PHONE SAGA

I have needed a new phone for about 9 months.  I have watched my phone die a little bit each day.  The battery now only lasts until 3:30pm and that is only getting emails, texts and an occasional phone call. 

Nine days ago I decided to buy a new phone a Droid Turbo.  I called up my cellphone carrier and purchased one over the phone.  Since it was Friday it was to be delivered on Monday.  I have a PO Box so I had it sent to the box.  Fed Ex delivers to PO Boxes.  I thought it was weird that I didn't get a message saying that I got a package on Monday.  Tuesday I went to the Post Office to pick up my package because Fed Ex said it was delivered and Howard signed for it.  The PO said there was no Howard that worked there.  There was also no package.

I went home and called Fed Ex.  They said they would track down the driver and ask who he delivered it to.  I waited another day to hear back.  Wednesday Fed Ex said they couldn't track down the driver so I needed to call my cellphone company and report it missing.  I called and gave a long report.  They said it would take 48 hours for the report to go through before I could order a new cellphone.  WHAT?!  Ugh. 

Thursday I got home late from work and there was a message from the PO saying they found the package.  Howard was a temporary employee's last name.  She worked there on Monday and took the package and put it somewhere no one could find it.  She worked on Thursday and she gave it to her supervisor.  They called me.

Friday I went down to the PO and picked up the package.  I came home and called my cellphone company.  They said they had already contacted Fed Ex and I have already received the refund to my account.  He said I may not have to pay for the cellphone.  I am sure this is not true but it was fun to think about for a few minutes. 

Saturday I called to activate my new fancy cellphone and after being on the phone for one hour, it was a bust.  The back up took forever and I am not sure everything backed up. Then the activation failed.  What?  Ugh.  I have to call back in 24 hours.

Sunday.  I called exactly 24 hours from the last phone call.  The guy seemed not to sure of himself and made me nervous.  But after one hour of various "Can you hold please?" and "I have to consult with someone."  He finally got it to work.  Part of the backup was a fail.  But I am trying it again. 

I am 75% happy with the transfer, which for me is pretty good.  Last time I switched phones it was miserable and I was probably 20% happy.  So we are moving in the right direction. 

I want to buy a shield protector and case so I will protect it.  I seem to have good experiences with them.  Also a car charger.  Good thing to have in a earthquake!  As long as you have gasoline you can charge your phone.

Until tomorrow...

YOU CAN'T CUT MY TREE

Today I was out back with Happi and I looked at my white birch tree.  It looked different.  What was different?  I couldn't tell at first but then I noticed a little round of birch tree on the ground.  I went down and looked around the tree.  There was a fresh cut where a branch had been.  Someone cut a branch off!  It was a big branch too.  (Birch trees do not have thick branches)  It was about 3" in diameter.  It was cut off right at the trunk of the tree. 

I was really mad.  It is fine to cut the branch where it is going over into your yard but you can't cut the branch all the way into my yard.  I marched over to the neighbor's house.  They are renters and rang their door bell.  They explained it was the owner who hired the landscaper and I needed to contact him. 

I sent the owner an email.  He has been my neighbor for 10 years until he moved away and rented his place. 

I am still pretty mad.  I will look tomorrow and see if any more damage was done. 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - Z

Today is the letter Z for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Today is the last day of the Travel Blogging Challenge.  I have reached the letter Z.  The countries that begin with the letter Z are:

Zimbabwe
Zambia

Both counties have wonderful things to see.  

Zimbabwe has Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world and Zambezi National Park.  Zimbabwe is also where Cecil the Lion was shot and killed.

Zambia also has Victoria Falls, since it is on the boarder of the two countries and South Luangwa National Park.

I would love to visit either of these countries.  Seeing animals in the wilderness.

Well, back to writing about other things!  

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - Y

Today is the letter Y for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Well, the only country with the letter Y is Yemen.  Yemen.  What do I know about Yemen?  Not much.  I think it is in the Middle East.  It is a desert country.  It has oil.  It is democratic.  It is small.  It is on the water.  That is it.

Here are the actual facts: Yemen is an Arab country in Southwest Asia.  It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea to the south, and Oman to the east.  Sorghum is the most common crop.  They have large oil production.

So I know very little about Yemen.  I am not anxious to visit there any time soon. 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - X

Today is the letter X for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Okay, I give.  There is no country with the letter X.  

Since there is no country with the letter X, I will write about a place I want to visit that I have not already.

Germany.  

I want to visit Germany.  My family background is German and I would like to visit Germany to see it.  I remember when the wall came down between East and West.  There are many places to see like the Rhine, Cologne, Dresden, Neuschwanstein Castle, Munich, and Berlin.  

Okay, Germany goes on the places to visit list.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - W

Today is the letter W for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  It is very interesting.  There are differing lists for Countries starting with the letter W.  

Wales
West Bank
Western Sahara
Wallis and Futuna
Western Samoa
Wake Island
White Russia (Belarus)
West Papua
Wa


Some of these are not even countries!  The rest I don't want to visit.  Western Sahara?  It is a in a war.  Not interested.  Wallis and Futuna?  Not even sure there is a hotel on the island.  Wa?  Isn't even a country.  Wales?  Isn't a country in its own right, it is part of the UK.  

So I give.  On some sites, there are no countries starting with the letter W.  I give.  I will not be visiting a country with the letter W.  I just can't do it.  

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - V

Today is the letter V for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I would like to visit Vietnam.  I have always had a fascination with Vietnam since I was a child.  I grew up during the Vietnam war.  Like many of you my family would watch the evening news with Walter Cronkite and see the stories about the Vietnam War and the protests.  That is how I grew up.  Yes, with my TV Dinners! 

Then my community sponsored Vietnamese refugees.  My family became very close with many of the refugees.  I was a pre-teen so I spent a lot of time with them teaching them English, culture, and finding out about Vietnam.  I was enthralled with their stories.  How they escaped.  That they were in the military.  Where they lived.  It was all so interesting.  People who were different from me and lived in a far away country.  I lived in a community where we had a family from India next door, a family who escaped the Shah in Iran, a family who escaped Czechoslovakia.  It was a multi-ethnic community. I loved it.  I was such a curious kid.

I still have the Vietnamese currency given to me by the Vietnamese refugees.  It is worthless but a great keepsake.  Their money is so pretty.  Colorful with great designs.  Not boring green and with President heads like ours.

I also love Vietnamese food.  I hear the country is beautiful.  I want to see the War Remnants Museum, Paradise Cave, Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi tunnels, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.  So much to see in Vietnam. 

I think this country should go on my list of countries to visit.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - U

Today is the letter U for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I have been to the United Kingdom.  I lived in the UK for 6 months in college, I went to the UK when I was 16, and I went to the UK when my mother got married.  

The first time I went to the UK I was 16 and I went with my Dad and his wife.  It was a fun trip.  I went to fancy dinners, plays, and stayed at a fancy apartment in a hotel.  It was all so glamorous.  

The second time was when my mother got married while I was in college.  She wanted my father to take the kids away for her honeymoon.  So my dad and his wife took us to England for two weeks.  We were on a houseboat on the River Thames for a week.  It was great fun.  I was in a bikini on the roof with a book the whole time.  My brother and I colored our hair purple for our trip home.

The third time was when I went to college for a semester in London.  Living there was such fun.  I originally lived with a family. It was supposed to be the "British experience" but it was not for me.  The couple was American and Sri Lankin.  It was not a British experience.  It was a weird experience.  I moved in with a business associate of my father's who owned a townhouse she rarely used.  I basically had a whole townhouse to myself.  The floor I had was not completely finished but what did I care?  I was living in Sloane Square in London.  I was living large on my student stipend.  

I got to travel many places: Belgium, Italy, France, Netherlands, Wales, and Scotland.  I was very lucky.  

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - T

Today is the letter T for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I would like to visit Turks and Caicos Islands.  I saw a program once and the people went to Turks and Caicos and it looked like a tropical paradise.  It is about 600 miles east-southeast of Miami. 

Sitting on a beach, hearing the waves come in, with the soft breeze blowing.  Sand between my toes, a book in my hands and an umbrella drink sitting on the table.  That is my idea of a vacation.  This is how I think Turks and Caicos will be.  

This is what I need.  Maybe I will go visit Turks and Caicos.  It sounds wonderful.

Until tomorrow...

 

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - S

Today is the letter S for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I want to visit Sweden. Why Sweden? For a few reasons. 

1. I am 1/4 Swedish. My grandfather's family on my mothers side is from Sweden. That makes me want to visit and see Sweden. My mother has been there a few times and done some family tree research. 

2. When I went to school in London, the home stay family I lived with had a Swedish au pair. The au pair and I have kept in touch for 30 years.  Wow has it been 30 years!!  I would love to see her again. I would like to meet her family too. 

3. Sweden is supposed to be a lovely country.  The Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Gothenburg, the ABBA museum, castles, bridges, canals.  So much to see. 

Maybe some day I will get to see Sweden. 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - R

Today is the letter R for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Here are the R choices: Rwanda, Russia and Romania.  Wow!  Interesting choices.  I think I would want to see Romania or Russia.  I used to work at a nonprofit that worked with Russia.  I know more about Russia and the Russian people than most Americans.  I guess I would travel to Russia.

There are such beautiful buildings to see in Russia.  The people are so very welcoming.  In the south there are beautiful vacation spots at the Black Sea.  I also want to take a ride on the Trans-siberian Railway.  I want to see Lake Baikal, the Hermitage Museum, Moscow Kremlin, and Saint Basil's Cathedral.  

Do you want to see Russian??

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - Q

Today is the letter Q for my Travel Blogging Challenge. There is only one country that starts with the letter Q - Qatar.

To be honest, I don't even know where Qatar is.  If I had to guess I would say the Middle East.  I would say a small country with one ruler and with lots of oil.  Okay, now I am going to Google it.

Sure enough, Qatar is a high income economy backed by the world's third largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves.  It also has the highest per capita income in the world.  Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf.  Qatar is an absolute monarchy and its head of state is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Bingo!  I got it right.

This was an interesting fact: In 2013, Qatar's total population was 1.8 million: 278,000 Qatari citizens and 1.5 million expatriates. 

Until I read this: According to the US State Department, expatriate workers from nations throughout Asia and parts of Africa are routinely subjected to forced labor and, in some instances, prostitution.  Some of the more common labor rights violations include beatings, withholding of payment, charging workers for benefits which are nominally the responsibility of the amir, severe restrictions on freedom of movement (such as the confiscation of passports, travel documents, or exit permits), arbitrary detention, threats of legal action, and sexual assault.  Lovely!  What a place to visit.

The country has among the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and genetic disorders in the world.  All that money and good living.

I know I have said this before but not a country high on my list of countries I wish to visit.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - P

Today is the letter P for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I have already visited one country with the letter P, Panama.  Back in 1987 I traveled to Panama to visit a boyfriend.  It was right before the coup of the government of General Manuel Antonio Noriega.  It was very interesting to visit a country that was on the cusp of  a military coup.  My family didn't want me to visit Panama but I was a headstrong 20 something and I was going no matter what they said. 

I remember there were military police with sub machine guns everywhere.  I tried to take a photo of a bridge and almost got shot.  After I left the country my boyfriend's car got run off the road (he worked for the State Department.)  It made the visit more exciting to go at that time.

While I was there I had a great time.  I visited the Panama Canal.  Since my boyfriend worked during the day, I would go and sit at the canal and watch the boats go through the canal and read a book.  We went to a night club.  We drove through the rural areas from Panama to Colon.  It was very interesting to drive outside the city through forests and on such small roads.  Seeing people in their homes and in their yards.  It was good to get out of the city.  I bought a piece of jewelry at a market that I still have.

I thought it was a wonderful place to visit.  Not sure I would go back but it was an interesting place to visit once especially during the chaotic time I went.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - O

Today is the letter O for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  There is only one country with the letter O.  Oman. 

While I am sure Oman is a wonderful country full of wonderful people, I am not that interested in visiting a country that has such a horrible human rights record.  A country that tortures citizens who criticize the government.  A country that stones and tortures dogs to keep the population down.  A country where women and children face legal discrimination in many areas and are excluded from certain state benefits, such as housing loans, and are refused equal rights under the personal status law. A country where women also experience restrictions on their self-determination in respect to health and reproductive rights.

Yeah, not my kind of vacation destination.   I think I will find a country to visit in the P's.  Sorry Oman.  I am sure you are a beautiful country.  When you wake up to the 21st century maybe I will visit!

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - N

N

Today is the letter N for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I have been waiting for the letter N.  My friend lives in a country with the letter N and I have been waiting to visit her.  She just got married and I am so happy for her.  In fact I just received a letter from her.  You remember letters?  You take pen to paper and write.  Then you put the letter in a an envelope, address it and stick a stamp on it and mail it.  It is awesome to get a letter!

My super good friend lives in the Netherlands.  She sends me photos and postcards from the Netherlands and it looks so beautiful.  I have been to Amsterdam many, many moons ago.  I took a train from Belgium to Amsterdam I am pretty sure.  It may have been a train from Paris to Amsterdam.  I really remember the miles and miles of tulips.  It was during Spring Break when I was going to school in London.  We took a week to visit Europe.  The tulips were amazing to view.

It would be so exciting to visit my friend.  The Netherlands so like a picture book. 

I bought some lamps for my bedroom.  I put them all together and took a photo.  A friend saw the photo and asked me why the right lamp was leaning.  Turns out the right lamp is broken slightly and I have to return both lamps.  Ergh!  That is a task for tomorrow.  They looked so nice.  The company is sending me a new set.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - M

Today is the letter M for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I want to visit Micronesia.  Why you ask?  My dog Happi is from Micronesia and I would like to see where she came from.  Here is the story of Happi.

Happi was about 1 year old living in Palau, an island in Micronesia, when she was hit by a car.  In Palau, the people don't bring the dogs in the house, they feed them on the porch and the dogs live outside on the street.  Happi must have been running around and got hit.  A visiting microbiologist did a surgery to save her life.  My vet was in Micronesia doing a special trip where the Humane Society spays and neuters dogs and cats.  They saw Happi and did the surgery again the right way (taking the whole shoulder so the dog can lie down) and spay her at the same time.  Worried about leaving her in Palau (they still eat dog in Palau) my vet flew her to the USA.  She was on a plane for three days.  Because Palau has no rabies, Happi did not have to be quarantined. 

While our vet was out of the country, our beloved Taiko passed away from cancer.  When our vet came back she called to see if it was too soon for a new dog.  Of course she said, just take Happi for a few hours.  That is the hook.  I was worried that Happi would have a problem with all our stairs but she had none.  She was so excited to be in a house.  She dove in the dog bed and didn't want to get out.  It was all so exciting for her: toys, collar, leash. 

I would love to see where she came from since I hear Micronesia is a beautiful group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean.  It is west of Hawaii and east of the Philippines. 

There was even a Survivor season in Micronesia.  It looks like a great place to hit the beach, snorkel, and see a waterfall.  My kind of vacation!

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - L

Today is the letter L for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I went to the list of L countries to see which country I wanted to write about.  There are nine countries and I have little desire to visit any of them.  Many of them are former Eastern block countries and African countries.  I think the countries I would want to see the most of this list is Laos.  I have always been fascinated about that part of the world and it would be amazing to visit.

Laos a plethora of things to see and do.  Laos has these amazing caves.  Caves that are from the war that you can tour.  Caves with Buddhas in them.  Caves with stalactites.

The Boong Pa Gooang has a pod of rare Irrawaddy dolphins you can view.  There is also the Hintang Archaeological Park where you can view a collection of standing stones is thought to be at least 1500 years old.

The country sounds very interesting.  Especially with the history about the Vietnam Conflict.  Not sure I will ever get to Laos but it would be fascinating if I did.

I also have a personal connection.  My family helped sponsor a family from Laos back in the 70s.  I was very connected to the family because the daughter was not that much younger than me physically but emotionally and mentally she was such a child.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - K

Today is the letter K for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I am excited to visit Kenya. 

Kenya is in the east part of Africa.  It is known as one of the most famous tourist destinations.

Some of the things I would love to do in Kenya are: 

• Go to the Mara and see the Masai 
• Go to Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves and see many endangered animals (and not hunt them!)
• Go to Lake Naivasha and see animals in their natural habitat.
• Tsavo game park to go on a safari
• Lake Nakaru to see more animals and amazing scenery.
• See Mount Kenya but not climb it!

Going to Africa has been on my bucket list for over 30 years.  I spoke to my doctor to see what countries in Africa I am allowed to visit.  I am pretty sure he said Kenya is one of them.  I am not allowed to get live vaccines since I am autoimmune compromised, so I can't travel to many African countries.   I know I can visit South Africa and I know I want to visit there.  I guess I can swing by when I am in Kenya! 

It would be so exciting to visit a place with such rich history and culture.  A place with such color and vibrancy.  Visiting people who live a life so different from my life would be interesting to 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - J

Today is the letter J for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Today's country letter is easy!  I have always wanted to visit Japan.  Japan seems so interesting and has so many cultural sites. 

Here is what I want to see:

• Kyoto - temples, palaces and gardens
• The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri)
• Hiroshima - Peace Memorial Park and Museum
• Tokyo’s National Theatre or Shimbashi Embujo is where you can enjoy kabuki 
• Stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn
• Visit a major sumo tournament
• Himeji-jo Castle
• Tokyo’s Kabukicho, the neon-soaked district of love hotels, host clubs and fuzoku (sex industry) businesses
• Stay overnight in Mount Koya temple

 Japan is such a beautiful country with so many things to see. 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - I

Today is the letter I for my Travel Blogging Challenge. Today's letter is hard.  I had no idea how many interesting countries start with the letter I.  Here are the countries that start with the letter I:

Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy 

I am fascinated withe Iceland.  Just like Greeenland, I want to go to Iceland and see fjords, waterfalls, man-made geothermal baths, glaciers and volcanoes.  The Arctic Circle in the northern latitudes, the midnight sun is invariably awe-inspiring as well as the northern lights.  I want to go to one of those ice bars.

I also want to visit India.  The hustle and bustle.  The vibrant colors and food. The Taj Mahal, The Red Fort, the Lotus Temple.  I could go on and on.  So many things to see in India.  

Indonesia is supposed to be beautiful.  My neighbors went to Bali and loved it.  I have to admit that Indonesia is not on my top tier of places to visit but I would not turn down a trip there.  I see photos of Raja Ampat and it lures me there.

Iran and Iraq are not places I want to visit right now.  I tend to stay away from places where there are wars or there have been wars recently.  I also don't like to visit places where I have to cover myself.  So Iran and Iraq are currently off the travel list.

Ireland is a place I want to visit.  When I lived in England we were encouraged not to visit Ireland.  It was during "the troubles".  The IRA was in full swing and it was unsafe for young college students to visit Ireland especially Northern Ireland.  Since I am part Irish, I would love to see my heritage.

Israel is one of the most historic places I want to visit.  I am not drawn to religious sites but Israel is one place I would visit.  I don't think I would put Israel on my top tier vacation list, it would be further down the travel list but I want to see it.  I want to float in the Dead Sea, stick a note in the Western Wall, go to Jesus' burial place, and go to Yad Vashem (World Center for Holocaust Research).  I also want to see the Kishle prison excavations and The Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center.  So much history and culture in one place.  

I have already been to Italy.  I have seen Rome, Pisa, Florence, Firenze.  I want to other area's of Italy.  The Tuscany and Umbria regions seem beautiful. I want to walk the little streets and hills. Maybe a day in Venice just to see it.  Naples for a day.  

Now you understand my problem.  I love the letter I.  I want to see almost all the I countries.  Do you have a favorite I country?  Or do you have same problem I have?  

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - H

Today is the letter H for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I would be excited to see Hungary.  I don't know why, it just sounds interesting. 

I hear Budapest is very cultural and awesome and rivals Paris and Prague.  The Danube River runs through the whole country.  There are beautiful castles, cathedrals, palaces and spas.  There are caves you can visit with stalactite formations.  The town of Sopron boasts 115 officially-listed monuments and 240 protected buildings, one of the largest such collections in Europe.

Hungary sounds like an awesome place to visit.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - G

Today is the letter G for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I want to write about Greenland.  I am fascinated by Greenland.  There are so many things to see in Greenland and I would love to see them.  Maybe some day. 

There is the Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights.  What an awesome thing to see!  A well know legend states that when the northern lights dance in the night sky, it means the dead are playing football with a walrus skull. 

In central Greenland the sun does not set from the end of May until the end of July.  People are doing activities at all hours of the day and night.  The unusual phenomenon is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis in relation to its orbit round the sun. How cool is that?

There are glaciers that you can drive or boat to.  The majority of glaciers in Greenland are slow-flowing rivers of ice that emerge from the ice sheet.  It is not until the ice begins to move that the term glacier can be used, and if the ice breaks free or falls into the water then the term iceberg is more appropriate.  Ice is constantly released at the head of the glacier due to the force of gravity and the pressure from the enormous volume of ice behind.

Icebergs consist of heavily compacted snow that fell on the Greenlandic ice cap several thousand years ago - in some cases more than 15,000 years ago.  Icebergs are majestic natural works of art heading out to sea. These sculptures that are up to 100 metres high are a formidable sight and are best seen in the summer.

 The National Park in Greenland is a Arctic paradise.  It has polar bears and walruses.  It is larger than any other national park in the world.

Greenland sounds fascinating.  A place I wish I could see in person.

Until tomorrow...  

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - F

Today is the letter F for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Maybe I just like island vacations or maybe I want to go on a vacation on an island. I just keep picking islands!  Who can ignore Fiji?  Fiji is a beautiful island three hours north of New Zealand. 

They have all the outdoor sports: zip lining, rafting, fishing, hiking, snorkeling, etc.  It looks like an island paradise.  I could see me spending a week or two there! 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - E

Today is the letter E for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I chose Egypt as the country I would like to travel to.  To be able to see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx would be so amazing.  Great Pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the World located at Giza Necropolis.  Just to see another culture and all the history would be so interesting.

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - D

Today is the letter D for my Travel Blogging Challenge. Can you believe there are only 5 countries that start with the letter D?  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic and Djibouti.  Since I am unlikely to visit the Congo or Djibouti, that leaves Dominica, Dominican Republic and Denmark.  I was going to say Denmark because that was safe.  What is safer than a European country?  Then I read up on Dominica and now I know where I want to visit.

I want to visit Dominica.  It is a the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean".  It is located in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique.  It has the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake and 365 rivers.  Since I am a bird person I am excited that the Sisserou parrot (also known as the imperial amazon), is found only on Dominica and is the island's national bird.

"Amazona imperialis Mitchell" by David William Mitchell (1813–1859) - The Genera of Birds. Volume 2. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amazona_imperialis_Mitchell.jpg#/media/File:Amazona_imperialis_Mitchell.jpg

 Dominica has rainforests and rare plants, animals, and bird species.  It sounds fantastic.  I am adding it to my list of places to visit.

Anyone up for the Congo or Djibouti??

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - C

Today is the letter C for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  I am torn between Costa Rica and Cuba.  These are two places I have always wanted to go to.  Until recently I didn't think I would ever be able to visit Cuba but now that the travel ban has been lifted I am anxious to visit.  To be able to see the people, the mountains, the homes, the cars would be exciting. 

Costa Rica has been a place I have wanted to visit for a long time.  I dated a guy from Costa Rica a long time ago and he told me all about it: the rainforests, the waterfalls, the wonderful people.  I would love to visit. I worked for a rainforest group for a while and I have only been in a tropical rainforest once.  It was so beautiful.  I would love to visit another one.  Costa Rica sounds like a tropical wonderland.

Those are my C countries for today.

  I went shopping and bought some stuff.  I got a new kitchen clock:

Here is my old bathroom clock:

Yes, it is a free clock from a radio station.  I bought this clock to replace it:

I am so happy with these clocks.  The bathroom clock is one of those silent clocks so I no longer hear click, click, click. 

Until tomorrow...

A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - B

Today is the letter B for my Travel Blogging Challenge.  Yesterday I was speaking to a gentleman who used to live in Bolivia.  He told me about the country.  It sounds beautiful and majestic.  The cities, the people, the water, the mountains. 

But he also told me the darker side.  Of people being kidnapped and murdered.  Of a country where the people suffer because of a government that is corrupt and has been in charge for many, many years.  Of a country that allows it's land to be mined, drilled and deforested while indigenous people lose their lands. 

As much as I would like to visit there, I think I will wait until there is a change in government and things get a bit safer.

Until tomorrow...

NEW IDEA: A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - A

I am starting a new blogging challenge.  It is an A - Z Travel Blogging Challenge.  For the next 26 days I go through the alphabet letter by letter and write about a location with that letter.  Maybe it will be a place I want to visit, a place I visited, or a place I read about.  I thought it would be fun. 

Today is the letter A.   I went with Australia.

I have always wanted to go to Australia.  I think it is a beautiful country and I have always wanted to visit.  From the reefs to Sydney to the outback.  The whole country just calls me.  I have a friend who lives there and I have been invited to visit.  Cape Tribulation's rainforest sounds so beautiful.  The Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea sound like the a glorious place to visit.  Heron and Lizard Islands sound so interesting with the turtle's laying eggs and lizards sunbathing on the lawn.   The Great Ocean Road that rivals the Pacific Coast Highway. 

It would be one of the places on my bucket list that I have always wanted to visit.  Just to be in the Bay looking at the Opera House in Sydney will be  rush.  I don't care how long it takes to get there, it will be worth it.  It is a place I can go easily with my RA.  I don't need any shots or additional medication.  The long plane ride could be a challenge since 3,000 mile flights are a challenge for me sometimes.  But I think I could manage it.  My biggest problem is my restless legs.  My legs cramp up and feel like bugs are crawling under my skin.  I can't sit still sometimes.  The only thing that helps is falling asleep. 

That is my letter A.  Where would you want to visit with the letter A?

Until tomorrow...

STREET FAIR ON A LOVELY DAY

Today I decided to go to a street fair.  I took two buses and went over to see a police dunk tank, car show, band and get some street food.  I missed the dog parade and contest.

The police dunk tank was hysterical.  It was the same police officer for the 1.5 hours I was there.  I guess he drew the short straw.  It was for a good cause but I would not want to get dunked that many times.  I watched and spoke to a guy who lived in the area.  He was interesting and had a great sense of humor. 

The car show was tiny, about 12 cars, but it was nice.  The cars were in good condition.  There was a silver Rolls Royce, Chevelle, Malibu and Trans Am that brought back memories. 

Two of the bands were actually pretty good.  They were classic rock cover bands.  It was nice to sit and eat some food and listen to some good music.

I got some street food.  There is not always street food I can eat or that I want to eat.  I was really hungry and I got a plate of veggies, tofu and rice.  The veggies were so fresh and not over cooked.  I was pretty impressed for street food.  While I ate I spoke to an older man about food festivals going on the rest of the summer.

I walked around and took some photos.  I am getting more comfortable taking photos at street fair type situations. 

I am also getting better about speaking to people in situations when I am in crowds and alone.  I have never been shy about speaking to people but I have always had a harder time when I go to a party and I only know the host and everyone seems to know each other.  Or when I go to a fundraiser and everyone knows each other and I know no one.  I become the fly on the wall.  I have to put myself out more.  I have recently met new people by doing this. 

Until tomorrow...

RIP CECIL THE LION

I try hard not to write about political types of things but I can't keep quiet about the shooting of the Cecil the lion at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.  I was saddened and angered when I heard that a beautiful lion had been killed in a senseless way for a senseless reason.  What makes a person want to kill a practically extinct animal for sport?  I am a vegan so I don't really understand killing an animal at all but especially killing one for sport where you kill the animal and leave the carcass and take only the part you want.  It makes no sense.  Who wants a dead animal head on their wall?  What does it prove?  As a comedian said the other night: they have a little blue pill for that now. 

Then this morning I hear that Cecil's brother Jericho may have been killed too.  What is going on?  Why are people not in jail?  Why are people not protecting these lions better?  I know the park is huge but this is 2015 there have to be better ways to protect these animals before the only animals left are in zoos. 

The guy who shot Cecil should be in jail.  Especially since this is not the first, or second, or third time he has shot an exotic animal and brought it back to the United States.  We need to make it illegal to bring these dead carcasses back to the USA with jail sentences not fines.  Wealthy people will scoff at a fine.  Jail time would deter folks from hunting exotic animals.

There are my two cents.  Save the animals.  Jail the hunters. 

Until tomorrow...