9WDC2iaa00gq-BncfKYMIVgrc9u-KTXiOoFrUMbQ7bEJMRWOknRAZ/s1600/281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFHQY1QPZ358Tk0lqA1tKLWt20pDWcRA3vVr1_IWU9Z_Jb4MBo0rmImSB3-OqRzX3T6WMDJo_7jY5u0tnS96xIxG9WDC2iaa00gq-BncfKYMIVgrc9u-KTXiOoFrUMbQ7bEJMRWOknRAZ/s320/281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The pools along the arcades reflected the mosque's spectacular columns, which were even more glorious at night, if that was possible.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiCZj836BO6pwDrk7-Z_SOBF91nyQl_Oh24cMr1Sv0t1KmRjr5Ie_JEYyWj4BHP9D9Jg6he_zIRPcimG_n1j6TuQuz7nUBJ6I_KelPMBLnv1cM9miRTFABksGiS-T24jhyhrLdaCML5qr/s1600/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiCZj836BO6pwDrk7-Z_SOBF91nyQl_Oh24cMr1Sv0t1KmRjr5Ie_JEYyWj4BHP9D9Jg6he_zIRPcimG_n1j6TuQuz7nUBJ6I_KelPMBLnv1cM9miRTFABksGiS-T24jhyhrLdaCML5qr/s320/282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2VJqRcPYwk7PBGwVPqhduuis3U0hgBplcU3AtmFAsWeQC-dj-__m6bG8-oUGPvyU8GaCo_kzeDPpNUhVtIrP6hYvQkyXldERwDdDpZasNu8HbNR3ONDGFiFkmy1SQjsmzTxWXov7UGpV/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2VJqRcPYwk7PBGwVPqhduuis3U0hgBplcU3AtmFAsWeQC-dj-__m6bG8-oUGPvyU8GaCo_kzeDPpNUhVtIrP6hYvQkyXldERwDdDpZasNu8HbNR3ONDGFiFkmy1SQjsmzTxWXov7UGpV/s320/283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AvxNtzaAEAvc40B5Oarkfq0iLua6cvIaYHyoVSEz7xjRfw3OWZc3qtq_ReWpJXY5mkGMpm8IFntehbmg-jcewvjhmO0pEYj6KKDiQtyPW1sBbj5q5gidA2lMJXyguU9cTE4QoIeX6sWc/s1600/284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AvxNtzaAEAvc40B5Oarkfq0iLua6cvIaYHyoVSEz7xjRfw3OWZc3qtq_ReWpJXY5mkGMpm8IFntehbmg-jcewvjhmO0pEYj6KKDiQtyPW1sBbj5q5gidA2lMJXyguU9cTE4QoIeX6sWc/s320/284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">lighting made the </span><span style="font-size: large;">architecture even more breathtaking at night. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRS5UUIjLiAn76hQ2NUOShQDviOtf8Q-7acUm71CFnqnJoeSPjNBC7PGsIk50jLu0W2tvZieUzybBe0nzDIyy2T6dPFdaE2rf3zPY4RicqMmg5MUnwpHhyphenhyphenGTNrmRGd_sBrdubr-_DO3O-/s1600/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRS5UUIjLiAn76hQ2NUOShQDviOtf8Q-7acUm71CFnqnJoeSPjNBC7PGsIk50jLu0W2tvZieUzybBe0nzDIyy2T6dPFdaE2rf3zPY4RicqMmg5MUnwpHhyphenhyphenGTNrmRGd_sBrdubr-_DO3O-/s320/285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r77M1fI9sh2ppEg3Dv8xvyB9lGJ7NjPCT5Z16O-C62-zubrE1HY06JfMRgORnGLi9BF2XaI3M6HWEyy99FG-lb-5HVQWeypGxRGIrULACw0NHMq5Atfbp2OT6QhxCf2t_bSCh7lx-ZtG/s1600/286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r77M1fI9sh2ppEg3Dv8xvyB9lGJ7NjPCT5Z16O-C62-zubrE1HY06JfMRgORnGLi9BF2XaI3M6HWEyy99FG-lb-5HVQWeypGxRGIrULACw0NHMq5Atfbp2OT6QhxCf2t_bSCh7lx-ZtG/s320/286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't stop thinking how incredibly lucky we were having <b>just</b> made it on time to visit the only two places we wanted to do today, the Falcon Hospital and the Mosque. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Visiting the Grand Mosque was an unforgettable experience. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If ever there was a 'must-see' place to visit, this was it!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Posted on February 24th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-79185048551116771912017-02-20T21:34:00.000-08:002017-02-20T21:37:06.057-08:0012/8: Abu Dahbi: Falcon Hospital<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since we had gotten an incredibly cheap flight home from South Africa to Copenhagen and then Reykjavik, Iceland via Dubai, we decided to spend six nights in the <b>United Arab Emirates</b>. A</span><span style="font-size: large;">fter flying all night from Cape Town, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">e arrived before six in <b>Dubai </b>in the UAE<b>,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a federation of seven hereditary absolute monarchies </span><span style="font-size: large;">established on December 2nd, 1971 and </span><span style="font-size: large;">sometimes simply called the Emirates. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Each emirate is governed by an absolute monarch; together, they jointly form the <b>Federal Supreme Council.</b> One of the monarchs is selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn1K_pYZvj9whQ7PFJRXz7A_K0n4OyEwK0AluXD5QWPetDUWBztiKjupQSeIjtXeeSq69Nu2srv93od7l_yX_oE1o56FYt2-OXrTtkEzLQqTMlF_PI5YWwTPZK4fJER-0t1sb9AcZTVY5/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn1K_pYZvj9whQ7PFJRXz7A_K0n4OyEwK0AluXD5QWPetDUWBztiKjupQSeIjtXeeSq69Nu2srv93od7l_yX_oE1o56FYt2-OXrTtkEzLQqTMlF_PI5YWwTPZK4fJER-0t1sb9AcZTVY5/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most foreign visitors only head straight for the bright lights of Dubai, by far the most cosmopolitan destination in the UAE as it's home to a wide range of attractions. I had read that if we only visited Dubai though, we would come away with a very lopsided impression of life in the modern UAE. That was why we had decided to head first to <b>Abu Dhabi</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">for a few days before returning to Dubai for a few more days. </span><span style="font-size: large;">National political life is dominated by </span><span style="font-size: large;">Abu Dhabi, </span><span style="font-size: large;">the biggest and richest of the seven emirates, covering around 85% of the UAE and boasting well over 90% of its total oil revenues. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dubai International Airport </b>was the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic in 2014, overtaking London's Heathrow.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFey0L343flyNgEHR6NBAudXw1yscPBsLSzog6OpKBn0NfHUR3hZPUlreuSnRjjhxqFLciMFxxTSmz5u8prAgtK35a4iyiqn8bJRz4gSaiFX7Us2qS-2Tm8hI-hS-4PDIhzLRkQyDp1zmS/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFey0L343flyNgEHR6NBAudXw1yscPBsLSzog6OpKBn0NfHUR3hZPUlreuSnRjjhxqFLciMFxxTSmz5u8prAgtK35a4iyiqn8bJRz4gSaiFX7Us2qS-2Tm8hI-hS-4PDIhzLRkQyDp1zmS/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Was it ever a snafu trying to rent a car in Dubai! It took forever to reach the car rental location that was in the city and then work through three GPSs before finding one that worked. We hightailed it to Abu Dhabi, a 90 minute drive south of Dubai, as we had long ago reserved two places on the tour of the <b>Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital </b>beginning at 10. Thank goodness, the drive between the two cities was easy enough as it was on a superhighway almost the entire way as we got to the Hospital with just five minutes to spare - phew!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxUdtJlPD9QcVB19Q6kR-2FePF2-5WJBNmBD1bxDUQJNJX6o4AwBXqbtnxqBgF9omaWqgzDoH6-3PqIIlCMRolV7E86kSZOKMM81zCp8-h9vvVt5VfiqDAhKvJTtKPu9tw0IIqBIdSkxn/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxUdtJlPD9QcVB19Q6kR-2FePF2-5WJBNmBD1bxDUQJNJX6o4AwBXqbtnxqBgF9omaWqgzDoH6-3PqIIlCMRolV7E86kSZOKMM81zCp8-h9vvVt5VfiqDAhKvJTtKPu9tw0IIqBIdSkxn/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">Abu Dhabi </span><span style="font-size: large;">Falcon Hospital, the largest falcon hospital in the whole world, opened </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">its doors in 2007 </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">to visitors to experience the fascinating world of falcons and falconry. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRkEMFpgdO7tDT_rntxixWDIwa5cpHVkYUNYGQT7a0ew2j24m5AGybTFXbavQj8pvM1f4HO_-CeW_Qmq3zPMKpgqvVT09qBbNF35Pg37JUrm57vaFDhG_LKAYbbT4-AoXEdfg_NMqsYVG/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRkEMFpgdO7tDT_rntxixWDIwa5cpHVkYUNYGQT7a0ew2j24m5AGybTFXbavQj8pvM1f4HO_-CeW_Qmq3zPMKpgqvVT09qBbNF35Pg37JUrm57vaFDhG_LKAYbbT4-AoXEdfg_NMqsYVG/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In early English falconry literature, the word 'falcon' referred to a female falcon only, while the word 'hawk' or 'hawke' referred to a female hawk. A male hawk or falcon was referred to as a</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>'tiercel'</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">(sometimes spelled 'tercel') as it was roughly one third less than the female in size. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FAULB00OHmIctXI1D4cMJtrgAysKmktcGw3U-tXDFTwZxfNYrLMQaRtiZBsLyYge1uPCNmLq10MyKWYpOY5baz5-Z95h6m2s4fgctHTC6Gp1eGA3teiFvrCyoga2xLFvs04TpEdDLd1/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FAULB00OHmIctXI1D4cMJtrgAysKmktcGw3U-tXDFTwZxfNYrLMQaRtiZBsLyYge1uPCNmLq10MyKWYpOY5baz5-Z95h6m2s4fgctHTC6Gp1eGA3teiFvrCyoga2xLFvs04TpEdDLd1/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After everyone was welcomed with glasses of juice, we met <b>Hassan,</b> our very amusing and engaging guide, who told the group that there were about 45 types of falcons but he would only be discussing three types. The fastest falcon in the world was the <b>peregrine, </b>one we've all heard of. The <b>saker </b>falcon is the most popular one in the UAE and the third is the <b>gyr </b>falcon.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzhEzw52ZgTI4PbWA4C-OsHxe9wS2B6H8CBBB7PJ5PvhZaBdgtjrWiI0xJNynzyqVcBXzTmK3UDnUSPMuiHrmb1SRKJjFqndw7krxjb5SRZXkTtx1Fzd4ntAx1Jqx9d44I8RfXwIUSmxS/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzhEzw52ZgTI4PbWA4C-OsHxe9wS2B6H8CBBB7PJ5PvhZaBdgtjrWiI0xJNynzyqVcBXzTmK3UDnUSPMuiHrmb1SRKJjFqndw7krxjb5SRZXkTtx1Fzd4ntAx1Jqx9d44I8RfXwIUSmxS/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Falcons, Hassan said, used to be eaten but now falconry is considered a sport. Falcons are super birds: they can kill and carry three times their weight. </span><span style="font-size: large;">They have 'super eyes' and are capable of seeing six times further than a person. In addition, falcons have amazing ears but they don't need their noses. </span><span style="font-size: large;">As fresh meat is their only meat of choice in the wild, falcons must hunt daily to survive. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwcleItnWxkaUUWiBtn6ST2eU2mmvKxjwLEWwAZ1tPk0eUefXOuX-ayUQ99uuXZB5nXXUTHJyuxVh42x1rhSJUPzIVem0rhCzJp-yoTJMSLz3Xv55SKo3HWhR91HfMfg9zUiNWF8VeAyS/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwcleItnWxkaUUWiBtn6ST2eU2mmvKxjwLEWwAZ1tPk0eUefXOuX-ayUQ99uuXZB5nXXUTHJyuxVh42x1rhSJUPzIVem0rhCzJp-yoTJMSLz3Xv55SKo3HWhR91HfMfg9zUiNWF8VeAyS/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As falcons live in mountains naturally and not in deserts, they are very popular in the Emirates, according to Hassan. Falcons have three seasons: molting, hunting and breeding. When molting occurs in the summertime, falcons engage in no other activities other than feeding themselves locally. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuLixoe98Jy-zf5sNDgsw8fhyphenhyphenHgbKtuf__mLX7rfhD9VL9bkyqCHnCaAapQ64kjl9-zbIQvCNLAFCSEoMpOSPeTKYh9hO4ocwH9ycoqR8qZeIVg8gWH9kJXb3vV3TuqhxsbhnjkFShqhT/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuLixoe98Jy-zf5sNDgsw8fhyphenhyphenHgbKtuf__mLX7rfhD9VL9bkyqCHnCaAapQ64kjl9-zbIQvCNLAFCSEoMpOSPeTKYh9hO4ocwH9ycoqR8qZeIVg8gWH9kJXb3vV3TuqhxsbhnjkFShqhT/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Six months later, once they have acquired their </span><span style="font-size: large;">new feathers and their </span><span style="font-size: large;">color has changed from white to off white, it is wintertime and they can start hunting. Falcons emigrate from </span><span style="font-size: large;">mountains to the desert</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in the hunting season. Generally, only female falcons are used for hunting as they are one third larger than males. </span><span style="font-size: large;">When they hunt, they are able to achieve speeds up to 75 mph! However, if just one feather is broken, falcons lose their balance and must come to the Abu Dhabi Hospital to mend. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLvmWnUZkH1zIO8RRbfecUzrv_0Fs-_hWB4C0r_Aoizk_uuPt2pjHs9vxn-X5DC_yfmNvI_x3P9fIeuMti0dmMs_gJqIxykpckoF2PQVxUKRna-YOt4yLrhdyE3mwvi2FIceIjWIxhp9A/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLvmWnUZkH1zIO8RRbfecUzrv_0Fs-_hWB4C0r_Aoizk_uuPt2pjHs9vxn-X5DC_yfmNvI_x3P9fIeuMti0dmMs_gJqIxykpckoF2PQVxUKRna-YOt4yLrhdyE3mwvi2FIceIjWIxhp9A/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When falcons breed in the springtime from January to May, they lay four to five eggs. Wild falcons live for about 20 years and captive falcons live just two years less.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArsAYWxCoUTKHoVZ9tz08v6Ggl3RWA7UjH5UIdWLU_jHsJ1eEs4CXrvFj59IOfelu42lI4CU-4SP-rheqd-Fyq0rtUQv7w1tAmKFmIg37uqGucKAjG9-jjEea68O6Rpo-suK1Rnah4Cx/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArsAYWxCoUTKHoVZ9tz08v6Ggl3RWA7UjH5UIdWLU_jHsJ1eEs4CXrvFj59IOfelu42lI4CU-4SP-rheqd-Fyq0rtUQv7w1tAmKFmIg37uqGucKAjG9-jjEea68O6Rpo-suK1Rnah4Cx/s320/014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hassan joked that captive falcons have a Rolex band or ring on each leg and a microchip. That acts as a 'passport' in effect with the falcon's name, sex, band number and owner on it. The passport, Hassan added, was necessary as each falcon has different feathers. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids9D41sGxmeMzpeEvkJ1WbInFDYtgD_ApsdXCK5SVsB2JB4ZGhf53lgYPqBT_s7Jh5tnmkbS7Z75VScchjXKBuiZzCXIyzS7M7cS3f1_v8vgsehiBGuunRxzNZVv7K4JAG3Sf6SDuN7e4/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids9D41sGxmeMzpeEvkJ1WbInFDYtgD_ApsdXCK5SVsB2JB4ZGhf53lgYPqBT_s7Jh5tnmkbS7Z75VScchjXKBuiZzCXIyzS7M7cS3f1_v8vgsehiBGuunRxzNZVv7K4JAG3Sf6SDuN7e4/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After proceeding to the hospital's examination room where the falcons were waiting their turn for procedures to take place that day, Hassan introduced us to one of the veterinary nurses. She showed us one falcon's medical file and mentioned that the hospital sees about 100 falcons on an outpatient basis each day.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYb-7mORXvu8LyQBN3qKo_iDsJhUNXxrfED2mlKIwcGKYf18NYcHvxx-TJ96MFA2kyG6ccryM38wpH1OIsqRvbIB9cTLr9UONenrSFtwcXA9ItTuZx7Fcbj632UUdDKUw9yiRzqvQ9szr/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYb-7mORXvu8LyQBN3qKo_iDsJhUNXxrfED2mlKIwcGKYf18NYcHvxx-TJ96MFA2kyG6ccryM38wpH1OIsqRvbIB9cTLr9UONenrSFtwcXA9ItTuZx7Fcbj632UUdDKUw9yiRzqvQ9szr/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Upon entering the hospital, each falcon is weighed first and is hooded in order to keep it quiet at all times. The hood also ensures that they don't get aggressive.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKRZVxIsQ8yuAlNxV3PTRd6ap2UaT6K3i6UuxsNWrvCwWCUE9EYIEmJHIEQTQ6hou5akXuRXddEfGN73IVFuuXu91GngJRRj7v6kf5L5b8YTV01p7KXI_Oftky4KK9QTLB7TyOEjs88h3/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKRZVxIsQ8yuAlNxV3PTRd6ap2UaT6K3i6UuxsNWrvCwWCUE9EYIEmJHIEQTQ6hou5akXuRXddEfGN73IVFuuXu91GngJRRj7v6kf5L5b8YTV01p7KXI_Oftky4KK9QTLB7TyOEjs88h3/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VIOsmUQ4-JHZ5tX5l5vIyPpxpb4UqsL_A7IN4mf3lrEPlKprsvx9-H4xwVqqIxT0m8wUP4iWlS3L-VN68jhS32rJDoImNBs-2W1tuuq8zqdpx9k3cgFhyo9DxX6pLzz0Au8Zq9W81cxD/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VIOsmUQ4-JHZ5tX5l5vIyPpxpb4UqsL_A7IN4mf3lrEPlKprsvx9-H4xwVqqIxT0m8wUP4iWlS3L-VN68jhS32rJDoImNBs-2W1tuuq8zqdpx9k3cgFhyo9DxX6pLzz0Au8Zq9W81cxD/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This red-hooded bird of prey was a saker falcon, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a large species of falcon. It </span><span style="font-size: large;">often hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the peregrine's stoop from a height, and feeds mainly on rodents and birds. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>BirdLife International</b> categorizes this bird as endangered, due to a rapid population decline, particularly on the central Asian breeding grounds. According to Wikipedia, ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United Arab Emirates have been the main destination for thousands of falcons caught and sold illegally for hefty sums at the black market. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDn7jBevBs_Hsev4jDC30LxELSlYiudVsjWH2Z2b9i0TxU2-UkjbbAPu8076zONzDWkyaytrUTBA5eLNWCBjagiIizi31NM8-tS7fYj0Oq4oduDVnlhxZoeH8g0BE9OcnvB1_gFa_ma_i/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDn7jBevBs_Hsev4jDC30LxELSlYiudVsjWH2Z2b9i0TxU2-UkjbbAPu8076zONzDWkyaytrUTBA5eLNWCBjagiIizi31NM8-tS7fYj0Oq4oduDVnlhxZoeH8g0BE9OcnvB1_gFa_ma_i/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The white-hooded gyr falcon, t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he largest of the falcon species, </span><span style="font-size: large;">we were told, was from the northern part of the world. It breeds on Arctic coasts and tundra, and the islands of northern North America, Europe and Asia. It is mainly a resident there also, but some gyr falcons disperse more widely after the breeding season, or in winter. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being colored from all-white to dark brown. These color variations are called morphs. For centuries, the gyr falcon has been valued as a hunting bird. Typical prey includes the ptarmigan and waterfowl, which it may take in flight. It has also been observed feeding on fish and mammals. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKqAka9AD9MZMxH_p64KE8y7RwIQklbpAQSe6PLCC5IIXX0odIPOtHfR-S2I3B8Hjk5VRW6oZ14ukmlKd15jpK27N480Kwxik8in-AjeVPZLzaLWIN6172Y0jeAaov-m6yHTNMD3zaiZG/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKqAka9AD9MZMxH_p64KE8y7RwIQklbpAQSe6PLCC5IIXX0odIPOtHfR-S2I3B8Hjk5VRW6oZ14ukmlKd15jpK27N480Kwxik8in-AjeVPZLzaLWIN6172Y0jeAaov-m6yHTNMD3zaiZG/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-ZalrT716rP1GErrh1r0IgF6WD4ZFBtuQ-doQ4L94-igaOvKms7HmxsURV98C79kwfgSeGN2OG9VzP1VCosyDpkpCNGI-wayX5u5cFPt54qJgtgTK7Wnx9rhqtMBDEFGB5v6dl85Umrq/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-ZalrT716rP1GErrh1r0IgF6WD4ZFBtuQ-doQ4L94-igaOvKms7HmxsURV98C79kwfgSeGN2OG9VzP1VCosyDpkpCNGI-wayX5u5cFPt54qJgtgTK7Wnx9rhqtMBDEFGB5v6dl85Umrq/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Falcons come to the hospital for minor surgeries, endoscopies (!!), transplantation of feathers, etc. The hospital, which had room to keep up to 250 falcons overnight, also had an emergency department.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Eab2CwwOq-aNCsYHrdP7mTatKbBLqynjM5KRvy0S5AjAbcQE1Y1fkxU0tGBDOZ4DW4xhU7s1NqZinApf5i0YM5fntZaXec5O2u-zbFweKcLiV0EDt5n_htg4zvP0IvL2L1Hy0QdUcAa9/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Eab2CwwOq-aNCsYHrdP7mTatKbBLqynjM5KRvy0S5AjAbcQE1Y1fkxU0tGBDOZ4DW4xhU7s1NqZinApf5i0YM5fntZaXec5O2u-zbFweKcLiV0EDt5n_htg4zvP0IvL2L1Hy0QdUcAa9/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeG_yKsc7eXwzSJ9fKULlrJnGm4s-AnUs36sWUG73AEm1hugcpNbvp9rTM1Yli6tnZR1rvW_S-q83UGn9c-TV2h6WOl_Vn0g8ljZAKli4M6m8PHHkGmXxgVqbBuUvjDAHrT6ghQKUw3oe/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeG_yKsc7eXwzSJ9fKULlrJnGm4s-AnUs36sWUG73AEm1hugcpNbvp9rTM1Yli6tnZR1rvW_S-q83UGn9c-TV2h6WOl_Vn0g8ljZAKli4M6m8PHHkGmXxgVqbBuUvjDAHrT6ghQKUw3oe/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This falcon needed anesthesia before his procedure.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjRYqdxPunKJVknzfWcjxfMgE0mm6oueDwouXxZBlK-7lwIXccv-Tzel-GoyGCaxgWkLW0EYizeu8Po97bn45oSd__Q5USTfapl_05GUWdgbKgtEN7GHCw8kCUI-iDZhPIXgY2wQ7B8Kr/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjRYqdxPunKJVknzfWcjxfMgE0mm6oueDwouXxZBlK-7lwIXccv-Tzel-GoyGCaxgWkLW0EYizeu8Po97bn45oSd__Q5USTfapl_05GUWdgbKgtEN7GHCw8kCUI-iDZhPIXgY2wQ7B8Kr/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2zHmHQwrWESfh7N1V8SyMflTP0SN011PyoHPs4xpsGbEM8foTgTf4dHw7YgNu3Rr8F7L-18d9tokvg9hCSiYellwHmp8HFdXBaOhlLhrJKluGToVCC0wziZ7O6bXlcqP43e0xOoSz2Sj/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2zHmHQwrWESfh7N1V8SyMflTP0SN011PyoHPs4xpsGbEM8foTgTf4dHw7YgNu3Rr8F7L-18d9tokvg9hCSiYellwHmp8HFdXBaOhlLhrJKluGToVCC0wziZ7O6bXlcqP43e0xOoSz2Sj/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A falcon's wingspan measures more than three feet wide.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30AkCi_xOUMngHZE9Ayyo7IaYH497TuAgP-jqpu-l8WD_Z3ujjcHfk1y54bTiAmkHCcm11okWujxwNx2RPGFD_xPF00klmWZAIQRD-TjDZ0Qi_YQjONnUHocQfCFsBbE-NVaOZM7LaPYi/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30AkCi_xOUMngHZE9Ayyo7IaYH497TuAgP-jqpu-l8WD_Z3ujjcHfk1y54bTiAmkHCcm11okWujxwNx2RPGFD_xPF00klmWZAIQRD-TjDZ0Qi_YQjONnUHocQfCFsBbE-NVaOZM7LaPYi/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtJ1YF2nbQ4i3TOMHiZeSCTud4HJlPY-o8YY2sINTEX2L5zGc5hQiAy02kn7o1My9XR2bcl9NU63Z0ZazMQSJqx93imMZWyL7dmHub-C51c8MOyWU2IJiY6IDdvmvCFRznwR3NvFDR_Cs/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtJ1YF2nbQ4i3TOMHiZeSCTud4HJlPY-o8YY2sINTEX2L5zGc5hQiAy02kn7o1My9XR2bcl9NU63Z0ZazMQSJqx93imMZWyL7dmHub-C51c8MOyWU2IJiY6IDdvmvCFRznwR3NvFDR_Cs/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A captive falcon needs its talons clipped two to three times a year because it only eats soft food in captivity. Once the nails are clipped, they must be sharpened again so they can hunt. Falcons in the wild keep their talons sharp on stones, etc. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCSoYcfnTYyxdtSAwYNN3CqVhE8WUvqzqferQ-IODxuUL-1Quxh8NA8HThyphenhypheni9N2kEb-OOX5QkvqE8z3vlIaVZZPsUnT4kEEgYUrsgR-fQv00MA45wLCiM9MH8SuP8jxzOSkIiTs79zGWS/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCSoYcfnTYyxdtSAwYNN3CqVhE8WUvqzqferQ-IODxuUL-1Quxh8NA8HThyphenhypheni9N2kEb-OOX5QkvqE8z3vlIaVZZPsUnT4kEEgYUrsgR-fQv00MA45wLCiM9MH8SuP8jxzOSkIiTs79zGWS/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had certainly heard of horses requiring new shoes but never knew that falcons did too. Apparently, they are subject to some disease which necessitates new shoes!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF7tU7MbKC5Z8esL766DaLWCalKt7YSmYlWkgdMIujgF_MfecTCo75-7yiVlsUIgVv5oI5AuzCkGYVLgK5whhyZXvbA0ERcWaTSsQB66DFfvNAZW8KzDU5UG6vX3Es3bbNbSXhoOXdg8K/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF7tU7MbKC5Z8esL766DaLWCalKt7YSmYlWkgdMIujgF_MfecTCo75-7yiVlsUIgVv5oI5AuzCkGYVLgK5whhyZXvbA0ERcWaTSsQB66DFfvNAZW8KzDU5UG6vX3Es3bbNbSXhoOXdg8K/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A close up of the ring on each leg specific to each falcon that contains information on its name, owner's name and phone number.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Y2Id2HbmzW0qvOqNCyftyXlv9xfcaUUldY2B9oHhSorfEHSVQh6HPH4G_ucXJpwevE1m92FjYAs-Dt1TyR3UPQzQBTjKjdX3aDrIaLWivk7-u3w0lc3Rf8tV9jp0O1b3QU8KUIN7Hae/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Y2Id2HbmzW0qvOqNCyftyXlv9xfcaUUldY2B9oHhSorfEHSVQh6HPH4G_ucXJpwevE1m92FjYAs-Dt1TyR3UPQzQBTjKjdX3aDrIaLWivk7-u3w0lc3Rf8tV9jp0O1b3QU8KUIN7Hae/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nails being clipped:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlo9Q0tPZvGfssuhf3oE2XBerHwjQr3E4e8woZ55NtsiKNVkY17AewkKqT2PNO0tZRM7b_mBCT8wNcDls1w7PXn7dG_e2ewP2q3Wp00n4E2FgZ4fVNPfX8Nwt55O1DDscAPq_MWzG-8zp/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlo9Q0tPZvGfssuhf3oE2XBerHwjQr3E4e8woZ55NtsiKNVkY17AewkKqT2PNO0tZRM7b_mBCT8wNcDls1w7PXn7dG_e2ewP2q3Wp00n4E2FgZ4fVNPfX8Nwt55O1DDscAPq_MWzG-8zp/s320/040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoIOpWFWYW7wPYa0viikCw5iWm0HHrU-0L4njldoNQLjNYiwtbri_dMK6DRW1UQp81IEwmKstxE6e6V9lkRt9gUyE1U9jhMO2wdBVvhALhMkvPoVEjRjxQnHx5FtaaXzRWeraxxWt7Q30/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoIOpWFWYW7wPYa0viikCw5iWm0HHrU-0L4njldoNQLjNYiwtbri_dMK6DRW1UQp81IEwmKstxE6e6V9lkRt9gUyE1U9jhMO2wdBVvhALhMkvPoVEjRjxQnHx5FtaaXzRWeraxxWt7Q30/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH287r540yth7SA4FH554jfjXsG4xwlusU0TxRIIR9kkbD3IEXzFtpCxTblNJkA0b7oEvnjqsWib1LlpqWM1yAkzdPgR_CjMZ4CI5_PgWaO2W-ScF_dAT8g2AuqUmXqRkc-Zxn3tbMz2GI/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH287r540yth7SA4FH554jfjXsG4xwlusU0TxRIIR9kkbD3IEXzFtpCxTblNJkA0b7oEvnjqsWib1LlpqWM1yAkzdPgR_CjMZ4CI5_PgWaO2W-ScF_dAT8g2AuqUmXqRkc-Zxn3tbMz2GI/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A new feather was attached with good old super glue of all things!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG7ZvWyh8UZCjXTVjTPMtKK8jb_C5525tFr1XBShmJ2FHAJTwHCf6WMl5SLzzHN5f_yaEl61dGTc4mJqa4fH7RBcZqwQym_xnRV3jKBEGBs5CTZraBadKupdcgaN4sr50ggRnUJ1S8x_S/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsG7ZvWyh8UZCjXTVjTPMtKK8jb_C5525tFr1XBShmJ2FHAJTwHCf6WMl5SLzzHN5f_yaEl61dGTc4mJqa4fH7RBcZqwQym_xnRV3jKBEGBs5CTZraBadKupdcgaN4sr50ggRnUJ1S8x_S/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIADFxNcOF_ssZtQ1ZmRoSzZ-lBoveSe2Q08YTzG2tTn4hX3_mjG88tybo3hJro5-dpwFJ0GPKdSI3W67Hm82ybIAPUI8Ir9mFOrJQxjV-F-fh2TySP2LCahZfE1-pdAZp9rHpWOIG-_Y/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIADFxNcOF_ssZtQ1ZmRoSzZ-lBoveSe2Q08YTzG2tTn4hX3_mjG88tybo3hJro5-dpwFJ0GPKdSI3W67Hm82ybIAPUI8Ir9mFOrJQxjV-F-fh2TySP2LCahZfE1-pdAZp9rHpWOIG-_Y/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The falcon next received a tracking beacon in one ear. Often, transmitters are placed in the middle of the tail, on the back or attached to the bird's legs. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeDXtYJmcvSKEIVHEZD_4cDnqZj6t2DmhC6hDI_tk091VckHS1hFuQ4k_H0Juz4BQBXvappcU7yMzQU63PEOPVJnHt6d4S3q9J7Ps_GODQ1ydINDQpMf5GBcZ07XRkhGoohJp1ZvQtzSg/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeDXtYJmcvSKEIVHEZD_4cDnqZj6t2DmhC6hDI_tk091VckHS1hFuQ4k_H0Juz4BQBXvappcU7yMzQU63PEOPVJnHt6d4S3q9J7Ps_GODQ1ydINDQpMf5GBcZ07XRkhGoohJp1ZvQtzSg/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so surprised that we were all allowed to be so close when the procedures were being performed. We were never asked if we were sick and thus might pose a risk to any of the falcons.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pHn2mBJhmPvNwSZ86dNYyoxRqf-WvP07l5O6tT8c4-ry9Kzhf9GeRN0viRr90NiyuRlM3_GYzjHC_MTWJDHv914QHaQKWEp8KWptwZA42XxUCeDgGXr_bIZrWur7K4Mb7uEegXiZY2d/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_pHn2mBJhmPvNwSZ86dNYyoxRqf-WvP07l5O6tT8c4-ry9Kzhf9GeRN0viRr90NiyuRlM3_GYzjHC_MTWJDHv914QHaQKWEp8KWptwZA42XxUCeDgGXr_bIZrWur7K4Mb7uEegXiZY2d/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The drawers contained various falcon parts for upcoming procedures!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDKpefnAauPHogB0cPDGewuNftmFYR_h_Swk4aP6hhB4wkypgoKYKEyAm2IbXE8rGBCpLnI1ZXZWcfRfwh3uvRAUjOSvjbVZ-WL4D07MxrKvG1AcJJqgk2JKgrtwEkiYxosbfN0WKFgmX/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDKpefnAauPHogB0cPDGewuNftmFYR_h_Swk4aP6hhB4wkypgoKYKEyAm2IbXE8rGBCpLnI1ZXZWcfRfwh3uvRAUjOSvjbVZ-WL4D07MxrKvG1AcJJqgk2JKgrtwEkiYxosbfN0WKFgmX/s320/054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV5lj4lAfviiUo6XkC35Tt2aWflgss_sdBjeT-EUFqfA7D225xlc-1OBlLxFaPDtI4C0d5HlQXflQWo1P4xB1JN4UxVWIrWcxaphp3euy5OLcNPGun73sZdjNpXxO0nz6riT20vtJvsKp/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV5lj4lAfviiUo6XkC35Tt2aWflgss_sdBjeT-EUFqfA7D225xlc-1OBlLxFaPDtI4C0d5HlQXflQWo1P4xB1JN4UxVWIrWcxaphp3euy5OLcNPGun73sZdjNpXxO0nz6riT20vtJvsKp/s320/055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What an unexpected treat being able to hold </span><span style="font-size: large;">a three year old saker falcon!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeHFbbPhFXgGOhuyga4QIKhQF2q6MipKjuUH5Fmi3CZYcAEQheYBMyucsssy7sQrPm4n75q-HhRpyOf2ceaMuacWzkueZf4YX1RRiYLUVUJY2mnpixO2mgM1IphJJTeIEq6uGwwKVsIjD/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeHFbbPhFXgGOhuyga4QIKhQF2q6MipKjuUH5Fmi3CZYcAEQheYBMyucsssy7sQrPm4n75q-HhRpyOf2ceaMuacWzkueZf4YX1RRiYLUVUJY2mnpixO2mgM1IphJJTeIEq6uGwwKVsIjD/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqD-t3sDkdTtSHfGN_fn3F1DyqXx1f34ilxQw8d-dLJfKJIsQcDZUchGpfuqAzDsX-KHu3ZL_zT1q06P0MtaRHoHDcZljNE71N44wCtkVhGiznC_Q9DVVboKmBWa-lBbTjF549jN_KXVX/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqD-t3sDkdTtSHfGN_fn3F1DyqXx1f34ilxQw8d-dLJfKJIsQcDZUchGpfuqAzDsX-KHu3ZL_zT1q06P0MtaRHoHDcZljNE71N44wCtkVhGiznC_Q9DVVboKmBWa-lBbTjF549jN_KXVX/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3AMPzYJOVf8pX3JHfOKF-12jSN1PJBMEXwH7jRhOoRoS83q3B3ucoU4b9bMYSX1Q08XR77gAvH-npxFAntiyUIwNSXGLMQWtGFASj-H9TBmH27mga0UegfHwFCOEJqhecRmm72UiLUvN/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3AMPzYJOVf8pX3JHfOKF-12jSN1PJBMEXwH7jRhOoRoS83q3B3ucoU4b9bMYSX1Q08XR77gAvH-npxFAntiyUIwNSXGLMQWtGFASj-H9TBmH27mga0UegfHwFCOEJqhecRmm72UiLUvN/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs83p0zTq5lA0uAq87I106Nk4sXUrzDjw0VjKPnSfIYN2bq_HvpeG0vi7AwGf0fT9br_asqkvwlEFBglP4oN8eJFlc462rvZ_nxhigC36-qM8rHW1Z3psCzIkAZ97Zqcrrh6dMFBtsxtX1/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs83p0zTq5lA0uAq87I106Nk4sXUrzDjw0VjKPnSfIYN2bq_HvpeG0vi7AwGf0fT9br_asqkvwlEFBglP4oN8eJFlc462rvZ_nxhigC36-qM8rHW1Z3psCzIkAZ97Zqcrrh6dMFBtsxtX1/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDc3vS1PH57rd8xEgYY0w2yeWoR0JUC66lI_UwqLQ269GnJIn1xC77O5ZzGOZHQ8ieFF3JUscYwfN7IwyPw7SjKfiNMGjhY-7grNznAeviXlTTZB8HwtdGEfNxyoiKx_tdA0HYxKU8Vyy/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDc3vS1PH57rd8xEgYY0w2yeWoR0JUC66lI_UwqLQ269GnJIn1xC77O5ZzGOZHQ8ieFF3JUscYwfN7IwyPw7SjKfiNMGjhY-7grNznAeviXlTTZB8HwtdGEfNxyoiKx_tdA0HYxKU8Vyy/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Falcons are fed mice, ducks, chickens and quails; the later is the falcon's most nutritious food. A defrosted quail below:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1WyplTreTB3lT0Udl_OfOrkJroZhNCM6hGez8T37NAt0_m_ga5GvjCGJ1gs01jMknX4KmX7l1D02D624PMVc5kJEMSNJFi9FRy_n21dLzcanJjHlK1d2CTRsAL02HWS3NZsHZ6s2U2uK/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1WyplTreTB3lT0Udl_OfOrkJroZhNCM6hGez8T37NAt0_m_ga5GvjCGJ1gs01jMknX4KmX7l1D02D624PMVc5kJEMSNJFi9FRy_n21dLzcanJjHlK1d2CTRsAL02HWS3NZsHZ6s2U2uK/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A CNN producer held the same falcon I did.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLdwQqnYPTjKd6-06o2G4dQzk6o76Krghi9if0DRXOk7-eYxn2XIDW32upgzWTdlx-vWgtynlBNL9YCdxzvPwLbTClWv4-UMgg4acP1KMyJYkt4waGZqZ2ddQ9r0rQo3lnUZYh9R2UfjL/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLdwQqnYPTjKd6-06o2G4dQzk6o76Krghi9if0DRXOk7-eYxn2XIDW32upgzWTdlx-vWgtynlBNL9YCdxzvPwLbTClWv4-UMgg4acP1KMyJYkt4waGZqZ2ddQ9r0rQo3lnUZYh9R2UfjL/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The saker falcon began eating a defrosted quail by tearing the bones apart. Falcons eat 10% of their body weight twice daily in the hospital but, once released and during the hunting season, they are on a special diet.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mpE18cGGN8mBgGZxBcubBlQX-JmDTvEqADyJoNvito7etdFuKzNhtfBbVPdMO0XqkOMeKJgnTbIMuXpFYo3kssZq9eKxGl5a_-u2IoOjsNVkD_drNvT2aA8LH6K1aurVNCeUyCgDKz5l/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mpE18cGGN8mBgGZxBcubBlQX-JmDTvEqADyJoNvito7etdFuKzNhtfBbVPdMO0XqkOMeKJgnTbIMuXpFYo3kssZq9eKxGl5a_-u2IoOjsNVkD_drNvT2aA8LH6K1aurVNCeUyCgDKz5l/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1-unOGgBxlmqdgsUCwY-hIcPFP24PMZ-d-QuIij867v1-84I775tinn8EJtjneDl4h8AcMWiWhJ6KvV3EgHzfj-_GUhDMO5KYWp0GG0B3HZehHvGdzh6k9bve-upo0sDKux0Vkk8NSh1/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1-unOGgBxlmqdgsUCwY-hIcPFP24PMZ-d-QuIij867v1-84I775tinn8EJtjneDl4h8AcMWiWhJ6KvV3EgHzfj-_GUhDMO5KYWp0GG0B3HZehHvGdzh6k9bve-upo0sDKux0Vkk8NSh1/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvrsU4qQCD2DrcRHteK1mROxKMgMw6Vi9sA5FOgiUZNaTRrtHQkIvVAyF3tzetVPz-84CAMTYRAPE6Xs8BK0DyYYALbTI2MPbjNPxXZcdsDxXUBh4jNKhu6vSFjaF8Ddw_YxGKQPHccVy/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvrsU4qQCD2DrcRHteK1mROxKMgMw6Vi9sA5FOgiUZNaTRrtHQkIvVAyF3tzetVPz-84CAMTYRAPE6Xs8BK0DyYYALbTI2MPbjNPxXZcdsDxXUBh4jNKhu6vSFjaF8Ddw_YxGKQPHccVy/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhQlA2y4ZRSA4ad-7Jit4fd8BthOsA2brnwRjEeCUQ6HPDyfvcQiAz7D4303sKA7hnvAqf5MVt4d2s8SgC_sVBAshQL17qiAhFxVYzOSn7ZbkBaEbyq6X8QbIzOeHMnLfvGvpRIKbrKNv/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhQlA2y4ZRSA4ad-7Jit4fd8BthOsA2brnwRjEeCUQ6HPDyfvcQiAz7D4303sKA7hnvAqf5MVt4d2s8SgC_sVBAshQL17qiAhFxVYzOSn7ZbkBaEbyq6X8QbIzOeHMnLfvGvpRIKbrKNv/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We only caught a glimpse of the surgical room through the door.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1Nh0gksi2ZgTlOEY2GFFpH013cKwcnRsAO-lmzAhyWHviS1jm4hDJmwTShpKmtfXdrKXFByy-mJuuDSADn5FqaEK1RrxCHvm9FKR3ePEkXx1hxJXguN7ilvjRfERovOKVuclQdqoBaO4/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1Nh0gksi2ZgTlOEY2GFFpH013cKwcnRsAO-lmzAhyWHviS1jm4hDJmwTShpKmtfXdrKXFByy-mJuuDSADn5FqaEK1RrxCHvm9FKR3ePEkXx1hxJXguN7ilvjRfERovOKVuclQdqoBaO4/s320/080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder what surgery was being performed on this falcon in the intensive care unit.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCrYxvAnWB1Xj32WWd9I-5hOGjeO6oVen5JlI2DINuyh4RZzIxY9bXJhgz-sUqnYVdezLfQxBuT-s84ObRSub8XJgv1T1-KPYurTMkcY3eAllKXMsbnQ7EMxnG8GVM5UV6Zl04e20XLW5/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCrYxvAnWB1Xj32WWd9I-5hOGjeO6oVen5JlI2DINuyh4RZzIxY9bXJhgz-sUqnYVdezLfQxBuT-s84ObRSub8XJgv1T1-KPYurTMkcY3eAllKXMsbnQ7EMxnG8GVM5UV6Zl04e20XLW5/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV05WIXgvfim_sEbkvamkHlNpvLztGb-kC92tpZHkyDxIDYKKOWxmm11sQi3NLJGOMU73Wtik-Hh5OUnZ6piMSZyiuwXlYDbdDTjYr5wt_CVPKJBQHTQ2fei4DgSAGIcIblSSFCjqSxDKq/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV05WIXgvfim_sEbkvamkHlNpvLztGb-kC92tpZHkyDxIDYKKOWxmm11sQi3NLJGOMU73Wtik-Hh5OUnZ6piMSZyiuwXlYDbdDTjYr5wt_CVPKJBQHTQ2fei4DgSAGIcIblSSFCjqSxDKq/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hassan showed us the huge number of quality assurance awards the hospital received from various countries.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5A_S8tztz6IYbLX092ikdbxDjsEfX2myGSRvOdlaY6Oc3ieGNOUY_OHswK61XWZBOAinURFChSVPmgI89QGndtreF7u9acC6EyylQSc9Y0V3VGFv6ZaHmXr27lbzXd-dxyYwOepCAgvD/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5A_S8tztz6IYbLX092ikdbxDjsEfX2myGSRvOdlaY6Oc3ieGNOUY_OHswK61XWZBOAinURFChSVPmgI89QGndtreF7u9acC6EyylQSc9Y0V3VGFv6ZaHmXr27lbzXd-dxyYwOepCAgvD/s320/087.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Falconry remains an important part of the Arab heritage and culture. The UAE reportedly spends over 27 million dollars annually towards the protection and conservation of wild falcons. That cost would be a lot higher were it not for the stiff fees charged to take the tour!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lfR_NfOe3bEN1oL3-ZZHCckvydWYc4txhnLyr7OWAJsOcblwBTZfFOUapwUBpBCAAoy0ylWnWLuzILw7P73tAF_gcFDx_vDczmRpaeEVaKqQyGhA_JvOzTytVICiFJQFhBezztk6dwyK/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lfR_NfOe3bEN1oL3-ZZHCckvydWYc4txhnLyr7OWAJsOcblwBTZfFOUapwUBpBCAAoy0ylWnWLuzILw7P73tAF_gcFDx_vDczmRpaeEVaKqQyGhA_JvOzTytVICiFJQFhBezztk6dwyK/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuusHpXDWluVV6YtjF8tdpZohyphenhyphenr3p4ZyUdgx34roHWQrpus8-v9_H2ThufPi88dROv-myq4ROSfgSnn6hwXPLP6gNRHJ0RfzZbYjlg6uKgSpie8FnO5BJW-BvxaqDOF1pTQ9rc4IkmuRro/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuusHpXDWluVV6YtjF8tdpZohyphenhyphenr3p4ZyUdgx34roHWQrpus8-v9_H2ThufPi88dROv-myq4ROSfgSnn6hwXPLP6gNRHJ0RfzZbYjlg6uKgSpie8FnO5BJW-BvxaqDOF1pTQ9rc4IkmuRro/s320/089.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I learned that there are two falcon breeding farms in the Emirates, as well as those in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Every year, falcon beauty contests and demonstrations take place in Abu Dhabi.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In early English falconry literature, the word "falcon" referred to a female falcon only, while the word "hawk" or "hawke" referred to a female hawk. A male hawk or falcon was referred to as a "tiercel" (sometimes spelled "tercel") as it was roughly one third less than the female in size.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHhs9tN-II4hjn_KFh3OZPNcUpvcdd6bo961V1eddbeOK5P2BqZe_I8LabwK9R4baDqlvKijxqfvLQwccZ3xAlNgBLdLZ3KIsjFE87a5VmrsqO08m-UkvXs_hfFeyfe-35nxZb1dS6Nk9/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHhs9tN-II4hjn_KFh3OZPNcUpvcdd6bo961V1eddbeOK5P2BqZe_I8LabwK9R4baDqlvKijxqfvLQwccZ3xAlNgBLdLZ3KIsjFE87a5VmrsqO08m-UkvXs_hfFeyfe-35nxZb1dS6Nk9/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As Hassan took us outside to another exhibit, he mentioned that in addition to being a clinic, the hospital also treats other wild birds and boards small animals. M</span><span style="font-size: large;">ice and quail are bred as they are needed in large quantities daily.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5xuyz6qHISwgyTqqQL3xtykppoAbGwBodfc2n9rJP2PR9a-Sw39OSE4-hGlH8TXa78IkNhqYO1NxwDOXvfQe3c2LvMicL5wF5L7-dtdV_K9hp8ROZewIimhuqJPCJSrltMMfsyIxVFmf/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5xuyz6qHISwgyTqqQL3xtykppoAbGwBodfc2n9rJP2PR9a-Sw39OSE4-hGlH8TXa78IkNhqYO1NxwDOXvfQe3c2LvMicL5wF5L7-dtdV_K9hp8ROZewIimhuqJPCJSrltMMfsyIxVFmf/s320/091.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgBcV2hX7o3CaJyCzOUNSkBxrhEwi8xqK-39MbIx7mN4YAmctDuFTAc6_0zRv_bC5wPK2h2UFTjHR37ojNezmrRybbuOiVEJMTOC1IW09mE9QQM8s3m8zrE_iy5bO27UY6XRxgpEHyJhk9p/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcV2hX7o3CaJyCzOUNSkBxrhEwi8xqK-39MbIx7mN4YAmctDuFTAc6_0zRv_bC5wPK2h2UFTjHR37ojNezmrRybbuOiVEJMTOC1IW09mE9QQM8s3m8zrE_iy5bO27UY6XRxgpEHyJhk9p/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbQ1LfUWaJ2iqnujaIEdXh-o5lo3LVLuXrm8NDz2zDpHgktXSrpHYrYk_3kvluku2bFFDCf2aIgGCe9eNwyq4xOllsId5N0U2UDh4EvwPZeLxzABLMSOhvYSL-IXTxYSvXqvOAe_Atvu/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbQ1LfUWaJ2iqnujaIEdXh-o5lo3LVLuXrm8NDz2zDpHgktXSrpHYrYk_3kvluku2bFFDCf2aIgGCe9eNwyq4xOllsId5N0U2UDh4EvwPZeLxzABLMSOhvYSL-IXTxYSvXqvOAe_Atvu/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hassan said falcons have very good hearing even though their ears are covered by feathers.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLXNaZHFxnZUaec24ia79yK7laFFJgqsoAuQCd1K_WfpWGAVu5zOu8WytIp25v5g_kcPAG1_4cKZ6CZsJUWD3yKCg8tpBvqxNL96kuGtYJr0Cb4fMzdIG_FSUMmPxS4Uluni3t18oiakT/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLXNaZHFxnZUaec24ia79yK7laFFJgqsoAuQCd1K_WfpWGAVu5zOu8WytIp25v5g_kcPAG1_4cKZ6CZsJUWD3yKCg8tpBvqxNL96kuGtYJr0Cb4fMzdIG_FSUMmPxS4Uluni3t18oiakT/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What an impressive animal specimen!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhQ4-LXUeggX0vtRa3OiHDUUhVv7d_NW9eM8UPBiKYB1-vbUwel54eNDwt_Pl0WfQPYmumZVHxVn7G1cQtQ5YtKJIqwMMXTlG9VrilK-wdE4j5GalGh3-A-N8aiCbf6HCoMrOfaMEc8zM/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhQ4-LXUeggX0vtRa3OiHDUUhVv7d_NW9eM8UPBiKYB1-vbUwel54eNDwt_Pl0WfQPYmumZVHxVn7G1cQtQ5YtKJIqwMMXTlG9VrilK-wdE4j5GalGh3-A-N8aiCbf6HCoMrOfaMEc8zM/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hassan joked this was the on-site <b>Falcon Hotel</b> as each falcon had its own single room or suite - not too shabby, huh!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W3qp-fYjQKKN0wf8oS3kyMsPLqxQksNqSvv9OtId7hu5hXjiTrEPCtU2SpW_-CFR_xK5CZh1mIznCp3OSruNr2b4E-LVxsplFZjpHf60JNnweuVUX0ixcazOIEbFmNT0gKlNqWQLwr3E/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W3qp-fYjQKKN0wf8oS3kyMsPLqxQksNqSvv9OtId7hu5hXjiTrEPCtU2SpW_-CFR_xK5CZh1mIznCp3OSruNr2b4E-LVxsplFZjpHf60JNnweuVUX0ixcazOIEbFmNT0gKlNqWQLwr3E/s320/096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Marshall Radio Telemetry</b> office on the huge hospital campus specialized in selling transmitters for falconers.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOg_Mp3pvNgQzG-35nf_NYLxjOMK96cPg9BO4eqVpmohQzfmkFf_GzYdYLZItiT6uAfOFmuKLTw-nfPeQU3VeszrOwK7d9EU9opLaZ7hpPKN2mLUlsBQbXkSblDesnWg0YLBkJLTTPQcm/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOg_Mp3pvNgQzG-35nf_NYLxjOMK96cPg9BO4eqVpmohQzfmkFf_GzYdYLZItiT6uAfOFmuKLTw-nfPeQU3VeszrOwK7d9EU9opLaZ7hpPKN2mLUlsBQbXkSblDesnWg0YLBkJLTTPQcm/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was all part of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv73685Sl93czh5AvVORDwwxsaTr3rL44abZRiXGsZkOMNFKcXRLFVH1MruNjOljqdpa0DaKkW-Ox_CckeWgKxE7dRBq11wAaRcjUziziDITVoigXUbpeE0R7ANfFGNykCgBdbysaa5B1m/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv73685Sl93czh5AvVORDwwxsaTr3rL44abZRiXGsZkOMNFKcXRLFVH1MruNjOljqdpa0DaKkW-Ox_CckeWgKxE7dRBq11wAaRcjUziziDITVoigXUbpeE0R7ANfFGNykCgBdbysaa5B1m/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we headed next to the <b>Molting Cage,</b> Hassan revealed that falcons in the wild live in couples. While they stay at the hospital, they live in groups and, because they get used to being around other falcons for five to seven days, they don't get aggressive.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrRAKPXm4ag_7Cxj4pY3QTAAMtx9jVRLGs6jz5P25Dez2j9as4UWI_2pgU46dxSHx5bcVj0vJVdR_ITjNrLd7L8-Gca9HZniPvzAmISrEHK2I1K_Aw3YYWV9G5edW5yM-eoHCSGj29vb5/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrRAKPXm4ag_7Cxj4pY3QTAAMtx9jVRLGs6jz5P25Dez2j9as4UWI_2pgU46dxSHx5bcVj0vJVdR_ITjNrLd7L8-Gca9HZniPvzAmISrEHK2I1K_Aw3YYWV9G5edW5yM-eoHCSGj29vb5/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed in the darkened molting cage for a while watching about half a dozen raptors taking turns flying around from their low perches. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPSZYtaqwxMKNbKE5vl5X8E8IOzdrfmYNyu3v8zP9vdgez4Y7-6n0U58dbXInahdXvBkNiinDSVjkqvSwHDIu0_7JpxQdgJ1aCBpyZSZrXodAkp-K5q1ohA9wOBBlB96t2si6r4-ulEd0/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPSZYtaqwxMKNbKE5vl5X8E8IOzdrfmYNyu3v8zP9vdgez4Y7-6n0U58dbXInahdXvBkNiinDSVjkqvSwHDIu0_7JpxQdgJ1aCBpyZSZrXodAkp-K5q1ohA9wOBBlB96t2si6r4-ulEd0/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hassan took us back then to the visitors' center where we had more refreshments before our two hour tour ended.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzLe7n2LuPdukB_iGP4mHhf6pEf-fyQP9YgQa08Nipwlcvr3xsOoPdxx69a9aK5wpYinUQ87NzFHuULApZlj_6fMgexQvCyxzgDAYGB74hENiSvTVldJ8EfLbj2LA9l4aH6FLx3v-piH5/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzLe7n2LuPdukB_iGP4mHhf6pEf-fyQP9YgQa08Nipwlcvr3xsOoPdxx69a9aK5wpYinUQ87NzFHuULApZlj_6fMgexQvCyxzgDAYGB74hENiSvTVldJ8EfLbj2LA9l4aH6FLx3v-piH5/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tour whetted my appetite to learn more about a sport so famous in the Middle East. The definition of falconry is "the hunting of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey." </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had read that evidence suggests that the art of falconry may have begun in Mesopotamia, with the earliest accounts dating to approximately 2,000 BC. Historically, falconry was a popular sport and status symbol among the nobles of medieval Europe, the Middle East and Mongolian Empire. The falcon was a symbolic bird of ancient Mongol tribes. There is some disagreement about whether such early accounts document the practice of falconry or are misinterpreted depictions of humans with birds of prey. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoqc6rUXc23EHVn_d3qf5q4aSO7IJGerLF_GT7kZWJ4v_bSXFv_33dA2fICFZc5zFYtpf-pn7FXCcUOH1Ws0GvX_sKVuG9g8jRtQQ5MBkC0Ws-fQ0spFteBoI99ii1xEqbDJmhxDyyro9/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoqc6rUXc23EHVn_d3qf5q4aSO7IJGerLF_GT7kZWJ4v_bSXFv_33dA2fICFZc5zFYtpf-pn7FXCcUOH1Ws0GvX_sKVuG9g8jRtQQ5MBkC0Ws-fQ0spFteBoI99ii1xEqbDJmhxDyyro9/s320/111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Falconry was largely restricted to the noble classes due to the prerequisite commitment of time, money, and space. In art and in other aspects of culture such as literature, falconry remained a status symbol long after it was no longer popularly practiced. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Within nomadic societies like the Bedouin, falconry was not practiced for recreation by noblemen. Instead, falcons were trapped and hunted on small game during the winter months in order to supplement a very limited diet. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOnoHFVbj0O3nLj9SrajZ5actE_ofvpO-LtyR7eMQ6e_I_Y5VG8wWpQD_Hew7KIiLunKsvGkQ2GJ7vQQH4sk7X2KJf-p_EAgWMHVN_KrqchWHbSlko_-hyVoSvlvlrd7ITJIgAEir6OF4/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOnoHFVbj0O3nLj9SrajZ5actE_ofvpO-LtyR7eMQ6e_I_Y5VG8wWpQD_Hew7KIiLunKsvGkQ2GJ7vQQH4sk7X2KJf-p_EAgWMHVN_KrqchWHbSlko_-hyVoSvlvlrd7ITJIgAEir6OF4/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I never knew until I did some research for this post that the following words are all associated with falconry: <b>haggard: </b>means<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">caught from the wild as an adult; <b>lure: </b>originally</span><span style="font-size: large;"> a device used to recall hawks. The hawks, when young, were trained to associate the device (usually a bunch of feathers) with food; <b>rouse:</b> means t</span><span style="font-size: large;">o shake one's feathers; </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>pounce:</b> r</span><span style="font-size: large;">eferring to a hawk's claws and later derived to refer to birds springing or swooping to catch prey; and finally </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>to turn tail </b>which means to fly</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">away. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6IcMtJEXOntplm645blpo5b88YJHt8Qpb9AezjFJ62jhCJ2t_mn4XSfPjcl5q75ulcZWHFRahLlXIX6_xVSvx66m1f0IlF1fn5VQjCI88vvjFAO8XWb4Q1gE6LhYJpU-RB2TspaCMdXI/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6IcMtJEXOntplm645blpo5b88YJHt8Qpb9AezjFJ62jhCJ2t_mn4XSfPjcl5q75ulcZWHFRahLlXIX6_xVSvx66m1f0IlF1fn5VQjCI88vvjFAO8XWb4Q1gE6LhYJpU-RB2TspaCMdXI/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It had been an interesting visit to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and I learned a huge amount about falcons and their care in a short amount of time. I sure can't imagine being introduced to the world of falconry in any better place than Abu Dhabi!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Posted on February 20th, 2017 from the air en route back to Denver from a 'lovely' weekend in NYC helping our daughter,<b> Nina, </b>and her boyfriend, <b>Will,</b> celebrate their engagement!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-62816149037052470442017-02-16T06:24:00.001-08:002017-02-16T06:24:26.102-08:0012/7: Stellenbosch Wine Route on Last Day in Cape Town <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">No wonder Steven and I each gained a few pounds in Cape Town devouring this mouth-watering spread every morning at the <b>Altona Lodge! </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">The</span><span style="font-size: large;"> in-house cook prepared a variety of scrumptious made-to-order breakfast daily but, once I tasted his tomato and cheese omelettes and side of bacon the first day, I was hooked and chose that every day since! I don't think I've ever tasted a more delicious omelette. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEBpJoe4aewECaByY7oScY1sd8omxrgGal6Ve-AC5QGk6nlIrfyT1V2jNzQUyPMPlpeOHxMaXeVL9TYfzwoOpKjmAWo_w0JrN1D0duybb-vgnVR-bofoHTOq1eDcvWm0Qkxh7NUNL3gIV/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEBpJoe4aewECaByY7oScY1sd8omxrgGal6Ve-AC5QGk6nlIrfyT1V2jNzQUyPMPlpeOHxMaXeVL9TYfzwoOpKjmAWo_w0JrN1D0duybb-vgnVR-bofoHTOq1eDcvWm0Qkxh7NUNL3gIV/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">See the red mug on the right? That was one I've taken on every overseas trip and used many times a day for my frequent mugs of tea. Unfortunately, it got lost later that day en route to Dubai - so, so sad! I have looked for another one for our next trip since we returned home but haven't yet found one so light.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjV4lF3JiF17fOMf4jur0qMGCcqsbx1_qSjvqwlQhfYLkukaBct48BRbnSelPOtlVkp8SvTR86LHYFQBIgNgHb93QZ4-vCAgy89jvqIpQ3mrbTnbMnDYvrgafUMQZF2sq7SZM8FWNWOGl/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjV4lF3JiF17fOMf4jur0qMGCcqsbx1_qSjvqwlQhfYLkukaBct48BRbnSelPOtlVkp8SvTR86LHYFQBIgNgHb93QZ4-vCAgy89jvqIpQ3mrbTnbMnDYvrgafUMQZF2sq7SZM8FWNWOGl/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Wendy,</b> the so charming and helpful Altona Lodge assistant manager. <b>Darlene: </b>She reminded me of you in looks and temperament! </span><span style="font-size: large;">It was with regret that we said goodbye to Peter, the owner, and Wendy, as we had such a delightful six night stay at the lodge. But this was our last day in Cape Town as we were flying out that night to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlyS_pvO8mYK8Z4JFuKFOwvCSH04bVDSqGH0fTwHWaHpI8MhpUVYiVW7MpCgypv_Kbc3xt3WHwc2aysPdtY8OQysCFe42B8xRUCgimLdRx_vSr5kKadPGbEMrQZztZ-gGgBcVdwBxeJwB/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlyS_pvO8mYK8Z4JFuKFOwvCSH04bVDSqGH0fTwHWaHpI8MhpUVYiVW7MpCgypv_Kbc3xt3WHwc2aysPdtY8OQysCFe42B8xRUCgimLdRx_vSr5kKadPGbEMrQZztZ-gGgBcVdwBxeJwB/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I imagine many of you know that South Africa is very famous for its wines. Steven or I love the occasional glass of wine with dinner but neither of us are by any means wine connoisseurs. We have, though, toured many of the wineries in California's Napa Valley several times over the years. That was why we looked forward to exploring some of the wineries in <b>Franschhoek</b> and </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Stellenbosch,</b> two of </span><span style="font-size: large;">South Africa's most famous wine growing regions today.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5E7HleEAIJ8T4I9mIt-1P6imbtAbw9zRiEcRpfrgp5Sd9iBG6wGZoVAkxccMChoFhBGDqcT6zaEahjilpOH6VtEKEKgQ-hvNPOwj1SC6imNsMWrWprReXcDVDmzb-_4H6hfUr_S6Wjtq/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5E7HleEAIJ8T4I9mIt-1P6imbtAbw9zRiEcRpfrgp5Sd9iBG6wGZoVAkxccMChoFhBGDqcT6zaEahjilpOH6VtEKEKgQ-hvNPOwj1SC6imNsMWrWprReXcDVDmzb-_4H6hfUr_S6Wjtq/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">South Africa is now an undisputed "first division wine producing country. Years of hard work, investment and diligence has left the country with an increasing number of superstar wineries, producing world class wines at prices to match! This explosion of high-quality wine has been partially led by a growing number of younger, dynamic winemakers who have worked more than one vintage abroad and returned home with their important know-how." </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuha4HYKhkmJZUqy1_FismFxJD5n0r-ANSHaYo8HTDup-JZqC7octgO5fDHhVcD0e-_BxPHxk9KfX9mgQA5a8gNzPZceTfPhPhKnyC1oU9po_amqp-FdlWpytMJU1BqUDCSn0kQrR9gE3a/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuha4HYKhkmJZUqy1_FismFxJD5n0r-ANSHaYo8HTDup-JZqC7octgO5fDHhVcD0e-_BxPHxk9KfX9mgQA5a8gNzPZceTfPhPhKnyC1oU9po_amqp-FdlWpytMJU1BqUDCSn0kQrR9gE3a/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a half an hour drive outside Cape Town we were already at the beginning of the Cape vineyards, where cultivation of grapes dated back to the 1600s. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Today this is the largest wine making region in South Africa, and organized wine tourism has become a big business. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEaqSkCwnGijZtCsjUHkh-d6wHKhHQ4-C4nRztU3_V7tOI6np_ZIGqZ2VSUw2IGod7iOFjSd9feN7pT620TmkEscvAGrO8YIJ4FSV-dHkhWoek83TJ4PRP2iboz672gwoL14UYnXcQoKg/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEaqSkCwnGijZtCsjUHkh-d6wHKhHQ4-C4nRztU3_V7tOI6np_ZIGqZ2VSUw2IGod7iOFjSd9feN7pT620TmkEscvAGrO8YIJ4FSV-dHkhWoek83TJ4PRP2iboz672gwoL14UYnXcQoKg/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anura Vineyards</b> was just one of 36 wineries in the Stellenbosch Valley. L</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ocated in the foothills of the <b>Simonsberg Mountains, </b>it </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">been owned and run by the <b>Bouma</b> family since 1989.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipND1Qcf5DCPLsEF0tHcXlXgz1tidomnloeUMvgmmXLpgddoDGQW5neDlFZ6_XNT-n8Lae528pTY-nXjfehJWZglzRc5d0inDEOUtKtpVva3Tk0QCerKZPbOt2fnYOmt5-YXyhH5BdwEL0/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipND1Qcf5DCPLsEF0tHcXlXgz1tidomnloeUMvgmmXLpgddoDGQW5neDlFZ6_XNT-n8Lae528pTY-nXjfehJWZglzRc5d0inDEOUtKtpVva3Tk0QCerKZPbOt2fnYOmt5-YXyhH5BdwEL0/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What began as two blocks of vineyards, multiplied into 150 hectares of vines which can produce about 700 tons of red wine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawX_uu3SpaRCDdj7lBauDZm7yOftqrr7bV4lLuiVAIV9aJwGZajXoyp4n9hbeCUQKXYangl1jr3i1ORL0p9PLhN7WF9b-1S0Kkg81veXhEKsD0L2SMAz8huOWyiHpcSWGSTbSN_TIq2tF/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawX_uu3SpaRCDdj7lBauDZm7yOftqrr7bV4lLuiVAIV9aJwGZajXoyp4n9hbeCUQKXYangl1jr3i1ORL0p9PLhN7WF9b-1S0Kkg81veXhEKsD0L2SMAz8huOWyiHpcSWGSTbSN_TIq2tF/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anura's</span><span style="font-size: large;"> philosophy is that "Wine is not merely a product. It is a culture that has existed and evolved for more than 2,000 years. We can only build on this through imagination, integrity and passion."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXOJRHIhZwHorL0C9xc8tkwA85qhGddKpSn8oz1IreLyT7Fq55AV_WPBbX1u6n8ZcSe0oa3DGHU-faHIF3uOO-n12WE43zip9M5NmXrwC5Vg6eGVk3MDALZIg5BdfyE9Xg4xJ6ATEUtnU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXOJRHIhZwHorL0C9xc8tkwA85qhGddKpSn8oz1IreLyT7Fq55AV_WPBbX1u6n8ZcSe0oa3DGHU-faHIF3uOO-n12WE43zip9M5NmXrwC5Vg6eGVk3MDALZIg5BdfyE9Xg4xJ6ATEUtnU/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU4j8Evw2-8NPGQmqCgynxvCulXLJADckcFKC1B5lcT7Ea1TP3PuM-osar1DQNYprhpAHkOun1hSnXECUgBlAhGuWm9sL1QuC4SILgPjl5q3wAEmDVMYsAR4YuXRbuVfcgEU80TrQeV9u/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU4j8Evw2-8NPGQmqCgynxvCulXLJADckcFKC1B5lcT7Ea1TP3PuM-osar1DQNYprhpAHkOun1hSnXECUgBlAhGuWm9sL1QuC4SILgPjl5q3wAEmDVMYsAR4YuXRbuVfcgEU80TrQeV9u/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I would think that many would agree with <b>Plato,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">the Greek philosopher, who </span><span style="font-size: large;">remarked that ‘Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine has even been granted by the gods to man’!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5vcO4vMfVAWQnRqw4QCQ-bUhoVDi1RTJQ4vIU_ZA4vr9OH-SezGVtzexkjriGWHhOhtZ1Zx_7a9FgG8aJKX9clsIDHPrLrcZoMRE-h-Y800T62B-S1lHj-1sMCpzwBjfMXId1yA_Sg8a/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5vcO4vMfVAWQnRqw4QCQ-bUhoVDi1RTJQ4vIU_ZA4vr9OH-SezGVtzexkjriGWHhOhtZ1Zx_7a9FgG8aJKX9clsIDHPrLrcZoMRE-h-Y800T62B-S1lHj-1sMCpzwBjfMXId1yA_Sg8a/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJUgn49EP-RvP8DzifeLfhld6-ghCglEX527oj2XlClSIdNH2FpRxzw5TRrNes4ftP80Iwj41-BpCoQ6BgobVFlpDvl2o4faAWIUCP8sIRYqj3wP1GrEgVZCKka86ASYWKNOEOltuekf3/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJUgn49EP-RvP8DzifeLfhld6-ghCglEX527oj2XlClSIdNH2FpRxzw5TRrNes4ftP80Iwj41-BpCoQ6BgobVFlpDvl2o4faAWIUCP8sIRYqj3wP1GrEgVZCKka86ASYWKNOEOltuekf3/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXpNH4npbJWfUczQgzCyHjvAN0qCtI53UusAsEVj7j1vDa_1_2_Chgf1vHeJvfYj5YBXdVNAf2S8VGK1fEuLUo3FIsWVDeFyw8HteMWngCvfvm2hyqOuCFjs3JutezTsVY3Gqv-0_3yi-/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXpNH4npbJWfUczQgzCyHjvAN0qCtI53UusAsEVj7j1vDa_1_2_Chgf1vHeJvfYj5YBXdVNAf2S8VGK1fEuLUo3FIsWVDeFyw8HteMWngCvfvm2hyqOuCFjs3JutezTsVY3Gqv-0_3yi-/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Claire Hu,</b> a wine writer, wrote that she had </span><span style="font-size: large;">spent a decade visiting the most famous vineyards around the world. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For sheer beauty, the winelands of South Africa were at the top of her list. We had already seen enough of the Cape Winelands to understand why!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u0sRFnTWbfT6PP3Vc2G6xaI1s20v_diPS1fjKCbuJBJziqQ9bUMFcIAnuYgQkQJF9N8iec5SXYnKzk5xAMPdgSqiDHnhoRnvD52yVJzVOBsTqVfR455HuFKvmSzUrbPwD75tgXHXsmD5/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u0sRFnTWbfT6PP3Vc2G6xaI1s20v_diPS1fjKCbuJBJziqQ9bUMFcIAnuYgQkQJF9N8iec5SXYnKzk5xAMPdgSqiDHnhoRnvD52yVJzVOBsTqVfR455HuFKvmSzUrbPwD75tgXHXsmD5/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As Steven said, there was such a disconnect with how beautiful the wineries were and how desperately poor the areas were where the black people lived so close by. It was so disconcerting, too, seeing again electrified fences at every turn.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG4g_8gXgJVnzwPeIq30PZxnzogC_7UqmHpHMy7Ydv7wV2ck6HfZs4UmQOHra56G1nEwRjlg1zZ10j7LOvmGFgA8KvgYfDMm8dRWKE-oFkeFqzj3OdXZEa2dgZvsl_Yfm9I924JxtxgQT/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG4g_8gXgJVnzwPeIq30PZxnzogC_7UqmHpHMy7Ydv7wV2ck6HfZs4UmQOHra56G1nEwRjlg1zZ10j7LOvmGFgA8KvgYfDMm8dRWKE-oFkeFqzj3OdXZEa2dgZvsl_Yfm9I924JxtxgQT/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUsc-MMRCIWKfeOWV4qjO03OOwKQGftS8gtOG6-0nFlGs_2yYE81Qzzdk709YNZmWNjztb2a5P_nMRGCtxx1jyMms2eqGwmFr-kNq8F3WEeBJAXugOB16d94FXDTYCeHattPAlz-dI1XJ/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUsc-MMRCIWKfeOWV4qjO03OOwKQGftS8gtOG6-0nFlGs_2yYE81Qzzdk709YNZmWNjztb2a5P_nMRGCtxx1jyMms2eqGwmFr-kNq8F3WEeBJAXugOB16d94FXDTYCeHattPAlz-dI1XJ/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove to the small town of <b>Pniel </b>surrounded by the <b>Groot Drakenstein Mountains.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Pniel was initially established as a mission settlement for the landless and homeless slaves released after slavery was abolished in the Cape in 1842. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29_BsDScYCF92LyVmMqIGuNG_MmbZjYylMvkSFGJEMWy2YkNXOs7xc9hDIael7p6uVKAj9UicFvdhr5P6AIl0OyxOp_00LRWARF2VCAy_hRZzd2ae7ACh2PsYoD9YFwnIKnqAS3riCmhS/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29_BsDScYCF92LyVmMqIGuNG_MmbZjYylMvkSFGJEMWy2YkNXOs7xc9hDIael7p6uVKAj9UicFvdhr5P6AIl0OyxOp_00LRWARF2VCAy_hRZzd2ae7ACh2PsYoD9YFwnIKnqAS3riCmhS/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aeYXRTd-bVoAhnYZ47HJBYVKMLag-jxb_siBo_V8JFawTMMBd5iNErQx2iONM4RYxzGQIL-8ZO6hTGdG2ZQl0rLlRcVZfUnDsO6gvEbpcQSM-ECGd-IRsI3_6k-0QlkyojbtEcTFAyBX/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aeYXRTd-bVoAhnYZ47HJBYVKMLag-jxb_siBo_V8JFawTMMBd5iNErQx2iONM4RYxzGQIL-8ZO6hTGdG2ZQl0rLlRcVZfUnDsO6gvEbpcQSM-ECGd-IRsI3_6k-0QlkyojbtEcTFAyBX/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This sweet-looking white church looked appealing from a distance so we drive closer to get a better look.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7zevVoYG8dMzusO5hqq1dP-7TVYBzS_bcUEFhDMSKqUuZiwXtxjmWR0f3aZX1GKqWlNQ1jk7aFHgEx-DyAx35yUBD8tXeMq24CenqwkRSqX7xS3EG5LyGGgfBUctrvgq0KwBaEHNoulH/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7zevVoYG8dMzusO5hqq1dP-7TVYBzS_bcUEFhDMSKqUuZiwXtxjmWR0f3aZX1GKqWlNQ1jk7aFHgEx-DyAx35yUBD8tXeMq24CenqwkRSqX7xS3EG5LyGGgfBUctrvgq0KwBaEHNoulH/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We'd never grown tired of seeing these gorgeous lavender-colored blooming flowers since arriving in South Africa.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8NIJsPmLSlMMRL2GrLs6U3ph5hwbkpEn-XTc0O9jEnf3odKKlC4akJz92jARNeZqF42x4afNDePbejJhSpo5EW9T8VMEZQ7MDbRNHy6lcmkM510usjZKdbO5dSuoOIaPYC8o4dO2FRMV/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8NIJsPmLSlMMRL2GrLs6U3ph5hwbkpEn-XTc0O9jEnf3odKKlC4akJz92jARNeZqF42x4afNDePbejJhSpo5EW9T8VMEZQ7MDbRNHy6lcmkM510usjZKdbO5dSuoOIaPYC8o4dO2FRMV/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQycCK54ixQWOA2P4qk_08mfqylSVnQwUqpoXxoQoOdmsOLojtBUKVnre1VgSi23nRxQwag2Mq-X1qBYWMHUAX2XSorTqtGNAa6MUQjuGBR40wr9aaB2pkst9YX875nvxE4iqvX13bt9QI/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQycCK54ixQWOA2P4qk_08mfqylSVnQwUqpoXxoQoOdmsOLojtBUKVnre1VgSi23nRxQwag2Mq-X1qBYWMHUAX2XSorTqtGNAa6MUQjuGBR40wr9aaB2pkst9YX875nvxE4iqvX13bt9QI/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A slave bell marked the entrance to the church in memory of</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> slavery being abolished.</span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5bpuRI0FNrkPCGej8TnAjgvuDmXv9pXutOfKWs22KFhY8BGLVQRjtN1jFlUPcvOu3FrXyHykvG3InjcorTJYJmWSI_E0zgT7uJrmiEVwQbvYnXTKoz-UcsVlJmoMl3ob9OslIgkGDSLX/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5bpuRI0FNrkPCGej8TnAjgvuDmXv9pXutOfKWs22KFhY8BGLVQRjtN1jFlUPcvOu3FrXyHykvG3InjcorTJYJmWSI_E0zgT7uJrmiEVwQbvYnXTKoz-UcsVlJmoMl3ob9OslIgkGDSLX/s320/034.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I approached the 160 year old <b>Congregational Church,</b> I heard voices raised in song. I thought it must be a morning choir practice until I popped through </span><span style="font-size: large;">the open door and noticed a church service being conducted.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN2yTZhoPMIM2TsjUve27ZXhQc-5_RM9M-1wOcGM6YkvkmrNGZhMUZQViA_5EROUgI9g8PkEPtY4tfqouMc01bcGoPLLlIXNtuPVDwmdjCSwxun1Sx-TqjKWLPIS9GymMwFFShXsJuK8H/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN2yTZhoPMIM2TsjUve27ZXhQc-5_RM9M-1wOcGM6YkvkmrNGZhMUZQViA_5EROUgI9g8PkEPtY4tfqouMc01bcGoPLLlIXNtuPVDwmdjCSwxun1Sx-TqjKWLPIS9GymMwFFShXsJuK8H/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36COz2b9AcLT9O_LOJtlxXlD0tGzplFwPgcOJeaOcB5v8N6WlpMdPSh3xKsLPXO5I6iJB5rLvfcGM9XPfp1DUCljUwGy2gFvpQrvqjTrRW5N7A69fTCwhGkuUeAWjKXOidCIw0bJbDHY/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36COz2b9AcLT9O_LOJtlxXlD0tGzplFwPgcOJeaOcB5v8N6WlpMdPSh3xKsLPXO5I6iJB5rLvfcGM9XPfp1DUCljUwGy2gFvpQrvqjTrRW5N7A69fTCwhGkuUeAWjKXOidCIw0bJbDHY/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next, we drove on to another of South America's famous wine-growing districts called <b>Franschhoek</b> or French Corner, tucked into the Cape Winelands. Regarded as the 'culinary capital' of the Cape, Franschhoek is a member of <b>The Délice Network of Good Food Cities of the World.</b> Galleries and antique shops fill the tree-lined streets, and vineyards established more than 300 years ago dotted the hills just outside town. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzPmA0K9XsvcxYw-oQ5wLpom3E1xUlbSOA8NrrkvmqZbUUuo4zhDLvz59RabA7QdMYE87hZpibdR8RiZ11WnPHhVXO_rj2DvvCAHv5aH99PZY-n4NOUXy-7T1LDwAnOubSsiZqT4OMxs/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzPmA0K9XsvcxYw-oQ5wLpom3E1xUlbSOA8NrrkvmqZbUUuo4zhDLvz59RabA7QdMYE87hZpibdR8RiZ11WnPHhVXO_rj2DvvCAHv5aH99PZY-n4NOUXy-7T1LDwAnOubSsiZqT4OMxs/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Agriculture and a simple farm lifestyle is at the heart of <b>Boschendal Winery, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the oldest farms in South Africa, founded in 1685. The </span><span style="font-size: large;">oldest manor house, dating from 1795, offered traditional Cape buffet lunches. According to their website, the farm has grown with the "passing centuries into a cherished source of wholesome produce, great wines and happy memories."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iVZgqEt6OBkP92hatIEbfPWRxL8vRlyhrZmJygbEz7jyC_cBo4zQBXdEV9VfRr73_6jwZnPxyJEl5hro5nWR7Tii_QZSeVRuRkNYTpLaYFGMxOJjgns5E2ioEC2v7kVxA5xirQRDViM/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iVZgqEt6OBkP92hatIEbfPWRxL8vRlyhrZmJygbEz7jyC_cBo4zQBXdEV9VfRr73_6jwZnPxyJEl5hro5nWR7Tii_QZSeVRuRkNYTpLaYFGMxOJjgns5E2ioEC2v7kVxA5xirQRDViM/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zFairUinCeX5mFtieaotw4HW4Sm05TdibxBPFsifFpGII5d-QF0s5S-LrPuuAaniY7-8q1u7UJXDX94XJkk5bjFAjqXh_H16ruu9vAtEnCpflY8xo5_qjI6s-qQBbIGKXPFnaKkhY_o/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zFairUinCeX5mFtieaotw4HW4Sm05TdibxBPFsifFpGII5d-QF0s5S-LrPuuAaniY7-8q1u7UJXDX94XJkk5bjFAjqXh_H16ruu9vAtEnCpflY8xo5_qjI6s-qQBbIGKXPFnaKkhY_o/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Boschendal was definitely a destination winery with its own golf club, </span><span style="font-size: large;">mountain bike trails, horse and carriage rides and </span><span style="font-size: large;">adorable cottages to stay in after a weary day. I sure could see ourselves enjoying some time there if we were ever to return!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm-9TPtnzjVc5dQZost74QB2Jkbczf2f0s_0ytcKBYnyrRCGdwhRWxB0CGtwLb5IiewP0o77y74KCvgl_jmt5sLb8vwh3CMT0ohQjUvH3oNWB2NevLf6pG-ypm_YkuKxhmRFFppabAUg/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm-9TPtnzjVc5dQZost74QB2Jkbczf2f0s_0ytcKBYnyrRCGdwhRWxB0CGtwLb5IiewP0o77y74KCvgl_jmt5sLb8vwh3CMT0ohQjUvH3oNWB2NevLf6pG-ypm_YkuKxhmRFFppabAUg/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg-NgBkYUj4x13BjMMbU3gxBacAEmwmUxxA02qjdND2AoGLbITw9NdgjTjqUewCbHCzlYS4bIju2Lp1w_X49sKWCxiuuLzzNpGHz-iMCAKtzXoVwL3rKJN8yJDZaux7ixhPKxJp4CDUEns/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NgBkYUj4x13BjMMbU3gxBacAEmwmUxxA02qjdND2AoGLbITw9NdgjTjqUewCbHCzlYS4bIju2Lp1w_X49sKWCxiuuLzzNpGHz-iMCAKtzXoVwL3rKJN8yJDZaux7ixhPKxJp4CDUEns/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Besides the impressive collection of old trees on the farm, Boschendal had immaculate award-winning gardens that were "a haven of serenity and beauty."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV7i5hdYIyLi8FOeo5p4KGh_neMuxPsOpIvRmr-j5CTkUtK-vOO-CUEN_YRT2YNbA-qZza_1W6p7KqfIDwAn54GznH7S66kCnQnyCsVCHncROp0HqEcIScZruOcpN9wqjG-WrvStLjAw/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV7i5hdYIyLi8FOeo5p4KGh_neMuxPsOpIvRmr-j5CTkUtK-vOO-CUEN_YRT2YNbA-qZza_1W6p7KqfIDwAn54GznH7S66kCnQnyCsVCHncROp0HqEcIScZruOcpN9wqjG-WrvStLjAw/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so peaceful wandering the winery and its grounds.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF-fVV9JV_3j7hRUoWsVmbS_5DOs-5eU4hM-uPEIH_PVLLABkyDpjDYSw6lzShFA-mkqZeakDmQRxDyBKUQQgAswy2hr-mi91IIswEJnuPrns0T7L3EQi0aTUTWiTwmLu8HhIrpdr00k/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF-fVV9JV_3j7hRUoWsVmbS_5DOs-5eU4hM-uPEIH_PVLLABkyDpjDYSw6lzShFA-mkqZeakDmQRxDyBKUQQgAswy2hr-mi91IIswEJnuPrns0T7L3EQi0aTUTWiTwmLu8HhIrpdr00k/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjVLdPqlAbM796I3Yu2Fn4WB0s4AjSbtYFh5hjGyb9_XzZyJigGJp9UbGXFbLxrzvWjKxb9h9VDsfGMkuvVxwYv1Q_HkLlD26Hs8Eu1XUw8GcbNEOPkNuI9qeyY2DoMXtXgar-yUeBE6vw/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLdPqlAbM796I3Yu2Fn4WB0s4AjSbtYFh5hjGyb9_XzZyJigGJp9UbGXFbLxrzvWjKxb9h9VDsfGMkuvVxwYv1Q_HkLlD26Hs8Eu1XUw8GcbNEOPkNuI9qeyY2DoMXtXgar-yUeBE6vw/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69z5pD846e9Iy9wj-pXUbysS2DK7YVlFCWKwsUHl822MrkiB_bgFssStz2_ZWO1Alj75_fyxkuc5IjUilkLE7QZ4vgNTDOehrsgxmPdgn7D_H7iKGzzIxzWpt-V2Z_T5uZb1gA7oAbEs/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69z5pD846e9Iy9wj-pXUbysS2DK7YVlFCWKwsUHl822MrkiB_bgFssStz2_ZWO1Alj75_fyxkuc5IjUilkLE7QZ4vgNTDOehrsgxmPdgn7D_H7iKGzzIxzWpt-V2Z_T5uZb1gA7oAbEs/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImtymdy01VSxMn8pzSu-BWPZleHAmcN-xN8qloPPFn6kwn3_PDOiaxssLXG_agiztsrBbW-33VpK63mWOy5orK2DhTlNG4bkvOvIqxi_dKSpMqTIn3RIoQQFOAw5VtaEBQKCGBWMqxjY/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImtymdy01VSxMn8pzSu-BWPZleHAmcN-xN8qloPPFn6kwn3_PDOiaxssLXG_agiztsrBbW-33VpK63mWOy5orK2DhTlNG4bkvOvIqxi_dKSpMqTIn3RIoQQFOAw5VtaEBQKCGBWMqxjY/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This internationally acclaimed rose garden featured many of the original roses that were cultivated at the Cape and in the East Indies. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5Izac_osW7AU_WTI34-3Aisq2pcwi7OgmpaAeTAyY7HUtH3mINuoTd9FiHE1Wl0rTR1LnnNmlSP8ttmTsiZEBr2-Uiguaj1QgOL4bA7jYsVqaCUBLv1qx_9vl4Ep7pagNV_Mpx1Pprw/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5Izac_osW7AU_WTI34-3Aisq2pcwi7OgmpaAeTAyY7HUtH3mINuoTd9FiHE1Wl0rTR1LnnNmlSP8ttmTsiZEBr2-Uiguaj1QgOL4bA7jYsVqaCUBLv1qx_9vl4Ep7pagNV_Mpx1Pprw/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohzcEG3HABuMhWoP_IrdexPqDidSYQz6MWsKIlP65JTJdUJdsGpvQxlEOrYysm6KOkq6eYeSmDmPXNuuO_7tA7h-7mxHZ_8baUeit01YGyG5FN3DXEQ7ZJR0YTzyRzQMs5Qz_S0T6OSo/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohzcEG3HABuMhWoP_IrdexPqDidSYQz6MWsKIlP65JTJdUJdsGpvQxlEOrYysm6KOkq6eYeSmDmPXNuuO_7tA7h-7mxHZ_8baUeit01YGyG5FN3DXEQ7ZJR0YTzyRzQMs5Qz_S0T6OSo/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh66nVtgj9MGZdbxmfwc6gm8bR3Zjdld40xknGOl-ifbu41hLf938gl-EMLmMiSiDDWyV4IqYo385OHTI25ZWDqQH4dQm-2nE5PBx6uTKfyANm2HEcT_g2f4KkXCtVp9glmI-Y_Wg2BU/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh66nVtgj9MGZdbxmfwc6gm8bR3Zjdld40xknGOl-ifbu41hLf938gl-EMLmMiSiDDWyV4IqYo385OHTI25ZWDqQH4dQm-2nE5PBx6uTKfyANm2HEcT_g2f4KkXCtVp9glmI-Y_Wg2BU/s320/055.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY3si4NbB3z8pvJdtVZPrFxDf-MYDJBcwsVNIjxa95sdVt5vABSbu6JblgK7tGgrGH_kjJIMExYGAi88LbUNGmbUId7uprdkHC9e2q_xJKzFG8HGJ6C78XOvxa0uuMLTw7QRvIBG2CKo/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY3si4NbB3z8pvJdtVZPrFxDf-MYDJBcwsVNIjxa95sdVt5vABSbu6JblgK7tGgrGH_kjJIMExYGAi88LbUNGmbUId7uprdkHC9e2q_xJKzFG8HGJ6C78XOvxa0uuMLTw7QRvIBG2CKo/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Franschhoek valley was enclosed on three sides by towering mountains. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhiysElm8jHWCf9-c9_MI8pw07hyNbRnbs_z6S5cTeUzbGrzQLjSc6PJtSu0RwtKxNdCNk_VqC77QMuwh0Td8SSPS5RYUYJKTcKmOzbDK0JXMDEF78Cp9P8l4_0uNrTjKEqPm7HMbYE/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEhiysElm8jHWCf9-c9_MI8pw07hyNbRnbs_z6S5cTeUzbGrzQLjSc6PJtSu0RwtKxNdCNk_VqC77QMuwh0Td8SSPS5RYUYJKTcKmOzbDK0JXMDEF78Cp9P8l4_0uNrTjKEqPm7HMbYE/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5icc3vo7iW8WaPouo3K6wZ6O0wQGocZSQ0R5X4_KhRNhjWcb9igFbui-AQVD7RwXPkAM51bd9bTsibwMMwfFiAuzd0IZaoWI8TGLpNqpJcMkElXz9_WOtKm6uD3l4k2CMgAJxaf142cg/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5icc3vo7iW8WaPouo3K6wZ6O0wQGocZSQ0R5X4_KhRNhjWcb9igFbui-AQVD7RwXPkAM51bd9bTsibwMMwfFiAuzd0IZaoWI8TGLpNqpJcMkElXz9_WOtKm6uD3l4k2CMgAJxaf142cg/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQFM29LeWo3q-aFs6GcQkOgl_BEA7naSdKe7vruHTdO7YH2BeaPY_WAEL7wEFtKdmkBTSdzDFpsRbjsWMTwsJfAPuwVgu8e9R1oMkxmO2Z8v3g_Rj7A060MWT8vgtu6FnM31Vk7FNpk/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PQFM29LeWo3q-aFs6GcQkOgl_BEA7naSdKe7vruHTdO7YH2BeaPY_WAEL7wEFtKdmkBTSdzDFpsRbjsWMTwsJfAPuwVgu8e9R1oMkxmO2Z8v3g_Rj7A060MWT8vgtu6FnM31Vk7FNpk/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwr-cokXFqfZovu69oChQf6f_rmG-XLzrKZehwNQ4KKBo7F3jQmLk3JGCp8cz3Tqo2MTTwbvj5wGdKU5NuBbFO1WNhPbVpYL_dTDvMui7t1XH6uMexbWaFfOlYGxOf4c14QHILD1OMk0/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwr-cokXFqfZovu69oChQf6f_rmG-XLzrKZehwNQ4KKBo7F3jQmLk3JGCp8cz3Tqo2MTTwbvj5wGdKU5NuBbFO1WNhPbVpYL_dTDvMui7t1XH6uMexbWaFfOlYGxOf4c14QHILD1OMk0/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYfts07pFh7IOt4pJgnrvNAVo7PmLMqXruXyaPzcXrskDb53yH7-XjasCYfgm7S6Lg0dBtgWwKPW3mVY2CvvVX9v8PQP9rxwa6Q9dwrsqB-PcVl5Q0GM1T-Xj911yxMmcsawe0naZmSY/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYfts07pFh7IOt4pJgnrvNAVo7PmLMqXruXyaPzcXrskDb53yH7-XjasCYfgm7S6Lg0dBtgWwKPW3mVY2CvvVX9v8PQP9rxwa6Q9dwrsqB-PcVl5Q0GM1T-Xj911yxMmcsawe0naZmSY/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the Franschheok valley, our drive east toward Stellenbosch took us over the <b>Helshoogte Pass,</b> o</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ne of the oldest passes in the Cape, built in 1854. The Pass is also popular with cyclists though the climb is steep and it is not for the faint of heart.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OpYJz_ii-GwDC7i8VBH9IMucUc_-Wzz9FhRQ7HACMtrZllX-FyJC8DKWAxWl5OAnRCEJWfATuxl_Gj6qaBYQKeqPQt_5eElpXYOAo7WxIIfp3IQJiGVSRJRDoStWG8CQylx9IVceKzM/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OpYJz_ii-GwDC7i8VBH9IMucUc_-Wzz9FhRQ7HACMtrZllX-FyJC8DKWAxWl5OAnRCEJWfATuxl_Gj6qaBYQKeqPQt_5eElpXYOAo7WxIIfp3IQJiGVSRJRDoStWG8CQylx9IVceKzM/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Helshoogte or <b>'hell's heights'</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">route with towering mountains all round easily encapsulated the essence of the wine region. If there is one route all visitors should drive, it is this. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPCQe44wCqoJ9GaemdP5gGBq10shJSWjLp7TdHECQ7Td9s3g5WaqX4I5RR4lU8qZrBzaBxIJty-Nxme4f5pvZzPn9HngZvnZYmcifqBCBdcyZ-byAMnX1h51koRHeQfFmXirkxWwIXDA/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPCQe44wCqoJ9GaemdP5gGBq10shJSWjLp7TdHECQ7Td9s3g5WaqX4I5RR4lU8qZrBzaBxIJty-Nxme4f5pvZzPn9HngZvnZYmcifqBCBdcyZ-byAMnX1h51koRHeQfFmXirkxWwIXDA/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0uiqQB3Cqgn-Qc5UHltsyZ0LuwfG3mK5Z5AwqcJ3Fbr_FDuDWvsab18G16Eaw_0Uf95VeD2hV232qoQGCFckL7ZfvLPwwSGYZtW5O6WP18BlDy4XPH2dP_dKgq_RQfCYmJHgZ-WOXGU/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0uiqQB3Cqgn-Qc5UHltsyZ0LuwfG3mK5Z5AwqcJ3Fbr_FDuDWvsab18G16Eaw_0Uf95VeD2hV232qoQGCFckL7ZfvLPwwSGYZtW5O6WP18BlDy4XPH2dP_dKgq_RQfCYmJHgZ-WOXGU/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The number of 'Pass Wide' signs indicated how popular a cycling route this was!</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm4Dl040DwmvmtLIgjvXfTDVwS-dkZLWqAH232oyADL7fax4rbqduWnZSuG8UrgOYpYMOTJKo_vkjmw3BmDbaSB3NDsyN4YEyko8AM8rVq1uGutTxtl4jrBMH4jT8vHobmR9dwkOzrmk/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm4Dl040DwmvmtLIgjvXfTDVwS-dkZLWqAH232oyADL7fax4rbqduWnZSuG8UrgOYpYMOTJKo_vkjmw3BmDbaSB3NDsyN4YEyko8AM8rVq1uGutTxtl4jrBMH4jT8vHobmR9dwkOzrmk/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sun umbrellas had been a common sight throughout our time in all of South Africa.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DAzQlvijvb9EFRXkmSgE3qY06lZsCigfzaoOVcOnWv3xBbXxt7IlwZqxvpalwjwEF_hRbXdCLTuTVNjzb7OFkXlKux_xf-uZ0G-v49iZIOcyvZuoSxT1RphZ-tzjPa78dkJjpBnIpKI/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DAzQlvijvb9EFRXkmSgE3qY06lZsCigfzaoOVcOnWv3xBbXxt7IlwZqxvpalwjwEF_hRbXdCLTuTVNjzb7OFkXlKux_xf-uZ0G-v49iZIOcyvZuoSxT1RphZ-tzjPa78dkJjpBnIpKI/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like in prestigious wine regions such as Napa and Sonoma, an elite class of wine estates has emerged as leaders and ambassadors for the country’s wine making potential, centered around the Western Cape’s town of <b>Stellenbosch.</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">The town, situated about 30 miles east of Cape Town, was located along the banks of the</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Eerste River. </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXewP9C29kea90gHDDtQ11C8gwaA5j_goUrMSYqx3S0XKqjiWHe3wunB9BKscpcy8lIQIpWr1lcc2Hh9vC_I7e7QAudEnANREKGp2IJb0f6FjbgLBphNJqSAeHZVDoMJqiVo-dn6LcKs/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXewP9C29kea90gHDDtQ11C8gwaA5j_goUrMSYqx3S0XKqjiWHe3wunB9BKscpcy8lIQIpWr1lcc2Hh9vC_I7e7QAudEnANREKGp2IJb0f6FjbgLBphNJqSAeHZVDoMJqiVo-dn6LcKs/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town. </span><span style="font-size: large;">During 1690 some Huguenot refugees settled in Stellenbosch, grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the center of the South African wine industry. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CGG2kIadIDgse5D2_r2skTGk5qZDMSFZNO_im1TtBFfDZ_svneJDuLamFM6Yce5TgQaPB3JYN2Oa7ZoJbKBchC6xvRyyw3jvH4BtV85Js24ipr1ml5DpWW4PsRRlyReBHzV4f7Mg3Kw/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CGG2kIadIDgse5D2_r2skTGk5qZDMSFZNO_im1TtBFfDZ_svneJDuLamFM6Yce5TgQaPB3JYN2Oa7ZoJbKBchC6xvRyyw3jvH4BtV85Js24ipr1ml5DpWW4PsRRlyReBHzV4f7Mg3Kw/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1971 the renowned <b>Stellenbosch Wine Route</b> was founded and it is still one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Western Cape. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Though more than 200 wine and grape producers within the boundaries of the <b>Stellenbosch Wine of Origin </b>classification were included on the Route, we only had time to visit a smattering of them. The first winery in the Stellenbosch area we stopped at was <b>Blaauwklippen Wine Estate.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxtb6mXm4QmiQfx2hrqUwlLUajYjcNh0zoImlfnsVpUPDx5whq720dG0PXD0Hr5C3s_nWQhdTTcFyNXwLWioUgo2IU5THN6aMkmAZ5bhMeKjH2OwpsYz3MvgmUKxKvI5-3uTSHotX9u8/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxtb6mXm4QmiQfx2hrqUwlLUajYjcNh0zoImlfnsVpUPDx5whq720dG0PXD0Hr5C3s_nWQhdTTcFyNXwLWioUgo2IU5THN6aMkmAZ5bhMeKjH2OwpsYz3MvgmUKxKvI5-3uTSHotX9u8/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Blaauwklippen was founded in 1682 but it wasn’t until 1688 that the first vineyards were planted in the fertile soil of the estate. Jump forward to 1899, when famed businessman and politician<b> Cecil Rhodes</b> became the owner of Blaauwklippen, but only for one day! Blaauwklippen was one of the first members of the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Stellenbosch Wine Route</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbeXN0jTnMi0hyMwi9Ja1HU6gh6NraTJwj6hRuLpltXx7xJG1InUyT7YSobhItzg8j3oviEMSquVyGYHGwQ2GsQQNGKISaD00UVBz76QN1AVFEtg4sMTKdg-Kq4clhfRxvilmqUrCPKY/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbeXN0jTnMi0hyMwi9Ja1HU6gh6NraTJwj6hRuLpltXx7xJG1InUyT7YSobhItzg8j3oviEMSquVyGYHGwQ2GsQQNGKISaD00UVBz76QN1AVFEtg4sMTKdg-Kq4clhfRxvilmqUrCPKY/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By 1977 the very first Zinfandel grapes were planted on Blaauwklippen, with the first wines produced three years later. The winery became the first outside of the US to join <b>Zinfandel Advocates and Producers</b> in 2008, because of their array of Zinfandel products. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-c2ZDgkQoz-Jz6__fmvobBmSU8mZFlxYawbWffYxlXii6WkRiNk8YTivcni9Z5VLow8LuuvS1dkkfZMYgB75CmWDmqQvu5VW53kuj0iJy8QHHgmNnYhyqFotq-DLZFjmciukFxuK3wM/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-c2ZDgkQoz-Jz6__fmvobBmSU8mZFlxYawbWffYxlXii6WkRiNk8YTivcni9Z5VLow8LuuvS1dkkfZMYgB75CmWDmqQvu5VW53kuj0iJy8QHHgmNnYhyqFotq-DLZFjmciukFxuK3wM/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYfoo3hGsPKTYqmMPUUcXecd4G3MQSx9BAMsgFfkooait2hIrtRH5kylemyuDg5bojqTch8v_Q0fglKQpifz6I7DGCrxwf-5RwR3ULM3XWKPMfCqMlGVdODIcinuAEhZV7oyPwV-rHZk/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYfoo3hGsPKTYqmMPUUcXecd4G3MQSx9BAMsgFfkooait2hIrtRH5kylemyuDg5bojqTch8v_Q0fglKQpifz6I7DGCrxwf-5RwR3ULM3XWKPMfCqMlGVdODIcinuAEhZV7oyPwV-rHZk/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc-CXOdB2St0MQq7QHOoSthytZg9BPeTf7B_6sieX8pGCAXEGOJVkWyqH8ZUPXE5lBdrS4GZQ5VRjsuzmC_5hEN9Yn9C-hdY-SPI9mcQdEYhUitfMds5h1Pls6ughEK0sirZISsSNRvQ/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijc-CXOdB2St0MQq7QHOoSthytZg9BPeTf7B_6sieX8pGCAXEGOJVkWyqH8ZUPXE5lBdrS4GZQ5VRjsuzmC_5hEN9Yn9C-hdY-SPI9mcQdEYhUitfMds5h1Pls6ughEK0sirZISsSNRvQ/s320/080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Family Market</b> at </span><span style="font-size: large;">Blaauwklippen Winery is renowned for being the best way to spend a Sunday in the Western Cape. Not only are there a wide range of yummy foods and creative crafts, but also fantastic entertainment. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I read that the Family Market is joined monthly by an amazing antique fair. The winery's marketers make sure that while the adults shop, the kids are entertained enjoying pony rides and other activities. Even 'fur kids' are welcome, as every third Sunday dog lovers can enjoy the Vineyard Doggy Walk with all proceeds going towards the local animal welfare society!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxLdOF6fcPqHO2XTp0c0R6LhUgGygF7rB1236e7dcBxY3iId52hS8V6TBwYJXPCg2QNRmpjMphJEifEUfeHizhKWxGdqhVjtXyawnkUMzwxkVcDZq_MKQu-NbPWnZw46vKAz4fJDoDy0/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxLdOF6fcPqHO2XTp0c0R6LhUgGygF7rB1236e7dcBxY3iId52hS8V6TBwYJXPCg2QNRmpjMphJEifEUfeHizhKWxGdqhVjtXyawnkUMzwxkVcDZq_MKQu-NbPWnZw46vKAz4fJDoDy0/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2015 they celebrated 333 years of Blaauwklippen Vineyards!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt07O39lh22GNZCTgMqwE2IZajVg3bJqwVdwXtBf1g2HMuNzGa-60HbNbDTv4o6zfvZScnJLwMfJmixss9BQ-zgG93b1mZOhJLfyDajX1RZ1xzwhMqQ2Gbcxf9rX45eR7iaVTZJFPk3M/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt07O39lh22GNZCTgMqwE2IZajVg3bJqwVdwXtBf1g2HMuNzGa-60HbNbDTv4o6zfvZScnJLwMfJmixss9BQ-zgG93b1mZOhJLfyDajX1RZ1xzwhMqQ2Gbcxf9rX45eR7iaVTZJFPk3M/s320/083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCa06gugy9gt94rMLv12kieZ91YXE111euEyTaofzg53ee58-CcEkcow0x8cgDBSDpPgIcgr1cljuYgylQKt7kZdDCWipBxbvXHdFPevF3lD1crbh2P7IcDBciLsyxLyvbOQNEluvF7M/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCa06gugy9gt94rMLv12kieZ91YXE111euEyTaofzg53ee58-CcEkcow0x8cgDBSDpPgIcgr1cljuYgylQKt7kZdDCWipBxbvXHdFPevF3lD1crbh2P7IcDBciLsyxLyvbOQNEluvF7M/s320/088.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEiOASoPUmQ5G4aFMNQJAgeVH_64C2gFQ64eGZQemczZHqAYkshlKztWIQUM4Ho743C2ez0NJBKKEvUH97580Ie-egTn-8v6hVnWPKbZPe3Fi3g862nzLoLasopSYZL2Q_f1VuTfSShTs2Q/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOASoPUmQ5G4aFMNQJAgeVH_64C2gFQ64eGZQemczZHqAYkshlKztWIQUM4Ho743C2ez0NJBKKEvUH97580Ie-egTn-8v6hVnWPKbZPe3Fi3g862nzLoLasopSYZL2Q_f1VuTfSShTs2Q/s320/090.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEh_GuEADST9E9xtFhPPjsrzOo7XMTzxtlOVJ5SwEXgZaKRsGBu1JnrSNCXyctCNsn56WduSGE-G_bcKOhMX93aL5NhkHgt45XMuUS7P9XqR4C3h4eTBakzIch7nCkrIwzWyczisyHMwMWI/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GuEADST9E9xtFhPPjsrzOo7XMTzxtlOVJ5SwEXgZaKRsGBu1JnrSNCXyctCNsn56WduSGE-G_bcKOhMX93aL5NhkHgt45XMuUS7P9XqR4C3h4eTBakzIch7nCkrIwzWyczisyHMwMWI/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A new take on Einstein's E=MC squared!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN0b_JbBDvqZRnoGF26OL22y_B0LAHlqhAxUKQSdkCa-yDeKY6PBk-9sb5aZa43orYY7JUpTo7hI83A0lK1acyHHxhwrJtWj5Lk5YohWE1Us4hbXRSd8mSSkjtSZoy5NWfoX6E-06pUU/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN0b_JbBDvqZRnoGF26OL22y_B0LAHlqhAxUKQSdkCa-yDeKY6PBk-9sb5aZa43orYY7JUpTo7hI83A0lK1acyHHxhwrJtWj5Lk5YohWE1Us4hbXRSd8mSSkjtSZoy5NWfoX6E-06pUU/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I could hardly believe that these bottles of <b>Blauwklippen's 2012 Cabernet </b>were only 73 rand, i.e. less than $6 - what an absolute steal! Too bad we didn't have space to take any home </span><span style="font-size: large;">with us</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSgOegvUPu7kVEJ2kNdOAxcrV9Cg4VeCZKCLeY8NWqQCP_vodVMP4Q3K4wzfkRg0qtv8_uEuXnmhh-yuGuxmqqD0JF1ADX66ohU72jl8O2QL6phkEV6u7T4S_mvpipvdCEmOn1-t4qDY/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSgOegvUPu7kVEJ2kNdOAxcrV9Cg4VeCZKCLeY8NWqQCP_vodVMP4Q3K4wzfkRg0qtv8_uEuXnmhh-yuGuxmqqD0JF1ADX66ohU72jl8O2QL6phkEV6u7T4S_mvpipvdCEmOn1-t4qDY/s320/085.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Sauvignon Blanc</b> was even a dollar cheaper. South Africa sure is the place to go for good quality and inexpensive wines.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL24xzG2ormaZhXYdQlbXa9GFMEEcAJrbheEt7AMrggbLn3NA8j52dArenMkufDuIbDN6Clvp3b1YJ8FZpQjqw40bfn4_77Av59kKzKikJFjGgTaiMIUn7alYo4QWuK8KPlFofgYF70rc/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL24xzG2ormaZhXYdQlbXa9GFMEEcAJrbheEt7AMrggbLn3NA8j52dArenMkufDuIbDN6Clvp3b1YJ8FZpQjqw40bfn4_77Av59kKzKikJFjGgTaiMIUn7alYo4QWuK8KPlFofgYF70rc/s320/086.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhXuIzGFWPTbTMaC85HEo4-xNRDrWFw2Av7NqbKURLhP6WZ_EumCMVa-h61lW1QUVIWV82eHYGis_9SF-CFVbOUFg2bRpCEbVxW3v8a_f6SOPoglHtDNuu5HiQGdFkOx-Rgp23bHZ7dRfw/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuIzGFWPTbTMaC85HEo4-xNRDrWFw2Av7NqbKURLhP6WZ_EumCMVa-h61lW1QUVIWV82eHYGis_9SF-CFVbOUFg2bRpCEbVxW3v8a_f6SOPoglHtDNuu5HiQGdFkOx-Rgp23bHZ7dRfw/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wine touring can seem like an adult activity but it didn't have to be at Blaauwklippen Vineyards. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kids there could run around the wide grassy areas or play in a jungle gym.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoUI4GKAkHkaPRlx8tFy0FG72x3-PCKeB5-GKMwV5u2uoARtyvyE8rFpWe8CkGD5IXceh_7_A_fF0HNSZb6rNjHz9WImFNgsJHTRiwF7pqLNNwb7U0HK9mUUxuu3QoMGxaGXrKEyWP_M/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoUI4GKAkHkaPRlx8tFy0FG72x3-PCKeB5-GKMwV5u2uoARtyvyE8rFpWe8CkGD5IXceh_7_A_fF0HNSZb6rNjHz9WImFNgsJHTRiwF7pqLNNwb7U0HK9mUUxuu3QoMGxaGXrKEyWP_M/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxa594WvXLv6lDEW1QgRIi8zUguVLTNQA0CXz0cDAuBxcYf3Ksaj32c_g9qoCC6gRZw_Q9aWkiP3WBLNfeg_eYuyEjksPdq_zk5UhA5PeGlP5mWrCa8eI9cxSW1Ti3bWYh0J78cE84U0/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxa594WvXLv6lDEW1QgRIi8zUguVLTNQA0CXz0cDAuBxcYf3Ksaj32c_g9qoCC6gRZw_Q9aWkiP3WBLNfeg_eYuyEjksPdq_zk5UhA5PeGlP5mWrCa8eI9cxSW1Ti3bWYh0J78cE84U0/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Early December was the perfect time of the year to enjoy these beautiful blooming trees along the Stellenbosch Wine Route.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY2052lTLbflo0qt99X8V3l0WREt8LsbhnyGNGBQmnBULf3jtZDTbRBNjU2LxTG7rkOFElS6UoioJtxnmmXEJZZjpnaKi6-9vzOiJSauuOsfyWY6zYjo-dZujnZXGERBSfYl24GRFVj4/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY2052lTLbflo0qt99X8V3l0WREt8LsbhnyGNGBQmnBULf3jtZDTbRBNjU2LxTG7rkOFElS6UoioJtxnmmXEJZZjpnaKi6-9vzOiJSauuOsfyWY6zYjo-dZujnZXGERBSfYl24GRFVj4/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDpsZrRIZjbEPzofeObeSscb5ijeDAelJr852bEUDG8EGywo0woyO6ba8BS3fHP5lcsv0HYD8OjYywmQSj42vWSLk3n6DeTEZVBLBZAvIJjMyfa5CP-509Hv_INGbNWIOz9vXi76ZCOY/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDpsZrRIZjbEPzofeObeSscb5ijeDAelJr852bEUDG8EGywo0woyO6ba8BS3fHP5lcsv0HYD8OjYywmQSj42vWSLk3n6DeTEZVBLBZAvIJjMyfa5CP-509Hv_INGbNWIOz9vXi76ZCOY/s320/095.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not far away was the very long winding road that led us to the entrance of the <b>Delaire Graff Estate,</b> which billed itself as the 'Jewel of the Cape Winelands.'</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe4_qxZA6GuLnJZLRYH4eInTw4q6u_gn6rvRTUz94PyccXVDkRFMfgJC_wRBM22eBMWptz0zQn1vPjjN8S4Wc-XMSHta7ffQtdQPMTDBEnbdCCD5mXZR05BulJS6eLziV79lmDVWXinE/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe4_qxZA6GuLnJZLRYH4eInTw4q6u_gn6rvRTUz94PyccXVDkRFMfgJC_wRBM22eBMWptz0zQn1vPjjN8S4Wc-XMSHta7ffQtdQPMTDBEnbdCCD5mXZR05BulJS6eLziV79lmDVWXinE/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwho-AXScKYWs28gLdYh2HGjQidkwYd-sQdFSjU_Or_RcpiD2emkcQDHCV-Xh2d_QXNt7J6abCx0NKTrZTqDSxb0WQu6Tpi7YMVXvrnB8fj3nNUBAyfZLdsyA3bX6bXdvrgJ9_stJacf8/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwho-AXScKYWs28gLdYh2HGjQidkwYd-sQdFSjU_Or_RcpiD2emkcQDHCV-Xh2d_QXNt7J6abCx0NKTrZTqDSxb0WQu6Tpi7YMVXvrnB8fj3nNUBAyfZLdsyA3bX6bXdvrgJ9_stJacf8/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ8TpwTdJZ8jCKTudG7YmcTZoTeAelmrgeIKvcSd6fdzi7l3ORUatCyTsyyXKC8qMEEHReYvOuZqO4Ex0_Ohd3vdpD1_JRp1n9Pf0UeS0U607IIH2wZoO9WGNYvtrCTyevQzl7DV-Pao/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ8TpwTdJZ8jCKTudG7YmcTZoTeAelmrgeIKvcSd6fdzi7l3ORUatCyTsyyXKC8qMEEHReYvOuZqO4Ex0_Ohd3vdpD1_JRp1n9Pf0UeS0U607IIH2wZoO9WGNYvtrCTyevQzl7DV-Pao/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDJbHtkPj1LqpeSkGoteswfcxQ9bB186NIyvdvjlV5ClrEjNRRxu5_qMI6bUrh5rvAeKPncuCs33oPui8wlpEykhKCBZuq5Vr-7Drb8a0Zxdijm-vpTKFwir6B4b8E7Pp3af-Lh92kMY/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDJbHtkPj1LqpeSkGoteswfcxQ9bB186NIyvdvjlV5ClrEjNRRxu5_qMI6bUrh5rvAeKPncuCs33oPui8wlpEykhKCBZuq5Vr-7Drb8a0Zxdijm-vpTKFwir6B4b8E7Pp3af-Lh92kMY/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We still hadn't reached the entrance yet when we came across these stunning statues - I remember our saying to each other 'OMG, OMG' several times!</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wi0mFD_1TV7ybb1yfrGxX-b2x6v4SpUpl62uiczl9o-MrUDhO5_QQtsgtbLshN7qSPdtyC592X7LoZBOgUK4giT3uDVoC7I4Y2nbDr6J56F3l4ugUzhntEqvFpWBuCCRetiKIF-KW6I/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wi0mFD_1TV7ybb1yfrGxX-b2x6v4SpUpl62uiczl9o-MrUDhO5_QQtsgtbLshN7qSPdtyC592X7LoZBOgUK4giT3uDVoC7I4Y2nbDr6J56F3l4ugUzhntEqvFpWBuCCRetiKIF-KW6I/s320/107.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcuIt6KmP2-3b0892b7trCYJ5auKsx8yuN2w3N25LMbIWhwjlecUTGzuctqpIjSnsqUAXNzOq294iU3ihJxu86WDa9IRYhhVhaS0EELd7pk27zbBWRcdF0FbVF9ThiMBHxox73e8J6ZQ/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcuIt6KmP2-3b0892b7trCYJ5auKsx8yuN2w3N25LMbIWhwjlecUTGzuctqpIjSnsqUAXNzOq294iU3ihJxu86WDa9IRYhhVhaS0EELd7pk27zbBWRcdF0FbVF9ThiMBHxox73e8J6ZQ/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_HvNRTASRjG4O2OBnJNvzeluJpgcAdl6tcowy4tM7_jQ7Jk7TYfV18aw6BUBwLAoJu42DFoPauZ2hhiYkx-mnRGgoJeVFdBmb3NDyJHNUC9BMu5M613D1TgOUvcXgKfv9DilMsNHt7U/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_HvNRTASRjG4O2OBnJNvzeluJpgcAdl6tcowy4tM7_jQ7Jk7TYfV18aw6BUBwLAoJu42DFoPauZ2hhiYkx-mnRGgoJeVFdBmb3NDyJHNUC9BMu5M613D1TgOUvcXgKfv9DilMsNHt7U/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lb9rwk_eksle9-8z7LWt_mN0Mtx9mhqLCO0kz8Jzty0rNaGgiU4jB6vxTRNx-KQc_jf9eamUYVWWYytXGD5kP4u-6OtmX9GDr-4gDuMklTqwi04WJePNUsS9VgAaJmoszwU5BwITxzo/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lb9rwk_eksle9-8z7LWt_mN0Mtx9mhqLCO0kz8Jzty0rNaGgiU4jB6vxTRNx-KQc_jf9eamUYVWWYytXGD5kP4u-6OtmX9GDr-4gDuMklTqwi04WJePNUsS9VgAaJmoszwU5BwITxzo/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV0RS5IozJFkt9cIrrFuaSp_uKH_6qzDt9rRv8Sa9abwxApzAJqOFzJjBIJ_YseaRbDAa-0NqtTt3cWA1yeGW9bvwViPzgPnepQH9UkGqG3oWGycfg65S9OHUsdccvMZnLvaIg_wO2LU/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV0RS5IozJFkt9cIrrFuaSp_uKH_6qzDt9rRv8Sa9abwxApzAJqOFzJjBIJ_YseaRbDAa-0NqtTt3cWA1yeGW9bvwViPzgPnepQH9UkGqG3oWGycfg65S9OHUsdccvMZnLvaIg_wO2LU/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a stunning backdrop for the winery's <b>Cabernet Franc</b> grapes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qsNVe338wCgMiIFBdCTmRdkyWF4j5zux6gXODB-yj8DCL4E0Lse5EpYa-5f8mHPWJHp2shrdb274nF34W3bDnHFnDXY77WXtmJZ1aoP9p452SFxBdci_rLFuavTtaShK08nU_VmoMaY/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qsNVe338wCgMiIFBdCTmRdkyWF4j5zux6gXODB-yj8DCL4E0Lse5EpYa-5f8mHPWJHp2shrdb274nF34W3bDnHFnDXY77WXtmJZ1aoP9p452SFxBdci_rLFuavTtaShK08nU_VmoMaY/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We'd seen some of this same shade of beautiful bird of paradise flowers just yesterday at the <b>Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden</b> outside of Cape Town.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcHb6wn-KrnnZHKPzQ23uhCYDM4jtyzvjhQgDf5TDxxBbZDC1A-k0oKMUwNgXBEELsP1rY7opyLmPliI4KEqOubCljYukxqW40AlH6dkAKBQ1ZkNdZ5bAOuW0zKyqjeS2xQVH7LIrvbg/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcHb6wn-KrnnZHKPzQ23uhCYDM4jtyzvjhQgDf5TDxxBbZDC1A-k0oKMUwNgXBEELsP1rY7opyLmPliI4KEqOubCljYukxqW40AlH6dkAKBQ1ZkNdZ5bAOuW0zKyqjeS2xQVH7LIrvbg/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetqDjq2OcGvwoE32mG8wjlByCKGRgtUi4QYpcubgajcMdEdsSDx3jUDj7Ihg4g1DKXHRxg-RVAGO5mFb-FO_-Uy81mptm05mFpIzCSpS648DpkcZ8ciGptAOytyfc41s-4XvwD5Y6Eig/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetqDjq2OcGvwoE32mG8wjlByCKGRgtUi4QYpcubgajcMdEdsSDx3jUDj7Ihg4g1DKXHRxg-RVAGO5mFb-FO_-Uy81mptm05mFpIzCSpS648DpkcZ8ciGptAOytyfc41s-4XvwD5Y6Eig/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg1cynyZx4gI5DY6_bjwqFXAxv7jjg7DnIfPIKWp5NoNBdIaBLf5Y2qOvowhKCc1ZHcXJQdCTEYDup_z-SKhu_ohEjL2aFzH_eDCr45BG9-V5hKc0IoIN0IsMYFw7DxVjNPC2y8ZdHdw/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg1cynyZx4gI5DY6_bjwqFXAxv7jjg7DnIfPIKWp5NoNBdIaBLf5Y2qOvowhKCc1ZHcXJQdCTEYDup_z-SKhu_ohEjL2aFzH_eDCr45BG9-V5hKc0IoIN0IsMYFw7DxVjNPC2y8ZdHdw/s320/111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2iAMeGZG51QNw53nx0x-496DK3hF4CjMDZWRMuAnboMtmMUkaxqPB1YTgT7-i6yEdfpj7WQsBq-r_AqNRgto8Ub0N8wAOh6qXP4aP8QXKSpS-fvN4pnMdCKhBN8rS7NIb6SvLa-yWQk/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2iAMeGZG51QNw53nx0x-496DK3hF4CjMDZWRMuAnboMtmMUkaxqPB1YTgT7-i6yEdfpj7WQsBq-r_AqNRgto8Ub0N8wAOh6qXP4aP8QXKSpS-fvN4pnMdCKhBN8rS7NIb6SvLa-yWQk/s320/116.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyMVbCwv9WhfJNasDQmniOxDokLXfIETDvQ_EiyV-8VHbaOMIQy103zbspuJTQw8Nw19uw1oL-MaRnlhTXR39jZMwsxYgQ9OUX6k-9aOWsTQJVlk0an8_wjodmwwuucCDTi0YHFOebck/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyMVbCwv9WhfJNasDQmniOxDokLXfIETDvQ_EiyV-8VHbaOMIQy103zbspuJTQw8Nw19uw1oL-MaRnlhTXR39jZMwsxYgQ9OUX6k-9aOWsTQJVlk0an8_wjodmwwuucCDTi0YHFOebck/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcILji83GBVTvo2gW49er8tHGadhjFQfGCurwLyYc6fADNj1MbqVz5mendNbrkZh2hZggMQw6EGXMCLWbwOwby796qHFK6lDssWeg9S4NlaNiLsZXPbiga7KZvOj_iRaFYtUXRU0KsZ4/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcILji83GBVTvo2gW49er8tHGadhjFQfGCurwLyYc6fADNj1MbqVz5mendNbrkZh2hZggMQw6EGXMCLWbwOwby796qHFK6lDssWeg9S4NlaNiLsZXPbiga7KZvOj_iRaFYtUXRU0KsZ4/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y0nBQXh6A_lG_mEzvs3liqu4p7wmV8TtCe8LVVYAFjIKoKPEi_gxkb1_wDK9C6sf6kYp63SpW06EtGXbgeMKWMUfIF3_m8eWO34Qbl-DvffPSlsMMe9H1eGeg4NXDDmY34S2lt4zzek/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Y0nBQXh6A_lG_mEzvs3liqu4p7wmV8TtCe8LVVYAFjIKoKPEi_gxkb1_wDK9C6sf6kYp63SpW06EtGXbgeMKWMUfIF3_m8eWO34Qbl-DvffPSlsMMe9H1eGeg4NXDDmY34S2lt4zzek/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These intriguing hand sculptures marked the entrance to the very upscale restaurant and winery interior.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor5QTJoc2D56au0wEJRSXPnoU0yE3zxTT_jbVV2_qXnI1mkyTqjrijfPJ9pPOCSnrYIwNflXBkU276rN_gZrQJJiAHlgw3ckaQJwBJKRu56fGiXY7tLIkrFkHqK9hSwCx84fhIq7s5qQ/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgor5QTJoc2D56au0wEJRSXPnoU0yE3zxTT_jbVV2_qXnI1mkyTqjrijfPJ9pPOCSnrYIwNflXBkU276rN_gZrQJJiAHlgw3ckaQJwBJKRu56fGiXY7tLIkrFkHqK9hSwCx84fhIq7s5qQ/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NMXvhXlatqYTsKnpOMYZ5S569WKsgy5Rz7cbFHrP-JKdYR0J69fNg8AnP04jQDtY-FGL3WblB8777FAR8k5MRq_8X8xYU7CMewumXzkQWWyr-iTz56GDoCHscNl9SQKNgd8azag20yI/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NMXvhXlatqYTsKnpOMYZ5S569WKsgy5Rz7cbFHrP-JKdYR0J69fNg8AnP04jQDtY-FGL3WblB8777FAR8k5MRq_8X8xYU7CMewumXzkQWWyr-iTz56GDoCHscNl9SQKNgd8azag20yI/s320/118.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb0IIr_ouf3s9IF_5WBJ_3D8hPHEaxrW6V2rugF4KsHo434Pkoe_WLQJZtXFFdXMEsWeNZfpS5zvQZty8IkZVdeISJePzgwTjlKYgeGZRcisYYJT6oqEKXeWubWe5N3hd0cNZWRqlU4I/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixb0IIr_ouf3s9IF_5WBJ_3D8hPHEaxrW6V2rugF4KsHo434Pkoe_WLQJZtXFFdXMEsWeNZfpS5zvQZty8IkZVdeISJePzgwTjlKYgeGZRcisYYJT6oqEKXeWubWe5N3hd0cNZWRqlU4I/s320/119.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnA9Y3v_D12lTIyfNGu9GNFc75W4eO6VHkF8ONJ7ZHZYVQZ9c7iUSGkFFrt-11aHkzObWISwspTsUPaj4LwROmhGaP-SSM5QWDcBhXL28cr9cImlAz_aXj-DOSB_yrCv_HId7QRLiKBQ/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnA9Y3v_D12lTIyfNGu9GNFc75W4eO6VHkF8ONJ7ZHZYVQZ9c7iUSGkFFrt-11aHkzObWISwspTsUPaj4LwROmhGaP-SSM5QWDcBhXL28cr9cImlAz_aXj-DOSB_yrCv_HId7QRLiKBQ/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was no souvenir shop at the Graff Estate Winery unless you counted the fabulously expensive diamond store! We were looking for coasters or something light and inexpensive to bring home, <b>not</b> any sparkling baubles that caused a mint of money!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-pxDSC4tmB8zOX5jk9VPb6-JUM-0TYvhyphenhyphenSeSIm2FV3lz157lYC80WPDEHRbfQuliW8N-A4RpqnmNlgsUWqLqM8aXXkJSriuUyyfjEJJkunmzuBeU0VoBW-kxjGPIOIyIxGLTWPvdTrA/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-pxDSC4tmB8zOX5jk9VPb6-JUM-0TYvhyphenhyphenSeSIm2FV3lz157lYC80WPDEHRbfQuliW8N-A4RpqnmNlgsUWqLqM8aXXkJSriuUyyfjEJJkunmzuBeU0VoBW-kxjGPIOIyIxGLTWPvdTrA/s320/121.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyzW9sx-kSxsB0X_u9RJF-6awWj33Ctuy6aNOFSiUJZJcSOcHFkh6e-9JhNRpV6X5luB2Pt5g5M0-38JHvaPKplSyqxeXnK0SC89kBTlBTaLZ4eiaRRNVrQidSC52jJ-nKdZwMmXmfBI/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyzW9sx-kSxsB0X_u9RJF-6awWj33Ctuy6aNOFSiUJZJcSOcHFkh6e-9JhNRpV6X5luB2Pt5g5M0-38JHvaPKplSyqxeXnK0SC89kBTlBTaLZ4eiaRRNVrQidSC52jJ-nKdZwMmXmfBI/s320/122.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEg8LEMw67MyMzPfRMNDxKzuIrBsnh6oqSsVqhux2Q0DZVGrjcMF9jxZzIYUuyoe2SfSafCiM7-TIA1nI3Vf29tqI1zQPHomMiz9NoQHBkdZsCOdfWrKAvP2BfsPJsnHdypKCB6V1y3DUDg/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LEMw67MyMzPfRMNDxKzuIrBsnh6oqSsVqhux2Q0DZVGrjcMF9jxZzIYUuyoe2SfSafCiM7-TIA1nI3Vf29tqI1zQPHomMiz9NoQHBkdZsCOdfWrKAvP2BfsPJsnHdypKCB6V1y3DUDg/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The barrels of wine were only visible through a window in the long corridor!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiX57gymkPDTP7O1bF9vqZiPeKqoVUH4PnDw7LJXKQ5mOvBhS30GJt3O8cUzphdDDc2TighyaTLjz3PH48FegXBWj0dylIXB2x707s4jFRMGpkDUR6EUT5RbJLNgqx-4_SHwgAnDgBUs/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiX57gymkPDTP7O1bF9vqZiPeKqoVUH4PnDw7LJXKQ5mOvBhS30GJt3O8cUzphdDDc2TighyaTLjz3PH48FegXBWj0dylIXB2x707s4jFRMGpkDUR6EUT5RbJLNgqx-4_SHwgAnDgBUs/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">More exciting sparkly things!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrP0s3Ae40Yh7udmliac1V1T1AUfvrhzyA57ZpD3coFL323_miYV8NLiyhMwRsdV1PGaKhof7UfcqJCAyRtie84iOiVuuoTwzdAEH7w-HiKCG0h2BYG-NqXRGnx7ZfTUqZcNwTHRFLV0/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrP0s3Ae40Yh7udmliac1V1T1AUfvrhzyA57ZpD3coFL323_miYV8NLiyhMwRsdV1PGaKhof7UfcqJCAyRtie84iOiVuuoTwzdAEH7w-HiKCG0h2BYG-NqXRGnx7ZfTUqZcNwTHRFLV0/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It appeared that no expense had been spared by </span><span style="font-size: large;">Delaire Graff </span><span style="font-size: large;">on amassing a first class sculpture collection.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr-67J6dY6U_jQt_w4ZKEZYd38iVADrZb7iD0QZwD-1PgeynvrPb1c5dqymsacNovOt6dgB8FCvb3mROg6mkDFxvJfi2NvoPLP_BTZPlNPXr1A1ysNF-t4DznIt2JWcCuloCCbpLUsqM/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr-67J6dY6U_jQt_w4ZKEZYd38iVADrZb7iD0QZwD-1PgeynvrPb1c5dqymsacNovOt6dgB8FCvb3mROg6mkDFxvJfi2NvoPLP_BTZPlNPXr1A1ysNF-t4DznIt2JWcCuloCCbpLUsqM/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As stunning as the sculptures were, so were the gardens.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKxmaDN8jfB-z3nPi3XUtVnS5bfrXfCVGtQ0gkiTtpxqTiptlJ5z66Mzu7BmKDmqYvLyViSNHL0Jxzl-7j3LnJHxIByBZ912XcTRNT1jXP0haMw8NxyX_44VEu8JsVI7UUEPLX2kVMbE/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKxmaDN8jfB-z3nPi3XUtVnS5bfrXfCVGtQ0gkiTtpxqTiptlJ5z66Mzu7BmKDmqYvLyViSNHL0Jxzl-7j3LnJHxIByBZ912XcTRNT1jXP0haMw8NxyX_44VEu8JsVI7UUEPLX2kVMbE/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you picked up on the fact yet I sort of like purple flowers?!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu7S3U_5jK9WDwk7JrBTsamOVXzcHvnpFmg4jiym5JHxuAPmnwT7CjrX28ioceGKtHD1rLedTk8x2YazUv0NHg6KQuvpDeZJlNcKgHhyphenhyphen-qt3dw1mDrWBqPX57vIYnt1THv0_yk2XY9KM/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu7S3U_5jK9WDwk7JrBTsamOVXzcHvnpFmg4jiym5JHxuAPmnwT7CjrX28ioceGKtHD1rLedTk8x2YazUv0NHg6KQuvpDeZJlNcKgHhyphenhyphen-qt3dw1mDrWBqPX57vIYnt1THv0_yk2XY9KM/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEghGw6JvwqRHpN7jDozslQORgir60YtQYBnGOyFeid7OQjvyNi8xF94nrKzHW8-5T-dZnEJBn47ctTZzfrBTImLO1l-2gT8XMqRq7iBYE1NhzohNuKnCCBu0uLdUt9Yyp8wmEvggxomCr0/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGw6JvwqRHpN7jDozslQORgir60YtQYBnGOyFeid7OQjvyNi8xF94nrKzHW8-5T-dZnEJBn47ctTZzfrBTImLO1l-2gT8XMqRq7iBYE1NhzohNuKnCCBu0uLdUt9Yyp8wmEvggxomCr0/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlOvZyt4rWIM2SDlajfA812cu5PJqqtdX_6pvuYjilJJP-C_pDcQmpg2zOSlyNXePNLMoh3qUy0HVOehhZwb2-qE7EAz1SB6o4N_h1sgnrLXUwrIq1zlhtmqn_BN5Wm2C6q7KSxkPTs8/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlOvZyt4rWIM2SDlajfA812cu5PJqqtdX_6pvuYjilJJP-C_pDcQmpg2zOSlyNXePNLMoh3qUy0HVOehhZwb2-qE7EAz1SB6o4N_h1sgnrLXUwrIq1zlhtmqn_BN5Wm2C6q7KSxkPTs8/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Chardonnay grapes had been planted in this section.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe9gwm29OHcogW0XwoCwEVfXXRIYbarixoGzDKyD6eoSzd41beeZDlZ8pFR6Ga6ZE34vdQXyalbTjCFXJWvehdLKJ6ycxbQU3Mrjjr-CHMQ4GGFC3BfJu0hFVlfh4DSXsG3-CAJkqoRg/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFe9gwm29OHcogW0XwoCwEVfXXRIYbarixoGzDKyD6eoSzd41beeZDlZ8pFR6Ga6ZE34vdQXyalbTjCFXJWvehdLKJ6ycxbQU3Mrjjr-CHMQ4GGFC3BfJu0hFVlfh4DSXsG3-CAJkqoRg/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was surprised and delighted that visitors were allowed to roam throughout the vineyards to their hearts' content. Surely, there had to have been some sort of security but it was not visible. I don't remember being able to wander in any of California's Napa Valley vineyards on our own when we were last there a couple of years ago. <b>Will:</b> Since you and Nina were just in Napa over Christmas, I am sure you're familiar with how visitors are currently accommodated at the area's wineries. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAEElSa182g0P2dmuOuxo4s54jRErAO4E5U1IQxRUOUlfqX0dZLWM3xLNHQfG_m0Q_ag_17ZoTCJ7AjCtYub_4vMw2mw-pFUJjEUuvDGuBxBdKjaYzw0dHRRnHmlS45Sz-Nz0qwChpJ8/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAEElSa182g0P2dmuOuxo4s54jRErAO4E5U1IQxRUOUlfqX0dZLWM3xLNHQfG_m0Q_ag_17ZoTCJ7AjCtYub_4vMw2mw-pFUJjEUuvDGuBxBdKjaYzw0dHRRnHmlS45Sz-Nz0qwChpJ8/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD4BC39bmU1MiL4l1TqwMKmDjyXhb4YNB_ss48sT0sAExXcibie3EB4LlJWdFqb66dFpMkGJmwhDdKV4IhZevD10ePluuVWZlLVVW6ffWxj9JhJbmXZny-3HwtdLeM9y5o6ltg-ZEES4/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD4BC39bmU1MiL4l1TqwMKmDjyXhb4YNB_ss48sT0sAExXcibie3EB4LlJWdFqb66dFpMkGJmwhDdKV4IhZevD10ePluuVWZlLVVW6ffWxj9JhJbmXZny-3HwtdLeM9y5o6ltg-ZEES4/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd5sv-rl3Yb7n3X3CwuAdmY1iVLE_WTZ6GIc9EKU7wJnQDLwUcS_FHaf0Q10OipYOEkaGlmozmw0igJl3Yuww5Z020spZwAtir08GeoJTebT-DtOjmxAMoTWkVSpmjCCYSH3bsTxvJEE/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd5sv-rl3Yb7n3X3CwuAdmY1iVLE_WTZ6GIc9EKU7wJnQDLwUcS_FHaf0Q10OipYOEkaGlmozmw0igJl3Yuww5Z020spZwAtir08GeoJTebT-DtOjmxAMoTWkVSpmjCCYSH3bsTxvJEE/s320/136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jQqGhqgeLBJrYcPA9KrdrI1SMwXNbocRy7zqoblm_oNEIeRYW_ZRQv-dqD16qLarPpjII3jdnSRP6M3eOgSe4exbFr0pRR-SeNbGacqX3rtNtdt_IKfk_bOrGo9yOiYvqTR5_GrnqVg/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jQqGhqgeLBJrYcPA9KrdrI1SMwXNbocRy7zqoblm_oNEIeRYW_ZRQv-dqD16qLarPpjII3jdnSRP6M3eOgSe4exbFr0pRR-SeNbGacqX3rtNtdt_IKfk_bOrGo9yOiYvqTR5_GrnqVg/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Without a doubt, Delaire Graff Estate was certainly the most impressive winery we've ever toured.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnP2_XBMHFS48vIFXLElb236s-F5GVMzdh8rniS_opNMFJ9aNdUNh5zCMUhE5NYS0ZW9lESlpN5d9NcrWvL6sRar_-p6HM1I7W-JojVryaGx4O73q0dZwxcS8exf6klVv6DDJk0DfkwM/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnP2_XBMHFS48vIFXLElb236s-F5GVMzdh8rniS_opNMFJ9aNdUNh5zCMUhE5NYS0ZW9lESlpN5d9NcrWvL6sRar_-p6HM1I7W-JojVryaGx4O73q0dZwxcS8exf6klVv6DDJk0DfkwM/s320/138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnzmqvdgqhLl2R8nBhbwXtO9X0jAl4gG4t-NSFDeD6O0_utg8RSMrfoQdxULaRy3bHN9WrS1lKxWsuZg5uKrfkTLreqobAgQUysO0ePgoLsOrPNkha_GFW2QExoKk-Wz78VxpAwuQbpw/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnzmqvdgqhLl2R8nBhbwXtO9X0jAl4gG4t-NSFDeD6O0_utg8RSMrfoQdxULaRy3bHN9WrS1lKxWsuZg5uKrfkTLreqobAgQUysO0ePgoLsOrPNkha_GFW2QExoKk-Wz78VxpAwuQbpw/s320/140.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove next to the <b>Kanonkop Estate, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">a fourth generation family estate originally purchased by <b>J.W. Sauer,</b> a cabinet member in the parliament of the Union of South Africa. This estate has since then been handed down from father to son for over 40 years.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk7EKgRWJOurvfYEMl_du7MNPGDEllhyphenhyphen5_B6hZEW6nyfy4RMrYHjNnkmhGpVxwb2gPZrSnUSr59fFAOYprUFxIUcjVVTSUTf76thUngBzfRZnD0Y0eWD92Gwe9FJ5VpXeeDHhC__DGQM/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVk7EKgRWJOurvfYEMl_du7MNPGDEllhyphenhyphen5_B6hZEW6nyfy4RMrYHjNnkmhGpVxwb2gPZrSnUSr59fFAOYprUFxIUcjVVTSUTf76thUngBzfRZnD0Y0eWD92Gwe9FJ5VpXeeDHhC__DGQM/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The name Kanonkop was derived from a <i>kopje</i> or hillock, from which a cannon was fired in the 17th century to alert farmers in outlying areas that sailing ships plying the waters between Europe and the Far East had entered Table Bay for a stopover at Cape Town.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvjZK4ScGjrNIKSIIp0w3ChyuMaVRlWZ-YWeZsod-SPgFnc2XtoHIE8zWdZlDGakJes8wo6rtTdeDDnSBFqB9ulPAmnTa6pgozsI4qxLUKjiYdHF2IC1cwAhCPsmvkz9xlmMtRLblWXk/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvjZK4ScGjrNIKSIIp0w3ChyuMaVRlWZ-YWeZsod-SPgFnc2XtoHIE8zWdZlDGakJes8wo6rtTdeDDnSBFqB9ulPAmnTa6pgozsI4qxLUKjiYdHF2IC1cwAhCPsmvkz9xlmMtRLblWXk/s320/155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD-EgIIuq3IWr9nakZKrszil5O9HXwDFEVVZfMyblanQqGijtKO3FfnJ_uEd7p7llpezRqNKgRV_ZgDMa6Nx27iifaw4EIisRqWaQUFW2-H55W1LmOZCAy1eHy7UCASyt4QsdEJQvXl8/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD-EgIIuq3IWr9nakZKrszil5O9HXwDFEVVZfMyblanQqGijtKO3FfnJ_uEd7p7llpezRqNKgRV_ZgDMa6Nx27iifaw4EIisRqWaQUFW2-H55W1LmOZCAy1eHy7UCASyt4QsdEJQvXl8/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CeOUCgfkrQtxBMMfvpT3fKMMvQZ3n5dNGeG0jW_JMQUtfE5CPn5Qo3OYu2YkllM99iVptUYnmxAKpB9LhZHtcXQzEPCS_UeoKec-ARwpUyPXEC8SPMW27hoe8SgBRXgSL3nt_PX3SAw/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CeOUCgfkrQtxBMMfvpT3fKMMvQZ3n5dNGeG0jW_JMQUtfE5CPn5Qo3OYu2YkllM99iVptUYnmxAKpB9LhZHtcXQzEPCS_UeoKec-ARwpUyPXEC8SPMW27hoe8SgBRXgSL3nt_PX3SAw/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG3it5bMV0iyXOt3FLcFS8yTjwu4W6U7YsYy-bulCdubxLJ3Qq7r5fiwCOGReEnPUmEke3-5NDmU917aIlGuCz7w7hr-YaPflZm1uyURt9G7jD1B0YEwwt52HYnNeURRDIIEO6PWlgnM/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG3it5bMV0iyXOt3FLcFS8yTjwu4W6U7YsYy-bulCdubxLJ3Qq7r5fiwCOGReEnPUmEke3-5NDmU917aIlGuCz7w7hr-YaPflZm1uyURt9G7jD1B0YEwwt52HYnNeURRDIIEO6PWlgnM/s320/145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_90jZJrnEwKkGyb6uFD17qyxTtGFki_wZ5bxopMKU2ojuuVTui3ou5r9lpN51X8so6QeWveAQyFZHM8exG-9Cj_5BtOMBZ4_diNjMLUyjZyzlSiNW64CCBOEzC30nLs93iz3-an8tEQ/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_90jZJrnEwKkGyb6uFD17qyxTtGFki_wZ5bxopMKU2ojuuVTui3ou5r9lpN51X8so6QeWveAQyFZHM8exG-9Cj_5BtOMBZ4_diNjMLUyjZyzlSiNW64CCBOEzC30nLs93iz3-an8tEQ/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had never seen such a range of sizes of wine bottles before and was totally unfamiliar with the names of them. Yes, I knew of a split, a <b>'bottle'</b> and a <b>magnum</b> but wasn't aware, before this, that they actually referred to a specific quantity of vino. A bottle, by definition hold 750 ml of wine and a magnum contains two bottles or 1.5 liters.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDMiD9puQO9zc21i49f_XZDC1u0UXJIc4RptdvZ9RtLGnJcxCLwmsN7j5xqYLi8z7kWoyqf5nW02XsuyVNp__5TkZyazn_69nhmmXn0HDEHus35eSu2yH3jbv9EtPS9Gv-f4pIpASWdg/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDMiD9puQO9zc21i49f_XZDC1u0UXJIc4RptdvZ9RtLGnJcxCLwmsN7j5xqYLi8z7kWoyqf5nW02XsuyVNp__5TkZyazn_69nhmmXn0HDEHus35eSu2yH3jbv9EtPS9Gv-f4pIpASWdg/s320/149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Methuselah and Salmanzar, </b>the fifth and sixth from the left,<b> </b>were huge bottles of wine; </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the former was the same size as an <b>Imperial </b>- 6 liters or the equivalent of 8 bottles - but is usually used for sparkling wines and is Burgundy-shaped. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYlY7fYodceE8pGybLkXHf_Yzg-3rmD4JZiCfD3tW1l0UEEe-DU9xq7Ko4OwtAANWXRgYOeUzSuhMA-rx7clMBPzBYyr_GJp9r1ary8n-orhfliro3LKHwbXm4wZzCBOfHvwUD7YO3og/s1600/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYlY7fYodceE8pGybLkXHf_Yzg-3rmD4JZiCfD3tW1l0UEEe-DU9xq7Ko4OwtAANWXRgYOeUzSuhMA-rx7clMBPzBYyr_GJp9r1ary8n-orhfliro3LKHwbXm4wZzCBOfHvwUD7YO3og/s320/150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The two largest bottles of wine I'd ever seen were the <b>Mandelazahr and Nebuchadnezzer. </b>The latter one, named after the Babylonian king, </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">holds 20 bottles of wine or 15 liters. I pity the poor person or people who have to hold and pour from that sized bottle!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjEiGPQ2gWdf7U5STEtnY67MyjUpsuaqB7RWpWqHAQHK35Z49C_N_1E2idfC97xZN9dEeXNERXwP74__4z1XJthR0s4bZTs6ldlV7UCtmcDS3cIAM-CFfByRBqi3TAaVFI-7dKQ9tgEE/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjEiGPQ2gWdf7U5STEtnY67MyjUpsuaqB7RWpWqHAQHK35Z49C_N_1E2idfC97xZN9dEeXNERXwP74__4z1XJthR0s4bZTs6ldlV7UCtmcDS3cIAM-CFfByRBqi3TAaVFI-7dKQ9tgEE/s320/152.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhT9aob7XLBm8DtwvQrMLMQeVbRHLeSWtdlwk37Pi-I6JJ8EhI-bOKnhprSNiVg4wFjxMnanta7iDACHky7_YleLdZMPIZljGKcVcEw8HCD23yaCojroRAJdB0ZMsWZ9NsWQNd0WXWP_As/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9aob7XLBm8DtwvQrMLMQeVbRHLeSWtdlwk37Pi-I6JJ8EhI-bOKnhprSNiVg4wFjxMnanta7iDACHky7_YleLdZMPIZljGKcVcEw8HCD23yaCojroRAJdB0ZMsWZ9NsWQNd0WXWP_As/s320/154.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On we drove next to <b>Warwick Wine Estate,</b> a family-owned and run boutique winery. </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From 1771 until 1902, Warwick was known as the farm <b>'De Goede Sukses.'</b> After the Anglo Boer war ended in 1902, the commanding Officer of the Warwickshire regiment, <b>Colonel William Gordon,</b> bought the historic farm. </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">He renamed it 'Warwick' as a tribute to his regiment and the rest, as they say, is history!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwaVWfqX46eWaM9XsZ3EmONNJ3gs7IB3nLihraFtwpG4Qc2YQR4sRQfqZwzMA08Dv3bXnGWfmlnKbUqhZvUGigiV3bpDcFvP5ZT9DDsT3I7qYORyoyl_dqpY-H6TYqUjlCr6B7SpiEd0/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwaVWfqX46eWaM9XsZ3EmONNJ3gs7IB3nLihraFtwpG4Qc2YQR4sRQfqZwzMA08Dv3bXnGWfmlnKbUqhZvUGigiV3bpDcFvP5ZT9DDsT3I7qYORyoyl_dqpY-H6TYqUjlCr6B7SpiEd0/s320/176.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuw1e-srGjC0wYrkkqmHwR84KcvKR184up5nR2NI4_4EEodJJYr8OfCUGCdyaXvNWj2lBG9ZctPdqzvWQIVGVX8_FB1pArA-vCoYXttQXPtacADnHCw5c_1_KNd4lwWgRFgToHXiBmHo/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuw1e-srGjC0wYrkkqmHwR84KcvKR184up5nR2NI4_4EEodJJYr8OfCUGCdyaXvNWj2lBG9ZctPdqzvWQIVGVX8_FB1pArA-vCoYXttQXPtacADnHCw5c_1_KNd4lwWgRFgToHXiBmHo/s320/157.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6DIRZam_kZ5-FI299JO2-R4rSgW6TQvSAi_QFxVeFudanLtFRlPtcdvdGuJqv1gxPknGW9MUF-0jV4BgYUVAk5_L5dm0mBkNjfMEzN6txkeMrhixZArza-uBuojalyCu-FpC2oPLZgA/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6DIRZam_kZ5-FI299JO2-R4rSgW6TQvSAi_QFxVeFudanLtFRlPtcdvdGuJqv1gxPknGW9MUF-0jV4BgYUVAk5_L5dm0mBkNjfMEzN6txkeMrhixZArza-uBuojalyCu-FpC2oPLZgA/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Ratcliffe family</b> bought Warwick in 1964 after an extensive search for the best <i>'terroir'</i> in the Cape. I had to look up terroir to figure out what it meant and learned that it's "</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate."</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscinNf902ObCtbbLxga9RSWQiBKeIotrgXnUpxWqnm9AVBfGp8STx-H2BUx4He58rCSHak_owBOyxM3NrOKHHoabjcDADdaYmGU22y5g0zIHvvGfI3x_FoxWaitVpVll8fQWflegF2_M/s1600/159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscinNf902ObCtbbLxga9RSWQiBKeIotrgXnUpxWqnm9AVBfGp8STx-H2BUx4He58rCSHak_owBOyxM3NrOKHHoabjcDADdaYmGU22y5g0zIHvvGfI3x_FoxWaitVpVll8fQWflegF2_M/s320/159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A very imposing statue of Nelson Mandela:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCUgFhEEDqbNGyZ4tC0mvAtcFYlwzT9k047oG9DP1zHZ7Q8wLew1JAuIIs2Ysq3MO1RKACv_Diiqb7tmQk2NrRl97HckMaLt02Urhoun7pqu_vS2IoaB0itQpVpZRIWsKxLbZm8PwX18/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCUgFhEEDqbNGyZ4tC0mvAtcFYlwzT9k047oG9DP1zHZ7Q8wLew1JAuIIs2Ysq3MO1RKACv_Diiqb7tmQk2NrRl97HckMaLt02Urhoun7pqu_vS2IoaB0itQpVpZRIWsKxLbZm8PwX18/s320/160.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Looked like a perfect forecast for the day, don't you agree!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QIcbMwc7nO9uW7SSsROo2jHg1Fx63F84KpdZmxxdEFknHK_IhAx06LwE3u_7BF8Fz6dv8VhDudb51M4PkDXr85EVBJzosCfNE7GDEFKTCvF8YUrXSoE2gOP8avK2NfqINDFLon5fAzY/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QIcbMwc7nO9uW7SSsROo2jHg1Fx63F84KpdZmxxdEFknHK_IhAx06LwE3u_7BF8Fz6dv8VhDudb51M4PkDXr85EVBJzosCfNE7GDEFKTCvF8YUrXSoE2gOP8avK2NfqINDFLon5fAzY/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another cute sign:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqviF_uxYpH4FiN38JlKW1vklqZKg-eH81P0Er8zdNvI3d_OquDinggBcwWEfpqn3FeyLypRhN8KMh6qThqKDXBc-IanPc17Up0C31Q9jDKAjfTOSZaGSnP52RtcjuYBUYpse-elV21_M/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqviF_uxYpH4FiN38JlKW1vklqZKg-eH81P0Er8zdNvI3d_OquDinggBcwWEfpqn3FeyLypRhN8KMh6qThqKDXBc-IanPc17Up0C31Q9jDKAjfTOSZaGSnP52RtcjuYBUYpse-elV21_M/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvy2epTzFfDstYJGJxO-yMXgWxIAOo0gw-4meF-UNnyCwKzxjobLt0xyyMDC2rO4n0KC8iLni-eyKTeOoGVpZpyQQ81KYxRXUS38GRBhQMLVG90ZIXJcloJfPrbCGxBaXh_d-JJeHoQE/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvy2epTzFfDstYJGJxO-yMXgWxIAOo0gw-4meF-UNnyCwKzxjobLt0xyyMDC2rO4n0KC8iLni-eyKTeOoGVpZpyQQ81KYxRXUS38GRBhQMLVG90ZIXJcloJfPrbCGxBaXh_d-JJeHoQE/s320/163.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkysHS3eidO1r7fVOtxUM7_b1z_DBvnaHcpaa0S9DykSv6jJKBjdLjSgAaFgMiq3knMLX3-SX96ShISwXBi0j9DZj_uR8kaSXDgVr-9DSPrbKCz43pHDPDANXZthfRjxf5pMwGMAKWgs/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkysHS3eidO1r7fVOtxUM7_b1z_DBvnaHcpaa0S9DykSv6jJKBjdLjSgAaFgMiq3knMLX3-SX96ShISwXBi0j9DZj_uR8kaSXDgVr-9DSPrbKCz43pHDPDANXZthfRjxf5pMwGMAKWgs/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I imagine Steven would agree with me that the grounds of the Warwick Winery were the most enjoyable to walk around in. No other winery we had seen had<b> 'picnic pods' </b>like Warwick had that dotted the grounds surrounding the lake. The picnic pods were the perfect place to sit or lie down enjoying vino and picnic delicacies bought there.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLkez5fwbF6c-cOCVeBzGI3cd-RDI9hIVxyIRu6GjHfyAPGTwxlR-RBDg-a_-1-3FQwumlyanfNlyrxhlFxOoIlWMiErJdhga_wYu4U7Qi7TOZrzueYjtrtvvNXGLq42QyfGPy4u1lbs/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLkez5fwbF6c-cOCVeBzGI3cd-RDI9hIVxyIRu6GjHfyAPGTwxlR-RBDg-a_-1-3FQwumlyanfNlyrxhlFxOoIlWMiErJdhga_wYu4U7Qi7TOZrzueYjtrtvvNXGLq42QyfGPy4u1lbs/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYWDOQW4fp8Nttuux_g78XjDv7-kVlT0lj3GBWSO32DSIlwfmc4mRd9ckFdcy5t71365ved771IPop0AOoqTfAxwZhRt4poR0CK8J883UPKkx2yOhHeg87mgDuxHNWlmV8EMAY2MBJBM/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYWDOQW4fp8Nttuux_g78XjDv7-kVlT0lj3GBWSO32DSIlwfmc4mRd9ckFdcy5t71365ved771IPop0AOoqTfAxwZhRt4poR0CK8J883UPKkx2yOhHeg87mgDuxHNWlmV8EMAY2MBJBM/s320/167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0eTK5zGFXeFQ_9h0tKKYjmec2yiADLnGGK1l18ZtL6mGpkAqLKkTa4pazqcm8aHKfVsaajCYWHkUurkJPiPaevyhy-rC5lWfJKRqVnDAaRqDWgJsUA-Tgyvpwo0HtXeQH3VSWj15Keg/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0eTK5zGFXeFQ_9h0tKKYjmec2yiADLnGGK1l18ZtL6mGpkAqLKkTa4pazqcm8aHKfVsaajCYWHkUurkJPiPaevyhy-rC5lWfJKRqVnDAaRqDWgJsUA-Tgyvpwo0HtXeQH3VSWj15Keg/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo8rM_5hiTD2mJrM8jDfFQXm1BXitsD3F_66RzthzWlvJfnhoFlHTmch81ByRksGGU8CzdwD1F5WvPQxVrXVHrp6I7iYgS8xTUXJk3EnA_rhD2rVaf5sZUzv5RecCzpFtEaDE8WIMw8Q/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo8rM_5hiTD2mJrM8jDfFQXm1BXitsD3F_66RzthzWlvJfnhoFlHTmch81ByRksGGU8CzdwD1F5WvPQxVrXVHrp6I7iYgS8xTUXJk3EnA_rhD2rVaf5sZUzv5RecCzpFtEaDE8WIMw8Q/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, unlike the other wineries, we had trouble finding a parking spot because the lot was packed with tour buses in addition to cars. it looked like others had already discovered the fun times to be had at Warwick!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIP7n8PrsziLFmaDn2yCNZnhKx4drqHtm7DesWB66UytTqaKa-DBxMKCYeVehjHguH_i0wWSv_WylI_JmE0oBkBcGWG_Dp1wH0EojTp6PiFvj0yedqfO9wXbVwlhpVMuHdqEWkAEEpz4/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIP7n8PrsziLFmaDn2yCNZnhKx4drqHtm7DesWB66UytTqaKa-DBxMKCYeVehjHguH_i0wWSv_WylI_JmE0oBkBcGWG_Dp1wH0EojTp6PiFvj0yedqfO9wXbVwlhpVMuHdqEWkAEEpz4/s320/171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzbH3LoqcUJHqjilK87cXP-a2_WPx_8ZpcX5qb4b87qN5DH3pjABN_kKHpHeny95CVLVFClY2KcprL6hsEYQLcjocEMqitEfxOF1gTDl8X8LRmChv-9idrg8NxdqNIMzf1L-iWBuDpbU/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzbH3LoqcUJHqjilK87cXP-a2_WPx_8ZpcX5qb4b87qN5DH3pjABN_kKHpHeny95CVLVFClY2KcprL6hsEYQLcjocEMqitEfxOF1gTDl8X8LRmChv-9idrg8NxdqNIMzf1L-iWBuDpbU/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqEGSNeVK08LOjnwiCjrtVlTsl5nFvSpH_PU1eapJEP4u3F1j_BLJgvGCQ4AMKQJYqSISMxxhjI9Ppzq20NrJMLwBmtr3lLgmQwBRyjqhYdZ0FcWxvrARua3RCYBZcEvv5ZeNqBghyphenhyphenMo/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqEGSNeVK08LOjnwiCjrtVlTsl5nFvSpH_PU1eapJEP4u3F1j_BLJgvGCQ4AMKQJYqSISMxxhjI9Ppzq20NrJMLwBmtr3lLgmQwBRyjqhYdZ0FcWxvrARua3RCYBZcEvv5ZeNqBghyphenhyphenMo/s320/173.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi49nPYhjx8SDI8Tgl0tqL1nDs_powNo5A0zijICh58l5XjOx80iB2zlvEOONRJw8e8GnorC9uPmJj2BKdzNWPCJYt5wRcWZao1tOTgWzBV8vVRUs_yxYesC6iFCN2oLfuvycWcT_Mck/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi49nPYhjx8SDI8Tgl0tqL1nDs_powNo5A0zijICh58l5XjOx80iB2zlvEOONRJw8e8GnorC9uPmJj2BKdzNWPCJYt5wRcWZao1tOTgWzBV8vVRUs_yxYesC6iFCN2oLfuvycWcT_Mck/s320/174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our last stop on our own 'Stellenbosch Wine Route' was at <b>Simonsig </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">which means 'to see or view the Simonsberg Mountain' and is home to the <b>Malan family. </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">French Huguenot</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jacques Malan (1672-1742), ancestor of the Malan family in South Africa, was born in a village close to Merindol in Provence, France. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcIwvKJsh_6nLzDW5EI_TMgSZl-ogFTUVRChsuqdXBGHykfoK2ntJYl3cEKnMR63vwWmw9dHTpR_j7lMpjO7QTIOk5vWkBusIvIGl-7ASn-8ayG5mhNI45AgsE5jThMEaRGpYbmqn524/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcIwvKJsh_6nLzDW5EI_TMgSZl-ogFTUVRChsuqdXBGHykfoK2ntJYl3cEKnMR63vwWmw9dHTpR_j7lMpjO7QTIOk5vWkBusIvIGl-7ASn-8ayG5mhNI45AgsE5jThMEaRGpYbmqn524/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Malan set out on March 20th, 1688, for the Cape of Good Hope from Rotterdam in The Netherlands, arriving almost five months later. From </span><span style="font-size: large;">the time he</span><span style="font-size: large;"> settled in Franschhoek,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">the Malan family’s wine knowledge accumulated over many generations. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dS82NIymL_-Hbjd7N_RodSa48eVaABF0gKA17kl2OXJK7Kk6xoqGizOyylhlLcvxre8Tx_HOUygF1pMinhhk6Tx-wm7TPkC7EzsVxZClmaynI-c2vE130Rl-nJax0_khOtFoU7Al76g/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dS82NIymL_-Hbjd7N_RodSa48eVaABF0gKA17kl2OXJK7Kk6xoqGizOyylhlLcvxre8Tx_HOUygF1pMinhhk6Tx-wm7TPkC7EzsVxZClmaynI-c2vE130Rl-nJax0_khOtFoU7Al76g/s320/178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The late Frans Malan, beloved patriarch of the Malan family, was one of the pioneers of the South African wine industry. He wasn't only a craftsman of superior wines, but also introduced groundbreaking innovations including co-finding the Stellenbosch Wine Route and producing South Africa’s first <i>Méthode Cap Classique,</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">a bottle fermented sparkling wine made in the style of French champagne.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK2_eVLpLay5EHF7BFd-8xiuiJnIEP1nwp4iYrLEjv7LiLivXyOgAPDiXxAPB4YPz20ZoVgEDpoJXbyB_2favxmzp8B0qUn0XY7GPB0pfHwym89rMA7aXUBV79s0ZGve03sgF6MvhjGQ/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK2_eVLpLay5EHF7BFd-8xiuiJnIEP1nwp4iYrLEjv7LiLivXyOgAPDiXxAPB4YPz20ZoVgEDpoJXbyB_2favxmzp8B0qUn0XY7GPB0pfHwym89rMA7aXUBV79s0ZGve03sgF6MvhjGQ/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_IwP3Yil_dNXtdCovpF_SLIFxhUsLUX-yCAsIV3SxsV-KqYXz8dsCWrH6_txJZvJwRaemxNYQzVPFoyc38Kxq4gvTYWVxp7LTNXveEEBCQ0yfzTMejeSvXJsVOuV56Ml2vH47TipIoI/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_IwP3Yil_dNXtdCovpF_SLIFxhUsLUX-yCAsIV3SxsV-KqYXz8dsCWrH6_txJZvJwRaemxNYQzVPFoyc38Kxq4gvTYWVxp7LTNXveEEBCQ0yfzTMejeSvXJsVOuV56Ml2vH47TipIoI/s320/181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The mountains on the Malan family heraldic shield depicted the journey taken by their ancestors who had to cross the mountai</span><span style="font-size: large;">ns to Merindol in approximately 1112. The <i>Fleur de Lis</i> was granted by Louis IX in 1250 apparently for outstanding service during the battle of St. Jean D'Arc during the </span><span style="font-size: large;">first Crusade. <i>Deus arx mea</i> means 'God My Fortress.'</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST1XK_4Nka2MSAnTbn1olNJovxfNPgNaNrQ1WRtyp9OXWMaC0UQN-bDYvc-rcmsINpWH2wZTTmBvQnroCSW3aIVfk3vUJhMGJMDqqO-D_Hra_zUN-5zzTrnSKqIKohOsxh8bYQI4w_fI/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST1XK_4Nka2MSAnTbn1olNJovxfNPgNaNrQ1WRtyp9OXWMaC0UQN-bDYvc-rcmsINpWH2wZTTmBvQnroCSW3aIVfk3vUJhMGJMDqqO-D_Hra_zUN-5zzTrnSKqIKohOsxh8bYQI4w_fI/s320/182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUgMufuF8pFh1h3xbnLPP7rdYxYIWp-HdEGWM0AevZP15O7MQ4UDs4onviq5zeyrGqecW2OR_cqiAtZGJL6ow0b4W_3m3SxxypsjomslCNnKzRVQ9uFE7B1f66YXVrsqJ8V41eoHpE4Y/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUgMufuF8pFh1h3xbnLPP7rdYxYIWp-HdEGWM0AevZP15O7MQ4UDs4onviq5zeyrGqecW2OR_cqiAtZGJL6ow0b4W_3m3SxxypsjomslCNnKzRVQ9uFE7B1f66YXVrsqJ8V41eoHpE4Y/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had walked the labyrinth outside <b>St. George's Cathedral</b> in Cape Town several days ago but had certainly never heard of a Cabernet Sauvignon Labyrinth previously! Simonsig's had a radius of 58 feet, a diameter of 117 feet and 350 vines among its 420 total rows!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3eWfxFLM_jnL05ogXTTvhV4N5ol5c0JnzfzsxYtvqbm7dJbD12jPsChSuBafMF4iYIGuXRFfnF4_M4vEQn_m4oNbP_7U1bM7w0O3P5tsImul-9A5icZlSrSU1rcsa0flJVk0JRrwvDg/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3eWfxFLM_jnL05ogXTTvhV4N5ol5c0JnzfzsxYtvqbm7dJbD12jPsChSuBafMF4iYIGuXRFfnF4_M4vEQn_m4oNbP_7U1bM7w0O3P5tsImul-9A5icZlSrSU1rcsa0flJVk0JRrwvDg/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sign at the labyrinth said " To walk a labyrinth is a personal experience, symbolizing a spiritual journey which is about change, growth, discovery, trust, guidance, reflection and transformation." </span><span style="font-size: large;">While experiencing their labyrinth, we were to reflect on the soil, the sky, the winds, the vines and see into the heart of Simonsig!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-AAUM4u0flBNE_PdWgDsn0MX7tfMhfSZtI1ES29dURU1KXy3E46G2jyrYoLuJr69MWNYuYZOd8awt4ohQO6glVaeNh8LDHggzyjiwNAvFgADHEeAQkGuuojODakez_nIPD9JJcysEmw/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-AAUM4u0flBNE_PdWgDsn0MX7tfMhfSZtI1ES29dURU1KXy3E46G2jyrYoLuJr69MWNYuYZOd8awt4ohQO6glVaeNh8LDHggzyjiwNAvFgADHEeAQkGuuojODakez_nIPD9JJcysEmw/s320/191.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93fMvPm7dVbmb-ftq371WRsqmuJdoxhuRmB3RiTnejRtTkKjKWIhyphenhyphenR61ON4MQTS_U9QtQjERJgV683w72cKbTPZEmNiyUYr1iDh3M3DdW6khLJOfNKCQlEJ-Gev7Gu8UL90B9z19nCMg/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93fMvPm7dVbmb-ftq371WRsqmuJdoxhuRmB3RiTnejRtTkKjKWIhyphenhyphenR61ON4MQTS_U9QtQjERJgV683w72cKbTPZEmNiyUYr1iDh3M3DdW6khLJOfNKCQlEJ-Gev7Gu8UL90B9z19nCMg/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_83wt9ebDwYz1I54IYtpIgn3FCiy49Zl0SdAhj2l93_eKA29W9IcnK4HS7GPUTfXcyoF39c_3lReS2I_2MF9Uyn6L8NKv9s5RdrMlIiaBcdhdzJ2bIXFt-Llb0MyBagvphFuHXB8R0/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_83wt9ebDwYz1I54IYtpIgn3FCiy49Zl0SdAhj2l93_eKA29W9IcnK4HS7GPUTfXcyoF39c_3lReS2I_2MF9Uyn6L8NKv9s5RdrMlIiaBcdhdzJ2bIXFt-Llb0MyBagvphFuHXB8R0/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpFC7CS6QJLdrGHR-Ls-120BVsZDi81FI1Ib4usAMwg4jfSfuYqX0CgPtVhXpYlfSJ3_Q6E8NPliVgMCO0WToHqdBP14bRjLdijomip9WlCxGy41KCtXT0A3Q7afJ8DHPFcCVrAAlU4A/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpFC7CS6QJLdrGHR-Ls-120BVsZDi81FI1Ib4usAMwg4jfSfuYqX0CgPtVhXpYlfSJ3_Q6E8NPliVgMCO0WToHqdBP14bRjLdijomip9WlCxGy41KCtXT0A3Q7afJ8DHPFcCVrAAlU4A/s320/194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An antique manual wine pump:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpBVu-QFoNKqvz6_fdz0nhowz1jK7d59fvOAvA9luvbIq1wLWIbCyFckP2uukjwtoVDhe67SRxKg5aruZ-J3wY1G5_8yk5EA1-BBSDUX5x1iIS3Ie1kOvO0LOMYVSa8fDEc5NXECZX3U/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpBVu-QFoNKqvz6_fdz0nhowz1jK7d59fvOAvA9luvbIq1wLWIbCyFckP2uukjwtoVDhe67SRxKg5aruZ-J3wY1G5_8yk5EA1-BBSDUX5x1iIS3Ie1kOvO0LOMYVSa8fDEc5NXECZX3U/s320/195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFiyfobmyVboiYlOsCpII5EESQ4aTPhWRY2zuF3xFAq-Gez8p2Piz0IA_AOREkXkgfD3vkcj_2C91gQXmGJ1yf-dp1D3NkRMd_rZWCvxdhX2CZleZtXy2qNeJOMcRyvD9czkotHbd2NI/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFiyfobmyVboiYlOsCpII5EESQ4aTPhWRY2zuF3xFAq-Gez8p2Piz0IA_AOREkXkgfD3vkcj_2C91gQXmGJ1yf-dp1D3NkRMd_rZWCvxdhX2CZleZtXy2qNeJOMcRyvD9czkotHbd2NI/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06u6G2EDb8pnZp31vAcEq4-K6CHjNOa8iVW7n4BnWsldiuDvXSYNd2RPmN7NONNu774C2d_phfReI2SBUlIgoNJGJmSZnRiaEjCUeD69BUfiik-CJ8pmBLwMyS1fj0cehScES1Qwmqd8/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06u6G2EDb8pnZp31vAcEq4-K6CHjNOa8iVW7n4BnWsldiuDvXSYNd2RPmN7NONNu774C2d_phfReI2SBUlIgoNJGJmSZnRiaEjCUeD69BUfiik-CJ8pmBLwMyS1fj0cehScES1Qwmqd8/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g6e6rDlzcWQ_yK_LvzvQXJBVfYgkC-5kMxHTzM6rLLvBVN5JY8rPe424fGt9SxoHnThvIrIm3-59_BdORZRWYyNeOR_74pYhIw6SDJRMMgU9_BL6rfSibon6315ErA-ULhgCLMNnl9w/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g6e6rDlzcWQ_yK_LvzvQXJBVfYgkC-5kMxHTzM6rLLvBVN5JY8rPe424fGt9SxoHnThvIrIm3-59_BdORZRWYyNeOR_74pYhIw6SDJRMMgU9_BL6rfSibon6315ErA-ULhgCLMNnl9w/s320/198.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zX3cKOKI5mhZwpJyMYvup0CtXiVp5tJ4gU7_m_VsC4io34kQTYGRdPt1RNsx2o6HpTj0_F9TDTsN37YFZ3LrUyR_GRXJA8VPCB2kytZGF_1JRs-VFk44qajSwSGLnKU58Dj7kGuAzeU/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zX3cKOKI5mhZwpJyMYvup0CtXiVp5tJ4gU7_m_VsC4io34kQTYGRdPt1RNsx2o6HpTj0_F9TDTsN37YFZ3LrUyR_GRXJA8VPCB2kytZGF_1JRs-VFk44qajSwSGLnKU58Dj7kGuAzeU/s320/199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, we couldn't dally any longer exploring more of the fascinating wineries and jaw-dropping scenery of the Stellenbosch wine country as we needed to skedaddle to the airport to get an almost ten hour flight to <b>Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UWebkQAamRsa1WbqbgyHSe9kg-KqoAggrhQ6tGhxdYHZxFHzx3Vmc0pXqhtPaEzKpzJ7LwAXt6RHppOisUrUqz2lOxcHHS5isDOKaWDRheoH4BwcnQaE5kQSbgAyHb9PvNiiy0mwr6w/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UWebkQAamRsa1WbqbgyHSe9kg-KqoAggrhQ6tGhxdYHZxFHzx3Vmc0pXqhtPaEzKpzJ7LwAXt6RHppOisUrUqz2lOxcHHS5isDOKaWDRheoH4BwcnQaE5kQSbgAyHb9PvNiiy0mwr6w/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RWKZOLaPCvEZBQaYma-rQ5Hfw6io6THyAHdS06UD-ClIH0ba2ND8YH7UPemv5gJnbQagpOVEba_gfNPNplEz4LPMvpWGIXRPo6dhPW5HP8PI8T6jBijgPPp83FGd5RYeRDkG2rHKBDo/s1600/203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RWKZOLaPCvEZBQaYma-rQ5Hfw6io6THyAHdS06UD-ClIH0ba2ND8YH7UPemv5gJnbQagpOVEba_gfNPNplEz4LPMvpWGIXRPo6dhPW5HP8PI8T6jBijgPPp83FGd5RYeRDkG2rHKBDo/s320/203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTI3SxrCVy_mPuFpnPfzeASVPHnC0MmiZ-Yzd7BOrFNUDrXe9qIYXBVFl_RG9p3KXj4f69yXFBarj-JXpJu2l6Lmv_ZQj508q0ob0oh9J0x1HBvd4n0NpkjK9ABTt-AvebdZ_RzVlAHg/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTI3SxrCVy_mPuFpnPfzeASVPHnC0MmiZ-Yzd7BOrFNUDrXe9qIYXBVFl_RG9p3KXj4f69yXFBarj-JXpJu2l6Lmv_ZQj508q0ob0oh9J0x1HBvd4n0NpkjK9ABTt-AvebdZ_RzVlAHg/s320/204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven was laughing then but a short while earlier, he wasn't so happy having encountered the most stringent examination ever of a rental car being returned at the Budget airport location. Of course they noticed where Steven had driven over the curb and dinged the wheel rim and also a scrape from trying to get out of a particularly narrow parking spot - oops! We both figured it was due to difficulty driving on the 'wrong side' of the road. We were able to laugh a few minutes later when he then bumped the cart trying to maneuver it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AUOIljSu3arvYftuVTCvdSOMPYlODDHHSNCQDG0iN99gvunhqHJ03vGGiijLyTX3rZdyUYJFbJKlduqXmp1wW3T-LEJd-Twc_XXZSf5ImOtspDLdMson_NmA3Op8RXOTHsl4GIQSdo/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AUOIljSu3arvYftuVTCvdSOMPYlODDHHSNCQDG0iN99gvunhqHJ03vGGiijLyTX3rZdyUYJFbJKlduqXmp1wW3T-LEJd-Twc_XXZSf5ImOtspDLdMson_NmA3Op8RXOTHsl4GIQSdo/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How sad seeing in the airport the outline of the elephant as we wondered when we ever might see those glorious animals again in the wild as we had at Kruger National Park.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNuoSSmdUeJf5ZD64d_Rc1SvZC6zPLqcr_jnGnW8y6MG8neZaX70lBYS0uQl7hQ65PA9KwxyU5ulyYBvYTctwDfV8ijz0VVG46WikzOYS9z99EkOdFjayXWdw0IkV8CUTr4zzef9rcdY/s1600/207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNuoSSmdUeJf5ZD64d_Rc1SvZC6zPLqcr_jnGnW8y6MG8neZaX70lBYS0uQl7hQ65PA9KwxyU5ulyYBvYTctwDfV8ijz0VVG46WikzOYS9z99EkOdFjayXWdw0IkV8CUTr4zzef9rcdY/s320/207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As regular readers of the blog know, we were lucky enough to visit so many great places on our four month trip. One of the countries that will always hold a special place in our hearts is definitely South Africa because of its magical location situated at the tip of the continent, the amazing game parks, the beautiful city of Cape Town, the combination of mountains and ocean views, the emotional intensity of Johannesburg and Soweto PLUS learning in great detail the horrors of apartheid and the bravery of those who fought against it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 16th, 2015 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-20065266399207086272017-02-12T16:04:00.004-08:002017-02-12T16:08:33.977-08:0012/6: 'Bathing Boxes' at St. James Near Cape Town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending the morning and early afternoon at the top notch Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, we headed south toward the Indian Ocean beach community of <b>St. James</b> as this was our last full day in Cape Town. On the way, we detoured to <b>Pollsmoor Prison,</b> not the place we would normally want to visit under any circumstances! We wanted to stop at the entrance, though, for a few minutes to contemplate that one of the greatest men of the 20th and 21st century spent some time at Pollsmoor. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHHXRwsQZ14jo2CTo86YzN5J51W7xPK7duX0CzbAntKVts3m9arrGs_IvpNkrxV4AQTJ-gpbn2E4_UMBzK-kp6AX8iKOX4TtCskm2rrUihlFbM85JjLpv_ncqzn_5xw4otvoagqVyLDST/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHHXRwsQZ14jo2CTo86YzN5J51W7xPK7duX0CzbAntKVts3m9arrGs_IvpNkrxV4AQTJ-gpbn2E4_UMBzK-kp6AX8iKOX4TtCskm2rrUihlFbM85JjLpv_ncqzn_5xw4otvoagqVyLDST/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1982, <b>Nelson Mandela,</b> after spending 18 years on Robben Island, was transferred here as the apartheid government knew its time was up and Pollsmoor was a more convenient place to meet with Mandela to discuss the way forward. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Mandela was the most famous inmate of the prison where he stayed until 1988 before he was transferred to another prison because of failing health. The Nobel Peace Prize winner described Pollsmoor Prison as "the truth of Oscar Wilde's haunting line about the tent of blue that prisoners call the sky."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3ujuLLWb2xXc1KBf4VmF-d1Lg-ex8eEBUaIeh5Gx_ykGEiSwAiPrJLxa_PiYhaEE_SB-XvsxiBDiIIXOkiFKOUj0EH-duNuXfwtRnU94YknCfaX6qFKgki2gXqtv3nC673Gp38GmyX88/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3ujuLLWb2xXc1KBf4VmF-d1Lg-ex8eEBUaIeh5Gx_ykGEiSwAiPrJLxa_PiYhaEE_SB-XvsxiBDiIIXOkiFKOUj0EH-duNuXfwtRnU94YknCfaX6qFKgki2gXqtv3nC673Gp38GmyX88/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The lure of the beach was strong so on we we drove until we reached St. James, located in <b>False Bay</b> about halfway between the city and the Cape of Good Hope. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfkNnsCP5owFraOTvn8zp7I0-nMiogzsWunf740deVK6RFqGhyphenhyphenUWQB5DLowkIcVu0236nSqvMjqz9neUZWQeuVK12T4L7m6cZvZqNGpOTKCU0PanTBon_E7mk2ZavdYCJdVkWZmHAFY06/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfkNnsCP5owFraOTvn8zp7I0-nMiogzsWunf740deVK6RFqGhyphenhyphenUWQB5DLowkIcVu0236nSqvMjqz9neUZWQeuVK12T4L7m6cZvZqNGpOTKCU0PanTBon_E7mk2ZavdYCJdVkWZmHAFY06/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPhD_h-5CTSaM1vhOS8917TTaFVUXJnjVbCo9e_5uKR9hlRNnRZH-k-TohV2LpfCNZB_4cf72sFqhbBCdRtxrbUF97AUaRYW3tTl5CO0LRiY5Xbj7S8wDjNzx0kzh1mBdZYGx6PwAHwJl/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPhD_h-5CTSaM1vhOS8917TTaFVUXJnjVbCo9e_5uKR9hlRNnRZH-k-TohV2LpfCNZB_4cf72sFqhbBCdRtxrbUF97AUaRYW3tTl5CO0LRiY5Xbj7S8wDjNzx0kzh1mBdZYGx6PwAHwJl/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiAsSAu0Oi-c9wDI5aNCBVO9lYUxsmk5ZqqRv8krTwdV0ym2duPlyDa-qx7b4QQn-ftZBhduqEismw8YLo8tfWdMHhRtqaSyofHJhdQ-Y7m4eOl4ySecherHjyTFXjCD52sC0J-I4wiqLMC/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsSAu0Oi-c9wDI5aNCBVO9lYUxsmk5ZqqRv8krTwdV0ym2duPlyDa-qx7b4QQn-ftZBhduqEismw8YLo8tfWdMHhRtqaSyofHJhdQ-Y7m4eOl4ySecherHjyTFXjCD52sC0J-I4wiqLMC/s320/136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERg5N9Auv0qsGvbuNfSaWXhDcBZrAN9PtRLi8voD0l81q3oxg1xebz87TLuWiJ8NyRK400Tv3WpaLudd_gy-mM0f_7STfFvbtyFGWgWAyrN7xsIRrdB3R6aBiz0nGq6UdXPOzh-XmRLiE/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERg5N9Auv0qsGvbuNfSaWXhDcBZrAN9PtRLi8voD0l81q3oxg1xebz87TLuWiJ8NyRK400Tv3WpaLudd_gy-mM0f_7STfFvbtyFGWgWAyrN7xsIRrdB3R6aBiz0nGq6UdXPOzh-XmRLiE/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of the homes in St. James dated back to the time when the Cape was a colony of the Victorian empire. St James is named after the St. James Roman Catholic Church, built in 1858 for the Filipino fishermen of Kalk Bay, just up the road.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43cherBA_f-5LvmSKNMf77qCnEmlx18b0s9optMHw6TXi0Ezscmo-k28SlkC2nW-Yr3Q9QEhUfnu5ungtNmPXw4R6uDhy64CFXEp1xFOcrf95wpE-IAkfjiyDj0mpxFzDP05mfMuxHFIe/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43cherBA_f-5LvmSKNMf77qCnEmlx18b0s9optMHw6TXi0Ezscmo-k28SlkC2nW-Yr3Q9QEhUfnu5ungtNmPXw4R6uDhy64CFXEp1xFOcrf95wpE-IAkfjiyDj0mpxFzDP05mfMuxHFIe/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiye7eX_VCf2Nz5y99QUGlZCURURF_mJ8gtziUH3H4dYFLqc2HHao_WJ8EcH3YuvKz1wEqCgQoznl2bVYF3NkiQ5X5FmRyQAWdecTYJo9pkex_R8imBns2sjCcrfdTnlwmPmpR2eFme7Ao/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiye7eX_VCf2Nz5y99QUGlZCURURF_mJ8gtziUH3H4dYFLqc2HHao_WJ8EcH3YuvKz1wEqCgQoznl2bVYF3NkiQ5X5FmRyQAWdecTYJo9pkex_R8imBns2sjCcrfdTnlwmPmpR2eFme7Ao/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">St. James was once the place of the rich and famous from the country's gold and diamond days but now it is better known for its small beach with its colorful picture-postcard beach huts and tidal pool. It was an image of those 'bathing boxes' in a tourist brochure that drew us to St. James.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x9iW1slj5I6gsLIq4XHw9ofWqCT2KNohpJJJc56A7kURelAzRhESFWo2Q-4jd4k_ilVq3mh9SUDt-B1vf5LTRUNIl-0Zq21wgt01qQuELBpLduDQwInCT-qkdmBWpiZ8Nk8lZWyUw1gZ/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x9iW1slj5I6gsLIq4XHw9ofWqCT2KNohpJJJc56A7kURelAzRhESFWo2Q-4jd4k_ilVq3mh9SUDt-B1vf5LTRUNIl-0Zq21wgt01qQuELBpLduDQwInCT-qkdmBWpiZ8Nk8lZWyUw1gZ/s320/135.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjrE-7FJD6s6MZW_1JGMQZNLkPmiCa1zsTXc7mVNhildvRnZqbSgZmiZV65yzJZbAuRAJpPDkerZvmePu6MOCQt1JdfJotCzlgC92SvIlpHnJyEM05mOxd8WEemgMz8odrSfRU35HJJN6J-/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE-7FJD6s6MZW_1JGMQZNLkPmiCa1zsTXc7mVNhildvRnZqbSgZmiZV65yzJZbAuRAJpPDkerZvmePu6MOCQt1JdfJotCzlgC92SvIlpHnJyEM05mOxd8WEemgMz8odrSfRU35HJJN6J-/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhaaq_eWCzA7Ez_2A5xAn_48bCL6W58niUgvClxGGOv7UBiIzms2GkGi2jJNsIxGuqpReFgcPJ_XeN0Dac9O0BeS8MqSUMl7gfCfeXl-6f2U9z73-ZZv84fa2vGdxmyWbiL-JQA-2Gu7ef0/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaq_eWCzA7Ez_2A5xAn_48bCL6W58niUgvClxGGOv7UBiIzms2GkGi2jJNsIxGuqpReFgcPJ_XeN0Dac9O0BeS8MqSUMl7gfCfeXl-6f2U9z73-ZZv84fa2vGdxmyWbiL-JQA-2Gu7ef0/s320/140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Along the St. James walkway was a series of posters dedicated to safety. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 2004, a pioneering shark safety program,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Shark Spotters, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">was initiated as an alternative measure to shark nets for protecting water users. One innovative non-lethal and sustainable means of keeping both sharks and swimmers safe was setting up and retrieving exclusion nets like the one below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg3-0PsE3_Vhr-2-kVpkv4yXU1cJNh0-wTbxV6EXKD061b5tYUtxZJH1yA9moBDyEDLz_-6BUG73JnwfsFoZpyh7GVzJisxn8vGf0ZDJcRe87bdqbu7dW6jmonaBf7ag-IF2fXdneVcUR/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg3-0PsE3_Vhr-2-kVpkv4yXU1cJNh0-wTbxV6EXKD061b5tYUtxZJH1yA9moBDyEDLz_-6BUG73JnwfsFoZpyh7GVzJisxn8vGf0ZDJcRe87bdqbu7dW6jmonaBf7ag-IF2fXdneVcUR/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Funded by the local municipality. local businesses</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and the Save Our Seas Foundation, the program also hired spotters to scan the waters off popular swimming beaches for signs of sharks. The program provided much needed jobs and income to members of low income communities.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo0iu_xSwpPO17SDTbeIT6Q3SjSFkFJAKk0wUfLNpVJwvOUZYQHLLvU4BKZXqIKsGi7e-2S643MOXbnQaX51uRudnFq6-sxIlF9tpdKdSYk1GlPKyKZB521RwiGKtvF-5arzdnxPep_oi/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo0iu_xSwpPO17SDTbeIT6Q3SjSFkFJAKk0wUfLNpVJwvOUZYQHLLvU4BKZXqIKsGi7e-2S643MOXbnQaX51uRudnFq6-sxIlF9tpdKdSYk1GlPKyKZB521RwiGKtvF-5arzdnxPep_oi/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjlDn-KRnMjjP1Hx-4MmkwJWtun-Tydnjo5VJKRmPZfyxJVoqxWYhceaBKR7PZ4YGQU6RWoVMahyDwbnEVrnJDrOToOLecG6GzD568WJnPepLobIQURnJbPC7zxRgqIX3pWsMTvCYxVyoVt/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDn-KRnMjjP1Hx-4MmkwJWtun-Tydnjo5VJKRmPZfyxJVoqxWYhceaBKR7PZ4YGQU6RWoVMahyDwbnEVrnJDrOToOLecG6GzD568WJnPepLobIQURnJbPC7zxRgqIX3pWsMTvCYxVyoVt/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have never tried surfing but read with interest the next poster. It described how any surfer who has sat on a surfboard </span><span style="font-size: large;">with legs dangling in the water has </span><span style="font-size: large;">felt vulnerable. "To be a surfer is to understand that there are risks in the wilderness of the ocean and the surf and that this watery world is also home to various sharks. The great white sharks of False Bay are from one of the largest aggregations of the species in the world and are a reality that must be taken into account every day by those who go into the water."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqDAJB26REoS_-nYpVwBlW8u3FH2LNr-5sO5SMkJcLTzH908Oyd8uLoVpX4BXW9ubFxhw7IVeXHpfumCScKdtH5K_1o9Qv2xNrMBr1MiIK5Hw1yGs9jSFlJhbTUU0K5dWN0Pd2wmcdUiF/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqDAJB26REoS_-nYpVwBlW8u3FH2LNr-5sO5SMkJcLTzH908Oyd8uLoVpX4BXW9ubFxhw7IVeXHpfumCScKdtH5K_1o9Qv2xNrMBr1MiIK5Hw1yGs9jSFlJhbTUU0K5dWN0Pd2wmcdUiF/s320/149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had no need for the </span><span style="font-size: large;">delightfully adorable huts </span><span style="font-size: large;">at the far end of the beach as we hadn't brought our swimsuits with us in the car.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEobvwEsnkFPhtchjLJrUQc4AT8tCGTwoBG0HxfhGelShJk_6evSysms2xQGfSHKbg8fHGpRyDB5Ehwv2KgNNrZAq3HVvtfHvNET_N9HQSPEKKSjZzgPMoDOnYLEPVymZ-aLzFz9_73Jf/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEobvwEsnkFPhtchjLJrUQc4AT8tCGTwoBG0HxfhGelShJk_6evSysms2xQGfSHKbg8fHGpRyDB5Ehwv2KgNNrZAq3HVvtfHvNET_N9HQSPEKKSjZzgPMoDOnYLEPVymZ-aLzFz9_73Jf/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The saltwater tidal pool was a big draw for kids playing in the shallows, jumping off the side and end as well as the 'more mature folks' swimming laps!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5AyCsxt_MHQqJ0XoLiXiNFWRAM4lKdA626KW63A_Uz6Y3GTf9p_fUIeocGS6mPM7TY3p9l_j6kfUTKOGqb9UrU5PUYtjXTHWotW3Dtj5FeBKZtWZdg40sR3jNLSYYJdZvefvgVuht1iP/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5AyCsxt_MHQqJ0XoLiXiNFWRAM4lKdA626KW63A_Uz6Y3GTf9p_fUIeocGS6mPM7TY3p9l_j6kfUTKOGqb9UrU5PUYtjXTHWotW3Dtj5FeBKZtWZdg40sR3jNLSYYJdZvefvgVuht1iP/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEggf5jeaVnh780qywwCfp90ptDdeVneOtuM8vnTVzT3BSTKLAZw8kxZ1QE8TMfCyeK-ayOcyg2KtDBfEl9QPNgPUAG7xdi6-90OxJltBWS53Xs2d5jqxCDZhXCa_fTh6o9mb1gtzKB2Jkv-/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf5jeaVnh780qywwCfp90ptDdeVneOtuM8vnTVzT3BSTKLAZw8kxZ1QE8TMfCyeK-ayOcyg2KtDBfEl9QPNgPUAG7xdi6-90OxJltBWS53Xs2d5jqxCDZhXCa_fTh6o9mb1gtzKB2Jkv-/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi70JkPSIcydLpo2-HdKLjLFllSZejYRlJueHij8DNsHfucVmAQmZGz-ubAKnI84WhJ6dtT62A9cdjrWgrTMsYHnM4HBjQArUeR6fUX2g_vbgakU0hLRX5kS-nGejl0UVEzCwCboy_IXerI/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70JkPSIcydLpo2-HdKLjLFllSZejYRlJueHij8DNsHfucVmAQmZGz-ubAKnI84WhJ6dtT62A9cdjrWgrTMsYHnM4HBjQArUeR6fUX2g_vbgakU0hLRX5kS-nGejl0UVEzCwCboy_IXerI/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen3wZouQOEkIYXWhZmL3cGbiM-SwAhtnxx1vDWwdYBNbU7pKR9upw0906kfoyZHrVhINvlw9bM7uNyMwLZDs9eatNcAyuN2TVXqmEXJsyDRezsZcoEMb95HPMYKOr27rpyZNrNC8hBDlA/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen3wZouQOEkIYXWhZmL3cGbiM-SwAhtnxx1vDWwdYBNbU7pKR9upw0906kfoyZHrVhINvlw9bM7uNyMwLZDs9eatNcAyuN2TVXqmEXJsyDRezsZcoEMb95HPMYKOr27rpyZNrNC8hBDlA/s320/155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had a hoot watching these two boys in the background sitting on the wall and waiting to be splashed, time and time again, by huge waves coming over the wall. Sometimes, they were caught unawares as they weren't always looking backwards and anticipating when they might next get soaked!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZkyCEhvgY_psb-00ykyduNpo7iX_HbwZBL9wsFOq2qWEqDT7vQwPAu7rTxEl06gCZMYGdrFjxdd58KdZIMN1RyBMBgQeD-xi-bZs00nKrQuU_VaihccaoT1MxRvncG3t8W6tZswsG56x/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZkyCEhvgY_psb-00ykyduNpo7iX_HbwZBL9wsFOq2qWEqDT7vQwPAu7rTxEl06gCZMYGdrFjxdd58KdZIMN1RyBMBgQeD-xi-bZs00nKrQuU_VaihccaoT1MxRvncG3t8W6tZswsG56x/s320/156.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg4d_nCDbUWDBkLAdWAYn5WGMe7VSCHGo5pgER92hZhdl-WbvH25pRErgbduzNwsfUnkUrII3hac3m5kgwOJmEhtPTQ1tU2TWHqW-_VOyFYtGA43wE-SS5fQvvD6LZy4aDzC3lhq3nF9Oif/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d_nCDbUWDBkLAdWAYn5WGMe7VSCHGo5pgER92hZhdl-WbvH25pRErgbduzNwsfUnkUrII3hac3m5kgwOJmEhtPTQ1tU2TWHqW-_VOyFYtGA43wE-SS5fQvvD6LZy4aDzC3lhq3nF9Oif/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-tbhAfaDC3gQ6ie1pGE2rk_XA0OW6z2XrxtKneXFHVw9quqBYtJ9_BRQGCRuVroALCPfOO-JJkKDrHcTPyzKOkyId41YSGl8IrnL0JM1Yi47lzKRwe2vKgug_X0zdyh54-9Zj_QOPgbl/s1600/159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-tbhAfaDC3gQ6ie1pGE2rk_XA0OW6z2XrxtKneXFHVw9quqBYtJ9_BRQGCRuVroALCPfOO-JJkKDrHcTPyzKOkyId41YSGl8IrnL0JM1Yi47lzKRwe2vKgug_X0zdyh54-9Zj_QOPgbl/s320/159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Passenger trains rumbled by every ten minutes or so on their way to and from Cape Town and <b>Simon's Town, </b>the town near where we'd seen so many African Penguins a few days previously that was only a few miles south of James Beach. Years ago, we used to hear trains near where we live but the area has since been so built up, the trains' distinctive sound is only a memory. As a result, we always love and seeing trains when we're on the road.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpsMFKWI8G8y4UVCP9zLhMheggw2UadK-a6ypkOl_XOoXlwY21yaTiqEn8zaQQmcfuIaRGqd8B8hyphenhyphenala8-q0nOHc6nEykmlSDxalPk-MmJTTvN-EMYoguecHrOnOCsrj-MYGHE_EH6tC8/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpsMFKWI8G8y4UVCP9zLhMheggw2UadK-a6ypkOl_XOoXlwY21yaTiqEn8zaQQmcfuIaRGqd8B8hyphenhyphenala8-q0nOHc6nEykmlSDxalPk-MmJTTvN-EMYoguecHrOnOCsrj-MYGHE_EH6tC8/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0iLTIuPO9GTUFwU5k_lZu2Ex-doIBWNFzbZZJFUHMWT3HA6X5GU2NbNThauNyJOi2K10zYJ9YN2sGs2i9PyIf6R3B-w8YKHcRGrHLlT5gxJjJt46fhasUeRYuX9hM7PwBxngwp9IEqkR/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0iLTIuPO9GTUFwU5k_lZu2Ex-doIBWNFzbZZJFUHMWT3HA6X5GU2NbNThauNyJOi2K10zYJ9YN2sGs2i9PyIf6R3B-w8YKHcRGrHLlT5gxJjJt46fhasUeRYuX9hM7PwBxngwp9IEqkR/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiv41MkMqbpg13KQ1kqOwlQpFMt7pxOW3fc2HHoUGx3-6R49k2lQJYP74-21Z8R7-uBsWpKMQwjZjNg5ukVVdU8__hHJRvdwp3BJcOeidXR2YJbgAc10EbJ8VOO5-9G3YGtd8jUhyLNeE1C/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv41MkMqbpg13KQ1kqOwlQpFMt7pxOW3fc2HHoUGx3-6R49k2lQJYP74-21Z8R7-uBsWpKMQwjZjNg5ukVVdU8__hHJRvdwp3BJcOeidXR2YJbgAc10EbJ8VOO5-9G3YGtd8jUhyLNeE1C/s320/163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven was happy as a clam (I couldn't resist the pun!) reading and snoozing on the beach while I hunted for shells in the shallow rock pools.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L5MYCr1-29E92ewrhI-7KGox2pfacharYfoYtbMZkBbZRZ887xmvfDZPHtT7Vlh89kTc805k7aTEQl0sj7zIVMf7Lvvtzoy_NeiP3cVKO-tZPiIT7XIMSJzZWAPImasB6T7xzGOv3o0e/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L5MYCr1-29E92ewrhI-7KGox2pfacharYfoYtbMZkBbZRZ887xmvfDZPHtT7Vlh89kTc805k7aTEQl0sj7zIVMf7Lvvtzoy_NeiP3cVKO-tZPiIT7XIMSJzZWAPImasB6T7xzGOv3o0e/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsf31MHaEk5aBIjZmQ-AHaDPfvZakjhZTNVDRJ10kJQRQgzSbg-VjuxMvmCKViQqWIAaQIL5nHaUsqTZ30Rkj9MrUKjcvyaqlvp7mdrN48zuy4Bv6KjHQ2TZQAYnNlbD-I6pEDSiKu6Qe/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsf31MHaEk5aBIjZmQ-AHaDPfvZakjhZTNVDRJ10kJQRQgzSbg-VjuxMvmCKViQqWIAaQIL5nHaUsqTZ30Rkj9MrUKjcvyaqlvp7mdrN48zuy4Bv6KjHQ2TZQAYnNlbD-I6pEDSiKu6Qe/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh2oJc6UWdQWNHEIV2pD-DtoLG3dMea1PoOSclI0B5YMxlArQ8Rp_P2oMdeRMj4REjh8lndDf500Q7nBKNfViYOHK7IfZ-0Qm6x4oJQu5la34OMQON7MhIRtOO7G5FCndkrfBROFz6kw2ZV/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oJc6UWdQWNHEIV2pD-DtoLG3dMea1PoOSclI0B5YMxlArQ8Rp_P2oMdeRMj4REjh8lndDf500Q7nBKNfViYOHK7IfZ-0Qm6x4oJQu5la34OMQON7MhIRtOO7G5FCndkrfBROFz6kw2ZV/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have never seen such a profusion of different shades of blue shells before - they were fabulous! Some made it home safe and sound (thanks to Steven's careful packaging), and they're with others from our trip on the counter where they bring back memories of our wonderful time together on the beach at St. James. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG8vwrCIChh4lHykns0dvkwJ-M5eBx56xrpl6wHVpcY0a4K2KMTb2eLpH23c0Tu7WqIYWLuJowoEqM8ca1FOPr7nRx37jFllf3GuXZ7n-u6YY0pR4ce2lKaEx6nAgy6W4MyHoXsrKWsY0/s1600/170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG8vwrCIChh4lHykns0dvkwJ-M5eBx56xrpl6wHVpcY0a4K2KMTb2eLpH23c0Tu7WqIYWLuJowoEqM8ca1FOPr7nRx37jFllf3GuXZ7n-u6YY0pR4ce2lKaEx6nAgy6W4MyHoXsrKWsY0/s320/170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We learned a couple of years ago to always pack bubble wrap with us even though space in our duffel bags is at a premium.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57bR-OZZQuaVgWGEq_sQGpAm6T381jQ16qguYT41sHsgyIRHpxO-8QWyEoUbwImB2dN8jaMkYsQ0zGGWLVVsWmRXd6nYEXjYpNbIdNh54Kp3QBwp9pbzffDbe6dYSX_Af303frq9BO-Re/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57bR-OZZQuaVgWGEq_sQGpAm6T381jQ16qguYT41sHsgyIRHpxO-8QWyEoUbwImB2dN8jaMkYsQ0zGGWLVVsWmRXd6nYEXjYpNbIdNh54Kp3QBwp9pbzffDbe6dYSX_Af303frq9BO-Re/s320/174.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjZVb1ZmRLr12MzLZ8i2CcEGbOyFe82IFciy9YzLdUddENkulN2NCjEqwe6dhilXFpkfogeY_xLVzpD_gLXC78HUbODSvsLWEM-Gk0e-NTKX1L_8tuZOmsy3E4W2jSIHIMOk-pr98O2u4vV/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVb1ZmRLr12MzLZ8i2CcEGbOyFe82IFciy9YzLdUddENkulN2NCjEqwe6dhilXFpkfogeY_xLVzpD_gLXC78HUbODSvsLWEM-Gk0e-NTKX1L_8tuZOmsy3E4W2jSIHIMOk-pr98O2u4vV/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEinzzBmPvKfLOMerNvuw9TVF8buPbdfWquDL7OKQcLW49gwe59WIUGkf5f0kiPADTb6cHeQ3LSWpEDXCwjO0XapNN4Xr1eL_HmmQAjbvhwxW3Pw5QSyUH0H0R6Fpshix13gfBE9IJrLR0w4/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzzBmPvKfLOMerNvuw9TVF8buPbdfWquDL7OKQcLW49gwe59WIUGkf5f0kiPADTb6cHeQ3LSWpEDXCwjO0XapNN4Xr1eL_HmmQAjbvhwxW3Pw5QSyUH0H0R6Fpshix13gfBE9IJrLR0w4/s320/175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With the mountain backdrop, we couldn't have asked for a more picturesque scene for our last getaway to a beach for a good while.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDs_lksEYHFsgkHUHlW7qSn_LdlzAmQbE69ygzWwo3CIMdssjTnIP_DvYSS24OovBQ5HbJnYyfyvLCuExAQmTQTzTBdsmQYOFxEjMkEkJNksad4G-ZxJVmmwmjWW_U2dsc0WFsYftCEb9/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDs_lksEYHFsgkHUHlW7qSn_LdlzAmQbE69ygzWwo3CIMdssjTnIP_DvYSS24OovBQ5HbJnYyfyvLCuExAQmTQTzTBdsmQYOFxEjMkEkJNksad4G-ZxJVmmwmjWW_U2dsc0WFsYftCEb9/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was late afternoon before we dragged ourselves away from the beach and back toward the city along the two lane road that paralleled the beach. I pitied the poor commuters from St. James as the traffic barely moved.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgYNk0yuwjBjTzhzoUnUiMEHRFe0KSKuXNcTGbw0PKVpMs7X3ujk1R7itWXjSHnue_swARD3ED_XmSA9q-o822ryl28zpuTbgio2o7s7K8r-kPlUy1FaNsUQIw3jejnAF2IKbTI8QuUZy/s1600/180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgYNk0yuwjBjTzhzoUnUiMEHRFe0KSKuXNcTGbw0PKVpMs7X3ujk1R7itWXjSHnue_swARD3ED_XmSA9q-o822ryl28zpuTbgio2o7s7K8r-kPlUy1FaNsUQIw3jejnAF2IKbTI8QuUZy/s320/180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It worked out perfectly for me as I was able to hop out of the car and take some photos of some famous homes. The humble <b>Rhodes Cottage</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was named for</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Cecil Rhodes, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the richest men in the world in his time, who spent his last days there. If you read the posts on Zimbabwe, you may remember that Rhodes shaped southern Africa like no other individual; he had two countries, which he virtually owned, named after him and he was a colossus in the diamond industry. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0dMLqs1-JV6yJyBhZ1IUUjM2SyAHJmIi4xmm21n-nIiLrGGOZUDp55wU0gBKjBAW9HluBVENJxQm2f3_yQPuxDetWzys3P6-5vby3DBXus6-63_ke8Wd_S2qctyppeNy0Ef-g-bvm1kM/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0dMLqs1-JV6yJyBhZ1IUUjM2SyAHJmIi4xmm21n-nIiLrGGOZUDp55wU0gBKjBAW9HluBVENJxQm2f3_yQPuxDetWzys3P6-5vby3DBXus6-63_ke8Wd_S2qctyppeNy0Ef-g-bvm1kM/s320/181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a quick hop from Rhodes' abode was a row of buildings steeped in history. One of them was </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yokohama,</b> a small homestead that was imported in sections from Japan. It was unique because it was made out of paper and has stood there for over 100 years, defying all the<b> 'Cape of Storms'</b> has thrown at it! The latter name for the Cape was coined by the Portuguese explorers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkvsBZTxBwS65GOFRcgJrPybNIeQHDmxAkYLhdlmnl0D2yuZz7J2R4wlFn3g79Zf1Z5nr0snjptH7GjzIYdO62UIbGTdHgaNRcmlOstJK7_m8an9wYl8PVeSpYM2enrJw_XdT9bWSDo2H/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkvsBZTxBwS65GOFRcgJrPybNIeQHDmxAkYLhdlmnl0D2yuZz7J2R4wlFn3g79Zf1Z5nr0snjptH7GjzIYdO62UIbGTdHgaNRcmlOstJK7_m8an9wYl8PVeSpYM2enrJw_XdT9bWSDo2H/s320/187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NwxrV0L2gec6IG5miSfTfgMS3CtiEoUikmR9Ix6aabDObhtfMpsSlQplv-NrAsoMbbGscAP0ujGIJ6mdlWHP40qzcp-l4UPvXdJTM-6xASCZ-lzYd7XYWyBBEK6EBsehqzk3lKrr9ZGH/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NwxrV0L2gec6IG5miSfTfgMS3CtiEoUikmR9Ix6aabDObhtfMpsSlQplv-NrAsoMbbGscAP0ujGIJ6mdlWHP40qzcp-l4UPvXdJTM-6xASCZ-lzYd7XYWyBBEK6EBsehqzk3lKrr9ZGH/s320/188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven was still stuck in traffic so I was able to admire, very briefly, the <b>Casa Labia Cultural Center, </b>just up the street. Built in 1929 to reflect the spirit of 18th century Venice, Casa Labia, now a national monument, was a former residence of Count and Countess Natale Labia. It was turned into "an upmarket venue, complete with a modern art gallery, clothing shop and Italian cafe." </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5mGUZF6UcSFMxeDQTggpzhVMyBWJZkGtyxSPUVT-7Lj4hShaSDz2Nk2IzEB9OPtq7BOsUtSFTn52D25g7UH1MjaXLJILXeYeFGb2-f7TzNHasisNH0GQRaXqzTlG3QbAipdR_j9tXJhg/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5mGUZF6UcSFMxeDQTggpzhVMyBWJZkGtyxSPUVT-7Lj4hShaSDz2Nk2IzEB9OPtq7BOsUtSFTn52D25g7UH1MjaXLJILXeYeFGb2-f7TzNHasisNH0GQRaXqzTlG3QbAipdR_j9tXJhg/s320/190.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEioYn68nTEujIDGe3Ro-YgAGrcOKD1r2NU0CQirpb8zW0wESXutnvR3YXbAgG0zjUUiL3uFLJ2hGkAZZ3gOam2Xxl0SXlyUqg3QByw4QUlIltiMs2Rk-NGUed_lwdTcS5cmRTWgCAwypher/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYn68nTEujIDGe3Ro-YgAGrcOKD1r2NU0CQirpb8zW0wESXutnvR3YXbAgG0zjUUiL3uFLJ2hGkAZZ3gOam2Xxl0SXlyUqg3QByw4QUlIltiMs2Rk-NGUed_lwdTcS5cmRTWgCAwypher/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We knew we didn't have far to go to Cape Town when we noticed the Hebrew Congregation in the town of <b>Muzienberg, </b>the last community before heading inland to the 'Mother City.'</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJA3r-jY-Ipy9YjK_SBkDn8gQsIVB7jJbv5aoBiQ8aIPN86osWvbAfR9BTxEqcMl3IwViIEKVMZhSwxIBzrxWH17w2vDLNgHklYz40o7nSbvGJVt7Nlfs-laMSeNR3WB6ZZ0R7xWQXanN/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJA3r-jY-Ipy9YjK_SBkDn8gQsIVB7jJbv5aoBiQ8aIPN86osWvbAfR9BTxEqcMl3IwViIEKVMZhSwxIBzrxWH17w2vDLNgHklYz40o7nSbvGJVt7Nlfs-laMSeNR3WB6ZZ0R7xWQXanN/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxpWKwG5LjWpbAA9j9BdsY8h6OWzv_la26ky2vFEcVHEbEICeQIxPEeK2AJ8QZKwNY47tNxh2_Ja9XvQEEuRitRNfi7h9ZiCynublKpD9QHu1xg1UUYboEUnsd4Kw8zjHc3YUMtRcU7O3/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxpWKwG5LjWpbAA9j9BdsY8h6OWzv_la26ky2vFEcVHEbEICeQIxPEeK2AJ8QZKwNY47tNxh2_Ja9XvQEEuRitRNfi7h9ZiCynublKpD9QHu1xg1UUYboEUnsd4Kw8zjHc3YUMtRcU7O3/s320/194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tpXa-zcWKeydT4K5bLxks_3WA4CIGBuTmWo-nZ-HZQfP8cAgEpx4f5NkpY9o4JzDsJCmeZHodgvatGD7Fk98Ld_zTxk4UB042DwrKtVvRk35YAldVAXTS4kXV7avWr2_snWWevLiGL9Y/s1600/195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2tpXa-zcWKeydT4K5bLxks_3WA4CIGBuTmWo-nZ-HZQfP8cAgEpx4f5NkpY9o4JzDsJCmeZHodgvatGD7Fk98Ld_zTxk4UB042DwrKtVvRk35YAldVAXTS4kXV7avWr2_snWWevLiGL9Y/s320/195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpkFsz4UbnZWmI74eLgoBLnTxIWRox0gKC2uSYcrMry-MPh-m62O5MilYNC9njoUsVmUgcgy8CleeFqqFtoNYGt3dDiRwNYBAiLNaYu5vtuu293rvfec5qOmrHjffONjOhTVAegvYcExM/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpkFsz4UbnZWmI74eLgoBLnTxIWRox0gKC2uSYcrMry-MPh-m62O5MilYNC9njoUsVmUgcgy8CleeFqqFtoNYGt3dDiRwNYBAiLNaYu5vtuu293rvfec5qOmrHjffONjOhTVAegvYcExM/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We got back to</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Altona Lodge </b>(above), </span><span style="font-size: large;">our home away from home for almost a week in Cape Town, after 6:30. We were so relieved we had picked such a perfect place for us to stay: the location was ideal with its being just minutes from downtown and the </span><span style="font-size: large;">waterfront; <b>Peter,</b> the owner, and <b>Wendy,</b> his assistant manager </span><span style="font-size: large;">were delightful and helped with whatever we needed; our room and wifi were ideal; we had full use of the kitchen to cook something quick and easy after long days seeing the sights; and the price was very reasonable! If we're ever lucky enough to return to Cape Town, we'd sure want to stay there again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up: Visiting wineries around Cape Town before jetting off to Dubai!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 12th, 2016 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-26730726265518012362017-02-11T21:53:00.000-08:002017-02-12T10:12:14.096-08:0012/6: Cyads at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, since we had spent almost the entire day visiting sights in Cape Town, we decided to switch things up today by visiting two sites outside of the city. We headed first to the <b>Kirstenbosch National Garden,</b> located just eight miles from the city center, </span><span style="font-size: large;">and the largest of a countrywide network of ten botanical gardens. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Covering over 1,500 acres and with </span><span style="font-size: large;">over 7,000 plant species, including many rare and endangered species, it was the perfect place to visit on a sunny day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzFSvqsYiSptZNSvFy27gJQosY36yf6p7_9yDLf8Y8V-xzL7JtfnHwjlK5AC6wyOHpXs4ZAGSyOyY10EZMgUklzSoXK20-7e0awqLFe1lTnH1583Hft7biYV-0NHyu8CjeVHlFl6H-h8U/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzFSvqsYiSptZNSvFy27gJQosY36yf6p7_9yDLf8Y8V-xzL7JtfnHwjlK5AC6wyOHpXs4ZAGSyOyY10EZMgUklzSoXK20-7e0awqLFe1lTnH1583Hft7biYV-0NHyu8CjeVHlFl6H-h8U/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When <b>Henry Pearson</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was the Professor of Botany at the South African College from 1903-1916, he saw the beauty, interest and value of the native flora of South Africa and the lack of work being done on it. He launched a project to create the National Garden of South Africa. While looking for an appropriate site, a young gardener and botanist, Neville Pillans, suggested he consider a neglected farm called Kirstenbosch. When Pearson reached this spot, he exclaimed "This is the place!" The natural beauty of Kirstenbosch was aided by good soil, a constant water supply and diverse habitats and it was owned by the government. <b>Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden</b> came into being on July 1st, 1913. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfIL_lC9pYy05Zk5qrZSRQE9pYgsjGfx79JF29SrkPucYnosKNrGiusoSPh5i_OhwPNJDgFdf1jMaiUmn4A5sM7bw7ldPqRbFBn5dkM24sxgSHtMJRFbwa1b2MazVDU8axAtCAMpbUJVS/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfIL_lC9pYy05Zk5qrZSRQE9pYgsjGfx79JF29SrkPucYnosKNrGiusoSPh5i_OhwPNJDgFdf1jMaiUmn4A5sM7bw7ldPqRbFBn5dkM24sxgSHtMJRFbwa1b2MazVDU8axAtCAMpbUJVS/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nelson Mandela </b>planted a <b>Pepper-bark tree, </b>a famous medicinal tree in South Africa, on his visit to Kirstenbosch on August 21st, 1966. "Just as the tree has brought healing to the people of South Africa, Mandela brought healing to South Africa." He told the staff on his visit that "I am happiest when I am in the wild because I can listen ... as the poet says "In the still air music lied unheard, in the rough mountains, beauty's height unseen.' And I am very thankful that you have done me the honour of being associated with this remarkable place."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXBbne7Nd9kZL2JbDDAG21N5lsVDGTdkc9zkY53Sv2Zy7Y6khI042HPEik2WjEeXFut4GoBJZhR9uun91BXANYieQi4ekhbimEnV-eiIHD9EX5UCa1OnvFgRqifLqRR6pyNeDKBZVR6TA/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXBbne7Nd9kZL2JbDDAG21N5lsVDGTdkc9zkY53Sv2Zy7Y6khI042HPEik2WjEeXFut4GoBJZhR9uun91BXANYieQi4ekhbimEnV-eiIHD9EX5UCa1OnvFgRqifLqRR6pyNeDKBZVR6TA/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This prized yellow <b>streilitiza was </b>named in honor of President Mandela. It took Garden staff nearly 20 years of selecting and cross-pollinating to develop the unusual yellow color of the normally orange species.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZmRjeKOLjnahTtPDx769hXqa_K5gBuIEr1LTvCPLQaxf4Ga3Sg-_9bqShU6vCweNvzo6-gMFBoCNx9ZyB0PwIa9SPIlgZt6rwdIZ7sAhVT8NNhN0SXRzkUWJakPJURbmjemPoXCzxFXH/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZmRjeKOLjnahTtPDx769hXqa_K5gBuIEr1LTvCPLQaxf4Ga3Sg-_9bqShU6vCweNvzo6-gMFBoCNx9ZyB0PwIa9SPIlgZt6rwdIZ7sAhVT8NNhN0SXRzkUWJakPJURbmjemPoXCzxFXH/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had come early to the Garden to join a walking tour; our volunteer guide, <b>Cheryl,</b> explained that she was not a botanist or a horticulturalist but would do her best to answer any questions during the tour - we certainly couldn't have asked for anything more than that! Our first stop was the <b>Botanical Society Conservatory</b> which displayed southern African plants that couldn't be grown outside in the Garden. The Conservatory was set out geographically so that each of the country's regions was represented.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5MVlj5sjxQRLyOEzMCmxXuM9DeS0W_jdgMSHwcufbY_991_dI4VrVJqIjDe5xBf6oDo-_ChaGs99Seo2DEXhMZNC9Hn6BBWZdXEHoI2l3DNEaQHNv8bxSA-cfCNjNPOrOagFSv4ThKJk/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5MVlj5sjxQRLyOEzMCmxXuM9DeS0W_jdgMSHwcufbY_991_dI4VrVJqIjDe5xBf6oDo-_ChaGs99Seo2DEXhMZNC9Hn6BBWZdXEHoI2l3DNEaQHNv8bxSA-cfCNjNPOrOagFSv4ThKJk/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl explained that the <b>Western Cape </b>- the province where Cape Town is located - is the only province </span><span style="font-size: large;">in South Africa </span><span style="font-size: large;">to receive any winter rainfall and it also receives the most rainfall throughout the year.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT1zleJ18fTHFhtVFdUHyprDeQiV-0t86-YefOeMjdIuFTS-imNHohyTV9Y0_MQDs3ggFRtZK_B1a3Ou6K2O3PhYs57Y0MyxCXLeVu5w8bfKoM_z7EOOrM707yMNLVU9R9g9bGx_ORpG8/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT1zleJ18fTHFhtVFdUHyprDeQiV-0t86-YefOeMjdIuFTS-imNHohyTV9Y0_MQDs3ggFRtZK_B1a3Ou6K2O3PhYs57Y0MyxCXLeVu5w8bfKoM_z7EOOrM707yMNLVU9R9g9bGx_ORpG8/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">She pointed out the <b>bacon tree,</b> which elephants like to eat, regenerates. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPf22uoJW2nPDdMJkTeVYwT5NWdenmppD1OtLt3fRjnmXfps2iXz0kR-zDYOwksI68LFGMoTqZnZSQNRWgxYHJ5DfrquRQ5U6JmdM6xxci3bogJHYVqaH8hTzqfHtbPrwtotSJK8FV4u/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXPf22uoJW2nPDdMJkTeVYwT5NWdenmppD1OtLt3fRjnmXfps2iXz0kR-zDYOwksI68LFGMoTqZnZSQNRWgxYHJ5DfrquRQ5U6JmdM6xxci3bogJHYVqaH8hTzqfHtbPrwtotSJK8FV4u/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5COF4nFw2CjH5uufKf37WdXoFd3TyQVR3uQNkuS97LgV3tSGl_5TV_DpFXC30sainptco7wKk0Ap_VrC8GF0IYA3QuWecuHDI7BeBJ4wT8TtfWye_Rsrj147W_dKTt40WIfqnHVKtS4w2/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5COF4nFw2CjH5uufKf37WdXoFd3TyQVR3uQNkuS97LgV3tSGl_5TV_DpFXC30sainptco7wKk0Ap_VrC8GF0IYA3QuWecuHDI7BeBJ4wT8TtfWye_Rsrj147W_dKTt40WIfqnHVKtS4w2/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The center of the Conservatory was dominated by a large </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>baobab tree,</b> also known as t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he <b>Upside Down Tree!</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The baobab tree, the largest succulent in the world, is easy to recognize by its enormous swollen trunk and strange shape. It is hardly surprising that there are many stories and legends about it. In African folklore, the baobab is widely known as the tree that God planted upside down. According to the San (Bushmen), the Great Spirit gave each animal a tree. The hyena received the last tree, a baobab, and was so upset that he planted it upside down. Throughout Africa, the baobab is valued as a source of food, drink and material. Living baobab trees often have hollow trunks which are widely used for storing water. Hollowed-out trees have even served as stables, pubs, store rooms and as a bus shelter for 30 to 40 people! Baobabs can grow up to 500 feet high.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>An epic journey for the baobab:</b> On June 26th, 1996, an 80 ton crane was used to lift the baobab tree onto a truck from its location at the De Beers' Venetia Diamond Mine in Messina, just south of Zimbabwe. Two days and over 1,200 miles later, the baobab arrived at Kirstenbosch. About 20 men tugged and pushed the 7 ton tree along special railroad tracks into the greenhouse!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qrYSoMmt4u5QdtN5J5Z5j5l3Sogp8loBN-tnoBnkXQM74gFPZkEQWrGiVkUUSTlK9T30zOVRH8rTbX3IA9tT13Wys6YoiUmf6Z_OUdhKQdYTE4GzGlfcLUdirgrSiEtscfh2PwSMz8vh/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qrYSoMmt4u5QdtN5J5Z5j5l3Sogp8loBN-tnoBnkXQM74gFPZkEQWrGiVkUUSTlK9T30zOVRH8rTbX3IA9tT13Wys6YoiUmf6Z_OUdhKQdYTE4GzGlfcLUdirgrSiEtscfh2PwSMz8vh/s320/022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl talked about the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welwitschias,</b> cone-bearing plants that are only found in the <b>Namib Desert,</b> a coastal desert in southern Africa. To accommodate their highly specialized growth requirements, special well-drained, mineral-rich desert sand was brought in and heating cables were installed. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rBvJV1Li_FxxW9y0gU6xwwq7wiStG4HB-BnfihNr9RX0I5uiSwRZqeCfJvSfXpw0gQiTr5M5h1HViaR8s6i3I4w_jttG92eGNoGYeyTvlmcWS9IMnjcFXYNiTGjS1863WKbEWukD2mv3/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rBvJV1Li_FxxW9y0gU6xwwq7wiStG4HB-BnfihNr9RX0I5uiSwRZqeCfJvSfXpw0gQiTr5M5h1HViaR8s6i3I4w_jttG92eGNoGYeyTvlmcWS9IMnjcFXYNiTGjS1863WKbEWukD2mv3/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl told the group that carbon dating indicated that most Welwitschias live to 500-600 years but some wild specimens are estimated to be 1,500 to 2,000 years old!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GlnIo_Pas3EY5_asA-fmZHxHITmcRufT7k_ZdpWkyOlRjeS43gGem9pEIC_fryFceIZYJ_7F8T5Tx6EthZ22S18B9w0V4V0vgEKihZgQnlHuV-41HZeJKy1pXPep10git71AMgO37cG7/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GlnIo_Pas3EY5_asA-fmZHxHITmcRufT7k_ZdpWkyOlRjeS43gGem9pEIC_fryFceIZYJ_7F8T5Tx6EthZ22S18B9w0V4V0vgEKihZgQnlHuV-41HZeJKy1pXPep10git71AMgO37cG7/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This<b> </b>interesting<b> </b>plant<b> </b>was normally green but had </span><span style="font-size: large;">adapted to </span><span style="font-size: large;">white to conserve water inside its leaves. Cheryl added it was a natural source of cortisone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H0WnOugHxA4Wl4ZSKzSEXd3Jaxfu55fJHRCEy8ISxSrgOsyB8pK94ppAQHbONx9t_BhJh4rMxt-ptZs08vg1dj0OxBBq8-8E3nHg5PqGTCS22WA3yigfyTPHYFLfmc7yjtpS2vbWsYjM/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H0WnOugHxA4Wl4ZSKzSEXd3Jaxfu55fJHRCEy8ISxSrgOsyB8pK94ppAQHbONx9t_BhJh4rMxt-ptZs08vg1dj0OxBBq8-8E3nHg5PqGTCS22WA3yigfyTPHYFLfmc7yjtpS2vbWsYjM/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This strange looking plant was called <b>elephant foot's.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPmxwjPlYxmWf5KDG2QwSV5XobV-rOwYhxDHoQh82qO3f-fYBiq8i_j0SSQbLbB2u2obotmSSvEeqYqZ8Fal4CtegHindhAz_TAqw_imJ5JrMQbw77h0Er1YBHUoZqkOfrdOt75VBy4gt/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPmxwjPlYxmWf5KDG2QwSV5XobV-rOwYhxDHoQh82qO3f-fYBiq8i_j0SSQbLbB2u2obotmSSvEeqYqZ8Fal4CtegHindhAz_TAqw_imJ5JrMQbw77h0Er1YBHUoZqkOfrdOt75VBy4gt/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This tiny one was a stone plant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCppiklJ0EbW6AwWIcXj-oOQ4wQ0Zte00Soeyo4mwxjDcIq3sKre_dK-I4oH9rMqjoeJkQDz4vvThJ9fuJUkt7EMcPS2eB-aSK6gIn0-253HtUEVlQ2kDZbJ-O2kSyEQHTanQ6GJHR_uc/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCppiklJ0EbW6AwWIcXj-oOQ4wQ0Zte00Soeyo4mwxjDcIq3sKre_dK-I4oH9rMqjoeJkQDz4vvThJ9fuJUkt7EMcPS2eB-aSK6gIn0-253HtUEVlQ2kDZbJ-O2kSyEQHTanQ6GJHR_uc/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Garden's </span><span style="font-size: large;">setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain was </span><span style="font-size: large;">magnificent. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl stated this was known as <b>Teddy Bear Hill</b> - what a cute name! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYLOWaCoK-U9Jh5tbrZVt4TZ9Jl1pWNZWoXebzPNq1zTL46doU3Q8AOrCvV4qVBYXywgvLZwMxcruvS-3tv07Vowm7IYD3V212RO8P7lrooidtE472v21RBAyQtVGTjaHsfN2Ip0qV63S/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYLOWaCoK-U9Jh5tbrZVt4TZ9Jl1pWNZWoXebzPNq1zTL46doU3Q8AOrCvV4qVBYXywgvLZwMxcruvS-3tv07Vowm7IYD3V212RO8P7lrooidtE472v21RBAyQtVGTjaHsfN2Ip0qV63S/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we walked through the vast garden, Cheryl pointed out a number of plants of interest. She indicated that the<b> Cranes Flowers</b> had to be hand-pollinated so wire mesh was used to protect the seeds from squirrels and mice.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLOOzLt3ZubiocL6XhmHXBeLe60QDnV6-0HZBgcG895nJc8ADi-LhXj5_Uq9758J9LTOSpnEZ7PZVcQaqDH4x7A_-1QyDiRF_p8dBIuKjZ-lx1xKS7bOPGJpAQ052K4i8yhwQ1AZv2owT/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLOOzLt3ZubiocL6XhmHXBeLe60QDnV6-0HZBgcG895nJc8ADi-LhXj5_Uq9758J9LTOSpnEZ7PZVcQaqDH4x7A_-1QyDiRF_p8dBIuKjZ-lx1xKS7bOPGJpAQ052K4i8yhwQ1AZv2owT/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsWcGSyREzN9qiMjGKpJ2p-lSw8W8eEiYe3XEMUK3jiIdaYBpgGmDCp68ie2C7nOlxsEpeSNgJMx0xp9ytEOVeOz6Z71FGCeoy6exYwEvP4CrxgzD6IISMW6UuPH_q-Z0LiHzK9KIbsiX/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsWcGSyREzN9qiMjGKpJ2p-lSw8W8eEiYe3XEMUK3jiIdaYBpgGmDCp68ie2C7nOlxsEpeSNgJMx0xp9ytEOVeOz6Z71FGCeoy6exYwEvP4CrxgzD6IISMW6UuPH_q-Z0LiHzK9KIbsiX/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Agapanthus plants,</b> Cheryl said, were also available in white but I loved the lavender shade.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu2prqUtCR5zFRNwzlnpB4Hg-Ox2rgMH27A2Uc6GTw2YZneUxbqV5bUzcPaemTl672GQ22_iLRvds6hRpeZyyPIhXotiP7-y3Q-qu-HAWi0nKqCPEmCK9T83DKUAT58cOKyXNKm8ebB-t/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu2prqUtCR5zFRNwzlnpB4Hg-Ox2rgMH27A2Uc6GTw2YZneUxbqV5bUzcPaemTl672GQ22_iLRvds6hRpeZyyPIhXotiP7-y3Q-qu-HAWi0nKqCPEmCK9T83DKUAT58cOKyXNKm8ebB-t/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fig in the <b>forest fighter fig tree</b> is actually inverted as it is in the flower, according to Cheryl. A female wasp burrows into the fig, lays its eggs and then dies. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XNh_2n6SGUgSoRr1VTTHFRn1wVo8gQ4qg01YuTmdriWzLhweuobFTR5gLxifAI7QqEkDWJX2pK1Mgq21u4mpZG1y_uyM8Ks4PLRxt4_DzO7wSB8mnOsbIOTg0c3xwdMyueCeyJ6iKgch/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XNh_2n6SGUgSoRr1VTTHFRn1wVo8gQ4qg01YuTmdriWzLhweuobFTR5gLxifAI7QqEkDWJX2pK1Mgq21u4mpZG1y_uyM8Ks4PLRxt4_DzO7wSB8mnOsbIOTg0c3xwdMyueCeyJ6iKgch/s320/045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The following two photos are of an<b> acacia tree. </b>I remember seeing several acacia trees for the first time near a tomb while we were in Egypt much earlier on this trip. Cheryl stated that giraffes can only eat a few of its leaves at a time before having to move upwind because the acacia trees are able to send messages downwind to neighboring acacia trees to produce tannin indicating giraffes were nearby.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKfXCGxyUL9FKggS_yT98GhMoy2o9Q0J8rGgMuLXgWGWhdDADi7OG_stiBXZa5uOu_7wZgum8qu5UU6Rt1m-WI_HNNb2XdEAigbQ9psAOW5orpZHkJGYbJJV3CxUQjUPw5NfsFLzRLg3S/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKfXCGxyUL9FKggS_yT98GhMoy2o9Q0J8rGgMuLXgWGWhdDADi7OG_stiBXZa5uOu_7wZgum8qu5UU6Rt1m-WI_HNNb2XdEAigbQ9psAOW5orpZHkJGYbJJV3CxUQjUPw5NfsFLzRLg3S/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because the tree was one hundred years old, it was known as one of Kirstenbosch's century trees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1xixmSpUFcBrr4w3OH5tzHwknNttrFnbqOHAKBUQjc8gd6S_Dw04rkKgZRalN-cS9i4oEQJYCU3TUfNn_DY8j6wLqGjqYGwjgAkjIRfCrSxe7JlyylRsGsGMOnUPxSzMjv7nl-SWqZVs/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1xixmSpUFcBrr4w3OH5tzHwknNttrFnbqOHAKBUQjc8gd6S_Dw04rkKgZRalN-cS9i4oEQJYCU3TUfNn_DY8j6wLqGjqYGwjgAkjIRfCrSxe7JlyylRsGsGMOnUPxSzMjv7nl-SWqZVs/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl cautioned us to be careful as this <b>wild almond tree</b> had cyanide in its seeds. They had to be soaked first before being ground to produce a coffee, she said. I'm not a coffee drinker at all so hadn't heard of almond-flavored coffee before.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwDnVjzoGDqK0x4hzqRY1jdQj6GaAjZB_jFP-Tkopz_ZT60g5XkauRoB9z6McDHBo7r4v7nbaUPmpw9H8Lxmsc3cLfuOKzv4sO_DjtwpO35x8zN25_uA257V1iP3CN4xTSJkrd_5GiLxi/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwDnVjzoGDqK0x4hzqRY1jdQj6GaAjZB_jFP-Tkopz_ZT60g5XkauRoB9z6McDHBo7r4v7nbaUPmpw9H8Lxmsc3cLfuOKzv4sO_DjtwpO35x8zN25_uA257V1iP3CN4xTSJkrd_5GiLxi/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl commented there are more than 450 different species of trees in the <b>Arboretum</b> section of the Garden. She added that bird life is normally abundant in the beautiful forest setting but we didn't hear or observe any.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRty-nk9EpX3n1G1JxQ_nt_-G5jybCRo7jJ_BySuUCQz3vNEZZvdFNMS9rXlmDEfdu7ftAKQMEDrGgvW1HSQH43xazU7zOYuy_EHtKbkJj-hkkshHSRCW9Y1EV6nNRWk-6qxwP3T0UdsS/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRty-nk9EpX3n1G1JxQ_nt_-G5jybCRo7jJ_BySuUCQz3vNEZZvdFNMS9rXlmDEfdu7ftAKQMEDrGgvW1HSQH43xazU7zOYuy_EHtKbkJj-hkkshHSRCW9Y1EV6nNRWk-6qxwP3T0UdsS/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked next to one of the newest attractions at Kirstenbosch, the <b>Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway.</b> It was built in 2013-14 to celebrate the centenary of Kirstenbosch in 2013, and opened to the public on May 17th, 2014. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Walkway is a curved steel and timber bridge that winds and dips its way through and over the trees of the Arboretum. "Inspired by a snake skeleton, and informally called<b> 'The Boomslang' </b>(meaning tree snake), it is a low-maintenance, low-impact sculptural raised walkway. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Walkway takes the visitor from the forest floor into and through the trees and bursts out above the canopy, giving spectacular panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIuhdnVbtAyZdAXSQ4QIdv4Dhwuo1y1DQ4YYNZPdevR4LeOXvytIDII8P8Bg3I76m2zy1-Qf0Oe2W_s084aswY-id14Bqvz4cm5nJR3rhEghvR0UEniS3RPtC78vtjtvb50LfX_eCrw0/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrIuhdnVbtAyZdAXSQ4QIdv4Dhwuo1y1DQ4YYNZPdevR4LeOXvytIDII8P8Bg3I76m2zy1-Qf0Oe2W_s084aswY-id14Bqvz4cm5nJR3rhEghvR0UEniS3RPtC78vtjtvb50LfX_eCrw0/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The structure was prefabricated in 20 foot lengths that were hoisted by a crane and bolted together on site. This caused minimal disruption to the trees during assembly and reduced construction time in the Garden. </span><span style="font-size: large;">By carefully hoisting the prefabricated steel beams over the canopy, the builders were able to give people an amazing new way to appreciate the forest while causing minimal disturbance to the natural environment.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCDYG-WQhWVcee3HITGR1n5uRTLYBpicUZypSFWgycnmlGsJ7D5qcfl1I338yq3ygtQHfztnp3mNDd5lh1SXAAcQ2vE-OEMC1PZJHzoS6LmeTm9-WDlecHqLSiOgWEFrVbSrHSRwl-8Gg/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCDYG-WQhWVcee3HITGR1n5uRTLYBpicUZypSFWgycnmlGsJ7D5qcfl1I338yq3ygtQHfztnp3mNDd5lh1SXAAcQ2vE-OEMC1PZJHzoS6LmeTm9-WDlecHqLSiOgWEFrVbSrHSRwl-8Gg/s320/058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">crescent-shaped </span><span style="font-size: large;">walkway was 425 feet long, narrow and slender, with a few wider view-point areas as it gently snaked its way through the canopy. It took advantage of the sloping ground and only touched the forest floor in two places while raising visitors to about 40 feet above ground. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQouDPhK6KPr5BLzMLvChUe47rUz2EDXfZ_tvNs_N_A1Khyg6j6KadmnRfOUpZrM2Bol6GtkOjsub2v7JIoqasTl6MUgxXSx8pk-pGtM5wSCiWuJ_vjS7w6hW6ozt0gXUPcQ5PBYl5sjS/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQouDPhK6KPr5BLzMLvChUe47rUz2EDXfZ_tvNs_N_A1Khyg6j6KadmnRfOUpZrM2Bol6GtkOjsub2v7JIoqasTl6MUgxXSx8pk-pGtM5wSCiWuJ_vjS7w6hW6ozt0gXUPcQ5PBYl5sjS/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It had several observation points so we could enjoy the surrounding view, but it also descended among the tree canopy in a few places so we were able to appreciate the foliage as well.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP5mBz1QmhnR5Huh2wGQ_ABIZFXuCvDHR1wGaln-3QPAFNcT4cFDl3HPf2UmdrDPt1RKzbrLTzCKh8dSjQtMNLbzZT3u_BBE0S833FnSWWG5Sy_84DMvYA_Bd-DTATnqbryMiY5oZnlOC/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP5mBz1QmhnR5Huh2wGQ_ABIZFXuCvDHR1wGaln-3QPAFNcT4cFDl3HPf2UmdrDPt1RKzbrLTzCKh8dSjQtMNLbzZT3u_BBE0S833FnSWWG5Sy_84DMvYA_Bd-DTATnqbryMiY5oZnlOC/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was fascinating the walkway moved slightly as we walked over it. Even though the curved steel bridge was designed to flex and move back and forth, it didn't affect its stability or its capacity to support loads far heavier than a dense crowd of people on the walkway at the same time - phew!!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_gwWyymgN81dJRU9NiTJjgMET7EfZiao50lgHg8uL3jMp91lgn5Fj0Wvk12sfILZ85N3iTLgtczAdsVI3xwHbnWuHE-ZNJOmthjX98a7IX8tzE7U05PNmUZW8PrmTOwVzzlVBGeX7Pkf/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_gwWyymgN81dJRU9NiTJjgMET7EfZiao50lgHg8uL3jMp91lgn5Fj0Wvk12sfILZ85N3iTLgtczAdsVI3xwHbnWuHE-ZNJOmthjX98a7IX8tzE7U05PNmUZW8PrmTOwVzzlVBGeX7Pkf/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheryl laughingly explained that when locals were asked the name of this tree, easily visible from only the Canopy Walk, they said itwas called the <b>Kahya.</b> That meant "I don't know!"</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELKcScgDr31uJzCJhd0emgQ7EacjRkqigRcu4gVbJ4Bd7nBGZPieHRGTmOdhqhQ-gwWzfaJ9p6basGqkD6g44HHxkF9jXgM2qlcNcNax7n8Ip3NaqQRhD2gVViG4H_cpa5_YkxNN6GiNS/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELKcScgDr31uJzCJhd0emgQ7EacjRkqigRcu4gVbJ4Bd7nBGZPieHRGTmOdhqhQ-gwWzfaJ9p6basGqkD6g44HHxkF9jXgM2qlcNcNax7n8Ip3NaqQRhD2gVViG4H_cpa5_YkxNN6GiNS/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the height of the walkway, we could witness the South African forest in all its glory. Sometimes, visitors must bring umbrellas to walk through the clouds and fog engulfing the lofty canopy.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCoNuttHSrPAZbnr3y1_n0O_0uZrK8RophaJP8TM-4Pe3-f_8M8gVpr5Zw89MYGGmARKeQ_uS7jJyQwCxpWeNQE_B-H0t9j5M6ywb2LnewsDo_sBIuKiyIZcdKmOSMnIMZ6liHjOtOgh-/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCoNuttHSrPAZbnr3y1_n0O_0uZrK8RophaJP8TM-4Pe3-f_8M8gVpr5Zw89MYGGmARKeQ_uS7jJyQwCxpWeNQE_B-H0t9j5M6ywb2LnewsDo_sBIuKiyIZcdKmOSMnIMZ6liHjOtOgh-/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcXFct1QJhUUpodz4rmZSRMjvbCKLuiZqOpzFFCM9ALjACiQykoCf4-raogSqRHnSZ73Fa5mo_8sU8Ztp8xrzLkUOiiLTPqjtVxhHZx1t7rtNlw34FHw4T3Z9B63Kgik2zq-vqKk35if2/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcXFct1QJhUUpodz4rmZSRMjvbCKLuiZqOpzFFCM9ALjACiQykoCf4-raogSqRHnSZ73Fa5mo_8sU8Ztp8xrzLkUOiiLTPqjtVxhHZx1t7rtNlw34FHw4T3Z9B63Kgik2zq-vqKk35if2/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">All too soon, the walkway came to an end - what a shame as seeing the trees from so high a vantage point was a real treat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm9_nVU0Ucee58m5VrsvWwX_ntVeiBrYUNFIdUkxG9hBQ97OOsyzfv1CrOy-Z8VoovkemkQJSBd8cgbSdirHRaEPZc9-Mkmk8-jyRZD7896yozvce5URKIW_qSYlHv5Vrgn0khCmqsK1Z/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm9_nVU0Ucee58m5VrsvWwX_ntVeiBrYUNFIdUkxG9hBQ97OOsyzfv1CrOy-Z8VoovkemkQJSBd8cgbSdirHRaEPZc9-Mkmk8-jyRZD7896yozvce5URKIW_qSYlHv5Vrgn0khCmqsK1Z/s320/068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am sure kids visiting the Garden must love their huge and very realistic-looking dinosaur sculptures.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfpY3SvQ6Ap6trP6SJ-LjSwD4P0T78hUQK2Y6TnsU5fxT0ci6w5WrtsZF7gc_QRXKrJr3SinhJ0F-a5trWjQLYp_j3x6B6T8cOtbpsgb4rXWFFs2XoHetTv9m3eaE-iBUYusJWMhRJqnM/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfpY3SvQ6Ap6trP6SJ-LjSwD4P0T78hUQK2Y6TnsU5fxT0ci6w5WrtsZF7gc_QRXKrJr3SinhJ0F-a5trWjQLYp_j3x6B6T8cOtbpsgb4rXWFFs2XoHetTv9m3eaE-iBUYusJWMhRJqnM/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This <b>Wood's Cycad</b> or <b>wild banana tree</b> was no named, Cheryl said, because it had leaves like a regular banana tree even though it wasn't related to our bananas. It was the Garden's only caged tree and was part of the largest cycad collections in the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Only one clump of Wood's Cyad has ever been found. Named for <b>John Medley Wood,</b> this clump of four trunks was discovered on the fringes of a forest in <b>KwaZuku-Natal</b> in eastern South Africa in 1895. In a 1907 expedition, Wood collected two of the larger trunks, both of which are still alive and well, growing in the Durban Botanic Gardens.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1907, Wood's deputy, <b>James Wylie,</b> noted that the largest of the four wild trunks was badly mutilated. Five years later, when there was only one ten-foot tall trunk left in the wild, it was sent to the Government Botanist in Pretoria. It is thought that that trunk died in 1964.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj360wQ7p7vpgH-aZpfbDnKPFOfQue8AnDvGdhYkZMqfHXnUy0QCOCy50e4DXb4rI23jxvPZQCB4ocKk9qy6NCNI6M9bR74JEUlndMUhKmEL7Kn4LHd2olLjmc2t0z7FWxneMrgdfnFk-OD/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj360wQ7p7vpgH-aZpfbDnKPFOfQue8AnDvGdhYkZMqfHXnUy0QCOCy50e4DXb4rI23jxvPZQCB4ocKk9qy6NCNI6M9bR74JEUlndMUhKmEL7Kn4LHd2olLjmc2t0z7FWxneMrgdfnFk-OD/s320/072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite numerous expeditions, no other Wood's Cyad specimens have been found. The cyad probably died out in nature because the bark was too heavily harvested for medicinal use. If Wood and Wylie had not collected and cultivated specimens of this cyad, it would be extinct.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The tree above, a sucker from one of the plants in Durban, has been at Kirstenbosch since 1916. It was caged to protect it from cyad thieves. In 1980, its basal suckers were hacked off and stolen. As a result, all the Kirstenbosch cyads are protected by motion sensors, micro-dots and micro-chips! Who ever knew cyads were so valuable?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although extinct in the wild, Wood's Cyad survive cultivation. It's one of the most sought after cyads in the world and well represented in botanical gardens all over the world. However, all of them come from basal suckers from the original plants discovered by John Medley. Therefore all of them are male and all have the same genetic makeup. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Since this cyad tree was the only remaining species in the world, there was not too much chance of his reproducing even though attempts have been made to reproduce it genetically. Cheryl joked he was a lonely chap!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">She showed us this lovely <b>wild gardenia tree</b> next. Its fruit is hard as a rock and eaten by elands and elephants who pass it through as is!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyLEXn2ZMO9JQyHBzoP4nMWArSfVgpt2FaQOBDsvW-8P6O7kHtY9-QwKdVJguz-u-RtVsAtNxwuDle6b0tyq25wOVq_xEdz1Ig-cIoGmGRQJ8x_97SjCnllgWa8epnAMAuJnizHyP24_8/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyLEXn2ZMO9JQyHBzoP4nMWArSfVgpt2FaQOBDsvW-8P6O7kHtY9-QwKdVJguz-u-RtVsAtNxwuDle6b0tyq25wOVq_xEdz1Ig-cIoGmGRQJ8x_97SjCnllgWa8epnAMAuJnizHyP24_8/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u7kOu41H5uXiRlTzLg1nqaPtaVi4QntERCHXamkZI8uXUPUphXHdX0b_e98hMmUmT1RKfnQzLk5B_aEV6vMtQ4Ew__Bz2tLRRG7xSas2r2thDiLCbuoMI5uBi4ag6dn2EqZmf0Q6lm2E/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u7kOu41H5uXiRlTzLg1nqaPtaVi4QntERCHXamkZI8uXUPUphXHdX0b_e98hMmUmT1RKfnQzLk5B_aEV6vMtQ4Ew__Bz2tLRRG7xSas2r2thDiLCbuoMI5uBi4ag6dn2EqZmf0Q6lm2E/s320/080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As it was so hot, Cheryl directed us next to the shaded <b>Colonel Bird's Bath. </b>In 1811, a few years after the British took control at the Cape, the southern half of Kirstenbosch was bought by <b>Colonel Christopher Bird </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">who was then deputy Colonial Secretary. He built his bird-shaped pool to collect the spring water and let it stand and clarify before being piped to the house. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2PIC3St7z0iEUxLo7HBJmIKOP_QviqUk6FRu7tzurfvnOlxZFDLnPuOBimmqhj1SR1Qh_OpCRWHpetXnexO7n1TDCODVspWlhLEEcpT5IcWbdQD4VcAeVQ6cyFhNVUGUtYnCBeDSXfEw/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2PIC3St7z0iEUxLo7HBJmIKOP_QviqUk6FRu7tzurfvnOlxZFDLnPuOBimmqhj1SR1Qh_OpCRWHpetXnexO7n1TDCODVspWlhLEEcpT5IcWbdQD4VcAeVQ6cyFhNVUGUtYnCBeDSXfEw/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjr58_9Z94l0IrCHRY8_WVpCg7PaNxTPH9bvogqk8_H7BGFY6NWVMAWYxWTaj8qURzX9HISUQPWMT6X1RkIpmTt1F33qfllWauOMMQPsSxkf88HGWf8HTAX8-Nsq9pNSq6J_zCKCzLvSRJt/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr58_9Z94l0IrCHRY8_WVpCg7PaNxTPH9bvogqk8_H7BGFY6NWVMAWYxWTaj8qURzX9HISUQPWMT6X1RkIpmTt1F33qfllWauOMMQPsSxkf88HGWf8HTAX8-Nsq9pNSq6J_zCKCzLvSRJt/s320/086.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The bath is also known as <b>'Lady Anne Barnard's Bath' </b>but that legend isn't true. Lady Anne was the wife of the Colonial Secretary and lived at the Cape from 1797 until 1802. She couldn't have bathed in this bath because it was built only after she left the Cape.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U5E_IIsnOYgmsXw98qDwevrE20HRU8O-5DZI9OI1u7hxcb5jyRkVQWcL1dEvTxJ9nC1vmMLw2_RRctGq5JLejn9I_AmPsjrT_gu5bWgW5TFqS8RUBAjyZsMQSqDFINUQAtylZRsV4aLp/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U5E_IIsnOYgmsXw98qDwevrE20HRU8O-5DZI9OI1u7hxcb5jyRkVQWcL1dEvTxJ9nC1vmMLw2_RRctGq5JLejn9I_AmPsjrT_gu5bWgW5TFqS8RUBAjyZsMQSqDFINUQAtylZRsV4aLp/s320/089.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2KfYkNy_VW_KCFBtRZiUMP0niuZF1nuKE3U6m_gDMEw0yC7_EvyWhsKiPttuz_s1KsysN4Mu6bOxOmk57EqsR9VdsPaytESSDoTcXXQuFS2UNpYKbhQV25hPIwZ3799tttONhR2ymdKe/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2KfYkNy_VW_KCFBtRZiUMP0niuZF1nuKE3U6m_gDMEw0yC7_EvyWhsKiPttuz_s1KsysN4Mu6bOxOmk57EqsR9VdsPaytESSDoTcXXQuFS2UNpYKbhQV25hPIwZ3799tttONhR2ymdKe/s320/090.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we were there on Tuesday, it meant that it was Pensioners' Day or free day at the Garden, Cheryl said. There was plenty of lawn space to relax with a picnic. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHzIAFn1X5RfuVi2pii59nif0-bmXYGBmpdc4fFgZphmjJ3Q5qIZiZilnDbxnaJJq_ra1Dl2c4OyYrkusbLGCKR3gRTtIE6dxvDM0tLLdWl70bGQgoWcerwnN82EHlM7G6VhRBr0cuBN7/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHzIAFn1X5RfuVi2pii59nif0-bmXYGBmpdc4fFgZphmjJ3Q5qIZiZilnDbxnaJJq_ra1Dl2c4OyYrkusbLGCKR3gRTtIE6dxvDM0tLLdWl70bGQgoWcerwnN82EHlM7G6VhRBr0cuBN7/s320/091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was sad to see </span><span style="font-size: large;">all the people enjoying the Garden in this area were black and yet in another spot, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a two minute walk away, only whites were congregating.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmPhU0IGuCiSPBORVbJG3ZGDHcUPQ9zvvTJiSQeD30v-zGN4b-szzUGRy6yekI5A4tgib91Q1NBeYZWiIN-X5NFsAsX-BSFcEEe_3wx_VppNTMW_gYJ7fok3nRiwwh2XwWMMVUSkaXrPm/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmPhU0IGuCiSPBORVbJG3ZGDHcUPQ9zvvTJiSQeD30v-zGN4b-szzUGRy6yekI5A4tgib91Q1NBeYZWiIN-X5NFsAsX-BSFcEEe_3wx_VppNTMW_gYJ7fok3nRiwwh2XwWMMVUSkaXrPm/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZROUSi4xuz3-zvzfYGsB1DDiDaVBJLP-fGpWflEkjJlpUCuNYIHRkz_tTs_M32NV-x1XB6g-vOaa3koaFe2k4LJQa22eKqfhtQ4IjArno_N6YPT83-OIZq5HE3g2CO8-SyB4dCGHV0Hj9/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZROUSi4xuz3-zvzfYGsB1DDiDaVBJLP-fGpWflEkjJlpUCuNYIHRkz_tTs_M32NV-x1XB6g-vOaa3koaFe2k4LJQa22eKqfhtQ4IjArno_N6YPT83-OIZq5HE3g2CO8-SyB4dCGHV0Hj9/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spotting some more stunning white aganthus flowers, Cheryl said the tour was over and we thanked her for taking the time to show us some of her favorite spots at Kirstenbosch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj301G6YF_ot005EoEbf0mNOBX_9515d0W9htUUJk1IQL10VIhG5omdZEZ8Lj754zo-UVApYtoxNK7KjP2eRWjRkosixyyEaD8yhyu5NM2YqBOFY4SLlRFVntkv8OUXBy1n9f6cFneq-_VB/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj301G6YF_ot005EoEbf0mNOBX_9515d0W9htUUJk1IQL10VIhG5omdZEZ8Lj754zo-UVApYtoxNK7KjP2eRWjRkosixyyEaD8yhyu5NM2YqBOFY4SLlRFVntkv8OUXBy1n9f6cFneq-_VB/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven went back to the car to pick up our kindles and the portable cooler we had bought just before entering Kruger National Park. Wow - does that seem like a million years ago now!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh-_Gg3XOBpoXyoeJBJYxfaB61DjqBMuSCSyd_fEtRkz8iTII8r78RnArYBowl3xrm1qAr3hlzyEiQu7KmbG0CTV4QyHMW8zB_P4ZRl1Qmsx_RqLwYlzLBCX_-awRU0P_1TB-PnYadYAc/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh-_Gg3XOBpoXyoeJBJYxfaB61DjqBMuSCSyd_fEtRkz8iTII8r78RnArYBowl3xrm1qAr3hlzyEiQu7KmbG0CTV4QyHMW8zB_P4ZRl1Qmsx_RqLwYlzLBCX_-awRU0P_1TB-PnYadYAc/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was nothing short of perfection munching our sandwiches and snacks while relaxing in a shady spot in the <b>Sculpture Garden </b>and having this spectacular view in front of us. For a while, it was our own Eden. Looking at this photo, I feel transported to that place and time once again.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrUQ4adccgY1lTlm_ro6w6HAEDoFx08GmQ1stJyvqiQPVIC_i3DuIjyc9WydiPRMD2Ce7VLmtU2MPnl6MDofmwAgwNHIZmD4vG7DaysnyiTpwQiiVsGCZ8OydzVw1hk3VN3h0CSE25E0R/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrUQ4adccgY1lTlm_ro6w6HAEDoFx08GmQ1stJyvqiQPVIC_i3DuIjyc9WydiPRMD2Ce7VLmtU2MPnl6MDofmwAgwNHIZmD4vG7DaysnyiTpwQiiVsGCZ8OydzVw1hk3VN3h0CSE25E0R/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Sculpture Garden comprised African stone sculptures in the <b>Shona</b> tradition. I had never heard that word before so looked it up. I learned that African stone sculpture from Zimbabwe is often called Shona sculpture because it was named after the largest tribe engaged in sculpting. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fZ6w8WhWppWW4ShjkFqOUlhHDFtqBP105Iu8Ya64SL1wfD11XB6690QkCYWJMGYgvoZasLZGFu5GLtI4JACF1mPkkPhJGZw11ra4fO8k-6KGpksVGi_Xq0QJUxLcbDKd5JS7v77OKQWW/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fZ6w8WhWppWW4ShjkFqOUlhHDFtqBP105Iu8Ya64SL1wfD11XB6690QkCYWJMGYgvoZasLZGFu5GLtI4JACF1mPkkPhJGZw11ra4fO8k-6KGpksVGi_Xq0QJUxLcbDKd5JS7v77OKQWW/s320/100.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have often used the term <b>World Heritage Site</b> when describing </span><span style="font-size: large;">in this blog</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">places we've visited all over the world. In case you, too, weren't sure what the term meant, they are "places considered to be of outstanding natural or cultural significance to humanity." Of South Africa's six sites, we visited only one other this trip, <b>Robben Island, </b>where Nelson Mandela and so many other anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In order to be considered for listing as a natural World Heritage Site, areas must be an outstanding example of exceptional beauty; contain the most important habitats; represent major stages of the earth's history or contain significant ongoing ecological problems; and the future integrity of the area must be guaranteed. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hiDOWKrCley2jYeIaIgs9E96xVgErPfGi_c4gG78PyGJXFHalh3oWfre06oq8xpSvA5xB5gofCEbXauVN6BVoDNK-58J1A9dgGTCRuJlRXcBdtLeHy8RkCX6vH-58Lp0wBS4Ev2fxqTW/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hiDOWKrCley2jYeIaIgs9E96xVgErPfGi_c4gG78PyGJXFHalh3oWfre06oq8xpSvA5xB5gofCEbXauVN6BVoDNK-58J1A9dgGTCRuJlRXcBdtLeHy8RkCX6vH-58Lp0wBS4Ev2fxqTW/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuOfODC8KuabS48Y8FUk0hWp8yDWTxyPKLP4g_ewp7uY4zT_Cd3D4WetCo7aHnl6eZ19elAX_kfySnSclBSX8bUTiUiH4H_H05LBInaV-ox8-QwcSr4080BXgaXXLcteCbQyxbJq_xHVN/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuOfODC8KuabS48Y8FUk0hWp8yDWTxyPKLP4g_ewp7uY4zT_Cd3D4WetCo7aHnl6eZ19elAX_kfySnSclBSX8bUTiUiH4H_H05LBInaV-ox8-QwcSr4080BXgaXXLcteCbQyxbJq_xHVN/s320/102.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zimbabwe,</b> derived from the Shona word <i>'dzimbadzamabwe'</i> or ‘house of stone,' is the only country on the African continent that has large deposits of stone suitable for sculpting.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhh1yaHymVT1DBnC5Ej2ufXyuFEclMtV4qoKtbPeV9M3lWzy1Y4w1mpuXoYBqu6C8A9wdVQC_HHTjFjamSAq-XPwI_fXYSZ41mrr2WfhlzDO31bxPVvZWpi-WFXxHQNyxRFFDLEkeaSP9/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhh1yaHymVT1DBnC5Ej2ufXyuFEclMtV4qoKtbPeV9M3lWzy1Y4w1mpuXoYBqu6C8A9wdVQC_HHTjFjamSAq-XPwI_fXYSZ41mrr2WfhlzDO31bxPVvZWpi-WFXxHQNyxRFFDLEkeaSP9/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnUw0o2po8Mx06XZHuG3u-OgNVp6u4DqG3P3DtKwf2srtEyH2jv0vF-GpSv5o4WbV2ykV-W6esuf6IN7pJI4_3nnHVjz4KZ5Uud21HcHXXonqV40OZ1_M5y2jMASGGNvHgsYDpsx2L5vE/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnUw0o2po8Mx06XZHuG3u-OgNVp6u4DqG3P3DtKwf2srtEyH2jv0vF-GpSv5o4WbV2ykV-W6esuf6IN7pJI4_3nnHVjz4KZ5Uud21HcHXXonqV40OZ1_M5y2jMASGGNvHgsYDpsx2L5vE/s320/104.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This piece by <b>Amos Supini</b> was titled 'Young Girl' and was sculpted from springstone. The sculptor wrote that "Aware that she is coming into womanhood soon, this young girl modestly pats her skirts down to prevent the summer wind from lifting them."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoc31Fu47FCcwXG6pQN6jpAhW1ATnYhXyD9IojWQztmA2LjtQo-ockUfhoChWzXYeBjP09ZkY3EqJFwXGSJgqvWDZfARUNvT5iNYRsskcDWYejWzSSmbyIF9CiAk6PXk2koSHYMTXYf56/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoc31Fu47FCcwXG6pQN6jpAhW1ATnYhXyD9IojWQztmA2LjtQo-ockUfhoChWzXYeBjP09ZkY3EqJFwXGSJgqvWDZfARUNvT5iNYRsskcDWYejWzSSmbyIF9CiAk6PXk2koSHYMTXYf56/s320/105.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Norbert Shamyarira</b> sculpted, again out of soapstone, this work he called <b>'Bringing Condolences.'</b> He explained that the piece meant "The loss of your child brings much sadness."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9nwAwDx3pOTP3cB5Kun7HfQJRJjISNPe7OVWwxCEoMcVtDfx1-bzpvg7QJ20Zyh12-tFhkpbcy895UeD7Aso0YW8xrXO2bJUPhmpZY-IJVRhMDXcmE9I10J0owyJ8mNGF7lktD17zKrJ/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9nwAwDx3pOTP3cB5Kun7HfQJRJjISNPe7OVWwxCEoMcVtDfx1-bzpvg7QJ20Zyh12-tFhkpbcy895UeD7Aso0YW8xrXO2bJUPhmpZY-IJVRhMDXcmE9I10J0owyJ8mNGF7lktD17zKrJ/s320/109.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjCR-fXpEKg2RuXrfnIyRL3-XGS9GpsQ7DXERkcAHfIt5DDO4748oz0C_2k0vQNTvJntD-6Sb_eY5NOEhWxV2bM8KPI4bGZ8fUtLhhJKOVREN0ZyRfg-eWB5QkKhr5RatQBHwg_N4Buv0uB/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCR-fXpEKg2RuXrfnIyRL3-XGS9GpsQ7DXERkcAHfIt5DDO4748oz0C_2k0vQNTvJntD-6Sb_eY5NOEhWxV2bM8KPI4bGZ8fUtLhhJKOVREN0ZyRfg-eWB5QkKhr5RatQBHwg_N4Buv0uB/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhWJDHaFlGJ9zRU3M9ofpIMkuzKYZM9OrptPWXSSJ34RuSZS50SbTPMIwRGnJW7D5ZSgdzpjajwrBu4ofBjOdtMnwVNus2_gL8bWXHjFVlarwj_WlJPurMXiI1azXBF3iATQ89oPH0Q_B7B/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJDHaFlGJ9zRU3M9ofpIMkuzKYZM9OrptPWXSSJ34RuSZS50SbTPMIwRGnJW7D5ZSgdzpjajwrBu4ofBjOdtMnwVNus2_gL8bWXHjFVlarwj_WlJPurMXiI1azXBF3iATQ89oPH0Q_B7B/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The trails and open spaces at Kirstenbosch were breathtaking - what a great way to escape the rush of city life for the inhabitants of Cape Town.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvagyNhTTV46MCuqolEsMrkrmjr9cmM3RwtRe9fDgcBvuhE7LFbJurh9ZnzLy3Y8ydpjYhkD-g3PskI4F41Q1vl_qQkeoZscWCxG0NlJvPW9ARk4yKvyZRK8jRk9ZRFHIVP0t0Rubitsc/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvagyNhTTV46MCuqolEsMrkrmjr9cmM3RwtRe9fDgcBvuhE7LFbJurh9ZnzLy3Y8ydpjYhkD-g3PskI4F41Q1vl_qQkeoZscWCxG0NlJvPW9ARk4yKvyZRK8jRk9ZRFHIVP0t0Rubitsc/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This cartoon cutely explained that there were no garbage cans in Kirstenbosch because they attract scavengers like rats. No trash cans meant that the Garden was cleaner, healthier and safer for the wildlife and for people. Visitors were advised to take trash with them when they left and dispose of it responsibly. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTSKmkgotA7Phhiw3I1iQAgXOiCyhJIpo11HOA5qGFrO2LUe449xbY-3OSMbEyi7hShgZwSJeqpYwVTWnrqHqBDyzbycVVWm2xkGBtTscL_cWPPWkre2E7pZD6UVGCPGra5blz0GvviD6/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTSKmkgotA7Phhiw3I1iQAgXOiCyhJIpo11HOA5qGFrO2LUe449xbY-3OSMbEyi7hShgZwSJeqpYwVTWnrqHqBDyzbycVVWm2xkGBtTscL_cWPPWkre2E7pZD6UVGCPGra5blz0GvviD6/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not surprisingly, there was a large display about the <b>Cape Floral Kingdom,</b> also called the<b> Cape Floristic Region. </b>As I wrote in previous posts, </span><span style="font-size: large;">it is the smallest of all the floral kingdoms and is the only one to fall completely inside the borders of a single country. Though it occupies about 90,000 square kilometers, only about 0.34% of the surface area of earth, it contains nearly 9,000 species of flowering plants, about 3% of Earth's species. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX3OinNtSeEtFCuvqLVY-MZm246H_THQzyfS6pq6bTW_vhLtl7onAGwOMT1-HBoA91biL8ZEJ9vKUeW_N9iBf6LJmLVj2yyYOtUkQQ2uk3wpphxzjcKD33BB9ERFAPboylhyfasCGjJex/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX3OinNtSeEtFCuvqLVY-MZm246H_THQzyfS6pq6bTW_vhLtl7onAGwOMT1-HBoA91biL8ZEJ9vKUeW_N9iBf6LJmLVj2yyYOtUkQQ2uk3wpphxzjcKD33BB9ERFAPboylhyfasCGjJex/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The </span><span style="font-size: large;">Cape Floristic </span><span style="font-size: large;">Region has 94 species per 1,000 square kms, compared to 14 species for Australia, 12 species for California and only 8 species for the rest of South Africa.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fynbos</b> is the vegetation found growing naturally on the mountains and coastal plains of the southwestern tip of South Africa. The name comes from the Dutch words <i>'fijn'</i> and <i>'bosch' </i>meaning 'fine bush,' referring to the small leaves and flowers of many of the species. Fynbos makes up </span><span style="font-size: large;">80% of the Cape Floral Kingdom. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdAHbuV2pAN9-tVQoREoWTGitQhBWLx9iD0rFHFYhlvXba3hYabIQyv0UMUUJ0zb_BBKJ7ovZX9LrPbVbQYsHCP-oll4C8FQ5g6JTs0KjJpGrVBXt6QJCR4EU_9V3JFc0McDPY6rs_9XS/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdAHbuV2pAN9-tVQoREoWTGitQhBWLx9iD0rFHFYhlvXba3hYabIQyv0UMUUJ0zb_BBKJ7ovZX9LrPbVbQYsHCP-oll4C8FQ5g6JTs0KjJpGrVBXt6QJCR4EU_9V3JFc0McDPY6rs_9XS/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fynbos is so special because it is amazingly diverse and, even though it occupies a relatively tiny area of land, there are over 7,000 species that occur in 41,000 square kms and 80% of them occur nowhere else on Earth. The Cape Peninsula alone has 2,600 species </span><span style="font-size: large;">- that's more than the total number of species in the British Isles - and crammed into an area smaller than London!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We wandered around the <b>Fragrance Garden</b> next. I had never seen a <b>Bird-of-Paradise</b> flower other than in a florist's shop before. Is it stunning or what?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPeMyQEWlf-zQ3ICcVMpIlD-PifEPgYvkP_FEDabHeb25R2yCHEgdkDFjOfd51ZjmlywNTEKrM8dOdarGre_cN1HYpVdT_V0BvQQCKwaszRNGdkuOo_i4T7vt2n0RwP2lFbaajxmtHmI2/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPeMyQEWlf-zQ3ICcVMpIlD-PifEPgYvkP_FEDabHeb25R2yCHEgdkDFjOfd51ZjmlywNTEKrM8dOdarGre_cN1HYpVdT_V0BvQQCKwaszRNGdkuOo_i4T7vt2n0RwP2lFbaajxmtHmI2/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhtf3H3Cj-SBZ_J87qNmwVRGXKpzvWacLgixWRsqi8NqsNMtIVZgbrMKAu567ThDd5o4nxz2EGRz0MF7Ye5Lv3ulruzmkzJ0uDbvoP9VDJaCGdCq-2Wn8G8KZbTFbOiBwP4RfD3_TKMhgKV/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf3H3Cj-SBZ_J87qNmwVRGXKpzvWacLgixWRsqi8NqsNMtIVZgbrMKAu567ThDd5o4nxz2EGRz0MF7Ye5Lv3ulruzmkzJ0uDbvoP9VDJaCGdCq-2Wn8G8KZbTFbOiBwP4RfD3_TKMhgKV/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGfLAXBaigVV4G0P3sB8U_apxV-foAUkdRwi8Lfo4bse7_PPO1HL260ONGSCZtDC9iH4Ep1hldyszqYmIbrqchzUU3RYy7ntOV3m-UtuSfOQ07SHL1KMOF7c5MS7lleLhmSZpysfk5EtG/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGfLAXBaigVV4G0P3sB8U_apxV-foAUkdRwi8Lfo4bse7_PPO1HL260ONGSCZtDC9iH4Ep1hldyszqYmIbrqchzUU3RYy7ntOV3m-UtuSfOQ07SHL1KMOF7c5MS7lleLhmSZpysfk5EtG/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhQeZddN2WwzYho2O0hUjBPhDtA7rFKSAx98CUqQD0lNiMMpQuYkaK9eP2LzxKYutNuYuypBHlJGHEtFbLroPzS-mEok5jU6Phuu9KtvPsYfquS5R-iokf0DTqKs3xxpqVPhjm_0056UGjO/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeZddN2WwzYho2O0hUjBPhDtA7rFKSAx98CUqQD0lNiMMpQuYkaK9eP2LzxKYutNuYuypBHlJGHEtFbLroPzS-mEok5jU6Phuu9KtvPsYfquS5R-iokf0DTqKs3xxpqVPhjm_0056UGjO/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I have been fortunate seeing some stunning botanical gardens around the world the last few years and we will continue searching out more gardens on future journeys. The world-famous </span><span style="font-size: large;">Kirstenbosch </span><span style="font-size: large;">Garden, though, surely ranks</span><span style="font-size: large;"> as one of the very best, not just for its spectacular mountain backdrop, but because thousand of its plants grow only there and nowhere else in the world. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Finally it was time to say goodbye as the beach beckoned us one last time on on our last full day in Cape Town.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 11th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-9502822500646906712017-02-10T20:20:00.000-08:002017-03-11T16:22:55.938-08:0012/5: Relocation of 60,000 Africans from District Six<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our last stop of the day that had started with our walk on Table Mountain Plateau followed by nearby Signal Hill, the Dutch Reform Groote Kerk church and the Castle of Good Hope was the <b>District Six Museum. </b>Housed in the <b>Buitenkant Methodist Church,</b> the museum "preserves the memory of one of Cape Town's most vibrant neighborhoods and the district's destruction in one of the cruelest acts of the apartheid era Nationalist government." </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyxv25X0pdCLcajy2xuAZSCnb72ikRPZmlJfLf4uzEwnZmpV8xxeTqrTkCmDwWP0qrMGg_8RITq6bsxZ4mIxApgh6KS7XcEweDRPB_OXeRL9WAJgznXZs3dcmnMCH2KtoMstufsrxKuf2/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyxv25X0pdCLcajy2xuAZSCnb72ikRPZmlJfLf4uzEwnZmpV8xxeTqrTkCmDwWP0qrMGg_8RITq6bsxZ4mIxApgh6KS7XcEweDRPB_OXeRL9WAJgznXZs3dcmnMCH2KtoMstufsrxKuf2/s320/227.JPG" width="240" /></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some background: </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">The area was named in 1867 as the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town. By the turn of the century, District Six was already a lively community made up of former slaves, artisans, merchants and other immigrants, as well as many Malay people brought to South Africa by the Dutch East India Company during its administration of the Cape Colony. It was home to almost a tenth of the city of Cape Town's population, which numbered over 1,900 families.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72c1fPWmaC7RtNe2dd5L1fe21UcfTPwI1BDakhKfy9fSQLuamN_k1unJQKcajE3izUv6m8gBbzeHjQ3x2hEYraUT5zzBBZZFWpWVJ5Qdwd_TtAEpVYH8cIzI0QqOLzDibCgwaR6mPZ-M4/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72c1fPWmaC7RtNe2dd5L1fe21UcfTPwI1BDakhKfy9fSQLuamN_k1unJQKcajE3izUv6m8gBbzeHjQ3x2hEYraUT5zzBBZZFWpWVJ5Qdwd_TtAEpVYH8cIzI0QqOLzDibCgwaR6mPZ-M4/s320/226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1901, an outbreak of bubonic plague was a pretext for the removal of Africans from District Six and the Dockland Barracks to another location. This was Cape Town's first forced removal and set the pattern for future residential segregation. </span><span style="font-size: large;">After World War II, during the earlier part of the apartheid era, District Six was relatively cosmopolitan. Situated within sight of the docks, it was made up largely of 'colored' residents which included a substantial number of 'colored' Muslims, called Cape Malays. There were also a number of black Xhosa residents and a smaller number of Afrikaans, whites and Indians.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEuchJzKL73Jea-40ZmRLXVtG4KdA2Zox0Q3K8R1dQxmtAD5SDsHnDsXvX2JixNoDG7vIezfwUhkUh081Ii08yZFp6SwZN2Q68C7VlSGl8ue-0lZc8gtwRb_sa441pziMnZLazVRoFMM/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEuchJzKL73Jea-40ZmRLXVtG4KdA2Zox0Q3K8R1dQxmtAD5SDsHnDsXvX2JixNoDG7vIezfwUhkUh081Ii08yZFp6SwZN2Q68C7VlSGl8ue-0lZc8gtwRb_sa441pziMnZLazVRoFMM/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Government officials gave four primary reasons for the removals. In accordance with apartheid philosophy, it stated that interracial interaction bred conflict, necessitating the separation of the races. They deemed District Six a slum, fit only for clearance, not rehabilitation. They also portrayed the area as crime ridden and dangerous; they claimed that the district was a vice den, full of immoral activities like gambling, drinking and prostitution. Though these were the official reasons, most residents believed that the government sought the land because of its proximity to the city center, Table Mountain and the harbor.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCecasK9YNvXfJc7pZ_DAgKBWvuQuChkcX6lGoT-C8Jc7zTRx6d6zZiY47hn3FCqtQqRo0DVJc8F6dbWMI-S3iqqaKnbRsnSPZdgD2Nu3Cg6TZ6D2a3kLktENEBzLwsoNiFZoOdLh7lem/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCecasK9YNvXfJc7pZ_DAgKBWvuQuChkcX6lGoT-C8Jc7zTRx6d6zZiY47hn3FCqtQqRo0DVJc8F6dbWMI-S3iqqaKnbRsnSPZdgD2Nu3Cg6TZ6D2a3kLktENEBzLwsoNiFZoOdLh7lem/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Group Areas Act of 1950</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was created by the apartheid government of South Africa and assigned racial groups to different residential and business sections in urban areas. An effect of the law was to prevent nonwhites from living in the most developed areas. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Poorly constructed working class townships were built, separated by buffer strips consisting of freeways, polluted rivers and strategically placed military land and golf courses. In District Six, the apartheid government's aim was to remove 35,000 people from the city's central core to its distant periphery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5miLZg0CVCL4iLOFpeecjoRkyOCdiBW5lOZIImK-bG_vpBhsYTQsXiDoe5ozteiRU5lQmvK0oY3aPrwcXKyhrG2dsEU8eXuuBwHEdLKwnjj61E_831Hjfe0U8Tg_UyjgH2FRmbb165mQ/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5miLZg0CVCL4iLOFpeecjoRkyOCdiBW5lOZIImK-bG_vpBhsYTQsXiDoe5ozteiRU5lQmvK0oY3aPrwcXKyhrG2dsEU8eXuuBwHEdLKwnjj61E_831Hjfe0U8Tg_UyjgH2FRmbb165mQ/s320/237.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On February 11th, 1966, the government declared District Six a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act, with removals starting in 1968. By 1982, more than 60,000 people had been relocated to the sandy, bleak Cape Flats township complex some 15 miles away. The old houses were bulldozed. The only buildings left standing were places of worship. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMnjKZfXncLS3Y-2EICfcAIoo3yyU6sUWIqMlqGj1yQqDyxdP9ts4U-D6iNTUoJWoXPx-ljiPysIsNUY1Y4UaTUjIobPXt3z0WW18awSSfHuK1PvgdrYtujD0tsC6NmbJsul__f8tiZc/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMnjKZfXncLS3Y-2EICfcAIoo3yyU6sUWIqMlqGj1yQqDyxdP9ts4U-D6iNTUoJWoXPx-ljiPysIsNUY1Y4UaTUjIobPXt3z0WW18awSSfHuK1PvgdrYtujD0tsC6NmbJsul__f8tiZc/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHlilEHxf9JPehLqOk5-Tw1Oa4FELMujoGRabHKbZE1UCzapDbhmfcLtTEOWy4DbRbqWEY-0iN_jlyhlDOjeyxqZAhUixeKu-v6bgQ1SaXmb0I1KaIDzgiv2tj5k0aAe5Xvs84MtSpGh/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHlilEHxf9JPehLqOk5-Tw1Oa4FELMujoGRabHKbZE1UCzapDbhmfcLtTEOWy4DbRbqWEY-0iN_jlyhlDOjeyxqZAhUixeKu-v6bgQ1SaXmb0I1KaIDzgiv2tj5k0aAe5Xvs84MtSpGh/s320/229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">By the beginning of 1984, the destruction of District Six was complete. Apart from a few buildings, the landscape was stripped and cleared</span><span style="font-size: large;"> except for a few schools, churches and mosques. A few houses in one street were left, but the homes were sold to white people. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Its streets were covered with the rubble from the destruction and its major thoroughfare, <b>Hanover Street,</b> was renamed <b>Keizergracht. </b>The Department of Community Development explained that it sought to give names to the area which had a 'historical association' with Cape Town. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1UBh6fB1-p4Cdzav9w8UPFWbymGfplHuIq7LpnsTJckm1H7dNAAeH1-nuvVVVHNj1Y-oBkpy9ec3bXhNIiecbm0G2Uuk8Utvi6HTfI_s6VPAVndRtCgGNwSw48jedEKfShJABC5rJM77/s1600/259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1UBh6fB1-p4Cdzav9w8UPFWbymGfplHuIq7LpnsTJckm1H7dNAAeH1-nuvVVVHNj1Y-oBkpy9ec3bXhNIiecbm0G2Uuk8Utvi6HTfI_s6VPAVndRtCgGNwSw48jedEKfShJABC5rJM77/s320/259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This moving recollection in 1999 by <b>Victor Kolbe,</b> a former resident of Hanover Street, the heart of District Six, brought the area alive to me. "Buses weaved precariously through impatient vehicles and jostling shoppers. Voices of people shouting from balconies and competitive barks of vendors below punctuated the general din. During the festive season, the Carnival with its kaleidoscope of colour and music surged down Hanover Street, permeating jollity and optimism into the surrounding lanes and ultimately into the city. <i>(Continued below)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh1S9vLly8hvgQ3791H67IAW9MBx1RsmtsIrw2G90hMpJ5MMvSJ0kC2ZVuoq00g-ZtK2ep3fH9EhZyCWRaydvxcHgux3hdSUX72d_RWOT7KFNvReYZFcd6zfIEqf4w2u1SNHrNpU0fJuu/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFh1S9vLly8hvgQ3791H67IAW9MBx1RsmtsIrw2G90hMpJ5MMvSJ0kC2ZVuoq00g-ZtK2ep3fH9EhZyCWRaydvxcHgux3hdSUX72d_RWOT7KFNvReYZFcd6zfIEqf4w2u1SNHrNpU0fJuu/s320/261.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hanover Street was essentially a commercial area, the old cinema and church a reminder that there is more to life than just business. The <b>Isaac Ochberg Hall, </b>a name that recalls the district's Jewish past, was the headquarters of the Eoan Group, a local cultural organisation renowned for its annual performances of Italian opera.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5D25jGy3J6aZEDtSx9JGUma-G7jFBQ0mcbAZBo3gDEZx5bZTGMmkKRlLAjOIKDZqpWHotcPm3nSjrJ2wGxIKEgmcl7TAUIswUB0k3AjQXiyc5XcdrCs-j6IEJVduTRVT0SM0Yw7bEGiR/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5D25jGy3J6aZEDtSx9JGUma-G7jFBQ0mcbAZBo3gDEZx5bZTGMmkKRlLAjOIKDZqpWHotcPm3nSjrJ2wGxIKEgmcl7TAUIswUB0k3AjQXiyc5XcdrCs-j6IEJVduTRVT0SM0Yw7bEGiR/s320/263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The<b> Public Wash House</b> with its elaborate machinery was constructed over a mountain stream, which may have been used in earlier times by slave washerwomen. The adjacent swimming bath was designed for the exclusive use of black men, some of them migrant workers and other families who had manged to secure permanent residence in the city. Before it was outlawed, the South African Communist party had its offices at no. 22 Hanover Street. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3PhntSPDJiw6D4L5xS-75d2MUcIXqwXJ-NzvvdUbs2qTna_xGWxLfLg6DHAchztujObS-tE15KzBDf09MA6SL-Ys9HieUaTwrc4OP8T5dRTMwpxhqzoTgItok_sdyQ4DCHsSvf77IImg/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3PhntSPDJiw6D4L5xS-75d2MUcIXqwXJ-NzvvdUbs2qTna_xGWxLfLg6DHAchztujObS-tE15KzBDf09MA6SL-Ys9HieUaTwrc4OP8T5dRTMwpxhqzoTgItok_sdyQ4DCHsSvf77IImg/s320/262.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One cannot forget the many pubs of District Six. The Rose and Crown was the famous one in Hanover Street, situated across from where the Dutch Reform Church once stood. At the Hanover and Tennant Streets intersection, many businesses were located - the drapery shops, hardware stores, legal and trade union offices, surgeries, and a number of other not too reputable professions. Old trams on tracks once linked this complex to the city."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEXvMfQ8_CheZicEJZ82Q_hXpnl8aIJetMHGbHzmLRz8a6JrGVDvb3eecrbb25lcHS_RoDz6ON81kfF5gMKkDPIT6Y7mJHxprTbQFhRBkPEUQpymmQKzCVsI3LN7_BesySvcQMJZjIBgp/s1600/265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEXvMfQ8_CheZicEJZ82Q_hXpnl8aIJetMHGbHzmLRz8a6JrGVDvb3eecrbb25lcHS_RoDz6ON81kfF5gMKkDPIT6Y7mJHxprTbQFhRBkPEUQpymmQKzCVsI3LN7_BesySvcQMJZjIBgp/s320/265.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In an interview in 1999, <b>Thandi Makhupula </b>was quoted as saying that "Hanover (Street) was like Adderley Street (one of the main streets in downtown Cape Town) of District Six because that is where everything took place. The place was busy and everything was accessible. Anything that you needed, you just go to Hanover and get it."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5XP1n0zxvf_xA7NuwefIfKzf7z9gTDKkbrCNRbWpwkahXMCMFR1BFTOzLcZlVrCxRYRgQ766X8Q4XTrQhcwVXUJykmi1oLb2aB7n5HGEl6PnvNcfDjNqB_wED-I4jvZTjUe43BhEMOYa/s1600/271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5XP1n0zxvf_xA7NuwefIfKzf7z9gTDKkbrCNRbWpwkahXMCMFR1BFTOzLcZlVrCxRYRgQ766X8Q4XTrQhcwVXUJykmi1oLb2aB7n5HGEl6PnvNcfDjNqB_wED-I4jvZTjUe43BhEMOYa/s320/271.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjX2_ARjqWerKlTOfhW42Ojdk6yE2NMwLRJRX1lVEDpY4x2zGTdawM5S4Rhpd5-HhTBIP9bV0khDSP_6Wh351powKlnTNys3E5hxes-mOw32lFNhekamK9xUSM9upM-SJjSEF-yI3td4BF-/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2_ARjqWerKlTOfhW42Ojdk6yE2NMwLRJRX1lVEDpY4x2zGTdawM5S4Rhpd5-HhTBIP9bV0khDSP_6Wh351powKlnTNys3E5hxes-mOw32lFNhekamK9xUSM9upM-SJjSEF-yI3td4BF-/s320/236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the 1970s, the Group Areas Act had authorized the relocation of nearly <b>150,000 Capetonians, </b>with black people by far the most affected!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1mSfzeFp0Vi2wqjqemPbRz7GaxMaBsjJL37Hl1rln1oqJB0u10s0hkgslgJM4bC6GB75MUWeYy97CfAqGoodxOBuFgE9ViFd-P7r4S2pa5zEOc_MrXmQRXcIV84mBULfzAQ52k8z4DJ9/s1600/277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1mSfzeFp0Vi2wqjqemPbRz7GaxMaBsjJL37Hl1rln1oqJB0u10s0hkgslgJM4bC6GB75MUWeYy97CfAqGoodxOBuFgE9ViFd-P7r4S2pa5zEOc_MrXmQRXcIV84mBULfzAQ52k8z4DJ9/s320/277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When the residents were relocated to new townships on the Cape Flats, the basic amenities necessary for a decent life were absent.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmXP6oCmzxQ6P64XD3cP8wZuCZpr0K4wTvb_BDVX7g_N37bsgsPy5dHKak2sDWOENMZWWEGe5RPJFXw_8du9H-cLya1ZIXwIOI5ibzpfRdjnuP5Zneo6XmfMpQK5mxBDYC2b_o32R9C9A/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmXP6oCmzxQ6P64XD3cP8wZuCZpr0K4wTvb_BDVX7g_N37bsgsPy5dHKak2sDWOENMZWWEGe5RPJFXw_8du9H-cLya1ZIXwIOI5ibzpfRdjnuP5Zneo6XmfMpQK5mxBDYC2b_o32R9C9A/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Petitions, letters to the press, delegations, prayers and protest meetings followed the declaration of District Six and other parts of the city as 'white' Group Areas. The results of these protests were always the same - some evictions were delayed but the process went on. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The government made sure that the implementation of the Group Areas Act occurred in a staggered fashion which made it difficult for communities to stand together and fight.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuYcEefsPfSKa5x6NZyS-uUOjPukSYSdsMXNSEXSZ0NuO0wDVNuqXl6sRw7BoIPOLXxxFKm98xR7BkR8e4AirKE0Beb6OsHcVD91jitRqFF6Bs1sZ8DZpyoQMrutb8fhTMBFBotSjZVEk/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuYcEefsPfSKa5x6NZyS-uUOjPukSYSdsMXNSEXSZ0NuO0wDVNuqXl6sRw7BoIPOLXxxFKm98xR7BkR8e4AirKE0Beb6OsHcVD91jitRqFF6Bs1sZ8DZpyoQMrutb8fhTMBFBotSjZVEk/s320/283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was heart wrenching reading this account of the psychological toll on the removal of residents.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKvfbtDw0pI7d1MVxDA11Sl-ly2H1MwX2amXc0bIIseRGPYbAgYXUUvb7N33h8UlN3RfjnXvmnB3Q8uBpl0g_rvKFIfv7Mi9GedrXYMjQm9tQo2xfaQdZatJNgLw_9psA3wfyyW6kdaqt/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKvfbtDw0pI7d1MVxDA11Sl-ly2H1MwX2amXc0bIIseRGPYbAgYXUUvb7N33h8UlN3RfjnXvmnB3Q8uBpl0g_rvKFIfv7Mi9GedrXYMjQm9tQo2xfaQdZatJNgLw_9psA3wfyyW6kdaqt/s320/244.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEinOEWtnwTcqO0tjPXmEBIGpV7JLCGrbZsfJU_e9zqqaKmM8cuIdAWcWByJvG6OENYWM4AMou5JkAYogwfLCd5g42PtcNZzVSbnAyJgdz6HV70p-pWSjHXKQsaAi6ba73tlXJ28_0n4ZXEg/s1600/258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOEWtnwTcqO0tjPXmEBIGpV7JLCGrbZsfJU_e9zqqaKmM8cuIdAWcWByJvG6OENYWM4AMou5JkAYogwfLCd5g42PtcNZzVSbnAyJgdz6HV70p-pWSjHXKQsaAi6ba73tlXJ28_0n4ZXEg/s320/258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Street signs from the old district:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SwEOaK_PJHBXofnNz-dLcKP9TEM_0_tWUbvMd0r7ZbHQc9ZWybfkck-Lscwro98qekn56fJ96_oSGBWVFJdgR5_rPnluoxmC0r3h2HPWpOxRSa8G9_jsDFvCpfQ4sYHyt_7hyphenhyphenf1QNwTW/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SwEOaK_PJHBXofnNz-dLcKP9TEM_0_tWUbvMd0r7ZbHQc9ZWybfkck-Lscwro98qekn56fJ96_oSGBWVFJdgR5_rPnluoxmC0r3h2HPWpOxRSa8G9_jsDFvCpfQ4sYHyt_7hyphenhyphenf1QNwTW/s320/257.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjJmSVK6twbEw4Iq_cCrLh6xLBbTFlSCMLUYpeckqJX_FtWRmCIfefJ0Nsjp4TxGVjSkw4Kqw7eK0OvhVZewaQBbhPrR9MtmsggUPnktHtsXvGSwiA9Fdz0MIG1v69rMk4BLmaTfQJurBDD/s1600/252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmSVK6twbEw4Iq_cCrLh6xLBbTFlSCMLUYpeckqJX_FtWRmCIfefJ0Nsjp4TxGVjSkw4Kqw7eK0OvhVZewaQBbhPrR9MtmsggUPnktHtsXvGSwiA9Fdz0MIG1v69rMk4BLmaTfQJurBDD/s320/252.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was horrifying to find out that District Six was just</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>one of 42 </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">'sites of removal' in and around Cape Town that began in 1901. Nearly 1,000 non-white people in a number of small communities were told they were living illegally in a White area and that they must make arrangements to move as soon as possible. Even though the residents of those communities had for the most part been living there for more than 100 years and longer than the Whites, it was the whites, spreading outwards, who had surrounded them.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVopITJ5QjoJIQFvh-MKvXVBOW4tWO-T4dJuUhc5Lxc-WpJ1IJLGHZCKqyAXrsvOEgnvVWyUrMHkvzBSztJhIvENU5LU62qQ9mLbnrNg6jTdm81NPbvcPHCYmuqI3T92BFFGFhiKA5WUd/s1600/280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVopITJ5QjoJIQFvh-MKvXVBOW4tWO-T4dJuUhc5Lxc-WpJ1IJLGHZCKqyAXrsvOEgnvVWyUrMHkvzBSztJhIvENU5LU62qQ9mLbnrNg6jTdm81NPbvcPHCYmuqI3T92BFFGFhiKA5WUd/s320/280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhZZ3Hu3S1K00VrkmUSahyH3bHCRABzeeADoo2TJUuw239BunawHOm0dRmyPL1IPRywQfoSCbrNfu9h5XgRbIyue_ohN4o7_5jCmVf2k4sG3_HtS0gJYIbGHuJ1x_NNPlPtA1yByo6fmM/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhZZ3Hu3S1K00VrkmUSahyH3bHCRABzeeADoo2TJUuw239BunawHOm0dRmyPL1IPRywQfoSCbrNfu9h5XgRbIyue_ohN4o7_5jCmVf2k4sG3_HtS0gJYIbGHuJ1x_NNPlPtA1yByo6fmM/s320/228.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjSPluHgPIVbUVhmMA4ar3vZPQk_mnVk2jjKwZRhnLnekOE1mS0XrWCw2QKYVqAE2n8BCnKTWQj1OT5uSMwWjSyF3QccYAzfSKRH2K9XOZ3F6kadmEOMFMjinps-JLg6ZcrQzWN43A4w6CX/s1600/267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPluHgPIVbUVhmMA4ar3vZPQk_mnVk2jjKwZRhnLnekOE1mS0XrWCw2QKYVqAE2n8BCnKTWQj1OT5uSMwWjSyF3QccYAzfSKRH2K9XOZ3F6kadmEOMFMjinps-JLg6ZcrQzWN43A4w6CX/s320/267.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The entire first floor of the museum had a giant map of District Six with handwritten notes from former residents indicating where their homes had been</span><span style="font-size: large;">. The map was beneficial for tourists as it gave a real sense of the scope of the area; it also aided former residents to identify the locations of their homes, record their names and help sort out land claims. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfGumutEvplA3WJUho1dtQdgtcUoup9b2WHJOSqLmC75wh-HyNmGLwZxnbSycYGDG7nOZNsnFOhA-kkBTcpqUqwINc6_2FvxIJ1pKi15byLWKa-GDya5H_a9-Fz7AntDHXSyseqazH5ZI/s1600/269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfGumutEvplA3WJUho1dtQdgtcUoup9b2WHJOSqLmC75wh-HyNmGLwZxnbSycYGDG7nOZNsnFOhA-kkBTcpqUqwINc6_2FvxIJ1pKi15byLWKa-GDya5H_a9-Fz7AntDHXSyseqazH5ZI/s320/269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuQS5owVvSjkOvXQAILvjzA5QyHxyYebbeEGNsvWLAwVV-hyqKSWv3NgyLm7VzMuo1dvp6U7dRxfQzS8jAks6zokYE-nS-x6tL6YzEyYlAkRH3Z92_EqHxDhzPVEra1-BHGhyphenhyphen7Jb9R8yP/s1600/270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuQS5owVvSjkOvXQAILvjzA5QyHxyYebbeEGNsvWLAwVV-hyqKSWv3NgyLm7VzMuo1dvp6U7dRxfQzS8jAks6zokYE-nS-x6tL6YzEyYlAkRH3Z92_EqHxDhzPVEra1-BHGhyphenhyphen7Jb9R8yP/s320/270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When apartheid forcibly evicted 60,000 people from District Six, most left with little more than a suitcase. I couldn't even begin to fathom how they decided what to bring and what to leave behind.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_UluZ5i8Jun9d6BBuWSyySrl050NCaTs3CuSMsmOhaRFiHRMHQeP6YfcvckoYpnWZUK8AYF3SN6iIRL1MeFS2v3LgbJXYujVuCVpJCtzDFb6U2s0BRkbuGmiF62lzoDyVIRMhTttcLt_/s1600/275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_UluZ5i8Jun9d6BBuWSyySrl050NCaTs3CuSMsmOhaRFiHRMHQeP6YfcvckoYpnWZUK8AYF3SN6iIRL1MeFS2v3LgbJXYujVuCVpJCtzDFb6U2s0BRkbuGmiF62lzoDyVIRMhTttcLt_/s320/275.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjWrH9TN6d2zlMhp1-mn-xrRTxyHZ1oexmkpFcheXislFylfNj32JBQ01XcvlhWlXauPHeJscnTUOnCrXdBZQZgtr0syVC9rSuk4CLtWGJEuEmRnuiezBIZ1q16kBOhvBtH5jMg8HIbATtD/s1600/273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrH9TN6d2zlMhp1-mn-xrRTxyHZ1oexmkpFcheXislFylfNj32JBQ01XcvlhWlXauPHeJscnTUOnCrXdBZQZgtr0syVC9rSuk4CLtWGJEuEmRnuiezBIZ1q16kBOhvBtH5jMg8HIbATtD/s320/273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the early eighties, building operations began </span><span style="font-size: large;">on a portion of District Six</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">with two structures symbolic of the new order which had come to impose its will on the people and landscape of District Six: </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cape Technikon</b> (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and the <b>South Africa Police Barracks.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The government renamed the area <b>Zonnebloem</b> after the original Dutch homestead in the area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5A9NecLHvt1sBJBcU3vfauTTLfHy2eOUKH2yX2Um7ze1GgpIZXIKfLx6DXK6zdNv4xpLEXCBE2iKeXks6EVF4tUtBZGPq6YGP3oDgdXc_NH4nhxhptjVsYLjJZbUpjr-l69IWVqGuyE2/s1600/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5A9NecLHvt1sBJBcU3vfauTTLfHy2eOUKH2yX2Um7ze1GgpIZXIKfLx6DXK6zdNv4xpLEXCBE2iKeXks6EVF4tUtBZGPq6YGP3oDgdXc_NH4nhxhptjVsYLjJZbUpjr-l69IWVqGuyE2/s320/282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The election of a new government in 1994 brought hope to former residents of the restitution of their rights. After a series of struggles, former residents, the City Council and the Department of Land Affairs reached an agreement for a process of consultation for the loss of property and tenancy rights.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvPme3fJDWAQ1CgxNpxerak8W2zanc3fJc2EJKr6Pfo_w91Ucm2M7Y1CLSEhp8QX-A7LgZNPygbJhj96mTU-ZneC5I8ZHPNn_iHiLn5UfqQ-8kokVzP_Veg4bUGGwBxEubgaUXdwcpn8n/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvPme3fJDWAQ1CgxNpxerak8W2zanc3fJc2EJKr6Pfo_w91Ucm2M7Y1CLSEhp8QX-A7LgZNPygbJhj96mTU-ZneC5I8ZHPNn_iHiLn5UfqQ-8kokVzP_Veg4bUGGwBxEubgaUXdwcpn8n/s320/253.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since the fall of apartheid in 1994, the South African government has recognized the older claims of former residents to the area and pledged to support rebuilding. </span><span style="font-size: large;">By 2003, work had started on the first new buildings: 24 houses that will belong to residents over 80 years old. On February 11th, 2004, exactly 38 years after the area was rezoned by the government, former president Nelson Mandela handed the keys to the first returning residents, <b>Ebrahim Murat, </b>87, and <b>Dan Ndzabela,</b> 82. About 1,600 families were scheduled to return over the next three years. However, as we clearly saw from our aerial view of District Six, that has yet to happen.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuCqwYHEaFdKJdLM8DTMDHXxTEfdcg7d6NvJigEzKwmn4BgJx_AgETA21nZGhuChsuG9PXk9CPopfw2InfoaZCWCYXCmOKnwkKSR5_nO3Rro7pXttY1tXmYqnhLV_4015oxQNYYaIgpaG/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuCqwYHEaFdKJdLM8DTMDHXxTEfdcg7d6NvJigEzKwmn4BgJx_AgETA21nZGhuChsuG9PXk9CPopfw2InfoaZCWCYXCmOKnwkKSR5_nO3Rro7pXttY1tXmYqnhLV_4015oxQNYYaIgpaG/s320/240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">International and local pressure made redevelopment difficult for the government. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Hands Off District Six Committee </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">mobilized to halt investment and redevelopment in District Six after the forced removals. It developed into the District Six Beneficiary Trust, which was empowered to manage the process by which claimants were to get their "land" back - actually just an apartment. In November 2006, the trust broke off negotiations with the Cape Town Municipality. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WMip2858C3M26swUSSYL7zx2lS7B8VUk4dyX0XQKjkrOVSNWf_ImtZsYptPQUAK3i68DcW9xPjXEwei6yoG150jhIJDMeo4s3-OGns1cqc7qIETtAXKISPCy87Ei51vcjD8rALnur26j/s1600/254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WMip2858C3M26swUSSYL7zx2lS7B8VUk4dyX0XQKjkrOVSNWf_ImtZsYptPQUAK3i68DcW9xPjXEwei6yoG150jhIJDMeo4s3-OGns1cqc7qIETtAXKISPCy87Ei51vcjD8rALnur26j/s320/254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I found the District Six Museum profoundly moving. Not only were there displays of the histories and lives of District Six families, and historical explanations of the life of the District and its destruction as befitting any museum chronicling a life and time gone by. It also served as a memorial to a decimated community, and a meeting place and community center for Cape Town residents who could identify with its history.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Near the District Six Museum was <b>St. Mary's Catholic Church</b> but it, like some other city churches we'd hoped to stop at, was locked up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMkLVMi2xV9-zfNlCMTsCNQZneup6A_bPsIeMN06wD2Tj_4q2YWuE6mV8abnLRLKq7WCiFxnExEsdhSFfSWvBT5l6vQPzFsXlSGozvGKzfkU-VGtc9Zwx1N6H3DVD8EvHoNvYdEY8jc6k/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMkLVMi2xV9-zfNlCMTsCNQZneup6A_bPsIeMN06wD2Tj_4q2YWuE6mV8abnLRLKq7WCiFxnExEsdhSFfSWvBT5l6vQPzFsXlSGozvGKzfkU-VGtc9Zwx1N6H3DVD8EvHoNvYdEY8jc6k/s320/289.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhwf6Q5r15udvEN82L_1fUjXYi79p3_-98z4Hkoef4vTe35xrH6gSblUxtLAKlsTcSC6XSt3kb6fmfp-XVkGPnMno3qXjGwU4Q7TVi8S5vsaPdlpqs9ZoDYIx_I937OIEq7PjGRWuko_n6S/s1600/287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf6Q5r15udvEN82L_1fUjXYi79p3_-98z4Hkoef4vTe35xrH6gSblUxtLAKlsTcSC6XSt3kb6fmfp-XVkGPnMno3qXjGwU4Q7TVi8S5vsaPdlpqs9ZoDYIx_I937OIEq7PjGRWuko_n6S/s320/287.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg718vsZFbUpxhkP7_hfydCpx_97yZDTu7silLQyu3zIJbqcIG8MFUoondSW_XyYP9t9r_WwQDX-z7VbbBYgubRb5yvvk1Op5pIMhi1g2HgFtyHFwaVwYHSJyr8o_ZHLpxL8qdqqUVW4Oj9/s1600/292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg718vsZFbUpxhkP7_hfydCpx_97yZDTu7silLQyu3zIJbqcIG8MFUoondSW_XyYP9t9r_WwQDX-z7VbbBYgubRb5yvvk1Op5pIMhi1g2HgFtyHFwaVwYHSJyr8o_ZHLpxL8qdqqUVW4Oj9/s320/292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBInSIR7HG-PsxHZGI6Qe2-j2zEYK8uExyTFbMFSXU9AEvO_GAL9srQKlr-foQUAOkVlioG82A4z-ATKHkFrq6b9oBGZ6bqJ4hgbuLjTwfq10HsLahxXCjERH5QvQStnenpLJxFjCVNy/s1600/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBInSIR7HG-PsxHZGI6Qe2-j2zEYK8uExyTFbMFSXU9AEvO_GAL9srQKlr-foQUAOkVlioG82A4z-ATKHkFrq6b9oBGZ6bqJ4hgbuLjTwfq10HsLahxXCjERH5QvQStnenpLJxFjCVNy/s320/293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Barbed wire atop buildings and homes in downtown Cape Town was unfortunately all too common a sight.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHL2hX70LTXnZKdF-g71SAHEEY9B3wWFlAmcQBJ6AnoARuUaB0MGvuz2nnGOccbEScRIpHdhCtLpMQBd50K_cAeJHxXCENilinumbh5oJVpCVRitGhFKzysPE70M1Yy6QfKYg8Fh2Y7Up/s1600/294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHL2hX70LTXnZKdF-g71SAHEEY9B3wWFlAmcQBJ6AnoARuUaB0MGvuz2nnGOccbEScRIpHdhCtLpMQBd50K_cAeJHxXCENilinumbh5oJVpCVRitGhFKzysPE70M1Yy6QfKYg8Fh2Y7Up/s320/294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOQB2oj2_yA4dR9fO1W8agJBI48rQCc0Lgm9pLadGfpFA2oIfto76804NP4VBbYiw4sM3gPPFlrNbZ8X6eSADw21YqB7XRW0EyG2LsQ5l6Zzf6MTuBNDYAngSZNobMfjoQMT3Kg-a15As/s1600/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOQB2oj2_yA4dR9fO1W8agJBI48rQCc0Lgm9pLadGfpFA2oIfto76804NP4VBbYiw4sM3gPPFlrNbZ8X6eSADw21YqB7XRW0EyG2LsQ5l6Zzf6MTuBNDYAngSZNobMfjoQMT3Kg-a15As/s320/295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Security was also tight at many businesses:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoujBUTLQ2oR85DGjkDPPFnv0m4ISIAErlCTJ19YiHisQ6FCGyD-6i6-Uyq78lOEli8rlcmnqVonjODoPwanep5emUmLCpuGefs3HFPomfdLjPB0hxQsEKqR4-mlDmGcIDnFEkc4csZ6C/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoujBUTLQ2oR85DGjkDPPFnv0m4ISIAErlCTJ19YiHisQ6FCGyD-6i6-Uyq78lOEli8rlcmnqVonjODoPwanep5emUmLCpuGefs3HFPomfdLjPB0hxQsEKqR4-mlDmGcIDnFEkc4csZ6C/s320/297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Cape Town's <b>City Hall</b> was a large Edwardian building in the city center which was built in 1905. Located on the <b>Grand Parade,</b> the city's main public square to the west of the Castle of Good Hope, City Hall was built from honey-colored limestone imported from Bath in England.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB6sJKZQpBSZkmEMriUd0-S7JeZqAfJb2_yxuVH2JUk-GJoXv2uyyT34o3pz1zZpehkKddKCqwqYI-QW3YJFuKzr1xpOft5RH8lETCgTVFOUW0ZgD3VP0pFsFxRPSLHXbYVy4x0iGbuk3/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB6sJKZQpBSZkmEMriUd0-S7JeZqAfJb2_yxuVH2JUk-GJoXv2uyyT34o3pz1zZpehkKddKCqwqYI-QW3YJFuKzr1xpOft5RH8lETCgTVFOUW0ZgD3VP0pFsFxRPSLHXbYVy4x0iGbuk3/s320/299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On February 11th, 1990, only hours after his release from prison, Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from the balcony of City Hall. More than 100,000 of his supporters gathered across the street in the </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Grand Parade, </b><span style="font-size: large;">a former military parade ground, to hear him. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyFpgLQoBDuZ5d6KLQnvWP_J1h9H-RdlSzVhLjPh0WNOY5AcuH5a8AUYImDzGgq5BCvUeFRsG_Evb3Ms1bict6NVkd4Y_asTIhc3FYKc-L0R_RQ4Gwkp2cf-ESlN9zOEaYqyLmvm2M-Gs/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyFpgLQoBDuZ5d6KLQnvWP_J1h9H-RdlSzVhLjPh0WNOY5AcuH5a8AUYImDzGgq5BCvUeFRsG_Evb3Ms1bict6NVkd4Y_asTIhc3FYKc-L0R_RQ4Gwkp2cf-ESlN9zOEaYqyLmvm2M-Gs/s320/300.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Grand Parade square is generally used as a market place and parking area but has also been the venue of major political rallies. Nelson Mandela also addressed South Africans there following his election as president on May 9th, 1994.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRQQS0cpujT6PZgHPyNoZMxnXWNAC3rcEFSLWGY30e2FPoQ90HXvPoXpk-gxX6wjPKX-wvdpTs-p4A2U3UXrcyK_vYM4P4zECF0ei4FGJ5fLMe_n7G4zz1COxUIwDFFreT97TioBpliCu/s1600/302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRQQS0cpujT6PZgHPyNoZMxnXWNAC3rcEFSLWGY30e2FPoQ90HXvPoXpk-gxX6wjPKX-wvdpTs-p4A2U3UXrcyK_vYM4P4zECF0ei4FGJ5fLMe_n7G4zz1COxUIwDFFreT97TioBpliCu/s320/302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another of the entrepreneurial Cape Town parking attendants: he saw us coming and was thus cleaning the car in anticipation of a tip!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqsuizQ26wBKAHEKFKHpRSuGck8GDhFsUjn3vev6zPpS2wn1Rmp81A8B9L81fwTMON1Fny2IhZsWuYrKwGF8lfp9ZLiUNEpN0LYbSovgCw_McV6CEmGkOZxNArqbP-6W3zJjaSs4IUfoJ/s1600/304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqsuizQ26wBKAHEKFKHpRSuGck8GDhFsUjn3vev6zPpS2wn1Rmp81A8B9L81fwTMON1Fny2IhZsWuYrKwGF8lfp9ZLiUNEpN0LYbSovgCw_McV6CEmGkOZxNArqbP-6W3zJjaSs4IUfoJ/s320/304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Image of Nelson Mandela </span><span style="font-size: large;">on the third anniversary of his death:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zqD_7WjsT3E_MQnR4hTaU6uEGv92GaeArbpCbi2Q4ePCg-WnheG7H728tANb01NzaUxakIjLbj4q_qFPde6mrtvcq1Fgch3oRmisKY2jyucQwdiDJpIVAr787yaWYU7G78_-mIYzkmAO/s1600/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zqD_7WjsT3E_MQnR4hTaU6uEGv92GaeArbpCbi2Q4ePCg-WnheG7H728tANb01NzaUxakIjLbj4q_qFPde6mrtvcq1Fgch3oRmisKY2jyucQwdiDJpIVAr787yaWYU7G78_-mIYzkmAO/s320/306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Heading back to the Altona Lodge, we reflected on the terrible effects of all the apartheid policies, of </span><span style="font-size: large;">so many families uprooted and of </span><span style="font-size: large;">so many lives forever changed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 10th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-78371926227873982122017-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:002017-02-11T06:48:29.200-08:0012/5: Cape Town: Groote Kerk and Castle of Good Hope<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned in my previous post about our visit to Cape Town's Signal Hill, public reminders about safety in Cape Town were frequent. There were a number of these 'Stash It, Don't Flash It' signs in the central business district, the city's term for the downtown area, where we had come to visit <b>Groote Kerk (Afrikaans f</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>or Great Church)</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">in the hope it was open this time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKY7B1_J7mPPJXx_Ww-7z5tcnL1D19mHwNxkf7H_reUUaQ3PSRd6fNLsR3Hm-AjWvk9ZP7s8QUCGUujVkvM_usZ-b_RiTvA4ZSfyHMYufeM7TIklnq17KMEkqFcMIBnJZRbVlSIE_FMIe/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKY7B1_J7mPPJXx_Ww-7z5tcnL1D19mHwNxkf7H_reUUaQ3PSRd6fNLsR3Hm-AjWvk9ZP7s8QUCGUujVkvM_usZ-b_RiTvA4ZSfyHMYufeM7TIklnq17KMEkqFcMIBnJZRbVlSIE_FMIe/s320/156.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Across from the slave tree on Church Square was the entrance to the Gothic-style Groote Kerk, a Dutch Reformed church and South Africa's oldest place of worship, built by Herman Schuette in 1841. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was very surprised to read that there is probably no building in South Africa that is better known than the Groote Kerk.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP7R4TtWYiCrQwQJLvrenFFwCfbFLlH7QbTh85TKN63YmUFECezykU41L5hSqJJlnpjqjCMG41CuXvmmgZWZ_Gimx5vEWOgO9wS8fY7-kAGkccVQNRRZ3DbYkx-J1G637tJ4vHb7Z-pcj/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP7R4TtWYiCrQwQJLvrenFFwCfbFLlH7QbTh85TKN63YmUFECezykU41L5hSqJJlnpjqjCMG41CuXvmmgZWZ_Gimx5vEWOgO9wS8fY7-kAGkccVQNRRZ3DbYkx-J1G637tJ4vHb7Z-pcj/s320/175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jan van Riebeeck</b> brought the Reformed religion to the Cape and the practice of this religion played an important part in the lives of the pioneer community. From the beginning of the settlement, Van Riebeeck’s ship, the <b>Drommedaris,</b> served as the first church on South Africa's shores. The first Sunday service at the Cape was held on board on April 14th, 1652.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After settlers landed, provision was made for a hall in which religious services were held. The hall soon became too small as the population expanded, so a timber shed was converted into a church </span><span style="font-size: large;">in 1678 </span><span style="font-size: large;">by giving it a stone floor and a front gable.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Over time, the flat roofs of the extended corners of the church constantly leaked and required costly maintenance. The condition of other parts of the building also gave cause for concern. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There was no alternative but to demolish the entire building except the steeple and the vestry. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It was replaced by the present building in 1841, but the original tower was retained.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The signs at the church entrance were in <b>Afrikaans, </b>a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent, Botswana and Zimbabwe. According to Wikipedia, "Afrikaans evolved from the Dutch vernacular of South Holland spoken by the mainly Dutch settlers of what is now South Africa, where it gradually began to develop distinguishing characteristics in the course of the 18th century."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtampDYFd_HlvwASSPUg-vzYNUPuWgou8ta0kdJeu2y7H1eWnJSobSDKmvH0Tg32QWwXMzrQB_uIirDHx5XdGC5fMnbCOgZdA4CqbtbJRNz5Daod7Aw2ojlg4MeVJOLzGsArT365K8s8C/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtampDYFd_HlvwASSPUg-vzYNUPuWgou8ta0kdJeu2y7H1eWnJSobSDKmvH0Tg32QWwXMzrQB_uIirDHx5XdGC5fMnbCOgZdA4CqbtbJRNz5Daod7Aw2ojlg4MeVJOLzGsArT365K8s8C/s320/158.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The entrance was unusual as it didn't lead directly to rows of pews with a pulpit and the nave at the far end like most of us would be used to. Rather, people entered from the side seeing a long dining-style table first with a few pews on the left side that faced across to the main pews and pulpit. I wonder if that is a feature common to Dutch Reform churches?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Against the side walls of the church, </span><span style="font-size: large;">hanging up </span><span style="font-size: large;">behind those pews, </span><span style="font-size: large;">were 25 mourning boards of high ranking people as it was the general practice in those days to hang them up in the church after the funeral. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The copper collection basins at the doors, bought in 1840, were later replaced with velvet collection bags.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38RCDAPH45fFVnIjkCiL7p6PTS386BLVQNaBHf93pa1N20a7ePK9d-8XMeL530d1GdgkNwBXyIvXuxFIO0IpyWC_hkHmh0n5v9Q6TBvoHsLWnfi20j-MUXUhAv3Z1rxgBO7un_qSPKcXR/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38RCDAPH45fFVnIjkCiL7p6PTS386BLVQNaBHf93pa1N20a7ePK9d-8XMeL530d1GdgkNwBXyIvXuxFIO0IpyWC_hkHmh0n5v9Q6TBvoHsLWnfi20j-MUXUhAv3Z1rxgBO7un_qSPKcXR/s320/174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A view above the side entrance of the stark but beautiful windows and ceiling.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkbnVH_q7RGXFG_jBGPF9a79AQ6g9HQCxMFXqExUSQdMbFpZXDs23oT9oke2yKVjcKocNPAwxp7mL1nV_26xBYGT06HwnVEEeVm2SWHhvWIuhUDshH0Kt6KhDs2OvLeCKTEhXdmJZLMxU/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkbnVH_q7RGXFG_jBGPF9a79AQ6g9HQCxMFXqExUSQdMbFpZXDs23oT9oke2yKVjcKocNPAwxp7mL1nV_26xBYGT06HwnVEEeVm2SWHhvWIuhUDshH0Kt6KhDs2OvLeCKTEhXdmJZLMxU/s320/173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The 'traditional view' of a church with pews on either side of a </span><span style="font-size: large;">center aisle:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEzePRMX_8XEmh9j68Il-HW_5pGiAOARIxgIgRY3lD_4OJ6GNUMHGXKE7fmBnolkOQvoqUxoh8hcTAlACHWWleG98kO1OU_SE1f69CvaQKRpkAhewgOq-gdC-WSGkxi3iRN6hVsWyjvYH/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEzePRMX_8XEmh9j68Il-HW_5pGiAOARIxgIgRY3lD_4OJ6GNUMHGXKE7fmBnolkOQvoqUxoh8hcTAlACHWWleG98kO1OU_SE1f69CvaQKRpkAhewgOq-gdC-WSGkxi3iRN6hVsWyjvYH/s320/171.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The enormous pulpit, made from wood brought from the Dutch East Indies, was consecrated in 1789.The pulpit stood on the identical spot where the first church's pulpit was located in 1704. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The immense anchor in front of the pulpit represented hope.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHiLLlp_g1m-IJ8WOtnnqNlwJPYq0KwNhm9JSBfavZZvUsqwG2uToYOaTJLBbBm6DkyWu2jejmd6xMo0JXDSiM2dX1dG2_2D7uthoCzq5Dc0LamYCJn8KTD0IDfyi5vFQo8NkIl8zTzMp/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHiLLlp_g1m-IJ8WOtnnqNlwJPYq0KwNhm9JSBfavZZvUsqwG2uToYOaTJLBbBm6DkyWu2jejmd6xMo0JXDSiM2dX1dG2_2D7uthoCzq5Dc0LamYCJn8KTD0IDfyi5vFQo8NkIl8zTzMp/s320/163.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The pulpit rested on the shoulders of two lions, superbly carved from stinkwood, that supported a wreath of leaves with one paw while the other paw rested on a parchment scroll. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g35Mn6NCB235MUcmkF-lVpyI2tvIG67ke01VTQjKjJjltDKWPIwbVilYm85nIIEvvGWM2seIYWuWTKX4XF79zEQx_pKG3AxaxucXjxyHbbLQoqYst5kWpr1l4DYUh4KzCkV-LUsVsW2o/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4g35Mn6NCB235MUcmkF-lVpyI2tvIG67ke01VTQjKjJjltDKWPIwbVilYm85nIIEvvGWM2seIYWuWTKX4XF79zEQx_pKG3AxaxucXjxyHbbLQoqYst5kWpr1l4DYUh4KzCkV-LUsVsW2o/s320/167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The stones or tablets built into the floor of the church were of <b>Batavian saltstone</b> and they were remarkable because they change color according to weather conditions! During stormy weather, the stones get darker and they get lighter when the weather clears. I had never heard of that happening before and wonder if that only occurs with Batavian saltstone or other types of stone as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a little spooky to find out that approximately 200 people were buried under the floor including eight governors. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWvI4HTkv8MyjlD2TRxwHHN-2dHPFE9lejEYbUeJ7ZkVc7Vjauc-oFFdbWyph1HzziuIBooUZBZj7GNRlfTfi8x80OobyUvqus1XqQnypkzaU8jyzpXw7njhcB6ypSsbnUYrzeF6FvN_8/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWvI4HTkv8MyjlD2TRxwHHN-2dHPFE9lejEYbUeJ7ZkVc7Vjauc-oFFdbWyph1HzziuIBooUZBZj7GNRlfTfi8x80OobyUvqus1XqQnypkzaU8jyzpXw7njhcB6ypSsbnUYrzeF6FvN_8/s320/164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The organ, with nearly 6,000 pipes, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. One of the most interesting features of the church was the enclosed pews, each with its own door. Prominent families would buy them so they wouldn't have to pray with the masses!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWqz7TQmavEfuBwP3KPTKSDfTnNwKWZXTeQBel-avdMG2ZddHXablZSDBWGAqWxhNIF2zglKihWk26F7OgldK-6doNrnpz4OO3kp5vDWCKWVQgHuXgooR1sd-JenzlSt5mtyxsINTE-Y6/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWqz7TQmavEfuBwP3KPTKSDfTnNwKWZXTeQBel-avdMG2ZddHXablZSDBWGAqWxhNIF2zglKihWk26F7OgldK-6doNrnpz4OO3kp5vDWCKWVQgHuXgooR1sd-JenzlSt5mtyxsINTE-Y6/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A parishioner, who also volunteered as a guide, mentioned that the pews are now open for anyone. He also talked briefly about the simplicity of the city's Protestant churches compared to the city's far more ornate Anglican and Catholic churches. He added </span><span style="font-size: large;">that hardly any alterations have been made to Groote Kerk during the past century and a quarter, except that the buildings on either side of the church have disappeared. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2XhWnFlceH0iceeGqQs7Z0T_wNvJ6ApOGcLROXCuYY8PjpGKIH17Pu0MfgxrNaHV7yTv0ACNi73oAL7yvdz-UdQlYhYgcAYTrMNrmhpkhTVbKhqwhWBPEOPllU4xSoksrxy00miYoSwy/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2XhWnFlceH0iceeGqQs7Z0T_wNvJ6ApOGcLROXCuYY8PjpGKIH17Pu0MfgxrNaHV7yTv0ACNi73oAL7yvdz-UdQlYhYgcAYTrMNrmhpkhTVbKhqwhWBPEOPllU4xSoksrxy00miYoSwy/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The adjoining Clock Tower that dates to 1704 was all that remained from the original building. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNG3XSdRDL9T_rG_ATtaFi5JWEjv_MRppsyw4Xgi3oFy0P6LhEW4JH3fQUzZjGPuYTbCgU2kIosacZx9kDy6LHnBygOKLxEkDuns8rLzZVVu68VjBG08Acwfjf9-YPDiUyT_R-MjefnKv/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNG3XSdRDL9T_rG_ATtaFi5JWEjv_MRppsyw4Xgi3oFy0P6LhEW4JH3fQUzZjGPuYTbCgU2kIosacZx9kDy6LHnBygOKLxEkDuns8rLzZVVu68VjBG08Acwfjf9-YPDiUyT_R-MjefnKv/s320/176.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A tombstone set into the church's external wall:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLKgxmcpbA1a26-p67MGXbBVyipSLXakzdVcDqEuXhgPy6Gi2QDzKiOBzPQuXsrWLTymbLg6m0Lmnxbe-_ECkpfIHpc7RTEKi5ur24QwI2e_OgSRmom25XumboMjKgPkGOALWHOMllKvt/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLKgxmcpbA1a26-p67MGXbBVyipSLXakzdVcDqEuXhgPy6Gi2QDzKiOBzPQuXsrWLTymbLg6m0Lmnxbe-_ECkpfIHpc7RTEKi5ur24QwI2e_OgSRmom25XumboMjKgPkGOALWHOMllKvt/s320/178.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove next to the <b>Castle of Good Hope. </b>Despite its name, the Castle wasn't the fairy tale fantasy type but rather the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa that has been the center of civilian, political and military life in the Cape since 1666. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1664, when there were renewed rumors of war between Britain and the Netherlands, the Dutch feared a British attack on the Cape and subsequently built a five-pointed stone castle, calling it the <b>“Kasteel de Goede Hoop”. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdXBPapwopyYav5hb_jVweD5rf84fe0KMHkylRQG4mNnN0887VM8cDpIEm8KPRltnbpBrh8Gy1972XNVZARbkpDrf3yuuThHdihRIFitvH4R4TNgKZwiFKW_F2sA0OhfBIdyFwnuXJPar/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdXBPapwopyYav5hb_jVweD5rf84fe0KMHkylRQG4mNnN0887VM8cDpIEm8KPRltnbpBrh8Gy1972XNVZARbkpDrf3yuuThHdihRIFitvH4R4TNgKZwiFKW_F2sA0OhfBIdyFwnuXJPar/s320/181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679, it replaced an older fort called the Fort de Goede Hoop which was constructed from clay and timber in 1652. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The building of the Castle itself was done by soldiers, sailors and slaves who built the walls with local stone </span><span style="font-size: large;">brought from Robben Island.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuqyXQv-uuRBYN1-0tzELMB_3Xiu6okxlV2MYJCKUbFqck2kHqHdVUYzTGXeGkttdWGQ3g7_Rpf4F-XXIVsEe66FYaOzaFkF0sNQTpUAkRNCYVf-TMe6NR_6eUZeSpuwZa5LV7aCchvwc/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuqyXQv-uuRBYN1-0tzELMB_3Xiu6okxlV2MYJCKUbFqck2kHqHdVUYzTGXeGkttdWGQ3g7_Rpf4F-XXIVsEe66FYaOzaFkF0sNQTpUAkRNCYVf-TMe6NR_6eUZeSpuwZa5LV7aCchvwc/s320/191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The purpose of the Dutch settlement in the Cape was to act as a replenishment station for ships passing the treacherous coast around the Cape on long voyages between the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) </span><span style="font-size: large;">and to protect its logistical and financial interests along the 'spice route' </span><span style="font-size: large;">with a military presence</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Castle was a welcome sight for sailors traveling up to six months at sea and referring to Cape Town as the "Tavern of the Seas".</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQnv_z1g3avJuyLxOoQCc3Gt25p7GvAUF2Q7pTfHchd2Hm6F9sK2XE6Y-z25UV18MXr_QyYziN2JaahXL-FviDSLdzwLIIAo85oFIXxHUfWcz5Hn27CRc7cF0NtB4ZJJwAh6Mn2Lbzw3U/s1600/180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQnv_z1g3avJuyLxOoQCc3Gt25p7GvAUF2Q7pTfHchd2Hm6F9sK2XE6Y-z25UV18MXr_QyYziN2JaahXL-FviDSLdzwLIIAo85oFIXxHUfWcz5Hn27CRc7cF0NtB4ZJJwAh6Mn2Lbzw3U/s320/180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1936 the Castle was declared a historical monument (now a provincial heritage site) and, following restorations in the 1990s, it is considered the best preserved example of a Dutch East India Company fort.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7ZYGl_gHyI2LLx8sCNGoBSVYPpjzvptrkSyPNfSqrJDqNZWFhWXbn92ncZN8LXZTqXNjh8vZlb3zClgmWDDZz_ild27YV8fdZ-wQrEC5bpN9vU6IVvcYm1eA5NJTykvT_RlE7vqhhUDr/s1600/183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7ZYGl_gHyI2LLx8sCNGoBSVYPpjzvptrkSyPNfSqrJDqNZWFhWXbn92ncZN8LXZTqXNjh8vZlb3zClgmWDDZz_ild27YV8fdZ-wQrEC5bpN9vU6IVvcYm1eA5NJTykvT_RlE7vqhhUDr/s320/183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Originally located on the coastline of Table Bay, the Castle is now</span><span style="font-size: large;"> far away from the sea, </span><span style="font-size: large;">located inland following land reclamation. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The gateway, built in 1682, replaced the old entrance, which faced the sea.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs6e8cDqnJHC58V60ewCSzTBcAvLi8OO_1qODgLxPSrxbSoS07kK-zJWEeYCwcgvBTZWx3qgv1mjZD0gAoYq59b1wlt6G5Jyhj0k40e0_u2LYjisH818Je3FgEL8mATL5XTZN21QGVZZ3/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs6e8cDqnJHC58V60ewCSzTBcAvLi8OO_1qODgLxPSrxbSoS07kK-zJWEeYCwcgvBTZWx3qgv1mjZD0gAoYq59b1wlt6G5Jyhj0k40e0_u2LYjisH818Je3FgEL8mATL5XTZN21QGVZZ3/s320/184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1683, a new entrance to the Castle was created moving stonework from around the old sea entrance to the new entry and building a bell tower above it using imported yellow Dutch bricks called <i>'klompies.' </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx8pa1cCOXfRGT7Qoz9-EoTwJWK3c5KRRvTCcnWq0JTvmRiDrntLl6BpWcKI1HBaF0FzcxsesyO7UwDF9HjXodVuq2Bs8keL6XXOIgpN7XMA3RqvKHkK4Zme9upRV0aHclqXCF0rvZXZh/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHx8pa1cCOXfRGT7Qoz9-EoTwJWK3c5KRRvTCcnWq0JTvmRiDrntLl6BpWcKI1HBaF0FzcxsesyO7UwDF9HjXodVuq2Bs8keL6XXOIgpN7XMA3RqvKHkK4Zme9upRV0aHclqXCF0rvZXZh/s320/187.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inside the entrance'</span><span style="font-size: large;">s split pediment was a lion holding seven arrows representing the United Provinces of the Netherlands and surmounted by a crown.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13aNaG10vYcoQhYpn1rcVGWZhmDFBrMHRKfbfQkMBUAkW5hhw5kCKY_cVkKcxb6B-ZlbjQjoHGabQ0fGoWBhpeGaZ-dCBV68-JMxi8Yk3eEE2P8-R6m7SLcjtzwY2Fwnjw7r0oL-9Ym82/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13aNaG10vYcoQhYpn1rcVGWZhmDFBrMHRKfbfQkMBUAkW5hhw5kCKY_cVkKcxb6B-ZlbjQjoHGabQ0fGoWBhpeGaZ-dCBV68-JMxi8Yk3eEE2P8-R6m7SLcjtzwY2Fwnjw7r0oL-9Ym82/s320/188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">During the <b>Cape Town Military Tattoo, </b>an annual event that takes place at the end of the year, military bands, precision drills and a Naval Cadet gun run are featured. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because the castle is built on <b>Khoi </b>ancestral land and has been occupied for several hundred years, a <b>Cleansing Ceremony</b> takes place in the Inner Court to make the Castle a positive space for all.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ22K3JXPLuKzvd_aFohop1ouShKNn_2OY6DIecDQwlIL58aP259vFifAJa2A2xsUnD6vw0yxQWX9WFbpegBejD6514aAquElUA-44vMwWy7QKxXTAhUNRDUDzIdcmY1V9N0h5i9uJ3nXX/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ22K3JXPLuKzvd_aFohop1ouShKNn_2OY6DIecDQwlIL58aP259vFifAJa2A2xsUnD6vw0yxQWX9WFbpegBejD6514aAquElUA-44vMwWy7QKxXTAhUNRDUDzIdcmY1V9N0h5i9uJ3nXX/s320/189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0A49bsZs3dfK_sBZAGm1X628GnR8eKlZg77Wfu4W44MPcbuXNWGxEtsLb0TcY-qHw_1kSn1Hv73-eHa_Py1YjcC-2qrHBx7x1en8dCMVvt8s7JIbcr9TpXhlsEx31pOlSV6nuooPmek7/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0A49bsZs3dfK_sBZAGm1X628GnR8eKlZg77Wfu4W44MPcbuXNWGxEtsLb0TcY-qHw_1kSn1Hv73-eHa_Py1YjcC-2qrHBx7x1en8dCMVvt8s7JIbcr9TpXhlsEx31pOlSV6nuooPmek7/s320/190.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEio29XrfZJYLFzjukD6x4sfJ4SNj2leg9ZM5_SLWlVYxP83sY5Ov6awUWp2Hf3KPcvBq2g3RwrnDT24C9DJB8oXBw6KQAz9JxdNYg9s83mumFT5XMSoUdsmI5YtaseBLEiAIW2JVm2oeof_/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio29XrfZJYLFzjukD6x4sfJ4SNj2leg9ZM5_SLWlVYxP83sY5Ov6awUWp2Hf3KPcvBq2g3RwrnDT24C9DJB8oXBw6KQAz9JxdNYg9s83mumFT5XMSoUdsmI5YtaseBLEiAIW2JVm2oeof_/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The<b> Bell Tower</b> was completed in 1683 though the bell, cast in Amsterdam, was added in 1697. The bell was rung on the hour not only to indicate the time, but also in times of danger, fire and funerals. It is still rung on special occasions.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFEZ36NSfydnjk8vhjqzUCGFzG7nlGhqIdy87G-a2c8xkpxfEUH2IuPrhIO09cNQL9Wr3Zb1kzVq_qig-MOPJMWvUFurCOjO-dR9LvnnEmCPxHOcvqkJvYZGhHSRRG6axGyZUxdDapLhU/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFEZ36NSfydnjk8vhjqzUCGFzG7nlGhqIdy87G-a2c8xkpxfEUH2IuPrhIO09cNQL9Wr3Zb1kzVq_qig-MOPJMWvUFurCOjO-dR9LvnnEmCPxHOcvqkJvYZGhHSRRG6axGyZUxdDapLhU/s320/194.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We weren't able to see all the exhibits at the Castle because workers were setting up for the country's President's visit two days later. However, we had free reign of the place and were able to wander wherever we liked at the Castle with no questions asked. That would certainly not be possible if the US President were about to visit any facility.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PMRy_p4QqfY8ceRmGEBX3pYdNZ1BYerjTUAQEIkjb78riDNgF4qIJtIS4WS3ow73_QaiVnJdWbCDUNdvvN-UsbVD27gmzRyhbg-dB9NJVbAxEKAEqvy7VsOwo6FxbZBhG0L1wekgEtrc/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PMRy_p4QqfY8ceRmGEBX3pYdNZ1BYerjTUAQEIkjb78riDNgF4qIJtIS4WS3ow73_QaiVnJdWbCDUNdvvN-UsbVD27gmzRyhbg-dB9NJVbAxEKAEqvy7VsOwo6FxbZBhG0L1wekgEtrc/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJBOa4J2cTxJkJUXnQAPDXyTiaRbsXzThKSjuqt4172-YF95wyAU5IcRNSyq9_KugsqmTdcswPcLBZgAap6CYX1m9uSmBT0Vr-Ax2dErCIDf6ohiJOx4nbmWSOxBD3b7kL-U9rQU7BKWB/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJBOa4J2cTxJkJUXnQAPDXyTiaRbsXzThKSjuqt4172-YF95wyAU5IcRNSyq9_KugsqmTdcswPcLBZgAap6CYX1m9uSmBT0Vr-Ax2dErCIDf6ohiJOx4nbmWSOxBD3b7kL-U9rQU7BKWB/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Governor's cellars: </b>When Governor Simon van der Stel built a house for himself in the Castle, he also made sure to add extensive cellars in the basement to store his wine. The arched door to his cellars had been bricked up over the years until it was opened and restored in the 1980s.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu2OzmCJymMdWsSdbaDORcP7b8kVDlut3zFRqU0cDYx8FXCBFI-VH1UuUBbXXaYOBmBYOqJiBLiQQsZ7W0prvUQZjR7y0BhQ4-fCZM4YqyRRiqST-WESubaWz0kg3L1TZYG5aUDeaf5z6/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisu2OzmCJymMdWsSdbaDORcP7b8kVDlut3zFRqU0cDYx8FXCBFI-VH1UuUBbXXaYOBmBYOqJiBLiQQsZ7W0prvUQZjR7y0BhQ4-fCZM4YqyRRiqST-WESubaWz0kg3L1TZYG5aUDeaf5z6/s320/201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Behind the Governor's quarters was a two story, private area with a colonnade for his </span><span style="font-size: large;">assistants' </span><span style="font-size: large;">offices and a square pool with a dolphin fountain in the center.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide9GFjRL_D42_Ym9Ve6meGdZimo0AlOjSPfDrNw-YkRf04CORRvEWnYXJfupcQnB4E4CyEryHV391Nt1ILibBMwzI_AWThO5m7FKFyY0OdFM3FuBTn2sJ0F4hZNSGgjw9vq2G1eG5-_wf/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide9GFjRL_D42_Ym9Ve6meGdZimo0AlOjSPfDrNw-YkRf04CORRvEWnYXJfupcQnB4E4CyEryHV391Nt1ILibBMwzI_AWThO5m7FKFyY0OdFM3FuBTn2sJ0F4hZNSGgjw9vq2G1eG5-_wf/s320/198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Coach house and stables: </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the 19th century, coaches and carts were stored in one of these vaulted rooms; the other two were used as stables.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdkr0kdPDhKaBa2RsXvjY8pRYPFi4DEDSM20_3eONqLCRrwnjAGdSFw6ATVKcZFqV0C1MLM9LZIxO45LTln-n7-6Lkni1E4DnR2pZtDPnDCbG20JWJv_1Mp0vL-tzJFi_gCMl0f7UI3MX/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdkr0kdPDhKaBa2RsXvjY8pRYPFi4DEDSM20_3eONqLCRrwnjAGdSFw6ATVKcZFqV0C1MLM9LZIxO45LTln-n7-6Lkni1E4DnR2pZtDPnDCbG20JWJv_1Mp0vL-tzJFi_gCMl0f7UI3MX/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old Well: </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">This well, about 26 feet deep, was at the center of the Bastion, and the point from where the five bastion points were originally set out. When a wall was built across the Castle courtyard in 1691, it covered the well though it was kept as a source of water. It was operated by hand pumps.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk79PE6tmj7cHipdd95BYsEnXLfqexvWHJUlDWfH7sdFpPE240fzU54h_QjL5H963OSj-ebCppiWqfG9eVXhiAuCs5DqCFX0akoDfjFQmt1hIIA8yEgw0zgxlHK68-vfkL1mPBiaf23ht/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk79PE6tmj7cHipdd95BYsEnXLfqexvWHJUlDWfH7sdFpPE240fzU54h_QjL5H963OSj-ebCppiWqfG9eVXhiAuCs5DqCFX0akoDfjFQmt1hIIA8yEgw0zgxlHK68-vfkL1mPBiaf23ht/s320/209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Over the centuries, six different flags have flown over the Castle, yet in all that time not a single shot has ever been fired in anger at it or from it."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYl6foBHeb0D0DAVPCNN98E3A8UpjDQm8YRJaRdec4nL_bgPkVvDnWtQgnfmSUko6XzZVFMbq8q7LfQopF9aMQhNDKXEtxEyyaE8vAp6ReITL_46ENlap6CEFHUax-kkpe_y2zWcnxHT2/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYl6foBHeb0D0DAVPCNN98E3A8UpjDQm8YRJaRdec4nL_bgPkVvDnWtQgnfmSUko6XzZVFMbq8q7LfQopF9aMQhNDKXEtxEyyaE8vAp6ReITL_46ENlap6CEFHUax-kkpe_y2zWcnxHT2/s320/218.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha91tekKo38N3yDiIbm8HU64vm30MfcxNXyiPSfBbs2-jTBRV1ucZByhDm5g_GWDWLkjj_mLDJLEi00_qbkoVu9QzNQJcLDx_WCbvTor-RXYclvRHFKXEoBUjuiN5tOztfjk3IZpdKuLTT/s1600/219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha91tekKo38N3yDiIbm8HU64vm30MfcxNXyiPSfBbs2-jTBRV1ucZByhDm5g_GWDWLkjj_mLDJLEi00_qbkoVu9QzNQJcLDx_WCbvTor-RXYclvRHFKXEoBUjuiN5tOztfjk3IZpdKuLTT/s320/219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The moat, </span><span style="font-size: large;">which previously formed part of the defense system of the Castle,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> was completed in its final form shortly after 1720. During the mid-19th century, the mountain stream that filled it was diverted to private homes' bathrooms and the moat became a ditch into which the city's sewers were emptied. In the early 1900s, the moat was filled with topsoil and gardened by the City Council. When the Castle was restored in 1990, mountain water was diverted into the moat again. Its green water sure didn't look like it had come recently from any mountain stream though!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8ASEGZ-3U1Q0tLZhkR8lSHGgv0l9eD8zRfu6gDT7jLMOpXnsQLr5ggx1lHjSHi8uJ_bd6gmeV2yfVFrH3oGVnKJKZ4FMe8v4lE9raeGJc438ptrL0DutHxr5MW5OsjYWzt6VR-tfHLQm/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8ASEGZ-3U1Q0tLZhkR8lSHGgv0l9eD8zRfu6gDT7jLMOpXnsQLr5ggx1lHjSHi8uJ_bd6gmeV2yfVFrH3oGVnKJKZ4FMe8v4lE9raeGJc438ptrL0DutHxr5MW5OsjYWzt6VR-tfHLQm/s320/222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This strange looking structure was called a <b>ravelin,</b> a triangular fortification located in front of the inner works of a fortress. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The triangular ravelin, which </span><span style="font-size: large;">protected the Castle entrance, </span><span style="font-size: large;">was completed soon after 1720, at the same time as the moat. Three 24-pound guns were mounted on the ravelin as a first line of defense against enemy attack on the Castle.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFra3FgH2PtewTZ_AH56_lCaOFCvEI9P8q0K_7th8XUo5di6KVRue2rX4AwAnO_AN1-GmAjKdfs6xws25nIRwQD_kKe03ssKLEp9zci_ENXAremDf6llwbcd2Gk4NLDr1c5XvhTpdxQrY/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFra3FgH2PtewTZ_AH56_lCaOFCvEI9P8q0K_7th8XUo5di6KVRue2rX4AwAnO_AN1-GmAjKdfs6xws25nIRwQD_kKe03ssKLEp9zci_ENXAremDf6llwbcd2Gk4NLDr1c5XvhTpdxQrY/s320/224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that the Castle now stands not only as "a reminder of Cape Town’s colonial past, but as a beacon of the city’s future." Art and photography exhibitions are often hosted within its five walls, as are some of the city’s premier commercial events.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJz-q4b_odzwAS7p5IGqRv_2hnAyx_j5ehR5DlmGXFRxXJMzFGiXUjxdXmNsF1cm8RgbnA0_4f_Apxay8WiMKiJz0p7N1Ot9eaqQi_HaFv-viy9kkfn61s7ZcfLIep40dd_m3FxXpnzUa/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJz-q4b_odzwAS7p5IGqRv_2hnAyx_j5ehR5DlmGXFRxXJMzFGiXUjxdXmNsF1cm8RgbnA0_4f_Apxay8WiMKiJz0p7N1Ot9eaqQi_HaFv-viy9kkfn61s7ZcfLIep40dd_m3FxXpnzUa/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We saw a number of soldiers at the Castle </span><span style="font-size: large;">safeguarding the facility </span><span style="font-size: large;">in honor of its history. As the Castle is the seat of the military in the Cape, it housed the Castle Military Museum and Iziko Museums of Cape Town. It was moderately interesting to get a glimpse of life at the Cape during the 17th and 18th centuries but the Castle of Good Hope wasn't a city sight I would suggest others visit unless they have fully explored the other, far more fascinating sights in the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 9th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-50180117515611891172017-02-08T20:10:00.001-08:002017-02-10T08:33:27.405-08:0012/5: Cape Town's Table Mountain & Paragliding from Signal Hill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since we'd visited the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park yesterday, we wanted to discover <b>Table Mountain</b> itself today. The mountain, located in Cape Town, is known as one of southern Africa's most beautiful and impressive natural wonders. The mountain rises more than 3,500 feet above the city and its distinctive flat top is visible to sailors 40 miles out to sea. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The last few days<b> </b>we had marvelous views of <b>Lion's Head</b> as we approached Cape Town but seeing the </span><span style="font-size: large;">2,195 feet</span><span style="font-size: large;"> high </span><span style="font-size: large;">mountain between Table Mountain and Signal Hill from the base of Table Mountain was pretty darn fabulous. The peak is also part of Table Mountain National Park.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC_7JgO6ofImFXWrUdhKnEE7bZSX0e6DgAuW0NPvtOgO9mnGwMTm5r7bQXeS5eYpcReHtLmy8rQhra5LR8r84ysII4Jr61k-_nPJwPZmOuUxVL7i1Z0D6hFUR6PoZrTgn5w3xmD088GiH/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC_7JgO6ofImFXWrUdhKnEE7bZSX0e6DgAuW0NPvtOgO9mnGwMTm5r7bQXeS5eYpcReHtLmy8rQhra5LR8r84ysII4Jr61k-_nPJwPZmOuUxVL7i1Z0D6hFUR6PoZrTgn5w3xmD088GiH/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had read so much about very long waits to buy tickets and again to take the aerial cable way up the mountain especially on such a picture perfect day as we had. Though we had a longish walk up a steep road from where we had parked the car, there was no queue luckily for either tickets or the cable car. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There was no need rushing into the gondola to get a preferred view because the floor rotated at least twice giving everyone fantastic views on the less than five minute ride up. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmzVo22kSvtb91YS8li3a_10ewAsUuRftHOVVZlEZLaKi3gLVfdTB9PmBvcZ-Z0Hzx0BSG6y73rygVj_VW93Y_SMI8Dz1c8TgXLu-bLqxbcmjPcOaYDBBmicOp_HsIuRT7V7WKWOxJTHQ/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmzVo22kSvtb91YS8li3a_10ewAsUuRftHOVVZlEZLaKi3gLVfdTB9PmBvcZ-Z0Hzx0BSG6y73rygVj_VW93Y_SMI8Dz1c8TgXLu-bLqxbcmjPcOaYDBBmicOp_HsIuRT7V7WKWOxJTHQ/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocuP_ajtYiZBvfLZN_xS5rrEbhj_cyWUvBCXIodjZKbbsx0D_UgTjtIQfP2jVin4LcFnSLpWkowEuT6emcXJcOVIAIxUs274zJzdbSpIIWoV42eM6kwHbXE-Hk9UnX6DXTqDKZrrhoPrE/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocuP_ajtYiZBvfLZN_xS5rrEbhj_cyWUvBCXIodjZKbbsx0D_UgTjtIQfP2jVin4LcFnSLpWkowEuT6emcXJcOVIAIxUs274zJzdbSpIIWoV42eM6kwHbXE-Hk9UnX6DXTqDKZrrhoPrE/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I read with interest the facts about the Table Mountain Cableway. I especially was glad to read that the cable cars carried 4,000 liters of water for ballast during the windy season!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiySylmNj_Y0qyXroy2IgskdcbE5Xfj5H6-3iWS0-kUW_GCxlIJw_JPZS6p_UNZPg7h9ey3pYVGe9ZDNCUgjA8XvF4Ejhmce7NagSSw_hCM9NvTOuxf60mXx71qlrUQuNmAevx65qADYOB/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiySylmNj_Y0qyXroy2IgskdcbE5Xfj5H6-3iWS0-kUW_GCxlIJw_JPZS6p_UNZPg7h9ey3pYVGe9ZDNCUgjA8XvF4Ejhmce7NagSSw_hCM9NvTOuxf60mXx71qlrUQuNmAevx65qADYOB/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgZP2DRK71QCyXR6vPkcMn7bktl6Y5IoKIGw5om_VK33faHXYwYrwRan5rfvZcj-L1bRG9me7QWsbyRYmrw-xN-NEYPGgsW7QC0-r5B-dKiMHCVbxSx48hOlU_QZ9ZbYFDpfK_3jCTrlS_5/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZP2DRK71QCyXR6vPkcMn7bktl6Y5IoKIGw5om_VK33faHXYwYrwRan5rfvZcj-L1bRG9me7QWsbyRYmrw-xN-NEYPGgsW7QC0-r5B-dKiMHCVbxSx48hOlU_QZ9ZbYFDpfK_3jCTrlS_5/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Views from the cable car on our brief journey up the mountain:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpBS3RIA2COJGwVLJ2inX02aNG7R_TGjlvCm1DJiHJwM7n6YB9-U87Xih7uPsDMbqlMtTCD1zLQRatIGBDf6pTQICzeEE5kFZIe2WadK3Dlm9YvC-yXFjwj612GnkV7aLyfoEaRx-MhS0/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpBS3RIA2COJGwVLJ2inX02aNG7R_TGjlvCm1DJiHJwM7n6YB9-U87Xih7uPsDMbqlMtTCD1zLQRatIGBDf6pTQICzeEE5kFZIe2WadK3Dlm9YvC-yXFjwj612GnkV7aLyfoEaRx-MhS0/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg9mJVbw90BLvy4CVzhfx2VkPz7QpSzsKbTV8m3KRqHtcBUAPg3ZbiZAlHaLH-bzPpMq0Mz24mBN_NfOuqbcsvxc62AkbUyH3MOUlEgjPx31Rmobla2X3449BWHLVitrWehLipcGA3HanDy/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mJVbw90BLvy4CVzhfx2VkPz7QpSzsKbTV8m3KRqHtcBUAPg3ZbiZAlHaLH-bzPpMq0Mz24mBN_NfOuqbcsvxc62AkbUyH3MOUlEgjPx31Rmobla2X3449BWHLVitrWehLipcGA3HanDy/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another view of Lion's Head:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDH5FQrMqEPrhkzD23KnR0EqI2EqKe9rWyLy9Te3SdVniAIeSN1E5_-mWCTK1irf_k6RL6MqSJzHwvkDtFWwf40tZoU6uulaq38-h-d8EmkVipnVkjFfpeJ3hHuZz6JVH1b9-nqIl1kxb/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDH5FQrMqEPrhkzD23KnR0EqI2EqKe9rWyLy9Te3SdVniAIeSN1E5_-mWCTK1irf_k6RL6MqSJzHwvkDtFWwf40tZoU6uulaq38-h-d8EmkVipnVkjFfpeJ3hHuZz6JVH1b9-nqIl1kxb/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though the gondola rotated, we didn't feel any movement as we were constantly afforded different views of the mountainside, the city and the ocean far below.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji43rMSLT5KjfevPpYgoBKzXCEf9BUcLWDzxu8cmUUa-e0EZkv8VROUshSFsJAhBDcVhRWMbegqslCOlXinjIAXBx8ck4UgeXXgU_-hILaqDewGi4VogIRZn3fAvbdE-ScKIw-npVApF45/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji43rMSLT5KjfevPpYgoBKzXCEf9BUcLWDzxu8cmUUa-e0EZkv8VROUshSFsJAhBDcVhRWMbegqslCOlXinjIAXBx8ck4UgeXXgU_-hILaqDewGi4VogIRZn3fAvbdE-ScKIw-npVApF45/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh7jWkxcgvr0qJB-O3SZvQUYTbbK575P9hq2vCY05uv359gJGJMbAfYJCVjiO4dZdt9LO-swtHioJ5E9k5Ijrk6s7eO06P3SlEq3lUTlJ3DfJxKI1Jpa41VJEdTUHbNRvGPN9wt-wwIqHeL/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jWkxcgvr0qJB-O3SZvQUYTbbK575P9hq2vCY05uv359gJGJMbAfYJCVjiO4dZdt9LO-swtHioJ5E9k5Ijrk6s7eO06P3SlEq3lUTlJ3DfJxKI1Jpa41VJEdTUHbNRvGPN9wt-wwIqHeL/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A shot of the cable car station at the base of the mountain. We knew that hiking up the mountain and taking the cable car down was no doubt a far more rewarding experience but that would have meant a hike of several hours and lugging huge amounts of water. Since Table Mountain was just one of the many places we wanted to go to that day, we didn't have the time for that long a hike.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHMw5lJCUmKZvdMrvG1mQ6ABW9Hfig9wcgdwt1vwRXihDSyPZ6jzWRVBQQvjLXIm_-UIOsahkL-1Ep4WKW20cdbwmL9ossapj1ELZThTFIANlQxpYp9Cqwo03HgP_CEKvdMyfOjOG4ZCu/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHMw5lJCUmKZvdMrvG1mQ6ABW9Hfig9wcgdwt1vwRXihDSyPZ6jzWRVBQQvjLXIm_-UIOsahkL-1Ep4WKW20cdbwmL9ossapj1ELZThTFIANlQxpYp9Cqwo03HgP_CEKvdMyfOjOG4ZCu/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jCAKADPrWHyXCLO8XHHLf93Rqm53jCeTznoVS85KudU8XqwozyI_S_s3wOEm2BBBfdVZ0VrZYNwqWXWbc7dKivd-GhULTSRj7o1Dqtj4gJ4MXnMj39wLFErlnaHKIifKR5fFRMcGHUqB/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jCAKADPrWHyXCLO8XHHLf93Rqm53jCeTznoVS85KudU8XqwozyI_S_s3wOEm2BBBfdVZ0VrZYNwqWXWbc7dKivd-GhULTSRj7o1Dqtj4gJ4MXnMj39wLFErlnaHKIifKR5fFRMcGHUqB/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I bet you know what this view was, having now seen it from a few angles!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5zjO7a3R1k6LPwmz9Leh-1WywWGiceG_GjFrl-bh5k33cbWQRotkU3DI59DeEgeKbJjyTzP04g16VQoZ04UrtrUyFnuXsW2IZUNAwYnyBVG0dhdfE40l11BFEMA9SSdYcMa9gRZkOISF/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5zjO7a3R1k6LPwmz9Leh-1WywWGiceG_GjFrl-bh5k33cbWQRotkU3DI59DeEgeKbJjyTzP04g16VQoZ04UrtrUyFnuXsW2IZUNAwYnyBVG0dhdfE40l11BFEMA9SSdYcMa9gRZkOISF/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so surprised to learn that taking a ride on the Table Mountain Cableway was the fifth highest rated attraction in Cape Town on Trip Advisor. Yes, it was great fun and I am so glad we did it but the fifth highest - no, not for us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNQrzj-Gp_6XsaGf_YVcaTP-OtqsJt-u4gZ-JZvrG1SuXUbrFydpXeunEj-2ls673ShTbiq8yQa2QI8pBK3JsyPt28bUMO6hyCrviJ8d5cf_T-YsEgJvJNJ3wJQ107Tm57PdCwpFs2o1F/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNQrzj-Gp_6XsaGf_YVcaTP-OtqsJt-u4gZ-JZvrG1SuXUbrFydpXeunEj-2ls673ShTbiq8yQa2QI8pBK3JsyPt28bUMO6hyCrviJ8d5cf_T-YsEgJvJNJ3wJQ107Tm57PdCwpFs2o1F/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrMNUZS1Y_gdhI1eJqCaPmxk4Zsg8OKG_3suIJex6tWbfTUkrql6RuvVgMPwy8p6YggyECNAKg0vSCcVj3hpIF5OVED3R5B_tb11VuuDIonPcfGBjyrT9cgPEV9YuhhD3FAUsgzd-Ta-/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrMNUZS1Y_gdhI1eJqCaPmxk4Zsg8OKG_3suIJex6tWbfTUkrql6RuvVgMPwy8p6YggyECNAKg0vSCcVj3hpIF5OVED3R5B_tb11VuuDIonPcfGBjyrT9cgPEV9YuhhD3FAUsgzd-Ta-/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HrjqR_FLz1kIFl74qkapWIkrrMBkAZUCIeArI62l1mVecrdI9RlEJXSdFfnBP-6bnanjcRA_ZjbcXmARl4N33yTl_VYkchdltFCXidxI3MVjRj8j4ioRGesmCpk8MNznEgB2O8MBzlY4/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HrjqR_FLz1kIFl74qkapWIkrrMBkAZUCIeArI62l1mVecrdI9RlEJXSdFfnBP-6bnanjcRA_ZjbcXmARl4N33yTl_VYkchdltFCXidxI3MVjRj8j4ioRGesmCpk8MNznEgB2O8MBzlY4/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiRipo9Dwd7qfHzqjcRHsLy5zMS03yY0MP5n6Jpmt_SLWSRDpgIziDgS18KDFCTFc60JdfyYE5Owv_1uB0bRs9B9NRjZIzB0QfDfBXhn2gK0wWlKzHFDhYXH5Odf9SwjF8jidgfKUgioE4r/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRipo9Dwd7qfHzqjcRHsLy5zMS03yY0MP5n6Jpmt_SLWSRDpgIziDgS18KDFCTFc60JdfyYE5Owv_1uB0bRs9B9NRjZIzB0QfDfBXhn2gK0wWlKzHFDhYXH5Odf9SwjF8jidgfKUgioE4r/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the sign that greeted us on our arrival at the top! Never heard the term 'hooter' before but we </span><span style="font-size: large;">didn't need an explanation; we just hoped that the hooter didn't go off while we were up top.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI-_8QXcfkZfg8WMsW-zD9WTRCvobM9Vtso0catv_79vox2gbUOg9TaMkTv5aZA1U1uFPnXfaqGROhPttFrEBqAxXOMcJ4s0MegMDLbsG8mssc64gnb2WLUmtSEqQLOqHtwhQMmUgMBZK/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI-_8QXcfkZfg8WMsW-zD9WTRCvobM9Vtso0catv_79vox2gbUOg9TaMkTv5aZA1U1uFPnXfaqGROhPttFrEBqAxXOMcJ4s0MegMDLbsG8mssc64gnb2WLUmtSEqQLOqHtwhQMmUgMBZK/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4gb__bl-ycbm5gFvMZglOoENVmId49bBBG1s17GuN3HJ50zCQ9Md-mlr-3aOed_IduKUqaxmTtbeVJOvqxe-OrKiY55VzpBZBM44PCcvLi-AuOkOKLL_rUw3L_uoR_E4HN2xoxhCsdtV/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4gb__bl-ycbm5gFvMZglOoENVmId49bBBG1s17GuN3HJ50zCQ9Md-mlr-3aOed_IduKUqaxmTtbeVJOvqxe-OrKiY55VzpBZBM44PCcvLi-AuOkOKLL_rUw3L_uoR_E4HN2xoxhCsdtV/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the first time we'd observed a <b>Dassie </b>(rhymes with fussy), a large rodent, whose proper name is</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>rock hyrax.</b> It was almost as if it posed for us whilst basking in the sun. Although these creatures look like oversize guinea pigs, the dassie's closest relative is the elephant as they both have collapsible rib cages. They congregate in large numbers near the upper cable station where they've learned to beg for food. Sadly, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a diet of junk food </span><span style="font-size: large;">over the years has seriously compromised their health.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVza_5znKhfI5Ym_EOZQ9omr7S2M3OgvAljz_JEI4hhD3RtjA2ACzhPhBwPDj50tPelfxPPDK_FpjUCwFJT_NkGr6kgepCTLPG6GFGVkYtwVeaG3QWmc86UnjBtB53j-J1THuOOmXFzjxu/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVza_5znKhfI5Ym_EOZQ9omr7S2M3OgvAljz_JEI4hhD3RtjA2ACzhPhBwPDj50tPelfxPPDK_FpjUCwFJT_NkGr6kgepCTLPG6GFGVkYtwVeaG3QWmc86UnjBtB53j-J1THuOOmXFzjxu/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In June of 2004, the <b>Cape Floral Kingdom,</b> the smallest and richest of the six floral kingdoms that occur on earth - home to an amazing 8,000 plus species - was selected as a Natural Wonder Heritage Site. The minuscule Cape Floral Kingdom has more species of flowers than the entire United Kingdom! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y5NQ5zIy6hdp_wj_07bqMKWbPg1Wx7YCm6Ap1922CWY7i308YSGp0FJTmiQLyqY_X94Hrk4NyyM4d9FbQ5-3GRYj6AUK5QiNqK2ptqe5iAKakN6peAxaluvgxhQf0tj6B5CaI26VRfXu/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y5NQ5zIy6hdp_wj_07bqMKWbPg1Wx7YCm6Ap1922CWY7i308YSGp0FJTmiQLyqY_X94Hrk4NyyM4d9FbQ5-3GRYj6AUK5QiNqK2ptqe5iAKakN6peAxaluvgxhQf0tj6B5CaI26VRfXu/s320/080.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We watched for a while while these men prepared to go abseiling, which is a controlled descent of a vertical drop, such as a rock face, using a rope. This was their definition of fun but definitely not ours!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TxN7s1Cp0zkAnjx_S7Hewo5ITT7gkAjZoqDCaadHPHD8Cc5Pp2NHgPWzXiDIzjMpFtmQZKB_UbKC0C9pzzY3N24RqJsDsjJwo5IAVL1R7pZqJbbT_v6DKL8UVyb3hddOq3pdQlYn1WK/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2TxN7s1Cp0zkAnjx_S7Hewo5ITT7gkAjZoqDCaadHPHD8Cc5Pp2NHgPWzXiDIzjMpFtmQZKB_UbKC0C9pzzY3N24RqJsDsjJwo5IAVL1R7pZqJbbT_v6DKL8UVyb3hddOq3pdQlYn1WK/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Immediately to the south of Table Mountain is a rugged plateau at a somewhat lower elevation than the Table Mountain Plateau, (at about 3,300 feet), called the <b>Back Table.</b> The Atlantic side of the Back Table, was first described as the Twelve Apostles by early explorers to the region. Depending on whom you talk to or what you read however, there are either </span>actually a series of 17 or 18 peaks. You may remember one of my previous posts also had a photo of the Twelve Apostles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9_mP-t3Ogmxm2zW1C9FPq4zZY_VqZBT19KWCigOacmFmGALUeHgrFN3SgkGyCkWAf1aDKukIxUuAzna-RiW4elV4vIsRA0L0YtyVDgcucicyr7dtUIguWkav20Bdm-v3SyaauEqQAnil/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9_mP-t3Ogmxm2zW1C9FPq4zZY_VqZBT19KWCigOacmFmGALUeHgrFN3SgkGyCkWAf1aDKukIxUuAzna-RiW4elV4vIsRA0L0YtyVDgcucicyr7dtUIguWkav20Bdm-v3SyaauEqQAnil/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were a number of free guided walking tours of the plateau. One started shortly after we had reached the summit so we joined it to learn more about the mountain, its flora and fauna and also so we could identify the sights from the mountain. The guide told us that the Atlantic Ocean surrounds the Cape of Good Hope and that the area has the same climate as Amsterdam and Cyprus, two cities for us to perhaps explore one day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ngPVkPA7mhJLPPj9KeEF9oGiif_MBtpGO4667XiWIP-nJSJaor4aDzf-HNiDVOHo7SX_ocoy4DEHybIBcndNgA3K7PbFDJcmU55f9U4mmgqu0oPNlBtbHr3g7qNXJzz4dAgtx4mpCwZD/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ngPVkPA7mhJLPPj9KeEF9oGiif_MBtpGO4667XiWIP-nJSJaor4aDzf-HNiDVOHo7SX_ocoy4DEHybIBcndNgA3K7PbFDJcmU55f9U4mmgqu0oPNlBtbHr3g7qNXJzz4dAgtx4mpCwZD/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though there were precipitous drop offs all around the summit of the mountain, there were an abundance of superb walks or hikes on the plateau.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso5nmMqU9uKkdr0mA4XGMg3IzBPgnT0vo2OlqrWv1RZgS3Dlj6ezYby3vnS1-GOKbSVB3X7nBtj4NmbD4z892ZqQlUiOacJrYLXlsPnAw4Xjwwjh9JJs31X3qrs8Ue8YV2zg2s0M69UJ1/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso5nmMqU9uKkdr0mA4XGMg3IzBPgnT0vo2OlqrWv1RZgS3Dlj6ezYby3vnS1-GOKbSVB3X7nBtj4NmbD4z892ZqQlUiOacJrYLXlsPnAw4Xjwwjh9JJs31X3qrs8Ue8YV2zg2s0M69UJ1/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8VVGArhAQxgYLPKC_3Y2JtQ9uoUoNvQ-UYbqVPIBujWF47BJHRmty6lyB79xZbfU7pHpUTfdIsx1i_SuHSowveLVLm5ctUCzZHNGLNWysnQUxF3VJeji_LSk9KUp0n5KU-k-F3BYMA6K/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8VVGArhAQxgYLPKC_3Y2JtQ9uoUoNvQ-UYbqVPIBujWF47BJHRmty6lyB79xZbfU7pHpUTfdIsx1i_SuHSowveLVLm5ctUCzZHNGLNWysnQUxF3VJeji_LSk9KUp0n5KU-k-F3BYMA6K/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide explained that this plant was known as a <b>climber's plant </b>because it was so strong and since its roots extend more than <b>19 feet</b> into the soil, walkers could hold onto it. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsctmJHj3CW9xK1slMrphusHiIzJRTlVOZ78GKt0EmRjUV644fOs7Gk6kGsPOpRuv-R8UYXZPwNvPLJqZps5hPvDkSkmucEuxtyhO0czBfYunNhmMvuABn3K8MbD0xLLfTtFNFfqDr_mbJ/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsctmJHj3CW9xK1slMrphusHiIzJRTlVOZ78GKt0EmRjUV644fOs7Gk6kGsPOpRuv-R8UYXZPwNvPLJqZps5hPvDkSkmucEuxtyhO0czBfYunNhmMvuABn3K8MbD0xLLfTtFNFfqDr_mbJ/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnqmA3Eq6eEc8nXoVP5G48Gw0yz9AXs84He9EKNpZFznICkpxpeX8LYhEsTyOy9_RbeKdR3kFCTTj5bnVEu3kus5GepZ2GSQCY9fTsFbsgXrrHDwZUScIrFm3BGNGBef00omQQrSQTu4y/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnqmA3Eq6eEc8nXoVP5G48Gw0yz9AXs84He9EKNpZFznICkpxpeX8LYhEsTyOy9_RbeKdR3kFCTTj5bnVEu3kus5GepZ2GSQCY9fTsFbsgXrrHDwZUScIrFm3BGNGBef00omQQrSQTu4y/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On World Environment Day in 1998, then President Nelson Mandela declared Table Mountain 'a Gift to the Earth.' It was also recently voted as the <b>Seventh New Wonder of the World,</b> a list neither of us had ever heard of before. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjEjfNI7uyYzqo6A34IghCCsOXDD68uKGWy3vjIc7xRZ1jrPsGzRGViMIW0g5MoYlTBNVmJF0e6dd5oYDKoQdIJzT_gM3gDd4_OxIgykgsqkXT58ZVAzMtssUaGyJ16-4_lNSZOT9mplP/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjEjfNI7uyYzqo6A34IghCCsOXDD68uKGWy3vjIc7xRZ1jrPsGzRGViMIW0g5MoYlTBNVmJF0e6dd5oYDKoQdIJzT_gM3gDd4_OxIgykgsqkXT58ZVAzMtssUaGyJ16-4_lNSZOT9mplP/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G0GTM0X2YIfkGdh9LBIFaXosKNuw60pvV1hEYQ6stch222xaA1LFNdwz6RtIMBaKQOBt2SjvQHfJHAS3QOjwD24L94xUKHxFFMU5vEQ5Ob_P8NmhAhK2-xmIocj5ClVznpWZUT27PwII/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1G0GTM0X2YIfkGdh9LBIFaXosKNuw60pvV1hEYQ6stch222xaA1LFNdwz6RtIMBaKQOBt2SjvQHfJHAS3QOjwD24L94xUKHxFFMU5vEQ5Ob_P8NmhAhK2-xmIocj5ClVznpWZUT27PwII/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide revealed that this <b>aloe plant</b> can survive with little or no water. When there is rain, the plant soaks up a lot of water; however, when it is dry, water is released through its leaves. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlCKKz_Ee07lInF3wt7a3UTBf927NSbRa6k7vN1m-DvLipq_XByeZlNOd70GlbRIX544oUAgafWdpQnqKwGLiOkI3Qjd-Jcf36EFmlu3txksdFBzIGWSXKj1ECd2FC6igzduaAu3yn7/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4rlCKKz_Ee07lInF3wt7a3UTBf927NSbRa6k7vN1m-DvLipq_XByeZlNOd70GlbRIX544oUAgafWdpQnqKwGLiOkI3Qjd-Jcf36EFmlu3txksdFBzIGWSXKj1ECd2FC6igzduaAu3yn7/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We stopped for a few minutes to look at the diorama showing the Table Mountain range and its distance to the world's major cities; New York was 7,800 miles away, Chicago was about 8,500 miles and Montreal, near my hometown of Ottawa, was approximately 7,900 miles away.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GNIOhuAxVTw-FtG9ruPRMFqm0c8lOA5K1Cmfi3IW1vep8ssBJ0HRKzBamCnRy8PBz01Pbc2IsSAGBgL3PRWkAuUPJcJoHmChS_wjVtE4XZhjqGXAyKP94eVZgjk-Mt_glRnYjJICztBp/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GNIOhuAxVTw-FtG9ruPRMFqm0c8lOA5K1Cmfi3IW1vep8ssBJ0HRKzBamCnRy8PBz01Pbc2IsSAGBgL3PRWkAuUPJcJoHmChS_wjVtE4XZhjqGXAyKP94eVZgjk-Mt_glRnYjJICztBp/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide explained that the top of Table Mountain had its own helipad in case someone has to be airlifted off the mountain or helicopters were needed to fight fires on the mountain.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFgQ5rs6rNyc5o8dU4xgGLt7y63zux0F998fggaoApmv-QQL_vRZkR9p3-tNCkzBt-gqF87hJ7wDPIOngiZqeGnRrGlmEjUy0Gwr-x4uSbTWoiQBB0db29xfOaYxP2bmVC4QcHREsyis8/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFgQ5rs6rNyc5o8dU4xgGLt7y63zux0F998fggaoApmv-QQL_vRZkR9p3-tNCkzBt-gqF87hJ7wDPIOngiZqeGnRrGlmEjUy0Gwr-x4uSbTWoiQBB0db29xfOaYxP2bmVC4QcHREsyis8/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgb-N4YaBUd0aFPB66EEE8BsSW7nGD5TL6Fey9p1e05J5HG9QoYR3SnbI0w07X62sxP3hrxhSWOl9s850GphUOqWkjfGkj4jYrFjKYuZPoYIOl_nH6p70fs9e7Baqn5xzdhzbF5y77fpbLL/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-N4YaBUd0aFPB66EEE8BsSW7nGD5TL6Fey9p1e05J5HG9QoYR3SnbI0w07X62sxP3hrxhSWOl9s850GphUOqWkjfGkj4jYrFjKYuZPoYIOl_nH6p70fs9e7Baqn5xzdhzbF5y77fpbLL/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The hike up <b>Lion's Head </b>took about 40 minutes, according to the guide, depending on how fit you are. Steven and I did not take that fitness test!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFi0h9M5Xy3ABuSesTlnUJID0rilHFzG7nCkFK2JSG3OQzdGuDZD18ztbCvjYulZVB_OANEY-Y-yl8r5tKo2D6uKhqP7HhvKN1KxkvGnpGUXwvp3sKXZefKBdaVWBahXH0Zh-WoXxQ25i/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFi0h9M5Xy3ABuSesTlnUJID0rilHFzG7nCkFK2JSG3OQzdGuDZD18ztbCvjYulZVB_OANEY-Y-yl8r5tKo2D6uKhqP7HhvKN1KxkvGnpGUXwvp3sKXZefKBdaVWBahXH0Zh-WoXxQ25i/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of <b>Signal Hill</b> where we were headed after our tour of table Mountain:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPbgCIdMRv9t2U37VjBmCCXcl7wgEZof364QkLZ900waN57yAJ-vMXDVkJ5cj6PLWmWXJNdaHtTaiYx9zMjPkTBXi8o8RzBJl-fXITVNAYYC1iTubBz6iejbulAqifGgi570x2ZoyjHqA/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPbgCIdMRv9t2U37VjBmCCXcl7wgEZof364QkLZ900waN57yAJ-vMXDVkJ5cj6PLWmWXJNdaHtTaiYx9zMjPkTBXi8o8RzBJl-fXITVNAYYC1iTubBz6iejbulAqifGgi570x2ZoyjHqA/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of Cape Town's <b>V&A Waterfront</b> and <b>Robben Island,</b> both subjects of previous posts.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gnS8fqFCBcy_2wgMkjnDsUowgzyDRLOdqdxRA9XtbyW3jXFJadKG30__S-hlIZnlIq3Omkxf7-ukEbheQzhVZNIITMi4YXBmLKqpCpd54h0p4XH0WvtTSSVxPtmYBmuFEIKpksANO4eV/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gnS8fqFCBcy_2wgMkjnDsUowgzyDRLOdqdxRA9XtbyW3jXFJadKG30__S-hlIZnlIq3Omkxf7-ukEbheQzhVZNIITMi4YXBmLKqpCpd54h0p4XH0WvtTSSVxPtmYBmuFEIKpksANO4eV/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of Cape Town's dams:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx0KgWhyphenhyphenyeUqSly8JojRhVxzs8GWDovM9BXWCLNO-3uC6cVtQUs7uLjNA3NzVoYkd59gqszM8y1Li86BFLgqN1SqntS5mJT_O7D_8MUNa-qoVPIf-Q-d9G6OJIervqSTuEoDdyRQtPRQz/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx0KgWhyphenhyphenyeUqSly8JojRhVxzs8GWDovM9BXWCLNO-3uC6cVtQUs7uLjNA3NzVoYkd59gqszM8y1Li86BFLgqN1SqntS5mJT_O7D_8MUNa-qoVPIf-Q-d9G6OJIervqSTuEoDdyRQtPRQz/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The peak below is called <b>Devil's Peak </b>and is part of the mountainous backdrop to Cape Town</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIFK79ebH9e9z0tYa9oSr2IvUu7D4OPuak1epVM_9CtR6A0YyMGhkrBFOSpZIWCC9H5cVwHQsW-a4gHiImGzCcQU8PoDqgr8aIB8PNC56CErneq7TlS-1MENVBQXVxMmVQPd7yKJrI4GC/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIFK79ebH9e9z0tYa9oSr2IvUu7D4OPuak1epVM_9CtR6A0YyMGhkrBFOSpZIWCC9H5cVwHQsW-a4gHiImGzCcQU8PoDqgr8aIB8PNC56CErneq7TlS-1MENVBQXVxMmVQPd7yKJrI4GC/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can't tell you how glad we were to have chosen this as our first activity of the day because we had read that, if there were problems with the winds and the mountain were closed, it would most likely happen in the afternoon hours. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj7hXwWSAKYWRdlSgCpLBg8IF91IRlGe4HM2ZxpPt8iq-_Yj3Fy64pYSSDDS6Vm0cEdLx49bUETqnwOkPttbPqle2f3m2-OLdPwNdWhtsIbQpjMq_gf61vQ8W0ey-Rtf3ZA819NhsIUi2/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj7hXwWSAKYWRdlSgCpLBg8IF91IRlGe4HM2ZxpPt8iq-_Yj3Fy64pYSSDDS6Vm0cEdLx49bUETqnwOkPttbPqle2f3m2-OLdPwNdWhtsIbQpjMq_gf61vQ8W0ey-Rtf3ZA819NhsIUi2/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjwuF6Ii9A3ttJBvj7Zz2nOthH0s0UogpR9td0DxJgJZkhJsTVjTqM6hQTvaFhvr0t4roBCkUNUBEoCqsqThoWQyPTB7UI45XZ0SIJIfL2Y1nH6aEE-Tu8g_Ca50M6HCvqmcPxmHiqQODoP/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuF6Ii9A3ttJBvj7Zz2nOthH0s0UogpR9td0DxJgJZkhJsTVjTqM6hQTvaFhvr0t4roBCkUNUBEoCqsqThoWQyPTB7UI45XZ0SIJIfL2Y1nH6aEE-Tu8g_Ca50M6HCvqmcPxmHiqQODoP/s320/074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of the former </span><span style="font-size: large;">inner-city </span><span style="font-size: large;">residential area known as <b>District Six.</b> Over 60,000 of its inhabitants were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime. You'll discover more about District Six in the third post from 12/5; hopefully, it won't be too long before I get around to writing that one!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGawQ81shF2nwQ1t_2DMfMc7X6b5ewdTpi16AE8TGcw6tsy3IaTiIyR3XDKJHuNxzyyV7xRV-QCjI-mFWvATp2M_HRJyTchqpOjJREn5mjg512PpnomEzDBKoo3W777J_pp5oHmsqgsCr/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGawQ81shF2nwQ1t_2DMfMc7X6b5ewdTpi16AE8TGcw6tsy3IaTiIyR3XDKJHuNxzyyV7xRV-QCjI-mFWvATp2M_HRJyTchqpOjJREn5mjg512PpnomEzDBKoo3W777J_pp5oHmsqgsCr/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide mentioned that Cape Town has the same latitude as Perth, Australia and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The latter city is on our list of places to visit when we travel to South America this fall, God willing. Here was an altogether different view of <b>Cape Town Stadium </b>from the one we'd seen en route to Robben Island a few days ago.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bB4wKBuQInVQ_Ls9qP0yYFggUGv8aFFzEQWomypBOUwAEDi3FU98wWvTDUan8caIEaoor5yncPUhpuxDpI1SjhCEytLve-Yb9LY1JT1bAl5V-uqgDw67FOszNCaZ_Byt0Xy94znZqdVC/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bB4wKBuQInVQ_Ls9qP0yYFggUGv8aFFzEQWomypBOUwAEDi3FU98wWvTDUan8caIEaoor5yncPUhpuxDpI1SjhCEytLve-Yb9LY1JT1bAl5V-uqgDw67FOszNCaZ_Byt0Xy94znZqdVC/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide indicated that because there were 23 species of snakes on Table Mountain, it was sometimes referred to as <b>Snake Mountain! </b>Luckily, only 7 of them were poisonous. Yup, I know the following is not a photo of a snake but the shot of the lizard was the closest I could get to that of a snake!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cDzCQrP3xxr-6f3On7_XgpLm98KcAT13lZATYjhAteyq4cyi4xS3nLv28-cR3XmuMnQlHaNLbxOF3Df-5ozv0NQAQyTM4p5wRSuPngGAFB_20ypz8uM1sga-KQHWr-b7xGPgF2dYEyyy/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cDzCQrP3xxr-6f3On7_XgpLm98KcAT13lZATYjhAteyq4cyi4xS3nLv28-cR3XmuMnQlHaNLbxOF3Df-5ozv0NQAQyTM4p5wRSuPngGAFB_20ypz8uM1sga-KQHWr-b7xGPgF2dYEyyy/s320/078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the guided walk ended, we continued walking around the plateau for a good while.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpq7ymukznDMNYMprt36DBGDicyG90Tn7Vq_VtQd5ZIK3nsD9Sv95qABJ4mRNf6JdyIa_QDlRp-W5FTLx9RwswwBZgov23JxNEAe2_j9w71EEfdLIDzIy0XqX_-o4qWDhLNzIi6DVnkpr/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpq7ymukznDMNYMprt36DBGDicyG90Tn7Vq_VtQd5ZIK3nsD9Sv95qABJ4mRNf6JdyIa_QDlRp-W5FTLx9RwswwBZgov23JxNEAe2_j9w71EEfdLIDzIy0XqX_-o4qWDhLNzIi6DVnkpr/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjxP9-eDWbNr9QXzjYHmXIKKVumXr4kSVKvf7qXVCCmVJr_2bqqX5sut-NdcTxrNyYqM4oz6wc9jFv8Q0l3Zfwj_NbulkHylaEml4AfQRl5Xn0rScfmdYo_kx7GrxmVJQQ9S0ITYKJHZGOW/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP9-eDWbNr9QXzjYHmXIKKVumXr4kSVKvf7qXVCCmVJr_2bqqX5sut-NdcTxrNyYqM4oz6wc9jFv8Q0l3Zfwj_NbulkHylaEml4AfQRl5Xn0rScfmdYo_kx7GrxmVJQQ9S0ITYKJHZGOW/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved the philosophy expressed on the plaque: Time is one of Life's Most Precious Gifts.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAmsKv3cF8Nft3sutneeSGOTRW6P9hZijEzwY4aFytrdLm9Y62Yt19r_OfUm3cZ4veScv-Cw6FgnM5Q2uL8VKqvITIvEAj6Yhh5ay1v8V1OXbQ_l91Cdj7e3plPXTS2bLlWmtJa8fZmU4/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAmsKv3cF8Nft3sutneeSGOTRW6P9hZijEzwY4aFytrdLm9Y62Yt19r_OfUm3cZ4veScv-Cw6FgnM5Q2uL8VKqvITIvEAj6Yhh5ay1v8V1OXbQ_l91Cdj7e3plPXTS2bLlWmtJa8fZmU4/s320/082.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some more photos atop Table Mountain National Park:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOWZ1wLSgmBw_gXhvJU5zl4VWynoGq8B8-A-Kudoxl-yHlI0F4ef9KHegmZez280vcwrY1-jUETfn-3JLnb6Q4Lz_DIl39Ew0FJcFXGnKA9fK-wmU3WE9D4E1TgsMu6gS84Bqswozq57X/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOWZ1wLSgmBw_gXhvJU5zl4VWynoGq8B8-A-Kudoxl-yHlI0F4ef9KHegmZez280vcwrY1-jUETfn-3JLnb6Q4Lz_DIl39Ew0FJcFXGnKA9fK-wmU3WE9D4E1TgsMu6gS84Bqswozq57X/s320/083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkKitfMWWdG1ABthxYT9YFm2HWWG2wdPoYZB6SMsDr0HqBJW27_13eEYvqoIGD2GPTyd6kImOiNF0z2f6XVmnXau42sr3Ia9x147BxxaYkDwCKo9o3wILerUHvHiNbKQnwY4NS91S8zZ_/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkKitfMWWdG1ABthxYT9YFm2HWWG2wdPoYZB6SMsDr0HqBJW27_13eEYvqoIGD2GPTyd6kImOiNF0z2f6XVmnXau42sr3Ia9x147BxxaYkDwCKo9o3wILerUHvHiNbKQnwY4NS91S8zZ_/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJbUiTJFJBd4bR5ktui40KFn69VGn7gcbagjXpCr01X550G-a6d4mf1_5npeRbWhzLZ3t7ZJIOCLdv80UnV_i5h16s3ru3In_kitJ3zbPN9Uuda3Go94x_UotZ13ymxt0_irLkjnocn2F/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJbUiTJFJBd4bR5ktui40KFn69VGn7gcbagjXpCr01X550G-a6d4mf1_5npeRbWhzLZ3t7ZJIOCLdv80UnV_i5h16s3ru3In_kitJ3zbPN9Uuda3Go94x_UotZ13ymxt0_irLkjnocn2F/s320/086.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We felt like we were on top of the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3bMxW80ciufs0L4yEqzZRmqTichfSGFyU8gY8dVC27KYiWutz_vtbT0AiKISftX0J3mm8txCsqKKGew52W3i4dzh2eOQlZfIolGhANdnsVzRqbQb6vIweWlV03xaJnjXSKu4m27-U9AK/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3bMxW80ciufs0L4yEqzZRmqTichfSGFyU8gY8dVC27KYiWutz_vtbT0AiKISftX0J3mm8txCsqKKGew52W3i4dzh2eOQlZfIolGhANdnsVzRqbQb6vIweWlV03xaJnjXSKu4m27-U9AK/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWynQthGM30laFqvYRLrBGfGmNTvtbkEuR5KvwQveeuOKspkEblpkAKXQFFoqfaGlnzl0xn2yBJIirXDs3l_hjGiCL7EfSdW0DCYmgyBdcBwqWuYZFk6ns3JRxZmLtNq1eP9iHO0xm_wj/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWynQthGM30laFqvYRLrBGfGmNTvtbkEuR5KvwQveeuOKspkEblpkAKXQFFoqfaGlnzl0xn2yBJIirXDs3l_hjGiCL7EfSdW0DCYmgyBdcBwqWuYZFk6ns3JRxZmLtNq1eP9iHO0xm_wj/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK52E9KE4MUk6V5RgIJ2A6gmyd08pTrbs8lYH-6WqEYgTN9ZGKcIA9PCw7_yYokK3UUSj1dcvQsF94BxBRBheIrVWtT9Snqg9jyO_E4cAvBd4jaka_7bne9e98WSoX1r5p3hDUBBVo1ewp/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK52E9KE4MUk6V5RgIJ2A6gmyd08pTrbs8lYH-6WqEYgTN9ZGKcIA9PCw7_yYokK3UUSj1dcvQsF94BxBRBheIrVWtT9Snqg9jyO_E4cAvBd4jaka_7bne9e98WSoX1r5p3hDUBBVo1ewp/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On a clear day such as we were lucky enough to have, the views were to die for. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UlRSWF32fISYo24eNZadjvgcCwUTlXTS20ZxTWfJemBf8_YN7ydIOJtEK5JcL5HCAWY2X5mv5H6-sNJhWrs1KpN6nJ7NUqhWTggTYz17khDGHVXvhlaZnBsgR8txJj0Q5dal_4Gm574z/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UlRSWF32fISYo24eNZadjvgcCwUTlXTS20ZxTWfJemBf8_YN7ydIOJtEK5JcL5HCAWY2X5mv5H6-sNJhWrs1KpN6nJ7NUqhWTggTYz17khDGHVXvhlaZnBsgR8txJj0Q5dal_4Gm574z/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEOZd5lTUo7QtqVO_IJiF27i-wahlPwbryO8ByvFimqq2v2j7xBMvqrNSvjj54G83YKxQ86dJWsprqSPz_uNxtF3tlFR8jtY0Q60Kk0KKZNePzyvjq6Co9Nqz5suMbvnQ_Xj2uGqvl4WG/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEOZd5lTUo7QtqVO_IJiF27i-wahlPwbryO8ByvFimqq2v2j7xBMvqrNSvjj54G83YKxQ86dJWsprqSPz_uNxtF3tlFR8jtY0Q60Kk0KKZNePzyvjq6Co9Nqz5suMbvnQ_Xj2uGqvl4WG/s320/091.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xccjh1JTTAFgZ9loeSIFku2YSytLHyuHSRLtTbwvdWGV3b6Nw7vfMvsaDRqZvLYSVvKiMKUtSmdO-sxSXrfkPdNaEioY1WEmoMzowX8Yz915EuM91SBPY6x6pTnF3Tha7_9zcnbpTx80/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xccjh1JTTAFgZ9loeSIFku2YSytLHyuHSRLtTbwvdWGV3b6Nw7vfMvsaDRqZvLYSVvKiMKUtSmdO-sxSXrfkPdNaEioY1WEmoMzowX8Yz915EuM91SBPY6x6pTnF3Tha7_9zcnbpTx80/s320/092.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was so glad that Steven dared to go no further as it was straight down from there!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih323UCir0IDAHRi_k0fevPSWufRY5Jt6Cj2e89x-Fw2Fv3yqagcUcBNrwKjLtlZ_0gjN_Fu9YK7Bth3bI8xaVIoUIEJ1Vhyj08Sit7zybL943QYJzk9-JiqnFBVc9PIW28d0YQIkEiHLY/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih323UCir0IDAHRi_k0fevPSWufRY5Jt6Cj2e89x-Fw2Fv3yqagcUcBNrwKjLtlZ_0gjN_Fu9YK7Bth3bI8xaVIoUIEJ1Vhyj08Sit7zybL943QYJzk9-JiqnFBVc9PIW28d0YQIkEiHLY/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of the coastal road we had taken the previous day to <b>Camps Bay.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJmYnpGVcLCDqwsEZoyM_Zq2JGIUSn1nKOHtKUhIoOuSp7wyG02ZEXngg6ezgwl_mg-uAQcZPEW3G3nw1EwH11ix3k1nGF3wuNAh2gyDcoGTLD-peTVcipHHQ9QXOSe0yRjl8zkKEc3-_/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJmYnpGVcLCDqwsEZoyM_Zq2JGIUSn1nKOHtKUhIoOuSp7wyG02ZEXngg6ezgwl_mg-uAQcZPEW3G3nw1EwH11ix3k1nGF3wuNAh2gyDcoGTLD-peTVcipHHQ9QXOSe0yRjl8zkKEc3-_/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before visiting this part of the world, I had always thought the southernmost tip of the African continent was the Cape of Good Hope. However, <b>Agulhas, </b>located more than 100 miles south of Cape Town, is actually the geographic southern tip of the African continent and the beginning of the dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans according to the International Hydrographic Organization.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUk7MA_X_3ocU7Le-eYCzyUsgoRJ0s74XVlBSy9vsbM-22W7yxp_Qu3YBWmFhEqgamd2kQ0dAJGWua5jloqHs2wTSZpzKMwGQ1G0pdeTG5oV_gPJnO7jfJ-ZrS2sJ02hfpcDGXzeEniH-/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUk7MA_X_3ocU7Le-eYCzyUsgoRJ0s74XVlBSy9vsbM-22W7yxp_Qu3YBWmFhEqgamd2kQ0dAJGWua5jloqHs2wTSZpzKMwGQ1G0pdeTG5oV_gPJnO7jfJ-ZrS2sJ02hfpcDGXzeEniH-/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvTjDCT1F9E5kA1ym-ePqLFgWVeLXRU1fqjNq4NgGLsWeJQtFSeltQunvMVJ2CWVX-xaGdU1DG4xIJEQQ2BhdLVBBWYaGhn7vBN4olC7bXQz5jrmgY426LwaP86t8FAKrclEPfxTY3eBf/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvTjDCT1F9E5kA1ym-ePqLFgWVeLXRU1fqjNq4NgGLsWeJQtFSeltQunvMVJ2CWVX-xaGdU1DG4xIJEQQ2BhdLVBBWYaGhn7vBN4olC7bXQz5jrmgY426LwaP86t8FAKrclEPfxTY3eBf/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">According to a sign on the plateau, Table Mountain became "one of the <b>New 7 Wonders of Nature </b>when it was elected by the second global voting campaign, held from 2007-2011, in the history of mankind via the internet and telephone. This marked the beginning of the third millennium and celebrated nature's diversity."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuMrPGUxjNnVmKzaTtHtxVZ_l3enkdyFhCOE88PP8FBuwz1bzq8dIcTFd063ZyJ-IPzvukgTwQrijHc3kIgLnN3LbQ5muT2ujt0kxSzZqAGx_j_R3T3vd18EPY9CPiVwoxtdRZTPKsQMj/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuMrPGUxjNnVmKzaTtHtxVZ_l3enkdyFhCOE88PP8FBuwz1bzq8dIcTFd063ZyJ-IPzvukgTwQrijHc3kIgLnN3LbQ5muT2ujt0kxSzZqAGx_j_R3T3vd18EPY9CPiVwoxtdRZTPKsQMj/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven said rather cynically that somebody sure made a lot of money from that campaign!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIOkwwwefjlDNzAZGVfgM3reD9rlWxLHuiGfpeN_V1f8_cAdQxPOvKiHDu40mh4Oorm3tZKPmkWJGf5IvtAbiGB1A4cqmwGL_z5lznBatBYnzC2HbBSOxgMXHkCk-XuSsPqBO1gyv49AG/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIOkwwwefjlDNzAZGVfgM3reD9rlWxLHuiGfpeN_V1f8_cAdQxPOvKiHDu40mh4Oorm3tZKPmkWJGf5IvtAbiGB1A4cqmwGL_z5lznBatBYnzC2HbBSOxgMXHkCk-XuSsPqBO1gyv49AG/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were relieved we didn't have to take the emergency basket down the mountain when we decided to leave!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sbU_WUGIU4X1HsQza9A-EwDwlCrNKZDtVgywUtCjS6u1KBXW8o7WMAL9sj0kOEasZ3eH4fpdXjVLUKL9KotJq02xOpdAbQaI2hgR57Zacge7gvakIYSd5sTnmtXG3YB1yQe18LOMVZTV/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sbU_WUGIU4X1HsQza9A-EwDwlCrNKZDtVgywUtCjS6u1KBXW8o7WMAL9sj0kOEasZ3eH4fpdXjVLUKL9KotJq02xOpdAbQaI2hgR57Zacge7gvakIYSd5sTnmtXG3YB1yQe18LOMVZTV/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS3VSE8d7yAbUmTmK-mHwYsM4n8JMnRDgq0VZi8qQjQgzi0TY6xhemRNsLXtIL8Lz-g5zzaLKNza_YVavxadTXUy8y3GqpWp7hNwTC0Pnq2NXUKu5lPHuXCU9R_CvsPf7_PAe69vvZwRy/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS3VSE8d7yAbUmTmK-mHwYsM4n8JMnRDgq0VZi8qQjQgzi0TY6xhemRNsLXtIL8Lz-g5zzaLKNza_YVavxadTXUy8y3GqpWp7hNwTC0Pnq2NXUKu5lPHuXCU9R_CvsPf7_PAe69vvZwRy/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-d6WmD9hHqe7ch0M0aZ4dwcZu6nVVUHYE7Dr7sjOKYha_fp1MHVOt-Ntn4ZkZGATBWLravRLzU4vNmh4Yq-7xYSX0QUxGlbyUXFC-K4SP38tkRr25O9ZElniZhJYScI4aqPao7vtlq5l/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-d6WmD9hHqe7ch0M0aZ4dwcZu6nVVUHYE7Dr7sjOKYha_fp1MHVOt-Ntn4ZkZGATBWLravRLzU4vNmh4Yq-7xYSX0QUxGlbyUXFC-K4SP38tkRr25O9ZElniZhJYScI4aqPao7vtlq5l/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgAdml_OSs8gdwm2bjWjlxSYny7MxdocJv25IVVuGZTWu5cvK86IKAckKGfZnB1v-xE2Z9uDnEJv3U-beYR0vDVEOMTjrMz_16cWa5V378BZKISAil3CPlZOrXQqZmT0opna3mVbwC6lO/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgAdml_OSs8gdwm2bjWjlxSYny7MxdocJv25IVVuGZTWu5cvK86IKAckKGfZnB1v-xE2Z9uDnEJv3U-beYR0vDVEOMTjrMz_16cWa5V378BZKISAil3CPlZOrXQqZmT0opna3mVbwC6lO/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We didn't see anyone using the hiking path on either the ride up or down the mountain; think it was probably because it was a hot day and there was not a speck of shade on the arduous hike.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNiIPLh3NqG-dUulbX-mlbL0ZFgqfQosOlyQKX0Z5b3xAPA6cDF7pkb52THZ4Juh5FLth4-4KQYeCeauYA3a4mHWKZylbREaM7F0jl60kYxZAWlT-XiIBMMtnW6c3pf4hm3xx8MeYUX9E/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNiIPLh3NqG-dUulbX-mlbL0ZFgqfQosOlyQKX0Z5b3xAPA6cDF7pkb52THZ4Juh5FLth4-4KQYeCeauYA3a4mHWKZylbREaM7F0jl60kYxZAWlT-XiIBMMtnW6c3pf4hm3xx8MeYUX9E/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Were we lucky we'd arrived when we had that morning so as to avoid an even longer walk back to the car as there was, surprisingly, no parking lot at Table Mountain. As soon as we had parked that morning, an enterprising young man came up to us and said he would 'watch' our car, i.e. with the expectation of a tip on our return! We'd also encountered the same entrepreneurship the day before at the parking lot in Boulders Beach.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sN2IGBzmI9GZLysZDpLsAlQw462dKvMBNmeWZ_yWWD-mrT2HWInN6YAivlzrEarJPGSpndNPyD2Eb6_UYTE9j0bzzYcTx5n7HBPdlaE9CMEv0RuIMophE03WVVhCieua0WtDQ4nq_5ni/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sN2IGBzmI9GZLysZDpLsAlQw462dKvMBNmeWZ_yWWD-mrT2HWInN6YAivlzrEarJPGSpndNPyD2Eb6_UYTE9j0bzzYcTx5n7HBPdlaE9CMEv0RuIMophE03WVVhCieua0WtDQ4nq_5ni/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next w</span><span style="font-size: large;">e drove on to <b>Signal Hill</b> which we'd observed from Table Mountain. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The road kept skirting the mountain - glad neither of us ever suffer from car sickness as we would have had a tough time on that road!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYKa2qpx8OIK-FfSCePDOVyHZSsk4ypx7kbL9ukxpJCPep1wgT9RC1A08tDSIwHZAcAjf5YqVptC1dnB1zK1XwiS4FCfRdt_MJhyWwYqLbiG8zlDxPciYoJHs-euXGeuOsxJD9ipSmrux/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYKa2qpx8OIK-FfSCePDOVyHZSsk4ypx7kbL9ukxpJCPep1wgT9RC1A08tDSIwHZAcAjf5YqVptC1dnB1zK1XwiS4FCfRdt_MJhyWwYqLbiG8zlDxPciYoJHs-euXGeuOsxJD9ipSmrux/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know Steven would have preferred this gorgeous baby blue Mustang convertible to our boring white rental car! There were <b>so </b>many white cars in Cape Town it was hard to find ours in the sea of white cars.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rGakMTZhRS2tutO5x0lKCMRTAC6_PvffBkm3ybqrp9Av6ofV3lIsZRXnKITxjoT_v72pXEyRQ-MahWA7O6KFJjlkrY1ZcHQfLDNi9_baZ12PQ3xkklsNO4yN3mbERtwOkjXMTXjQozY9/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rGakMTZhRS2tutO5x0lKCMRTAC6_PvffBkm3ybqrp9Av6ofV3lIsZRXnKITxjoT_v72pXEyRQ-MahWA7O6KFJjlkrY1ZcHQfLDNi9_baZ12PQ3xkklsNO4yN3mbERtwOkjXMTXjQozY9/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">At Signal Hill, flags were used to communicate weather warnings as well as anchoring instructions to visiting ships in order to ensure that they prepared adequately for stormy weather while in the bay. Similarly, ships could use flags to signal for assistance if, for example, an anchor line parted during a storm. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Signal Hill is also known for the Noon Gun that is operated there by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdoIRz6-nmkNCTRfhM8PGcpSCySwHTI6j9rA2_X9rnIQkJDo_va9NSXKFAyj1PEQQ3geH03pAC01t1biSc2lyMQXc96SEyenlCLSENPjkT0koEihj2uHgCFFMO1Hov4-5nzggWo7jpeE9/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdoIRz6-nmkNCTRfhM8PGcpSCySwHTI6j9rA2_X9rnIQkJDo_va9NSXKFAyj1PEQQ3geH03pAC01t1biSc2lyMQXc96SEyenlCLSENPjkT0koEihj2uHgCFFMO1Hov4-5nzggWo7jpeE9/s320/118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1836, a time ball was set up at the Cape Town Observatory, however it was not visible to ships in the harbor, so a second time ball was erected on Signal Hill in order to relay the precise moment of 1 pm Cape Mean Time. In this way ships in the bay were able to check their marine chronometers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT-ZcI1OdM0hkvg5VgsRIzXmhfpSz_QurUHExc7ETn3cxl8dzDcSghZ-Buny-LLXaMjV-4UHNGMDF_5joiReZ6oLS4v4iuCGQUpafSTi6cWTzgSxyrn63UoFQyczI8YoCQcQNaKFJhIfv/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT-ZcI1OdM0hkvg5VgsRIzXmhfpSz_QurUHExc7ETn3cxl8dzDcSghZ-Buny-LLXaMjV-4UHNGMDF_5joiReZ6oLS4v4iuCGQUpafSTi6cWTzgSxyrn63UoFQyczI8YoCQcQNaKFJhIfv/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tandem paragliding flights took off one right after another from near the Signal Hill parking lot. Neither of us had ever been that close to anything that exciting before so it was huge fun watching them, especially since the different fabric wings were so very colorful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUJj4JWzkHkiO3ubGpk9xJ2UmbXpwcF4Pz9AR9IbHoBFQmdDdl39AKhZDQYQjj_-FpOqeObOW5DF5KDqQcHaXgRJxgQp1zaC-v183qpN38F9L1YQTVqynjH1L_H9w2jLN075TFJzkU2ll/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUJj4JWzkHkiO3ubGpk9xJ2UmbXpwcF4Pz9AR9IbHoBFQmdDdl39AKhZDQYQjj_-FpOqeObOW5DF5KDqQcHaXgRJxgQp1zaC-v183qpN38F9L1YQTVqynjH1L_H9w2jLN075TFJzkU2ll/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlPvbTCL0oFaUGqos0DdiCvwexlJX_XlJUS_CF8awzvk3chKErTwuruF1NJ4iPZVE4knhXk_9N6BcG2_bwAv2t-crH8-nU-iFMdkaxWHV1OR9X-w_5uch8eEbDk-MKHW70RUWWF_6Juqx/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlPvbTCL0oFaUGqos0DdiCvwexlJX_XlJUS_CF8awzvk3chKErTwuruF1NJ4iPZVE4knhXk_9N6BcG2_bwAv2t-crH8-nU-iFMdkaxWHV1OR9X-w_5uch8eEbDk-MKHW70RUWWF_6Juqx/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgGJYaLwgve-9P9YjHhCpxrtzEAYbJY0TxHFuRLDqWw-R263Y5habiDncauLvb8d9j5e4IJvCS1FbhYVse8XCowzUD63N0EJjJTegsFHof1cdkjI7f9gWzMqkSOBwKhhOzNV8R2cb0eGlQS/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJYaLwgve-9P9YjHhCpxrtzEAYbJY0TxHFuRLDqWw-R263Y5habiDncauLvb8d9j5e4IJvCS1FbhYVse8XCowzUD63N0EJjJTegsFHof1cdkjI7f9gWzMqkSOBwKhhOzNV8R2cb0eGlQS/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgsLg-vS-HbJczzKRHMGuzsMW0D0Rynw5zUlfDtPDPy9SLhv21XszGjV6ClcYqZtCoMiW3ycIxH7h5gkykwvpL0Rvu0Ynbc4SXb7Mt078fNhXwZOD3PEteXJpS5Y8ISKnbyMuj-cWAm1zwB/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLg-vS-HbJczzKRHMGuzsMW0D0Rynw5zUlfDtPDPy9SLhv21XszGjV6ClcYqZtCoMiW3ycIxH7h5gkykwvpL0Rvu0Ynbc4SXb7Mt078fNhXwZOD3PEteXJpS5Y8ISKnbyMuj-cWAm1zwB/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We overhead one of the instructors tell the tourist she needed to run as fast as she could and not to overthink it. Easy for him to say, I couldn't help thinking!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHww7JZV8OpTqhcXtH8CaSFV6Wu_G1vKM-e-Qcc_c56u_jv_q4upAHko7MGzvnzAQG_VY_U0vr_1upldJPu0-P5hrRZnY_ZbBqg9Ki0KIZcpBNP5GMrWnTuCI8SLlGBBWvYUK08oNh-ssP/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHww7JZV8OpTqhcXtH8CaSFV6Wu_G1vKM-e-Qcc_c56u_jv_q4upAHko7MGzvnzAQG_VY_U0vr_1upldJPu0-P5hrRZnY_ZbBqg9Ki0KIZcpBNP5GMrWnTuCI8SLlGBBWvYUK08oNh-ssP/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't get over the fact that there was so much to see and do in Cape Town - it really was one of, if not, <b>the</b> most exciting cities we've ever been to. When we'd heard somebody on Table Mountain say how he'd fallen in love with Cape Town, we nodded our heads in agreement as we felt exactly the same.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqIR8Rr1DNbxkLOcQpiKyE9Zyz9MtAmzDwSKTo3M2Pr1s7PWDUUK_OtUCta_9kaudk8kg5hCXDU-yG_0fDf4K_Qbh7L_T3hAL3BZ09KexTadEo5MKA0QapUVtVXZsxeypEJzfuFXc8NPm/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqIR8Rr1DNbxkLOcQpiKyE9Zyz9MtAmzDwSKTo3M2Pr1s7PWDUUK_OtUCta_9kaudk8kg5hCXDU-yG_0fDf4K_Qbh7L_T3hAL3BZ09KexTadEo5MKA0QapUVtVXZsxeypEJzfuFXc8NPm/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Watching the paragliding teams take off was like seeing airplanes take off a runway, one also immediately after another.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjtdrA4wvJU8KL5irlzOMlIxtT4VkNsp1g4303JwPBztSoK3xkm245gSAoh3BE0eGqwrMlsAW-mvDUTN6D8v6vsr-emXBbvHti2g86UiXV90eJDp1LjDIMDRd6pl1OOWU2COp2HtlvHeY/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjtdrA4wvJU8KL5irlzOMlIxtT4VkNsp1g4303JwPBztSoK3xkm245gSAoh3BE0eGqwrMlsAW-mvDUTN6D8v6vsr-emXBbvHti2g86UiXV90eJDp1LjDIMDRd6pl1OOWU2COp2HtlvHeY/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO1oaQ9KbaUIZtAIR7nG0jgNKpanMLOcHnSsysuDN6x_U8N_iBnB386xhzPuEJcuYhS6tkQo0eoAPux8_IOnfxnyxQT23uLDGuvlbuVzVf2tLKi8GGi1gV3534J5SVEMGqmzbC1ZLhPrx/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO1oaQ9KbaUIZtAIR7nG0jgNKpanMLOcHnSsysuDN6x_U8N_iBnB386xhzPuEJcuYhS6tkQo0eoAPux8_IOnfxnyxQT23uLDGuvlbuVzVf2tLKi8GGi1gV3534J5SVEMGqmzbC1ZLhPrx/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was impossible to tell from our vantage point if the paragliders actually 'flew' over the water or whether they were 'only' over land the entire time. Wherever the air currents took each of the teams, it was a joy watching them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhFJnUQHNYK_8EiAKDDJcV9mRXVCue-XqSizfYgfJ9Z1Tfbeml4-xKBraudRN-6VLYF79RcpRvKulS-JBFQz4yGPVWWBZlm__8LbRt-GN_X5CF3Hky5RyZOOCviarEseTLSAujGrdrWVP/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhFJnUQHNYK_8EiAKDDJcV9mRXVCue-XqSizfYgfJ9Z1Tfbeml4-xKBraudRN-6VLYF79RcpRvKulS-JBFQz4yGPVWWBZlm__8LbRt-GN_X5CF3Hky5RyZOOCviarEseTLSAujGrdrWVP/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEia4tWbVsJN9RPk003mCoTpjhd7m99L-YU9RjABrQ1_95ty07oHZoUy-vlSVHGoJ_GVtGsGYepVDBmPYtKxHot5w5RiwvMQquZBCCuTiNXWS7pnI8kGeb5o6-2UK2aYEhOH9E6IhYFVPTv5/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4tWbVsJN9RPk003mCoTpjhd7m99L-YU9RjABrQ1_95ty07oHZoUy-vlSVHGoJ_GVtGsGYepVDBmPYtKxHot5w5RiwvMQquZBCCuTiNXWS7pnI8kGeb5o6-2UK2aYEhOH9E6IhYFVPTv5/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgZD0RfufQiYZSUWkYDH6tDJGgxHjAeAh4Ah2lm4lKWbOY0QpRbmO-XtGFZiMX_cwnfYHw_ImzsZMHsxtp0x-TpbWEgKY0EXbOlbvXEgc3I-Ve-rkmhoxMd1-JRyMYK8quMolrtOhLaaLcw/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD0RfufQiYZSUWkYDH6tDJGgxHjAeAh4Ah2lm4lKWbOY0QpRbmO-XtGFZiMX_cwnfYHw_ImzsZMHsxtp0x-TpbWEgKY0EXbOlbvXEgc3I-Ve-rkmhoxMd1-JRyMYK8quMolrtOhLaaLcw/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When one of the teams landed in the open space, I couldn't help but think of the expression 'The Eagle Has Landed.' The phrase was o</span><span style="font-size: large;">riginally used by Neil Armstrong when the first man made craft, the "Eagle," landed on the moon in July, 1969. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2D8LsBrT0F_b9jAr8MBqjub-0bJOnYUQSwk7kE_sRSNi74WiSTAzJJPD8Y-ojwEvFvsc5s1sWWT7CNLZuZk04JPJsFmhWqVd5gf0C1yn50gVMHml2-L_ukuZnBqZIu9JyFFxxFBEL-Yv/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2D8LsBrT0F_b9jAr8MBqjub-0bJOnYUQSwk7kE_sRSNi74WiSTAzJJPD8Y-ojwEvFvsc5s1sWWT7CNLZuZk04JPJsFmhWqVd5gf0C1yn50gVMHml2-L_ukuZnBqZIu9JyFFxxFBEL-Yv/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In celebration of Table Mountain being voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, a series of yellow frames, placed throughout Cape Town provided an idyllic vantage point for visitors to be photographed with the 'Wonder Mountain' i.e. Table Mountain, as a spectacular backdrop. You've seen me in a few of them already on our jaunts around Cape Town!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0nZ9eT-fK-9jGVQIcZKx_YXUnGNJxfC8YPQ2c8BW0LW6zAJGgeGLRbXX0HXxThZpfaGJ49k43Bp0kmjaWHqw_BhJaKtQO7qbJyGnKN9uxKYmg9mKd5jastnoQ-KyvH13VIFkDyCu7Ufb/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0nZ9eT-fK-9jGVQIcZKx_YXUnGNJxfC8YPQ2c8BW0LW6zAJGgeGLRbXX0HXxThZpfaGJ49k43Bp0kmjaWHqw_BhJaKtQO7qbJyGnKN9uxKYmg9mKd5jastnoQ-KyvH13VIFkDyCu7Ufb/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The other Wonders of Nature were <b>Halong Bay</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">in Vietnam (we took an all too brief cruise there in the fall of 2015), <b>Jeju Island</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">in South Korea, <b>Komodo Island</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">in Indonesia (also part of that 2015 trip),<b> Puerto Princesa Underground River</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b>in The Philippines, <b>Iguazu Falls</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> in Argentina and Brazil and the<b> Amazon River and Rainforest</b> (both on our list for this fall's trip to South America). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg-Zd4uXS7eR2oj1Jbt21lkvsIcyIS0NBCBvw3h_5MR657NiZKJOn51m4EGEiqaqnuzs5vg6CHh6a-YIO0l5gScHb1cNMZ5WOATRPVXin-AI1q7Wf3tgsf-P_abuGotZ1y0J2tl-esp0x/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg-Zd4uXS7eR2oj1Jbt21lkvsIcyIS0NBCBvw3h_5MR657NiZKJOn51m4EGEiqaqnuzs5vg6CHh6a-YIO0l5gScHb1cNMZ5WOATRPVXin-AI1q7Wf3tgsf-P_abuGotZ1y0J2tl-esp0x/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You might never have guessed but we'd really come to Signal Hill not only for the fantastic views but to go hiking! It was more than a tad off putting, though, spotting the 'Safety and Security Alert' that indicated we were now entering an area in which we might be exposed to safety and security risks. It also cautioned against hiking alone and recommended in only hiking in groups of four, not to carry cash, cameras or valuables and not to resist when threatened (by people, not animals). Did that stop us? No, but it sure unnerved us and made the prospect of hiking much there very unpleasant. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZM0wrOlZhaGeP-GsyeHRv609nrSyBFSbOp2lvSEupAp2A2EsTzPLEuuSb-IsJlOQw9oaO43uCo4eGyAo1yEr2afA6ZKCyqyQ-mOtWt-iHwWfpRwAKzNRYobWS04uk7J-QIExNgSJVx5l/s1600/149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZM0wrOlZhaGeP-GsyeHRv609nrSyBFSbOp2lvSEupAp2A2EsTzPLEuuSb-IsJlOQw9oaO43uCo4eGyAo1yEr2afA6ZKCyqyQ-mOtWt-iHwWfpRwAKzNRYobWS04uk7J-QIExNgSJVx5l/s320/149.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of all the places we've been fortunate enough to visit over the last four years, it was only in South Africa that we were constantly reminded of having to be on our guard because of potential safety concerns. How very sad because Cape Town especially is such an incredibly beautiful city in one of the most sublime locations on earth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OhkAHbKxHshivtOHKuHlo_f807Ph-A96EmmjHW3QaMY79MePL5mRxBTkTK2Pzkx2P5akzveeMhdjnO4MNrViGun_FWJqrPILGP-MUPOIp0lrxokD-MkP0N5eY4h6CjtHsic0fj8-exJn/s1600/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OhkAHbKxHshivtOHKuHlo_f807Ph-A96EmmjHW3QaMY79MePL5mRxBTkTK2Pzkx2P5akzveeMhdjnO4MNrViGun_FWJqrPILGP-MUPOIp0lrxokD-MkP0N5eY4h6CjtHsic0fj8-exJn/s320/150.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rzuDFn8bShsac38pGlIUnbajtYVlDnKheGMJCRVhJORt6dLvLEdBz3RVwSDOV8tQ0AI_sZ5akHVXmJAj7WlPcul_tKdqsLtM0w5TiNxzuqLp3IF-PyPBDRtpzk4-gHL0A2wrhObxasHd/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rzuDFn8bShsac38pGlIUnbajtYVlDnKheGMJCRVhJORt6dLvLEdBz3RVwSDOV8tQ0AI_sZ5akHVXmJAj7WlPcul_tKdqsLtM0w5TiNxzuqLp3IF-PyPBDRtpzk4-gHL0A2wrhObxasHd/s320/151.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cape Town's Central Business District:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04qU6pAHxIbJBUm1JT1qWDZsV15JK-8aJaGK5txdDgkYmGCS0mVE2NmnUN8g3HXdFMM4GmjQlOEft6pqugw5VpT8mINtotXc624iwDETGDBUQSb0Hqow55TkYC4BaDM3y_HvphyphenhyphenKKFIuA/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04qU6pAHxIbJBUm1JT1qWDZsV15JK-8aJaGK5txdDgkYmGCS0mVE2NmnUN8g3HXdFMM4GmjQlOEft6pqugw5VpT8mINtotXc624iwDETGDBUQSb0Hqow55TkYC4BaDM3y_HvphyphenhyphenKKFIuA/s320/155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After our abbreviated hike, we continued our day discovering more of the sights downtown. Next up that afternoon was exploring <b>Groote Kerk,</b> South Africa's oldest place of worship, </span><span style="font-size: large;">and the <b>Castle of Good Hope</b> (the subject of my next post) followed by the <b>District Six Museum</b> (another post coming up). I hope you'll stay tuned for each of them too!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 8th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-32466504185156367722017-02-06T06:35:00.000-08:002017-02-06T06:35:25.807-08:0012/4: Cape of Good Hope, African Penguins & World Class Drive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">After mostly exploring more of downtown Cape Town yesterday, today we looked forward to a drive south of the city to the <b>Cape of Good Hope, </b>located only 60 miles away. Since we had already visited some of the beaches on the Cape's Atlantic Ocean side, driving down on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape would be a wonderful change.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkqViVlz9vfxsH8pcvf-FmMiJQM_y0fMFkk35mXy8Tk6B0c8kNq_R1dqDxByI9EOjsnggxSx1Tw9-neXyqK_BrUB1eWhJ8M0q-YhEQ6-Mch_hTHoQwelfqH1EwzoJts15QQUTX8Hm_OsM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkqViVlz9vfxsH8pcvf-FmMiJQM_y0fMFkk35mXy8Tk6B0c8kNq_R1dqDxByI9EOjsnggxSx1Tw9-neXyqK_BrUB1eWhJ8M0q-YhEQ6-Mch_hTHoQwelfqH1EwzoJts15QQUTX8Hm_OsM/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard not to be effusive when talking about the drive as it was just fantastic following the coast all the way. In addition, we often passed trains hugging the coast to and from Cape Town on the way down to <b>Simon's Town, </b>the southernmost train station in Africa. Simon's Town was earmarked as a safe winter harbor in 1687 and then received that official proclamation in 1741. Not surprisingly given its early history, the town is home to the country's navy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUj7W3K1hA0t1LtHoCXpgCiuSgSZnxUMla9BxE0oUD6kYY5LbgyX9r4RRZIwHJmX_nzh03ha7TH_lsv5Y5SOYg3C7p5YZhiBu9uPuMTtw3vD2PT6VKm4ly4qz4na0Mcup3sghk7LQyEoU/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUj7W3K1hA0t1LtHoCXpgCiuSgSZnxUMla9BxE0oUD6kYY5LbgyX9r4RRZIwHJmX_nzh03ha7TH_lsv5Y5SOYg3C7p5YZhiBu9uPuMTtw3vD2PT6VKm4ly4qz4na0Mcup3sghk7LQyEoU/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhHXRvAoukYWuTGh-nwNgA-N4Cw_gk8o_E_II_cpcD23KnREbnTuPz7QQRHWwICV9QNRSi1TvP-20OgvvhGF3lU75aEwtdqfhmXpcclTyxvdsDonBxFOFPgFEkCtDbfp_cjUllVTuoMaHx7/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXRvAoukYWuTGh-nwNgA-N4Cw_gk8o_E_II_cpcD23KnREbnTuPz7QQRHWwICV9QNRSi1TvP-20OgvvhGF3lU75aEwtdqfhmXpcclTyxvdsDonBxFOFPgFEkCtDbfp_cjUllVTuoMaHx7/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6k9iLjohJmTjqOyW2VpF6TlrdNC1FQE-vKC4SrlF34uLsHVMwe366jPg0HrzawDKcfW6IScKGGHDmSBtOk8ifEA4K5tZQpLEubhdAXcENBjK9lzWyl-AiksOfBs0jtChB5AsjvkC9rbK/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6k9iLjohJmTjqOyW2VpF6TlrdNC1FQE-vKC4SrlF34uLsHVMwe366jPg0HrzawDKcfW6IScKGGHDmSBtOk8ifEA4K5tZQpLEubhdAXcENBjK9lzWyl-AiksOfBs0jtChB5AsjvkC9rbK/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLjXWTgRHbeO6hZOKv1aDxxvt7wL_IhyF7VqAQCqyWacrvMkgFnVPeCr4pjwUcBHDWGbrmjuOVbomHRLjN7bl0LUwLy_Ui1OSagdefvPSiFU860Ss6M-sv9h35roLhRvtc5ciS8mSGk4C/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLjXWTgRHbeO6hZOKv1aDxxvt7wL_IhyF7VqAQCqyWacrvMkgFnVPeCr4pjwUcBHDWGbrmjuOVbomHRLjN7bl0LUwLy_Ui1OSagdefvPSiFU860Ss6M-sv9h35roLhRvtc5ciS8mSGk4C/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had seen a number of Beware of Baboon signs all along the road/highway south of Cape Town. We knew to exercise extra caution when near them because they couldn't be not played with, touched or fed as they </span><span style="font-size: large;">can be aggressive</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC8eBXGTd1rvWxZc9ZBcJcIFMYgR6ae29S7HpzqHgke11TzAAtINMmLbrGNVURdNJThpMUXKyTitZpS45eIhpACZsDg_qoITDVTDqTEsaVQAq6xq7qkEqOPElx7mea3idquot11ZVbfQF/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC8eBXGTd1rvWxZc9ZBcJcIFMYgR6ae29S7HpzqHgke11TzAAtINMmLbrGNVURdNJThpMUXKyTitZpS45eIhpACZsDg_qoITDVTDqTEsaVQAq6xq7qkEqOPElx7mea3idquot11ZVbfQF/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrbmr8leWUGkbsaoGWrLpuFOHVrQdWsiRq2CVgZY8binwtGrdwxv-HFgKazGya34pXFrWf-qprxgAUqqF4FtdIcE-MnOIzTmywZflzBvzWI61t4NB2hT80wbNBqKmgLBYUVNGeUuXSZcr/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrbmr8leWUGkbsaoGWrLpuFOHVrQdWsiRq2CVgZY8binwtGrdwxv-HFgKazGya34pXFrWf-qprxgAUqqF4FtdIcE-MnOIzTmywZflzBvzWI61t4NB2hT80wbNBqKmgLBYUVNGeUuXSZcr/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4PwVfHYm5Z5LnHkdHFwLB8ozVAxYRoQb57YrhplH-IxgM5vPVr5wt01wCwmidGf6__L_K99YSRdwiDvXUURyXpGVRgiK84u67T-qJOCjTTtSIxHGmXyjLtTFkSa0-IWJ7BRaxv9moega/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4PwVfHYm5Z5LnHkdHFwLB8ozVAxYRoQb57YrhplH-IxgM5vPVr5wt01wCwmidGf6__L_K99YSRdwiDvXUURyXpGVRgiK84u67T-qJOCjTTtSIxHGmXyjLtTFkSa0-IWJ7BRaxv9moega/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKf6EnnZUuCK7U0tPq9GCN2r-O0w9JkavBi_t4ywgnydNP6FrmoZBIwZuNN6mW9X0cFrpdtLE9LckWv1dE9WlsXqv0llw8awrIVtI8-3m3ebTCFssdjJMIDtUMe6xGptWzkIiEzJpRzPA/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKf6EnnZUuCK7U0tPq9GCN2r-O0w9JkavBi_t4ywgnydNP6FrmoZBIwZuNN6mW9X0cFrpdtLE9LckWv1dE9WlsXqv0llw8awrIVtI8-3m3ebTCFssdjJMIDtUMe6xGptWzkIiEzJpRzPA/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwt-nIFK2BXbwBJbYugitLo1IBA4FyfweLMdnxgM9-KsRmKCALLXpeIgHvAhc10EKUDW-54yPou060gbKb3WkSeVocf3t4k7vw1k8sdI54tEuuJZ7jO_Q-uysYxJlYIdKPMlSAkayLKfA6/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwt-nIFK2BXbwBJbYugitLo1IBA4FyfweLMdnxgM9-KsRmKCALLXpeIgHvAhc10EKUDW-54yPou060gbKb3WkSeVocf3t4k7vw1k8sdI54tEuuJZ7jO_Q-uysYxJlYIdKPMlSAkayLKfA6/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjJK5lMgWicsfH9z4kmDzmRVzO2Z6zgKuqdWhxcg9RdKtC2P_6-nSQaZrQoCFH3MS4Px7a8CfrHKszW8SYaAWjDQxG563-4eBKj0ZkpZI9aqDZGo05ccio8m4k_3QGIy-XnR4xecimN0aLt/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK5lMgWicsfH9z4kmDzmRVzO2Z6zgKuqdWhxcg9RdKtC2P_6-nSQaZrQoCFH3MS4Px7a8CfrHKszW8SYaAWjDQxG563-4eBKj0ZkpZI9aqDZGo05ccio8m4k_3QGIy-XnR4xecimN0aLt/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhTamwVH_WoBuCE6XYCb1B8Q9VqTZYQqZ9T2wWdUhbI-cqOopOvRVko7i0McLmU87wgDidhc_cnY7dRQ2btXlbov4iGtEYHfoy2eBagdKMMKJHyVfQuOLKl13FvoeoKxo223bDacAthfK0c/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTamwVH_WoBuCE6XYCb1B8Q9VqTZYQqZ9T2wWdUhbI-cqOopOvRVko7i0McLmU87wgDidhc_cnY7dRQ2btXlbov4iGtEYHfoy2eBagdKMMKJHyVfQuOLKl13FvoeoKxo223bDacAthfK0c/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at the Cape of Good Hope entrance by 9ish as we had known to make sure to arrive early</span><span style="font-size: large;"> to beat the crowds. Some tourists had reported waiting in a traffic jam outside the entry gates for over an hour, because they arrived around 11 am. The area was declared a nature reserve in 1938 and became part of the Cape Peninsula National Park in 1998.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCT92Kt242pkIJ-vzEFmojOxB-gnMrF9zfM_NNL-1OEE0YXRxwKtR9ss-ZhyihGgUHlZCRwgGOpt6A30U6Quy07sCqUU8W8JhHXgNQBJUYaVAPuz9Ne4pSe9K9gKTQq7snB3zHtSOQs66l/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCT92Kt242pkIJ-vzEFmojOxB-gnMrF9zfM_NNL-1OEE0YXRxwKtR9ss-ZhyihGgUHlZCRwgGOpt6A30U6Quy07sCqUU8W8JhHXgNQBJUYaVAPuz9Ne4pSe9K9gKTQq7snB3zHtSOQs66l/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> A few years later, the park's name changed yet again, this time to <b>Table Mountain National Park</b> which </span><span style="font-size: large;">contains two well-known landmarks: Table Mountain in Cape Town, for which the park is named and the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern most extremity of Africa. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The latter property is included as part of the <b>UNESCO Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE3TIxbJxG-in3VQJzzx0r6uh2fvHrF3W3isJ9qxi0EVHRLl9XxiVrblLofvfjooSzdXZ7-iyE9P7ymOgyt_Mp-W6EXUC6jpwVD_OPPgNIxpQPKvGvTdNzraWYnLKkdKQJlJjIASvc2kh/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE3TIxbJxG-in3VQJzzx0r6uh2fvHrF3W3isJ9qxi0EVHRLl9XxiVrblLofvfjooSzdXZ7-iyE9P7ymOgyt_Mp-W6EXUC6jpwVD_OPPgNIxpQPKvGvTdNzraWYnLKkdKQJlJjIASvc2kh/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Saw the tortoise signs but none of the animals! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Tortoises are common in the park as South Africa is a world leader in the number of tortoises. Of the twelve species, ten are endemic, </span><span style="font-size: large;">which means they occur naturally nowhere else in the world,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">and four are found in the park.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaorVL_vp08AUp60x1sJEiUsXUOtFLpB1CRmRzyYrEaBVral4mj-WkeHhx0rG55mwmJOwjPlCwAYNLLouT3VwAtGl1bfYEKhu13v3wfvHQoksgELfE4HdR-SLHgobhlEzhgRQOZzd78y4L/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaorVL_vp08AUp60x1sJEiUsXUOtFLpB1CRmRzyYrEaBVral4mj-WkeHhx0rG55mwmJOwjPlCwAYNLLouT3VwAtGl1bfYEKhu13v3wfvHQoksgELfE4HdR-SLHgobhlEzhgRQOZzd78y4L/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Shortly after entering the park, the terrain changed markedly. It became very rocky with a profusion of spectacular flowers and multi-colored low lying bushes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0CK7-RwO92b7bhhRI2Hx9GdDUM4HY1OAUQIuLXj52v5e4BCEQkqr97EL0hL4UZuNJpHcZOT03RFvwLga46kxuG-MVIUxYXqHEq_sK2QRxgMM9n9Hxu56axckdE2SVJ9fVspdAPzBsZW/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0CK7-RwO92b7bhhRI2Hx9GdDUM4HY1OAUQIuLXj52v5e4BCEQkqr97EL0hL4UZuNJpHcZOT03RFvwLga46kxuG-MVIUxYXqHEq_sK2QRxgMM9n9Hxu56axckdE2SVJ9fVspdAPzBsZW/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaubhIqT2hMhoRC2XEMLRYtbBUoTScFbuB4lYgsEtZ5XyNVaQRPMoL4mebIXUFAgXF4V5Fi6qo_WdKyXksJKP5v9Sx_s2Y3_esPSkrS4rID6tagd_H_s-k2cbbwupOlOQ9z1uXaG8Ske-A/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaubhIqT2hMhoRC2XEMLRYtbBUoTScFbuB4lYgsEtZ5XyNVaQRPMoL4mebIXUFAgXF4V5Fi6qo_WdKyXksJKP5v9Sx_s2Y3_esPSkrS4rID6tagd_H_s-k2cbbwupOlOQ9z1uXaG8Ske-A/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't surprising that, since the southern part of Table Mountain National Park near the Cape of Good Hope is constantly exposed to gale-force winds, the vegetation was limited to hardy <b>milk wood trees </b>and scrub.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyy3EEu1w_0apetgxzUiPlWvXuh5WD1_bRA1Xa0lXncKe7BgzUZ40E4EoR71YARxtNDDq2BN8EVeDLk38DXJxFkHZmpvmW3psHRUhu_FBSJlnIyMJnzdH-0QaUCCuGNcGXohjSY5mte9ec/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyy3EEu1w_0apetgxzUiPlWvXuh5WD1_bRA1Xa0lXncKe7BgzUZ40E4EoR71YARxtNDDq2BN8EVeDLk38DXJxFkHZmpvmW3psHRUhu_FBSJlnIyMJnzdH-0QaUCCuGNcGXohjSY5mte9ec/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From a distance, these bushes looked like white rocks dotting the landscape as there were so many of them. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I learned that all the flowers and the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">small belt of natural shrub land </span><span style="font-size: large;">we were seeing were </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>fynbos,</b> meaning fine-leaved plants. Fynbos </span><span style="font-size: large;">grows in a coastal belt stretching from the west coast to the southeast coast </span><span style="font-size: large;">of South Africa</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">South African fynbos largely makes up the tiniest floral kingdom in the world.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9HLJviQwVZOKyeh6Th3GG0RomCb3LbqZ9cfvuru36wug8buRqKRGL7ptartRr0qSezZEDlbGvqeX7hZUbn7MEBcOa-zzxh-Ym6wzbASDcxj4V7VNk4Mnh9-R5hfQ0mWWCozihgldwDbA/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9HLJviQwVZOKyeh6Th3GG0RomCb3LbqZ9cfvuru36wug8buRqKRGL7ptartRr0qSezZEDlbGvqeX7hZUbn7MEBcOa-zzxh-Ym6wzbASDcxj4V7VNk4Mnh9-R5hfQ0mWWCozihgldwDbA/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUcOtcNbvDtz5G4mYfVJteKMqhJ-LobscvfenpFqZtMh89FWU6ZrKq-MCKmX9Qv6Oyprb9ebe0ywpXNWa2VOqSXW0xHH3UXzzhqbQzEShepnM-OKVyehEUcL-4J4JKXFhKvHwIY4R5eZS/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUcOtcNbvDtz5G4mYfVJteKMqhJ-LobscvfenpFqZtMh89FWU6ZrKq-MCKmX9Qv6Oyprb9ebe0ywpXNWa2VOqSXW0xHH3UXzzhqbQzEShepnM-OKVyehEUcL-4J4JKXFhKvHwIY4R5eZS/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were extremely fortunate seeing so many of the <b>Cape Snow </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">bush flowering because they only bloom from November until January.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eb6nmBxgb6IiIsxsbxEVMAT86-Ick6MzVvUT1MpKr5mO_M6qTX25H90Ak_0gZsr6OzOBZaHz9fE4sIMcMh9IKvlBK14QJbJ4KnOPLcMy-IHibf5LoNsc1WI1IoG-DKuXgscjx6PIQCLE/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eb6nmBxgb6IiIsxsbxEVMAT86-Ick6MzVvUT1MpKr5mO_M6qTX25H90Ak_0gZsr6OzOBZaHz9fE4sIMcMh9IKvlBK14QJbJ4KnOPLcMy-IHibf5LoNsc1WI1IoG-DKuXgscjx6PIQCLE/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The country's fynbos makes up 80% of the Cape Floral Region, a world of finely branched plants exquisitely adapted to flourish in poor soils and wildly varying rainfall. "In this small area, equivalent to a thinly smeared Portugal, there are more than 9,000 plant species, and of those, 70% are endemic." I thought it amazing that a full 3% of all the world's plants are found here, on less than 0.05% of the earth's land surface!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJjn9cIyMHJQ7ZQ2uMfbvKImuANAHTxZCuBm4vqQrCrpdh9jUXXRtnf8EAX9gS8lkQs3DiF9lQdkDMjBDSrmgr4mnQ5sndHxIrB6lR7_b11-E_HSZSmkwT0_XL-I3tb9IpKycZ5JyVHjd/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJjn9cIyMHJQ7ZQ2uMfbvKImuANAHTxZCuBm4vqQrCrpdh9jUXXRtnf8EAX9gS8lkQs3DiF9lQdkDMjBDSrmgr4mnQ5sndHxIrB6lR7_b11-E_HSZSmkwT0_XL-I3tb9IpKycZ5JyVHjd/s320/035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs62x1kcLViuxDsLaKP21-RKYEv02KJS6NpH8IBX6ALHM0LsXl9-wl_nuSmYT7880WySWnBvhLfQzD-_rGSLp5dMscpO1DJf3LZmW6yT6CQGfZXC8XgqXkoR5FQWW9TxAC9-96sLDmjyON/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs62x1kcLViuxDsLaKP21-RKYEv02KJS6NpH8IBX6ALHM0LsXl9-wl_nuSmYT7880WySWnBvhLfQzD-_rGSLp5dMscpO1DJf3LZmW6yT6CQGfZXC8XgqXkoR5FQWW9TxAC9-96sLDmjyON/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">South African fynbos vegetation includes proteas, ericas and restios or reeds. This flower kingdom is the origin of some of the world's favorite plants: gladioli, freesias, nerines, agapanthus and ixia and, of course, beloved geraniums and pelargoniums.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXO8BhwtmgUMCIUkd42i8gpmCg1UX8fLsQMHeenqx8g_80ATJYOQfMUTL5Kyg1rX79dvDO-MfbZycIfAEgCzcpuZsw2-n3JqTBn-STfwFmfjlKJV0yh43gKZbfTigS2KK7dpduY_X8FWI/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXO8BhwtmgUMCIUkd42i8gpmCg1UX8fLsQMHeenqx8g_80ATJYOQfMUTL5Kyg1rX79dvDO-MfbZycIfAEgCzcpuZsw2-n3JqTBn-STfwFmfjlKJV0yh43gKZbfTigS2KK7dpduY_X8FWI/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">These gorgeous yellow bushes, known by their Dutch name, as <b>Kreupelhout</b> or English name as pincushions, bloom from August until January.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwdUp84KYPm1CWuInes9klaWMT9qzXVO8gAyIfLBIhPdOmYNfaMQMgm3jMq30CP1IflOVkI72Bm15Q4IbTkyJzASi5-U8xvDqBHghJR7kTRGQmmHaIqxSGZwnaC2YRE5djG7U-zYCp1Kr/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwdUp84KYPm1CWuInes9klaWMT9qzXVO8gAyIfLBIhPdOmYNfaMQMgm3jMq30CP1IflOVkI72Bm15Q4IbTkyJzASi5-U8xvDqBHghJR7kTRGQmmHaIqxSGZwnaC2YRE5djG7U-zYCp1Kr/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlUPaiYV7SfQfdrA_iUfoWPJC4VE8-NiTscdiI9rBhstTwVloEs26SU1d_QGDG5Ea_BZg0LAmqzMAwqSoaIkUpPZeCcUi3NnuSuTCKTyDP_g4xLwuX5k4xeU9argUHTB7s_X-wjBXrl9y/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlUPaiYV7SfQfdrA_iUfoWPJC4VE8-NiTscdiI9rBhstTwVloEs26SU1d_QGDG5Ea_BZg0LAmqzMAwqSoaIkUpPZeCcUi3NnuSuTCKTyDP_g4xLwuX5k4xeU9argUHTB7s_X-wjBXrl9y/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful old homestead with a thatched roof near the Visitors Center was known as<b> Skaife's Barn. </b>The building was a tribute to <b>Sydney Harold Skaife,</b> an entomologist whose enthusiasm contributed to the establishment of the Cape Town Nature Reserve.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeuMNbdJDSspSrJdsm-6uRSsFY6EADeiZY8aNsEnKhjgIWLebju70xm6z4Gw0qUKRqqS7dNG-mtHOrYgncTZV01uokFVXoSz7pQ0URjq6G0K92bXJFeGx9857XdAOkB1_fUDqW8o75hfC/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeuMNbdJDSspSrJdsm-6uRSsFY6EADeiZY8aNsEnKhjgIWLebju70xm6z4Gw0qUKRqqS7dNG-mtHOrYgncTZV01uokFVXoSz7pQ0URjq6G0K92bXJFeGx9857XdAOkB1_fUDqW8o75hfC/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg5T7j-xVYcZD8qU1Mf9mBmVoYUboB7JrK2lHb0PpUnZCfozswDoUZZbMyi_RiVnrldBfmMo_0-G-jQlXLK7sxZTMMaxECVgV9vW9g6iTv0hEu8s2K0-AER3EG9goVeWvoZLcfV6xGiOr9N/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T7j-xVYcZD8qU1Mf9mBmVoYUboB7JrK2lHb0PpUnZCfozswDoUZZbMyi_RiVnrldBfmMo_0-G-jQlXLK7sxZTMMaxECVgV9vW9g6iTv0hEu8s2K0-AER3EG9goVeWvoZLcfV6xGiOr9N/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">These <b>Everlasting flowers,</b> which belong to the Aster family, bloom from November until February in the Cape Floral Region.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcKyf4pvVaPXmF2E_YcNQ-p8rJe1Bw2-3TMoBW4VEH5KU2CZ1VEQbF_d4gbyiBG4rfGaFuXT2dI4ekbjb4_0-zyQeBBCJvAU906HXuc6eGNDelPsrvQHUuOEb7m1MS5P58cfJeIRrbW9s/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcKyf4pvVaPXmF2E_YcNQ-p8rJe1Bw2-3TMoBW4VEH5KU2CZ1VEQbF_d4gbyiBG4rfGaFuXT2dI4ekbjb4_0-zyQeBBCJvAU906HXuc6eGNDelPsrvQHUuOEb7m1MS5P58cfJeIRrbW9s/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our drive continued slowly south toward the Cape as we took in the fabulous views still of the Indian Ocean.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwqbBHO87XHzeHDhnVQ7yoPtbvW98JD07GFLe1cnqN_qlggK679AgyVxvEXKeMucKjTFa1xqoKpJtIF-Dg4L7fCEPcGyvUL_GKYq25snmFoztveYczk9UZUh89e5Syb7cn6pyz-3GgpVw/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwqbBHO87XHzeHDhnVQ7yoPtbvW98JD07GFLe1cnqN_qlggK679AgyVxvEXKeMucKjTFa1xqoKpJtIF-Dg4L7fCEPcGyvUL_GKYq25snmFoztveYczk9UZUh89e5Syb7cn6pyz-3GgpVw/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC3lZ0RjAml8OlCkJyEr7hqHa4SUh1H9EFKq7PbANqUE9tm-VIWmR8L2TKmGwECz9Qe8qYa-8j1rgOZ3NaOIgwyfHpdhGK9L4M8KXcpnjQ3_Ac8otJYFEZNlx0kMIihMTvUSqO2NCNZ3c/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC3lZ0RjAml8OlCkJyEr7hqHa4SUh1H9EFKq7PbANqUE9tm-VIWmR8L2TKmGwECz9Qe8qYa-8j1rgOZ3NaOIgwyfHpdhGK9L4M8KXcpnjQ3_Ac8otJYFEZNlx0kMIihMTvUSqO2NCNZ3c/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the <b>Cape Point</b> parking lot, we hiked to the lighthouse, barely visible in the background. On the lower left of the photo is the sign that reminded us of how dangerous baboons could be, especially if there were food around.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKfdfWC9olcSrsKQEOpTuEmGeJI39iy2o0OnYciknQ9XXOfeTlPmcDGX3sZ_Z2qiH4C2Nx5PDGT3so-p2XriQsdLJLeVxyjY3U8KgZ_2jwZbIcbJnyzmGlltFhmmgMFid5KZao-6CE8Ub/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKfdfWC9olcSrsKQEOpTuEmGeJI39iy2o0OnYciknQ9XXOfeTlPmcDGX3sZ_Z2qiH4C2Nx5PDGT3so-p2XriQsdLJLeVxyjY3U8KgZ_2jwZbIcbJnyzmGlltFhmmgMFid5KZao-6CE8Ub/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These flowers were as soft as pussy willows.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKeQ0FItPEn0IUSJ9plkzLD3PW61WHsZsrsgrA-uIGLwPHZFlB6bYSH4bFYuLmmwT7-BtQFueDQN_foWtS3eLOl6dbm-p6BV0Vr7M9JuWVBiaCyULy9h84kORRG-08pojvbH0nm8BswKE/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKeQ0FItPEn0IUSJ9plkzLD3PW61WHsZsrsgrA-uIGLwPHZFlB6bYSH4bFYuLmmwT7-BtQFueDQN_foWtS3eLOl6dbm-p6BV0Vr7M9JuWVBiaCyULy9h84kORRG-08pojvbH0nm8BswKE/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Still a long walk to the top!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1r2wxO3eItA3McQZEAzpteuxIQXJQPZPvPPBoSDUwxPk8HjoqP9DEgg0T0hNl4GZrHrbJY0TfmbFqDoevXJsRAZkSU_lHMXSzMvk1SRv_7Fp8fKCQCKXye9NsMlScOFpTMZnqMQaHK-Z/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1r2wxO3eItA3McQZEAzpteuxIQXJQPZPvPPBoSDUwxPk8HjoqP9DEgg0T0hNl4GZrHrbJY0TfmbFqDoevXJsRAZkSU_lHMXSzMvk1SRv_7Fp8fKCQCKXye9NsMlScOFpTMZnqMQaHK-Z/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A view of <b>False Bay</b> in the Indian Ocean:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstGGUSOMVUDIr0KJfQ5cn8t3LzJbZ37YwSnEm0iy7ubcjWNJvy2ERu9FgEYc5DFcy0sd4UOmpq84eaQzs8_gH5Qj1Pc3fjhJyLnULewynf3TKVvHYGSj1zwagMFpu7InGiPNbuFsEBdL7/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstGGUSOMVUDIr0KJfQ5cn8t3LzJbZ37YwSnEm0iy7ubcjWNJvy2ERu9FgEYc5DFcy0sd4UOmpq84eaQzs8_gH5Qj1Pc3fjhJyLnULewynf3TKVvHYGSj1zwagMFpu7InGiPNbuFsEBdL7/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not quite as fun as seeing The Big Five animals in Kruger National Park, I grant you, but still cute!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXPyQZ4wNDixU6j7ExFS-OX6JBRH8Y__PwWcJf4dSUyqGZvG9hvyG7K9a8cm0Gzr0KQdrnmNDC8YdH_4OIxsL9hNV24KA1LmWs1v5igVMtwhWR4GyMwPoK0_gmN-DdezFPrQIhVzLHNr8/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXPyQZ4wNDixU6j7ExFS-OX6JBRH8Y__PwWcJf4dSUyqGZvG9hvyG7K9a8cm0Gzr0KQdrnmNDC8YdH_4OIxsL9hNV24KA1LmWs1v5igVMtwhWR4GyMwPoK0_gmN-DdezFPrQIhVzLHNr8/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zv-A7zcGBS7K0rK61XCOv4nWJMJpv_r9ZGOzXWfpjjHcQJkUvTPKfouLa8gAEI_FqucAf4kZat_LHKCSaYqPoWsD-82crlEyAjuUZPgf2MCayh3VLHAlPCEenEZiuqgJn1qxOP5SEjUW/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zv-A7zcGBS7K0rK61XCOv4nWJMJpv_r9ZGOzXWfpjjHcQJkUvTPKfouLa8gAEI_FqucAf4kZat_LHKCSaYqPoWsD-82crlEyAjuUZPgf2MCayh3VLHAlPCEenEZiuqgJn1qxOP5SEjUW/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhkeZMw4R_4fHK-IzRt3_sssQaF0Nzjcc6U0-OwpvUhFchMAMxPMfFek2Ny80Tsr1UY-kEQgQgkNr86ePcsbpMPgw-JGSEig9a2GOLDKgUI3B4urV8BXwQzD-VvNl9UZOXaq76A-0TP2vnP/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeZMw4R_4fHK-IzRt3_sssQaF0Nzjcc6U0-OwpvUhFchMAMxPMfFek2Ny80Tsr1UY-kEQgQgkNr86ePcsbpMPgw-JGSEig9a2GOLDKgUI3B4urV8BXwQzD-VvNl9UZOXaq76A-0TP2vnP/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No idea what all these beautiful flowers were. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9d5ts0bw3qyFNhwgd76A61HpoWaGOXNtyQieqXxSybthIVD6QKlz5VOEK-AlmIge2XF6mqeJ6a1tPw0BidkDusTVvmFGyQNIdiL8ZmTH6xA-1pkxLkwL7ZPolaQTecRX89tmOuwsEbRS/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9d5ts0bw3qyFNhwgd76A61HpoWaGOXNtyQieqXxSybthIVD6QKlz5VOEK-AlmIge2XF6mqeJ6a1tPw0BidkDusTVvmFGyQNIdiL8ZmTH6xA-1pkxLkwL7ZPolaQTecRX89tmOuwsEbRS/s320/070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>King Protea</b> is the national flower of South Africa.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzz4LmJP__sF43owO07M3PAA-goWjwwQOuTMMMXRYX3E6y_0zXPJHss84aqEFffqJhdQCtoiWYFwDtn7J8xECgREGEavIJdU9Uv-SBUEoxBrkUnjLK_rP529g6iGZfEpDmLAdyEvElf8/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGzz4LmJP__sF43owO07M3PAA-goWjwwQOuTMMMXRYX3E6y_0zXPJHss84aqEFffqJhdQCtoiWYFwDtn7J8xECgREGEavIJdU9Uv-SBUEoxBrkUnjLK_rP529g6iGZfEpDmLAdyEvElf8/s320/072.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD6lRH2Qo6RxZ-FRbU8RumrfW_9vdu_4sfl1lsJKmDjmtmlsSY1Oxl-4kLDVJYLQULyrB7P0gYsylVvxqBFeXg8HEQr16_skGirXP9AX_E1wcm_Xu88P_e29PuO_Y2YB6cXLSX4MOBXjo/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD6lRH2Qo6RxZ-FRbU8RumrfW_9vdu_4sfl1lsJKmDjmtmlsSY1Oxl-4kLDVJYLQULyrB7P0gYsylVvxqBFeXg8HEQr16_skGirXP9AX_E1wcm_Xu88P_e29PuO_Y2YB6cXLSX4MOBXjo/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The scents were very 'ripe' as we climbed the steps; we didn't know whether it was bird or baboon poop, even though we hadn't seen any of the latter. Rarely have either of us felt quite so nauseous from smelling all that poop - sorry for a case of TMI!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFtLlPkV4GvChN4Hv4cmnEwI6YwKCeRxUTOKnnahGR9ORbKclHNbG9f1FcUFiOK3Bp8KkGqeVFB249FQiLiEvpsWVqwTJOF3DSAH_7Rq7BhVXkwmK4JUh868AsZdqurPo35caDEeMSUXa/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFtLlPkV4GvChN4Hv4cmnEwI6YwKCeRxUTOKnnahGR9ORbKclHNbG9f1FcUFiOK3Bp8KkGqeVFB249FQiLiEvpsWVqwTJOF3DSAH_7Rq7BhVXkwmK4JUh868AsZdqurPo35caDEeMSUXa/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHWAy02a9G0d-2U4H1WWzhU_RyP2_cIolgil8208EoaKJXbUtx0mkwA0whPslusnbIwi6ZFNdraUODl_9F-hGbhyphenhyphenE97HN1fvHNay6ej5SKnrIyzGXhT2Dtp7yJG3mE4Y9ZH6BiSa-rIF6/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHWAy02a9G0d-2U4H1WWzhU_RyP2_cIolgil8208EoaKJXbUtx0mkwA0whPslusnbIwi6ZFNdraUODl_9F-hGbhyphenhyphenE97HN1fvHNay6ej5SKnrIyzGXhT2Dtp7yJG3mE4Y9ZH6BiSa-rIF6/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I persuaded myself I was so far behind Steven because I had been busy taking flower pictures, not because I needed a breather!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuPKYUDeNmaab8naYr-AkLVVwkBGDTPa5NNhqkrw3_x7m4bPGE59C3-_Sr1JrondQDvGzOEAKlTNJShNG2_sc1Zqvz9dUjZeFraNz-XYHalcXLV19iWXfEZ3d9awY75e6hetET9U4kv0x/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuPKYUDeNmaab8naYr-AkLVVwkBGDTPa5NNhqkrw3_x7m4bPGE59C3-_Sr1JrondQDvGzOEAKlTNJShNG2_sc1Zqvz9dUjZeFraNz-XYHalcXLV19iWXfEZ3d9awY75e6hetET9U4kv0x/s320/077.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhYtMDIBDsrpBwQIxY8RyWUMeJVwpq5_pTU6yBniDahcl46XqTII2Bm51l0NQCKuHq8b9VWUBYwAD1gTVCo9KjdAnZy2mRFzBK2P9nHQEKYyGqqF2F3CJ1TNnoJsIpDApDgRos-Sm4JeB4B/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtMDIBDsrpBwQIxY8RyWUMeJVwpq5_pTU6yBniDahcl46XqTII2Bm51l0NQCKuHq8b9VWUBYwAD1gTVCo9KjdAnZy2mRFzBK2P9nHQEKYyGqqF2F3CJ1TNnoJsIpDApDgRos-Sm4JeB4B/s320/080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The walk up to the viewing platform and the old lighthouse was very steep but worth every step once we were privy to such stunning views. It took six years, from 1913 to 1919, to build the old lighthouse, 816 feet above the high-water mark. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The lighthouse stood guard over one of the most strate</span><span style="font-size: large;">gic sea lanes in the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOjkp5JHlSn6h1OlAWNvuN3KTCLYfFjGfi14A0WxRdKjVTxvfCkQ2zfi3wRLZVpVJwP6o9AZUojFibQaEem-Wa_CRipLpF1flhSUi8fWrzcEmpa7Fnx_8HOE-QlcicirTMvS1P22ZbPJK/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdOjkp5JHlSn6h1OlAWNvuN3KTCLYfFjGfi14A0WxRdKjVTxvfCkQ2zfi3wRLZVpVJwP6o9AZUojFibQaEem-Wa_CRipLpF1flhSUi8fWrzcEmpa7Fnx_8HOE-QlcicirTMvS1P22ZbPJK/s320/081.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a clear day, the old lighthouse was a great navigational mark, but when the mists rolled in it was useless, so a new and much lower lighthouse, at 286 feet, was built at <b>Dias Lookout Point. </b>You get ONE guess to figure what these white streaks were on the bottom part of the lighthouse!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpt_TPgiHDZ2DeTurbxY7Bc3I4_Qk1fB_iyRfLhOStdbieXyHSVmhAW7GqBDHYlfUNQj-mSZvumTzF3PAblG0BV15pEJ_AXPvaJ331XfYS2w9xy5AUDrv2B1OI7AKqn94Kx6tZ5NhWv-5/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpt_TPgiHDZ2DeTurbxY7Bc3I4_Qk1fB_iyRfLhOStdbieXyHSVmhAW7GqBDHYlfUNQj-mSZvumTzF3PAblG0BV15pEJ_AXPvaJ331XfYS2w9xy5AUDrv2B1OI7AKqn94Kx6tZ5NhWv-5/s320/086.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people online talked about being at the summit during a phenomenon known as the <b>'Table Mountain Cloud'</b> which meant that once they got to the top, the visibility was very poor. They were initially very disappointed but, after just waiting for a few minutes, the clouds passed and they saw incredible views. The 'Table Mountain Cloud' probably would have been fascinating to experience but we still feel incredibly fortunate that we had perfect weather.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_gzZadxKEgAcGcG4w6Iof42SZ7TuOlEybLA3py7qFSqVfrmjnnrGGYGYVrL7QfDKe3M5_XnMf-ggidP2gRqiT650c16-Qyus9ucL8u14UftDGxWzNsnLy84Axfj_r310l9fMdE_TMg1a/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_gzZadxKEgAcGcG4w6Iof42SZ7TuOlEybLA3py7qFSqVfrmjnnrGGYGYVrL7QfDKe3M5_XnMf-ggidP2gRqiT650c16-Qyus9ucL8u14UftDGxWzNsnLy84Axfj_r310l9fMdE_TMg1a/s320/082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were lucky that there were few winds at the top because at times they are reputed to be extremely fierce. I always think these directional markers are fun; we were 'only' 12,541 kms or about 7,800 miles from New York!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugjm3FHfxl49zm46Y5blRK_8yJkPXb-KBA9UNe0o4WRwdAbBBDi8DxGs7Up9MCA_NlYkzXP2TkzjvbfDOx-YPhnN8uaO7WSKABI9HmgUe21ARDE44m26LSBKBTDQlKlW-28SZc2yKvmZt/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugjm3FHfxl49zm46Y5blRK_8yJkPXb-KBA9UNe0o4WRwdAbBBDi8DxGs7Up9MCA_NlYkzXP2TkzjvbfDOx-YPhnN8uaO7WSKABI9HmgUe21ARDE44m26LSBKBTDQlKlW-28SZc2yKvmZt/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone else wrote very poetically that "Cape Point is a dramatic knife's edge of rock that slices into the Atlantic." Looking out to sea from the viewing platform, we felt like we were at the tip of Africa, even though that honor officially belonged to another dramatic point at <b>Cape Agulhas,</b> about 100 miles to the southeast. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-QoN0si1I8ZsVc00lJO5Rhp_t2chmVcxsnx3DTSopJ9ze4IXdH_NGAufscDSfXWe5EngItafnbERhcnbwsQr9fifmYVlrOnpbBaPdyummQVLhka4BWAWNImCMo2PIFxWAdszdqFRYPFo/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-QoN0si1I8ZsVc00lJO5Rhp_t2chmVcxsnx3DTSopJ9ze4IXdH_NGAufscDSfXWe5EngItafnbERhcnbwsQr9fifmYVlrOnpbBaPdyummQVLhka4BWAWNImCMo2PIFxWAdszdqFRYPFo/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We decided to forego hiking to <b>Danger Point</b> at the edge of the cliff although we spotted many, far braver souls doing just that!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfz0y60DUvBHDcHOvHWN9Sq9ISo2ibZqUKKKNGRzta6SCNIMiet5gQrOVY3qg1aQrP6HOd-ntt77g0vFalJtPMX_QZew22CFpNC8KM6JRgi5qhpuakw483mYuy1eoGpbZCynx-GhmM0mP/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfz0y60DUvBHDcHOvHWN9Sq9ISo2ibZqUKKKNGRzta6SCNIMiet5gQrOVY3qg1aQrP6HOd-ntt77g0vFalJtPMX_QZew22CFpNC8KM6JRgi5qhpuakw483mYuy1eoGpbZCynx-GhmM0mP/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After walking back to the parking lot, we drove the short distance to the <b>Cape of Good Hope</b> located due west but on the Atlantic Ocean side. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02FzJ_3Q7zak859aHCDylhlXD3IwNU03Vq0vjHIzm05210U6W726Rbi0t-6ekF4mLqU5nZmD05Fp4-F7fOYCnbRrL3_GkzgLweikDTWgMl49UDmFgVzUPYBvjqfnohJhVG_mYSRoUYukD/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02FzJ_3Q7zak859aHCDylhlXD3IwNU03Vq0vjHIzm05210U6W726Rbi0t-6ekF4mLqU5nZmD05Fp4-F7fOYCnbRrL3_GkzgLweikDTWgMl49UDmFgVzUPYBvjqfnohJhVG_mYSRoUYukD/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When following the western side of the African coastline from the equator, the Cape of Good Hope marks the point where a ship begins to travel more eastward than southward. That was why the first modern rounding of the Cape in 1488 </span><span style="font-size: large;">by Portuguese explorer <b>Bartolomeu Dias</b> was a milestone in the attempts by the Portuguese to establish direct trade relations with the Far East. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB0nCFVq7-8AjQr9m4rQoBLvfdzhGJ80U5fhMKjQUoL67OrsTlGwbG8gZRJ2wRFJB_ZQ2nd7AXAjuDgG-V8zToe2QFNSH8kY5Be4pEmI69YkQqqXHHFFhc2wDkqca1Ly_TL2x1jZyzz6j/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB0nCFVq7-8AjQr9m4rQoBLvfdzhGJ80U5fhMKjQUoL67OrsTlGwbG8gZRJ2wRFJB_ZQ2nd7AXAjuDgG-V8zToe2QFNSH8kY5Be4pEmI69YkQqqXHHFFhc2wDkqca1Ly_TL2x1jZyzz6j/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dias called the Cape <i>Cabo das Tormentas</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">or "Cape of Storms" which was the original name of the Cape of Good Hope. It was given its more optimistic title by King John of Portugal who saw it as a positive omen for a new route to India.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsfB4SHnxcz11cwONQAsSSEzc6JnGnOtzUVtQWAx5TiRFNBfrXgKSkwrc58e0y0p9AzCTh6mLl9-pRU5jefNi6xiC7o3D72-xjjywORtXwcdIe0WFzA_3F9LcvFH8ix739acIuaRQWaQW/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsfB4SHnxcz11cwONQAsSSEzc6JnGnOtzUVtQWAx5TiRFNBfrXgKSkwrc58e0y0p9AzCTh6mLl9-pRU5jefNi6xiC7o3D72-xjjywORtXwcdIe0WFzA_3F9LcvFH8ix739acIuaRQWaQW/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRx1hzQHbzAgaPrSvrBpm5VhSusxaIaXtO6_A5mIz_xl6wF0nRqasn1bkv44qDueecQQxQRowXyL0PPVtE6JhfydPknHHANyDKrixW4sK-_2IMXituAAyPiLE0QubPLt5z916bPcK7a5U/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRx1hzQHbzAgaPrSvrBpm5VhSusxaIaXtO6_A5mIz_xl6wF0nRqasn1bkv44qDueecQQxQRowXyL0PPVtE6JhfydPknHHANyDKrixW4sK-_2IMXituAAyPiLE0QubPLt5z916bPcK7a5U/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Vast kelp forests thrive in the cold, nutrient-rich water on the west or Atlantic coast of the Cape. These ones were located in a cutely named spot known as <b>Pappies Bank.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhghdGcjEzN2U1o2O-oMsmfnF5QmxddaXxlA4-Bl2FKHFMqbICIFUnYOgvMN5xZm5Ev2l0_4y1E8O2l8k_MKMoERGBAK_w8V7KB8yn8PtH09ThxV5BAXLhJXpRCwfhCcOwacVoPzDkB1RC/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhghdGcjEzN2U1o2O-oMsmfnF5QmxddaXxlA4-Bl2FKHFMqbICIFUnYOgvMN5xZm5Ev2l0_4y1E8O2l8k_MKMoERGBAK_w8V7KB8yn8PtH09ThxV5BAXLhJXpRCwfhCcOwacVoPzDkB1RC/s320/098.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjCIRZ0ie5SHGo2eJHVrUebQWTY_p_W_RYcaSu4XMT32I8cJcPi5ph1_BUl59d1z0CosZ5KJ4bm6xZBANoD6_wjNVOdd4gw1qEttVfY3HskS7B4R6uCkXnfzO_6pMrI4vJ3S2bNdsHGpWMo/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIRZ0ie5SHGo2eJHVrUebQWTY_p_W_RYcaSu4XMT32I8cJcPi5ph1_BUl59d1z0CosZ5KJ4bm6xZBANoD6_wjNVOdd4gw1qEttVfY3HskS7B4R6uCkXnfzO_6pMrI4vJ3S2bNdsHGpWMo/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV33EU3-7-TG2hnM47UycgVvQAIm5RpWN38KOeKNjhFMYi7t-pv1tpcSqRyrWCUghZrygIvXVj2glCBY_cd3rsRApFMM6eZeKo7BP9RUViWLHR5VJrWOhZ-UNQ45X29WcCIDeLtMpjOpR/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV33EU3-7-TG2hnM47UycgVvQAIm5RpWN38KOeKNjhFMYi7t-pv1tpcSqRyrWCUghZrygIvXVj2glCBY_cd3rsRApFMM6eZeKo7BP9RUViWLHR5VJrWOhZ-UNQ45X29WcCIDeLtMpjOpR/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuRqjyqKJO4tIRjsRRSs-J9UMkuIDWbE8mD0MbMgTevOrKoFss2Ds65C1M4fooQTvI0XCALtKgFmbWGLBuasIKJtPH-NBvcdybygIVsXqn0Vl9P2PIwRRK-4usZj1lb4ZaGK9UveItZxD/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuRqjyqKJO4tIRjsRRSs-J9UMkuIDWbE8mD0MbMgTevOrKoFss2Ds65C1M4fooQTvI0XCALtKgFmbWGLBuasIKJtPH-NBvcdybygIVsXqn0Vl9P2PIwRRK-4usZj1lb4ZaGK9UveItZxD/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4S3G9Ke_mmwyucMRmCCWo6-Vszpwpum8x75ZWHlyQXOnkFJ5FjAyRikWwfqtTV5Cf_aZVC6sc-PxJA8Lj9PqqxcEVaqC1Y92E19gNlnxmK8IsO0XbwDMEjO7yfgwRp0K1SUWDHyDFQJ2/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4S3G9Ke_mmwyucMRmCCWo6-Vszpwpum8x75ZWHlyQXOnkFJ5FjAyRikWwfqtTV5Cf_aZVC6sc-PxJA8Lj9PqqxcEVaqC1Y92E19gNlnxmK8IsO0XbwDMEjO7yfgwRp0K1SUWDHyDFQJ2/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbeZFLGmOHwBFD800KzOhXGE9vmZ3Sh5YExJ80nrJbV1fT-7U-uLYNAfshlPvHWoXklaGhCqBLfdCP26PWvhU3IqRIvvB_2_uNjedyCMEFTya7R03vDPLSfcZdolQnDMrR6QF8CuvMuaX/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbeZFLGmOHwBFD800KzOhXGE9vmZ3Sh5YExJ80nrJbV1fT-7U-uLYNAfshlPvHWoXklaGhCqBLfdCP26PWvhU3IqRIvvB_2_uNjedyCMEFTya7R03vDPLSfcZdolQnDMrR6QF8CuvMuaX/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEi1yCGrEtaUC_AHRK-PiGYG-pSz1KPUSEQ-3Tb0IKs8tAScbES09cSVh-KGKHwObaE7HYMtLDSKPhkfASyAF2Io1kmcOTKZdKa-0fHoncQCA3ycQj4Up2WeEHKpfOXspahQoJl9oEMEPGae/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yCGrEtaUC_AHRK-PiGYG-pSz1KPUSEQ-3Tb0IKs8tAScbES09cSVh-KGKHwObaE7HYMtLDSKPhkfASyAF2Io1kmcOTKZdKa-0fHoncQCA3ycQj4Up2WeEHKpfOXspahQoJl9oEMEPGae/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As you might imagine, there was at times a long line of people waiting to have their pictures taken in this same spot!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqRrRIHXIvhtaaOgciR9zc3nClkF5BlYkY_ACARo45ksjkCMFIFwGOAPwKaMRl5i4vtot6KCkmtmcsFVrvTqw6eAe2AM0qhhfXJ_ygjKHcX3BFqTTFtNWmEob-xRiVdh1QwTH4Hp-Gdob/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqRrRIHXIvhtaaOgciR9zc3nClkF5BlYkY_ACARo45ksjkCMFIFwGOAPwKaMRl5i4vtot6KCkmtmcsFVrvTqw6eAe2AM0qhhfXJ_ygjKHcX3BFqTTFtNWmEob-xRiVdh1QwTH4Hp-Gdob/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRox0JEExHfqYUmCgvczGhAwF0mZoOUSJnxKRnSNDxKc_R0W4bjvCf_MRnPPFcsC229qqPrKHiicsCPD2W54iVtOmJLZBksL7R4YBE3viy5rfassnNFrtuD-D8zcFUnEihn1LHDI2Kj1Y/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRox0JEExHfqYUmCgvczGhAwF0mZoOUSJnxKRnSNDxKc_R0W4bjvCf_MRnPPFcsC229qqPrKHiicsCPD2W54iVtOmJLZBksL7R4YBE3viy5rfassnNFrtuD-D8zcFUnEihn1LHDI2Kj1Y/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_V6w7sTTBLPVuFws6hLb53KESG3I_jD9v0pr859vh6oDJOOw2iSZSI2wmEn9qhZbpTcQynKQEes3tG0RiQ05G4PRz9wZjjgTd0siz90kIOK5fKxjUIgvsxpER3WbAZMgtbElT7PBDMdHl/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_V6w7sTTBLPVuFws6hLb53KESG3I_jD9v0pr859vh6oDJOOw2iSZSI2wmEn9qhZbpTcQynKQEes3tG0RiQ05G4PRz9wZjjgTd0siz90kIOK5fKxjUIgvsxpER3WbAZMgtbElT7PBDMdHl/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATrHStYhuCw7VK_eJLci23IZfj1m8Q6-n1BrWWYKaiQaF716UfvKfHtxfB2EogXG_0V8paQHFn2jcvSfBnlJgnDnqP3eCfvTZ-HRmj_MeE1nAV1q2RS5yEpebQob0chgNCmptLOfznj3V/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATrHStYhuCw7VK_eJLci23IZfj1m8Q6-n1BrWWYKaiQaF716UfvKfHtxfB2EogXG_0V8paQHFn2jcvSfBnlJgnDnqP3eCfvTZ-HRmj_MeE1nAV1q2RS5yEpebQob0chgNCmptLOfznj3V/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't wait to see what amazing views we would behold at the end of this scenic walk!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDdEFz-OQFsNj12BGtIvUxtkK5iRAHO1LlCRh01fqzly_s9cp2M6d_WKb3pNbCKlpTwhYuobJYxFI-FXquSubcUgvdeO5APWY-fY2OV4DuaAe4SnzHBzk0whuABfgRPI7WDokbgRrIH9b/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDdEFz-OQFsNj12BGtIvUxtkK5iRAHO1LlCRh01fqzly_s9cp2M6d_WKb3pNbCKlpTwhYuobJYxFI-FXquSubcUgvdeO5APWY-fY2OV4DuaAe4SnzHBzk0whuABfgRPI7WDokbgRrIH9b/s320/117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD_Wx84pafeZWBSo-JwtfYvZ8sK7ep-XwX_QY3u3U25dPc3Y97V2sL3rSGSCdhTSx1S7Tm6jZFGhCnHbY0DvnRQkGiP3kZiLNHAyVTyei2eWSuoSim4knIn3poONbXL-Xk8WgyQM-3spg/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD_Wx84pafeZWBSo-JwtfYvZ8sK7ep-XwX_QY3u3U25dPc3Y97V2sL3rSGSCdhTSx1S7Tm6jZFGhCnHbY0DvnRQkGiP3kZiLNHAyVTyei2eWSuoSim4knIn3poONbXL-Xk8WgyQM-3spg/s320/118.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhREYbYB9QK0q9RyC01KD9yT89Z0GLWwzh1cMCpDa2bSnjWxHVn4Se9zBrs4khOncWDddajTXb-5swzfqySiqIeYLpDfpkL-34ZxOBU5BTWhGDkLTApwPqVFHLgZGSMhGEXhnqb6p4sbpGU/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREYbYB9QK0q9RyC01KD9yT89Z0GLWwzh1cMCpDa2bSnjWxHVn4Se9zBrs4khOncWDddajTXb-5swzfqySiqIeYLpDfpkL-34ZxOBU5BTWhGDkLTApwPqVFHLgZGSMhGEXhnqb6p4sbpGU/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjc-KMWwDcGlXYjqLDZGf6TuM0Yxi3c5_XJkhBfhQyhXYOurgd9sRH11XxfKWf9IO4YkyM8EhiUmtgMqAHGXn4Hirw4ejCwen9RDGrd5QXTVB18tMK2UKtnfxvgIcoDHQaD2Vy7ZuzhNVzc/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-KMWwDcGlXYjqLDZGf6TuM0Yxi3c5_XJkhBfhQyhXYOurgd9sRH11XxfKWf9IO4YkyM8EhiUmtgMqAHGXn4Hirw4ejCwen9RDGrd5QXTVB18tMK2UKtnfxvgIcoDHQaD2Vy7ZuzhNVzc/s320/122.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEgm5nXVa_yE0Xelcc-505JcvNVZ8uTFb9gGftf31x2iKV9PGrqGvP6sywPojSXhaojTY4DwRqvJeWtA8lmxVsWbDThqdV-8oQ0nXDZ6smjpTDhyphenhyphenhgmrk6zEbaktmW5rI2E_-JsylYtbeZ2r/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5nXVa_yE0Xelcc-505JcvNVZ8uTFb9gGftf31x2iKV9PGrqGvP6sywPojSXhaojTY4DwRqvJeWtA8lmxVsWbDThqdV-8oQ0nXDZ6smjpTDhyphenhyphenhgmrk6zEbaktmW5rI2E_-JsylYtbeZ2r/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It may not have been a hike to Danger Point but we still had to be mighty careful of where we placed our feet!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-6BwN_hSxqHw-R5_v1CyWfOEACOM0n-iFuZ5LXwACCAYGOU5LkjE5CgkGwiCaGmrHz9xBmSYXU9TkpB3Nct1wPWW-xgOYfn8XbvJ2nDaW9ICpvvVshdUxXi5euFKj-K0LqUPDvXh0blB/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-6BwN_hSxqHw-R5_v1CyWfOEACOM0n-iFuZ5LXwACCAYGOU5LkjE5CgkGwiCaGmrHz9xBmSYXU9TkpB3Nct1wPWW-xgOYfn8XbvJ2nDaW9ICpvvVshdUxXi5euFKj-K0LqUPDvXh0blB/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgokr0NtGCNG0i8PYl5MOAhTP2INPmqwaptQTVtAlneGeJVzvMKs-ASkRjnu_je0Jamt1rtLqDQBNlrDLM8nXq92A0g8wPnzVGCrUCJ8eeFNkIwh0pFbDHpvOZYUik80m-qelhDuDSF8rkb/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokr0NtGCNG0i8PYl5MOAhTP2INPmqwaptQTVtAlneGeJVzvMKs-ASkRjnu_je0Jamt1rtLqDQBNlrDLM8nXq92A0g8wPnzVGCrUCJ8eeFNkIwh0pFbDHpvOZYUik80m-qelhDuDSF8rkb/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Peekaboo - I love you!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib62oXzpvbjVWiZ5dt6QNF5bxVvtOv7wOu3ScgYl6SopPApdKd0OIFT3seVVlPc1ur9lqN4JOZUDDnB5e3zzumkvXxTEq4BkLiCI4QjocgqRpgGT37AdXct6wVLxJe4DeogMANuKmDg50H/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib62oXzpvbjVWiZ5dt6QNF5bxVvtOv7wOu3ScgYl6SopPApdKd0OIFT3seVVlPc1ur9lqN4JOZUDDnB5e3zzumkvXxTEq4BkLiCI4QjocgqRpgGT37AdXct6wVLxJe4DeogMANuKmDg50H/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ajbqzsE1HtNGaZW4fOIn0hHMOpNSj2fkzXU-Z08hA3qapbKI3POy1LUenYeQQLuSKyeKBO5auYNqs_AR1RImiw1p3n6b_rwGzkFidFlPdbwQY9wFEbUUnX8QUp4yU1RZfmHasRE-NM-k/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ajbqzsE1HtNGaZW4fOIn0hHMOpNSj2fkzXU-Z08hA3qapbKI3POy1LUenYeQQLuSKyeKBO5auYNqs_AR1RImiw1p3n6b_rwGzkFidFlPdbwQY9wFEbUUnX8QUp4yU1RZfmHasRE-NM-k/s320/131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we looked out across the water, it was hard to imagine that the next land fall is Antarctica! I wonder if Steven and I will ever reach that continent. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXDbri8OOOBRI1jMbDkLj5fddqku-WcxjcSSCI8GH0JylxzGs0N7AYw1YpnXN6j8qcHJAtPlxy9E35TIMYOodqAVz3WTXyaDKt9Pkk8DmfV834jMkgcDzFWL_sgjkeFARj3ekfsHRsC-K/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXDbri8OOOBRI1jMbDkLj5fddqku-WcxjcSSCI8GH0JylxzGs0N7AYw1YpnXN6j8qcHJAtPlxy9E35TIMYOodqAVz3WTXyaDKt9Pkk8DmfV834jMkgcDzFWL_sgjkeFARj3ekfsHRsC-K/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I0tEmkk9hAIXFIaCyynQQZLqSqKwFFMYIBifGYOyXLDhpUy_hX1dhZ1JnDtUQM1DEkC57IXW67bIC7hjTVccqIsVEr1L04n9l9ZyWPpGpSvtFn6cI7NNk-H3fGV63rMO5Sc6MViN1W-4/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I0tEmkk9hAIXFIaCyynQQZLqSqKwFFMYIBifGYOyXLDhpUy_hX1dhZ1JnDtUQM1DEkC57IXW67bIC7hjTVccqIsVEr1L04n9l9ZyWPpGpSvtFn6cI7NNk-H3fGV63rMO5Sc6MViN1W-4/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that the park has some excellent land-based whale watching spots from about June to November when whales return to these waters to calve. We were too late for them, though.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_xlxz_osbpkLjvJ_CFhg9FZ4pTvopSHJv13nUbYacDdr7u-dgQz7v8Zf5qwuqm2e4BvjiPFqsNhLutWYFWiwAeArcMOC69Ml09LJVcAjoYgwFkRKxKLwl84blZwgKQoU-7I0QfaV28qk/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_xlxz_osbpkLjvJ_CFhg9FZ4pTvopSHJv13nUbYacDdr7u-dgQz7v8Zf5qwuqm2e4BvjiPFqsNhLutWYFWiwAeArcMOC69Ml09LJVcAjoYgwFkRKxKLwl84blZwgKQoU-7I0QfaV28qk/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seeing the waves pounding the shore unrelentingly was just out of this world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0p_SMsE4tjGqxvbiWtO4fuuddEMisD4fOtpbADX9PWi6JJFupqD2WFt2qcDivsjLgFAsvDPzvFPfQ-_7lBgzkNofAt7hrgdC2-lZjRfyJdAuNpyod20Xb6IzZ1nIsCELZu2_i6mi_1Pp/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0p_SMsE4tjGqxvbiWtO4fuuddEMisD4fOtpbADX9PWi6JJFupqD2WFt2qcDivsjLgFAsvDPzvFPfQ-_7lBgzkNofAt7hrgdC2-lZjRfyJdAuNpyod20Xb6IzZ1nIsCELZu2_i6mi_1Pp/s320/135.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEg_kxttmJSOa6wAb6LsJnLeoXstp3n3bJjXGt3DAcn9PueUn3fWB1VE0Tz1pfpoHDofUNTsO9boleZ6SJafwhSPdWGIWF4HGOfOqBsfl_GA15hlviPrplAFNcIFyFq6J5xSsbV632ePKvkB/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kxttmJSOa6wAb6LsJnLeoXstp3n3bJjXGt3DAcn9PueUn3fWB1VE0Tz1pfpoHDofUNTsO9boleZ6SJafwhSPdWGIWF4HGOfOqBsfl_GA15hlviPrplAFNcIFyFq6J5xSsbV632ePKvkB/s320/139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the far distance was the Cape Point Lighthouse where we had been an hour or so earlier.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUYdxtnNEXwXgPCWPxyAkAdji3ugRz_ebhrbXIf6NAok-9E8k8K-7T-pRcUrrn1ol4kkmvrJp7QS7V0VRt6EpnGig5F_CJJl77xC402903duiH7uh4d1WtmjerSrSZobf18aSg81GtAuk/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUYdxtnNEXwXgPCWPxyAkAdji3ugRz_ebhrbXIf6NAok-9E8k8K-7T-pRcUrrn1ol4kkmvrJp7QS7V0VRt6EpnGig5F_CJJl77xC402903duiH7uh4d1WtmjerSrSZobf18aSg81GtAuk/s320/142.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wonder what this rodent was.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0gcagDZ6GbX7e70yg-QmQBGJ-b5lTIBM_T0cYRxhuvF2F4QR8t5fh0w84oexb3Ua1QuRFw71F-BW_UkUCma-gvBN4HetKCKre3FcYq__IGtAo9dUobKCVhbLn7d7JJyNA60WMDfnmg_o/s1600/143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0gcagDZ6GbX7e70yg-QmQBGJ-b5lTIBM_T0cYRxhuvF2F4QR8t5fh0w84oexb3Ua1QuRFw71F-BW_UkUCma-gvBN4HetKCKre3FcYq__IGtAo9dUobKCVhbLn7d7JJyNA60WMDfnmg_o/s320/143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Later, we drove on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape to the first of two </span><span style="font-size: large;">replicas, </span><span style="font-size: large;">the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>da Gama Cross, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">of </span><span style="font-size: large;">navigational beacons </span><span style="font-size: large;">erected by</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">the Portuguese government. It, and its companion, the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dias Cross </b>located on the Atlantic Ocean side<b>, </b>commemorated <b>Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias,</b> the first explorers, in 1497 and 1507 respectively, to reach the Cape. While at </span><span style="font-size: large;">the Vasco da Gama beacon,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">I learned a new word <i>'padrao,' </i></span><span style="font-size: large;">which meant a limestone memorial with the Portuguese coat of arms and an inscription stating when and by whom it was raised. The cross symbolized Portuguese sovereignty and Christianity.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-o2q1eQn6hrXdN_0p0F_ibadl9sBSRFCxJc3L-0oAEiBeRu1FjXEGflaRnve-9LEa1ncDKhr73EnuNaYKSMVCR7DpWOjjB_Q0Yc4XxYxhspMwKVVXcZE1umRDmXoKATAJ0V3fp8Qpmpk/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-o2q1eQn6hrXdN_0p0F_ibadl9sBSRFCxJc3L-0oAEiBeRu1FjXEGflaRnve-9LEa1ncDKhr73EnuNaYKSMVCR7DpWOjjB_Q0Yc4XxYxhspMwKVVXcZE1umRDmXoKATAJ0V3fp8Qpmpk/s320/145.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Dias and da Gama crosses weren't however original <i>padraos. </i>How the originals were built, what they looked like and where they were is a matter that has never been resolved. Both structures, built in 1965, were monuments to da Gama and Dias and serve as beacons helping ships avoid the nearby dangerous Whittle Rock. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fltOH77zexyDrxzIGID4Oi8Cy6gkPPvW41W7JdO6oBorEpZelR-l13US6X32WjygPnk8yMVyvS7ecw2lIwJUUdPbFRRpmflxOVi8Bq__SRh9VZObCmsgsY-BGe8CfF4n9KjZrXP59kC/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4fltOH77zexyDrxzIGID4Oi8Cy6gkPPvW41W7JdO6oBorEpZelR-l13US6X32WjygPnk8yMVyvS7ecw2lIwJUUdPbFRRpmflxOVi8Bq__SRh9VZObCmsgsY-BGe8CfF4n9KjZrXP59kC/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another view of the da Gama memorial and the sea beyond it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SKzPH1uBLVEG20JK7BJA3b4BlrO9_bCFnEuk8GCeuswLFzwa2hE3i1_gR5U-0nQA1aJwlAjYhfwakOhJacixMf74wIBO8TMeH2GZpeupP3KcKEI10yjpLu7uIpp_B6QV04ncRzi3RXF7/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SKzPH1uBLVEG20JK7BJA3b4BlrO9_bCFnEuk8GCeuswLFzwa2hE3i1_gR5U-0nQA1aJwlAjYhfwakOhJacixMf74wIBO8TMeH2GZpeupP3KcKEI10yjpLu7uIpp_B6QV04ncRzi3RXF7/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since the tip of the Cape was so narrow, it was pretty easy to crisscross from one side to the other on the park's many roads. Not far away from the da Gama cross was the imposing <b>Dias beacon or cross</b> which overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike the da Gama beacon, it was painted black on the seaward side so that it was silhouetted against the sky for navigators.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67t9M7SR6a6ecbcS7_VQk8kYWl5TU4_vDpowxScimFnF0eoZhCJOCF7gK12CzT76K8wrw9kZTpISeIxTEuaTHX0vb2g8wa39MUjIJ0bbpWzc5UslGz_aCyB77WF4XsIS7skWnBdJn14p/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL67t9M7SR6a6ecbcS7_VQk8kYWl5TU4_vDpowxScimFnF0eoZhCJOCF7gK12CzT76K8wrw9kZTpISeIxTEuaTHX0vb2g8wa39MUjIJ0bbpWzc5UslGz_aCyB77WF4XsIS7skWnBdJn14p/s320/156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While Steven caught some zzz in the car, I explored the monument, spending some time walking around the entire memorial so I could see it from all angles.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhz1vjpmix4QcL9jqBLMXG1O8CZq54WgnvA57dL2jVtwDNwclpmmTiN1DlpolGh_7BPf6howWUt78i1qtWfC3nPmqEFf906ha_gFnCtblTNwOneDtRMoOTcR8eRblZMdqW1M9ZPdiG81d/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhz1vjpmix4QcL9jqBLMXG1O8CZq54WgnvA57dL2jVtwDNwclpmmTiN1DlpolGh_7BPf6howWUt78i1qtWfC3nPmqEFf906ha_gFnCtblTNwOneDtRMoOTcR8eRblZMdqW1M9ZPdiG81d/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgGqnBqaE6X1heBvbdl3Lb2TzFVPnOGIehkVZMbW2njYzXPEhWCbdTdXR1jINzfu7EZ2utcy68FMcWXzWOJecb30Zj2i7BU37msuSffbRiXV3HYPg4qJELcS2jnX_emyu9ozJLTQpdQBq5m/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqnBqaE6X1heBvbdl3Lb2TzFVPnOGIehkVZMbW2njYzXPEhWCbdTdXR1jINzfu7EZ2utcy68FMcWXzWOJecb30Zj2i7BU37msuSffbRiXV3HYPg4qJELcS2jnX_emyu9ozJLTQpdQBq5m/s320/164.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That wasn't as easy as it might sound because it entailed my hiking through a lot of the fynbos to be able to view its black side. I had fun though traipsing through the brush!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvCO4XRNPBKCYgz6ZEcQViTwycVudTirp7R7Gunzep1fHR3hHv5vZwVKH_w2pWEzE-UWldNpY5fIc879mM7BKcFTo74vg0vSXoJ5a30GE88NgvhF8AjeJH11SbBVqd9S-SATcpbbIKcmQ/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvCO4XRNPBKCYgz6ZEcQViTwycVudTirp7R7Gunzep1fHR3hHv5vZwVKH_w2pWEzE-UWldNpY5fIc879mM7BKcFTo74vg0vSXoJ5a30GE88NgvhF8AjeJH11SbBVqd9S-SATcpbbIKcmQ/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4uwqnIyOvkjCdD45ZaYZxfHrxQWMAgQN9LfMvLc3HO8bwP5tea6oa5o69y0eRUVe9dF27dIQYANFrUbbhwK2eu2k_hZXUb_QPkVzqB9MW7zApOQqy3kdW5moq8P9jQO_On-cQ4FZAUpE/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4uwqnIyOvkjCdD45ZaYZxfHrxQWMAgQN9LfMvLc3HO8bwP5tea6oa5o69y0eRUVe9dF27dIQYANFrUbbhwK2eu2k_hZXUb_QPkVzqB9MW7zApOQqy3kdW5moq8P9jQO_On-cQ4FZAUpE/s320/166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After seeing upwards of twenty "Caution of baboons' signs, we finally saw a lot of them as we continued our drive through the park! </span><span style="font-size: large;">The baboons, we knew, were </span><span style="font-size: large;">a major tourist attraction </span><span style="font-size: large;">inside the Cape of Good Hope section of the national park. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWMAGEmAEJCEVRwLBEdD89nsdGw1xoDVZ_JxS1ku7OBOouUSHERpVTAb7vqiHwf_X4cTXJrP-pfE3AJEr3k5OIZyLTVUfHfM9JJNC2uMUG6_d4vrU6ogu3C9Y5O0s6qFQGkQTM7PIWhY8/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWMAGEmAEJCEVRwLBEdD89nsdGw1xoDVZ_JxS1ku7OBOouUSHERpVTAb7vqiHwf_X4cTXJrP-pfE3AJEr3k5OIZyLTVUfHfM9JJNC2uMUG6_d4vrU6ogu3C9Y5O0s6qFQGkQTM7PIWhY8/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are 11 troops consisting of about 375 individuals throughout the entire Cape Peninsula. Six of these 11 troops either live entirely within the Cape of Good Hope section of the park, or use the section as part of their range. The baboons at Cape Point are unique because they regularly harvest shellfish from the shore.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDKaRa-hEBGoOlIpDgALUVUM0QDkYZB5sxLvVmz5D0y4QSHYWfdANzC0bXqKKv-DuxAhIWGVBg_h08R3baeHKpci8RT1BMPdt9kjh-wrmhz6CYR-cyL5twwmzjJrsSsp1UaGfCZ_PDQh7/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDKaRa-hEBGoOlIpDgALUVUM0QDkYZB5sxLvVmz5D0y4QSHYWfdANzC0bXqKKv-DuxAhIWGVBg_h08R3baeHKpci8RT1BMPdt9kjh-wrmhz6CYR-cyL5twwmzjJrsSsp1UaGfCZ_PDQh7/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhqoTXNF3VETZoomS7Zjzg0TfGqRHK1Y_CrD1me3mNWZ4yQ0g3U_5EIKt1GlWiDXSjkqbPoFFIWOw1j38C4axw4QkNxm1yyByPzV_8cIEgdV6hegxvJ2zcz_wbVadsJRfzGGoeM0LrzRYyl/s1600/172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoTXNF3VETZoomS7Zjzg0TfGqRHK1Y_CrD1me3mNWZ4yQ0g3U_5EIKt1GlWiDXSjkqbPoFFIWOw1j38C4axw4QkNxm1yyByPzV_8cIEgdV6hegxvJ2zcz_wbVadsJRfzGGoeM0LrzRYyl/s320/172.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjYFwxMMQPqrM1vgEg9HAHwtmYjSHR70fPuL1ys_iZucoPnwDHcoh7m4u9tYkhSq26YTXbR246Vw3_IgX_9xk0o43c3VoJoVjQFRh4yvHj28RqPlno7BXTrSaz-nmTaFmVC5d8DzFY9hmGz/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFwxMMQPqrM1vgEg9HAHwtmYjSHR70fPuL1ys_iZucoPnwDHcoh7m4u9tYkhSq26YTXbR246Vw3_IgX_9xk0o43c3VoJoVjQFRh4yvHj28RqPlno7BXTrSaz-nmTaFmVC5d8DzFY9hmGz/s320/175.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh1Yj8iPdPJhCn2b6B80LTFI2SlcTuMCbZ_s3mpFce8PzyNdVPt4w94-ucEK8kWS-GBKR6FEMe_RyBFdOfz3lI30ZzuwdMiz4-ytLvwUvZPninkve9ArCeg3p6YaaDde_8N2daK7__zeyUG/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Yj8iPdPJhCn2b6B80LTFI2SlcTuMCbZ_s3mpFce8PzyNdVPt4w94-ucEK8kWS-GBKR6FEMe_RyBFdOfz3lI30ZzuwdMiz4-ytLvwUvZPninkve9ArCeg3p6YaaDde_8N2daK7__zeyUG/s320/177.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhiaXRpdo0t5xOOyg1P45FN9i9hz5Sp0tK4zPdivtoZM6Ft_d-Q7lX_p9vW-g2PUWPT8Y6AbCcpuX3MjZDFrgQW-qgWnxUpRgHTW9gsZhWHBNSL49JBIe3CTvsNyv3N4lkHfq-IpwJq4D2S/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaXRpdo0t5xOOyg1P45FN9i9hz5Sp0tK4zPdivtoZM6Ft_d-Q7lX_p9vW-g2PUWPT8Y6AbCcpuX3MjZDFrgQW-qgWnxUpRgHTW9gsZhWHBNSL49JBIe3CTvsNyv3N4lkHfq-IpwJq4D2S/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We continued to be enthralled by the most amazing views of the South African coastline as we headed north on the Indian Ocean side of the park, back toward the main entrance gate. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkTDycN7pAhbSKN-Wnee-GoJccmXzhXddy4mUrjbSUzsE6cJZZu0rDtMjQQ7O8i_l3SbxD8K1ftSitEF8dcJjAfs4Rbihk_XWfVHmZ-F7qxwaXhyqe21WtwSQIaRjK4vhqGIWI0BKwO0i/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkTDycN7pAhbSKN-Wnee-GoJccmXzhXddy4mUrjbSUzsE6cJZZu0rDtMjQQ7O8i_l3SbxD8K1ftSitEF8dcJjAfs4Rbihk_XWfVHmZ-F7qxwaXhyqe21WtwSQIaRjK4vhqGIWI0BKwO0i/s320/181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This stretch of coastline was rather ominously called <b>Black Rocks.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDGNc14EPoHLKMhXN6zsJbQirbSfjwqTGquWW399wrpPltyAzFH6yDphSFTJToypfddcb3GmdTO-xIcnL6-i0cf1GrQY6EBe-7NsmroVfCq121XAb-t3jYWdFnvsRPD40r1jzRfpTqPjC/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDGNc14EPoHLKMhXN6zsJbQirbSfjwqTGquWW399wrpPltyAzFH6yDphSFTJToypfddcb3GmdTO-xIcnL6-i0cf1GrQY6EBe-7NsmroVfCq121XAb-t3jYWdFnvsRPD40r1jzRfpTqPjC/s320/182.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We hadn't seen this type of fynbos in the other areas of the park.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqHmN2J0cf8YBiJ0W_cVruWSrVKUM6Ov028xL7qj4Equ7_yZNtzIIUNXgovNG-OoVbQE6TsLs56-DJH7NkDU8FnCxomWOUOkvI1PAcV_wjZFZTYFuk_1hT7IT6hyphenhyphenrdi6AxUD0SNXRrqHE/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqHmN2J0cf8YBiJ0W_cVruWSrVKUM6Ov028xL7qj4Equ7_yZNtzIIUNXgovNG-OoVbQE6TsLs56-DJH7NkDU8FnCxomWOUOkvI1PAcV_wjZFZTYFuk_1hT7IT6hyphenhyphenrdi6AxUD0SNXRrqHE/s320/184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcg08ulUWTvpqBPXvY04mWL_JVb-a0VokCakqQTkMsU7Jnw1csTjqtStH1Wx4eA8EuHwVn78AukcQLnGAA0qpV5eO1RtEszEJB6XMVyWZunOZkaubbP77DYOq6Lt-BJUi7rkOBhW7_7_3/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcg08ulUWTvpqBPXvY04mWL_JVb-a0VokCakqQTkMsU7Jnw1csTjqtStH1Wx4eA8EuHwVn78AukcQLnGAA0qpV5eO1RtEszEJB6XMVyWZunOZkaubbP77DYOq6Lt-BJUi7rkOBhW7_7_3/s320/185.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1i75vU-Q5LN7YT0Qw-bvYf6OnlaUtNmAV2WPh2A2w5WrGWRglvLWiGnabPXgjPZEjZkzOFAjOeygKAjKqeovUBUQH-R04hUCVT8G5NnXqFFT-tA9DJaRBdL1RFfzTIw3lwtZyS1rureJ/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1i75vU-Q5LN7YT0Qw-bvYf6OnlaUtNmAV2WPh2A2w5WrGWRglvLWiGnabPXgjPZEjZkzOFAjOeygKAjKqeovUBUQH-R04hUCVT8G5NnXqFFT-tA9DJaRBdL1RFfzTIw3lwtZyS1rureJ/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdds_4ctY3uOgUR3Qn4e-jTZ-AC2qdivAd64Hy7_q33f7ysWCv0Ys7wKONvOz0A71uwAe6xtFnCyrdzPrp-oxs3Pnr2gW95ji1etLLJITI1w1rTQv_gQEUk-nrMEiQXsSVyS-U6AWpQrG/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdds_4ctY3uOgUR3Qn4e-jTZ-AC2qdivAd64Hy7_q33f7ysWCv0Ys7wKONvOz0A71uwAe6xtFnCyrdzPrp-oxs3Pnr2gW95ji1etLLJITI1w1rTQv_gQEUk-nrMEiQXsSVyS-U6AWpQrG/s320/187.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgyIRJ31PQer0Ou-yJaZVTy3eVIWx7FAjL89099TO5jbvuPlcpkAGE8mOx640yIAxWqVmc4VwNwewU9BsX9-XjASrsapeZxGQ-qBBdL0JHKOAu5Lt-Bw5_WZZ7U-4MsynpVrRxJiuUNOcs4/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIRJ31PQer0Ou-yJaZVTy3eVIWx7FAjL89099TO5jbvuPlcpkAGE8mOx640yIAxWqVmc4VwNwewU9BsX9-XjASrsapeZxGQ-qBBdL0JHKOAu5Lt-Bw5_WZZ7U-4MsynpVrRxJiuUNOcs4/s320/189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The terrain, that had been so lush just a few miles back, soon differed significantly. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEtrSG3c154nz4upUVkJ-D82rOne1Goea2j93s9er_XO384wG9RBDva2WT6vTQPL8frijYPqDpOx3Cvs3b6Xt8lnMYRosfylQpGVWjf_WBoCXyynkabqb8DCDeAxPUsLldeTxD2GUbAGJ/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEtrSG3c154nz4upUVkJ-D82rOne1Goea2j93s9er_XO384wG9RBDva2WT6vTQPL8frijYPqDpOx3Cvs3b6Xt8lnMYRosfylQpGVWjf_WBoCXyynkabqb8DCDeAxPUsLldeTxD2GUbAGJ/s320/190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so hard to tell whether these trees, which I am pretty sure were called<b> milk wood trees, </b>were alive or dead! If indeed they were milk woods, they are a Southern African coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, stinky, greenish flowers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShCJCi_MtBLPkrk44RTJtQVjCHAOjWJJmBqyTfciStFtHBsJMIMSkX_nLhTyG52C-1pLcJwXg6fiPoYvOsR_aBn0dhr0v1g7RinL9Emu6otOQqnd2EJwe2_XTLeA3wJrHPsksgjK77fKf/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShCJCi_MtBLPkrk44RTJtQVjCHAOjWJJmBqyTfciStFtHBsJMIMSkX_nLhTyG52C-1pLcJwXg6fiPoYvOsR_aBn0dhr0v1g7RinL9Emu6otOQqnd2EJwe2_XTLeA3wJrHPsksgjK77fKf/s320/191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR13ozLEX0pzI33PH7oqF2XKilapn3UKQ9jbOAveT010WhEYLnH3zmnAx1WnNLIk7s7k6uhIEdeIXgcVw8XnIFhFjt4jPUHD2lsVVhefm-19p-RNE3T2BdtO3xJmIg8yGFwLFESvDS7ih/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR13ozLEX0pzI33PH7oqF2XKilapn3UKQ9jbOAveT010WhEYLnH3zmnAx1WnNLIk7s7k6uhIEdeIXgcVw8XnIFhFjt4jPUHD2lsVVhefm-19p-RNE3T2BdtO3xJmIg8yGFwLFESvDS7ih/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so easy to imagine the overwhelming power of the Cape winds battering the trees' branches to and fro.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObUuVF8ASFSqp3ZY0zaCapi7Q-8pLwfjZ5wOqQ4avB2XZczNUJAVEt0mdupWhkOuMKq-QkAvUqbjRvWgh_-n02Z9m7wUKmlrHAFf-Cqyl1nMb6hWL538Z0rMoyG0l11zYNpo83WOk5i-f/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObUuVF8ASFSqp3ZY0zaCapi7Q-8pLwfjZ5wOqQ4avB2XZczNUJAVEt0mdupWhkOuMKq-QkAvUqbjRvWgh_-n02Z9m7wUKmlrHAFf-Cqyl1nMb6hWL538Z0rMoyG0l11zYNpo83WOk5i-f/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhCL4O_nmfhqNgguGDD90YYP7dpeOdA_DcFPsxdw6tAfKiO0yOe3CSpZoGo9QCr3afWTd5jAZ7bIMXFZu-UmqQydK4vFngDTTcw5edvgb9DbLy5Hlmnb_zWsliA9KvsmaqZOC2_2kTPMavk/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL4O_nmfhqNgguGDD90YYP7dpeOdA_DcFPsxdw6tAfKiO0yOe3CSpZoGo9QCr3afWTd5jAZ7bIMXFZu-UmqQydK4vFngDTTcw5edvgb9DbLy5Hlmnb_zWsliA9KvsmaqZOC2_2kTPMavk/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another gorgeous (to me at least!) view of fynbos as we left the park about 1:30 heading north toward Simon's Town again so we could stop at nearby <b>Boulders Beach.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokItJd8aHzzs49X8XnBRkPH2cDgh1_NhcpZei4KoYspUremRVJegl_bbmpNFsIHEegnMt84RSF2VROnBUskNw7P-HwrOkMWYJ4eQQTtoOBa0wzP6PP59fTb7agOfPYYl-k0su3O6_QbyD/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokItJd8aHzzs49X8XnBRkPH2cDgh1_NhcpZei4KoYspUremRVJegl_bbmpNFsIHEegnMt84RSF2VROnBUskNw7P-HwrOkMWYJ4eQQTtoOBa0wzP6PP59fTb7agOfPYYl-k0su3O6_QbyD/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This has got to be one of the most unusual road signs surely you've ever seen, right? Well, if not for you, it sure was for us?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiKTFjNKrTHBm01gb786z5RKGxGNPNK1XI74nyhbG3ZsTczGFcDDEAhMH_tltZi3iwQLWGmBmhKF2AYED1iZXr15e75FzlQ8utYQhke00ymYOPkDAsVtEywM9ycdrQ9KDRNC8FRLTh0NN/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiKTFjNKrTHBm01gb786z5RKGxGNPNK1XI74nyhbG3ZsTczGFcDDEAhMH_tltZi3iwQLWGmBmhKF2AYED1iZXr15e75FzlQ8utYQhke00ymYOPkDAsVtEywM9ycdrQ9KDRNC8FRLTh0NN/s320/198.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We caught sight of a number of small coves with white sandy beaches and calm shallow water interspersed between boulders of Cape granite. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09XAQOKf-WUDtjQNuyqHjT0HSbyc9xlOEpyFl_8dYNC5XZFXbANs6FizD6I4688geYeEJBNGfoQjiCB0yxr9UG_DE27TWiTci3xUwxPcd12xAMl1jKAFf5uByzCLxpFEU3nkbFXBH0YMa/s1600/199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09XAQOKf-WUDtjQNuyqHjT0HSbyc9xlOEpyFl_8dYNC5XZFXbANs6FizD6I4688geYeEJBNGfoQjiCB0yxr9UG_DE27TWiTci3xUwxPcd12xAMl1jKAFf5uByzCLxpFEU3nkbFXBH0YMa/s320/199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The swim area at Boulders Beach looked very inviting but we hadn't brought our swim suits with us that day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S-vgn6_3yrUkiONdJWR0Cs-oHv0nhCaAPuYr8ylK-Pz28Tckdbwz0JW7TPo0jXgHGDyTCbnQk-w1wXswLzvR2kzNmvuRMLLkXj0KipDvu6oOq8XsbE6uxvQ3jEzRxWxXJVsW3UoUA5s4/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S-vgn6_3yrUkiONdJWR0Cs-oHv0nhCaAPuYr8ylK-Pz28Tckdbwz0JW7TPo0jXgHGDyTCbnQk-w1wXswLzvR2kzNmvuRMLLkXj0KipDvu6oOq8XsbE6uxvQ3jEzRxWxXJVsW3UoUA5s4/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nestled in a sheltered cove between Cape Point and Simon's Town, Boulders Beach, which is part of Table Mountain National Park, has become world famous for its thriving colony of <b>African Penguins </b>and magnificent wind sheltered and safe beaches. When the penguins first came to False Bay there was plenty for them to eat and so the colony grew rapidly. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnrX8sOJo0fEmQmrlxQTBGkUw7XJZBFr69X07Bx5C3CDcEGbMvoirXCOgL8C7DYXLfS3m_OuTxQI-FxO8BOe0qCeRmgV1eTULFqHYkYAPpHQqxO5Xri_Zmj5EDoBxf9Tq3EH9pHknsCKS/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnrX8sOJo0fEmQmrlxQTBGkUw7XJZBFr69X07Bx5C3CDcEGbMvoirXCOgL8C7DYXLfS3m_OuTxQI-FxO8BOe0qCeRmgV1eTULFqHYkYAPpHQqxO5Xri_Zmj5EDoBxf9Tq3EH9pHknsCKS/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In recent years, however, commercial fishing, marine pollution and habitat destruction have negatively affected the size of the colony. In 1910, it was estimated that there were approximately one-and-a-half million African Penguins; a century later, the aquatic bird was classified as an endangered species when only 10% remained. These days there are only a paltry 26,000 breeding pairs left in the whole world!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY88DsXVTVjkQawTV2-uF2Bty9hOZBGUQwQYqC4hNYb7Ri_TR48-l6TMK_HMqnTU9VmkyvUsFy6ObZTw9PBBrBHasd9A3tBh7MrWwIUUg64XW4Qv-JaAQUekiXMLOzrsY6t7mLxG-yEkgN/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY88DsXVTVjkQawTV2-uF2Bty9hOZBGUQwQYqC4hNYb7Ri_TR48-l6TMK_HMqnTU9VmkyvUsFy6ObZTw9PBBrBHasd9A3tBh7MrWwIUUg64XW4Qv-JaAQUekiXMLOzrsY6t7mLxG-yEkgN/s320/204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the parking lot, we walked along a trail to get better access to the penguins.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT2HurYDZEDRMmC_dIu1zWUlS1bNXm6mRLFPNJtwAGfAg6Xes2cqr_ErnbDtk4usBXcM4q81xJaCRHeMAY0ECLvdq9h2T9-0_xhU8R9p-0qnSXU5EVR3YrjzWmT7nqGTFFeb-FxntLQPI/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLT2HurYDZEDRMmC_dIu1zWUlS1bNXm6mRLFPNJtwAGfAg6Xes2cqr_ErnbDtk4usBXcM4q81xJaCRHeMAY0ECLvdq9h2T9-0_xhU8R9p-0qnSXU5EVR3YrjzWmT7nqGTFFeb-FxntLQPI/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the penguins stood stock still and didn't move for long periods of time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe-1sxgcQPWIj_8hhEa0KSeI4GWaIrcut5NIaKzRckikar3QNGxZ0tx3XTQnd7dT_5AJ5FGftrNs0mnnAW-mDi2ivoTMO7WSwfR0YTqpJmmAxoNDUPUgtaPV26U6lSqt3sUhu1sGElAx_/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe-1sxgcQPWIj_8hhEa0KSeI4GWaIrcut5NIaKzRckikar3QNGxZ0tx3XTQnd7dT_5AJ5FGftrNs0mnnAW-mDi2ivoTMO7WSwfR0YTqpJmmAxoNDUPUgtaPV26U6lSqt3sUhu1sGElAx_/s320/212.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEimo5Dt9lsNr2xAMDJl4WYThaXn7yY1EI97Nmiqwx3DON_iaIFMbyRG-fJ22GXrRomRx6la3WwGd-r3fPPiHkKyAfpMWpBPNoERaG7Ay-nrQ2XqZBnjxn28SfFgn-Mb9E4mfZD9uYUB5QOo/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo5Dt9lsNr2xAMDJl4WYThaXn7yY1EI97Nmiqwx3DON_iaIFMbyRG-fJ22GXrRomRx6la3WwGd-r3fPPiHkKyAfpMWpBPNoERaG7Ay-nrQ2XqZBnjxn28SfFgn-Mb9E4mfZD9uYUB5QOo/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDlzS8Z1hHZ0QyCqMgAbjLQyQXHq6sp0eEK5jef2W76NBMEQVctCDA3C0BnvZmRWs2OGtKvFJ6Rp7sxl5q-IjXD2RzdUzfmUXS6d0zXh4ZQJo_HblGbc5tpILdPLOrG2buYqFetpnrZYw/s1600/215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDlzS8Z1hHZ0QyCqMgAbjLQyQXHq6sp0eEK5jef2W76NBMEQVctCDA3C0BnvZmRWs2OGtKvFJ6Rp7sxl5q-IjXD2RzdUzfmUXS6d0zXh4ZQJo_HblGbc5tpILdPLOrG2buYqFetpnrZYw/s320/215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This large rock just offshore from Boulders Beach was known as <b>Noah's Ark. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdTEWI4Vteo66Y1N5kVNNPRYjp213_oln0jfmp8TCZ55UBPNAM_j3n8kSa2JoM8uMFhv602_bGvtpp6IcLz8evFz-ha3BzZ62iWDTQ7TFx8JkYrhd-dBh85ztEXG1bgzxFgGLPq3fS617/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdTEWI4Vteo66Y1N5kVNNPRYjp213_oln0jfmp8TCZ55UBPNAM_j3n8kSa2JoM8uMFhv602_bGvtpp6IcLz8evFz-ha3BzZ62iWDTQ7TFx8JkYrhd-dBh85ztEXG1bgzxFgGLPq3fS617/s320/218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>African Penguins, </b>formerly known as jackass penguins because of their distinctive braying, are the only penguins found on the continent. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Yps8YMvFgCDdeCDFyPfSaXOFsK2stDzzsdcC4rN8bLOu75KJuCU4tqkuB3ILWIgO5ZstS5Fat_MjkCkVaDDDmNnxKemILFTqQItybKlZIQb3f0hyphenhyphene3X6RcFTXhXsuaDE1rriItQoboSK/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Yps8YMvFgCDdeCDFyPfSaXOFsK2stDzzsdcC4rN8bLOu75KJuCU4tqkuB3ILWIgO5ZstS5Fat_MjkCkVaDDDmNnxKemILFTqQItybKlZIQb3f0hyphenhyphene3X6RcFTXhXsuaDE1rriItQoboSK/s320/220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no record of the birds having lived here prior to the mid 1980s, so their decision to settle so close to a residential area was remarkable. There are only two other penguin populations on the mainland in southern Africa.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmEtEQ_AuzLDBG04Mp3Db-d4HOYcuCOWNExVeNdFD2qRQUnEcXkH4zWrCvzSpaIfeEz3dOH7kMIQGmOsFK_VuCtYMzOg9kLgOdk3xDzl3PFseqVc-fIgr9P8yLPx6YDBXwJScqxH03QtD/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmEtEQ_AuzLDBG04Mp3Db-d4HOYcuCOWNExVeNdFD2qRQUnEcXkH4zWrCvzSpaIfeEz3dOH7kMIQGmOsFK_VuCtYMzOg9kLgOdk3xDzl3PFseqVc-fIgr9P8yLPx6YDBXwJScqxH03QtD/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjMG5DDRlG7WNoQX_fYeldw3Wz76kRgWt5HtQpIJWzTj6wtA6kMbIyNIB9Yqt_5kr-4vaERmH1O9VTM1loaMbNP1iC8Fj5CxlnTSPc52ZR1p6ujoYXuQAnfuJnjAOclu6azRbjpXSj3DS/s1600/222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjMG5DDRlG7WNoQX_fYeldw3Wz76kRgWt5HtQpIJWzTj6wtA6kMbIyNIB9Yqt_5kr-4vaERmH1O9VTM1loaMbNP1iC8Fj5CxlnTSPc52ZR1p6ujoYXuQAnfuJnjAOclu6azRbjpXSj3DS/s320/222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The newly constructed boardwalks at </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Foxy Beach</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">made all the difference in our being able to have superb views of the penguins.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU-4oTKElP1yfdurEOCXGbSyFwqyHs6bWPn7DRMSuIS8jMX7pSmrrcEUgJcIsDG3RhfeqJogW4QJUkYBe_qcmVV42plFIXLkkrzL1nMBjB6EZq36frsRczYENTCLdQjnHQW-Q3kKX3Ae9/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU-4oTKElP1yfdurEOCXGbSyFwqyHs6bWPn7DRMSuIS8jMX7pSmrrcEUgJcIsDG3RhfeqJogW4QJUkYBe_qcmVV42plFIXLkkrzL1nMBjB6EZq36frsRczYENTCLdQjnHQW-Q3kKX3Ae9/s320/223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was positively captivating viewing them from the boardwalk as we could observe them from very close range as they wandered freely in a protected, natural environment.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTnaOjkAdOWuI0oWqsTFfwqk8Que1a7SoSwO-qNUFpSTXktfXLc-fUWPhp-UD1uWykgzqKA3lJTqEyMFVGXQyxdRm3Iruh9lWsXN6eMAcypnXxRIQw3qXDSLp9QctTmqQ6FvT2gB2alz_/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTnaOjkAdOWuI0oWqsTFfwqk8Que1a7SoSwO-qNUFpSTXktfXLc-fUWPhp-UD1uWykgzqKA3lJTqEyMFVGXQyxdRm3Iruh9lWsXN6eMAcypnXxRIQw3qXDSLp9QctTmqQ6FvT2gB2alz_/s320/224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Think I could have gone without gazing at these poop-covered boulders, though!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaHKr7F1VE0deUuUdq5jzpjdxP5TwTaG7VsjtUZI9Cf0cSlEcXJ1ISAgrdHujkLbvogy7BHjGH1ogUH3S32ojizzld071jM7OeO1hFoinP7qmVwtJiTmML99BNqdS3cyTwiJbzc-1SlU2/s1600/225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaHKr7F1VE0deUuUdq5jzpjdxP5TwTaG7VsjtUZI9Cf0cSlEcXJ1ISAgrdHujkLbvogy7BHjGH1ogUH3S32ojizzld071jM7OeO1hFoinP7qmVwtJiTmML99BNqdS3cyTwiJbzc-1SlU2/s320/225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We didn't know in advance that December was the peak time that so many juvenile birds molted on the beach. What a lucky break once again for us being able to witness that happening!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFYVHoPC6tWRdBVti8c9SGeJqW5aNm3d6-gWcjFu5ij8ne3OwPeI27zWwWOF2hE0ACJ3Q6l3tXTKF9jp2cpXVJakeqzQO7Smvrpj68yuFT7vkNOIVRRhR7n1SltmZenXCaqe3nH_fDuA_/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFYVHoPC6tWRdBVti8c9SGeJqW5aNm3d6-gWcjFu5ij8ne3OwPeI27zWwWOF2hE0ACJ3Q6l3tXTKF9jp2cpXVJakeqzQO7Smvrpj68yuFT7vkNOIVRRhR7n1SltmZenXCaqe3nH_fDuA_/s320/226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JLE_B5WSMgDwZIbUb1cvE9LWBNIbteTPneGUJaywVHHfP326iUaUQjCPgRQE9QsyIQMUgw3Iz2a5IfqMXATpNqZcuWiaQpBhH-9XQKVKUC9Z5lwJpBchChvdWm_nsPe8ip_Sjm_Au23r/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JLE_B5WSMgDwZIbUb1cvE9LWBNIbteTPneGUJaywVHHfP326iUaUQjCPgRQE9QsyIQMUgw3Iz2a5IfqMXATpNqZcuWiaQpBhH-9XQKVKUC9Z5lwJpBchChvdWm_nsPe8ip_Sjm_Au23r/s320/227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSHEV3J1K6wuOzCypCgplywJqmASYSNkvs8ml-pFuhfCh_Ai85FMRqGgIHdP-TKJ_5_A-wOYHP6p9v2OXX1gKfzlVERbg_sd4XRIu1CuiqH3x0Dj0RA9lKQs-iV2QhZ51sE_x7Bs5NRGc/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSHEV3J1K6wuOzCypCgplywJqmASYSNkvs8ml-pFuhfCh_Ai85FMRqGgIHdP-TKJ_5_A-wOYHP6p9v2OXX1gKfzlVERbg_sd4XRIu1CuiqH3x0Dj0RA9lKQs-iV2QhZ51sE_x7Bs5NRGc/s320/228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwkowRc_mb86EfFq3yJ_GBI4FK12hsgU10Wm6RkK4kxR4cWJbJ1e31PoY9-oUy5CRvbHc-pmfJFR6AN9x7UllvHaxbdFXyOsJ3CpuxQv7T4Fj9rFLdrMh0wpWlx9bY_248_uG6Wjnd4_N/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwkowRc_mb86EfFq3yJ_GBI4FK12hsgU10Wm6RkK4kxR4cWJbJ1e31PoY9-oUy5CRvbHc-pmfJFR6AN9x7UllvHaxbdFXyOsJ3CpuxQv7T4Fj9rFLdrMh0wpWlx9bY_248_uG6Wjnd4_N/s320/230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">During the molting season, old worn feathers are replaced. Because the birds lose their waterproofing, the penguins are confined to land for about 21 days. African penguins 'fatten up' before the molt, which is a period of starvation.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yq8XTU3m9CiLgMt1MtY9Up3geRJ5mX3nHbFvPIQy2QZBRHCNdkuVie_9QZ80AriYsdA9xmISTMVb-8SvFYhq8JY8h-3reKx1ZSNpdPWuGCzzahz1nRApXct0CRPLOej2foOqyBnRvs4L/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Yq8XTU3m9CiLgMt1MtY9Up3geRJ5mX3nHbFvPIQy2QZBRHCNdkuVie_9QZ80AriYsdA9xmISTMVb-8SvFYhq8JY8h-3reKx1ZSNpdPWuGCzzahz1nRApXct0CRPLOej2foOqyBnRvs4L/s320/231.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgmxiWrX8BEiVwh53684knt1mIJCFyv6ow5hjpLPOqgIpn5vpl7P6BHLcgmePhcibd5A6wInjgPMNX_fvjOVSeSE-lqm3h62pmxUqmREM4kdlh-n-38b4rIiY8l-kNF_fR_q8pndG_lbV3u/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxiWrX8BEiVwh53684knt1mIJCFyv6ow5hjpLPOqgIpn5vpl7P6BHLcgmePhcibd5A6wInjgPMNX_fvjOVSeSE-lqm3h62pmxUqmREM4kdlh-n-38b4rIiY8l-kNF_fR_q8pndG_lbV3u/s320/233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbuH3s3HMQkI6gfDU2RhyphenhyphenAnH0M64o7GZRHzTzzn8KJCTtwzwsaKaodhQ4XGyzIvJkeRWZWjKZze8H72D19H9X7R0rywEzWakyKlSZ7Qo1uoaT0hRIyfGc1TX-18gD7EAbirF17_WDE4B_/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbuH3s3HMQkI6gfDU2RhyphenhyphenAnH0M64o7GZRHzTzzn8KJCTtwzwsaKaodhQ4XGyzIvJkeRWZWjKZze8H72D19H9X7R0rywEzWakyKlSZ7Qo1uoaT0hRIyfGc1TX-18gD7EAbirF17_WDE4B_/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDyHBO_O5Ji2oNTN1Pi52FGlN3gT1Yf4-WDVFESwGt-CeBL1HA4k2SJNSBtssS1FsZJNFB4cA3EMLqe7kRwbX6nbW5VnoSDrsAzSmOr7ZpNaBlumSZrWIlSQRRSYaxhIL5vqUyzNexW5/s1600/235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNDyHBO_O5Ji2oNTN1Pi52FGlN3gT1Yf4-WDVFESwGt-CeBL1HA4k2SJNSBtssS1FsZJNFB4cA3EMLqe7kRwbX6nbW5VnoSDrsAzSmOr7ZpNaBlumSZrWIlSQRRSYaxhIL5vqUyzNexW5/s320/235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These boulders were not always so white!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVvZtZf5Db4DOUH9SIzco5agGSKDhNjQNAGFPtAKKwMlZNipxlt-7xuUuwvgECZGdb0DECABnFGSUBzmwWGGjTErRo5PZ_tr5a6_RxPKMC7UvTxPVrrjImH_L1jp3saf9UVGNDp5Sl3lA/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbVvZtZf5Db4DOUH9SIzco5agGSKDhNjQNAGFPtAKKwMlZNipxlt-7xuUuwvgECZGdb0DECABnFGSUBzmwWGGjTErRo5PZ_tr5a6_RxPKMC7UvTxPVrrjImH_L1jp3saf9UVGNDp5Sl3lA/s320/238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The kings of the rock!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV6j52MzbWHJtQ7NlXYRC9H7JFLOQB2bFV6IKe3bHJkKFuAUCTMlr2AmayQnxsxRchgwxBaRCzPYdEAo9_RzO-yFVwALm5kOADdAiKVawS2gExiooxw_6dNgHHaSb4B_eeK2Zz9FWKCeM/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV6j52MzbWHJtQ7NlXYRC9H7JFLOQB2bFV6IKe3bHJkKFuAUCTMlr2AmayQnxsxRchgwxBaRCzPYdEAo9_RzO-yFVwALm5kOADdAiKVawS2gExiooxw_6dNgHHaSb4B_eeK2Zz9FWKCeM/s320/239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The penguins' distinctive black and white coloring is a vital form of camouflage: white for underwater predators looking upwards and black for predators looking down into the water.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmufJXvs-fmk5nFr1dJTSiStjagz8Zhu_BGhKkKXLukDlh28kc4bLdGLrfpDkwoYGFzwZYOW17HjMQb_-F_JvJACM7UpG5yi_Q5AsMkNXEtLkrTOmdmFChB9pt7isMU7gdDQx-KRGdVrao/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmufJXvs-fmk5nFr1dJTSiStjagz8Zhu_BGhKkKXLukDlh28kc4bLdGLrfpDkwoYGFzwZYOW17HjMQb_-F_JvJACM7UpG5yi_Q5AsMkNXEtLkrTOmdmFChB9pt7isMU7gdDQx-KRGdVrao/s320/240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf66TumGXOAGxC6VP7VpkFyCO4D_myakIAvtGrQEQWBa1A0PORrJ4z_8Lo17AhvVBMB-9le2bLS8BUfqJl2JAkq-wjU9nHkoMlle5Uwzy-wIKsHKC6ZTsKHyqIXVGF2E0U7CIyoLGGGrWm/s1600/241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf66TumGXOAGxC6VP7VpkFyCO4D_myakIAvtGrQEQWBa1A0PORrJ4z_8Lo17AhvVBMB-9le2bLS8BUfqJl2JAkq-wjU9nHkoMlle5Uwzy-wIKsHKC6ZTsKHyqIXVGF2E0U7CIyoLGGGrWm/s320/241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was hilarious watching just one or two penguins </span><span style="font-size: large;">at a time </span><span style="font-size: large;">out of hundreds and hundreds of them </span><span style="font-size: large;"> scamper (or whatever verb that is used to describe a penguin's movements!) a few feet into the ocean before quickly retreating and flap their wings once they arrived back on the sand.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfB0I6b4-kA8-kRsDA75XE_DGbqmT3zDtk3Uuv6eisLsgxF2cjap2Ga9kZ8EqtUm4znnqq5bN4xXjVEKkpglEoLzGgi2Pchsoqu2JQEz8oWdQzUijUAJ-MMMOWxKcA_27K0shjzDP5a0A/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfB0I6b4-kA8-kRsDA75XE_DGbqmT3zDtk3Uuv6eisLsgxF2cjap2Ga9kZ8EqtUm4znnqq5bN4xXjVEKkpglEoLzGgi2Pchsoqu2JQEz8oWdQzUijUAJ-MMMOWxKcA_27K0shjzDP5a0A/s320/244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Penguins have very sharp beaks and can cause serious injury if they bite or lunge.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PIMD-adQtArIrhhHMOM7LXBpOGmGMWmyAFfcQ1nY1IlrmNCz-pLPQoWMpJL0m-wzcygyZRnmWyEjG1lmjffAb0g3V8sUoVhzMHhfYj8woCDAn1i9YF742aSmV0EYtwpb1Zx3QJwoPjpG/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PIMD-adQtArIrhhHMOM7LXBpOGmGMWmyAFfcQ1nY1IlrmNCz-pLPQoWMpJL0m-wzcygyZRnmWyEjG1lmjffAb0g3V8sUoVhzMHhfYj8woCDAn1i9YF742aSmV0EYtwpb1Zx3QJwoPjpG/s320/245.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgvuCC7C5LzmJt1Crnqxs7-g-Pmf7h2wuD_UDfEajkBEvcTpNa1kxvhAY-xzxam1-lWD3KDdlt9KjcGOpcS5bYeT8lJTG2KfgsHFutbC5VAyuyH1eVN3VqQqIRsLHgV3wVpeLNQe6kIpGZE/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuCC7C5LzmJt1Crnqxs7-g-Pmf7h2wuD_UDfEajkBEvcTpNa1kxvhAY-xzxam1-lWD3KDdlt9KjcGOpcS5bYeT8lJTG2KfgsHFutbC5VAyuyH1eVN3VqQqIRsLHgV3wVpeLNQe6kIpGZE/s320/247.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgNVoAGWrvoOzhyphenhyphenO49qmEkbnn_YQFFCEVHN_wbk16TW67dtIS3qdIrhWQ33Oqf3qB4f8f2VCcUAnTx6CCq6VnnA1TsLpF6OuvUBV6lVOGUDtTPbw82NtXvjuM1ZPtfhH8aP6t-qFjxLsPHD/s1600/250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVoAGWrvoOzhyphenhyphenO49qmEkbnn_YQFFCEVHN_wbk16TW67dtIS3qdIrhWQ33Oqf3qB4f8f2VCcUAnTx6CCq6VnnA1TsLpF6OuvUBV6lVOGUDtTPbw82NtXvjuM1ZPtfhH8aP6t-qFjxLsPHD/s320/250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two more ventured into the shallow water before quickly turning around!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2KzjgW4ecatKzBU91xS54PHH2ToH1Ilc54mNHO7q6kKeWg2HE7wxofKCgFWWzARS26cRp_R-WbndYuOBCMVqtrtGtN7oEjjoVQlMopTsIuTQaexnHDRwzTefzyCulTj4gIj10PXWbB6E/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2KzjgW4ecatKzBU91xS54PHH2ToH1Ilc54mNHO7q6kKeWg2HE7wxofKCgFWWzARS26cRp_R-WbndYuOBCMVqtrtGtN7oEjjoVQlMopTsIuTQaexnHDRwzTefzyCulTj4gIj10PXWbB6E/s320/251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could have heard this one braying like a jackass but no such luck this time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ9jBA-urcTQbgOoDmppfBFUzgvOP9AW9HroHPog5mCZCltwYrWX1vuz8oSeGTYR96zZNrszqWzMja8p5icaZjAFSghU21n4EEfnx-oh2xDsw_G7jnkJhVmeR1vTzzq5p4l2_JFvURfN1/s1600/256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ9jBA-urcTQbgOoDmppfBFUzgvOP9AW9HroHPog5mCZCltwYrWX1vuz8oSeGTYR96zZNrszqWzMja8p5icaZjAFSghU21n4EEfnx-oh2xDsw_G7jnkJhVmeR1vTzzq5p4l2_JFvURfN1/s320/256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I read that African penguins gather before setting off to hunt fish in groups. Though penguins are ungainly and awkward on land, they are superbly designed for life at sea with an ability to swim at speeds of up to 12 mph when chasing fish.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQWwbdova5aS4dvvK4ac9yGJ8-93-mUaMVb9W3t7mJQRWpfX5A_hw-lDJFIq_dRXBWPnFn_Lf8Ltm1FSaQyre0iW3UXZkb2NfggZxz1yXlD4S8ES-kEmWVvLfxh1YXZsXoYLTzhL_WGxY/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQWwbdova5aS4dvvK4ac9yGJ8-93-mUaMVb9W3t7mJQRWpfX5A_hw-lDJFIq_dRXBWPnFn_Lf8Ltm1FSaQyre0iW3UXZkb2NfggZxz1yXlD4S8ES-kEmWVvLfxh1YXZsXoYLTzhL_WGxY/s320/253.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEggEIf7SZZmO6vJKJNbODNHeAFM9vsyB7syybBK-OF2X81MCKQqukDFSYnbTV0quVarUOyEfyJ4KTs3KHKigQdCzIUWKR6yskAK92CyZVoU_W7Ff7Z4T0aUL-agvAdmEpoBsi8_qlCOrJRq/s1600/255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEIf7SZZmO6vJKJNbODNHeAFM9vsyB7syybBK-OF2X81MCKQqukDFSYnbTV0quVarUOyEfyJ4KTs3KHKigQdCzIUWKR6yskAK92CyZVoU_W7Ff7Z4T0aUL-agvAdmEpoBsi8_qlCOrJRq/s320/255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since the African Penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Africa, it is restricted to the coastline and seas of southern Africa. Having undergone a massive decline during the 20th century, they are especially vulnerable now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0TPqh4Z9WsfIm_mGHtEP0ULLN74D8_cHCd0W6SVU-2hCIvRfeQ_bBAowzMqZ47itawmmYy6fPBpeXqtG30ezRYVSQYoM4dFmNiLMA0T9pbximOZbsQvv_3mB9dvES-uB9SnUA1Hpm9H0/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0TPqh4Z9WsfIm_mGHtEP0ULLN74D8_cHCd0W6SVU-2hCIvRfeQ_bBAowzMqZ47itawmmYy6fPBpeXqtG30ezRYVSQYoM4dFmNiLMA0T9pbximOZbsQvv_3mB9dvES-uB9SnUA1Hpm9H0/s320/257.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhxUJi_JreEBNj2bklaLjJhmk7qdkl0rdbWz8bOIk8L41hXeam9InmumYuhZHD8CWQkVYHL6KCS-j4lXOMgOnr_5mqERwcTrMGPiOGFZuVgo8OFB7qoAnv8P29e11BPBW4j09qT80BeZohU/s1600/260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUJi_JreEBNj2bklaLjJhmk7qdkl0rdbWz8bOIk8L41hXeam9InmumYuhZHD8CWQkVYHL6KCS-j4lXOMgOnr_5mqERwcTrMGPiOGFZuVgo8OFB7qoAnv8P29e11BPBW4j09qT80BeZohU/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEiNNTKxRExCMeqC8qt3dv8Ptmcvuntvecd5DGZP9VDg9DgBJwATFNKaCHUt_xr78A9DgwH3ktrYymaaSWNLGay6MUDL6ZyvbX75BRl2w9LsBtnaRBFRT5kaY1PjCPBZedfoGDuBwn6MVbT0/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNTKxRExCMeqC8qt3dv8Ptmcvuntvecd5DGZP9VDg9DgBJwATFNKaCHUt_xr78A9DgwH3ktrYymaaSWNLGay6MUDL6ZyvbX75BRl2w9LsBtnaRBFRT5kaY1PjCPBZedfoGDuBwn6MVbT0/s320/262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we had found empty spots by the railing. I never wanted to leave. Steven had to practically tear me away as I was so entranced watching those cute penguins! <b>Lil Red:</b> I know you would have so loved being right there too even though you and Pat have been fortunate enough to also see penguins during your trip to Antarctica.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn_Hf5rF-2wucvLg6R84fNkTTjeMvq456OfktxkC86BQVBpEBMioEq5osV0Vuj9AjuHpBCYJCc6snFX34jOzZfeQdl7UgFM18CjHb4hEdkZ9rwpbsBKGapVSGUrfUG-KBZAvvyLgmNQBo/s1600/268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn_Hf5rF-2wucvLg6R84fNkTTjeMvq456OfktxkC86BQVBpEBMioEq5osV0Vuj9AjuHpBCYJCc6snFX34jOzZfeQdl7UgFM18CjHb4hEdkZ9rwpbsBKGapVSGUrfUG-KBZAvvyLgmNQBo/s320/268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was definitely our pleasure making our acquaintance of penguins in Boulders!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ApMyqO9KUUOxEqhqKVcot1OIi4FrBRkXmHfRKBQNAem6bK_CCsIN8kAqiAzlE1ugJlO2s7xZLSzxX2YC-5Bx4Y-gfxa7igGa-SG4sdv9xSYVN8Z2DuLgAQU7-xHjKWKpVcYBe4QAEEx/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9ApMyqO9KUUOxEqhqKVcot1OIi4FrBRkXmHfRKBQNAem6bK_CCsIN8kAqiAzlE1ugJlO2s7xZLSzxX2YC-5Bx4Y-gfxa7igGa-SG4sdv9xSYVN8Z2DuLgAQU7-xHjKWKpVcYBe4QAEEx/s320/274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We took our first break of the day at the Boulders Beach Lodge well after 3. While Steven ordered something fairly healthy, I feasted on Fudge Picasso instead!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOLWuLLPhUmMYTHlHzEFp5flQD_piUxB1ZxTgoozRfKvkBVSnvpD-lhLPJZmaQTXLYl3fhNWifffShc7sjD3vQ6a5TnOm30Ms2o8ILisJUYUF2O1YG6i_Yn8GolMFJSTCmuvwxz0UxKvb/s1600/276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOLWuLLPhUmMYTHlHzEFp5flQD_piUxB1ZxTgoozRfKvkBVSnvpD-lhLPJZmaQTXLYl3fhNWifffShc7sjD3vQ6a5TnOm30Ms2o8ILisJUYUF2O1YG6i_Yn8GolMFJSTCmuvwxz0UxKvb/s320/276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Approaching the idyllic community of Simon's Town again, the terminus of the southernmost train in Africa:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyLRO874nOQ35NnGu-qUcjclWUMuPKbRniaB7G1vw2q6SGAaYr2dbD84g15DwAg1xaIoHu8VqOWHDIXoUlIOr5w4awtMKl25G_CWJMtf4Q4KD7qiFUmjpIEoREFaFb0qQKxQ-LPtK9huh/s1600/280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyLRO874nOQ35NnGu-qUcjclWUMuPKbRniaB7G1vw2q6SGAaYr2dbD84g15DwAg1xaIoHu8VqOWHDIXoUlIOr5w4awtMKl25G_CWJMtf4Q4KD7qiFUmjpIEoREFaFb0qQKxQ-LPtK9huh/s320/280.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEg_32Aujw1rT6ddq00w9Q3IuJiuI89x0jQJoYbDMw0Wwv9eCenjvlYmZhFkp3jb_r0BWxJYqFy9F-X1_ZWlNLzBvOg6mZbeNaoeXUZnSWvdqVkghWiOKjPOSJ7x9rh6nf7B1tXAB9EpSTg0/s1600/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_32Aujw1rT6ddq00w9Q3IuJiuI89x0jQJoYbDMw0Wwv9eCenjvlYmZhFkp3jb_r0BWxJYqFy9F-X1_ZWlNLzBvOg6mZbeNaoeXUZnSWvdqVkghWiOKjPOSJ7x9rh6nf7B1tXAB9EpSTg0/s320/282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the Indian Ocean coastline, we drove west through the mountains toward the small community of <b>Scarborough</b> on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRJy9CKLr4yM8gAAY7Nvftxa10c2t7Y-QsAYithCI_SdJw1lmCyLYRsAdE6x4Rfhzmtig8MPsBs11BTfigtmJYU-BCSozFFoSV4CmXmkUJIRLtu4ybEZY33tfmkPYI_irVlaoB3KmKnTA/s1600/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRJy9CKLr4yM8gAAY7Nvftxa10c2t7Y-QsAYithCI_SdJw1lmCyLYRsAdE6x4Rfhzmtig8MPsBs11BTfigtmJYU-BCSozFFoSV4CmXmkUJIRLtu4ybEZY33tfmkPYI_irVlaoB3KmKnTA/s320/285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After being lucky enough to witness so much of God's beauty over the last few hours, it was very depressing to come across this desperately poor shanty town inhabited by blacks. The economic and racial disparity was still disturbingly alive and well in this part of South Africa.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdKvp6QXF6QtJJSZRSBOly6FBi7d1-6BvvJ11pbtkYc_Uc4f_FIJPNmr6_K-p_n2W6Gt5Uh5Z0OvUFaWhWkPlP_w2XTmvkPjsobQ1SyIg5hwL2J6xlCDxG7CYp0UyC-VU2keRzVmGsnYS/s1600/288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdKvp6QXF6QtJJSZRSBOly6FBi7d1-6BvvJ11pbtkYc_Uc4f_FIJPNmr6_K-p_n2W6Gt5Uh5Z0OvUFaWhWkPlP_w2XTmvkPjsobQ1SyIg5hwL2J6xlCDxG7CYp0UyC-VU2keRzVmGsnYS/s320/288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnjV-Hf-zCB1EM1JMSYhyphenhyphenaS0XLh1aqkfqEOp5wjw1pvEDIdhbrx-JcQV6dy2GjjiUThEiPCz-waPRX4nqOu0dUtzjMlFleCJUBlzuuIJd_tYbQVu_W8Rhg0gQabLRxN9wma40du4my7Km/s1600/289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnjV-Hf-zCB1EM1JMSYhyphenhyphenaS0XLh1aqkfqEOp5wjw1pvEDIdhbrx-JcQV6dy2GjjiUThEiPCz-waPRX4nqOu0dUtzjMlFleCJUBlzuuIJd_tYbQVu_W8Rhg0gQabLRxN9wma40du4my7Km/s320/289.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh5xJ3bUcLcKxadtCquNQa68MoD6B8F2fLUZAqNgO-ZBm4G4AzCrQHqZ-ei0bQkbEWEkxtYvdzIYdaCqLaNYyGmqgjZhNyG3cElV0I05U4y8FmbHk1IsAIjEv4TUSe4-0i1SODJMaIAEkA9/s1600/291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xJ3bUcLcKxadtCquNQa68MoD6B8F2fLUZAqNgO-ZBm4G4AzCrQHqZ-ei0bQkbEWEkxtYvdzIYdaCqLaNYyGmqgjZhNyG3cElV0I05U4y8FmbHk1IsAIjEv4TUSe4-0i1SODJMaIAEkA9/s320/291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7YvgXif8G10EomwE1W7gNLU3l2B0x8TEmRxgr3KMIyGDUPSUV3AA40P12fCTSD_5mBS3ShES9h_jKcS3orF9B5AzCNohI7V6B2IeNyMkjl_rr2Hl_ahqNCjRXZ7TGVyiqsGdzxXIbVVk/s1600/292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7YvgXif8G10EomwE1W7gNLU3l2B0x8TEmRxgr3KMIyGDUPSUV3AA40P12fCTSD_5mBS3ShES9h_jKcS3orF9B5AzCNohI7V6B2IeNyMkjl_rr2Hl_ahqNCjRXZ7TGVyiqsGdzxXIbVVk/s320/292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Literally just across the road from the shantytown was this gorgeous and beautifully tended farm.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirijArhPpTtvRxaXlVxQEwJF8WWOoBTFunzWxTZdSM7vnxvdAGpoJsWMNPosCFMx-AsfAZWklncT2w4xetr4N3qcoePuBi6O_DOUeu2kTc7F9JQvtf7ppzOdBQBTt4njE2iijQRFgUFZRg/s1600/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirijArhPpTtvRxaXlVxQEwJF8WWOoBTFunzWxTZdSM7vnxvdAGpoJsWMNPosCFMx-AsfAZWklncT2w4xetr4N3qcoePuBi6O_DOUeu2kTc7F9JQvtf7ppzOdBQBTt4njE2iijQRFgUFZRg/s320/293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A case of the haves and have nots, living so close together and yet, so far apart.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCifalQ6GkGRHagvV5f7qawvI3vV5zP2ZbGHp3pVywMYy-DovAhgexL5VefTwtvgePe9zhXhYs1vBBIMCTUHJyISz2jz3Prx5lpKOMJsxLFBqoksA3ZNEWkG-od6Uy1OAGFcyA22BYxHZ/s1600/294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCifalQ6GkGRHagvV5f7qawvI3vV5zP2ZbGHp3pVywMYy-DovAhgexL5VefTwtvgePe9zhXhYs1vBBIMCTUHJyISz2jz3Prx5lpKOMJsxLFBqoksA3ZNEWkG-od6Uy1OAGFcyA22BYxHZ/s320/294.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEh2slon5tJJKgcrIeQDRYDxWH9iKddg93P8C0ybVs8TIXiCctUakI5mJ3jvStQITFJfFrNYH1pALu6a_NFwYsePQWF-N-ShH8LPGNophXZ_eJ3ZW2PlnnKYq3jDIHvSZDzufwjnAScKcU_F/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2slon5tJJKgcrIeQDRYDxWH9iKddg93P8C0ybVs8TIXiCctUakI5mJ3jvStQITFJfFrNYH1pALu6a_NFwYsePQWF-N-ShH8LPGNophXZ_eJ3ZW2PlnnKYq3jDIHvSZDzufwjnAScKcU_F/s320/297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another baboon sign but none luckily on the highway.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDXRO4pzo16D5PJhKSFnba551FmLwTgAj0KlVHuxCyOUIp2LHoBSUpkxAO2DLR12yUNTrftD9ERfSfBdL6m-kkp4FjhU84ZaV8b7x0QgD5O2QciYtEiq7w7fLfmFaksCFtZ8oxtJsLt-a/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDXRO4pzo16D5PJhKSFnba551FmLwTgAj0KlVHuxCyOUIp2LHoBSUpkxAO2DLR12yUNTrftD9ERfSfBdL6m-kkp4FjhU84ZaV8b7x0QgD5O2QciYtEiq7w7fLfmFaksCFtZ8oxtJsLt-a/s320/299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGREs3CnH51RBLqHFp4ovvJBLPCEx6ieHuh7xDuynDMyqx6sCpxRAdhzKs1W7fR1oRtqqm1nWq5WeUWx81AqhVN_1uLYgdhJmom8RbCaEWE93qqqs0v0xCyEgEGsLoa3BWJi5HkBIQsEmT/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGREs3CnH51RBLqHFp4ovvJBLPCEx6ieHuh7xDuynDMyqx6sCpxRAdhzKs1W7fR1oRtqqm1nWq5WeUWx81AqhVN_1uLYgdhJmom8RbCaEWE93qqqs0v0xCyEgEGsLoa3BWJi5HkBIQsEmT/s320/300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Once again, the beauty of the drive and the scenery was just mind boggling as we approached <b>Misty Cliffs,</b> a conservation village.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUhjL7K1TUgu5p1TekYaI3Gnk5MvoitfkQkpKpFvSLDJ5awo11KdAeN2G6ILiPa2Aj5V7JdevFZzSmNwto3k3EIOjoCJn-nfkbuaGvtrhyphenhyphenoMT155FbSZPe0PU119jRg2iuqfbeU_McG0k/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUhjL7K1TUgu5p1TekYaI3Gnk5MvoitfkQkpKpFvSLDJ5awo11KdAeN2G6ILiPa2Aj5V7JdevFZzSmNwto3k3EIOjoCJn-nfkbuaGvtrhyphenhyphenoMT155FbSZPe0PU119jRg2iuqfbeU_McG0k/s320/301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZtZglHvnEGZbsipDXWW5BDkzaLvamVlO4qk-YlLT1g1S06WutqkVjbPyqUtdKkkHwnfCt2IX0RY-5g8-SqNe2tVjp381QZoBaCz3lRQhNIozTAr5yRJ9G7Dzmf0wJmV64XWi6OQTsXUh/s1600/302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZtZglHvnEGZbsipDXWW5BDkzaLvamVlO4qk-YlLT1g1S06WutqkVjbPyqUtdKkkHwnfCt2IX0RY-5g8-SqNe2tVjp381QZoBaCz3lRQhNIozTAr5yRJ9G7Dzmf0wJmV64XWi6OQTsXUh/s320/302.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgOR8EEYKDuXfPZ59Z3wszWQLHHrsEl3_7YyAWIgw3xeJnf6R2nb1NNvmaIjQsrumMARwvYH37QNnNVphpY_APf_02v5WRHJfzPshYTpib8L1qOxY6ELweE2hfSAYp7p98Hf467mMlTVqiH/s1600/304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR8EEYKDuXfPZ59Z3wszWQLHHrsEl3_7YyAWIgw3xeJnf6R2nb1NNvmaIjQsrumMARwvYH37QNnNVphpY_APf_02v5WRHJfzPshYTpib8L1qOxY6ELweE2hfSAYp7p98Hf467mMlTVqiH/s320/304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcTIHFs5Ylo51r8Tw627BbeipwnysE6GZVmhGRtQG1MP9R5e9_2g5gzJxndxul40Eu_GcyaYR-rKghaVhVP7QxOrdHr78U-NmNC5cm4BcsCJZ83bV18GFlOPjW-xJKbmhFzVSYiMSf2f-/s1600/305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcTIHFs5Ylo51r8Tw627BbeipwnysE6GZVmhGRtQG1MP9R5e9_2g5gzJxndxul40Eu_GcyaYR-rKghaVhVP7QxOrdHr78U-NmNC5cm4BcsCJZ83bV18GFlOPjW-xJKbmhFzVSYiMSf2f-/s320/305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTANrvIxZ5kN7poQ9fB7vilcwj0vAbLpbaEoV4zDHobipYC06REKd-lxLkydRpc_8tcDTgqHSjpLqgWL7GlaFi3T6TWcQjCoIaPQIPd29ru9jY-awe982PUOWFVSeuLktscucmTIEiO4T/s1600/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTANrvIxZ5kN7poQ9fB7vilcwj0vAbLpbaEoV4zDHobipYC06REKd-lxLkydRpc_8tcDTgqHSjpLqgWL7GlaFi3T6TWcQjCoIaPQIPd29ru9jY-awe982PUOWFVSeuLktscucmTIEiO4T/s320/306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hiWWjTlw3iubhcpJBfHSP18WYdaV9I3qRUs_3soVQ6VElImo63gRKn51xj6wE5DNdGgS1OYQQ6EhtL44H2rSWjVsgPLfPi_8u1RPUoSUW6Nqk4lr-H708bD1h5qNFTQgU68Kn85nna7T/s1600/307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hiWWjTlw3iubhcpJBfHSP18WYdaV9I3qRUs_3soVQ6VElImo63gRKn51xj6wE5DNdGgS1OYQQ6EhtL44H2rSWjVsgPLfPi_8u1RPUoSUW6Nqk4lr-H708bD1h5qNFTQgU68Kn85nna7T/s320/307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Though the rock formation was called <b>Camel Rock,</b> I found it hard to determine how it had gotten its name!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ0rlF18zYxAo67CL1OBKq2Q6NO9IF7VNt2aBHgw8q9lP54H4cJESMmHbTiwsrt3ZPaMkoTGO9LRmjVSO7kNSuGpc3O0rH2matXVb_SlNQ6kvvji0OGLRQ3lcLmJvXcGAd31Gfj2miheS/s1600/309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ0rlF18zYxAo67CL1OBKq2Q6NO9IF7VNt2aBHgw8q9lP54H4cJESMmHbTiwsrt3ZPaMkoTGO9LRmjVSO7kNSuGpc3O0rH2matXVb_SlNQ6kvvji0OGLRQ3lcLmJvXcGAd31Gfj2miheS/s320/309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The beaches had some of the whitest sand imaginable. Too bad it was getting rather late in the day for us to curl our toes in the sand and walk for miles along the many beaches!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ggAQ1jds7VuM21-TQH-YjlvBtFbBj90d0sZoIiIbIcToP3cIgCYi3RmmaUAWuSFscJcuQHq8ptQnYo1es1D5UdMM-breYH0RqrdwWVtyzvoUG3EIUfNCjkwfwBTOg2VIaKnW63oJSSr8/s1600/311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ggAQ1jds7VuM21-TQH-YjlvBtFbBj90d0sZoIiIbIcToP3cIgCYi3RmmaUAWuSFscJcuQHq8ptQnYo1es1D5UdMM-breYH0RqrdwWVtyzvoUG3EIUfNCjkwfwBTOg2VIaKnW63oJSSr8/s320/311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGJUhJO55vNpZdqhrwaojEKuiGeLek5myPWh8dK3luxSWqtrYSsu7jgZk2xK77SfmfjvWFAsZ-XfOwd1kGzqoA43miEBsJOYYlZAX0rUVslEDmFVGS4B-TYTH3RbGlr1z9uChoqyqW4kv/s1600/312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGJUhJO55vNpZdqhrwaojEKuiGeLek5myPWh8dK3luxSWqtrYSsu7jgZk2xK77SfmfjvWFAsZ-XfOwd1kGzqoA43miEBsJOYYlZAX0rUVslEDmFVGS4B-TYTH3RbGlr1z9uChoqyqW4kv/s320/312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE50sDvz0v0jfjEe8QRdzfU3tP07zn28Nz15YpAOg958kAWzce37O4O5Bs8RUh9esdLIy7GqSI5ECMC1ygjlgQ2h-9KryTeWjPHj02foX1ccn01HRg3M4kw4-4QR6eNSig4OlOvqfirFym/s1600/313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE50sDvz0v0jfjEe8QRdzfU3tP07zn28Nz15YpAOg958kAWzce37O4O5Bs8RUh9esdLIy7GqSI5ECMC1ygjlgQ2h-9KryTeWjPHj02foX1ccn01HRg3M4kw4-4QR6eNSig4OlOvqfirFym/s320/313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5JZHIWMJ8E0iO60Wk_aPvXtBzPCAY9MbBzq-ERDik7Ul1dkHis7bKGpYnueO2hYCQZZZ0Y6wYhkjXm2Yh9m6Vrb9cRd2ajWBSstC55BFipBi4xyB3N9CmMuNCf8ROu3CCqwzoAP8wAoS/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5JZHIWMJ8E0iO60Wk_aPvXtBzPCAY9MbBzq-ERDik7Ul1dkHis7bKGpYnueO2hYCQZZZ0Y6wYhkjXm2Yh9m6Vrb9cRd2ajWBSstC55BFipBi4xyB3N9CmMuNCf8ROu3CCqwzoAP8wAoS/s320/314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mini sand dunes were common along this part of the highway.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X0B7G8cl6bwVZj6BfWxSP64h3Q3VPfWOeDNoapzXJMLan6v8m1CGgRtL0aC7AcgdmRMMP_DTV6Oc9cWx29mva-9nJ4HPR3JItLqdizdfbyIdYEFPd0hqN206Z01fkaCRn6ZLH8HqWJ1z/s1600/316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X0B7G8cl6bwVZj6BfWxSP64h3Q3VPfWOeDNoapzXJMLan6v8m1CGgRtL0aC7AcgdmRMMP_DTV6Oc9cWx29mva-9nJ4HPR3JItLqdizdfbyIdYEFPd0hqN206Z01fkaCRn6ZLH8HqWJ1z/s320/316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7VFpjGQuJmLGcddsBDwfcGFUbpJNeFcfcspxyvo5YdMVCc2uKm9UgU7z2_RGsVJhziu2IHD2nnn0lS_XzlFSyU7kzkGtSBWVZVUS28BUOOFCSXN3YaZUsHWFEMJwkqPHyENA0p4M-Sg_/s1600/317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7VFpjGQuJmLGcddsBDwfcGFUbpJNeFcfcspxyvo5YdMVCc2uKm9UgU7z2_RGsVJhziu2IHD2nnn0lS_XzlFSyU7kzkGtSBWVZVUS28BUOOFCSXN3YaZUsHWFEMJwkqPHyENA0p4M-Sg_/s320/317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Did I say mini sand dunes? Oops, I meant to say large sand dunes!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZTp5KBwO5FGUJFhh_DxGFKIxp9SyvPFQBJ5VJqIAgQcV-_MyBr1EohqRmA0pDnvxV8x_QdcbtQE9ogAn2RnSIInzorf0y2xLTPfSe6NHdfCt4Tto-CxWihgOgBQECQp_eKacoOOg-Qpm/s1600/319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZTp5KBwO5FGUJFhh_DxGFKIxp9SyvPFQBJ5VJqIAgQcV-_MyBr1EohqRmA0pDnvxV8x_QdcbtQE9ogAn2RnSIInzorf0y2xLTPfSe6NHdfCt4Tto-CxWihgOgBQECQp_eKacoOOg-Qpm/s320/319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQFacheVfPWmk5wOukNlebgaR1KdHN7PbNLziG9_mS4ptWN1RcBMtLiJ5D0Bl4GNOrM8RW2TNPnECzizYzcpr9VuJHT74EmZvIGmhbGLq2JAZDDy646W-ASUCaQ30LlNYY5TjAttcBbHM/s1600/320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQFacheVfPWmk5wOukNlebgaR1KdHN7PbNLziG9_mS4ptWN1RcBMtLiJ5D0Bl4GNOrM8RW2TNPnECzizYzcpr9VuJHT74EmZvIGmhbGLq2JAZDDy646W-ASUCaQ30LlNYY5TjAttcBbHM/s320/320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a promontory the furthest west we had come all day, was the <b>Slangkoppunt or Snakehead Lighthouse</b> in Kommetjie. It had been burning brightly since 1914 and became fully automated in 1979. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH-QgGU4CEJTJC-pk-nWCJ7fRCzwiRoGuhJXWLFubfPByyBDkaQNcW9qHfh3SZPXLGtL38MVKrTQHO2Nft1Ja6FVNs0eo508ewocBiOq-v89PR4qYUMkfQNCYuce51L4FVs4OmhfFJkak/s1600/322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyH-QgGU4CEJTJC-pk-nWCJ7fRCzwiRoGuhJXWLFubfPByyBDkaQNcW9qHfh3SZPXLGtL38MVKrTQHO2Nft1Ja6FVNs0eo508ewocBiOq-v89PR4qYUMkfQNCYuce51L4FVs4OmhfFJkak/s320/322.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgImKDLZEHhYZr_LbVHX_5V5AieLDF34qX0XmdMIQbar7esRG_dGcfkcUBryCg0YzSf6Hl4Zu-wAjfoNmZB1-hcflu19hyphenhyphen4vdsfM503Ht7sI2Pp-hPfV6Tv3Um5qXbBRlb2tE1T8H7L6ud-/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImKDLZEHhYZr_LbVHX_5V5AieLDF34qX0XmdMIQbar7esRG_dGcfkcUBryCg0YzSf6Hl4Zu-wAjfoNmZB1-hcflu19hyphenhyphen4vdsfM503Ht7sI2Pp-hPfV6Tv3Um5qXbBRlb2tE1T8H7L6ud-/s320/324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The drive down to the lighthouse was so delightful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJRaJHHnKL8lEBQmZnIFDkJ-IP52on8POb0cB1LA1R9rEMx8EwIDigxP7ayiP5MVqyHr645kKWJzUiLTZD543eatXXkV_DJZXR3lLbtKoB_118GnlvLb_XTXSuid9_-EJVIi_BeTV62y/s1600/325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJRaJHHnKL8lEBQmZnIFDkJ-IP52on8POb0cB1LA1R9rEMx8EwIDigxP7ayiP5MVqyHr645kKWJzUiLTZD543eatXXkV_DJZXR3lLbtKoB_118GnlvLb_XTXSuid9_-EJVIi_BeTV62y/s320/325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since 1500, more than 2,000 ships have been wrecked along the coast of South Africa and yet it took years of negotiation to raise awareness and funding before many of these beacons of light were built. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Lighthouses were often located in remote, inhospitable places that made them difficult to install and maintain as well as lonely for lighthouse keepers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HWkjTrFcJvZA3bMPLqe4Le1V5rFHM-aYD3lIeCD9QvOhfkQc8XIOVrLEzCPtY3gESaj2-oHqnNnVXxTwaIwRYriYAI52RlU5inuI8r4TKmWIbUftoXmgZ1_D1AJTOd29Cc30NtYbmXnC/s1600/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HWkjTrFcJvZA3bMPLqe4Le1V5rFHM-aYD3lIeCD9QvOhfkQc8XIOVrLEzCPtY3gESaj2-oHqnNnVXxTwaIwRYriYAI52RlU5inuI8r4TKmWIbUftoXmgZ1_D1AJTOd29Cc30NtYbmXnC/s320/326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today all 45 lighthouses are fully automated and only 12 are still manned by lighthouse keepers. Many are are now used as novel tourist accommodation. Each lighthouse has its own character and color design.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkbF77gWpWzz3esXkRcdF22Lxgw_sti15BttvTSyZ8mgDTApmaVf25JJhfLCBZe5XED93on1sZnqDrbVIOKWMmD5F_rgE3OjZPbiK407vEaAtbfLIchD2DhyVWTvtQcuKDiuIQZYXHrZu/s1600/330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkbF77gWpWzz3esXkRcdF22Lxgw_sti15BttvTSyZ8mgDTApmaVf25JJhfLCBZe5XED93on1sZnqDrbVIOKWMmD5F_rgE3OjZPbiK407vEaAtbfLIchD2DhyVWTvtQcuKDiuIQZYXHrZu/s320/330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I found this pretty shell in the lighthouse parking lot; it got home safe and sound and is now on our kitchen counter keeping company with so many other shells we found this trip. All the others, though, did come from the sea and not parking lots!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfL5aXQyFpwfjRGn5td-kJW-1UkOB8ddmu3joRO-3M6nnEVk1eMltRhO6Bg5bM4UaMaaBleqN3i4Uy32UcZ-vQx2FGt0En7pa2eTkwDFA1BRsQbsGQy-MDgSYGZ4OURLjMfEz_6gADvAZ/s1600/332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfL5aXQyFpwfjRGn5td-kJW-1UkOB8ddmu3joRO-3M6nnEVk1eMltRhO6Bg5bM4UaMaaBleqN3i4Uy32UcZ-vQx2FGt0En7pa2eTkwDFA1BRsQbsGQy-MDgSYGZ4OURLjMfEz_6gADvAZ/s320/332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From Kommetjie, the Cape veered pretty sharply inland as we followed the <b>Chapman's Peak Drive</b> northward, a toll road and famous for being one of the most breathtaking drives in the world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-KSTCmzzJOrqS848bi02NulT5qpJyz2f-sR4ib4BbMkR2JbCfBQdyAe6mzkvKJNlnTSwjVbD8RrX2JiShnXcjRfImmnqgVPluNWAMlEscBzCqu_p1H6DOnARIs-2iGOnAB1U1wDPJK8A/s1600/333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-KSTCmzzJOrqS848bi02NulT5qpJyz2f-sR4ib4BbMkR2JbCfBQdyAe6mzkvKJNlnTSwjVbD8RrX2JiShnXcjRfImmnqgVPluNWAMlEscBzCqu_p1H6DOnARIs-2iGOnAB1U1wDPJK8A/s320/333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqDQ0Jwh5j2SahWo3AV40AOeTrrFQIVvEgAX1dCH-n-dUJDD9iCrfqP2A_9hcnDlFB6LNmproYxw5FrN2F6YTK1ONCx-kXf0m0pbd9iYrXgqewBEJGZdJjHv0k42GlzFWFqdaTeuloB5Q/s1600/334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqDQ0Jwh5j2SahWo3AV40AOeTrrFQIVvEgAX1dCH-n-dUJDD9iCrfqP2A_9hcnDlFB6LNmproYxw5FrN2F6YTK1ONCx-kXf0m0pbd9iYrXgqewBEJGZdJjHv0k42GlzFWFqdaTeuloB5Q/s320/334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRcU7lR7DGJ_ouMOOfz5WxyF3n2cNw9F1edPvumlUHcjx3YVS8CWxhNzmMpgCM2RlPhUyZ3Uu6TLwoshhSVZ6zz43ZhI7pD0Zul3kJqYgFKfP46rfKJQhaPzrDLAu6h7HcTUQ41GmwEoT/s1600/335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRcU7lR7DGJ_ouMOOfz5WxyF3n2cNw9F1edPvumlUHcjx3YVS8CWxhNzmMpgCM2RlPhUyZ3Uu6TLwoshhSVZ6zz43ZhI7pD0Zul3kJqYgFKfP46rfKJQhaPzrDLAu6h7HcTUQ41GmwEoT/s320/335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This area along the Cape Peninsula may well have been one of the longest beaches in the world we'd ever laid eyes on.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJFJYqvW60j0nPwlH6OQTceR9ujwagnuKYYe_U4QGZtbzGHeEIOaVhezg1KTduFwFNOHeGYwOpjOt5jLzVrRRmkLmWFXkq3923a2vlTqDPobkBQv5NxabItj5yo_w16gX3AizCf1uznP8/s1600/339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJFJYqvW60j0nPwlH6OQTceR9ujwagnuKYYe_U4QGZtbzGHeEIOaVhezg1KTduFwFNOHeGYwOpjOt5jLzVrRRmkLmWFXkq3923a2vlTqDPobkBQv5NxabItj5yo_w16gX3AizCf1uznP8/s320/339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved seeing these stunning thatched-roof homes nestled among the tree-lined slopes. The threat of fires certainly couldn't be much of a problem in this area with rooves like that.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TwwW37CM46RNtNkAxfdARdGEsHof9T7L_OdMxt2nbkNLEkEsS7FstC_r_3SIkFyXeMgjiIh_Y6ZK0l5qIf7S8fv81rH_c1VT4rqwzRUoTX6boAH4AYt4HBoHhRvFyJi2YxZplMyKcHj_/s1600/340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TwwW37CM46RNtNkAxfdARdGEsHof9T7L_OdMxt2nbkNLEkEsS7FstC_r_3SIkFyXeMgjiIh_Y6ZK0l5qIf7S8fv81rH_c1VT4rqwzRUoTX6boAH4AYt4HBoHhRvFyJi2YxZplMyKcHj_/s320/340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_fylRHv_xZTs67tE657FfZ_QHSpFzGw-l1etPhwX8ph04f1aTGC_AqKF4E0EquawDN6SHO_O-BzQcLBM3tWXYd0DDE76aBY_5EJzJ7xogSrJ-Ku8gEoMB5csrIkv947fJBYmKfIN2sbf/s1600/341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_fylRHv_xZTs67tE657FfZ_QHSpFzGw-l1etPhwX8ph04f1aTGC_AqKF4E0EquawDN6SHO_O-BzQcLBM3tWXYd0DDE76aBY_5EJzJ7xogSrJ-Ku8gEoMB5csrIkv947fJBYmKfIN2sbf/s320/341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFsO1ptu-TSYHk3mvPf9rJ6x6hWMn1fjw7YCHu8hw4a4XA3AlGLEQhool5ed6KylN-VzHXTfpDRo3ZTnRcpQYNKPtPuD3_fXyikMgR-b_BqMmck5dNT4JxxhrbjdW6cXFWdSeZ4ToH_Ao/s1600/342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFsO1ptu-TSYHk3mvPf9rJ6x6hWMn1fjw7YCHu8hw4a4XA3AlGLEQhool5ed6KylN-VzHXTfpDRo3ZTnRcpQYNKPtPuD3_fXyikMgR-b_BqMmck5dNT4JxxhrbjdW6cXFWdSeZ4ToH_Ao/s320/342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYcijlM1Be1KJGgMca86B8yerR7S-30vLLOnlpEKoT8R0N2bbipXW0UDzuX54vmg9IW5qD45uPCY4h3B1_qbAz1YG8xUpLeGEslW9g0ImFPI6-6awxRJIg2gNKjvRwq0cXmT3jYHSMSwr/s1600/343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYcijlM1Be1KJGgMca86B8yerR7S-30vLLOnlpEKoT8R0N2bbipXW0UDzuX54vmg9IW5qD45uPCY4h3B1_qbAz1YG8xUpLeGEslW9g0ImFPI6-6awxRJIg2gNKjvRwq0cXmT3jYHSMSwr/s320/343.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhbTpzfFCmaYx-tA_bMtUR4BgF-1MDz6hzT4FB8bBfkVsuOnBXLSNIYIdI2A__IBPkIjUh3uErB1sE3ZjaPcLGtuAtebtZ03oNaTxq46aNx7qX0bxHs_Krfd3eiobJzp5ZR_ykIE5u1Ml0b/s1600/345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTpzfFCmaYx-tA_bMtUR4BgF-1MDz6hzT4FB8bBfkVsuOnBXLSNIYIdI2A__IBPkIjUh3uErB1sE3ZjaPcLGtuAtebtZ03oNaTxq46aNx7qX0bxHs_Krfd3eiobJzp5ZR_ykIE5u1Ml0b/s320/345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The 5.5 mile long Chapman's Peak Drive has 114 curves and skirts the coast halfway up the sheer cliffs of Chapman's Peak.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb_oVyc7EPNEhT5jEkYSklEgVyMIPynwgQBddk5yALOkeZCX8ZafqmHdJWrhhRc4GBPKE-pDdy6y326ylJTQIRvUFvE-QLOfrz-EJiNN2LyGsaf6VwKkNBGCUbARo5Bo2LGRUxPs2jp0A/s1600/346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb_oVyc7EPNEhT5jEkYSklEgVyMIPynwgQBddk5yALOkeZCX8ZafqmHdJWrhhRc4GBPKE-pDdy6y326ylJTQIRvUFvE-QLOfrz-EJiNN2LyGsaf6VwKkNBGCUbARo5Bo2LGRUxPs2jp0A/s320/346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzS6CoOTWHjsGmzrYdYFydAxFIwzNMvftv9mpxeqz2hxqjPdUUAS179J0jK2-xdKGo7476NC6wDzFVZJqBJsEJCZ7hkknAWlYX2Gc1ylSGugKoQDldckyEjMW1lV_moqsUG7LRobbb695/s1600/347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzS6CoOTWHjsGmzrYdYFydAxFIwzNMvftv9mpxeqz2hxqjPdUUAS179J0jK2-xdKGo7476NC6wDzFVZJqBJsEJCZ7hkknAWlYX2Gc1ylSGugKoQDldckyEjMW1lV_moqsUG7LRobbb695/s320/347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Construction of the road, which started in 1915 and took seven years to complete, first opened to traffic on May 6th, 1922. It was closed in 2000 due to rock falls and was extensively modified to make it a safe toll road. In most places, the speed limit was only 12 mph. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2TlcHoLcrJhgO7I0zoNAkGo1iMuqiq9VBxi0g8jCJctSZkxP1wE_N5zloZb45eGHlObATPj63vGZ4BIhSXEgS2K5wJw-n8Hw66w-PNTIA-B-3P7F-N3BQqX9aaIkjkbu-ZOGeQb2daz/s1600/348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ2TlcHoLcrJhgO7I0zoNAkGo1iMuqiq9VBxi0g8jCJctSZkxP1wE_N5zloZb45eGHlObATPj63vGZ4BIhSXEgS2K5wJw-n8Hw66w-PNTIA-B-3P7F-N3BQqX9aaIkjkbu-ZOGeQb2daz/s320/348.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhRFNqs9MHI8w1Tib9DSwMaN-0krzIYMRdka9k1HhAVPG7XbSFlqgktOdFh7g1lroX9zevqU8K9jHn4VgHBURLiI6sr-arOQBACP9xR0wEhSjpR_ysh9AEiUGzeLPD5xP05Ic46QJooBzSJ/s1600/350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFNqs9MHI8w1Tib9DSwMaN-0krzIYMRdka9k1HhAVPG7XbSFlqgktOdFh7g1lroX9zevqU8K9jHn4VgHBURLiI6sr-arOQBACP9xR0wEhSjpR_ysh9AEiUGzeLPD5xP05Ic46QJooBzSJ/s320/350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFflYtJTnHW44NRuM8EdhVYAMi12-ehGSn-GUHy6imGRtBaxg_dl33TmaV9KYqsLTuPJjFFlfei-LXuWvmHlvdj3flyMwSimHku07b4o46ItGtpJgwvfjdCkAXzMV_w9JDtqnnmaXQKx0l/s1600/351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFflYtJTnHW44NRuM8EdhVYAMi12-ehGSn-GUHy6imGRtBaxg_dl33TmaV9KYqsLTuPJjFFlfei-LXuWvmHlvdj3flyMwSimHku07b4o46ItGtpJgwvfjdCkAXzMV_w9JDtqnnmaXQKx0l/s320/351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">However, there were still constant signs admonishing us to use the road at our own risk because of the danger of falling rocks! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBCSuySMXqrFw2PE441THqWKXbQHXEfa5d6dkCZZnKXGz8srp1vWQB0DcqrRrt_6r_kQFoBDZSV8JkLK66o4XmEyvBxIQLkbP4VV73X_eXru884TQVhxB5gliOdhyEsJy2BM7p5s7auup/s1600/352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBCSuySMXqrFw2PE441THqWKXbQHXEfa5d6dkCZZnKXGz8srp1vWQB0DcqrRrt_6r_kQFoBDZSV8JkLK66o4XmEyvBxIQLkbP4VV73X_eXru884TQVhxB5gliOdhyEsJy2BM7p5s7auup/s320/352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqavhACo2z_W7298mI5cRXmm_9x09xMu-B7MUWH78ESUc13EaS2nArtdkS9p2nHPfVBqbyevDjKlnRQBLAf7zfkpwgJPXPOf4tqjAiDlgZqobWjAVguIpxXqw-AbR7FxNwoMCZuLuoROb/s1600/353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqavhACo2z_W7298mI5cRXmm_9x09xMu-B7MUWH78ESUc13EaS2nArtdkS9p2nHPfVBqbyevDjKlnRQBLAf7zfkpwgJPXPOf4tqjAiDlgZqobWjAVguIpxXqw-AbR7FxNwoMCZuLuoROb/s320/353.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEhfYptx1jWmKzv7JofBOfw7yYg6qBoAsoxGvJ3HYi6honaMhYPpghP2J4OEO7qPYrYyddZGqBk5GtNMDHdd0wewCnst3eYjdVQ5nUhKqCgOKUNcU7gnkbGuCmxfo_DADCboG3KkF_0euHXY/s1600/355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYptx1jWmKzv7JofBOfw7yYg6qBoAsoxGvJ3HYi6honaMhYPpghP2J4OEO7qPYrYyddZGqBk5GtNMDHdd0wewCnst3eYjdVQ5nUhKqCgOKUNcU7gnkbGuCmxfo_DADCboG3KkF_0euHXY/s320/355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1nfFyed5OnqtNCAj9JAyNeozo6fzZziy8F9w8Pgoe_Xn20ZpBkIcnjaByXIz2afWZ6jqfAPynYTywjprp_Z3TNhSe1N8YX7PbherOYXDJPdABTPt5QQM3VR-F_UpT9mMVhIAQJ8_3V_u/s1600/356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1nfFyed5OnqtNCAj9JAyNeozo6fzZziy8F9w8Pgoe_Xn20ZpBkIcnjaByXIz2afWZ6jqfAPynYTywjprp_Z3TNhSe1N8YX7PbherOYXDJPdABTPt5QQM3VR-F_UpT9mMVhIAQJ8_3V_u/s320/356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR1KppTwVwCEHr4tiJwr8SRzDyKZ9FyoolBeZq-lcEv_fMAdYh9uU-jKYBdGpk_VuGzFdlizpyB9V5NVLR6VhA5bK5v2mKjqlaVh-z17sslj7PpYmdMfZ9I2NI8Bqxs9dq7-uU6dcGoiB/s1600/357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeR1KppTwVwCEHr4tiJwr8SRzDyKZ9FyoolBeZq-lcEv_fMAdYh9uU-jKYBdGpk_VuGzFdlizpyB9V5NVLR6VhA5bK5v2mKjqlaVh-z17sslj7PpYmdMfZ9I2NI8Bqxs9dq7-uU6dcGoiB/s320/357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we had this view of <b>Hout Bay</b> from the summit of the drive, it was great that all the morning clouds had burned off and it was a beautiful clear day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9qhO0FX1vdghCToQR2BtSNM7uhssRLB_X8wHj7GR0Ge_yJchEO1D4WtGArGLpRx3aeRi8SMPyVIMHopROaVNoaDqZDD7pKQo8YiOKyTnxrmby5dx85iCDP_cpRXT6WAviZbPROZ7Ctgn/s1600/358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9qhO0FX1vdghCToQR2BtSNM7uhssRLB_X8wHj7GR0Ge_yJchEO1D4WtGArGLpRx3aeRi8SMPyVIMHopROaVNoaDqZDD7pKQo8YiOKyTnxrmby5dx85iCDP_cpRXT6WAviZbPROZ7Ctgn/s320/358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once we drove all the way around to Hout Bay beach on the far side of the bay, there was an unusual sculpture atop a rock. <b>Leopard's Rock</b> was created by a local artist around 1936 to commemorate the last leopard shot in Hout Bay in 1930!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZ4kbmsYdy6x5MMMZnIwO6YvfspJieKJBAsoGR8mxJFjgwGAfJtt_KQrv6h6D0ORk-Famrgq4Dzjz0SNcl9oRzLBs0H9OH-XCWZPzRWPsw5L5FLqhoR8YGwX0M0lhbglPP6VQEtrbGmHz/s1600/361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZ4kbmsYdy6x5MMMZnIwO6YvfspJieKJBAsoGR8mxJFjgwGAfJtt_KQrv6h6D0ORk-Famrgq4Dzjz0SNcl9oRzLBs0H9OH-XCWZPzRWPsw5L5FLqhoR8YGwX0M0lhbglPP6VQEtrbGmHz/s320/361.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIPqOEDSKOvRkoEGSwDdQZilJMYci1pgoTHekofEjU7KaVIcKLSOEDrJYQ60n05DZ9LHPD5P1weSTMwY1csVVAVAQXdIceeuwVAVk52XNiX68jCbexlgZ1j0Xk-dPyyCBMg893J9VkW5g/s1600/362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIPqOEDSKOvRkoEGSwDdQZilJMYci1pgoTHekofEjU7KaVIcKLSOEDrJYQ60n05DZ9LHPD5P1weSTMwY1csVVAVAQXdIceeuwVAVk52XNiX68jCbexlgZ1j0Xk-dPyyCBMg893J9VkW5g/s320/362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The toll on the Chapman's Peak Drive was only an extremely reasonable 42 rand or $3.50 and worth every penny as it had been an absolutely phenomenal drive.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUzqFiy5S4QjnSEL3viRL3zuXcybq_nJXKWGa8El_iu_bO_AV-WRoZXks7mILoWbfMdtf-P1MdD_XeXL6ZpLv4e8-g9_Vjt61OYGQKIrLALLcBO_2ZnAoVPIIT2oxybIuU-mjt-rgnBXc/s1600/363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUzqFiy5S4QjnSEL3viRL3zuXcybq_nJXKWGa8El_iu_bO_AV-WRoZXks7mILoWbfMdtf-P1MdD_XeXL6ZpLv4e8-g9_Vjt61OYGQKIrLALLcBO_2ZnAoVPIIT2oxybIuU-mjt-rgnBXc/s320/363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The residents of <b>Camps Bay</b> had impressive views from their homes along the Atlantic.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7IGrPzUaPqNH6cTxFAtJRyU7pAdyAVOhOLkNMFiQyNGlezjJsR9CuaYDj9hcWOTjKA0gjnSbT6PmIbBolUcjZGnZBFTG18LWYnTTUmdEHO1og1CHuLw42Vtz5S5umRdkKoD5xTtdvcBr/s1600/366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7IGrPzUaPqNH6cTxFAtJRyU7pAdyAVOhOLkNMFiQyNGlezjJsR9CuaYDj9hcWOTjKA0gjnSbT6PmIbBolUcjZGnZBFTG18LWYnTTUmdEHO1og1CHuLw42Vtz5S5umRdkKoD5xTtdvcBr/s320/366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The shops and restaurants in Camps Bay definitely were nothing to complain about either!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGadUvBixNQmZ9vs6o-NC2Y5JbmWk9TntTlzTuKoNwejK9pHW5JyYnch96MokKv_K-ZHs3IF9m80maJU5k8a5nuN1BkGEpk65LEFGlmwt9cSCKTX8BfOur-NsJp-HhlTSeJhkDKLG9KNVf/s1600/368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGadUvBixNQmZ9vs6o-NC2Y5JbmWk9TntTlzTuKoNwejK9pHW5JyYnch96MokKv_K-ZHs3IF9m80maJU5k8a5nuN1BkGEpk65LEFGlmwt9cSCKTX8BfOur-NsJp-HhlTSeJhkDKLG9KNVf/s320/368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived back at the Altona Lodge well after 6 after leaving almost 11 hours earlier. Yes, it was another very long day but neither one of us would have changed one minute of it as the entire day had been one nonstop thrill.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 6th, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-84495645334430709072017-02-03T10:11:00.005-08:002017-02-03T10:11:59.078-08:0012/3: Cape Town's V&A Waterfront & the Cape's Eastern Seaboard Beaches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I had a fairly early start to the day as we wanted to be at the <b>V&A (Victoria and Albert) Waterfront</b> well before 8:30, for a 9 am departure for a 3.5 hour long tour of <b>Robben Island.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The island was brought to the world’s attention when its most famous inhabitant, <b>Nelson Mandela,</b> was released in the early 90’s after serving 18 years of his 27 year sentence on the island for the 'crime' of speaking out against the ruthless apartheid government.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had a fun time wandering around part of the Waterfront before heading over to the Robben Island Museum to line up for our ferry.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZAV1CsziJeqEJqKfNt1B3ZOxzdIyY5MUKJlDy9_LT3l33jVz8uW5gADOtXdH1YoszBep9st66sTE9P6iIIdPw0NtQzX1aIgymcnTzF6N3Yc6U8uBC6rbMyfKBPSTj5hdiFQpvyz1NcRv/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZAV1CsziJeqEJqKfNt1B3ZOxzdIyY5MUKJlDy9_LT3l33jVz8uW5gADOtXdH1YoszBep9st66sTE9P6iIIdPw0NtQzX1aIgymcnTzF6N3Yc6U8uBC6rbMyfKBPSTj5hdiFQpvyz1NcRv/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEhNAyPPr3WzYTiSyApayVO4q2FIxp7oVxh-SkXtx7k3OCbRUHmYDx0Hvpdw5urB-TZKwD2lT8ORQWtZ8dHPSUJOG26GXTQvJcnEMFtSmIqC8ANc1JFNUP5K6N9VT2b7o0Yh_ESWiEBWU9Hv/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAyPPr3WzYTiSyApayVO4q2FIxp7oVxh-SkXtx7k3OCbRUHmYDx0Hvpdw5urB-TZKwD2lT8ORQWtZ8dHPSUJOG26GXTQvJcnEMFtSmIqC8ANc1JFNUP5K6N9VT2b7o0Yh_ESWiEBWU9Hv/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsQp2yJXuhdT2WV_ufMzLh8LWGTT27_LeYUPYLwjKlWasWL8Hfe53pkq9d1knTx5YVCVglFwDZZZ6BX05PdT-9SrXkXnf4zjEGR8NqhNVt3scyUjmRZ3_TdjRuZNSiOGgq1ojVyveqNp0/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsQp2yJXuhdT2WV_ufMzLh8LWGTT27_LeYUPYLwjKlWasWL8Hfe53pkq9d1knTx5YVCVglFwDZZZ6BX05PdT-9SrXkXnf4zjEGR8NqhNVt3scyUjmRZ3_TdjRuZNSiOGgq1ojVyveqNp0/s320/005.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEjBB2F67PQ5eV_T1Q29gqbOXoKCT8t_724k71sz6wg35iIsoOP1tK6v-M2Mlx29c6L7gaLq8KkrtCi7rLSqMgf6A_CfcvPuVqcEWiEd6xY0Kukmmp_MvVssqA0JrUKDg2g8RAmixYGimE47/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBB2F67PQ5eV_T1Q29gqbOXoKCT8t_724k71sz6wg35iIsoOP1tK6v-M2Mlx29c6L7gaLq8KkrtCi7rLSqMgf6A_CfcvPuVqcEWiEd6xY0Kukmmp_MvVssqA0JrUKDg2g8RAmixYGimE47/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We hadn't come across a pedestrian swing bridge before. We didn't have time to go across it then but promised ourselves we would later after our return from visiting Robben Island.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgriI32ZS29dWvcRqkbHfJwAW69YkP7mL8Ie-X5gObfil39mh-Vpc5s2RqqPhgw2zwRoYQU7kPy_ez65eFk0MwWvrpPjunCeqR3V0_uUrG9QqM1n3DPYtc0Y3IOVDSJRNbgIqVYHIOFb5b/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgriI32ZS29dWvcRqkbHfJwAW69YkP7mL8Ie-X5gObfil39mh-Vpc5s2RqqPhgw2zwRoYQU7kPy_ez65eFk0MwWvrpPjunCeqR3V0_uUrG9QqM1n3DPYtc0Y3IOVDSJRNbgIqVYHIOFb5b/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuaD4I6qOpjVL9DGniGhgAiNAOuCeWWGq_TF6EncBgqDT0htil4SNnIH0nM-NcqhRFDiy3xeBDncB3SOG5kCZaycVWTSg39wNNS7k4Bj77aHo1be4TVOxoNxh6XlFhAGYzkXA5ONxI6LH/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuaD4I6qOpjVL9DGniGhgAiNAOuCeWWGq_TF6EncBgqDT0htil4SNnIH0nM-NcqhRFDiy3xeBDncB3SOG5kCZaycVWTSg39wNNS7k4Bj77aHo1be4TVOxoNxh6XlFhAGYzkXA5ONxI6LH/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most unexpected sculptures we've ever seen was definitely this one of the <b>Incredible Hulk!</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgl7yjcJYUSAZjllenXn5BqqbzpNL5zTkz66nCC27pCFir4FySMsp5sS-nxQLJMoggAUwp1CVgnZfwZgE-jgobPXxPgfLgpiGrhgFeuqOokf7Q0uLhN4h6z_k2e-0F33xUo_E9JWjGCHR/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgl7yjcJYUSAZjllenXn5BqqbzpNL5zTkz66nCC27pCFir4FySMsp5sS-nxQLJMoggAUwp1CVgnZfwZgE-jgobPXxPgfLgpiGrhgFeuqOokf7Q0uLhN4h6z_k2e-0F33xUo_E9JWjGCHR/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ0R3SPtoz6Gcb2u8Qltjgu2jsJ5zDJITz9UnwiJBdL_RCfJhRud2Rc8cPZre5E8Gn7SwBIj5APVYm-AhvNqFxV7yVv3TmYg7ZBwGS6II0hDNODMM_k-k3qqTo9CSGLrTQemVQDfMCBkR/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZ0R3SPtoz6Gcb2u8Qltjgu2jsJ5zDJITz9UnwiJBdL_RCfJhRud2Rc8cPZre5E8Gn7SwBIj5APVYm-AhvNqFxV7yVv3TmYg7ZBwGS6II0hDNODMM_k-k3qqTo9CSGLrTQemVQDfMCBkR/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I know it was hokey to have Steven take my picture here but I couldn't resist!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLe746HYfAZJsOo0p8qczNMW9vZVH9EUb6W5WU3sDltcw_v33QQNh_-ROynZy0PpnaWSuIuX-_FUV1LK813-Bp9czGuTkA6ymqXbYtj49NpMZ2K1TnbZlxmoKwp1Xtg2veMUviXL2o4Re/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLe746HYfAZJsOo0p8qczNMW9vZVH9EUb6W5WU3sDltcw_v33QQNh_-ROynZy0PpnaWSuIuX-_FUV1LK813-Bp9czGuTkA6ymqXbYtj49NpMZ2K1TnbZlxmoKwp1Xtg2veMUviXL2o4Re/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The sign inside the entrance to the <b>Robben Island Museum,</b> which was opened in January, 1997, declared "While we will not forget the brutality of apartheid, we will not want Robben Island to be a monument of out hardship and suffering. We would want it to be a triumph of the human spirit against the forces of evil, a triumph of wisdom and largeness of spirit against small minds and pettiness, a triumph of courage and determination over human frailty and weakness."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEQ5sBo7fB_Lkj5J8D8w6qUpOMYtGdkaH6MUrFA0rvlN7PiwsFPH7vONhe9GL_DLUN9TzeX6sU7qZ5O4FIxPTQl98kmbCwg9EdxjSfllt2NDacH9RUq8QtM_1szE4duWZWsKayAuU1aLQ/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEQ5sBo7fB_Lkj5J8D8w6qUpOMYtGdkaH6MUrFA0rvlN7PiwsFPH7vONhe9GL_DLUN9TzeX6sU7qZ5O4FIxPTQl98kmbCwg9EdxjSfllt2NDacH9RUq8QtM_1szE4duWZWsKayAuU1aLQ/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Robben Island Museum logo represented the triumph of the human spirit.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbaKWcOvl_fCn9PKGIT-9ecTUiV49gFf-bGJ_jHzxULHUspsvTEJcZkXgLofzQSsJFUda07DkOMGcQSPGviqUbyhITOUtjRtYfxx5cmhZCEAgyvm0WmEsmDUwcp7ZIJGsbM62hD6Y1a5g/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbaKWcOvl_fCn9PKGIT-9ecTUiV49gFf-bGJ_jHzxULHUspsvTEJcZkXgLofzQSsJFUda07DkOMGcQSPGviqUbyhITOUtjRtYfxx5cmhZCEAgyvm0WmEsmDUwcp7ZIJGsbM62hD6Y1a5g/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were supposed to leave on the first ferry of the day at 9 but that didn't happen so I wandered around the museum while Steven waited patiently in line, God love him!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Apartheid in South Africa: </b>I have written much in this blog about apartheid in South Africa but I will recap some of the most salient points for those readers who may not have seen the earlier posts. Apartheid, which comes from the Afrikaans word for 'separateness', was an official government policy of racial segregation which involved political, legal and economic discrimination against black South Africans. Though apartheid </span><span style="font-size: large;">in South Africa can be traced back to its colonial era, it was officially adopted as a policy after the 1948 general elections.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDCl7q0BwYdPStnzDQQdi6d9NPKcTplaC6ChT4dPBxJVZclm2rzBd8nNaz7_SzAShqh51FSloVoV_OfIt2J84QBjIxFZ84DCosuL8xGqgUXpS-A3bE8YhMqyJXY7BUZRTn47n_LZXfNJb/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDCl7q0BwYdPStnzDQQdi6d9NPKcTplaC6ChT4dPBxJVZclm2rzBd8nNaz7_SzAShqh51FSloVoV_OfIt2J84QBjIxFZ84DCosuL8xGqgUXpS-A3bE8YhMqyJXY7BUZRTn47n_LZXfNJb/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Black people weren't allowed to share food, accommodation, restaurants, beaches and toilets with white people. Apartheid laws determined where people could live and work, who they could attend school with, have as a neighbor or friend and even marry. White people ruled all of the economy, politics and education in South Africa. </span><span style="font-size: large;">There were great differences in the quality of people's lives because </span><span style="font-size: large;">wealth distribution was unequal and favored the white population.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEJIDnNB829ITG70AFSsup0ZXhY6tmQkGfsI168TYo_kF0RajrH9h42BfQB_Yv4HlzFRl8qFhbHirytdfqBC_rGENghoH4Z5bQcLUcEgRCPU6OfYvxxnkxoef_xI6ShlonOVEZawR3Lba/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEJIDnNB829ITG70AFSsup0ZXhY6tmQkGfsI168TYo_kF0RajrH9h42BfQB_Yv4HlzFRl8qFhbHirytdfqBC_rGENghoH4Z5bQcLUcEgRCPU6OfYvxxnkxoef_xI6ShlonOVEZawR3Lba/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The city of Durban bylaws stipulated their beach was reserved for the sole use of members of the ''white race group."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhKuhVOQWzWCEGTPVn3q_d4rUINPvsMljfzXr2TZmqiBAVuP7fRnRRX7qxYnGPjgcUDXzert54Gwp0ZsNkUGf5Lu_ZAHyXrO-CPSrVSau9_br-i9TnNz8uxwltEgdZw0sIAF6cW8RnvKI/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhKuhVOQWzWCEGTPVn3q_d4rUINPvsMljfzXr2TZmqiBAVuP7fRnRRX7qxYnGPjgcUDXzert54Gwp0ZsNkUGf5Lu_ZAHyXrO-CPSrVSau9_br-i9TnNz8uxwltEgdZw0sIAF6cW8RnvKI/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Benches in public parks were reserved for white people only. If blacks sat on the benches, they would be arrested.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg-VLVK4Db6hoeZ62JaVitBdgVt7F57kYvzweNQNmqPonf4Qeedps8ayt7eykHvU9cQCm0AYxUKVkYDkItBmkGKARvi_628u5936oW-1fT9khhDUBR8B9OBYhOq4boThw6uqL0OWPL3nD/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieg-VLVK4Db6hoeZ62JaVitBdgVt7F57kYvzweNQNmqPonf4Qeedps8ayt7eykHvU9cQCm0AYxUKVkYDkItBmkGKARvi_628u5936oW-1fT9khhDUBR8B9OBYhOq4boThw6uqL0OWPL3nD/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Sharpeville Massacre</b> was a turning point in South African history. On March 21st, 1960, without warning, South African police at Sharpeville, an African township south of Johannesburg, fired into a crowd of about 5,000 unarmed anti-pass protesters, killing at least 69 people – many of them in the back – and wounding more than 200. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The massacre, which lasted less than two minutes, created a crisis for the apartheid government, both inside the country and internationally. The government immediately declared a State of Emergency and banned political meetings. Within less than a month, it banned both the <b>Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), </b>which had organized the action in Sharpeville and the <b>African National Congress (ANC).</b> After lengthy internal discussions, the ANC and PAC turned to armed struggle and went underground.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpbahYKT1PhEnC3GChsl6M6t9NJ3HvFAAfjakErYC4tNgaKuo9aoaNy7H6DvdFH0IEETM2XzCdt9pUPBdTpNL1tDvHtEueZzLGI3nte2Yk4KGc3bSYOaFt9Z4fjWlIZdywzIaXAL6uTZH/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpbahYKT1PhEnC3GChsl6M6t9NJ3HvFAAfjakErYC4tNgaKuo9aoaNy7H6DvdFH0IEETM2XzCdt9pUPBdTpNL1tDvHtEueZzLGI3nte2Yk4KGc3bSYOaFt9Z4fjWlIZdywzIaXAL6uTZH/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so disturbing seeing even young children having to dodge bullets at the Sharpeville Police Station.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AFzTtWN_9JI30tup-x20-Xkg5AgCObhTq6nydn7EyubPGipZowbnxwI9ANZ7YSDXhDpYlC8lU25lWMOl7pnfI6cmDjEbBRSylhitcUXjI9Koiyrq21lXUzd2WLg-8mRnmPjmJPLVK8qr/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AFzTtWN_9JI30tup-x20-Xkg5AgCObhTq6nydn7EyubPGipZowbnxwI9ANZ7YSDXhDpYlC8lU25lWMOl7pnfI6cmDjEbBRSylhitcUXjI9Koiyrq21lXUzd2WLg-8mRnmPjmJPLVK8qr/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Massive lines formed to attend the funeral for victims of the Sharpeville Massacre.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_90gczSHfBMw0-3bcqLcvNVNvB624VDYepnULZeG8ASmnZpS28tmWZ8PqyF6Qg0S8dIbxAJVTZWyE9WZkO5A7GlzmaozUHVsxIyklHTBymOewPE00MR0qTrL6E4HHjTxUOdnXqPNcxh5/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_90gczSHfBMw0-3bcqLcvNVNvB624VDYepnULZeG8ASmnZpS28tmWZ8PqyF6Qg0S8dIbxAJVTZWyE9WZkO5A7GlzmaozUHVsxIyklHTBymOewPE00MR0qTrL6E4HHjTxUOdnXqPNcxh5/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In South Africa, <b>pass laws</b> were a form of internal passport system designed to segregate the population, manage urbanization and allocate migrant labor. The pass laws, also known as the natives' law, severely limited the movements of black African citizens by requiring them to carry pass books when outside their homelands or designated areas. Pass laws became one of the prominent features of the country's apartheid system, until it was effectively ended in 1986. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Being black and found without a pass book led to arrest. Just a few days ago, we had learned that so many of the prisoners at Johannesburg's <b>Number Four Jail</b> had been incarcerated because of not carrying the required pass.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBBi99sxwZunD09DVQBjIoQxlhdndksoQ4-xbA3euWie10QZ84jgU8ywNkQ5PCUgdjhRaFEed_hm_TRT3eicgWw6h8E6kYFUnpPdmS47mmZ1eB628VsO9X7wvnSjnKE_2MjlZlvNyz-xq/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBBi99sxwZunD09DVQBjIoQxlhdndksoQ4-xbA3euWie10QZ84jgU8ywNkQ5PCUgdjhRaFEed_hm_TRT3eicgWw6h8E6kYFUnpPdmS47mmZ1eB628VsO9X7wvnSjnKE_2MjlZlvNyz-xq/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A photo of Nelson Mandela, often referred to as <b>Mandiba,</b> burning his pass book.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K5WZSM3fg3DYtjRzjTRwMHD31ZuzVK2URAFiDqwiYYdgf9iihf7GUz7rw52uPqK6yW9KTvR6JdHgorO0XwX_kMUKsPhmi_3NNq0iD1InhDfhZTPu2aUJtlf7CWZDBe2HS_emkLp3pFkN/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K5WZSM3fg3DYtjRzjTRwMHD31ZuzVK2URAFiDqwiYYdgf9iihf7GUz7rw52uPqK6yW9KTvR6JdHgorO0XwX_kMUKsPhmi_3NNq0iD1InhDfhZTPu2aUJtlf7CWZDBe2HS_emkLp3pFkN/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Many black South Africans burnt their passes to send a message to the apartheid government that they didn't want to be controlled by pass laws.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGWWay5S3kmrfl6eiQe4tQiSMsLRa2tWqLIYjof6yOnlqya9M8C8yZ-vNJqOfl4yQ30tM_bc8UlqOun2eOfGVS-zTmkhNBnOGmgYM63Aiascav2eElUrbdnCC8W_fzsbTqTA0oAGEc-8B/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGWWay5S3kmrfl6eiQe4tQiSMsLRa2tWqLIYjof6yOnlqya9M8C8yZ-vNJqOfl4yQ30tM_bc8UlqOun2eOfGVS-zTmkhNBnOGmgYM63Aiascav2eElUrbdnCC8W_fzsbTqTA0oAGEc-8B/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sporting Isolation and International Solidarity: </b>Apartheid of course forbade multi-racial sport, which meant that teams from other countries couldn't play in South Africa if they had members of diverse races. In 1959, the non-racial <b>South African Sports Association (SASA)</b> was created to secure the rights of all players on the global field. When SASA and other groups called for the expulsion of South Africa from the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the IOC barred the country from participating. However, it was only after protests from sports groups and African nations that the IOC finally agreed to not allow South Africa to send a team to the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCAhtYMfd4ZnxCDmhuUQ2mDnPqusCp0Ix_z8h3X5gD9A9-mdaK6Bn0OURBQltULysqH56Z4glqn5iee60iPPBoKKeES0TBcZNEE5-jsPQwhQLAOucvNJ8Ey1Z7zV1-wzCa3PR-FntcHZG/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCAhtYMfd4ZnxCDmhuUQ2mDnPqusCp0Ix_z8h3X5gD9A9-mdaK6Bn0OURBQltULysqH56Z4glqn5iee60iPPBoKKeES0TBcZNEE5-jsPQwhQLAOucvNJ8Ey1Z7zV1-wzCa3PR-FntcHZG/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the 1960s, anti-apartheid movements began campaigning for cultural boycotts of apartheid South Africa. Artists were asked not to show or allow their works to be hosted in South Africa. In 1963, 45 British writers signed an affirmation approving the boycott. That was followed, in 1964, by Marlon Brando who called for a similar ban on films. Over 60 American artists signed a statement against apartheid and against professional links with the country. Though</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">sporting and cultural boycotts didn't have the same impact as economic sanctions, I read that "they did much to lift consciousness among normal South Africans on the global condemnation of apartheid."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A huge crowd gathered to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday on June 11th, 1988, and to show their support at a concert at Wembley Stadium in London</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMpZyarTruxW1y3jNofEVDawE8f-UkxPAN0D2ADi5qeg0GbxjMh7c36TiYbROaWInRqRXQlshWm34TZTUllKx_t1LYrsriTSJLVyVKmti1eQP44UmcwQWR7bFjF2Zc-62mOsRYKbZalNP/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMpZyarTruxW1y3jNofEVDawE8f-UkxPAN0D2ADi5qeg0GbxjMh7c36TiYbROaWInRqRXQlshWm34TZTUllKx_t1LYrsriTSJLVyVKmti1eQP44UmcwQWR7bFjF2Zc-62mOsRYKbZalNP/s320/040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Free Elections: </b>When general elections were held in South Africa on April 27th, 1994, it was the first time that all the country's citizens were permitted to participate. Millions lined up over a three-day period to take advantage of their right to vote. Mandela was elected as President in the new National Assembly. April 27th is celebrated every year as Freedom Day, a public holiday, in South Africa.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3HRqRjyc3OeP-ggBpRiw_1jbpf_5rxU2u_x-J09VoSmddyV52mGs0ZbCLmBJSSG5BPkSIYJEV9i52Fhr2J5tE1RY3thQnWAnaevX71lJ8aThLOTde7oS6g14hitJzMoXGaHQtRg6Bagw/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3HRqRjyc3OeP-ggBpRiw_1jbpf_5rxU2u_x-J09VoSmddyV52mGs0ZbCLmBJSSG5BPkSIYJEV9i52Fhr2J5tE1RY3thQnWAnaevX71lJ8aThLOTde7oS6g14hitJzMoXGaHQtRg6Bagw/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We finally left around 9:30 for our tour of Robben Island where we had a riveting time learning first hand about life on the island from a former political prisoner who had returned to share his story about being jailed under the brutal apartheid regime. Our time on the island was the subject of my previous post.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was so adorable seeing this seal immediately after returning to the mainland in the early afternoon as Robben was the Dutch word for seals.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kJvkVfkkJnNrNKNFr7douniodvsbKbCZ-5d_hgo3jHn-gzazMaNDBGNx_g_kN6U_0fmwnUoAeJta9ww4mu5dAhlxOyihba7fiwoq9oyAXQ2bXs5fmvJz4CUGR7b9XCEt30-4k0xHZcRG/s1600/163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kJvkVfkkJnNrNKNFr7douniodvsbKbCZ-5d_hgo3jHn-gzazMaNDBGNx_g_kN6U_0fmwnUoAeJta9ww4mu5dAhlxOyihba7fiwoq9oyAXQ2bXs5fmvJz4CUGR7b9XCEt30-4k0xHZcRG/s320/163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily we only had to wait for a few minutes for the Waterfront Swing Bridge to open up for pedestrians to walk across to the other side of the large waterfront development.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZfkDd44Mhe-pDDVZHVpxpK2rqjcut-5FG4Pi4q29Jco-d6yjZ1VtoJ0oqlLTZb3MAu4dn8pcEC5ps8Pb7dGpMQSrkzgv3QXTZhfolq9plH5FP0Ve04WY-ck492n7SpDDaUDYJ8GQjUaC/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZfkDd44Mhe-pDDVZHVpxpK2rqjcut-5FG4Pi4q29Jco-d6yjZ1VtoJ0oqlLTZb3MAu4dn8pcEC5ps8Pb7dGpMQSrkzgv3QXTZhfolq9plH5FP0Ve04WY-ck492n7SpDDaUDYJ8GQjUaC/s320/167.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjwa9v0Lo4ZlOV-tzUc8YUOy7xIafZwfEjpnqvRW3BUgTikmuY-u0PhAhV6eE0yTrlWKGcUYFEGzhR1vCJAyre9TAvZDkh7VS5DVTWvLbd_CD-xvp5dXAy6eWrvnWfKwKuR-_xeggjMqwso/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa9v0Lo4ZlOV-tzUc8YUOy7xIafZwfEjpnqvRW3BUgTikmuY-u0PhAhV6eE0yTrlWKGcUYFEGzhR1vCJAyre9TAvZDkh7VS5DVTWvLbd_CD-xvp5dXAy6eWrvnWfKwKuR-_xeggjMqwso/s320/165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBslZyTD_vs5LrQWjTevBVsvwnCkvXZK0lguqy-px6UebQGVbF80urjfxcz_yaAuESD7_4iVPgr1DHbvqAFDO4-teP2v-kgfdCciuiwscmO-0wIdM-X5FIgdFh90GwC3VF7ao6iYmDaam/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBslZyTD_vs5LrQWjTevBVsvwnCkvXZK0lguqy-px6UebQGVbF80urjfxcz_yaAuESD7_4iVPgr1DHbvqAFDO4-teP2v-kgfdCciuiwscmO-0wIdM-X5FIgdFh90GwC3VF7ao6iYmDaam/s320/166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned in the preceding post, the harbor was built between 1860 and 1920. I was flabbergasted to learn that the V&A Waterfront with its many restaurants, cafes and shops was Cape Town's number one attraction!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXcv7jIZ-29_qObI78ckMKmDlSfDYld8iaaSzDAzRaeofZ7JFriyY7mEk2NMHJ9eai-gBhu36Ci_WNFpi_tf6E5ONNU00YxcucGQqmI9eITvAGMYJh_6FyOhyQ-Dcp___doVjSb8TDtpa/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXcv7jIZ-29_qObI78ckMKmDlSfDYld8iaaSzDAzRaeofZ7JFriyY7mEk2NMHJ9eai-gBhu36Ci_WNFpi_tf6E5ONNU00YxcucGQqmI9eITvAGMYJh_6FyOhyQ-Dcp___doVjSb8TDtpa/s320/168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The elephant sculpture was entirely made out of beads! I couldn't begin to fathom the number of hours that was put into creating this work of art - just mind boggling. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgAIEBZwdyHyB0jUnYazJXfq4l_r2dTjN_EWw8DSI6MRxsVhT0KhBr0vU2KFDmbY3d021Cx7jfLVW97neFjCrGBtSNIhq-5dU0Ii4W3Nqposg64UNpzufMYWmtPMHlbP7oWp70Ztfs-iW/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgAIEBZwdyHyB0jUnYazJXfq4l_r2dTjN_EWw8DSI6MRxsVhT0KhBr0vU2KFDmbY3d021Cx7jfLVW97neFjCrGBtSNIhq-5dU0Ii4W3Nqposg64UNpzufMYWmtPMHlbP7oWp70Ztfs-iW/s320/169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't help but think what an ingenious and beautiful way to recycle pop cans and bottle tops this was.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTq6tNzyW5JHWyl6aDuNjN8jhXWh8te5BkXo_J7Jl8SBopXBe88qlJYY41d8qZa3Xmu2pHScMThswioSFwDOuwz2LR5SC2fLZoQRSLuIWDHzkTskn5LemurVBu2D8uip35xwT1HrRB2zS/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTq6tNzyW5JHWyl6aDuNjN8jhXWh8te5BkXo_J7Jl8SBopXBe88qlJYY41d8qZa3Xmu2pHScMThswioSFwDOuwz2LR5SC2fLZoQRSLuIWDHzkTskn5LemurVBu2D8uip35xwT1HrRB2zS/s320/171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think the last time we'd seen a huge chess board like this was </span><span style="font-size: large;">in September </span><span style="font-size: large;">back in Belgrade, Serbia, near the beginning of our four month trip. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIQMVTVMZAGbaipyu7J32gOz2DCu_fHA8S2-AqqAe3hMKOrHZb6eMlb3jB6Dp2LnvT50uIx9RwOwAajOZfug55VHgZJzH2Md_X2yW3JPCo87xHfuStwglr46GPFuwWcv7VmGVeiSfDTfL/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIQMVTVMZAGbaipyu7J32gOz2DCu_fHA8S2-AqqAe3hMKOrHZb6eMlb3jB6Dp2LnvT50uIx9RwOwAajOZfug55VHgZJzH2Md_X2yW3JPCo87xHfuStwglr46GPFuwWcv7VmGVeiSfDTfL/s320/173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, great - another picture frame to sit in! What a pretty backdrop with Table Mountain behind me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6mhmissRG_f9Qc2t03BgAWCCIwb8QxZtFL-Md7Ut6kXxjhLasRo7sQme-4URUw9q8wzgRTHuTL-VEK_26LVRXzg3R25F8ucsLihBQTOMWnXiOM3qwxOcT2DXJ-UMEpYf5vaGx87MtoHE/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6mhmissRG_f9Qc2t03BgAWCCIwb8QxZtFL-Md7Ut6kXxjhLasRo7sQme-4URUw9q8wzgRTHuTL-VEK_26LVRXzg3R25F8ucsLihBQTOMWnXiOM3qwxOcT2DXJ-UMEpYf5vaGx87MtoHE/s320/175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our wanderings around the V&A Waterfront led us across four bronzed men, sculpted by </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Claudette Schreuders,</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> "standing pensively in a row" </span><span style="font-size: large;">in <b>Nobel Square. </b>The square was dedicated to South Africa’s four Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. Each of these</span><span style="font-size: large;"> great men played a part in helping South Africa to democracy after decades of apartheid.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Albert Luthuli, </b>(first one the left below) president of the ANC in 1952, was the first African, and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He received his award in 1961 after being allowed briefly out of South Africa to attend the Nobel ceremony in Oslo. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout much of his political life, Luthuli was arrested, charged and banned from public participation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, </b>who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, is a South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. He still speaks for the oppressed and the poor.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o4j-lQjmQiVqfxECNo1J4EJJd4IRWjk2QT7FcbL9k8QgynZO1mfeoLvE4UNsVAkGQctIU1xCnD_z3Z1_RQTlPm5FMTkNldVVlPHlnnhQXhp4lPCa_s95sy1kkm69rOloWTIWtr18Geds/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o4j-lQjmQiVqfxECNo1J4EJJd4IRWjk2QT7FcbL9k8QgynZO1mfeoLvE4UNsVAkGQctIU1xCnD_z3Z1_RQTlPm5FMTkNldVVlPHlnnhQXhp4lPCa_s95sy1kkm69rOloWTIWtr18Geds/s320/179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While <b>F.W. de Klerk, </b>(second from the right above)<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">was the country's </span><span style="font-size: large;">last president during apartheid </span><span style="font-size: large;">from 1989 to 1994,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">he worked with Nelson Mandela to successfully end the country's apartheid system of racial segregation. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1991, de Klerk passed legislation that repealed discriminatory laws in the country. </span><span style="font-size: large;">He worked with Mandela and others to establish the country’s new Constitution. </span><span style="font-size: large;">de Klerk and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their anti-apartheid activism.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After 27 years of imprisonment, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nelson Mandela </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">became South Africa’s first democratically elected president. He, with F.W. de Klerk, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. The following year, following the historic elections of April 27th, he took over the reins of government and led the fledgling democracy with pride and grace.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most interesting shopping developments we'd come across in a long time was the <b>Water Shed, </b>where </span><span style="font-size: large;">small artisans with a permanent booth</span><span style="font-size: large;"> showed their wares in a</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">cool, industrial setting.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4DB89FeZA4vgS4YpVZ1ICE2wMiJOI-9nvh7Kx3GrKnGPGW0L-Q36GA4LuGy3b_Qpqz3YfxfqzcnWtJ9edM0NGBSMiIoD2YxQzt3qkmSWcni4sZoBG51YBbutYumnN_QwQxD0Wm9guhO7/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4DB89FeZA4vgS4YpVZ1ICE2wMiJOI-9nvh7Kx3GrKnGPGW0L-Q36GA4LuGy3b_Qpqz3YfxfqzcnWtJ9edM0NGBSMiIoD2YxQzt3qkmSWcni4sZoBG51YBbutYumnN_QwQxD0Wm9guhO7/s320/186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the local designers, there were handmade crafts from elsewhere in South Africa and further afield in Africa. Many of you know from either reading this blog or having been to our home, how we love to buy crafts on our travels, so we were definitely in hog heaven at the Water Shed!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MchDs5TOfub87Xxt5VdS71vUdcIYmBBnjoRqZwSc9XW_Jc_kEbbdQ-kpSnvLrxeyh3yUQwmpxym46TAwDjyfZKBL6n6Hs7aixjBAdZdt_yzZqKjGiGkRRGCixygkYqhD36UX1nFH8IVu/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MchDs5TOfub87Xxt5VdS71vUdcIYmBBnjoRqZwSc9XW_Jc_kEbbdQ-kpSnvLrxeyh3yUQwmpxym46TAwDjyfZKBL6n6Hs7aixjBAdZdt_yzZqKjGiGkRRGCixygkYqhD36UX1nFH8IVu/s320/182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Since coming to Africa a few weeks ago, we had seen similar <b>Telephone Wire Art</b> bowls. I loved their vibrant and fun colors but Steven was not as fond of them, to put it mildly! Knowing this was likely my last opportunity to buy one, I did, hoping Steven would grow to at least tolerate it over time. My difficulty was deciding just which one piece to buy as I loved them all!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsraILh1XjrpOGOg3Iq_bdc1pStaYBdQaQDOYyVNBbuAE8AimmpNE1I_iLSXmolwqXUvV5WTN__sVV98Id3_ejE5MWipc5C626e1q6w_0BqGyLOamGx1W07nixvUx8EAl5pd-uo82U1zMR/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsraILh1XjrpOGOg3Iq_bdc1pStaYBdQaQDOYyVNBbuAE8AimmpNE1I_iLSXmolwqXUvV5WTN__sVV98Id3_ejE5MWipc5C626e1q6w_0BqGyLOamGx1W07nixvUx8EAl5pd-uo82U1zMR/s320/184.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I learned that e</span><span style="font-size: large;">lectrical plastic-coated wire (originally sourced from telephone cabling) was used by urban crafters applying traditional weaving techniques to produce functional and decorative items. A mold is used by the weaver who starts from the outside to weave toward the center.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAYvDHMgHK6vpKfR1aVBq47e7hEZAYnbCVWi4nXeXQQP6Qlqx9M5i9sNL9Xr0p78MybYpErjWP24ZB3XI3-gCnoVRbCNbaSCPLN4cu7VOiGv7d1ja50O-qKVOPFR6bsu5kdgiTwhpTGYn/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAYvDHMgHK6vpKfR1aVBq47e7hEZAYnbCVWi4nXeXQQP6Qlqx9M5i9sNL9Xr0p78MybYpErjWP24ZB3XI3-gCnoVRbCNbaSCPLN4cu7VOiGv7d1ja50O-qKVOPFR6bsu5kdgiTwhpTGYn/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjBX30tRug0jX6VBiHl0iJRkgGZBqpgQbx7YSx5FS4Pku7pNv10POFpLrqU1NKlH8I_H1LJ1GzCfRdI5IE0d0h9Xu53GaXf9mjs5QhJssdLoYYHpl-dY1NJfIt3TJbHHxYSF3uT935dIT3k/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBX30tRug0jX6VBiHl0iJRkgGZBqpgQbx7YSx5FS4Pku7pNv10POFpLrqU1NKlH8I_H1LJ1GzCfRdI5IE0d0h9Xu53GaXf9mjs5QhJssdLoYYHpl-dY1NJfIt3TJbHHxYSF3uT935dIT3k/s320/188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Leaving the V&A Waterfront around 3, we drove on Beach Road along the city's waterfront before heading south out of the city to the nearby gorgeous beaches on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Cape. The first one we spotted was <b>Saunders Rock Tidal Pool</b> where a number of people had gathered to sit on the rocks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MP2TtPS3R9JXtP6gwXMzRFJv_Qbt7FBy35wzgVTUPu-co7rxTw6jM7o-8UwjXglVd_g3Xp4S5d5c1LYC2fpAWRn-H46gscraOHKqEZMbV-lHIt7Yt2yyLU_MVsj3dUOeKdqEfiZhFpZD/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MP2TtPS3R9JXtP6gwXMzRFJv_Qbt7FBy35wzgVTUPu-co7rxTw6jM7o-8UwjXglVd_g3Xp4S5d5c1LYC2fpAWRn-H46gscraOHKqEZMbV-lHIt7Yt2yyLU_MVsj3dUOeKdqEfiZhFpZD/s320/189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up was the ritzy development of <b>Clifton Beach, a Blue Flag </b>certified beach with four distinct coves. The designation meant that it had received a certificate for meeting stringent environmental standards. Surrounding the small town were multi-million rand (South Africa's currency) beach cottages as well as large condos and hotels for the mega-rich. Clifton Beach is known as a 'favorite spot for people wanting to be seen in the right places' - not an area clearly for us!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq2Q6_z17WKGxtPAM_TRHcf3qb7JAhwY6UkTUQzbJMXAFNWy04G-4948JF1sXYjda1GRYTu5VUkNLg9RqEO9_eLkUblU1sM3Y6jUhxAPNnoLw-qtE1RE2IohGaKtbt3d2gTgZjLl7iE64/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHq2Q6_z17WKGxtPAM_TRHcf3qb7JAhwY6UkTUQzbJMXAFNWy04G-4948JF1sXYjda1GRYTu5VUkNLg9RqEO9_eLkUblU1sM3Y6jUhxAPNnoLw-qtE1RE2IohGaKtbt3d2gTgZjLl7iE64/s320/190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC9w6XujvFuDPGZNm1lkhQEwAfeLWD0K9WYG28UnGP5j5IiJMZWJETMAdHhjQItgiBKireBVjgIwix2T6vtxYbi9HTp1xM-SDcAvXZ5v-LZ8xWCWwk5tK0Bbp8KFXl8MsHkToMTms-82j/s1600/191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC9w6XujvFuDPGZNm1lkhQEwAfeLWD0K9WYG28UnGP5j5IiJMZWJETMAdHhjQItgiBKireBVjgIwix2T6vtxYbi9HTp1xM-SDcAvXZ5v-LZ8xWCWwk5tK0Bbp8KFXl8MsHkToMTms-82j/s320/191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCZmez4_3EuAgcuv43tEpodp_GwfKM8IGuU446n77GMYAluUSaeDPFVdlIEhcvz-Bo3ejPpvqLQwUYcmaMJkREvutLezcF0FTxO-LcPB5JGWxL7PZijQ6E9454YK-wLIUSuxebsHzw0Ll/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCZmez4_3EuAgcuv43tEpodp_GwfKM8IGuU446n77GMYAluUSaeDPFVdlIEhcvz-Bo3ejPpvqLQwUYcmaMJkREvutLezcF0FTxO-LcPB5JGWxL7PZijQ6E9454YK-wLIUSuxebsHzw0Ll/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Another trendy beach on the eastern seaboard was <b>Camps Bay Beach,</b> a long sandy beach accessed directly from the road IF you could get a parking spot, that is! The road behind the beach was lined with restaurants, cafes and small shops that looked very inviting but there was no place to park so on we drove. Clearly this area was THE place to be on a gorgeous summer weekend.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMRJCd4yjyEaKu8gkqzqrJNBhM4MpsTRmsMbBOQeS2jbcZP1sm6o0G7VflMV69h7K8iIXFwbUc6MqMF0if_vb_OgiwyV4CJAdfJ_tSnoV3FpfaZEYshvbUR3x7-RWRjNYAJW1jR61P8OC/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMRJCd4yjyEaKu8gkqzqrJNBhM4MpsTRmsMbBOQeS2jbcZP1sm6o0G7VflMV69h7K8iIXFwbUc6MqMF0if_vb_OgiwyV4CJAdfJ_tSnoV3FpfaZEYshvbUR3x7-RWRjNYAJW1jR61P8OC/s320/194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It felt like we should be in merry old England when we saw cricket players enjoying themselves on the town's cricket pitch.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvNqpSjLwZP91WMF-aWLS_PJOpcpK_67ci9Oj0cH1qn1wpJDgqZP5kEWxn7gnCUyQyg2reKynPDGUAjpvAn1J28PplYO7G0VZaden48_dXNb4QHhyc33chgowqb7CuEkkgT_6raaGBfQd/s1600/196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvNqpSjLwZP91WMF-aWLS_PJOpcpK_67ci9Oj0cH1qn1wpJDgqZP5kEWxn7gnCUyQyg2reKynPDGUAjpvAn1J28PplYO7G0VZaden48_dXNb4QHhyc33chgowqb7CuEkkgT_6raaGBfQd/s320/196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The group of small mountains </span><span style="font-size: large;">that run along the coast from </span><span style="font-size: large;">Cape Town and its southern environs were the <b>12 Apostles. </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ0yo1lgT9PKoWjzTryH4IViSf31Wvo20UFVZuUv5TbLA1_FX7kOZWngdwdBKBnox1QGJgpC3a2SLOc5FpKL6mp7DtlE72iOYhDuK-xrNQyvjAJ0Fz9aVuH9SqXE2wqHB7fVJ7y1ETxo9/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ0yo1lgT9PKoWjzTryH4IViSf31Wvo20UFVZuUv5TbLA1_FX7kOZWngdwdBKBnox1QGJgpC3a2SLOc5FpKL6mp7DtlE72iOYhDuK-xrNQyvjAJ0Fz9aVuH9SqXE2wqHB7fVJ7y1ETxo9/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The combination of spectacular mountains and white sand beaches all along the seaboard was just phenomenal. If only we could have found a place to stop and park, it would have been ideal!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePSG180GN7yv_rJgapPMLcG6pQryAPRlK7GtM1fpdTJuU_MkqGE_22QBi0dUbOwc2QQnQGxO0qRiCURfcK0E2SmsxhBLMbsV5VE5OBzJQUWfZhtOpSVXceNhFmpqs9oOT6d6_hzodqxIJ/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePSG180GN7yv_rJgapPMLcG6pQryAPRlK7GtM1fpdTJuU_MkqGE_22QBi0dUbOwc2QQnQGxO0qRiCURfcK0E2SmsxhBLMbsV5VE5OBzJQUWfZhtOpSVXceNhFmpqs9oOT6d6_hzodqxIJ/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oudekraal</b> was a beautiful bay, enclosed by boulders with its very own seal colony. It was s</span><span style="font-size: large;">et against the backdrop of the Twelve Apostles and had a number of sheltered coves and small sandy beaches between the massive granite boulders. The scenic area comprised part of <b>Table Mountain National Park. </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxEwadn38SQEWN357sRYeYCNTUjuo0X0VTylfOLxN6Yws0KTgHMxeQz_OrpnhigEufsIvWsoODLAgrFUe_KH2UJ4sNYJtUzVAWCORULRiy3wJSFWFUqddZEXE1vpwqm528hlfUhGI_5gR/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxEwadn38SQEWN357sRYeYCNTUjuo0X0VTylfOLxN6Yws0KTgHMxeQz_OrpnhigEufsIvWsoODLAgrFUe_KH2UJ4sNYJtUzVAWCORULRiy3wJSFWFUqddZEXE1vpwqm528hlfUhGI_5gR/s320/204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A lovely view of <b>Lion's Head</b> in Cape Town, another place we looked forward to exploring another day.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP2VXr4xsnc8ifMUn6KnrsxolPmCnsoZOcY1F3HgRPmsrQpSzh8_mteH11KyQnW9BBO6lK4wHiPZlCtHyvWx3KreE24ajQUMsd6VT5tGYdW-76BohL_KmycCX375jqEW1xX2FO1Df64Sg/s1600/201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP2VXr4xsnc8ifMUn6KnrsxolPmCnsoZOcY1F3HgRPmsrQpSzh8_mteH11KyQnW9BBO6lK4wHiPZlCtHyvWx3KreE24ajQUMsd6VT5tGYdW-76BohL_KmycCX375jqEW1xX2FO1Df64Sg/s320/201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBeJBod5jBfU_xjB2D-0vbDxRGTG7krDSVhOtEXTEDIJx6fpxoMnEBzhlSD77nKiiaZFKf4_y4r44nyPzOfIA9mUKWVHc5bWghAfM47XSvwNH63YXpzYXY9tF7KbUrXQuYaQSPojAwMfL/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBeJBod5jBfU_xjB2D-0vbDxRGTG7krDSVhOtEXTEDIJx6fpxoMnEBzhlSD77nKiiaZFKf4_y4r44nyPzOfIA9mUKWVHc5bWghAfM47XSvwNH63YXpzYXY9tF7KbUrXQuYaQSPojAwMfL/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Further south was <b>Llandudno Beach,</b> another striking beach of white sand and huge granite boulders surround by mountains, and without any shops or commercial activities. Again though, we were unable to find parking so headed north back to Cape Town, hoping against hope, we would be lucky enough to find one on our way back.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow2yDGAIvLq73htE6SXisGDUgYLKiLLr3vrMk8q4IF8j1TVfPDAQjuYZBVW4qq-RDQBVoYgexxyxKz-tmCjrh5WjR6caljssxD_buc-7fqj2MebScQ3ZuAN2x0agD55m56BsQKiAsqcoC/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjow2yDGAIvLq73htE6SXisGDUgYLKiLLr3vrMk8q4IF8j1TVfPDAQjuYZBVW4qq-RDQBVoYgexxyxKz-tmCjrh5WjR6caljssxD_buc-7fqj2MebScQ3ZuAN2x0agD55m56BsQKiAsqcoC/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOowON6PdVBApSKQTkC3TuY3blr_3wPYWwdABBqXbymAwXvcQpimeU7zjG32CqOTq4FuGYLK9t0vV0-HR71B5jtRvDgFHgCy7E0rvUqyjCj_Mutsh131KjlA1ggYpLTJ0k_Ye0TNmHcYo/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOowON6PdVBApSKQTkC3TuY3blr_3wPYWwdABBqXbymAwXvcQpimeU7zjG32CqOTq4FuGYLK9t0vV0-HR71B5jtRvDgFHgCy7E0rvUqyjCj_Mutsh131KjlA1ggYpLTJ0k_Ye0TNmHcYo/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hallelujah - we were thrilled when we finally lucked out and found a parking spot on the highway at Camps Bay which we had driven through earlier. A few minutes' walk led us to the white sandy beach. I noticed there were very few people brave enough to swim in the chilly waters.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyykE0AM9w8IZ4BJ8OVaSzRjETxtrLZLPqP3kflW1zXWHHCU2Jf6F5ZXbRtPnHVgWqE2LULy2djyv44ISlza22Qvji559Br76sbQSr-1YMRc-LWJ7Cjo99hZKMs91du4nMcLbecWI-9XR/s1600/208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyykE0AM9w8IZ4BJ8OVaSzRjETxtrLZLPqP3kflW1zXWHHCU2Jf6F5ZXbRtPnHVgWqE2LULy2djyv44ISlza22Qvji559Br76sbQSr-1YMRc-LWJ7Cjo99hZKMs91du4nMcLbecWI-9XR/s320/208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkoWoCZntMtuXfHGsPlYETQ3oYeI1eMKCDdtNXAnulj51s5BPN4metrh2NxgMzjq3mmmNxMt36hQH7l8gNRG98yU93DM-Q4QU52cLXzjyff8FKoIL0YWN5Qin1Nj5hKJrzN_B7xXrDwxa/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkoWoCZntMtuXfHGsPlYETQ3oYeI1eMKCDdtNXAnulj51s5BPN4metrh2NxgMzjq3mmmNxMt36hQH7l8gNRG98yU93DM-Q4QU52cLXzjyff8FKoIL0YWN5Qin1Nj5hKJrzN_B7xXrDwxa/s320/209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPTXhpZz_rjh_5U0_7-yDpvh7hlwrfbZ9GiCbj52bQN126IJiLbVy-xHv-I60kPpoyJutSnJpp5i9InXx_ikgndOpG_xOpRQMz5z-7OAkHPsh5oOtNUZrcg4LVJpqkckT_yO5N3hvvIvA/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPTXhpZz_rjh_5U0_7-yDpvh7hlwrfbZ9GiCbj52bQN126IJiLbVy-xHv-I60kPpoyJutSnJpp5i9InXx_ikgndOpG_xOpRQMz5z-7OAkHPsh5oOtNUZrcg4LVJpqkckT_yO5N3hvvIvA/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending the day at the Robben Island Museum, then on the island touring the prison, and shopping at the V&A Waterfront, it was sublime being lazy louts and relaxing on the beach for a couple of hours. We had almost given up hope driving up and down the coast looking for parking.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKZPdLzaApl61X_N_nGnSgEJg2wXGyJvbe8bshL97t2ARAPNUholN9rrgdIAoYrxym6UPLNRJQP6RT_ztCOcZVt-3KU78zn-wIkhGIZDbkNzPIW9qZCoGyI6qWZRnuIKrdSOOFbKam0Ke/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKZPdLzaApl61X_N_nGnSgEJg2wXGyJvbe8bshL97t2ARAPNUholN9rrgdIAoYrxym6UPLNRJQP6RT_ztCOcZVt-3KU78zn-wIkhGIZDbkNzPIW9qZCoGyI6qWZRnuIKrdSOOFbKam0Ke/s320/211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I watched while this enterprising man walked up and down the beach selling pop and ice cream.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W5yH3h98ru0Fn1r4n8VkohUBypyZgAvq_cVERQ6sbFbX61H5oEviIieOBcFxX-UZ4VIvNhljUTXl0Q8GVobvjzx0DY-yatc3Eha9tNT07CpQSNzec1w5gWBiQBV5m3emBxNGnZ-nSgGm/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W5yH3h98ru0Fn1r4n8VkohUBypyZgAvq_cVERQ6sbFbX61H5oEviIieOBcFxX-UZ4VIvNhljUTXl0Q8GVobvjzx0DY-yatc3Eha9tNT07CpQSNzec1w5gWBiQBV5m3emBxNGnZ-nSgGm/s320/212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The woman wore a traditional <b>indigo skirt</b> common in South Africa for the last 100 plus years. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-4166NFoxjdWKJ1N3eM_MB0xCXIsHHSsk2agZqOSZeFvkNVhFxWAf1ggY5Ihtfil2Gw4TF_BzPum9iuLDZag2VeBugD12XKyGihlBA0D13rx5XFd53EipGDsObvzUUTHyjCrScmRk3T3/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-4166NFoxjdWKJ1N3eM_MB0xCXIsHHSsk2agZqOSZeFvkNVhFxWAf1ggY5Ihtfil2Gw4TF_BzPum9iuLDZag2VeBugD12XKyGihlBA0D13rx5XFd53EipGDsObvzUUTHyjCrScmRk3T3/s320/213.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A lifeguard, suitably clad against the elements:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4ZDZlQnZmodus9Tds_z0_FItlILsrkSY53bktFZnVxM1hBbjNyUpCk1z0UJNJN2ZnZcZC3ck49_veOb3doWv9ftHI5IVVA5LualxetWP7sdB2SYa2s1_9BaOoa2TKdkkbKbrv7wa1sas/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4ZDZlQnZmodus9Tds_z0_FItlILsrkSY53bktFZnVxM1hBbjNyUpCk1z0UJNJN2ZnZcZC3ck49_veOb3doWv9ftHI5IVVA5LualxetWP7sdB2SYa2s1_9BaOoa2TKdkkbKbrv7wa1sas/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We left the beach about 6:30 as we were getting hungry and still had a drive ahead of us before we got back to the Altona Lodge.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0t09LSckuifTaBV0_ytm0cWCQngPCQtGk0JGRhnE2n-I4jDKWmlg7u1fEOeSQifxnms6QmniPuDHnTBlmZMW3PCTDCOBCP1Qt5gMR-cELyCdnjxIGaYt31wBSkzjIOp6qBS4y3Ko02rV/s1600/216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0t09LSckuifTaBV0_ytm0cWCQngPCQtGk0JGRhnE2n-I4jDKWmlg7u1fEOeSQifxnms6QmniPuDHnTBlmZMW3PCTDCOBCP1Qt5gMR-cELyCdnjxIGaYt31wBSkzjIOp6qBS4y3Ko02rV/s320/216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">More photos of the amazing Lion's Head near sundown:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BQf3geewLw7NFuBJfX5O6x6VfcY_uTI6WIHEjwQn7J7c14vmH0kk8LC3aXs4pF1Ne8IQnG0YHqAhFvYUqMw4mLu1l6xf8tHkLV__WdwboTqqAZO_X_ayHD6ieyYDBLOa8H2_j_VjTbXh/s1600/217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BQf3geewLw7NFuBJfX5O6x6VfcY_uTI6WIHEjwQn7J7c14vmH0kk8LC3aXs4pF1Ne8IQnG0YHqAhFvYUqMw4mLu1l6xf8tHkLV__WdwboTqqAZO_X_ayHD6ieyYDBLOa8H2_j_VjTbXh/s320/217.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEgbm7SmMKK7uT7c3bVr35Uwi_feM4MmlL62t74t1VWnYCL2IQ7uyA53iiENDfao7AsqbJhwOCHHzH-V1wsOMK559GrYehxzX20GrMJjDEk1y7FVD2X2S69Q8-ySUs5EVKvcFQ06ikt2rsLG/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbm7SmMKK7uT7c3bVr35Uwi_feM4MmlL62t74t1VWnYCL2IQ7uyA53iiENDfao7AsqbJhwOCHHzH-V1wsOMK559GrYehxzX20GrMJjDEk1y7FVD2X2S69Q8-ySUs5EVKvcFQ06ikt2rsLG/s320/220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJx6EtwUSM3aWvyasAFZTGwGHDATTHvLAqh7shlyhOw5c_FZXxGdE2O0QWG6dCMYfr-YKbsgLKHQBtNm9UDikDUMlewp6ItDkhTJMqF_GmJLm-YKoojEDMMdtLlhwi7xNbshGesXZ4S9C0/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJx6EtwUSM3aWvyasAFZTGwGHDATTHvLAqh7shlyhOw5c_FZXxGdE2O0QWG6dCMYfr-YKbsgLKHQBtNm9UDikDUMlewp6ItDkhTJMqF_GmJLm-YKoojEDMMdtLlhwi7xNbshGesXZ4S9C0/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I mentioned in my first post about Cape Town how we were falling in love with the city. Today, touring the Robben Island Museum and prison and driving along the scenic coast, just reinforced those initial feelings, certainly for me, and I would think for Steven as well. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 3rd, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-763885079834535876.post-2198051398820721492017-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:002017-02-10T08:33:27.392-08:0012/3: First Person Account of Cape Town's Robben Island <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Months ago we'd made reservations to take a 3.5 hour long tour of <b>Robben Island, </b>made famous by its most celebrated inhabitant, Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned there</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid. We arrived at Cape Town's waterfront well before 8:30 so we could have some time to enjoy the busy harbor front before leaving at 9. </span></span>After waiting for more than an hour at the<b> Robben Island Museum, </b>we were so relieved that our ferry finally departed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The stunning view of the <b>V&A (Victoria & Albert) Waterfront </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">was luckily well worth the wait. We looked forward to visiting the harbor, that was built between 1860 and 1920 and had a number of outstanding heritage buildings, on our return from Robben Island. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwImBGeYs4D1BAdFCj6c1k-Gc21EVPlc8lx9TxTfp8Kh5Bpo0UodNWi1tFcxXHVtrHkV1b-83ibh5idPgoHiFr6AuTQnpC5xobtqWO71J4kSkVXLFYO0yTj4JpWEd1vcLZG1zCJLENfL4L/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwImBGeYs4D1BAdFCj6c1k-Gc21EVPlc8lx9TxTfp8Kh5Bpo0UodNWi1tFcxXHVtrHkV1b-83ibh5idPgoHiFr6AuTQnpC5xobtqWO71J4kSkVXLFYO0yTj4JpWEd1vcLZG1zCJLENfL4L/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The wooden boat below looked to be the same one we'd seen yesterday while relaxing on the beach and watching the world go by.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv59tg4kDRxGIcGttAgXIcn6JeFx-VTgJd46_HXgEa4jCrR-Eabc0DYGmyf1nk7U6_LXSAYSpi-ymvxDCZBrYiG4KtZQMlc9fdrPBJj0QYgQYR-qGDBusCT6jVJesfMw3u01CC8f1sAYM/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimv59tg4kDRxGIcGttAgXIcn6JeFx-VTgJd46_HXgEa4jCrR-Eabc0DYGmyf1nk7U6_LXSAYSpi-ymvxDCZBrYiG4KtZQMlc9fdrPBJj0QYgQYR-qGDBusCT6jVJesfMw3u01CC8f1sAYM/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The seal helped to entertain us as we left the harbor! The home to so many prisoners was called dubbed “Robben” (the Dutch word for seal) Island by early settlers because of the seal population at the time. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeP8GwyWvsLWiEObKzgPp1N5IZiSP1XByO6wqQ4tkQc0nRjpfFcoIiykvOysAodIejV4IAkZ3HiGb00ja7NHdLk2E-c7QL3F1pJlNyR4mpTqEc7NKkcZel6Y-WJCu97xIMT7DDj4lq1sz/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeP8GwyWvsLWiEObKzgPp1N5IZiSP1XByO6wqQ4tkQc0nRjpfFcoIiykvOysAodIejV4IAkZ3HiGb00ja7NHdLk2E-c7QL3F1pJlNyR4mpTqEc7NKkcZel6Y-WJCu97xIMT7DDj4lq1sz/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTxrw1E5i2bsUrzVUPHSejQjGlZkc5xbSM5U9TdlBbNcTnKqrOpRZyqaVNBRFCyY0XySPWoMEqV0T33O8EEz-P6DwEFHUuvTAbzaC1VX-Cr32_2JSHUPCd3nWhSH-2ubMURgV-z3E0zYq/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTxrw1E5i2bsUrzVUPHSejQjGlZkc5xbSM5U9TdlBbNcTnKqrOpRZyqaVNBRFCyY0XySPWoMEqV0T33O8EEz-P6DwEFHUuvTAbzaC1VX-Cr32_2JSHUPCd3nWhSH-2ubMURgV-z3E0zYq/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KOlOztzmmBJUlzWykSbNnRXVRMivwUNDbstyY7IsCsFwOmO0ZOXis3vCSURaajqdeGKmwjkmkcOnhgQak8MPccY62liXg6vqcbaGPApwGCaGIDilK8D6BslUrrD8fBcA5dJZXHeBdYuY/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KOlOztzmmBJUlzWykSbNnRXVRMivwUNDbstyY7IsCsFwOmO0ZOXis3vCSURaajqdeGKmwjkmkcOnhgQak8MPccY62liXg6vqcbaGPApwGCaGIDilK8D6BslUrrD8fBcA5dJZXHeBdYuY/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were so glad we had been able to get seats on the top deck for the short trip across the bay <b>and</b> that we were actually able to travel on the ferry. We had been advised, when we made the reservation several months earlier, that it wasn't at all unusual for the ferry not to be able to travel because the bay wasn't</span><span style="font-size: large;"> always as calm and innocent as it looked that day.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQgXwTXLKjILt7xFgCW6RO_RgjBWcn6gH1vKlLIw1D7JTa1ZuZuVOqWw8eYbvSGO6jvTLXgMxVuVZkdLA9bof_G57ooCfx4bfUFdmy7fPsZBv6n6J6CdbOpuPfxb4NCcaQtEifSpjpfmI/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQgXwTXLKjILt7xFgCW6RO_RgjBWcn6gH1vKlLIw1D7JTa1ZuZuVOqWw8eYbvSGO6jvTLXgMxVuVZkdLA9bof_G57ooCfx4bfUFdmy7fPsZBv6n6J6CdbOpuPfxb4NCcaQtEifSpjpfmI/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a lovely view we enjoyed of the mountains that surround Cape Town on our 40 minute boat journey across to Robben Island. We looked forward to discovering the most famous one, <b>Table Mountain, </b>below, in the next couple of days.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SP5dn8DouSlNZcFcp78O_FznhCbmCYqMEDff-lGfYlUyYNhalvNTiU-8UVc06pfKfXEN0xd0hae8H1FBYCBum44t7KOkT43vv2XJlyNvvvIQ_uAqQDlou07ADY6MOuZcI3k_XOhJsYoZ/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SP5dn8DouSlNZcFcp78O_FznhCbmCYqMEDff-lGfYlUyYNhalvNTiU-8UVc06pfKfXEN0xd0hae8H1FBYCBum44t7KOkT43vv2XJlyNvvvIQ_uAqQDlou07ADY6MOuZcI3k_XOhJsYoZ/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We drove past the <b>Cape Town Stadium</b> from our lodge on our way into town each day but this was a much better perspective obviously for the sports complex that was built for the 2010 FIFA (Soccer) World Cup!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vdCp-D5VXI_rHhQMbM-FxzUmRSiqAfLY-jBnmRNYcgi4_Te7T8kzbTXn_6fvaXdYWxmUjmqr6p25STJa293NzHvG5rpuxm2L9EU6gpQF3QPopx9LK3LlOEkuu7BfYK9RGrT9z9gph1q_/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vdCp-D5VXI_rHhQMbM-FxzUmRSiqAfLY-jBnmRNYcgi4_Te7T8kzbTXn_6fvaXdYWxmUjmqr6p25STJa293NzHvG5rpuxm2L9EU6gpQF3QPopx9LK3LlOEkuu7BfYK9RGrT9z9gph1q_/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEglbwhc8aSqa9J6SVOrSRobpYwctAzyOws0Uy39HKhSmuGdGChzW6HKIQQscn2n9mBq1RlyVBQmTO8TNjtv6E6j6c7nt9wpYZ8HJM8PtLZ_zQxggYveE8q1q2Wx7-eX3M6O5B5z4uv_gb2p/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbwhc8aSqa9J6SVOrSRobpYwctAzyOws0Uy39HKhSmuGdGChzW6HKIQQscn2n9mBq1RlyVBQmTO8TNjtv6E6j6c7nt9wpYZ8HJM8PtLZ_zQxggYveE8q1q2Wx7-eX3M6O5B5z4uv_gb2p/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our arrival at Robben Island:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1HcgALNzjKVwHBczIkWtEroQrhYF2v3W_WKXCYoj0CcfLq2gr5bICNSHVGj8uvW9jSSojk2iDiNxwLUoWpLdfLog7rNx9frvABRlcya1ytQMnJXmA8N6T0V8R4GKFTqwlIPqPXOrU5ta/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1HcgALNzjKVwHBczIkWtEroQrhYF2v3W_WKXCYoj0CcfLq2gr5bICNSHVGj8uvW9jSSojk2iDiNxwLUoWpLdfLog7rNx9frvABRlcya1ytQMnJXmA8N6T0V8R4GKFTqwlIPqPXOrU5ta/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Robben Island needs no introduction with regards to the significance of its place in South Africa’s and indeed the world’s history. As “home” to one of the world’s most famous prisoners, statesmen and leaders in Nelson Mandela, Robben Island is quite possibly the most well known island-prison on the planet.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Iu4kyKyO9T3lkCC0tEaEbrcnLRkYPjYTC2-YQ9-jXVr26Vs_scnTABRdbMFL9u6PduP2v4KCv2HSU4q89IxmoeyNHasoaxu87m2Jau6DNlIPJrOnqwidpUORIG-_jCfSni8x31dX12ne/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Iu4kyKyO9T3lkCC0tEaEbrcnLRkYPjYTC2-YQ9-jXVr26Vs_scnTABRdbMFL9u6PduP2v4KCv2HSU4q89IxmoeyNHasoaxu87m2Jau6DNlIPJrOnqwidpUORIG-_jCfSni8x31dX12ne/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnSdXzMpF0tERuvOjXdgMzBIlwkI__j0GrmPqrpluLUrxCqqhtegiE-ifn4fWnbQGJ35snvyn4xynCeLb_vruuUI0B_-Y57I9iEIXRgUhMmKobAmFOdcf51DVTb0CZFBv8ODNmSwgjxId/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnSdXzMpF0tERuvOjXdgMzBIlwkI__j0GrmPqrpluLUrxCqqhtegiE-ifn4fWnbQGJ35snvyn4xynCeLb_vruuUI0B_-Y57I9iEIXRgUhMmKobAmFOdcf51DVTb0CZFBv8ODNmSwgjxId/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjUL81RhhJDHqzCrfxjW7n2XtHU_y6TSX2J7QpL1Si3saEFUw4-utgmGV8ZJHdWt05b-sGFkPQJ1CgE_NdXSUZzLhc9UXRc8luIVLS1EvYz-yoZl5uhJFG5eVrkqu-fKJ47tBtrtBc5i4H2/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL81RhhJDHqzCrfxjW7n2XtHU_y6TSX2J7QpL1Si3saEFUw4-utgmGV8ZJHdWt05b-sGFkPQJ1CgE_NdXSUZzLhc9UXRc8luIVLS1EvYz-yoZl5uhJFG5eVrkqu-fKJ47tBtrtBc5i4H2/s320/058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">About ten buses met our fellow ferry passengers so we could be taken on a driving tour of the island that had been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site almost twenty years ago in 1997. Robben Island has a long and sad history. From the 1400s to 1900s, travelers, sailors and settlers used it as a base to replenish food and supplies. At various times, it was also used as a post office, a quarantine station, a leper colony, a hospital, a military base and a mental institution but Robben Island is probably best known as a prison for </span><span style="font-size: large;">high-profile opponents of apartheid</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIjOdnX4139NtoY9yJT0r0CJwB4_X3T8GnqLjohiUkHx8SzKubBrRmu5FwVp6SJs6aFNfRXF2uH6w7nnP9VRCZe_Vs0uWONXnNAlwlnX55pi6xQDTLhDSVPyQOhI7nTQUMp8EwAMe00w0/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIjOdnX4139NtoY9yJT0r0CJwB4_X3T8GnqLjohiUkHx8SzKubBrRmu5FwVp6SJs6aFNfRXF2uH6w7nnP9VRCZe_Vs0uWONXnNAlwlnX55pi6xQDTLhDSVPyQOhI7nTQUMp8EwAMe00w0/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide on our bus told us that the prisoners were only allowed to receive one visitor per month for 30 minutes! During that brief time, family members and prisoners weren't permitted to speak any African language; if they did, the visit would be immediately terminated. Neither could they talk about any political issues or conditions on the island. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Photos of the maximum security prison headquarters:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iwsaBL58r-N2cs7x4Ma7uNp4kjR25ab61ef0w6oVj4VmVqHCQLyOASTVusnW2bT_q9O4z0312T4BFHN902D967fzUr7uUuDzZmE-7pKibeOhLgrGeSexsfnWS2MKCEO5lMbFOrodgVPs/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iwsaBL58r-N2cs7x4Ma7uNp4kjR25ab61ef0w6oVj4VmVqHCQLyOASTVusnW2bT_q9O4z0312T4BFHN902D967fzUr7uUuDzZmE-7pKibeOhLgrGeSexsfnWS2MKCEO5lMbFOrodgVPs/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjlErAyZcTuAG_Q1CrPsvU2xY1d6-K86JL1rZvRW75IUA73Xh6_Ga4DEpv1RYKhKyh83UJbsit-895dz331V37y2MT-ThdbiTs3YPAI3R6gYitJsLKYAb8-Vtq_YoMt14uRRZzmioa21bwL/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlErAyZcTuAG_Q1CrPsvU2xY1d6-K86JL1rZvRW75IUA73Xh6_Ga4DEpv1RYKhKyh83UJbsit-895dz331V37y2MT-ThdbiTs3YPAI3R6gYitJsLKYAb8-Vtq_YoMt14uRRZzmioa21bwL/s320/148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide mentioned that there were over 1,000 lepers' graves in this cemetery. Once </span><span style="font-size: large;">a cure for leprosy was found i</span><span style="font-size: large;">n 1920, patients were returned to the mainland.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EVvGMLlOt59-pni9WKa53ljJVwgXd-Kek8trPjNJ4qFzwHrfwSgkFf5WTiMsiQL-sN9dOkacuhWf6KDL-v8JYlXqmnlETahF0yJZ2ppKLv9f7GAzOrVVbO7D7s7TfjUw9AA6Rru1Iu51/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EVvGMLlOt59-pni9WKa53ljJVwgXd-Kek8trPjNJ4qFzwHrfwSgkFf5WTiMsiQL-sN9dOkacuhWf6KDL-v8JYlXqmnlETahF0yJZ2ppKLv9f7GAzOrVVbO7D7s7TfjUw9AA6Rru1Iu51/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The bus slowed down long enough at the <b>Sobukwe House,</b> so that our guide could talk about its former resident, <b>Robert Sobukwe. </b>He<b> </b>was a prominent South African political dissident, who founded the <b>Pan Africanist Congress</b> in opposition to South Africa under apartheid. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Sobukwe</span><span style="font-size: large;"> lived in a separate area in solitary confinement on the island for nine years where he was strictly prohibited from contact with other prisoners and all visitors.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I apologize in advance for the following photos I was only able to take from the moving bus and through its windows but they were the best I could do under the circumstances.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUua2EOJ7Yv6K5IOtjnhqYcF-hi8ZUGCOTch7P5RzVHEIaGdIPKGQAP2sXBKz-a2dLSZEc07rej9PLPet_Cbx6kbGqTC4ehiqGXVYNB3YJwTXEnXv2_Crbq2DUSgKxHCXX2DZqYelp1I7/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUua2EOJ7Yv6K5IOtjnhqYcF-hi8ZUGCOTch7P5RzVHEIaGdIPKGQAP2sXBKz-a2dLSZEc07rej9PLPet_Cbx6kbGqTC4ehiqGXVYNB3YJwTXEnXv2_Crbq2DUSgKxHCXX2DZqYelp1I7/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sobukwe was likely subjected to this special treatment because the South African government had profiled him as a more radical and difficult opponent than the regular <b>African National Congress (ANC) </b>prisoners and feared he might otherwise influence other prisoners on the island. From the time of his arrest in 1960, until his death in 1978 at the age of just 53, Sobukwe was either imprisoned on Robben Island or under house arrest in external exile.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOC_VBmdpxKAKj9bJrpM9l8AJQVUVSU3AEEbFT61k0MNwOasxkAh5CDLWIuVj1b_Fs8tboocMzU0Usw5lzjwGsgxxmHN0YUCupm5ydCha8Y-li_0kmShX63xn5HC63rZDv-aVY35VjCsC/s1600/152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOC_VBmdpxKAKj9bJrpM9l8AJQVUVSU3AEEbFT61k0MNwOasxkAh5CDLWIuVj1b_Fs8tboocMzU0Usw5lzjwGsgxxmHN0YUCupm5ydCha8Y-li_0kmShX63xn5HC63rZDv-aVY35VjCsC/s320/152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were driven next to the <b>Limestone Quarry</b> where only political prisoners, </span><span style="font-size: large;">in chains,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> worked </span><span style="font-size: large;">eight hours a day regardless of weather conditions and with only a spade and a wheel barrow as their tools</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Prisoners labored to manually pound the rocks into fragments for road gravel or simply to transfer rocks and gravel from one side of the quarry to the other. </span><span style="font-size: large;">No masks were provided, so many prisoners' eyes became severely affected by the limestone dust over time. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Guards, we were told, stood on top of the quarry to make sure the prisoners worked. If they didn't, the guards were instructed to shoot to kill. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv4ZjpSzE6OHpu2H2jgj-c1nqJsXlmo39xzd_0brM6FuXKBXKrD2YOH1mGTMetn_p0Zktq1m1eG6M9zj8RijJad73_krvDU_L-UYPU-3WDpHiV2VSobQsBb_Q_xkYu49jowpEOnDsFYjV/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv4ZjpSzE6OHpu2H2jgj-c1nqJsXlmo39xzd_0brM6FuXKBXKrD2YOH1mGTMetn_p0Zktq1m1eG6M9zj8RijJad73_krvDU_L-UYPU-3WDpHiV2VSobQsBb_Q_xkYu49jowpEOnDsFYjV/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This cave was used as the prisoners' toilet and rest area during lunch. The guide said the prisoners also used this time to discuss their political problems and taught illiterate prisoners how to read and write.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdkpjkgKvBmKoNzC02Dho4Ysp866mAQyqm9l4CKviiaZRsY-52SlGyT8Qo7tdyScYmfJLpEvNeSyh5BE6GUtJ-pQMxIPwdbniaBJt5AhwDaIzmX5pR_Fdd-_FDeRhadR7olDuilUBB6uY/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdkpjkgKvBmKoNzC02Dho4Ysp866mAQyqm9l4CKviiaZRsY-52SlGyT8Qo7tdyScYmfJLpEvNeSyh5BE6GUtJ-pQMxIPwdbniaBJt5AhwDaIzmX5pR_Fdd-_FDeRhadR7olDuilUBB6uY/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide explained that former political prisoners created these <b>stones of remembrance</b> in 1995 to honor those prisoners who had died in the quarry and was also</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">an impromptu memorial to 18 years of hard labor on Robben Island</span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I subsequently learned that the heap of stones was known as an <b>Isivivane,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">an African traditional monument of remembrance. The monument on Robben Island also represented "the unity of purpose of different races, ethnicities and gender who opposed apartheid."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJYT-75y73K48mJvqPMDeWEyr2BfpiN0omUxIE6Gyfrxo2RZ2xeFnl9kCZA6678CCSY4Cvlp85J8QqOgmMj2whnsk5YDqFZYada1sbnqq12rtExfP59NzjmG5cv0NjCkFEqaKkFV4iunH/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJYT-75y73K48mJvqPMDeWEyr2BfpiN0omUxIE6Gyfrxo2RZ2xeFnl9kCZA6678CCSY4Cvlp85J8QqOgmMj2whnsk5YDqFZYada1sbnqq12rtExfP59NzjmG5cv0NjCkFEqaKkFV4iunH/s320/076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think Steven and I were both surprised when we saw the sports facilities until the guide explained that there were about 200 people who were currently living on Robben Island year round, including the tour guides and bus drivers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF26DDckJhGIBiLS3RabFeQX9YUCgaMwy5e1eK7kgEKtIVpRMk6UckJhbz6AFq2ubeNjI-Rhhj2uGQEYIKSf2rFygTXY-8KGVwj8-O9EftCi16OFt-5McUDBDQJL_9fb3ORmMHLN7FaUas/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF26DDckJhGIBiLS3RabFeQX9YUCgaMwy5e1eK7kgEKtIVpRMk6UckJhbz6AFq2ubeNjI-Rhhj2uGQEYIKSf2rFygTXY-8KGVwj8-O9EftCi16OFt-5McUDBDQJL_9fb3ORmMHLN7FaUas/s320/083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCiH-kknu7iANmw-n0H0051QdOId1KqXTj7hv4ICyfbSKjTow-IAPKf-03BZOqcwZ70OAoekR2L8uJ3J4B_g-ZpkS5UXMI0kFRT8rAca_X2sMuVcVIS9h0yPMj77cg9N7Xh93zU2IWkx/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCiH-kknu7iANmw-n0H0051QdOId1KqXTj7hv4ICyfbSKjTow-IAPKf-03BZOqcwZ70OAoekR2L8uJ3J4B_g-ZpkS5UXMI0kFRT8rAca_X2sMuVcVIS9h0yPMj77cg9N7Xh93zU2IWkx/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was unfortunately all I could view of the island's <b>Garrison Church</b> that was built in 1841 and later used for the warders and their families. When warders' wives gave birth to a son, a blue flag was raised at the church. No mention was made of what happened when girls were born though!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU1nTWcYKhEYFHEEQkztd2mlNkYliYFef1Ghy8EVS3nDCpqwz3ixQLymm80PZv_ropgjC3VDB7Opu9OUyFHKVBWMnqPt0F0zV1NSQjBdj1QgFmh-4s13Rav192K2aIjGNG5GIWJmybRAV/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU1nTWcYKhEYFHEEQkztd2mlNkYliYFef1Ghy8EVS3nDCpqwz3ixQLymm80PZv_ropgjC3VDB7Opu9OUyFHKVBWMnqPt0F0zV1NSQjBdj1QgFmh-4s13Rav192K2aIjGNG5GIWJmybRAV/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the island school for warders' children that was in use until 2011. Since then, children of residents take a boat daily to attend school on the mainland. But, since the weather is often bad, the ferry is canceled so the students have a lot of off days!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFg3a2M2oW0dPA623y75BMky7VGsZRJ5XH7zKz8si5Ee8aZhu7cEw397NlejdL3puCc_xfqwVuMvGaqLqbwEl3fv9B1Avx3lsTQyGOXr59VVa51WbvQBdzu7vfsUqT-qIpRSIYRAGc8JG/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFg3a2M2oW0dPA623y75BMky7VGsZRJ5XH7zKz8si5Ee8aZhu7cEw397NlejdL3puCc_xfqwVuMvGaqLqbwEl3fv9B1Avx3lsTQyGOXr59VVa51WbvQBdzu7vfsUqT-qIpRSIYRAGc8JG/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few minutes later, the driver told everyone on the bus that we had just 'ten minutes' to get out and wander around. One smart-aleck asked if he meant ten minutes in 'African time'! The driver laughingly responded, no, European time - i.e. really only ten minutes! They were some who mustn't have heard and came back about twenty minutes later, though - arggh.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkImNVaheVhqMgYHlBaCaApxOgWIL3b6HRQMESfQ0u06O_alsMLccILd7LZObxwOtLJXO8Kbo1wpSpDqN8vRBf6sTXGEykImTwWBuvGZrxrxFoRzQ3Ig4Nr3Ey6fHj6amEmJtqjt2yga4W/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkImNVaheVhqMgYHlBaCaApxOgWIL3b6HRQMESfQ0u06O_alsMLccILd7LZObxwOtLJXO8Kbo1wpSpDqN8vRBf6sTXGEykImTwWBuvGZrxrxFoRzQ3Ig4Nr3Ey6fHj6amEmJtqjt2yga4W/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From this spot to Cape Town was a distance of about 7.5 miles. In the 1660s, one prisoner manged to steal a boat and successfully escaped from Robben Island. He was the only man ever to do so.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5Wp3vyG5AEVi_86LJ0MVPyFMFUFEKAGC-z9bUg2EQ_dpjnloqTBNngr_OjOGYw6J6sWp-svXLDNs-lSiTlNBCmtKnI27BC5cIopCmbCjrfUMBb_fT9IenSwWmni-D0UdQskxsUtDE4_j/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5Wp3vyG5AEVi_86LJ0MVPyFMFUFEKAGC-z9bUg2EQ_dpjnloqTBNngr_OjOGYw6J6sWp-svXLDNs-lSiTlNBCmtKnI27BC5cIopCmbCjrfUMBb_fT9IenSwWmni-D0UdQskxsUtDE4_j/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Robben Island is also well known for its penguins and many varieties of birds. African penguins re-colonized Robben Island in 1983 after an absence of about 180 years. Penguin numbers have increased from nine breeding pairs in 1983 to 2,000 pairs in 1992 and more than 8,000 pairs in 2004. As a result of a decline in recent years, they now number about 1,600 pairs. I wasn't lucky enough to see any penguins but Steven was.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYLyCsnt_ZJwR6v26OpgzxmcUnDT7LwJWTooa0axBdQQPP2ZLChZKrvR8GSpqTHVzscjTJDu1HhicIMNXxqhXqJRrHkGTlaZs_AP-ly5WDLIXpb0ZLwF7-xeMU9KwEKClzyAgZNUpaqeh/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYLyCsnt_ZJwR6v26OpgzxmcUnDT7LwJWTooa0axBdQQPP2ZLChZKrvR8GSpqTHVzscjTJDu1HhicIMNXxqhXqJRrHkGTlaZs_AP-ly5WDLIXpb0ZLwF7-xeMU9KwEKClzyAgZNUpaqeh/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had to wait several minutes for my turn to have Steven take my picture in the 'picture frame.' I thought it was so neat as I hadn't seen one before.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTo42sluG8RXRlihortZ-sCcZeZa6-m_AZg5EiqvtLa-HkLEMybYbI1JcUJD4Esea83wlgstQvHjamQfqVxXdXeoozQBEUZXMEDbSO3JrJCPNZp_89GAjTks9lD0pfyXutBUzYQ5JCFRa/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTo42sluG8RXRlihortZ-sCcZeZa6-m_AZg5EiqvtLa-HkLEMybYbI1JcUJD4Esea83wlgstQvHjamQfqVxXdXeoozQBEUZXMEDbSO3JrJCPNZp_89GAjTks9lD0pfyXutBUzYQ5JCFRa/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAMv0i4l4wz7fqP7EzyVHhqsFT2et4xQGc4k8552_PxUqEWXwMppgO8S4clsBvC3MQcTA52ZHU-DX1w2IZMkCP-tmjX5ZRzFTY1mvL6xijeDCf6nM0sHWmSTyCvvxepZ7d8kfr1e2l25M/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAMv0i4l4wz7fqP7EzyVHhqsFT2et4xQGc4k8552_PxUqEWXwMppgO8S4clsBvC3MQcTA52ZHU-DX1w2IZMkCP-tmjX5ZRzFTY1mvL6xijeDCf6nM0sHWmSTyCvvxepZ7d8kfr1e2l25M/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEfe8lsbrJwfDeU4i9VU7LL1u2xzugDo6N1ezxsR_zPAz14LXQ5l-lzPMW-eu_0C_Kl7JU_iEolfI9Osh02kS-qu8EjZ7gasCiDeD8pt_0L7O4R0LnkPIMrcnC_yMnSKah2izEVLskTgH/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEfe8lsbrJwfDeU4i9VU7LL1u2xzugDo6N1ezxsR_zPAz14LXQ5l-lzPMW-eu_0C_Kl7JU_iEolfI9Osh02kS-qu8EjZ7gasCiDeD8pt_0L7O4R0LnkPIMrcnC_yMnSKah2izEVLskTgH/s320/096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Church of Good Shepherd</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was formerly a hospital before becoming an Anglican Church, the dominant religion in Britain.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ4O65v9U-Z8X71A8SvAFlhTyd5VCb5JTTUcDQtCtS8FwruWYpjbLsanFfbZVSG4Lb2gsqdE6AIuxG5bFMPd7RTSjDeoxk6ZyL8_Mk6rLOqcazESnLFBgNjYfLVdM72b0oRoXtrQzQCp_/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ4O65v9U-Z8X71A8SvAFlhTyd5VCb5JTTUcDQtCtS8FwruWYpjbLsanFfbZVSG4Lb2gsqdE6AIuxG5bFMPd7RTSjDeoxk6ZyL8_Mk6rLOqcazESnLFBgNjYfLVdM72b0oRoXtrQzQCp_/s320/097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The island's mosque was built in 1969.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDLVqNgs3loJkGMLbeWjt6F4JVkn1S6ifL0iqS28IbqXAmejWF8IMSsD7Lj6GJUNKVmssNOYgicMgi1uZNIV1niKBTf3SRta-vf2FnLmuTxJRQw3goRyriZ7uh81N-f8K8rEm-ksiVNZt/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDLVqNgs3loJkGMLbeWjt6F4JVkn1S6ifL0iqS28IbqXAmejWF8IMSsD7Lj6GJUNKVmssNOYgicMgi1uZNIV1niKBTf3SRta-vf2FnLmuTxJRQw3goRyriZ7uh81N-f8K8rEm-ksiVNZt/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After the hour plus tour of the island, it was a relief to finally pass through the Maximum Security Prison gates and find out where Mandela and so many other prisoners spent so many years of their lives.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScVSKzzbhWkvZN_BS5-FfhbDvAZPCl6fQ6nTjOo7z6me6Pak5zRZ5_s5RNrqFiK4ika-jQwD_63vGMV1gfdfb8PTTNcYGKE3_yaAkQ3JokD0wn8mChv_MRJEUHVjhyphenhyphenv3aGt5h88E5lO-v/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScVSKzzbhWkvZN_BS5-FfhbDvAZPCl6fQ6nTjOo7z6me6Pak5zRZ5_s5RNrqFiK4ika-jQwD_63vGMV1gfdfb8PTTNcYGKE3_yaAkQ3JokD0wn8mChv_MRJEUHVjhyphenhyphenv3aGt5h88E5lO-v/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The busloads of visitors were then divided into groups of about 45 people, each headed by a former political prisoner at Robben Island. As we walked to the prison's <b>F Section,</b> our guide explained he was one of 4,072 political prisoners at Robben Island and served his sentence from 1984-91. His 'crime' was to be a member of the PAC.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This part of the prison was built from 1962-69 out of blue slate stone mined on the island to hold a maximum of 2,150 prisoners.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEZ0Ka2wok7ct9-nO67kw7xdz45tuxcH8PnW21V_D62P6YopBTzT_hgc4zNlqK4eez2IhlmOdoQOiKvhXGnlJgFq4J2rfBR2vLbdBBALM9SfybGZnnaokCDJdYOoWNR4H3hgXeTXmvD2Q/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEZ0Ka2wok7ct9-nO67kw7xdz45tuxcH8PnW21V_D62P6YopBTzT_hgc4zNlqK4eez2IhlmOdoQOiKvhXGnlJgFq4J2rfBR2vLbdBBALM9SfybGZnnaokCDJdYOoWNR4H3hgXeTXmvD2Q/s320/106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everybody in F Section was charged with high treason, terrorism, aiding and abetting and other similar crimes, according to our guide. He mentioned that the minimum sentence was five years and the maximum was life imprisonment and that there was no possibility of either clemency or pardon. He added that all prisoners' hands and feet were shackled from the moment they arrived on Robben Island by ferry from the mainland.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfIKneWwN857T8KlBQ5YZXrrz-ViegMR5_Awda66lXRmN8w_647ZgbRclRXdJ4u9AtGCSkgKlWswElBl9JjWZbMpR_pBFJAyFGfBhltJt6_BuqmkQegIGLLwSSLUOPV7IwIYglYuBNnNa/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfIKneWwN857T8KlBQ5YZXrrz-ViegMR5_Awda66lXRmN8w_647ZgbRclRXdJ4u9AtGCSkgKlWswElBl9JjWZbMpR_pBFJAyFGfBhltJt6_BuqmkQegIGLLwSSLUOPV7IwIYglYuBNnNa/s320/107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Upon arrival, prisoners were sent to <b>Section A</b> to be assessed and profiled before the authorities decided where the prisoners would go next. Our guide stated the youngest prisoner was only 15 when he arrived at Robben Island and that he had been just 19. The oldest prisoner to be confined was 60 and wasn't released until he was 79. There were two men imprisoned for 26 years from 1963-89; they were the co-founders of the PAC. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4jG3dxSSeHdGW3T-Ylgjt6e_nWqCqumKVGvbZ1Jq_4cERl-nqykZRgMIOW7MrGzP6Hsru3yNaZrfXdxhQmPXaj-P9DfX9QjUw3dh32BjbD6R_r-NE0m_5Ui6YIzYih9KLDy0LvaoXCu4/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4jG3dxSSeHdGW3T-Ylgjt6e_nWqCqumKVGvbZ1Jq_4cERl-nqykZRgMIOW7MrGzP6Hsru3yNaZrfXdxhQmPXaj-P9DfX9QjUw3dh32BjbD6R_r-NE0m_5Ui6YIzYih9KLDy0LvaoXCu4/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There was no section for either juveniles or lifers - all were lumped together. <b>Block B</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">was set aside for leaders of political organizations but I was surprised to learn that not all inmates were from South Africa. There were 150 prisoners incarcerated from Namibia</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you weren't a leader or a foreigner, our guide stated you'd be kept anywhere in the prison.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1NXhm1R9eAbvLRNVYFBaIXihHrHIyNY6XCU5_SojC95u_mckdhQSyCo-Q_Oyp0B6s6TrFVgwzXLz0K9KDhglUJPQvkGDOT2-NcqplGbi1Zy0g3sSoa1JkMfT7VUpjKRKOShayoJqI4dA/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1NXhm1R9eAbvLRNVYFBaIXihHrHIyNY6XCU5_SojC95u_mckdhQSyCo-Q_Oyp0B6s6TrFVgwzXLz0K9KDhglUJPQvkGDOT2-NcqplGbi1Zy0g3sSoa1JkMfT7VUpjKRKOShayoJqI4dA/s320/109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This long, narrow room housed 60 men, each of who was given 2 blankets; one was used in the summertime as a pillow. The blankets, he revealed, had to be rolled up when not in use. In 1974, glass windows were introduced in the cells; </span><span style="font-size: large;">before that, there were only iron bars over the windows.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In 1978, double bunks were added. Music was played in the cells but reggae and Bob Marley were not among the musical offerings!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVQS5qmwzTJtN0ojEGYDI4X_Mwhm9aJ5PLXS5iX1C1htGEDgUHAr15Az1Sp7Yz4qlAIrbB-G0adYNFNOX62RT8EQYCmthj7Lu-BwUk3rY6wEsABEnIrcSdU7N9xkeZJquQMu3A0V7UvwO/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVQS5qmwzTJtN0ojEGYDI4X_Mwhm9aJ5PLXS5iX1C1htGEDgUHAr15Az1Sp7Yz4qlAIrbB-G0adYNFNOX62RT8EQYCmthj7Lu-BwUk3rY6wEsABEnIrcSdU7N9xkeZJquQMu3A0V7UvwO/s320/110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cell Life: </b>Between the cells being opened at 6 am and closing at 4 pm, the prisoners worked from 7-3 Monday through Friday on various parts of the island. The guide told everyone in the group that he was assigned to work in the stone quarry that built the prison and also collecting kelp. On Saturdays, the inmates were able to play soccer and rugby; on Sundays, though, none were allowed to leave their cells because the warders said they went to church and then it was 'too late' to open the cells!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> As there was no dining hall, the men ate outside before being locked in for the night. All conversations were constantly monitored. Every prisoner was given a Bible even if they weren't Christian. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Rain water was used for laundry and gardening but fresh water had to be ferried over from the mainland. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UwNDGhm5-YxXOfeMImT9BAJ_mtTlwe7e52rwalzxYxluc6OCqfdf2PrZaYV5Swhyphenhyphen77MF7uawjLsew6sO5G0Cz9G1mZQbLePB-TIGT-M-iXBG_7qP7Nhn8XddBgFT8lFYuoRabcoKUIOM/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UwNDGhm5-YxXOfeMImT9BAJ_mtTlwe7e52rwalzxYxluc6OCqfdf2PrZaYV5Swhyphenhyphen77MF7uawjLsew6sO5G0Cz9G1mZQbLePB-TIGT-M-iXBG_7qP7Nhn8XddBgFT8lFYuoRabcoKUIOM/s320/112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b>International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),</b> based in Geneva, was the only outside organization that was finally able to come in and help the prisoners, according to our guide. He commented that <b>Helen Suzman,</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">one of South Africa's most famous white parliamentarians and human rights activists, was the only woman to ever visit the island. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In a parliament dominated by male Afrikaners, Suzman was</span><span style="font-size: large;"> even more of an outsider, as she was an English-speaking Jewish woman. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Her struggle against apartheid won her the United Nations Human Rights Award in 1978 and the Medallion of Heroism in 1980. She was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The prisoners were also occasionally visited by judges who inspected their living conditions and asked if they were OK and being treated well. In a strange twist of fate, though, these were the same judges who had just sentenced many of them to serve their sentences at Robben Island!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKL6z-_EUwE5MoqYRBapl82PgkBFXp6xcIIO8oJmIySR869rL-hByG_Zfxx9L2Wkc-rBsS5JW8-qSHIgsmJLHrRCY0V5FOcTYf9IV-3k6Sig-lLq3eLjTupy7ByyhFEKQc_2E7c0kbJML/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKL6z-_EUwE5MoqYRBapl82PgkBFXp6xcIIO8oJmIySR869rL-hByG_Zfxx9L2Wkc-rBsS5JW8-qSHIgsmJLHrRCY0V5FOcTYf9IV-3k6Sig-lLq3eLjTupy7ByyhFEKQc_2E7c0kbJML/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were 17 hunger strikes - the longest one lasted 21 days in 1967 and the shortest one was 4.5 days. The dispute was over the prisoners wanting white sugar instead of brown sugar. The guide revealed that he had grown up eating brown sugar, but since brotherhood and unity was key to realizing their objectives, he joined the hunger strike so that white sugar would be served. He joked that he was now back to eating brown sugar!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBSEaFAjdQrAqOpwv-MDy6jy3nlDZCd2yumFh0Q_i78bpDw3gNzCzzfDQ4aRpAx6SgN64HyFAhFFObz4pbo3JiSddaP0lo4n7bD9aV-PkXydaa8TSLr1TedW5hBcEfP-sOwxsVcoTZytV/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBSEaFAjdQrAqOpwv-MDy6jy3nlDZCd2yumFh0Q_i78bpDw3gNzCzzfDQ4aRpAx6SgN64HyFAhFFObz4pbo3JiSddaP0lo4n7bD9aV-PkXydaa8TSLr1TedW5hBcEfP-sOwxsVcoTZytV/s320/111.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The guide reported that the quantity and quality of their food depended on the prisoners' race, just as it had at the Number Four prison we had toured in Johannesburg. The Indians and 'colored' prisoners comprised less than ten per cent of the prison population. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It was shocking to hear that fruits and vegetables weren't introduced into the prisoners' diets until 1982.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The term <b>Bantu</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> in the photo below refers to </span><span style="font-size: large;">black South Africans as described by the apartheid regime. When used in in a racial context, Bantu was "obsolescent and offensive because of its strong association with white minority rule and the apartheid system."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiVhp3-20P7frUlxbZrDy83NX8yCjerJYkLayyY9xmYDyXjx1BtrVQ9GLGI1RbTZQ1qvb7z7tOiBLTR1_PjmLUObQ1gATeDbg1eZ9yeq-Xy2fczTD3FxHBsY73Zi6EVN607PUT_EFmzjw/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiVhp3-20P7frUlxbZrDy83NX8yCjerJYkLayyY9xmYDyXjx1BtrVQ9GLGI1RbTZQ1qvb7z7tOiBLTR1_PjmLUObQ1gATeDbg1eZ9yeq-Xy2fczTD3FxHBsY73Zi6EVN607PUT_EFmzjw/s320/118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most prisoners, he declared, were allowed just 12 letters per year - 12 sent and 12 received - and all were heavily censored. One two page letter had only the recipient's address and salutation as the rest had been censored. Letters were never destroyed by the authorities but were given to the prisoners when they were released.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKwdOk5GcZZrxxfyxn5YgAfXfcluK4IGQzvZdTjXiYPN9-W4ls2S2KD-JGbktrDrvm_bqC8KndRSoDvg2XN4IReCovU3b6I_miowt-9i0-U2bOeYS4313JfxYvrHZ81a2w8N8SPtcSYtP/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKwdOk5GcZZrxxfyxn5YgAfXfcluK4IGQzvZdTjXiYPN9-W4ls2S2KD-JGbktrDrvm_bqC8KndRSoDvg2XN4IReCovU3b6I_miowt-9i0-U2bOeYS4313JfxYvrHZ81a2w8N8SPtcSYtP/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When the guide was asked about the warders, he stated that there were naturally different types; some provided information on life outside the jail and others were extremely cruel to the prisoners. A new prisoner was like a gift as it meant he'd be able to provide new information about current life on the 'outside' because the prisoners were totally cut off from the outside world. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the old jailers still live on the island and in their old homes. When our guide revealed that there were 13 former political </span><span style="font-size: large;">prisoners like himself who live on the island as guides, I marveled at how courageous and resilient they were returning to live and work at the same place where they had been imprisoned for so long.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42yiXa4IAxYKYEFfUtM4O2Pc5OCpKTr1KxC_n1Nge_hB3QiQ8cwZhY3rpeXdkLAJy5Qoivmi4F0MFb9dWACHRkN94jHeOXYLmIuGSRfA3eK1bOl2IArmP9ShrKVu03s4LFb08ZAL54PLi/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42yiXa4IAxYKYEFfUtM4O2Pc5OCpKTr1KxC_n1Nge_hB3QiQ8cwZhY3rpeXdkLAJy5Qoivmi4F0MFb9dWACHRkN94jHeOXYLmIuGSRfA3eK1bOl2IArmP9ShrKVu03s4LFb08ZAL54PLi/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBGXa6oxnAv0njUQJLwjbLidu-DxwCRo79s9rdz0OaqSfrjPhivG4dK2F9UpGpwhi4RkG-rhRQ1idf06-Io4t8DQdJDBcfoZ71yKIInY8MAz-H8JahBbOma3xKFce5y038Yqwp829amSd/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBGXa6oxnAv0njUQJLwjbLidu-DxwCRo79s9rdz0OaqSfrjPhivG4dK2F9UpGpwhi4RkG-rhRQ1idf06-Io4t8DQdJDBcfoZ71yKIInY8MAz-H8JahBbOma3xKFce5y038Yqwp829amSd/s320/120.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As 60 men were confined to this cell, it wasn't surprising to hear from the guide that the high stress of living under such conditions led to arguments and fights. He commented that 589 men lost their lives while incarcerated at Robben Island because of physical ailments and being tortured. Their bodies were never turned over to the families as they were considered state property and families weren't even notified of loved ones' passing. Instead, up to three bodies were placed in one grave at the paupers' grave site on the island. None of the graves have ever been exhumed, he added.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r4glti9uTaggHNR2xWcGnKI0fHmF_WFm-wGL9NXwS0NINc__WtTtwaOrD6kReAfZZSiWFR9aln8O5oSAYiUw2mYNTLGIgmRnye5SjKnm4TBBL_JEv3m-YH00PTKMQIIJ-IA3rqXH3SEh/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r4glti9uTaggHNR2xWcGnKI0fHmF_WFm-wGL9NXwS0NINc__WtTtwaOrD6kReAfZZSiWFR9aln8O5oSAYiUw2mYNTLGIgmRnye5SjKnm4TBBL_JEv3m-YH00PTKMQIIJ-IA3rqXH3SEh/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Psychological Torture: </b>Our guide reported that the prisoners were subject to both psychological and physical torture at Robben Island. Examples of the former included inmates being denied letters or visits cancelled. Often, prisoners' wives would receive a forged </span><span style="font-size: large;">letter telling her to move on and get a new life. Similarly, prisoners received forged letters saying their wives wanted a divorce as they'd found someone else to love. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Man and his Tree: </b>When old prisoners congregated under this tree, their favorite topic of discussion was possible paroles. They were always on the lookout for any news of their fellow prisoners being released on medical grounds or transferred to another jail. Prison authorities also saw an opportunity to extend their abuse of these old men by giving them false news and hope about their release saying they would be given their freedom in two to three months. The men would wait in anticipation for the time of their release and excitedly share that news with their cell mates. They later learned the truth that they had been deceived.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOMRweM1WbLUznnpz9wWOXw9XQ1fhsb4tem_8qgQCkBOFrjYNny5MvqUnx3Sywn-8PAclwbHT_3YGHegqISBs336j98GhbIc6x2YHjv_zDuv1ViMu1QgINSK3fWm4p7eV8NK4aasj9HFj/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOMRweM1WbLUznnpz9wWOXw9XQ1fhsb4tem_8qgQCkBOFrjYNny5MvqUnx3Sywn-8PAclwbHT_3YGHegqISBs336j98GhbIc6x2YHjv_zDuv1ViMu1QgINSK3fWm4p7eV8NK4aasj9HFj/s320/123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Velelen Dayeni, </b>serving 25 years, was one of the longest serving prisoners at Robben Island. He died seated under this tree during the lunch hour, without complaining of any ailment. Dayeni's death led to a psychological change of the meaning of this tree: it was no longer known as the tree of parole discussions but as the place of his death. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb8wKqTEJecuFJR8djyZq1xv2F9jR0YwRvzoQ1QChQJ1CwrqIgd-VvI1bg_jOOeQDnj9araah_lOqDphiSTfi5bB5D6TOHXwOmGnjw-Czn3mS1s7Y_Ql9ydF_02-gLKZgfFo13rRwm1a2/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb8wKqTEJecuFJR8djyZq1xv2F9jR0YwRvzoQ1QChQJ1CwrqIgd-VvI1bg_jOOeQDnj9araah_lOqDphiSTfi5bB5D6TOHXwOmGnjw-Czn3mS1s7Y_Ql9ydF_02-gLKZgfFo13rRwm1a2/s320/125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending a riveting hour inside one of the cells hearing first-hand about life as a prisoner on Robben Island, the guide led us outside to see some of the other facilities.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qZOfCTtcP1Jn_11GFJziQeS7SpsSMJW443rnG-qLrCEBmXBi-PPTGedcVHDL4DO9MB4nLGrKLQhlUb2PPsXuMax4l7gK5Fh1i2iJzipSvlJPlPMWQo2KQe5j57xz6gARm6Apmljqkdbu/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qZOfCTtcP1Jn_11GFJziQeS7SpsSMJW443rnG-qLrCEBmXBi-PPTGedcVHDL4DO9MB4nLGrKLQhlUb2PPsXuMax4l7gK5Fh1i2iJzipSvlJPlPMWQo2KQe5j57xz6gARm6Apmljqkdbu/s320/126.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjpKtNTiS5swoBUchdQB9u5VcfU_mhrftgbsg3sg2ad3fJjoqwClBHpr1DY80264Re93EqnsuwRCX0-J1JI7vBtrhZJAQhNdc-J3fQjoSZPGoR-CjOdX-5DjIIZjRePEhXGhY7PpfmYkqxp/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKtNTiS5swoBUchdQB9u5VcfU_mhrftgbsg3sg2ad3fJjoqwClBHpr1DY80264Re93EqnsuwRCX0-J1JI7vBtrhZJAQhNdc-J3fQjoSZPGoR-CjOdX-5DjIIZjRePEhXGhY7PpfmYkqxp/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></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/AVvXsEjjZ5c0Pgn0t46PPZPBlTPysEGTz8w6cXVZ6G3ovY4g_-Q5Pn00F2rhUoirjHgRf2VZUavzdgY85HZDJzpSf_x2Vf0gUV26qwGfHaNDuWxbr1W4OOAQ9X54VZLY4Qg1MbVwmGiG1N2HSTru/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZ5c0Pgn0t46PPZPBlTPysEGTz8w6cXVZ6G3ovY4g_-Q5Pn00F2rhUoirjHgRf2VZUavzdgY85HZDJzpSf_x2Vf0gUV26qwGfHaNDuWxbr1W4OOAQ9X54VZLY4Qg1MbVwmGiG1N2HSTru/s320/132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Prisoners were divided into </span><span style="font-size: large;">work details known as</span><span style="font-size: large;"> reference groups. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Members of the <b>Bamboespan Reference Group</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">were forced to collect seaweed in the icy Atlantic Ocean regardless of the weather. They suffered terribly in the winter months.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx410O_EwIpg8zauxyrDGxoDNjB11d7W-BXreb5l_4gBKmLtRhJUsr8uSb1Hbk1i8Y3th8Hc5fakF1g64Hi1NSaxefsNk3e6dreefbO3F33N8xnS-RhBaksMFn88RLp4BzSUyqvz1gKlq/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx410O_EwIpg8zauxyrDGxoDNjB11d7W-BXreb5l_4gBKmLtRhJUsr8uSb1Hbk1i8Y3th8Hc5fakF1g64Hi1NSaxefsNk3e6dreefbO3F33N8xnS-RhBaksMFn88RLp4BzSUyqvz1gKlq/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Members of the <b>Bouspan Reference Group</b> were singled out to to learn building and 'stone dressing' skills. They were responsible for building the harbor wall among other construction projects.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matspan Reference Group</b> members were required to make mats from sisal and other materials for prison use on Robben Island as well as in other prisons.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0LNw5a_f4EJFyAj095uibZoTqV34O9S7tgisZj7-khNNsRmOprPVRr92EjUfOJFczKtZESLBy9fk_73QkXrlQF1_Ny1nQAHHJeR9U6Sn8sYF9jT91vHJE32MpzxV96oF03kTa0Y2vqyT/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0LNw5a_f4EJFyAj095uibZoTqV34O9S7tgisZj7-khNNsRmOprPVRr92EjUfOJFczKtZESLBy9fk_73QkXrlQF1_Ny1nQAHHJeR9U6Sn8sYF9jT91vHJE32MpzxV96oF03kTa0Y2vqyT/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This photo, taken by a British journalist of Mandela talking </span><span style="font-size: large;">in one of the courtyards </span><span style="font-size: large;">with <b>Walter Sisulu, </b></span><span style="font-size: large;">one of the most famous anti-apartheid activists, was used by the prison authorities as a piece of propaganda to demonstrate the 'dignified life' the prisoners led on Robben Island and how well Mandela and others were being treated.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFdNgO8qRTcLRVvK4TolVRUvh91WCkG38gru-5ryMWAuPgMXF2eNzWa9bm0L2syOpCFXTieLn3NW4vdVYFYbNLONjFbGTwGlfgR6yX65E23qbaWVHjLjQ_XQPrAPBxkkK81q1QtJ_biB4/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFdNgO8qRTcLRVvK4TolVRUvh91WCkG38gru-5ryMWAuPgMXF2eNzWa9bm0L2syOpCFXTieLn3NW4vdVYFYbNLONjFbGTwGlfgR6yX65E23qbaWVHjLjQ_XQPrAPBxkkK81q1QtJ_biB4/s320/134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We then entered <b>Block B</b> where the political leaders were imprisoned so that they would be separated from the other inmates.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrFHUM3CaK3TeqkJ4gRz1ZGI9C1Q2IRy9lNqGsYtuTwYzuQ2k6fGgO5UZyhlxYBzMvGvud_CaUCnwZiwSRqGl7W1D-Az5MedsbRu7MQ2a8qAyxwp_rg-ebLq0O63tF0V3wc7zhO4HiZiu/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrFHUM3CaK3TeqkJ4gRz1ZGI9C1Q2IRy9lNqGsYtuTwYzuQ2k6fGgO5UZyhlxYBzMvGvud_CaUCnwZiwSRqGl7W1D-Az5MedsbRu7MQ2a8qAyxwp_rg-ebLq0O63tF0V3wc7zhO4HiZiu/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPMS9LBtt8PaiWi3pPVc3FfK1o4QmVcn-dJ5iDPFFUlFWiPyDzb8ierRibEK-Mot8iF7mmLryCEI8P92gZHbqqU1xlnWMKcc3s93dP76t8RoWQEsKZ5BoeZnqWIcvnAtmF0vpZ60WHWHn/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPMS9LBtt8PaiWi3pPVc3FfK1o4QmVcn-dJ5iDPFFUlFWiPyDzb8ierRibEK-Mot8iF7mmLryCEI8P92gZHbqqU1xlnWMKcc3s93dP76t8RoWQEsKZ5BoeZnqWIcvnAtmF0vpZ60WHWHn/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn7_FD7yD149H0bLptOVL1TuXIuU_WFqCmnAzJny8vgCxoxpu06s1900vKyZaT7dawLqkt6gLoiSff92i6t-4NQszk2GNSNgoQaVDfTZl5vS7MIuZoYBck09UcW-Hf8Z0Nsq8_GcN6fMi/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUn7_FD7yD149H0bLptOVL1TuXIuU_WFqCmnAzJny8vgCxoxpu06s1900vKyZaT7dawLqkt6gLoiSff92i6t-4NQszk2GNSNgoQaVDfTZl5vS7MIuZoYBck09UcW-Hf8Z0Nsq8_GcN6fMi/s320/135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm8NHSfCPWBAF_nF76bd9udX53ZveREHCdu2oFnggx6f3moJAUafVj9E7C1l386ErbGwEbBMXKsn-jWA2cdZyUJ_ahpUw1DlfEbrc242ZfcRJ68b38t6PyjKgSRaPHNLNF2Dsp43EkjnW/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm8NHSfCPWBAF_nF76bd9udX53ZveREHCdu2oFnggx6f3moJAUafVj9E7C1l386ErbGwEbBMXKsn-jWA2cdZyUJ_ahpUw1DlfEbrc242ZfcRJ68b38t6PyjKgSRaPHNLNF2Dsp43EkjnW/s320/136.JPG" width="240" /></a></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/AVvXsEh_fN6li6LcQrykjot1V-gKNH4AxlhBa6aY1Irqh02_5FSZ6lF0YLIaKlM-EARdWB9AJauSHXG65nlB6TbkP0O2BWwG16NU68TW5C872cwSvnvBt8miZVLJzay1dckJo5n0_uQYJl8TXfZ_/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fN6li6LcQrykjot1V-gKNH4AxlhBa6aY1Irqh02_5FSZ6lF0YLIaKlM-EARdWB9AJauSHXG65nlB6TbkP0O2BWwG16NU68TW5C872cwSvnvBt8miZVLJzay1dckJo5n0_uQYJl8TXfZ_/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was Nelson Mandela's cell where he spent 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned at Robben Island. Unlike other prisoners, Mandela was only allowed one 30 minute long visit a year and he could only write and receive one letter every six months. Until toilets were installed in 1973, prisoners had to use buckets. After Mandela was released in 1982 because of health concerns, he was </span><span style="font-size: large;">transferred from The Island, as the prison was known, to Pollsmoor and then Victor Verster prisons in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, respectively for a total of</span><span style="font-size: large;"> seven more years.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKcy_mrRT5RhyFNmyv5llSX9zioz50ieaYb_fUiFx9RdF-p_rQfCiqWoBUZFw5kujytayKRZKUtDtLSVXtX8zCT-SBnvzLyxYaicJaH-VsWte6j2MNBTxAfNHV40d-nyqA8ib9jHVJdTp/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKcy_mrRT5RhyFNmyv5llSX9zioz50ieaYb_fUiFx9RdF-p_rQfCiqWoBUZFw5kujytayKRZKUtDtLSVXtX8zCT-SBnvzLyxYaicJaH-VsWte6j2MNBTxAfNHV40d-nyqA8ib9jHVJdTp/s320/142.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Certainly a highlight of our long tour was visiting his cell with its simple stark reality. It is hard to comprehend how a man could endure so much solitude and confinement and yet still emerge as an advocate of peace, reconciliation and, most of all, forgiveness to his captors. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8C3UCZrK6h9ftDas0TZT2HZAZZiNimGeqdY_6dqTqJLuiKDhU7bTkYZWfcf595kwKHgiNo3r7QJpH77xJYe9a0lk3TRjx4_ZntKu2GZBFvoj1NDvb3VpGyQSUKCIHvqIL-QuDmOXuu7/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8C3UCZrK6h9ftDas0TZT2HZAZZiNimGeqdY_6dqTqJLuiKDhU7bTkYZWfcf595kwKHgiNo3r7QJpH77xJYe9a0lk3TRjx4_ZntKu2GZBFvoj1NDvb3VpGyQSUKCIHvqIL-QuDmOXuu7/s320/145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide mentioned that when all the prisoners were released between June 10th, 1990 and May 9th, 1991, the first thing they wanted to do was to visit Table Mountain right away as they'd seen it from their island daily. One hour later, they were there, our guide told us! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsy-iATxlX4NDWCwPqo0E5mjy5tx5EU0IkOqle3MW1wnV6dVm3wVZMILLfIr7aZQmRLlLNFrBaTke-G-GZlH6QNcg7sXxq3KlGhe6jACcD7Tukb5xqyf88QNPG2hM6hK6ZzzmbMlbjDggi/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsy-iATxlX4NDWCwPqo0E5mjy5tx5EU0IkOqle3MW1wnV6dVm3wVZMILLfIr7aZQmRLlLNFrBaTke-G-GZlH6QNcg7sXxq3KlGhe6jACcD7Tukb5xqyf88QNPG2hM6hK6ZzzmbMlbjDggi/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the last things our guide told us was that, when he was released, he vowed to himself he'd never set foot on the island again. Yet there he was, back on the island sharing his experiences and answering visitors' questions and showing people around his former prison. He discussed how terribly hard it had been coming back as a guide after being imprisoned there. The stress was appalling but that was outweighed by his desire to share his story of what occurred on the island.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHyXa3a2h28JyH9Msajt5bC052wYfVD9oJBJqlU7qRWaopkp6Mcz-1hrvae89a0AkhwDa0KFPhYAiMPNlL18xZNTHMAqcNim0czkYrg3Tfj1veAqqM7E5NdO-w8aAy_EoEe4HMc_PQUPF/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHyXa3a2h28JyH9Msajt5bC052wYfVD9oJBJqlU7qRWaopkp6Mcz-1hrvae89a0AkhwDa0KFPhYAiMPNlL18xZNTHMAqcNim0czkYrg3Tfj1veAqqM7E5NdO-w8aAy_EoEe4HMc_PQUPF/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Steven and I have toured other equally horrific political prisons during our travels around the world these last few years, but still our experience visiting Robben Island and getting a sense of how political prisoners were treated during the brutal apartheid regime </span><span style="font-size: large;">impacted us greatly</span><span style="font-size: large;">. The guides, especially the former prisoner, provided so much historical information and context. That combined with seeing some of the iconic places from the life of Nelson Mandela was incredible. I left in awe of the prisoners' strength, will and humanity when faced with desperate times.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Posted on February 2nd, 2017 from Littleton, Colorado.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
Annie Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00244611304221436765noreply@blogger.com0