tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65742012024-03-13T09:48:19.301-07:00Light TravelerTales, experiences, opinions, observations, insights, and philosophies of a traveler with a passion for traveling light.Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-27557132977901342882022-08-16T22:25:00.001-07:002022-08-16T22:26:18.059-07:00Venice Beach, Ocean Front Walk<p>We always look forward to a stroll along the Venice Beach promenade. It's alive with people of all ages, with separate pathways for walkers and people on wheels (bikes, skates, skate boards). There are lots of eateries, and shops selling souvenirs, original paintings, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses and jewelry.</p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWjIlU5U8rlZkW3wnQ4gShMWtvGSW2gmIhUzBhwDSPRj3k_hAavdsHoEMb6eerBn-B3oJhJ9wYFxKZkryMlUw_AumBnwcLl0sEN9oopl13ZrKDLEoRyK_YyfSXmp6PS-f9RyIJFMEY2qR5MPs-Nbvez1govLapgdyDpeLjnY0Onm6VLI_xWQ/s4624/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Boardwalk%20-%20J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWjIlU5U8rlZkW3wnQ4gShMWtvGSW2gmIhUzBhwDSPRj3k_hAavdsHoEMb6eerBn-B3oJhJ9wYFxKZkryMlUw_AumBnwcLl0sEN9oopl13ZrKDLEoRyK_YyfSXmp6PS-f9RyIJFMEY2qR5MPs-Nbvez1govLapgdyDpeLjnY0Onm6VLI_xWQ/w400-h180/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Boardwalk%20-%20J.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dual pathways on the Venice Beach 'Boardwalk'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>A nice surprise is the Small World Books store at 1407 Ocean Front Walk (a few blocks up from the Skate Park). It stocks a wide range of books from major and small presses. If you are looking for books by Californian authors (fiction and non-fiction) you will not be disappointed. It's where I discovered T. Jefferson Parker's "California Girl", Anna Stothard's debut novel "The Pink Hotel" and Joan Didion's "Play It As It Lays". </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkBfOG9olvFQ65XCGEWPZ8CwKTIlInoiIg-LSCHMWtLhpGSC8qTLg7EJDIBgitmhdmXCCvdPkfoP5reeUVOcNuCUz0x_k70t69VNR1rxtk2ZG-tWv3xGge_qvyg7OBBCLIAKcjgbi5SrcJIY5kUkcLpdB6IHpoyQDc666OEm1VSDjBQwxQIk/s4624/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Boardwalk%20-%20K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkBfOG9olvFQ65XCGEWPZ8CwKTIlInoiIg-LSCHMWtLhpGSC8qTLg7EJDIBgitmhdmXCCvdPkfoP5reeUVOcNuCUz0x_k70t69VNR1rxtk2ZG-tWv3xGge_qvyg7OBBCLIAKcjgbi5SrcJIY5kUkcLpdB6IHpoyQDc666OEm1VSDjBQwxQIk/w400-h180/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Boardwalk%20-%20K.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice Beach Skate Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Another favourite shop is Native American World at 1207 Ocean Front Walk. Old folks like us can do with a bit of bling to make us sparkle so we always visit this store to add to our growing collection of jewelry. This is where I bought my favourite earrings - little spiders (spiders are symbolic of creative energy due to their stunning web weaving skills). </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVjbLO7CF620aDUSfNjyQwkd3a9J8RVMgRCrQ11qI7u74rT6qb3_UF1jHIvsBwWGbYKAavwi6SVxyBHiiqng9t3TNki6RVZa6m5wtDJ9nZFF_jiecq8znaQ3xd1zIsvIlsyY-Fn8fkHQd76q9fl0sER5L2rgQCIPod8yfUS54J7I1djhDwAg/s1546/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World,%20spider%20earrings%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1546" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVjbLO7CF620aDUSfNjyQwkd3a9J8RVMgRCrQ11qI7u74rT6qb3_UF1jHIvsBwWGbYKAavwi6SVxyBHiiqng9t3TNki6RVZa6m5wtDJ9nZFF_jiecq8znaQ3xd1zIsvIlsyY-Fn8fkHQd76q9fl0sER5L2rgQCIPod8yfUS54J7I1djhDwAg/w213-h174/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World,%20spider%20earrings%20(2).jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native American Spider Jewelry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />It's also the place to find the perfect light-weight, travel-friendly gift for friends and family. I chose a variety of beaded earrings and beaded medicine pouches for my young granddaughters. Here's a sample of them.<br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0ZcEJlGcgjaN7URbx70nO2qdneHF-zsOm0ZHLPR1Tk8gSV842fDQVSp8F8tjI3ajeCyjm1taP5Ko0aq5bjWxJVBzSuT-ulQwbzP1poPn_UUnJnFAZc_U9ghcKUKBSBke1Pg1nmbmWsUErJNFmRcBedGkkkv99_PTfM8j648d9KOuA3D_SIk/s1773/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World,%20beaded%20turtle%20earrings%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="1773" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0ZcEJlGcgjaN7URbx70nO2qdneHF-zsOm0ZHLPR1Tk8gSV842fDQVSp8F8tjI3ajeCyjm1taP5Ko0aq5bjWxJVBzSuT-ulQwbzP1poPn_UUnJnFAZc_U9ghcKUKBSBke1Pg1nmbmWsUErJNFmRcBedGkkkv99_PTfM8j648d9KOuA3D_SIk/w260-h253/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World,%20beaded%20turtle%20earrings%20(2).jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native American beaded turtle jewelry<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGicvohXU5K_zOMujASxR6q3AOwyHzwDSQB8EOYBCCNVJraxB33yzL3PXEyB6G0g125iOb2sBRN8meD7AAq8DneCDaO0Lq9nXb2blre8hMgBLHWrPVEzixFNNj6VvCfKPX5y2wZMDzC2JzDkXfhbxOAbvM7RNISGeK3uxaV4463F1iGxaxukk/s3310/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World%20-%20Medicine%20pouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3310" data-original-width="2253" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGicvohXU5K_zOMujASxR6q3AOwyHzwDSQB8EOYBCCNVJraxB33yzL3PXEyB6G0g125iOb2sBRN8meD7AAq8DneCDaO0Lq9nXb2blre8hMgBLHWrPVEzixFNNj6VvCfKPX5y2wZMDzC2JzDkXfhbxOAbvM7RNISGeK3uxaV4463F1iGxaxukk/w257-h378/Venice%20Beach%20-%20Native%20American%20World%20-%20Medicine%20pouch.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native American medicine pouch necklace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When we get hungry we head toward the Venice Ale House on the corner of Ocean Front Walk and Rose Street. The food is nourishing and the people watching is free. </div></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9_3hnYmY8LuDrE-bHm8KdyVHIVG_dTCXTS8tq9cHcSLgDtGJ7Sn4fj0trobZmRF-crupwSkg2MK31bLsQZOCiextMz5RouTl-hf0lLXnFB2bT0BNDsx-C2WbOyXL-mBYhEyQuYPRDYIA4CfoYFRxVadsWthMPupWYrpDN0Lm4jw4k9cvMtI/s4624/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Venice%20Ale%20House%20-%20Rose%20Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9_3hnYmY8LuDrE-bHm8KdyVHIVG_dTCXTS8tq9cHcSLgDtGJ7Sn4fj0trobZmRF-crupwSkg2MK31bLsQZOCiextMz5RouTl-hf0lLXnFB2bT0BNDsx-C2WbOyXL-mBYhEyQuYPRDYIA4CfoYFRxVadsWthMPupWYrpDN0Lm4jw4k9cvMtI/w400-h180/LA%20-Venus%20Beach%20-%20Venice%20Ale%20House%20-%20Rose%20Street.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venice Ale House, Rose Street Santa Monica</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>From Rose Street we exit the beachfront promenade and walk along Main Street. First stop is Angel City Books and Records on Pier Avenue (a small side street to the right). This is a treasure trove of rare and hard-to-find books, CDs and vinyl records where it's easy to lose track of time while browsing.</p><p>Continuing down Main, Dolcenero Gelato at #2400 is a must for icecream addicts. My choice is the exceptional Ricotta and Fig.</p><p>By now we are nearly at Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, and we have one more stop before ubering back to our hotel on the marina. El Texate is a Oaxacan restaurant at 316 Pico blvd - one we return to each time we visit LA because it has the best moles imaginable and two of the best Californian hosts. Here we are, enjoying a beer and sangria. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QwgvrSbNKo886ZyFBJdCYLQAOnaYcdsWexUKHb8q91nYPgIAXyWTbJj238F24o4Fcrw6v85-PCMWeFUtlY7rRtdyeZ-bg9zxbVOp0OYmkyADaX8Upw9r75IUV36P_O1ba-SSQzk61CWMiMsc0-S4-X9FQgb7n2Adn2KlCgtPAo6FzsrKxVY/s3820/Santa%20Monica%20-%20El%20Texate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3077" data-original-width="3820" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QwgvrSbNKo886ZyFBJdCYLQAOnaYcdsWexUKHb8q91nYPgIAXyWTbJj238F24o4Fcrw6v85-PCMWeFUtlY7rRtdyeZ-bg9zxbVOp0OYmkyADaX8Upw9r75IUV36P_O1ba-SSQzk61CWMiMsc0-S4-X9FQgb7n2Adn2KlCgtPAo6FzsrKxVY/s320/Santa%20Monica%20-%20El%20Texate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Texate Oaxacan Restaurant, 316 Pico Blvd</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-13615451039660262732022-08-15T15:15:00.004-07:002022-08-15T15:25:36.056-07:00Marina Del Rey, northern Summer 2022<p>Marina Del Rey Hotel is expensive these days. It had a makeover a few years ago - the shell of the buildings remain much the same with renovations focusing on the interior. But we had to go for old times sake. </p><p>A marina, especially one the size of Marina Del Rey, produces glorious sunrises and sunsets.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiIxK7nCaKS0d1YxDMEgMWHYl41c_TX4H6rik1s1Dv4O0QsyZlyVw5RCiGVr9FhHX_n277Nn4SXRXoXUrVT84iN6W7Zg1gIofeqoLllUegxXKFA5FO0CzzjJxQYDUouEf6MpnXUlBHCzNBb_5iOQVk2FVeheFrUB1bDeIZLGfb9fwwZhkNec/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiIxK7nCaKS0d1YxDMEgMWHYl41c_TX4H6rik1s1Dv4O0QsyZlyVw5RCiGVr9FhHX_n277Nn4SXRXoXUrVT84iN6W7Zg1gIofeqoLllUegxXKFA5FO0CzzjJxQYDUouEf6MpnXUlBHCzNBb_5iOQVk2FVeheFrUB1bDeIZLGfb9fwwZhkNec/w400-h300/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise, Marina Del Rey Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsAMOUVy3PJs0t-NgaLGQHeS4j1ub556VixrbZ2oQiaZdbDj928D8-avDLwFGL5hc1hrTYV9WxR5L9gARyNwSR3wfLqOkVpjKd2HTztdrSSUU3ZLxfHCljsuVEdt_AIxK9LRZlErsQOnrvFOgiesZX-VnScrLya-3vNIUe3IJ4759Cwj7H7o/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsAMOUVy3PJs0t-NgaLGQHeS4j1ub556VixrbZ2oQiaZdbDj928D8-avDLwFGL5hc1hrTYV9WxR5L9gARyNwSR3wfLqOkVpjKd2HTztdrSSUU3ZLxfHCljsuVEdt_AIxK9LRZlErsQOnrvFOgiesZX-VnScrLya-3vNIUe3IJ4759Cwj7H7o/w400-h300/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over a cloudy day, Marina Del Rey Hotel<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L8AVLuCCXjHeK8hTamo2RvTmQ_DU8JUYM58Uvj5ofLKwKc_O34iw6DCHO-7hVC67VNihiM_4EhEVukc9zKt7R9l0uxksaGFNBCbOWyr59euXduRm2_5W-VFXuejbexGaafSdKQ344XC2g42XvvGEnVq6sZOIAwJPhEzONNpA-6qLILthNuM/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunset%20reflection.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L8AVLuCCXjHeK8hTamo2RvTmQ_DU8JUYM58Uvj5ofLKwKc_O34iw6DCHO-7hVC67VNihiM_4EhEVukc9zKt7R9l0uxksaGFNBCbOWyr59euXduRm2_5W-VFXuejbexGaafSdKQ344XC2g42XvvGEnVq6sZOIAwJPhEzONNpA-6qLILthNuM/w400-h300/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Sunset%20reflection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunlit masts as daylight wanes on a cloudy day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The Warehouse Restaurant is a short walk from the hotel, located on the edge of the marina.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn0GCC1-mkfI0HR5UJoPGKBc_5cp6HFSdMKL0w5h-yaaWwrx1h9wwg1aycCRTQdGj5TMrJRHET8ra57itMqIPTWCiW-89SCrI5Y3UQVyvaYpbS5o2TDIvHRc1e0FaOIE_6ia829ShCcWWbSSgW6z7fQk6jBrhFSKruD0ZXy5UVsDbCqN1bGI/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Marina%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn0GCC1-mkfI0HR5UJoPGKBc_5cp6HFSdMKL0w5h-yaaWwrx1h9wwg1aycCRTQdGj5TMrJRHET8ra57itMqIPTWCiW-89SCrI5Y3UQVyvaYpbS5o2TDIvHRc1e0FaOIE_6ia829ShCcWWbSSgW6z7fQk6jBrhFSKruD0ZXy5UVsDbCqN1bGI/w591-h267/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Marina%20view.jpg" width="591" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterside view of the Warehouse Restaurant<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />And you can dine in or outside. <div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPdNNY1Cj29sSAHKwYRveYantN4PhPkNKNmjbjoT2QSrzTD8dnrgGBVSyqy7WHMJ0TwECRoQ6xGrqHvtR0IVxVFVtI5ajHvSXPrRoZMNkMj432nyyckcZtmE3nn_k_Yu1LwcJvogm3UxerjAQ2yqy1N6qki-8hR0o0tuPKsOZcQXRqn-KlwM/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20K.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYPdNNY1Cj29sSAHKwYRveYantN4PhPkNKNmjbjoT2QSrzTD8dnrgGBVSyqy7WHMJ0TwECRoQ6xGrqHvtR0IVxVFVtI5ajHvSXPrRoZMNkMj432nyyckcZtmE3nn_k_Yu1LwcJvogm3UxerjAQ2yqy1N6qki-8hR0o0tuPKsOZcQXRqn-KlwM/w371-h167/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20K.jpg" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great beers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5weEG-JC3QNAcTvDeFK7Efw1Y9heYBaOs52OXq2un6ZOvTYrgNiUT9QDXb2pSD8s0BLr58XZYbtqOv7ZMJH9ANPV4BBd3blNey4yeYebuV4EXheyY_zo_hd6RZ3awnQFWSOZgBoDqJEErzoVHCv2GY5vwJcchd0qR3Y-KUZ21RshwtVcEtk/s4624/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Inside%20decor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2084" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5weEG-JC3QNAcTvDeFK7Efw1Y9heYBaOs52OXq2un6ZOvTYrgNiUT9QDXb2pSD8s0BLr58XZYbtqOv7ZMJH9ANPV4BBd3blNey4yeYebuV4EXheyY_zo_hd6RZ3awnQFWSOZgBoDqJEErzoVHCv2GY5vwJcchd0qR3Y-KUZ21RshwtVcEtk/w180-h400/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Inside%20decor.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Warehouse Decor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5u6TMTPsGPJO8na229q-Cehl7upegRNEaViq3xVCOWrXKS0wZvObj_dzKIozvuXp8h1vHFYuN6gLGcuYIkGgvznHdlqfoKxWmk8N6v22sqRuHoMiYDi5mwMOk6Sj30wq4x9r-2z3oVaXtwa_KV0GsTjdOKV9d8ih6IGgy5gS8aYwxatd0EXM/s3318/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20J.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2075" data-original-width="3318" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5u6TMTPsGPJO8na229q-Cehl7upegRNEaViq3xVCOWrXKS0wZvObj_dzKIozvuXp8h1vHFYuN6gLGcuYIkGgvznHdlqfoKxWmk8N6v22sqRuHoMiYDi5mwMOk6Sj30wq4x9r-2z3oVaXtwa_KV0GsTjdOKV9d8ih6IGgy5gS8aYwxatd0EXM/w332-h208/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20J.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="332" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great wines</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5u6TMTPsGPJO8na229q-Cehl7upegRNEaViq3xVCOWrXKS0wZvObj_dzKIozvuXp8h1vHFYuN6gLGcuYIkGgvznHdlqfoKxWmk8N6v22sqRuHoMiYDi5mwMOk6Sj30wq4x9r-2z3oVaXtwa_KV0GsTjdOKV9d8ih6IGgy5gS8aYwxatd0EXM/s3318/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20J.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><p>The food is delicious and the service is excellent.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV-IBypA6Ftg5DHQcX5c77IhBMUBLD0ZsuGjHeO_ZHahEq7U0O68y5OS46uAyMQMUTmbr1jAd559uR8zGXcknouRjIyQ4GrKapTqkATCAGEZa0-IxNTmWLIe2pRhh0HfMiIYOsGT-hjQ7vzKMFKXw1o119WSS_rLoEPudRscaiMZhykMLPpw/s3760/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Crab-stuffed%20Salmon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="3760" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV-IBypA6Ftg5DHQcX5c77IhBMUBLD0ZsuGjHeO_ZHahEq7U0O68y5OS46uAyMQMUTmbr1jAd559uR8zGXcknouRjIyQ4GrKapTqkATCAGEZa0-IxNTmWLIe2pRhh0HfMiIYOsGT-hjQ7vzKMFKXw1o119WSS_rLoEPudRscaiMZhykMLPpw/w347-h192/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Crab-stuffed%20Salmon.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crab-stuffed salmon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tyR4orAPF5UTfQNL5zrpuCWmkNRn8IWBaaj97fX1z5ml94hZBbEwUKOU-ezFm34lNTa3FaYgLwr9vvZNC8uYXJx0JxSOx6tSYTv0bxvj58t62gkbUVH2dUKoFBxKkL5Qjb7H1e8fx0MzFi-hYDvCvUpYp-FJGtw0FF6Z41DBXBRb7WdwW4/s2506/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Seafood%20salad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="2046" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tyR4orAPF5UTfQNL5zrpuCWmkNRn8IWBaaj97fX1z5ml94hZBbEwUKOU-ezFm34lNTa3FaYgLwr9vvZNC8uYXJx0JxSOx6tSYTv0bxvj58t62gkbUVH2dUKoFBxKkL5Qjb7H1e8fx0MzFi-hYDvCvUpYp-FJGtw0FF6Z41DBXBRb7WdwW4/s320/LA%20-%20Marina%20Del%20Rey%20-%20Warehouse%20-%20Seafood%20salad.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seafood salad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you want to make your own lunch or get picnic supplies, Ralphs and Trader Joes are very close by.</p><p><br /></p></div>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-66549317175526050842022-08-14T00:12:00.003-07:002022-08-17T18:22:34.201-07:00Kaua'i to O'ahu<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh491AtX6j2W8MifMiawCBk9Hy2QiWMQj8zFNxnsH8tHgt97Yi6bEq3WDJAyRAtmXDvG1cOKsFVoFoTFRQmOInTfWIvTHapYYC1eXBhh2Uq8ILcQ5PHdsLVGuF2VsLBJ-0SpA9AgFvy1QJj2lobH5_3saIXOZKUumwI7-DZTUHEqQiPRmiNqRM/s4624/Deck%2011,%20Aloha%20Bar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh491AtX6j2W8MifMiawCBk9Hy2QiWMQj8zFNxnsH8tHgt97Yi6bEq3WDJAyRAtmXDvG1cOKsFVoFoTFRQmOInTfWIvTHapYYC1eXBhh2Uq8ILcQ5PHdsLVGuF2VsLBJ-0SpA9AgFvy1QJj2lobH5_3saIXOZKUumwI7-DZTUHEqQiPRmiNqRM/w300-h400/Deck%2011,%20Aloha%20Bar.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deck 11 stern - gathering place</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Once the anchor is raised we always meet up with our travel buddies on Deck 11, stern. It's the best place to view the stunning natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. And it's the best place for photos. Here we are on Deck 11, settling in for happy hour.<br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtCy2y7YsMuk2cElqOivVRFV2NHtZGZe3cKZqQKVpvKte__EILK78Wec_SqNbCyso9CSdb7ZGYvNEG98JLtU3uQnU7x03J4ADsWsP-9WMgyY-h-oIJqr3jE2ZLR2_lbaKUgBZtKPFAlul8S9GM6ygzXhXG-NpVYp5NvqQbBdB-Jox9DLCIso/s4624/Deck%2011%20Julz%20and%20Knox.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtCy2y7YsMuk2cElqOivVRFV2NHtZGZe3cKZqQKVpvKte__EILK78Wec_SqNbCyso9CSdb7ZGYvNEG98JLtU3uQnU7x03J4ADsWsP-9WMgyY-h-oIJqr3jE2ZLR2_lbaKUgBZtKPFAlul8S9GM6ygzXhXG-NpVYp5NvqQbBdB-Jox9DLCIso/s320/Deck%2011%20Julz%20and%20Knox.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knox and Julz</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LqMrIZIoYJ74oV3B-dYJWsK033-yXkyAXgJTfhIcLZjQnriAdxVu_UX2OutSdbnNs4JOri-_h2lHdQsnH-YDdCK-nxp6B8YUxHYd110-yYfg9C2Y4ECE9WxkrluJrhax490RwxhwsTMe7uCd4wtJHTTaAlEBSSShk8aMxF1a1NzTvgg7ao4/s4624/Deck%2011%20travel%20buddies.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LqMrIZIoYJ74oV3B-dYJWsK033-yXkyAXgJTfhIcLZjQnriAdxVu_UX2OutSdbnNs4JOri-_h2lHdQsnH-YDdCK-nxp6B8YUxHYd110-yYfg9C2Y4ECE9WxkrluJrhax490RwxhwsTMe7uCd4wtJHTTaAlEBSSShk8aMxF1a1NzTvgg7ao4/s320/Deck%2011%20travel%20buddies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Jenny</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> A special experience, exclusive to Pride of America passengers, awaits as we leave Nawiliwili, Kaua'i. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpqNrBK8EB2Hzw7REGGyIWHC0N6bMaZEaS6IDeetnY0fFnEgfVPSlUqVDijtOb1s4m4397NcLZxW5oPwuArXH_YwQbPSOkWIJHwpUSXDuuBNGspZ1oTQq-mO7tXGXHaFeOheBQX4eS8Og3eY-ZnToLc73rwRSBkIDLW0OLcbHBOMLg9HdrnU/s4624/Pride%20of%20America%20-%20leaving%20Kauai.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpqNrBK8EB2Hzw7REGGyIWHC0N6bMaZEaS6IDeetnY0fFnEgfVPSlUqVDijtOb1s4m4397NcLZxW5oPwuArXH_YwQbPSOkWIJHwpUSXDuuBNGspZ1oTQq-mO7tXGXHaFeOheBQX4eS8Og3eY-ZnToLc73rwRSBkIDLW0OLcbHBOMLg9HdrnU/w400-h300/Pride%20of%20America%20-%20leaving%20Kauai.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaua'i - The Garden Isle - view from Deck 11</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We don't immediately head for Honolulu, because first we take a whole-cruise excursion to the stunningly beautiful, stunningly rugged, Na Pali coast.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtpHr9t-mvA2B_KhCWOzAMYPBWnNu87e_uSuGUb2mJXchN6skLskTUh003rH8mzxkLuXcROz_xgZVR3amWuyYRQ_E7f7PepkICHVAuHk0hu9lJBN8N2NGzBy6DnjHP9xVZWZI94FfQd-pI9eDDiFRWizvShvXAeuPae--GuGc2tg6mdqf60s/s4624/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20valley.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtpHr9t-mvA2B_KhCWOzAMYPBWnNu87e_uSuGUb2mJXchN6skLskTUh003rH8mzxkLuXcROz_xgZVR3amWuyYRQ_E7f7PepkICHVAuHk0hu9lJBN8N2NGzBy6DnjHP9xVZWZI94FfQd-pI9eDDiFRWizvShvXAeuPae--GuGc2tg6mdqf60s/w400-h300/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20valley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Na Pali Coast - erosion creates a valley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9xdYLvYtJDWOld1vKF3yYCPOXDB-aYp9D_o5wesm3Op6WIMB3j5gURk6ySTbJGcpfm-tXdHoLSGqJxYcfqLAMscAlHrdNm2VQWSE5ZDj_KU05i_uwNjUudkUxS2MbQ_oZ_AJfVXRCafxeZZbHGfYHKyf0w8jPFJD4fql4IgiuQ_FSMpvXgM/s4624/Na%20Pali%20shoreline.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9xdYLvYtJDWOld1vKF3yYCPOXDB-aYp9D_o5wesm3Op6WIMB3j5gURk6ySTbJGcpfm-tXdHoLSGqJxYcfqLAMscAlHrdNm2VQWSE5ZDj_KU05i_uwNjUudkUxS2MbQ_oZ_AJfVXRCafxeZZbHGfYHKyf0w8jPFJD4fql4IgiuQ_FSMpvXgM/w400-h300/Na%20Pali%20shoreline.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Na Pali Coast - rugged volcanic landform</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM_oTnPRdtnC-iijF1gJ2oq03IYsN4noclzc-wYfDUt3SH9ctL_jcSmyVyeJuD2WYuy7r03k_GbDRhByvC2MzerOnjM-bH0Sk21dtWALl3ciQiSMFrmncy-gVfJsQvPU75cDq10-1SdZT7sfoyDV02JBaZ3ju185Rf4-v3tL6d-ScEy1d8SQ/s4624/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20rugged%20landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM_oTnPRdtnC-iijF1gJ2oq03IYsN4noclzc-wYfDUt3SH9ctL_jcSmyVyeJuD2WYuy7r03k_GbDRhByvC2MzerOnjM-bH0Sk21dtWALl3ciQiSMFrmncy-gVfJsQvPU75cDq10-1SdZT7sfoyDV02JBaZ3ju185Rf4-v3tL6d-ScEy1d8SQ/w400-h300/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20rugged%20landscape.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Na Pali Coast - narrow sandy beaches</td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvKsDSlr8dLjPfeg2PvTqIybZKKJ96DNiWFGPM5kh28IHblb_qPsPU0qEaMT_9nHTr7oUWqrbrnWtpFzCOXYI7qPwlJTbv46i4m9-A374i5BkTL1QDUHMZhYKOGBAFs9yfAO3MIVZBzyd1G589tfUsrVZ8tNb7LHgG9MLHyCi2zF9mdqX40w/s4624/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20end%20point.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvKsDSlr8dLjPfeg2PvTqIybZKKJ96DNiWFGPM5kh28IHblb_qPsPU0qEaMT_9nHTr7oUWqrbrnWtpFzCOXYI7qPwlJTbv46i4m9-A374i5BkTL1QDUHMZhYKOGBAFs9yfAO3MIVZBzyd1G589tfUsrVZ8tNb7LHgG9MLHyCi2zF9mdqX40w/w400-h300/Na%20Pali%20coast%20-%20end%20point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Na Pali Coast - endpoint (headland)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>One more sleep and we will wake up to the coast of O'ahu. The timing is no accident.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOckFALIGLpAqgUavs4Vg6jr_ziVfn1KqAbFzA6hJn5A6U-AyBZ5UWbNVv1SsvxUNyOOhympEAG4Nxz8QzNhbTjWzbb6GJER-JN6CojQS4afnLFKf-DyF7zI3uDsfgDOp-sGRenSpfcZU7zaJ6rZLy5_axMHeAMcjiS_vCEJ-DQXL9CVq9J8/s4624/Ohau%20-%20arriving%20Honolulu%20-%20Diamond%20sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOckFALIGLpAqgUavs4Vg6jr_ziVfn1KqAbFzA6hJn5A6U-AyBZ5UWbNVv1SsvxUNyOOhympEAG4Nxz8QzNhbTjWzbb6GJER-JN6CojQS4afnLFKf-DyF7zI3uDsfgDOp-sGRenSpfcZU7zaJ6rZLy5_axMHeAMcjiS_vCEJ-DQXL9CVq9J8/w400-h300/Ohau%20-%20arriving%20Honolulu%20-%20Diamond%20sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamond Head at sunrise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Early risers will be treated to the iconic, sunlit silhouette of O'ahu's volcanic crater, Diamond Head.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGphucQXjY24EKiLq5vEdmbFGnY5SoZpB4CYFdYUDw1IHQ0N-QmxyxpIa5qzeenRvHR2U0-8FapLtRlLKgje3Vdcjwqu0-qxhwcDWNWUtv-lsFL1lsdFqbq_OkdHJLiBvYWjyhmcsKXwOI-tPSgTOzqY3il58VGqMtj7UNXZmsCDHt-HEuY/s4624/Ohau%20-%20arriving%20Honolulu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGphucQXjY24EKiLq5vEdmbFGnY5SoZpB4CYFdYUDw1IHQ0N-QmxyxpIa5qzeenRvHR2U0-8FapLtRlLKgje3Vdcjwqu0-qxhwcDWNWUtv-lsFL1lsdFqbq_OkdHJLiBvYWjyhmcsKXwOI-tPSgTOzqY3il58VGqMtj7UNXZmsCDHt-HEuY/w400-h300/Ohau%20-%20arriving%20Honolulu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honolulu, O'ahu</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Packed and ready to disembark, there is time to enjoy our last breakfast at the outdoors section of the Aloha Cafe on Deck 11, stern.<div><br /></div><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lnqCSMootOizkR3VjO6MM9HdERl6sVobKtvdceyUzF81aw-cdr1xaIHxRjAAIVN0wgIJBLvenaW3NkytQ93KwIQz9-d5PAwFZMwbgXsB4H8j6Vt0gaSAbGJjbF4tuOMYTqsRVUlxVpoe3JlCe0wGG_fOE259gVp39Mpy-uWlCDugQieX-Xk/s4624/Pride%20of%20America%20-%20deck%2011%20hang%20out.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lnqCSMootOizkR3VjO6MM9HdERl6sVobKtvdceyUzF81aw-cdr1xaIHxRjAAIVN0wgIJBLvenaW3NkytQ93KwIQz9-d5PAwFZMwbgXsB4H8j6Vt0gaSAbGJjbF4tuOMYTqsRVUlxVpoe3JlCe0wGG_fOE259gVp39Mpy-uWlCDugQieX-Xk/w300-h400/Pride%20of%20America%20-%20deck%2011%20hang%20out.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deck 11, stern (American flag)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-6527300624176620792022-08-10T15:27:00.004-07:002022-08-17T18:05:47.439-07:00Hawai'i the "Big Island" - Kīlauea volcano and Kona sunshine<p><span style="font-family: times;">One of the most active volcanoes in the world,</span> <span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Kīlauea </span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">recently </span>made many
dramatic changes to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with its destructive eruptions (since 2018), closing some areas and activities. Volcano eruptions can be hazardous - fumes
and fallout (like cinder, ash, and Pele's legendary hair) can irritate lungs and eyes. Pele is the Goddess
of this volcano on the Big Island. We took a bus tour from Hilo. The summit is
4,000 feet above sea level, which explains the cool climate.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvpEj7IZE2NaGdOhDnCZiITdNYipm4KD7NLj-7l0PkTPVQDJeohh00YoqsJ5B69Yx6mYCzb6kjKO1O04q3cInSbAfdM7FtraaHUUI77HE9fFm07bP9xZCA7GpdXpus8Lw9TSMxFKhos20fmEV2ifzNo0PrGSoJUhz9mP197eUjZWuHz1CDvc/s4624/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20-%20summit%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvpEj7IZE2NaGdOhDnCZiITdNYipm4KD7NLj-7l0PkTPVQDJeohh00YoqsJ5B69Yx6mYCzb6kjKO1O04q3cInSbAfdM7FtraaHUUI77HE9fFm07bP9xZCA7GpdXpus8Lw9TSMxFKhos20fmEV2ifzNo0PrGSoJUhz9mP197eUjZWuHz1CDvc/w522-h235/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20-%20summit%20(2).jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">Kīlauea </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">caldera - steam</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: times;">Intensely hot steam vents dotted the landscape, with the more accessible vents being fenced off for public safety. The major steam vent was in the crater.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jB-Nap1sr9n5Lduzxn5qR8gkvLHMb29ZtV9Z2o6564oVQ4VxBXU7K7BCI60VEyCEUyE8BU1LMHZWY8Orf8Zyd5TfTxQvWIzStn_LQgFNHrCheOxqLkx4x1PmsP3V8-KalQIB5TWRJ8Dxp2cU9dHhnD1bYlZt2zu89jydQQUHSmRoggRO-Ns/s4000/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20National%20Park%20-%20J&K%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jB-Nap1sr9n5Lduzxn5qR8gkvLHMb29ZtV9Z2o6564oVQ4VxBXU7K7BCI60VEyCEUyE8BU1LMHZWY8Orf8Zyd5TfTxQvWIzStn_LQgFNHrCheOxqLkx4x1PmsP3V8-KalQIB5TWRJ8Dxp2cU9dHhnD1bYlZt2zu89jydQQUHSmRoggRO-Ns/w533-h240/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20National%20Park%20-%20J&K%20(2).jpg" width="533" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A windy, chilly summit at 4,000 feet (1,220 m)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times;">Pele the Hawaiian Fire Goddess resides here and her wrath is insatiable.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNjqZKkKFAV85g3_tRde4FHGb6OD4A4CnF8lklaAraw-B6RvaGgdtn56EPPjM90yQVm8b_wi02DsTYFtolPv1vZhvs78RJVQsZQTjglAxfxB8B68bTrazKHnPHyZR-V-rjCwYxyuxYUxSO8ovIXeaqdBqSWJQnjAuJcShC5IMvCj0r1Lrkxs/s4624/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20-%20summit%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNjqZKkKFAV85g3_tRde4FHGb6OD4A4CnF8lklaAraw-B6RvaGgdtn56EPPjM90yQVm8b_wi02DsTYFtolPv1vZhvs78RJVQsZQTjglAxfxB8B68bTrazKHnPHyZR-V-rjCwYxyuxYUxSO8ovIXeaqdBqSWJQnjAuJcShC5IMvCj0r1Lrkxs/w535-h241/Big%20Island%20Volcano%20-%20summit%20(4).jpg" width="535" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">Kīlauea's </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">dramatic landscape</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times;">The museum had a lot of structural damage and remains unstable and is fenced off from the public. </span><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16MRex6BKk17Uwsyjz3nulXNgqYIweXwKAGtWnMzV3mVd70gKgwPd_OuwKZOVubFIPTrJtUA-O4hGSvYXYOSWVDmDwWxbgup8if87NCXbZap2Qdqr6z5MO64zsB3djozlmovtnBbCy9DNnZRdGS-XGf4nCmps67KFU_P6WhVD5O_vCBHCzB0/s4624/Volcano%20National%20Park%20-%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2084" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16MRex6BKk17Uwsyjz3nulXNgqYIweXwKAGtWnMzV3mVd70gKgwPd_OuwKZOVubFIPTrJtUA-O4hGSvYXYOSWVDmDwWxbgup8if87NCXbZap2Qdqr6z5MO64zsB3djozlmovtnBbCy9DNnZRdGS-XGf4nCmps67KFU_P6WhVD5O_vCBHCzB0/w199-h442/Volcano%20National%20Park%20-%20Museum.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;">Kīlauea's </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">damaged Museum</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kīlauea's </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">threat potential is VERY HIGH.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdv65YtPRAC9Byv888GRv-9-D4Rm8gcvgf8k-ql9Uswe6I4Blb7SP87imJpHwG5fGHw1uAKV3iU9hstMLwmFuR7pKhgd12WqcXn6iQ_LB6QqnGO82odU-xypmdQAmUjwO8le4E01S_iUB6P1yUmP-ndXBASEcVoaXMmFsvXMG3t6PETbyesI/s6388/Kilauea%20crater%20-%20Big%20Island%20-%20Panoramic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="6388" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdv65YtPRAC9Byv888GRv-9-D4Rm8gcvgf8k-ql9Uswe6I4Blb7SP87imJpHwG5fGHw1uAKV3iU9hstMLwmFuR7pKhgd12WqcXn6iQ_LB6QqnGO82odU-xypmdQAmUjwO8le4E01S_iUB6P1yUmP-ndXBASEcVoaXMmFsvXMG3t6PETbyesI/w580-h203/Kilauea%20crater%20-%20Big%20Island%20-%20Panoramic.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of Kīlauea's <span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">caldera - Home of Pele</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times;">Pretty wild orchids swaying in the wind gave a pop of colour to this otherwise desolate landform. </span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVb0P5sPlkPSqkcv86DMH6kLI4A2gVm0kT0bP_YjsbBX1FGDkiS3fvScX5TNqv03CLuzHG1a804ioeD-786mwB4qWW_r5oEc0SKiGUWeizWPWwFafWs9L2s-9IHXoJncWaKQwdcQaqb9QWJ309HgzUEwS9IIgN7cpjTSwFDXEMu2F8r0T8wE/s4624/wild%20orchid%20-%20volcano%20national%20park%20-%20Big%20Island.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="2084" height="447" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVb0P5sPlkPSqkcv86DMH6kLI4A2gVm0kT0bP_YjsbBX1FGDkiS3fvScX5TNqv03CLuzHG1a804ioeD-786mwB4qWW_r5oEc0SKiGUWeizWPWwFafWs9L2s-9IHXoJncWaKQwdcQaqb9QWJ309HgzUEwS9IIgN7cpjTSwFDXEMu2F8r0T8wE/w201-h447/wild%20orchid%20-%20volcano%20national%20park%20-%20Big%20Island.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild orchid on Kīlauea</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We were lucky with the weather - the north side of the Big Island gets its fair share of rainy days.</p><p><b>Next stop Kona</b>, the sunny-side of the island. Too shallow for a cruise ship to berth, Kona could only be visited by tenders - small boats ferried passengers back and forth until it was time to pull up anchor.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekFrbGvl7KN3qZY3qnUpnupb9SQm8ewHIDlTKaWY0S-46_IlAmwt9DRj6oEQqC5pkve4oZAONU-KhyyFs-MK8qgYjqJFGmDHIloJYvzctU331qVCspktdB11dzKrq92qX1Z8bBraynFzYFIx6Nnh92OqX74PgOGvOqS7gKYH5LjO0KWyLLaM/s4624/Kona%20-%20sunny%20side%20of%20the%20Big%20Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekFrbGvl7KN3qZY3qnUpnupb9SQm8ewHIDlTKaWY0S-46_IlAmwt9DRj6oEQqC5pkve4oZAONU-KhyyFs-MK8qgYjqJFGmDHIloJYvzctU331qVCspktdB11dzKrq92qX1Z8bBraynFzYFIx6Nnh92OqX74PgOGvOqS7gKYH5LjO0KWyLLaM/w400-h300/Kona%20-%20sunny%20side%20of%20the%20Big%20Island.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kona - sand and sunshine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXfRgyLPiYRTF29ZeLJ6vpWhp1RQT_mwgHz2L7ezxwFpv8MbdSCu9AUt2eHg2lnSmZhrVZaKjMq6xMnma76_kqW5aGtGtKSQaGu-Dc8LnY76G1czLVSdmMWhY24XVbJ28NaVYxPdaj6AbbRjvdwRRYvw81iJKYm8p5NciS8WWI091Ur5BjCw/s4624/Tender%20boat%20arriving%20Kona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXfRgyLPiYRTF29ZeLJ6vpWhp1RQT_mwgHz2L7ezxwFpv8MbdSCu9AUt2eHg2lnSmZhrVZaKjMq6xMnma76_kqW5aGtGtKSQaGu-Dc8LnY76G1czLVSdmMWhY24XVbJ28NaVYxPdaj6AbbRjvdwRRYvw81iJKYm8p5NciS8WWI091Ur5BjCw/w300-h400/Tender%20boat%20arriving%20Kona.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tender boat arriving Kona - close up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-9419918066981738102022-08-09T23:37:00.003-07:002022-08-09T23:37:58.189-07:00Maui – Haleakalā Crater<p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">We have just returned from a nostalgic trip to our favourite states of America, Hawaii and California, thanks to Hawaiian Airlines and The Pride of America cruise ship. We had a charmed travel experience: no flight delays, no missing baggage, and negative covid tests prior to the cruise. The weather was beautiful, in contrast to the heat waves across UK and Europe.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Fascinated by the online images of <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Kilauea's latest eruption activity on The Big Island, we wanted to visit Hawaii's volcanic landscapes as soon as borders reopened. First stop was the </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Haleakalā Crater on the</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> island of Maui (Pride of America's first port of call).</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUunREJ19aXJnxu94uHNdVCtv75W6yPnuJzavGohzAyLLwvMzzJLgQqRHBttaF2vd-mMOaOSjc5x5z_LneAOKVed2YUcYz5nbReQUOteUHN0UC_T-Qmpf2UgjTA-idak1K_SbDpmvST_Lp1j_fPg_J7096ivfluOHoGWN0naWN9nIJ75yy8M/s4624/Maui%20-%20clouds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUunREJ19aXJnxu94uHNdVCtv75W6yPnuJzavGohzAyLLwvMzzJLgQqRHBttaF2vd-mMOaOSjc5x5z_LneAOKVed2YUcYz5nbReQUOteUHN0UC_T-Qmpf2UgjTA-idak1K_SbDpmvST_Lp1j_fPg_J7096ivfluOHoGWN0naWN9nIJ75yy8M/w452-h203/Maui%20-%20clouds.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Maui from Pride of America</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_bviwFvP2jecbvy4C4Si_lbPeMZmjgTBu11XHDxxRwFeRV11z9ntVnfupJbsg__5mgB9R7FO8VAWNGeVW6TWS4yswpVkOj6jEDpRSAn9j5uhtCSjEZ8o8Az624dEmddsAJH6xIipZWXw-RdRiaq5AdaTpf-kORx1NBonUw9e8za8QUWhvDM/s4624/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Cinder%20cones.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_bviwFvP2jecbvy4C4Si_lbPeMZmjgTBu11XHDxxRwFeRV11z9ntVnfupJbsg__5mgB9R7FO8VAWNGeVW6TWS4yswpVkOj6jEDpRSAn9j5uhtCSjEZ8o8Az624dEmddsAJH6xIipZWXw-RdRiaq5AdaTpf-kORx1NBonUw9e8za8QUWhvDM/w450-h202/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Cinder%20cones.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinder cones on the crater surface</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">A small bus transported us to the summit of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">the </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Haleakalā Crater, at an altitude of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">10,000
ft/3055 m. The road was a little scary as it snaked and twisted through green ranchland, but the driver calmed us with his entertaining tales and knowledge of the area. There were very few guard rails, so it would not be for the feint-hearted to hire a car and do it independently. </span></span><p></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYsQF2U80km5vdXZlZt77KW9KX0IL7Zu_F_khwzOUH1xVoLZNUGyafySEROUZpprR4P_dF3UIX2nbYOCyKGLB7Bx_WFtf7CuzSBxCQeEC3-ahLoG3Rhlj1nNjsoN7a46cNv46cluRbQctjJXupbQQN9mNbNbTjXUj0D11LEqZeQmshdLGMr8/s4000/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Visitor%20Centre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYsQF2U80km5vdXZlZt77KW9KX0IL7Zu_F_khwzOUH1xVoLZNUGyafySEROUZpprR4P_dF3UIX2nbYOCyKGLB7Bx_WFtf7CuzSBxCQeEC3-ahLoG3Rhlj1nNjsoN7a46cNv46cluRbQctjJXupbQQN9mNbNbTjXUj0D11LEqZeQmshdLGMr8/w456-h205/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Visitor%20Centre.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visitors Center at the summit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbKt7OqQuIQeZmPUslKCEnlZ38n2zjim2QhkZysESn8yJZDyvqS3VBkkG52OZi-Kin30-iq4tdXuq8N8hxl8da205LN_Ap85Xc3R1jgJOjx9DmB9oA2DiVGznv3-zhJhinrDB1AMM_s2-LmGDkalmBtBXgb65JaMYJRYBkjA_4bD2PqSl-OQ/s10752/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20View%20from%20Visitor%20Centre%20(3p).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2752" data-original-width="10752" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbKt7OqQuIQeZmPUslKCEnlZ38n2zjim2QhkZysESn8yJZDyvqS3VBkkG52OZi-Kin30-iq4tdXuq8N8hxl8da205LN_Ap85Xc3R1jgJOjx9DmB9oA2DiVGznv3-zhJhinrDB1AMM_s2-LmGDkalmBtBXgb65JaMYJRYBkjA_4bD2PqSl-OQ/w594-h153/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20View%20from%20Visitor%20Centre%20(3p).jpg" width="594" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of Haleakalā Crater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: center;">In Hawaiian language, Haleakalā means "house of sun". According to the legend, the demigod Maui slowed the descending path of the sun by lassoing it to make the day longer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unlike </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Kilauea on The Big Island, </span><span style="text-align: center;">Haleakalā is currently dormant (with a moderate threat potential). It started growing about 2 million years ago, and in the past 1000 years at least ten eruptions have been recorded. </span></span><a href="https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/Haleakalā"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: times;"><u>https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/</u></span></span><span style="font-family: times; text-align: center;">haleakalā</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">The fragile Silversword plant is very beautiful; it will die if touched by a human hand. We saw many of these plants and admired them from afar.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqKFi_Na6zi-vgc_bB3pe2uidQqxMRXuO_WfIafzxlX-bTtk1Nf-CYR26EppmzXBNLg1Ce7ZVloFjdKlbz37wnwerRMlIuHGBuwWX9Q-nN-SbaWi7Llex3J1SttqjyiUoTBwmZ8FucTp7hgTQCTNK1YctGmJ46YesVUAe2xA609x3yHvrrRs/s2920/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Silversword%20plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2920" data-original-width="2009" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqKFi_Na6zi-vgc_bB3pe2uidQqxMRXuO_WfIafzxlX-bTtk1Nf-CYR26EppmzXBNLg1Ce7ZVloFjdKlbz37wnwerRMlIuHGBuwWX9Q-nN-SbaWi7Llex3J1SttqjyiUoTBwmZ8FucTp7hgTQCTNK1YctGmJ46YesVUAe2xA609x3yHvrrRs/w275-h400/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20Silversword%20plant.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silversword plant, Haleakalā summit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Looking back to the coast of Maui, the view from the summit was stunning.<u><br /></u></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v0vIB4KW3fGNyojFr6JfLZRwGLXmcY_2JgCN9F1cnmhrlOy2nfQ4iGnpol2Wryj2Lf9d7AQKq6rJSujxOQno6txT_FJcl_EiyTSNY3lDaqLQz-93ukxh6ta7uU8ns86FSydscurU9P1_jnPa8grLblnQ7m2QcwWJ9HoGVb-nD8R6NiDE-_U/s4624/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20View%20to%20the%20ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2084" data-original-width="4624" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3v0vIB4KW3fGNyojFr6JfLZRwGLXmcY_2JgCN9F1cnmhrlOy2nfQ4iGnpol2Wryj2Lf9d7AQKq6rJSujxOQno6txT_FJcl_EiyTSNY3lDaqLQz-93ukxh6ta7uU8ns86FSydscurU9P1_jnPa8grLblnQ7m2QcwWJ9HoGVb-nD8R6NiDE-_U/w575-h259/Maui%20-%20Haleakala%20National%20Park%20-%20View%20to%20the%20ocean.jpg" width="575" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking toward the coast where Pride of America was docked</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-25293573634011642002020-05-03T18:10:00.001-07:002020-05-03T18:12:42.249-07:00Lockdown 2020Our trip to
Hawaii had to be postponed indefinitely. 4 days in Kona, 4 days in Lihue and 10
in Waikiki were cancelled. April would find us hunkered down in the inner Brisbane
suburb of New Farm marking time while the world focused on finding remedies for
the Covid-19 virus that is relentlessly, stealthily sucking the life out of unsuspecting
humans.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The world
was not ready for a pandemic. Vaccines take time. Governments were thrown in to
crisis mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my mother often quoted “The
situation doesn’t make a person, it reveals that person”, and Covid-19 is revealing the true leaders of our
nations. The smoke and mirrors that may have worked for some in the past are no
match for Covid-19. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Fortunately, <i>lockdown</i> in April has not been harsh in Brisbane with autumn temperatures ranging 27-30 C (low 80s F). Exercise
outside was always allowed. The local grocery stores eventually found their
groove and are providing safer shopping experiences. The Brisbane City Council
maintains a bevy of beautiful parklands and most of the inner Brisbane suburbs have
easy access to the Brisbane River with its scenic walkways and bike paths. Holidaying
at home with our music collections, craft collections and internet has been
rather fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here's a snapshot of our month in <i>Lockdown</i>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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Early morning walks at sunrise set the tone of the day.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk5eIfsnS-gfzBXWGITTw4o8oiqqvg_AhTICFFtmLu4e29yIMsPCM13oJiO4i85BkICFrbSLmxKi37qLg3xGRklQ8dfLNGrthEPcroeueVC9_vEVDM2xBu-AguOBJItsVnCuVUA/s1600/brisbane+river+sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk5eIfsnS-gfzBXWGITTw4o8oiqqvg_AhTICFFtmLu4e29yIMsPCM13oJiO4i85BkICFrbSLmxKi37qLg3xGRklQ8dfLNGrthEPcroeueVC9_vEVDM2xBu-AguOBJItsVnCuVUA/s400/brisbane+river+sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brisbane River, near Merthyr bowls club<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: center;">It's autumn here, so while the abundance of the rose gardens in New Farm Park had passed</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtB-jcFjtkstgqdE8xysvpQ_bG4rPwgEP6WmWmctFdJN-R3eBn-bJp6bBkxbXFztFDvMCFD5tbiQGBX8jdO0qkkLFFLMncfs_HDc9K-5f01XjoxWpIjsM5pUefDPY8FlkGsESv8A/s1600/Rose+gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtB-jcFjtkstgqdE8xysvpQ_bG4rPwgEP6WmWmctFdJN-R3eBn-bJp6bBkxbXFztFDvMCFD5tbiQGBX8jdO0qkkLFFLMncfs_HDc9K-5f01XjoxWpIjsM5pUefDPY8FlkGsESv8A/s400/Rose+gardens.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose gardens, New Farm Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
the brilliance and beauty of late bloomers cheered the soul</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtHd-WfDm4HNLczaJ4mCCTxW5eLRhzgXHZNQCKT7CGOXccUdBoovf_sreojDeWJ9BtGDHHYwqCRF2oU_xJSRcFO_8QNdpTuQJH9YwfD9SxYgTRUaE6UFvgwuDXmqFajD5g8oysQ/s1600/Smelling+the+roses+still+in+bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtHd-WfDm4HNLczaJ4mCCTxW5eLRhzgXHZNQCKT7CGOXccUdBoovf_sreojDeWJ9BtGDHHYwqCRF2oU_xJSRcFO_8QNdpTuQJH9YwfD9SxYgTRUaE6UFvgwuDXmqFajD5g8oysQ/s400/Smelling+the+roses+still+in+bloom.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Rose, New Farm Park<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The downstream outlook from the jetty near the Sugar Refinery Apartments is a go-to view of the river that fills my cup and invigorates my mind.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFCz5jqpi9at87BACshRLjr6oZfu-nDmu8ATAGuMhYE097gTzvfmlCIBroDPxtcpppvOHRMW8LKDHKInzev7igw9kDSQO1eq11y5tzlGP2mt9Yq83-gitGuLQ9aLIh2TQhp6LKA/s1600/teneriffe+section+of+the+river+walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFCz5jqpi9at87BACshRLjr6oZfu-nDmu8ATAGuMhYE097gTzvfmlCIBroDPxtcpppvOHRMW8LKDHKInzev7igw9kDSQO1eq11y5tzlGP2mt9Yq83-gitGuLQ9aLIh2TQhp6LKA/s400/teneriffe+section+of+the+river+walkway.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teneriffe river walk, Brisbane River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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Upstream has a pretty nice view too. During WWII the government decided that sugar was an essential commodity that had to be reserved. Output at this refinery was doubled 1940-1945.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlwVMcx91bgBAGwJza3Jagk36EkF24026hp3y4TRGBFWIgI54IKCT_QzIY90dT2oVCNK9aeONr3SW1k6yUD1NgPqubCVqvJpH9OFx43dow2HZkA1f_4-zS9ltx6s2pxWlr2FVlA/s1600/sugar+refinery+apartments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlwVMcx91bgBAGwJza3Jagk36EkF24026hp3y4TRGBFWIgI54IKCT_QzIY90dT2oVCNK9aeONr3SW1k6yUD1NgPqubCVqvJpH9OFx43dow2HZkA1f_4-zS9ltx6s2pxWlr2FVlA/s400/sugar+refinery+apartments.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Refinery Apartments, Teneriffe</td></tr>
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It was always good to see the city cats operating on the river. With plenty of outdoor seating they would appear to be the safest form of public transport at the moment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHQi5SUUy8TB6di4uHdOL6PPX_esApTgFJNl7vwSbiifHXrfyxV6mQADflkQ8IGsY-ekTke-1APT7C0pkg3Gveci60QuUS2CfgM11D0J_krd7VE89eL4Me436X-sBNKDwlCG9pw/s1600/city+cat+at+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHQi5SUUy8TB6di4uHdOL6PPX_esApTgFJNl7vwSbiifHXrfyxV6mQADflkQ8IGsY-ekTke-1APT7C0pkg3Gveci60QuUS2CfgM11D0J_krd7VE89eL4Me436X-sBNKDwlCG9pw/s400/city+cat+at+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Cat near Sydney Street, New Farm</td></tr>
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Scenes of dogs on leashes and kids cycling with their parents helped you feel connected to the rest of the community.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ziSrWJ7bp1vIDLedmtHx_UORFIjf0KOvrPqW2tOa6GcBWoCFpq1ijyvKufeymHuOQbBOmrlyROTjaCNIK13h-UIZnwnhsGtwZq-ikuTHpqouQNT5aWwUo0vWvvHlQeSidxCYqw/s1600/walking+the+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ziSrWJ7bp1vIDLedmtHx_UORFIjf0KOvrPqW2tOa6GcBWoCFpq1ijyvKufeymHuOQbBOmrlyROTjaCNIK13h-UIZnwnhsGtwZq-ikuTHpqouQNT5aWwUo0vWvvHlQeSidxCYqw/s400/walking+the+dog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River walkway near Sydney Street City Cat Stop</td></tr>
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Sewing fabric face masks for the people I cherish helped me feel connected to my family. My darling 4 year old grand daughter wore her mask to the Covid-19 testing clinic. She was required to have a test because she presented with a sore, inflamed throat (the test was negative thankfully). And grandpa wears his mask to the fruit and vegetable market.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O1eisCIpnkpm1oIhdr40XL90bO8gSQMROeskefYx_z6HPFv0wvn-fSF5VR9sWGXMXQIGX_pMltoFrfJSXCtqxZ5_2A9TzCuz6dgQayT399QgE6b-pcamDnEf7XV49TXuZilXtQ/s1600/sewing+face+masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9O1eisCIpnkpm1oIhdr40XL90bO8gSQMROeskefYx_z6HPFv0wvn-fSF5VR9sWGXMXQIGX_pMltoFrfJSXCtqxZ5_2A9TzCuz6dgQayT399QgE6b-pcamDnEf7XV49TXuZilXtQ/s400/sewing+face+masks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade face masks - using free online patterns </td></tr>
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Guessing in late March that hair salons would be closed because physical distancing while having a hair cut would be almost impossible, I ordered hair clippers online so we could do it ourselves. I YouTubed how to trim a 7.5 cm (3 inch) undercut, encouraged my husband to watch the video too (kind of like homeschooling) and last week he did it for me. He did a superb job. It blends in beautifully with the rest of the 'do'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKlbc0I5exvex6nxTBCEBHmX0Ng4f721HMfQiKlThekx0zCWCE857cFmoBCCEvrjGdij3JXoeWnh3L2_HmTiavkO8FmCi7eYr26DbwbEzY-4qUak6Gcu7EleMLjHy0me4mhyphenhyphenbjQ/s1600/undercut+in+lockdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKlbc0I5exvex6nxTBCEBHmX0Ng4f721HMfQiKlThekx0zCWCE857cFmoBCCEvrjGdij3JXoeWnh3L2_HmTiavkO8FmCi7eYr26DbwbEzY-4qUak6Gcu7EleMLjHy0me4mhyphenhyphenbjQ/s400/undercut+in+lockdown.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Undercut trim at home</td></tr>
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It was also fun to buy a ukulele online for my grand daughter who is turning 6 very soon. It has already arrived at her home address and she loves it. We are lucky her big cousin already knows how to play the ukulele because she can teach her how to do the island strum. The simple chords for Happy Birthday will be a good start.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu8lg5axf7Z0r6icqg2BcBhIpYc_ytLFcsCbDuKabJ4AUQ6lIvcQaRNe39OIytcNYgQdpwndzLpl6IbCSNP9kO2ZodzI95ru7L3T5y1CdxZW13hC2chI2bAONu9E3XnUGuvjaqQ/s1600/ukulele+chords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCu8lg5axf7Z0r6icqg2BcBhIpYc_ytLFcsCbDuKabJ4AUQ6lIvcQaRNe39OIytcNYgQdpwndzLpl6IbCSNP9kO2ZodzI95ru7L3T5y1CdxZW13hC2chI2bAONu9E3XnUGuvjaqQ/s400/ukulele+chords.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple chords from Ukulele PuaPua, Waikiki</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">As of 3<sup>rd</sup>
May confirmed Covid-19 cases in Queensland, Australia total 1,034; with 113,601 patients
tested. So far six people have died. For Australia as a whole there have been 6,801 confirmed cases since late January, with 95 deaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Queensland's collective isolation efforts to “flatten the curve” are now being rewarded with
the lifting of certain restrictions. We can break out from our house arrest and
go on a picnic or shop for non-essentials. But wait, there are three golden
rules that must be followed:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;">1) Hygiene and social distancing (1.5 metres) still applies; 2) </span></span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">Stay within 50 kilometres from home; and 3) </span><span style="text-indent: -24px;">only household members, or yourself and one other person can attend that picnic</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Schools are
still open for children of essential workers or vulnerable students. This will
be revised on May 15. Playgrounds remain closed. </span>Queensland’s
borders remain closed.</div>
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More updates can be found at <a href="http://health.gov.au/" target="_blank">Health.gov.au</a></div>
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Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-1610692046231432092019-02-25T14:31:00.001-08:002019-02-25T14:37:31.140-08:00Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cabo San Lucas is one of my favorite places on planet Earth. The views are astounding, the boating tours are legion, the locals are welcoming, and a sense of happiness envelopes you as you arrive.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxLdVRlLe87eQiLppF4teruaar1o4pEmvkMERIaxuLuP3Ej2b4t9QzCNjzIYTfl5c_uCZ1zQhO_3EvqSurDAdFJK0hvvZsddOjDo-xag3iA1MvEY80NbnbXMUMWHOso8uCJuG8A/s1600/Cabo+daybreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxLdVRlLe87eQiLppF4teruaar1o4pEmvkMERIaxuLuP3Ej2b4t9QzCNjzIYTfl5c_uCZ1zQhO_3EvqSurDAdFJK0hvvZsddOjDo-xag3iA1MvEY80NbnbXMUMWHOso8uCJuG8A/s400/Cabo+daybreak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabo San Lucas, daybreak</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wAFoBRPw08QFGmaBD5_Jp0yNrLAtmATziWPJH6ZN0qE4lbkUviNG6zt_QDnC2HuKGERHX1VIAexgoydTVXK5ROYNZxlwb4gNdO9OUo4_hBnXg2ruEs3sS0lTKMPTAv9-4ZWdOg/s1600/Cabo+marina+tour+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wAFoBRPw08QFGmaBD5_Jp0yNrLAtmATziWPJH6ZN0qE4lbkUviNG6zt_QDnC2HuKGERHX1VIAexgoydTVXK5ROYNZxlwb4gNdO9OUo4_hBnXg2ruEs3sS0lTKMPTAv9-4ZWdOg/s400/Cabo+marina+tour+boat.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour boat heading to the Arch of Cabo</td></tr>
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We were hungry and I was ready for a good cup of coffee. Early in the morning there were few options on the main promenade so we headed for the back streets and stumbled upon the <a href="http://www.cabocantina.com.mx/" target="_blank">Cabo Cantina</a>. The coffee was incredibly good, and my huevos rancheros meal was a stand out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cabocantina.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt=" Breakfast at Cabo Cantina, Cabo San Lucas" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1qHT2MH3PnMi1P4MYx3aWJ162YPfzfZ26UN8np-d9usyFThazmxC7yVGVkOdUBBo5JGT8fGXqyuVu2h3ds6_uxD9qAyA9lj1roJULCRcF2aOxTh8VIBiDmrIuSdtEMSihU_LYQ/s400/Breakfast+in+Cabo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cabocantina.com.mx/" target="_blank">Breakfast at Cabo Cantina, Cabo San Lucas</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f1UlKkClfh0LwDTP26uoZGPTZWvLAng3TILobcMMW4l1K9B9c4UXBt0kWSE7NWan-YmOFkPLnD9k9bdFqhzQBpkO2l0St0_wbdUwVuInRPGYAiftFA15-GkB1R8DqrGaLNzlaQ/s1600/Cabo+Cantina+Huevos+rancheros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f1UlKkClfh0LwDTP26uoZGPTZWvLAng3TILobcMMW4l1K9B9c4UXBt0kWSE7NWan-YmOFkPLnD9k9bdFqhzQBpkO2l0St0_wbdUwVuInRPGYAiftFA15-GkB1R8DqrGaLNzlaQ/s400/Cabo+Cantina+Huevos+rancheros.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huevos rancheros, Cabo Cantina, Cabo San Lucas</td></tr>
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The Cabo Cantina turned out to be where all the Caboholics hang before heading out to their next tour. They are a fun bunch of people from around the world; many of them escaping colder climates for a few glorious weeks. Angel, from the tour office adjacent to the Cantina is their goto tour guide. Here they are having just returned from their head-spinning trip to The Arch with Angel, and eager to be waited upon by one of their favorite bartenders, Justin Blok. Their exuberance was magnetic, and I happily joined this warm, welcoming group of Caboholics</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwX6qRSsFfLNQEb4rmH6aB4E3xPb8kEztJuNup5khBrJhup0HBv9ffePVfFQU3TPSynbY17xvq70O8tbtUUcbPGKTZKqJQo6UahIkgEe2hwqLrDqHAmM8PjWaz66moOsJVOekzA/s400/Travel+friends.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friendly Caboholics at the Cabo Cantina</td></tr>
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Cabo San Lucas is an aquatic playground. There is always a tour boat leaving in the next few minutes; some of them only taking an hour or so before bringing you back to the marina, others such as fishing tours taking the whole day</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKvmOyO_i6GVDUhzPg6BUXVLT_txxZju0gLeydeXyt6TT4KNd2WrWA3JZdaYs8UnRjTYN5JixtQeTTNkcd1kwx18iWbAkF1JVxCSyQMAJ-Ok6B4JJaFJplVYLJcKWDoAoiOMazQ/s1600/Cabo+tour+choices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKvmOyO_i6GVDUhzPg6BUXVLT_txxZju0gLeydeXyt6TT4KNd2WrWA3JZdaYs8UnRjTYN5JixtQeTTNkcd1kwx18iWbAkF1JVxCSyQMAJ-Ok6B4JJaFJplVYLJcKWDoAoiOMazQ/s400/Cabo+tour+choices.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tour boats docked at Cabo San Lucas marina</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv_Z9mtv94v8y568J6G6JTV1TBbuW0OjnFasylZY8vXEwOAh0HuJGPiS2HK0USSYD5XaiS2GX6555P1_Yf-3_AnQY2Eus2HXaiWXw8uCr1oJSS9DmmyX4frP_hrKoY5p7H_ecVw/s1600/Cabo+boat+tours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAv_Z9mtv94v8y568J6G6JTV1TBbuW0OjnFasylZY8vXEwOAh0HuJGPiS2HK0USSYD5XaiS2GX6555P1_Yf-3_AnQY2Eus2HXaiWXw8uCr1oJSS9DmmyX4frP_hrKoY5p7H_ecVw/s400/Cabo+boat+tours.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fishing tours returning with their catch</td></tr>
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And if you don't want a boat trip, the sparkling waters of the beach next to the marina is a pretty place to relax and soak up the Baja California Sur sun<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWgQH90XbhBKi6V8-g9E8U0MK0wF_1arsE9yU6JLik1EQIknLbrNkASFiFx5aKF5Yt1TwuW98mdL122syL-9tv8NDyzaedHVK6J9d6MZLvEZojHsVaGlkVYmjxf5FtIF2x88YwA/s1600/beach+at+Cabo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWgQH90XbhBKi6V8-g9E8U0MK0wF_1arsE9yU6JLik1EQIknLbrNkASFiFx5aKF5Yt1TwuW98mdL122syL-9tv8NDyzaedHVK6J9d6MZLvEZojHsVaGlkVYmjxf5FtIF2x88YwA/s400/beach+at+Cabo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabo San Lucas beach</td></tr>
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Jewelry shops abound in Cabo San Lucas and one has to be careful not to be cheated or juped by eager folk wanting you to buy from them. But it's worth taking a chance by at least browsing in some of the shops. On our way out of Cabo I was hustled into the Real McCoy gold and silver jewelry factory. Despite feeling annoyed by the pushy tactics of the owners, I discovered the most beautiful ring I had ever seen; an orange opal that sparkles so brightly, so iridescently. We bought it and I am so grateful we did. It stands out in the sea of gorgeous rings around the world. Where else would I find such a lovely silver ring with an orange opal. Just one more reason for being a Caboholic.<br />
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One last look at Cabo San Lucas, until we return<br />
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Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-11379848824336051842017-05-02T23:45:00.000-07:002017-05-03T12:49:12.896-07:00Cruising the Hawaiian IslandsThe Pride of America cruises the Hawaiian Islands all-year round; embarking from Honolulu on a Saturday evening and stopping at Maui for two nights, Hawaii (The Big Island) for two nights (Hilo and Kona) and Kauai (Lihue) for one night. The other two nights are spent cruising the Pacific Ocean. On the way back to Honolulu the ship takes a detour to showcase the spectacular Na Pali Coast. Below are a few photos I took on our recent trip (when I remembered to pack my camera for the day).<br />
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Maui</h4>
We took a scenic bus trip to the beautiful town of Lahaina. Stores of well-known brands such as Patagonia and Lush and waterfront restaurants stretched along the main street from the Banyan tree to the small outlet mall. We had lunch at Lahaina Fish Co, just a few doors down from Kimo's Restaurant. I had the MahiMahi fish plate - cajun seared over brown rice topped with tropical salsa and balsamic drizzle.<br />
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Banyan Tree, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii</h3>
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View from the Lahaina coastal walkway - puppies playing fetch</h3>
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Walkway along the volcanic coast, Lahaina, Maui, HI </h3>
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Locals crammed into the back of their ute, Lahaina, Maui, HI</h3>
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Hawaii, The Big Island</h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">It was a bleak morning the day we arrived at the Port of Hilo. Thick cloud blanketed the hills and together with the lava landscape the atmosphere was dark and eerie. We were soon to learn about Pele, the goddess of Hawaii's volcanoes. </span></h3>
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The view from the ship's balcony, arriving at the Port of Hilo, The Big Island, HI</h3>
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Lava rocks along the coastline, Hilo, Hawaii</h3>
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The work of Pele - A lava mound with the imprint of a tree inside</h3>
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Walking on lava - Hilo, Big Island, HI</h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">After the lava tree mounds we visited a lava beach - nothing like the golden beaches of Queensland, Australia - they were lava grey and very pebbly (it couldn't be called sand by any stretch). But the sun did finally shine as we arrived at this beach and it was very tempting to take a couple of the smaller pebbles for keepsakes. Our guide convinced us that it would not be wise to do so; it would likely make Pele angry. She recounted stories of the bad luck that fell on such hapless visitors who dared to remove what Pele had created. I have a little anecdote of my own to add to the Pele stories: we took the lead on this trek to the beach because a young boy had been stung by a bee and needed the guide's assistance. As we arrived at the edge of the ocean I spotted what I thought was a shiny piece of blue paper...the only made-made object on the beach. It was a very light-weight poncho still in it's packaging. I felt the warmth of Pele shining on me and accepted it as a gift. I was very glad that I didn't disappoint her by taking a tiny pebble as a souvenir.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">On our night cruise to Kona, we were treated to the </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">spectacular coastal scene of intense heat and steam caused by hot lava mixing with the sea water - Kilaeua. Pele was putting on a show for us. We were too far away from the site for a decent photo but there is a picture in my pinterest folder, <a href="https://au.pinterest.com/julzlovell/take-me-there/" target="_blank">Take me there</a>.</span><br />
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was cold and rainy for most of the time we were docked at Hilo, we were heartened to learn that our next stop, Kona, was sure to be sunny and warm. We were also excited by the fact that tenders (small orange boats carried on our ship) would be ferrying us across to the shore because there was no place to dock a cruise ship at Kona harbor.</span></div>
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Sunrise - arriving Kona, Big Island, HI</h3>
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Tender boats ready to serve</h3>
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View of Kona through the front window of the tender</h3>
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View from Kona foreshores - searching for a cup of Kona coffee</h3>
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Pride of America anchored and waiting for our return</h3>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kauai </span></b></h3>
The sound of a rooster greeted us as we docked at the port of Nawiliwili (near Lihue), Kauai. It kept crowing. Later we realised that there was more than one rooster. In fact there were many chickens and roosters free ranging across the island; they had escaped during a hurricane. We also learned that the underground sport of cock fighting was alive and well on Kauai.<br />
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Kauai had several attractions for us. There was a beautiful beach in walking distance from the port with a Duke's barefoot bar close by. There was a well-stocked yarn shop called Twisted Turtles across the road from Dukes in Lihue. While there were plenty of natural wonders to explore on Kauai we chose the Wailua river boat ride to the Wailua Falls and Fern Grotto. Next cruise we'll do the Waimea Canyon.<br />
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Wailua River cruise</h3>
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Ginger plant with pink flowers, Wailua River State Park, Kauai</h3>
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Fern Grotto (Cave), Wailua River State Park, Kauai</h3>
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At the viewing deck - Fern Grotto, Wailua River State Park, Kauai</h3>
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The beach at Lihue, Kauai - sailboards, canoes, volley ball</h3>
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The view from Dukes Barefoot Bar, Lihue, Kauai</h3>
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Leaving Nawiliwili Port, Kauai</h3>
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Flashing my new Kauai T-shirt - Deck 11, Aft, Aloha Lanai Bar</h3>
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<h3>
Honolulu</h3>
On the way back to Honolulu we did a detour to the majestic Na Pali Coast. We viewed it from the Gold Rush Saloon, Deck 11, mid, as we toasted the Pride of America for taking us on a most amazing journey. We were sad the cruise would soon be over but we were excited about spending a few more days in Waikiki before heading home to Brisbane, Australia.<br />
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Just one more magnificent sunset on Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI</h3>
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Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-36813676283645869992013-09-05T23:57:00.000-07:002013-09-06T00:03:31.738-07:00Byron Bay, NSW, Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Byron Bay is a beautiful northern NSW beach town 2 hours by road from Brisbane. Golden sand, blue-green ocean water and rolling surf make Byron a great family holiday destination. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighthouse on Australia's most easterly point</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view to the north</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byron's Main Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byron's Belongil Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pandanus tree on Main Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rolling surf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old train station - no trains come here anymore</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byron's Thursday Farmers' market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www,juzziesmith.com/" target="_blank">Juzzie's One-Man Band</a> playing at the markets</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juzzie's quiver of harmonicas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fundies (fundamental food store) at Byron</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids playground at Byron's Main Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byron's Surf Life Savers' Club Function Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The deck of the Surf Life Savers' Club Function Room</td></tr>
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-22002178730689816962013-05-09T22:55:00.000-07:002013-09-06T16:21:49.465-07:00Oahu revisited - beach holiday Hawaiian style<div style="text-align: left;">
Direct flights on Hawaiian Airlines from Brisbane to Honolulu now make Hawaii a very accessible holiday destination for Queensland families. There is no place quite like Hawaii for the ultimate relaxing holiday experience. </div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Waikiki Beach viewed from Duke's Bar with Diamond Head in the distance</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #073763;">Waikiki Beach viewed from our balcony at the <a href="http://www.astonhotels.com/resort/overview/aston-waikiki-circle-hotel" target="_blank">Circle Hotel</a></span><a href="http://www.astonhotels.com/resort/overview/aston-waikiki-circle-hotel" target="_blank"></a></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">Lu'au at Paradise Cove </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">The SWIM bar at Waikiki's Hyatt Regency (very close to the Circle Hotel) hosts live music at happy hour - this is <a href="http://www.manoadna.com/" target="_blank">ManoaDNA</a> playing their originals and covers</span></b></div>
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-44819022772191029602012-06-22T19:46:00.000-07:002012-06-22T19:49:15.772-07:00Santa Cruz, California, USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Santa Cruz coastline is an excellent holiday destination for young and old. It has both natural and built attractions that are very accessible. There is an extensive range of rides at the fun park on the Boardwalk, from gentle carousels to wild roller-coasters and everything in between. If you want to get hot enough to brave the chilly ocean you can play a game of beach vollyball with friends or strangers. </div>
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Walking north from the Pier you will encounter the endearing Sea Lions that laze on large rocks grooming themselves and each other. They happily coexist with the surfers that frequent the rocky coves.</div>
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Anyone interested in sea creatures has to see the huge whale skeletons that have been preserved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) center. The Blue Whale is the largest known animal on earth.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Volly Ball Courts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach volly ball for everyone</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Boardwalk cable chairs</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Boardwalk Carousel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4l18a7TrgX7clY4Tvr5UrpuCpGpsEaiw0j2xnx66liH_WhLOhUw9Pd23t5vGpULG5E25AtJBmLEWIp_a3TAO5icJwXQQyEjYlH6rrR70zNHx-kQdfUkznVtaqbbVBuRlsI_b3Q/s1600/CIMG6226.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4l18a7TrgX7clY4Tvr5UrpuCpGpsEaiw0j2xnx66liH_WhLOhUw9Pd23t5vGpULG5E25AtJBmLEWIp_a3TAO5icJwXQQyEjYlH6rrR70zNHx-kQdfUkznVtaqbbVBuRlsI_b3Q/s400/CIMG6226.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz Sea Lions snoozing on their favorite island rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Cruz natural coastline</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Whale skeleton - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Whale skeleton (NOAA)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Pelicans in flight over the ocean</td></tr>
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-23891246993983181932011-08-09T12:47:00.000-07:002011-08-09T13:33:10.517-07:00Angels Flight - Downtown LA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuaEdk1EJZxEZvZB07CTGWBrM25o-FJNmd88-b5WRIbaU3S2FoOaJP14cwKZFdK3QWVlGS2L01r9CU8XnbHZInqHAsb118S2AObiCmy_Xd3o8nbE8tCfF84lje_uhXRcNiGkCUg/s1600/la-angels-flight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuaEdk1EJZxEZvZB07CTGWBrM25o-FJNmd88-b5WRIbaU3S2FoOaJP14cwKZFdK3QWVlGS2L01r9CU8XnbHZInqHAsb118S2AObiCmy_Xd3o8nbE8tCfF84lje_uhXRcNiGkCUg/s400/la-angels-flight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638955566817473698" border="0" /></a>
<br />A quaint pair of rail-cars provide transport up the steep incline from the Grand Central Markets on Hill Street to California Plaza on Bunker Hill.
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<br />If you have already read the novel "Angels Flight" by Michael Connelly you'll enjoy the ride a whole lot more. Quoting from the backcover of the book: "An activist attorney is killed in a cute little L.A. trolley called Angels Flight, far from Harry Bosch's Hollywood turf. But the case is so explosive - and the dead man's enemies inside the L.A.P.D. are so numerous - that it falls to Harry to solve it. Now the streets are superheating......"
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrYQ-rmUHK8A8i187swYs_K7g923zujaMdNS8qrWy1PFVUuOXmQgMNbeEQRK2VulqRHzhuRofu6XyHGPk17XfxtAW_p5OJXqzzzPLvdkpzwMudjIvpmuFy1Dh6hMDG_X6hd-1xw/s1600/la-angels-flight-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrYQ-rmUHK8A8i187swYs_K7g923zujaMdNS8qrWy1PFVUuOXmQgMNbeEQRK2VulqRHzhuRofu6XyHGPk17XfxtAW_p5OJXqzzzPLvdkpzwMudjIvpmuFy1Dh6hMDG_X6hd-1xw/s400/la-angels-flight-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638955471575137730" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkGJHhrDSu4tiHsxrsUc6uIFPzGDGcxuLn5TtmzOKUaHSVEqBrUPpETe4-C1rSsWgHXOEx3lD18Q6jyMon6U2RagjFKVRLXFQRRaNFgy4WtuRSq1AiaHssJ4VLqdo_4JSbtG7tA/s1600/la-angels-flight-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkGJHhrDSu4tiHsxrsUc6uIFPzGDGcxuLn5TtmzOKUaHSVEqBrUPpETe4-C1rSsWgHXOEx3lD18Q6jyMon6U2RagjFKVRLXFQRRaNFgy4WtuRSq1AiaHssJ4VLqdo_4JSbtG7tA/s400/la-angels-flight-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638955314039378866" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LD_TieIbQRno55R1Nta0ZSk8nE7iMyEqs-NgiC_J1zhnnTfWxwbXXPSaQ5kV3DefkOynGLRHLXEBiC5lPQmFUjvGE4qo1lW6KHIDZVYd_ZuHrRlmHDo_QfbdrsO48z8e-x5BcQ/s1600/la-angels-flight-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LD_TieIbQRno55R1Nta0ZSk8nE7iMyEqs-NgiC_J1zhnnTfWxwbXXPSaQ5kV3DefkOynGLRHLXEBiC5lPQmFUjvGE4qo1lW6KHIDZVYd_ZuHrRlmHDo_QfbdrsO48z8e-x5BcQ/s400/la-angels-flight-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638954862233242610" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt1YrNqB9akXSIRm8Qcw7rsJPO6P4eLTxPy2vZ38uEEW9nCKuEtwodlxti5kdJJ4eLRNNF-0dSHctvtsieugcrkRzHcA2qBH4ONcj-VhHeB_qgY4UMDgC0PF-6xSdygJKdfQKqw/s1600/la-angels-flight-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt1YrNqB9akXSIRm8Qcw7rsJPO6P4eLTxPy2vZ38uEEW9nCKuEtwodlxti5kdJJ4eLRNNF-0dSHctvtsieugcrkRzHcA2qBH4ONcj-VhHeB_qgY4UMDgC0PF-6xSdygJKdfQKqw/s400/la-angels-flight-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638955165277610898" border="0" /></a>
<br />Michael Connelly provides an excellent description through the eyes of Harry Bosch:
<br />"Bosch had ridden the inclined railroad as a kid and had studied how it worked. He still remembered. The two matching cars were counterbalanced. When one went up the side-by-side tracks the other went down, and vice versa. They passed each other at the mid-point. He remembered riding on Angels Flight long before Bunker Hill had been reborn as a slick business center of glass and marble towers, classy condominiums and apartments, museums, and fountains referred to as water gardens. Back then the hill had been a place of once-grand Victorian homes turned into tired-looking rooming houses. Harry and his mother had taken Angels Flight up the hill to look for a place to live." page 11.
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-77257830618691690662011-08-07T23:23:00.001-07:002011-08-07T23:55:07.575-07:00Smurf Watch - Los AngelesIn late July, warning signs on the front of the LA Times newspaper and on the sides of the Big Blue Buses of Santa Monica advertised the arrival of mischievous smurfs to LA cinemas.
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<br />Santa Monica Place took the hype further by being home to this monstrously large smurf.
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<br />I haven't seen the 3-D movie yet, but I did fall victim to the advertising efforts and bought some really cute figurines and soft-toy smurfs from a toy shop in downtown LA - in the Macy's building - to take home as gifts.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPtKnJiJ69iGGJAJA0oLUleKvWJyWYLWHpje5jOMF43QgkupvvAiQ-ihnCmRxfffSihfufyy3EhFryRJjPm8RzJmFzfnFEjZdF7aKZdd1t483zIiH7881PRw2JpqY49QRm0uSw/s1600/la-smurfs-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TPtKnJiJ69iGGJAJA0oLUleKvWJyWYLWHpje5jOMF43QgkupvvAiQ-ihnCmRxfffSihfufyy3EhFryRJjPm8RzJmFzfnFEjZdF7aKZdd1t483zIiH7881PRw2JpqY49QRm0uSw/s400/la-smurfs-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638368361955125154" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXbfdaJWqPZdrta06yUK5Uip1TdIoMoASalpQ5-n4IbJHAjHqyGC-kayGzrUrxDfK1bSvI56qL1o0wyIcO1mXCIyiHjpv7hI8f8nmJsrRol6ELE_J28vvYfmAZ4ma1popWpA5Yw/s1600/la-smurfs-sm-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXbfdaJWqPZdrta06yUK5Uip1TdIoMoASalpQ5-n4IbJHAjHqyGC-kayGzrUrxDfK1bSvI56qL1o0wyIcO1mXCIyiHjpv7hI8f8nmJsrRol6ELE_J28vvYfmAZ4ma1popWpA5Yw/s400/la-smurfs-sm-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638367672978592498" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObwE4UwxfQughpcUplGX82aPZXd9IRpIzSsbzN9eQo3qYJ2oYHI2MX5H3Xp_gdzPP_SnaKrnoqyNyXVR8r4UZpYbwZwX6Ab9Wusv7Jugz_QtupC0c__ujfoC21chOI2GOVoBP8w/s1600/la-smurfs-sm-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObwE4UwxfQughpcUplGX82aPZXd9IRpIzSsbzN9eQo3qYJ2oYHI2MX5H3Xp_gdzPP_SnaKrnoqyNyXVR8r4UZpYbwZwX6Ab9Wusv7Jugz_QtupC0c__ujfoC21chOI2GOVoBP8w/s400/la-smurfs-sm-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638367835824780722" border="0" /></a>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-6427196229575367642011-08-07T22:41:00.000-07:002011-08-08T00:13:03.016-07:00Catalina Island - Casino BuildingThe Catalina Casino building is not a casino, it is an entertainment center that dates back to 1929. Through the 1930s and 1940s the Casino Ballroom was a favorite venue for many of the Big Bands.
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<br />The Casino Art Gallery, Avalon Theatre, and Catalina Island Museum are also located in the Casino Building.
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<br />This glorious Catalina icon is as tall as a 12-story building.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZhuQwEI2CloV0ZJdaaIeupu7CyVhz_YRHkWe7ScVzOSWIk__2Y8F0EPsnmdJWhQ_swihHvxK_mkevarYNYwfUGJUdt-Zx-TWjy1AxVO_GRMZQYyw3ESDwG27sQB47HDqKD-2KA/s1600/la-catalina.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZhuQwEI2CloV0ZJdaaIeupu7CyVhz_YRHkWe7ScVzOSWIk__2Y8F0EPsnmdJWhQ_swihHvxK_mkevarYNYwfUGJUdt-Zx-TWjy1AxVO_GRMZQYyw3ESDwG27sQB47HDqKD-2KA/s400/la-catalina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638361876243733218" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduuYBeC0r5zeGHUHgmip7eclFd1-UqJHMs-M_JRtHjHWme-VL_QKWHBZoBBL9rHFBKBZ8D5aSkXUg1LvFbBVgqrN2aTlovK0CPwUzO8jrPKiZN_2sQfsZ7p9ncuIyLEiJ2rpr2A/s1600/la-catalina-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduuYBeC0r5zeGHUHgmip7eclFd1-UqJHMs-M_JRtHjHWme-VL_QKWHBZoBBL9rHFBKBZ8D5aSkXUg1LvFbBVgqrN2aTlovK0CPwUzO8jrPKiZN_2sQfsZ7p9ncuIyLEiJ2rpr2A/s400/la-catalina-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638361778529271426" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdyXx9KbiSmaxXKmCOxlBwwuLodALnEzS8U0jYd-O9dOnEy0haLLYbDCSN65vWeDuYXcDRXaQnA7q_mZ8p0b0d_yPv-IjRnN-aPZdt7SLLtz1eSxvvByjAtnjULrRAIfwpoaL7A/s1600/la-catalina-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdyXx9KbiSmaxXKmCOxlBwwuLodALnEzS8U0jYd-O9dOnEy0haLLYbDCSN65vWeDuYXcDRXaQnA7q_mZ8p0b0d_yPv-IjRnN-aPZdt7SLLtz1eSxvvByjAtnjULrRAIfwpoaL7A/s400/la-catalina-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638361333609911474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuNbcllleu_QC3FNqxiXAxg6ZiH7VTr5r5insKozy49mAn2cW73S98wuxZhAqFZEnTDW3a-_EkQ37WsHuj1rzdnYypHQT1P-Jt25L8f_cze5LP95fbyEWFuXTfpmHKEY3mJNJcQ/s1600/la-catalina-6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuNbcllleu_QC3FNqxiXAxg6ZiH7VTr5r5insKozy49mAn2cW73S98wuxZhAqFZEnTDW3a-_EkQ37WsHuj1rzdnYypHQT1P-Jt25L8f_cze5LP95fbyEWFuXTfpmHKEY3mJNJcQ/s400/la-catalina-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638361124833060994" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkWbQn-57KaddMgrvhkTy-FG7GWSIBrr2KLrwZWqVui1QoWDnVYOz3I2LSWTi3DCrGeg8opXkz09bbSaZpM9lAPTUJDSMjxTeNDyG5D4hHtACYsqEOsktli1aHfdzBbc24KMGPw/s1600/la-catalina-7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkWbQn-57KaddMgrvhkTy-FG7GWSIBrr2KLrwZWqVui1QoWDnVYOz3I2LSWTi3DCrGeg8opXkz09bbSaZpM9lAPTUJDSMjxTeNDyG5D4hHtACYsqEOsktli1aHfdzBbc24KMGPw/s400/la-catalina-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638360956221772338" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-30299563264675557862011-08-07T21:55:00.000-07:002011-08-08T00:13:32.290-07:00Catalina Island Day Trip - CaliforniaThe boat ride from Marina Del Rey to Saint Catalina Island takes about 2 hours. Depending on the weather, it can be a rough voyage. But the beauty and majesty of the sea-life you may encounter on the journey is worth taking the chance of motion sickness. On a clear day in early August we saw scores of dolphins and a couple of enormous blue whales.
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<br />Once you arrive on the island, you can kick back and relax on the beach, snorkel, scuba dive, rent a boat, rent a golf cart, or take a tour.
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<br />When you get hungry there are lots of cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from.
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<br />Catalina day-trippers from Marina Del Rey have to be ready to leave the island by 5 pm
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8qBUJ2IIfrfgIY5qVuq6k4B2QRTrP9qiwJwgYbYmEPRAbd5jTHupLP4ItydsUjhje80_y5OfqWvLYbVeQxrt98ti8dMz-z9u1WfOF8j0cSVGpltn1X4WayOe7cdxONIavF9SAg/s1600/la-catalina-avalon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8qBUJ2IIfrfgIY5qVuq6k4B2QRTrP9qiwJwgYbYmEPRAbd5jTHupLP4ItydsUjhje80_y5OfqWvLYbVeQxrt98ti8dMz-z9u1WfOF8j0cSVGpltn1X4WayOe7cdxONIavF9SAg/s400/la-catalina-avalon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638345814413801170" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQnb8ad1kNkvpIqPCX2ec6Dn6K6usxPa099PdQBCWi43r-Od9cnyiORux15OlITzZ64eV42UGQyEGRLgMsXl11WiR_uE_7j4ORAJeub6r5dR68H0gKm_t8C0bC_47pWfDBq1RAw/s1600/la-catalina-avalon-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQnb8ad1kNkvpIqPCX2ec6Dn6K6usxPa099PdQBCWi43r-Od9cnyiORux15OlITzZ64eV42UGQyEGRLgMsXl11WiR_uE_7j4ORAJeub6r5dR68H0gKm_t8C0bC_47pWfDBq1RAw/s400/la-catalina-avalon-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638345729723538034" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiza0h0DBcu07WBs8OMEHpjuVQEkOzYLw1TbP-lhC_oOi94_fv7nCeBMTENIxh5AvkPhCQNf34nFDGvwakixYHDrzhYWY14W291q5gnqb-1La0u6wuKsMBTKBci2FF_Y2q_0b4dow/s1600/la-catalina-avalon-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiza0h0DBcu07WBs8OMEHpjuVQEkOzYLw1TbP-lhC_oOi94_fv7nCeBMTENIxh5AvkPhCQNf34nFDGvwakixYHDrzhYWY14W291q5gnqb-1La0u6wuKsMBTKBci2FF_Y2q_0b4dow/s400/la-catalina-avalon-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638345643412216562" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb23xhrG3j7sn7ETN_SvpY3nfCjdjmT7or-5iEDrlubBjRWSGJoaHA0TYB-LeiixKb90YbuoNeDZz-BLEDlQh7ByJb29NMgHjP5AgsDqCr-waLJPO9i6dM_ZHAW-iYdud8ItCxgw/s1600/la-catalina-8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb23xhrG3j7sn7ETN_SvpY3nfCjdjmT7or-5iEDrlubBjRWSGJoaHA0TYB-LeiixKb90YbuoNeDZz-BLEDlQh7ByJb29NMgHjP5AgsDqCr-waLJPO9i6dM_ZHAW-iYdud8ItCxgw/s400/la-catalina-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638347158678513778" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8qVvnXhW170v6a9tmuVvOyxnfhDb5FjhlQvqpGQ7YaK35XAy7so18FARLGkR9csnlxeuVAQ1H0sR3qvw4PgCHjKaaF2NWbreB_Y1wvBF3hTPQIEuYnvaq_-Dvv_2BFZWfJ2kMA/s1600/la-catalina-10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8qVvnXhW170v6a9tmuVvOyxnfhDb5FjhlQvqpGQ7YaK35XAy7so18FARLGkR9csnlxeuVAQ1H0sR3qvw4PgCHjKaaF2NWbreB_Y1wvBF3hTPQIEuYnvaq_-Dvv_2BFZWfJ2kMA/s400/la-catalina-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638345429220032418" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7XFB0UzMNePDf4m21qHpZvwYfmNtyqOHEMjo9Qyf4yZLA_5vryyqKSpMczTvZBm6rEDxBJeRWl4P-uiypb3tIBPCmUgGDSLDE6ozBLaCdW8e0kMAZHJYoLDqOZjNQGVjTEd-aw/s1600/la-catalina-11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7XFB0UzMNePDf4m21qHpZvwYfmNtyqOHEMjo9Qyf4yZLA_5vryyqKSpMczTvZBm6rEDxBJeRWl4P-uiypb3tIBPCmUgGDSLDE6ozBLaCdW8e0kMAZHJYoLDqOZjNQGVjTEd-aw/s400/la-catalina-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638345249682637570" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix47ivdhEMba_8Ab30WqOka8zSj8dxxdhBj5aKgiPorrUEnyjFelSdW5E9ZBeEbL2wuwPG2VU6Z4vgznxMpOFu_NS9dxWe13b5gzaw59r2FvTwUERghZ4d9cnxRI2J3qg1XP5nRA/s1600/la-catalina-9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix47ivdhEMba_8Ab30WqOka8zSj8dxxdhBj5aKgiPorrUEnyjFelSdW5E9ZBeEbL2wuwPG2VU6Z4vgznxMpOFu_NS9dxWe13b5gzaw59r2FvTwUERghZ4d9cnxRI2J3qg1XP5nRA/s400/la-catalina-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638347792286679762" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-49164840368523693092011-06-30T12:10:00.000-07:002011-06-30T12:21:09.670-07:00Venice, Italy - views from the Grand CanalTake in the sights on your way to your hotel along the Grand Canal. These are some of the buildings we saw from the vaperatto. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqCCL5PfxsYzAr1-dkjl1jWCpyqlFIIVT955VaCGbf-7Gl7ee4LD6Jro8wasd7bnPPkTatKMEOO8PZMt2bYY6M-mtgQux0Z02IUgkpxWHGIRfUGntlg1cNpNCCTuKgKlt8_jxeg/s1600/venice-25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqCCL5PfxsYzAr1-dkjl1jWCpyqlFIIVT955VaCGbf-7Gl7ee4LD6Jro8wasd7bnPPkTatKMEOO8PZMt2bYY6M-mtgQux0Z02IUgkpxWHGIRfUGntlg1cNpNCCTuKgKlt8_jxeg/s400/venice-25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624093650381117026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMascGf-MjfIJ67-LCoouCxMO-Kuv3l7EWFlyJkobh14Cic1Xhy-JDaQ2BZ7VEyhWXBRbIFbbOLm2iCUxdeigRryc5g8mNyc_soUO0AJt5PBx5b6WaVXA7iO6bY9M2BX8c33gtw/s1600/venice-25b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMascGf-MjfIJ67-LCoouCxMO-Kuv3l7EWFlyJkobh14Cic1Xhy-JDaQ2BZ7VEyhWXBRbIFbbOLm2iCUxdeigRryc5g8mNyc_soUO0AJt5PBx5b6WaVXA7iO6bY9M2BX8c33gtw/s400/venice-25b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624093508172288994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtVmmqZIOhCn7E5lXwE76vX3FiEkBeXtDTfH_1I9fO3Z_JhrRv0hFH51jeKWH57eD9tlpZbQ9MALlegX6K0uvadkbGU2khdv4bpl5-g07P69OmFcktaVUBkH6AQTjbCxGpY958g/s1600/venice-26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtVmmqZIOhCn7E5lXwE76vX3FiEkBeXtDTfH_1I9fO3Z_JhrRv0hFH51jeKWH57eD9tlpZbQ9MALlegX6K0uvadkbGU2khdv4bpl5-g07P69OmFcktaVUBkH6AQTjbCxGpY958g/s400/venice-26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624093252104964994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPBFnCQXV7l0WYO7D3Ze5ORqLCcHDiGu74hvpRDiYqwcKArEIakrEQt6mTxjLA6DrMX7rxoiREqMi-NFLzTkhj7KpT_gP7Z0fTYm11gWDpeuB7_U__9T5ZemAVKfGLmoxFfPMDA/s1600/venice-27.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPBFnCQXV7l0WYO7D3Ze5ORqLCcHDiGu74hvpRDiYqwcKArEIakrEQt6mTxjLA6DrMX7rxoiREqMi-NFLzTkhj7KpT_gP7Z0fTYm11gWDpeuB7_U__9T5ZemAVKfGLmoxFfPMDA/s400/venice-27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624093176141307890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmn9hfuxZnbYOwi36kXDWt4WofnuwB3_ptvZVER5ySl3ZpQUOSyDQiKPE0eOffPPbIGlO29rrNx2KpRkwOU76OIgDZ9iPzUQMxNJ-dQwyez83c9-pOPkDdXVt-htoRtz0v0DE0Q/s1600/venice-29.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmn9hfuxZnbYOwi36kXDWt4WofnuwB3_ptvZVER5ySl3ZpQUOSyDQiKPE0eOffPPbIGlO29rrNx2KpRkwOU76OIgDZ9iPzUQMxNJ-dQwyez83c9-pOPkDdXVt-htoRtz0v0DE0Q/s400/venice-29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624092999098790258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlHd8Os3ms5hckLs5uPvrVJRiBxJSHCSdDyC4PxuCCCSQ1cEeVIFsjTIbrIhyphenhyphen951Y-ohRJoHyRZSDcVUaQIW-dPHjEgfKJq4A6x0l2R2Tman8_jN2sJsj9iA0G5UKxpEKcGiB9w/s1600/venice-32.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlHd8Os3ms5hckLs5uPvrVJRiBxJSHCSdDyC4PxuCCCSQ1cEeVIFsjTIbrIhyphenhyphen951Y-ohRJoHyRZSDcVUaQIW-dPHjEgfKJq4A6x0l2R2Tman8_jN2sJsj9iA0G5UKxpEKcGiB9w/s400/venice-32.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624092768031892194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2LJ09i-aqOlQWO4zcnilHIh3eGX9YTG9161Q_5fjJWN9ksk1Pdg0TZ7IqZOhvilysIvj4Frew5XwD7Ape4qMq-9IJi7n0DgaNJbVn4kA1HRucbGBNjGPqSNNuSicVsaiyEVISw/s1600/venice-33.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2LJ09i-aqOlQWO4zcnilHIh3eGX9YTG9161Q_5fjJWN9ksk1Pdg0TZ7IqZOhvilysIvj4Frew5XwD7Ape4qMq-9IJi7n0DgaNJbVn4kA1HRucbGBNjGPqSNNuSicVsaiyEVISw/s400/venice-33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624092605656726610" border="0" /></a>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-21162698724813599282011-06-30T11:47:00.000-07:002011-06-30T12:08:16.099-07:00Venice, Italy - San Marco in summertimeTake a vaperatto to San Marco from the Santa Lucia railway station. There are two San Marco stops: Vallaresso and San Zaccaria. Either one will do. Enjoy the wonderful aquatic, urban and cultural scenes as you motor down the Grand Canal. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi19v3uOOcWQ0d7EICXDGB_SmQ_tBCpXpsPZcHH9T7GuS0ICjJK8orqegMyGiZhbv4hKyKwpZ1DAs2Bemv0w1wy2MpDPXQh2Bh8aK8oBCvoCr8fINBg-v_-oAhYqBhhg1Qy-_OQ/s1600/venice-21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi19v3uOOcWQ0d7EICXDGB_SmQ_tBCpXpsPZcHH9T7GuS0ICjJK8orqegMyGiZhbv4hKyKwpZ1DAs2Bemv0w1wy2MpDPXQh2Bh8aK8oBCvoCr8fINBg-v_-oAhYqBhhg1Qy-_OQ/s400/venice-21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624087708611209954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M3dvMep7M4ln-3qpUN5AoXoeQIlNvZDFyJnq4Gz98pgc5vG1bnG62YMdQ46zwFK75zs5UbTVV24CAEocMh0V_yaquHqQS2Dm2OJm_hl2GvRh7LOwpL6p618UZuwMiAy3V2Rbvg/s1600/venice-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M3dvMep7M4ln-3qpUN5AoXoeQIlNvZDFyJnq4Gz98pgc5vG1bnG62YMdQ46zwFK75zs5UbTVV24CAEocMh0V_yaquHqQS2Dm2OJm_hl2GvRh7LOwpL6p618UZuwMiAy3V2Rbvg/s400/venice-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624087475370421602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1llKo0fxwppVkYj3dgzeGVm56o5ZEEcDwFzbzPuIgvF3EnLORaEgOYRKRfubm7hP8qYlHxgkRpl8xqDsmNr6TGH8vx7Ys0-Edqkm70o7mXvADwfohuFLwXlCGIQOI9dc-4LQpQ/s1600/venice-13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1llKo0fxwppVkYj3dgzeGVm56o5ZEEcDwFzbzPuIgvF3EnLORaEgOYRKRfubm7hP8qYlHxgkRpl8xqDsmNr6TGH8vx7Ys0-Edqkm70o7mXvADwfohuFLwXlCGIQOI9dc-4LQpQ/s400/venice-13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624087227438813954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIBfBi12mEOQDzs3bbHohDt6-OoNfTogloNpX-1SeLA6FPzz_VPwsXDWkiE9xCwq7nVUQY05UwS5DgFlTQOfcF9NpWGqa0ZDffx2hNRKwz6IuHtAJkQDYHd_VsHRTiOM97EsV5g/s1600/venice-16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIBfBi12mEOQDzs3bbHohDt6-OoNfTogloNpX-1SeLA6FPzz_VPwsXDWkiE9xCwq7nVUQY05UwS5DgFlTQOfcF9NpWGqa0ZDffx2hNRKwz6IuHtAJkQDYHd_VsHRTiOM97EsV5g/s400/venice-16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624087011029242146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh618WaBgS29fc1h1xthw6z6NzZ0AcKBW9RElTBd4o0k_dYdwRK3LZxTH3TvhzBvQHq3E8VVP0nr2MBLowl0t3EBTCiCtp3MdnCPPnasg6InLngLM9dYi3URuXNZpzh1kUhIAHwNw/s1600/venice-14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh618WaBgS29fc1h1xthw6z6NzZ0AcKBW9RElTBd4o0k_dYdwRK3LZxTH3TvhzBvQHq3E8VVP0nr2MBLowl0t3EBTCiCtp3MdnCPPnasg6InLngLM9dYi3URuXNZpzh1kUhIAHwNw/s400/venice-14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624086835471980962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfBTba8WNQlhJcdV5GFKTZTy1UYKNxCHUUQ7vxrKmjbMNETOb6kqJZeaIBzYd4Pm4WT4m7QoylmLxZMBPwXJldBvpuIXgs5FbotgHXSI6VXpfBOB0JVzscyCrrZpa7qvN_3odIA/s1600/venice-18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfBTba8WNQlhJcdV5GFKTZTy1UYKNxCHUUQ7vxrKmjbMNETOb6kqJZeaIBzYd4Pm4WT4m7QoylmLxZMBPwXJldBvpuIXgs5FbotgHXSI6VXpfBOB0JVzscyCrrZpa7qvN_3odIA/s400/venice-18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624086521288398642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gp-RKLQE8TikNbnDouFu0qO0iucMVKknPffO03X3WsTbWtsd1A5hRwEskLdeocM87ptK3Lz48WUkOd7sN-JjC5T_fHch6fIrOSgJ02R_8MJP4FuTD8sOXqzeBMGm1bdH7SAbxg/s1600/venice-24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gp-RKLQE8TikNbnDouFu0qO0iucMVKknPffO03X3WsTbWtsd1A5hRwEskLdeocM87ptK3Lz48WUkOd7sN-JjC5T_fHch6fIrOSgJ02R_8MJP4FuTD8sOXqzeBMGm1bdH7SAbxg/s400/venice-24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624087900830146162" border="0" /></a>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-88550563894477530052011-06-30T11:24:00.000-07:002011-06-30T11:46:40.791-07:00Venice, Italy - a city of boatsVenice is a city of waterways. The best way to get around is on foot or by boat. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Y8ETVxLUbovl4NXHu7-UHzqctVLM2AU4kec1LpCUjG7_3IRALi5owv3rrlSpIbECtWjIUL0oDhompudxaXk6J46oVk6S-2_WoPzIY1URMbQBr80TeyGaptT8ruKQTtaaEg_lQ/s1600/venice-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Y8ETVxLUbovl4NXHu7-UHzqctVLM2AU4kec1LpCUjG7_3IRALi5owv3rrlSpIbECtWjIUL0oDhompudxaXk6J46oVk6S-2_WoPzIY1URMbQBr80TeyGaptT8ruKQTtaaEg_lQ/s400/venice-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624081044705998482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHZo_74MCOvdRiYTZqbbg-MP_38ojU-Im8hxSa3VjfQ-IsygLDqEiuIsSixzb79XUHlD6eB_hQIi8G-82M4XfxTnNIytE4H-wbS5Q4LQb_q6OzyLuYv7n0QRP6nSKE3haLhDigQ/s1600/venice-20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHZo_74MCOvdRiYTZqbbg-MP_38ojU-Im8hxSa3VjfQ-IsygLDqEiuIsSixzb79XUHlD6eB_hQIi8G-82M4XfxTnNIytE4H-wbS5Q4LQb_q6OzyLuYv7n0QRP6nSKE3haLhDigQ/s400/venice-20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624082806852716626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEnPqCgliragsgUPNPkFpjcNnat9bAYUwObduf9SAYcYcc8BA8tlWFkACR_gmhRHuje3cHUxqfOHuuSLJO5cEcLn6l7QcLSTqtBmGID2p_ddmI9ls4oh90N9fy2Jof1YoqzlJ6w/s1600/venice-31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEnPqCgliragsgUPNPkFpjcNnat9bAYUwObduf9SAYcYcc8BA8tlWFkACR_gmhRHuje3cHUxqfOHuuSLJO5cEcLn6l7QcLSTqtBmGID2p_ddmI9ls4oh90N9fy2Jof1YoqzlJ6w/s400/venice-31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624082546802902834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR97FtGgTADO8BjuYr17ZuX4s80w5b4hOaKzKxOI3hpZhd9d5VWKTApobmEklkvkDDkgRwhv6p0k1OgkthY9o8Zh8YWKOFemFLYKcJ1v_hg2GuRukAMjUPu2wJzreG8t2GT60evg/s1600/venice-17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR97FtGgTADO8BjuYr17ZuX4s80w5b4hOaKzKxOI3hpZhd9d5VWKTApobmEklkvkDDkgRwhv6p0k1OgkthY9o8Zh8YWKOFemFLYKcJ1v_hg2GuRukAMjUPu2wJzreG8t2GT60evg/s400/venice-17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624082326691375650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP4yaK672qTgsqPuqTGZ-ohs2tEkRmCtKXPvSDGS7KLZt9uKasEEfzUdCjqyGqsprggdhRElHHYe5wamvoUfhyphenhyphenL9rZKUIAb4NPz3Cs11BXSOl_JSYmDZhvpX_7itMLvBSWGwwQQ/s1600/venice-10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP4yaK672qTgsqPuqTGZ-ohs2tEkRmCtKXPvSDGS7KLZt9uKasEEfzUdCjqyGqsprggdhRElHHYe5wamvoUfhyphenhyphenL9rZKUIAb4NPz3Cs11BXSOl_JSYmDZhvpX_7itMLvBSWGwwQQ/s400/venice-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624082152275910466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3V5qRiyKfh3cWUkzVWiCMwYmnBZVh0Olm63z9R26lFFYCkBl8Ws6NBmv8l8FqYPyiwpSqx23cQJMWqJcRJHP7jxIajZNh3dhP3ZyzTM-PZYuD5v-I054R_pCtDG-S7jPaOZCjQ/s1600/venice-7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3V5qRiyKfh3cWUkzVWiCMwYmnBZVh0Olm63z9R26lFFYCkBl8Ws6NBmv8l8FqYPyiwpSqx23cQJMWqJcRJHP7jxIajZNh3dhP3ZyzTM-PZYuD5v-I054R_pCtDG-S7jPaOZCjQ/s400/venice-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624081627048860498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkraIOykcyaQPvo8MfybKfgwi0P2dqtyr6sw55rL345ZLZRYY_ymLG_Ctk0d7vjLcGNcQaMzQk8nlZhduQ6rciyd87EsPTic1-miV3WR6W38yUv2mtMsawOCHYv2zrI47M6Fiew/s1600/venice-28.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkraIOykcyaQPvo8MfybKfgwi0P2dqtyr6sw55rL345ZLZRYY_ymLG_Ctk0d7vjLcGNcQaMzQk8nlZhduQ6rciyd87EsPTic1-miV3WR6W38yUv2mtMsawOCHYv2zrI47M6Fiew/s400/venice-28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624084251416637938" border="0" /></a>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-61382040504160978262011-01-15T16:57:00.000-08:002011-01-15T17:46:55.372-08:00Urban Flood, Brisbane 2011These photos were taken in New Farm, Brisbane, soon after the river peaked this week. New Farm Park, New Farm floating walkway, the City Cat Terminal, Welsby Street, parts of Sydney Street and Brunswick Street and the Merthyr Shopping Village are all damaged by flood waters and/or storm water flows. Merthyr Bowls Club, despite its river frontage, was untouched.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEAB2U0pqbLt4cxbzzLzWLwKAkIvrBc53EdXbxofK0gGOl3wUaNIkcQVQqXAfARR2iOfOD26gOLIKZw6iwn9iFbwX7DbPDH8uRWlB-Ai_kmgj3_EXUrg0HiNffCd_g7RnVSVngA/s1600/new_farm_park_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEAB2U0pqbLt4cxbzzLzWLwKAkIvrBc53EdXbxofK0gGOl3wUaNIkcQVQqXAfARR2iOfOD26gOLIKZw6iwn9iFbwX7DbPDH8uRWlB-Ai_kmgj3_EXUrg0HiNffCd_g7RnVSVngA/s400/new_farm_park_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562586580868854850" border="0" /></a>City Cat Terminal, New Farm. Tops of the City Bike hitching posts in the foreground.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7IkRhQmMD_Dc6_70d1a9Bwgv04bXFxkjQzXiIjxk-Nca7VOI_2ylDM-1Ow6wbvfNY8w6or2BJKxxA1WOxLfFgemU3VHpUfbGQM4tccUz9F_SWXekJ6SIcL4SEqKLf535pvwTrg/s1600/new_farm_park_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7IkRhQmMD_Dc6_70d1a9Bwgv04bXFxkjQzXiIjxk-Nca7VOI_2ylDM-1Ow6wbvfNY8w6or2BJKxxA1WOxLfFgemU3VHpUfbGQM4tccUz9F_SWXekJ6SIcL4SEqKLf535pvwTrg/s400/new_farm_park_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562586407604802114" border="0" /></a>Lots of debris, hurtled downstream. A yacht smashed into the City Cat Terminal<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEEu5nDXfwDpe5fFQbkFNWud3J6iFzUtegnwLsFnDLCci_3c1vB7HOrJ0PHYJqrBSab-JpLAVtcKZLA2JfK_Vu1jPqdJCWisaK9FBjFjiOgrOLpZz7VYblcBVcN-HZNtXW00l2Q/s1600/new_farm_park_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEEu5nDXfwDpe5fFQbkFNWud3J6iFzUtegnwLsFnDLCci_3c1vB7HOrJ0PHYJqrBSab-JpLAVtcKZLA2JfK_Vu1jPqdJCWisaK9FBjFjiOgrOLpZz7VYblcBVcN-HZNtXW00l2Q/s400/new_farm_park_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562586129061935970" border="0" /></a>New Farm Park, looking toward the Powerhouse<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhss491RJ9FbWPcSNpONdVRZbKbenwzngIrIRcJh0iWeEBpAGvhk_evH_ZLnoL4DJ9kayfEFVirzmYe0EaydT-heNoOLUbcSF7UCQLM7sDvBQq5DGn6RSP_Iag2yE1EHNxlVxiug/s1600/bowls_club.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhss491RJ9FbWPcSNpONdVRZbKbenwzngIrIRcJh0iWeEBpAGvhk_evH_ZLnoL4DJ9kayfEFVirzmYe0EaydT-heNoOLUbcSF7UCQLM7sDvBQq5DGn6RSP_Iag2yE1EHNxlVxiug/s400/bowls_club.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562585733050196642" border="0" /></a>The Bowls Club. Water fully covered the walkway from here to Sydney Street City Cat Terminal<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvd64UP9bBvEXbQZThh0D-yEBJatVaOAskhfDGb_FxM2ZL2nZLEC5bQ8VLXhdoFVjaVleai-44uZJkUnTGchMmAZLDno1n53dEZ54a79ZEhU85zWtXMCQg6T0gnLcd8nCeXLuAQ/s1600/floating_riverwalk_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvd64UP9bBvEXbQZThh0D-yEBJatVaOAskhfDGb_FxM2ZL2nZLEC5bQ8VLXhdoFVjaVleai-44uZJkUnTGchMmAZLDno1n53dEZ54a79ZEhU85zWtXMCQg6T0gnLcd8nCeXLuAQ/s400/floating_riverwalk_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562584222228244578" border="0" /></a>Floating Walkway. Two large sections broke away and floated downstream. Tugs rounded them up to avoid massive damage to bridges and other property.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiG8lmoVjbhjpsB3-B2WvAqSQV48NQc8pBARU6o7ZnDTf_keRChhv-c5002KpHer1e_WDzFK7nWicIYbQ4kJ9jKqYtx_ADQRAiXturWkaDA9sj0aiN1vX1v6LK1AOval3Q0PaBg/s1600/floating_riverwalk_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiG8lmoVjbhjpsB3-B2WvAqSQV48NQc8pBARU6o7ZnDTf_keRChhv-c5002KpHer1e_WDzFK7nWicIYbQ4kJ9jKqYtx_ADQRAiXturWkaDA9sj0aiN1vX1v6LK1AOval3Q0PaBg/s400/floating_riverwalk_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562584070546029106" border="0" /></a>Floating Walkway near the New Farm cliffs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XIM9LEP8zQCq3saJpLyhORyz7mwU8a93jye9UO-2WeafNWEWqDku7z_mD3NLdGBD-HP9SqqiKj88JUxvEZIbQDN3EYWOHYotpZ1STQuWlpIK25VobfVhuxoPX3PPPaqtNVzf9A/s1600/howard_wharves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XIM9LEP8zQCq3saJpLyhORyz7mwU8a93jye9UO-2WeafNWEWqDku7z_mD3NLdGBD-HP9SqqiKj88JUxvEZIbQDN3EYWOHYotpZ1STQuWlpIK25VobfVhuxoPX3PPPaqtNVzf9A/s400/howard_wharves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562583760079855362" border="0" /></a>Howard's Wharves, the site of proposed new development<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJLK2vwibZBaSc8jPoLxtI2P9FTpxTzGp7kPuY5-Y53DjvE39emVJYojZnRgJCSNaqAyC-JbY8TCpWHJF7DJfkvH93wK5B2H5vjT9Dipk9Ze-HaIzMPIPWHoWiX_jQQFzYuai8w/s1600/holman_st_ferry_stop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJLK2vwibZBaSc8jPoLxtI2P9FTpxTzGp7kPuY5-Y53DjvE39emVJYojZnRgJCSNaqAyC-JbY8TCpWHJF7DJfkvH93wK5B2H5vjT9Dipk9Ze-HaIzMPIPWHoWiX_jQQFzYuai8w/s400/holman_st_ferry_stop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562583382439022946" border="0" /></a>Looking across to a submerged Holman Street Ferry Stop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCkUHek4sa62YVcVmHYJrUBmxo1f8awpV5BKnffkjbPK78FOXLKJaicv4ngrpprTVtg_Q-7k7mIM0wfg_KhNI_c4pxhUcW1qInLBv3hXIMRpPwBwebDvqC1J1prZUI0QZmTFPkQ/s1600/merthyr_shops_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCkUHek4sa62YVcVmHYJrUBmxo1f8awpV5BKnffkjbPK78FOXLKJaicv4ngrpprTVtg_Q-7k7mIM0wfg_KhNI_c4pxhUcW1qInLBv3hXIMRpPwBwebDvqC1J1prZUI0QZmTFPkQ/s400/merthyr_shops_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562583068282270850" border="0" /></a>Many people were shocked by the storm water back flows (from river to shop or backyard or road). The car park in the basement of Merthyr Village is at sea level so the storm water pipes filled it quickly. As a result, most of the shops are still without power.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WC7p3tWrCLfG3zKVupoAOO9ivXfY1NvQWUdqLwJgtkA0odtwUk-X8Sn0pIVEDwWm-fL9kBmX4anvDlYP6kp2PN7o7NRYaNUlTWrP50EJAAFCvfLWL9II0ANmc0N34DblMsi8eg/s1600/sydney_street_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WC7p3tWrCLfG3zKVupoAOO9ivXfY1NvQWUdqLwJgtkA0odtwUk-X8Sn0pIVEDwWm-fL9kBmX4anvDlYP6kp2PN7o7NRYaNUlTWrP50EJAAFCvfLWL9II0ANmc0N34DblMsi8eg/s400/sydney_street_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562582799950735026" border="0" /></a>Looking toward the Fish and Chip Shop on the corner of Sydney Street and Brunswick Street. The road entrance (underwater) to New Farm Park is on the right. From here down, Sydney Street was awash.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAoxuph2VPeG3lcI5qPOx3qkWfdMZoCwzITCJEPF4dDPSeoRDEH0e2_dMKGbq9XTZCZaZ8eVqggQKVSzRXciXxGFs6jyhAmmLt2i0vS0K3Ps6gzk0qiu4oUvUBmPtOAUtDUXmIQ/s1600/sydney_street_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAoxuph2VPeG3lcI5qPOx3qkWfdMZoCwzITCJEPF4dDPSeoRDEH0e2_dMKGbq9XTZCZaZ8eVqggQKVSzRXciXxGFs6jyhAmmLt2i0vS0K3Ps6gzk0qiu4oUvUBmPtOAUtDUXmIQ/s400/sydney_street_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562582707080216994" border="0" /></a>New Farm Park entrance<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5YwMEAlj1CKgegTScWmDbCT0ib8FTIABb3svMXO_iu9c-Olkhc4Q1JTaVK_UlCkPzAa2YjCwadK4iz7RXj_iSDS1NW5qv00w588ST5ul2k4iqQxjxnF_sY2PX91n6E47Mms9LQ/s1600/welsby_st.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5YwMEAlj1CKgegTScWmDbCT0ib8FTIABb3svMXO_iu9c-Olkhc4Q1JTaVK_UlCkPzAa2YjCwadK4iz7RXj_iSDS1NW5qv00w588ST5ul2k4iqQxjxnF_sY2PX91n6E47Mms9LQ/s400/welsby_st.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562582112189227346" border="0" /></a>Welsby Street, New FarmJulzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-13142480895902068252011-01-15T16:04:00.000-08:002011-01-15T16:56:00.444-08:00Barcelona, a tourist meccaBarcelona has it all for the walking tourist. Buildings, barrios and beaches are within easy walking distance from the famous Rambla. Tapas bars are everywhere to offer light refreshments day and night. Rest awhile to the rhythm and rhymes of the local musicians.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gzfGehtX7EHbA7ppVau-2ybMxykpgoU-hAh2LIJGz4bVEBnf2PQxv1Dxbo_UBm5Gg6UJvv5Du3JUeBisdoTV03tmX_XEiloGgzwu62KQHONLOUfm7ry-T3a8JU_5NIIcRLb6dw/s1600/barcelona-blg-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gzfGehtX7EHbA7ppVau-2ybMxykpgoU-hAh2LIJGz4bVEBnf2PQxv1Dxbo_UBm5Gg6UJvv5Du3JUeBisdoTV03tmX_XEiloGgzwu62KQHONLOUfm7ry-T3a8JU_5NIIcRLb6dw/s400/barcelona-blg-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562571492971764418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2en5BFRXQ6dj5Wc3jTsPZ-2bup5fUxVyzZkEFawtX_dBywlRsnVrn2lnE-biHzMDKIT522c3URK4WLqyZHOJ29kocI0x1mrqq1pNg0pX5tvL1c9k547d-a2gPP8IBUjrnDr_Jnw/s1600/barcelona-blg-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2en5BFRXQ6dj5Wc3jTsPZ-2bup5fUxVyzZkEFawtX_dBywlRsnVrn2lnE-biHzMDKIT522c3URK4WLqyZHOJ29kocI0x1mrqq1pNg0pX5tvL1c9k547d-a2gPP8IBUjrnDr_Jnw/s400/barcelona-blg-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562571266500523554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lpxx1BsLr2zj8YfCOkrU8Qekrx0iuVQTtU2XHKnBeRZaKur3ZmP2lKhd1MlEV2E4jIB32wfStOj2GKoHw642FGBjnnKvBxiJOtO36h781HtRDOpQojBXRJW_VzV7iJTD9__54Q/s1600/barcelona-blg-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lpxx1BsLr2zj8YfCOkrU8Qekrx0iuVQTtU2XHKnBeRZaKur3ZmP2lKhd1MlEV2E4jIB32wfStOj2GKoHw642FGBjnnKvBxiJOtO36h781HtRDOpQojBXRJW_VzV7iJTD9__54Q/s400/barcelona-blg-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562571128352224194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_ZqtB09za37j-Lbr1_UwjWFu6y6CXwDMw0CQlZLBPshyphenhyphen2CADpSg2Ryg2C2lTa3q3BklygzU6l6IJrpIhHqWcYE8HxDWJJZonTnuKy3FrYvKNDBDULee3QjonbV4Clqh271tHw/s1600/barcelona-walk-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n_ZqtB09za37j-Lbr1_UwjWFu6y6CXwDMw0CQlZLBPshyphenhyphen2CADpSg2Ryg2C2lTa3q3BklygzU6l6IJrpIhHqWcYE8HxDWJJZonTnuKy3FrYvKNDBDULee3QjonbV4Clqh271tHw/s400/barcelona-walk-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562570698195549490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B0emoQ_zdDQoeYfbIy3i1iCbE_utkpQSz-kWFNCAHhFUF1U2A3ZAe5i_HVaoPpGZCosT5Dbj7V6XC8A-Y2QkT_wQnd2EqnapoL567JFW-BTU-vnel37usbrsd_rZsTbIAM-1nw/s1600/barcelona-walk-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B0emoQ_zdDQoeYfbIy3i1iCbE_utkpQSz-kWFNCAHhFUF1U2A3ZAe5i_HVaoPpGZCosT5Dbj7V6XC8A-Y2QkT_wQnd2EqnapoL567JFW-BTU-vnel37usbrsd_rZsTbIAM-1nw/s400/barcelona-walk-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562570607316315714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGEZS4u3nhAxW1NyzUbk7ZUNjz0iE0kiLU9Vpqkoy5fpsT12zBrUKFPRz9EDnN6SqAo5uMt63NtoCeCI-juO4EoMJfdwPpUrcG80Vss_2E4WhnVCLbGf1o-HF7GIhWcU5q4tPfw/s1600/barcelona-walk-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGEZS4u3nhAxW1NyzUbk7ZUNjz0iE0kiLU9Vpqkoy5fpsT12zBrUKFPRz9EDnN6SqAo5uMt63NtoCeCI-juO4EoMJfdwPpUrcG80Vss_2E4WhnVCLbGf1o-HF7GIhWcU5q4tPfw/s400/barcelona-walk-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562570443357794242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayN_7ceXaafCUqvXoM3K-VAz75cy2fRjqYi9wPOCxJBnQ8FQeZN7nglLU8B3WI-QgwSp9K10SK9bFopypDushz-TdPOH8o6g3cU3v3v0VGY8yrQ7Xv2FwmNYHRgBUC7g3Ps_nJg/s1600/barcelona-beach-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayN_7ceXaafCUqvXoM3K-VAz75cy2fRjqYi9wPOCxJBnQ8FQeZN7nglLU8B3WI-QgwSp9K10SK9bFopypDushz-TdPOH8o6g3cU3v3v0VGY8yrQ7Xv2FwmNYHRgBUC7g3Ps_nJg/s400/barcelona-beach-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562574265560331762" border="0" /></a><br />Barcelona BeachJulzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-74752714219159109412010-10-23T17:43:00.000-07:002010-10-24T13:09:14.182-07:00Alicante, Spain - Beachside<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCclCe2YV_awPlb23PotnBQT5atWigmHROjKZ_CWZ1aE1bH0YRFfqHk8qATpwZG6apjh8SXwI45DmrldXARRCfpi1WQTgonbDIwr1O9239eV_RN4tFxDZQcn4unSRw49hI4mUoEQ/s1600/alicante-sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCclCe2YV_awPlb23PotnBQT5atWigmHROjKZ_CWZ1aE1bH0YRFfqHk8qATpwZG6apjh8SXwI45DmrldXARRCfpi1WQTgonbDIwr1O9239eV_RN4tFxDZQcn4unSRw49hI4mUoEQ/s400/alicante-sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531409533683787394" border="0" /></a><br />A Mediterranean sunrise.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy5o21NtEOBBNGz8saKB0VOf3HT2cUc5GU3ni7ot3lNWZYiWfDPau-4iurdfOJCLW6EJpuNnFbMkrsGuSiEmI2WCiUemxS6jxut2KLZSGS7y14lvUqE7pow6xDSVx4MJDu8T-0A/s1600/alicante-beach-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy5o21NtEOBBNGz8saKB0VOf3HT2cUc5GU3ni7ot3lNWZYiWfDPau-4iurdfOJCLW6EJpuNnFbMkrsGuSiEmI2WCiUemxS6jxut2KLZSGS7y14lvUqE7pow6xDSVx4MJDu8T-0A/s400/alicante-beach-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531407187906872658" border="0" /></a><br />Alicante at dawn is sleepy and quiet in contrast to the night scenes in the streets and squares.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNOIEuAA8dAU3mK-Fv_obDsn8kvplqlc_kd6eUx8mgMPDv6mOruEXdl91G6acwH-5-LQOCLnlhIPpJSqUtADxsmRSDiBbITv6tudzjdq8WmsXB1BjHWb-lXa8NFZBpEOP0CE0bQ/s1600/alicante-beach-4b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNOIEuAA8dAU3mK-Fv_obDsn8kvplqlc_kd6eUx8mgMPDv6mOruEXdl91G6acwH-5-LQOCLnlhIPpJSqUtADxsmRSDiBbITv6tudzjdq8WmsXB1BjHWb-lXa8NFZBpEOP0CE0bQ/s400/alicante-beach-4b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531407031703311826" border="0" /></a><br />A few dedicated souls workout on the beach exercise park in the early morning.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZydKVXcYuriLwlGU2gUnEUiLWxytulC0fXUWiNPEk5Tr_HdgSERu2SYE5Db6wWy3v_nGFLEsuhBXtjuv10xwV-sSfc2AvkGh-iHRBxgbHJGQ5UI6eMPuQS7UHDX48vbIRRVcwg/s1600/alicante-beach-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZydKVXcYuriLwlGU2gUnEUiLWxytulC0fXUWiNPEk5Tr_HdgSERu2SYE5Db6wWy3v_nGFLEsuhBXtjuv10xwV-sSfc2AvkGh-iHRBxgbHJGQ5UI6eMPuQS7UHDX48vbIRRVcwg/s400/alicante-beach-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531411249836549234" border="0" /></a><br />The crowds congregate as the temperature rises and<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJVzLIbQGev-uCLBPn2LNnB78S02yPd4F6C9PhA5rY7LQW15mPGQgVCU6Swe1RTfD03w-GGaBfGC09llleKVILtpqfJi7V1MJwuBm4fcx4g_Y83In0eU5ekC1k4wFHnLA7AoQUQ/s1600/alicante-beach-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJVzLIbQGev-uCLBPn2LNnB78S02yPd4F6C9PhA5rY7LQW15mPGQgVCU6Swe1RTfD03w-GGaBfGC09llleKVILtpqfJi7V1MJwuBm4fcx4g_Y83In0eU5ekC1k4wFHnLA7AoQUQ/s400/alicante-beach-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531411447862804898" border="0" /></a><br />soon a spare patch of sand is hard to find.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l8TyLUL1Euyug6RgBuIFHkLkWXmjK8bl9ghCLrFY9OVH0YbvdrVeWoSmSbEawZMfWiJgC5w_0KV9VOdiSA2wm3ibMG7ORS_aj1s2cfY-9v5gQd_BBMaUG89XsQ4uSESWIWAm-A/s1600/alicante-beach-3b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l8TyLUL1Euyug6RgBuIFHkLkWXmjK8bl9ghCLrFY9OVH0YbvdrVeWoSmSbEawZMfWiJgC5w_0KV9VOdiSA2wm3ibMG7ORS_aj1s2cfY-9v5gQd_BBMaUG89XsQ4uSESWIWAm-A/s400/alicante-beach-3b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531412707630536178" border="0" /></a><br />But as the day cools down, the crowds leave and the beach becomes the ideal place to play.Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-88608586494146643532010-10-23T17:16:00.000-07:002010-10-24T13:30:46.724-07:00Alicante, Spain - Portside<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKwytRTcWXddGdVQ-xWhAzV1uaHvuZrNKVP28ivoM4KkGrh4AkPHYSO-6zqTnpiS68yPf-FmptAxYS1bj4WS3fKMeSZcJQbd58WAVyj6ZVyd4pDgsKE3_tiMQVweym0dKIr9-3Q/s1600/alicante-wedding-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKwytRTcWXddGdVQ-xWhAzV1uaHvuZrNKVP28ivoM4KkGrh4AkPHYSO-6zqTnpiS68yPf-FmptAxYS1bj4WS3fKMeSZcJQbd58WAVyj6ZVyd4pDgsKE3_tiMQVweym0dKIr9-3Q/s400/alicante-wedding-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531400982120941666" border="0" /></a><br />The beautiful port of Alicante makes the ideal backdrop for that special occasion photo.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyybvAdDl6U2TGXKd6j57f0oO4-37ThlCSo-vyPg39FOG7wQxo5usP4X7cwJqLiKJdkVxx7VCbwi_tLB5KchewH-0QQYMxzn2xxnj9iyeMZQbGkRlWERv1yT2fmHOzwVNvDi4H2w/s1600/alicante-water-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyybvAdDl6U2TGXKd6j57f0oO4-37ThlCSo-vyPg39FOG7wQxo5usP4X7cwJqLiKJdkVxx7VCbwi_tLB5KchewH-0QQYMxzn2xxnj9iyeMZQbGkRlWERv1yT2fmHOzwVNvDi4H2w/s400/alicante-water-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531400612853634434" border="0" /></a><br />The marina rivals the best in the world.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpucuW1Srp1Xr6kRylErhemMKhmpsnokjw-jB9bvgsWYf501CweMy6vOt5NdrwltR5H5mZyNsGMl117R3t7axkozqHKHGRZ7434D6gqDkgo3RhkPqrJ3yJyzLJ0ZzLcTpxK9bE9Q/s1600/alicante-water-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpucuW1Srp1Xr6kRylErhemMKhmpsnokjw-jB9bvgsWYf501CweMy6vOt5NdrwltR5H5mZyNsGMl117R3t7axkozqHKHGRZ7434D6gqDkgo3RhkPqrJ3yJyzLJ0ZzLcTpxK9bE9Q/s400/alicante-water-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531400004383204290" border="0" /></a><br />So get on the water for a different view of the city<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXdEXekA0aTcj7Ebfsq0gMNXBQTNyWEe4SoOXTpvHSvBMn9vdca9GtIKdYAUwmBbo6pwgT2kNQlkAiADiuXzTEEAUPZfcnm619rnD3rIe3oE6esYtK7cIsw_SDugv62Si83EwDg/s1600/alicante-water-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXdEXekA0aTcj7Ebfsq0gMNXBQTNyWEe4SoOXTpvHSvBMn9vdca9GtIKdYAUwmBbo6pwgT2kNQlkAiADiuXzTEEAUPZfcnm619rnD3rIe3oE6esYtK7cIsw_SDugv62Si83EwDg/s400/alicante-water-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531401355983825906" border="0" /></a><br />or sail to <a href="http://www.alicanteturismo.com/adaptingContenidos/muestrausuario.asp?idnodo=106&idioma=en&ididioma=2">Tabarca Island</a> with your friends and family<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvacbBwr9gxAs-nw_i1AwBXDxxE-CpQU-1mhS_7woVsRqUVivAlLTjOrMgIK1A1B_oZW6kS3DA4DNZplyIpvbWvtp5TLMqCp0xjn6zCSI277Jq6CGwol5OzbCS5KT_r7BrDh5lgA/s1600/CIMG4536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvacbBwr9gxAs-nw_i1AwBXDxxE-CpQU-1mhS_7woVsRqUVivAlLTjOrMgIK1A1B_oZW6kS3DA4DNZplyIpvbWvtp5TLMqCp0xjn6zCSI277Jq6CGwol5OzbCS5KT_r7BrDh5lgA/s400/CIMG4536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531408310514287378" border="0" /></a><br />and jump overboard with a snorkle and mask.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8mUvk2vrBIpqf4nK8ZkPlUbgLXUKH0d6Q-8OqDdOn2cA8yrP37T4SMcZpXpR2Zfan0RBAOaTV7vIZ8C_cZ6Ty01NSkN7hyphenhyphen_FaWFKzQu-YGCKkXNafAstmaklqq15v6pJm4tNbw/s1600/alicante-water-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8mUvk2vrBIpqf4nK8ZkPlUbgLXUKH0d6Q-8OqDdOn2cA8yrP37T4SMcZpXpR2Zfan0RBAOaTV7vIZ8C_cZ6Ty01NSkN7hyphenhyphen_FaWFKzQu-YGCKkXNafAstmaklqq15v6pJm4tNbw/s400/alicante-water-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531401662996788466" border="0" /></a><br />A Sangria is never far away.<br /><br />A <a href="http://www.travel-headwear.blogspot.com/2009/02/crochet-hats-multi-colored-bucket-shape.html">crochet bucket-style hat</a> protects you from the bright glare of sun, sand and sea. I wish my baby grand daughter would wear her hats...she hates the glare but rips off her hat in an instant.Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-75087411592498579562010-10-23T16:23:00.000-07:002010-10-23T17:07:12.691-07:00Alicante, Spain - Streets and Squares<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjddAvpOtdmW2pU1K6aCbIwvfHAcpYztZXSL9fzzELD9hCCffL8Z5McFc1jAAiXxtO52KMIdTAOmi-pf7n3wubA1ChPcA60wjRRweF6YpY6JNAjr18v2ZkIKZLuxJD7UAL4Xr_sg/s1600/alicante-street-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjddAvpOtdmW2pU1K6aCbIwvfHAcpYztZXSL9fzzELD9hCCffL8Z5McFc1jAAiXxtO52KMIdTAOmi-pf7n3wubA1ChPcA60wjRRweF6YpY6JNAjr18v2ZkIKZLuxJD7UAL4Xr_sg/s400/alicante-street-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531386559480895970" border="0" /></a><br />Narrow streets with rugged vistas are fun to explore.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywrsBFyu7AHHFntNlhXpiBfz0L7WFLs3dvz_WEJz8Z4Hzlt8NhkTvMJFLQdRZxSMrh9TN4sKFTYiwXR6I5Wcy6_OQ-BBQ7P7IZxURFKLeKktojZCMH0aoDHGUC63cUKdAe9eZA/s1600/alicante-night-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhywrsBFyu7AHHFntNlhXpiBfz0L7WFLs3dvz_WEJz8Z4Hzlt8NhkTvMJFLQdRZxSMrh9TN4sKFTYiwXR6I5Wcy6_OQ-BBQ7P7IZxURFKLeKktojZCMH0aoDHGUC63cUKdAe9eZA/s400/alicante-night-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531394084997655250" border="0" /></a><br />Mild, balmy evenings find many people outdoors. The streets at night are alive with the young and old and every age in between. Some are taking a stroll before going home to dine, others are comparing menus from the myriad restaurants along the promenade and in the squares.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBzizp0CakiWFMLz8g_7gkqaJ0NXxVd5F5Je5yYheEZmOyepLuf3DoqlpjPbTnBTlcrExnkDKf5tTLLcHZbiJMu9myZ_ZXWGAZY3vMCZHclWtKbr9uGmPuqgDjY9tDT4yDAc0Kw/s1600/alicante-wedding-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBzizp0CakiWFMLz8g_7gkqaJ0NXxVd5F5Je5yYheEZmOyepLuf3DoqlpjPbTnBTlcrExnkDKf5tTLLcHZbiJMu9myZ_ZXWGAZY3vMCZHclWtKbr9uGmPuqgDjY9tDT4yDAc0Kw/s400/alicante-wedding-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531395612723966002" border="0" /></a><br />The street scene is a treat. As we passed the big old church on our way to dine, we cheered the happy couple as they huddled together for a photo shoot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyC8UKYr9a8MEGXHRBFZ481ITuVnK1il6yh5tingQKmiEihsYD7L9fn_UDhEQ_ENfpUeCdSoL7vHE6j0dC5CeL8lwBIstmSzYnL5E5Q69IOgCaDCzAiVeRQS0N_qtCioa4nIPlA/s1600/alicante-night-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyC8UKYr9a8MEGXHRBFZ481ITuVnK1il6yh5tingQKmiEihsYD7L9fn_UDhEQ_ENfpUeCdSoL7vHE6j0dC5CeL8lwBIstmSzYnL5E5Q69IOgCaDCzAiVeRQS0N_qtCioa4nIPlA/s400/alicante-night-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531387584288182018" border="0" /></a><br />We always opted for eating under the stars. My favorite Spanish dishes are paella, white tuna, grilled sepia, baked bacalao and the simple ensalada mixta. White Tuna is a local Alicante fish that is not on the menu but may be available as the catch of the day. It is the best fish I have ever tasted.Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-6727007212660700822010-10-23T15:57:00.000-07:002010-10-23T16:23:46.369-07:00Alicante, Spain - Mercado Central<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBB1-qym93-iPwOYsY7ol7c8GfGL4KUVTqpTu2r7SebtZMJvDK94WYVSnListkZRahAq4qs-cZjPlB4ly1XIYo-Zx-nSZwcsndXxBTtFyiuPG-P0w6OKOKvETMa6m3pJ1RYhSuw/s1600/alicante-street-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBB1-qym93-iPwOYsY7ol7c8GfGL4KUVTqpTu2r7SebtZMJvDK94WYVSnListkZRahAq4qs-cZjPlB4ly1XIYo-Zx-nSZwcsndXxBTtFyiuPG-P0w6OKOKvETMa6m3pJ1RYhSuw/s400/alicante-street-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531381588935209314" border="0" /></a><br />Mercado Central, now on Alicante's heritage list, has been the centerpiece of commercial activities since the very early days of the city. Fresh produce from the land and sea is available daily (except Sunday, when this picture was taken).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbMbpb25SKtRM2cIfWGNmkRUpMpjn-5D-XApUQ-rImRtNB7aIf9FUGtcl-1AGEjtF7cR0HLnOMDrB9EP4weMNk7hkqGoxsz-vmQHFjwKQ_y4NBvcLCUBdMGFMvSEtx9ictk9mlw/s1600/alicante-street-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbMbpb25SKtRM2cIfWGNmkRUpMpjn-5D-XApUQ-rImRtNB7aIf9FUGtcl-1AGEjtF7cR0HLnOMDrB9EP4weMNk7hkqGoxsz-vmQHFjwKQ_y4NBvcLCUBdMGFMvSEtx9ictk9mlw/s400/alicante-street-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531380059158058754" border="0" /></a>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574201.post-90130965490810459292010-10-23T15:39:00.000-07:002010-10-25T12:39:17.226-07:00Alicante, Spain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyT505erV4Zyq6iYNHzAm8zcTBQBh4ZO0gJ8E7MqxK_LCJwrgJcoOFpMedpiisUNTnyOGI6yQRXiZVaMtLHsWzBPSVyHF_QLa4Fr840c1noNsAChLEhzC5saQ5gony96516ZXaw/s1600/alicante-street-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyT505erV4Zyq6iYNHzAm8zcTBQBh4ZO0gJ8E7MqxK_LCJwrgJcoOFpMedpiisUNTnyOGI6yQRXiZVaMtLHsWzBPSVyHF_QLa4Fr840c1noNsAChLEhzC5saQ5gony96516ZXaw/s400/alicante-street-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531378431074055138" border="0" /></a><br />Alicante is a Mediterranean port city with a beautiful climate and a magnificent beach. It took 24 hours to get to Spain from Brisbane, Australia; we flew Singapore Airlines to Barcelona, stopping in Singapore (3 hours) and Milan (1 hour). After two days in Barcelona we took a 5.5 hour train ride to Alicante. Many sections of the railroad follow the sparkling Mediterranean Sea very closely.<br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Alicante,+Spain&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=54.381985,68.115234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Alicante,+Valencia,+Spain&ll=38.345203,-0.481006&spn=1.520813,2.128601&z=9&output=embed" width="425" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Alicante,+Spain&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=54.381985,68.115234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Alicante,+Valencia,+Spain&ll=38.345203,-0.481006&spn=1.520813,2.128601&z=9" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>Julzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373630706146546717noreply@blogger.com1