tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22994756927090007142024-03-13T05:49:36.050-07:00Steve CarrPutting fine story telling back into the travel writing game ...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-32097535054476071502017-04-10T07:37:00.003-07:002017-04-10T15:21:35.572-07:00NEW BLOG SITE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GUw6bzYQSiY/WOuYKITRHGI/AAAAAAACY7k/BbHpnUD1eBggCWR7XZF4INvfPRwtt8P_gCLcB/s1600/15390895_1280641281977981_3526631105333812285_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GUw6bzYQSiY/WOuYKITRHGI/AAAAAAACY7k/BbHpnUD1eBggCWR7XZF4INvfPRwtt8P_gCLcB/s320/15390895_1280641281977981_3526631105333812285_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have recently upgraded my blog site with improved features and content. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CYuSutFwzkw/WOuXCGua7rI/AAAAAAACY7Q/bzJyK_LRek8CzEhUWVCr3DkffoFrnxYgQCLcB/s1600/15219972_10210876203241550_2272412160199085124_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CYuSutFwzkw/WOuXCGua7rI/AAAAAAACY7Q/bzJyK_LRek8CzEhUWVCr3DkffoFrnxYgQCLcB/s320/15219972_10210876203241550_2272412160199085124_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am posting a story every day now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkWGCyXetWE/WOuYhHje7cI/AAAAAAACY7o/gI3V9i_-YXA5QAB6o2D4_uZFyKEJUOMqwCLcB/s1600/16265902_10211460051037380_4977096036528728763_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkWGCyXetWE/WOuYhHje7cI/AAAAAAACY7o/gI3V9i_-YXA5QAB6o2D4_uZFyKEJUOMqwCLcB/s320/16265902_10211460051037380_4977096036528728763_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I have adopted a new blog name: bystevecarr.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aoCqBHFE_-8/WOuX1xqdV5I/AAAAAAACY7Y/_AQWiv3I1T8sb4FINPrmyPfZAYBqvH7NgCLcB/s1600/16266188_10211477227786788_1785784323481266808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aoCqBHFE_-8/WOuX1xqdV5I/AAAAAAACY7Y/_AQWiv3I1T8sb4FINPrmyPfZAYBqvH7NgCLcB/s320/16266188_10211477227786788_1785784323481266808_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, if you want to keep reading my travel stories, you will need to move to the new website which can be found at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.bystevecarr.com/" target="_blank">www.bystevecarr.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svJImwtGINM/WOuX9XHRMjI/AAAAAAACY7c/PWHJYsH4wisw5hX6ubODNfEMEhncS6A1ACLcB/s1600/17626562_1430463140329127_7280747741943173595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svJImwtGINM/WOuX9XHRMjI/AAAAAAACY7c/PWHJYsH4wisw5hX6ubODNfEMEhncS6A1ACLcB/s320/17626562_1430463140329127_7280747741943173595_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope to see you there. And please tell your friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnLDGD9aqnQ/WOuYDb8W4fI/AAAAAAACY7g/h1RkxrV5ZHoJm-aoOtfjVL9efNMF9V4BgCLcB/s1600/17022281_1394097867298988_52182113099974115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SnLDGD9aqnQ/WOuYDb8W4fI/AAAAAAACY7g/h1RkxrV5ZHoJm-aoOtfjVL9efNMF9V4BgCLcB/s320/17022281_1394097867298988_52182113099974115_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-8197916514130427982017-03-07T13:38:00.001-08:002017-03-10T13:36:10.381-08:00DRIVING TO FLA - DAY 2<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-reJNa9-u7Ww/WL7g5wNPePI/AAAAAAACYm4/--qwRLOa1fkkGJNJAEO59N3WXUXSBamCACLcB/s1600/F20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-reJNa9-u7Ww/WL7g5wNPePI/AAAAAAACYm4/--qwRLOa1fkkGJNJAEO59N3WXUXSBamCACLcB/s1600/F20.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The second day of my drive through the south I ate some fresh fruit for breakfast and then hit the road. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> Kings Mountain </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">had been a good stop. A wonderful way to end a very interesting first day on the road. And I had covered a lot of miles.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As soon as I crossed into </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>South Carolina</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the place where the Civil War started and the home to a wide assortment of fairly belligerent bastards </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the speed limit dropped to 65 and the price of gas went up. Not a good sign.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN62hmw7gbY/WL7hMOV6zwI/AAAAAAACYm8/BFz8yDOh5LYGYCOMeAQfUtofdnH6LeenACLcB/s1600/F21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cN62hmw7gbY/WL7hMOV6zwI/AAAAAAACYm8/BFz8yDOh5LYGYCOMeAQfUtofdnH6LeenACLcB/s1600/F21.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After going about twenty miles, they started pitching peaches like there was no tomorrow. I have no idea why. There were billboards everywhere along I-85 heralding great deals on peaches. You’d think they invented the damn things. I figured they were just trying to screw their southern neighbors in Georgia, who, after all, live in the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Peach State</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And in the bustling metropolis of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gaffney</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the town fathers had painted a large water tower bright orange to make it look like a peach. It was not even peach season. But y’all come!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UP7MxHPiJNA/WL7hdfZBryI/AAAAAAACYnA/kXfLmQWB3mENaRxwQLhkZHK-wb8yfnOZgCLcB/s1600/F22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UP7MxHPiJNA/WL7hdfZBryI/AAAAAAACYnA/kXfLmQWB3mENaRxwQLhkZHK-wb8yfnOZgCLcB/s1600/F22.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were long strings of truck convoys blocking the fast lane every ten miles or so and I would suddenly go from 80 mph to 60, waiting for the slow-moving beasts to move over so I could pass. It made what would have been a very pleasant drive a giant pain in the ass.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOeo-_oUPtI/WL7iFB8_3zI/AAAAAAACYnE/XOmorkgNx94Ort5fN0IoNufKRV-gyfavQCLcB/s1600/F23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOeo-_oUPtI/WL7iFB8_3zI/AAAAAAACYnE/XOmorkgNx94Ort5fN0IoNufKRV-gyfavQCLcB/s1600/F23.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Carolina is home to many little wayside colleges in the middle of nowhere </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mostly technical and bible colleges </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coker College, Limestone College, Voorhees College, North Greenville College</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all leading the golden way to the despicable </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Bob Jones University in Greenville</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where they speak with the serpent’s tongue. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BVLg2AM-41I/WL7iYp9ZseI/AAAAAAACYnI/C8LLhzymaFERykB7SxQmRIM5szSKcthpACLcB/s1600/F24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BVLg2AM-41I/WL7iYp9ZseI/AAAAAAACYnI/C8LLhzymaFERykB7SxQmRIM5szSKcthpACLcB/s1600/F24.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Carolinians sure do like their Jesus. One out of every five billboards praised the word of the lord and promised my salvation. There was one humongous sign that really caught my eye right next to the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Tanger Outlet Mall</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at an interchange near no known town, somewhere south of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Ashland</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, that proclaimed: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 108pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHEN YOU DIE</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YOU WILL MEET JESÚS </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s good, “ I said to myself, “because he’s got some ‘splaining to do.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDJKsUmC1g4/WL7i1h38H2I/AAAAAAACYnM/_ksZ7mooN3U5MJGmsbiNZeSvTs-9GaIwQCLcB/s1600/F25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDJKsUmC1g4/WL7i1h38H2I/AAAAAAACYnM/_ksZ7mooN3U5MJGmsbiNZeSvTs-9GaIwQCLcB/s1600/F25.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Jesus couldn’t outgun the baser delights of man.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> gun stores</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> galore. I’m not sure how that works. Is a gun really an impulse purchase? And can an out-of-state schmo just pull in and buy a loaded weapon? That’s way beyond insane, but there it was. A nice shiny piece just waiting for you to nuzzle as you drive.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8kNvTF1jaA/WL7jKcE-XHI/AAAAAAACYnQ/Ovn0gWYGBmIzaUOCpEZdrpDKIrZm9mOJwCLcB/s1600/F26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8kNvTF1jaA/WL7jKcE-XHI/AAAAAAACYnQ/Ovn0gWYGBmIzaUOCpEZdrpDKIrZm9mOJwCLcB/s1600/F26.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Fireworks</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are also big fun and the folks down in South Carolina obviously like to blow shit up. There were endless cinder block bunkers along the highway, offering two for one sales, like </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Big Jake's Fireworks Warehouse</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the “biggest in the world”. Who actually measures these places?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ks6yirTOB8A/WL7jeFSUIPI/AAAAAAACYnU/-pCS8nHkac4n7EKhjQcq1z_fpwLGzmw-gCLcB/s1600/F27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ks6yirTOB8A/WL7jeFSUIPI/AAAAAAACYnU/-pCS8nHkac4n7EKhjQcq1z_fpwLGzmw-gCLcB/s1600/F27.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And a new addition to the roadside attractions were </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">moonshine stores</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I tried homemade liquor when I was going to college down at Randolph-Macon in Virginia back in the early 70s, and it tasted like gasoline. I never understood the attraction. But if the billboards were any indication, the stuff was really popular with the tourists these days. I guess that now that they have their own TV show it’s cool. There was a really nice looking establishment just off the interstate called </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Palmetto Moonshine</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with a sipping room, but I didn’t stop for a taste.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4BrqguZBMs/WL7j_w8bsAI/AAAAAAACYnY/5keooBMt_SYxZfJ3wq3wD1kxj41czoyWwCLcB/s1600/F28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4BrqguZBMs/WL7j_w8bsAI/AAAAAAACYnY/5keooBMt_SYxZfJ3wq3wD1kxj41czoyWwCLcB/s1600/F28.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It always struck me as odd that a bible thumping state like South Carolina could so shamelessly advertise all manner of pornography and wanton sex along its most high-profile roads. It seemed like every interchange was offering a taste of forbidden fruit. There were </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adult Superstores </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> strip joints</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - “We Bare All! - lining the highway like main street in Gomorrah. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fm2pAfCPTdw/WL7lKNo63AI/AAAAAAACYng/GYVn0E6f4KsNWjOSdK8TI4JNLOClE4y5wCLcB/s1600/F30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fm2pAfCPTdw/WL7lKNo63AI/AAAAAAACYng/GYVn0E6f4KsNWjOSdK8TI4JNLOClE4y5wCLcB/s1600/F30.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It appeared from my limited view, going 80 mph down an interstate highway, that almost everybody lived in a trailer. There were</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> trailer parks</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> galore. Parks is too kind a word. They resembled backwoods </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">compounds </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with rusted cars rotting in the overgrown yards and dead animals hanging from the scraggly trees. It was pretty unsettling.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8jR8RI9ckPU/WL7ljHKPqdI/AAAAAAACYnk/9eaUmGq5MEYuZ4A4ygjdeioTRfO8_qjNACLcB/s1600/F31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8jR8RI9ckPU/WL7ljHKPqdI/AAAAAAACYnk/9eaUmGq5MEYuZ4A4ygjdeioTRfO8_qjNACLcB/s1600/F31.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every little town advertised </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Motorsports</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, little red clay circular tracks with rickety stands that no doubt are the social hub of the area on a warm Saturday night. I guess you have to make do when there’s no high school football.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UtMZDaG1es/WL8BYn0M80I/AAAAAAACYoE/oZmUeOxlwN8Byl6NfN16il3mVst9fzLOwCLcB/s1600/F33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6UtMZDaG1es/WL8BYn0M80I/AAAAAAACYoE/oZmUeOxlwN8Byl6NfN16il3mVst9fzLOwCLcB/s1600/F33.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flea markets</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> were also quite a draw. Vendors lined open tracts of land, hawking secondhand goods while surprisingly large crowds inspected the merchandise. I wondered whether they were locals or tourists.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obgOx-Jc6uU/WL8DpOyemCI/AAAAAAACYoU/XWDRuPJ-A84tGJvQLdc1cVmAWUdvNd4dACLcB/s1600/F34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-obgOx-Jc6uU/WL8DpOyemCI/AAAAAAACYoU/XWDRuPJ-A84tGJvQLdc1cVmAWUdvNd4dACLcB/s320/F34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But what garnered most of my attention while passing through South Carolina were the police. The cops drove around in menacing black </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dodge Challengers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, with tinted windows, often in packs, rousting motorists by the side of the road, going through their bags and luggage. That would definitely ruin a nice vacation. Thank goodness the WAZE social network always alerted me to their presence before they could spring their trap. It definitely put a brand new spin on the phrase “Southern Hospitality”, though I guess that myth was shattered ages ago.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj0WGuZJ4Kg/WL8Eh341U5I/AAAAAAACYoc/YYI4O1ROEJohxmW4AwUpG4sDiFXjEveHwCLcB/s1600/F36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qj0WGuZJ4Kg/WL8Eh341U5I/AAAAAAACYoc/YYI4O1ROEJohxmW4AwUpG4sDiFXjEveHwCLcB/s320/F36.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But it wasn’t all surreal or scary passing through South Carolina. There were numerous lakes and reservoirs that looked quite inviting. But all of them, like the biggest of the bunch, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lake Hartwell</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, were starved for more water. The water levels were way down, exposing the red clay banks, and forcing the marina operators and waterfront homeowners to build long extension docks to the lake. So, even when there was some rather attractive natural feature, like a shiny man made lake, it was still kind of depressing.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-obZSf_VCmrk/WL8FcJEyKbI/AAAAAAACYok/jZZUOUdMot012wPDtW6C27QIzgvnaJFpQCLcB/s1600/F38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-obZSf_VCmrk/WL8FcJEyKbI/AAAAAAACYok/jZZUOUdMot012wPDtW6C27QIzgvnaJFpQCLcB/s320/F38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Georgia the hardwoods were starting to bloom. And I even noticed the occasional native white </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">shadblow </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that mimic those godawful Bradford pear trees that I had so liked back up in North Carolina,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3bzxycGYpu8/WL8FsZ0-s5I/AAAAAAACYoo/3XEeICrJwbAChHaIMS2rESekP4flS-qIwCLcB/s1600/F39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3bzxycGYpu8/WL8FsZ0-s5I/AAAAAAACYoo/3XEeICrJwbAChHaIMS2rESekP4flS-qIwCLcB/s1600/F39.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then came the south’s biggest metropolis, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Atlanta</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The traffic jam started thirty miles from the city. I decided to stay on I-85 and go right right through the heart of the beast, rather than take the beltway around town, because Atlanta is actually a pretty cool city. I hadn't been there in many years and the new high rise skyscrapers in the city core were quite breathtaking. A testament to new money. But the traffic was like D.C. and I crawled along at a snail's pace. It was good for the visuals but a bit stressful with all the stopping and starting as we crawled by the the heart of Dixie. The most disheartening thing about Atlanta is that it is spreading south to Macon, like Salt Lake City is engulfing Ogden, Provo and Orem. Prosperity has no end </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> like cancer.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzeTHlx1HPQ/WL8F61nRYuI/AAAAAAACYo0/un7ihOWigEk-jmYnMZcUWYRd8P3_mUwewCLcB/s1600/F40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzeTHlx1HPQ/WL8F61nRYuI/AAAAAAACYo0/un7ihOWigEk-jmYnMZcUWYRd8P3_mUwewCLcB/s1600/F40.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My destination was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Macon, Georgia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Specifically, the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Big House”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This was the grand,Tudor-style house that the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Allman Brothers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> lived in with their wives and little kids in the early 70s, at about the time they were just catching fire. It is now a free museum located in a very nice neighborhood of stately homes. The museum showcases furniture, photos, guitars, clothes and all sorts of memorabilia from their wild and woolly past.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7EVAvR9Xj0/WL8HPs-54BI/AAAAAAACYs0/XhjPAipEw3wl9_RH7ArowBk2BCst3SBLACLcB/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7EVAvR9Xj0/WL8HPs-54BI/AAAAAAACYs0/XhjPAipEw3wl9_RH7ArowBk2BCst3SBLACLcB/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slmAi3q2yU0/WL8IfzvyhFI/AAAAAAACYtk/WC4_PBIn1hA-x7qzLVYmm5ZJhttnk0U2wCLcB/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-slmAi3q2yU0/WL8IfzvyhFI/AAAAAAACYtk/WC4_PBIn1hA-x7qzLVYmm5ZJhttnk0U2wCLcB/s320/IMG_4214.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Allman Brothers were my favorite band when the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Who were tearing up the music world, and for my money</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Whipping Post”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is still the finest piece of music ever created. I was lucky enough to see them perform several times before </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Duane and Berry Oakley </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crashed their choppers at the same intersection in Macon and died within months of one another. So sad. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSuoW8MTbZY" target="_blank">Whipping Post</a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMz7_J5-LMg/WL8H_gY9LZI/AAAAAAACYtE/HmwKEPIUfpwi1CDgCmiOEcp5HMh5D4mEwCLcB/s1600/F50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yMz7_J5-LMg/WL8H_gY9LZI/AAAAAAACYtE/HmwKEPIUfpwi1CDgCmiOEcp5HMh5D4mEwCLcB/s320/F50.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I met them after a show down in Richmond in the notorious</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Fan District” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in 1971, and they were scary good. A wall of blues. And they came on like crazed bikers, which is essentially what they all were. In those days they would get up in the morning and drink some magic mushroom ice tea that was always in the fridge, jam the afternoon away drinking whiskey, pop some black beauties so they were wired for the show, and then crash in the wee hours of the morning with more liquor and a few seconals or tuinols. Such a lifestyle was, of course, unsustainable. But the Brothers were like a force of nature. And while I would not want to denigrate the talent of the Allman Brothers Band that rose from the ashes of Duane’s death, nothing was ever the same after the loss of their lead guitarist. It was like Little Feat after Lowell George passed away.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO-Dhv3zzOY/WL8HhuMDR-I/AAAAAAACYs8/RDjRVXF0IBs5yYI__UE18POnLolz8ck1gCLcB/s1600/IMG_4217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO-Dhv3zzOY/WL8HhuMDR-I/AAAAAAACYs8/RDjRVXF0IBs5yYI__UE18POnLolz8ck1gCLcB/s320/IMG_4217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I highly recommend the “Big House” if you are traveling through Macon. And the town itself is really quite attractive and inviting. Macon was once a hub of commerce and has some really nice historic sandstone buildings. And there’s a very nice Arts and Dining district. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO1zv8Ujk0M/WL8Iqffsw3I/AAAAAAACYto/Re6eIExBo-URLNEVY_rA5TaK03ykYsGZQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO1zv8Ujk0M/WL8Iqffsw3I/AAAAAAACYto/Re6eIExBo-URLNEVY_rA5TaK03ykYsGZQCLcB/s320/IMG_4225.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ate a ridiculously cheap and yummy dinner at a nearly empty Thai restaurant on the main drag called </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sangs</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kd_ICFlX7Pk/WL8IybDwhRI/AAAAAAACYts/I3EAZuUXNgAHp_mZfAUsH0N7oGBd0p-kQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kd_ICFlX7Pk/WL8IybDwhRI/AAAAAAACYts/I3EAZuUXNgAHp_mZfAUsH0N7oGBd0p-kQCLcB/s320/IMG_4222.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After dinner I crossed the street and checked out the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hummingbird Bar</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in a Byzantine-arched, red sandstone building. As soon as I walked inside I was blown away by the smoke. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everybody was smoking</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. When was the last time you went into a bar where they allowed you to smoke? I was stunned … and amused. So, I bellied up to the bar and started a conversation with a very friendly lady bartender. It was Happy Hour and they were offering </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$1 Pabst Blue Ribbons</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ordered one, and then a couple more, just taking in the weird scene.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_32ZHfZfMU/WL8JR0iQ23I/AAAAAAACYuI/7-a13ysk8l8hOzJi9bSWDMiL2lT-QEE6wCLcB/s1600/F51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_32ZHfZfMU/WL8JR0iQ23I/AAAAAAACYuI/7-a13ysk8l8hOzJi9bSWDMiL2lT-QEE6wCLcB/s1600/F51.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my beer came, I said, “I can’t remember the last time I was in a place that served PBR’s and let you smoke.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bartender chuckled. “Yeah, you don’t see that combination too much any more.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How do you get away with the smoking?” I asked.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5ZzfoXTRWM/WL8mDHfZBJI/AAAAAAACYwc/e39OqZNeZ747658yGgeURyoLiwLcK3NggCLcB/s1600/F59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5ZzfoXTRWM/WL8mDHfZBJI/AAAAAAACYwc/e39OqZNeZ747658yGgeURyoLiwLcK3NggCLcB/s1600/F59.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We are strictly a bar. We don’t serve any food. If you don’t do food in Georgia, then you can let the patrons smoke.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things are different in the south, for sure.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-DHltA6pu8/WL8JkQs6mLI/AAAAAAACYuM/uAFTEm-iInsf89m2OOx4DVvX3UbO3rW0ACLcB/s1600/F52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-DHltA6pu8/WL8JkQs6mLI/AAAAAAACYuM/uAFTEm-iInsf89m2OOx4DVvX3UbO3rW0ACLcB/s320/F52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had been alerted at the Big House to a free screening of a new documentary at the historic </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Douglass Theater </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">nearby and I walked over to the show around seven and snagged a seat. The theater was like one of those old ornate vaudeville places and it was filled with old hippies and black blues musicians </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> an interesting mix indeed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cer-GY8WSto/WL8Jy-CjiUI/AAAAAAACYuo/eFJxq8MikQYNeLM-mp3RVO-qvs3ELxPOgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cer-GY8WSto/WL8Jy-CjiUI/AAAAAAACYuo/eFJxq8MikQYNeLM-mp3RVO-qvs3ELxPOgCLcB/s320/IMG_4232.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The movie was called</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Sidemen - The Long Road To Glory” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and it t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">old an amazing story about three blues masters </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hubert Sumlin on guitar, Willie Big Eyes” Smith on drums, and Pinetop Perkins on piano</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– all of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whom got lost in the wake of their well-known band leaders </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Howlin’ Wolf </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Muddy Waters</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It was a fascinating and sad tale that I, who considers himself a music aficionado, had never heard. And it brought tears to my eyes several times. All three giants recently died in their 90s within a few months of one another. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NotiIRkYdlc/WL8KPSYqboI/AAAAAAACYv0/eow4oTVB5LMaSH6_WiJX2eY3VMucdKRrQCLcB/s1600/F53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NotiIRkYdlc/WL8KPSYqboI/AAAAAAACYv0/eow4oTVB5LMaSH6_WiJX2eY3VMucdKRrQCLcB/s1600/F53.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.sidemenfilm.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.sidemenfilm.com/</span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I walked back to my motel, I began to notice that Macon seemed to have more apparently homeless black people than I have ever seen any place in America. At every intersection they were aimlessly jaywalking across the street in a chaotic dance, carrying their possessions in black garbage bags. It was like they had emptied the local asylum.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LosI048Zoco/WL8KzhQX6tI/AAAAAAACYwE/VDowI7w-mScdSWvfM3sE4fXN5w07Sp5nACLcB/s1600/F57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LosI048Zoco/WL8KzhQX6tI/AAAAAAACYwE/VDowI7w-mScdSWvfM3sE4fXN5w07Sp5nACLcB/s1600/F57.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cable in my motel offered </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 religious channels </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and ads for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Casket Store</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but the next morning there was a local news story about an annual event that takes place in Macon every spring called</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Sleep Out For The Homeless”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Local pastors and advocates camp out in a school yard to highlight the terrible issue of homelessness.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-NVqKEGhGw/WL8Kzphc5hI/AAAAAAACYwA/lGAEXXHevGIup76N_qSIW_zzPMoRBBz6ACEw/s1600/F58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h-NVqKEGhGw/WL8Kzphc5hI/AAAAAAACYwA/lGAEXXHevGIup76N_qSIW_zzPMoRBBz6ACEw/s1600/F58.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I drifted off to sleep that night, a line from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jim Morrison’s “American Prayer”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> kept running through my head. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Death makes angels of us all,</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And gives us wings, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Where we had shoulders, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Smooth as raven’s claws.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Road Log</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Left Kings Mountain, Georgia at 10AM and arrived at Macon, Georgia at 2PM. </b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>300 miles</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-53832131900095051562017-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:002017-03-04T14:50:20.510-08:00DRIVING TO FLA - Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-osNPjO9ZRhE/WLn2FA9p2fI/AAAAAAACXus/LUBfkMmg2XcyJ1veMgbUGC0RoS6BvzlnwCLcB/s1600/F14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-osNPjO9ZRhE/WLn2FA9p2fI/AAAAAAACXus/LUBfkMmg2XcyJ1veMgbUGC0RoS6BvzlnwCLcB/s320/F14.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-07de191a-8a19-6fa6-5fba-8e34210302ea" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I left Annapolis to visit some old friends who I worked with at the Grand Canyon Canyon and who now live in Tallahassee at ten on a Wednesday morning in late February, with the hopes of dodging the rush hour traffic around Washington and northern Virginia. The plan worked like a charm and I zoomed around the nation’s capital on the Capital Beltway without any delays. It was a partly cloudy winter’s day with temperatures hovering in the low 50s </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pretty typical for the warmer-than-normal winter of 2017 in Maryland.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqX4_qST1uk/WLnjZVLHf5I/AAAAAAACXtc/ZQoAQNBlJB0JQNsy0jsBfsa-jp-tmtBUACLcB/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqX4_qST1uk/WLnjZVLHf5I/AAAAAAACXtc/ZQoAQNBlJB0JQNsy0jsBfsa-jp-tmtBUACLcB/s1600/F1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interstate 95 was virtually empty </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">relatively speaking. I mean, it’s always pretty much out of control, but at least it wasn’t a parking lot, which it what I usually encounter. There wasn’t enough traffic to even warrant opening the Express Pass lanes and I made great time. I was in Richmond in less than two hours </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> almost a record.. But there were lots of trucks and everyone was going about 70 in every lane, so it was still pretty cranked until I got to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Petersburg, Virginia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where I exited onto</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I-85</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q_9VAV9hWQ/WLnk0qVyCoI/AAAAAAACXtk/dkaml-mchlUwG_E6J8iXdVWYsMAousvUwCLcB/s1600/F3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q_9VAV9hWQ/WLnk0qVyCoI/AAAAAAACXtk/dkaml-mchlUwG_E6J8iXdVWYsMAousvUwCLcB/s320/F3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As soon as I started driving down I-95’s western cousin, it was an entirely different vibe. There were dense woods on both sides of the highway and noticeably less traffic. The landscape went from urban to rural in the space of about ten miles. And I literally breathed a sigh of relief. But the woods looked slightly forlorn, mostly raggedy-ass scrub pines draped in brown dormant kudzu that looked like dead seaweed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49fjHgDiQsE/WLnlRlcVPWI/AAAAAAACXto/iUcHAu4dEDMog5r0Kh1i5tG6m5doy5RvgCLcB/s1600/F4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-49fjHgDiQsE/WLnlRlcVPWI/AAAAAAACXto/iUcHAu4dEDMog5r0Kh1i5tG6m5doy5RvgCLcB/s1600/F4.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The speed limit soon soon went from 65 to 70 and I was going about 80 most of the time. I hit the cruise control and settled in for a smooth ride. I engaged my trusty </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WAZE</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> app and for the next two days it alerted me to anything up ahead that might be a problem, like a cop, debris in the road, a construction backup, or an accident. It was a wonderful tool to have there by my side and during my 950-mile drive from Annapolis to Tallahassee, Florida, it came in really handy and saved me several speeding tickets in South Carolina and Georgia. And every time I saw a speed trap, I dutifully alerted the WAZE network. I got multiple thank yous from grateful motorists. Power to the People!</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEGrlcxIn2c/WLnluA2MFMI/AAAAAAACXts/3Fju_7SoK2Q7iEsNOgr7cuO7jD-nyPjTACLcB/s1600/F5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEGrlcxIn2c/WLnluA2MFMI/AAAAAAACXts/3Fju_7SoK2Q7iEsNOgr7cuO7jD-nyPjTACLcB/s1600/F5.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My destination at the end of the first day was</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Gastonia, North Carolina</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where my mom and dad always stopped back in the sixties, when I was but a wee lad and we were heading south to Boca Grande, Florida each spring. That meant about a seven hour drive from my home, not including the stops. A long day at the wheel indeed. But I like driving through new lands, or those long forgotten, so it was all good.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cACfJkMZuG8/WLnmFWoRsxI/AAAAAAACXtw/MXQYZdijehQUtW2NJRbCjA1iPMj33ciBwCLcB/s1600/F6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cACfJkMZuG8/WLnmFWoRsxI/AAAAAAACXtw/MXQYZdijehQUtW2NJRbCjA1iPMj33ciBwCLcB/s1600/F6.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After about four hours everything started to merge into snapshot impressions …</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I expected gas to be much cheaper in the South. I’m not sure why. I guess I associate the deep South with cheap gas and bible thumping. Jesus had bought premium space on countless billboards along I-85 but gas was only five cents cheaper than up in Maryland. It was running at about $2.19 a gallon. No wonder rural America was pissed off and voted for Trump.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z7k4pi4AKg/WLnmntecI5I/AAAAAAACXt0/GdD7fbFbjc4XWUwLmGmzj6tnwsSvnqOIwCLcB/s1600/F7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Z7k4pi4AKg/WLnmntecI5I/AAAAAAACXt0/GdD7fbFbjc4XWUwLmGmzj6tnwsSvnqOIwCLcB/s320/F7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me, spring is measured by what the trees are doing. By </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greensboro</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the temperature was hovering in the mid 70s and there were bright red buds on the maple trees. But nothing was green or in bloom yet. Spring wasn’t quite there, but it was coming fast.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charlotte </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">those man-made harbingers of spring, the white cotton ball Bradford pears were in their full bloom glory. And even if they were created by a mad botanist at the Beltsville lab in Maryland, it warmed my heart to think that I had finally escaped winter’s chilly grasp.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tl1fLSv-dXs/WLnnDkmZ5RI/AAAAAAACXt4/LIZiUx-yYGwfRR0qSr9kBapJ7RM4mP0KQCLcB/s1600/callery-pear-tree-pyrus-calleryana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tl1fLSv-dXs/WLnnDkmZ5RI/AAAAAAACXt4/LIZiUx-yYGwfRR0qSr9kBapJ7RM4mP0KQCLcB/s320/callery-pear-tree-pyrus-calleryana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hit Gastonia at rush hour and the place resembled strip shop hell. I exited, waited for every traffic light along the insanely backed-up </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Highway 321</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It was like everyone in the goddamn town was on this one stretch of road. I came to the Motel 6 where I had planned to stay, but the whole scene was so industrial strength depressing that I turned around and headed back for the Interstate. I decided to get a few more miles under my belt and then stop further south at an interchange that didn’t teem with ugliness and traffic.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLyqU-stMvk/WLnnzZHLjgI/AAAAAAACXt8/TD1eDHHjW2cOmScI1IpzXc9L1l9nDBlIQCLcB/s1600/F8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLyqU-stMvk/WLnnzZHLjgI/AAAAAAACXt8/TD1eDHHjW2cOmScI1IpzXc9L1l9nDBlIQCLcB/s320/F8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About 30 miles farther down I-85, I came to a place from my past: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kings Mountain, North Carolina</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, very near the South Carolina border. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-crC_0y45Krk/WLnoLpAErtI/AAAAAAACXuA/5gRzDzvU4aMvwAaJq0aHDa3U4MGlcMb5ACLcB/s1600/F9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-crC_0y45Krk/WLnoLpAErtI/AAAAAAACXuA/5gRzDzvU4aMvwAaJq0aHDa3U4MGlcMb5ACLcB/s1600/F9.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Many years before, when I was living the life of a nomad, I had been exploring the south and stumbled onto the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Kings Mountain National Military Park</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on a very cold Autumn night and ended up camping in a completely empty campground. After freezing my ass off, I awoke to sunlight and warmth and strolled around what turned out to be one of the most significant </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and unheralded </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">battlefields in American history. This was the spot where the American Revolutionary War turned in favor of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Patriots</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. After a long string of defeats at the hands and bootheels of Lord Cornwallis, a rebel force of 900 surprised a larger army of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Loyalist </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">troops on October 7, 1780, about nine miles south of the Econolodge where I stayed on my return visit in 2017. The Rebels routed the Loyalists and then proceeded to butcher many of those who surrendered. The defeat so unnerved Cornwallis that he abandoned his plan of conquering North Carolina and retreated back into South Carolina. And from that point on, it was all pretty much downhill for the Brits until their final surrender to General Washington at Yorktown. Who knew, right?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPMeVnpU_aM/WLnocou3zfI/AAAAAAACXuE/l_uR1J69bacQT3PMgT3QK99p2AYI7SK4gCLcB/s1600/F10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPMeVnpU_aM/WLnocou3zfI/AAAAAAACXuE/l_uR1J69bacQT3PMgT3QK99p2AYI7SK4gCLcB/s320/F10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having already visited the park, and with night descending, I went foraging for food and ended up at a local dive called</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Mi Pueblito</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. What a find! I love Mexican food and this family-owned and operated restaurant served down home authentic Mexican delights. The place was packed with locals, which is always a good sign. The chips were home-baked, the salso rich and tasty, the Modelo chilled to perfection, and the chimichangas and guacamole salad out of this world. And I saw </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or, rather, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">heard </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">–</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> something hilarious while eating my dinner. A hispanic family sat down and started an animated conversation in Spanish. But occasionally they would break into English, and when they did, they did so with a backwoods hillbilly drawl. It was comical as hell.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmK7Cp-zAAA/WLnpHoFHVQI/AAAAAAACXuM/2I97gKfuLgMOe96HalojBXpVm2kGem7_gCLcB/s1600/F12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmK7Cp-zAAA/WLnpHoFHVQI/AAAAAAACXuM/2I97gKfuLgMOe96HalojBXpVm2kGem7_gCLcB/s1600/F12.jpg" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And therein lay the lesson for the day: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Appearances can be deceiving, but more importantly, a journey is measured by what you find, not what you see.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSN4EkzLl0Q/WLnqz6NACwI/AAAAAAACXuY/U__-zh6Y4mgEHmmdz8zajRxONX2dUgtfwCLcB/s1600/F13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSN4EkzLl0Q/WLnqz6NACwI/AAAAAAACXuY/U__-zh6Y4mgEHmmdz8zajRxONX2dUgtfwCLcB/s1600/F13.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Road Log</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Left Annapolis at 10AM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arrived at Kings Mountain, North Carolina at 8PM</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">470 miles</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-88297621519380353362016-08-16T07:01:00.002-07:002016-08-16T07:01:47.225-07:00BARCELONA the BEST<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbXmqAd_eJk/V7H20cnnapI/AAAAAAACOQo/9BwSfM1dSuwsJLpOWk9fRcg8JoPidw8KQCEw/s1600/IMG_8268%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WbXmqAd_eJk/V7H20cnnapI/AAAAAAACOQo/9BwSfM1dSuwsJLpOWk9fRcg8JoPidw8KQCEw/s400/IMG_8268%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna and I have traveled the world and seen many of the great cities. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to rating a city. And in the end, it's just a matter of personal taste, or pure happenstance that rings your bell. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y35dhEj0rBs/V7H2opAmHUI/AAAAAAACOPk/-thrihQxSlkMcE-9hobul22hs9aYcrHBgCEw/s1600/IMG_8057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y35dhEj0rBs/V7H2opAmHUI/AAAAAAACOPk/-thrihQxSlkMcE-9hobul22hs9aYcrHBgCEw/s400/IMG_8057.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ylOT9Iv8hbk/V7IqwgsEBAI/AAAAAAACOco/VTmC8CrklOsMPyRimPpJN098Au73YzAKgCEw/s1600/IMG_5671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ylOT9Iv8hbk/V7IqwgsEBAI/AAAAAAACOco/VTmC8CrklOsMPyRimPpJN098Au73YzAKgCEw/s400/IMG_5671.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the record, New York City is one-of-a-kind. Can't be touched. Has more of everybody and everything than any place else. And it's the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But I wouldn't want to live there for more than about a week. And believe me, I've tried.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i1tPEe5pdmQ/V7H2tzm5qtI/AAAAAAACOTQ/QjI4O3QVYa8vMADFMbt8evrkUwvIBW5ewCEw/s1600/IMG_8220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i1tPEe5pdmQ/V7H2tzm5qtI/AAAAAAACOTQ/QjI4O3QVYa8vMADFMbt8evrkUwvIBW5ewCEw/s400/IMG_8220.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph_WIz0_4Bk/V7H2pGjqbaI/AAAAAAACOTQ/py8Qxl0IGVIB8b5GIjiwLNbOFxf1WxqigCEw/s1600/IMG_8068%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ph_WIz0_4Bk/V7H2pGjqbaI/AAAAAAACOTQ/py8Qxl0IGVIB8b5GIjiwLNbOFxf1WxqigCEw/s400/IMG_8068%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2l4g2BFg9I/V7H2rahrnQI/AAAAAAACOTQ/nGagHF3rvS4TkNgOlFMIOa8A_mhGOdiwwCEw/s1600/IMG_8069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2l4g2BFg9I/V7H2rahrnQI/AAAAAAACOTQ/nGagHF3rvS4TkNgOlFMIOa8A_mhGOdiwwCEw/s400/IMG_8069.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zKjXCeStRs/V7H2NIcuAsI/AAAAAAACOS4/ztKjd8BYsdgLvEEG63YXelYHHELkYP2ogCEw/s1600/IMG_7665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8zKjXCeStRs/V7H2NIcuAsI/AAAAAAACOS4/ztKjd8BYsdgLvEEG63YXelYHHELkYP2ogCEw/s400/IMG_7665.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna likes wedding cake Vienna the best.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXDMvaVNwB8/V7H2-sB_DTI/AAAAAAACORU/-YIpgmsj5qMEq8pk7qB3AQkK3VE17stdwCEw/s1600/IMG_8338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pXDMvaVNwB8/V7H2-sB_DTI/AAAAAAACORU/-YIpgmsj5qMEq8pk7qB3AQkK3VE17stdwCEw/s400/IMG_8338.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end, it just comes down to gut feelings, I suppose.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BN34Ykxx4eo/V7H225UJuPI/AAAAAAACOQw/wjUFpadQXzQBk_YQXYGSz_t50l77erdsACEw/s1600/IMG_8292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BN34Ykxx4eo/V7H225UJuPI/AAAAAAACOQw/wjUFpadQXzQBk_YQXYGSz_t50l77erdsACEw/s400/IMG_8292.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I think Steve Earle, one of America's greatest song writers, put the melancholy vagaries of travelling as well as anyone ever has in his powerful song "Fort Worth Blues".</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #ccccdd; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In Ft. Worth all the neon's burnin' bright</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pretty lights red and blue</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But they'd shut down all the honky tonks tonight</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And say a prayer or two</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If they only knew</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You used to say the highway was your home</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But we both know that ain't true</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's just the only place a man can go</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When he don't know where he's travelin' to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But Colorado's always clean and healin'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And Tennessee in Spring is green and cool</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It never really was your kind of town</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But you went around with the Ft. Worth Blues</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere up beyond the great divide</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Where the sky is wide and the clouds are few</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A man can see his way clear to the light</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just hold on tight</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's all you gotta do</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And they say Texas weather's always changin'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And one thing change'll bring is somethin' new</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And Houston really ain't that bad a town</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So you hang around with the Ft. Worth Blues</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There's a full moon over Galway Bay tonight</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Silver light over green and blue</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And every place I travel through, I find</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some kinda sign that you've been through</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But Amsterdam was always good for grieving</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And London never fails to leave me blue</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Paris never was my kinda town</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4WOys7sWvU" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Fort Worth Blues</span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">My favorite big city, and the place I hope to live for at least some of the time I have left here on this great, wide wonderful old earth is <b>Barcelona, Spain</b>. Inna and I have been there many times and it never fails to charm us to the bone.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLM_yy_jbM/V7H3BoCeHeI/AAAAAAACOTQ/5p5pkIIelDgG6P1SliO7oH-WC8MI34BiACEw/s1600/IMG_8367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLM_yy_jbM/V7H3BoCeHeI/AAAAAAACOTQ/5p5pkIIelDgG6P1SliO7oH-WC8MI34BiACEw/s400/IMG_8367.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xD1hpFKo5F8/V7ICBp4-bsI/AAAAAAACObI/yj1Z2BHNchkCmZWWhulw03NmWctJjSzKACEw/s1600/IMG_1078%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xD1hpFKo5F8/V7ICBp4-bsI/AAAAAAACObI/yj1Z2BHNchkCmZWWhulw03NmWctJjSzKACEw/s400/IMG_1078%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">I've thought a lot about what it is that makes Barcelona such a special place and this is what I came up with.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UaLeBiyups/V7H2rkgjX1I/AAAAAAACOTQ/0p95sfubmJkokZgTIvi2GTsNlOisN09pwCEw/s1600/IMG_8140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8UaLeBiyups/V7H2rkgjX1I/AAAAAAACOTQ/0p95sfubmJkokZgTIvi2GTsNlOisN09pwCEw/s400/IMG_8140.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0BQl1fTZdE/V7H2P2gWoiI/AAAAAAACOS4/APPMu1Hd-w4ghbM_yS7e3C3YoPxINHLvwCEw/s1600/IMG_7740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q0BQl1fTZdE/V7H2P2gWoiI/AAAAAAACOS4/APPMu1Hd-w4ghbM_yS7e3C3YoPxINHLvwCEw/s400/IMG_7740.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZArAn7RPI4/V7H29FRYQoI/AAAAAAACOTQ/mrPKsFEvPXAjg8k2kjJXZlamGcCiYv22ACEw/s1600/IMG_8336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZArAn7RPI4/V7H29FRYQoI/AAAAAAACOTQ/mrPKsFEvPXAjg8k2kjJXZlamGcCiYv22ACEw/s400/IMG_8336.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Let's start with the <b>climate</b>. The yearly average temperature for Barcelona is about 74 degrees. It rarely gets below 50 or hotter than 75. It's sunny most of the time, other than in October. You can swim in the Mediterranean Sea all year round. And the nights are delightful.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y35dhEj0rBs/V7H2opAmHUI/AAAAAAACOTQ/XzCT9XMUKMMLV3mU6YumjaXGr3PbT7nOgCEw/s1600/IMG_8057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y35dhEj0rBs/V7H2opAmHUI/AAAAAAACOTQ/XzCT9XMUKMMLV3mU6YumjaXGr3PbT7nOgCEw/s400/IMG_8057.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6b4qAa-codE/V7H2c-z5f8I/AAAAAAACOS4/ustTT3Pnilsxk2U1eUV34zNStibaE5apQCEw/s1600/IMG_7874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6b4qAa-codE/V7H2c-z5f8I/AAAAAAACOS4/ustTT3Pnilsxk2U1eUV34zNStibaE5apQCEw/s400/IMG_7874.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eZq2N20zGc/V7IqwbatgiI/AAAAAAACOco/4KTEeIaaUwkud9UvCOMu5RFyoH7J3GxeACEw/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eZq2N20zGc/V7IqwbatgiI/AAAAAAACOco/4KTEeIaaUwkud9UvCOMu5RFyoH7J3GxeACEw/s400/IMG_5694.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXm9MqgJShI/V7IqxtdW5OI/AAAAAAACOco/WEZAUzsWjiQdjQQgH67_z7LdQJ-tbvSGQCEw/s1600/IMG_5700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KXm9MqgJShI/V7IqxtdW5OI/AAAAAAACOco/WEZAUzsWjiQdjQQgH67_z7LdQJ-tbvSGQCEw/s400/IMG_5700.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Every City has a distinctive <b>architectural style</b> </span><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> New York has its skyscrapers, London its Victorian palaces, and Prague has its Gothic wonders </span><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">— but Barcelona is the only city that has them <b><u>all</u></b> in abundance </span><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">— plus the dreamy treasures of<b> Antoni Gaudi</b>, like the <b>Sagrada Familia Cathedral </b>and <b>Castle Batlo</b>. It's almost as if the town fathers told the builders, "Do whatever you like just as long as it is different than what the other guy is doing." Walking down a street in Barcelona is a window into every architectural design ever conceived, all right next to one another in this incredible mix of riotous splendor. Barcelona defies any attempt to pigeon hole it's architectural beauty.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7c_SSq9WBtE/V7H2gUPgvtI/AAAAAAACOS4/N1zg0LYkA3AnFVSHL6UZbec90M0dxq-zwCEw/s1600/IMG_7903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7c_SSq9WBtE/V7H2gUPgvtI/AAAAAAACOS4/N1zg0LYkA3AnFVSHL6UZbec90M0dxq-zwCEw/s400/IMG_7903.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtCkV9mgUsw/V7H2W0BbGMI/AAAAAAACOS4/YW0-ZsTkywgVT4pp_xKHXAp0rf1tysaWQCEw/s1600/IMG_7845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtCkV9mgUsw/V7H2W0BbGMI/AAAAAAACOS4/YW0-ZsTkywgVT4pp_xKHXAp0rf1tysaWQCEw/s400/IMG_7845.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9oIk4TevfU/V7H2UvQ5TYI/AAAAAAACOS4/t8AN3EcKE-QC4w_ntKSoXI8R8dme-TbxACEw/s1600/IMG_7792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i9oIk4TevfU/V7H2UvQ5TYI/AAAAAAACOS4/t8AN3EcKE-QC4w_ntKSoXI8R8dme-TbxACEw/s400/IMG_7792.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Then there's the <b>food</b>. Everything that you buy in one of their many amazing markets or restaurants was picked or slaughtered in the past twenty-four hours, and probably within a twenty-five-mile radius of town. The <b>Catalan region of Spain </b>is the nation's food basket and an absolute gastronomical paradise. Barcelona is the gold standard when it comes to fresh food. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AoqVkerPpY0/V7IBoOHVrMI/AAAAAAACObI/rzfkl_1sxEsn02GNFMtBXiKaSsSIccB6ACEw/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AoqVkerPpY0/V7IBoOHVrMI/AAAAAAACObI/rzfkl_1sxEsn02GNFMtBXiKaSsSIccB6ACEw/s400/IMG_0874.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-33pHRkD_c/V7IBiLlx_TI/AAAAAAACObI/aEcPNEebWKcWOzStwisvW3jj-qsB2GtrgCEw/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-33pHRkD_c/V7IBiLlx_TI/AAAAAAACObI/aEcPNEebWKcWOzStwisvW3jj-qsB2GtrgCEw/s400/IMG_0796.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HL2j3-XHwwo/V7IBkfgRSSI/AAAAAAACObI/SM8F3dq64oMcQ5AE-nN3CCrAWPrkUkhDwCEw/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HL2j3-XHwwo/V7IBkfgRSSI/AAAAAAACObI/SM8F3dq64oMcQ5AE-nN3CCrAWPrkUkhDwCEw/s400/IMG_0810.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5SBnLTcXX4/V7IChitTw-I/AAAAAAACObI/71zqDe531VUluWbl52CFH7UJidyTeFbsQCEw/s1600/IMG_1409%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5SBnLTcXX4/V7IChitTw-I/AAAAAAACObI/71zqDe531VUluWbl52CFH7UJidyTeFbsQCEw/s400/IMG_1409%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXrks3B4_V8/V7H2hOTMqzI/AAAAAAACOS4/B_pCTq9uXjENzVMqBDcinkzUTMNLkh0UgCEw/s1600/IMG_7899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXrks3B4_V8/V7H2hOTMqzI/AAAAAAACOS4/B_pCTq9uXjENzVMqBDcinkzUTMNLkh0UgCEw/s400/IMG_7899.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">And finally, there is the <b>diversity of the people and their cultures</b>. Like the architecture, Barcelona embraces all of the world's people. And a walk down any street in the city is like passing through everywhere at once. You hear Spanish, Russian, French, Syrian, Nigerian, and Chinese </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">— and most use English as their common language, which is very convenient for us dumbass Americans. And these peoples of the earth have brought the best of their cultures to Barcelona where it flourishes in the temperate climate of freedom and civility like the yellow-blossomed acacia trees that line so many of the city's beautiful boulevards.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eyLsw7shDM/V7H27gXAaQI/AAAAAAACORI/1-kGYod8gRsykPwGiaIK-uW5mMhU03-aACEw/s1600/IMG_8333%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5eyLsw7shDM/V7H27gXAaQI/AAAAAAACORI/1-kGYod8gRsykPwGiaIK-uW5mMhU03-aACEw/s400/IMG_8333%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLTJE42I-y0/V7H3BTg3_UI/AAAAAAACORk/2guXZGS5oaMOL3HuHDRzuLXEbm2Xu8jfwCEw/s1600/IMG_8355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLTJE42I-y0/V7H3BTg3_UI/AAAAAAACORk/2guXZGS5oaMOL3HuHDRzuLXEbm2Xu8jfwCEw/s400/IMG_8355.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB10f6cx5Y4/V7H26acYRII/AAAAAAACORE/_z0DqrBjAFcMEzNj_mWUIg4fq0rZ1RzbQCEw/s1600/IMG_8326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB10f6cx5Y4/V7H26acYRII/AAAAAAACORE/_z0DqrBjAFcMEzNj_mWUIg4fq0rZ1RzbQCEw/s400/IMG_8326.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">So, Barcelona might not be the best city on earth </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">— if such a thing really even exists </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">— but it's my favorite and we try and visit it as often as we can. One of the main reasons we took our Mediterranean cruise on the <b>MSC Poesia</b> was because it departed from Barcelona, and we knew we could add a few days onto the end of our trip, exploring Catalan's capital city.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70tARXJh8wg/V7H2ha7e6oI/AAAAAAACOS4/hhaJdHA-HKk0qu119hYmsuScLdayvCRPACEw/s1600/IMG_7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-70tARXJh8wg/V7H2ha7e6oI/AAAAAAACOS4/hhaJdHA-HKk0qu119hYmsuScLdayvCRPACEw/s400/IMG_7920.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jR7tVzFyvaY/V7H2hxZwBgI/AAAAAAACOS4/zOddH7BKRTQflYaAj2vbxGUPUSBBgYhYgCEw/s1600/IMG_7925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jR7tVzFyvaY/V7H2hxZwBgI/AAAAAAACOS4/zOddH7BKRTQflYaAj2vbxGUPUSBBgYhYgCEw/s400/IMG_7925.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fse4T_AfPZ4/V7H2jxbvdFI/AAAAAAACOS4/O8bK4EqHjU4bVAGdNRHITlLCxwIfSlLNACEw/s1600/IMG_7930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fse4T_AfPZ4/V7H2jxbvdFI/AAAAAAACOS4/O8bK4EqHjU4bVAGdNRHITlLCxwIfSlLNACEw/s400/IMG_7930.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">I have done several blogs about Barcelona already, so if you want to get down in the weeds for details about the best places to go and what to see, you can check out one of my previous postings.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nv2X-twklL0/V7H2tWsh4pI/AAAAAAACOTQ/w_wCr4vPk6gfp01qcuVU8FSvmyrfCcYhwCEw/s1600/IMG_8145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nv2X-twklL0/V7H2tWsh4pI/AAAAAAACOTQ/w_wCr4vPk6gfp01qcuVU8FSvmyrfCcYhwCEw/s400/IMG_8145.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">All I want to do this time around is give you some snapshots of our four days last June to help sweeten the pot and give you some tasty flavors.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wj8_ZkTsUtY/V7H3NE7ej0I/AAAAAAACOTQ/Nob2Oj9vhwQ2CwpD2RvAzi85oKwrJ5JwgCEw/s1600/IMG_8582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wj8_ZkTsUtY/V7H3NE7ej0I/AAAAAAACOTQ/Nob2Oj9vhwQ2CwpD2RvAzi85oKwrJ5JwgCEw/s400/IMG_8582.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="color: #222222;">
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Catalan is the <b>economic engine of Spain</b>. So, unlike most, if not all, of the Southern European countries, the south of Spain does the heavy lifting and produces the wealth and food that feeds the rest of the nation. The fact that they are ruled by people far to the north has stuck in their craw for a long time now</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">— centuries, in fact. </span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">And they resent the Spanish so much, they would rather speak English when they aren't speaking Catalan.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P6KPzF9dKBA/V7H2mVpE17I/AAAAAAACOTQ/oN9l9i4mg5EMXy_sVGS0hSKe-zZJXJgegCEw/s1600/IMG_8001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P6KPzF9dKBA/V7H2mVpE17I/AAAAAAACOTQ/oN9l9i4mg5EMXy_sVGS0hSKe-zZJXJgegCEw/s400/IMG_8001.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp9kW80gGbg/V7ICGjsiBzI/AAAAAAACObI/pPX0gtFJkJwOzF4jD1TbefIw9fKv7B1QwCEw/s1600/IMG_1095%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp9kW80gGbg/V7ICGjsiBzI/AAAAAAACObI/pPX0gtFJkJwOzF4jD1TbefIw9fKv7B1QwCEw/s400/IMG_1095%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Many of the business and homes fly the colorful Catalan flag as a sort of windswept protest to the heavy-handed government in <b>Madrid </b>that calls the shots. And interestingly, the Catalan flag was modeled after Cuba's flag.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Sv1G_ji_F4/V7ItP405iSI/AAAAAAACOcs/bvtsCTSKGWAohFN14_AtD5kCfHhkvkkDwCLcB/s1600/B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Sv1G_ji_F4/V7ItP405iSI/AAAAAAACOcs/bvtsCTSKGWAohFN14_AtD5kCfHhkvkkDwCLcB/s400/B2.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Barcelona is a city where the <b>entrepreneurial spirit </b>reins supreme. There are individuals selling goods along the streets and small shops offering everything under the sun wherever you go. The waterfront is home to the many Africans who have come to Barcelona to make a new life. They line the harbor edge, selling their wares which are pretty much all the same <span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;"> pork pie hats; knockoff purses; camera sticks; refrigerator magnets of Sagrada Familia and other attractions; wooden train letter blocks that spell out your family name; the distinctive red, blue, and yellow <b>Barcelona football jerseys</b> (Messi!); and an assortment of plastic crap. They roll the goods into blankets so they can lug their trinkets around with ease, and also so they can quickly roll it all up and make their escape if the cops decide to mess with them. Some of the slicker vendors tie strings to the edges of the blankets and attach them to a stick which they hold at the ready, so they can instantly pull the blanket together like a puppet and then boogie. They are handsome people and all smiles. Apparently their new lives beat whatever sad place they came from. And while they definitely work the hard sell, they are not aggressive or bothersome. They are respectful and polite, and the people of Barcelona seem to have welcomed them with open arms.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhlr6x_q9sI/V7Ip2JvAm1I/AAAAAAACOb8/AUB8BtYhE1QkIettXN4aH0XHNTeEzPhDgCLcB/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhlr6x_q9sI/V7Ip2JvAm1I/AAAAAAACOb8/AUB8BtYhE1QkIettXN4aH0XHNTeEzPhDgCLcB/s400/IMG_5696.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lxqszoJUbts/V7Ip2Bz7wiI/AAAAAAACOcA/wioSgiS3u2scvTXKK28huyKI0d7C_FIPACLcB/s1600/IMG_5701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lxqszoJUbts/V7Ip2Bz7wiI/AAAAAAACOcA/wioSgiS3u2scvTXKK28huyKI0d7C_FIPACLcB/s400/IMG_5701.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3plIIY2dhY/V7ICLrxBlZI/AAAAAAACOYI/nKRH2FT9yp0oP2P18tRV5aBzH3VfOEVGgCEw/s1600/IMG_1127%2B-%2BCopy.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3plIIY2dhY/V7ICLrxBlZI/AAAAAAACOYI/nKRH2FT9yp0oP2P18tRV5aBzH3VfOEVGgCEw/s400/IMG_1127%2B-%2BCopy.MOV" width="296" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Like I said before, it doesn't rain very often in Barcelona, especially in June. But one afternoon a dark thunderstorm rolled over the mountains to the north and descended upon the city like a wet wave of lightening. The tourons all scattered like scared little rabbits. Suddenly, the Africans appeared, sporting really nice golf umbrellas to keep themselves dry while they hawked the cheap, pop-up models. It was a very clever sales technique. From my balcony perch, the people scurrying along the <b>Calle </b>(street) looked like tiny robots.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itp-st2mJGU/V7H3Iojk5oI/AAAAAAACOTQ/UMmjPIkuis8o6R-V07j9Zjv7YznXIqlDQCEw/s1600/IMG_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-itp-st2mJGU/V7H3Iojk5oI/AAAAAAACOTQ/UMmjPIkuis8o6R-V07j9Zjv7YznXIqlDQCEw/s400/IMG_8524.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OS44no5WIsY/V7MVXpdqSlI/AAAAAAACOdE/31c1tn8fMjkAP0LYBBUCFS2MSVPVDcJSQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OS44no5WIsY/V7MVXpdqSlI/AAAAAAACOdE/31c1tn8fMjkAP0LYBBUCFS2MSVPVDcJSQCLcB/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYTUfyUyMP8/V7MVXmGFtGI/AAAAAAACOdI/PgDv38AkaiAQDD3uXeCXLZhsFWJEZTK7ACLcB/s1600/IMG_1328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYTUfyUyMP8/V7MVXmGFtGI/AAAAAAACOdI/PgDv38AkaiAQDD3uXeCXLZhsFWJEZTK7ACLcB/s400/IMG_1328.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpimm9RPJ88/V7ICBcuixeI/AAAAAAACObI/vHhK1C9qA8oRz2vunExjH4PrhnoDqNAgwCEw/s1600/IMG_1063%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kpimm9RPJ88/V7ICBcuixeI/AAAAAAACObI/vHhK1C9qA8oRz2vunExjH4PrhnoDqNAgwCEw/s400/IMG_1063%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t5_ZKESVLq4/V7IB4SYeqSI/AAAAAAACObI/gFq8aG7MJVY2OOzX4sRnpdf2J5tabt7kACEw/s1600/IMG_1031%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t5_ZKESVLq4/V7IB4SYeqSI/AAAAAAACObI/gFq8aG7MJVY2OOzX4sRnpdf2J5tabt7kACEw/s400/IMG_1031%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Public transportation rules in Barcelona. Buses are everywhere, and they are very popular. The subway system is second to none. It's convenient, impeccably clean, efficient and reasonably priced. The <b>Bike Share Program </b>is a huge hit and b<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ikes, roller blades, and skateboards are the transportation of choice for the young <b>Barcas</b>. It is not uncommon at all to see a young businessman dressed in a nice suit, rollerblading to work while holding a briefcase.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGOIpQyCeHw/V7IBrtnIstI/AAAAAAACObI/c_ndJYcWeyM6hXTVKu-Q4HEnZVzgt1WVgCEw/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vGOIpQyCeHw/V7IBrtnIstI/AAAAAAACObI/c_ndJYcWeyM6hXTVKu-Q4HEnZVzgt1WVgCEw/s400/IMG_0936.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DaQOfNVBn5k/V7ICiicMt9I/AAAAAAACObI/HumdQhK9xbc4NUf-iFy9sAvnZ9cd6MO3wCEw/s1600/IMG_1421%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DaQOfNVBn5k/V7ICiicMt9I/AAAAAAACObI/HumdQhK9xbc4NUf-iFy9sAvnZ9cd6MO3wCEw/s400/IMG_1421%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djdKH8Aq-5k/V7IB7LE2DII/AAAAAAACObI/RrKT6J7qHisYSVNC0rIb5sjWxMRjRfYnwCEw/s1600/IMG_1034%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-djdKH8Aq-5k/V7IB7LE2DII/AAAAAAACObI/RrKT6J7qHisYSVNC0rIb5sjWxMRjRfYnwCEw/s400/IMG_1034%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AApBjCEQb4Y/V7H23Mcf-1I/AAAAAAACOTQ/n01cysVWg50dG0c9Z_CyMYJAQzIXwmKnQCEw/s1600/IMG_8309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AApBjCEQb4Y/V7H23Mcf-1I/AAAAAAACOTQ/n01cysVWg50dG0c9Z_CyMYJAQzIXwmKnQCEw/s400/IMG_8309.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QOa1mpIAcvc/V7H28h8B48I/AAAAAAACOTQ/_LNEZQ8ViKUiNelov_TrNaXzU7ggiy6wACEw/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QOa1mpIAcvc/V7H28h8B48I/AAAAAAACOTQ/_LNEZQ8ViKUiNelov_TrNaXzU7ggiy6wACEw/s400/IMG_8335.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Barcelona is trying really hard to be <b>green</b>, through a wide assortment of interesting initiatives, starting with the hydrogen-powered trash trucks and buses. They scan your plastic bag and hit you with an additional tax if you request one when filling your super market needs at a <b>Mercat </b>or even a <b>SuperMercat</b>. And t<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">hey have energy saving room key credit cards that fit into a slot on the walls of each hotel room that engage the electric current for everything in the room so you can't leave the lights on when you leave.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mg6VfMriqyo/V7ICZrVKikI/AAAAAAACObI/245GH1yfqp4dWvtqHjwMRoMk9PlJ7kvLQCEw/s1600/IMG_1294%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mg6VfMriqyo/V7ICZrVKikI/AAAAAAACObI/245GH1yfqp4dWvtqHjwMRoMk9PlJ7kvLQCEw/s400/IMG_1294%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxflROEK0Xs/V7ICbUK-sZI/AAAAAAACObI/eau3zpZGPlcAOAGV6GRwGoga9rc9YRUtQCEw/s1600/IMG_1296%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxflROEK0Xs/V7ICbUK-sZI/AAAAAAACObI/eau3zpZGPlcAOAGV6GRwGoga9rc9YRUtQCEw/s400/IMG_1296%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOugu_OCNnQ/V7H3A5d-lzI/AAAAAAACOTQ/0BPqKElI-VQlYuAhTB_qcXJUqO3bvVE-gCEw/s1600/IMG_8354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOugu_OCNnQ/V7H3A5d-lzI/AAAAAAACOTQ/0BPqKElI-VQlYuAhTB_qcXJUqO3bvVE-gCEw/s400/IMG_8354.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have noticed each time we visited Barcelona that we rarely heard <b>any </b>emergency sirens, and when we did, they were almost comical, like a clown car horn. The police are called the <b>Guardia Urbana</b>. They travel in pairs or sometimes trios; usually men and women teamed together, and they ride around in blue and white minis. They wear fluorescent yellow and black uniforms and are incredibly friendly and helpful. Barcas seem to genuinely like the police, which is something quite rare these days.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTRswzuG2xc/V7ICcO-jVxI/AAAAAAACOaU/ddeuEYlz_uoFlEqHCA4UYI2GeY3JY6-bQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1303%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTRswzuG2xc/V7ICcO-jVxI/AAAAAAACOaU/ddeuEYlz_uoFlEqHCA4UYI2GeY3JY6-bQCLcB/s400/IMG_1303%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67ad_S-du0g/V7ICc1Id0hI/AAAAAAACOaY/jVW3Tq5yMOYHPn7rz-zzLC2jbLIkOExXgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1304%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67ad_S-du0g/V7ICc1Id0hI/AAAAAAACOaY/jVW3Tq5yMOYHPn7rz-zzLC2jbLIkOExXgCLcB/s400/IMG_1304%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJF_cn-XOzE/V7ICfPdDB0I/AAAAAAACOak/_nfMMTSLW8o7iLl2Uh7QeS_fBA5mAQJjQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1313%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJF_cn-XOzE/V7ICfPdDB0I/AAAAAAACOak/_nfMMTSLW8o7iLl2Uh7QeS_fBA5mAQJjQCLcB/s400/IMG_1313%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEkFHZwmB1Q/V7ICfgDHpEI/AAAAAAACOao/l9zIjfVkq4YWq5nWbqMJFvGXUUypDq1tgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1320%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEkFHZwmB1Q/V7ICfgDHpEI/AAAAAAACOao/l9zIjfVkq4YWq5nWbqMJFvGXUUypDq1tgCLcB/s400/IMG_1320%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib9fRUdxxTw/V7ICfyqr1dI/AAAAAAACOas/_ndAFaOMQFcWtmqSaZW0dyMFYN2Kd95gwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1324%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ib9fRUdxxTw/V7ICfyqr1dI/AAAAAAACOas/_ndAFaOMQFcWtmqSaZW0dyMFYN2Kd95gwCLcB/s400/IMG_1324%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Another thing that we noticed right away in Barcelona was how attractive the people are. I know this is purely subjective, and probably even sexist, but for my money, the women and men are hot as hell and they dress like eclectic models. As Inna said to me one evening when we were dining at one of our favorite restaurants, <b>Cer el Cel</b>, overlooking the <b>Avenuda de la Catedral</b>, "It's easy to be ugly and dress badly, but it takes work to look nice and stylish."</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bf6ua1f6ksA/V7H3DX9OBSI/AAAAAAACOTQ/BgHJkTQSD5c_FQ21FS-ZAtkbrO-O661GwCEw/s1600/IMG_8374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bf6ua1f6ksA/V7H3DX9OBSI/AAAAAAACOTQ/BgHJkTQSD5c_FQ21FS-ZAtkbrO-O661GwCEw/s400/IMG_8374.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ReRBQOVwSAI/V7H3DVA2zRI/AAAAAAACOTQ/S2FOB_P5G2QQyA2D6Vylkn74G8hxq2SfQCEw/s1600/IMG_8375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ReRBQOVwSAI/V7H3DVA2zRI/AAAAAAACOTQ/S2FOB_P5G2QQyA2D6Vylkn74G8hxq2SfQCEw/s400/IMG_8375.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">I have already given a shout out about the food but I really can't say it enough: <b>the food is absolutely incredible</b>. And they can turn something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich and fried potatoes (served in a pretty white bowl) into a culinary delight. The bread, cheese, and spices made it the best grilled cheese sandwich I had ever eaten. Why can't we find food like this in the U.S.? Inna and I both agreed that we are going to take a cooking class when we move to Barcelona.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9ucjAxTjhQ/V7H2SOyeDiI/AAAAAAACOS4/jOV20oVmOhs9JCAOUDGjKus-wFR6lbm-gCEw/s1600/IMG_7742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9ucjAxTjhQ/V7H2SOyeDiI/AAAAAAACOS4/jOV20oVmOhs9JCAOUDGjKus-wFR6lbm-gCEw/s400/IMG_7742.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nuYBYL7hng/V7H2SDu17hI/AAAAAAACOS4/NIAbUyiDZC03lpG13etVG3FcZP-6zwrvgCEw/s1600/IMG_7743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nuYBYL7hng/V7H2SDu17hI/AAAAAAACOS4/NIAbUyiDZC03lpG13etVG3FcZP-6zwrvgCEw/s400/IMG_7743.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">I need to also give a plug to several local businesses.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPTViFwa2Cs/V7H2WFPTagI/AAAAAAACOS4/nx-lYhPh8FkZXjt4STBRivx93q8__0BdQCEw/s1600/IMG_7824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPTViFwa2Cs/V7H2WFPTagI/AAAAAAACOS4/nx-lYhPh8FkZXjt4STBRivx93q8__0BdQCEw/s400/IMG_7824.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCn3_omh2QI/V7IBm3pfHHI/AAAAAAACObI/z9NLbvnmNrwL8zXel8dXh9wA4zkdihAJwCEw/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oCn3_omh2QI/V7IBm3pfHHI/AAAAAAACObI/z9NLbvnmNrwL8zXel8dXh9wA4zkdihAJwCEw/s400/IMG_0831.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPCboDSJcIQ/V7MYEnEw_aI/AAAAAAACOdg/tikfNHBRBOUiVbAo3Mna7AAd0iKIHEGqACLcB/s1600/IMG_1108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mPCboDSJcIQ/V7MYEnEw_aI/AAAAAAACOdg/tikfNHBRBOUiVbAo3Mna7AAd0iKIHEGqACLcB/s400/IMG_1108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WiwAqOJRaKw/V7MYEi73wvI/AAAAAAACOdc/KByO-dL4amgWRjV0hoJokrRJj00gPY8cgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WiwAqOJRaKw/V7MYEi73wvI/AAAAAAACOdc/KByO-dL4amgWRjV0hoJokrRJj00gPY8cgCLcB/s400/IMG_1277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm8aYph2L4o/V7MYE2vIFRI/AAAAAAACOdk/VatCT9UaDVwseZXC4473rMcrwoIoc7UswCLcB/s1600/IMG_1293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm8aYph2L4o/V7MYE2vIFRI/AAAAAAACOdk/VatCT9UaDVwseZXC4473rMcrwoIoc7UswCLcB/s400/IMG_1293.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">The first is the <b>Catalonia Portal de l'Angel Hotel</b>, located on the <b>Avenguda del Portal de l'Angel</b>, a gorgeous strolling byway right off the city's most spectacular plaza, <b>Placa de Catalunya</b>, and just a stone's throw from everything, including the <b>Gothic District</b> and the world famous <b>Las Ramblas </b>pedestrian shopping boulevard. You can easily walk to many of Barcelona's best sites from the hotel. The rooms are spacious with stone balconies overlooking the street. They have a bar and a cool pool, the staff treats you like royalty, and the inside of the place is like a grand museum.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNOeIAnXsok/V7H21pXGD5I/AAAAAAACOTQ/zwZd3qOhftcsduVyT34xYeTWA0W7wwaUACEw/s1600/IMG_8272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNOeIAnXsok/V7H21pXGD5I/AAAAAAACOTQ/zwZd3qOhftcsduVyT34xYeTWA0W7wwaUACEw/s400/IMG_8272.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNG8swMnFUU/V7H2y__AXjI/AAAAAAACOQc/270qSIvd7xErAtjw5XK4kc7MSopuXdm-gCEw/s1600/IMG_8259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNG8swMnFUU/V7H2y__AXjI/AAAAAAACOQc/270qSIvd7xErAtjw5XK4kc7MSopuXdm-gCEw/s400/IMG_8259.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uBlkBtEJzOo/V7H2zc4wFJI/AAAAAAACOQg/Od_9Eom_OlANoXNxPOLOBO35eSiKMy_ngCEw/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uBlkBtEJzOo/V7H2zc4wFJI/AAAAAAACOQg/Od_9Eom_OlANoXNxPOLOBO35eSiKMy_ngCEw/s400/IMG_8260.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erqPnpCWYSE/V7IBrbolGHI/AAAAAAACObI/_6PkwUE2iIgifIv4LOw76EG_opvHSbo5QCEw/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-erqPnpCWYSE/V7IBrbolGHI/AAAAAAACObI/_6PkwUE2iIgifIv4LOw76EG_opvHSbo5QCEw/s400/IMG_0924.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft6FAk61L_Q/V7IBiP_WjtI/AAAAAAACObI/s9ejgZMi-VgcKOzFzy_eGIw0WgOJFx_DgCEw/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft6FAk61L_Q/V7IBiP_WjtI/AAAAAAACObI/s9ejgZMi-VgcKOzFzy_eGIw0WgOJFx_DgCEw/s400/IMG_0779.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As were checking into our hotel after the cruise, we noticed they offered a walking tour of the old city, leaving in about an hour, through a company called <b>FEELFREE TOURS</b> .</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wpcUJgHMj4I/V7IBuA6Yi5I/AAAAAAACObI/3Nw7aNOIV44nj_f8KySmQvNj4RotTvjSgCEw/s1600/IMG_0962%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wpcUJgHMj4I/V7IBuA6Yi5I/AAAAAAACObI/3Nw7aNOIV44nj_f8KySmQvNj4RotTvjSgCEw/s400/IMG_0962%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.feelfreetours.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">FEELFREE TOURS</span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN40kBIxSbY/V7H2fek5mhI/AAAAAAACOTQ/svu6APTjbXg7Lxlru2aSMnGQf4PfZM8sgCEw/s1600/IMG_7889%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN40kBIxSbY/V7H2fek5mhI/AAAAAAACOTQ/svu6APTjbXg7Lxlru2aSMnGQf4PfZM8sgCEw/s400/IMG_7889%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">FEELFREE has a very interesting business model. The tour is <b>free</b>. They leave it up to you as to what you think it was worth when it's over. We had a charming young man named <b>Goran</b> from Croatia as our guide, who spoke perfect English. He was going to school in Barcelona and earning some money extra on the side. We took two tours with Goran over the course of the weekend and it was incredibly informative and fun. He knew Gaudi inside and out, and if he didn't know, he had a handy notebook that he used as a cheat sheet. Goran filled our head with many lovely tidbits.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9CF4H4RX34/V7IBhmjI7MI/AAAAAAACObI/BhwuTYJ9gck8aDZSCcGwstdHrXwSXuTOwCEw/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9CF4H4RX34/V7IBhmjI7MI/AAAAAAACObI/BhwuTYJ9gck8aDZSCcGwstdHrXwSXuTOwCEw/s400/IMG_0806.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB8WqEf7-ws/V7H2bCd1ELI/AAAAAAACOS4/hfqKL35-uSglo6_8t0YP72sTBATrdD1UwCEw/s1600/IMG_7871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB8WqEf7-ws/V7H2bCd1ELI/AAAAAAACOS4/hfqKL35-uSglo6_8t0YP72sTBATrdD1UwCEw/s400/IMG_7871.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">* On St George Day, April 23, the women of the city are handed red roses and then receive books from their loved ones.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLM_yy_jbM/V7H3BoCeHeI/AAAAAAACOTQ/5p5pkIIelDgG6P1SliO7oH-WC8MI34BiACEw/s1600/IMG_8367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8LLM_yy_jbM/V7H3BoCeHeI/AAAAAAACOTQ/5p5pkIIelDgG6P1SliO7oH-WC8MI34BiACEw/s400/IMG_8367.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">* The logo on the distinctive and very popular <b>Chupa Chups </b>lollipop was designed by <b>Salvadore Dali</b>.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5jd7xw33Scc/V7H2_cq_imI/AAAAAAACOTQ/XCodRODwRtEfs1pytkrl7LL7I74ZFFM2gCEw/s1600/IMG_8350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5jd7xw33Scc/V7H2_cq_imI/AAAAAAACOTQ/XCodRODwRtEfs1pytkrl7LL7I74ZFFM2gCEw/s400/IMG_8350.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c3SPfb_1D70/V7IBo6JhrcI/AAAAAAACObI/4hWhfuw25scKMJbnGcEA5hfjMTePV3DxACEw/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c3SPfb_1D70/V7IBo6JhrcI/AAAAAAACObI/4hWhfuw25scKMJbnGcEA5hfjMTePV3DxACEw/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">* Antoni Gaudi was killed by a trolley and his funeral was a spectacle to behold. The Barcas applied to the Vatican for Gaudi to be made a saint, the <b>Patron Saint of Architecture</b> (there is no such thing). But he needs at least three miracles and he doesn't have any. So, they are essentially asking for a waiver. The folks in Rome have yet to respond. In my humble opinion, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral is easily worth three miracles.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQfFXFsdJL8/V7H2dtmqZyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/9IreAruMT08pA2IhYLLcHsVEtLfOvl0pQCEw/s1600/IMG_7885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQfFXFsdJL8/V7H2dtmqZyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/9IreAruMT08pA2IhYLLcHsVEtLfOvl0pQCEw/s400/IMG_7885.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBxX5u-QFRs/V7IB-S0VHCI/AAAAAAACObI/EmnJYhDIY5s95cIMEqpWCtO3EnQTg5FaQCEw/s1600/IMG_1051%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBxX5u-QFRs/V7IB-S0VHCI/AAAAAAACObI/EmnJYhDIY5s95cIMEqpWCtO3EnQTg5FaQCEw/s400/IMG_1051%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yt8TroDI96s/V7IB-RwgLqI/AAAAAAACObI/yf-yb8HOpN8jTGdO5Ee76VcW-zYBjatYgCEw/s1600/IMG_1052%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yt8TroDI96s/V7IB-RwgLqI/AAAAAAACObI/yf-yb8HOpN8jTGdO5Ee76VcW-zYBjatYgCEw/s400/IMG_1052%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* At the end of the 1700s, the city leaders decided that they needed to expand outward and move beyond the old city. But they couldn't because the Catholic church owned all of the land. So the Barcelona government simply killed the priests and nuns so they could grow the city.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p26UGmj42C0/V7H2xnzw4lI/AAAAAAACOTQ/JTTrKTk9TYcv4xAVRlmshREJlQs47QXygCEw/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p26UGmj42C0/V7H2xnzw4lI/AAAAAAACOTQ/JTTrKTk9TYcv4xAVRlmshREJlQs47QXygCEw/s400/IMG_8250.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg1Bbnmm520/V7H2LO2Jn_I/AAAAAAACOS4/2Txxd3e9BPIKV26IJTz-fdvhICA6vjmvQCEw/s1600/IMG_7617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hg1Bbnmm520/V7H2LO2Jn_I/AAAAAAACOS4/2Txxd3e9BPIKV26IJTz-fdvhICA6vjmvQCEw/s400/IMG_7617.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-Wghb-A9Js/V7IBllDs9VI/AAAAAAACObI/KuDAHkB35s4cgSmW2F7edVtg-YzRRbUpQCEw/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-Wghb-A9Js/V7IBllDs9VI/AAAAAAACObI/KuDAHkB35s4cgSmW2F7edVtg-YzRRbUpQCEw/s400/IMG_0816.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwQEhFj6pS0/V7ICA6INq-I/AAAAAAACObI/axDPJjH2C8E6SeELkcczxNkne0Gtq8MUwCEw/s1600/IMG_1074%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LwQEhFj6pS0/V7ICA6INq-I/AAAAAAACObI/axDPJjH2C8E6SeELkcczxNkne0Gtq8MUwCEw/s400/IMG_1074%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">* In the 1800s, the Spanish government staged a rigged design contest where the winner, a celebrated architect from Madrid, created the first street grid for Barcelona, with four buildings of equal size facing one another in a big square, 20 feet apart to maximize sunlight. The green space was placed <b>inside </b>the four buildings, so that outside was inside.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gt7CCKlq-c/V7H2ONeB9xI/AAAAAAACOS4/IUaaQBG7kPs0WDkCdIVeLmysJrK5oVfJACEw/s1600/IMG_7681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gt7CCKlq-c/V7H2ONeB9xI/AAAAAAACOS4/IUaaQBG7kPs0WDkCdIVeLmysJrK5oVfJACEw/s400/IMG_7681.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyKBSkLtONU/V7IB8KTQUDI/AAAAAAACObI/oDdIC6FzB7Y28tVrV6IZRSy5cQaP7mwOgCEw/s1600/IMG_1040%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyKBSkLtONU/V7IB8KTQUDI/AAAAAAACObI/oDdIC6FzB7Y28tVrV6IZRSy5cQaP7mwOgCEw/s400/IMG_1040%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5C93ik2U0XE/V7IBnYrYOJI/AAAAAAACObI/mYuk7dIE4jY5J7OQSEH9Hmia79gsGtPrACEw/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5C93ik2U0XE/V7IBnYrYOJI/AAAAAAACObI/mYuk7dIE4jY5J7OQSEH9Hmia79gsGtPrACEw/s400/IMG_0837.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">* Many of the streets in Barcelona consist of tiled streets designed by Gaudi, featuring symbols of nature, like fish from the Med. Gaudi was enchanted by the natural world and incorporated trees, flowers and animals into everything he designed.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CH_iM9xXKjk/V7H2Teho6HI/AAAAAAACOS4/dACmXj8T5ncUvb0_RGwhNo7fDtdANSL3ACEw/s1600/IMG_7771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CH_iM9xXKjk/V7H2Teho6HI/AAAAAAACOS4/dACmXj8T5ncUvb0_RGwhNo7fDtdANSL3ACEw/s400/IMG_7771.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xyn58zTnW8/V7H2rdcfzLI/AAAAAAACOTQ/LVc62eumi94ToZtiPl_mEHj9leY_dgZRwCEw/s1600/IMG_8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xyn58zTnW8/V7H2rdcfzLI/AAAAAAACOTQ/LVc62eumi94ToZtiPl_mEHj9leY_dgZRwCEw/s400/IMG_8087.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_mNWSkkBis/V7H2t6v7vmI/AAAAAAACOTQ/cKYXIIkC0-safKMgf3ot5afzmAzFepbvQCEw/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A_mNWSkkBis/V7H2t6v7vmI/AAAAAAACOTQ/cKYXIIkC0-safKMgf3ot5afzmAzFepbvQCEw/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leyFEXhDLVs/V7ICH-KMzLI/AAAAAAACObI/5mhMO3AqKO8NNcj5aRzdDjC5ERdcc3pqgCEw/s1600/IMG_1107%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leyFEXhDLVs/V7ICH-KMzLI/AAAAAAACObI/5mhMO3AqKO8NNcj5aRzdDjC5ERdcc3pqgCEw/s400/IMG_1107%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpyDEYTPOSQ/V7IB2P1JrtI/AAAAAAACObI/xNKnsAU-Zl0mpvq746dT7G2PLyzZNhJ2gCEw/s1600/IMG_1020%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpyDEYTPOSQ/V7IB2P1JrtI/AAAAAAACObI/xNKnsAU-Zl0mpvq746dT7G2PLyzZNhJ2gCEw/s400/IMG_1020%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">* The Sagrada Familia Cathedral will have ten more towers, and eight have now been completed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The unfinished central tower will be 175-feet-high because <b>Monjuic </b>is the highest point in town, and Gaudi thought religion should tower over all. The cathedral has three facades and only the front (Nativity) is finished. If everything goes according to plan, the cathedral will finally be finished in 2026. Over three million visitors check out the cathedral every year (we've been there four times), making it the most visited tourist attraction in Spain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Xvhq9j18w/V7H2czyCKeI/AAAAAAACOS4/wta963XtuBI4n4a90sSEIuHUu7ukJ-4ygCEw/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Xvhq9j18w/V7H2czyCKeI/AAAAAAACOS4/wta963XtuBI4n4a90sSEIuHUu7ukJ-4ygCEw/s400/IMG_7883.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kJwnjLO75R4/V7IB_Gja75I/AAAAAAACObI/v3S6_Xg-u1kJjUI1MXcauR8SeEL8T-DgwCEw/s1600/IMG_1053%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kJwnjLO75R4/V7IB_Gja75I/AAAAAAACObI/v3S6_Xg-u1kJjUI1MXcauR8SeEL8T-DgwCEw/s400/IMG_1053%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAnENpe23UU/V7IB9qSUjpI/AAAAAAACObI/sdOJ-_1ScmYT4IwfFD6a6EJiDyQMW54VACEw/s1600/IMG_1045%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAnENpe23UU/V7IB9qSUjpI/AAAAAAACObI/sdOJ-_1ScmYT4IwfFD6a6EJiDyQMW54VACEw/s400/IMG_1045%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C75gFwSE4Qc/V7IqxypR5zI/AAAAAAACOco/ow91wIk04xMm2LdmDmUDPfXyMtvDUTsVwCEw/s1600/IMG_5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C75gFwSE4Qc/V7IqxypR5zI/AAAAAAACOco/ow91wIk04xMm2LdmDmUDPfXyMtvDUTsVwCEw/s400/IMG_5713.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">* The strange figures on the ornate chimneys at</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>La Padrera</b>, or <b>Casa Mila</b>, one of Barcelona's most amazing architectural wonders, were the inspiration for George Lucas when he designed the storm trooper helmets in <b>Star Wars</b>.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae2XIzQJeDA/V7Iq7ZAb2fI/AAAAAAACOcc/aoq0t342zR4XciYROfVh4POc0t3MkmPugCLcB/s1600/B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae2XIzQJeDA/V7Iq7ZAb2fI/AAAAAAACOcc/aoq0t342zR4XciYROfVh4POc0t3MkmPugCLcB/s400/B1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">* On the first Sunday in June, there is the <b>Giant Doll Parade</b>,<b> </b>a joyous a celebration of Catalan myths and culture. It started at the <b>Gothic Cathedral</b> and they marched right under our balcony. There were the big dolls like a dragon and his slayer St. George, followed by family clans proudly bearing their crest upon small banners, along with young dancers in native garb accompanied by brass bands. The Jesus crew tried to weasel in on the fun with a long line of priests and nuns carrying some golden box adorned with a giant cross, but they were relegated to the very back of the line where they belonged.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-RzIoPfO8I/V7H3Dox_62I/AAAAAAACOTQ/mR_RVT5rJ3Ytz6ABM07qtqRvMTc4qh8iACEw/s1600/IMG_8409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-RzIoPfO8I/V7H3Dox_62I/AAAAAAACOTQ/mR_RVT5rJ3Ytz6ABM07qtqRvMTc4qh8iACEw/s400/IMG_8409.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6noad1psK8/V7H3EjyVw_I/AAAAAAACOTQ/xGoSJhCvVpYr5QlZVx3vTlmbfNhI7oG-QCEw/s1600/IMG_8416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6noad1psK8/V7H3EjyVw_I/AAAAAAACOTQ/xGoSJhCvVpYr5QlZVx3vTlmbfNhI7oG-QCEw/s400/IMG_8416.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0u2eMbtbEQ/V7H3FQHdEiI/AAAAAAACOTQ/ItKrYYBSJRMxJWlOeW5A2IK9svFjLOPmwCEw/s1600/IMG_8418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0u2eMbtbEQ/V7H3FQHdEiI/AAAAAAACOTQ/ItKrYYBSJRMxJWlOeW5A2IK9svFjLOPmwCEw/s400/IMG_8418.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOzh6SJZjY8/V7H3FRlkzXI/AAAAAAACOTQ/yQyNEOLNrLcnkBHf_4a_25rGsz5ecdLzwCEw/s1600/IMG_8420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOzh6SJZjY8/V7H3FRlkzXI/AAAAAAACOTQ/yQyNEOLNrLcnkBHf_4a_25rGsz5ecdLzwCEw/s400/IMG_8420.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDJfKsuedBQ/V7H3G7u1mnI/AAAAAAACOTQ/VV_YPa59mDISiKfbWqiSkQTGpEdbB0uCwCEw/s1600/IMG_8437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDJfKsuedBQ/V7H3G7u1mnI/AAAAAAACOTQ/VV_YPa59mDISiKfbWqiSkQTGpEdbB0uCwCEw/s400/IMG_8437.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tY2DcqvohCo/V7H3HdfvQ5I/AAAAAAACOTQ/VxBGnpq8FoccFmpSXP1Gm3ANvIcbf27HQCEw/s1600/IMG_8470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tY2DcqvohCo/V7H3HdfvQ5I/AAAAAAACOTQ/VxBGnpq8FoccFmpSXP1Gm3ANvIcbf27HQCEw/s400/IMG_8470.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUYoP4jz16g/V7H3HSw61JI/AAAAAAACOTQ/9PkvDW4Xn804tMoTqhJblciHB4DIswn3gCEw/s1600/IMG_8473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUYoP4jz16g/V7H3HSw61JI/AAAAAAACOTQ/9PkvDW4Xn804tMoTqhJblciHB4DIswn3gCEw/s400/IMG_8473.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TF9rm3U0_kA/V7H3IJpXLyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/lXfxPWAT4lczKzqtCj7CqOIbyudNRuDeQCEw/s1600/IMG_8487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TF9rm3U0_kA/V7H3IJpXLyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/lXfxPWAT4lczKzqtCj7CqOIbyudNRuDeQCEw/s400/IMG_8487.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc080JMgV_E/V7H3I_LaYqI/AAAAAAACOTQ/O_-JfAtz_loQL629z67TXlhzA_cW9Dz2QCEw/s1600/IMG_8502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc080JMgV_E/V7H3I_LaYqI/AAAAAAACOTQ/O_-JfAtz_loQL629z67TXlhzA_cW9Dz2QCEw/s400/IMG_8502.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKkcmDPhQIQ/V7H3JwTQyoI/AAAAAAACOTQ/btcr2Gm-b0w2Oy09MxHPHtW87vGH4qTrACEw/s1600/IMG_8531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKkcmDPhQIQ/V7H3JwTQyoI/AAAAAAACOTQ/btcr2Gm-b0w2Oy09MxHPHtW87vGH4qTrACEw/s400/IMG_8531.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjUF8xwf4yQ/V7H3KiByd7I/AAAAAAACOTQ/OJy4SKkwgiQSkiL4SoVC3Pm11w8oxz_wgCEw/s1600/IMG_8538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjUF8xwf4yQ/V7H3KiByd7I/AAAAAAACOTQ/OJy4SKkwgiQSkiL4SoVC3Pm11w8oxz_wgCEw/s400/IMG_8538.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYpsctGpWNE/V7H3KynnuyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/RBV9mFMhiI0xV6KQhgeT1ZQiV8O2SJ0MwCEw/s1600/IMG_8549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYpsctGpWNE/V7H3KynnuyI/AAAAAAACOTQ/RBV9mFMhiI0xV6KQhgeT1ZQiV8O2SJ0MwCEw/s400/IMG_8549.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XLMOiQ8PGM8/V7H3LWbrcUI/AAAAAAACOTQ/6JGYVj1YgYwGHBACMtpqMHndOzNuLvhiACEw/s1600/IMG_8551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XLMOiQ8PGM8/V7H3LWbrcUI/AAAAAAACOTQ/6JGYVj1YgYwGHBACMtpqMHndOzNuLvhiACEw/s400/IMG_8551.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz-51_9mn34/V7H3MKRlp-I/AAAAAAACOTQ/ig4qJ9mwBEkayLfaOU7CbwieCpgCQI6oACEw/s1600/IMG_8565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz-51_9mn34/V7H3MKRlp-I/AAAAAAACOTQ/ig4qJ9mwBEkayLfaOU7CbwieCpgCQI6oACEw/s400/IMG_8565.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">* As I have pointed out repeatedly over the years in many of my blogs, most big cities are dirty and littered with trash. Not Barcelona. And they work really hard to keep it that way. There are three-person crews working the streets in their bright yellow and green jumpsuits, carrying their clever folding dust bins and long sweeping brooms, from dawn 'til dusk every day. And in the early morning, they have these little motorized sweepers that allow them to steam clean the cobbled streets with hoses. We never saw a cigarette butt in a country where smoking is very popular, and no chewing gum or trash. The city is immaculate. The last three people at the end of the Giant Puppet Parade were street sweepers immediately cleaning up behind the big party.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFLpBqyvUZM/V7ICODM72uI/AAAAAAACObI/Y6IegXCwOLsF6VLdwUKJFpFuK86LLiOwgCEw/s1600/IMG_1137%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFLpBqyvUZM/V7ICODM72uI/AAAAAAACObI/Y6IegXCwOLsF6VLdwUKJFpFuK86LLiOwgCEw/s400/IMG_1137%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUD6SVRQu5k/V7ICOjAfAFI/AAAAAAACObI/yVENJrQBz-YCu7-adcXUjYyEhfAA-D6gQCEw/s1600/IMG_1136%2B-%2BCopy.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUD6SVRQu5k/V7ICOjAfAFI/AAAAAAACObI/yVENJrQBz-YCu7-adcXUjYyEhfAA-D6gQCEw/s400/IMG_1136%2B-%2BCopy.MOV" width="296" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RPn7kkrfrk/V7IBrRZ4ibI/AAAAAAACObI/u46twSTKuQciKKOtxMNCXuXeIdvnEhbqwCEw/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RPn7kkrfrk/V7IBrRZ4ibI/AAAAAAACObI/u46twSTKuQciKKOtxMNCXuXeIdvnEhbqwCEw/s400/IMG_0928.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am going to end my little story with something fairly insignificant, and yet illustrative, of what separates Catalan Barcelona from the rest of the world. They don't do Santa Claus at Christmas. Instead, they have <b>Caca</b>. Caca is the nice way of saying shit. And all around Barcelona you see these little Caca dolls in the shop windows. To be honest, I saw them several times before I noticed that the little guy was taking a monstrous dump.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDnta7Ugjyw/V7Hp_4ZqyLI/AAAAAAACOMw/oKgbo9-RXJAajQ6GBCF1EfN8wYzBIo3tQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDnta7Ugjyw/V7Hp_4ZqyLI/AAAAAAACOMw/oKgbo9-RXJAajQ6GBCF1EfN8wYzBIo3tQCLcB/s400/IMG_2057.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">According the <b>Barcelona Tourist Guide</b>: </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.696px;">The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.696px;">Caganer</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.696px;"> is a feature of the nativity scene that you only see in Cataluña. It is a figure of a Catalan man wearing traditional Catalan clothes. He is squatting with his trousers around his ankles and pooing! This may seem strange, but it is a custom from the 18th Century. His poo is seen as a sign of good luck as it fertilizes the earth and ensures a good harvest for the coming year.</span></span></i></b><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.696px;"><br /></span></span></i></b>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuncHDI1HHo/V7HqAORYH9I/AAAAAAACOM0/GPMX73k3fG0JQ193cLWnZUzYQlJ07Ae3QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuncHDI1HHo/V7HqAORYH9I/AAAAAAACOM0/GPMX73k3fG0JQ193cLWnZUzYQlJ07Ae3QCLcB/s400/IMG_2061.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large; line-height: 19.696px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I ask you, what could be more fun than a little magical man who comes around at Christmas, wearing a goofy native costume </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"> maybe even the jersey of your favorite football team </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"> you leave him some cookies on Christmas Eve, and then he craps out all of the presents you asked for in return. I mean, how do you beat that?</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kra_Q98YFVo/V7IBotRnHpI/AAAAAAACObI/60L45aPSiUQvpTK-bonlYKLNp95NWomtgCEw/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kra_Q98YFVo/V7IBotRnHpI/AAAAAAACObI/60L45aPSiUQvpTK-bonlYKLNp95NWomtgCEw/s400/IMG_0882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lekl4yavca0/V7Iqv_jMKUI/AAAAAAACOcI/O46rMm9FVIkE6Lu5uH_hrQo8N4w5U0kUgCEw/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lekl4yavca0/V7Iqv_jMKUI/AAAAAAACOcI/O46rMm9FVIkE6Lu5uH_hrQo8N4w5U0kUgCEw/s400/IMG_5666.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-4433721891169503522016-08-08T18:14:00.000-07:002016-08-09T13:52:20.475-07:00Palma de Mallorca, Spain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5JXqHYnhCo/V6iRiXyLdEI/AAAAAAACOII/tdsojG66Pb4htLH6yfCiBJHVsgOXQtCXgCLcB/s1600/P30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G5JXqHYnhCo/V6iRiXyLdEI/AAAAAAACOII/tdsojG66Pb4htLH6yfCiBJHVsgOXQtCXgCLcB/s400/P30.png" width="372" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSKdEa0D3bg/V6fqzbES_1I/AAAAAAACOGk/SiTCDU2ZlZ8fe7TEQFp6x6RB9FmCn1zigCLcB/s1600/P7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSKdEa0D3bg/V6fqzbES_1I/AAAAAAACOGk/SiTCDU2ZlZ8fe7TEQFp6x6RB9FmCn1zigCLcB/s400/P7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The last stop on our seven day Mediterranean cruise aboard the <b>MSC Poesia</b> was <b>Palma de Mallorca, in the Belearic Islands of Spain</b>, but unfortunately, we didn't arrive until nine at night. The sun was slowly setting and it was almost dark. We didn't have to be back on the ship until four, but who in their right mind was going to stumble around a port city in Europe in the middle of the night? I don't care how nice a place is, after two in the morning, the only people out and about are looking for trouble. And most of the bars closed in Palma at midnight, so that's when we went back to the ship.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3xWvk-ybxo/V6fs5_zpCgI/AAAAAAACOHM/BSNuu5t8jF4fW_x0ow-y5ILyyZVkQxh1gCLcB/s1600/P17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3xWvk-ybxo/V6fs5_zpCgI/AAAAAAACOHM/BSNuu5t8jF4fW_x0ow-y5ILyyZVkQxh1gCLcB/s400/P17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGi_Zzbc7qM/V6fdA4npVXI/AAAAAAACOE0/SkLV3dNsEPQn_g96sh174Pk3xSi1f9uUACEw/s1600/IMG_7531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rGi_Zzbc7qM/V6fdA4npVXI/AAAAAAACOE0/SkLV3dNsEPQn_g96sh174Pk3xSi1f9uUACEw/s400/IMG_7531.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkF-F1BHwag/V6fqyqNEoqI/AAAAAAACOGA/CP39siLFe9QPeG2J47AOA04iDf3z28ZlACEw/s1600/P11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkF-F1BHwag/V6fqyqNEoqI/AAAAAAACOGA/CP39siLFe9QPeG2J47AOA04iDf3z28ZlACEw/s400/P11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Palma is where the rich and famous go to be <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>well, you know, rich and famous. It's a very popular stop on the<b><i> Filthy</i></b> <b><i>Rich Sailing Circuit</i></b>, along with Newport and the French Riviera, and the harbor is filled with luxury craft like out of some James Bond movie. Only, it aint a movie or a music video.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TraXPzLCinI/V6fs53IdFtI/AAAAAAACOHI/xyjuuvCwqncH2Lxa7YTTURi1khZyApQ7ACEw/s1600/P16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TraXPzLCinI/V6fs53IdFtI/AAAAAAACOHI/xyjuuvCwqncH2Lxa7YTTURi1khZyApQ7ACEw/s400/P16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlP2efcbuM/V6fc0nwtBkI/AAAAAAACOFU/eGkYjwzfZoswV-TDIaWGe5Aui6Rc9xGJACEw/s1600/IMG_7434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlP2efcbuM/V6fc0nwtBkI/AAAAAAACOFU/eGkYjwzfZoswV-TDIaWGe5Aui6Rc9xGJACEw/s400/IMG_7434.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D5tBqchm5Q/V6fc2a4nozI/AAAAAAACOD8/qEaj7wLAp3wjXv18Fj2GJ_DXvD4AkSaBwCEw/s1600/IMG_7438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5D5tBqchm5Q/V6fc2a4nozI/AAAAAAACOD8/qEaj7wLAp3wjXv18Fj2GJ_DXvD4AkSaBwCEw/s400/IMG_7438.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"But, of course, that's Eric Clapton's super yacht <b><i>Blue Guitar</i></b>. He comes here <b>every</b> year."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1CORRwG7-w/V6fqzV72y6I/AAAAAAACOGo/59eBqR04ktQYB66N1gXi18e6pG9cfgXfQCEw/s1600/P8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1CORRwG7-w/V6fqzV72y6I/AAAAAAACOGo/59eBqR04ktQYB66N1gXi18e6pG9cfgXfQCEw/s400/P8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqcb2WJcDgU/V6fcz60U82I/AAAAAAACODs/tEOIw6U_PY8D3nA7DAwHpaaIxISDXvcagCEw/s1600/IMG_7430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqcb2WJcDgU/V6fcz60U82I/AAAAAAACODs/tEOIw6U_PY8D3nA7DAwHpaaIxISDXvcagCEw/s400/IMG_7430.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But here's the good news: after talking to some European friends who know the best places to vacation around Europe, we discovered that many families go to Mallorca for their vacations and are able to find very reasonably priced rentals and hotels. Mallorca is a pretty big island <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>45 miles by 60 miles, covered with mountains and ringed with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Palma is the capital city, and that's where most of the island's 500,000 residents live, along with the golden ones. But the island has some nice getaway spots for normal people. So, while living there might cost you an arm and a leg, staying for a week is definitely doable.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25g0qMG1A2A/V6fqzAa7w0I/AAAAAAACOGU/-d2keARt-5UZf7ga30NfdonlY-E5gbhkgCEw/s1600/P3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25g0qMG1A2A/V6fqzAa7w0I/AAAAAAACOGU/-d2keARt-5UZf7ga30NfdonlY-E5gbhkgCEw/s400/P3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRPjIlwyKug/V6e2kpJLVOI/AAAAAAACOCo/dUBx2QMZr8I9yHzl97MlgbxPiNCt6CZ9wCEw/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRPjIlwyKug/V6e2kpJLVOI/AAAAAAACOCo/dUBx2QMZr8I9yHzl97MlgbxPiNCt6CZ9wCEw/s400/IMG_0773.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Basically, Mallorca is one of <b><u>the</u></b> Vacationlands for the world's elite. Villas go for about $3 million. And while Italy is incredibly lovely, you notice in the first five minutes that you are back in upscale Spain. It's clean and polished to a lustrous shine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UTN5X9dXIg/V6fs6Ak4dDI/AAAAAAACOHQ/-s6lXV7Qw7Qks3g5a8TmTTEW6iUItAWsACEw/s1600/P18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6UTN5X9dXIg/V6fs6Ak4dDI/AAAAAAACOHQ/-s6lXV7Qw7Qks3g5a8TmTTEW6iUItAWsACEw/s400/P18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7dk_PL86D0/V6fqzFzBEgI/AAAAAAACOGY/HLaNNBQRhFgIAttWIO_xIAdfswkxK7q_QCEw/s1600/P5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7dk_PL86D0/V6fqzFzBEgI/AAAAAAACOGY/HLaNNBQRhFgIAttWIO_xIAdfswkxK7q_QCEw/s400/P5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16Yg3T1uY5o/V6fc79UxcCI/AAAAAAACOFU/LWIu8KSO_hoqe-AS2QMcU0Iri80KNsHeACEw/s1600/IMG_7462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-16Yg3T1uY5o/V6fc79UxcCI/AAAAAAACOFU/LWIu8KSO_hoqe-AS2QMcU0Iri80KNsHeACEw/s400/IMG_7462.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3YyWJecUsI/V6e2i9R19oI/AAAAAAACOCo/4EQNh9TIOm85c9uGIThd5m2GWcYqSFh3wCEw/s1600/IMG_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3YyWJecUsI/V6e2i9R19oI/AAAAAAACOCo/4EQNh9TIOm85c9uGIThd5m2GWcYqSFh3wCEw/s400/IMG_0770.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBcMxnu-J8Y/V6fc7Z0_lDI/AAAAAAACOEU/q46o5jt7tEw9YqWjVkBzjzrzaAIF2Cl8gCEw/s1600/IMG_7446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBcMxnu-J8Y/V6fc7Z0_lDI/AAAAAAACOEU/q46o5jt7tEw9YqWjVkBzjzrzaAIF2Cl8gCEw/s400/IMG_7446.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We bought the round trip ticket for $30 per person to get bused into the old city center from the Barcelona ship terminal on the west end of town. It was a nice, comfy ride along the <b>Avinguda de Gabriel Roca</b> coastal highway that showcased the fashionably trendy waterfront, lined with snazzy marinas, like the <b>Real Club Nautico de Palma;</b> hipster restaurants like <b>Barca Samba</b> and the <b>Hard Rock Cafe;</b> and flashy, chic, ultra-modern hotels like <b>TRYP Palma Bellver</b>. The driver said that the bus would be returning to the ship from the drop-off spot every thirty minutes until three in the morning. We had eaten a nice last supper on the ship and we were raring to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lz9jLrA3dmw/V6fc5vNR0xI/AAAAAAACOFU/eINCQdUeHa8EgYox39EJxcsyrwuZs0_7gCEw/s1600/IMG_7444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lz9jLrA3dmw/V6fc5vNR0xI/AAAAAAACOFU/eINCQdUeHa8EgYox39EJxcsyrwuZs0_7gCEw/s400/IMG_7444.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zeYvy5lnsA/V6e2jhAvWkI/AAAAAAACOCo/vAw1XsHmu9IvwYmyN8VYQtOYz_zOpT1BwCEw/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0zeYvy5lnsA/V6e2jhAvWkI/AAAAAAACOCo/vAw1XsHmu9IvwYmyN8VYQtOYz_zOpT1BwCEw/s400/IMG_0772.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NN_Nxoej_eg/V6fc8QlzMyI/AAAAAAACOEg/DSKqUY2QraMg1Yg_zUZFVsqHUDJf0A1-wCEw/s1600/IMG_7464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NN_Nxoej_eg/V6fc8QlzMyI/AAAAAAACOEg/DSKqUY2QraMg1Yg_zUZFVsqHUDJf0A1-wCEw/s400/IMG_7464.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There were trippy, mostly surrealistic, sculptures by the likes of Spain's patron saint artist Juan <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Miró</span></span> dotting the harbor-side parks, museums and landmark buildings. It was about seventy degrees with wispy clouds painting the sky. The sun had just set and everything looked edible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsKpPrJAMcs/V6j4gqLnTkI/AAAAAAACOJE/25m8saaq29QnD1npUs3QZsQxvUhQ6j8mQCLcB/s1600/P60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FsKpPrJAMcs/V6j4gqLnTkI/AAAAAAACOJE/25m8saaq29QnD1npUs3QZsQxvUhQ6j8mQCLcB/s400/P60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzD_uf-n_yg/V6j4gcls1DI/AAAAAAACOJA/CDut_RrWoHgH8fuu43S_JsriI7Q3YxijgCLcB/s1600/P70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzD_uf-n_yg/V6j4gcls1DI/AAAAAAACOJA/CDut_RrWoHgH8fuu43S_JsriI7Q3YxijgCLcB/s400/P70.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1afiaqqnxBU/V6e2WuQ7uLI/AAAAAAACOBU/BY_YzpawTYckuBdcWEf7WQb3w5LquX2NgCEw/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1afiaqqnxBU/V6e2WuQ7uLI/AAAAAAACOBU/BY_YzpawTYckuBdcWEf7WQb3w5LquX2NgCEw/s400/IMG_0753.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50c-Jby2zvs/V6fcti-NNEI/AAAAAAACODU/Q6CfWVcY0UI31qYiRZqdFAgvT5P26FoPgCEw/s1600/IMG_7408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-50c-Jby2zvs/V6fcti-NNEI/AAAAAAACODU/Q6CfWVcY0UI31qYiRZqdFAgvT5P26FoPgCEw/s400/IMG_7408.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They dropped us at a bus transfer area along <b>Av Adolfo Suarez</b>, next to a manicured seaside park where people were lounging on the grass and enjoying an enchanting evening. Behind us sat the sparkling city and the majestic, two tiered, tan limestone <b>Cathedral de Mallorca (La Seu)</b>, with its 50-plus spires glowing in the twilight like the pin cushion entrance into Heaven. I mean that. I don't think I have ever seen a more imposing, and yet alluring, structure. Maybe it was the way it was subtly lit from the ground and its pointed towers. Or maybe it was its enchantingly unique <b>Catalan Gothic</b> architectural style. One thing for sure, its size was definitely out of this world <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>weighing in at almost 400-feet-long by 200-feet wide, and standing 145-feet tall <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>a good seventy feet taller than <b>Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>the Roman Catholic <b>Cathedral of Santa Maria de Palma</b> is one of the wonders of the world. And at night it will totally blow you away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0g62mjoEGE/V6fcvSCpHHI/AAAAAAACODY/TxX0MuepAKwCyI6ciCjA6QEvCMondUfPgCEw/s1600/IMG_7414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0g62mjoEGE/V6fcvSCpHHI/AAAAAAACODY/TxX0MuepAKwCyI6ciCjA6QEvCMondUfPgCEw/s400/IMG_7414.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQJQ76HTotY/V6fc-zRSdPI/AAAAAAACOFU/mr2rqnONDi8CUHKBN8TJv7pxj2-7h9uWwCEw/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQJQ76HTotY/V6fc-zRSdPI/AAAAAAACOFU/mr2rqnONDi8CUHKBN8TJv7pxj2-7h9uWwCEw/s400/IMG_7528.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTpzTQG43zA/V6e2ZYIBYDI/AAAAAAACOBk/BrpGdyoIGZAkndoJuj7Im_BPKwYS0674QCEw/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTpzTQG43zA/V6e2ZYIBYDI/AAAAAAACOBk/BrpGdyoIGZAkndoJuj7Im_BPKwYS0674QCEw/s400/IMG_0757.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's so big, one name is not enough. During our short visit we heard it called at least five different names. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtObx1AQioM/V6e2cB_TERI/AAAAAAACOBw/wEG42pRp7GkoS9XHieh8fq1wSpEPghmMQCEw/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtObx1AQioM/V6e2cB_TERI/AAAAAAACOBw/wEG42pRp7GkoS9XHieh8fq1wSpEPghmMQCEw/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFU6xGy5TOE/V6e2c0Ze7iI/AAAAAAACOB0/TqJZVkZlTh0B0fkvAldrro25jZiGOrTCACEw/s1600/IMG_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HFU6xGy5TOE/V6e2c0Ze7iI/AAAAAAACOB0/TqJZVkZlTh0B0fkvAldrro25jZiGOrTCACEw/s400/IMG_0761.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't usually spend a lot of time describing individual structures we visit on our trips, but this one was truly special. Erected on the bones of the old Roman citadel, the Cathedral was the dream of <b>James 1 of Aragon </b>(northeastern Spain) in 1230, and was completed 371 years later in 1601. Now, just think about that. The United States is only 240 years old.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCNzKcnfUJ8/V6e2eRMK7_I/AAAAAAACOB4/lj6IIQxGw4YCsptpjGGbpWH2SiUeSquuwCEw/s1600/IMG_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LCNzKcnfUJ8/V6e2eRMK7_I/AAAAAAACOB4/lj6IIQxGw4YCsptpjGGbpWH2SiUeSquuwCEw/s400/IMG_0762.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aPKtmDlqALU/V6e2enEwzfI/AAAAAAACOB8/R9rZWUcUCuU5eU2Bt8VNh_EjgR8L2HarQCEw/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aPKtmDlqALU/V6e2enEwzfI/AAAAAAACOB8/R9rZWUcUCuU5eU2Bt8VNh_EjgR8L2HarQCEw/s400/IMG_0763.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPpkFMKXbc/V6e2e-aK27I/AAAAAAACOCA/HZROVOKMVJYB5IQC04XgQCwOZDkSdSAFQCEw/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HPpkFMKXbc/V6e2e-aK27I/AAAAAAACOCA/HZROVOKMVJYB5IQC04XgQCwOZDkSdSAFQCEw/s400/IMG_0764.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The cathedral was encircled by a huge stone veranda that could hold an army. Everything about the scale of the church and its surroundings was gargantuan, a realm where humans are but tiny little creatures. Even sounds are swallowed by the towering monument dedicated to <b>Palma's Patron Saint San Sebastian</b>. Having been built on top of the city's main mosque, it faces Mecca, rather than Jerusalem. There was a long lagoon that resembled a castle mote between the church and the Mediterranean Sea, and the holy temple seemed more like a fortress than a church.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wEA8XGbesj4/V6fczCPLoCI/AAAAAAACODw/nl-iemtIaacSIlOzA_IDIRltp6uUU9c5gCEw/s1600/IMG_7424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wEA8XGbesj4/V6fczCPLoCI/AAAAAAACODw/nl-iemtIaacSIlOzA_IDIRltp6uUU9c5gCEw/s400/IMG_7424.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We stood at the front corner of the cathedral, admiring its three enormous arched naves and <b>The Rose</b> window, one of the world's largest stained glass windows, containing 1,236 pieces of glass and measuring almost forty feet across. Its design was a bewitching geometric pattern of stars within stars; red roses; and purple, blue, and yellow blossoms.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ph9EubzRM0/V6jgn6gT8lI/AAAAAAACOIg/oI3L1ftGGv4BZcrnUK711UqHehV8HkyawCLcB/s1600/P51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ph9EubzRM0/V6jgn6gT8lI/AAAAAAACOIg/oI3L1ftGGv4BZcrnUK711UqHehV8HkyawCLcB/s320/P51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAJXhooKWKU/V6e2a0qNY8I/AAAAAAACOBo/kEj8XmxhbKEjpbhQ3wNnJtyAQPVqfY5EACEw/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAJXhooKWKU/V6e2a0qNY8I/AAAAAAACOBo/kEj8XmxhbKEjpbhQ3wNnJtyAQPVqfY5EACEw/s400/IMG_0758.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We wanted to go inside to see the cathedral's claim to fame, a piece of the actual <b>True Cross</b> that was used to crucify Jesus, but the church closed at six. So, we walked along the wraparound stone deck and took in the beauty of the night. A large fountain in the lagoon blasted water in a splendid white cascade. Street lamps illuminated the palm tree-lined walkways in the <b>Parc de la Mar</b>, the city's lovely seaside botanical park, and ships of all sizes bobbed up and down at anchor in the moonlit <b>Punta des Gas </b>harbor.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVb4zSiuvSM/V6fcwN8NLzI/AAAAAAACODc/19BcTNYbscMl3ifNPZmJlvsWVH44loMSgCEw/s1600/IMG_7421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVb4zSiuvSM/V6fcwN8NLzI/AAAAAAACODc/19BcTNYbscMl3ifNPZmJlvsWVH44loMSgCEw/s400/IMG_7421.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfYgXRRauos/V6fctWcLEvI/AAAAAAACODM/mkQCaF2kWaAWPLYNYv6xEiL8glQfwQERgCEw/s1600/IMG_7399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfYgXRRauos/V6fctWcLEvI/AAAAAAACODM/mkQCaF2kWaAWPLYNYv6xEiL8glQfwQERgCEw/s400/IMG_7399.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had no real plan, so we just strolled behind the cathedral and followed a stone street called <b>Carrer de Sant Bernat</b>. It was softly lit with iron lanterns attached to the smooth walls and the brown polished street cobbles shined in the ethereal light like shadowy glass. The narrow street was empty and silent. It could have been a scene from the 14th century; it definitely had that feel of ancient mystery. I half expected a monk in a black cowl robe to come walking toward us, his head hidden and bowed in reverent worship.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tAL5FRNv3Qg/V6e2gxlknmI/AAAAAAACOCI/XW8o-8Z5VkoDZp3Opt1BeWXNEaQXpVeZQCEw/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tAL5FRNv3Qg/V6e2gxlknmI/AAAAAAACOCI/XW8o-8Z5VkoDZp3Opt1BeWXNEaQXpVeZQCEw/s400/IMG_0765.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A silver BMW suddenly broke the imaginary moment as it came around a corner and pulled in front of a beautiful stone house. An electric gate opened and the sleek luxury sedan glided inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06QSwDw8Rmk/V6e2hGW3ExI/AAAAAAACOCM/2hktGTktRuQDxvdvRlRf8G7LYGNP-GKJQCEw/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06QSwDw8Rmk/V6e2hGW3ExI/AAAAAAACOCM/2hktGTktRuQDxvdvRlRf8G7LYGNP-GKJQCEw/s400/IMG_0768.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90dq6y-XXuE/V6fc7te_Z-I/AAAAAAACOFU/GKFvEbuFhu8K-YcCtn81gikdpFBphicjACEw/s1600/IMG_7447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90dq6y-XXuE/V6fc7te_Z-I/AAAAAAACOFU/GKFvEbuFhu8K-YcCtn81gikdpFBphicjACEw/s400/IMG_7447.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had no idea where we were going but it sure was pretty, so we kept walking down a maze of stone alleys, past lovely houses, many with interior gardens, and each with an expensive car parked in its courtyard entrance. This was definitely where the other half lived. And while there weren't many people out and about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">―</span><span style="font-size: large;"> mostly dog walkers </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">―</span><span style="font-size: large;"> those people we did encounter were dressed handsomely and greeted us with a neighborly nod and a smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbhVtiaGAHE/V6e2lIvZBYI/AAAAAAACOCg/zD6XWCjJ-hkdU02iBYqssC5BRu0FyQ-IACEw/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbhVtiaGAHE/V6e2lIvZBYI/AAAAAAACOCg/zD6XWCjJ-hkdU02iBYqssC5BRu0FyQ-IACEw/s400/IMG_0774.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KdZurCXXQx4/V6fc40ov7nI/AAAAAAACOFU/8Abc3niy_jwTqAklpIlHvp06ORYzhkbNQCEw/s1600/IMG_7442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KdZurCXXQx4/V6fc40ov7nI/AAAAAAACOFU/8Abc3niy_jwTqAklpIlHvp06ORYzhkbNQCEw/s400/IMG_7442.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We blindly followed narrow alley after alley, soon losing all sense of direction, walking past countless small churches, museums, galleries and parks. Occasionally, we came to a little plaza ringed with outdoor cafes, where people sipped wine, eating a late dinner and listening to local musicians expertly strumming guitars. Palma had quickly gotten into our blood and we just kept cruising along like we were being carried down the river of joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H11n7tk-zco/V6e2gsAM3ZI/AAAAAAACOCE/8ZyjVOB12to0Q0l2Vy4QvXLRFH8nzVbXgCEw/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H11n7tk-zco/V6e2gsAM3ZI/AAAAAAACOCE/8ZyjVOB12to0Q0l2Vy4QvXLRFH8nzVbXgCEw/s400/IMG_0766.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9S4P0xornb4/V6fc2yg1EgI/AAAAAAACOFU/qxjBc1wUnMUZ2JY8pcDCfkkS2nFtldafgCEw/s1600/IMG_7440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9S4P0xornb4/V6fc2yg1EgI/AAAAAAACOFU/qxjBc1wUnMUZ2JY8pcDCfkkS2nFtldafgCEw/s400/IMG_7440.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We eventually came to an area of modern institutional buildings where there was a hospital and graduate school. Students lounged along the perimeter walls listening to rap music and just being young and excited. The smell of weed wafted through the air like perfume. The kids weren't threatening, but they weren't very friendly, either. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-flQmoNlPWac/V6fdBOj71FI/AAAAAAACOE4/BKvo0yir15U9T_afU54Q__dX4mbZ_aVCACEw/s1600/IMG_7534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-flQmoNlPWac/V6fdBOj71FI/AAAAAAACOE4/BKvo0yir15U9T_afU54Q__dX4mbZ_aVCACEw/s400/IMG_7534.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Where are we?" asked Inna, sounding a bit uneasy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nf4L2XqdK7I/V6fc45hSYjI/AAAAAAACOEM/5dUFG8kR92sIY0k9jz_PZkSIqRHKBfU5ACEw/s1600/IMG_7443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nf4L2XqdK7I/V6fc45hSYjI/AAAAAAACOEM/5dUFG8kR92sIY0k9jz_PZkSIqRHKBfU5ACEw/s400/IMG_7443.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I hadn't been paying any attention to where we were going for quite a while and I realized I had absolutely no idea where were were. I knew we should start heading back toward the water, but there were no visual cues and I didn't know which way to go. It was amazing how quickly we had gone from drop dead gorgeous to we better be careful now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TVpV0d9wvA/V6fcwXuweqI/AAAAAAACODg/_f3zuUu5rg8kZZHe3QwikIYumWkbQjbDwCEw/s1600/IMG_7422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TVpV0d9wvA/V6fcwXuweqI/AAAAAAACODg/_f3zuUu5rg8kZZHe3QwikIYumWkbQjbDwCEw/s400/IMG_7422.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is probably a good time to talk about navigating in a strange town <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>especially at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQlYPBjEb-Q/V6fcxW9-zII/AAAAAAACOFU/_YG6GAInjQkWxcqZJoBrQptZqVT6mMxfwCEw/s1600/IMG_7423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQlYPBjEb-Q/V6fcxW9-zII/AAAAAAACOFU/_YG6GAInjQkWxcqZJoBrQptZqVT6mMxfwCEw/s400/IMG_7423.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMo6czGhy14/V6fdAvFj50I/AAAAAAACOFU/qcTWPisALjkYEsPzGD_JgEFY0ViV8Ew9gCEw/s1600/IMG_7530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMo6czGhy14/V6fdAvFj50I/AAAAAAACOFU/qcTWPisALjkYEsPzGD_JgEFY0ViV8Ew9gCEw/s400/IMG_7530.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you are in a foreign place and get lost, the first thing you can do is ask directions. But a lot of people don't speak English, so that doesn't always work. What I usually do is use a major landmark as a visual guide </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">―</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the biggest church or the castle is always a good bet. But if you are enclosed in an area of tightly-packed buildings, you can't see beyond the nearest street. And you can't count on your old friend Google maps either, because you don't have an Internet connection. So, what do you do?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTT8iV4sGGY/V6fc4AlOhmI/AAAAAAACOFU/-jEgsszve9QpKS7GN-PFFaExbM8vTY12ACEw/s1600/IMG_7441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTT8iV4sGGY/V6fc4AlOhmI/AAAAAAACOFU/-jEgsszve9QpKS7GN-PFFaExbM8vTY12ACEw/s400/IMG_7441.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before we leave for a trip, I go to a website called<b> <a href="http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps" target="_blank">Avenza Maps</a></b>. They provide what are called <b>GEOPDF maps</b> for about $1 a map. I download the maps for the places where we will be going onto my phone. And when we get to, in this case, Palma de Mallorca, with one simple click of a button <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">―</span> poof <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">―</span> up comes a map of the city. And it works because it is navigating by satellites in orbit over the earth, not the Internet. So, it does the trick pretty much anywhere. We have used Avenza maps all over the globe and they have always served us well. It even has the little blue dot that follows your path like with Google, and it worked like a charm in Palma.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_1IpzTnY7g/V6fc-uGRGII/AAAAAAACOFU/i0rZthOaglwPwAp_hhmzJweaCWGKfJOvACEw/s1600/IMG_7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_1IpzTnY7g/V6fc-uGRGII/AAAAAAACOFU/i0rZthOaglwPwAp_hhmzJweaCWGKfJOvACEw/s400/IMG_7526.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We made our way back to the center of the old city and stopped at a popular outdoor cafe in a bustling central plaza ringed by large oak trees. It was nearly midnight on a Friday in Palma, and the place was jumping with young and old alike. People were quite happy, but not loud.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I20vK2lmhVE/V6fdCcetJVI/AAAAAAACOFU/LhahjLr9n1w7d3yMISwFj3afCYR00EAsgCEw/s1600/IMG_7536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I20vK2lmhVE/V6fdCcetJVI/AAAAAAACOFU/LhahjLr9n1w7d3yMISwFj3afCYR00EAsgCEw/s400/IMG_7536.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had walked several miles at that point and the cold <b>San Miguel beers</b> were just what we needed. Everybody spoke English, including our waiter, and we asked some college kids sitting nearby what it was like to live and go to school in such a sweet spot. They were from all over Europe <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, England and Spain <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― </span>and they just looked to the stars and nodded in satisfaction. Clearly, they were enjoying the ride.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5ad-zdPKi0/V6fdDjcMVMI/AAAAAAACOFU/UGcjYnqnlJIDnCfhzPfw3iSWr59cc5xxwCEw/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5ad-zdPKi0/V6fdDjcMVMI/AAAAAAACOFU/UGcjYnqnlJIDnCfhzPfw3iSWr59cc5xxwCEw/s400/IMG_7537.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncsvomkVc4I/V6e2jJSpLgI/AAAAAAACOCU/mOFqDzIwWOcdYttFgRE6wDUgSie9N6oEwCEw/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncsvomkVc4I/V6e2jJSpLgI/AAAAAAACOCU/mOFqDzIwWOcdYttFgRE6wDUgSie9N6oEwCEw/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The cafes soon began closing. It was like someone suddenly flipped a switch. And by the time we got back to the <b>Royal Palace of La Almudaina</b>, the streets were empty except for the area along the harbor. Street vendors were selling jewelry and clothing from makeshift stalls and early Saturday morning in Palma was still going strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZVqQl3wPKs/V6fgpz-NgMI/AAAAAAACOFg/aG9F6jofBf4R69m9vABXkWsfKjInJmB6wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZVqQl3wPKs/V6fgpz-NgMI/AAAAAAACOFg/aG9F6jofBf4R69m9vABXkWsfKjInJmB6wCLcB/s400/IMG_0755.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozBjCaXPvlc/V6fqzqO7D2I/AAAAAAACOGs/OxGJcz32dtIdoGQ3Y59ndVcuoFamu3o1wCEw/s1600/P9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ozBjCaXPvlc/V6fqzqO7D2I/AAAAAAACOGs/OxGJcz32dtIdoGQ3Y59ndVcuoFamu3o1wCEw/s400/P9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had no trouble finding our bus and we were back on the ship by one. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I can't say that we really saw Palma, or that I know what makes it tick, but I can say that we had a wonderful time there. And in the end, that's really all that counts.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVBHtRfxttw/V6fs6CNNkWI/AAAAAAACOHU/ZbnMiKbjesIAT1GSAbRFwn9cyuzvktwIQCEw/s1600/P20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVBHtRfxttw/V6fs6CNNkWI/AAAAAAACOHU/ZbnMiKbjesIAT1GSAbRFwn9cyuzvktwIQCEw/s400/P20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-76088205533120885362016-08-03T19:49:00.000-07:002016-08-03T20:23:01.710-07:00Valletta, Malta<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 35px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="gmail_default">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AA-BhCV2WUc/V6IFcP_RBKI/AAAAAAACNlg/nHDIem2oNQA64cLN3l4GswESGB7Ne7lLwCLcB/s1600/W15.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AA-BhCV2WUc/V6IFcP_RBKI/AAAAAAACNlg/nHDIem2oNQA64cLN3l4GswESGB7Ne7lLwCLcB/s400/W15.gif" width="365" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVdoeqZIX5A/V6IFbwfYISI/AAAAAAACNlU/yC0DrxlWAr8K-LAEPMKax_KY3c46ZZ9pQCLcB/s1600/W12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVdoeqZIX5A/V6IFbwfYISI/AAAAAAACNlU/yC0DrxlWAr8K-LAEPMKax_KY3c46ZZ9pQCLcB/s400/W12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Coming into the <b>Valletta Harbor on the Island of Malta</b> in the early morning on Day 6 of our Mediterranean cruise was like sailing right into the 16th century. It looked almost biblical. The entire town was a tan-colored mountain of pueblo-style buildings all connected to one another like one giant block of stone, crowned with magnificent church domes, monumental towers, and guarded by a host of imposing forts with big black cannons and a monolithic wall that ringed the story book city of Valletta, starting at the deep blue water's edge.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvu41THqriw/V6IFbycbqOI/AAAAAAACNlY/HVSA9O_QygQrOA3Q_NWswVx52A0c8fAFwCEw/s1600/W10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvu41THqriw/V6IFbycbqOI/AAAAAAACNlY/HVSA9O_QygQrOA3Q_NWswVx52A0c8fAFwCEw/s400/W10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fw9lcKydxUo/V6EyrcLGkwI/AAAAAAACNbQ/v_6dlqAvDb4BKAOExfYtj-WG3NyiFHi6wCEw/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fw9lcKydxUo/V6EyrcLGkwI/AAAAAAACNbQ/v_6dlqAvDb4BKAOExfYtj-WG3NyiFHi6wCEw/s400/IMG_0735.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovwgteFO4As/V6EyrFH50rI/AAAAAAACNbM/7GhcamhRr8YE0-u8umbGW8xJXbpLgX7zwCEw/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovwgteFO4As/V6EyrFH50rI/AAAAAAACNbM/7GhcamhRr8YE0-u8umbGW8xJXbpLgX7zwCEw/s400/IMG_0731.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbKbEja6PjA/V6EyqNividI/AAAAAAACNbI/UYjhCzDXOTQJoXAYl9fPaz1yY_u4QUBQgCEw/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbKbEja6PjA/V6EyqNividI/AAAAAAACNbI/UYjhCzDXOTQJoXAYl9fPaz1yY_u4QUBQgCEw/s400/IMG_0730.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Inna and I were standing on our balcony as the <b>MSC Poesia</b> slowly maneuvered into her docking station and I looked at Inna and shook my head in wonder. "I think we went through the time machine while we were sleeping last night, dear."</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_dN7dIEXK0/V6Eyj43iLOI/AAAAAAACNaY/flZTulYQbPI__1w1r6ifELeW-AdujTdmACEw/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3_dN7dIEXK0/V6Eyj43iLOI/AAAAAAACNaY/flZTulYQbPI__1w1r6ifELeW-AdujTdmACEw/s400/IMG_0718.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woJ-83xzTao/V6EykGRJenI/AAAAAAACNag/ro6SA9kKwgkjQHvGT_zpZfGhDQSH9hGlgCEw/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woJ-83xzTao/V6EykGRJenI/AAAAAAACNag/ro6SA9kKwgkjQHvGT_zpZfGhDQSH9hGlgCEw/s400/IMG_0719.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4e3GEpjBBM/V6EyhxJDlUI/AAAAAAACNaQ/AE5dDIhFLxEOR844QIfWRbIfps1ZyxFsgCEw/s1600/IMG_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D4e3GEpjBBM/V6EyhxJDlUI/AAAAAAACNaQ/AE5dDIhFLxEOR844QIfWRbIfps1ZyxFsgCEw/s400/IMG_0715.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Of all the magnificent places I have visited around the Med, Malta was by far the most impressive.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cugP5qKZdUM/V6EypdFMppI/AAAAAAACNbA/FyLVUFHEhHI_CpoOgjPjVofh-yLFvxbHwCEw/s1600/IMG_0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cugP5qKZdUM/V6EypdFMppI/AAAAAAACNbA/FyLVUFHEhHI_CpoOgjPjVofh-yLFvxbHwCEw/s400/IMG_0728.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdZrLJxzCis/V6Eyo2zcD0I/AAAAAAACNa8/drVReyMQ8GAS5k2Nubf2o9O8Bb0m7wBmgCEw/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdZrLJxzCis/V6Eyo2zcD0I/AAAAAAACNa8/drVReyMQ8GAS5k2Nubf2o9O8Bb0m7wBmgCEw/s400/IMG_0727.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQnJ70VoW2M/V6EyoYBPSpI/AAAAAAACNa4/DDOOCMSty4YuLPdYO-pBS_C-DjpqT79QwCEw/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQnJ70VoW2M/V6EyoYBPSpI/AAAAAAACNa4/DDOOCMSty4YuLPdYO-pBS_C-DjpqT79QwCEw/s400/IMG_0726.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">We arrived at seven and the ship was scheduled to leave at one, so this was going to be a very short visit. We were standing at the departure gangway, like anxious horses waiting to be let out of the corral, before they had even secured it to the dock. And we were literally the first ones off the boat. We hadn't even eaten breakfast. Inna had gotten her coffee fix and we grabbed some fresh fruit to take along in our packs. But there was no way in hell we were going to waste time eating aboard the ship when there was this magical city beckoning us a few hundred feet away.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rn_aloW4ucQ/V6Eyat6swCI/AAAAAAACNZw/QiRiBfsiFIwPKwUrMOHyA7SKSvpRH-XGwCEw/s1600/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rn_aloW4ucQ/V6Eyat6swCI/AAAAAAACNZw/QiRiBfsiFIwPKwUrMOHyA7SKSvpRH-XGwCEw/s400/IMG_0705.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnvJEL6pqZQ/V6EydIwjLJI/AAAAAAACNZ4/-_ne7MKi0gYUOpPDfR67n8mBMWizWUulQCEw/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnvJEL6pqZQ/V6EydIwjLJI/AAAAAAACNZ4/-_ne7MKi0gYUOpPDfR67n8mBMWizWUulQCEw/s400/IMG_0710.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew4DwH0Oihk/V6EyeOkxTWI/AAAAAAACNaA/9uerpe1mSZI1O0X9-bVOje5P_YRQKxKTwCEw/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew4DwH0Oihk/V6EyeOkxTWI/AAAAAAACNaA/9uerpe1mSZI1O0X9-bVOje5P_YRQKxKTwCEw/s400/IMG_0711.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">I had been reading about Malta most of my life, starting when I was a young boy. Coming from a naval town like Annapolis, and having grown up with friends and family at the Naval Academy, Malta was ingrained in my brain like a memory chip.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0sQYdczE4U/V6E3B2bvvdI/AAAAAAACNck/ecbcYsdELXoXC02RDdX7YdVCcA-t-apOQCEw/s1600/IMG_7383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0sQYdczE4U/V6E3B2bvvdI/AAAAAAACNck/ecbcYsdELXoXC02RDdX7YdVCcA-t-apOQCEw/s400/IMG_7383.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The island of Malta sits like a peanut with a mini hammer head on the top in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, about halfway between Sicily and the Christian realm of Europe to the north, and Tunisia to the south where Islam has reigned supreme since before the Crusades. And because of its strategic location, it has always been the staging area and gate keeper for whoever was the top dog nation at the time. Malta's temporary landlords reads like a who's who of empires </span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― the Phoenicians, Sicilians, Romans, Moors, Normans, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">French and British </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― every king of the world wanted to rule it no matter the cost</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">. It was always considered the key to unlocking the African and European continents since humans took to the sea.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ht2g9o6bN08/V6E3CKaO0AI/AAAAAAACNco/dHAP--PNOMUoOncr9OkG4zwmI1Qvu-icwCEw/s1600/IMG_7384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ht2g9o6bN08/V6E3CKaO0AI/AAAAAAACNco/dHAP--PNOMUoOncr9OkG4zwmI1Qvu-icwCEw/s400/IMG_7384.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Malta was founded by Sicilian settlers in 5200 BC. Geologically, it was part of a submerged underwater ridge connecting Sicily and Africa. It is entirely made of the remains of dead marine organisms and that's why all of the structures on the island are made of limestone. You build with what you have. Prehistorically, Malta was probably once part of a land bridge between the continents. That bridge has since been covered by the sea, leaving little Malta to sit like a Stargate between two worlds and countless eons of planetary history.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d83BFS28GuI/V6E2_tNKjbI/AAAAAAACNcU/OeB3gdwX810YX-GQcsCxMw_c4pW-W3uLACEw/s1600/IMG_7380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d83BFS28GuI/V6E2_tNKjbI/AAAAAAACNcU/OeB3gdwX810YX-GQcsCxMw_c4pW-W3uLACEw/s400/IMG_7380.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In modern time (starting in the 19th century), Malta was a valuable chess piece between Britain and France. Napoleon planted the French flag on his way to Egypt. But the Maltese people never really wanted to be French. So, they eventually asked the British (be careful what you wish for) to help them. The Brits ruled the world with their powerful Navy, so an island so close to Africa and Europe with a deep water harbor was a treasure to be held dearly. And after the Suez Canal was built in 1869, the British turned it into a mighty fortress. They were not giving it up. Nor were they going to let the people of Malta call the shots. And the fact that the tiny, 120 square mile island has always been ten pounds in a five pound sack, with its people crammed on top of one another like sardines, its people have been plagued by hunger and disease for countless years.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukFqfeambeQ/V6E3H4LGCxI/AAAAAAACNdQ/4iqLJnal1EoeQADZRmFOASvLtCEJth0IACEw/s1600/IMG_7393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ukFqfeambeQ/V6E3H4LGCxI/AAAAAAACNdQ/4iqLJnal1EoeQADZRmFOASvLtCEJth0IACEw/s400/IMG_7393.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">During World War I, Malta was known almost reverently as the <b><i>Nurse of the Mediterranean</i></b> because many soldiers were treated there between 1915-1918.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RaW0J7a_Nhs/V6E3ClvLL6I/AAAAAAACNcw/Q7fTlZuBYV0Ul406nB4snu9coYBzueyzACEw/s1600/IMG_7382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RaW0J7a_Nhs/V6E3ClvLL6I/AAAAAAACNcw/Q7fTlZuBYV0Ul406nB4snu9coYBzueyzACEw/s400/IMG_7382.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But this all got incredibly tricky and dangerous when World War II broke out. The Italians were aligned with Hitler and Germany. And the British colony of Malta was the home base for the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet and sat right in the middle of the Axis shipping lanes. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcaCA3zmzoQ/V6E3HXyCVuI/AAAAAAACNdM/U0db-CuTaGkci6EmH1igxspYVJnBAttcwCEw/s1600/IMG_7392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcaCA3zmzoQ/V6E3HXyCVuI/AAAAAAACNdM/U0db-CuTaGkci6EmH1igxspYVJnBAttcwCEw/s400/IMG_7392.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Starting in June 1940, the Italians and Germans began bombing the hell out of Malta, and many of the island's storied structures were destroyed during the unrelenting seize. By 1942, Malta's desperate plight finally resonated with the Allies and they came to its rescue. And on December 8, 1943, President Franklin Roosevelt visited Malta and presented its people with a <b>United States Presidential Citation</b> that read: "Under repeated fire from the skies, Malta stood alone and unafraid in the center of the sea, one tiny bright flame in the darkness, a beacon of hope for the clearer days which have come." The plaque stands prominently to this day in Valletta's town square in front of the Grand Master's Palace.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms8MR2FOVB8/V6E29ZWQIMI/AAAAAAACNdU/iD63xFDglzQHPt0Ch5GtzCdjr5NwZx2_wCEw/s1600/IMG_7071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ms8MR2FOVB8/V6E29ZWQIMI/AAAAAAACNdU/iD63xFDglzQHPt0Ch5GtzCdjr5NwZx2_wCEw/s400/IMG_7071.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apbXHz4cPTo/V6H8486BGkI/AAAAAAACNlA/BhBKI-d-BiQ2U6qy9g2O1PINBc387QFXQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apbXHz4cPTo/V6H8486BGkI/AAAAAAACNlA/BhBKI-d-BiQ2U6qy9g2O1PINBc387QFXQCLcB/s400/IMG_7165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0fxgcqcmEc/V6H83un2dKI/AAAAAAACNk0/mC0CLOb6tVUyNgQxPD8BZCuFRjlCQpiIACLcB/s1600/IMG_7163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G0fxgcqcmEc/V6H83un2dKI/AAAAAAACNk0/mC0CLOb6tVUyNgQxPD8BZCuFRjlCQpiIACLcB/s400/IMG_7163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A few months after Roosevelt's brave visit, the invasion of Sicily and Italy was launched from Malta. It was the beginning of the end for the Nazis.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oImp3Rda-A/V6E29Snc7RI/AAAAAAACNdU/ml2aYTlqimkxzvWsjbUZPeYjIFUWj8ZGACEw/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oImp3Rda-A/V6E29Snc7RI/AAAAAAACNdU/ml2aYTlqimkxzvWsjbUZPeYjIFUWj8ZGACEw/s400/IMG_7374.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">And in 1945, Churchill and Roosevelt met together in Malta before the <b>Yalta Conference</b> where they and Russian President Joseph Stalin divided up the planet and created the new world order. One could easily argue that no place in Europe or Africa played a more important role in World War II than Malta.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnUvHBPeKsI/V6E2-sxO3bI/AAAAAAACNdU/yHu7sI36Eskt00_241ou4GZNDqpWzz-UQCEw/s1600/IMG_7377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UnUvHBPeKsI/V6E2-sxO3bI/AAAAAAACNdU/yHu7sI36Eskt00_241ou4GZNDqpWzz-UQCEw/s400/IMG_7377.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Malta became its own independent republic in 1974, and the Brits left on April 1, 1979. March 31st, <b>Freedom Day</b>, commemorates the British departure and is a very popular national holiday celebrated with fireworks and sailboat races. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKdQ8m_BQwE/V6EyVp6hQaI/AAAAAAACNbc/L1mIprHCwCw8EvR4rpJWuQ2dufJji9rNQCEw/s1600/IMG_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKdQ8m_BQwE/V6EyVp6hQaI/AAAAAAACNbc/L1mIprHCwCw8EvR4rpJWuQ2dufJji9rNQCEw/s400/IMG_0695.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">These days, the Republic of Malta is a member of the European Union and is still a place in great demand. The rich and the powerful live there now. Most islanders speak Maltese and they think of themselves in that way. Nationalistic pride has blossomed like a sturdy oak tree, and the people are quick to point out that they are not British. That said, the place is literally crawling with Brit expats and business people, and Malta is about as British as it gets, starting with the ceremonial firing of the cannons in front of the harbor every day at noon. It's like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and drips with Colonial pomp and circumstance. I guess that some habits are hard to break.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwTk7ZTCOfc/V6EyVlgztvI/AAAAAAACNbc/Ai87RAjmu3UjkuKJhsTEm44bFMrnmtV3gCEw/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwTk7ZTCOfc/V6EyVlgztvI/AAAAAAACNbc/Ai87RAjmu3UjkuKJhsTEm44bFMrnmtV3gCEw/s400/IMG_0694.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kWBmxdCPI-w/V6EyVYHrRgI/AAAAAAACNbc/O9uCrJTBwhoogL8VGVckTHTEIA8ZNkxZQCEw/s1600/IMG_0696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kWBmxdCPI-w/V6EyVYHrRgI/AAAAAAACNbc/O9uCrJTBwhoogL8VGVckTHTEIA8ZNkxZQCEw/s400/IMG_0696.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">By leaving the boat right away, we were able to roam the city for over an hour when it was pretty much empty. Most of the shops were still closed. People hadn't started going to work. And the hordes </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #545454;">― </span><b><span style="color: #545454;">and I do mean </span><span style="color: red;">hordes</span></b><span style="color: #545454;"> </span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― of tourons had yet to descend.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vs7QDzO9bdg/V6EygX_YLuI/AAAAAAACNbk/JO3mHXEsLVwjIWgGoMb-Rpe2GC1mHjfxgCEw/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vs7QDzO9bdg/V6EygX_YLuI/AAAAAAACNbk/JO3mHXEsLVwjIWgGoMb-Rpe2GC1mHjfxgCEw/s400/IMG_0713.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Getting from the ship to the old city of <b>Valletta</b> was an interesting ride. We began by walking the wall. Cramped shops selling a myriad of inexpensive goods hugged the base of the wall in the narrow strip between the ring road that constantly changes names and the harbor</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTWN0dTHk3A/V6EyWg8qdWI/AAAAAAACNbc/LqFUjjtMmMQHymc8ncIohyMRUrMYtc2PgCEw/s1600/IMG_0698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTWN0dTHk3A/V6EyWg8qdWI/AAAAAAACNbc/LqFUjjtMmMQHymc8ncIohyMRUrMYtc2PgCEw/s400/IMG_0698.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0cnn4iG6N4/V6H4MtiUTZI/AAAAAAACNkg/i2epTUAKKuMPpYWFNt1O-8fylleCaXvVwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0cnn4iG6N4/V6H4MtiUTZI/AAAAAAACNkg/i2epTUAKKuMPpYWFNt1O-8fylleCaXvVwCLcB/s320/IMG_7379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It was yet another sunny, cloudless day with temperatures in the 70's. You just can't beat the Mediterranean weather.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wahpxDuEv1k/V6E8S2ioAgI/AAAAAAACNd4/syq-XHRbzyIasfWQ4dA9vxpVHu2j4T4sQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wahpxDuEv1k/V6E8S2ioAgI/AAAAAAACNd4/syq-XHRbzyIasfWQ4dA9vxpVHu2j4T4sQCLcB/s400/IMG_7046.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">We came to a hole in the wall where there was an arch leading to a fairly large open-air square where we bought tickets for the<b> Barrakka Lift</b>, a 205-foot-tall elevator structure of glass and steel that took us to the top of the wall where the city perched like a mesa-top vision of prosperity and grace. It looked like the kind of place where the Greek gods might have hung out. There are only two levels in the old, central city of Valletta </span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">― the bottom by the water's edge, and the top. There is nothing in between except the mammoth wall so thick that it could probably withstand a direct impact from a bunker buster missile.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_j15-Y1B5k/V6EydmVK7WI/AAAAAAACNZ8/L4hvz9G2BvgkXxbBZONrRxu52Q9JFesWACEw/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_j15-Y1B5k/V6EydmVK7WI/AAAAAAACNZ8/L4hvz9G2BvgkXxbBZONrRxu52Q9JFesWACEw/s400/IMG_0707.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu25qoyuL_4/V6E7z8jdAhI/AAAAAAACNdo/QNLMjo9F-XAoR7dhPoQKjBywLTcKb1EjQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu25qoyuL_4/V6E7z8jdAhI/AAAAAAACNdo/QNLMjo9F-XAoR7dhPoQKjBywLTcKb1EjQCLcB/s400/IMG_7043.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6axJY90yrA8/V6E7z1ZlAtI/AAAAAAACNdk/oGCZmGWN8hYGDmHwzq_oM63pW1FFvaUNwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6axJY90yrA8/V6E7z1ZlAtI/AAAAAAACNdk/oGCZmGWN8hYGDmHwzq_oM63pW1FFvaUNwCLcB/s400/IMG_7045.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">We walked into the absolutely empty <b>Upper Barrakka Gardens </b>where grand sculptures and monuments from the past celebrated Malta's glorious history. The flowers were all in bloom and the placed smelled like heaven. It was a wonderful way to greet visitors and the spectacular views of the <b>Kordin, Paola, Senglea, Brirgu,</b> and <b>Kalkara</b> peninsula neighborhoods across the harbor, each with their very own walled fort, was like stepping back in time. T</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">he architectural vibe was a soothing mix of Santa Fe meets Old San Juan, with some ancient Jerusalem thrown in for good measure.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq8jPQDD46s/V6EyYqDNbYI/AAAAAAACNbc/Ivck4dWLPiYKX2KnlaXPlo8kfmNrhPJzwCEw/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hq8jPQDD46s/V6EyYqDNbYI/AAAAAAACNbc/Ivck4dWLPiYKX2KnlaXPlo8kfmNrhPJzwCEw/s400/IMG_0700.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f74hnoVkJ2I/V6EyYRM7ZaI/AAAAAAACNbc/KcJhnmFXtMgtXby7X9cGHri9x49oeBB0QCEw/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f74hnoVkJ2I/V6EyYRM7ZaI/AAAAAAACNbc/KcJhnmFXtMgtXby7X9cGHri9x49oeBB0QCEw/s400/IMG_0699.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRVJkFHsKII/V6EyafoM9fI/AAAAAAACNbk/kxW_ExE3aeAFHuE1GjqeVQ9ojgDe-TypwCEw/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jRVJkFHsKII/V6EyafoM9fI/AAAAAAACNbk/kxW_ExE3aeAFHuE1GjqeVQ9ojgDe-TypwCEw/s400/IMG_0702.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Our original plan, when we thought we would have seven or eight hours to explore the city, was to purchase the </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>City Explorer Virtual GPS Tour </b>for</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>20€ per person</b>. It is a hand-held GPS unit containing a downloaded tour of the old city. You just follow the tour like a google map with the little blue dot on your little high-tech device and when you get to each stop, there is a video narrative about each spot. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The video, featuring Christopher Columbus as our very silly tour guide, promised to take us to all the hot spots:</span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYj3X_FQ9Xs/V6E8CGG8hdI/AAAAAAACNds/J92oi38X74wFAMgx6DtmL_P2mYKmz8sxwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYj3X_FQ9Xs/V6E8CGG8hdI/AAAAAAACNds/J92oi38X74wFAMgx6DtmL_P2mYKmz8sxwCLcB/s400/IMG_7050.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Okxidx3vMtA/V6E8CMlQEAI/AAAAAAACNdw/mrdOa0EGOv0HyQzJOxEA-Tm8sPLk7KV-gCLcB/s1600/IMG_7051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Okxidx3vMtA/V6E8CMlQEAI/AAAAAAACNdw/mrdOa0EGOv0HyQzJOxEA-Tm8sPLk7KV-gCLcB/s400/IMG_7051.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wbiCzVcx61Y/V6E8CPeE-NI/AAAAAAACNd0/F-NNlXIdg40t8C0_dmBo_DaDblcVkwNIACLcB/s1600/IMG_7052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wbiCzVcx61Y/V6E8CPeE-NI/AAAAAAACNd0/F-NNlXIdg40t8C0_dmBo_DaDblcVkwNIACLcB/s400/IMG_7052.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Valletta Waterfront </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>St. John's Cathedral</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Upper Barrakka Gardens (Best View)</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Casa Rocca Piccola</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Saluting Battery (Go at 4)</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Fort St Elmo-National War Museum</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpOhZS6eFmw/V6FALFwXQiI/AAAAAAACNgg/T47fptQy2pUYec563WyNNfXh0HU0zHwKgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpOhZS6eFmw/V6FALFwXQiI/AAAAAAACNgg/T47fptQy2pUYec563WyNNfXh0HU0zHwKgCLcB/s400/IMG_7073.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Grandmaster's Palace</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Siege Bell War Memorial</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Republic Street</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>St George Square </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Valletta City Gate</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Stray Street</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>St Paul's Anglican Church</b></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYZc0-yzFzA/V6FAK5hCt3I/AAAAAAACNgc/Y1gWbK1PuR44BhxEeRv4P4SzoI76gSG9wCLcB/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYZc0-yzFzA/V6FAK5hCt3I/AAAAAAACNgc/Y1gWbK1PuR44BhxEeRv4P4SzoI76gSG9wCLcB/s400/IMG_7115.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Carmelite Church</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Triton Fountain</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Auberge de Castille</b></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jn1QqO6e8ds/V6FALMC7SqI/AAAAAAACNgk/LRMDOPYuico_Grd_Kd_QZfNlyfklSmDOACLcB/s1600/IMG_7116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jn1QqO6e8ds/V6FALMC7SqI/AAAAAAACNgk/LRMDOPYuico_Grd_Kd_QZfNlyfklSmDOACLcB/s400/IMG_7116.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Our Lady of Victories Church</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>The Oratory of St Francis</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Pjazza Teatru Rjal</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>Victoria Gate</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>St Catherine of Italy</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>St Andrew Scots Church</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2MzBwhzISqM/V6FAL-L7CdI/AAAAAAACNgo/0NeYFPd92JYCndb9DQIDjL2OSAmMXxzmACLcB/s1600/IMG_7118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2MzBwhzISqM/V6FAL-L7CdI/AAAAAAACNgo/0NeYFPd92JYCndb9DQIDjL2OSAmMXxzmACLcB/s400/IMG_7118.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The GPS-guided tour looked really cool and seemed much better than a guided tour with an army of goofy tourons. But we didn't have the time to see everything and watch videos. So, we decided to go for a power walk and cover as much ground as we could.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4fL9Mu-3wA/V6EylDdpGLI/AAAAAAACNbk/PaLwUi6Na2Iiu-rZ1xasfke7wX1_D3XWwCEw/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4fL9Mu-3wA/V6EylDdpGLI/AAAAAAACNbk/PaLwUi6Na2Iiu-rZ1xasfke7wX1_D3XWwCEw/s400/IMG_0721.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6WJoktzUA3I/V6Hv9onZZzI/AAAAAAACNik/Gw_AE0rkTMgt6hRWP9BSvsnCvU6KQlzewCEw/s1600/IMG_7172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6WJoktzUA3I/V6Hv9onZZzI/AAAAAAACNik/Gw_AE0rkTMgt6hRWP9BSvsnCvU6KQlzewCEw/s400/IMG_7172.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bNJrfXl6fs/V6H4AVdZVWI/AAAAAAACNkk/Xujlb41qpdMP9fNMjs-6rPdk5WaufweoACEw/s1600/IMG_7249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--bNJrfXl6fs/V6H4AVdZVWI/AAAAAAACNkk/Xujlb41qpdMP9fNMjs-6rPdk5WaufweoACEw/s400/IMG_7249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The old sky city of Valletta looks like a bishop chess piece, with a jumbo fort for its crown, and the rectangular body consisting of six main streets running east to west from the bishops' head and nine bisecting streets running north and south, with a maze of connecting alleys. It's only about 0.5 of a mile by 0.3 of a mile, so seeing it all definitely seemed doable, at least in theory.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6hZHiMk_Hs/V6E8rx7oo5I/AAAAAAACNe0/S0qMDGWrGz4_cx9A4zuW9-3l0oFFPXRaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6hZHiMk_Hs/V6E8rx7oo5I/AAAAAAACNe0/S0qMDGWrGz4_cx9A4zuW9-3l0oFFPXRaQCLcB/s400/IMG_7121.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9ZMOO3yF94/V6H4IPtAwoI/AAAAAAACNkw/l4tYOulBwHso-Al41wdQNmGqc8Iy7BfvQCEw/s1600/IMG_7343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9ZMOO3yF94/V6H4IPtAwoI/AAAAAAACNkw/l4tYOulBwHso-Al41wdQNmGqc8Iy7BfvQCEw/s400/IMG_7343.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As we headed along <b>Castille Street</b> we soon came to a lovely tree-covered traffic circle in front of the stunning <b>St. James Cavalier Center for Creativity</b> and the lovely <b>Our Lady of Victories Chapel</b> and we realized how bloody foolish we were to think we could see the whole town. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Everywhere we looked there was something of incredible interest and beauty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PbY3QMwrvw/V6H3-nDQPyI/AAAAAAACNkk/bzFQdbFBm8AutHeetaxgmdYDsu8bZ8CwwCEw/s1600/IMG_7234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PbY3QMwrvw/V6H3-nDQPyI/AAAAAAACNkk/bzFQdbFBm8AutHeetaxgmdYDsu8bZ8CwwCEw/s400/IMG_7234.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RlCyMglrhg/V6H4FAPULEI/AAAAAAACNkw/vAdpxo-ix7EMsZCthjiiVPYGwKSqQbXUQCEw/s1600/IMG_7324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RlCyMglrhg/V6H4FAPULEI/AAAAAAACNkw/vAdpxo-ix7EMsZCthjiiVPYGwKSqQbXUQCEw/s400/IMG_7324.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSYFVcclh2k/V6E8jub1K_I/AAAAAAACNd8/4379RqaiTtMV-z08W8jCPiEz4wH-2cVzwCEw/s1600/IMG_7061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSYFVcclh2k/V6E8jub1K_I/AAAAAAACNd8/4379RqaiTtMV-z08W8jCPiEz4wH-2cVzwCEw/s400/IMG_7061.JPG" width="343" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7DDAo5DVkIM/V6E8lnSxV6I/AAAAAAACNeI/LIi8fVQ-pl82nt8G2FqSwUzZzg5qWso2ACEw/s1600/IMG_7070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7DDAo5DVkIM/V6E8lnSxV6I/AAAAAAACNeI/LIi8fVQ-pl82nt8G2FqSwUzZzg5qWso2ACEw/s400/IMG_7070.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We continued on past the breathtaking <b>St Catherine of Italy Church </b>with its red tile roof standing next to the inviting <b>Pjazza Jean de Vallett</b> plaza where there were sculptures and polished white marble benches in the shade of the church. We turned right onto one of the city's main shopping streets, the <b>Triq Il-Merkanti </b>(Triq is the Maltese word for street). And after that, our plan pretty much unraveled. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZMDjoxGlB0/V6Hv7bNiGaI/AAAAAAACNiA/sYHyFBBjCKg1affr99o9UtweVo4mGPn6QCEw/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sZMDjoxGlB0/V6Hv7bNiGaI/AAAAAAACNiA/sYHyFBBjCKg1affr99o9UtweVo4mGPn6QCEw/s400/IMG_7146.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xA7f6VDZfbQ/V6H4LFxE36I/AAAAAAACNks/k_7WmSIYRYMIZPr09n02T5CJyFKTfpGMACEw/s1600/IMG_7368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xA7f6VDZfbQ/V6H4LFxE36I/AAAAAAACNks/k_7WmSIYRYMIZPr09n02T5CJyFKTfpGMACEw/s400/IMG_7368.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxP3DJ9Xx-I/V6H4EJsSlJI/AAAAAAACNks/U8dDySl4g4ktOrMtMjAMUPfdID4JEt2AgCEw/s1600/IMG_7284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sxP3DJ9Xx-I/V6H4EJsSlJI/AAAAAAACNks/U8dDySl4g4ktOrMtMjAMUPfdID4JEt2AgCEw/s400/IMG_7284.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The streets were still pretty quiet. The city felt almost abandoned.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olLzaPPMiyc/V6E8meVdXJI/AAAAAAACNeU/vncPUYriEYwVDaSSMXld0-RXwCFY6xRiQCEw/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olLzaPPMiyc/V6E8meVdXJI/AAAAAAACNeU/vncPUYriEYwVDaSSMXld0-RXwCFY6xRiQCEw/s400/IMG_7075.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4sik-hcCgQ/V6H4LUnqa1I/AAAAAAACNks/RL-COVYDmAonVikcY49X_CpgtEf2HG6uACEw/s1600/IMG_7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4sik-hcCgQ/V6H4LUnqa1I/AAAAAAACNks/RL-COVYDmAonVikcY49X_CpgtEf2HG6uACEw/s400/IMG_7369.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"It's only eight o'clock," I said to Inna as we stopped at a cafe to have a bite to eat and watch the Vallettans head off to work.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5C3fBgsiNY/V6H4JeOyrLI/AAAAAAACNks/yWss_oqhGg0VdgOGXvDZMeZpoYuO-5L9ACEw/s1600/IMG_7358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g5C3fBgsiNY/V6H4JeOyrLI/AAAAAAACNks/yWss_oqhGg0VdgOGXvDZMeZpoYuO-5L9ACEw/s400/IMG_7358.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lepVNASJQ3A/V6H4IlYOAcI/AAAAAAACNks/aXnnsiCZCIA8ey_Xn64DVC7QppL8Hh5GgCEw/s1600/IMG_7344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lepVNASJQ3A/V6H4IlYOAcI/AAAAAAACNks/aXnnsiCZCIA8ey_Xn64DVC7QppL8Hh5GgCEw/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Like so many European cities, many people walk to work. And they all seemed happy. I would be too if I lived in such a gorgeous place and didn't have to drive to my place of business like so many people do in America.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2H9lDdAVM0/V6H3_vlh1LI/AAAAAAACNkk/h1yqJDulcecOTchqqB17DHUbZVvLTDFsgCEw/s1600/IMG_7246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2H9lDdAVM0/V6H3_vlh1LI/AAAAAAACNkk/h1yqJDulcecOTchqqB17DHUbZVvLTDFsgCEw/s400/IMG_7246.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlk0Ggzd6gs/V6H4HX1b6gI/AAAAAAACNks/HJLi3Q4JGsc2N-6AQBPHdsnFPRl9Ycd_gCEw/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlk0Ggzd6gs/V6H4HX1b6gI/AAAAAAACNks/HJLi3Q4JGsc2N-6AQBPHdsnFPRl9Ycd_gCEw/s400/IMG_7326.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The thing that immediately jumped out at us was how stylishly the people were dressed. They all looked like Vogue and GQ models. Many carried fine leather briefcases and they acted like they couldn't wait to get to work. Inna, of course, is always dressed to kill, so she just stared admiringly at the chic Vallettans and sipped her strong coffee. I, on the other hand, felt like a total schlub.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRDUMeLD4oE/V6E8oMbsH0I/AAAAAAACNec/AZxLlWj6SmQCj8nBAN9yWRdVCOXEou3GACEw/s1600/IMG_7078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRDUMeLD4oE/V6E8oMbsH0I/AAAAAAACNec/AZxLlWj6SmQCj8nBAN9yWRdVCOXEou3GACEw/s400/IMG_7078.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rCGl9XQ8Cik/V6H4C6trVlI/AAAAAAACNkk/XzWpJe5sRUUn64yRU1ZLkWETy8i9yzNtwCEw/s1600/IMG_7273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rCGl9XQ8Cik/V6H4C6trVlI/AAAAAAACNkk/XzWpJe5sRUUn64yRU1ZLkWETy8i9yzNtwCEw/s320/IMG_7273.JPG" width="309" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
After our brief stop to recharge, we continued on down <b>Trig San Gwann</b> to the must see<b> St. John's Cathedral</b>. By this time, the city was really starting to come alive,and while there weren't a lot of of motor vehicles, and the streets were really just one way alleys, you had to be very careful at every intersection to avoid being run over.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c82rxubuwZ4/V6Hv8_wWJTI/AAAAAAACNik/hzvl8rMShQQwNzvWhvdeOXpBSfOnS2gZACEw/s1600/IMG_7166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c82rxubuwZ4/V6Hv8_wWJTI/AAAAAAACNik/hzvl8rMShQQwNzvWhvdeOXpBSfOnS2gZACEw/s400/IMG_7166.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwWAT6ot7Ko/V6H3-Q-tqOI/AAAAAAACNkk/R0hUR9cyt9ItkX0r8uQ-vwRkHv2vu4mXwCEw/s1600/IMG_7226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwWAT6ot7Ko/V6H3-Q-tqOI/AAAAAAACNkk/R0hUR9cyt9ItkX0r8uQ-vwRkHv2vu4mXwCEw/s400/IMG_7226.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We walked toward the water on <b>Triq San Mark</b>, passing a wonderful mix of new and old where people lived, worked, shopped and played. The neighborhood dripped with <b><i>style</i></b>. At the end of the street was a ginormous limestone edifice </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― part church, part fort </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― called the <b>Fortress Builders Interpretation Center</b>, where they told the amazing story about how Valletta had evolved through time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udMb8yirx8U/V6Hv9IqLINI/AAAAAAACNik/cBR904wDbmcveCL0CCyaQW692wmEVWXgwCEw/s1600/IMG_7171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-udMb8yirx8U/V6Hv9IqLINI/AAAAAAACNik/cBR904wDbmcveCL0CCyaQW692wmEVWXgwCEw/s320/IMG_7171.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WxBX_akqy-8/V6H4B_laRQI/AAAAAAACNks/-BgxPxq-ccY0bVK9NMl9E4yJn-ZUryB9QCEw/s1600/IMG_7263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WxBX_akqy-8/V6H4B_laRQI/AAAAAAACNks/-BgxPxq-ccY0bVK9NMl9E4yJn-ZUryB9QCEw/s400/IMG_7263.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jnEKpBsYVI/V6H4EnnJ28I/AAAAAAACNks/17Kh_wRwNtMhyuT8iZayhV-a3CrZb6TMACEw/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jnEKpBsYVI/V6H4EnnJ28I/AAAAAAACNks/17Kh_wRwNtMhyuT8iZayhV-a3CrZb6TMACEw/s400/IMG_7289.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #545454;">We had been looking for a nice painting for our house since we left Barcelona. But nothing had struck our fancy. As we were walking up the steep sidewalk along </span><b style="color: #545454;">Sir Ugo Mifsud Street </b><span style="color: #545454;">we stumbled upon a grizzled old coot standing outside a cubbyhole gallery called <b>Gallery G</b>. His name was </span><b><span style="color: purple;">Winston Hassall</span></b><span style="color: #545454;">, and he was like someone from the pages of an old novel about a British painter who came to Malta as a young man; fell in love with a Maltese beauty; married her and then raised a happy family while mastering his unique watercolor technique that blended abstract, impressionistic and classical styles together in a swirl of rich colors. Winston was that guy. He was all smiles and self-deprecating humor. At first, we just chatted outside the gallery, but he eventually got around to inviting us into his studio that was covered from floor to ceiling with beautiful prints of scenes from all around Valletta. He especially liked the fireworks over the harbor at night.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #545454;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7p7FIlBu68M/V6HzlLOGYRI/AAAAAAACNi0/KU9rSPKxHG8j5FZ7hQn3shnEKIXi2NbegCLcB/s1600/W1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7p7FIlBu68M/V6HzlLOGYRI/AAAAAAACNi0/KU9rSPKxHG8j5FZ7hQn3shnEKIXi2NbegCLcB/s400/W1.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #545454;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #545454;">"I came here almost thirty years ago and I have been in love with the place ever since. I love everything about it </span></span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― the people, the scenery, but most of all the </span><b style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">pace</span></i></b><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">. The Maltese people always find the time to enjoy life."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QE_NIpOPAb8/V6HzlKL_XAI/AAAAAAACNiw/5eM7Rl8hYhQIsoGMRqOE7xWY23BPtE3QQCEw/s1600/W2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QE_NIpOPAb8/V6HzlKL_XAI/AAAAAAACNiw/5eM7Rl8hYhQIsoGMRqOE7xWY23BPtE3QQCEw/s400/W2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">We ended up buying three of his prints </span><span style="color: #545454; line-height: 18.2px;">― one of<b> St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral</b>, a street scene of shops and apartments in morning light, and a painting of classic sailboats moored in the harbor.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I5XpfOnmU4s/V6HwJW6jCEI/AAAAAAACNiY/F-xfx9PAaZ0rqLPtpUXByJ5dNwnYOyc1gCLcB/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I5XpfOnmU4s/V6HwJW6jCEI/AAAAAAACNiY/F-xfx9PAaZ0rqLPtpUXByJ5dNwnYOyc1gCLcB/s400/IMG_2052.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Winston led us out to the street after he had finished carefully putting our paintings in an old green tube he found in a dusty drawer.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"Please come back and visit if you are ever in the neighborhood again," he said with a warm smile. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">And we knew that he meant it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDwnj0W-A7s/V6HwJZ5fcjI/AAAAAAACNic/RTPFohKpbvYg226tY6FwownU2OL17dlcQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDwnj0W-A7s/V6HwJZ5fcjI/AAAAAAACNic/RTPFohKpbvYg226tY6FwownU2OL17dlcQCLcB/s400/IMG_2053.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"We will," we replied as Inna gave him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">And we meant it too.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ02lm9HBv8/V6HwJdrD-0I/AAAAAAACNiU/ED2fZluT7s4AV-N2VCgIt3vkA1cO9t1fACLcB/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJ02lm9HBv8/V6HwJdrD-0I/AAAAAAACNiU/ED2fZluT7s4AV-N2VCgIt3vkA1cO9t1fACLcB/s400/IMG_2046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"Look how clean and well-maintained everything is," remarked Inna as we continued our now random journey.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VW3EXiwDwIw/V6E8o_mwFcI/AAAAAAACNeg/0G9eFdHpYis0uJGahW-SCPciUn4XbR7eQCEw/s1600/IMG_7109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VW3EXiwDwIw/V6E8o_mwFcI/AAAAAAACNeg/0G9eFdHpYis0uJGahW-SCPciUn4XbR7eQCEw/s400/IMG_7109.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVVfGZvbRLc/V6E8kIxkgoI/AAAAAAACNeE/lidd46QBOv4h4JWVSMfK6gtB4Dj39D6-wCEw/s1600/IMG_7055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVVfGZvbRLc/V6E8kIxkgoI/AAAAAAACNeE/lidd46QBOv4h4JWVSMfK6gtB4Dj39D6-wCEw/s400/IMG_7055.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">I think we could have eaten off the streets. I don't know how they do it.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqSC8F1Q3ow/V6Hv-REyJUI/AAAAAAACNik/U0AYgYj3kkwb8S_72wLc6L3URiTg03tfQCEw/s1600/IMG_7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqSC8F1Q3ow/V6Hv-REyJUI/AAAAAAACNik/U0AYgYj3kkwb8S_72wLc6L3URiTg03tfQCEw/s400/IMG_7173.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyKdBavbwzE/V6H4GUUlzlI/AAAAAAACNks/z3f_29-8u_sDWoJ1tiChDslt8wU-FUr9QCEw/s1600/IMG_7325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyKdBavbwzE/V6H4GUUlzlI/AAAAAAACNks/z3f_29-8u_sDWoJ1tiChDslt8wU-FUr9QCEw/s400/IMG_7325.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"And look at the balconies," exclaimed Inna, pointing to several eye-catching red and green, wooden and glass-enclosed porches that hung out over the narrow stone street like bird nests.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vrNY8Agbcd0/V6E-TXqiuqI/AAAAAAACNgQ/xNQBJOk0Ee0CAlnlbeAMinxap5OVdewOgCEw/s1600/IMG_7135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vrNY8Agbcd0/V6E-TXqiuqI/AAAAAAACNgQ/xNQBJOk0Ee0CAlnlbeAMinxap5OVdewOgCEw/s400/IMG_7135.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CC0C4fnjms/V6E-Tc6io_I/AAAAAAACNgQ/cOSnngJWm4U6CAZOrkVKarVTDBcuoVn9wCEw/s1600/IMG_7138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CC0C4fnjms/V6E-Tc6io_I/AAAAAAACNgQ/cOSnngJWm4U6CAZOrkVKarVTDBcuoVn9wCEw/s400/IMG_7138.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnvVYJHV4vc/V6E-SKtUHmI/AAAAAAACNgQ/G2h5tnDohB0zOv4aQNh0EwBe9PA6V4U3wCEw/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OnvVYJHV4vc/V6E-SKtUHmI/AAAAAAACNgQ/G2h5tnDohB0zOv4aQNh0EwBe9PA6V4U3wCEw/s400/IMG_7131.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"Man, these people really know how to live, don't they," I replied with genuine admiration.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbDi3tIviko/V6E-UpjBbUI/AAAAAAACNgQ/CY1lfaMCuyULC0WhenEh99gnGg0YlMqHgCEw/s1600/IMG_7140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nbDi3tIviko/V6E-UpjBbUI/AAAAAAACNgQ/CY1lfaMCuyULC0WhenEh99gnGg0YlMqHgCEw/s400/IMG_7140.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">A few minutes later we were walking down <b>West Street</b>, near the silver-domed <b>Carmelite Church</b>, when we stopped to check out an apartment building called the <b>Orangeri Lodge </b>with a FOR RENT sign on the door.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2A-BeNFi5k8/V6Hz9ZlthHI/AAAAAAACNi8/2A_ZMhAbE0k6w91x09DBzMaIag_wEPKsgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2A-BeNFi5k8/V6Hz9ZlthHI/AAAAAAACNi8/2A_ZMhAbE0k6w91x09DBzMaIag_wEPKsgCLcB/s400/IMG_7141.JPG" width="287" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"I wonder what one of these apartments is like and what they charge?" asked Inna as she looked more closely at the sign</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly, a young man opened the door. His name was Steve and he was born on Malta.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The next thing we knew, we were getting the grand tour. Steve managed the property and the whole place had recently been renovated. Half the units were short-term rentals for vacationers while the other half were occupied by those who wished to call Valletta home for awhile.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QapQDH_tJg/V6E-a2-NG8I/AAAAAAACNgI/fL98D_f9g4kFrmjHCYXYNccRTPKgUDKIQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QapQDH_tJg/V6E-a2-NG8I/AAAAAAACNgI/fL98D_f9g4kFrmjHCYXYNccRTPKgUDKIQCLcB/s400/IMG_7156.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Would you like to see an apartment?" asked Steve.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Absolutely," exclaimed Inna.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Steve led us up a sunlit circular staircase to the fourth floor and produced a ring of keys. He selected a key and said, "I think this is the one," as he inserted it into the lock.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RzXWfPRzy84/V6IFcI180DI/AAAAAAACNlo/JfMd_rr-sEwnedgkFh1_DdOAK9XwbM3yACEw/s1600/W6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RzXWfPRzy84/V6IFcI180DI/AAAAAAACNlo/JfMd_rr-sEwnedgkFh1_DdOAK9XwbM3yACEw/s400/W6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The apartment had just been given a major face lift. Everything was marble, glass and stainless steel. The rooms were spacious. And the views from the bedroom and living room were like something from a glossy travel magazine.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"How much?" asked Inna.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-xlpkb-dX8/V6H4L6hCa9I/AAAAAAACNks/FL4d4vv8DDQhHV2dacoO46aFJ73NDl42QCEw/s1600/IMG_7370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7-xlpkb-dX8/V6H4L6hCa9I/AAAAAAACNks/FL4d4vv8DDQhHV2dacoO46aFJ73NDl42QCEw/s400/IMG_7370.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was wondering if she was planning on us staying.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"That depends," said Steve. "Short-term rentals are about 150</span><span style="font-size: large;">€ a night, and monthly rentals are about 150</span><span style="font-size: large;">0€.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpzM8TBMJTY/V6IFcQckE9I/AAAAAAACNlw/hWPL5HN0MBgsJ4q7MYHkypZUvsfuKv-VQCEw/s1600/W8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EpzM8TBMJTY/V6IFcQckE9I/AAAAAAACNlw/hWPL5HN0MBgsJ4q7MYHkypZUvsfuKv-VQCEw/s400/W8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You couldn't beat that in the States </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">― I mean, in a comparable place. We were, after all, talking about Valletta on the dreamy island of Malta, with amazing water views.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Steve took us up to the roof where there was a communal patio with cushy blue lounge chairs and potted palm trees overlooking <b>Marsamxett Harbor </b>and the jet set <b>Manoel Island</b> with its shiny marinas filled with sleek pleasure craft, and just beyond, the luxury high rises along the beaches of the<b> Qui-Si-Sana District</b>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjwnLHPkHKM/V6E-W-wHVjI/AAAAAAACNfw/iF-OxgA7Aoo2AH_qf-WEDQmx6A3vegPwwCEw/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjwnLHPkHKM/V6E-W-wHVjI/AAAAAAACNfw/iF-OxgA7Aoo2AH_qf-WEDQmx6A3vegPwwCEw/s400/IMG_7149.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBClAqAukuA/V6E-ZEprrAI/AAAAAAACNgA/gvrenjVRLcwZa3bJDJTjGuiojf9raP-VACEw/s1600/IMG_7153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBClAqAukuA/V6E-ZEprrAI/AAAAAAACNgA/gvrenjVRLcwZa3bJDJTjGuiojf9raP-VACEw/s400/IMG_7153.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc64uoCR140/V6E-XKWDRfI/AAAAAAACNf0/q1INXgO5dvEGF6ijhsw0oZmKbbPmRbTzgCEw/s1600/IMG_7150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc64uoCR140/V6E-XKWDRfI/AAAAAAACNf0/q1INXgO5dvEGF6ijhsw0oZmKbbPmRbTzgCEw/s400/IMG_7150.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">There were just too many visual delights to take in with just one pair of eyes.</span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RCcGbs_BV0/V6E-ZPGFGOI/AAAAAAACNf8/PFAka1OWxm0meEh-ZPuzAnuLaR5M7TLXgCEw/s1600/IMG_7151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RCcGbs_BV0/V6E-ZPGFGOI/AAAAAAACNf8/PFAka1OWxm0meEh-ZPuzAnuLaR5M7TLXgCEw/s400/IMG_7151.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBO2U5EaW4/V6E-YuzP50I/AAAAAAACNf4/_NKgfF78gsoMwCkYN6SLu-lK22ssWS_qgCEw/s1600/IMG_7152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2LBO2U5EaW4/V6E-YuzP50I/AAAAAAACNf4/_NKgfF78gsoMwCkYN6SLu-lK22ssWS_qgCEw/s400/IMG_7152.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We took Steve's card as we left.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMYaz0tUUOo/V6E-ZlQA9rI/AAAAAAACNgE/16_z9NPboosFQWjhPm1iolRZLo0mXkFAwCEw/s1600/IMG_7154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMYaz0tUUOo/V6E-ZlQA9rI/AAAAAAACNgE/16_z9NPboosFQWjhPm1iolRZLo0mXkFAwCEw/s400/IMG_7154.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"We'll be back," said Inna with an engaging smile.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCC1tUmCtDM/V6IFcAZplyI/AAAAAAACNlk/EoBKXcw25Nw3W6ShwlziAP_39x_0QtZ1gCEw/s1600/W5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VCC1tUmCtDM/V6IFcAZplyI/AAAAAAACNlk/EoBKXcw25Nw3W6ShwlziAP_39x_0QtZ1gCEw/s400/W5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">And I'm thinking that we will.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sLnaBcHag4/V6IFcSQogGI/AAAAAAACNl0/CimLE22fjaESUMzpxL777NgMn1nmAKbywCEw/s1600/W9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sLnaBcHag4/V6IFcSQogGI/AAAAAAACNl0/CimLE22fjaESUMzpxL777NgMn1nmAKbywCEw/s400/W9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-22157269041253131762016-07-28T18:36:00.002-07:002016-08-01T07:19:00.448-07:00Messina, Sicily<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9Te2Q8DaKE/V5oISkHb59I/AAAAAAACNJY/fyqKOEI9Mzwg4C9XVXGsu-mumdX7lzcHgCLcB/s1600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9Te2Q8DaKE/V5oISkHb59I/AAAAAAACNJY/fyqKOEI9Mzwg4C9XVXGsu-mumdX7lzcHgCLcB/s400/M1.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Day five of our Mediterranean cruise landed us in </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Messina, Sicily</b><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. Everything I had read about the city indicated that it was a boring dump. The reviews on numerous travel sites basically said that we should avoid the town at all costs and flee as quickly as possible. And so, that was the plan. </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 35px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXPI6KuyG4M/V5oIS_tDYjI/AAAAAAACNJk/bqYeKm2logEmNiqeGxlu81SkoHS01iRDQCEw/s1600/M15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXPI6KuyG4M/V5oIS_tDYjI/AAAAAAACNJk/bqYeKm2logEmNiqeGxlu81SkoHS01iRDQCEw/s400/M15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTcbcqjNI5Q/V5oioCCz7XI/AAAAAAACNQs/_S3P_2tJvlkhqC6de6FpUs0hn1F2Q4uqwCLcB/s1600/M-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTcbcqjNI5Q/V5oioCCz7XI/AAAAAAACNQs/_S3P_2tJvlkhqC6de6FpUs0hn1F2Q4uqwCLcB/s400/M-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Rather than explore the old seaport and city center, we opted for one of the ship excursions. As a general rule, I avoid those like the plague because they invariably involve a packed tour bus full of mostly old folks too timid to go out exploring on their own, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">a long drive, pompously animated tour guides, limited time at the destination, and then a long ride back. Ship excursions are usually over-priced and tedious. But after all of the dire warnings on Trip Advisor and Reddit about Messina, we were willing to make an exception and go with the flow.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ5Ihm6wTgw/V5oITQq_MXI/AAAAAAACNKE/k97VuWXzDbQjDkFi-NyRT5NCM8nFrVu6ACEw/s1600/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ5Ihm6wTgw/V5oITQq_MXI/AAAAAAACNKE/k97VuWXzDbQjDkFi-NyRT5NCM8nFrVu6ACEw/s400/M5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">We arrived in Messina at eight in the morning and we were the only big ship in the harbor, which was quite a change from our previous three stops. The weather had reverted back to its usual happy self and it was sunny and temperatures were in the 70's. The<b> MSC Poesia </b>pulled right up to the terminal dock, which was really nothing more than a long bulkhead next to a parking lot. A major street ran along the shoreline as in all port cities and most of the light morning traffic consisted of scooters and dirty trucks. Lining the street were rundown tan apartment buildings adorned with laundry that definitely had <i><b>government housing </b></i>written all over them. A tall fence separated the cruise ship area from the town. And the only sign of commerce consisted of a few sturdy white tent <i><b>stores </b></i>selling souvenirs and booze. But they had yet to open.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVCph3OxBWE/V5oITTqBCWI/AAAAAAACNKA/namxU5JZ2hgbYdwguFWR0OVGIin0m1xhQCEw/s1600/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVCph3OxBWE/V5oITTqBCWI/AAAAAAACNKA/namxU5JZ2hgbYdwguFWR0OVGIin0m1xhQCEw/s400/M4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax0OC5vPUQY/V5oITbyaUII/AAAAAAACNJ4/VRaKwq-97iAhX8QGFDlsxI7J3_dq0-LsQCEw/s1600/M22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ax0OC5vPUQY/V5oITbyaUII/AAAAAAACNJ4/VRaKwq-97iAhX8QGFDlsxI7J3_dq0-LsQCEw/s400/M22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"It reminds me of Communism," said Inna as we sat on our balcony taking in the dreary scene.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlRc9qeS0ko/V5oITiEqv_I/AAAAAAACNKk/vks-w9do5QYQM7A-DRrzwf--dvHcopL6ACEw/s1600/M8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlRc9qeS0ko/V5oITiEqv_I/AAAAAAACNKk/vks-w9do5QYQM7A-DRrzwf--dvHcopL6ACEw/s400/M8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Well, it was almost completely wiped out in a big earthquake in the early 1900s," I replied. "And then it was the scene of endless carnage when the allies landed in World War II. So, maybe we should cut them some slack."</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-BuJqS0R-E/V5oITLPDNwI/AAAAAAACNJw/nDIMGncilhYdU272x7oHjSRTz1LxDh6_QCEw/s1600/M18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-BuJqS0R-E/V5oITLPDNwI/AAAAAAACNJw/nDIMGncilhYdU272x7oHjSRTz1LxDh6_QCEw/s400/M18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBeU4O7zFE4/V5ok-c_5noI/AAAAAAACNSM/o_kOZ55IOmIkuiJO-GK11pKKz4_PVAYFACLcB/s1600/M-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBeU4O7zFE4/V5ok-c_5noI/AAAAAAACNSM/o_kOZ55IOmIkuiJO-GK11pKKz4_PVAYFACLcB/s400/M-17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5XeRva8sIA/V5ok-XAiL7I/AAAAAAACNSE/DYUN3bQk44UYJNrpT-8C2FHy-pKhMG_0wCLcB/s1600/M-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5XeRva8sIA/V5ok-XAiL7I/AAAAAAACNSE/DYUN3bQk44UYJNrpT-8C2FHy-pKhMG_0wCLcB/s400/M-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It definitely was far different than anything we had seen so far.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0OOAgPTa2A/V5oMnoxB4uI/AAAAAAACNLc/xJsjBohDsFUzRV9KRRoIQgj_Pp9jIbbSQCEw/s1600/M21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0OOAgPTa2A/V5oMnoxB4uI/AAAAAAACNLc/xJsjBohDsFUzRV9KRRoIQgj_Pp9jIbbSQCEw/s400/M21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ko6XQaWMVw/V5oMnbCzaTI/AAAAAAACNLU/g9fkosUfuiYoc1lSvBrCdycWP12pdzMiQCEw/s1600/M11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ko6XQaWMVw/V5oMnbCzaTI/AAAAAAACNLU/g9fkosUfuiYoc1lSvBrCdycWP12pdzMiQCEw/s400/M11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9FK2ewUO5A/V5oITID-kxI/AAAAAAACNJs/iIGexLKRzlAWCLtYLzozeHQu0AOIq5mzwCEw/s1600/M17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9FK2ewUO5A/V5oITID-kxI/AAAAAAACNJs/iIGexLKRzlAWCLtYLzozeHQu0AOIq5mzwCEw/s400/M17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Messina sits about three miles south of <b>Reggio Calabria</b>, at the southern <i><b>toe </b></i>of Italy. Shaped like a scythe, it guards the <b>Strait of Messina</b> where all ships heading east or west must pass. Given its strategic location, and its natural shelter from storms, it played an important role in Mediterranean and seafaring history going all the way back to the first Greek colony, <b>Zancle</b>, that was founded in the 8th century BC. According to Greek mythology, it was controlled by two terrible sea monsters, <b>Scylla </b>and <b>Charybdis</b>. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ys7T64rqoM/V5oITKgA0HI/AAAAAAACNKk/gQniooQB9Sc0bSI-j04j4XvBcvH7VamhgCEw/s1600/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ys7T64rqoM/V5oITKgA0HI/AAAAAAACNKk/gQniooQB9Sc0bSI-j04j4XvBcvH7VamhgCEw/s400/M2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love Greek Mythology. It's much more entertaining and lively than the Bible. Parables should tell a good story and the myth of Scylla and Charybdis totally rocks. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8k5iqZOajxo/V5oJzk9T3RI/AAAAAAACNK0/qJuFLqNtBtoiQtJRszL9np3HUtwTYLzmwCLcB/s1600/M94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8k5iqZOajxo/V5oJzk9T3RI/AAAAAAACNK0/qJuFLqNtBtoiQtJRszL9np3HUtwTYLzmwCLcB/s400/M94.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Scylla was a beautiful sea nymph who lived on the Sicily side of the strait. One day, she caught the attention of that randy old ocean king <b>Poseidon</b>, who was always looking for new talent. Poseidon's wife <b>Amphitrite </b>got jealous, so she poisoned the waters where Scylla bathed, turning her into a terrible monster with six heads and three rows of sharp teeth. That must have been one helluva magic potion. From then on, Scylla attacked any ship dumb enough to pass too close to land. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKUmIb_dLuY/V5oJz73IZVI/AAAAAAACNLA/Mg5RbVXIhBMU5X_2gPByFFWJ3EdKpOzIQCEw/s1600/M97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RKUmIb_dLuY/V5oJz73IZVI/AAAAAAACNLA/Mg5RbVXIhBMU5X_2gPByFFWJ3EdKpOzIQCEw/s400/M97.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Charybdis was also a sea nymph and the daughter of Poseidon. She helped her father fight <b>Zeus </b>by engulfing lands and islands with water. That bully boy Zeus didn't like having his lands stolen, so he cursed Charybdis and turned her into a monster, with flippers for legs and arms, who had an unquenchable thirst for the sea, which she sucked up three times a day, creating giant whirlpools. <b>Odysseus </b>lost his ship to Charybdis, but he grabbed onto an overhanging branch and waited until the ship was spit back out of the whirlpool, and then he swung back onto the deck and proceeded on his quest.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sjyVq04Bgk/V5oJz7W2b7I/AAAAAAACNK4/G_IJVLAy2CwQQQ5dEtMTTDjea51CTckFQCEw/s1600/M95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0sjyVq04Bgk/V5oJz7W2b7I/AAAAAAACNK4/G_IJVLAy2CwQQQ5dEtMTTDjea51CTckFQCEw/s400/M95.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ah8XlQeBYPU/V5oJzmkbx6I/AAAAAAACNKs/yk82Q52chZwNmSKpiuVGbiigUUSGraR8ACEw/s1600/M93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ah8XlQeBYPU/V5oJzmkbx6I/AAAAAAACNKs/yk82Q52chZwNmSKpiuVGbiigUUSGraR8ACEw/s400/M93.jpg" width="370" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Myths are simply metaphorical stories. And Scylla was obviously a rocky shoal, and Charybdis was where the currents were really dangerous. And to this day, southern Europeans use the idiom of being forced between Scylla and Charybdis like we use the phrase, "being caught between a rock and a hard place". Needless to say, a lot of blood has been spilled along those rocky shores since humans took to the sea.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6EgFCneJHpQ/V5oJzumMSqI/AAAAAAACNLI/Xw5RTY72N3U-IsiiD1QcI1_j1h2qQO4WQCEw/s1600/M92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6EgFCneJHpQ/V5oJzumMSqI/AAAAAAACNLI/Xw5RTY72N3U-IsiiD1QcI1_j1h2qQO4WQCEw/s400/M92.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">According to the brochures which, of course, always accentuate the positive, the Messina of today is a vibrant port of call for ferries to the European continent, an industrial center, home to an outstanding university, and a popular seaside resort. Maybe so, but at first blush, it looked almost abandoned. And there was trash and graffiti everywhere.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOdFQasj9h0/V5oIS5nq1pI/AAAAAAACNKk/Attq4Pc8zVodr2leGqKcrcmSAh2tXDe_gCEw/s1600/M16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOdFQasj9h0/V5oIS5nq1pI/AAAAAAACNKk/Attq4Pc8zVodr2leGqKcrcmSAh2tXDe_gCEw/s400/M16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsteljgmkhs/V5oITQeLi6I/AAAAAAACNKk/09-6gAryfbERlP8dvT9qwtsKo2fVL9Z7gCEw/s1600/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dsteljgmkhs/V5oITQeLi6I/AAAAAAACNKk/09-6gAryfbERlP8dvT9qwtsKo2fVL9Z7gCEw/s400/M3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwrTHbf-n3g/V5oISmo6QRI/AAAAAAACNKk/p8RmMwdJu-8ZQSTnLQtxtzcQPBkdh4yewCEw/s1600/M10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwrTHbf-n3g/V5oISmo6QRI/AAAAAAACNKk/p8RmMwdJu-8ZQSTnLQtxtzcQPBkdh4yewCEw/s400/M10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTQs9fjdaSI/V5oipISdwLI/AAAAAAACNRg/Fk6q5dm5s0UNy2o4SDZZY-DnAu2kW1hUACEw/s1600/M-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTQs9fjdaSI/V5oipISdwLI/AAAAAAACNRg/Fk6q5dm5s0UNy2o4SDZZY-DnAu2kW1hUACEw/s400/M-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwckiLVHfSE/V5oipMXynjI/AAAAAAACNRc/LpDLurq6nR8qmS7d3wm1RintyAQVi1yAwCEw/s1600/M-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wwckiLVHfSE/V5oipMXynjI/AAAAAAACNRc/LpDLurq6nR8qmS7d3wm1RintyAQVi1yAwCEw/s400/M-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It should have been rush hour in Messina, but the town seemed dead. A few people aimlessly walked the street, stopping to chat with one another and casting hostile looks at our cruise ship. Several entrepreneurs gathered outside the fence like beggars with trinkets and flowers for sale. But it seemed like everyone was still asleep on a beautiful Tuesday morning. Apparently nobody worked in this industrial center of Sicily.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjdPYMWa35I/V5oIS3Fw7EI/AAAAAAACNKk/0BtggdwFggIyGg0KXvQPd7B5B8nJfOE5QCEw/s1600/M14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjdPYMWa35I/V5oIS3Fw7EI/AAAAAAACNKk/0BtggdwFggIyGg0KXvQPd7B5B8nJfOE5QCEw/s400/M14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08p2PtS6z08/V5oIToi423I/AAAAAAACNKk/crBi-xHywc4XO-Fzn5GIKwPjETJSajlBgCEw/s1600/M7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08p2PtS6z08/V5oIToi423I/AAAAAAACNKk/crBi-xHywc4XO-Fzn5GIKwPjETJSajlBgCEw/s400/M7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As the cruise ship was being safely secured, vans and buses started quickly filling the adjacent parking lot. They were going to service the various ship excursions. The drivers got out and greeted one another amiably and immediately started lighting up cigarettes.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMaxBUi2k1Y/V5oMottSSII/AAAAAAACNMU/qsOARZlXC8EnfnxCIhT4Bhb2owLUkiAvwCEw/s1600/M9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMaxBUi2k1Y/V5oMottSSII/AAAAAAACNMU/qsOARZlXC8EnfnxCIhT4Bhb2owLUkiAvwCEw/s400/M9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm glad we booked a tour," I said as we gathered our gear into our day packs and headed for our disembarkation area in the Zebra Lounge.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--efduVQgPqU/V5o9F5K153I/AAAAAAACNTw/j8EkXUfh1W0I9UTIQTxyQCW93QiDq45mgCLcB/s1600/M-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--efduVQgPqU/V5o9F5K153I/AAAAAAACNTw/j8EkXUfh1W0I9UTIQTxyQCW93QiDq45mgCLcB/s400/M-50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had signed us up for the tour of <b>Mount Etna</b> and the ancient city of <b>Taormina</b> and it sounded like a fun trip. <b><i>"The Italian island of Sicily is presided over by Mount Etna, Europe's tallest and most active volcano. Taking you to see the natural phenomenon and the nearby town of Taormina, this all-day tour begins with a 1.5-hour coach trip, passing through the town of Zafferina Etnea to catch superb views of the mountain and the sea. A little over half way up Mount Etna lies the cable car station of Rifugio Sapienza </i></b></span><b><i><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">— twice burned by lava over the years </span><span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">— from where you will then walk to the two inactive Silvestri Craters, which were formed during the eruption of 1892. Leaving Mount Etna behind, you'll then spend about an hour on the coach to reach the lovely little town of Taormina. Free time will then be yours to have lunch (at extra cost), after which a guided walk will take you past the ancient Greco-Roman theatre, the 15th century Corvaja Palace, the small Roman "Odeon" theatre, and the 13th century Minor Basilica of St. Nicholas."</span></i></b></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oofaprlc5SU/V5onB0rDLtI/AAAAAAACNSo/FXXRQ1AefsIXcrPdtdmEwEiqppZ9xqP2gCLcB/s1600/M-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oofaprlc5SU/V5onB0rDLtI/AAAAAAACNSo/FXXRQ1AefsIXcrPdtdmEwEiqppZ9xqP2gCLcB/s400/M-30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq2J_bX5dKc/V5onCdaM92I/AAAAAAACNTE/iaydqvE7BgAKnsH-hBv3fCsBWaQOFZ8-gCLcB/s1600/M-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq2J_bX5dKc/V5onCdaM92I/AAAAAAACNTE/iaydqvE7BgAKnsH-hBv3fCsBWaQOFZ8-gCLcB/s400/M-40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjqckdJZwEc/V5onCAYBZcI/AAAAAAACNSs/_KXKsWWuVEEHDWPS9DOKhq-FVGcaE_dqACLcB/s1600/M-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjqckdJZwEc/V5onCAYBZcI/AAAAAAACNSs/_KXKsWWuVEEHDWPS9DOKhq-FVGcaE_dqACLcB/s400/M-33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHRr2hQsOdg/V5onCawpz6I/AAAAAAACNS8/nFHqk25WaEQR06bXmgIsjPSgaF2ZAP6TQCLcB/s1600/M-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHRr2hQsOdg/V5onCawpz6I/AAAAAAACNS8/nFHqk25WaEQR06bXmgIsjPSgaF2ZAP6TQCLcB/s400/M-38.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1raXWOzuiLA/V5onCV8nw9I/AAAAAAACNTA/6yTUqSgw5h01FcjB_Bmba9uX6nSGJm9ggCLcB/s1600/M-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1raXWOzuiLA/V5onCV8nw9I/AAAAAAACNTA/6yTUqSgw5h01FcjB_Bmba9uX6nSGJm9ggCLcB/s400/M-39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca04DoVZ33Q/V5onCKcpW0I/AAAAAAACNS0/z3xM2IPdqvg057yjEgffoWkn49oqYHhbQCLcB/s1600/M-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca04DoVZ33Q/V5onCKcpW0I/AAAAAAACNS0/z3xM2IPdqvg057yjEgffoWkn49oqYHhbQCLcB/s400/M-36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">The tour cost <b>$69 per person</b> and they warned us to bring a jacket because it could get windy and cold up on the volcano. And they weren't blowing smoke. More on this a little bit later.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7i2fdV9MpWw/V5onBz2AYxI/AAAAAAACNSg/7a0sw44xa3EUo8FZ_C7MYRIx5IcM5PhpACEw/s1600/M-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7i2fdV9MpWw/V5onBz2AYxI/AAAAAAACNSg/7a0sw44xa3EUo8FZ_C7MYRIx5IcM5PhpACEw/s400/M-31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHx_uB5cBxU/V5onCD7zmOI/AAAAAAACNSw/gLahvSw30CYnU67QPNWNM6BxsRyg74-GgCEw/s1600/M-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHx_uB5cBxU/V5onCD7zmOI/AAAAAAACNSw/gLahvSw30CYnU67QPNWNM6BxsRyg74-GgCEw/s400/M-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">As we rode the very nice and comfortable tour bus out of town, the views really didn't get any better. In fact, it got even bleaker as more of the town's people came out onto the streets. The locals looked mean and hungry. They eyed our tour bus like it was prey. They all smoked and were dressed in t-shirts and plain, threadbare dresses. The few small parks were overgrown with weeds and strewn with trash. There was the occasional large church and public building of obvious importance, but even these looked rundown and forgotten. Messina is definitely not a fun place to visit. I'm sure there were some nice sights. And not everyone was feral. But we never found the garden spots, and I can't imagine ever returning, other than the fact that it is the <b>"Gateway to Mount Etna"</b>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3Ekifmm-l8/V5oISzM6w7I/AAAAAAACNKk/JSQQcx1zA2IHSSzOgdqd3j_KG6QEOysOwCEw/s1600/M13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3Ekifmm-l8/V5oISzM6w7I/AAAAAAACNKk/JSQQcx1zA2IHSSzOgdqd3j_KG6QEOysOwCEw/s400/M13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">You want to know how bad it was? Neither Inna or I took a single picture of Messina. When I sat down to put together this blog, I realized I didn't have a single photo. That says a lot, I'm afraid.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHpIRSZLyC8/V5oMnch7onI/AAAAAAACNLY/tsf6azE8p80OsfDBe7BerW_2a1fjIOs5gCLcB/s1600/M20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHpIRSZLyC8/V5oMnch7onI/AAAAAAACNLY/tsf6azE8p80OsfDBe7BerW_2a1fjIOs5gCLcB/s400/M20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">The drive to Mount Etna was up, up, and away as we passed though </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">small villages comprised of well kept white bungalows with orange roofs, clinging to the dark, rocky hillsides like there was no tomorrow. And given their proximity to a volcano that is always belching and smoking </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> the volcano has erupted to some degree at least once a year either at the summit or along one of its flanks pretty much every year since 1950 </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> there are certainly no guarantees</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_RH_q5_Co0/V5oMouYx2tI/AAAAAAACNMY/j2nZfhHr-YIXzZjYMW3tx8SvrkzKWF93wCLcB/s1600/M40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_RH_q5_Co0/V5oMouYx2tI/AAAAAAACNMY/j2nZfhHr-YIXzZjYMW3tx8SvrkzKWF93wCLcB/s400/M40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17CKI_BLTSU/V5oMohg8b_I/AAAAAAACNMQ/D9C5NYKnNx4JUDXQkJ1vVMMQINIaMWQKACEw/s1600/M42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17CKI_BLTSU/V5oMohg8b_I/AAAAAAACNMQ/D9C5NYKnNx4JUDXQkJ1vVMMQINIaMWQKACEw/s400/M42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSsEXozA2R8/V5oMoQTAQGI/AAAAAAACNME/jtLObMgA6LI_lv-dtgwRl3CEQ4Q-bWqyACEw/s1600/M34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSsEXozA2R8/V5oMoQTAQGI/AAAAAAACNME/jtLObMgA6LI_lv-dtgwRl3CEQ4Q-bWqyACEw/s400/M34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIXm5b5owXI/V5oMoA1t72I/AAAAAAACNL0/qzlMSWTWvMUIKdetMcE9RdHr8eOa4KOOQCEw/s1600/M28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIXm5b5owXI/V5oMoA1t72I/AAAAAAACNL0/qzlMSWTWvMUIKdetMcE9RdHr8eOa4KOOQCEw/s400/M28.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t3-m1yHFWo/V5oMn3cEMJI/AAAAAAACNLw/omwSAANB23wAXY91H0KTOLDTBHEVCNa4wCEw/s1600/M27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t3-m1yHFWo/V5oMn3cEMJI/AAAAAAACNLw/omwSAANB23wAXY91H0KTOLDTBHEVCNa4wCEw/s400/M27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M-r1-Y0XVEU/V5oMng6cTQI/AAAAAAACNLk/b7X89Qvq4g0-gij92PSP-lJzBRPP_5j2wCEw/s1600/M24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M-r1-Y0XVEU/V5oMng6cTQI/AAAAAAACNLk/b7X89Qvq4g0-gij92PSP-lJzBRPP_5j2wCEw/s400/M24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5q87CC2H3Ck/V5oa_U_VmfI/AAAAAAACNPs/3JC1bC0UEkotc9roP9NH9SFfIkENRTPzwCEw/s1600/M89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5q87CC2H3Ck/V5oa_U_VmfI/AAAAAAACNPs/3JC1bC0UEkotc9roP9NH9SFfIkENRTPzwCEw/s400/M89.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Once our tour bus climbed above the tree line, the views of the Ionian Sea were like shots from space. The blue-green sea twinkled in the sunlight like an ocean of stars. We eyed the looming volcano like kids outside the gates to the Magic Kingdom and we couldn't wait to get out and go exploring.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3kmCaPxtYk/V5oMn7ll2DI/AAAAAAACNLs/FkOqEpklwYIU8ysTEjmFhGklSfDnj2CrgCEw/s1600/M26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K3kmCaPxtYk/V5oMn7ll2DI/AAAAAAACNLs/FkOqEpklwYIU8ysTEjmFhGklSfDnj2CrgCEw/s400/M26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqBLX3oe0Rw/V5oModw0fSI/AAAAAAACNMI/S4wKiNHyItclYgrQeSilMxwwxYFk6mJKwCEw/s1600/M36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqBLX3oe0Rw/V5oModw0fSI/AAAAAAACNMI/S4wKiNHyItclYgrQeSilMxwwxYFk6mJKwCEw/s400/M36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TaUEa86B90/V5oMn0CwSoI/AAAAAAACNLo/TQavr_NXEIYNi_837MCkvtFwtWXoA-9vQCEw/s1600/M25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TaUEa86B90/V5oMn0CwSoI/AAAAAAACNLo/TQavr_NXEIYNi_837MCkvtFwtWXoA-9vQCEw/s400/M25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">The parking lot at the </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 19px;">Rifugio Sapienza Station</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">base camp was a madhouse of buses, vans, cars and tourons were crowding the entrance road and walking off in every direction. There were smiling ticket takers at the entrance to the park who directed our bus to its proper place in the scrum. We ended up parking near the main restaurant which was modeled after a large alpine lodge. The middle of the parking lot was occupied by vendors in shuttered wagon vans, selling all sorts of native goods like paper weights made of lava stone, along with local delicacies like jam, candies, and nuts.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw85z8nYwJ0/V5oVsPCaY6I/AAAAAAACNM8/Vaa74uBXJPQY-o5jFnNEKqGYoZJPWdDuACLcB/s1600/IMG_6822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw85z8nYwJ0/V5oVsPCaY6I/AAAAAAACNM8/Vaa74uBXJPQY-o5jFnNEKqGYoZJPWdDuACLcB/s400/IMG_6822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp2_WCQHxfo/V5fS4M_DEzI/AAAAAAACM9Y/lRTMgFhf1wMxaJ1OoBjl6ux1_6PT7fwlQCEw/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gp2_WCQHxfo/V5fS4M_DEzI/AAAAAAACM9Y/lRTMgFhf1wMxaJ1OoBjl6ux1_6PT7fwlQCEw/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc-M3mNPK3g/V5fS5gQACoI/AAAAAAACM9g/Q09oUW2PGBoId0ru_RjWtw-nXjV9nFBIwCEw/s1600/IMG_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc-M3mNPK3g/V5fS5gQACoI/AAAAAAACM9g/Q09oUW2PGBoId0ru_RjWtw-nXjV9nFBIwCEw/s400/IMG_0585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">That's when I finally noticed the wind. Hikers were literally being blown around and their clothes were flapping madly as if alive and trying to escape.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eeb285TJgjs/V5oVooM52hI/AAAAAAACNMo/ExYWmfsqsGkNyLdBX0x_PAJ-OK11oR1IgCEw/s1600/IMG_6646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eeb285TJgjs/V5oVooM52hI/AAAAAAACNMo/ExYWmfsqsGkNyLdBX0x_PAJ-OK11oR1IgCEw/s400/IMG_6646.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We got off the bus and were instantly in the middle of a whirlwind. I have been in a lot of storms and ocean squalls in my day but this was like walking inside one of those wind tunnels, and the dial was set to a steady 60 miles per hour. It wasn't enough to actually knock you over, but it could blow you off balance and it was kicking up a fierce dust storm, as it tried to rip our jackets off our backs. The good news was that it wasn't cold. But after the warmth of the Med, it took some getting used to. It was like walking into a chilly fight.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LH5iTCLrwz0/V5oVsKg5hOI/AAAAAAACNM4/x55caSmxtjQaLYIVA6C_Gg18-9rXadmRwCEw/s1600/IMG_6820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LH5iTCLrwz0/V5oVsKg5hOI/AAAAAAACNM4/x55caSmxtjQaLYIVA6C_Gg18-9rXadmRwCEw/s400/IMG_6820.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9-ERhtn8oE/V5fShKU0-qI/AAAAAAACM8Y/qhDaH65uMi0QNij5v2idGyOPszLzmsL2QCEw/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9-ERhtn8oE/V5fShKU0-qI/AAAAAAACM8Y/qhDaH65uMi0QNij5v2idGyOPszLzmsL2QCEw/s400/IMG_0559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Our time was very limited at Mount Etna, and you would need at least a day to walk to the summit and back. So we checked out some dormant craters, trying not to get blown over the side. </span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIyf9Q7e3z4/V5fSiTUFWrI/AAAAAAACM8c/t4N5SDWKGSAASHf5JjJrHXfdLrUQ4-jMACEw/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YIyf9Q7e3z4/V5fSiTUFWrI/AAAAAAACM8c/t4N5SDWKGSAASHf5JjJrHXfdLrUQ4-jMACEw/s400/IMG_0561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1lLyOj2ECok/V5fSl4pZpAI/AAAAAAACM8k/k_gtvN0A5XYsoeMRInU3zn_G8ihDKcHWACEw/s1600/IMG_0562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1lLyOj2ECok/V5fSl4pZpAI/AAAAAAACM8k/k_gtvN0A5XYsoeMRInU3zn_G8ihDKcHWACEw/s400/IMG_0562.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Inna stopped to get her photo snapped with an old man in native herdsman garb who was tightly hugging a small goat while his daughter handed out little pieces of black basalt with a red plastic lady bug glued to the top and pointed to a basket where you were expected to deposit your <b><i>donation</i></b>. There was, of course, a story to compliment this curiosity. The volcano is supposedly home to millions of lady bugs, and it is considered good luck if one lands on you. I never saw a live lady bug. And given their delicate nature and the prolific winds that blow around Etna virtually every day of the year, it's hard for me to imagine a more unlikely place on earth to spot a lady bug, much less millions of the little buggers. I figured it was just a marketing ploy because they were selling everything under the sun, from lamps to expensive glass vases, adorned with black basalt and lady bugs. I definitely give major bonus points for creativity to the person who conceived of this clever idea.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJLqQC2ex2w/V5fSrENp57I/AAAAAAACM84/oqGHm3OQqnYoKdoxnO9wAbyiTN8Nn7a5ACEw/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJLqQC2ex2w/V5fSrENp57I/AAAAAAACM84/oqGHm3OQqnYoKdoxnO9wAbyiTN8Nn7a5ACEw/s400/IMG_0570.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2dzCERrHXE/V5fSttdfioI/AAAAAAACM88/t2CN2yeoq4UX1y5HvAJHemUuBYLrL_1GgCEw/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2dzCERrHXE/V5fSttdfioI/AAAAAAACM88/t2CN2yeoq4UX1y5HvAJHemUuBYLrL_1GgCEw/s400/IMG_0571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQxcW2UlQjg/V5fSu7-p-lI/AAAAAAACM9M/IBCfsvk4k0olGtM9LS_peLzNyl4dCnIFgCEw/s1600/IMG_0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQxcW2UlQjg/V5fSu7-p-lI/AAAAAAACM9M/IBCfsvk4k0olGtM9LS_peLzNyl4dCnIFgCEw/s400/IMG_0573.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMdyrkWKr0Q/V5oH5Pg7aeI/AAAAAAACNJI/SqKBVuNyJb4bym-vVf-vi14nCV9_MNOdACLcB/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMdyrkWKr0Q/V5oH5Pg7aeI/AAAAAAACNJI/SqKBVuNyJb4bym-vVf-vi14nCV9_MNOdACLcB/s400/IMG_2006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Inna went in search of trinkets while I trudged up a nearly vertical trail as fine, grey volcanic dust covered me in an almost oily film. After about fifteen minutes of death marching, I came to an overlook by a crater where I got an expansive view of Etna's southern flank which was devoid of trees, plants, or any life whatsoever. It looked like a hostile planet. There were dirty white moon buggies hauling tourons on excursions as dust whipped behind the vehicles like smoke, and groups were being led around various hills by nattily-attired Italian guides. There were gear geeks wearing the latest high-tech outdoor wear as if heading off on some grand expedition. Small pods of mountain bikers were zipping up and down the spider web of trails running along the volcano's massive flanks. It was quite impressive in a surreal sort of way. The overall impression that I got was that if it was this brutal on probably one of the warmest days of the year, I couldn't possibly imagine what it must be like in winter or a bad storm. To be honest, after about an hour, I just wanted to get the hell out of the wind.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1dfXAs3S6Y/V5oVwNzeSvI/AAAAAAACNNI/W9xsw-yM22YlB8_wGtL7ikAppemjBmecwCEw/s1600/IMG_6825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a1dfXAs3S6Y/V5oVwNzeSvI/AAAAAAACNNI/W9xsw-yM22YlB8_wGtL7ikAppemjBmecwCEw/s400/IMG_6825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_XL00sN9lQ/V5oVwCF0yVI/AAAAAAACNNE/pBc0yuZVU7okJrnjuR9ohrpiyr0H18vHwCEw/s1600/IMG_6830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_XL00sN9lQ/V5oVwCF0yVI/AAAAAAACNNE/pBc0yuZVU7okJrnjuR9ohrpiyr0H18vHwCEw/s400/IMG_6830.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cS_IKoUeQA/V5fSwv4DabI/AAAAAAACM9E/btlK3UgOjSY2Ala5PaLPUValA8iX5GP9gCEw/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1cS_IKoUeQA/V5fSwv4DabI/AAAAAAACM9E/btlK3UgOjSY2Ala5PaLPUValA8iX5GP9gCEw/s400/IMG_0577.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thXmMLCuPY8/V5fSzwFgATI/AAAAAAACM9Q/VyqoK7T7MN0hOSiBg9_vJbEUirJxTYkiACEw/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-thXmMLCuPY8/V5fSzwFgATI/AAAAAAACM9Q/VyqoK7T7MN0hOSiBg9_vJbEUirJxTYkiACEw/s400/IMG_0579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Inna and our table mates from the ship who were from Quebec were already sitting at a table in the totally packed lodge, sipping wine.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pv1WvWnrK0w/V5oVuK2KOPI/AAAAAAACNNA/GmMY6mSTMFEHDkExQBNRb9ks-4POxk59QCEw/s1600/IMG_6823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pv1WvWnrK0w/V5oVuK2KOPI/AAAAAAACNNA/GmMY6mSTMFEHDkExQBNRb9ks-4POxk59QCEw/s400/IMG_6823.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4RgqHetKvE/V5oVwpv7pBI/AAAAAAACNNM/rfjoVSmzuIAkX_-OYALeMqyjI0fN0DJvwCEw/s1600/IMG_6833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4RgqHetKvE/V5oVwpv7pBI/AAAAAAACNNM/rfjoVSmzuIAkX_-OYALeMqyjI0fN0DJvwCEw/s400/IMG_6833.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">"We were wondering when you would join us," said Inna with a smile.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8VBoZSUfKE/V5oVrZpY_1I/AAAAAAACNNQ/QqP8sqSYSsofnWpma1uhIMaYb7xrfL6vQCEw/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8VBoZSUfKE/V5oVrZpY_1I/AAAAAAACNNQ/QqP8sqSYSsofnWpma1uhIMaYb7xrfL6vQCEw/s400/IMG_6784.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQumeKpNpUM/V5oZhubvtrI/AAAAAAACNPA/Obk1svEnOlofQk7th_nH9TJn7-h60VGtwCEw/s1600/M74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQumeKpNpUM/V5oZhubvtrI/AAAAAAACNPA/Obk1svEnOlofQk7th_nH9TJn7-h60VGtwCEw/s400/M74.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRsLSdCjtWM/V5oZhFuZO8I/AAAAAAACNPA/ILB4vUcSlmUJChZfu_x-9objSwls8ZyWwCEw/s1600/M56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRsLSdCjtWM/V5oZhFuZO8I/AAAAAAACNPA/ILB4vUcSlmUJChZfu_x-9objSwls8ZyWwCEw/s400/M56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">By noon we were all back on the heavenly bus and heading down the mountain to the sea. The drive was lovely as we dropped lower and lower, passing through villages packed tightly with small, modern houses surrounded by flowery gardens with satellite dishes bolted to the roofs. As we got closer to the Med, the housing took on a seaside resort look and feel. There were trailered boats in the driveways and beach towels hung on the porches drying in the warm sun.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgqIfQuE6D8/V5oZKg2WKpI/AAAAAAACNNc/dvbFZSClEn4DSxILMYJu-b2ny9EXvzHgwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgqIfQuE6D8/V5oZKg2WKpI/AAAAAAACNNc/dvbFZSClEn4DSxILMYJu-b2ny9EXvzHgwCLcB/s400/IMG_6852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lbz4MnEP8yk/V5oZgtoHZxI/AAAAAAACNOA/oneuyLM5_s8pogHR901gfeEWX8ivOPVDgCLcB/s1600/M48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lbz4MnEP8yk/V5oZgtoHZxI/AAAAAAACNOA/oneuyLM5_s8pogHR901gfeEWX8ivOPVDgCLcB/s400/M48.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z5m50xKBqFc/V5oZgsX1_gI/AAAAAAACNOM/vumrNMtoH4wN9B_VLtKgyUMiNOvvWk9EwCLcB/s1600/M49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z5m50xKBqFc/V5oZgsX1_gI/AAAAAAACNOM/vumrNMtoH4wN9B_VLtKgyUMiNOvvWk9EwCLcB/s400/M49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YPimXD_PT4/V5oZg5P7ZwI/AAAAAAACNOI/dK5uYrbDCgY0763dC4iyOXLRxnE3HlF4ACEw/s1600/M51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YPimXD_PT4/V5oZg5P7ZwI/AAAAAAACNOI/dK5uYrbDCgY0763dC4iyOXLRxnE3HlF4ACEw/s400/M51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUudSp09USI/V5oZgYtX4UI/AAAAAAACNN4/QxtzuAAXAboPS6gQZDWPkvM_SrYTXcm7gCEw/s1600/M47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LUudSp09USI/V5oZgYtX4UI/AAAAAAACNN4/QxtzuAAXAboPS6gQZDWPkvM_SrYTXcm7gCEw/s400/M47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APBbwMa1WP0/V5oZg3yN83I/AAAAAAACNOU/TsDTCLTvj28K3X8e7ie6kLQ-lhzmGbXJQCEw/s1600/M53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APBbwMa1WP0/V5oZg3yN83I/AAAAAAACNOU/TsDTCLTvj28K3X8e7ie6kLQ-lhzmGbXJQCEw/s400/M53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7co9SLZAo/V5oZhKoBgdI/AAAAAAACNOg/f_iJ-vb3jCoNe5oqPdD5BsY37slOhGLcACEw/s1600/M60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7co9SLZAo/V5oZhKoBgdI/AAAAAAACNOg/f_iJ-vb3jCoNe5oqPdD5BsY37slOhGLcACEw/s400/M60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">When we got to the sea we turned sharply to the north and headed up the coast toward a towering mountain of sheer rock. Our next destination, Taormina, sat at the top of a colossal column of limestone and basalt like a fortress. I was reminded of the Hopi mesas of Arizona that sit like battleships in the sky, impervious to attack </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"> though this place was a bit more upscale, of course.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLVPS2Mkalk/V5pl3Lwg2ZI/AAAAAAACNUU/8hWAEjJ3hLQcT3ypACAVw9J1NWU_MjCaQCLcB/s1600/Hopi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLVPS2Mkalk/V5pl3Lwg2ZI/AAAAAAACNUU/8hWAEjJ3hLQcT3ypACAVw9J1NWU_MjCaQCLcB/s400/Hopi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwYonppHVjQ/V5oa-h5O8yI/AAAAAAACNPM/fTimGneL984tibV9hX6JnYvQ4GoKzi3TgCEw/s1600/M75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwYonppHVjQ/V5oa-h5O8yI/AAAAAAACNPM/fTimGneL984tibV9hX6JnYvQ4GoKzi3TgCEw/s400/M75.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttQT-ba9P1w/V5oZhT-ZBbI/AAAAAAACNOs/1w6R0xo6nlgVugR1N902uYLDOyRlMWwlgCEw/s1600/M73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttQT-ba9P1w/V5oZhT-ZBbI/AAAAAAACNOs/1w6R0xo6nlgVugR1N902uYLDOyRlMWwlgCEw/s400/M73.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw8ao-EiqL4/V5oZhba2mvI/AAAAAAACNOk/5hlRmkP6CuUfOcRuds36vBf8yhEXmDHdQCEw/s1600/M72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw8ao-EiqL4/V5oZhba2mvI/AAAAAAACNOk/5hlRmkP6CuUfOcRuds36vBf8yhEXmDHdQCEw/s400/M72.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdJDLGofQYU/V5oZg2Ry9mI/AAAAAAACNOQ/Czx5rnbGY38q54x24RmaDXt2_2JYeV-PQCEw/s1600/M52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdJDLGofQYU/V5oZg2Ry9mI/AAAAAAACNOQ/Czx5rnbGY38q54x24RmaDXt2_2JYeV-PQCEw/s400/M52.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We swichbacked steeply until we arrived at the base of the cliff and then we drove right inside. We had seen this before in Monaco. In order to reduce vehicle traffic in the town, they had hollowed out the stone dome and built a humongous parking lot that could handle cars, buses, and trucks. We parked in the bus section of the garage. There were many tours arriving and the garage was filled with touron packs being led by harried guides holding stick signs that looked like fans, each adorned with their tour number.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YMq6TY9zqdI/V5oZhZPFN9I/AAAAAAACNOo/tDv4kKzilNgzoQIYs_TEqwfj-8Yx5DRUwCEw/s1600/M70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YMq6TY9zqdI/V5oZhZPFN9I/AAAAAAACNOo/tDv4kKzilNgzoQIYs_TEqwfj-8Yx5DRUwCEw/s400/M70.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYnfe5C1yJs/V5oZhHhUz9I/AAAAAAACNPA/-q49ar05qmkYtuKlIkzEDfnyxLe0RpsGQCEw/s1600/M54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYnfe5C1yJs/V5oZhHhUz9I/AAAAAAACNPA/-q49ar05qmkYtuKlIkzEDfnyxLe0RpsGQCEw/s400/M54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7co9SLZAo/V5oZhKoBgdI/AAAAAAACNPA/fLGTpN2XJ6AWqsHq7o7Bc_z8aunROM_RgCEw/s1600/M60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9D7co9SLZAo/V5oZhKoBgdI/AAAAAAACNPA/fLGTpN2XJ6AWqsHq7o7Bc_z8aunROM_RgCEw/s400/M60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We all waited patiently for the crowded and overtaxed elevators and were instructed by our guide Isabel to, "Wait for me in the plaza at the top."</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BT6vQ0FObdQ/V5fTH-ac6CI/AAAAAAACM-M/4Oow8ZlKvNQ6AiLjdGJ4mPN908Tq3BDMgCEw/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BT6vQ0FObdQ/V5fTH-ac6CI/AAAAAAACM-M/4Oow8ZlKvNQ6AiLjdGJ4mPN908Tq3BDMgCEw/s400/IMG_0597.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKozstrg_7c/V5fS7t2cEaI/AAAAAAACM9k/y3HJElaJwacLkP9uYae4OK38zy-Lvvu3gCEw/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKozstrg_7c/V5fS7t2cEaI/AAAAAAACM9k/y3HJElaJwacLkP9uYae4OK38zy-Lvvu3gCEw/s400/IMG_0587.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Five minutes later we were all standing like ugly ducklings in a an attractive plaza covered with flowers and palm trees overlooking the Ionian Sea. Ancient tan buildings surrounded us as a church bell chimed and a small band serenaded us from afar. The air smelled like roses. And we all looked around like children staring into the window of a candy store. </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> It was like Scotty had beamed us up to the Planet Paradise.</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VG-69hXBUGM/V5fTI_l19PI/AAAAAAACM-Q/6bUPLGlQP_ICbb9pnfcw5wm2GxFxupPUwCEw/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VG-69hXBUGM/V5fTI_l19PI/AAAAAAACM-Q/6bUPLGlQP_ICbb9pnfcw5wm2GxFxupPUwCEw/s400/IMG_0598.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3iYrCF7c4/V5fTBNogiKI/AAAAAAACM94/DyVoWOQ7CDw6fBmokIFfgTH85toN3c4JQCEw/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3iYrCF7c4/V5fTBNogiKI/AAAAAAACM94/DyVoWOQ7CDw6fBmokIFfgTH85toN3c4JQCEw/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_gWWJN5cLg/V5fS9VVgtXI/AAAAAAACM9s/n6RFah-S1qMXD8UugZcl8nPICL_vhcJWwCEw/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_gWWJN5cLg/V5fS9VVgtXI/AAAAAAACM9s/n6RFah-S1qMXD8UugZcl8nPICL_vhcJWwCEw/s400/IMG_0589.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYNREDN5vnU/V5fS_EbDopI/AAAAAAACM9w/j6bStUHlRTcY6hZWSEXxdj5eJxoLbVLYQCEw/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pYNREDN5vnU/V5fS_EbDopI/AAAAAAACM9w/j6bStUHlRTcY6hZWSEXxdj5eJxoLbVLYQCEw/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Taormina was like a toy town </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">— perhaps a movie set. It was hard to imagine such a place being real. But it was. And the inhabitants greeted us with amused courtesy. Some were obviously impatient and a bit put off by the hordes of gaping tourons, but everyone smiled and seemed to be at peace with the fact that they were living in a small, one-street town that was visited every day by thousands of goofy, and often mindless, tourons.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoX7k5UB7r0/V5fTF0m8piI/AAAAAAACM-I/4peB-LGiu1sfCpUnGQnIQZe2-oWYF5MnACEw/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoX7k5UB7r0/V5fTF0m8piI/AAAAAAACM-I/4peB-LGiu1sfCpUnGQnIQZe2-oWYF5MnACEw/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6sjC_zp2XU/V5fTEkGbkxI/AAAAAAACM-E/D_AZ3Xxnvcg8UYMVBOkodPToF1Zo34H7QCEw/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6sjC_zp2XU/V5fTEkGbkxI/AAAAAAACM-E/D_AZ3Xxnvcg8UYMVBOkodPToF1Zo34H7QCEw/s400/IMG_0595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEOTdYkzqXQ/V5fTERfrxQI/AAAAAAACM-A/GojMTt_3tl0hdDrkMq2MgJjO_O7hLlWxQCEw/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEOTdYkzqXQ/V5fTERfrxQI/AAAAAAACM-A/GojMTt_3tl0hdDrkMq2MgJjO_O7hLlWxQCEw/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We did the guided tour, checking out the churches and historic buildings. The world's ritziest stores lined the stone street, from Coach to Rolex, along with local shop keepers selling hand-made Italian goods of the finest quality, and the always present gelato shops with ice creams of every flavor and color. Taormina is small, probably only a mile long, with impressive gates at each end. We walked along in wide-eyed wonder for about an hour, learning about the town and its storied history.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv4dewJuWn4/V5fS8KM6LJI/AAAAAAACM9o/8sc6xN0PgYISAlswi3a-YZPAKFdtaEU0gCEw/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv4dewJuWn4/V5fS8KM6LJI/AAAAAAACM9o/8sc6xN0PgYISAlswi3a-YZPAKFdtaEU0gCEw/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3iYrCF7c4/V5fTBNogiKI/AAAAAAACM94/DyVoWOQ7CDw6fBmokIFfgTH85toN3c4JQCEw/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi3iYrCF7c4/V5fTBNogiKI/AAAAAAACM94/DyVoWOQ7CDw6fBmokIFfgTH85toN3c4JQCEw/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rX0ZUDucBDU/V5fTAaIsFlI/AAAAAAACM90/OC0TvZBW7nIANAhS5BA3X9jtyvr3Lr-PgCEw/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rX0ZUDucBDU/V5fTAaIsFlI/AAAAAAACM90/OC0TvZBW7nIANAhS5BA3X9jtyvr3Lr-PgCEw/s400/IMG_0591.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Taormina was founded before the Greeks by the <b>Siculi </b>around 358 BC. Try and wrap you head around that one. It eventually came under <b>Roman </b>rule, but during the slave revolt of 133 BC it became the stronghold for the rebels because of its virtually impregnable position. But the Romans finally starved them out and then put them all to the sword, throwing their bodies from the cliffs. Taormina was one of the last Roman cities to fall to the Arabs who took over in 962 AD after a 33-week siege. They changed its name to <b>Al-Muizzia</b>, in honor of a powerful Imam Caliph and held it for the next 116 years, when the Normans threw them out. Then came the <b>Angevins </b>who ruled Sicily, then the <b>Spaniards</b>, and finally the <b>French</b>. But as time went on,Taormina slowly drifted into the background and its people lived in peace until the 19th century when it was invaded by tourons from the European continent, including the rich and famous, like <b>Oscar Wilde, Friedrich Nietzshe, and Richard Wagner</b>. And such has been the town's fate 'to this day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3k2ZL-MTpN4/V5fTOOvRC4I/AAAAAAACM-k/0xae7btXw3wtKQaxuCMII8jTxWqOOIsXACEw/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3k2ZL-MTpN4/V5fTOOvRC4I/AAAAAAACM-k/0xae7btXw3wtKQaxuCMII8jTxWqOOIsXACEw/s400/IMG_0606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdqZqREuflo/V5oa-q8Z8SI/AAAAAAACNPI/qrG7tpZXTcs9BMAYAytuLcfu_BV4HtDCwCLcB/s1600/M76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdqZqREuflo/V5oa-q8Z8SI/AAAAAAACNPI/qrG7tpZXTcs9BMAYAytuLcfu_BV4HtDCwCLcB/s400/M76.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJjN8jwkR2Q/V5oa-l_1WxI/AAAAAAACNPE/P4RB8uL0NoAQot-_VJy2dNxbdvBE6fRIwCLcB/s1600/M77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJjN8jwkR2Q/V5oa-l_1WxI/AAAAAAACNPE/P4RB8uL0NoAQot-_VJy2dNxbdvBE6fRIwCLcB/s400/M77.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLmKdlsmI1k/V5oa-ztn80I/AAAAAAACNPQ/-SGbtabuPUMYa8MGxmDDDhMss5CYOGWCQCLcB/s1600/M78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iLmKdlsmI1k/V5oa-ztn80I/AAAAAAACNPQ/-SGbtabuPUMYa8MGxmDDDhMss5CYOGWCQCLcB/s400/M78.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZbR5jdK6wM/V5oa-2XclbI/AAAAAAACNPU/yPdiJLGyPKIe3WEzmVHVT7X43JRnsYZUwCLcB/s1600/M79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZbR5jdK6wM/V5oa-2XclbI/AAAAAAACNPU/yPdiJLGyPKIe3WEzmVHVT7X43JRnsYZUwCLcB/s400/M79.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e6VRRBaE4jI/V5oa_E4sRxI/AAAAAAACNPc/6pHIrIQyKuc0V1cTPxv9cZXDpZJhr7EvwCLcB/s1600/M84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e6VRRBaE4jI/V5oa_E4sRxI/AAAAAAACNPc/6pHIrIQyKuc0V1cTPxv9cZXDpZJhr7EvwCLcB/s400/M84.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6um-k0YROg/V5oa_C19GOI/AAAAAAACNPg/9Ju2flPGR6s2xu8efBEGImr6gs6gmTLRgCLcB/s1600/M86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6um-k0YROg/V5oa_C19GOI/AAAAAAACNPg/9Ju2flPGR6s2xu8efBEGImr6gs6gmTLRgCLcB/s400/M86.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52S-fXS5yTA/V5oa_C_tncI/AAAAAAACNPk/q3WqHD5rbZAARSud1Eme50mfmIEqqS5mwCLcB/s1600/M88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52S-fXS5yTA/V5oa_C_tncI/AAAAAAACNPk/q3WqHD5rbZAARSud1Eme50mfmIEqqS5mwCLcB/s400/M88.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wF9IOtvrPik/V5oioXiZr-I/AAAAAAACNQ4/UT39Ag4WyXUCmvh18uQRqPVptb13cJcfgCEw/s1600/M-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wF9IOtvrPik/V5oioXiZr-I/AAAAAAACNQ4/UT39Ag4WyXUCmvh18uQRqPVptb13cJcfgCEw/s400/M-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kMYEZmUSqUg/V5oioZM_sYI/AAAAAAACNQ8/fuBc7jWdFMsVYFgz3zlRtvq8VV_IXb-cQCEw/s1600/M-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kMYEZmUSqUg/V5oioZM_sYI/AAAAAAACNQ8/fuBc7jWdFMsVYFgz3zlRtvq8VV_IXb-cQCEw/s400/M-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVXHgwe6gw4/V5oa-xf6yBI/AAAAAAACNPY/p50cIYjLnxc1yjMV23gSXheakbkYjm6oACLcB/s1600/M83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVXHgwe6gw4/V5oa-xf6yBI/AAAAAAACNPY/p50cIYjLnxc1yjMV23gSXheakbkYjm6oACLcB/s400/M83.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">After our tour of the town ended we </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">stopped for lunch at the<b> Cafe Wunderbar</b>, a German restaurant with a large open-air patio at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was mid-afternoon and the place was almost empty, so we were led to a table closest to the edge of the patio with an unforgettable view. We drank some excellent Italian wine recommended by our friendly waiter and ordered a pizza, along with an appetizer of fresh bread, local cheeses and olives. We were like the King and Queen of Sweden on vacation.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvW8FbVM1is/V5fTKaGfROI/AAAAAAACM-Y/G3OgnNCxLXMXVUrip4VqzyiG4KZ4T8G3gCEw/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvW8FbVM1is/V5fTKaGfROI/AAAAAAACM-Y/G3OgnNCxLXMXVUrip4VqzyiG4KZ4T8G3gCEw/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lldn41x9lBQ/V5fTPe0sELI/AAAAAAACM-o/rsL-YJcdjfoZ8-hNAGruzmr3vj_VaCupgCEw/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lldn41x9lBQ/V5fTPe0sELI/AAAAAAACM-o/rsL-YJcdjfoZ8-hNAGruzmr3vj_VaCupgCEw/s400/IMG_0609.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkwOw9VgLM/V59CV-Xl40I/AAAAAAACNY8/_BwFqAva3p4dFhv-VtTHJoZPjL1OALiTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkwOw9VgLM/V59CV-Xl40I/AAAAAAACNY8/_BwFqAva3p4dFhv-VtTHJoZPjL1OALiTQCLcB/s320/IMG_6943.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4E9rdOcKW_s/V5fTNnia-QI/AAAAAAACM-g/PDEMfyV8YLc812_JFE6gGy3E7-r5Pz-AwCEw/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4E9rdOcKW_s/V5fTNnia-QI/AAAAAAACM-g/PDEMfyV8YLc812_JFE6gGy3E7-r5Pz-AwCEw/s400/IMG_0608.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW6m7bruTfE/V5fTML-yYmI/AAAAAAACM-c/Q_q_pNbicIYE1JMbtL6keSOvJSu8GCBRwCEw/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW6m7bruTfE/V5fTML-yYmI/AAAAAAACM-c/Q_q_pNbicIYE1JMbtL6keSOvJSu8GCBRwCEw/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">After lunch, Inna went looking for some shoe bargains. She had already scoped out several likely shops and she found a hole-in-the-wall store run by a friendly Italian woman where there were bargains galore. At least that's what Inna said. It was the kind of place where the sizes were catch as catch can, which is the norm in small Italian shops. Space was limited and the inventory was too. But Inna managed to find two pairs of very attractive hand-made sandals.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXw0nwqMTmU/V5fTCvPRPTI/AAAAAAACM98/FYUjZzW9uUs7aSj73My2DrvtM_X0jrA9gCEw/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXw0nwqMTmU/V5fTCvPRPTI/AAAAAAACM98/FYUjZzW9uUs7aSj73My2DrvtM_X0jrA9gCEw/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">"These would cost over $200 in Nordstrum </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> if you could even find them there </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">and I got them for $30!" She was very pleased with herself and kept taking them out of the bag and looking at them admiringly on our bus ride back to the ship.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpOjvGwSfoE/V5ocI01dulI/AAAAAAACNP0/3JZWpg0Ps-I5Qtym0OvfVk37gwLTYVglwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RpOjvGwSfoE/V5ocI01dulI/AAAAAAACNP0/3JZWpg0Ps-I5Qtym0OvfVk37gwLTYVglwCLcB/s400/IMG_2005.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">Returning to Messina was anti-climactic. There were now lots of people on the street, lounging on steps and standing in groups along the sidewalk. But after Mount Etna and Taormina, it was like going back to school at the end of summer vacation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02lF9Uy-jRk/V5oioYRVbOI/AAAAAAACNRA/N11-_UO4WhIPWuEixMcd2_PyWhtUQQUAACEw/s1600/M-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02lF9Uy-jRk/V5oioYRVbOI/AAAAAAACNRA/N11-_UO4WhIPWuEixMcd2_PyWhtUQQUAACEw/s400/M-13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AlE2IUQEMGQ/V5oioN8WWYI/AAAAAAACNQw/m7nhsYAgCUAtWbFsy8qhciFrI_ZA7MJTgCEw/s1600/M-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AlE2IUQEMGQ/V5oioN8WWYI/AAAAAAACNQw/m7nhsYAgCUAtWbFsy8qhciFrI_ZA7MJTgCEw/s400/M-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR72pD96uQ0/V5oio1d-JQI/AAAAAAACNR0/volbXBdScdYkN16g7h_Untm6H4x0MSSrACEw/s1600/M-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR72pD96uQ0/V5oio1d-JQI/AAAAAAACNR0/volbXBdScdYkN16g7h_Untm6H4x0MSSrACEw/s400/M-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI1Jgf3-8C0/V5oio_id_DI/AAAAAAACNR0/je6pfvJUtM8C-xvBoMhsG1bMVi7Mwk63gCEw/s1600/M-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI1Jgf3-8C0/V5oio_id_DI/AAAAAAACNR0/je6pfvJUtM8C-xvBoMhsG1bMVi7Mwk63gCEw/s400/M-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.2px;">We stopped at one of the tents beside the ship and bought some wine and beer, and then headed to our balcony for some cocktails before dinner. It had been a truly memorable day. </span><br />
<span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOgBmFMWKZc/V5oohkSeAFI/AAAAAAACNTU/C7rPVyMMNCUt9__gny2cDRIw14LQDcXdACLcB/s1600/M-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOgBmFMWKZc/V5oohkSeAFI/AAAAAAACNTU/C7rPVyMMNCUt9__gny2cDRIw14LQDcXdACLcB/s400/M-51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">I really don't like to criticize too much or try and make people feel bad about the places they call home. They <b><u>ALL </u></b>have their good points and bad </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">some more of each than others. So, I don't want to end this tale by giving the impression that Messina is a crummy town. And I fear that is what I have done. I was only there for a few hours, so what the hell do I know? The city has a lot of things going for it. That have a cool flag and coat of arms. They make great wine and grow tasty lemons, mandarin oranges, and all sorts of olives. There are some very lovely old churches. And it has a strange mix of cultures, where the Arab and Christian world have melted together over time. And while it might look a bit shabby, it has been conquered by invaders, leveled by earthquakes and volcanoes, and blown apart by marauding armies. It definitely deserves some peace and quiet. So, I salute the proud people of Messina, Italy, and wish them great joy and prosperity. They earned it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R6-Mf9Bo564/V5prmPVOp6I/AAAAAAACNUk/leqJk05ZSMo6Hqdh6F7Dq49IXOC2T1--QCLcB/s1600/M-95.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R6-Mf9Bo564/V5prmPVOp6I/AAAAAAACNUk/leqJk05ZSMo6Hqdh6F7Dq49IXOC2T1--QCLcB/s1600/M-95.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ImEgkkYZBY/V5pAiuyAJ_I/AAAAAAACNT8/2krtDW1UsygpFoCbl5Raa1nRuJvsVpA4wCLcB/s1600/M-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ImEgkkYZBY/V5pAiuyAJ_I/AAAAAAACNT8/2krtDW1UsygpFoCbl5Raa1nRuJvsVpA4wCLcB/s400/M-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="gmail_default">
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H11K6AUXSC4/V5oipPDxpXI/AAAAAAACNRk/pX0nF8zQhooUVosJYJknI4j2fKfkYkDqgCEw/s1600/M-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H11K6AUXSC4/V5oipPDxpXI/AAAAAAACNRk/pX0nF8zQhooUVosJYJknI4j2fKfkYkDqgCEw/s400/M-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-38996850792263439702016-07-21T14:26:00.000-07:002016-07-22T09:32:26.760-07:00Naples, Italy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ9VyOzg1Ak/V492j2T2t-I/AAAAAAACMtI/ARYJizUnMKk9Vaf2LY6O8IR5kHPtSdM6ACLcB/s1600/N80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ9VyOzg1Ak/V492j2T2t-I/AAAAAAACMtI/ARYJizUnMKk9Vaf2LY6O8IR5kHPtSdM6ACLcB/s400/N80.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TDxTrfYfq0/V492j1aLMNI/AAAAAAACMtE/uoEsAmjkeSQCA8pjd6nPk9P1RGurrUxLACLcB/s1600/N82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TDxTrfYfq0/V492j1aLMNI/AAAAAAACMtE/uoEsAmjkeSQCA8pjd6nPk9P1RGurrUxLACLcB/s400/N82.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The fourth day of our cruise aboard the <b>MSC Poesia</b> found us sailing down the <b>Gulf of Genova </b>in the<b> Tyrrhenian Sea </b>along the western edge of Italy's magnificent southern coast.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">We wouldn't be docking in <b>Naples </b>until noon, so after breakfast we walked about a mile on the top deck track, taking in the ever-changing shoreline. The one constant was the coastal highway, a ribbon of road that stretches from France to Croatia, hugging the sea like a lifeline. Sometimes there was nothing but the road, and in some places the rocky coastline forced it to wind its way north like a black snake up into the <b>Appenine Mountains</b> that run like a spine down the middle of Italy's southern peninsula.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWoOxzYf_Ig/V496ysMHkbI/AAAAAAACMt4/lKHNlLw8xnUHKHWtyq7dWGA2JM_Xr7QSQCLcB/s1600/N95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nWoOxzYf_Ig/V496ysMHkbI/AAAAAAACMt4/lKHNlLw8xnUHKHWtyq7dWGA2JM_Xr7QSQCLcB/s400/N95.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQeCURc5bA/V49u5hUWpXI/AAAAAAACMrU/rQbrD35Oz00x0AX1qROK9GHuBcNEhC0bwCLcB/s1600/N16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQeCURc5bA/V49u5hUWpXI/AAAAAAACMrU/rQbrD35Oz00x0AX1qROK9GHuBcNEhC0bwCLcB/s400/N16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">The houses along the Italian coast were all made of buff-colored native limestone and often from a distance </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">– especially the aqueducts built by the Romans </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">– they blended right into the surrounding landscape. It reminded me of the ancient Anasazi villages like Chaco Canyon in the American Southwest. The lines between man made and natural often blurred, and I found the uniformity of the terrain to be very soothing.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMld5IyxocY/V4-Art257vI/AAAAAAACMuQ/Dn6khT4SrJsl7ghOHMr5i3QXgpSWg3-pACLcB/s1600/N96.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMld5IyxocY/V4-Art257vI/AAAAAAACMuQ/Dn6khT4SrJsl7ghOHMr5i3QXgpSWg3-pACLcB/s400/N96.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPTJREfHlrg/V4-BCGT2fbI/AAAAAAACMuU/h-hD6n0vrSQ7VWoFtF5LfWABwcTdgt0hwCLcB/s1600/N97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPTJREfHlrg/V4-BCGT2fbI/AAAAAAACMuU/h-hD6n0vrSQ7VWoFtF5LfWABwcTdgt0hwCLcB/s400/N97.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We arrived in Naples right on time at noon after balcony surfing all morning. The entrance into the busy harbor was sheltered by a long sea wall with a red lighthouse standing like a solitary gate keeper. The cruise ship terminal was right in the heart of the old town, which is always a convenient bonus, as we would soon find out.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chdJoBSbqi8/V45mX54hWBI/AAAAAAACMis/IzrHfIiQ1usdNVuAndlzR4R-F0DA8sMAgCEw/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chdJoBSbqi8/V45mX54hWBI/AAAAAAACMis/IzrHfIiQ1usdNVuAndlzR4R-F0DA8sMAgCEw/s400/IMG_0375.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmPJ9Ct_jOI/V45mZvYWyjI/AAAAAAACMi0/0r5guQcBDkk4EPPVOZz1m1s35slFUhjvACEw/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmPJ9Ct_jOI/V45mZvYWyjI/AAAAAAACMi0/0r5guQcBDkk4EPPVOZz1m1s35slFUhjvACEw/s400/IMG_0379.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This was a very busy harbor, not unlike Genoa. There were towering stork-like cranes off-loading large containers from freighters; giant yellow and white car ferries; and luxurious pleasure craft, including the ever-present sleek, dark blue and white <i>Doctor No</i> ships that all of the Russian oligarchs buy in order to show off their opulent lifestyles. There were four of them prominently displayed for all to see.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ix_bpbXKwbY/V45mbj0z64I/AAAAAAACMjA/y1HhHo_MapcaTJW692kvLH-cB7thZo9oQCEw/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ix_bpbXKwbY/V45mbj0z64I/AAAAAAACMjA/y1HhHo_MapcaTJW692kvLH-cB7thZo9oQCEw/s400/IMG_0383.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckAPp_iSRl4/V45oMxVm2gI/AAAAAAACMjc/woGzhLMQTdAl2yWmbUjriprk2Wgj_WCjgCEw/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckAPp_iSRl4/V45oMxVm2gI/AAAAAAACMjc/woGzhLMQTdAl2yWmbUjriprk2Wgj_WCjgCEw/s400/IMG_0390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4p0KGoYjrEM/V45pCwYlmBI/AAAAAAACMj8/rme3sztIJ5IoGNEPRNFQK7Jlo6czc1fIwCEw/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4p0KGoYjrEM/V45pCwYlmBI/AAAAAAACMj8/rme3sztIJ5IoGNEPRNFQK7Jlo6czc1fIwCEw/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIumqgZw0sQ/V4-CPAh5ewI/AAAAAAACMuk/3qYOtwsnYx4ewiOyg1WRLGBH_jgiQfLeACLcB/s1600/N98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eIumqgZw0sQ/V4-CPAh5ewI/AAAAAAACMuk/3qYOtwsnYx4ewiOyg1WRLGBH_jgiQfLeACLcB/s400/N98.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Naples is the capital of the <b>Campania</b> region and home to over a million people, making it Italy's third largest city, and the biggest in Southern Italy. They pack 'em in like sardines.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yn7opdjMHmk/V45mcEvZ9gI/AAAAAAACMjI/iXGv6tc4d_YqysZzuQzsJEIl_P3RZjtLQCEw/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yn7opdjMHmk/V45mcEvZ9gI/AAAAAAACMjI/iXGv6tc4d_YqysZzuQzsJEIl_P3RZjtLQCEw/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hae-KgIZFGA/V46IJtWmUFI/AAAAAAACMnU/flJ8AMjyyq4B3fzEHZW4O8TUEYp3bvilgCEw/s1600/IMG_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hae-KgIZFGA/V46IJtWmUFI/AAAAAAACMnU/flJ8AMjyyq4B3fzEHZW4O8TUEYp3bvilgCEw/s400/IMG_0494.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_r4Hui2uLs/V49u5u_QaaI/AAAAAAACMsI/UTnCCesL55w7l9RLsBHzNwoaaLjCUwJcgCEw/s1600/N15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_r4Hui2uLs/V49u5u_QaaI/AAAAAAACMsI/UTnCCesL55w7l9RLsBHzNwoaaLjCUwJcgCEw/s400/N15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We stood on the crowded top deck as the ship slowly backed into its designated slip. Cruise ships always try and back in when they are docking in a harbor where there's lots of action and limited space so that it's easier to leave. Inna and I stood there looking at the enchanting city about a par three away, wanting to quickly get off the ship, but we had to wait at least thirty minutes as the giant cruise liner slowly turned and backed into its slip at the speed of lava running down the side of nearby <b>Mount Vesuvius </b>that could be seen quite clearly to the north. In 79 AD, the monstrous volcano erupted and covered the thriving cities of <b>Pompeii </b>and <b>Herculaneum </b>under ninety feet of rock and ash. And it has popped its top pretty regularly since then, most recently in 1944.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn7rWOBHh0Q/V45oNIJIscI/AAAAAAACMkA/qp5ZicODhyYfWSDnt7fb5ea9yV_84QYEgCEw/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn7rWOBHh0Q/V45oNIJIscI/AAAAAAACMkA/qp5ZicODhyYfWSDnt7fb5ea9yV_84QYEgCEw/s400/IMG_0392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B90G2Uv8s9o/V5ALd0dR4nI/AAAAAAACMwg/QrkGxmwZBsAv1PZYjW6Hx_fWruT26VkEgCLcB/s1600/V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B90G2Uv8s9o/V5ALd0dR4nI/AAAAAAACMwg/QrkGxmwZBsAv1PZYjW6Hx_fWruT26VkEgCLcB/s400/V2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The seagulls kept us entertained. There were a zillion of them, wheeling in the air as passengers threw bread to them. It was like an aerial Cirque de Soleil show with screaming white birds dive bombing the little bread nuggets and often free-falling to the water so they could grab a tasty morsel.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkKdVUECj28/V45mX2fKWTI/AAAAAAACMjU/Zgr7XykZLocKrk9pxevuhjGtWySdwxGWACEw/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SkKdVUECj28/V45mX2fKWTI/AAAAAAACMjU/Zgr7XykZLocKrk9pxevuhjGtWySdwxGWACEw/s400/IMG_0372.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMqJu8nNxds/V45mbj5Bg0I/AAAAAAACMjE/fQMxg_UozOoUi3HN6SOvLKnzt3g7MD7UgCEw/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMqJu8nNxds/V45mbj5Bg0I/AAAAAAACMjE/fQMxg_UozOoUi3HN6SOvLKnzt3g7MD7UgCEw/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna was the first to notice the skyscrapers, something we had never seen along the Mediterranean coast. There weren't that many of them, and they were probably only about thirty stories or so tall, but they had a shiny modern look that you just don't lay eyes on in that part of the world very often. And it was doubly odd because you could also see the domes and spires of ancient churches scattered throughout the city-scape.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPwqaIuroBY/V49oMiCzdpI/AAAAAAACMpw/FAAWuPdU2ssWJ-R_byfGilB-G28MIhX9QCLcB/s1600/N13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPwqaIuroBY/V49oMiCzdpI/AAAAAAACMpw/FAAWuPdU2ssWJ-R_byfGilB-G28MIhX9QCLcB/s400/N13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUTr_FCa5OA/V49oMo-Jx8I/AAAAAAACMp0/YNamwTxqYtMbgYaiNx97BIwp3elyXT5lACLcB/s1600/N61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUTr_FCa5OA/V49oMo-Jx8I/AAAAAAACMp0/YNamwTxqYtMbgYaiNx97BIwp3elyXT5lACLcB/s400/N61.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxgNtqOe1w4/V5DvO8QBkmI/AAAAAAACMxw/qjG_HK1FLuUg2P7ZlSCdh9J2d2YVQUyWwCLcB/s1600/N93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxgNtqOe1w4/V5DvO8QBkmI/AAAAAAACMxw/qjG_HK1FLuUg2P7ZlSCdh9J2d2YVQUyWwCLcB/s400/N93.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxEFpj5LBjY/V46IKOlcgLI/AAAAAAACMnY/95gX0xgEVLsu0uVj2OC0bK8Q7WPil3SHACEw/s1600/IMG_0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxEFpj5LBjY/V46IKOlcgLI/AAAAAAACMnY/95gX0xgEVLsu0uVj2OC0bK8Q7WPil3SHACEw/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVDrcup0sjw/V46IM4dfdYI/AAAAAAACMnk/hyYvMnuE9uUTMs5FmZjOJSVWdhX1osGQACEw/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVDrcup0sjw/V46IM4dfdYI/AAAAAAACMnk/hyYvMnuE9uUTMs5FmZjOJSVWdhX1osGQACEw/s400/IMG_0504.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But what dominated the city view was the huge brown castle at the edge of the harbor. <b>Maschio Angioino Castel</b>, also known as <b>Castel Nuovo (New Castle)</b>, rises above the sea and town like a brown mountain, its five towers and connecting parapets just daring any would be attacker to take their best shot. Napolean did manage to capture Naples in 1806, but he attacked from the north, not the sea. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T7RXzwF-wDs/V45oSqKLO0I/AAAAAAACMj4/eI3YtX2DoGMbYeGOB6-fXfoWtNWxRYedwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T7RXzwF-wDs/V45oSqKLO0I/AAAAAAACMj4/eI3YtX2DoGMbYeGOB6-fXfoWtNWxRYedwCLcB/s400/IMG_0509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-joWtYtS4Ee4/V45oQi2F2vI/AAAAAAACMjw/L8VSfzRI-J0kQLuwicPhpgOF5Ac65RfdgCEw/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-joWtYtS4Ee4/V45oQi2F2vI/AAAAAAACMjw/L8VSfzRI-J0kQLuwicPhpgOF5Ac65RfdgCEw/s400/IMG_0502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AegZJkX303Y/V45oRtIT35I/AAAAAAACMj0/IEoM4AuEfc0ySwwZ_GLRYJ00LVPjPHL0ACEw/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AegZJkX303Y/V45oRtIT35I/AAAAAAACMj0/IEoM4AuEfc0ySwwZ_GLRYJ00LVPjPHL0ACEw/s400/IMG_0503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the first (and only) day of our cruise, the weather was cold (about 60), a chilly wet wind was blowing in from the north, and a light drizzle dogged us off-and-on most of the day. We were so used to sunny warm weather that we didn't dress appropriately. But it would take us a while to figure that out.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOYUM34J-I0/V45saph5mCI/AAAAAAACMmM/GzXlilz51ksPRvobOn-zf_9VGi2b_uPQwCEw/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOYUM34J-I0/V45saph5mCI/AAAAAAACMmM/GzXlilz51ksPRvobOn-zf_9VGi2b_uPQwCEw/s400/IMG_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDA0yXhU0iM/V49oqDQQU6I/AAAAAAACMqA/wDm5LPPBfAIPQMPk84fyOV_L8kSSNEtVwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDA0yXhU0iM/V49oqDQQU6I/AAAAAAACMqA/wDm5LPPBfAIPQMPk84fyOV_L8kSSNEtVwCLcB/s400/IMG_0511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were once again in the first wave off the boat and we looked like a long line of well-dressed refugees as we made our way through the cruise terminal which was really nothing more than a big parking lot full of honking white cabs. The drivers were all standing by their cars smoking and bitching. Italians like to bitch. They wave their arms and yell at one another. Nothing ever comes of it, but it apparently makes them feel better.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nd1DBDCPM70/V45oNHUQwtI/AAAAAAACMjg/cL9FHieb8kMbBPN4EtR_Hqx3k2Nw4Gd8ACEw/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nd1DBDCPM70/V45oNHUQwtI/AAAAAAACMjg/cL9FHieb8kMbBPN4EtR_Hqx3k2Nw4Gd8ACEw/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We came to the main street that ran along the harbor. The noon traffic had turned it into a snarling parking lot. When the light changed, about two hundred of us crossed the street and headed like lemmings toward the castle, as if drawn by some supernatural force. The entire area, known as <b>Piazza Municipio</b>, is also the city's main transportation hub and was undergoing some major construction. There was scaffolding everywhere you looked and a big hole in the ground where workers were erecting something important while water was being pumped out of the gaping crater of muddy red soil.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbWHJvs13nM/V46ILdcosjI/AAAAAAACMng/9tLiRijJcjEFohyB8IfhyMXZZr5dGTJuACEw/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbWHJvs13nM/V46ILdcosjI/AAAAAAACMng/9tLiRijJcjEFohyB8IfhyMXZZr5dGTJuACEw/s400/IMG_0500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmA0cMXP4RM/V5DtW9Z-oJI/AAAAAAACMxY/HE5QwIwI_S4ByZoAyYoKt8z9MEUOYNMOACLcB/s1600/V8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmA0cMXP4RM/V5DtW9Z-oJI/AAAAAAACMxY/HE5QwIwI_S4ByZoAyYoKt8z9MEUOYNMOACLcB/s400/V8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our plan as usual was to catch the red <b>City Sightseeing Napoli Hop-On - Hop-Off Bus</b> and check out the city before venturing forth on foot. And the bus tour began at the castle, so there wasn't a lot of guess or foot work involved. Surprisingly, most of the cruise passengers were not doing the bus tour, so there wasn't much of a crowd. It looked like the vast majority were either checking out the castle or going shopping. Shopping could wait. And while I like castles, to be honest, they are all really cool from the outside, but pretty much the same from the inside, other than the view from the top of the walls.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0Ez77RYhv4/V45oPs41VEI/AAAAAAACMjo/IleUZ4MiWMkCADBUycYQ1xjqivQKEntKQCEw/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0Ez77RYhv4/V45oPs41VEI/AAAAAAACMjo/IleUZ4MiWMkCADBUycYQ1xjqivQKEntKQCEw/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna and I had already done our homework and knew that Naples was so big they offered three different tours, and we were going to take two of them. The cost for an all day pass was the same no matter how many lines you took, about $25 per person. We decided to ride the Blue Line first. It ran along the the western coast. There were twelve stops and it lasted a couple of hours.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soIUIVJhMMw/V5Du0YvCP3I/AAAAAAACMxo/cSP-8TiocB4OJE2OP58VtIQ-QbsOYZwgACLcB/s1600/IMG_6401%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-soIUIVJhMMw/V5Du0YvCP3I/AAAAAAACMxo/cSP-8TiocB4OJE2OP58VtIQ-QbsOYZwgACLcB/s400/IMG_6401%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pPcv3uAn26I/V4-GVfBoFiI/AAAAAAACMu0/vtPT9bEDjVQ9k-_i5jv-efpuyLjv_N_PQCLcB/s1600/N100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pPcv3uAn26I/V4-GVfBoFiI/AAAAAAACMu0/vtPT9bEDjVQ9k-_i5jv-efpuyLjv_N_PQCLcB/s400/N100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The trip started with a swing through several blocks of high-end luxury apartment buildings. The impressive structures were all identical: five stories with floor-to-ceiling curved windows, wrought iron balconies, and rooftop garden patios. What set them apart was the color scheme. There were browns, reds, yellows, and tans. Cafes lined the palm tree-dotted street, and I felt like I was riding through a movie set for a film entitled "Mediterranean Vacation".</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgrU_IBaINQ/V45rgoenHfI/AAAAAAACMlo/Oo6ZonSlGiQ6sFm7_i0Mz7YkFiux_yQGwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgrU_IBaINQ/V45rgoenHfI/AAAAAAACMlo/Oo6ZonSlGiQ6sFm7_i0Mz7YkFiux_yQGwCLcB/s400/IMG_6429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liV9YVzNeGc/V45rcwe27DI/AAAAAAACMlU/-Kvl_C8NjjIkHQsOfQ06-mkTfJ2zY70IwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liV9YVzNeGc/V45rcwe27DI/AAAAAAACMlU/-Kvl_C8NjjIkHQsOfQ06-mkTfJ2zY70IwCLcB/s400/IMG_6423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4N88OtWC-Ig/V45rcP-jpJI/AAAAAAACMlQ/-FTWrWVH1fovzUdciVR3w-XH5D6kLTM7wCLcB/s1600/IMG_6417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4N88OtWC-Ig/V45rcP-jpJI/AAAAAAACMlQ/-FTWrWVH1fovzUdciVR3w-XH5D6kLTM7wCLcB/s400/IMG_6417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pUqHcxL4IQ/V45rbWj0BQI/AAAAAAACMlI/7zLR_vFKcjAAEEOCMGCa3PCGWOqmGyKLgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pUqHcxL4IQ/V45rbWj0BQI/AAAAAAACMlI/7zLR_vFKcjAAEEOCMGCa3PCGWOqmGyKLgCLcB/s400/IMG_6422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JzCH6XZ8RQ0/V45rcBahteI/AAAAAAACMlM/nsQvsJpxewwFOFxaOqqvC64-2v1sHJ_9gCLcB/s1600/IMG_6416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JzCH6XZ8RQ0/V45rcBahteI/AAAAAAACMlM/nsQvsJpxewwFOFxaOqqvC64-2v1sHJ_9gCLcB/s400/IMG_6416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The bus soon turned back toward the coast and the wind and driving rain hit us like a sledge hammer. Everyone on the open deck quickly headed for cover down below, including Inna. Within a few minutes, I was the only one left on the top and I felt like I was sailing through a storm. As a sailor, I have a high tolerance for foul weather. It wasn't really all that cold, probably in the high fifties with the wind chill, and I didn't care if I got wet. We weren't planning on getting off the bus, so what did it matter?</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-llFgrNp_e6w/V45rfpvJSQI/AAAAAAACMlg/wQzNYHhhfK859UrZXSmsQXq_asGKynr5QCEw/s1600/IMG_6428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-llFgrNp_e6w/V45rfpvJSQI/AAAAAAACMlg/wQzNYHhhfK859UrZXSmsQXq_asGKynr5QCEw/s400/IMG_6428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CJ7DgQdOlI/V45rJUjwvzI/AAAAAAACMlA/WR2DIarDNAoRTq8Ru92G-1oTJn4GDW_iQCEw/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CJ7DgQdOlI/V45rJUjwvzI/AAAAAAACMlA/WR2DIarDNAoRTq8Ru92G-1oTJn4GDW_iQCEw/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipmxxva49KE/V49ymTlz2aI/AAAAAAACMsQ/ezLlq5--TNcuOdoeCts0ZW3EtTQS8iqNACLcB/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ipmxxva49KE/V49ymTlz2aI/AAAAAAACMsQ/ezLlq5--TNcuOdoeCts0ZW3EtTQS8iqNACLcB/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As we slowly passed through the waterfront area of town there were marinas filled with hundreds of pleasure craft, but few fishing vessels like you usually see around the Med. But there were plenty of small food trucks, selling fresh produce. And several weddings were in full swing, even on a dreary Monday afternoon. We passed several large parties of happy revelers in full wedding regalia.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zroExSmrWuI/V4-HnctgRuI/AAAAAAACMvE/0bP8NXOXgw8CErVNfjI4unYZkS7CSvJvACLcB/s1600/N101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zroExSmrWuI/V4-HnctgRuI/AAAAAAACMvE/0bP8NXOXgw8CErVNfjI4unYZkS7CSvJvACLcB/s400/N101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWuOp8u0sM8/V49ymp3aSeI/AAAAAAACMsU/u_FEffx1OC8QcQiWt3hp4WAtheRhqwEbACLcB/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWuOp8u0sM8/V49ymp3aSeI/AAAAAAACMsU/u_FEffx1OC8QcQiWt3hp4WAtheRhqwEbACLcB/s400/IMG_0456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_y9k5LYp8g/V49ylUrro1I/AAAAAAACMsM/aZp703fWDB8lpKTyQehzoIB1RiES72O5ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_y9k5LYp8g/V49ylUrro1I/AAAAAAACMsM/aZp703fWDB8lpKTyQehzoIB1RiES72O5ACLcB/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We passed a luxurious waterfront park called the <b>Villa Comunale</b>, framed by the <b>Piazza Vittoria </b>on east end and the <b>Piazza della Repubblica</b> on the west, with the city's world famous <b>Acquario (Aquarium) </b>in the middle, housed inside a large building with copper-blue horse statues out front that looked like the sort of place where dignitaries had once divided up the world.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmW_0oMZykg/V49pMvxG_yI/AAAAAAACMqQ/N2ghqXBJwC89_Dck30XAhtTGLDxfHQEzwCLcB/s1600/N30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmW_0oMZykg/V49pMvxG_yI/AAAAAAACMqQ/N2ghqXBJwC89_Dck30XAhtTGLDxfHQEzwCLcB/s400/N30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VTbtZ_uqtk/V45rJYF-MYI/AAAAAAACMk8/ZObLbHPNAWkQlrzok6B5fQh6MBj0s4CfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VTbtZ_uqtk/V45rJYF-MYI/AAAAAAACMk8/ZObLbHPNAWkQlrzok6B5fQh6MBj0s4CfQCLcB/s400/IMG_0396.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0-ihRDKc5g/V45rJB-xXfI/AAAAAAACMk4/GNtK_ylAOt0_6ez8O2g169j7gSrfvgRcgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c0-ihRDKc5g/V45rJB-xXfI/AAAAAAACMk4/GNtK_ylAOt0_6ez8O2g169j7gSrfvgRcgCLcB/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CJ7DgQdOlI/V45rJUjwvzI/AAAAAAACMlA/_GIsbuveplgoBgGL59tPxzlfzV-HiKo9gCLcB/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9CJ7DgQdOlI/V45rJUjwvzI/AAAAAAACMlA/_GIsbuveplgoBgGL59tPxzlfzV-HiKo9gCLcB/s400/IMG_0402.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The bus climbed the treacherously narrow coast highway, passing villas that hugged the limestone cliffs like millionaire nests. This was definitely uptown. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQHz0R4O5zc/V45qNoVHg-I/AAAAAAACMkQ/9t1OIrpLsIk0cLL7C7ww3og6zEL4BqFxACLcB/s1600/IMG_6451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQHz0R4O5zc/V45qNoVHg-I/AAAAAAACMkQ/9t1OIrpLsIk0cLL7C7ww3og6zEL4BqFxACLcB/s400/IMG_6451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tm-roUtaQtA/V5Du0Ri9MnI/AAAAAAACMx0/YjKLvYUAsCsF7MmZuy-yu575OSm-mR0QwCEw/s1600/IMG_6447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tm-roUtaQtA/V5Du0Ri9MnI/AAAAAAACMx0/YjKLvYUAsCsF7MmZuy-yu575OSm-mR0QwCEw/s400/IMG_6447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfhEN1lmlfw/V45ql5yHNEI/AAAAAAACMkc/tmG0dXaxMtYlzSHtvCZmem7iu4uF3F7ggCLcB/s1600/IMG_0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfhEN1lmlfw/V45ql5yHNEI/AAAAAAACMkc/tmG0dXaxMtYlzSHtvCZmem7iu4uF3F7ggCLcB/s400/IMG_0419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXst6fINvMQ/V45qlluDn7I/AAAAAAACMkY/jmzorBZS9-E-4qyKEE-VNUTz6RH6AhmDgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXst6fINvMQ/V45qlluDn7I/AAAAAAACMkY/jmzorBZS9-E-4qyKEE-VNUTz6RH6AhmDgCLcB/s400/IMG_0427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrtaDJx5-aQ/V45qmFUi1KI/AAAAAAACMkg/7XkUTOeBhZwmSLXjUYjsbaaRqepnY0BswCLcB/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrtaDJx5-aQ/V45qmFUi1KI/AAAAAAACMkg/7XkUTOeBhZwmSLXjUYjsbaaRqepnY0BswCLcB/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJ2ATCTiEIE/V45qpTtv1FI/AAAAAAACMks/fniwlnR4qbEg90I6anyjUS9vBDARlaragCLcB/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJ2ATCTiEIE/V45qpTtv1FI/AAAAAAACMks/fniwlnR4qbEg90I6anyjUS9vBDARlaragCLcB/s400/IMG_0434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6vGd2inSlc/V45qp6EPKyI/AAAAAAACMkw/NkI78JW1NBklug3i4O6nvYPMHuqGu3ePACLcB/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--6vGd2inSlc/V45qp6EPKyI/AAAAAAACMkw/NkI78JW1NBklug3i4O6nvYPMHuqGu3ePACLcB/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7m2QjL22nk/V45qrDQqM7I/AAAAAAACMk0/pa6DTX3_8705GXUnKBnIpQUx2QLLw90tQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7m2QjL22nk/V45qrDQqM7I/AAAAAAACMk0/pa6DTX3_8705GXUnKBnIpQUx2QLLw90tQCLcB/s400/IMG_0459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">But what jumped out at me were the variety of trees. There were exotics and evergreens that clearly resembled pines and cedars. But many of the trees lining the road were unknown to me. And everywhere I looked there were flowers in bloom. </span><span style="font-size: large;">People in Naples really go in for flowers and they color the streets like candy, especially from window flower boxes. Geraniums were very popular. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"> It was a riot of color.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjpX7uJyTTc/V46G0rtnK7I/AAAAAAACMmo/M7RmgwNjjj42pIij9-oHbkd2oDy1Y4cUgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjpX7uJyTTc/V46G0rtnK7I/AAAAAAACMmo/M7RmgwNjjj42pIij9-oHbkd2oDy1Y4cUgCLcB/s400/IMG_0436.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yP10uUgt6o/V46G0Z9PtGI/AAAAAAACMmk/KW2_XgbOYpYYBLxvLo-ewa2IdByaFHobgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2yP10uUgt6o/V46G0Z9PtGI/AAAAAAACMmk/KW2_XgbOYpYYBLxvLo-ewa2IdByaFHobgCLcB/s400/IMG_0443.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-webMMO421g8/V46G34w4xkI/AAAAAAACMm4/mHQgf28ye6Y4GLq4OGvHyak2HCh7ptRJQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-webMMO421g8/V46G34w4xkI/AAAAAAACMm4/mHQgf28ye6Y4GLq4OGvHyak2HCh7ptRJQCLcB/s400/IMG_0478.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The rain stopped and the cool wind soon dried me out. The villas of the rich and famous gave way to the type of apartment houses one often sees along a popular seaside resort, mostly three or four floor buildings of bright colors hugging the road and facing the sea. They definitely crammed a lot of people into every available space along the rocky coast.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNIfEhS4ZHo/V46HomT_fHI/AAAAAAACMnQ/0V8Qx1taKyUb87e0Bgz0p9_YLoQHwHzqQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RNIfEhS4ZHo/V46HomT_fHI/AAAAAAACMnQ/0V8Qx1taKyUb87e0Bgz0p9_YLoQHwHzqQCLcB/s400/IMG_0474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6okeFdMXXTM/V46HoekrrMI/AAAAAAACMnM/rJIquCqHP_gEjsBScS8aAO3tgJsu4EqzACLcB/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6okeFdMXXTM/V46HoekrrMI/AAAAAAACMnM/rJIquCqHP_gEjsBScS8aAO3tgJsu4EqzACLcB/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nex7pb6Eh2I/V46Hml9JQaI/AAAAAAACMnI/bWIuFmIMun81DA4n7WNyv0wXWmX_CBTsgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nex7pb6Eh2I/V46Hml9JQaI/AAAAAAACMnI/bWIuFmIMun81DA4n7WNyv0wXWmX_CBTsgCLcB/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTib7ar225c/V46HmZ78kpI/AAAAAAACMnE/RcTS5cyaSXAFewSgDrsemRDqGyqk6a4igCLcB/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTib7ar225c/V46HmZ78kpI/AAAAAAACMnE/RcTS5cyaSXAFewSgDrsemRDqGyqk6a4igCLcB/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">People started coming back to the top of the bus once they realized the rain had stopped and Inna joined me reluctantly. She shivered as we wound through small urban villages and I hugged her close. And always on our left was <b>Mount Etna</b>, the tallest active volcano in Europe, sitting in the mist like a steam pot mountain cone on the island of <b>Sicily</b>. It was impossible to tell the clouds from the constant volcanic steam erupting from its depths. We would be visiting the great beast the next day when we stopped in <b>Messina</b>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uQV2wd4v3oo/V46G1lfqyDI/AAAAAAACMmw/6oi86ZTWCNAqlm0Il7IHa_a1klgvKe7yQCEw/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uQV2wd4v3oo/V46G1lfqyDI/AAAAAAACMmw/6oi86ZTWCNAqlm0Il7IHa_a1klgvKe7yQCEw/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x7QbTMlgIhI/V4-Kl9ymOKI/AAAAAAACMvY/slVUbJz8o0EawWyk-otfRYyOpPVbUkXQwCLcB/s1600/N102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x7QbTMlgIhI/V4-Kl9ymOKI/AAAAAAACMvY/slVUbJz8o0EawWyk-otfRYyOpPVbUkXQwCLcB/s400/N102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skUMVg0zKAM/V4-KlzpBFtI/AAAAAAACMvU/QJF5R-cjaa01z8eROSl7L9eAX39JEXpDwCLcB/s1600/N103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-skUMVg0zKAM/V4-KlzpBFtI/AAAAAAACMvU/QJF5R-cjaa01z8eROSl7L9eAX39JEXpDwCLcB/s400/N103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we got to the end of the line at stop number six, in the tiny village of <b>Posillipo</b>, there was nice-but-nothing-special view of the densely-populated valley and hills to the west and we decided to just ride back to the castle without getting off. The Blue Tour was definitely worth the ride, but there wasn't any one particular thing to look at or explore, other than maybe the <b>Catacombs</b> which appeared to be closed. It's more about riding along the enchanting Mediterranean Sea and seeing how the other half lives.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2UnPTNVhgZs/V46G04cm8nI/AAAAAAACMms/D1bJPCYL7NEnOZLBhBC2qhpI7jmbwp7nACEw/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2UnPTNVhgZs/V46G04cm8nI/AAAAAAACMms/D1bJPCYL7NEnOZLBhBC2qhpI7jmbwp7nACEw/s400/IMG_0463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I want to go back to the ship and get a jacket and change into dry clothes," said Inna when we got off at the castle, leaving no room for disagreement.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWHEuTBzFfU/V49zq6X1SdI/AAAAAAACMsc/XMd6J1y6r3MGivcm-WLRYeLwsKDR200CwCEw/s1600/IMG_6538%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWHEuTBzFfU/V49zq6X1SdI/AAAAAAACMsc/XMd6J1y6r3MGivcm-WLRYeLwsKDR200CwCEw/s400/IMG_6538%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On our way to the ship we followed a street lined with a wide variety of small shops. I made a note of a liquor store I planned to stop by at the end of the day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0C13LZ_3z1g/V5APM3yb7ZI/AAAAAAACMww/sHTf-uoj3tsB1v90xxS15sewLwIx12VFwCLcB/s1600/V3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0C13LZ_3z1g/V5APM3yb7ZI/AAAAAAACMww/sHTf-uoj3tsB1v90xxS15sewLwIx12VFwCLcB/s400/V3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It took us about an hour to walk back to the boat, change into warmer clothes, and then return to the castle for our second tour. This was the <b>Red Route</b> that did several interconnected loops through the heart of the old city, passing some truly spectacular old museums, palaces, forts, and plazas adorned with lush gardens and monuments to famous Italian men. The <b>Duomo Cathedral</b> in the <b>Piazzo Carracciolo</b>, <b>Palace Pitti</b>, and the <b>Santa Chiara Church</b> in the <b>Piazza del Gesu</b> were breathtakingly beautiful and well worth a look-see.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICNqbFXXNEo/V46MNpsywbI/AAAAAAACMoE/oxwo89O2kysOzTtIpdjykQ_jlDmL1IkrACLcB/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ICNqbFXXNEo/V46MNpsywbI/AAAAAAACMoE/oxwo89O2kysOzTtIpdjykQ_jlDmL1IkrACLcB/s400/IMG_6517.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8MViJzJ2Iw/V46MLk3JViI/AAAAAAACMn4/zGffrF37XVkh9RjvJwgCq-phm4q44wX8ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8MViJzJ2Iw/V46MLk3JViI/AAAAAAACMn4/zGffrF37XVkh9RjvJwgCq-phm4q44wX8ACLcB/s400/IMG_6526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b31gNHPHFWk/V46MLgYenhI/AAAAAAACMn8/O08T65liLXIN9-xhBDk4yfln-ithUyW_ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b31gNHPHFWk/V46MLgYenhI/AAAAAAACMn8/O08T65liLXIN9-xhBDk4yfln-ithUyW_ACLcB/s400/IMG_6535.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4F7IaT5QW9k/V46MNbmLvXI/AAAAAAACMoA/6ZB0O83B_480-YP2F96UhCOaZ-u7pKEngCLcB/s1600/IMG_6541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4F7IaT5QW9k/V46MNbmLvXI/AAAAAAACMoA/6ZB0O83B_480-YP2F96UhCOaZ-u7pKEngCLcB/s400/IMG_6541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every Italian city has its own unique style of architecture and they all are quite different. But the center of Naples reminded me of Marseille, France. It was lovely in an ancient, we've made history, sort of way, but it was also dirty and unkempt in many places. Gaudy advertising banners hung from landmark buildings (other than the churches). Many of the parks were overgrown and looked like no one ever cut the grass or trimmed the bushes. Weeds grew up between the pavement stones. There was lots of trash and quite a few of the poor areas looked totally Third World. These enclaves of poverty had been repeatedly tagged by gangs. It was a strange visual mix where you could have ghetto shacks sitting right across from wonders like the ornate <b>Piazza Sanita Church</b>. This juxtaposition of wealth and extreme poverty hit us right between the eyes wherever we went in Naples, and it was both disconcerting and depressing. The Catholic Church seemed to be doing quite well, but not so much for many of the Catholic people.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOQVH8inzdI/V45pz9Eg3BI/AAAAAAACMkE/Wn4SCns_doMPYs43kYKZ4OS552U93kuUgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOQVH8inzdI/V45pz9Eg3BI/AAAAAAACMkE/Wn4SCns_doMPYs43kYKZ4OS552U93kuUgCLcB/s400/IMG_6510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc_pGcBZSnM/V5AP-lkDCeI/AAAAAAACMw4/Pz5tjkfqu9w5qb_bTVCR6uB-QNzm1rSsQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc_pGcBZSnM/V5AP-lkDCeI/AAAAAAACMw4/Pz5tjkfqu9w5qb_bTVCR6uB-QNzm1rSsQCLcB/s400/IMG_0497.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GP7y9bd9Wug/V46L98Xj0xI/AAAAAAACMn0/qUE3CQI0AWI25bG206RCElztzDISiu8lACLcB/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GP7y9bd9Wug/V46L98Xj0xI/AAAAAAACMn0/qUE3CQI0AWI25bG206RCElztzDISiu8lACLcB/s400/IMG_6548.JPG" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCtBEaWHkb0/V49u54nUY5I/AAAAAAACMsI/-Jse-4OwBYUx_GpQ2JdBmNai9z8UZyi8QCEw/s1600/N18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCtBEaWHkb0/V49u54nUY5I/AAAAAAACMsI/-Jse-4OwBYUx_GpQ2JdBmNai9z8UZyi8QCEw/s400/N18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XlquAhXHxYc/V4-NcFfGCOI/AAAAAAACMvs/aQvlsdRK_e4jCkTLoR3ISXboknLw04bTwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XlquAhXHxYc/V4-NcFfGCOI/AAAAAAACMvs/aQvlsdRK_e4jCkTLoR3ISXboknLw04bTwCLcB/s400/IMG_0512.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The highlight of the Red Route was at the far end of the loop, at stop number six, the <b>Capodimonte</b>, sitting at the tippy-top of town where the <b>Museo de Bosco di Capodimonte </b>and the <b>Observatorio Astronomico</b> framed an expansive manicured lawn and garden lined with tall palm trees overlooking <b>EVERYTHING</b> and beyond. We spent an hour strolling the wooded gardens and staring in wonder at the jewel-like world below the overlook. We got a little lost when we ventured out of the park and ended up having to backtrack before finally getting directions from two handsome police officers on statuesque horses. They flirted with Inna and nodded knowingly when I told them we were from Baltimore, Maryland where the Preakness horse race had been run the previous Saturday.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAWM99hvxro/V46MhbVGR-I/AAAAAAACMoM/7wVfr31lg78udkWBTNeFW2qudQ_8tR_cACLcB/s1600/IMG_6550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAWM99hvxro/V46MhbVGR-I/AAAAAAACMoM/7wVfr31lg78udkWBTNeFW2qudQ_8tR_cACLcB/s400/IMG_6550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7pgIwFJMYY/V46MfMhVbCI/AAAAAAACMoI/Xz9cOL2rbqUjHOt4_BwpxRKCcAxAXFXNgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7pgIwFJMYY/V46MfMhVbCI/AAAAAAACMoI/Xz9cOL2rbqUjHOt4_BwpxRKCcAxAXFXNgCLcB/s400/IMG_6565.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6taX6EkBrXg/V46MkG93afI/AAAAAAACMoU/io-cttLVbZgOFt6YdSHLsRvME7xTzK3wgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6572%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6taX6EkBrXg/V46MkG93afI/AAAAAAACMoU/io-cttLVbZgOFt6YdSHLsRvME7xTzK3wgCLcB/s400/IMG_6572%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-991-QfrwB7k/V46MjSVbDbI/AAAAAAACMoQ/-CQ2nJl9JFYFGzShd0w263QJY7-3hV7egCLcB/s1600/IMG_6575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-991-QfrwB7k/V46MjSVbDbI/AAAAAAACMoQ/-CQ2nJl9JFYFGzShd0w263QJY7-3hV7egCLcB/s400/IMG_6575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DyK6JzhGtTM/V45p7TOU0yI/AAAAAAACMkI/toR1eLY7M9gjc-1WbZ3qBpCFRN8h6RVtwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DyK6JzhGtTM/V45p7TOU0yI/AAAAAAACMkI/toR1eLY7M9gjc-1WbZ3qBpCFRN8h6RVtwCLcB/s400/IMG_6580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">We waited on a shady bench for the last bus of the day and took it back to the City's main shopping district, the </span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corso Umberto</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">, where trendy antique stores and all the best shops offered the finest of the finest. Italians dress much nicer than Americans and their clothes are usually Italian made and quite stylish, so most of the shops were quite busy. Inna went into several stores to look around while I sat on a stone wall and people watched. General impressions of Napoli life washed over me in waves.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgl2MlFQQFs/V5ARtjKk88I/AAAAAAACMxE/E1z6Fi7g3acXhjnpDnBPXeKGW9raSVOOACLcB/s1600/V4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgl2MlFQQFs/V5ARtjKk88I/AAAAAAACMxE/E1z6Fi7g3acXhjnpDnBPXeKGW9raSVOOACLcB/s400/V4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmz86jOelLA/V491a1Dg8bI/AAAAAAACMsw/uC5D8H6CYto4YXSC3oVsqA617GqgyVQ6QCLcB/s1600/N7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmz86jOelLA/V491a1Dg8bI/AAAAAAACMsw/uC5D8H6CYto4YXSC3oVsqA617GqgyVQ6QCLcB/s400/N7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGlo5YQ40Ec/V46Npz0suVI/AAAAAAACMok/ae3RFwJuJHogH9cVIKrn7yNngm05ydGUQCEw/s1600/IMG_6528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGlo5YQ40Ec/V46Npz0suVI/AAAAAAACMok/ae3RFwJuJHogH9cVIKrn7yNngm05ydGUQCEw/s400/IMG_6528.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scooters far outnumber cars and they dart in and out of traffic like suicidal water bugs.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnBNfVRCNjQ/V46M2lViyjI/AAAAAAACMoc/7DvGZ3Kx-E8Rdu38eqPpyKR8qpUqUxVOQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6621%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnBNfVRCNjQ/V46M2lViyjI/AAAAAAACMoc/7DvGZ3Kx-E8Rdu38eqPpyKR8qpUqUxVOQCLcB/s400/IMG_6621%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were very few dogs. And most of the ones we saw were pit bulls, goldens, or labs. Dachshunds easily won the small dog category.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mzsyVznhWz4/V495fJ5AizI/AAAAAAACMtk/b7YsVdirP_E2746ZFb2Dox7BhSb2SsiFwCLcB/s1600/N90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mzsyVznhWz4/V495fJ5AizI/AAAAAAACMtk/b7YsVdirP_E2746ZFb2Dox7BhSb2SsiFwCLcB/s400/N90.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8Y0hPEXW7I/V495fbexw8I/AAAAAAACMto/Z245HWge_Fwpw5OzSByJ2RR3yRma66IVgCLcB/s1600/N92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8Y0hPEXW7I/V495fbexw8I/AAAAAAACMto/Z245HWge_Fwpw5OzSByJ2RR3yRma66IVgCLcB/s400/N92.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">I was struck by the fact that everybody smokes all the time. So much for the myth of the health conscious Europeans.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx2h4Y410TI/V49nZh-AmqI/AAAAAAACMpI/mbqccj1z7YE6xtsfIB3_1wWra1dnozh2QCLcB/s1600/N4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vx2h4Y410TI/V49nZh-AmqI/AAAAAAACMpI/mbqccj1z7YE6xtsfIB3_1wWra1dnozh2QCLcB/s400/N4.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_p69pY2C_24/V49nZjkULfI/AAAAAAACMpQ/C9T7runQ4WMqCWx1KBHmmeufSKvNU0FmwCLcB/s1600/N5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_p69pY2C_24/V49nZjkULfI/AAAAAAACMpQ/C9T7runQ4WMqCWx1KBHmmeufSKvNU0FmwCLcB/s400/N5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMcBH354Oec/V49nZvTD1kI/AAAAAAACMpM/FeGB_5aqd1gQKN1oxqmxZUCTKR4Z-sVJgCLcB/s1600/N6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMcBH354Oec/V49nZvTD1kI/AAAAAAACMpM/FeGB_5aqd1gQKN1oxqmxZUCTKR4Z-sVJgCLcB/s400/N6.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Italians also eat tons of bread. It's a real mystery how they aren't fat given they devour so much pasta and sugary delights.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVM-R4ZhSLk/V49nufbiXDI/AAAAAAACMpU/pr6XNrockuIjCglYHlhsQ_bxzHmAdoG5wCLcB/s1600/N3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVM-R4ZhSLk/V49nufbiXDI/AAAAAAACMpU/pr6XNrockuIjCglYHlhsQ_bxzHmAdoG5wCLcB/s400/N3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-02MYpHsWI/V49nuiwGhRI/AAAAAAACMpg/KO-cGfJTD-ETHeWtK34d8rJOYlbuNFdvgCLcB/s1600/N33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-02MYpHsWI/V49nuiwGhRI/AAAAAAACMpg/KO-cGfJTD-ETHeWtK34d8rJOYlbuNFdvgCLcB/s400/N33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdd1OS_n7U4/V49nuhdsP8I/AAAAAAACMpk/2KDEcCL-4zEvhPrNOTm_5cWYIa--7lvIgCLcB/s1600/N38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdd1OS_n7U4/V49nuhdsP8I/AAAAAAACMpk/2KDEcCL-4zEvhPrNOTm_5cWYIa--7lvIgCLcB/s400/N38.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC_bJQxEjTw/V49nuV0rJxI/AAAAAAACMpY/7uw7khF-ek05rNWJYrSNqr6VoYnJZ8gDwCLcB/s1600/N1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kC_bJQxEjTw/V49nuV0rJxI/AAAAAAACMpY/7uw7khF-ek05rNWJYrSNqr6VoYnJZ8gDwCLcB/s400/N1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PKOJPvXCU/V49nuQbPRxI/AAAAAAACMpc/flqu09lf3NISfOy2XcJgSZEZYg3FqJgdACLcB/s1600/N2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M3PKOJPvXCU/V49nuQbPRxI/AAAAAAACMpc/flqu09lf3NISfOy2XcJgSZEZYg3FqJgdACLcB/s400/N2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Italians are really loud, especially the men. A lot of the time it sounds like they are arguing when they are just talking about their lives or the latest football match.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hT3JvNfuQzQ/V49tWY2fNkI/AAAAAAACMqs/9Yg1vPIPnO4pLdynVPbzxAPIJBeX7dzAwCEw/s1600/N39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hT3JvNfuQzQ/V49tWY2fNkI/AAAAAAACMqs/9Yg1vPIPnO4pLdynVPbzxAPIJBeX7dzAwCEw/s400/N39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFBq8oZA8AI/V49tWjeG2yI/AAAAAAACMq4/TU982GMBVmINKXOo0bLYOG7PTDitxRGIgCEw/s1600/N45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFBq8oZA8AI/V49tWjeG2yI/AAAAAAACMq4/TU982GMBVmINKXOo0bLYOG7PTDitxRGIgCEw/s400/N45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I sat there, checking out the comely coeds walking from the <b>Universita</b>, I pondered the key cultural divide in Italy. North versus South. And that geographical gulf dominates Italian politics and life much as it does in the United States. Northerners, like in Bologna, are very i</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ndustrious, while the people of the South tend to be pretty chill. This motivational difference in lifestyles tends to run across Europe. And it generates a lot of bad blood. The people who live in the North think their Southern neighbors are lazy and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">slow-witted. They deeply resent having their tax dollars flow South to those who they assume (often incorrectly) live off government relief. The people who live in the South think the Northerners are greedy, money-grubbing burghers obsessed with nothing but work and accumulating the trappings of wealth.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISQTSFKBCJs/V49u6B8ixdI/AAAAAAACMsI/ZDdhk8BzeRk5q5YOFBAtR2sUdTGapTNdACEw/s1600/N22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ISQTSFKBCJs/V49u6B8ixdI/AAAAAAACMsI/ZDdhk8BzeRk5q5YOFBAtR2sUdTGapTNdACEw/s400/N22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7MtOng9N_0/V49u5_k0UaI/AAAAAAACMsI/Ki9WMEBlvk8g_59iujUGeWUKGu3Gwj9kgCEw/s1600/N21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7MtOng9N_0/V49u5_k0UaI/AAAAAAACMsI/Ki9WMEBlvk8g_59iujUGeWUKGu3Gwj9kgCEw/s400/N21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQoPz-UOt34/V49u58G3YnI/AAAAAAACMsI/ZkNJrg34feccmbWKdrp51mYJw-2JDwTxACEw/s1600/N20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HQoPz-UOt34/V49u58G3YnI/AAAAAAACMsI/ZkNJrg34feccmbWKdrp51mYJw-2JDwTxACEw/s400/N20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The cultural anthropologist <b>Jarred Diamond</b> in his very entertaining and enlightening book "Guns, Germs, and Steel" extensively chronicles this curious cultural dynamic. People who live in warmer climates tend to be more relaxed and less productive. Production and innovation have historically come from people living in colder climates. And, interestingly, art tends to blossom where it is warm.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKHN8GjN6U8/V49tWe8TDPI/AAAAAAACMq0/sDqNWzNA0GYWR2edCdxo61TQ0DnENfjuwCEw/s1600/N35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKHN8GjN6U8/V49tWe8TDPI/AAAAAAACMq0/sDqNWzNA0GYWR2edCdxo61TQ0DnENfjuwCEw/s400/N35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INu62Isty7c/V49u6KfkZCI/AAAAAAACMsI/SxEa2zXoZBk8skD-6LTP5iCpLdz0eQQ5gCEw/s1600/N36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INu62Isty7c/V49u6KfkZCI/AAAAAAACMsI/SxEa2zXoZBk8skD-6LTP5iCpLdz0eQQ5gCEw/s400/N36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Op83BjIMg/V49u6I89IlI/AAAAAAACMsI/1qXy6qta4hQyaV2E8CYupJWsDteiBQ1yQCEw/s1600/N31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Op83BjIMg/V49u6I89IlI/AAAAAAACMsI/1qXy6qta4hQyaV2E8CYupJWsDteiBQ1yQCEw/s400/N31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't know what to make of this North/South split. But as a tourist it does matter at times because unlike </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Northern Europe, many people in the South do not speak English. And c</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ustomer service was pretty much non-existent; unlike anything you would generally see in the United States.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> The people who served us </span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> waiters, bus drivers, shop keepers </span><span style="line-height: 24px; text-indent: 48px;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> were often border line rude and uniformly insolent. It was like they all hated their jobs and the tourists who fed them. They wanted our money, but they didn't want to have anything else to do with us. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There was a general attitude of "anything goes". And we were pretty much on our own. Good luck.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdWm2_O1Fcw/V49tWqMZxNI/AAAAAAACMq8/o8MahDrZ-aQQcm3m8G98roXbmR9PGpwUQCLcB/s1600/N50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdWm2_O1Fcw/V49tWqMZxNI/AAAAAAACMq8/o8MahDrZ-aQQcm3m8G98roXbmR9PGpwUQCLcB/s400/N50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrCf_Pj1vvo/V49tWw0_OyI/AAAAAAACMrE/SxlAuYsBask_q6u3igil1_T08JIwgfqAQCLcB/s1600/N51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrCf_Pj1vvo/V49tWw0_OyI/AAAAAAACMrE/SxlAuYsBask_q6u3igil1_T08JIwgfqAQCLcB/s400/N51.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But in the end, none of this cultural crap matters very much. Because you are constantly enjoying fascinating sights, eating great food, and surrounded by juicy history. It all works itself out. So, be patient. Don't judge. Just enjoy the incredible ride.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ePupP3XG6o/V49sTv_F0dI/AAAAAAACMqo/s7jOvEHW8JE_krG-lqPAGTHNQb6A6GeyACEw/s1600/IMG_6402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ePupP3XG6o/V49sTv_F0dI/AAAAAAACMqo/s7jOvEHW8JE_krG-lqPAGTHNQb6A6GeyACEw/s400/IMG_6402.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPrfQV-A_fc/V49tWbAnvWI/AAAAAAACMqw/R1xLSe-YCXEfLb7T3bFHsXgMVCmQ58EyQCEw/s1600/N42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPrfQV-A_fc/V49tWbAnvWI/AAAAAAACMqw/R1xLSe-YCXEfLb7T3bFHsXgMVCmQ58EyQCEw/s400/N42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QEQRV8IIe_Q/V492j2OBMNI/AAAAAAACMtA/tTJAn3Ot144iICmFle1a0JRzBKGRWDhgQCEw/s1600/N41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QEQRV8IIe_Q/V492j2OBMNI/AAAAAAACMtA/tTJAn3Ot144iICmFle1a0JRzBKGRWDhgQCEw/s400/N41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We stopped at a small liquor store along the harbor on our way back to the ship where we bought some beer and wine. And that night after a yummy dinner, we sat on our balcony, and while passing through the twinkling <b>Straits of Messina</b>,<b> </b>between Italy and Sicily,<b> </b>we had to pinch ourselves to make sure were weren't dreaming. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 35px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_F468lQrWs/V491NglrpvI/AAAAAAACMso/gUcAt9L_Y-EgfQFU56i1rHb3Ts8d7g1kACLcB/s1600/N71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y_F468lQrWs/V491NglrpvI/AAAAAAACMso/gUcAt9L_Y-EgfQFU56i1rHb3Ts8d7g1kACLcB/s400/N71.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTJf8IAbz3A/V491NrzoqwI/AAAAAAACMss/ODihgWfVc0Au3TehDaCdUpqVIt04OSDVwCLcB/s1600/N72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTJf8IAbz3A/V491NrzoqwI/AAAAAAACMss/ODihgWfVc0Au3TehDaCdUpqVIt04OSDVwCLcB/s400/N72.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-28277540386951628042016-07-14T18:20:00.000-07:002016-07-14T18:23:41.293-07:00Genoa, Italy<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px;">
<div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUIdwmMsXbE/V4airtdDG1I/AAAAAAACMV8/UiTEiqN6IWcHkAHE1gdfFjjc6xYr29XrwCLcB/s1600/G9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUIdwmMsXbE/V4airtdDG1I/AAAAAAACMV8/UiTEiqN6IWcHkAHE1gdfFjjc6xYr29XrwCLcB/s400/G9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After Marseille, our cruise on the <b>MSC Poesia </b>took us down the colorful coast of what is referred to as the lower "boot" of the Italian Peninsula. As hard as I try, I don't really see a boot when I look at a map of Italy, but then, I can't see most of the constellations in the sky at night either. According to those with better imaginations than me, we were heading down the lower leg and would arrive at the ankle the next day when we stopped in Naples.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJzKky5BIyk/V4ah0JMM0SI/AAAAAAACMVk/TB0uyY4NDuEMQ_wG2G7IlvLhsmemphVDwCEw/s1600/G2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJzKky5BIyk/V4ah0JMM0SI/AAAAAAACMVk/TB0uyY4NDuEMQ_wG2G7IlvLhsmemphVDwCEw/s400/G2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IOn72foxm0/V4ah0TsH_PI/AAAAAAACMVo/mB9lf42BMx0oHpUMOrW416XjErmOwt8_QCLcB/s1600/G5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1IOn72foxm0/V4ah0TsH_PI/AAAAAAACMVo/mB9lf42BMx0oHpUMOrW416XjErmOwt8_QCLcB/s400/G5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">We crossed the languid blue<b> Ligurian Sea</b> and stopped in the early morning at <b>Genoa</b>, the home port of the MSC cruise line. There were ships of all sizes, including many rusty freighters, and ferry boats zipped around <b>Porto Antico</b> harbor like water striders This was clearly a place of important commerce.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwa9oor7z04/V4akidya-aI/AAAAAAACMWc/J9_6jSEXEHY3F1GH8CGQIjZwi7LjrLsRgCEw/s1600/G11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwa9oor7z04/V4akidya-aI/AAAAAAACMWc/J9_6jSEXEHY3F1GH8CGQIjZwi7LjrLsRgCEw/s400/G11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18O3QRBbjfQ/V4aist5TGfI/AAAAAAACMWI/9X5jBiZ8_E4rGZQnKQHjfMR4GjA-1xSLACEw/s1600/G7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18O3QRBbjfQ/V4aist5TGfI/AAAAAAACMWI/9X5jBiZ8_E4rGZQnKQHjfMR4GjA-1xSLACEw/s400/G7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">It was a beautiful sunny Sunday, the temperature was about 70 degrees, and we were off the boat in the first wave. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffBsTWBNu0E/V4ZwqLjKylI/AAAAAAACMU8/puE4fsxAqd4dty4tOefKiLDVkJ8ONCobwCEw/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffBsTWBNu0E/V4ZwqLjKylI/AAAAAAACMU8/puE4fsxAqd4dty4tOefKiLDVkJ8ONCobwCEw/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The dock was located near the heart of the old city, so there would be no death march along the highway this time around like back in Marseille. We walked through an old, slightly dilapidated warehouse complex, under hanging concrete street arches where scruffy merchant seamen lounged along the sidewalks smoking and drinking small cups of coffee as they awaited their next billet. Cabs were lined up by a long row of glass doors and we followed families carrying suitcases into the MSC cruise terminal that had recently been spruced up for the tourons. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The ticket counter area was bustling with travelers as we walked up some brown marble steps that we hoped would take us to the street above. At the top of the steps we were greeted by a large sign next to the tiny <b>Genova</b> <b>Tourist Office </b>(they say Genova and we say Genoa)<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">where they happily provided maps, brochures, and sold tickets for the scenic Hop On - Hop Off bus tour. We paid $35 for two tickets, walked outside, hopped on a nearly empty open-top, double-decker bus and settled in for a leisurely ride.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJWSGT8L6x8/V4amWJroVVI/AAAAAAACMXU/qmXwpaB5rT8mXGoT__YxMWR_zlRUIM4kQCLcB/s1600/G20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RJWSGT8L6x8/V4amWJroVVI/AAAAAAACMXU/qmXwpaB5rT8mXGoT__YxMWR_zlRUIM4kQCLcB/s400/G20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uhg5eMvszlQ/V4akiY6DGVI/AAAAAAACMWg/5XPjTrcfZ9Qr2dU7yCEW4fZEFFdY8P5SgCEw/s1600/G13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uhg5eMvszlQ/V4akiY6DGVI/AAAAAAACMWg/5XPjTrcfZ9Qr2dU7yCEW4fZEFFdY8P5SgCEw/s400/G13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMVVI-34-XA/V4akiR34AmI/AAAAAAACMWk/K6aHng4-fEgGTf2IUzBSiNGTTwWEHIJ1gCLcB/s1600/G12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMVVI-34-XA/V4akiR34AmI/AAAAAAACMWk/K6aHng4-fEgGTf2IUzBSiNGTTwWEHIJ1gCLcB/s400/G12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The<b> <i>Pesci in Genova Tour</i></b><i> </i>offered eight stops and took about an hour to do the circuit around town. As usual, they gave us some cheap headphones to plug into the small audio box at each seat, providing the play-by-play of the tour in six languages.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2V_DmPd4bzI/V4allN7kVGI/AAAAAAACMW4/H0NnldIAVhEbtrTlo9xTc-vFJ1UtxI2sgCLcB/s1600/G17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2V_DmPd4bzI/V4allN7kVGI/AAAAAAACMW4/H0NnldIAVhEbtrTlo9xTc-vFJ1UtxI2sgCLcB/s400/G17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">I knew nothing about Genoa other than the fact that it was the home of Christopher Columbus and a powerful trade center from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. The colorful brochures explained that it was Italy's main commercial port.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3iBTbS1nzSw/V4bCGiyYJcI/AAAAAAACMaE/Y0QAbbyLUrkc0cJudvzHR_EpxGvgB59vwCLcB/s1600/G56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3iBTbS1nzSw/V4bCGiyYJcI/AAAAAAACMaE/Y0QAbbyLUrkc0cJudvzHR_EpxGvgB59vwCLcB/s400/G56.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From a distance it looked like a tough, soot-stained town sprinkled with lovely old buildings dating back many centuries to a time when Italy ruled the civilized world </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal; text-indent: 48px;">– </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">such as it was. The waterfront was dominated by the <b>Piazza Caricamento</b>, where pastel buildings covered steep hillsides above the long, curving waterfront. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ6OmyOVwS8/V4amV1KItTI/AAAAAAACMXQ/aVZw5LhSBXkJoEm1n2nO44qD1FsO18D4gCEw/s1600/G21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ6OmyOVwS8/V4amV1KItTI/AAAAAAACMXQ/aVZw5LhSBXkJoEm1n2nO44qD1FsO18D4gCEw/s400/G21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Genoa is essentially several large <b>Piazzas </b>(open air plazas) lined with grand office buildings, fountains, museums, restaurants, mansions, palaces, churches, monuments to government, and shops, all interconnected by <b>carrugi </b>(lovely pedestrian stone streets) and criss-crossed by narrow, shady alleyways. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIBEufgwQs4/V4ZwD8nCdBI/AAAAAAACMU0/QSMEQftoJ7A1rv5W15vVqrtGkevgCHiRgCEw/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIBEufgwQs4/V4ZwD8nCdBI/AAAAAAACMU0/QSMEQftoJ7A1rv5W15vVqrtGkevgCHiRgCEw/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JkyTEu63Dfs/V4arzLgs2nI/AAAAAAACMZM/r2aomYRLP7MLjgFgD4n_OET6dq3oG-_KACEw/s1600/G40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JkyTEu63Dfs/V4arzLgs2nI/AAAAAAACMZM/r2aomYRLP7MLjgFgD4n_OET6dq3oG-_KACEw/s400/G40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We sat atop our sunny perch as the bus did the slow circuit around town via the main drags that were undoubtedly less crowded than usual given that it was a Sunday morning and Italy is a very Catholic nation. We marked the sites on our handy Genova map that we planned to re-visit on foot, like the ornate <b>Comendmenda di Pre, Cathedrale San Lorenzo, Castello D'Albertis, Basilica St Annunzita, </b>and the <b>Bigo</b>, a panoramic lift which offered an amazing 360-degree view of the city, the historical center, and the sea. To the south, dancing in the blue haze, lay the dreamy island of Corsica. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjLk9rc0SI/V4allI5l98I/AAAAAAACMW0/G-NPCl8gVW0Il7L9v-icVmdt0GDV6h-JQCEw/s1600/G15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtjLk9rc0SI/V4allI5l98I/AAAAAAACMW0/G-NPCl8gVW0Il7L9v-icVmdt0GDV6h-JQCEw/s400/G15.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Once back at the industrial waterfront, we stayed on the bus while it reloaded with passengers and then took it to the third stop at the spectacular<b> Piazza de Ferrari</b>, Genoa's main square, where we hopped off to check out <b> </b>the stunningly beautiful<b> Palazzo Ducale</b>, the former royal palace which now houses the Judicial Court.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abwbrcjaJ-g/V4aitB0ZfDI/AAAAAAACMWI/ysBxBzBml5kGBymnPcmtfwxLs8chj7LKQCEw/s1600/G6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abwbrcjaJ-g/V4aitB0ZfDI/AAAAAAACMWI/ysBxBzBml5kGBymnPcmtfwxLs8chj7LKQCEw/s400/G6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZx990bV47Q/V4ZvuUs4PDI/AAAAAAACMU0/vkSCfsX5RzIl2mhYksNnCfV8J65Zt2_MQCEw/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZx990bV47Q/V4ZvuUs4PDI/AAAAAAACMU0/vkSCfsX5RzIl2mhYksNnCfV8J65Zt2_MQCEw/s400/IMG_0272.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gg4QDggVmA/V4Zvqifol0I/AAAAAAACMU0/_pOsWWjG60kWAxaTEhj685plfyk-ZVLdgCEw/s1600/IMG_0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Gg4QDggVmA/V4Zvqifol0I/AAAAAAACMU0/_pOsWWjG60kWAxaTEhj685plfyk-ZVLdgCEw/s400/IMG_0266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-NQtxJNrPY/V4ZvrI6d5dI/AAAAAAACMU0/_ulmfAHQsrALKvwRGPmW-XLuPeESfdm2ACEw/s1600/IMG_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-NQtxJNrPY/V4ZvrI6d5dI/AAAAAAACMU0/_ulmfAHQsrALKvwRGPmW-XLuPeESfdm2ACEw/s400/IMG_0268.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Genoa is a walker's paradise. Other than the main streets, generally running north to south, it's built and operates at a pedestrian scale. But it's a r</span><span style="line-height: normal;">at maze of streets, most of which go east to west and often dead-end without warning. So, you </span></span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: normal;">always have to </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: normal;">be checking your map and thinking a few streets ahead if you aren't on one of the bigger through streets; otherwise, much like in </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Venice, </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: normal;">the street will </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: normal;">abruptly end at a building or wall. Then you have to backtrack, and take a connector alley over to one of the main streets.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n26ABhr8HSQ/V4ZvynuRVPI/AAAAAAACMU0/prrcifxej6EaklL28Q8HAPVjFcuid4W8gCEw/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n26ABhr8HSQ/V4ZvynuRVPI/AAAAAAACMU0/prrcifxej6EaklL28Q8HAPVjFcuid4W8gCEw/s400/IMG_0280.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: normal;">The alleyways are where Genoa's real treasures are found and they are full of constant surprises.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> More on this a bit later.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeUvfV0O3rQ/V4arzUopFdI/AAAAAAACMY8/q40BOEEejscreNZEYv-8YiImBn7-ewobACEw/s1600/G44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FeUvfV0O3rQ/V4arzUopFdI/AAAAAAACMY8/q40BOEEejscreNZEYv-8YiImBn7-ewobACEw/s400/G44.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-bA014ip3A/V4Zwh1ONLqI/AAAAAAACMU0/npuedizIE6oGGP1BJVkRRLzLbWKuWWbDQCEw/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-bA014ip3A/V4Zwh1ONLqI/AAAAAAACMU0/npuedizIE6oGGP1BJVkRRLzLbWKuWWbDQCEw/s400/IMG_0336.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-USHi_KzhwdE/V4ZwkQqf4TI/AAAAAAACMU0/DohW3TSDPacXyC0sWEIW95KcRiULcE0fwCEw/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-USHi_KzhwdE/V4ZwkQqf4TI/AAAAAAACMU0/DohW3TSDPacXyC0sWEIW95KcRiULcE0fwCEw/s400/IMG_0340.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After checking out the palace and the ornate fountain in the center of the plaza we were ready to go exploring. Our eyes were drawn to a fancy street to our left lined with marbled Byzantine arches</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">. This was <b>Via XX Settembre</b>, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">the city's most upscale shopping district where elegant Gucci and Cartier stores were nestled like Russian Easter eggs under the <b>Portici Via XX Settembre </b>(marble and tile porticos similar to Bologna) </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">that stretched as far as the eye could see This busy street links the old and new city and is flanked by magnificent <b>Liberty Palaces</b></span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">where the wealthy Genovans once held court.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjHJoYZyzLQ/V4ZvuLpgfbI/AAAAAAACMU0/P16gJFFCpBw4wEBBL00_b5X7SRQ0w9oJgCEw/s1600/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjHJoYZyzLQ/V4ZvuLpgfbI/AAAAAAACMU0/P16gJFFCpBw4wEBBL00_b5X7SRQ0w9oJgCEw/s400/IMG_0270.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYWO1jU-HQ/V4Zv4jbBNpI/AAAAAAACMU0/yBbyAyzk5kMU5b4Sq8Lgy3cr7qZNkGaoQCEw/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYWO1jU-HQ/V4Zv4jbBNpI/AAAAAAACMU0/yBbyAyzk5kMU5b4Sq8Lgy3cr7qZNkGaoQCEw/s400/IMG_0288.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxX0dO22-V8/V4ZwZX6iBRI/AAAAAAACMU0/_Ss2CSNRXnYay3t-6KQnpY5JuZ10B4hzACEw/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RxX0dO22-V8/V4ZwZX6iBRI/AAAAAAACMU0/_Ss2CSNRXnYay3t-6KQnpY5JuZ10B4hzACEw/s400/IMG_0324.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8eAbIBq70zE/V4Zv8mf2ihI/AAAAAAACMU0/E4zFv8IW7s0AVP885UjPhPPhnfOBjMWGwCEw/s1600/IMG_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8eAbIBq70zE/V4Zv8mf2ihI/AAAAAAACMU0/E4zFv8IW7s0AVP885UjPhPPhnfOBjMWGwCEw/s400/IMG_0293.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQEKRKd-i50/V4Zv6n6dNwI/AAAAAAACMU0/VipFi-BbadQwP_R8jS_dPU3_boyaz66yACEw/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yQEKRKd-i50/V4Zv6n6dNwI/AAAAAAACMU0/VipFi-BbadQwP_R8jS_dPU3_boyaz66yACEw/s400/IMG_0291.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Everyone was walking around clutching flower bouquets, mostly red roses. Sunday is <i><b>flower day</b></i> in Genoa and it seemed like the whole town was buying flowers for a loved one, or to take home. There were flower markets and rickety stalls down every side alley and vendors walked the street and stood on every corner. It was like the <i>wonderful world of flowers</i>. At one of the markets a vendor was selling purple and blue roses, something I had never seen before. A dozen roses sold for about 7 euro ($10) which wasn't bad at all.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANBn2lPOm54/V4ZwSeD2GRI/AAAAAAACMU0/gmPQK57ZjkoIBWG6uPFQDcixHXmW2OzfwCEw/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANBn2lPOm54/V4ZwSeD2GRI/AAAAAAACMU0/gmPQK57ZjkoIBWG6uPFQDcixHXmW2OzfwCEw/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XdY1Py7lTs/V4ZwTjVbUQI/AAAAAAACMU0/O56EqY_CvjoUrIasqDnGWhx8HfBEqog3QCEw/s1600/IMG_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9XdY1Py7lTs/V4ZwTjVbUQI/AAAAAAACMU0/O56EqY_CvjoUrIasqDnGWhx8HfBEqog3QCEw/s400/IMG_0318.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We stopped for a snack at an outdoor cafe before continuing a few blocks west to the <b>Piazza della Vittoria</b> where</span><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">spacious gardens adorned with beautiful sculptures and benches stretched for several blocks and covered a wooded hillside framed like a portal to paradise by the <b>Arco della Vittoria</b> (a giant white marble arch that resembled the Arc de Triomphe in Paris) </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After that, it was time to start heading back toward the ship. We still had a long walk ahead of us and lots to see.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54NKHeVzVh0/V4ZwKEpDmgI/AAAAAAACMU0/JRKG4IDF3mkjniUcIuq0RTubiqI_21IYgCEw/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-54NKHeVzVh0/V4ZwKEpDmgI/AAAAAAACMU0/JRKG4IDF3mkjniUcIuq0RTubiqI_21IYgCEw/s400/IMG_0308.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnU7JYdPp3Y/V4ZwMBLLutI/AAAAAAACMU0/fRPcxufJqlEa9zaPPB9oEewH4-hBcj7qwCEw/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnU7JYdPp3Y/V4ZwMBLLutI/AAAAAAACMU0/fRPcxufJqlEa9zaPPB9oEewH4-hBcj7qwCEw/s400/IMG_0309.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">When we returned to Ferrari Plaza, we noticed that everyone seemed to be heading down the <b>Via San Matteo</b>, a street dating back to the Middle Ages and looking pretty much untouched by time,<b> </b>where musicians played for the passing crowd and children in their Sunday finest carried individual roses. A noisy wedding party suddenly came out of a lovely church and took over the street with gay abandon. We were all suddenly a part of the wedding party and there was much hugging and rejoicing between family and strangers alike. Italians are happy and very expressive people and they wear their emotions on their sleeves. The women were dressed in tight red, yellow, and black dresses that showcased their exceptional beauty. If I wasn't very happily married, I might have considered getting hitched myself. It looked like big fun.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3VE_2ZHgdc/V4dCQBc-N-I/AAAAAAACMbQ/qqZyE2i1n0U6PRqFdSDCaJHIYm1Nsm5KQCLcB/s1600/G60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3VE_2ZHgdc/V4dCQBc-N-I/AAAAAAACMbQ/qqZyE2i1n0U6PRqFdSDCaJHIYm1Nsm5KQCLcB/s320/G60.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqkRwfE_oTg/V4ZwQMdXOgI/AAAAAAACMU0/T4FyraL6T6sk94rbDyd2N-pvKyyStMDlQCEw/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqkRwfE_oTg/V4ZwQMdXOgI/AAAAAAACMU0/T4FyraL6T6sk94rbDyd2N-pvKyyStMDlQCEw/s400/IMG_0313.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tv0Gj2j8JiM/V4ZwRB6_KEI/AAAAAAACMU0/jLdWlJEe54QexBvVq20lNgPqgmokwxOaQCEw/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tv0Gj2j8JiM/V4ZwRB6_KEI/AAAAAAACMU0/jLdWlJEe54QexBvVq20lNgPqgmokwxOaQCEw/s400/IMG_0314.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuDyRG8TcB8/V4ZwRpGr2wI/AAAAAAACMU0/yGpHsfks6HEbrk8JsVHKEBNXxupA6LI0QCEw/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuDyRG8TcB8/V4ZwRpGr2wI/AAAAAAACMU0/yGpHsfks6HEbrk8JsVHKEBNXxupA6LI0QCEw/s400/IMG_0315.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">When I looked at the map I realized that the street we were on dead-ended a few blocks ahead, so I suggested to Inna that we take the next alley on our left down to <b>Via San Lorenzo</b>, named after the lovely cathedral that featured a wondrous mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlF1XJYL1nU/V4ZwfM6UlZI/AAAAAAACMU0/Tc36FzXXyhMlco_wHXmxTBPC7wXYwx3fgCEw/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UlF1XJYL1nU/V4ZwfM6UlZI/AAAAAAACMU0/Tc36FzXXyhMlco_wHXmxTBPC7wXYwx3fgCEw/s400/IMG_0331.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The alley was dark and winding, like walking down the rabbit hole. After a short distance it became eerily quiet. And that's when I saw the whores.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGZf45N9vV4/V4arzJLX3xI/AAAAAAACMY0/bOi-A88Bwkwq06gXfjrCrvgDuDSbKu0WACEw/s1600/G41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGZf45N9vV4/V4arzJLX3xI/AAAAAAACMY0/bOi-A88Bwkwq06gXfjrCrvgDuDSbKu0WACEw/s400/G41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxccoOn-pYk/V4arzLYS0pI/AAAAAAACMYw/6XHPe6gV7McDlgCY_4Xm6Uk6v6fRVoIxwCLcB/s1600/G42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxccoOn-pYk/V4arzLYS0pI/AAAAAAACMYw/6XHPe6gV7McDlgCY_4Xm6Uk6v6fRVoIxwCLcB/s400/G42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">There were women dressed provocatively, standing or sitting in almost every doorway. Some were negotiating with would-be clients, but most just leaned listlessly against the doorways smoking and no doubt wishing they were somewhere else.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QG_VkL0Y5HU/V4arzvtBhdI/AAAAAAACMZA/tfgyyC3vsyA5v1T6aep2sR3U1V9nNgkGgCEw/s1600/G45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QG_VkL0Y5HU/V4arzvtBhdI/AAAAAAACMZA/tfgyyC3vsyA5v1T6aep2sR3U1V9nNgkGgCEw/s400/G45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xvhkf-Dtl2w/V4atDxHKNfI/AAAAAAACMZI/tt_ppPFk994jhQUzhTprYEpwdMUc-JzmgCLcB/s1600/G47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xvhkf-Dtl2w/V4atDxHKNfI/AAAAAAACMZI/tt_ppPFk994jhQUzhTprYEpwdMUc-JzmgCLcB/s400/G47.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I wasn't shocked by seeing prostitutes </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: normal; text-indent: 48px;">– </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">I've spent some time in Amsterdam</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal; text-indent: 48px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: normal; text-indent: 48px;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"> but stumbling upon a hundred ladies of the night, sitting and standing brazenly along the street at two in the afternoon in front of their apartments on a Sunday, less than a block from one of the city's grand cathedrals, was a bit out of the ordinary. Inna and I did our best not to stare and point. And the girls seemed to find our obvious surprise a bit amusing. They giggled and winked at us as we quickly headed for San Lorenzo where street vendors sold their wares. I guess you could say that everybody was selling something in Genoa that day.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GcngzgTCZUc/V4a-IWiV_SI/AAAAAAACMZw/yzix2KXeaNo2hlpgtRbk7oi_Pnc2855FgCLcB/s1600/G50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GcngzgTCZUc/V4a-IWiV_SI/AAAAAAACMZw/yzix2KXeaNo2hlpgtRbk7oi_Pnc2855FgCLcB/s400/G50.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu1K3vMrAM8/V4ZwjrE2m-I/AAAAAAACMU0/39SzwVI3Do80O3epjZR3GZP3wUuoh0aegCEw/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu1K3vMrAM8/V4ZwjrE2m-I/AAAAAAACMU0/39SzwVI3Do80O3epjZR3GZP3wUuoh0aegCEw/s400/IMG_0338.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-USHi_KzhwdE/V4ZwkQqf4TI/AAAAAAACMU0/DohW3TSDPacXyC0sWEIW95KcRiULcE0fwCEw/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-USHi_KzhwdE/V4ZwkQqf4TI/AAAAAAACMU0/DohW3TSDPacXyC0sWEIW95KcRiULcE0fwCEw/s400/IMG_0340.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TztHcewHEPM/V4Zwk7HSlYI/AAAAAAACMU0/u4n-TkJYCPUiEpS3n0fg9fbb36SzZE6XQCEw/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TztHcewHEPM/V4Zwk7HSlYI/AAAAAAACMU0/u4n-TkJYCPUiEpS3n0fg9fbb36SzZE6XQCEw/s400/IMG_0341.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXUWoxgBP7w/V4ZwngkyH1I/AAAAAAACMU0/XPUMhfo9TUcPt7BtLCsFpi-bdk_lItAYACEw/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXUWoxgBP7w/V4ZwngkyH1I/AAAAAAACMU0/XPUMhfo9TUcPt7BtLCsFpi-bdk_lItAYACEw/s400/IMG_0344.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">
On our way back to the <b>Poesia</b>, we did what everyone does when in Italy. We <i>tried</i> some pizza. There was a small plaza behind an ancient church made of grey and green Florentine marble and limestone where there were several small outdoor cafes.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ND0GwBZxUAY/V4Zwhe8OXCI/AAAAAAACMU8/ElcrNvfnu6ENpdng0TLgxjtF_b2ZsdM9ACEw/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ND0GwBZxUAY/V4Zwhe8OXCI/AAAAAAACMU8/ElcrNvfnu6ENpdng0TLgxjtF_b2ZsdM9ACEw/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I always find it amusing that pizza was originally a peasant dish because it was so filling and yet very cheap to make, a</span><span style="font-size: large;">nd is now one of the world's most popular meals, served in some of the fanciest restaurants at a markup of about a thousand percent.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ic0uiCWkyM/V4apScAWrdI/AAAAAAACMYA/GO6ZvVqZI1c1cYospLDkTMplp3R49Y2LwCLcB/s1600/G35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8ic0uiCWkyM/V4apScAWrdI/AAAAAAACMYA/GO6ZvVqZI1c1cYospLDkTMplp3R49Y2LwCLcB/s400/G35.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But the Italians still make the best pizza. It's all in the ingredients. They use only the best flour, cheese, and tomatoes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-orZ6zIu-fDE/V4apH_titPI/AAAAAAACMXs/EyeF0I3-MYUAi_yTVJB3l1HOOsCtliuhgCEw/s1600/G37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-orZ6zIu-fDE/V4apH_titPI/AAAAAAACMXs/EyeF0I3-MYUAi_yTVJB3l1HOOsCtliuhgCEw/s400/G37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EN9e6y_9fpw/V4apRqcjyNI/AAAAAAACMX0/LdbnrEwyi2876CnZismstCIc_KZyo6GHwCEw/s1600/G32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EN9e6y_9fpw/V4apRqcjyNI/AAAAAAACMX0/LdbnrEwyi2876CnZismstCIc_KZyo6GHwCEw/s400/G32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The inside of the cafe was crowded with fans of all ages screaming and yelling as they watched a soccer match on the TV hanging from the back wall. Italians, like most Europeans, are obsessed with <i><b>football</b></i>. And unfortunately, so was our waitress. She seemed really put out that she had to periodically come outside to wait on those of us who were more interested in the sunny street world, rather than the one where little men were kicking a tiny white ball around in a far away stadium. She initially brought us several icy Coronas. Luckily, I ordered two for myself because I was really thirsty after our long walk. It would be another twenty minutes before she brought us some menus. And before she took our orders, she demanded payment for the beers, which I thought was both rude and ridiculous. But she was insistent. So I paid her and she left in a huff without taking our order. I didn't speak Italian, so I really couldn't complain. But when I saw her standing by the cash register watching the soccer game I started to get pissed. She eventually returned like we were ruining her day. We ordered two prosciutto-topped pizzas. She snatched the menus almost angrily and headed back inside to watch the game. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNThDUHtuZM/V4apRz3EfhI/AAAAAAACMX4/qM-FM-Je3ychcuZPB5FEBwO17jGe9rUKQCEw/s1600/G31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNThDUHtuZM/V4apRz3EfhI/AAAAAAACMX4/qM-FM-Je3ychcuZPB5FEBwO17jGe9rUKQCEw/s400/G31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We waited patiently for another thirty minutes and then I grinned at Inna as I finished my last beer and said, "Well, I think it's time to go. Don't you?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna smiled, "Exactly."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we got up and left. </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSALl4XDJco/V4apSHZAD5I/AAAAAAACMX8/VACQ5RAVIIAuIbSw29sBSEcAUkIZH0n9wCEw/s1600/G36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSALl4XDJco/V4apSHZAD5I/AAAAAAACMX8/VACQ5RAVIIAuIbSw29sBSEcAUkIZH0n9wCEw/s1600/G36.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The waitress was intently watching the soccer game and never noticed our departure.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know why, but I felt really pleased with myself. And I was no longer hungry.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uhwl88iu3tA/V4bBqrgEoGI/AAAAAAACMaA/aduMIuya0kct_eSiSOg5PVdcp4-C6rvEwCLcB/s1600/G55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uhwl88iu3tA/V4bBqrgEoGI/AAAAAAACMaA/aduMIuya0kct_eSiSOg5PVdcp4-C6rvEwCLcB/s400/G55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The pizza back on board the ship about an hour later totally hit the spot. We didn't have to wait a single minute. And it was the best pizza I ever tasted.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u95WFEC1wFs/V4aqXJzn5JI/AAAAAAACMYQ/ql2InQen6i8eqoIj0Pnf2w3HnrVTa-qOwCLcB/s1600/G38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u95WFEC1wFs/V4aqXJzn5JI/AAAAAAACMYQ/ql2InQen6i8eqoIj0Pnf2w3HnrVTa-qOwCLcB/s400/G38.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px; margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; max-height: 110px; overflow: hidden; padding: 6px 0px;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-2005633814616994962016-06-25T15:01:00.000-07:002016-06-25T15:01:04.061-07:00MARSEILLE, FRANCE<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">We chose our cruise on the <b>MSC Poesia</b> because, other than Barcelona, we had never been to any of the other stops and they all sounded cool. I had been hearing about <b>Marseille</b>, <b>Genoa</b>, <b>Naples</b>, <b>Malta</b>, and <b>Mallorca </b>since childhood. They were burned into my brain<b>. </b> Marseille was where they filmed "The French Connection". Genoa was the home of Christopher Columbus. According to my mother, I had been conceived on the beach in Naples, Florida, which was named after Naples, Italy. In school and at the Naval Academy, I had read about how Malta was the staging area for the Crusades and the backdrop for fierce naval battles in two world wars. And all of my ocean sailing friends spoke of Mallorca like something akin to heaven on earth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP_7ZopT6oM" target="_blank">The French Connection</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvIcmRJwcyU/V27lBthUK4I/AAAAAAACLlc/FyeWzJy1K5ICpvCcglxcHGn3jzxj3WLWwCLcB/s1600/MA4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvIcmRJwcyU/V27lBthUK4I/AAAAAAACLlc/FyeWzJy1K5ICpvCcglxcHGn3jzxj3WLWwCLcB/s400/MA4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So, our trip would be as much about traveling through myths and history as discovering new places, and I couldn't wait to begin our voyage.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TnAr2fflis/V27YwyFbOqI/AAAAAAACLj4/4AzRxExxwxw8WWVZt8AQxyA9W4ettHiuwCKgB/s1600/MA3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TnAr2fflis/V27YwyFbOqI/AAAAAAACLj4/4AzRxExxwxw8WWVZt8AQxyA9W4ettHiuwCKgB/s400/MA3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> Day 2 </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> Marseille, France (Provence, France)</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> Time Ashore - 12 PM until 7 PM</b></span></div>
<div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> Weather-Sunny 72/61 </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> 0% Chance of Rain </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b> Wind - 10 SSE</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our plan was get to the <b>City Center</b> from the cruise terminal by walking. We could see our destination as the ship was docking. It sat what looked to be about a mile or so away, below a gargantuan steepled church that crowned a large hill like a story book castle, shining gloriously in the noon day sun. This was the world famous </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 24px;"><b>Notre Dame de laid Garde</b>, an absolute <u>must see</u> when you visit Marseille.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_U-MscQzsM/V26RD17U_fI/AAAAAAACLds/LwH1L9SOkHAVt0ML-xIxgxpxT8K1Fj28wCLcB/s1600/IMG_6116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_U-MscQzsM/V26RD17U_fI/AAAAAAACLds/LwH1L9SOkHAVt0ML-xIxgxpxT8K1Fj28wCLcB/s400/IMG_6116.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">It didn't look like a very long or difficult walk into town and we like to walk whenever we can. But we didn't have to walk because there were multiple options, including an expensive luxury bus being offered by MSC. But I had done my homework and discovered by reading some reviews on Trip Advisor that we could follow these little green arrows that were painted on the pavement that would guide us outside the terminal center to a shelter where we could catch a free shuttle bus provided by the city tourism department.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ6Xs3tS7Q8/V27fmzkEk4I/AAAAAAACLkE/QjkCT5Cuk8YSifVtRnlDuJeC5erfGjk1QCLcB/s1600/MA21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ6Xs3tS7Q8/V27fmzkEk4I/AAAAAAACLkE/QjkCT5Cuk8YSifVtRnlDuJeC5erfGjk1QCLcB/s400/MA21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">So, off we went.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-iezyAjbQ/V27fnITWrXI/AAAAAAACLkU/mJCvjqkANkAo7gonL_AfjV-zkYbiGg-nACKgB/s1600/MA24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ-iezyAjbQ/V27fnITWrXI/AAAAAAACLkU/mJCvjqkANkAo7gonL_AfjV-zkYbiGg-nACKgB/s400/MA24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">It was a warm, sunny day and the green arrows led us on a winding route past large ships and warehouses. We had a happy bounce to our step.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUcZkyBInfU/V27fm_AuNXI/AAAAAAACLkI/tJzbwS-I7kI7fiqUwtQIqKfU1d3tCJ3hwCKgB/s1600/MA20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUcZkyBInfU/V27fm_AuNXI/AAAAAAACLkI/tJzbwS-I7kI7fiqUwtQIqKfU1d3tCJ3hwCKgB/s400/MA20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">We eventually came to the shelter where three or four people were lounging on benches. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNtrFkVmTAM/V27fm9jAkMI/AAAAAAACLkA/WT-kcYGaWf4zDii0irOpS4tcLZwdjnOSwCKgB/s1600/MA22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNtrFkVmTAM/V27fm9jAkMI/AAAAAAACLkA/WT-kcYGaWf4zDii0irOpS4tcLZwdjnOSwCKgB/s400/MA22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">We should have known right away that this was a mistake because the shelter was big enough to handle about a hundred people. And by the time we left, there were nearly that many crammed inside, sweating impatiently and scanning the street for the phantom bus. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjE9bOjg4Ag/V27kvQQ7edI/AAAAAAACLk4/n_-0bm-yJBcdfSp9dstvwItxP-0vniWygCKgB/s1600/MA33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjE9bOjg4Ag/V27kvQQ7edI/AAAAAAACLk4/n_-0bm-yJBcdfSp9dstvwItxP-0vniWygCKgB/s400/MA33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">We saw lots of buses go by but they were the buses servicing the ship, not the free city shuttle bus.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygrHi-3tk6Q/V27o6A8tXYI/AAAAAAACLnE/jvgsCq9udj4bZfhIae4HZu2XqtdgwhcGQCLcB/s1600/MA32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygrHi-3tk6Q/V27o6A8tXYI/AAAAAAACLnE/jvgsCq9udj4bZfhIae4HZu2XqtdgwhcGQCLcB/s400/MA32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">When several families with screaming babies arrived, we started to feel like caged animals. We had to escape. And it was then that I noticed the green arrows continued down the street toward town. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCuBH-m63zA/V27fncgaxoI/AAAAAAACLkc/hQMQAKTCwMg88gvO5UnaQVYokEYNSUxmACKgB/s1600/MA27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCuBH-m63zA/V27fncgaxoI/AAAAAAACLkc/hQMQAKTCwMg88gvO5UnaQVYokEYNSUxmACKgB/s400/MA27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">We were off again, this time at a very determined pace. About a half mile later, we were still technically inside the cruise port and we started to question our plan. But at that point we had expended so much time and energy into hiking into town that we couldn't bring ourselves to turn around. So, we continued on until we came to a public bus stop.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8L_2AgXLahc/V27fnIrhBmI/AAAAAAACLkQ/sc8_l1FeUOIXlMUQVdjVHQsaD5loaagMwCKgB/s1600/MA23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8L_2AgXLahc/V27fnIrhBmI/AAAAAAACLkQ/sc8_l1FeUOIXlMUQVdjVHQsaD5loaagMwCKgB/s400/MA23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">There was a very confusing ticket machine in front of a small shack where a bunch of foreign workers were milling about. No one spoke English.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwdkvXq6Vbs/V27kwK2R6WI/AAAAAAACLlk/QEmQI3Qk3QY6X1ZqWKKreJZTBCKGnwSfQCKgB/s1600/MA37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QwdkvXq6Vbs/V27kwK2R6WI/AAAAAAACLlk/QEmQI3Qk3QY6X1ZqWKKreJZTBCKGnwSfQCKgB/s400/MA37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">By this point, we had been joined by </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">several non-French travelers like ourselves who had ended up walking from the cruise ship to </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">this curious bus stop next to absolutely nothing at the edge of the busy freeway</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">. No one spoke English and none of us could figure out how to buy a ticket from the stupid machine that seemed to be broken. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">A few minutes later, a city bus pulled up and the locals boarded. We all began asking the bus driver in unison, "Are you going to the City Center?" (in about five different languages)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ms08YHoJkQ/V27kvJtuZbI/AAAAAAACLlk/NZRAfb0fXP8vg70-TC70Owkxwk_oOM2TACKgB/s1600/MA30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ms08YHoJkQ/V27kvJtuZbI/AAAAAAACLlk/NZRAfb0fXP8vg70-TC70Owkxwk_oOM2TACKgB/s400/MA30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">As soon as the driver realized that none of us had tickets, he attempted to ignore the chorus, and then waved us off, barking something that he apparently thought might be helpful in French as he closed the door and drove off.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"The arrows keep going," I said to Inna, pointing at the edge of the road.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And so, we followed the goddamn things up a steep hill to a crossroads above a six-lane freeway, where they suddenly just ended. We were standing atop the entrance ramp onto the highway where traffic was zipping by with people on their way to happy times.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6O7ofABvmA/V27kv9qA4BI/AAAAAAACLlk/4aZoK-LdJaksTYSuk6S5W3-S-RVnQ_-TQCKgB/s1600/MA34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z6O7ofABvmA/V27kv9qA4BI/AAAAAAACLlk/4aZoK-LdJaksTYSuk6S5W3-S-RVnQ_-TQCKgB/s400/MA34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">We were screwed.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"I guess we need to walk back to that shuttle bus shelter," I said in defeat.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Inna looked at me like I was crazy. "We need to catch a cab," she said, barely containing her anger at me for leading us on this wild goose chase.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I laughed angrily. I wasn't mad at her, but at myself for trying to save some money and pretend that I knew what the hell I was doing. Plus, we had now wasted well-over an hour, we only had six more hours left ashore, and we were no closer to our destination. I felt like a total putz.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kg0pAb3rhyc/V27fnL8WSgI/AAAAAAACLkM/bhotP1Hqwa4nyAM0V7KUmJnvt8D3jQE-ACKgB/s1600/MA25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kg0pAb3rhyc/V27fnL8WSgI/AAAAAAACLkM/bhotP1Hqwa4nyAM0V7KUmJnvt8D3jQE-ACKgB/s400/MA25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">"We'll never catch a cab on this interchange, " I said as I kicked the gravel edge of the ramp in frustration. The view from the intersection was industrial abandon and a spiderweb of ugly railroad tracks.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2rP8ArU9oI/V27fnYCSdVI/AAAAAAACLkY/4NUAgabReKQBTX4K6vsq_KUBhx6Nz_mZwCKgB/s1600/MA26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2rP8ArU9oI/V27fnYCSdVI/AAAAAAACLkY/4NUAgabReKQBTX4K6vsq_KUBhx6Nz_mZwCKgB/s400/MA26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">"Here comes one," said Inna.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">I turned around, and sure enough, there was a cab. I couldn't believe our luck.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0paAAZOo_5g/V27o6GPSthI/AAAAAAACLnA/u6I_odXVIgcKMThIaR-LICwsyQF8br4hQCLcB/s1600/MA31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0paAAZOo_5g/V27o6GPSthI/AAAAAAACLnA/u6I_odXVIgcKMThIaR-LICwsyQF8br4hQCLcB/s400/MA31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">We waved and the cab stopped. The driver was a friendly Arab who spoke perfect English.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">We got in, thanking him profusely.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"Where were you going?" he asked as he started down the entrance ramp.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8fXWsA72o8/V26VS-eRe_I/AAAAAAACLgo/wM7RB9Tw5kU2mJM8-BOAB-dF68bObXMaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8fXWsA72o8/V26VS-eRe_I/AAAAAAACLgo/wM7RB9Tw5kU2mJM8-BOAB-dF68bObXMaQCLcB/s400/IMG_5868.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">"We had heard that it was a twenty minute walk into town. You just follow the green arrows into town," I replied.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaIj7RlC4us/V27mryQSZ6I/AAAAAAACLmA/jihcLpj8KVUi1UYFfOz4wtj6dT05JmSFACLcB/s1600/MA50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaIj7RlC4us/V27mryQSZ6I/AAAAAAACLmA/jihcLpj8KVUi1UYFfOz4wtj6dT05JmSFACLcB/s400/MA50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">He chuckled and shook his head.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0elGd4aWQc/V27mr3aXwaI/AAAAAAACLmE/u0d3rq8YG4caHrYHyCPxpyjY32YKaIqhwCLcB/s1600/MA51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0elGd4aWQc/V27mr3aXwaI/AAAAAAACLmE/u0d3rq8YG4caHrYHyCPxpyjY32YKaIqhwCLcB/s400/MA51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24px;">"It's a ten minute <b>DRIVE</b>, and you would be walking along the highway, my friends," he said as we motored into Marseille.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AD7JMFj3fi0/V26QCwTrKPI/AAAAAAACLcY/RhctDjoa6b8rgj6Jm2cuMITyNCa06cHgwCKgB/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AD7JMFj3fi0/V26QCwTrKPI/AAAAAAACLcY/RhctDjoa6b8rgj6Jm2cuMITyNCa06cHgwCKgB/s400/IMG_5793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The cab driver dropped us off along the main boulevard in the heart of town where I instructed. The street was lined with outdoor cafes and shops that wound around the beautiful harbor dotted with ships of all shapes and sizes. It was noon on Saturday, every restaurant was packed, street performers were doing their thing, and the whole place was going full tilt boogie. It was like a big carnival.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ma0RcYFKfKQ/V26QAemQJqI/AAAAAAACLcI/F6jta0Hwprgqw55cIUHT1P1B5LqCB_y0QCLcB/s1600/IMG_5758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ma0RcYFKfKQ/V26QAemQJqI/AAAAAAACLcI/F6jta0Hwprgqw55cIUHT1P1B5LqCB_y0QCLcB/s400/IMG_5758.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="gmail_default">
<div style="margin: 18px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">When we visit a new city, we always start with the double-decker, open roof <b> HOP ON - HOP OFF </b>bus tour<b>.</b> They are in every big town. And in Marseille they are run by a company called <b>L'OPEN</b>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWpSzmMBfM0/V27nehcrlGI/AAAAAAACLmU/3D1uDMqIMlkecXYnYFsfuPCTx_S8p-RcgCLcB/s1600/MA38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWpSzmMBfM0/V27nehcrlGI/AAAAAAACLmU/3D1uDMqIMlkecXYnYFsfuPCTx_S8p-RcgCLcB/s1600/MA38.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">This is by far the best way, especially if you have limited time, to get a good overview of the entire city, see the top sites, snap some nice photos, and if you are so inclined, get off to check out something captivating and then get back on the next bus.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuBZnf4Azfo/V26QDywcF0I/AAAAAAACLcg/85xtYCSVobcThYCvXkzfBxpl11J8a5fUgCKgB/s1600/IMG_5963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuBZnf4Azfo/V26QDywcF0I/AAAAAAACLcg/85xtYCSVobcThYCvXkzfBxpl11J8a5fUgCKgB/s400/IMG_5963.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXR9v0UAzQg/V26QGv7oLHI/AAAAAAACLdE/7GXbu5fwKZY5eJr7SHDwqE31aNiDm5RtQCKgB/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXR9v0UAzQg/V26QGv7oLHI/AAAAAAACLdE/7GXbu5fwKZY5eJr7SHDwqE31aNiDm5RtQCKgB/s400/IMG_5985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">There was a place to buy tickets for the tour right next to where the cab had dropped us. At least I had gotten that part right. We purchased two all day tickets for $45. Five minutes later, we were on our way, sitting on the top of the bus, listening to a very interesting audio travelogue that pointed out the places of interest that we were passing and explained their storied history.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpIkZvNcgkk/V27nsA4ULlI/AAAAAAACLmc/GPoMxOZhAfAjNkiJ3r1PsoaYAeAYxgEzACLcB/s1600/MA36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpIkZvNcgkk/V27nsA4ULlI/AAAAAAACLmc/GPoMxOZhAfAjNkiJ3r1PsoaYAeAYxgEzACLcB/s400/MA36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ezp7Q2K08LY/V26SjeEPu_I/AAAAAAACLec/d_SykSaYL5IRii4_tqEj9_Wjj_QSubGkQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ezp7Q2K08LY/V26SjeEPu_I/AAAAAAACLec/d_SykSaYL5IRii4_tqEj9_Wjj_QSubGkQCLcB/s400/IMG_5756.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Our little misadventure at the cruise dock had been quickly forgotten and we both had big smiles on our faces. It was lovely day, people were doing all sorts of wild and crazy things along the waterfront esplanade, and the Mediterranean sea sparkled like diamond water.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bqhWKig620/V26RoqBZlaI/AAAAAAACLd8/8hlXHMh6CHAfnxril_dWDMXMHDFAWslZACLcB/s1600/IMG_6061%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bqhWKig620/V26RoqBZlaI/AAAAAAACLd8/8hlXHMh6CHAfnxril_dWDMXMHDFAWslZACLcB/s400/IMG_6061%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Our tour would take us to twelve of the best spots around Marseille:</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TON5FrjFc5s/V27oOUTEsOI/AAAAAAACLmo/lHxkk6xFiSA-bjETOaUHyThI1ou1VRWHQCLcB/s1600/MA55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TON5FrjFc5s/V27oOUTEsOI/AAAAAAACLmo/lHxkk6xFiSA-bjETOaUHyThI1ou1VRWHQCLcB/s400/MA55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PeNtbwm_6v4/V26Rosii-aI/AAAAAAACLd4/hyt4P4deIvEA03_aPFlhCWgGav26ux8aQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6085%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PeNtbwm_6v4/V26Rosii-aI/AAAAAAACLd4/hyt4P4deIvEA03_aPFlhCWgGav26ux8aQCLcB/s400/IMG_6085%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Vieux Port </b>(Harbor Central where we boarded)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCbf4hA6kL4/V26SATAbOjI/AAAAAAACLeQ/YN4ivieCGb8Ha4lIsqEuK4BNeA0s6S-PQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uCbf4hA6kL4/V26SATAbOjI/AAAAAAACLeQ/YN4ivieCGb8Ha4lIsqEuK4BNeA0s6S-PQCLcB/s400/IMG_5991.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Métro - Vieux Port </b>(Transit Center)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HkEiljtcUFo/V26VbIlZLTI/AAAAAAACLgw/PT2S2CNkl5QZ3HFMUTJNP4kZrz2NuMArACLcB/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HkEiljtcUFo/V26VbIlZLTI/AAAAAAACLgw/PT2S2CNkl5QZ3HFMUTJNP4kZrz2NuMArACLcB/s400/IMG_6041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Fort Saint-Nicolas </b>(Originally a small chapel built in the Middle Ages which eventually was expanded into an imposing fortress guarding the harbor.)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkja1-OO61s/V27YxZs01OI/AAAAAAACLj4/tKLV_Te7m5Ax3xmiI7bq5mxDmAxAFIoQwCKgB/s1600/MA7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkja1-OO61s/V27YxZs01OI/AAAAAAACLj4/tKLV_Te7m5Ax3xmiI7bq5mxDmAxAFIoQwCKgB/s400/MA7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFIMwdCa2ho/V26TPiscpUI/AAAAAAACLew/Ee9tue3Uq_QghFGoEANl6odom5TqHWmXwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFIMwdCa2ho/V26TPiscpUI/AAAAAAACLew/Ee9tue3Uq_QghFGoEANl6odom5TqHWmXwCLcB/s400/IMG_6073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Vallon des Auffes </b>(A picturesque fishing village)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPocKHo6KJY/V26TjvobXII/AAAAAAACLe8/W2-OxzyMzvoO6B-QQGTx3SeKI9bDXzLQwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPocKHo6KJY/V26TjvobXII/AAAAAAACLe8/W2-OxzyMzvoO6B-QQGTx3SeKI9bDXzLQwCLcB/s400/IMG_5838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Corniche Talabot </b>(Cute little neighborhood park and public beach)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BQEVb4fChyk/V2700xBAPvI/AAAAAAACLnk/oGOnyxvNMi0tOoRG_r8CZl5VmKp1GWMwQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BQEVb4fChyk/V2700xBAPvI/AAAAAAACLnk/oGOnyxvNMi0tOoRG_r8CZl5VmKp1GWMwQCLcB/s400/IMG_5806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC5SdkXrg8w/V26TGui7brI/AAAAAAACLeo/aIZQG8cGJAw__gqHTPufzS9I8vchc6ssQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oC5SdkXrg8w/V26TGui7brI/AAAAAAACLeo/aIZQG8cGJAw__gqHTPufzS9I8vchc6ssQCLcB/s400/IMG_6058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Parc Borelyi </b>(Large city park designated by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the "Notable Garden of France") </span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knkFwyNI25A/V26TwvzkznI/AAAAAAACLfE/Ckbu-5Pp1EsANgHoIYHmnGE9IXNZ4MbxACLcB/s1600/IMG_6044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-knkFwyNI25A/V26TwvzkznI/AAAAAAACLfE/Ckbu-5Pp1EsANgHoIYHmnGE9IXNZ4MbxACLcB/s400/IMG_6044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9dKMRtlatY/V27Yv6Jbi7I/AAAAAAACLj4/tUEGcO1S_OQlbYP4YjkHsd5nZvsTUon0gCKgB/s1600/MA10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9dKMRtlatY/V27Yv6Jbi7I/AAAAAAACLj4/tUEGcO1S_OQlbYP4YjkHsd5nZvsTUon0gCKgB/s400/MA10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Oriol Cornichei </b>(</span>Where we could see the magnificent <b>Château d'If</b> on a nearby island just across the harbor. This was the place that Alexandre Dumas used as inspiration for the dungeon scenes in his famous book <i><b>The Count of Monte Cristo</b></i>.)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbccXy-M37c/V26T29xMAII/AAAAAAACLfQ/g2YmpEwy0bgoNarYePQfi7ZrMfdPKv1fgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbccXy-M37c/V26T29xMAII/AAAAAAACLfQ/g2YmpEwy0bgoNarYePQfi7ZrMfdPKv1fgCLcB/s400/IMG_6072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Notre Dame de laid Garde</b> (A breathtaking church like no other atop a limestone mountain with stunning views of the city and the Med.)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5yNls5jF0gM/V26T_WHcVfI/AAAAAAACLfY/Zbp63H-JzDUs2I3EzLehlLChKRG8zheRACLcB/s1600/IMG_6104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5yNls5jF0gM/V26T_WHcVfI/AAAAAAACLfY/Zbp63H-JzDUs2I3EzLehlLChKRG8zheRACLcB/s400/IMG_6104.JPG" width="322" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Corderie Saint Victor</b> (Roman Era monastery built in 415 AD)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xRNcAHMjE6Y/V26Ws13Z48I/AAAAAAACLhY/p740wicU9iM29-HnhFFYFytzd5yBMEvCgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xRNcAHMjE6Y/V26Ws13Z48I/AAAAAAACLhY/p740wicU9iM29-HnhFFYFytzd5yBMEvCgCLcB/s320/IMG_6026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Préfecture </b>(A bustling revitalization area in the heart of town that is home to white Neo-Classical Notre Dame du Mont where Chopin once played while passing through town.)</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5FihUosiJQ/V27ztmk-_vI/AAAAAAACLnY/4tmpv98yh5oH3S3btAeNQFv0zOebqdsxwCLcB/s1600/IMG_5750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5FihUosiJQ/V27ztmk-_vI/AAAAAAACLnY/4tmpv98yh5oH3S3btAeNQFv0zOebqdsxwCLcB/s400/IMG_5750.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><b>Gabriel Péri / Républiq<b>ue </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">(History Museum)</span></b></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eddcE_doZLU/V27YxC9z2EI/AAAAAAACLj4/JKKQP643ZW0PbmcjTv70W3BVk4IQrcIDQCKgB/s1600/MA5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eddcE_doZLU/V27YxC9z2EI/AAAAAAACLj4/JKKQP643ZW0PbmcjTv70W3BVk4IQrcIDQCKgB/s400/MA5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</b></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTfSNbu6J9E/V26Vk9hLFFI/AAAAAAACLg4/b6iYzkX5Uc02DOP2DPlTxiwQlJrqclpYQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTfSNbu6J9E/V26Vk9hLFFI/AAAAAAACLg4/b6iYzkX5Uc02DOP2DPlTxiwQlJrqclpYQCLcB/s400/IMG_6004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>P</b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>lace de la Joliette </b>(The </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 18.9px; text-align: center;">Cathédrale de la Major is the centerpiece of this beautiful plaza.)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--_dLqA2YwTs/V26UP3QbAmI/AAAAAAACLfk/-KMrFVQTcS04RQrur6hNwwWpJ0adfgmWwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--_dLqA2YwTs/V26UP3QbAmI/AAAAAAACLfk/-KMrFVQTcS04RQrur6hNwwWpJ0adfgmWwCLcB/s400/IMG_6016.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Fort Saint Jean / MUCEM</b> (T</span>he famous entrance to the Marseille Old Port built by Louis XIV in 1660, and where fishermen deliver their daily catch.)</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0rPnC-nn1A/V26Vswm1u4I/AAAAAAACLhA/IEIR8kR_ydUQYVPrHlegtZ2BCxRI4nMAQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0rPnC-nn1A/V26Vswm1u4I/AAAAAAACLhA/IEIR8kR_ydUQYVPrHlegtZ2BCxRI4nMAQCLcB/s400/IMG_6002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We got off the bus at Notre Dame de laid Garde and walked up the long series of steps to the top of the mountain where this Neo-Byzantine Catholic basilica made of green and white Florentine limestone dwarfed the landscape like a biblical space gantry. We spent a couple of hours walking around the inside of the cavernous structure, checking out the crypt, museums, cafe, chapels, and main church before strolling the ramparts, taking in the busting city below. Man, I'm telling you, the Catholics don't do anything half way. As I tried <span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">–</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> </span>in vein <span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">–</span> to take in the manifest beauty of the church and its surroundings I had no trouble believing in divine inspiration.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cW6aRDm7w4Y/V26UgfDOJqI/AAAAAAACLfw/vn1gIDuX4XMtK54cDmeNl46LJ7vP6W1-ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cW6aRDm7w4Y/V26UgfDOJqI/AAAAAAACLfw/vn1gIDuX4XMtK54cDmeNl46LJ7vP6W1-ACLcB/s400/IMG_6123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kgOGoEoXoU0/V27KWFfJM0I/AAAAAAACLiI/Z5cDUwvBaec5MUcQ7h97sV3DwcTbnVRaACLcB/s1600/IMG_6139%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kgOGoEoXoU0/V27KWFfJM0I/AAAAAAACLiI/Z5cDUwvBaec5MUcQ7h97sV3DwcTbnVRaACLcB/s400/IMG_6139%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcKU0xwgZ9k/V26UiYFzn6I/AAAAAAACLgA/IDxXOruZjGwQY1Tjr9h6wwhvrYhRxoKIwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcKU0xwgZ9k/V26UiYFzn6I/AAAAAAACLgA/IDxXOruZjGwQY1Tjr9h6wwhvrYhRxoKIwCLcB/s400/IMG_6136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We caught the last bus back into town around five and then picked up a cab near Fort Saint Jean. It had been a memorable day indeed.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z05mFxBOSgI/V27obEs7skI/AAAAAAACLm0/db_ctVfaKbQ7UMCxRI1Mit420gYhrkdSwCLcB/s1600/MA35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z05mFxBOSgI/V27obEs7skI/AAAAAAACLm0/db_ctVfaKbQ7UMCxRI1Mit420gYhrkdSwCLcB/s1600/MA35.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcH1w5zoHJU/V27Yv6GVAvI/AAAAAAACLj4/Vjr2YHFQ80oNsew36K51AWAdROS_9ZytwCKgB/s1600/MA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcH1w5zoHJU/V27Yv6GVAvI/AAAAAAACLj4/Vjr2YHFQ80oNsew36K51AWAdROS_9ZytwCKgB/s400/MA1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Travel brochures often use the word "vibrant" to describe Marseille which was founded by the Greeks more than 2,600 years ago. It is definitely a happening city where people work and play hard. And while it has some incredibly beautiful structures and rock 'em-sock 'em history, it is a pretty rundown place.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcwnu90imCc/V26XZLOJvHI/AAAAAAACLhs/tDAUJdKoS0QTll0gZvYaHcDIQ4oDdGb6wCLcB/s1600/IMG_5848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcwnu90imCc/V26XZLOJvHI/AAAAAAACLhs/tDAUJdKoS0QTll0gZvYaHcDIQ4oDdGb6wCLcB/s400/IMG_5848.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0JN9ONh6kU/V27YwckkXiI/AAAAAAACLiw/L2ILvOYmCVU4VaPS-y2Sbmrw7N6UBCJigCKgB/s1600/MA17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0JN9ONh6kU/V27YwckkXiI/AAAAAAACLiw/L2ILvOYmCVU4VaPS-y2Sbmrw7N6UBCJigCKgB/s400/MA17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Marseille is a sprawling town. And the harbor is lovely. But once you get away from the water, it's dirty and covered in graffiti. A</span><span style="line-height: normal;">lmost every flat space has been tagged. There was trash everywhere. And most of the housing consists of apartments with high ceilings. The windows are covered with tall shutters that can be opened and closed depending on the weather or your mood. We must have seen several thousand shutters during our bus ride around town, and not one looked like it had been painted in the last twenty years.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBrWSvTZByg/V27KNO7FgXI/AAAAAAACLiA/I1XgoVsDhLEr5r1YoxA6YsN31Tm2_OrWACLcB/s1600/IMG_5810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBrWSvTZByg/V27KNO7FgXI/AAAAAAACLiA/I1XgoVsDhLEr5r1YoxA6YsN31Tm2_OrWACLcB/s400/IMG_5810.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
\</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZ2ZpnaRSeA/V27YwCJZTgI/AAAAAAACLis/UxWs5_Mb4Nc0ixeHUrzLItTSeMjJktx5gCLcB/s1600/MA12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZ2ZpnaRSeA/V27YwCJZTgI/AAAAAAACLis/UxWs5_Mb4Nc0ixeHUrzLItTSeMjJktx5gCLcB/s400/MA12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbecgV_DfZk/V27YwLu_mFI/AAAAAAACLio/KTmriW2jzWoADGC4206A2hfhVAO4JqogQCLcB/s1600/MA13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbecgV_DfZk/V27YwLu_mFI/AAAAAAACLio/KTmriW2jzWoADGC4206A2hfhVAO4JqogQCLcB/s400/MA13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
We were left with the distinct impression that Marseille is a town that has lost its sense of pride. Maybe everyone is just too busy to care or even notice the general state of disrepair and neglect. They keep the tourist attractions looking nice, but the rest of the city has pretty much gone to pot.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-g6-tZk_1U/V27YwcpS8bI/AAAAAAACLjY/lRP2doa408APGWJg0bMFiyhHm-CvN3_CQCKgB/s1600/MA15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5-g6-tZk_1U/V27YwcpS8bI/AAAAAAACLjY/lRP2doa408APGWJg0bMFiyhHm-CvN3_CQCKgB/s400/MA15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eUCMQybTlM4/V27YwQHDF-I/AAAAAAACLi0/Ufo1y2UqGoUms3gCwRZO8DHDNEqV4r-CgCKgB/s1600/MA18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eUCMQybTlM4/V27YwQHDF-I/AAAAAAACLi0/Ufo1y2UqGoUms3gCwRZO8DHDNEqV4r-CgCKgB/s400/MA18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonder how such things happen? It must take a while. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zdxzI1qQi4/V27YxVvSESI/AAAAAAACLj4/kp15Zzj5bWM2heJvOFOcSFLEYcRG_f_7gCKgB/s1600/MA8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zdxzI1qQi4/V27YxVvSESI/AAAAAAACLj4/kp15Zzj5bWM2heJvOFOcSFLEYcRG_f_7gCKgB/s400/MA8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our little excursion through Marseille, France had taught us several valuable lessons, but the one I will long remember is this: Don't blindly follow brochures or travel websites. And never, ever follow those stupid green arrows. Those things can get you killed.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--F-jqeTbM0c/V27YxEoDMiI/AAAAAAACLj4/wq8eE__AmHYpWrshrn2xQ7zV3g9NqIApQCKgB/s1600/MA6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--F-jqeTbM0c/V27YxEoDMiI/AAAAAAACLj4/wq8eE__AmHYpWrshrn2xQ7zV3g9NqIApQCKgB/s400/MA6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-59921604551742981432016-06-17T13:02:00.000-07:002016-06-17T21:31:17.855-07:00A DIFFERENT KIND OF CRUISE<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlHtWkB_zc/V2NNNMWD3OI/AAAAAAACLP4/PDx6azKfV0wZvTB5c8GnS8M_fwmWNebUQCLcB/s1600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlHtWkB_zc/V2NNNMWD3OI/AAAAAAACLP4/PDx6azKfV0wZvTB5c8GnS8M_fwmWNebUQCLcB/s400/M1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Inna and I love cruisin' the world by ship and have previously gone with Royal Caribbean (our favorite), Holland America, and Norwegian. Those are the middle ground cruise lines. You get all that you need for an enjoyable trip at a reasonable price and the ships are ornate and clean. Disney and Princess are the top tier lines. But you are going to pay more for the fancy perks, like mints on the bed each night and bathrobes, better entertainment and food, and more lavish surroundings. At the bottom end, there's Carnival. Carnival sucks you in because they are always the cheapest. But there is a reason for that. They suck. So, we stick to the mid-range cruise lines and it has always worked out well for us.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NP3CPH_CXGo/V2NF_awuf4I/AAAAAAACLN0/3Dd1cloQCg8Mai0-MnZuW5I6hmrF1XdtwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NP3CPH_CXGo/V2NF_awuf4I/AAAAAAACLN0/3Dd1cloQCg8Mai0-MnZuW5I6hmrF1XdtwCLcB/s400/IMG_2418.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The problem with booking the same cruise lines is that they go to the same places. So, once you have done the Eastern Med or Western Caribbean a few times, there's nothing else to see that's new. They don't change the stops. And that's okay two or three times, but you will eventually say to yourself, "We're stopping in Grenada again?"</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVDxeu5qLYY/V2NFr0LjxcI/AAAAAAACLNs/nu-omlG1OwkHRjbg180LghEMLdv1ubN7wCLcB/s1600/IMG_2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cVDxeu5qLYY/V2NFr0LjxcI/AAAAAAACLNs/nu-omlG1OwkHRjbg180LghEMLdv1ubN7wCLcB/s400/IMG_2145.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">When it comes to Europe, that's a serious commitment of time and money, and having done two Med cruises already, we decided we wanted to go on a cruise that stopped at places we had never seen.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8eXDKl2los/V2NQ_tMII3I/AAAAAAACLRk/IcSdRlDGgl8qnhjy05Gh1uqljpTpfQELQCLcB/s1600/MED%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8eXDKl2los/V2NQ_tMII3I/AAAAAAACLRk/IcSdRlDGgl8qnhjy05Gh1uqljpTpfQELQCLcB/s400/MED%2B1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last winter I started checking out our options and found a seven day cruise with a company I had never heard of before called <b>MSC</b>, offering a very interesting trip with stops in <b>Barcelona, Spain; Marselle, France; Genoa, Italy; Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Valletta, Malta; and Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain </b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Friday to Friday, for $905 per person. That also included a balcony, which for Inna and me is an absolute must. So, with tips, booze, and incidentals, it would probably come out to about $200 a day. And that was, at least in theory, cheap for a seven day cruise with a balcony, sailing out of Barcelona (my favorite city on earth), and stopping at six exotic Mediterranean ports that we had never visited.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEj4Ec9V0qw/V2NNNeuD-QI/AAAAAAACLQM/AQa-jQsGaOcR4UTY-06DP_0dGUuD1RfUQCLcB/s1600/M12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEj4Ec9V0qw/V2NNNeuD-QI/AAAAAAACLQM/AQa-jQsGaOcR4UTY-06DP_0dGUuD1RfUQCLcB/s400/M12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Before booking the cruise, I checked out a website called <b>Cruise Critic</b> where they rate every ship and tell you the pros and cons. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cruisecritic.com/" target="_blank">Cruise Critic</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">They rated the <b><i>MSC Poesia </i></b>a 4 out of 5 and said that 51% of people who had taken it liked their cruise. Not exactly glowing praise, but still not bad.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5a8Dgk0X8A/V2NNN22WZNI/AAAAAAACLQg/ALWf3sVq9Z8XGx18CUimxksajaqRF8ZcgCLcB/s1600/M20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5a8Dgk0X8A/V2NNN22WZNI/AAAAAAACLQg/ALWf3sVq9Z8XGx18CUimxksajaqRF8ZcgCLcB/s400/M20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then they got down in the weeds, providing greater detail:</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Launched in 2008, 92,600-ton, 3,000-passenger MSC </span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;">Poesia is the third of Italy-based MSC Cruises' four Musica-class vessels. </span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Tastefully exuberant decor--</span></b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">brass handrails on the staircases, marble countertops at reception, a waterfall in the atrium, twinkling lights on the ceiling in the theater </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">--</span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> means the ship is elegant but not boring. Its lounges (particularly the Zebra Bar, Il Grappolo d'Oro wine bar and Hitchcock Lounge) are charming, and the well-appointed, color-splashed cabins make it feel more like an upscale hotel than a cruise ship. Of course, you'll still find the standard cruise-ship offerings like pools, nightly entertainment and kids' activities.</span></b></span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">While the ship is lovely, what really sets it apart from other mainstream mega-ships is this: MSC is an unabashedly European line, and the approach to service, onboard vibe and passenger habits reflect that. North Americans shouldn't expect the usual, proactive service which many cruisers are accustomed to finding on Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean. While everyone, from cabin stewards to dining room waiters, is helpful and friendly, don't be surprised if you don't learn their names without asking or if you have to specifically request certain U.S. staples like in-cabin ice. You also shouldn't expect to be coddled; although all staff members we encountered aimed to please, we found that it wasn't the norm for them to anticipate our every need.</span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxGRrraULvA/V2NNNtZ62uI/AAAAAAACLQY/cXe6trP7EUY8soMQCgBrm8vnEH_m9dNvgCLcB/s1600/M18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxGRrraULvA/V2NNNtZ62uI/AAAAAAACLQY/cXe6trP7EUY8soMQCgBrm8vnEH_m9dNvgCLcB/s400/M18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Poesia splits its time between Northern Europe and South American itineraries. You'll still find many international passengers, even when the ship sails from Fort Lauderdale, so expect all messages -- everything from muster drill instructions and daily programs to announcements from the cruise director -- to be delivered in at least five different languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French and German. (Note: During Caribbean sailings, currency onboard is the U.S. dollar. When the ship sails in Europe, the euro is used.)</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Entertainment, some of which missed its mark, has to transcend various language barriers, so you won't find comedians or other similar performers. However, acrobats and jugglers achieve the balance flawlessly, and our jaws dropped more than once at their talents.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">In general, the European crowd seems to take life at a much more relaxed pace. In that vein, dinners are eaten a bit more leisurely, and portions are smaller than Americans might be used to, but that just means you'll leave feeling pleasantly full, rather than disgustingly stuffed. Plus, you can always ask for seconds, and the waitstaff will oblige. Another nice touch is that ship staff do their best to seat you with other English-speakers, so you won't have to fumble through meals relying on nods and gestures.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">MSC offers excellent rates and deep discounts, but anyone expecting a Carnival-type atmosphere will be disappointed. It seemed the most notable takeaway from our time on Poesia was that people either love it, or they hate it, and we met a lot who fell into each camp. Some weren't happy with the service. Others disliked that the announcements took five times as long, due to the language issue. And still others complained about all menu items that weren't hot dogs and fries. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "helvetica neue", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">If you're looking for an affordable sailing with an international flare without having to travel too far, this might just be the ship for you. However, it's important to understand what you can expect. Overall, cruises on Poesia aren't bad; they're just diff</span></span></b></span><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">erent.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju6dj4IzOYo/V2NDWN-9C9I/AAAAAAACLMs/IvWg8pqGxh48y9BnmsQN6iVsD1fatvmfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ju6dj4IzOYo/V2NDWN-9C9I/AAAAAAACLMs/IvWg8pqGxh48y9BnmsQN6iVsD1fatvmfgCLcB/s400/IMG_5731.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></b>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Inna and I both like different and we had usually found Europeans to be fun and interesting, so we booked the cruise. We ended up getting exactly what we wanted: a balcony room, amidships, on the tenth deck, so we were strategically located near the dining room (sixth deck) and the cafeteria and pool (thirteenth deck). And we could avoid the crowded elevators and get some good exercise each day walking the steps.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwMJTBsm6o0/V2NBGfutCMI/AAAAAAACLLQ/_9RwQRl5qsQE14lf8Q-yIKgoxJNoibWmwCKgB/s1600/IMG_5728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kwMJTBsm6o0/V2NBGfutCMI/AAAAAAACLLQ/_9RwQRl5qsQE14lf8Q-yIKgoxJNoibWmwCKgB/s400/IMG_5728.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>MSC IMPRESSIONS</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Unlike any other cruise lines we had previously sailed with, this MSC cruise had no beginning or end. It was a non-stop,7-day loop and people were getting on and off at each stop. So the faces were constantly changing. It took us a few days to realize what the hell was going on. When we pulled into Genoa on the second day, I noticed there were tons of luggage waiting on the dock. And when we went ashore to look around, we were surrounded by passengers carrying their bags off the ship. It was then that we realized we were on a cruise that was sailing a never-ending circuit. Some folks were just doing a two or three day cruise, especially on the weekends. Essentially, we were on a giant sailing bus with lots of places to eat and play with comfy beds.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr-KGgurO3M/V2NHiCm2u2I/AAAAAAACLO0/L4c_MWHKQlgQJ09pbKIsmGCpVE30ZhHWQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vr-KGgurO3M/V2NHiCm2u2I/AAAAAAACLO0/L4c_MWHKQlgQJ09pbKIsmGCpVE30ZhHWQCLcB/s400/IMG_0709.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">Genoa is the big stop because it is MSC's home port, so that's when most people depart and board. And that first night the new arrivals came on-board was crazy wild. When we came out of the dining room after dinner, it was like walking into halftime at a Baltimore Ravens football game.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6MlV8Mk8fI/V2NBJrZKv3I/AAAAAAACLLk/NGQ-S7xYUHwcC5daJmRFZarhCBPqbZaqACKgB/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6MlV8Mk8fI/V2NBJrZKv3I/AAAAAAACLLk/NGQ-S7xYUHwcC5daJmRFZarhCBPqbZaqACKgB/s400/IMG_5733.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MSC is cheaper than most of the other cruise lines, so their ships are always packed. But they constantly nickel and dime you with add on fees </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;">– </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">expensive shuttles from the port, Internet that doesn't work, steam room and sauna, coffee or tea at dinner </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.2px;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"> it's all extra and got slightly aggravating. You probably end up paying more for the cruise in the end when you factor in all of the hidden costs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOI5Yg7Bxmo/V2PzyrRxs8I/AAAAAAACLTo/PpKmSgZbsu4nbzVfKeWZi6rPG6tKBsytwCKgB/s1600/M22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOI5Yg7Bxmo/V2PzyrRxs8I/AAAAAAACLTo/PpKmSgZbsu4nbzVfKeWZi6rPG6tKBsytwCKgB/s400/M22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As Cruise Critic had warned, there were very few Americans on the MSC Poesia. Hardly anybody spoke English, including the people working on the ship. And it was way different than a Royal Caribbean or Holland America cruise, starting with the fact that pretty much every place we went on the ship was really crowded and loud. It was a perpetual free for all. And while they tried to limit the ship-board announcements over the PA, when everything has to be done in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German, it does start to get under your skin. Luckily for us, they started with English each time, so we could tune it all out after that.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvXtTUmuzpY/V2PzzovsqPI/AAAAAAACLTo/foNsoYFssL8m0E-1djPJgJC_wTFCd8JyQCKgB/s1600/M46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvXtTUmuzpY/V2PzzovsqPI/AAAAAAACLTo/foNsoYFssL8m0E-1djPJgJC_wTFCd8JyQCKgB/s400/M46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I really must say that the ship was lovely, the state rooms were slightly larger than any ship we had sailed on before, and the crew was always cleaning everything from stem to stern. Usually, the stateroom attendant comes and cleans your room while you are at breakfast, and then in the evening when you are eating dinner. But on MSC ships, they run right in and clean your room every time you leave. We couldn't figure out how they knew when we left. We thought that maybe there was a hidden alarm on the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0y7O4np7fec/V2PwGN_AvdI/AAAAAAACLSg/C6zeZqRftokCRgizZBLYpXQZG-Br7K7hQCLcB/s1600/MED%2BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0y7O4np7fec/V2PwGN_AvdI/AAAAAAACLSg/C6zeZqRftokCRgizZBLYpXQZG-Br7K7hQCLcB/s400/MED%2BC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It took us about two days to figure out how to play the MSC game, and at first we were pretty overwhelmed <span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– and not in a good way. </span> But we soon learned the dance moves and how to navigate the crowds, and after that, we had a ball. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6hKJlz_up8/V2NBMljn1pI/AAAAAAACLL4/thEEmOhV-A8J8ILfVLGa-gXFxBWcXdGzQCKgB/s1600/IMG_5744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6hKJlz_up8/V2NBMljn1pI/AAAAAAACLL4/thEEmOhV-A8J8ILfVLGa-gXFxBWcXdGzQCKgB/s400/IMG_5744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lessons learned included:</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">* Go to the gym between 4-5 when people are getting</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> ready for dinner and starting to party.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">* Eat in the dining room for breakfast rather than battle</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> the throngs in the cafeteria.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">* Never go to the cafeteria at peak hours between 12-2.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>* Find the out-of-the-way bars where you can sit quietly</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> and relax after dinner.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>* Order drinks via room service so you can avoid the </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> long lines and sloth-like bartenders at the pool and </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> main bars.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>* Don't take any crap off the Europeans. Push back!</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH3SVRyhCaw/V2NBIW54x-I/AAAAAAACLLc/6vgo_i78Eg4BcAIZNuzZ8mZOw6nr3XhPwCKgB/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dH3SVRyhCaw/V2NBIW54x-I/AAAAAAACLLc/6vgo_i78Eg4BcAIZNuzZ8mZOw6nr3XhPwCKgB/s400/IMG_5730.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna and I have spent a lot of time in Europe, and we thought we knew the score. We had always found Europeans to be cultured and friendly. But being on a tightly-packed cruise ship with them is a whole different ballgame. </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YZpALN3JPgU/V2NBLBR1seI/AAAAAAACLLs/XXoD9yY-ZeMv5_CM56pwgoCRP714DTrhACKgB/s1600/IMG_5736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YZpALN3JPgU/V2NBLBR1seI/AAAAAAACLLs/XXoD9yY-ZeMv5_CM56pwgoCRP714DTrhACKgB/s400/IMG_5736.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a general rule, when occupying a finite space, Europeans (not all, of course) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I mean, I don't want to start sounding like that jerkoff Donald Trump </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="font-size: large;"> are pushy and rude,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> especially the little old ladies and children. But I really don't think it was intentional. It's more like second nature. My theory is this: Their crowded urban lifestyles teaches them from an early age that they have to scramble to get their rightful share. So, they bump into or in front of you without even really seeing you. And being small definitely gives you an advantage because you have a low center of gravity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6C6oUrjtgWk/V2P87MOqk5I/AAAAAAACLVE/x6MAjV8YDz8AbPK185MgJoL5pRvJqCBfACKgB/s1600/M60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6C6oUrjtgWk/V2P87MOqk5I/AAAAAAACLVE/x6MAjV8YDz8AbPK185MgJoL5pRvJqCBfACKgB/s400/M60.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzbXRTwRKwY/V2NNO_dpyCI/AAAAAAACLRI/R6zMaR7tsTc9yKXAtWX3JOIQfF4sW_PKQCLcB/s1600/M9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzbXRTwRKwY/V2NNO_dpyCI/AAAAAAACLRI/R6zMaR7tsTc9yKXAtWX3JOIQfF4sW_PKQCLcB/s400/M9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The buffet each day was like a rugby scrum. And you could see the Americans holding their plates tightly against their chests almost in fear, with their mouths agape, like WTF? It really did give us a new appreciation for just how courteous Americans are in relation to Europeans when space is limited.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIK3Vy36BAI/V2NNOtaA1VI/AAAAAAACLQ4/vfMBzlOD2ycaUA4q392M8Q6idnW9kxkvwCLcB/s1600/M4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIK3Vy36BAI/V2NNOtaA1VI/AAAAAAACLQ4/vfMBzlOD2ycaUA4q392M8Q6idnW9kxkvwCLcB/s400/M4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You could hold a door open for others all day before someone would stop in thanks and let you pass. They figure that you are either a total dumbass or the doorman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwieUcxnTpg/V2QFMWfBu4I/AAAAAAACLV4/UA5SIcBK9Ygtacht_1k0jat4mr-t66s1ACLcB/s1600/M30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hwieUcxnTpg/V2QFMWfBu4I/AAAAAAACLV4/UA5SIcBK9Ygtacht_1k0jat4mr-t66s1ACLcB/s400/M30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Being a big-boy American definitely had its advantages in such a dynamic. By day three, I found myself elbowing people out of the way in the cafeteria, hallways, or around the saltwater pools. When in Rome ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Co1hPtXCq4/V2NCdiYcTwI/AAAAAAACLMQ/ORFlbfYI_UAJQTCyyx4YTNILVMB1GRlKwCLcB/s1600/P1030141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Co1hPtXCq4/V2NCdiYcTwI/AAAAAAACLMQ/ORFlbfYI_UAJQTCyyx4YTNILVMB1GRlKwCLcB/s400/P1030141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Inna likes her coffee in the morning, and we have a ritual when we travel where I get up early and go get her some fresh coffee. I don't drink coffee, but I like keeping my little baby happy. So, I go take a dump in one of the main bathrooms so I don't stink up the room, and then snag some hot coffee. Inna said the coffee on-board the ship was much better than the "dishwater" they served on the other cruise lines. Europeans do know their coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BNv6O7GB68/V2P873kCifI/AAAAAAACLVE/xJr7ES4M_R0ak8KYohNkX1S6fpWlzwbWQCKgB/s1600/M76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BNv6O7GB68/V2P873kCifI/AAAAAAACLVE/xJr7ES4M_R0ak8KYohNkX1S6fpWlzwbWQCKgB/s400/M76.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One morning I was standing by the Espresso machine, waiting for the server to change the filter, and this little Italian lady just butted right in front of me. I smiled and then kneed her right in the back. She didn't say a word or even look at me. But she got the point, and immediately moved behind me where she belonged. Imagine doing that in America.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4T87z56K7c/V2NBGh2wfJI/AAAAAAACLLU/Zs6A8kln7GEqMJdFdy8GEm0jyTf7aqDJgCKgB/s1600/IMG_5723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4T87z56K7c/V2NBGh2wfJI/AAAAAAACLLU/Zs6A8kln7GEqMJdFdy8GEm0jyTf7aqDJgCKgB/s400/IMG_5723.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Food is definitely a big part of a cruise for a lot of people, but not so much for Inna and me. We do breakfast and then we are off the boat until late afternoon. We take along some fruit and yogurt in our packs for while we are ashore. Dinner is our big meal and it's always fun to eat a fancy feast where you get served like royalty. And we invariably meet very nice people with whom we can share our daily adventures. This time around, it was a wonderful couple from Montreal who taught ballroom dancing. We plan to visit them this summer in Canada.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuByMNOqhjY/V2NC__ve3dI/AAAAAAACLMk/oberJX4HUAAYb7pSomkkdnViGQzUcaQ5ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SuByMNOqhjY/V2NC__ve3dI/AAAAAAACLMk/oberJX4HUAAYb7pSomkkdnViGQzUcaQ5ACLcB/s400/IMG_6398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinners are always a big production on a cruise ship. There can be no denying, however, that many passengers spend a lot of time chowing down in the cafeteria buffet and that's where most people eat all of their meals, especially families with kids.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPfuBWHuK68/V2PzzGCsI-I/AAAAAAACLTE/CoYpsrRFucwhgxtSLkIWhilnFtY4XQUdQCKgB/s1600/M34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPfuBWHuK68/V2PzzGCsI-I/AAAAAAACLTE/CoYpsrRFucwhgxtSLkIWhilnFtY4XQUdQCKgB/s400/M34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The MSC food was okay, nothing special. There was less variety than we were used to, but they changed up the menu a little each day, it was pretty tasty, and we always found something we liked. It was mostly Italian. There were many pasta and rice dishes, casseroles, and a wide assortment of meats and fish. The salad bar was immense with a wide variety of ingredients to mix and match. And the desert lines were always quite long as people grazed through a nice assortment of cookies, cakes, custards, and jello parfaits. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLhHALuftDE/V2P86w5AZQI/AAAAAAACLVE/6jKNsmUK-cwzEDrReUwkX_VdYy0lOoH9gCKgB/s1600/M56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLhHALuftDE/V2P86w5AZQI/AAAAAAACLVE/6jKNsmUK-cwzEDrReUwkX_VdYy0lOoH9gCKgB/s400/M56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Fruit is my thing and the fruit was fresh every day. One thing we found interesting was that all the fruit had seeds, like the watermelon and grapes. I had forgotten that those fruits even had seeds. I thought that seeds in everything other than maybe oranges were long gone. That's because Americans eat genetically modified foods. The Europeans don't. So their fruit still has seeds. And it tastes better too.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twPiCutlca0/V2P87B0cMGI/AAAAAAACLUY/dRx2xEMotksPxrj07gLHdOWW6Iv_ocGNgCKgB/s1600/M58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twPiCutlca0/V2P87B0cMGI/AAAAAAACLUY/dRx2xEMotksPxrj07gLHdOWW6Iv_ocGNgCKgB/s400/M58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One of the most popular food items was pizza. They had two big pizza ovens pumping out pizzas from dawn 'til they closed at ten. And it was really, really good. It was very thin crust pizza with spicy ingredients and excellent cheese. They couldn't make it fast enough. And as soon as a pizza was put out on a tray, it was gone.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeNduu-Es10/V2P860ILisI/AAAAAAACLUU/Vb3NKoFx6WImIg3QgWdyVN-XgbfckrfxACKgB/s1600/M55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OeNduu-Es10/V2P860ILisI/AAAAAAACLUU/Vb3NKoFx6WImIg3QgWdyVN-XgbfckrfxACKgB/s400/M55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Another big hit was pure Americana. They served hamburgers </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">and pretty tasty french fries. For some inexplicable reason, they put them in bright yellow fast food packages like at Burger King. We found it very amusing. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3LLaItdHVw/V2P87oalT7I/AAAAAAACLVE/oKRRUwxFaiQ9jOu-lgSUyokt8DShdrVWwCKgB/s1600/M75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V3LLaItdHVw/V2P87oalT7I/AAAAAAACLVE/oKRRUwxFaiQ9jOu-lgSUyokt8DShdrVWwCKgB/s1600/M75.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the most popular food every day was <b>bread</b>. Anything bread </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– buns, biscuits, rolls, doughnuts, bagels, bread sticks </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– it didn't matter. We often saw people walking with an entire big plate laden with bready substances. They also really went in for monstrous cold cut subs that were mostly bread. This was curious because Europeans are rarely overweight. Maybe they were just loading up while on vacation.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7O9YePG_GE/V2PzyybDEjI/AAAAAAACLTo/qZ4VYWnLRtQoNtG-tMgO3wy8JetouDC2QCKgB/s1600/M33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S7O9YePG_GE/V2PzyybDEjI/AAAAAAACLTo/qZ4VYWnLRtQoNtG-tMgO3wy8JetouDC2QCKgB/s400/M33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNewze81XNg/V2PzzcNCk5I/AAAAAAACLTo/YTb38oC1RV4l4dwj8gMyn3QidYc-veocgCKgB/s1600/M36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNewze81XNg/V2PzzcNCk5I/AAAAAAACLTo/YTb38oC1RV4l4dwj8gMyn3QidYc-veocgCKgB/s400/M36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most cruise ships offer several high-end places to eat, where you pay extra like you are dining on the town, but our ship just had one eatery, a very attractive sushi restaurant that required reservations. We both like sushi but never found the time to check the place out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6z8AQzyCHE/V2PzyrxxqvI/AAAAAAACLTo/g4xBc4mLlHged-TrtkVyLhTK9Uf0K0t0wCKgB/s1600/M21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I6z8AQzyCHE/V2PzyrxxqvI/AAAAAAACLTo/g4xBc4mLlHged-TrtkVyLhTK9Uf0K0t0wCKgB/s400/M21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The one thing that was exactly like America was peoples' constant obsession with their goddamn cellphones. Even on a ship without Internet most of the time, everybody was always checking their phones, especially the young girls. I could never figure out what the hell they were looking at. The only time I used my phone was to snap a photo, play my music out on the balcony, or upload my handy-dandy <b>Avenza geopdf map App </b>which I used to navigate without an Internet connection in each city we visited.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7KpvhXEwbk/V2PzzbnYFcI/AAAAAAACLTo/d6jsX_rjc6k6jgRYXRpaNxh9tKtjyVk2ACKgB/s1600/M41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I7KpvhXEwbk/V2PzzbnYFcI/AAAAAAACLTo/d6jsX_rjc6k6jgRYXRpaNxh9tKtjyVk2ACKgB/s400/M41.jpg" width="379" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was constantly perplexed by the MSC business model which is really quite odd. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozYkdkfZp1I/V2NNONCCaTI/AAAAAAACLQw/HiMZVsNi81UL1erkPabdcUnUyKft9jAdwCLcB/s1600/M23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozYkdkfZp1I/V2NNONCCaTI/AAAAAAACLQw/HiMZVsNi81UL1erkPabdcUnUyKft9jAdwCLcB/s400/M23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For instance, the excursion help desk was closed in the mornings before the shore excursions left. This often led to much confusion.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBcknHknCUc/V2P87RAjYPI/AAAAAAACLVE/lKpKsQZvqj86z7vAZoeQPQ9hOF923AFlACKgB/s1600/M64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OBcknHknCUc/V2P87RAjYPI/AAAAAAACLVE/lKpKsQZvqj86z7vAZoeQPQ9hOF923AFlACKgB/s400/M64.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The library was always open, but the books were all locked up in pretty glass cabinets and there was often no one there to help you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ftoA-Dj1do/V2NNNXrQ_RI/AAAAAAACLQI/dJwVEKxkXtwVyiPGKoxpR4cwwWeBYo_4gCLcB/s1600/M13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ftoA-Dj1do/V2NNNXrQ_RI/AAAAAAACLQI/dJwVEKxkXtwVyiPGKoxpR4cwwWeBYo_4gCLcB/s400/M13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At dinner, they swiped my cruise card to pay for tea and coffee, and then a few minutes later they would come back and ask for my card again in order to pay for our drinks. We could never figure out why they didn't just do it all at once.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kbn6b5KTO0/V2P87ZbhOQI/AAAAAAACLVE/IX8QHTqL8mM8e1MriGv_sloJVqGAt3ZMQCKgB/s1600/M62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kbn6b5KTO0/V2P87ZbhOQI/AAAAAAACLVE/IX8QHTqL8mM8e1MriGv_sloJVqGAt3ZMQCKgB/s400/M62.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIk2JFnVXf4/V2NNNEakZUI/AAAAAAACLQA/5cgtz0UrNyov0pG12zi0gT05zE3VUVgeQCLcB/s1600/M11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIk2JFnVXf4/V2NNNEakZUI/AAAAAAACLQA/5cgtz0UrNyov0pG12zi0gT05zE3VUVgeQCLcB/s400/M11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They aggressively pushed the photo package and there were photographers standing all over the ship, like panhandlers on a street corner, trying to get you to let them take your picture in front of a nondescript black background that could be anywhere on earth.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYySrH23mE/V2RJZJWmuAI/AAAAAAACLWQ/6w0l5QUg-woUltrfWtFyln-JTmzO0C1yACLcB/s1600/M90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uZYySrH23mE/V2RJZJWmuAI/AAAAAAACLWQ/6w0l5QUg-woUltrfWtFyln-JTmzO0C1yACLcB/s1600/M90.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They were constantly hawking the Internet package and it was a total ripoff because it often didn't work. And when it did, it was incredibly slow. On the fourth day, Inna got a denial of service message when she tried to go on-line, and when she asked why, she was instructed to read the fine print on the contract where it said in tiny print at the bottom that once you reached 800 MG </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– a limit very easy to quickly reach if you are downloading photos </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– the service would end without warning, until you bought the <i>extended </i>package.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6tusP_LP18/V2PzzTxNNWI/AAAAAAACLTo/bREeTK0gtI453IQ4_IY4Ua4y8j41drJOwCKgB/s1600/M40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6tusP_LP18/V2PzzTxNNWI/AAAAAAACLTo/bREeTK0gtI453IQ4_IY4Ua4y8j41drJOwCKgB/s400/M40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It took at least 15 minutes to get a drink at almost any bar </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– 30 at the pool bar </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– so we soon learned that it was much easier to order through room service which was actually quite speedy and efficient, and cost the same. (8 euros)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RULUM_zajo0/V2NNOe6YQzI/AAAAAAACLQs/0YON-VNBwN0zHQrhYurJzwebGZdxLQVNQCLcB/s1600/M3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RULUM_zajo0/V2NNOe6YQzI/AAAAAAACLQs/0YON-VNBwN0zHQrhYurJzwebGZdxLQVNQCLcB/s400/M3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of the language barrier, we were never really sure whether the answer we got was correct, or whether they got our order right.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YN5wZecm54A/V2P87oIpyZI/AAAAAAACLVE/oG45eOrvthQhMtwJ_KriGhyv6i7vM_RIQCKgB/s1600/M70.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YN5wZecm54A/V2P87oIpyZI/AAAAAAACLVE/oG45eOrvthQhMtwJ_KriGhyv6i7vM_RIQCKgB/s400/M70.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The thing that I liked the most about MSC was the fact that they didn't hassle us about bringing liquor on-board at each stop. They told us in advance that we couldn't bring <b>ANY </b>liquor on the ship at any time. And they made a big show of checking our bags in metal detectors and x-ray machines each time we re-boarded the ship. But they never confiscated anything. Like with everything else on-board, it took us a few days to figure this out.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aoE5yp0OqzQ/V2P87UJoKaI/AAAAAAACLVE/5ZRofHlSEWcHseNYRLSwguzBuulMR7ktQCKgB/s1600/M65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aoE5yp0OqzQ/V2P87UJoKaI/AAAAAAACLVE/5ZRofHlSEWcHseNYRLSwguzBuulMR7ktQCKgB/s400/M65.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By day three we were sick of paying $10 per drink, so in Naples, Inna bought a nice bottle of wine and stuck it in her big purse. I had her throw in a few tall boy beers in glass bottles for good measure because I'm not big on wine. She smiled at the attendant as they scanned her bag and nothing was said. We sat on the balcony that night drinking our wine and beer, wishing we had brought more.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyFnd5Wg6Xc/V2NJiRMgqiI/AAAAAAACLPg/zHv3R3E61jULYblRzSC2N3VeH3WcV5eTQCKgB/s1600/MED%2BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyFnd5Wg6Xc/V2NJiRMgqiI/AAAAAAACLPg/zHv3R3E61jULYblRzSC2N3VeH3WcV5eTQCKgB/s400/MED%2BB.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When we got back on the ship the next day in Messina, we had a bottle of wine, a handful of scotch miniatures, and a couple tall boy beers. Again, we sailed through the scanners without a peep.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJr8-Vo6pk/V2P87jSD63I/AAAAAAACLVE/4fmvdHkf5kYm9eULcDqJxA2yu1qPflK0QCKgB/s1600/M71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJr8-Vo6pk/V2P87jSD63I/AAAAAAACLVE/4fmvdHkf5kYm9eULcDqJxA2yu1qPflK0QCKgB/s400/M71.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Malta, I just bought a six pack of local beer in cans, put them inside a plastic shopping bag and no one even noticed </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="font-size: large;"> or cared.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOzyVpE1gHs/V2NHiSSj5yI/AAAAAAACLO4/x1_xabg-NAkXa7V1qIVUJBdMSzxiyIS6wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOzyVpE1gHs/V2NHiSSj5yI/AAAAAAACLO4/x1_xabg-NAkXa7V1qIVUJBdMSzxiyIS6wCLcB/s400/IMG_0718.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Having your own liquor on a cruise is a huge bonus, and MSC makes it easy. We really liked that.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qp6pWxh9ew/V2P87KAqHtI/AAAAAAACLVE/z-OfVO6YzkUadp1TvZo2rnUAfxcTWTdTQCKgB/s1600/M61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Qp6pWxh9ew/V2P87KAqHtI/AAAAAAACLVE/z-OfVO6YzkUadp1TvZo2rnUAfxcTWTdTQCKgB/s400/M61.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Being a true lover of frosty beverages, I would be remiss if I didn't say a little about the Mediterranean beers. They really go in for lagers and they have some great ones. Three of the best were:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>MESSINA </b>- La Nostra Passione Birra - Big brown pint bottle, bearing a yellow label with a blue clipper ship logo. (My favorite)</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpMV1ZfeR7w/V2QDl_T9WXI/AAAAAAACLVc/qKS9uUHvm2IAK1BsURfSxzErXTtwWnxOQCLcB/s1600/M80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpMV1ZfeR7w/V2QDl_T9WXI/AAAAAAACLVc/qKS9uUHvm2IAK1BsURfSxzErXTtwWnxOQCLcB/s640/M80.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>CISK </b>- Lager Beer brewed since 1928 - Malta's finest - Red label in a yellow can with a fancy white and silver crest of a rearing steed and gold coins.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AD7H_3CZ8Vk/V2QDl09pyFI/AAAAAAACLVY/-QtT49qm8_MxhtR43tx9wJZo8iz4JpYygCLcB/s1600/M81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AD7H_3CZ8Vk/V2QDl09pyFI/AAAAAAACLVY/-QtT49qm8_MxhtR43tx9wJZo8iz4JpYygCLcB/s640/M81.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><b>SKOL </b>- Danish lager brewed in Malta in a red and white can.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo_I8zFTuV8/V2QDl26yOhI/AAAAAAACLVg/USL1bqFgc2UtVm9GwpviRMHjhqhAK1-1QCLcB/s1600/M82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo_I8zFTuV8/V2QDl26yOhI/AAAAAAACLVg/USL1bqFgc2UtVm9GwpviRMHjhqhAK1-1QCLcB/s320/M82.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you add up all the god, the bad, and the ugly, we had an absolute ball sailing on the MSC Poesia. Inna and I both agreed that we would travel with them again in a heartbeat. <b>BUT</b>, and this is a really big but, we wouldn't </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– <b>couldn't </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– do it without a balcony to escape the madness. It would have been pure torture without the haven of our wonderful balcony where we spent many an hour reading, watching the deep blue sea, and toasting the islands and countries that passed by our crow's nest perch.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ec3YpNr3nvg/V2NHbxWuCyI/AAAAAAACLOQ/CrpdMSpwum4RyH75HQVh8S4z4l2hGXE7QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ec3YpNr3nvg/V2NHbxWuCyI/AAAAAAACLOQ/CrpdMSpwum4RyH75HQVh8S4z4l2hGXE7QCLcB/s400/IMG_0260.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-36702025236942978932016-06-02T18:23:00.000-07:002016-06-03T07:19:58.421-07:00CRUISIN' THE MED<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgyr76s0tYg/V04v7Lc0wVI/AAAAAAACKT8/1_P4gDQgY60JrfJyrMXS763HNAiQJapbwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgyr76s0tYg/V04v7Lc0wVI/AAAAAAACKT8/1_P4gDQgY60JrfJyrMXS763HNAiQJapbwCLcB/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After several weeks of never-ending rain with temps in the 60's, along with the relentless news onslaught about who or what Donald Trump likes or dislikes, it was time to get away from Maryland and America. Far, far away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p59CpArNwoA/V04RKIIMfCI/AAAAAAACJGw/cYJyYgp-YQw4iLM8rVJve47qBx5bkjkUgCLcB/s1600/MED%2B9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p59CpArNwoA/V04RKIIMfCI/AAAAAAACJGw/cYJyYgp-YQw4iLM8rVJve47qBx5bkjkUgCLcB/s320/MED%2B9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwPptF3fpww/V04RJVfX1LI/AAAAAAACJGU/QbWykOKou9Mj3puEFl4fnTSldgBVU5JZwCLcB/s1600/MED%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwPptF3fpww/V04RJVfX1LI/AAAAAAACJGU/QbWykOKou9Mj3puEFl4fnTSldgBVU5JZwCLcB/s320/MED%2B12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We booked a flight on Air Canada that conveniently left in the early afternoon on a Thursday from nearby BWI -Thurgood Marshall Airport. The price was $825 per person for a round trip ticket which was the best deal I found after tracking prices for several months. Airfares and connections fluctuated like the stock market from day to day. Some flights had been as high as $1,600 on United, and as low as $700 on Aeroflot, leaving from Dulles and with a twelve hour layover in Moscow. We departed at 2:30, and landed in Toronto at 4:00. Customs and TSA were the usual endless snake lines. Luckily, we had a three hour layover because running the security gauntlet took over two hours. So, we just had time for a beer in the hip, high-tech International Lounge before boarding an Air Bus for Barcelona. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJoU0YUTOQ/V08C5LYs2NI/AAAAAAACKU8/BD-CTEJeOjsbdMlcGsMsC-tn4bU3yOlQACKgB/s1600/MED%2B20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gAJoU0YUTOQ/V08C5LYs2NI/AAAAAAACKU8/BD-CTEJeOjsbdMlcGsMsC-tn4bU3yOlQACKgB/s320/MED%2B20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Qsr__4nsJk/V08C5AHBAFI/AAAAAAACKVA/y8eu0VLqj6wtQ51ucldOUYWOFv12SBp-QCKgB/s1600/MED%2B21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Qsr__4nsJk/V08C5AHBAFI/AAAAAAACKVA/y8eu0VLqj6wtQ51ucldOUYWOFv12SBp-QCKgB/s320/MED%2B21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5gr2ceX3mlk/V08C5RsBRhI/AAAAAAACKVI/K2Xz3Ox1tPYIrHHmLBMVm0UZwJEQSsu-gCKgB/s1600/MED%2B24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5gr2ceX3mlk/V08C5RsBRhI/AAAAAAACKVI/K2Xz3Ox1tPYIrHHmLBMVm0UZwJEQSsu-gCKgB/s320/MED%2B24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWtj77FgKHg/V08C5XLUzjI/AAAAAAACKVE/L_s5xop8-9EJHGZid1h-uQdCeF22TAzjQCKgB/s1600/MED%2B25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWtj77FgKHg/V08C5XLUzjI/AAAAAAACKVE/L_s5xop8-9EJHGZid1h-uQdCeF22TAzjQCKgB/s320/MED%2B25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We flew all night and landed eight hours later, 9 AM Barca time, at the lovely and extremely efficient Barcelona <b>El Pratt Airport</b>, which takes its name from the old town of El Pratt del Llobregat where it is located. The airport is only about nine miles east of the <b>Barcelona City Center</b> and there are many transportation options, including trains, buses, taxis and rental cars. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4svD0xYpho/V04RJqgw4RI/AAAAAAACJGg/s6zJxHk9QrU8AAWPIwI3oMuu78CCQw7fACKgB/s1600/MED%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4svD0xYpho/V04RJqgw4RI/AAAAAAACJGg/s6zJxHk9QrU8AAWPIwI3oMuu78CCQw7fACKgB/s320/MED%2B5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUQ915g0zjQ/V08sYBE3pBI/AAAAAAACKXw/A-PeBQa4jNgk0UASDJBFojiQl_E40T_IgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-30%2B10.49.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PUQ915g0zjQ/V08sYBE3pBI/AAAAAAACKXw/A-PeBQa4jNgk0UASDJBFojiQl_E40T_IgCLcB/s320/2016-05-30%2B10.49.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIBlXKmKsr4/V1AqrWJdGDI/AAAAAAACKaU/pRCXnGRhPOIqSfjpKSPzX3AZwC2YS4v7QCLcB/s1600/placacatalunya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIBlXKmKsr4/V1AqrWJdGDI/AAAAAAACKaU/pRCXnGRhPOIqSfjpKSPzX3AZwC2YS4v7QCLcB/s320/placacatalunya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFsTptrC5rA/V08rr_YtxFI/AAAAAAACKXg/yBavabpVVD0hMB7D_XdLHovVmerrRjY0gCLcB/s1600/2016-05-27%2B18.46.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFsTptrC5rA/V08rr_YtxFI/AAAAAAACKXg/yBavabpVVD0hMB7D_XdLHovVmerrRjY0gCLcB/s320/2016-05-27%2B18.46.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1AoiwK3SpQ/V080FTAEvLI/AAAAAAACKZU/ExeTXNSRbKYF1A-MeJcGuFJKBQ-8s4FdQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-28%2B12.10.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1AoiwK3SpQ/V080FTAEvLI/AAAAAAACKZU/ExeTXNSRbKYF1A-MeJcGuFJKBQ-8s4FdQCLcB/s320/2016-05-28%2B12.10.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your best bet is to take the light blue <b>AEROBUS</b> that leaves from right below the baggage area every fifteen minutes and costs </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">€ </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5.90. It has three places to get off along the way. If you are staying in the City Center (And why would you stay anywhere else?), you just ride the bus to the end of the line and get off at the </span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: -1px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plaça</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>de Catalyuna</b>, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">or Catalonia Square, the fountain-gushing and statue-adorned City Center where all the major roads converge and the old and new city meet in a riot of architectural splendor and color. If you take a cab, it's going to cost you about </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">€ 30, and the regular city buses and trains can get a bit confusing, especially after a long flight and no sleep.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We had always flown into Barcelona a few days before our cruise so we could get acclimated to Europe time and culture, but this trip we decided to fly all night, go straight from the airport to the ship and start our cruise, so the <b>AEROBUS</b> was not an option this time around.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZEFCTigHJI/V04RJYrXB1I/AAAAAAACJGc/paFwSi3PNYQBnVQKBIKDxKA35h7_c30lwCKgB/s1600/MED%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aZEFCTigHJI/V04RJYrXB1I/AAAAAAACJGc/paFwSi3PNYQBnVQKBIKDxKA35h7_c30lwCKgB/s320/MED%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqLMLxKqYdA/V04RJpZuCKI/AAAAAAACJGk/-MSIY_-yf08dACxx_UslCT8z6kKMDoE6QCKgB/s1600/MED%2B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HqLMLxKqYdA/V04RJpZuCKI/AAAAAAACJGk/-MSIY_-yf08dACxx_UslCT8z6kKMDoE6QCKgB/s320/MED%2B6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We booked our cruise through Cruises Only-World Travel and snagged a great deal because we were flexible regarding our travel dates. We were sailing on an Italian cruise ship out of Genoa called the <b><i>MSC Poesia</i></b>. We had a balcony room, amidships, on the tenth deck, so we were strategically located near the dining room (sixth deck) and the cafeteria and pool (thirteenth deck). It was a seven day cruise with stops in <b>Marseille, France; Genoa, Italy; Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Valletta, Malta; and Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– Friday to Friday, for $905 per person. With tips, booze and and incidentals, it probably came out to about $200 a day. And that's cheap for a seven day cruise with a balcony.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mwo3tX8cdk8/V08ub_DK_fI/AAAAAAACKYs/Q0M5Ua87DE8SwxMtn67gM3gjphlmOZ_wgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-22%2B14.40.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mwo3tX8cdk8/V08ub_DK_fI/AAAAAAACKYs/Q0M5Ua87DE8SwxMtn67gM3gjphlmOZ_wgCLcB/s320/2016-05-22%2B14.40.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYAOEimP0zE/V080ukXdi1I/AAAAAAACKZc/dWguVazeerc5GM0ScnFT6cXGIMRJ_xmKACLcB/s1600/2016-05-22%2B13.51.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYAOEimP0zE/V080ukXdi1I/AAAAAAACKZc/dWguVazeerc5GM0ScnFT6cXGIMRJ_xmKACLcB/s320/2016-05-22%2B13.51.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlUrUvfRLsQ/V08ubwbL4TI/AAAAAAACKYo/p1a7eNaNyKk_gAt1vy4-jyQfy5yZEm9SQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-23%2B15.04.14%2BHDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlUrUvfRLsQ/V08ubwbL4TI/AAAAAAACKYo/p1a7eNaNyKk_gAt1vy4-jyQfy5yZEm9SQCLcB/s320/2016-05-23%2B15.04.14%2BHDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOT2cHffv3Y/V08ub87PRGI/AAAAAAACKYw/vMaf46drHnsxEVfZ6fr0d19EaXqax2M5wCLcB/s1600/2016-05-24%2B11.15.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SOT2cHffv3Y/V08ub87PRGI/AAAAAAACKYw/vMaf46drHnsxEVfZ6fr0d19EaXqax2M5wCLcB/s320/2016-05-24%2B11.15.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFG-RBkN79I/V08ucmq-ToI/AAAAAAACKY4/M9dJobv5is07nOKWrRVFVvFYjdF8Y3a_wCLcB/s1600/2016-05-24%2B13.44.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFG-RBkN79I/V08ucmq-ToI/AAAAAAACKY4/M9dJobv5is07nOKWrRVFVvFYjdF8Y3a_wCLcB/s320/2016-05-24%2B13.44.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa20_m1stow/V08uc84bjQI/AAAAAAACKY0/t4YjmV45Wm4DDaK8I5HBQRXEEoonIclywCLcB/s1600/2016-05-25%2B11.35.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xa20_m1stow/V08uc84bjQI/AAAAAAACKY0/t4YjmV45Wm4DDaK8I5HBQRXEEoonIclywCLcB/s320/2016-05-25%2B11.35.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YtwWuIdKgtc/V08udC5iiyI/AAAAAAACKY8/6g9btZvdepYbqrJPgNmOnsXBUaiFtt6GwCLcB/s1600/2016-05-26%2B21.27.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YtwWuIdKgtc/V08udC5iiyI/AAAAAAACKY8/6g9btZvdepYbqrJPgNmOnsXBUaiFtt6GwCLcB/s320/2016-05-26%2B21.27.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ship left the dock at 11 PM and we were off on our big adventure to seven world famous ports, none of which we had ever visited before. The skies were clear. It was about 65 degrees. A big, fat orange moon was rising below a bright red Mars. Inna and I sat on our balcony breathing in the fresh, salty air of the Mediterranean Sea, drinking cold Estrella lager beers, and the world was our oyster. In the space of just twelve hours, we had landed in another world. And one quite to our liking.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyP3lpDiOYg/V04RJBAQVfI/AAAAAAACJGY/dyXSPjDYaQsNNZhQoLa1EV6Zjx1F9R82QCKgB/s1600/MED%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyP3lpDiOYg/V04RJBAQVfI/AAAAAAACJGY/dyXSPjDYaQsNNZhQoLa1EV6Zjx1F9R82QCKgB/s320/MED%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOIpYkePlzI/V08jjU2-PnI/AAAAAAACKVw/ucdxLq6OkL4ZM-DTjuAoXhVqbWysVmjZwCLcB/s1600/MED%2B31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOIpYkePlzI/V08jjU2-PnI/AAAAAAACKVw/ucdxLq6OkL4ZM-DTjuAoXhVqbWysVmjZwCLcB/s320/MED%2B31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFD76-lHuwc/V08jjeY-NUI/AAAAAAACKVs/ADSnyAe6mus2EHCjh1aPiFkNfMtcEm_VwCLcB/s1600/MED%2B32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TFD76-lHuwc/V08jjeY-NUI/AAAAAAACKVs/ADSnyAe6mus2EHCjh1aPiFkNfMtcEm_VwCLcB/s320/MED%2B32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wcGBBhJt8k/V08jjXhI5tI/AAAAAAACKVo/97rf-0Qbr2UE4HE1Er4j56w5V5hbe8y6ACLcB/s1600/MED%2B30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wcGBBhJt8k/V08jjXhI5tI/AAAAAAACKVo/97rf-0Qbr2UE4HE1Er4j56w5V5hbe8y6ACLcB/s320/MED%2B30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvVeM6r2unQ/V08jkPp0L8I/AAAAAAACKWE/UKCb8cDw6UEBspaIX5cu8kjaBzdVLYgxQCLcB/s1600/MED%2B38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvVeM6r2unQ/V08jkPp0L8I/AAAAAAACKWE/UKCb8cDw6UEBspaIX5cu8kjaBzdVLYgxQCLcB/s320/MED%2B38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx5Q_Ust8cU/V1DXsOCRZ3I/AAAAAAACKbY/K_i0yurTg9MKjuji58DdYiZOCpOyWZgowCLcB/s1600/MED%2BA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx5Q_Ust8cU/V1DXsOCRZ3I/AAAAAAACKbY/K_i0yurTg9MKjuji58DdYiZOCpOyWZgowCLcB/s320/MED%2BA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KASHVG5G5uY/V1DXsdSiYJI/AAAAAAACKbc/6_bx6gETfvAYlzOqwwnEV3QmJniKjHcxwCLcB/s1600/MED%2BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KASHVG5G5uY/V1DXsdSiYJI/AAAAAAACKbc/6_bx6gETfvAYlzOqwwnEV3QmJniKjHcxwCLcB/s320/MED%2BB.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>MEDITERRANEAN SEA IMPRESSIONS</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UL9qzUymypI/V04ujbYiieI/AAAAAAACKTo/uhaDLpChH0APwzy5U-Z_xeUh9BthEj0RACKgB/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UL9qzUymypI/V04ujbYiieI/AAAAAAACKTo/uhaDLpChH0APwzy5U-Z_xeUh9BthEj0RACKgB/s320/IMG_0352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Med has an amazing climate </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"> sunny and warm almost every day. Basically it's Ground Hog Day </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"> sunny, no rain, low humidity, light breezes, with a high temperature of 75 and a low of 65. After a dreary Maryland spring, it was just the ticket.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JnR-hEfcuA/V04ujGtR0vI/AAAAAAACKTk/3L9GN8MopTY71NkEmDGy3AWT8FS_af-eQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JnR-hEfcuA/V04ujGtR0vI/AAAAAAACKTk/3L9GN8MopTY71NkEmDGy3AWT8FS_af-eQCLcB/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCmJEXPJd0I/V04ujochuaI/AAAAAAACKTs/9-1hxKCrb0IStoGRmdPnOOMkZkhrFOn1ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XCmJEXPJd0I/V04ujochuaI/AAAAAAACKTs/9-1hxKCrb0IStoGRmdPnOOMkZkhrFOn1ACLcB/s320/IMG_0350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">There was very little trash in the water except around the towns, and even then the water was surprisingly clean. We spent a lot of time on our balcony staring at the sea and rarely saw any plastic or other floating debris. This is very rare indeed these days. I covered the last four around the globe Volvo Ocean Races and the sailors' daily logs painted a very bleak picture of the world's oceans which are fast become floating garbage dumps.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nvxE3P7fTOY/V03bJdhXqTI/AAAAAAACJEg/TTqmxLnXmXQBkTkSvm4vn7xhvWoT-yN1gCLcB/s1600/Med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nvxE3P7fTOY/V03bJdhXqTI/AAAAAAACJEg/TTqmxLnXmXQBkTkSvm4vn7xhvWoT-yN1gCLcB/s1600/Med.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.pitara.com</span></b></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The water of the Med is a deep cerulean blue, like the Caribbean, only darker. Both get their blue color because of the low pH associated with the underlying limestone. It is essentially a dead zone in comparison to a dark green, almost soupy estuary like the Chesapeake Bay. And I'll take the blue waters of the Med any day, thank you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXt3BW3sPBo/V03bQi2o7HI/AAAAAAACJEk/H7depuZ55IUaT-Jn7WOzwKH3qFnJa5k_QCLcB/s1600/Med%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXt3BW3sPBo/V03bQi2o7HI/AAAAAAACJEk/H7depuZ55IUaT-Jn7WOzwKH3qFnJa5k_QCLcB/s320/Med%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.emaze.com</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Small, almost black, dolphins followed the ship, especially in the late afternoon, l</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ike sleek dark seals with shiny fins.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nljSsfhSik/V03cdw_bKrI/AAAAAAACJEw/tZDtF69wFSMxZoZFMOcQMUkqlFxJ6XmrACLcB/s1600/Med%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1nljSsfhSik/V03cdw_bKrI/AAAAAAACJEw/tZDtF69wFSMxZoZFMOcQMUkqlFxJ6XmrACLcB/s320/Med%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Peter Howlett</span></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">There were surprisingly few seabirds. Usually when you are sailing out at sea, there are many different pelagic birds, like gannets, cormorants, skuas, and kittiwakes, but it was mostly common and greater black-backed gulls, and the occasional Caspian tern. Pretty common birds.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lN-70ZuP4CY/V04RJADpo3I/AAAAAAACJGQ/SaLXwGarPu4WSNiPVXFetd-NcHRbMr4LwCKgB/s1600/MED%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lN-70ZuP4CY/V04RJADpo3I/AAAAAAACJGQ/SaLXwGarPu4WSNiPVXFetd-NcHRbMr4LwCKgB/s320/MED%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhL54NoUt88/V04UfI6GfXI/AAAAAAACJHg/00pBn3ZlruEgjL-3awLzIDclLyAftPPlACKgB/s1600/MED%2B13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uhL54NoUt88/V04UfI6GfXI/AAAAAAACJHg/00pBn3ZlruEgjL-3awLzIDclLyAftPPlACKgB/s320/MED%2B13.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyjCGj_c0nA/V04UfAW8UwI/AAAAAAACJHY/FyzCqudCMFAN4hTQYa4l6YkbQruUS1tawCKgB/s1600/MED%2B14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyjCGj_c0nA/V04UfAW8UwI/AAAAAAACJHY/FyzCqudCMFAN4hTQYa4l6YkbQruUS1tawCKgB/s320/MED%2B14.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">There is a winding, narrow road that you can take along the coast all the way from Barcelona to Croatia that passes through sleepy little seaside villages that have been frozen in time. It would undoubtedly be an amazing adventure to spend several weeks exploring the bottom end of Europe along its stunning shoreline. But there are places on this road that are only one lane and have sheer drop offs into the rocky sea. So you definitely wouldn't want to drive at night. When we retire, we plan to spend several months exploring the southern edge of Europe, just driving from village to village with no plan or destination in mind.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ9b2-IF3NM/V03eM9aUNnI/AAAAAAACJE8/kFQW0uiMWWAzLfSzYVyoBoLhc9_Ne3lEgCLcB/s1600/Med%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ9b2-IF3NM/V03eM9aUNnI/AAAAAAACJE8/kFQW0uiMWWAzLfSzYVyoBoLhc9_Ne3lEgCLcB/s320/Med%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: xx-small;"><b> www.dangerousroads.org</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tx3v9Vv6hBU/V1Da85ZEjbI/AAAAAAACKb8/N9n2Jz2hHWsyUbl_M4fJCmDPQSnNwFBfACLcB/s1600/MED%2BD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tx3v9Vv6hBU/V1Da85ZEjbI/AAAAAAACKb8/N9n2Jz2hHWsyUbl_M4fJCmDPQSnNwFBfACLcB/s320/MED%2BD.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">The Mediterranean Sea has many faces. It's like a lake as you cruise along the southern coast of France and Italy. Then it turns into a river as you pass through the Strait of Messina between the heel of the Italian boot and the sprawling island of Sicily. When sailing across the larger bays between the rocky points of land, often crowned with bright red or white lighthouses, it resembles a large lagoon. But it's not until you get away from land that the Med reveals its true nature: a blue expanse of wondrous ocean as far as the eye can see.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVyv58xLBjI/V08nZB5ynSI/AAAAAAACKWg/azS8Wt5mKo4S7CVw-nmR7bIodYDOXzz7QCLcB/s1600/2016-05-22%2B16.58.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVyv58xLBjI/V08nZB5ynSI/AAAAAAACKWg/azS8Wt5mKo4S7CVw-nmR7bIodYDOXzz7QCLcB/s320/2016-05-22%2B16.58.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LEfrxr77QDw/V08naFoo_xI/AAAAAAACKW4/w5CEQnyz71EjJiHXRwSignUIRgmxDbuRACLcB/s1600/2016-05-25%2B13.09.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LEfrxr77QDw/V08naFoo_xI/AAAAAAACKW4/w5CEQnyz71EjJiHXRwSignUIRgmxDbuRACLcB/s320/2016-05-25%2B13.09.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkM3k7PgnnE/V08nY9AuNcI/AAAAAAACKWY/e4spGdb6pgwDAwQdd0x0IIYJP_Que-ehwCLcB/s1600/2016-05-22%2B17.08.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkM3k7PgnnE/V08nY9AuNcI/AAAAAAACKWY/e4spGdb6pgwDAwQdd0x0IIYJP_Que-ehwCLcB/s320/2016-05-22%2B17.08.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;">We spent almost every evening after dinner, sitting on our balcony, drinking beers and watching the sea and stars. The sound of the water breaking against the ship and the wave diamonds sparkling in the moonlight had a soothing and almost dreamy effect. I would just sit there for hours, my mind wandering like a drunken explorer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn5LuZeGcgs/V08nZkVoYqI/AAAAAAACKWs/TfI8GKAa2uwi5pggLFEf4s3LkjddQKJtgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-23%2B11.04.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn5LuZeGcgs/V08nZkVoYqI/AAAAAAACKWs/TfI8GKAa2uwi5pggLFEf4s3LkjddQKJtgCLcB/s320/2016-05-23%2B11.04.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DfKyW1aDTs/V08naZ88pyI/AAAAAAACKW8/JbG-ealfTrgCfnmne2cgL_ALLlC-f6xrgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-26%2B20.35.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DfKyW1aDTs/V08naZ88pyI/AAAAAAACKW8/JbG-ealfTrgCfnmne2cgL_ALLlC-f6xrgCLcB/s320/2016-05-26%2B20.35.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our thoughts were often drawn to the waves of poor immigrants fleeing the Middle East in search of salvation in Greece. Three ships had sunk the previous day and hundreds of families, ravaged by years of savagery and war, had thrashed in helpless terror until they finally sank in submission to their watery graves. We found ourselves crying on several occasions as we stared into the black sea and imagined what it would be like to be swimming for your life without a life jacket in such a dark wet void </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">–</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> no lights, no boats, no rescue </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">just an eternity of wind and water. It often feels like t</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">here is an infinite meanness enveloping this world, and the Med is an unforgiving master when you are lost within its merciless grip.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCd41Pn09w4/V08nadTP1-I/AAAAAAACKXA/_3F2pTUk6IUeiMotExs1aaCvXYOWnTvCQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-25%2B13.11.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCd41Pn09w4/V08nadTP1-I/AAAAAAACKXA/_3F2pTUk6IUeiMotExs1aaCvXYOWnTvCQCLcB/s320/2016-05-25%2B13.11.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0lNdz6dkio/V08nac5RV0I/AAAAAAACKXE/ByKeorN5h1o7M42kxhraoFiOWi44DlZGQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-26%2B20.35.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0lNdz6dkio/V08nac5RV0I/AAAAAAACKXE/ByKeorN5h1o7M42kxhraoFiOWi44DlZGQCLcB/s320/2016-05-26%2B20.35.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7j7KIBkIA0/V08os5suluI/AAAAAAACKXU/9nvbap4fPekZBKE9AsXsnlI4krkdUbqbQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-25%2B13.06.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7j7KIBkIA0/V08os5suluI/AAAAAAACKXU/9nvbap4fPekZBKE9AsXsnlI4krkdUbqbQCLcB/s320/2016-05-25%2B13.06.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One night, as I was thinking these melancholy thoughts, a small land bird, perhaps a sparrow, suddenly appeared out of the night. It seemed desperate to land and sought a perch on the fast-moving, brightly-illuminated ship. And like a solitary refugee from Syria in search of a safe harbor, it darted desperately, looking for an open stateroom where it might land. But everyone on board was either dancing, or dining, or gambling their happy lives away, and all of the cabin doors were locked tight. The little speck of a bird flitted up and down, from deck to deck, along the entire length of the ship, flying toward the cabin lights until it vanished behind the ship into the darkness of the night.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ytAOiBkSGUE/V08nZcTprMI/AAAAAAACKWk/6JknoMrsLEs6UzAUd-cOYNYb4Jxa0K-gQCLcB/s1600/2016-05-22%2B17.08.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ytAOiBkSGUE/V08nZcTprMI/AAAAAAACKWk/6JknoMrsLEs6UzAUd-cOYNYb4Jxa0K-gQCLcB/s320/2016-05-22%2B17.08.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn5LuZeGcgs/V08nZkVoYqI/AAAAAAACKWs/TfI8GKAa2uwi5pggLFEf4s3LkjddQKJtgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-23%2B11.04.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn5LuZeGcgs/V08nZkVoYqI/AAAAAAACKWs/TfI8GKAa2uwi5pggLFEf4s3LkjddQKJtgCLcB/s320/2016-05-23%2B11.04.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since the dawn of human history, the Mediterranean Sea has been both highway and barrier between the worlds of Islam and Christianity. It has always been a place of commerce </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– Greeks, Romans, Persians, Turks, French, Egyptians, Libyans, Spaniards, Africans, Syrians </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– they all followed the currents between the continents.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Initially, seafarers hugged the coast lines, but as ship designs improved and people learned to sail against the wind, the cultural exchange exploded </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– literally </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">– for good and bad.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XryHM04CM3Y/V08nZ6EE44I/AAAAAAACKW0/C4JjNB0qc2ccn99AYdXn_C04fCmha-0mACLcB/s1600/2016-05-23%2B13.48.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XryHM04CM3Y/V08nZ6EE44I/AAAAAAACKW0/C4JjNB0qc2ccn99AYdXn_C04fCmha-0mACLcB/s320/2016-05-23%2B13.48.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here we were, sailing on a giant glimmering white cruise ship packed with over two thousand people from all around the globe, sailing luxuriously into history.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LL4AGSpNaY/V08os029TuI/AAAAAAACKXQ/iYk62NHcEQsfls4O0tzTy6Mc-wlc729HgCLcB/s1600/2016-05-26%2B20.47.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LL4AGSpNaY/V08os029TuI/AAAAAAACKXQ/iYk62NHcEQsfls4O0tzTy6Mc-wlc729HgCLcB/s320/2016-05-26%2B20.47.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What wonders would be revealed?</span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgsryWjO-DQ/V1A7XNSyDbI/AAAAAAACKak/dHWV9BEVxS8j9FuYxbmme6Nd78mkdLdEwCLcB/s1600/2016-05-25%2B13.14.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgsryWjO-DQ/V1A7XNSyDbI/AAAAAAACKak/dHWV9BEVxS8j9FuYxbmme6Nd78mkdLdEwCLcB/s320/2016-05-25%2B13.14.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5CK8fU80VM/V1A8q4WUsKI/AAAAAAACKaw/Z7M9NeRu3bQreXzqRdSvyG8SlnIoKBS5wCLcB/s1600/MED37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5CK8fU80VM/V1A8q4WUsKI/AAAAAAACKaw/Z7M9NeRu3bQreXzqRdSvyG8SlnIoKBS5wCLcB/s320/MED37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-84478322631002012242016-02-24T17:32:00.000-08:002016-02-24T17:40:45.455-08:00Best of the Southwest KINDLE is Here!<div style="display: inline; font-family: Calibri;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-size: 15.8pt;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1UsvIHlaao/Vs5YvkDQXPI/AAAAAAACF64/WS-zvKwHysQ/s1600/DSC03346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B1UsvIHlaao/Vs5YvkDQXPI/AAAAAAACF64/WS-zvKwHysQ/s320/DSC03346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="display: inline; font-family: Calibri;">
<div style="display: inline;">
<span style="color: #111111;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-size: 15.8pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The <span style="color: blue;">Kindle</span> Version
</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div class="feature" data-feature-name="booksTitle" id="booksTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;">
<div class="a-section a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 22px;">
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #111111;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">of</span></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #ff8000; font-size: x-large;"><em> Best of the Southwest:
</em></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #ff8000; font-size: x-large;"><em> The Grand Circle Travel Guide
</em></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #ff8000; font-size: x-large;"><em> for a One-Week (or Two-Week)
</em></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></span><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #ff8000;"><em> Trip of a Lifetime</em></span></span></span></h1>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQiQEEybi98/Vs5Yoyt8DVI/AAAAAAACF6w/qfDidG6lwFQ/s1600/DSC03423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQiQEEybi98/Vs5Yoyt8DVI/AAAAAAACF6w/qfDidG6lwFQ/s320/DSC03423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: #ff8000;"><em><br /></em></span></span></span></div>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> by <span style="color: maroon;">Steve Carr</span>
</span></span></h1>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-size: x-large;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="color: maroon;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f6lbCBMnclc/Vs5Yn0C-l3I/AAAAAAACF6o/4CmdM7vgZqU/s1600/DSC03291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f6lbCBMnclc/Vs5Yn0C-l3I/AAAAAAACF6o/4CmdM7vgZqU/s320/DSC03291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<h1 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #111111;"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> is
</span></span><span style="color: #8000ff; font-family: "arial";"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">HERE!</span></span></span></h1>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #8000ff; font-family: "arial";"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsfxogwW7GI/Vs5W7v3vUOI/AAAAAAACF6U/Tg9_FNypTLU/s1600/BOS%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsfxogwW7GI/Vs5W7v3vUOI/AAAAAAACF6U/Tg9_FNypTLU/s320/BOS%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #8000ff; font-family: "arial";"><span class="a-size-large" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">
<div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">I worked for 15 years for the U.S.Forest Service about
ten miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. My last visit was in the
spring of 2015, so the information in this guide book is up-to-date. I also
provide the direct links to the various attractions so you can get the latest
information and prices. This guide book is divided into two parts, featuring a
7-day trip and a 14-day trip, covering a spectacular area of mountains, high
desert, and wondrous canyons often referred to by the Chamber of Commerce folks
as the Grand Circle – Zion, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce,
and Cedar Breaks. I am going to show you the best places to shop, buy your
liquor, find a good hotel room or camp, the premiere hikes in each park, where
to grab the best meals, and what it all might cost. I will take all of the guess
work out of your trip to the American Southwest. And for those using the Kindle
version of the book, each item of interest is linked to the Table of Contents,
so you don’t have to scroll through the book and can find out exactly what you
need to know with a click of a button. As an added bonus, I am going to fill in
your days with many helpful Insider Tips that will give you information about
the places you visit that few people know about. And I will also show you how
the save your hard-earned money! So, just load this trusty guide onto your smart
phone or iPad, follow my handy dandy directions, and the Canyonlands will come
alive beyond your wildest dreams.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrnMF_8flV0/Vs5YoIGnAUI/AAAAAAACF6k/qzeDNjWeEUo/s1600/DSC03332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrnMF_8flV0/Vs5YoIGnAUI/AAAAAAACF6k/qzeDNjWeEUo/s320/DSC03332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Go to the following link to purchase either
the hard copy or Kindle version.</span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<a 1518775020="" gp="" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1518775020/ref=s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0PV8FEDY7J87ZXAF95VQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop" http:="" product="" ref="s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0PV8FEDY7J87ZXAF95VQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop" title="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1518775020/ref=s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0PV8FEDY7J87ZXAF95VQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop" www.amazon.com="">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1518775020/ref=s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0PV8FEDY7J87ZXAF95VQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDZmN3bFF9I/Vs5YpN48DWI/AAAAAAACF60/K32MlA8aroU/s1600/DSC03446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDZmN3bFF9I/Vs5YpN48DWI/AAAAAAACF60/K32MlA8aroU/s320/DSC03446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";"><strong>Other popular Southwest
books by Steve available in multiple formats at Amazon
include:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong><em> The Canyon
Chronicles</em></strong></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZOLx3vEeyg/Vs5XYAFChaI/AAAAAAACF6Y/xdRfryWa3UY/s1600/canyonchronicles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZOLx3vEeyg/Vs5XYAFChaI/AAAAAAACF6Y/xdRfryWa3UY/s1600/canyonchronicles.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> Anasazi
Strip</em></strong></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>
</em></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2O__rw0OulI/Vs5Xs6w7xcI/AAAAAAACF6c/5eP3zCTqb90/s1600/BookCoverImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2O__rw0OulI/Vs5Xs6w7xcI/AAAAAAACF6c/5eP3zCTqb90/s320/BookCoverImage.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><br /></em></strong></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> Kachina
Roulette</em></strong></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qgU0TMcpXY/Vs5X4p5XsxI/AAAAAAACF6g/nyuTPmNbxL8/s1600/5021233_FrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qgU0TMcpXY/Vs5X4p5XsxI/AAAAAAACF6g/nyuTPmNbxL8/s320/5021233_FrontCover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-30700403053462955852016-02-14T12:56:00.000-08:002016-02-14T12:56:17.228-08:00The Best of the Southwest Is Finally Available at Amazon!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlDL23UIg0U/VsDeqHHn_UI/AAAAAAACF3Y/cCRgJg08PFA/s1600/BOS%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlDL23UIg0U/VsDeqHHn_UI/AAAAAAACF3Y/cCRgJg08PFA/s320/BOS%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are you planning a trip to the American Southwest?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQA-UOiiGn0/VsDiQW840TI/AAAAAAACF3o/pow3qwMpNH8/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GQA-UOiiGn0/VsDiQW840TI/AAAAAAACF3o/pow3qwMpNH8/s320/IMG_4793.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Would you like to know the best way to visit the Grand Canyon, Zion, Marble Canyon, Lee's Ferry, Lake Powell, Navajo, Monument Valley, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bryce, Cedar Breaks, and Las Vegas?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_JZXg5M0RI/VsDmfidgC9I/AAAAAAACF4E/ED0s8eS1U2Y/s1600/IMG_3982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_JZXg5M0RI/VsDmfidgC9I/AAAAAAACF4E/ED0s8eS1U2Y/s320/IMG_3982.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4tIvYh9eAE/VsDi0Y5BVRI/AAAAAAACF3w/PLJY4ybRbpY/s1600/IMG_20150516_174355655_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4tIvYh9eAE/VsDi0Y5BVRI/AAAAAAACF3w/PLJY4ybRbpY/s320/IMG_20150516_174355655_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Then you need to buy my latest book: "The Best of the Southwest - The Grand Circle Travel Guide for a One Week (Or Two Week) Trip of a Lifetime".</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TC1z7VDyM7E/VsDmlavwGNI/AAAAAAACF4g/t1XwWmnbjas/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TC1z7VDyM7E/VsDmlavwGNI/AAAAAAACF4g/t1XwWmnbjas/s320/IMG_6039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I worked for 15 years for the U.S.Forest Service about ten miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. My last visit was in the spring of 2015, so the information in this guide book is up-to-date. </b></span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;">I also provide the direct links to the various attractions so you can get the latest information and prices. </b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YbZBUUhpdCU/VsDmfr0o4vI/AAAAAAACF4g/XMBI8XlPyLM/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YbZBUUhpdCU/VsDmfr0o4vI/AAAAAAACF4g/XMBI8XlPyLM/s320/IMG_5254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This guide book is divided into two parts, featuring a 7-day trip and a 14-day trip, covering a spectacular area of mountains, high desert, and wondrous canyons often referred to by the Chamber of Commerce folks as the Grand Circle – Zion, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce, and Cedar Breaks. </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QkrmvSu9M8k/VsDmm1uKgKI/AAAAAAACF4g/ltZpClF4DnQ/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QkrmvSu9M8k/VsDmm1uKgKI/AAAAAAACF4g/ltZpClF4DnQ/s320/IMG_6358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am going to show you the best places to shop, buy your liquor, find a good hotel room or camp, the premiere hikes in each park, where to grab the best meals, and what it all might cost. I will take all of the guess work out of your trip to the American Southwest. </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pbiH5OOgzQ/VsDmeuLL_FI/AAAAAAACF4g/yp3N7JTt0go/s1600/IMG_5462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8pbiH5OOgzQ/VsDmeuLL_FI/AAAAAAACF4g/yp3N7JTt0go/s320/IMG_5462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And for those using the Kindle version of the book, each item of interest is linked to the Table of Contents, so you don’t have to scroll through the book and can find out exactly what you need to know with a click of a button. </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-boHFuz13dUU/VsDmlgaCbWI/AAAAAAACF4g/3bRYtPgrBuo/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-boHFuz13dUU/VsDmlgaCbWI/AAAAAAACF4g/3bRYtPgrBuo/s320/IMG_6295.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">As an added bonus, I am going to fill in your days with many helpful </span><i><span style="color: red;">Insider Tips</span></i><span style="color: blue;"> that will give you information about the places you visit that few people know about. </span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMnUNRRNGp4/VsDmgwI3YQI/AAAAAAACF4g/s48ZFmDwWcA/s1600/IMG_5622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMnUNRRNGp4/VsDmgwI3YQI/AAAAAAACF4g/s48ZFmDwWcA/s320/IMG_5622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">And I will also show you how the </span><span style="color: red;">save your hard-earned money</span><span style="color: blue;">! </span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AEmRznqybM/VsDmnu5BRXI/AAAAAAACF4g/o9cVZOYZYG0/s1600/IMG_6702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AEmRznqybM/VsDmnu5BRXI/AAAAAAACF4g/o9cVZOYZYG0/s320/IMG_6702.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, just load this trusty guide onto your smart phone or iPad, follow my handy dandy directions, and the Canyonlands will come alive beyond your wildest dreams.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4whqyMr6as/VsDmiwy6IMI/AAAAAAACF4g/1H3sAvP5rzw/s1600/IMG_5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4whqyMr6as/VsDmiwy6IMI/AAAAAAACF4g/1H3sAvP5rzw/s320/IMG_5855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1518775020?keywords=Best%20of%20the%20southwest&qid=1455479922&ref_=sr_1_6&sr=8-6" target="_blank">Best of the Southwest Guide Book</a></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RFyzdk45bXw/VsDoonmUIwI/AAAAAAACF4o/tFX3WTgiowg/s1600/AdobeStock_71522272.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RFyzdk45bXw/VsDoonmUIwI/AAAAAAACF4o/tFX3WTgiowg/s320/AdobeStock_71522272.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-76786570997979493252016-01-24T13:38:00.000-08:002016-01-28T06:55:07.498-08:00SECRETS REVEALED<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XeTCYC66bg/VqTdbb8ih8I/AAAAAAACFGs/HuRRDD7WD_g/s1600/IMG_9385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XeTCYC66bg/VqTdbb8ih8I/AAAAAAACFGs/HuRRDD7WD_g/s320/IMG_9385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">One of the
things I like the most about traveling are the surprises.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Usually the unexpected twists and turns
reveal something funny or sad, or maybe just something really, really
interesting.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">But in those rarest of
instances, the discovery uncovers something truly remarkable about my life that
I had never known or realized.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9AZ_MK2xQA/VqTdg3_NVtI/AAAAAAACFIE/hWBEHQqi29k/s1600/IMG_9397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9AZ_MK2xQA/VqTdg3_NVtI/AAAAAAACFIE/hWBEHQqi29k/s320/IMG_9397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Key West
rang all of the bells and then some.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7eP5nyUJeM/VqTd2IeNrRI/AAAAAAACFM0/H3Ku07naJ7A/s1600/IMG_9441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7eP5nyUJeM/VqTd2IeNrRI/AAAAAAACFM0/H3Ku07naJ7A/s320/IMG_9441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
hadn’t visited the Keys since way back in the 80s, and they have really shaped-up
the place.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Some of the new businesses
look almost chic.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But eccentric hippies
and handsome roosters still rule the roost.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The former are still planted along the bars at Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s,
and the Green Parrot and ride the streets on goofy bicycles and mopeds, while
the latter are constantly crowing – which, if you think about it, is an odd thing
for a chicken to do because it isn't a crow.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">All in all, Key West is pretty much the same.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And for all of laid back, unpretentious
informality, it’s still too wealthy a place to be poor. Paradise aint cheap.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hrQg7l_EeCg/VqT_w6TWOzI/AAAAAAACFt0/eXI2kRkUTrE/s1600/1929817_10208044828298946_277341432118357144_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hrQg7l_EeCg/VqT_w6TWOzI/AAAAAAACFt0/eXI2kRkUTrE/s320/1929817_10208044828298946_277341432118357144_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E3pPPo2KzU/VqTenPnXELI/AAAAAAACFXM/cbhPr0fceXs/s1600/IMG_9535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--E3pPPo2KzU/VqTenPnXELI/AAAAAAACFXM/cbhPr0fceXs/s320/IMG_9535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mZx8OmGZFM/VqUDbnKONlI/AAAAAAACFvA/NGLe8_ReqIU/s1600/12469418_10208040809878488_8192152850476459708_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mZx8OmGZFM/VqUDbnKONlI/AAAAAAACFvA/NGLe8_ReqIU/s320/12469418_10208040809878488_8192152850476459708_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">To
be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be visiting the Conch Republic.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Been there, done that.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGRCrx8dE_M/VqTe-NrfunI/AAAAAAACFbw/EiG86SjGNs0/s1600/IMG_9583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGRCrx8dE_M/VqTe-NrfunI/AAAAAAACFbw/EiG86SjGNs0/s320/IMG_9583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uugKD2adCkw/VqTfDlrmM4I/AAAAAAACFc8/ttZj-xNKlxo/s1600/IMG_9596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uugKD2adCkw/VqTfDlrmM4I/AAAAAAACFc8/ttZj-xNKlxo/s320/IMG_9596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We
had hooked up the previous week with my old friends Larry and Teri from my days
at Grand Canyon and we had been living large at Jimmy Buffet’s new </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Margarittaville Resort and Spa</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> in
Hollywood, about 175 miles north of Key West.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And taking a trip back to Burnoutville and the Mallory Square Sunset Worshippers
didn’t seem all that enticing.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But my
wife Inna had never seen the Keys and her friends had told her how neat it
was.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, who was I to argue?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAkQWhZsIW4/VqTdOffdYYI/AAAAAAACFD8/fqnZtWoMbIE/s1600/IMG_9348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAkQWhZsIW4/VqTdOffdYYI/AAAAAAACFD8/fqnZtWoMbIE/s320/IMG_9348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD9RHmfj_OE/VqTdPZ66uXI/AAAAAAACFEM/pyPLTG7GTQg/s1600/IMG_9352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD9RHmfj_OE/VqTdPZ66uXI/AAAAAAACFEM/pyPLTG7GTQg/s320/IMG_9352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8C4xawTmsI/VqT_uhPpmsI/AAAAAAACFs0/s5XVEtSgtLo/s1600/12473827_10208017989227986_8352473363834352819_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8C4xawTmsI/VqT_uhPpmsI/AAAAAAACFs0/s5XVEtSgtLo/s320/12473827_10208017989227986_8352473363834352819_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We
spent our first day walking around the upscale waterfront where bands
dished out Jimmy Buffett and the blues from tropical patio decks.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Two cruise ships were docked near the red
brick Custom House, including the </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Smooth
Jazz Cruise</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> aboard the </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Eurodam</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> which we had sailed on in
the Mediterranean a few years back.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Small world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gH8qfLRBEM/VqTdpxG7yxI/AAAAAAACFJ4/ZtS0zGpJU18/s1600/IMG_9415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gH8qfLRBEM/VqTdpxG7yxI/AAAAAAACFJ4/ZtS0zGpJU18/s320/IMG_9415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQWTwRkif0I/VqTdtAuPGEI/AAAAAAACFKk/VSWU7pUq5H8/s1600/IMG_9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OQWTwRkif0I/VqTdtAuPGEI/AAAAAAACFKk/VSWU7pUq5H8/s320/IMG_9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WlKB4FoNr8/VqTdrOczGWI/AAAAAAACFKI/mzd5BSKv4i0/s1600/IMG_9417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2WlKB4FoNr8/VqTdrOczGWI/AAAAAAACFKI/mzd5BSKv4i0/s320/IMG_9417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP1-v7ed9Nc/VqTduOi9TGI/AAAAAAACFK4/CjYCVLjQb8s/s1600/IMG_9422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP1-v7ed9Nc/VqTduOi9TGI/AAAAAAACFK4/CjYCVLjQb8s/s320/IMG_9422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6dQHt1wytow/VqTdpRz4UAI/AAAAAAACFJo/RFnT2Vc5dcg/s1600/IMG_9414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6dQHt1wytow/VqTdpRz4UAI/AAAAAAACFJo/RFnT2Vc5dcg/s320/IMG_9414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After
a late lunch at a great Sushi Thai restaurant on Greene Street we caught the
<b>Sebago Sunset Cruise </b>on the </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Marquesa</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">, a 69’ sail catamaran with over
2,300 feet of deck space.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was
essentially a two hour “booze cruise”.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">For $39 per person we sailed slowly out of Key West’s historic seaport,
taking in the flaming festivities at Mallory Square, Sunset Key, and the historic
Fort Zachary Taylor.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The price included
complimentary champagne, wine, tap beer, sangria, and margaritas in unlimited
supply.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-htO8iOZ9NWs/VqTd8eWizkI/AAAAAAACFOU/XxKnaTpFjTE/s1600/IMG_9454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-htO8iOZ9NWs/VqTd8eWizkI/AAAAAAACFOU/XxKnaTpFjTE/s320/IMG_9454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Feg_JMrlD5s/VqT71mVJEdI/AAAAAAACFqo/rKuC9Uk7O9s/s1600/12540855_10208031770852518_3795173451043264292_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Feg_JMrlD5s/VqT71mVJEdI/AAAAAAACFqo/rKuC9Uk7O9s/s320/12540855_10208031770852518_3795173451043264292_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Every
time I go to Key West I run into someone from Annapolis.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The two towns have a very active exchange
program.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And this was </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Key West Race Week</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">, so there were many
sailors from Annapolis in town for the fun and games.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We kept running into Annapolitans wherever we
went.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Thr68i8QcPQ/VqTerepBd3I/AAAAAAACFYE/TD6GRJKCM1M/s1600/IMG_9542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Thr68i8QcPQ/VqTerepBd3I/AAAAAAACFYE/TD6GRJKCM1M/s320/IMG_9542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peiQw0CNAJE/VqTesUEVfFI/AAAAAAACFYU/zJ-8FAbnBbU/s1600/IMG_9544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peiQw0CNAJE/VqTesUEVfFI/AAAAAAACFYU/zJ-8FAbnBbU/s320/IMG_9544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">As
we sailed out toward the sunset with at least a hundred other tour boats of all
shapes and sizes I chatted it up with our skipper Sweeny.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It turned out that he had crewed on the
schooner </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>Woodwind</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> that sails out of the waterfront Marriott in Annapolis.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It is a small world indeed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VBgB_xwplk/VqUDcU_A7DI/AAAAAAACFvU/bz2XIUdVo7Y/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VBgB_xwplk/VqUDcU_A7DI/AAAAAAACFvU/bz2XIUdVo7Y/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Are
there always this many boats?” I asked as I watched what resembled an armada of
sailing craft cruising toward the falling sun.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F73gtTRtdmg/VqT70g1BOaI/AAAAAAACFqU/5FPQItvETQM/s1600/12471693_10208031977977696_6132200269684649968_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F73gtTRtdmg/VqT70g1BOaI/AAAAAAACFqU/5FPQItvETQM/s320/12471693_10208031977977696_6132200269684649968_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“The
weather has been cold and windy all week and this is the first day that we have
been able to go out.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And given the
forecast of 40 knot winds for tomorrow, the tour companies have all of their
boats on the water tonight.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Might be a
while before we get out again.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">So, we
gotta take advantage of the break in the nasty weather.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Must
be hard to make it in the winter with so much down time,” I mused.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PH1BUgLTGG0/VqT70824X5I/AAAAAAACFqc/bjTLgKUaS7A/s1600/12466108_10208031977137675_3338559120711227344_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PH1BUgLTGG0/VqT70824X5I/AAAAAAACFqc/bjTLgKUaS7A/s320/12466108_10208031977137675_3338559120711227344_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Well,
the Captains are on salary, so we get paid whether we go out or not.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We miss the tips, of course.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It’s harder for the crews because they only
get paid if we sail, and the tips are their bread and butter.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But, to be honest, I like the break after a
long summer of going non-stop every day.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">In summer, we go from seven in the morning until ten at night, seven
days a week.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It gets old after a while.”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Guh0gJT9GnI/VqT709ggTFI/AAAAAAACFqY/xmnzpAcDE_k/s1600/12492050_10208031979257728_5538483240394998878_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Guh0gJT9GnI/VqT709ggTFI/AAAAAAACFqY/xmnzpAcDE_k/s320/12492050_10208031979257728_5538483240394998878_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“So, your peak
season is summer?” I asked in confusion.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKYsUGKlo_8/VqT71B5BOdI/AAAAAAACFqs/0rKN4ShuZQw/s1600/12508943_10208031770972521_685370944007630613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKYsUGKlo_8/VqT71B5BOdI/AAAAAAACFqs/0rKN4ShuZQw/s320/12508943_10208031770972521_685370944007630613_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Absolutely,”
replied Sweeny as he kept a close eye on a bachelor party that was starting to
get a little out of hand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRAPhtiLjPQ/VqT71dkeZeI/AAAAAAACFqk/gyY839QfN7M/s1600/12524004_10208031771492534_1938619235052449956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRAPhtiLjPQ/VqT71dkeZeI/AAAAAAACFqk/gyY839QfN7M/s320/12524004_10208031771492534_1938619235052449956_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Weddings are big
business in Key West these days and there are packs of wild girls roaming the
streets and the bars, wearing pink shirts with slogans like “Let’s Get Drunk”,
“We’re Here To Party”, and </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 25.68px; text-indent: 48px;">“</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Drunk Girl #”
(each girl has a number).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I thought that
winter was the peak season down here,” I said.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“That’s when all the snowbirds come south.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“That’s true for
the rest of Florida.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Summers are
hell.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But Key West is pretty nice in the
summer because of the Gulf Stream.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">So,
our peak season is in the summer, not the winter. And in winter, we get a lot of storms from
out of the west and we can get weeks of cool, wet, and very windy weather.”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJmOJhMeybM/VqT71FgwPYI/AAAAAAACFqg/7gOcxw5bILc/s1600/12496415_10208031978737715_9022228579971735948_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJmOJhMeybM/VqT71FgwPYI/AAAAAAACFqg/7gOcxw5bILc/s320/12496415_10208031978737715_9022228579971735948_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Still beats
Maryland,” I said as I sipped my Margarita and raised a glass to the setting
sun.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIOlabIsoD8/VqUDcEkJvSI/AAAAAAACFvM/N924Xcmefc8/s1600/12605416_10208040860319749_5881919032681972647_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIOlabIsoD8/VqUDcEkJvSI/AAAAAAACFvM/N924Xcmefc8/s320/12605416_10208040860319749_5881919032681972647_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We hung out at
the Marriott Waterfront’s jungle pool the following morning, so we didn’t catch
the free shuttle down into town before noon.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sR4A45YH2YA/VqTdk9jJNZI/AAAAAAACFI4/LW5a7LK9SDQ/s1600/IMG_9405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sR4A45YH2YA/VqTdk9jJNZI/AAAAAAACFI4/LW5a7LK9SDQ/s320/IMG_9405.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">We
decided to take a long, lazy walk up infamous Duvall Street and after grabbing
an excellent lunch at the </span><b style="line-height: 107%;">Grand Café</b><span style="line-height: 107%;">
and taking in the crazy sights, we proceeded to </span><b><span style="line-height: 14.2667px;">Hemingway</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">House</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">, the place where Ernest
Hemingway wrote most of his best-selling books. The Hemingway Home is a National Historic
Landmark, Literary Landmark, and recorded in the Library of Congress as a
Historic American Building.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4XxWSQXlVk/VqTeViblSAI/AAAAAAACFTM/F0-254HJ7tY/s1600/IMG_9497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4XxWSQXlVk/VqTeViblSAI/AAAAAAACFTM/F0-254HJ7tY/s320/IMG_9497.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLYUzJ_HV1A/VqTeQ69oGSI/AAAAAAACFSI/bj0IJls_EUg/s1600/IMG_9487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uLYUzJ_HV1A/VqTeQ69oGSI/AAAAAAACFSI/bj0IJls_EUg/s320/IMG_9487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It’s basically
a big, brightly-painted box with a wrap-around porch, sitting on the highest
point of land on the island at 16' above sea level. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ij12CBGbCI/VqTea7ex-hI/AAAAAAACFUc/MYWq4At7kI4/s1600/IMG_9509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ij12CBGbCI/VqTea7ex-hI/AAAAAAACFUc/MYWq4At7kI4/s320/IMG_9509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Over
the years, the town has reclaimed the ocean with some very valuable fill land
and the ocean view that Hemingway and his second wife Pauline Marie Pfeiffer so
enjoyed has been blocked by big trees and houses. The beautiful white and
red lighthouse across the street is now a long block from the ocean.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdgp7Yksggs/VqTebRlw2qI/AAAAAAACFUk/MiioiaZyBd0/s1600/IMG_9510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdgp7Yksggs/VqTebRlw2qI/AAAAAAACFUk/MiioiaZyBd0/s320/IMG_9510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We each paid our
$13 and joined the tour led by a typical Key West funky matron named Maggie who
was totally into the whole Hemingway mystique.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She was full of fun facts and stories.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePQEEdZ7hz8/VqT6noBSRPI/AAAAAAACFpw/qptt4fEI2vI/s1600/8496_10208038142891815_1641623633643267044_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePQEEdZ7hz8/VqT6noBSRPI/AAAAAAACFpw/qptt4fEI2vI/s320/8496_10208038142891815_1641623633643267044_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Ernest
Hemingway was a gifted story teller.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">His writing style was simple, bare bones and almost conversational.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And Maggie’s stories about “Papa” Hemingway
were enthralling.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQrlJO6ffYY/VqT8xASmgHI/AAAAAAACFrM/NqeTA_6SmY0/s1600/12552694_10208038143811838_1265780124218321222_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nQrlJO6ffYY/VqT8xASmgHI/AAAAAAACFrM/NqeTA_6SmY0/s320/12552694_10208038143811838_1265780124218321222_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">We all know
about the brawling and boozing Hemingway, but I was amazed to learn that he
had an extremely rigid worth ethic.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">There was a catwalk from the master bedroom to his
second floor office in the adjoining carriage house where he wrote every day
from 6-12. After that he would go
fishing and have fun.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWwcIBm9y6I/VqTeWYWXvYI/AAAAAAACFTg/1ggYRtJktzA/s1600/IMG_9499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWwcIBm9y6I/VqTeWYWXvYI/AAAAAAACFTg/1ggYRtJktzA/s320/IMG_9499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--uC_bipjBEo/VqTeW4EtlDI/AAAAAAACFTo/_U8XByuvhgI/s1600/IMG_9500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--uC_bipjBEo/VqTeW4EtlDI/AAAAAAACFTo/_U8XByuvhgI/s320/IMG_9500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
had never realized how serious Hemingway was.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When asked to list his three favorite things in life, he said,
“Fishing.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hunting.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Reading</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
would have guessed women, booze, or fighting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
home itself is nothing special, just a large old house in need of repair.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The walls were lined with photos of Hemingway
and his buddies standing next to huge dead sail fish and Marlin, big game animals
like lions from hunting safaris in Africa, and skiing shots taken on the snowy
slopes of Northern Europe with other manly men.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">There were very few pictures of Hemingway and women.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">That’s not to say that he didn’t like the
ladies.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I mean, the guy was married four
times.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But his lust for life was
inexorably drawn to the challenges between man and beast.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POcI__hGwq4/VqT68M_s7EI/AAAAAAACFqE/QYF_fNDdrHM/s1600/12484648_10208040745716884_3471982575923087318_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POcI__hGwq4/VqT68M_s7EI/AAAAAAACFqE/QYF_fNDdrHM/s320/12484648_10208040745716884_3471982575923087318_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Most
of Hemingway's books were turned into very popular movies and there were movie
playbills adorning every room.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7RjY0DYgJc/VqT_v21K6sI/AAAAAAACFtM/i6ELR3C4Fss/s1600/12508804_10208038007168422_6459091911354950425_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7RjY0DYgJc/VqT_v21K6sI/AAAAAAACFtM/i6ELR3C4Fss/s320/12508804_10208038007168422_6459091911354950425_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hemingway
coined the phrase “The Lost Generation” in his classic novel </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>The
Sun Also Rises</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> to describe the people of his time.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">They came of age during horrific World War I
and were championed by the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, James
Joyce, John Steinbeck, Hen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">ry Miller, John Dos Passos, William Faulkner, Franz
Kafka, and Hemingway's loving patron Gertrude Stein.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHUAejCJD_Y/VqT9P0xAJnI/AAAAAAACFrg/clcJobM9xWQ/s1600/12509154_10208038144051844_1767742134893040567_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EHUAejCJD_Y/VqT9P0xAJnI/AAAAAAACFrg/clcJobM9xWQ/s320/12509154_10208038144051844_1767742134893040567_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hemingway
always appeared to be larger than life – even in death.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Maybe even more so.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-lloH254GA/VqT9QLlI4HI/AAAAAAACFr0/fGYnl9dvDCI/s1600/12552920_10208038142651809_5916708468461542388_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-lloH254GA/VqT9QLlI4HI/AAAAAAACFr0/fGYnl9dvDCI/s320/12552920_10208038142651809_5916708468461542388_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">One
of my favorite stories from our tour centered on Hemmingway’s boxing ring.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He had this big boxing ring in his back yard
and after a few drinks he would spar with local boxers, friends, or anyone who
thought they were tougher than him.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He
would offer $325 (a lot of money in those days) to anyone who could knock him
out.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">In
1937, Hemingway went away to cover the Spanish Civil War and he started an
affair with a famous war correspondent named Martha Gellhorn, who would become
his third wife.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQaGseGyyq4/VqT9P45U1WI/AAAAAAACFro/Tjb31rq3-pE/s1600/12509524_10208038143331826_2174028248674419029_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQaGseGyyq4/VqT9P45U1WI/AAAAAAACFro/Tjb31rq3-pE/s320/12509524_10208038143331826_2174028248674419029_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When
his wife Pauline heard about his romantic shenanigans, she had the boxing ring
removed and built a large swimming pool in its place.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIk0zfcabF0/VqTeTaYg5EI/AAAAAAACFSo/EBXlcJwI4bk/s1600/IMG_9493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIk0zfcabF0/VqTeTaYg5EI/AAAAAAACFSo/EBXlcJwI4bk/s320/IMG_9493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hemingway
returned home to find his beloved boxing ring replaced by the pool and asked
Pauline how much it cost.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikOxvgiesNY/VqTeT1IzpJI/AAAAAAACFS0/T2iB6Nibi-0/s1600/IMG_9494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ikOxvgiesNY/VqTeT1IzpJI/AAAAAAACFS0/T2iB6Nibi-0/s320/IMG_9494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When
“Papa” heard that she had spent $20,000 for the pool behind a house that cost
$8,000, he pulled a penny from his pocket and tossed it to Pauline from his
perch on the porch.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Well, you took my last
penny.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After
the divorce, Pauline got the house, and embedded that penny into the brick
patio in a plastic see-through case.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She
was a tough broad from Arkansas, and in the ensuing years she liked to host
parties at the house.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After a few drinks
she was often heard to boast, “I was one of Ernest’s four wives.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She would point to the penny.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">“But I took his last red cent.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TArhTP2TQfg/VqTeZS5zH2I/AAAAAAACFT8/MxHt_IHBhMQ/s1600/IMG_9504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TArhTP2TQfg/VqTeZS5zH2I/AAAAAAACFT8/MxHt_IHBhMQ/s320/IMG_9504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hemingway was
an enigma.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">A man at war with both himself
and the world. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He was bi-polar and
eventually killed himself with a shotgun in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho,
following a family tradition.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">His grandfather,
father, brother, sister and daughter Margaux all killed themselves.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And yet this tragically violent man loved </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">cats</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And not your average cat, but a special breed of polydactyl (</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">six-toed) cats. There are photos all over the house of
Hemingway, a bearded bear of a man, cuddling his many cats that roamed the
grounds like lairds of the manner. He named
them after his writing and party pals. There is even an entrancing cat cemetery
behind the house where the cats are buried under the patio stones.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-KPKUwSkOw/VqTeS3MJgKI/AAAAAAACFSs/ioS5_Xy9Wyk/s1600/IMG_9492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B-KPKUwSkOw/VqTeS3MJgKI/AAAAAAACFSs/ioS5_Xy9Wyk/s320/IMG_9492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrfJSk8P4vs/VqTeZ5O6aBI/AAAAAAACFUM/ymanfsb9TqY/s1600/IMG_9505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrfJSk8P4vs/VqTeZ5O6aBI/AAAAAAACFUM/ymanfsb9TqY/s320/IMG_9505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m
not a big cat fan, but I must admit they were unusual critters.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Hemingway House is home to about 50 cats
and they have very cute little cat houses scattered all around the gardens.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MW1Th9upmI/VqTeU_12fTI/AAAAAAACFTE/pkAVUZv6ITw/s1600/IMG_9496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MW1Th9upmI/VqTeU_12fTI/AAAAAAACFTE/pkAVUZv6ITw/s320/IMG_9496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">According
to the tour brochure</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>: “Cats normally have five front
toes and four back toes. About half the
cats at the museum have the physical polydactyl trait but they all carry the
polydactyl gene in their DNA, which means that the ones that have 4 and 5 toes
can still mother or father six-toed kittens.
Most cats have extra toes on their front feet and sometimes on their
back feet as well. Sometimes it looks as
if they are wearing mittens because they appear to have a thumb on their
paw. Ernest Hemmingway was given a white
six-toed cat by a ship’s captain and some of the cats who live on the museum
grounds are descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. The polydactyl cats are not a particular
breed. The trait can appear in any breed,
Calicos, Tabbies, Tortoise Shell, White, Black, etc. They vary in shapes, sizes, colors and
personalities.”</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxmZG45tglY/VqTewWYbyCI/AAAAAAACFZM/a5dbKRy1I1U/s1600/IMG_9552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DxmZG45tglY/VqTewWYbyCI/AAAAAAACFZM/a5dbKRy1I1U/s320/IMG_9552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">If
he wasn’t fishing or visiting Cuba, Hemingway liked to hang out at </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sloppy Joe’s</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> where he partied with the
owner Joe Russell.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When the landlord
raised the rent from three dollars a week to four, his buddy moved up the
street to its current location.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLoVfbWHhqQ/VqTdw-bPj9I/AAAAAAACFLg/nDtUNKlBNmQ/s1600/IMG_9430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLoVfbWHhqQ/VqTdw-bPj9I/AAAAAAACFLg/nDtUNKlBNmQ/s320/IMG_9430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">According
to legend</span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">: “In true Key West fashion, the bar never actually closed during the
transition – customers simply picked up their drinks and carried them, along
with every piece of furniture in the place, down the block to 201 Duvall
Street. Service resumed with barely a
blink. The new Sloppy Joe’s boasted the longest bar in town. Behind the bar, in the back room, were
gambling and pool tables. Inside the bar
hung life-sized paintings of fighters on the walls, and adorning one wall was a
119-pound sailfish caught by </span><span style="line-height: 14.2667px;">Hemingway</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">.”</span></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After
Pauline built the pool and before Hemingway moved out with Martha to Cuba, he
told his friend Joe, “I pissed away a fortune in that urinal and I want to take
it home.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And
to this day, the urinal from Sloppy Joe’s adorns the Hemingway House gardens
near the pool where the cats use it as a drinking fountain.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDNg17XpPqk/VqTeUd9cnfI/AAAAAAACFS8/0AZH_IgT0Jk/s1600/IMG_9495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sDNg17XpPqk/VqTeUd9cnfI/AAAAAAACFS8/0AZH_IgT0Jk/s320/IMG_9495.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our final stop
of the day was </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white;">Truman's Little White House </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">where
we caught the last tour.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjVSBtHkXTE/VqT_uCT4TgI/AAAAAAACFsk/bRlRw0dAviI/s1600/11228509_10208038543701835_3603306020762455583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjVSBtHkXTE/VqT_uCT4TgI/AAAAAAACFsk/bRlRw0dAviI/s320/11228509_10208038543701835_3603306020762455583_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Xv4kU_j0Q/VqTekYpLzBI/AAAAAAACFWk/cCX1cxn5mX8/s1600/IMG_9528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n6Xv4kU_j0Q/VqTekYpLzBI/AAAAAAACFWk/cCX1cxn5mX8/s320/IMG_9528.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
actually had some serious history with this splendid treasure surrounded by the
historic naval base that was established in 1823 to rid the seas of pirates.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVs59prjPGY/VqUDb_LilvI/AAAAAAACFvE/BWGg5vRDhtA/s1600/12507376_10208044827138917_2692392511417112083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVs59prjPGY/VqUDb_LilvI/AAAAAAACFvE/BWGg5vRDhtA/s320/12507376_10208044827138917_2692392511417112083_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtJBcDcT6pY/VqTe2jGkcSI/AAAAAAACFac/36qW1dpA8q4/s1600/IMG_9567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GtJBcDcT6pY/VqTe2jGkcSI/AAAAAAACFac/36qW1dpA8q4/s320/IMG_9567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">My
dad befriended a former Superintendent of the Naval Academy, Admiral Robert
McElroy, back in the late 50s when they met at the Navy Golf course, my
father’s second home.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bob and his wife
Jane became family and I grew up with their daughters Suzy and Maryjane.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I called them Uncle Bob and Aunt Jane.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bob was like Ernest Hemmingway in dress blues
and he was a force of nature.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He was
loud, liked to drink, and had a great sense of humor.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I loved him to death.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pj1rmTBXghM/VqTek9VM4qI/AAAAAAACFWs/fMECGL1_tpw/s1600/IMG_9529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pj1rmTBXghM/VqTek9VM4qI/AAAAAAACFWs/fMECGL1_tpw/s320/IMG_9529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">When
Uncle Bob left Annapolis he became the commander at the Sub Base in Key
West.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And we often spent our winters
staying with the McElroys.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was about eight
at the time, so my recollections are sketchy at best.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-puNgxet0WpY/VqT_wD5UdiI/AAAAAAACFtQ/ymYCYO8l9_A/s1600/12540753_10208038909750986_5832329520803442747_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-puNgxet0WpY/VqT_wD5UdiI/AAAAAAACFtQ/ymYCYO8l9_A/s320/12540753_10208038909750986_5832329520803442747_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But
I remember my mother always reminiscing about our days and nights spent
lounging about in Truman’s Little White House.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And she used to always talk about the time in 1961, when President
Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold McMillan held a surprise pow-wow at
the Little White House to plan their strategy right before the Cuban Missile
Crisis.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">My mother and Aunt Jane were
tasked with getting the place ready in less than twenty-four hours.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was one of Mom’s fondest memories.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX2yBdIsO7E/VqT_uCIwSXI/AAAAAAACFso/rPmY-xnqNX4/s1600/12400802_10208038909910990_6437625880810899871_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX2yBdIsO7E/VqT_uCIwSXI/AAAAAAACFso/rPmY-xnqNX4/s320/12400802_10208038909910990_6437625880810899871_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
truly wish I could say that I remember those times.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">But I really don’t. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I was too young. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">And as we approached the large white </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">cottage</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">, I felt nothing.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I mean, it’s very beautiful, a large Key West
bungalow that is pleasing to the eye, but no past memories suddenly popped into
my head.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our most
excellent </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">guide was Chris Stone, a Navy brat who
grew up on Taney Street in Annapolis.
Small world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bO78RuOjONQ/VqTemH3TVoI/AAAAAAACFW8/p4zyLN3sQ3I/s1600/IMG_9531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bO78RuOjONQ/VqTemH3TVoI/AAAAAAACFW8/p4zyLN3sQ3I/s320/IMG_9531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">As
we walked past the den toward the back of the house we came to the place where
Truman spent most of his evenings when visiting Key West, playing penny ante poker
with his staff and dignitaries.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
ornate mahogany poker table adorns the room like an altar.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I
turned to my left and instantly felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I
could vividly see Uncle Bob McElroy, standing behind the bar, mixing drinks and
holding court as my parents and Aunt Jane traded playful verbal jabs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
memories washed over me in waves and I felt dizzy.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I grabbed the wall and noticed Inna standing
in the dining room with her mouth agape.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">She motioned for me to come look at something.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nudeVsT2arg/VqUCzc2ef1I/AAAAAAACFug/C3VxUW5tOz8/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nudeVsT2arg/VqUCzc2ef1I/AAAAAAACFug/C3VxUW5tOz8/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JxnTux5PpQ/VqUu8Ti1I-I/AAAAAAACFwE/BjZ29Qr4-kw/s1600/Ronnie%2B-%2BThanksgiving%2B%25231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JxnTux5PpQ/VqUu8Ti1I-I/AAAAAAACFwE/BjZ29Qr4-kw/s320/Ronnie%2B-%2BThanksgiving%2B%25231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">We were both speechless.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The dining room looked almost exactly like the one I grew up in at my
family home “Cliff Edge” overlooking the Severn River and United States Naval
Academy.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">My life had come full circle.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JCdoUKwAvUk/VqTemu4OTcI/AAAAAAACFXE/Fwph5uk-VIA/s1600/IMG_9532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JCdoUKwAvUk/VqTemu4OTcI/AAAAAAACFXE/Fwph5uk-VIA/s320/IMG_9532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCd9Ctik5Hs/VqUC0QEVVlI/AAAAAAACFus/Uu9PxK4qJho/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCd9Ctik5Hs/VqUC0QEVVlI/AAAAAAACFus/Uu9PxK4qJho/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">And as we toured the rest of the house, Inna and I just
kept shaking our heads and laughing. The rest of the people on the tour undoubtedly
thought we were nuts.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">But everywhere we
looked there were architectural features and pieces of furniture that had been
replicated in the home where I grew up. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Inna kept pointing at familiar items, like the
drapes in the First Lady's bedroom, the wallpaper, and a carved clam shell dresser, exactly
like my mother had decorated our guest rooms, and we both smiled like we were
visiting an old familiar place that was once our home.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n4p-7J4SzUE/VqUC0G0JSdI/AAAAAAACFuo/dMBo8EQqAIU/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n4p-7J4SzUE/VqUC0G0JSdI/AAAAAAACFuo/dMBo8EQqAIU/s320/IMG_2631.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Life is strange.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">There is no rhyme or reason.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hufLqLoJYxE/VqTdoA_bRUI/AAAAAAACFJc/M6ZYgrvKPq0/s1600/IMG_9412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hufLqLoJYxE/VqTdoA_bRUI/AAAAAAACFJc/M6ZYgrvKPq0/s320/IMG_9412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I am fond of just saying, “That’s karma.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">But I was given a rare gift on our trip to Key West.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Without warning or expectation.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">And so, I raise a toast to all those brave souls who came
before, and hope against hope, that I too can carry on that bold tradition.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2GBRanzHwI/VqT_vGkOMJI/AAAAAAACFtA/_6-MKid9Mgo/s1600/12487064_10208040723316324_3958632182395541999_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x2GBRanzHwI/VqT_vGkOMJI/AAAAAAACFtA/_6-MKid9Mgo/s320/12487064_10208040723316324_3958632182395541999_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-6842406874496958222015-12-26T12:10:00.002-08:002015-12-26T12:10:33.484-08:00THE MEMORY BRICK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5-20e1W8Ak/Vn3JBM3oQ9I/AAAAAAACEJU/MPnu0pKzehg/s1600/IMG_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s5-20e1W8Ak/Vn3JBM3oQ9I/AAAAAAACEJU/MPnu0pKzehg/s320/IMG_0659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a really nice surprise when I came home from work the other day.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-21gPuAsx6JI/Vn6hIfkO20I/AAAAAAACEPs/mAg1ptIqIYo/s1600/IMG_8920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-21gPuAsx6JI/Vn6hIfkO20I/AAAAAAACEPs/mAg1ptIqIYo/s320/IMG_8920.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The folks from Houston who bought my Mom's house "Cliff Edge" a few years back finally got around to knocking the old girl down in late October. I took off from work for my birthday and went to the gym. On the way back I stopped to see what was happening at the place I had called home for over fifty years. There were several workers slowly dismantling the house. The windows and shutters were gone and they were piling pieces of wood on the front lawn. Loud banging and crashing was coming from the inside of the house and it made for a curious sight. I couldn't figure out what the hell they were doing.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wyP-30qsXg/Vn3JeVpetPI/AAAAAAACEJc/22PPaFHht9U/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wyP-30qsXg/Vn3JeVpetPI/AAAAAAACEJc/22PPaFHht9U/s320/IMG_2587.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As luck would have it, John, the contractor from Lynbrook General Contractors, pulled up and I walked over and introduced myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDYAffByIl4/Vn7yD0PXpvI/AAAAAAACERY/stSCkjYaEcM/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDYAffByIl4/Vn7yD0PXpvI/AAAAAAACERY/stSCkjYaEcM/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Are they going to gut the house and keep the shell?" I asked as a guy walked out with a large piece of maple flooring and threw it on the pile.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CymB4jeGswk/Vn7CS-QBAOI/AAAAAAACEQo/1QmM_l9NJ90/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CymB4jeGswk/Vn7CS-QBAOI/AAAAAAACEQo/1QmM_l9NJ90/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The lady who bought the sister house, built by <b>THE </b>contractor of his day, George Shelton, gutted her house when she bought it back in the early 90s from the Lazenbys, but she kept the original exterior. So, it looks the same as the day it was built, a new home inside an old one. There was an undeniable <b><i>style </i></b>to those two lovely houses, with their three graceful dormers and symmetrical lines. Both houses had real <b><i>character</i></b>.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFdqtb8yFE/Vn3JpBWkzAI/AAAAAAACEJk/VQozUhbPAuA/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XfFdqtb8yFE/Vn3JpBWkzAI/AAAAAAACEJk/VQozUhbPAuA/s320/IMG_2631.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Nope. We're removing everything of value and all of that wood will be re-purposed by another company out of Davidsonville," replied John with a big friendly smile.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwCm7sMVPtM/Vn3KIbqUitI/AAAAAAACEJ0/MAKTWrKNmtk/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwCm7sMVPtM/Vn3KIbqUitI/AAAAAAACEJ0/MAKTWrKNmtk/s320/IMG_2601.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought that was pretty cool. Much of the old house would, in a sense, be reborn somewhere else.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9ujLBfzu5U/Vn3KIFHQDII/AAAAAAACEJs/WvGEkLG2dIQ/s1600/IMG_2606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z9ujLBfzu5U/Vn3KIFHQDII/AAAAAAACEJs/WvGEkLG2dIQ/s320/IMG_2606.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"After we remove all of the good stuff, then we'll bring her down."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0iXfnyAZhs" target="_blank">This Old Porch</a></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dD8UteIY_-s/Vn3KIeOE6MI/AAAAAAACEJw/wxk-rEm8xdQ/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dD8UteIY_-s/Vn3KIeOE6MI/AAAAAAACEJw/wxk-rEm8xdQ/s320/IMG_2611.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I nodded, not really feeling anything emotionally when I heard the house would be demolished. I was never a <b><i>thing </i></b>guy. And a house is really just a big thing. A big thing filled with memories. And what power on earth could possibly demolish my memories?</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0qFtwulzzc/Vn3KKMD_EWI/AAAAAAACEKE/fVhGTVaP56s/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0qFtwulzzc/Vn3KKMD_EWI/AAAAAAACEKE/fVhGTVaP56s/s320/IMG_2613.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Would you like to see the plans for the new house?" John asked.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_81OPu1nGzg/Vn3Kjkk_qlI/AAAAAAACEKM/8ltVztwPmLM/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_81OPu1nGzg/Vn3Kjkk_qlI/AAAAAAACEKM/8ltVztwPmLM/s320/IMG_2660.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"You bet," I replied.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voUV7KqaU4M/Vn65-nZwg1I/AAAAAAACEQI/zF3yILe66AY/s1600/IMG_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voUV7KqaU4M/Vn65-nZwg1I/AAAAAAACEQI/zF3yILe66AY/s320/IMG_1373.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">John laid the construction drawings out on the hood of his truck and I looked them over. I used to be a surveyor and I am familiar with engineering plans.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2LDlLq7De0/Vn3Kj0IiXrI/AAAAAAACEKU/aEJv7y73x8U/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2LDlLq7De0/Vn3Kj0IiXrI/AAAAAAACEKU/aEJv7y73x8U/s320/IMG_2662.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
"It's going to be smaller than the old one. Two floors rather than three. And it will be made of stone and cedar."</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-llANvty329Q/Vn3Kjy-RAQI/AAAAAAACEKQ/-ED6HRqp3-g/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-llANvty329Q/Vn3Kjy-RAQI/AAAAAAACEKQ/-ED6HRqp3-g/s320/IMG_2663.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It looked lovely and very tasteful. And I was overjoyed that they weren't going to build a big <i><b>hotel </b></i>on the top of that lovely cliff overlooking the Severn River and the Naval Academy. These days it seems like there's a competition as to who can build the biggest monstrosity along the river, and that had always been my biggest fear.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CurTbAsrZCE/Vn6dIxPl_fI/AAAAAAACENA/zGSD_OUnBSQ/s1600/IMG_8926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CurTbAsrZCE/Vn6dIxPl_fI/AAAAAAACENA/zGSD_OUnBSQ/s320/IMG_8926.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TnBt-vrv6Js/Vn3KlG3iQbI/AAAAAAACEKk/_eWrc9gJjdI/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TnBt-vrv6Js/Vn3KlG3iQbI/AAAAAAACEKk/_eWrc9gJjdI/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I thanked John for taking the time to show me the plans.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-KYaW42kzY/Vn66QxgVAtI/AAAAAAACEQQ/eDxQB0vtw8o/s1600/IMG_1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-KYaW42kzY/Vn66QxgVAtI/AAAAAAACEQQ/eDxQB0vtw8o/s320/IMG_1290.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"We are custom builders and this project is going to take a long time to finish. You're welcome to come by whenever you want and look around," said John as he climbed back into his truck and drove away.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8MpRHLGCiQ/Vn3KlobGfrI/AAAAAAACEKs/4rlnaWEChiU/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V8MpRHLGCiQ/Vn3KlobGfrI/AAAAAAACEKs/4rlnaWEChiU/s320/IMG_2683.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few days later they started knocking down the old house.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olNnO-fK4EI/Vn6dTkalJnI/AAAAAAACEO4/aax7JPZ8OcQ/s1600/IMG_8983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olNnO-fK4EI/Vn6dTkalJnI/AAAAAAACEO4/aax7JPZ8OcQ/s320/IMG_8983.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MmQgKzaqq8/Vn6dS6pCrpI/AAAAAAACEOw/PN5xT51XgZ0/s1600/IMG_8980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MmQgKzaqq8/Vn6dS6pCrpI/AAAAAAACEOw/PN5xT51XgZ0/s320/IMG_8980.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-size: large;">I went by the following Sunday to snap a few photos. I would have liked to walk through the remains, but the new owners were there and I think I sort of creeped them out. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I felt sort of like a peeping Tom. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We all kept our distance and I stayed out in the street and on the Wards' property next door. It felt really weird. But I shed no tears. In fact, I just felt a mild sense of fascination. I had said my goodbyes a long time ago.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFNW73OUx_c/Vn3MoD2EHZI/AAAAAAACELI/h4pGyb5RbDw/s1600/IMG_8999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFNW73OUx_c/Vn3MoD2EHZI/AAAAAAACELI/h4pGyb5RbDw/s320/IMG_8999.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I followed the dismantling and demolition of the old homestead over the course of the next few weeks with almost analytic interest. And I kept a photo record with my phone on the way back from the gym each time I stopped by.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHNA3kCa6T8/Vn6dJLyrFBI/AAAAAAACEM4/cpRUIAHZCuU/s1600/IMG_8933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHNA3kCa6T8/Vn6dJLyrFBI/AAAAAAACEM4/cpRUIAHZCuU/s320/IMG_8933.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7WC065tjIk/Vn6dKu0GmQI/AAAAAAACENM/qzt_RVvDxfQ/s1600/IMG_8937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7WC065tjIk/Vn6dKu0GmQI/AAAAAAACENM/qzt_RVvDxfQ/s320/IMG_8937.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ge6Sbo5oyM/Vn3MpE5JBrI/AAAAAAACELY/PbPj0RZ6Md4/s1600/IMG_9001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ge6Sbo5oyM/Vn3MpE5JBrI/AAAAAAACELY/PbPj0RZ6Md4/s320/IMG_9001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many people were deeply saddened by the demolition of the house. And they quite naturally assumed that I feel the same. I explained that I made my peace with the fact that the house would be knocked down the day I sold it. The new owners paid a pretty penny for their dream spot and they had the right to do whatever they liked.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEpylbGcCSg/Vn6dJOeFyjI/AAAAAAACENI/Zt0OzIEbKSI/s1600/IMG_8935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MEpylbGcCSg/Vn6dJOeFyjI/AAAAAAACENI/Zt0OzIEbKSI/s320/IMG_8935.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPGf7iMStnA/Vn7wCYRTs9I/AAAAAAACERM/ccaPwjZnJ0A/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPGf7iMStnA/Vn7wCYRTs9I/AAAAAAACERM/ccaPwjZnJ0A/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I went for a walk with my old friend Jeannie right before Thanksgiving and she was pretty bummed about the house coming down. She has spent most of her life visiting the place <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 33.6px;">– she never missed the Blue Angels </span> <span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 33.6px;">–</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 33.6px;"> </span>and she obviously was deeply saddened by its demise. And she seemed surprised that I wan't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uSH1d_DBQtc/Vn6dMvDHf_I/AAAAAAACENo/uVJbf9DE3Vk/s1600/IMG_8941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uSH1d_DBQtc/Vn6dMvDHf_I/AAAAAAACENo/uVJbf9DE3Vk/s320/IMG_8941.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4rMTLBLRAA/Vn6dNvt2TFI/AAAAAAACEN4/lstkNbQvA8U/s1600/IMG_8943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4rMTLBLRAA/Vn6dNvt2TFI/AAAAAAACEN4/lstkNbQvA8U/s320/IMG_8943.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were standing at the end of Greenbury Point on a lovely fall day, looking out at the sailboats sailing on the Bay, and she turned to me and said, "You need to go and grab some sentimental piece of the house before it's all gone."</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbvC1sLp9Z0/Vn6dP2QOWHI/AAAAAAACEOQ/T_WlR627ZPM/s1600/IMG_8948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PbvC1sLp9Z0/Vn6dP2QOWHI/AAAAAAACEOQ/T_WlR627ZPM/s320/IMG_8948.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i_8hcTv6xHk/Vn6dP6E1d5I/AAAAAAACEOU/Pgb5ltcsb2M/s1600/IMG_8949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i_8hcTv6xHk/Vn6dP6E1d5I/AAAAAAACEOU/Pgb5ltcsb2M/s320/IMG_8949.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The idea struck me as silly. And I told her that she was crazy.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23a8f301eyg/Vn6dOBGSaXI/AAAAAAACEOA/LRK-ROvmKOQ/s1600/IMG_8947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23a8f301eyg/Vn6dOBGSaXI/AAAAAAACEOA/LRK-ROvmKOQ/s320/IMG_8947.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJgVxl5Ln4/Vn6dQPMuaDI/AAAAAAACEOY/vfclXzDJS_Q/s1600/IMG_8952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJgVxl5Ln4/Vn6dQPMuaDI/AAAAAAACEOY/vfclXzDJS_Q/s320/IMG_8952.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jeannie shook her head defiantly. "You'll regret it if you don't. And what do you lose? I mean, if you grab something that brings back a sweet memory, you can always throw it away later. But if you don't take some memento now, you can never get it back. So do it."</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6dodcVv9qM/Vn6dSDhVJRI/AAAAAAACEOk/vG9Uw5aPs1M/s1600/IMG_8969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6dodcVv9qM/Vn6dSDhVJRI/AAAAAAACEOk/vG9Uw5aPs1M/s320/IMG_8969.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWM7Mc6isUU/Vn6dSv2S1NI/AAAAAAACEOs/NfB-N3ofun0/s1600/IMG_8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWM7Mc6isUU/Vn6dSv2S1NI/AAAAAAACEOs/NfB-N3ofun0/s320/IMG_8976.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I begged indifference.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Yqs7H1dWYc/Vn6hI4XsV8I/AAAAAAACEP4/S3hEMdMthOo/s1600/IMG_8895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Yqs7H1dWYc/Vn6hI4XsV8I/AAAAAAACEP4/S3hEMdMthOo/s320/IMG_8895.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And what would I grab? A board? A piece of glass? A door hinge?</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zudl4alzPV8/Vn6ee90Yn7I/AAAAAAACEPA/kN9XmRB2fP0/s1600/IMG_9003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zudl4alzPV8/Vn6ee90Yn7I/AAAAAAACEPA/kN9XmRB2fP0/s320/IMG_9003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did not follow her advice.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-WGIOOqvzU/Vn3Mn5FMUXI/AAAAAAACELA/ii2D0NzxZkM/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-WGIOOqvzU/Vn3Mn5FMUXI/AAAAAAACELA/ii2D0NzxZkM/s320/IMG_8989.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For several weeks they left the three white chimneys in place, like sentinels over the Severn. I'm not sure why. Many people asked me if they were going to keep the old chimneys and I told them that I didn't know. It remained a mystery until they too came crashing down and then the lot was completely cleared and regraded. A few days later the new foundation went in.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IljpsnEmNts/Vn3M9mQ_bvI/AAAAAAACELg/yh0l984NaHA/s1600/IMG_8874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IljpsnEmNts/Vn3M9mQ_bvI/AAAAAAACELg/yh0l984NaHA/s320/IMG_8874.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEtwWL0oKS8/Vn3M-NB0zfI/AAAAAAACELk/iL5NB1wA_gE/s1600/IMG_8886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEtwWL0oKS8/Vn3M-NB0zfI/AAAAAAACELk/iL5NB1wA_gE/s320/IMG_8886.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But when I saw that big hole, after the chimneys had come down, I thought to myself, "Jeannie was right. I should have grabbed something tangible that I could hold in my hands."</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VtCuA8SxVvo/Vn6f-XkSXQI/AAAAAAACEPM/eAB1UVJYAS8/s1600/IMG_9138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VtCuA8SxVvo/Vn6f-XkSXQI/AAAAAAACEPM/eAB1UVJYAS8/s320/IMG_9138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehLbMfzeOW4/Vn6gYObjvLI/AAAAAAACEPU/rxJ0Yq3ZK1Y/s1600/IMG_9131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehLbMfzeOW4/Vn6gYObjvLI/AAAAAAACEPU/rxJ0Yq3ZK1Y/s320/IMG_9131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few day later I rode home from work on my bike and sitting on the doorstep was a package from my old friend Billy Moulden who I hadn't seen in over a year. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUha20qK85A/Vn3M_I2OmHI/AAAAAAACEL4/Ydq6wmrTaMM/s1600/IMG_8907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUha20qK85A/Vn3M_I2OmHI/AAAAAAACEL4/Ydq6wmrTaMM/s320/IMG_8907.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Inside was a note that read as follows:</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I crossed the Old Severn River Bridge two weeks ago. My sincere condolences to </span></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">you and the memory of your family. Most likely, a number have opined at the loss </span></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">of your iconic Severn River home. I'd like to join their ranks with this opine and a </span></b><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">few relics.</span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The chimneys left standing at your home is mindful of Sherman's March to the Sea. Notably, <i>Sherman's Sentinels</i>, left in his wake - the chimneys of burnt iconic</span></span></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 33.6px;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">properties in his total war vision.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">Seeing these <i>Severn Sentinels </i>was bit provocative for me. I recovered a few items </span></b><b style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">for you. The presented brick is from the foundation facing the river. </b></span></span><b style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">The original 1917 construction nails are from the kitchen entrance to your home</span></span></b><b style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> which was always the way people entered the house.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">My Regrets,</span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> Billy</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/sherman.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>eyewitnesstohistory.com/<wbr></wbr>sherman.htm</a></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Billy had shellacked the brick so that is shined and then he painted the following words: </span></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>THE CARRS </b></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> 2009 HOMEWOOD</span></b></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And on the back side of the brick he had glued a green felt strip.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgW1Efm-1mw/Vn7Behyd1uI/AAAAAAACEQg/4bEMQg-X9Zw/s1600/IMG_9333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgW1Efm-1mw/Vn7Behyd1uI/AAAAAAACEQg/4bEMQg-X9Zw/s320/IMG_9333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;">
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I totally lost it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SNQXpA0YhY" target="_blank">Something Fine</a></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-9844052253433092015-12-02T13:49:00.000-08:002015-12-02T13:49:29.906-08:00THANKSGIVING DELIGHTS<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0Pb8qtLYwA/Vl3gZgdhukI/AAAAAAACDN4/5Xd6KpeJIXQ/s1600/2015-11-29%2B12.09.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a0Pb8qtLYwA/Vl3gZgdhukI/AAAAAAACDN4/5Xd6KpeJIXQ/s400/2015-11-29%2B12.09.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ever since my Mom died, Inna and I have been traveling for
Thanksgiving, taking advantage of the four day holiday. Last year, we explored the
historic town of Fredericksburg, checking out the surrounding Civil War
battlefields and their quaint little downtown shopping district and eateries.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nA85Z5SfsoM/Vl2m3xshSQI/AAAAAAACDKg/XtErgjCKq_w/s1600/P14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nA85Z5SfsoM/Vl2m3xshSQI/AAAAAAACDKg/XtErgjCKq_w/s400/P14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xD_b2NcnPCA/Vl2m3a6kERI/AAAAAAACDH4/OMCZdn7D60E/s1600/P12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xD_b2NcnPCA/Vl2m3a6kERI/AAAAAAACDH4/OMCZdn7D60E/s400/P12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERQMnrmt8_k/Vl2m5thhU8I/AAAAAAACDK0/DmcH5n4b9Bs/s1600/P32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERQMnrmt8_k/Vl2m5thhU8I/AAAAAAACDK0/DmcH5n4b9Bs/s320/P32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">This year,
we decided to head west to the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania,
figuring that by avoiding the chaos on the I-95 corridor we wouldn't have to
deal with a lot of holiday traffic.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmQYnRv9ZRs/Vl2m5VnJPqI/AAAAAAACDJ8/zqWFjw8L2ag/s1600/P31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qmQYnRv9ZRs/Vl2m5VnJPqI/AAAAAAACDJ8/zqWFjw8L2ag/s400/P31.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DW7WO2JyNIY/Vl2m6SHeDiI/AAAAAAACDJg/r27mx95Af0A/s1600/P35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DW7WO2JyNIY/Vl2m6SHeDiI/AAAAAAACDJg/r27mx95Af0A/s400/P35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Laurel Highlands is home to a wide assortment of spectacular nature and history and we were planning on covering a lot of ground, including a bike ride from Ohiopyle to Confluence on the Great Allegheny Passage that runs from Cumberland to Pittsburgh, a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural and artistic masterpiece Falling Water, and a hike along the scenic Youghiogheny River on the Laurel Highlands Trail.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMs6zDc3mmw/Vl2m4Z_7CXI/AAAAAAACDKw/LfJHzdo9nuQ/s1600/P19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aMs6zDc3mmw/Vl2m4Z_7CXI/AAAAAAACDKw/LfJHzdo9nuQ/s400/P19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7PBiaMnX8/Vl2m47SVTnI/AAAAAAACDKE/yN0f9TaN0Ow/s1600/P22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7PBiaMnX8/Vl2m47SVTnI/AAAAAAACDKE/yN0f9TaN0Ow/s400/P22.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hklRasHU6Y/Vl2m4_unZCI/AAAAAAACDI8/ecSui5a7wH8/s1600/P25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1hklRasHU6Y/Vl2m4_unZCI/AAAAAAACDI8/ecSui5a7wH8/s400/P25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmeF8RNcKkU/Vl8IKf5JxWI/AAAAAAACDT8/dkco6LK8tDw/s1600/P37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmeF8RNcKkU/Vl8IKf5JxWI/AAAAAAACDT8/dkco6LK8tDw/s400/P37.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWQdeXMirAY/Vl8IKWXTqzI/AAAAAAACDT4/RgFDeet5ZNA/s1600/P38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWQdeXMirAY/Vl8IKWXTqzI/AAAAAAACDT4/RgFDeet5ZNA/s400/P38.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSwQFGLN0Zo/Vl8IoGJWvSI/AAAAAAACDUM/NxEjH3fjrwM/s1600/2015-11-27%2B16.35.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xSwQFGLN0Zo/Vl8IoGJWvSI/AAAAAAACDUM/NxEjH3fjrwM/s400/2015-11-27%2B16.35.25.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6IrHsZIVzM/Vl8IoP_hcLI/AAAAAAACDUI/CCumOFVZjEY/s1600/P9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6IrHsZIVzM/Vl8IoP_hcLI/AAAAAAACDUI/CCumOFVZjEY/s400/P9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Interstate
commerce does not stop for Thanksgiving, and I-70 and I-68 were busy with truck
traffic barreling west, along with a multitude of minivan families heading to
grandma’s house for their holiday family feast.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSIJXcQ2J-g/Vl3sfnQit2I/AAAAAAACDRw/x_h0aLHRr8I/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HSIJXcQ2J-g/Vl3sfnQit2I/AAAAAAACDRw/x_h0aLHRr8I/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first destination was the <b>Fort Necessity National Battlefield Park</b>, a National Park
Service-managed historic site nestled in a lush mountain valley surrounded by
hardwood forests in the ancient Appalachian Mountains.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dVbFZb_z6c/Vl2m7A55COI/AAAAAAACDJU/StRal9eCAtQ/s1600/P6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dVbFZb_z6c/Vl2m7A55COI/AAAAAAACDJU/StRal9eCAtQ/s400/P6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The park
was open for business, but the staff had been given the day off, so we
literally had the whole place to ourselves.
The parking lot was empty and the only sounds came from the nearby <st1:street w:st="on">National Road</st1:street>
(Route 40) and chattering songbirds.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66_d8a5xHvw/Vl2m3b57amI/AAAAAAACDK4/YLvZkHomacY/s1600/P11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-66_d8a5xHvw/Vl2m3b57amI/AAAAAAACDK4/YLvZkHomacY/s400/P11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, I
had downloaded a map of the park, along with some informative brochures that
explained the historical significance of Fort Necessity.
So, we were pretty much good to go and headed off toward the fort which
sits in the middle of <b>Great Meadow</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SajogpL7r7Y/Vl2lk6WCvmI/AAAAAAACDHY/2Sec_5NlCxE/s1600/P2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SajogpL7r7Y/Vl2lk6WCvmI/AAAAAAACDHY/2Sec_5NlCxE/s400/P2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The story
of <st1:placetype w:st="on">Fort</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Necessity</st1:placename>
is one of <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>’s most
intriguing bits of forgotten history, which is kind of strange because it is
the place where the French and Indian War between the two super powers of the
time, <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>,
began. And if the place where a world war started isn't cool enough, the English commander of the fort was none other than a
twenty-two-year-old, newly-commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Virginia militia named George
Washington.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8KJNXj1ic8/Vl21mBG2urI/AAAAAAACDMM/bj2RW1x72oQ/s1600/AmericanRevolutionaryWarMon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8KJNXj1ic8/Vl21mBG2urI/AAAAAAACDMM/bj2RW1x72oQ/s640/AmericanRevolutionaryWarMon.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Wikipedia</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the
spring of 1754, twenty-one years before the first shots were fired in the
American Revolutionary War, a young surveyor who would one day become
the father of our country, was ordered by the Governor of Virginia – West
Virginia did not exist at this time – to cut a road through the wilderness to
Redstone Creek, present day Brownsville, Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5pEUKqOuHQ/Vl2m7NJ3qmI/AAAAAAACDJs/WBN_jKDsg3g/s1600/P5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5pEUKqOuHQ/Vl2m7NJ3qmI/AAAAAAACDJs/WBN_jKDsg3g/s400/P5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<st1:place w:st="on"><br /></st1:place>
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place> arrived at
Great Meadow in May and immediately got into a skirmish with a small company of
French soldiers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr7I_GWOGeg/Vl3ox6blaaI/AAAAAAACDQ0/7ZhePznaXf0/s1600/96px-George_Washington_as_CIC_of_the_Continental_Army_bust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr7I_GWOGeg/Vl3ox6blaaI/AAAAAAACDQ0/7ZhePznaXf0/s1600/96px-George_Washington_as_CIC_of_the_Continental_Army_bust.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">According
the National Park Service brochure: </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">“A
shot was fired, no one really knows by whom, and soon the peaceful glen was
filled with the crash of musketry and the sulphurous smell of powder. The
skirmish lasted about 15 minutes. When it was over, 13 Frenchmen were dead and
21 captured, including the officer in charge Ensign Joseph Coulon de
Jumonville. One escaped and made his way back to Fort Duquesne at the forks of
the Ohio. Washington's casualties were one man killed and two or three
wounded.”</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKg2ss67VYA/Vl3ogtC-jUI/AAAAAAACDQs/5s9rF9OeCck/s1600/99px-George_Washington_by_Peale_1776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKg2ss67VYA/Vl3ogtC-jUI/AAAAAAACDQs/5s9rF9OeCck/s1600/99px-George_Washington_by_Peale_1776.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then all
hell broke loose. The French sent a
large force from Fort Dusquesne, at present day Pittsburgh, to kill Washington and his men.
Washington got wind of the impending attack from a local Indian chief and he
quickly decided to dig in and make a stand in the meadow. Amazingly, even though he had plenty of time to plan his defense, he chose a spot in the very bottom
of a wet bowl, surrounded by hills and woods, where an attacking force would
have great cover and could fire down on the fort like shooting fish in a
barrel.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vhN2ZkNz0w/Vl2refj8-0I/AAAAAAACDLg/WuGUQwxhWiI/s1600/A%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vhN2ZkNz0w/Vl2refj8-0I/AAAAAAACDLg/WuGUQwxhWiI/s400/A%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Park
Service brochure describes what happened next.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn1rGBrXHy0/Vl3sfku2r4I/AAAAAAACDR0/aTFe5NrPh4s/s1600/History_Thanksgiving_Origins_of_Thanksgiving_SF_still_624x352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wn1rGBrXHy0/Vl3sfku2r4I/AAAAAAACDR0/aTFe5NrPh4s/s320/History_Thanksgiving_Origins_of_Thanksgiving_SF_still_624x352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>www.history.com</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>“He undertook to fortify his position at the
Great Meadows. During the last two days of May and the first three days of
June, he built a circular palisaded fort, which he called Fort Necessity.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “The rest of the Virginia regiment
arrived at the Great Meadows on June 9, along with supplies and nine small
cannon called swivel guns. Washington's command now totaled 293 officers and
men. He was reinforced several days later by about 100 men of Capt. James
Mackay's Independent Company of regular British troops from South Carolina.
Washington's attempts to retain his Indian allies were not successful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “While the South Carolinians
remained at the Great Meadows, Washington and his Virginians spent most of June
opening a road from Fort Necessity to Gist's Plantation, a frontier settlement
in the direction of the forks of the Ohio. Reports that a large force of French
and Indians was advancing from Fort Duquesne, however, caused him to withdraw
his men to the Great Meadows, where they arrived July 1.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “The next day, they strengthened
Fort Necessity by improving the trenches outside the stockade. On the morning
of July 3, a force of about 600 French and 100 Indians approached the fort.
After the French took up positions in the woods, Washington withdrew his men to
the entrenchments. Rain fell throughout the day, flooding the marshy ground.
Both sides suffered casualties, but the British losses were greater than French
and Indian losses.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “The fighting continued sporadically
until about 8 p.m. Then Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers, commander of the French
force and brother of the recently-slain Jumonville, requested a truce to
discuss the surrender of Washington's command.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> “Near midnight, after several hours
of negotiation, Washington and Mackay signed the multi-part
document. The British were allowed to withdraw with the honors of war,
retaining their baggage and weapons, but having to surrender their swivel guns.
Washington surrendered his command to the French.”</span><o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7yEYWnnEQDo/Vl2tesnud5I/AAAAAAACDL8/V8K73MlZUBY/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7yEYWnnEQDo/Vl2tesnud5I/AAAAAAACDL8/V8K73MlZUBY/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Washington
and his wounded men marched out of <st1:placetype w:st="on">Fort</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Necessity</st1:placename> on July 4<sup>th</sup>, 1754
(<b>July 4<sup>th</sup>!</b>) and since that day, some historians have wondered what
exactly took place that rainy night when Washington surrendered to the
French. From that day forward, George
Washington’s relationship with the French was rather <i>curious</i>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgQQzvYiw2M/Vl3qRprx8YI/AAAAAAACDRE/LAlXmDzR5nw/s1600/Washington_1772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mgQQzvYiw2M/Vl3qRprx8YI/AAAAAAACDRE/LAlXmDzR5nw/s1600/Washington_1772.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae-ui7QMcoE/Vl2m7WVKnZI/AAAAAAACDJw/kCpSXIVcn14/s1600/P7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae-ui7QMcoE/Vl2m7WVKnZI/AAAAAAACDJw/kCpSXIVcn14/s400/P7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Washington
violated the terms of his surrender by serving the following year as General
Braddock’s aide-de-camp during the ill-fated English expedition to take Fort
Duquesne. And
this is where things get very sketchy.
Two weeks before Braddock and his men were slaughtered, Washington came
down with dysentery and was not seen around the English camp for extended
periods of time. A few days before the
battle, an English officer (never identified) showed up at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Fort</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Duquesne</st1:placename></st1:place>. And during the beginning of the battle, <st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state> was uncharacteristically at the
rear, riding a horse with two large red pillows attached to the front and back
of his saddle – ostensibly because he was still feeling the aches and pains
from his lingering illness. Or was is
really a visual cue – “don’t shoot the guy on the horse with the red
pillows.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UG1xrihc1Kk/Vl3qRrTYgrI/AAAAAAACDRA/WpWv2FgROCs/s1600/stock-photo-close-up-of-george-washington-on-a-one-dollar-bill-42466381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UG1xrihc1Kk/Vl3qRrTYgrI/AAAAAAACDRA/WpWv2FgROCs/s1600/stock-photo-close-up-of-george-washington-on-a-one-dollar-bill-42466381.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">If that was indeed the case, it
didn’t work according to plan, because Washington fought like a demon during
the Battle of Monongahela. He had
two horses shot out from underneath him and four musket balls ripped through
his uniform. And when Braddock and most
of his officers had fallen in battle, it was Washington who assumed command and
rallied the remaining soldiers, leading them from the battlefield in an orderly
retreat.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp6lLjeOaxg/Vl3qRsDh-RI/AAAAAAACDRI/46GKG9j1iOs/s1600/george-washington-capitol-rotunda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp6lLjeOaxg/Vl3qRsDh-RI/AAAAAAACDRI/46GKG9j1iOs/s1600/george-washington-capitol-rotunda.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;">According to the famous biographer James T. Flexner, as the soldiers talked among
themselves later that night in camp one was heard to say, </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“I expected every moment to see him
(Washington) fall. Nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have
saved him.” </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeOB_XG63Rs/Vl3mAchW2CI/AAAAAAACDQg/FO2hvx2ZXS8/s1600/statue-of-george-washington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeOB_XG63Rs/Vl3mAchW2CI/AAAAAAACDQg/FO2hvx2ZXS8/s1600/statue-of-george-washington.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Was the father of our country
really a French spy? Was he turned
against the English on that fateful night at Fort Necessity? For me, the most curious thing about the Fort
Necessity debacle is the fact that the surrender document that Washington
signed stated that Washington personally </span><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>assassinated</i></b><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Jumonville. So, why didn’t Captain Louis de Villiers avenge
his brother’s death, as he had loudly promised he would do, when he had the culprit right there in his hands?</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPbD-OpHgUM/Vl3qz99gOnI/AAAAAAACDRY/64kVbTpZxg8/s1600/76px-Gwashington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPbD-OpHgUM/Vl3qz99gOnI/AAAAAAACDRY/64kVbTpZxg8/s1600/76px-Gwashington.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The facts
are inconclusive. But history is clear that Washington ultimately forged a
lasting alliance with the French during the American Revolutionary War and
could not have won without the guidance and valor of two French generals who
fought by his side throughout that long struggle, Rochambeau and Lafayette.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VG1KOpHdCtc/Vl2reM5HF0I/AAAAAAACDLc/qiV_U5Z62Fg/s1600/A%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VG1KOpHdCtc/Vl2reM5HF0I/AAAAAAACDLc/qiV_U5Z62Fg/s400/A%2521%2521.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We left the
fort as the sun was setting behind the Allegheny Mountains and traveled
Washington’s route down the hilly National Road, through rural Fayette County
(named after General Lafayette).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We were
staying at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott in <b>Uniontown </b>and after checking into our
room, we headed out to find some Thanksgiving dinner. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9_ciKQjiYA/Vl3kz53tahI/AAAAAAACDP4/oDIXDHsOnyw/s1600/2015-11-29%2B11.57.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T9_ciKQjiYA/Vl3kz53tahI/AAAAAAACDP4/oDIXDHsOnyw/s400/2015-11-29%2B11.57.40.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In
Annapolis, most of the finer dining establishments serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but I wasn’t going to assume that a small town in
Pennsylvania shared the same sensibilities. So, before we left on our trip, I
scouted out two Asian steakhouses that had received excellent reviews on Trip
Advisor, figuring that Asian restaurants usually stay open on American holidays
– even Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it
turned out that even the Asian restaurants were closed on Thanksgiving in
Uniontown, and as a thick blanket of fog descended upon the rundown industrial
town, things were looking pretty bleak on the eating front. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LbSmc8DlmJM/Vl3gX6Kdl5I/AAAAAAACDOI/UerMIhAwa8A/s1600/2015-11-29%2B09.42.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LbSmc8DlmJM/Vl3gX6Kdl5I/AAAAAAACDOI/UerMIhAwa8A/s400/2015-11-29%2B09.42.39.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I suddenly
remembered seeing a nice restaurant that was crowded with cars not far from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Fort</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Necessity</st1:placename></st1:place>,
about forty-five minutes away, over a very steep and winding mountain road. At that point, it seemed like our only
sensible option. Uniontown looked like a
ghost town.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7iXf34HnPI/Vl3gX5DQFxI/AAAAAAACDOU/un4Ch1KPXmc/s1600/2015-11-29%2B09.42.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7iXf34HnPI/Vl3gX5DQFxI/AAAAAAACDOU/un4Ch1KPXmc/s400/2015-11-29%2B09.42.49.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKTIxzosEMI/Vl3gXxbCm5I/AAAAAAACDNY/L4bhsunAiKo/s1600/2015-11-29%2B09.43.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKTIxzosEMI/Vl3gXxbCm5I/AAAAAAACDNY/L4bhsunAiKo/s400/2015-11-29%2B09.43.28.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZCHFb56sGk/Vl3gYSfxBuI/AAAAAAACDNk/xgJcP70FRVI/s1600/2015-11-29%2B09.43.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XZCHFb56sGk/Vl3gYSfxBuI/AAAAAAACDNk/xgJcP70FRVI/s400/2015-11-29%2B09.43.53.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">By the time
we got to the <b>Stone House</b> restaurant, the place was closed. They had apparently stopped serving at
six. It was almost eight and we were out
of options.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We
continued aimlessly up the National Road with little hope and hungry bellies and then
suddenly came to a small building adorned with way too many Christmas lights
and a big sign that included the word <i>grille</i>
(with an e). It looked like a dive bar.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9_tGvjoRg8/Vl2m4UV-oOI/AAAAAAACDKo/RmW8cfQOavY/s1600/P18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9_tGvjoRg8/Vl2m4UV-oOI/AAAAAAACDKo/RmW8cfQOavY/s400/P18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It turned
out to be a package liquor store.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We entered
tentatively and were greeted by a friendly guy sitting at a table watching the
Cowboys/Panthers football game like he was at home in his living room. Another bearded fellow in camo sat at a small table by the window and nodded in greeting.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqVhbMzlobA/Vl2rd1__GUI/AAAAAAACDLw/bhULkfXe0KM/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqVhbMzlobA/Vl2rd1__GUI/AAAAAAACDLw/bhULkfXe0KM/s400/A%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Do you
serve food?” I asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A tattooed
waitress named Tiffany, sporting spiky black hair and a Steelers black and gold
t-shirt, chuckled as she wiped the counter top with a dirty wet rag. “Well sort
of. We have microwave burritos and
burgers.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We frowned
as we silently considered our options, which were pretty much zero.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlZVpZKzlrk/Vl3ihDAnKWI/AAAAAAACDOw/DL-TrEASVoo/s1600/2015-11-29%2B09.41.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlZVpZKzlrk/Vl3ihDAnKWI/AAAAAAACDOw/DL-TrEASVoo/s400/2015-11-29%2B09.41.50.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tiffany
pointed toward the area behind the counter and said, “But I made a real nice
Thanksgiving dinner and we would be happy to share it with you. I knew that some of the local guys would have
nowhere to go for the holiday, so I thought I’d make them a nice dinner. You can join us if you like.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> And so we
did.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tdiWtJLDk4/Vl3u4hrDjZI/AAAAAAACDSI/VQcEXF2m2cs/s1600/imagesCAGB82Z7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9tdiWtJLDk4/Vl3u4hrDjZI/AAAAAAACDSI/VQcEXF2m2cs/s1600/imagesCAGB82Z7.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> www.virginiaadvocate.com</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We sat
there at little folding tables, surrounded by freezers filled with beer,
waiting for whatever Thanksgiving treat this kind lady had prepared. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I grabbed two frosty Sierra Nevada beers from
a nearby cooler and sat down.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I suddenly flashed back to the story about the Pilgrims who were befriended by some local Indians on that very first American Thanksgiving so long ago, and smiled.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibbdBU7xTwI/Vl8Nwc8JO4I/AAAAAAACDUg/ZLVCjN0WfSw/s1600/Thanks.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibbdBU7xTwI/Vl8Nwc8JO4I/AAAAAAACDUg/ZLVCjN0WfSw/s320/Thanks.gif" width="318" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A few more
locals straggled in, all big men dressed for hunting. They grabbed some Iron City beers from a cooler like it was their personal fridge and sat down to watch
the game on the flat screen that was mounted on the wall. This was apparently the neighborhood living
room. The conversation drifted from trucks, to ten point bucks that got away, sports (Steelers and Penguins), and Fox news politics.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xrZdL0MCuiI/Vl3gYgkqvBI/AAAAAAACDN0/Oa0F3BVSLhc/s1600/2015-11-29%2B11.56.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xrZdL0MCuiI/Vl3gYgkqvBI/AAAAAAACDN0/Oa0F3BVSLhc/s400/2015-11-29%2B11.56.22.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I asked
them about the palatial resort we had accidentally stumbled onto earlier in the day called the <b>Nemacolin Woodlands Resort</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1L45tLRw5vY/Vl2m35I46oI/AAAAAAACDKk/TG99x_c2dFY/s1600/P16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1L45tLRw5vY/Vl2m35I46oI/AAAAAAACDKk/TG99x_c2dFY/s400/P16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LbpVu8jZU_A/Vl2m4LFgspI/AAAAAAACDIU/UWjvM6gxBY4/s1600/P17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LbpVu8jZU_A/Vl2m4LFgspI/AAAAAAACDIU/UWjvM6gxBY4/s400/P17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The
official greeter by the front door said, “Been here for about fifty years. Lots of famous people have stayed there, even Presidents, like George Bush. But not the guy that’s
in there now. He wouldn’t come anywhere near this place for anything.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EztcsoLNMU/Vl3ih0UYDFI/AAAAAAACDPI/ybJeixAyPzQ/s1600/2015-11-29%2B14.56.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EztcsoLNMU/Vl3ih0UYDFI/AAAAAAACDPI/ybJeixAyPzQ/s400/2015-11-29%2B14.56.33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I should
have kept my mouth shut but that’s not my style. “Do you know where President Obama is right
now?” I asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFF2tOgbUNk/Vl3gYuDvaTI/AAAAAAACDOQ/Rob-eoZv_oc/s1600/2015-11-29%2B11.53.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFF2tOgbUNk/Vl3gYuDvaTI/AAAAAAACDOQ/Rob-eoZv_oc/s400/2015-11-29%2B11.53.09.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The man
shook his head.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCAqcnzBvfM/Vl2rd596ghI/AAAAAAACDLk/x4_RCze9i-8/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCAqcnzBvfM/Vl2rd596ghI/AAAAAAACDLk/x4_RCze9i-8/s400/A%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“He and his
wife and daughters are serving Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless at a soup kitchen in
Washington, D.C.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ6O-yzrosM/Vl3ig8ndN8I/AAAAAAACDOo/PeURfGI9QTg/s1600/2015-11-27%2B17.43.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ6O-yzrosM/Vl3ig8ndN8I/AAAAAAACDOo/PeURfGI9QTg/s400/2015-11-27%2B17.43.59.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The man
scowled and several others snorted like I had confirmed their worst suspicions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nL-6QXaeJwo/Vl3gZOZdZII/AAAAAAACDN8/yZ4iMFqp-R4/s1600/2015-11-29%2B11.58.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nL-6QXaeJwo/Vl3gZOZdZII/AAAAAAACDN8/yZ4iMFqp-R4/s400/2015-11-29%2B11.58.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our
Thanksgiving dinner arrived on plastic plates and we were given small plastic
utensils. It was the real deal, complete with
turkey, mashed sweet potatoes and gravy, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a roll. It was
absolutely yummy.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvADmDhKZAA/Vl3xwfCh9OI/AAAAAAACDSU/F_L7GKlmLpI/s1600/thanksgiving-dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvADmDhKZAA/Vl3xwfCh9OI/AAAAAAACDSU/F_L7GKlmLpI/s320/thanksgiving-dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>www.dc.about.com</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think I
can safely say that we are not likely to ever eat a more surreal Thanksgiving
dinner than surrounded by rednecks and beer in the middle of god-give-me-strength
Pennsylvania.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvRObn9fI3c/Vl3kV5myqnI/AAAAAAACDPw/_3i-lpZPStA/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvRObn9fI3c/Vl3kV5myqnI/AAAAAAACDPw/_3i-lpZPStA/s400/A%2521%2521%2521%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">More
solitary men came in and sat down for their home cooked Thanksgiving dinner and
the warmth and generosity of these rugged folk pierced my heart. Inna and I ate our meal and drank our beers,
occasionally looking at one another and just shaking our heads. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxbuRjM-2No/Vl2m4vjWJmI/AAAAAAACDKA/xVn0IlvJzA0/s1600/P21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxbuRjM-2No/Vl2m4vjWJmI/AAAAAAACDKA/xVn0IlvJzA0/s400/P21.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When we
went to pay our bill, Tiffany told us we owed $8.27.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“That can’t
be right,” I said. “That covers the four beers, but not the dinner.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tiffany
smiled. “Well, I made the dinner for
everyone, so there’s no charge. I just
hope you liked it."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“It was
delicious,” I replied. “But we want to
pay you for helping us out when we were in need. If it hadn’t been for your kindness we would
not have eaten – I mean, you're the only place around here that’s open.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylZhdlEtkus/Vl3ihYJSNiI/AAAAAAACDPA/jXe4jvrwThk/s1600/2015-11-29%2B11.54.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylZhdlEtkus/Vl3ihYJSNiI/AAAAAAACDPA/jXe4jvrwThk/s400/2015-11-29%2B11.54.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“You don’t need
to pay. But if you want, just give me
what you think is fair.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What was
fair? How could I put a price tag on the
surprise blessings we had received from our friendly guardian angel?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, it’s
the 26<sup>th</sup> of November," I said, "So let’s make it $26."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrmzDpE088/Vl2m5aO0G9I/AAAAAAACDKM/DmFFkjW3hqc/s1600/P30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TXrmzDpE088/Vl2m5aO0G9I/AAAAAAACDKM/DmFFkjW3hqc/s400/P30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tiffany’s
mouth fell open in disbelief. That was a
lot of money for a young woman working on Thanksgiving night at a liquor
store <i>grille</i> in the middle of nowhere.
She almost started to cry. And we
did too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we
walked outside into the cold mountain air, the Christmas lights twinkling all
around us, Inna said, “You know, it’s strange how people who are so intolerant
and right wing – so <i>simple</i> really –
can hate Obama with such passion, and yet when it is just you and them, one on one, be so
incredibly welcoming and generous. It’s
enough to make you wonder about people, isn’t it?”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-Joji9-6o/Vl2m56PqohI/AAAAAAACDKQ/rs0bhRr24v8/s1600/P33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qR-Joji9-6o/Vl2m56PqohI/AAAAAAACDKQ/rs0bhRr24v8/s400/P33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">And it is. People are funny critters. Especially hard-working rural people. They see a world changing much faster than
they can comprehend and it scares them.
So they often react with anger and their view of the world is pretty
narrow-minded. But at the same time,
they would do almost anything to help a total stranger in need because, lest we forget, that is
what we were all put here to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrDOdNyXq9Q/Vl3ihh_4aEI/AAAAAAACDO8/Ahevzy1q2t0/s1600/2015-11-29%2B12.07.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrDOdNyXq9Q/Vl3ihh_4aEI/AAAAAAACDO8/Ahevzy1q2t0/s400/2015-11-29%2B12.07.42.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is a
lesson in this little story for all of us to remember. The labels
we attach to groups of Americans, like conservative or liberal, ignore our
individuality. They reduce us all to
stereotypes – often ugly ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXVXmfgOGZU/Vl3ig63kSkI/AAAAAAACDO0/HjJolf8S6Sk/s1600/2015-11-27%2B19.44.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXVXmfgOGZU/Vl3ig63kSkI/AAAAAAACDO0/HjJolf8S6Sk/s400/2015-11-27%2B19.44.18.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am
thankful that I was given the chance to learn that special lesson again.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJeeb3FTh6g/Vl2rePI0aLI/AAAAAAACDLs/tYQXhZyhU7s/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SJeeb3FTh6g/Vl2rePI0aLI/AAAAAAACDLs/tYQXhZyhU7s/s400/A%2521%2521%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-80443800762610976562015-08-12T13:41:00.000-07:002015-08-12T13:41:52.886-07:00THE UPPER YOCK – PADDLE OR DIE<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShfIIusqdP4/Vcs9Eq4EqYI/AAAAAAACA7M/UWGrJPlASQM/s1600/Y2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShfIIusqdP4/Vcs9Eq4EqYI/AAAAAAACA7M/UWGrJPlASQM/s320/Y2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">My
wife Inna and I recently ran the upper stretch of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Youghiogheny</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>
(affectionately referred to as the Yock, like rock).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Maryland</st1:state></st1:place>’s
only wild and scenic river. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
according to those in the know, it's the toughest white water on the east
coast.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bzIzOExWv6o/Vcs9BdTnWHI/AAAAAAACA7E/LhsaerGDeQc/s1600/Y1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bzIzOExWv6o/Vcs9BdTnWHI/AAAAAAACA7E/LhsaerGDeQc/s320/Y1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Our trip began at the Sang Run Bridge and ended in the little town of Friendsville, Maryland – about ten miles of incredible thrills and chills. You can only run this stretch of the river on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays when Brookfield Renewable Energies Partners release water from the Upper Dam. The outfitters working the river all launch between 1-3 in the afternoon and the boats ride a pillow of water that only lasts a few hours. After that, it's too shallow.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyUCRc1-1R4/Vcs9Iuaa3tI/AAAAAAACA7U/i8bVhKIM0i4/s1600/Y3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SyUCRc1-1R4/Vcs9Iuaa3tI/AAAAAAACA7U/i8bVhKIM0i4/s320/Y3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
went with<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Precision Rafting Expeditions</b>
which <i>Outside </i>magazine rated #1 in the East. The guides are mostly
wild-haired boys and girls who know the river like the back of their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there are safety kayaks that shadow the
front and rear of each flotilla like mother ducks protecting their
yellow-helmeted flock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner, Roger
Zbel, has been running the Yock for many years and is a no-nonsense fellow who
blows a loud whistle like a drill instructor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His confidence can be very reassuring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0qHAsiJCIo/Vcs9LkMNBVI/AAAAAAACA7c/5mFJnrggZBE/s1600/Y4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z0qHAsiJCIo/Vcs9LkMNBVI/AAAAAAACA7c/5mFJnrggZBE/s1600/Y4.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This is nothing like the more popular Ohiopyle run further north on the Yock. Let's start with, you would never even think about doing this trip on your own, or in a tube. You would get seriously injured, if not killed. I've done some serious white water in my time and I was pretty jumpy in the biggest rapids.<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rehkl8lBIho/Vcs2c4fwA2I/AAAAAAACA6s/HVQlwtz132g/s1600/DSC_8516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rehkl8lBIho/Vcs2c4fwA2I/AAAAAAACA6s/HVQlwtz132g/s1600/DSC_8516.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The
Upper Yock is the real deal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to
be in shape and ready for a rip-roaring ride. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The runs through each rapid are incredibly
technical, like pinball racer, with big drops and snaggle-tooth rocks everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several paddlers got launched into the water
and were quickly retrieved without injury.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rehkl8lBIho/Vcs2c4fwA2I/AAAAAAACA6s/HVQlwtz132g/s1600/DSC_8516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rehkl8lBIho/Vcs2c4fwA2I/AAAAAAACA6s/HVQlwtz132g/s1600/DSC_8516.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
were in paddle boats and that's not something I'm very familiar with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm used to the large <st1:place w:st="on">Grand
Canyon</st1:place> rafts with the boatman rowing big oars. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it took me a while to get with the
program. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-he-xo14jriw/Vcs2SSTMbsI/AAAAAAACA6U/4fZfTcn46xQ/s1600/DSC_8513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-he-xo14jriw/Vcs2SSTMbsI/AAAAAAACA6U/4fZfTcn46xQ/s1600/DSC_8513.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Inna
had never done anything like it before, but she's tough as nails and she
totally loved it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she too was a
little freaked out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VViaukEpRqg/Vcs1qctWgZI/AAAAAAACA5E/CURfBKteaqw/s1600/DSC_8284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VViaukEpRqg/Vcs1qctWgZI/AAAAAAACA5E/CURfBKteaqw/s1600/DSC_8284.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The
trip starts with flat water before a two-mile series of wicked three’s they call the “warmup”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
it's about four miles of non-stop five’s, followed by a couple more miles of
three’s, and then it's mostly flat water into Friendsville.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9MvH8M3a4c/Vcs2Vfp8JII/AAAAAAACA6c/VgytaZBjCTc/s1600/DSC_8514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9MvH8M3a4c/Vcs2Vfp8JII/AAAAAAACA6c/VgytaZBjCTc/s1600/DSC_8514.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">For
those unfamiliar with how rapids are rated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A one or a two rapid can be run in a tube.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A three can be a bit hairy and requires
experience – and a real boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And five’s
are the highest rated rapid and should only be attempted by, or with,
professionals<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ltLHCAnvzQ/Vcs1upZJkrI/AAAAAAACA5M/8d_E3DvzzsM/s1600/DSC_8285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ltLHCAnvzQ/Vcs1upZJkrI/AAAAAAACA5M/8d_E3DvzzsM/s1600/DSC_8285.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">To
be honest, I don't even know how Roger figured out the runs through most of the
boulder mazes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In two of the big ones,
we started by dropping in <b><i>backwards </i></b>over a ledge and then quickly
spinning the raft forward before sailing down another ledge while ricocheting
off big granite boulders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They actually
have to use the rocks in some spots to bounce through narrow gaps. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was insanely fun!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzbiTfdrX-A/Vcs1ymiv7tI/AAAAAAACA5U/PGccQUj7BSQ/s1600/DSC_8286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzbiTfdrX-A/Vcs1ymiv7tI/AAAAAAACA5U/PGccQUj7BSQ/s1600/DSC_8286.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">There
were times when my arms were so drained, I couldn't even lift them. Thank god
they gave us a rest when they could. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it's bang, bang, bang with little eddies in between the non-stop rapids to catch
your breath and let the guides explain what's up next. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNI2wjNG-eE/Vcs13e085CI/AAAAAAACA5c/RjSz9xh6u54/s1600/DSC_8287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DNI2wjNG-eE/Vcs13e085CI/AAAAAAACA5c/RjSz9xh6u54/s1600/DSC_8287.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
didn't start well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the last three,
right before the five’s began, Matt got slightly off line and dumped the side I
was sitting on into the edge of a large suck hole. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went over the side, but my right foot was
still wedged into the foot sock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
raft slid sideways onto two large boulders. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there we sat, the boat leaning on edge and
pinned on the rocks, with me lying backwards in the water, on the downside
of the boat, with the river rushing over my head like a fire hose blasting up
my nose. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sure it was amusing to
watch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I really thought I was in big
trouble. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt and Inna finally pulled me
back into the boat like a beached whale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Matt fearlessly jumped onto the rocks,
pushed the raft into the main flow, and off we went.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFOqk5opxQA/Vcs17ezwjvI/AAAAAAACA5k/Nu1GDLuB4ZI/s1600/DSC_8289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFOqk5opxQA/Vcs17ezwjvI/AAAAAAACA5k/Nu1GDLuB4ZI/s1600/DSC_8289.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
pulled into a big eddy with the other boats while Matt explained that we were
now going to start the really nasty part of the trip. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in total shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hands were shaking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I truly wondered whether I had gotten in
over my head – no pun intended.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQHC46cRrd8/Vcs2AKvaZQI/AAAAAAACA5s/htyoEZfVE5c/s1600/DSC_8370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQHC46cRrd8/Vcs2AKvaZQI/AAAAAAACA5s/htyoEZfVE5c/s1600/DSC_8370.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Matt,
who is a young lawyer from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Martinsburg</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">West Virginia</st1:state></st1:place> when he isn’t
running the Yock, gave us a little pep talk. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Look, on this river, you can get in the
wrong spot real easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can happen
before you know it. That's what happened back there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we have to work as a <b><i>team</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you follow my instructions, we'll do just
fine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we all have to work together.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FBFGionq1U/Vcs2C_fCYxI/AAAAAAACA50/Wk6Th-4iUf8/s1600/DSC_8371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FBFGionq1U/Vcs2C_fCYxI/AAAAAAACA50/Wk6Th-4iUf8/s1600/DSC_8371.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
did really well after that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had our
moments when we teetered on the brink of flipping, but we really got into total
attack mode as we sailed through rapids with names like Bastard Falls, Snaggle
Tooth, Triple Drop, Zinger, Trap Run, Boulder Dance, Meat Cleaver, Powerful
Popper, Lost and Found, and Double Pencil Sharpener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRLhLLsiHsk/Vcs2G7Xd8yI/AAAAAAACA58/bQujErqo9rQ/s1600/DSC_8372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PRLhLLsiHsk/Vcs2G7Xd8yI/AAAAAAACA58/bQujErqo9rQ/s1600/DSC_8372.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Falls</st1:placetype></st1:place>, an amazing boulder drop where
several boats had some spills, we were in the lead and when we powered through
the bottom, Roger screamed from his kayak, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"OUTSTANDING
RUN!" <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2qIJrc1knQ/Vcs2KBeNEhI/AAAAAAACA6E/9waO8xVO8kU/s1600/DSC_8373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2qIJrc1knQ/Vcs2KBeNEhI/AAAAAAACA6E/9waO8xVO8kU/s1600/DSC_8373.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">And
I felt that rush of adrenaline that comes from putting your life on the line
and performing like a champ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a
feeling I have not felt since my days of running the <st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state>
through the <st1:place w:st="on">Grand Canyon</st1:place>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can honestly say that in those brief
moments, often tinged with pure terror, you never feel so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">alive</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrwES9SAZlA/Vcs2N7JjoFI/AAAAAAACA6M/_P0fELreB5g/s1600/DSC_8374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrwES9SAZlA/Vcs2N7JjoFI/AAAAAAACA6M/_P0fELreB5g/s1600/DSC_8374.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Afterwards,
we all gathered at Precision's funky old headquarters above the river, ate some yummy burgers and dogs,
pounded some tasty IPA beers from their tap, and watched the video and photos they
took of our trip from each rapid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fosFmeZtv_0/Vcs2ZNQ_sWI/AAAAAAACA6k/zlMoNHBzR0Q/s1600/DSC_8515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fosFmeZtv_0/Vcs2ZNQ_sWI/AAAAAAACA6k/zlMoNHBzR0Q/s1600/DSC_8515.JPG" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Running
the Yock was definitely the trip of a lifetime, and we can't wait to do it
again next year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wrnMmh4kgy4/Vcs2fUfhsfI/AAAAAAACA60/iUmnuex_aKg/s1600/DSC_8517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wrnMmh4kgy4/Vcs2fUfhsfI/AAAAAAACA60/iUmnuex_aKg/s1600/DSC_8517.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">For
more info about running the <st1:place w:st="on">Upper Youghiogheny</st1:place>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.precisionrafting.com/" target="_blank">http://www.precisionrafting.com/</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">* All photos were taken by Jay Moffitt and Jess Shimrock who work for Precision. Precision offers a digital photo package of your trip for $30.</span></strong> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-79339866159855282452015-07-22T17:43:00.001-07:002015-07-22T17:43:06.696-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Final Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEvp63BJ9Uc/Vav5WqqOETI/AAAAAAACAOY/VgwibGe12kY/s1600/DSCN2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEvp63BJ9Uc/Vav5WqqOETI/AAAAAAACAOY/VgwibGe12kY/s320/DSCN2041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It had been about ten years since I last visited the Grand Canyon where I had once lived for fifteen years, between 1978-1992, and I was shocked by the changes.</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTghpRSFgcA/Vav678nbhoI/AAAAAAACASQ/iA6Fdsj1Nkc/s1600/DSCN2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTghpRSFgcA/Vav678nbhoI/AAAAAAACASQ/iA6Fdsj1Nkc/s320/DSCN2786.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auM8wYfJnIA/VYNQPHJf8XI/AAAAAAAB_I8/YSVwMkEdvMw/s1600/DSC03291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-auM8wYfJnIA/VYNQPHJf8XI/AAAAAAAB_I8/YSVwMkEdvMw/s320/DSC03291.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Wild fires had mowed down huge swaths of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the North Kaibab Forest. And I felt like I was at least partly to blame.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoHMqe_euT8/Vav5U6679dI/AAAAAAACAOg/Z358Cbohob0/s1600/DSCN1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoHMqe_euT8/Vav5U6679dI/AAAAAAACAOg/Z358Cbohob0/s320/DSCN1818.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
I helped shut down the logging in 1992. You can read all about it in my popular memoir "The Canyon Chronicles". I have no regrets that I helped expose the excessive harvesting and illegal logging activities that laid waste to the ancient forest. But as so often happens in America, we swing between extremes. There is rarely any middle ground. We either cut the hell out of the forest, or we don't cut anything. But the world of nature can not flourish on 4-year political cycles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-PJUpD2TiE/Vav67SSBFWI/AAAAAAACASE/NzYydBADy_o/s1600/DSCN2692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y-PJUpD2TiE/Vav67SSBFWI/AAAAAAACASE/NzYydBADy_o/s320/DSCN2692.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1D2rVF6Tc/VZAGv58W8aI/AAAAAAAB_pw/9VYp-zs8eE8/s1600/DSC03258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1D2rVF6Tc/VZAGv58W8aI/AAAAAAAB_pw/9VYp-zs8eE8/s320/DSC03258.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
After the dust had settled from the federal court case, all logging ceased on the North Kaibab. And while it was only supposed to be temporary, the local environmental groups kept stringing things out, the mill in Fredonia soon shut down and moved to South America, and the nearest sawmill in Panguitch, Utah could not afford to log a forest over a hundred miles away. So the economics of logging ensured that the court action became permanent. Even to this day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulX67-YczbY/Vav63PLJ0JI/AAAAAAACAQk/qmmJpk1BDu0/s1600/DSCN2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulX67-YczbY/Vav63PLJ0JI/AAAAAAACAQk/qmmJpk1BDu0/s320/DSCN2358.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTyw2C30KNg/VZXaBVdzF3I/AAAAAAAB_1g/N-1nq7IRcRU/s1600/DSC03399%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTyw2C30KNg/VZXaBVdzF3I/AAAAAAAB_1g/N-1nq7IRcRU/s320/DSC03399%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
The enviros rejoiced. They hated all of the logging. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbkuXV3ac6s/Vaw1yrxLpQI/AAAAAAACAVs/aqhvzSlwIC0/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbkuXV3ac6s/Vaw1yrxLpQI/AAAAAAACAVs/aqhvzSlwIC0/s320/IMG_4570.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I predicted right after Kaibab Industries was found guilty of stealing wood that if the Forest Service stopped harvesting timber altogether, the forest would just become a matchbox waiting to go up in flames. But the enviros said it should just be left alone to evolve naturally. Mother Nature could take care of herself. And they got their wish. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zb2dwE5A9L8/Vav62QxlIlI/AAAAAAACAQA/S_HdvSINwGs/s1600/DSCN2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zb2dwE5A9L8/Vav62QxlIlI/AAAAAAACAQA/S_HdvSINwGs/s320/DSCN2331.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-akHKUj1cwu4/VZXaBXqD-0I/AAAAAAAB_40/6hKTaxKkEE0/s1600/DSC03446%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-akHKUj1cwu4/VZXaBXqD-0I/AAAAAAAB_40/6hKTaxKkEE0/s320/DSC03446%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
When you stop logging a forest like the North Kaibab that has been extensively logged for a long period of time, and remove controlled fire from the equation, the trees continue to die from old age and disease, and then they fall over on one another, creating the perfect conditions for a <b>hot burn</b>. Meaning that when a fire comes roaring through the old forest it has lots of fuel to play with. And that fuel burns really hot and climbs into the canopies of the living trees. In a managed forest, there isn't much dead woody debris on the ground, so the fire rolls through at about ten miles an hour, singeing the trees and then moving on in a matter of minutes. Ponderosa pine have actually evolved so that fires trigger the trees to throw out seeds. But where there are lots of down trees and brush, the fire burns every living thing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cUblApqbP8/Vaw5DLemIsI/AAAAAAACAWs/WJdFkvQiY40/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0cUblApqbP8/Vaw5DLemIsI/AAAAAAACAWs/WJdFkvQiY40/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nri_9YmB7Kg/Vaw5DOUqo4I/AAAAAAACAXI/k_YQ4IT_6Kg/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nri_9YmB7Kg/Vaw5DOUqo4I/AAAAAAACAXI/k_YQ4IT_6Kg/s320/IMG_4702.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVK6spiEcf4/Vaw5DfhX7tI/AAAAAAACAXE/HDOko7B46iQ/s1600/IMG_4926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVK6spiEcf4/Vaw5DfhX7tI/AAAAAAACAXE/HDOko7B46iQ/s320/IMG_4926.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
On June 8, 2006 a lightning strike ignited the <b>Warm Fire</b> that barreled across the North Kaibab and wiped out most of the forest between Jacob Lake and the North Rim – more than thirty miles of charred woodland. I didn't even recognize the place anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JiVkZbWLKk/Vaw6mUKcwrI/AAAAAAACAXg/2HL-28Stp9o/s1600/IMG_5221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JiVkZbWLKk/Vaw6mUKcwrI/AAAAAAACAXg/2HL-28Stp9o/s320/IMG_5221.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlaiJ-qZ88/Vaw6mSlTe9I/AAAAAAACAXc/yhV8-f3bej4/s1600/IMG_5222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSlaiJ-qZ88/Vaw6mSlTe9I/AAAAAAACAXc/yhV8-f3bej4/s320/IMG_5222.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
Wildlife biologists are always quick to point out that fire is a good thing. It burns off the dead woody debris and opens up the forest. The seeds of diversity are then spread far and wide. And that's all fine and dandy. But what I saw on the Kaibab was a complete disaster. The big yellow pines have been replaced by aspens that grow like weeds and completely take over an area, out-competing the pines, spruce, and fir. They are poping up as thick as the fur on a dog's back and in the future people will drive through a forest of pretty little aspens, all the same size, like rows of corn, and they will marvel at their beauty. But for me, I will forever remember the primeval evergreen forest that had survived wild fires for thousands of years but eventually fell victim to knee-jerk environmental nonsense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NiRpNSu1-E/Vaw6nkPyEJI/AAAAAAACAYQ/du5Voq_k9n4/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2B%25235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWtuDayTIpM/Vaw6n9Q17-I/AAAAAAACAX8/Nlorahqvq5s/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2BRoad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qWtuDayTIpM/Vaw6n9Q17-I/AAAAAAACAX8/Nlorahqvq5s/s320/North%2BKaibab%2BRoad.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NiRpNSu1-E/Vaw6nkPyEJI/AAAAAAACAYQ/du5Voq_k9n4/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2B%25235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NiRpNSu1-E/Vaw6nkPyEJI/AAAAAAACAYQ/du5Voq_k9n4/s320/North%2BKaibab%2B%25235.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO2hW_8CMCk/Vav5U95-wZI/AAAAAAACAN8/8HUDgmQofbg/s1600/DSCN1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO2hW_8CMCk/Vav5U95-wZI/AAAAAAACAN8/8HUDgmQofbg/s320/DSCN1851.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
But the thing that has really changed the face of the entire Colorado Plateau isn't natural. It is <b>tourism</b>. And I had a hand in that one too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxSiG9tDeWM/Vav5WFUaDVI/AAAAAAACAOQ/iPfiO06Icak/s1600/DSCN1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxSiG9tDeWM/Vav5WFUaDVI/AAAAAAACAOQ/iPfiO06Icak/s320/DSCN1977.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTHOK__NMik/Vaw5Dgoo1zI/AAAAAAACAW4/AQGoacYUCV4/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTHOK__NMik/Vaw5Dgoo1zI/AAAAAAACAW4/AQGoacYUCV4/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHBjEgZZRxc/VZXaFWMYmMI/AAAAAAAB_28/prCKzcwTfFI/s1600/DSC03473%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHBjEgZZRxc/VZXaFWMYmMI/AAAAAAAB_28/prCKzcwTfFI/s320/DSC03473%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We hippie redneck enviros who worked for the Forest Servive and the Park Service back in the 70s and 80s, used to fight against all of the hungry extractive industries – logging, mining, grazing – that were out of control and chewing up the landscape. We constantly preached the gospel of <strong><em>recreation</em></strong>. We argued that for the very first time in the history of the American West, tourism could bring about a truly sustainable economy. Harvest touron dollars, not the limited natural resources. And guess what? We got our wish. They totally did it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3O9c3LTE8rU/Vav64tdF_aI/AAAAAAACARY/x7QZM13v9so/s1600/DSCN2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3O9c3LTE8rU/Vav64tdF_aI/AAAAAAACARY/x7QZM13v9so/s320/DSCN2432.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ykkSD1f4VM/Vaw6mcnxxNI/AAAAAAACAXY/PJcSnfTxxMI/s1600/IMG_5317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ykkSD1f4VM/Vaw6mcnxxNI/AAAAAAACAXY/PJcSnfTxxMI/s320/IMG_5317.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Every park we visited was packed to the gills, often resembling a major sporting event or a rock concert. And if managed properly, it will undoubtedly pump millions of dollars into the local economies for many years to come without too much harm to the golden goose. And unlike mining or logging, you can't use it all up. It is sustainable. But the size and scope of this kick-out-the-blocks, industrial strength tourism that brings happy visitors from all around the world in bus after bus to our national parks throughout the Southwest, takes a bit of getting used to when there used to be pretty much nothing except the parks themselves and odd little roadside services and attractions.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcKICl7sxjI/Vav63InY6LI/AAAAAAACAQQ/6jHz4bnB-dA/s1600/DSCN2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcKICl7sxjI/Vav63InY6LI/AAAAAAACAQQ/6jHz4bnB-dA/s320/DSCN2357.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T8QN6SkCa0/Vav626G0E3I/AAAAAAACAQg/Hs0grUuWWyY/s1600/DSCN2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T8QN6SkCa0/Vav626G0E3I/AAAAAAACAQg/Hs0grUuWWyY/s320/DSCN2356.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn7wGF34YuI/Vav62qlji3I/AAAAAAACAQM/-bx-6RdVroc/s1600/DSCN2355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn7wGF34YuI/Vav62qlji3I/AAAAAAACAQM/-bx-6RdVroc/s320/DSCN2355.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoG3akUd27w/Vaw1VotyiAI/AAAAAAACAUg/pj00650TxiA/s1600/IMG_8076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PoG3akUd27w/Vaw1VotyiAI/AAAAAAACAUg/pj00650TxiA/s320/IMG_8076.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4QN3vcsul8/Vaw1VoTU8jI/AAAAAAACAUk/-byKwtjygZ4/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4QN3vcsul8/Vaw1VoTU8jI/AAAAAAACAUk/-byKwtjygZ4/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
Little towns like Springdale, on the west side of Zion, are now bustling with hotels, gift shops, and trendy restaurants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmeYUokFcWM/Va0OFAoekYI/AAAAAAACAhY/u2DEUR1iBVo/s1600/IMG_4311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmeYUokFcWM/Va0OFAoekYI/AAAAAAACAhY/u2DEUR1iBVo/s320/IMG_4311.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ne_6k9NfGBw/Vaw1UgSHcmI/AAAAAAACAU0/22cHrV1EclE/s1600/IMG_8014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ne_6k9NfGBw/Vaw1UgSHcmI/AAAAAAACAU0/22cHrV1EclE/s400/IMG_8014.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD3b9EmPY2I/Va0OKtXdZJI/AAAAAAACAhg/qwbdjo1NGCY/s1600/IMG_4321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vD3b9EmPY2I/Va0OKtXdZJI/AAAAAAACAhg/qwbdjo1NGCY/s400/IMG_4321.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
The area on the northern outskirts of Bryce, where Ruby's Inn used to be the only business has grown into a <strong><em>town</em></strong> – with a traffic light no less. In fact, it was incorporated as a full-fledged town – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bryce</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon </st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> – in 2007. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3i5KA1mLQs/Va5O1GMQH4I/AAAAAAACAi4/5VIc4aXcL3w/s1600/imagesCAXU1VF1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3i5KA1mLQs/Va5O1GMQH4I/AAAAAAACAi4/5VIc4aXcL3w/s400/imagesCAXU1VF1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4K4u6QiG9Cs/Va5OiQ1qj7I/AAAAAAACAio/7-NAcyZoI5Q/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4K4u6QiG9Cs/Va5OiQ1qj7I/AAAAAAACAio/7-NAcyZoI5Q/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
The lines of cars at the entrance stations into the big parks like Zion and Bryce can stretch for <strong><em>miles</em></strong>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oGTcWD3VYjY/Va53p0ry6CI/AAAAAAACAjE/msfOGfDNS20/s1600/imagesCAW4N7GX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oGTcWD3VYjY/Va53p0ry6CI/AAAAAAACAjE/msfOGfDNS20/s1600/imagesCAW4N7GX.jpg" /></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHoR9cKrZdI/Vaw9oFb7K9I/AAAAAAACAaM/VaUkIBzJz10/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHoR9cKrZdI/Vaw9oFb7K9I/AAAAAAACAaM/VaUkIBzJz10/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYobwj-bSDk/Vaw9oHHfhqI/AAAAAAACAaY/MIRWbQX04tA/s1600/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JYobwj-bSDk/Vaw9oHHfhqI/AAAAAAACAaY/MIRWbQX04tA/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMdf9FulZcs/Vaw9oTpRWJI/AAAAAAACAaQ/Q53oP53FxzQ/s1600/IMG_6144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GMdf9FulZcs/Vaw9oTpRWJI/AAAAAAACAaQ/Q53oP53FxzQ/s320/IMG_6144.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ArzugQCG0/Vaw9odChGOI/AAAAAAACAak/_hoaBAazreY/s1600/IMG_6267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ArzugQCG0/Vaw9odChGOI/AAAAAAACAak/_hoaBAazreY/s1600/IMG_6267.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p>There are lots of ATV and equestrian outfitters working the fragile park trails. And there are small companies led by handsome guides in snazzy vans hauling people around Canyon Country, providing specialized hikes and bike trips.</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4ZBRvaGt5U/Va6KNyaHLxI/AAAAAAACAjU/oyEPOFYtSiA/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4ZBRvaGt5U/Va6KNyaHLxI/AAAAAAACAjU/oyEPOFYtSiA/s320/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgRhtKzktB0/Vaw1xY1aNiI/AAAAAAACAWE/mMuHWHB5w6g/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EgRhtKzktB0/Vaw1xY1aNiI/AAAAAAACAWE/mMuHWHB5w6g/s320/IMG_4419.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Jez5OZYFbg/Vaw1xeS2NmI/AAAAAAACAVY/XUz19nwCik4/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Jez5OZYFbg/Vaw1xeS2NmI/AAAAAAACAVY/XUz19nwCik4/s320/IMG_4417.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFBlgAIOels/VZV73rqn2uI/AAAAAAAB_ys/g4lIEnd1mGk/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFBlgAIOels/VZV73rqn2uI/AAAAAAAB_ys/g4lIEnd1mGk/s320/IMG_6284.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I13l-djMGKk/VaxBFCL9mGI/AAAAAAACAa8/irGSW2SV_O4/s1600/IMG_8196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I13l-djMGKk/VaxBFCL9mGI/AAAAAAACAa8/irGSW2SV_O4/s1600/IMG_8196.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p>The Dixie National Forest has a new paved bike trail that parallels the highway from the Red Canyon campground all the way to Bryce National Park.</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6XEvfAtego/Vaw1XAbb3lI/AAAAAAACAUE/Z2bajDe7A48/s1600/IMG_8238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6XEvfAtego/Vaw1XAbb3lI/AAAAAAACAUE/Z2bajDe7A48/s320/IMG_8238.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2aOEreBHp8/Vaw1XPPfBDI/AAAAAAACAT4/WqwF2HDHXek/s1600/IMG_8230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2aOEreBHp8/Vaw1XPPfBDI/AAAAAAACAT4/WqwF2HDHXek/s320/IMG_8230.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">They have widened a lot of Highway 89 and put in passing lanes where there used to be annoying backups behind RV's and tractor trailers chugging up the big hills, so that now you can zip right along and easily get around the slower-moving vehicles.</span></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88_ZHLYi3Jk/VZv0I-SkurI/AAAAAAACAAI/4qOZ-0GPJaM/s1600/us-089_nb_4529_after_ut-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88_ZHLYi3Jk/VZv0I-SkurI/AAAAAAACAAI/4qOZ-0GPJaM/s400/us-089_nb_4529_after_ut-014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-dThJW1HeI/VZvz_DIor8I/AAAAAAACAAA/fMNBDnDOMz8/s1600/A%2529%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-dThJW1HeI/VZvz_DIor8I/AAAAAAACAAA/fMNBDnDOMz8/s1600/A%2529%2529.png" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbxfHvPgGEE/VYLiG_TkQGI/AAAAAAAB_FM/G9aov5D0i1g/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbxfHvPgGEE/VYLiG_TkQGI/AAAAAAAB_FM/G9aov5D0i1g/s320/IMG_5350.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9Dmb3ZlLTA/Vaw8iWuREUI/AAAAAAACAZk/8s6Mekfml0w/s1600/IMG_5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9Dmb3ZlLTA/Vaw8iWuREUI/AAAAAAACAZk/8s6Mekfml0w/s320/IMG_5577.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dq00Euz208c/VaxRbO_NTZI/AAAAAAACAdE/MZ6nEQMqJc0/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dq00Euz208c/VaxRbO_NTZI/AAAAAAACAdE/MZ6nEQMqJc0/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span>And the Navajos have fully embraced this tourist bonanza. All across The Rez, business is booming. Where once you could just go for a hike in some isolated Canyon in Navajoland, there are now locked gates and they charge admission. Antelope Canyon, near Lake Powell, looked like a Disneyland ride. The crowds walking up the sandy ridge overlooking Horseshoe Bend near Page reminded me of the gallery at the U.S. Open golf tournament. In places like Monument Valley and Lake Powell, the roads were teeming with canopied, open-air wagons filled with tourons being pulled by shiny new pickups with smiling Navajo guides at the wheel. Ka-CHING!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TAPq4Q3pLk/Vav60Yu16NI/AAAAAAACASY/yMU6djLoDR4/s1600/DSCN1964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TAPq4Q3pLk/Vav60Yu16NI/AAAAAAACASY/yMU6djLoDR4/s320/DSCN1964.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hA5AtQOdzE8/Vaw1WDKHrcI/AAAAAAACAUY/u0NjhjJTGFo/s1600/IMG_8131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hA5AtQOdzE8/Vaw1WDKHrcI/AAAAAAACAUY/u0NjhjJTGFo/s320/IMG_8131.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5skraByxAG4/Vaw1WdlzoBI/AAAAAAACAUU/hX8_NaWt2xQ/s1600/IMG_8132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5skraByxAG4/Vaw1WdlzoBI/AAAAAAACAUU/hX8_NaWt2xQ/s320/IMG_8132.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWEg7NgX85Y/VaxBFGpbK0I/AAAAAAACAa4/Oc5jgcwewOY/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWEg7NgX85Y/VaxBFGpbK0I/AAAAAAACAa4/Oc5jgcwewOY/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-jh3wUv5FM/Vaw1WuCOEdI/AAAAAAACATs/Xv9drXIlJ5A/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-jh3wUv5FM/Vaw1WuCOEdI/AAAAAAACATs/Xv9drXIlJ5A/s320/IMG_8134.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRK6mLD4Bg8/Vaw8jBn5mzI/AAAAAAACAZM/jHcxidiM97U/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRK6mLD4Bg8/Vaw8jBn5mzI/AAAAAAACAZM/jHcxidiM97U/s320/IMG_5793.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xe5JI1O3lkE/Vaw8iiVmWOI/AAAAAAACAZg/KuQ9rsVTVOE/s1600/IMG_5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xe5JI1O3lkE/Vaw8iiVmWOI/AAAAAAACAZg/KuQ9rsVTVOE/s320/IMG_5642.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> All in all, while there is always the threat that we will love our national parks to death, I would have to say that in many ways, having high quality services, especially in poor rural areas like The Rez, is a big bonus. And it sure as hell beats coal or uranium mining.</o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obW8b8xKVcI/VaxRbGt749I/AAAAAAACAdI/K_d2sc4c_CY/s1600/IMG_5728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-obW8b8xKVcI/VaxRbGt749I/AAAAAAACAdI/K_d2sc4c_CY/s320/IMG_5728.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zlQMhzmW-k/VaxRbGydsEI/AAAAAAACAdA/MJVzrbo-AZc/s1600/IMG_5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zlQMhzmW-k/VaxRbGydsEI/AAAAAAACAdA/MJVzrbo-AZc/s320/IMG_5777.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2lvkQeQ2HzdUe9tdu2LBlW-2dX95BNJmqtjrYcgjenTa=w162-h214-p-no" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Photo" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2lvkQeQ2HzdUe9tdu2LBlW-2dX95BNJmqtjrYcgjenTa=w162-h214-p-no" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQoow9KLfbw/Vaw6mhGTavI/AAAAAAACAYM/zmk_9amalYw/s1600/IMG_5380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cQoow9KLfbw/Vaw6mhGTavI/AAAAAAACAYM/zmk_9amalYw/s320/IMG_5380.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3kzkf_s8YE/Vaw6myoS2-I/AAAAAAACAXk/q-H5SPDf454/s1600/IMG_5393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3kzkf_s8YE/Vaw6myoS2-I/AAAAAAACAXk/q-H5SPDf454/s320/IMG_5393.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwFf_EdzO3o/Vaw6myZLqsI/AAAAAAACAXo/lZMzzjLg3Y4/s1600/IMG_5414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwFf_EdzO3o/Vaw6myZLqsI/AAAAAAACAXo/lZMzzjLg3Y4/s320/IMG_5414.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqLF2hdLp1A/Vaw8jeEFKhI/AAAAAAACAZU/kLva2ow6lhs/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kqLF2hdLp1A/Vaw8jeEFKhI/AAAAAAACAZU/kLva2ow6lhs/s320/IMG_5800.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4P1w0jvC-o/Vaw6nGtic3I/AAAAAAACAXs/Yl4XgEB81HI/s1600/IMG_5464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4P1w0jvC-o/Vaw6nGtic3I/AAAAAAACAXs/Yl4XgEB81HI/s320/IMG_5464.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
Interestingly, the traditional Mormon towns </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">like Orderville and Hatch,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> sitting quietly between Zion and Bryce along Highway 89 in Long Valley, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">are still pretty much the same. Brigham Young's vision of creating a buffer land between the Mormons and the Gentiles is still working for the most part. And tourism has barely scraped the surface.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0eS3ui1jHqk/VYAlQ6ACZNI/AAAAAAAB-w4/PzkdJOnxB2M/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0eS3ui1jHqk/VYAlQ6ACZNI/AAAAAAAB-w4/PzkdJOnxB2M/s320/IMG_4478.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkVjCGRlIdM/Vaw1x3EzDyI/AAAAAAACAV8/dIZE2sqoMQo/s1600/IMG_4472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkVjCGRlIdM/Vaw1x3EzDyI/AAAAAAACAV8/dIZE2sqoMQo/s320/IMG_4472.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKuihYzr3O4/Vaw1xtOoP8I/AAAAAAACAWA/oLzNUld7wu4/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKuihYzr3O4/Vaw1xtOoP8I/AAAAAAACAWA/oLzNUld7wu4/s320/IMG_4470.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19J4-A1CIX8/Vaw1xa8Av_I/AAAAAAACAWM/EuK88S1FHOo/s1600/IMG_4457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19J4-A1CIX8/Vaw1xa8Av_I/AAAAAAACAWM/EuK88S1FHOo/s320/IMG_4457.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqaeVSm0N-s/Vaw1yE9TWtI/AAAAAAACAV4/XFKpBwN6Xv8/s1600/IMG_4473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqaeVSm0N-s/Vaw1yE9TWtI/AAAAAAACAV4/XFKpBwN6Xv8/s320/IMG_4473.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTKgH6bATfU/Vaw1yA-BIYI/AAAAAAACAVw/-8bF07Mjo6w/s1600/IMG_4482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTKgH6bATfU/Vaw1yA-BIYI/AAAAAAACAVw/-8bF07Mjo6w/s320/IMG_4482.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Lasting Impressions</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Many
people say they enjoy <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city> more than <st1:place w:st="on">Grand
Canyon</st1:place>. That's kind of crazy because Zion would fit into one of Grand Canyon's many side canyons. It's like a very pretty toe nail on the world's grandest elephant. I think the reason people prefer Zion so much is because you can drive through the bottom
and look up at the towering canyon walls without any effort; whereas at <st1:place w:st="on">Grand Canyon</st1:place> you can only stand on the rim and look down
into the magnificent interior, unless, of course, you are willing to endure a very long and grueling hike. And most folks simply don't have the time. They are off to see the next big attraction, like Shamu at the whale jail in San Diego before their flight back home.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avMLmdRNzzU/Va0NpZTXfzI/AAAAAAACAgo/d7xEH3QvN5k/s1600/IMG_3916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avMLmdRNzzU/Va0NpZTXfzI/AAAAAAACAgo/d7xEH3QvN5k/s320/IMG_3916.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu0OxRBMeJY/Va0NtqGwfAI/AAAAAAACAgw/-FgeNowyjks/s1600/IMG_3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu0OxRBMeJY/Va0NtqGwfAI/AAAAAAACAgw/-FgeNowyjks/s320/IMG_3945.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_QJz09MAvY/Va0Nz-dzARI/AAAAAAACAg4/PzBYudXJwQo/s1600/IMG_3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_QJz09MAvY/Va0Nz-dzARI/AAAAAAACAg4/PzBYudXJwQo/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhtuIV46GUc/Va0N8MWltUI/AAAAAAACAhI/mMul-4A4-lM/s1600/IMG_4032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DhtuIV46GUc/Va0N8MWltUI/AAAAAAACAhI/mMul-4A4-lM/s320/IMG_4032.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpP3RvUSbFc/Va0OBDWX9sI/AAAAAAACAhQ/pO7wm6wFd3w/s1600/IMG_4058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpP3RvUSbFc/Va0OBDWX9sI/AAAAAAACAhQ/pO7wm6wFd3w/s320/IMG_4058.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rOfOCYQnvrg/VXmLWQRfqJI/AAAAAAAB-Pg/O-OXP0nBuow/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rOfOCYQnvrg/VXmLWQRfqJI/AAAAAAAB-Pg/O-OXP0nBuow/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DaMdmgMQtxA/VXmNDFPwHdI/AAAAAAAB-QI/s9zKmY7Off4/s1600/IMG_4354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DaMdmgMQtxA/VXmNDFPwHdI/AAAAAAAB-QI/s9zKmY7Off4/s320/IMG_4354.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QoqXCcPgs7o/VaxKrQtMc6I/AAAAAAACAcY/V4qt_DJAa60/s1600/DSC03198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QoqXCcPgs7o/VaxKrQtMc6I/AAAAAAACAcY/V4qt_DJAa60/s400/DSC03198.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqZ2Exhw5B4/VYA-9QrsGBI/AAAAAAAB-2Q/OB7g6896Wlg/s1600/IMG_4630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqZ2Exhw5B4/VYA-9QrsGBI/AAAAAAAB-2Q/OB7g6896Wlg/s320/IMG_4630.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsOCyk8Fns/VYA_h2row8I/AAAAAAAB-3I/dgyRjNsWI_Q/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsOCyk8Fns/VYA_h2row8I/AAAAAAAB-3I/dgyRjNsWI_Q/s320/IMG_4793.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A smarter deer is now evolving around our National Parks because they have to constantly deal with the tourons and their scary vehicles. These park deer don't dart in front of cars or freak out when you walk by. They have become accustomed to human activity and pretty much ignore us when they come out in the late afternoon to graze the manicured lawns around the lodges and cabins. I wonder how this will affect their offspring? Will they be even smarter?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzGee44G6Xg/Va5Ow32ChsI/AAAAAAACAiw/eJjd8LatNNg/s1600/imagesCAXDFD43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzGee44G6Xg/Va5Ow32ChsI/AAAAAAACAiw/eJjd8LatNNg/s1600/imagesCAXDFD43.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fI2I0CdYK2w/VaxKqsdqBoI/AAAAAAACAb8/CwbRWnmgvvo/s1600/DSC03194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fI2I0CdYK2w/VaxKqsdqBoI/AAAAAAACAb8/CwbRWnmgvvo/s320/DSC03194.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
As we were walking through Bryce Canyon and then back up on the rim, I noticed that every single tree had been hit by lightning at least once.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvHfYEDOeGc/Vaw9n9rUByI/AAAAAAACAac/qKEOvDi6I-0/s1600/IMG_6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvHfYEDOeGc/Vaw9n9rUByI/AAAAAAACAac/qKEOvDi6I-0/s320/IMG_6002.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fEPkM4E701Y/Vaw5D33wcLI/AAAAAAACAXA/7qHjcZzM0Ug/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fEPkM4E701Y/Vaw5D33wcLI/AAAAAAACAXA/7qHjcZzM0Ug/s320/IMG_6255.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As a general rule, Asians do not hike. They mob the rim areas, and will venture down the trail into the canyon for a few hundred feet to snap a nice photo, but you rarely see them hiking a canyon trail for any distance. They seem a bit intimidated by stupendous nature.<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsehV5dQh3c/Va0RJ4BqzkI/AAAAAAACAhw/8TaY0_7p874/s1600/IMG_5888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rsehV5dQh3c/Va0RJ4BqzkI/AAAAAAACAhw/8TaY0_7p874/s400/IMG_5888.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niY-kBfwqTo/Va0RMwdjazI/AAAAAAACAh4/ABY6J3vjxl4/s1600/IMG_5917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niY-kBfwqTo/Va0RMwdjazI/AAAAAAACAh4/ABY6J3vjxl4/s400/IMG_5917.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtIovePra8Y/Vaw1yplBI_I/AAAAAAACAV0/EMdtQ7HsjTM/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtIovePra8Y/Vaw1yplBI_I/AAAAAAACAV0/EMdtQ7HsjTM/s320/IMG_6092.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qdQaNwxLWU/VaxKqlpEwfI/AAAAAAACAcE/9OJvDFFsbi4/s1600/DSC03169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qdQaNwxLWU/VaxKqlpEwfI/AAAAAAACAcE/9OJvDFFsbi4/s320/DSC03169.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p>Wherever we went, other than the Navajo reservation, there was no trash. The Mormons keep everything immaculate.</o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-um-rp2EKcsw/Vaw1XmaxtfI/AAAAAAACAUM/rp6kV0ZwzmA/s1600/IMG_8292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-um-rp2EKcsw/Vaw1XmaxtfI/AAAAAAACAUM/rp6kV0ZwzmA/s400/IMG_8292.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5COdPPupIm8/Vaw6oVJnVCI/AAAAAAACAYg/xuNcDpghIgM/s1600/PA010057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5COdPPupIm8/Vaw6oVJnVCI/AAAAAAACAYg/xuNcDpghIgM/s320/PA010057.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
I climbed to the top of Angels Landing, and I hiked eight miles along the steep trails at the bottom of Bryce Canyon, along with some other stoner hikes, so I'm pretty proud of myself. But in addition to being older and fatter, the lack of oxygen at the 8,000-feet elevation really kicked my ass. I had a killer pain in the neck headache, along with constant shortness of breath, the whole time we were visiting the North Rim, Bryce, and Cedar Breaks – something I had never experienced in my whole life in Canyon Country. And the saddest part was that I realized I will probably never be able to hike down to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon ever again. <strong>RIVER TRIP!</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxkOlxZqwWU/VXnCsuZOLLI/AAAAAAAB-fI/lzbhPGT2AVk/s1600/Angel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxkOlxZqwWU/VXnCsuZOLLI/AAAAAAAB-fI/lzbhPGT2AVk/s320/Angel3.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rugCLTq57GA/VXoIw2rn7wI/AAAAAAAB-gs/Fx7Y5pbjZKo/s1600/IMG_4117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rugCLTq57GA/VXoIw2rn7wI/AAAAAAAB-gs/Fx7Y5pbjZKo/s320/IMG_4117.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QlFn3FoDcs/VXoI00AMJFI/AAAAAAAB-hI/_R_X4QW5_js/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QlFn3FoDcs/VXoI00AMJFI/AAAAAAAB-hI/_R_X4QW5_js/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXGAbt48Kc/VaxKQUYdiuI/AAAAAAACAb0/bshZ36iDyRI/s1600/IMG_6152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vXGAbt48Kc/VaxKQUYdiuI/AAAAAAACAb0/bshZ36iDyRI/s320/IMG_6152.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HYxB2hAOuA/VaxKqqIl9nI/AAAAAAACAcA/qYyqZzB2B78/s1600/DSC03114%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_HYxB2hAOuA/VaxKqqIl9nI/AAAAAAACAcA/qYyqZzB2B78/s320/DSC03114%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-moz62BFSd4o/Vaw1VBHYTpI/AAAAAAACATE/IfOo5RmihSs/s1600/IMG_8030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-moz62BFSd4o/Vaw1VBHYTpI/AAAAAAACATE/IfOo5RmihSs/s320/IMG_8030.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIppZlchi4/Vaw1VFbAK1I/AAAAAAACAUs/CfOHR2ha2xo/s1600/IMG_8032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYIppZlchi4/Vaw1VFbAK1I/AAAAAAACAUs/CfOHR2ha2xo/s320/IMG_8032.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
I am always amazed whenever I travel to the snowy parts of the Southwest how many very expensive second homes sit vacant most of the year. At Brianhead, there were million dollar homes built along the slopes of the mountain that resembled log palaces. Not a single one was occupied. They were like ghost subdivisions. The homes looked very lonely, sitting there all empty and still wearing their fancy Christmas decorations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1DTPsbPi2M/Vazsh2KZncI/AAAAAAACAgE/KZMnEwVvJos/s1600/IMG_6320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1DTPsbPi2M/Vazsh2KZncI/AAAAAAACAgE/KZMnEwVvJos/s320/IMG_6320.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9M54L568mA/Vazsk5NG_3I/AAAAAAACAgM/_Y3xzEKZeyQ/s1600/IMG_6324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9M54L568mA/Vazsk5NG_3I/AAAAAAACAgM/_Y3xzEKZeyQ/s320/IMG_6324.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p><b></b></o:p></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p><b><u><br /></u></b></o:p></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p><b><u>What To Believe</u></b></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My
wife Inna was intrigued with the Native American religious beliefs, and often wondered aloud why they
did not develop and advance like the European and Asian cultures</span>?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cA24hc0ZI5o/Vav62HE7mFI/AAAAAAACAP8/qg8khATYe2M/s1600/DSCN2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cA24hc0ZI5o/Vav62HE7mFI/AAAAAAACAP8/qg8khATYe2M/s400/DSCN2325.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y4K9BqqCrqo/VaxBFKQ1obI/AAAAAAACAas/YTxdHnC6_0A/s1600/A9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y4K9BqqCrqo/VaxBFKQ1obI/AAAAAAACAas/YTxdHnC6_0A/s400/A9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She
was talking with an older Chinese couple from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city></st1:place> in the lobby of the Bryce Lodge one morning and she asked them what they
thought about the Native American religion. They said that it was hard to
really know anything about Navajo, Paiute, or Hopi mythology because unlike all the other religions
around the world, the Indians of the Southwest are very secretive. They aren't trying to win over any converts. You can only be born into their spiritual circles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNBKaTqeUT0/VaxQJutzooI/AAAAAAACAc0/SFLM5EkEw6w/s1600/A1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNBKaTqeUT0/VaxQJutzooI/AAAAAAACAc0/SFLM5EkEw6w/s1600/A1.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCL9vCIVdFA/Vav635mtYxI/AAAAAAACAQs/YIQvAyPPXVU/s1600/DSCN2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zCL9vCIVdFA/Vav635mtYxI/AAAAAAACAQs/YIQvAyPPXVU/s320/DSCN2377.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Native Americans don't worship gods like Jesus or Mohamed. Their gods are stars like the Sun, and satellites like the moon. Their lesser deities are clouds, rain, and animals. This is common with many hunter gatherer societies and this sort of nature-based belief system still thrives in the rain forests of Brazil and across Africa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddoBTroUAgY/Vav64YpKZyI/AAAAAAACAQ0/_Gsj9DyYOYY/s1600/DSCN2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddoBTroUAgY/Vav64YpKZyI/AAAAAAACAQ0/_Gsj9DyYOYY/s400/DSCN2381.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Inna and I had many discussions during our long drives about religion and they essentially boiled down to two tough questions.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6gPmUVD8TU/Vav60IR7mNI/AAAAAAACAPM/9nyCIkbi-kg/s1600/DSCN1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6gPmUVD8TU/Vav60IR7mNI/AAAAAAACAPM/9nyCIkbi-kg/s320/DSCN1922.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Is it silly to worship nature, like the Navajo, who feel that spirits inhabit the earth? Is it crazy to worship a coyote?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0ibsGBDmwc/Vaw5DwX2BVI/AAAAAAACAW8/4Nqag6iLI0w/s1600/IMG_5932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0ibsGBDmwc/Vaw5DwX2BVI/AAAAAAACAW8/4Nqag6iLI0w/s400/IMG_5932.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wYMX207vcw8/Vav6zpgfzZI/AAAAAAACAO8/xdCwdixqcXI/s1600/DSCN1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wYMX207vcw8/Vav6zpgfzZI/AAAAAAACAO8/xdCwdixqcXI/s400/DSCN1909.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or
does it make more sense to follow the Christian or Islamic models and worship <i><b>deities</b> </i>who once lived upon the earth but who now reside in some mythical <i style="font-weight: bold;">paradise</i> far beyond our planet?</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5nmhGm6D6U/Vav6zeoVr4I/AAAAAAACAO0/M02oiKxTD6s/s1600/DSCN1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g5nmhGm6D6U/Vav6zeoVr4I/AAAAAAACAO0/M02oiKxTD6s/s400/DSCN1920.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b></b></i></span>Which path is BETTER?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N21uGxbEljw/Vav5U-0oyDI/AAAAAAACAN0/PiI7UiVUyaE/s1600/DSCN1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N21uGxbEljw/Vav5U-0oyDI/AAAAAAACAN0/PiI7UiVUyaE/s400/DSCN1889.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Inna is a Chritian and I am a lapsed Buddhist who believes in karma. As to which is the true way, I guess the only conclusion we can definitively reach is this: The big three – Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism – have merrily followed a technological path that often destroys our earthly paradise. While Animism has left little or no trace upon our precious blue-green planet.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcvOwvIOoQU/Vav65Gvwl1I/AAAAAAACARE/FrN1GU27Dmg/s1600/DSCN2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcvOwvIOoQU/Vav65Gvwl1I/AAAAAAACARE/FrN1GU27Dmg/s400/DSCN2505.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
I wonder which path the gods prefer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIgoBVw0IuY/Vav66KqGR_I/AAAAAAACARg/EC-gF8GAmXY/s1600/DSCN2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lIgoBVw0IuY/Vav66KqGR_I/AAAAAAACARg/EC-gF8GAmXY/s400/DSCN2520.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As we were doing one of our treasured hikes at the end of our two week journey, just cruisin' The Strip, we came to a narrow slot along <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Las Vegas Boulevard</st1:address></st1:street> that resembled a hotel canyon and the street noises echoed against the colorful stone walls. I don't know why, but it suddenly reminded me of The Narrows in Paria Canyon.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OuXbGnWuI4/ValI28tNv4I/AAAAAAACAM8/090SsXXEa-8/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B1-30-2009%2B10-19-59%2BAM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OuXbGnWuI4/ValI28tNv4I/AAAAAAACAM8/090SsXXEa-8/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B1-30-2009%2B10-19-59%2BAM.JPG" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mcTUPcXhqY4/VZXaBe68UyI/AAAAAAAB_40/HjP247NO_PA/s1600/DSC03423%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mcTUPcXhqY4/VZXaBe68UyI/AAAAAAAB_40/HjP247NO_PA/s320/DSC03423%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And then one of my favorite lines from the Firesign Theatre popped into my head and seemed to sum up our whole little trip. "How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><strong>How indeed?</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8ynF-2L1no/Vaw9otEUeUI/AAAAAAACAaU/uU3PVbWvsKk/s1600/IMG_6527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l8ynF-2L1no/Vaw9otEUeUI/AAAAAAACAaU/uU3PVbWvsKk/s320/IMG_6527.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t06u1qrijjs/Vaw442W3SiI/AAAAAAACAWU/bcf8mIJerA8/s1600/IMG_5153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t06u1qrijjs/Vaw442W3SiI/AAAAAAACAWU/bcf8mIJerA8/s320/IMG_5153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-20873179333017823802015-07-17T11:28:00.002-07:002015-07-17T16:03:45.295-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Back To Vegas <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday May 28 –
VEGAS</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7jXQP_lxew/VafRaT3S1fI/AAAAAAACAHw/YE2Fsyf8C6o/s1600/IMG_6345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7jXQP_lxew/VafRaT3S1fI/AAAAAAACAHw/YE2Fsyf8C6o/s320/IMG_6345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weather
– High - 90, Low - 70; Chance of Rain 10%<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdRYqIw1cdk/VafdLHF6v-I/AAAAAAACAME/t4s2_vaEvQc/s1600/IMG_6397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdRYqIw1cdk/VafdLHF6v-I/AAAAAAACAME/t4s2_vaEvQc/s320/IMG_6397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breakfast
– Pastry Pub in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cedar</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City (near the Shakespeare Festival)</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5d5jKSXalFI/VafSY6IEh9I/AAAAAAACAJY/TXyvWLREdZ4/s1600/IMG_6606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5d5jKSXalFI/VafSY6IEh9I/AAAAAAACAJY/TXyvWLREdZ4/s320/IMG_6606.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lunch
– Lunch Box (<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">East Tabernacle
Street</st1:address></st1:street> in St. George)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWJVPSHVy0Q/VafSVRGRxKI/AAAAAAACAJQ/_IO0u66uiqc/s1600/IMG_6593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWJVPSHVy0Q/VafSVRGRxKI/AAAAAAACAJQ/_IO0u66uiqc/s320/IMG_6593.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dinner
– Wynn Restaurants</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNXkIUGapZo/VafSpIARfiI/AAAAAAACAJ4/nZN9dnfTYH8/s1600/IMG_6726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNXkIUGapZo/VafSpIARfiI/AAAAAAACAJ4/nZN9dnfTYH8/s320/IMG_6726.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MtDu1WzBnOc/VafShUUdtlI/AAAAAAACAJo/eX7p-sJcNEs/s320/IMG_6659.JPG" width="240" /></span></div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drive
I-15 toward <st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city> and stop in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St. George</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">UT.</st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(55 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vIPqPU5OMg/Vafc1SVsOjI/AAAAAAACALk/rRgjZvoYztA/s1600/IMG_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3vIPqPU5OMg/Vafc1SVsOjI/AAAAAAACALk/rRgjZvoYztA/s320/IMG_3851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pcrLeoUdQpU/Vafcx5gDd_I/AAAAAAACALc/NkqiuxzgpO4/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pcrLeoUdQpU/Vafcx5gDd_I/AAAAAAACALc/NkqiuxzgpO4/s320/IMG_3840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drive
to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city></st1:place>
from St. George. (120 Miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ-btXYMTcc/Vafc3wLcCFI/AAAAAAACALs/96nLX1MkUvU/s1600/IMG_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ-btXYMTcc/Vafc3wLcCFI/AAAAAAACALs/96nLX1MkUvU/s320/IMG_3852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nb2i4kngnjU/Vafc7IBluUI/AAAAAAACAL0/d6D5C8OnCn0/s1600/IMG_3853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nb2i4kngnjU/Vafc7IBluUI/AAAAAAACAL0/d6D5C8OnCn0/s320/IMG_3853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLYNGMLBEPw/VafdAFOkjII/AAAAAAACAL8/4dhKAo6KS8U/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLYNGMLBEPw/VafdAFOkjII/AAAAAAACAL8/4dhKAo6KS8U/s320/IMG_3866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_OtTVqC1dbQ/VafSdjYZsTI/AAAAAAACAJg/lf0uMN0UjWc/s1600/IMG_6617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_OtTVqC1dbQ/VafSdjYZsTI/AAAAAAACAJg/lf0uMN0UjWc/s320/IMG_6617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highlights
– <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shakespeare Festival</b> grounds on
the Southern Utah State College campus. There is a very accurate replica of the
historic Globe Theatre in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>.
The plays run from June 25<sup>th</sup> – October 31<sup>st</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u10JjiAUVsY/VafRgEXrx7I/AAAAAAACAH4/SHN3-qNiIeg/s1600/IMG_6421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u10JjiAUVsY/VafRgEXrx7I/AAAAAAACAH4/SHN3-qNiIeg/s320/IMG_6421.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mormon</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>
in St. George</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVm5mxukWxQ/VafRyOdIX6I/AAAAAAACAIQ/yhKgFyBAdwI/s1600/IMG_6441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVm5mxukWxQ/VafRyOdIX6I/AAAAAAACAIQ/yhKgFyBAdwI/s320/IMG_6441.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfNpU4t996c/VafRrzdxLHI/AAAAAAACAII/VoLXZvB9rWw/s1600/IMG_6439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfNpU4t996c/VafRrzdxLHI/AAAAAAACAII/VoLXZvB9rWw/s320/IMG_6439.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCt8wZ90fWs/VafRkFn3dRI/AAAAAAACAIA/hZJOjWWyDGc/s1600/IMG_6435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCt8wZ90fWs/VafRkFn3dRI/AAAAAAACAIA/hZJOjWWyDGc/s320/IMG_6435.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</span></b><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE STRIP (one of the best
hikes on Earth!)</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajfsclguMtc/ValIzOWu0vI/AAAAAAACAM0/DeOUhkmJUMY/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ajfsclguMtc/ValIzOWu0vI/AAAAAAACAM0/DeOUhkmJUMY/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B%25232.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OuXbGnWuI4/ValI28tNv4I/AAAAAAACAM8/090SsXXEa-8/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B1-30-2009%2B10-19-59%2BAM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OuXbGnWuI4/ValI28tNv4I/AAAAAAACAM8/090SsXXEa-8/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B1-30-2009%2B10-19-59%2BAM.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B5eorS1QY/VafSlyNP_7I/AAAAAAACAJw/NwQZZ7L_jXI/s1600/IMG_6700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5B5eorS1QY/VafSlyNP_7I/AAAAAAACAJw/NwQZZ7L_jXI/s320/IMG_6700.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glDLV4nBGiw/VafR3y8ytvI/AAAAAAACAIY/HZVPYEUY0UI/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glDLV4nBGiw/VafR3y8ytvI/AAAAAAACAIY/HZVPYEUY0UI/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Wynn</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Deluxe
King</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Free
Parking </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> $265</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sITYW5t0wdA/VafSzVDfHVI/AAAAAAACAKI/QWfG6rVL9wk/s1600/IMG_6759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sITYW5t0wdA/VafSzVDfHVI/AAAAAAACAKI/QWfG6rVL9wk/s320/IMG_6759.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0sgOJUr9M0/VafS4opIMcI/AAAAAAACAKQ/vucC75nhf4A/s320/IMG_6770.JPG" width="240" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWP2Bg9DRFQ/VafS8ADlWDI/AAAAAAACAKY/VpwqfcQP4Ao/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JWP2Bg9DRFQ/VafS8ADlWDI/AAAAAAACAKY/VpwqfcQP4Ao/s320/IMG_6788.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday May 29 –
VEGAS</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEC3WNgC9fw/VafR_4oSd5I/AAAAAAACAIo/a_uLrbpcAgM/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEC3WNgC9fw/VafR_4oSd5I/AAAAAAACAIo/a_uLrbpcAgM/s320/IMG_6548.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breakfast
– Circus Circus Buffet</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5XVqy7AXzo/VafSs5-YJQI/AAAAAAACAKA/P30ls_ypxpI/s1600/IMG_6738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a5XVqy7AXzo/VafSs5-YJQI/AAAAAAACAKA/P30ls_ypxpI/s320/IMG_6738.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lunch
– You pick it</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28tYpKzZslM/VafSQ0DRyVI/AAAAAAACAJI/QSPxUcsidHc/s1600/IMG_6574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28tYpKzZslM/VafSQ0DRyVI/AAAAAAACAJI/QSPxUcsidHc/s320/IMG_6574.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dinner
– Sushi Samba @ The Venetian</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LU7yPLE4bAM/VafSInhwBzI/AAAAAAACAI4/XS3-VH74KpA/s1600/IMG_6557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LU7yPLE4bAM/VafSInhwBzI/AAAAAAACAI4/XS3-VH74KpA/s320/IMG_6557.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlEyaq5qoNQ/VafSMqZrqJI/AAAAAAACAJA/9AD_rdkhJbU/s1600/IMG_6571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zlEyaq5qoNQ/VafSMqZrqJI/AAAAAAACAJA/9AD_rdkhJbU/s320/IMG_6571.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Drive</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">I-515
N/US-93 N/US-95 N</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">from</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">N
4th St</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">; </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Continue
on</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">US-95
N</span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">.
Take</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Summerlin
Pkwy W</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">to</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">NV-159
W/W <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:personname w:st="on">Charles</st1:personname>ton</st1:place></st1:city>
Blvd</span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">.
Take exit</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">26</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">from</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Co Rd
215 S/Bruce Woodbury Beltway S/Clark County 215 S. </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Turn</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">right</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-line"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">onto</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="renderable-component-textrenderable-component-text-not-linerenderable-component-bold"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">NV-159
W/W <st1:personname w:st="on">Charles</st1:personname>ton Blvd; </span></span><span style="color: #2c2c2c;">Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area; 3205 <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nevada</st1:place></st1:state>
159</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eT6bVULn9k/VafWjNtyQTI/AAAAAAACAKs/3dKKlNSN474/s1600/imagesCAN3HODV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eT6bVULn9k/VafWjNtyQTI/AAAAAAACAKs/3dKKlNSN474/s1600/imagesCAN3HODV.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Hikes</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> National Conservation Area day hikes</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KtsjXVY1n9o/VafWoNo5OQI/AAAAAAACAK0/kx2uy4o6I8k/s1600/imagesCAAZUT9Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KtsjXVY1n9o/VafWoNo5OQI/AAAAAAACAK0/kx2uy4o6I8k/s1600/imagesCAAZUT9Y.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calico Tanks</b> - This undulating sandstone trail
leads to a hidden water pocket and a great view of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:city>. Calico Tanks is a great trip for
families or those wanting a relatively short introduction to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Red</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place>, because this hike combines
elements of the prehistory, history, geology, beauty, and fun that makes Red
Rock famous. (2.5 miles – 2 hours)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovh3TWzsvvo/VafY29fJDYI/AAAAAAACALE/lpN2_mDiCPg/s1600/imagesCA6GXGI5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovh3TWzsvvo/VafY29fJDYI/AAAAAAACALE/lpN2_mDiCPg/s1600/imagesCA6GXGI5.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlight</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Visitor</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scenic loop drive</b>. (13 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMwkzXGa4dg/VafXHbqnQ7I/AAAAAAACAK8/2L9mlrqPlqM/s1600/imagesCAUTB99D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMwkzXGa4dg/VafXHbqnQ7I/AAAAAAACAK8/2L9mlrqPlqM/s1600/imagesCAUTB99D.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Cirque de Soleil
presentation of KA at the MGM</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Buy
tickets in advance, or at the TIX office next to the large Coca-Cola bottle
across from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">New York</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIQ6fnv3_SE/VafeL0ShQrI/AAAAAAACAMM/PwOPM9ifLsM/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KIQ6fnv3_SE/VafeL0ShQrI/AAAAAAACAMM/PwOPM9ifLsM/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqZvqZhQupg/ValI5sSKQqI/AAAAAAACANE/kRVfeZO-3ck/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqZvqZhQupg/ValI5sSKQqI/AAAAAAACANE/kRVfeZO-3ck/s1600/Las%2BVegas%2B%25231.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Saturday May 30 – FLY
HOME<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-34959218712212977532015-07-10T19:54:00.003-07:002015-07-11T11:39:44.340-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Cedar Breaks, Brianhead, and Cedar City<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Tuesday May 26 - LONG
VALLEY and CEDAR BREAKS</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvlosRaqZ4I/VZxoYzVgsQI/AAAAAAACACs/RlkmAnIs3kM/s1600/IMG_5932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvlosRaqZ4I/VZxoYzVgsQI/AAAAAAACACs/RlkmAnIs3kM/s320/IMG_5932.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phTZHIzYnsM/VZxoZePCxSI/AAAAAAACABk/6PQeAf9SNxU/s1600/IMG_6267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phTZHIzYnsM/VZxoZePCxSI/AAAAAAACABk/6PQeAf9SNxU/s320/IMG_6267.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9qoDbt1d5A/VZxoZk6ryWI/AAAAAAACACE/OJ09MWinowY/s1600/IMG_6275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9qoDbt1d5A/VZxoZk6ryWI/AAAAAAACACE/OJ09MWinowY/s320/IMG_6275.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 50, Low - 35; Chance of Rain - 30%</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hPFZpx_E3U/VZxoY1fH5AI/AAAAAAACACg/f6oF8f60IJE/s1600/IMG_6144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hPFZpx_E3U/VZxoY1fH5AI/AAAAAAACACg/f6oF8f60IJE/s320/IMG_6144.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
– Bryce Lodge or Ruby’s<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chHmj8fot1o/VZvxjOI592I/AAAAAAAB__c/6Y-0_wBHyvc/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chHmj8fot1o/VZvxjOI592I/AAAAAAAB__c/6Y-0_wBHyvc/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
- Duck Quick Café in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Duck</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Creek</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cWb6FaRFyE/VZvyBRKHytI/AAAAAAAB__k/-6Ic689Ur-0/s1600/A%255E%255E%255E%255E.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4cWb6FaRFyE/VZvyBRKHytI/AAAAAAAB__k/-6Ic689Ur-0/s1600/A%255E%255E%255E%255E.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dinner
- Brian Head Grand Lodge</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWCWY20EzoU/VZvkN2YP-WI/AAAAAAAB_9g/NCCJGfwLG8g/s1600/IMG_6315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWCWY20EzoU/VZvkN2YP-WI/AAAAAAAB_9g/NCCJGfwLG8g/s320/IMG_6315.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – Drive 2 miles to SH 12 and then head
west through the <st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dixie</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Forest</st1:placetype></b>
and check out <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. </b>(15 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwOvD21ErM/VZvzAjWxB3I/AAAAAAAB__0/ELP9nCmieKc/s1600/imagesCAAAMQYL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eXwOvD21ErM/VZvzAjWxB3I/AAAAAAAB__0/ELP9nCmieKc/s1600/imagesCAAAMQYL.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRiDGKFXpM4/VZxoZxFucYI/AAAAAAACABg/m1tu-mMa2V8/s1600/IMG_8238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRiDGKFXpM4/VZxoZxFucYI/AAAAAAACABg/m1tu-mMa2V8/s320/IMG_8238.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Take
SH 89 south through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long Valley</b>
(small Mormon towns), and then turn right onto SH 14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(25 miles)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-dThJW1HeI/VZvz_DIor8I/AAAAAAAB__8/uSMXWsjIIb0/s1600/A%2529%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-dThJW1HeI/VZvz_DIor8I/AAAAAAAB__8/uSMXWsjIIb0/s1600/A%2529%2529.png" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88_ZHLYi3Jk/VZv0I-SkurI/AAAAAAACAAE/0K_WnR0EeEQ/s1600/us-089_nb_4529_after_ut-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88_ZHLYi3Jk/VZv0I-SkurI/AAAAAAACAAE/0K_WnR0EeEQ/s320/us-089_nb_4529_after_ut-014.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Drive
SH 14 (west) to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Duck</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Creek</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>(20 miles)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNj5D1AM1oA/VZvyWF6KxXI/AAAAAAAB__s/UKwrLC9zFR8/s1600/AA%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNj5D1AM1oA/VZvyWF6KxXI/AAAAAAAB__s/UKwrLC9zFR8/s1600/AA%2521.png" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lava Fields<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYRJatCyCGg/VZ0hAKExPTI/AAAAAAACAFI/60iYHEMUdrc/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYRJatCyCGg/VZ0hAKExPTI/AAAAAAACAFI/60iYHEMUdrc/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Navajo</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype></span></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">– Take a few
minutes to check out this rapidly disappearing lake surrounded by the black
rock remnants of a powerful volcano. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dv_I8DE4zoo/VZ0hBhrmMTI/AAAAAAACAFQ/2EThMwyghso/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dv_I8DE4zoo/VZ0hBhrmMTI/AAAAAAACAFQ/2EThMwyghso/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cedar Breaks – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Visitor</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> Cabin and Overlook</span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKlSBCNrCDw/VZ0hYL3mE-I/AAAAAAACAFU/hm4OsnslR1A/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKlSBCNrCDw/VZ0hYL3mE-I/AAAAAAACAFU/hm4OsnslR1A/s1600/A%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523%2523.png" /></span></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulIVfwK4cOU/VZxoeBZOrHI/AAAAAAACAEI/lZEJ7SyBvQg/s1600/IMG_8280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulIVfwK4cOU/VZxoeBZOrHI/AAAAAAACAEI/lZEJ7SyBvQg/s320/IMG_8280.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU6I-k0yWVM/VZxoeQr9fjI/AAAAAAACADU/v5NUZaEkGeg/s1600/IMG_8281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU6I-k0yWVM/VZxoeQr9fjI/AAAAAAACADU/v5NUZaEkGeg/s320/IMG_8281.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">* <strong>Remember that you
are at about 10,000 feet and the oxygen is thinner so it’s harder to breathe. *</strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvcYlwTcHog/VZxod6SqbbI/AAAAAAACAEM/_vfO-8eJF70/s1600/IMG_8279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NvcYlwTcHog/VZxod6SqbbI/AAAAAAACAEM/_vfO-8eJF70/s320/IMG_8279.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jyDFBuW_6b4/VZxoe_fgyrI/AAAAAAACADc/0Pm4xLiPuuk/s1600/IMG_8283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jyDFBuW_6b4/VZxoe_fgyrI/AAAAAAACADc/0Pm4xLiPuuk/s320/IMG_8283.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Grand
Lodge @ Brian Head </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: large;">King</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Free
WiFi</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> $150</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SZemC1m_Z0/VZxob1q9WZI/AAAAAAACACc/yn16a6H3NIA/s1600/IMG_8266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8SZemC1m_Z0/VZxob1q9WZI/AAAAAAACACc/yn16a6H3NIA/s320/IMG_8266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li5Bb4OwFQU/VZxoZ43-VrI/AAAAAAACABs/Ce-xwUwPd8o/s1600/IMG_8254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li5Bb4OwFQU/VZxoZ43-VrI/AAAAAAACABs/Ce-xwUwPd8o/s320/IMG_8254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vX6gaocgkP0/VZxoadn_bNI/AAAAAAACADA/ldnCUuQ9mTI/s1600/IMG_8255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vX6gaocgkP0/VZxoadn_bNI/AAAAAAACADA/ldnCUuQ9mTI/s320/IMG_8255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWyC-MouJGU/VZxoaftWwUI/AAAAAAACACI/MiyDG2n0ZoU/s1600/IMG_8257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yWyC-MouJGU/VZxoaftWwUI/AAAAAAACACI/MiyDG2n0ZoU/s320/IMG_8257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>Point Supreme Campground</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Come camp at 10,000 feet elevation! Camping is available from mid-June to mid-September. Note that the campground opening and closing dates may be slightly earlier or later and is subject to favorable weather. Call (435) 586-9451 or (435) 586-0787 for more details and to confirm opening and closing dates. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Fees</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">$18 Per Night.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">$9 Per Night with a Senior Pass or Access Pass.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">This fee is paid at the self-pay station at the entrance to the campground or when reserving a site at </span><a href="http://www.recreation.gov/" id="anch_125"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">www.recreation.gov</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Capacity and Reservations</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Point Supreme Campground has 25 campsites and accommodates both tents and RVs. Ten sites are available for reservations on www.recreation.gov: eight RV/tent sites and two tent only sites. The remaining 15 campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sites best for RVs include sites. 1,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,14,15,16, and 21. For most large motor homes sites 1,8,15 and 21 are preferred. There is no slideout on the driver side at sites 8,15,and 21. Tent only sites are 12 and 13. Camping is NOT permitted in parking lots or at overlooks.</span> </span></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Wednesday May 27 – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">CEDAR</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">BREAKS
and CEDAR</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">CITY</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEVApp2G06U/VZxoazNYJAI/AAAAAAACAB8/fAjIWGLqmRI/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEVApp2G06U/VZxoazNYJAI/AAAAAAACAB8/fAjIWGLqmRI/s320/IMG_8260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather
– High -75, Low - 55; Chance of Rain – 10%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XdkHTDYVBw/VZxofYxbFdI/AAAAAAACAEA/UPdwJwBN2l8/s1600/IMG_8286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XdkHTDYVBw/VZxofYxbFdI/AAAAAAACAEA/UPdwJwBN2l8/s320/IMG_8286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
- Brian Head Grand Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucCd0IdDMFY/VZxobDuwb9I/AAAAAAACACU/bD4vAXvLdpI/s1600/IMG_8261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucCd0IdDMFY/VZxobDuwb9I/AAAAAAACACU/bD4vAXvLdpI/s320/IMG_8261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
- Snacks<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daQ7NipEK30/VZv3elfxUGI/AAAAAAACAAo/lYuwu5Zwfag/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daQ7NipEK30/VZv3elfxUGI/AAAAAAACAAo/lYuwu5Zwfag/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner
- Milt’s Stage Stop (a local favorite is on the way from the park into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cedar</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dbsVIpZkOY/VZv16wpzKMI/AAAAAAACAAQ/yD2mNA3wFno/s1600/A%2528%2528.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5dbsVIpZkOY/VZv16wpzKMI/AAAAAAACAAQ/yD2mNA3wFno/s1600/A%2528%2528.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drive
back to SH 14 and turn right to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cedar</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> (30 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lKBa1pAWhOE/VZv3BdRu7NI/AAAAAAACAAY/P7EtwgEN1bk/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lKBa1pAWhOE/VZv3BdRu7NI/AAAAAAACAAY/P7EtwgEN1bk/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qefoHPp3XU0/VZv3GWCMMGI/AAAAAAACAAg/QK6UORj8D3s/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qefoHPp3XU0/VZv3GWCMMGI/AAAAAAACAAg/QK6UORj8D3s/s1600/A%2529%2529%2529%2529.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Point
Supreme Overlook</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLGzCjuoEa0/VZvke6bqJHI/AAAAAAAB_-A/BY1C-uCcd0k/s1600/IMG_6358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLGzCjuoEa0/VZvke6bqJHI/AAAAAAAB_-A/BY1C-uCcd0k/s320/IMG_6358.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHtP_HlJKFo/VZxofKhYKvI/AAAAAAACAD0/oapY_yu0E5c/s1600/IMG_8285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHtP_HlJKFo/VZxofKhYKvI/AAAAAAACAD0/oapY_yu0E5c/s320/IMG_8285.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Main Street</span></b></st1:address></st1:street><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cedar</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EKqh90XWek/VZxogS21GlI/AAAAAAACAEU/GkAp_C9BCkM/s1600/IMG_8294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EKqh90XWek/VZxogS21GlI/AAAAAAACAEU/GkAp_C9BCkM/s320/IMG_8294.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlWLb_pSMJY/VZxogsMElmI/AAAAAAACAD4/PUwaI4cy2Kw/s1600/IMG_8295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlWLb_pSMJY/VZxogsMElmI/AAAAAAACAD4/PUwaI4cy2Kw/s320/IMG_8295.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrQ4pD36P_g/VZxogMrDt1I/AAAAAAACAEE/mbMqRdPuKYQ/s1600/IMG_8292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrQ4pD36P_g/VZxogMrDt1I/AAAAAAACAEE/mbMqRdPuKYQ/s320/IMG_8292.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"></st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Utah Shakespeare Festival</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyKyvc1RGRg/VZvlbqW13fI/AAAAAAAB__Q/evn_PBCPBEo/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyKyvc1RGRg/VZvlbqW13fI/AAAAAAAB__Q/evn_PBCPBEo/s320/IMG_6410.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lIR324T_X8/VZvkv0GhRPI/AAAAAAAB_-Y/Da1MQJsXOSQ/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lIR324T_X8/VZvkv0GhRPI/AAAAAAAB_-Y/Da1MQJsXOSQ/s320/IMG_6403.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88P0FUnwKJk/VZvk08Ri8qI/AAAAAAAB_-g/HTWSgH9aHoE/s1600/IMG_6408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88P0FUnwKJk/VZvk08Ri8qI/AAAAAAAB_-g/HTWSgH9aHoE/s320/IMG_6408.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96A7Xqu-_Kw/VZvk4gzrQcI/AAAAAAAB_-o/KQ1AFh9bpII/s1600/IMG_6418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96A7Xqu-_Kw/VZvk4gzrQcI/AAAAAAAB_-o/KQ1AFh9bpII/s320/IMG_6418.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YE0v5T5A6EA/VZvk8vQ8nMI/AAAAAAAB_-w/HFUGMUtrKQ8/s1600/IMG_6421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YE0v5T5A6EA/VZvk8vQ8nMI/AAAAAAAB_-w/HFUGMUtrKQ8/s320/IMG_6421.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XI2RESevtCs/VZvlD6_4E0I/AAAAAAAB_-4/4OF3dDKePJc/s1600/IMG_6423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XI2RESevtCs/VZvlD6_4E0I/AAAAAAAB_-4/4OF3dDKePJc/s320/IMG_6423.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Hike</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spectra
Point/Ramparts Overlook Trail</b> – Hike along the rim of the amphitheater on a
steep and rock trail that offers a very unique view of the park’s most
spectacular features. (4 mile RT – 5 hours) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kCIHT46eGs/VZvkRtzjkII/AAAAAAAB_9o/daGz9fVNtXw/s1600/IMG_6335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kCIHT46eGs/VZvkRtzjkII/AAAAAAAB_9o/daGz9fVNtXw/s320/IMG_6335.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8Mj7glZXzs/VZvkVueiBiI/AAAAAAAB_9w/iDLtrQWaMKM/s1600/IMG_6337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8Mj7glZXzs/VZvkVueiBiI/AAAAAAAB_9w/iDLtrQWaMKM/s320/IMG_6337.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEqMBCUmi-4/VZvkZrW1PAI/AAAAAAAB_94/hOAVUY-n1Qg/s1600/IMG_6351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEqMBCUmi-4/VZvkZrW1PAI/AAAAAAAB_94/hOAVUY-n1Qg/s320/IMG_6351.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jhGY_QPFq0/VZvkk5MqpzI/AAAAAAAB_-I/mt2TmX0dazI/s1600/IMG_6372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jhGY_QPFq0/VZvkk5MqpzI/AAAAAAAB_-I/mt2TmX0dazI/s320/IMG_6372.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Crystal Inn and Suites </span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> King
Room</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Breakfast
Included</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> $80</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWuuAzsTHjI/VZ0i7CHlp5I/AAAAAAACAFo/5WYLq3oTVt4/s1600/A%2525%2525%2525%2525%2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWuuAzsTHjI/VZ0i7CHlp5I/AAAAAAACAFo/5WYLq3oTVt4/s320/A%2525%2525%2525%2525%2525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-42620052808188583392015-07-08T14:04:00.000-07:002015-07-08T14:04:56.427-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Cottonwood Wash and Bryce<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Sunday May 24 - <st1:place w:st="on">COTTONWOOD</st1:place> WASH AND BRYCE</span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mcTUPcXhqY4/VZXaBe68UyI/AAAAAAAB_1c/Ktg0PorGfvI/s1600/DSC03423%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mcTUPcXhqY4/VZXaBe68UyI/AAAAAAAB_1c/Ktg0PorGfvI/s320/DSC03423%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 70, Low - 45; Chance of Rain - 30%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akHKUj1cwu4/VZXaBXqD-0I/AAAAAAAB_1Y/ETcZ8D1yp8o/s1600/DSC03446%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-akHKUj1cwu4/VZXaBXqD-0I/AAAAAAAB_1Y/ETcZ8D1yp8o/s320/DSC03446%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Powell</st1:placename></st1:place> Resort - Rainbow Room<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnj8vxwVyik/VZWBDn8x-fI/AAAAAAAB_zw/k-z3K9hRUPo/s1600/A%2560%2560%2560.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gnj8vxwVyik/VZWBDn8x-fI/AAAAAAAB_zw/k-z3K9hRUPo/s1600/A%2560%2560%2560.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
- Snacks</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvZyt0gSnIk/VZrFwpm2enI/AAAAAAAB_9I/JrXB0lETX6U/s1600/A%2540%2540%2540.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MvZyt0gSnIk/VZrFwpm2enI/AAAAAAAB_9I/JrXB0lETX6U/s1600/A%2540%2540%2540.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner - Bryce Canyon Lodge</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqRj8A6NDXw/VZWBgDUuZWI/AAAAAAAB_z4/xmVqItZMsHc/s1600/hotel-canyon-lodge-restaurant_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqRj8A6NDXw/VZWBgDUuZWI/AAAAAAAB_z4/xmVqItZMsHc/s320/hotel-canyon-lodge-restaurant_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Drive toward Kanab on SH 89 and just past Milepost 17, turn right onto the Cottonwood Canyon Road. (there is a road sign on the right) The muddy Cottonwood Wash parallels the narrow dirt road that is only accessible during the normal dry conditions. The wash crosses the road in several places and makes the road inaccessible to anything other than 4-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles. If it has recently rained heavily, you will need to continue on SH 89A to Kanab, and then continue SH 89 north toward Salt Lake City, following the signs to Bryce National Park. This is a spectacular drive through the verdant Long Valley where small Mormon towns line the road that winds through eye-popping scenery. (135 miles)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xjd8vaH7U0/VZXaB69OWvI/AAAAAAAB_2A/D9knqe5mFZg/s1600/DSC03458%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xjd8vaH7U0/VZXaB69OWvI/AAAAAAAB_2A/D9knqe5mFZg/s320/DSC03458%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ki8obBdrwY/VZXaKLVw68I/AAAAAAAB_4w/R7hMr4eAuQU/s1600/DSC03461%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ki8obBdrwY/VZXaKLVw68I/AAAAAAAB_4w/R7hMr4eAuQU/s320/DSC03461%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkq1u3qxyNI/VZXaC22N0gI/AAAAAAAB_4k/g7W0LXIJ62g/s1600/DSC03462%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wkq1u3qxyNI/VZXaC22N0gI/AAAAAAAB_4k/g7W0LXIJ62g/s320/DSC03462%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsJjbvQpEI8/VZXaIhDnvKI/AAAAAAAB_4c/fsyHDqDPZn4/s1600/DSC03486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsJjbvQpEI8/VZXaIhDnvKI/AAAAAAAB_4c/fsyHDqDPZn4/s320/DSC03486.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIPW4opTZg4/VZXaIihyg7I/AAAAAAAB_4o/4g570rReCVE/s1600/DSC03484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIPW4opTZg4/VZXaIihyg7I/AAAAAAAB_4o/4g570rReCVE/s320/DSC03484.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go
14 miles and there is a dirt parking area on the right which is the trailhead
for the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Miner’s Trail</b>.</span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHBjEgZZRxc/VZXaFWMYmMI/AAAAAAAB_28/prCKzcwTfFI/s1600/DSC03473%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHBjEgZZRxc/VZXaFWMYmMI/AAAAAAAB_28/prCKzcwTfFI/s320/DSC03473%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaKAGIn7gyQ/VZXaIOpH2qI/AAAAAAAB_4I/Ak--505yiz4/s1600/DSC03483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaKAGIn7gyQ/VZXaIOpH2qI/AAAAAAAB_4I/Ak--505yiz4/s320/DSC03483.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hikes
– The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Miner’s Trail</b> climbs steeply
up to the top of the plateau, with amazing views of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cockscomb, <st1:placename w:st="on">Lower</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Hackberry</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype>,
Mollie’s Nipple, the Yellow Whale, Lower Box Death Hollow, Castle Rock, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kodachrome</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Basin</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State Park</st1:placetype></st1:place></b>.
(3.5 miles RT)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No8P9yc1ktQ/VZXaGdMC3OI/AAAAAAAB_4U/6VxYuj_hJas/s1600/DSC03478%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No8P9yc1ktQ/VZXaGdMC3OI/AAAAAAAB_4U/6VxYuj_hJas/s320/DSC03478%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_WuKHiBF90/VZXaHR2hVKI/AAAAAAAB_4Q/uj7RPKBFzCo/s1600/DSC03479%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_WuKHiBF90/VZXaHR2hVKI/AAAAAAAB_4Q/uj7RPKBFzCo/s320/DSC03479%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgQ6SbQwvUs/VZXaCQ9rV0I/AAAAAAAB_14/yNZiQxx7wro/s1600/DSC03460%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgQ6SbQwvUs/VZXaCQ9rV0I/AAAAAAAB_14/yNZiQxx7wro/s320/DSC03460%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-La-5bHFI7iY/VZXaCxvPfUI/AAAAAAAB_4g/8xIOIz9yDc8/s1600/DSC03463%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-La-5bHFI7iY/VZXaCxvPfUI/AAAAAAAB_4g/8xIOIz9yDc8/s320/DSC03463%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fANddoZGTaQ/VZXaDPRjg0I/AAAAAAAB_2M/kM7valRhnEk/s1600/DSC03464%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fANddoZGTaQ/VZXaDPRjg0I/AAAAAAAB_2M/kM7valRhnEk/s320/DSC03464%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Grosvenor Arch</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – A rare double
arch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(0.5 miles RT)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyJQUVJ-FZ8/VZXcI3sAFiI/AAAAAAAB_5g/fAL4C8-PHx0/s1600/DSC03498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyJQUVJ-FZ8/VZXcI3sAFiI/AAAAAAAB_5g/fAL4C8-PHx0/s320/DSC03498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wmuob1Z37FY/VZXcJEg2Q9I/AAAAAAAB_5U/hmvSS3LcPNQ/s1600/DSC03499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wmuob1Z37FY/VZXcJEg2Q9I/AAAAAAAB_5U/hmvSS3LcPNQ/s320/DSC03499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMcHK9FB4cg/VZXcJZeRyJI/AAAAAAAB_5Y/Ev3obUTHbGc/s1600/DSC03500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sMcHK9FB4cg/VZXcJZeRyJI/AAAAAAAB_5Y/Ev3obUTHbGc/s320/DSC03500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sunset Point @
Bryce National Park. </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">(0.5
miles RT from the Lodge)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPBkMVQ1y5A/VZV-2l0AIuI/AAAAAAAB_zQ/6Xb6Uquc_0s/s1600/IMG_5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KPBkMVQ1y5A/VZV-2l0AIuI/AAAAAAAB_zQ/6Xb6Uquc_0s/s320/IMG_5855.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPHz3QUXkHo/VZV-8S_S5bI/AAAAAAAB_zY/9HdDT1eVE9M/s1600/IMG_5888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPHz3QUXkHo/VZV-8S_S5bI/AAAAAAAB_zY/9HdDT1eVE9M/s320/IMG_5888.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Bryce
Lodge </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Motel
w/2 <st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> $195</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-weg0WF6Hv48/VZbtfTUeN_I/AAAAAAAB_74/3LfX45pF8WA/s1600/IMG_8175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-weg0WF6Hv48/VZbtfTUeN_I/AAAAAAAB_74/3LfX45pF8WA/s320/IMG_8175.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monday May 25 – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">BRYCE</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">NATIONAL
PARK</st1:placename></st1:place></span></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snBdr51mb-M/VZV6qPW1tqI/AAAAAAAB_w0/Zza4VLOtOO0/s1600/IMG_5891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-snBdr51mb-M/VZV6qPW1tqI/AAAAAAAB_w0/Zza4VLOtOO0/s320/IMG_5891.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 60, Low - 25; Chance of Rain - 30%</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ogFAuD9DdKE/VZV6s90viII/AAAAAAAB_w8/FxdJJxUm4Q8/s1600/IMG_5917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ogFAuD9DdKE/VZV6s90viII/AAAAAAAB_w8/FxdJJxUm4Q8/s320/IMG_5917.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bryce</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placename></st1:place> Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUPzomU3-74/VZrFLrKPflI/AAAAAAAB_9A/7reIZ7HkfTM/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUPzomU3-74/VZrFLrKPflI/AAAAAAAB_9A/7reIZ7HkfTM/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bryce</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placename></st1:place> Lodge</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JV5KIcUyi2Q/VZbr7aWZgfI/AAAAAAAB_7U/aHkQ2En28q8/s1600/IMG_8169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JV5KIcUyi2Q/VZbr7aWZgfI/AAAAAAAB_7U/aHkQ2En28q8/s320/IMG_8169.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bryce</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placename></st1:place> Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mybP9PPe6qw/VZbr7eRH5dI/AAAAAAAB_7Y/GigqPgsYu4A/s1600/IMG_8166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mybP9PPe6qw/VZbr7eRH5dI/AAAAAAAB_7Y/GigqPgsYu4A/s320/IMG_8166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">* </span><strong style="font-size: x-large;">There are motel, food and
shopping services located right outside the Park (Ruby’s is the best) in the small town of Bryce, but it takes
forever to get back into the park because of all the traffic at the entrance station. *</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GUOq_iSR0q4/VZXc63RpJWI/AAAAAAAB_5k/o_uw0i7BfaE/s1600/IMG_8219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GUOq_iSR0q4/VZXc63RpJWI/AAAAAAAB_5k/o_uw0i7BfaE/s320/IMG_8219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnPdtS5l-s8/VZV6xj4M3SI/AAAAAAAB_xE/ug9tq65ZJds/s1600/IMG_6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnPdtS5l-s8/VZV6xj4M3SI/AAAAAAAB_xE/ug9tq65ZJds/s320/IMG_6002.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scenic
Drive to Rainbow Point </b>(36 miles RT with numerous viewpoints)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DU5YbhYmTHI/VZXdL3-HcFI/AAAAAAAB_54/kAIyHPm2Fko/s1600/IMG_8201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DU5YbhYmTHI/VZXdL3-HcFI/AAAAAAAB_54/kAIyHPm2Fko/s320/IMG_8201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDLiWwRorq4/VZXdL11bUWI/AAAAAAAB_6A/8rkNqLkBjFQ/s1600/IMG_8202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NDLiWwRorq4/VZXdL11bUWI/AAAAAAAB_6A/8rkNqLkBjFQ/s320/IMG_8202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-YRD-CSifw/VZXdLx7sggI/AAAAAAAB_50/figQBoG5yfE/s1600/IMG_8215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-YRD-CSifw/VZXdLx7sggI/AAAAAAAB_50/figQBoG5yfE/s320/IMG_8215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hikes
– <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wall Street/Peek-a-Boo <st1:place w:st="on">Loop</st1:place>/Queen’s Garden</b> – Strenuous with lots of steep
sections, but this three trail combo encompasses the best parts of the inner
canyon. (8 miles – 6 hours)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmgYThucdn0/VZV69sU8HkI/AAAAAAAB_xk/7QWh0EVtRlU/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmgYThucdn0/VZV69sU8HkI/AAAAAAAB_xk/7QWh0EVtRlU/s320/IMG_6039.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBC5HmnOJ-s/VZV7A8J9M9I/AAAAAAAB_xs/QLoXo_eIiaU/s1600/IMG_6046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBC5HmnOJ-s/VZV7A8J9M9I/AAAAAAAB_xs/QLoXo_eIiaU/s320/IMG_6046.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAY6CEWaJKw/VZWGbFuvTaI/AAAAAAAB_0o/lLYuvHSPtgQ/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAY6CEWaJKw/VZWGbFuvTaI/AAAAAAAB_0o/lLYuvHSPtgQ/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJv-tW1kB7g/VZV7EM-PvFI/AAAAAAAB_x0/iC4lD_Mul9w/s1600/IMG_6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJv-tW1kB7g/VZV7EM-PvFI/AAAAAAAB_x0/iC4lD_Mul9w/s320/IMG_6066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4zeXB4dUJA/VZV7d6TlL_I/AAAAAAAB_x8/avJBXNL0yMY/s1600/IMG_6075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4zeXB4dUJA/VZV7d6TlL_I/AAAAAAAB_x8/avJBXNL0yMY/s320/IMG_6075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YGNcmpftNAc/VZV7iLfCkoI/AAAAAAAB_yE/XeKOyz6bl0E/s1600/IMG_6076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YGNcmpftNAc/VZV7iLfCkoI/AAAAAAAB_yE/XeKOyz6bl0E/s320/IMG_6076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pPEReCFEKHM/VZV7l3VyHUI/AAAAAAAB_yM/Sru3GPN5lNQ/s1600/IMG_6098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pPEReCFEKHM/VZV7l3VyHUI/AAAAAAAB_yM/Sru3GPN5lNQ/s320/IMG_6098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pN_OJsq_2Io/VZV7rb-OObI/AAAAAAAB_yU/64SZEGrjuW4/s1600/IMG_6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pN_OJsq_2Io/VZV7rb-OObI/AAAAAAAB_yU/64SZEGrjuW4/s320/IMG_6203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET-4jU1_doE/VZV7vNGqQSI/AAAAAAAB_yc/KYG1gjsGxck/s1600/IMG_6216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET-4jU1_doE/VZV7vNGqQSI/AAAAAAAB_yc/KYG1gjsGxck/s320/IMG_6216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXX2g4ggbIM/VZV7z-0BhOI/AAAAAAAB_yk/0YNkbk1C11k/s1600/IMG_6275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TXX2g4ggbIM/VZV7z-0BhOI/AAAAAAAB_yk/0YNkbk1C11k/s320/IMG_6275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFBlgAIOels/VZV73rqn2uI/AAAAAAAB_ys/g4lIEnd1mGk/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MFBlgAIOels/VZV73rqn2uI/AAAAAAAB_ys/g4lIEnd1mGk/s320/IMG_6284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj0HKuyIqP4/VZV7664cF6I/AAAAAAAB_y0/f-bKvgl3nSo/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aj0HKuyIqP4/VZV7664cF6I/AAAAAAAB_y0/f-bKvgl3nSo/s320/IMG_6295.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong>The <em>free</em> Bryce Canyon Shuttle will operate April 24 –September 30, 2015 at the following times:</strong></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">April 24 –May 17: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">May 18 –September 8: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">September 9 –30: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jxcOpY_v_Y/VZWEf4rztAI/AAAAAAAB_0Q/WO37xOoo1uY/s1600/A%252B%252B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jxcOpY_v_Y/VZWEf4rztAI/AAAAAAAB_0Q/WO37xOoo1uY/s1600/A%252B%252B.png" /></a></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Shuttle buses run every 10-15 minutes and serve the most popular viewpoints and facilities in the park.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7hLnsZTN7A/VZV-_hB8SyI/AAAAAAAB_zg/Xa2QMqbjJGI/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7hLnsZTN7A/VZV-_hB8SyI/AAAAAAAB_zg/Xa2QMqbjJGI/s320/IMG_5924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">* <strong>Remember that you
are at about 8,500 feet and the oxygen is thinner so it’s harder to breathe. *</strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CvcL3e73Bw/VZV_EJP0oFI/AAAAAAAB_zo/aHzXoQgtV84/s1600/IMG_5997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9CvcL3e73Bw/VZV_EJP0oFI/AAAAAAAB_zo/aHzXoQgtV84/s320/IMG_5997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Bryce
Lodge </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Motel
w/2 <st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> $195<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1X2IykqXduk/VZV8EKmlFqI/AAAAAAAB_zE/3HL8uOo7wOo/s1600/IMG_6312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1X2IykqXduk/VZV8EKmlFqI/AAAAAAAB_zE/3HL8uOo7wOo/s320/IMG_6312.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Camping </strong>– Bryce Canyon National Park has two campgrounds, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/northcampground.htm" id="CP___PAGEID=138280,northcampground.htm,961|">North</a> and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/sunsetcampground.htm" id="CP___PAGEID=138289,sunsetcampground.htm,961|">Sunset</a>, located in close proximity to the visitor center, Bryce Canyon Lodge and the geologic wonder that is the Bryce Amphitheater. Both have restrooms with flush toilets, and drinking water. During the summer months, coin-operated laundry and shower facilities are available at the general store nearby. There are no hook-ups in the campgrounds, but a fee-for-use dump station is available for RV users at the south end of North Campground.</span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>NOTE: Dump-station is closed during months with freezing temperatures.</em><br />
Both campgrounds are located in Ponderosa Pine forest habitat with equal amounts of shade and sun, giving them a similar appearance. All sites are limited to 10 people [with no more than 6 adults (adult=16 and up)], 3 tents and 2 vehicles and cost $30 per RV site per night, and $20 per tent site per night. Holders of the Interagency Senior Pass and Access Pass (<a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/npsfedpass.htm" id="CPNEWWIN:NewWindow^top=10,left=10,width=500,height=400,toolbar=1,location=1,directories=0,status=1,menubar=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1@CP___PAGEID=146359,/brca/planyourvisit/npsfedpass.htm">part of the America The Beautiful - National Park Service & Federal Lands Pass System</a>) or the Golden Age and Golden Access Passes, receive a 50% discount. Sites fill by early afternoon during the summer months. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/upload/campgroundmaps2009.pdf" id="CPNEWWIN:NewWindow^top=10,left=10,width=500,height=400,toolbar=1,location=1,directories=0,status=1,menubar=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1@CP___PAGEID=378686,/brca/planyourvisit/upload/campgroundmaps2009.pdf">Click here</a> for a map of both campgrounds. A <a href="http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/sunsetgroupsite.htm" id="CP___PAGEID=334911,sunsetgroupsite.htm,961|">Group Site</a> is available in Sunset Campground.<br />
North Campground has 13 RV sites available by reservation and 86 RV and Tent Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sunset Campground has 20 Tent Sites and a Group site available by reservation and 80 RV and Tent Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check individual pages for more information.</span>
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iT5ZSaQDeDI/VZbuZBuNDMI/AAAAAAAB_8E/GTgdjuUXBZQ/s1600/cmsplan_campers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iT5ZSaQDeDI/VZbuZBuNDMI/AAAAAAAB_8E/GTgdjuUXBZQ/s1600/cmsplan_campers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzy0B6yl3tk/VZXcIyumviI/AAAAAAAB_5M/WPIlNhOp3MM/s1600/DSC03399%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzy0B6yl3tk/VZXcIyumviI/AAAAAAAB_5M/WPIlNhOp3MM/s320/DSC03399%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-30032303229191517792015-07-03T08:52:00.000-07:002015-07-03T08:52:10.104-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Navajo and Mounument Valley<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Friday May 22 - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">NAVAJO</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">NATIONAL
MONUMENT</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoOAJ7UsW5M/VY2lu8IIVMI/AAAAAAAB_dA/KWKGzaDyy-c/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoOAJ7UsW5M/VY2lu8IIVMI/AAAAAAAB_dA/KWKGzaDyy-c/s320/IMG_5476.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 70, Low - 47; Chance of Rain - 10%</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4wFUKePpbw/VY2mAvdEA1I/AAAAAAAB_dI/SkOZPEbUlaU/s1600/IMG_5464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4wFUKePpbw/VY2mAvdEA1I/AAAAAAAB_dI/SkOZPEbUlaU/s320/IMG_5464.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Glen</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placename></st1:place> Steak House in Page<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sHLcuhld-yM/VY2lV6g5bYI/AAAAAAAB_c4/ZIgnsU03-z4/s1600/A%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sHLcuhld-yM/VY2lV6g5bYI/AAAAAAAB_c4/ZIgnsU03-z4/s1600/A%2529.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
– Pick up snacks and liquor @ Safeway in Page (Best in the Southwest!)Page Safeway </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQZYemBUgKY/VY2kvyT1QzI/AAAAAAAB_cs/LfjVP1TRqJU/s1600/A%2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQZYemBUgKY/VY2kvyT1QzI/AAAAAAAB_cs/LfjVP1TRqJU/s1600/A%2524.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFGQlTCymS4/VY2kxSSVE3I/AAAAAAAB_c0/lEdOzUKrX24/s1600/A%2540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFGQlTCymS4/VY2kxSSVE3I/AAAAAAAB_c0/lEdOzUKrX24/s1600/A%2540.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner
- Blue Coffee Pot in Kayenta (Navajo Taco!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-196Wmz02MWU/VY2ZJcIsHuI/AAAAAAAB_as/h9mfge5T1oE/s1600/IMG_5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-196Wmz02MWU/VY2ZJcIsHuI/AAAAAAAB_as/h9mfge5T1oE/s320/IMG_5560.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drive
SH 98 to the junction of SH 160. (65 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKshS_IEsPM/VY2m1r6tdOI/AAAAAAAB_dY/lwTnRo09OzY/s1600/IMG_5482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKshS_IEsPM/VY2m1r6tdOI/AAAAAAAB_dY/lwTnRo09OzY/s320/IMG_5482.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wtaO57KC9E/VY2m7Evcl3I/AAAAAAAB_do/JQFPLjcHwDg/s1600/IMG_5484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7wtaO57KC9E/VY2m7Evcl3I/AAAAAAAB_do/JQFPLjcHwDg/s320/IMG_5484.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turn
left on SH 160 toward Kayenta until the turnoff to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Navajo</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Monument</st1:placetype></st1:place> (25
miles), and take SH 564. (9 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5nd0vOnYTc/VY2nogF6X0I/AAAAAAAB_dw/KEFNriWUqr4/s1600/A%2523.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5nd0vOnYTc/VY2nogF6X0I/AAAAAAAB_dw/KEFNriWUqr4/s1600/A%2523.png" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fhXkmv51v8/VZVtVw1S_UI/AAAAAAAB_vk/qZX4-jfJFN8/s1600/IMG_5737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fhXkmv51v8/VZVtVw1S_UI/AAAAAAAB_vk/qZX4-jfJFN8/s320/IMG_5737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-6Fug6SGQo/VZVtZa0XasI/AAAAAAAB_vs/s_YIv-G4tzg/s1600/IMG_5775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-6Fug6SGQo/VZVtZa0XasI/AAAAAAAB_vs/s_YIv-G4tzg/s320/IMG_5775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – Drive across <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Navajoland</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJkd5NhtgR8/VY2Twkm3AMI/AAAAAAAB_Yk/RfV3D2tirvU/s1600/IMG_5481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJkd5NhtgR8/VY2Twkm3AMI/AAAAAAAB_Yk/RfV3D2tirvU/s320/IMG_5481.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2dTv550XsE/VY2T1PwIAgI/AAAAAAAB_Y0/0NYnD9PzhMY/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2dTv550XsE/VY2T1PwIAgI/AAAAAAAB_Y0/0NYnD9PzhMY/s320/IMG_5483.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Kaibito </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">– Take a quick
drive down the main drag through a real Navajo town on The Rez. (Be respectful and don't start snapping pictures of people unless you ask permission first!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 111.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_vdXRCsRq0/VY2nqoHiEGI/AAAAAAAB_d4/S8jdmW9cHZM/s1600/A%255E.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_vdXRCsRq0/VY2nqoHiEGI/AAAAAAAB_d4/S8jdmW9cHZM/s1600/A%255E.png" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-tab-count: 1;"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-tab-count: 1;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Black Mesa Coal
Mine</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
– Across the highway from the turnoff to Navajo National Monument is an interesting detour if you have the time. Turn right
by the sign to Black Mesa and drive to the top of the mountain (1 mile) and you can see the coal slurry
line that services the two biggest coal mines in the world and the Navajo generating station back in Page. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xrh4rUMYuZw/VZQAeg9rBTI/AAAAAAAB_q4/1aENMf5oTFA/s1600/A%2525%2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xrh4rUMYuZw/VZQAeg9rBTI/AAAAAAAB_q4/1aENMf5oTFA/s1600/A%2525%2525.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJcvC5h5q1k/VY2VCKBzxPI/AAAAAAAB_ZM/3uN-9IJHmNQ/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PJcvC5h5q1k/VY2VCKBzxPI/AAAAAAAB_ZM/3uN-9IJHmNQ/s320/IMG_5487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzdfX5l1jyk/VZUybTIkWoI/AAAAAAAB_tg/s8LEUwFqedk/s1600/IMG_8117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzdfX5l1jyk/VZUybTIkWoI/AAAAAAAB_tg/s8LEUwFqedk/s320/IMG_8117.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8IIejanXas/VZVtdQAcKtI/AAAAAAAB_v0/qMBxsseWhnQ/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8IIejanXas/VZVtdQAcKtI/AAAAAAAB_v0/qMBxsseWhnQ/s320/IMG_5786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Tsegi Canyon
Overlook</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
along the park entrance road on the right.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kN_erupzUyw/VY2VUgulm2I/AAAAAAAB_ZY/5Khn3Zgrvis/s1600/IMG_5489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kN_erupzUyw/VY2VUgulm2I/AAAAAAAB_ZY/5Khn3Zgrvis/s320/IMG_5489.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIxHKA2i6rA/VZUxpXpuewI/AAAAAAAB_sE/schlE7JlFjs/s1600/IMG_8091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIxHKA2i6rA/VZUxpXpuewI/AAAAAAAB_sE/schlE7JlFjs/s320/IMG_8091.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpwJADxtULg/VZUxuSSztRI/AAAAAAAB_sM/lJgKT68mqQc/s1600/IMG_8092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UpwJADxtULg/VZUxuSSztRI/AAAAAAAB_sM/lJgKT68mqQc/s320/IMG_8092.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phL3-gbaQeI/VZUx9Mf2EfI/AAAAAAAB_ss/hxQeqjISbCg/s1600/IMG_8106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phL3-gbaQeI/VZUx9Mf2EfI/AAAAAAAB_ss/hxQeqjISbCg/s320/IMG_8106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Navajo</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Monument</st1:placetype></span></b></st1:place></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tljsac9-2uo/VZXGS4dUgaI/AAAAAAAB_08/2gXi0h8eDAg/s1600/IMG_8095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tljsac9-2uo/VZXGS4dUgaI/AAAAAAAB_08/2gXi0h8eDAg/s320/IMG_8095.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EI_NnUxdY78/VY2WDAYaNSI/AAAAAAAB_Zc/tDhitqSnKO0/s1600/IMG_5493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EI_NnUxdY78/VY2WDAYaNSI/AAAAAAAB_Zc/tDhitqSnKO0/s320/IMG_5493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Hikes</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – Take the paved <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sandal
Trail to Betatakin Ruin Overlook </b>with some steep sections.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>(1 mile RT)</span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Prxpw4zG9Pw/VY2WRYYgS_I/AAAAAAAB_Zk/IfSL-fnwOCs/s1600/IMG_5494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Prxpw4zG9Pw/VY2WRYYgS_I/AAAAAAAB_Zk/IfSL-fnwOCs/s320/IMG_5494.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCnqP-HVguU/VY2WUNXo7EI/AAAAAAAB_Zs/ERlc9-sfVQQ/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCnqP-HVguU/VY2WUNXo7EI/AAAAAAAB_Zs/ERlc9-sfVQQ/s320/IMG_5496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UVDpGV-yDGI/VY2WXVsOzyI/AAAAAAAB_Z0/jVzXCwqrm2k/s1600/IMG_5498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UVDpGV-yDGI/VY2WXVsOzyI/AAAAAAAB_Z0/jVzXCwqrm2k/s320/IMG_5498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tUqy84IHWI/VY2W916plSI/AAAAAAAB_aA/8cn6wknZojQ/s1600/IMG_5513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3tUqy84IHWI/VY2W916plSI/AAAAAAAB_aA/8cn6wknZojQ/s320/IMG_5513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5jQDJ3n2vI/VZQEJ7OdztI/AAAAAAAB_rQ/jpO3gTAkbOY/s1600/A%255E%255E%255E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5jQDJ3n2vI/VZQEJ7OdztI/AAAAAAAB_rQ/jpO3gTAkbOY/s320/A%255E%255E%255E.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Aspen Trail </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">– Paved trail off
the Sandal Trail to the bottom of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Betatakin</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> with some steep
sections. (0.8 miles RT)</span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X9uLMOiKv8/VY2Y0bIY8LI/AAAAAAAB_ak/bbt3BiHhp6U/s1600/IMG_5530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6X9uLMOiKv8/VY2Y0bIY8LI/AAAAAAAB_ak/bbt3BiHhp6U/s320/IMG_5530.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--teHgSBUQzI/VZUx4bR9xrI/AAAAAAAB_sk/nHR_ysQrGmM/s1600/IMG_8105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7SwXt5frfw/VZUx1jGNagI/AAAAAAAB_sc/g-NxSQePu2s/s1600/IMG_8104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7SwXt5frfw/VZUx1jGNagI/AAAAAAAB_sc/g-NxSQePu2s/s320/IMG_8104.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">* <strong>If you want to hike
inside Betatakin Ruin you must take a ranger-guided tour that leaves only once
a day at 9 AM from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Visitor</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>. *</strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VseV6Q1_w9s/VY2YJrhkWZI/AAAAAAAB_aM/8fyVKaWlvOw/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VseV6Q1_w9s/VY2YJrhkWZI/AAAAAAAB_aM/8fyVKaWlvOw/s320/IMG_5523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLuAwnlTjTI/VY2YNWMashI/AAAAAAAB_aU/Yk6tpv0ng74/s1600/IMG_5525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLuAwnlTjTI/VY2YNWMashI/AAAAAAAB_aU/Yk6tpv0ng74/s320/IMG_5525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dwg4K6K0BA0/VY2YQPVxiVI/AAAAAAAB_ag/oTjlWc7uI5A/s1600/IMG_5527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dwg4K6K0BA0/VY2YQPVxiVI/AAAAAAAB_ag/oTjlWc7uI5A/s320/IMG_5527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Drive
SH 160 to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kayenta</b> (20 miles), and
take SH 163 to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Monument</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>. (25 miles)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiSEMLlKA9k/VY2b4rZzwFI/AAAAAAAB_bM/GmXhqdYgvw4/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiSEMLlKA9k/VY2b4rZzwFI/AAAAAAAB_bM/GmXhqdYgvw4/s320/IMG_5575.JPG" width="320" /></a></span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHNLpAyIqhc/VY2b8NBp2sI/AAAAAAAB_bU/1Nl-nu-yakA/s1600/IMG_5576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oHNLpAyIqhc/VY2b8NBp2sI/AAAAAAAB_bU/1Nl-nu-yakA/s320/IMG_5576.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Gouldings
Trading Post</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> King
Room</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> $165</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xoJWBvpKnkk/VY2aH2H2zZI/AAAAAAAB_a4/P8p7XSEa7TQ/s1600/IMG_5622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xoJWBvpKnkk/VY2aH2H2zZI/AAAAAAAB_a4/P8p7XSEa7TQ/s320/IMG_5622.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cvu9EpMoZXA/VZUyjyc2vsI/AAAAAAAB_t0/ZLNWcWxGShQ/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cvu9EpMoZXA/VZUyjyc2vsI/AAAAAAAB_t0/ZLNWcWxGShQ/s320/IMG_8127.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37_RdvOGWVc/VZUyn5P86PI/AAAAAAAB_t8/qR59xcimqys/s1600/IMG_8128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37_RdvOGWVc/VZUyn5P86PI/AAAAAAAB_t8/qR59xcimqys/s320/IMG_8128.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sat May 23 - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">LAKE</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">POWELL</st1:placename></st1:place>
NATIONAL RECREATION AREA</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nO74Na62IV0/VY2e8tmyZnI/AAAAAAAB_bk/_VniE1Oinzk/s1600/IMG_5632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nO74Na62IV0/VY2e8tmyZnI/AAAAAAAB_bk/_VniE1Oinzk/s320/IMG_5632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 80, Low - 55; Chance of Rain - 10%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAmPnUgT05E/VY2hAEuU6kI/AAAAAAAB_cc/SAptqtfp7wU/s1600/IMG_5692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAmPnUgT05E/VY2hAEuU6kI/AAAAAAAB_cc/SAptqtfp7wU/s320/IMG_5692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAmPnUgT05E/VY2hAEuU6kI/AAAAAAAB_cc/SAptqtfp7wU/s1600/IMG_5692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
- Goulding’s Trading Post</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-un-r6hsyg/VY2fDTR_N9I/AAAAAAAB_bs/DhthKzBkRPU/s1600/IMG_5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-un-r6hsyg/VY2fDTR_N9I/AAAAAAAB_bs/DhthKzBkRPU/s320/IMG_5660.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEwVJAN2V1w/VZUyrvGnoiI/AAAAAAAB_uE/2vGbTSfZKQo/s1600/IMG_8135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEwVJAN2V1w/VZUyrvGnoiI/AAAAAAAB_uE/2vGbTSfZKQo/s320/IMG_8135.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Lunch
– Rivers End Café in Page </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BZjwp6Z7dY/VZatuODH_uI/AAAAAAAB_64/yYhdHY3i6jk/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5BZjwp6Z7dY/VZatuODH_uI/AAAAAAAB_64/yYhdHY3i6jk/s1600/A%2521%2521%2521.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dinner
- Lake Powell Resort - Rainbow Room (make reservations)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VNnbqLFiCYM/VY2otN01n0I/AAAAAAAB_eI/uhfya457Y94/s1600/A%252B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VNnbqLFiCYM/VY2otN01n0I/AAAAAAAB_eI/uhfya457Y94/s1600/A%252B.png" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Drive
back to Page the way you came. (125 miles)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wwwMVqjrD0/VZVo-aBVokI/AAAAAAAB_us/0tAWcNhjK6Y/s1600/IMG_8119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4wwwMVqjrD0/VZVo-aBVokI/AAAAAAAB_us/0tAWcNhjK6Y/s320/IMG_8119.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-94T_EOHRyXA/VZVtLztqPJI/AAAAAAAB_vU/AwIG7Lw8T84/s1600/IMG_5700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-94T_EOHRyXA/VZVtLztqPJI/AAAAAAAB_vU/AwIG7Lw8T84/s320/IMG_5700.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9SUhlUPrVXs/VZVtPkmxhFI/AAAAAAAB_vc/DlVuzc6l17I/s1600/IMG_5703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9SUhlUPrVXs/VZVtPkmxhFI/AAAAAAAB_vc/DlVuzc6l17I/s320/IMG_5703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Goulding’s
Trading Post and Museum</b> (Best place to buy Native American jewelry and
gifts, and they provide shipping)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gfrHcCikeps/VZVoONxu0tI/AAAAAAAB_uk/ZxVIzw7l36I/s1600/IMG_8134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gfrHcCikeps/VZVoONxu0tI/AAAAAAAB_uk/ZxVIzw7l36I/s320/IMG_8134.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uXawo1N4Us/VY2gLORSSeI/AAAAAAAB_cE/g2E815sDuLw/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uXawo1N4Us/VY2gLORSSeI/AAAAAAAB_cE/g2E815sDuLw/s320/IMG_5634.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Bki0lpZTc/VY2gPNQpqcI/AAAAAAAB_cM/PZlQGRj3sQY/s1600/IMG_5637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6Bki0lpZTc/VY2gPNQpqcI/AAAAAAAB_cM/PZlQGRj3sQY/s320/IMG_5637.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p-Ld-rQ8l0/VY2gTj8eKfI/AAAAAAAB_cU/Qxm2CPkotWw/s1600/IMG_5663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1p-Ld-rQ8l0/VY2gTj8eKfI/AAAAAAAB_cU/Qxm2CPkotWw/s320/IMG_5663.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">* <strong>The Navajo Tribe
offers open-air wagon tours of the major monuments from the nearby Tribal Park,
but you can also catch the same tour from Goulding’s and avoid the congestion at the
entrance to the Park. *</strong></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtS6a7QWDzY/VY2fH45hUHI/AAAAAAAB_b0/kTi8ZmjhNsk/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtS6a7QWDzY/VY2fH45hUHI/AAAAAAAB_b0/kTi8ZmjhNsk/s320/IMG_5672.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Of-jVEehjng/VY2fLwuKMGI/AAAAAAAB_b8/BoN5mRgs-Ok/s1600/IMG_5675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Of-jVEehjng/VY2fLwuKMGI/AAAAAAAB_b8/BoN5mRgs-Ok/s320/IMG_5675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Swimming</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – The Coves
or the pool(s) at the Lake Powell Resort with spectacular views of sacred <st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Navajo Mountain</b></st1:place>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yiEpzzlWZ0A/VY2UoaRgcQI/AAAAAAAB_ZE/cv34LsastRo/s1600/IMG_5832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yiEpzzlWZ0A/VY2UoaRgcQI/AAAAAAAB_ZE/cv34LsastRo/s320/IMG_5832.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LD3wWBjp5hA/VY2UkzGnCQI/AAAAAAAB_Y8/moztLas3wTc/s1600/IMG_5831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LD3wWBjp5hA/VY2UkzGnCQI/AAAAAAAB_Y8/moztLas3wTc/s320/IMG_5831.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z4vDCeJSUkM/VZVs9jroCZI/AAAAAAAB_vI/MZs-r0uDnCE/s1600/IMG_5379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z4vDCeJSUkM/VZVs9jroCZI/AAAAAAAB_vI/MZs-r0uDnCE/s320/IMG_5379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Rainbow</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype></span></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Boat Trip</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> (purchase tickets in the resort lobby)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06hTEAC-a5s/VY2qxgxHhxI/AAAAAAAB_ek/5Tke34iMz1g/s1600/A%2524%2524.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-06hTEAC-a5s/VY2qxgxHhxI/AAAAAAAB_ek/5Tke34iMz1g/s1600/A%2524%2524.png" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qTGpkpDjbg/VY2oxxV4UZI/AAAAAAAB_eU/UvMjxvtCyvs/s1600/A%253D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--qTGpkpDjbg/VY2oxxV4UZI/AAAAAAAB_eU/UvMjxvtCyvs/s1600/A%253D.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DE-W2Q4JG18/VZVtr-CWWZI/AAAAAAAB_v8/_AM-0OE8V74/s1600/IMG_5787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DE-W2Q4JG18/VZVtr-CWWZI/AAAAAAAB_v8/_AM-0OE8V74/s320/IMG_5787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Antelope Canyon</strong> – This is one of the iconic locations in the Southwest, and a trip into Antelope Canyon is a bucket list must see. Upper Anteolpe Canyon is known as <em>Tse'bighanilini</em>, or "the place where water runs through rocks", and Lower Antelope Canyon is <em>Hasdestwazi</em>, or "spiral rock arches". The upper section is an easy walk, but the lower section is more difficult. The canyon is located on the Navajo Reservation and requires a Navajo guide. Jeep tours can be arranged at multiple locations along the main drag in Page.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2ZKjI2T23k/VZVp-UldB_I/AAAAAAAB_u0/zffrLg9c26o/s1600/antelope-canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2ZKjI2T23k/VZVp-UldB_I/AAAAAAAB_u0/zffrLg9c26o/s1600/antelope-canyon.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoXQtfhefTs/VZVqD1LYOVI/AAAAAAAB_u8/nWTQQtOdW28/s1600/upper-antelope-canyon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoXQtfhefTs/VZVqD1LYOVI/AAAAAAAB_u8/nWTQQtOdW28/s1600/upper-antelope-canyon.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsVW_gCAwH4/VZVtxZelTFI/AAAAAAAB_wE/Uhpoa4fmPVk/s1600/IMG_5793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsVW_gCAwH4/VZVtxZelTFI/AAAAAAAB_wE/Uhpoa4fmPVk/s320/IMG_5793.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Page Airport</strong> – Page is one of the few places that has a small regional airport where you can make connections to Pheonix and L.A. They also provide rental car services.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1rkN5eW-k/VZUxhQxbX5I/AAAAAAAB_r0/ooot3n7OC4E/s1600/IMG_8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jk1rkN5eW-k/VZUxhQxbX5I/AAAAAAAB_r0/ooot3n7OC4E/s320/IMG_8087.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rcGtGPNXPSM/VZUxcrmA4wI/AAAAAAAB_rs/qLRkkdnat-U/s1600/IMG_8077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rcGtGPNXPSM/VZUxcrmA4wI/AAAAAAAB_rs/qLRkkdnat-U/s320/IMG_8077.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Lake</span></st1:placetype><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Powell</st1:placename></span></st1:place><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Resort <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 2
<st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> $230</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXZ0YuS5VLo/VY2ppBWPCdI/AAAAAAAB_ec/FlcCPwBjuMA/s1600/A%2523%2523.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXZ0YuS5VLo/VY2ppBWPCdI/AAAAAAAB_ec/FlcCPwBjuMA/s320/A%2523%2523.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQtgUKLVgug/VZVt1xWMLEI/AAAAAAAB_wM/GlA6Ad_WADg/s1600/IMG_5829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQtgUKLVgug/VZVt1xWMLEI/AAAAAAAB_wM/GlA6Ad_WADg/s320/IMG_5829.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-4479322416649513232015-06-30T14:33:00.000-07:002015-06-30T14:33:08.290-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - Marble Canyon and Lake Powell<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw67tiJYHy0/VYNOKPqBaFI/AAAAAAAB_II/YtfdxD9E86s/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2BSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw67tiJYHy0/VYNOKPqBaFI/AAAAAAAB_II/YtfdxD9E86s/s320/North%2BKaibab%2BSquirrel.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">Wednesday May 20 -
MARBLE CANYON and LEE'S FERRY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gMEKVZzcY4/VYNOJqPVrgI/AAAAAAAB_Hw/-R2_oBdvJgI/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2BRoad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gMEKVZzcY4/VYNOJqPVrgI/AAAAAAAB_Hw/-R2_oBdvJgI/s320/North%2BKaibab%2BRoad.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 80, Low - 55; Chance of Rain - 10%<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcHmytNdg28/VYNOJb3ERyI/AAAAAAAB_H0/CH1r0GmS1Zc/s1600/North%2BKaibab%2B%25235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OcHmytNdg28/VYNOJb3ERyI/AAAAAAAB_H0/CH1r0GmS1Zc/s320/North%2BKaibab%2B%25235.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
- Jacob Lake Inn (check out their cookies!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVt0gWyCxmo/VYLSyMQFObI/AAAAAAAB-98/JV-PeElhEI4/s1600/IMG_5228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVt0gWyCxmo/VYLSyMQFObI/AAAAAAAB-98/JV-PeElhEI4/s320/IMG_5228.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
- Cliff Dwellers in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Marble</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDLcqOkKclo/VYLS9Uz1CRI/AAAAAAAB--I/R1xmkcv_2Lo/s1600/IMG_5232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDLcqOkKclo/VYLS9Uz1CRI/AAAAAAAB--I/R1xmkcv_2Lo/s320/IMG_5232.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Dinner
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Marble</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> Lodge (Navajo Taco!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7J7hkb5vTU/VYLUWA1AUKI/AAAAAAAB_AY/hMSMxM42eE8/s1600/IMG_5317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7J7hkb5vTU/VYLUWA1AUKI/AAAAAAAB_AY/hMSMxM42eE8/s320/IMG_5317.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Drive
SH 67 to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jacob</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Lake and witness the extensive damage where a recent forest fire has turned the old growth Ponderosa Pine forest into an aspen farm</st1:placename></st1:place>. (45 miles)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L30DoJH__Ws/VYLhHgmTiCI/AAAAAAAB_EY/ZN6RkR_ZsYc/s1600/IMG_5222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L30DoJH__Ws/VYLhHgmTiCI/AAAAAAAB_EY/ZN6RkR_ZsYc/s320/IMG_5222.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3rvHF8LHQc/VYLhovV9rVI/AAAAAAAB_Ek/deMS6H1uTWE/s1600/IMG_5221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3rvHF8LHQc/VYLhovV9rVI/AAAAAAAB_Ek/deMS6H1uTWE/s320/IMG_5221.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take
Highway 89A east to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Marble</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place>. (40 miles)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-KnhgmGObs/VYNUQ-VGbAI/AAAAAAAB_J4/liu2vLcyUTY/s1600/IMG_8020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-KnhgmGObs/VYNUQ-VGbAI/AAAAAAAB_J4/liu2vLcyUTY/s320/IMG_8020.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Highlights</u> – <strong>Jacob Lake Visitor Center</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jIxpHRC7u0/VYNUQM1VeyI/AAAAAAAB_Jk/ytvkHWGLs1w/s1600/IMG_7968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jIxpHRC7u0/VYNUQM1VeyI/AAAAAAAB_Jk/ytvkHWGLs1w/s320/IMG_7968.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIS1KUOrJcg/VYLTCG8LyWI/AAAAAAAB--Q/o1MKaLzWVi4/s1600/IMG_5227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIS1KUOrJcg/VYLTCG8LyWI/AAAAAAAB--Q/o1MKaLzWVi4/s320/IMG_5227.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1PJlSliBZc/VYLhsEvHMNI/AAAAAAAB_Es/Od5p09f17GM/s1600/IMG_5224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a1PJlSliBZc/VYLhsEvHMNI/AAAAAAAB_Es/Od5p09f17GM/s320/IMG_5224.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Marble Canyon Overlook</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyyafrIxkBE/VYLUw32Z1sI/AAAAAAAB_BI/hyMy1uqgXRc/s1600/IMG_5231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyyafrIxkBE/VYLUw32Z1sI/AAAAAAAB_BI/hyMy1uqgXRc/s320/IMG_5231.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpwN3KIMyRw/VYNOJFl6XuI/AAAAAAAB_Hk/OX0SH_3180c/s1600/Marble%2BCanyon%2B-%2BLee%2527s%2BFerry%2BLodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpwN3KIMyRw/VYNOJFl6XuI/AAAAAAAB_Hk/OX0SH_3180c/s320/Marble%2BCanyon%2B-%2BLee%2527s%2BFerry%2BLodge.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">House</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – At the bottom of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kaibab</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>
you will go a short distance until you come to an old ranch house complex on
the left that looks abandoned. Turn left onto <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House Rock Road</b>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(wide dirt road safe for passenger cars) and go several miles to
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Condor Research Station</b> where
you might be able to spot some condors in their canyon nests. (8 miles RT)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AdEKdt4R_EU/VYLTJCce-LI/AAAAAAAB--Y/DfYpPcpabiw/s1600/IMG_5237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AdEKdt4R_EU/VYLTJCce-LI/AAAAAAAB--Y/DfYpPcpabiw/s320/IMG_5237.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTxeKvqZtKk/VYLTQgCa_AI/AAAAAAAB--g/VIYPBrU7lPc/s1600/IMG_5238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTxeKvqZtKk/VYLTQgCa_AI/AAAAAAAB--g/VIYPBrU7lPc/s320/IMG_5238.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Hikes</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lee’s Ferry</b>
- The Colorado River boat beach where you can check out the many different
rafts and wooden dories leaving for their float trips through the <st1:place w:st="on">Grand Canyon</st1:place>.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9U3atvFlDY/VYLUN32RpOI/AAAAAAAB_AQ/YdzS_yFkItU/s1600/IMG_5256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9U3atvFlDY/VYLUN32RpOI/AAAAAAAB_AQ/YdzS_yFkItU/s320/IMG_5256.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTu-AkB56lk/VYLdsDEd6II/AAAAAAAB_CQ/NE0RPii9ing/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTu-AkB56lk/VYLdsDEd6II/AAAAAAAB_CQ/NE0RPii9ing/s320/IMG_5254.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BpLzpxqJxo/VYNUQJE58UI/AAAAAAAB_KI/wEwdA2G7i9g/s1600/IMG_7990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BpLzpxqJxo/VYNUQJE58UI/AAAAAAAB_KI/wEwdA2G7i9g/s320/IMG_7990.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7boHr37x_g/VYNUQJ400LI/AAAAAAAB_KM/eTV4qmqRSuE/s1600/IMG_7991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7boHr37x_g/VYNUQJ400LI/AAAAAAAB_KM/eTV4qmqRSuE/s320/IMG_7991.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sT7E1RgHB_M/VYNUQefqEbI/AAAAAAAB_J8/MJWG3pFPOnc/s1600/IMG_7999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sT7E1RgHB_M/VYNUQefqEbI/AAAAAAAB_J8/MJWG3pFPOnc/s320/IMG_7999.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">River Trail</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> is upstream from
the boat beach along the <st1:place w:st="on">Colorado River</st1:place>.
Mostly flat natural surface. (4 miles RT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2risA7iMiE/VYLdOclV3YI/AAAAAAAB_Bw/bdYbHBX9Qq8/s1600/IMG_5299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2risA7iMiE/VYLdOclV3YI/AAAAAAAB_Bw/bdYbHBX9Qq8/s320/IMG_5299.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgQzW-2Clp8/VYLTgt4HNuI/AAAAAAAB-_A/AenJifxUNe0/s1600/IMG_5286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgQzW-2Clp8/VYLTgt4HNuI/AAAAAAAB-_A/AenJifxUNe0/s320/IMG_5286.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mr8Zv2tYtUM/VYLTzUaq_fI/AAAAAAAB-_g/JlKp_yyiKHU/s1600/IMG_5287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mr8Zv2tYtUM/VYLTzUaq_fI/AAAAAAAB-_g/JlKp_yyiKHU/s320/IMG_5287.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Lonely</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Dell</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Historic</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></span></b></st1:place><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> - See how the
infamous John D. Lee and his many wives and children lived in the 1800s. (1
mile RT)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3rUQDQ-9uwo/VYMKRKWEqyI/AAAAAAAB_F8/i6pIu3NPRCU/s1600/AA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3rUQDQ-9uwo/VYMKRKWEqyI/AAAAAAAB_F8/i6pIu3NPRCU/s320/AA1.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NwmimHOfnE/VYLdaxnyBCI/AAAAAAAB_CA/a4rAqBkg_PI/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NwmimHOfnE/VYLdaxnyBCI/AAAAAAAB_CA/a4rAqBkg_PI/s320/IMG_5262.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCK5LarF-FE/VYLdmhcegYI/AAAAAAAB_CI/amXskahuHu4/s1600/IMG_5266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCK5LarF-FE/VYLdmhcegYI/AAAAAAAB_CI/amXskahuHu4/s320/IMG_5266.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span>Cathedral Wash – After turning off Highway 89A onto the Lee's Ferry Road, you go 1.3 miles. The trailhead is located in a pullout with an interpretive geologic sign on your left. Park, cross the road, and enter the drainage. This is a moderately techical hike that first begins with a flat walk in the bottom of the open canyon, but as the walls close in you will come to numerous boulder drops that will require you to navigate the route down (look for muddy footprints on the side walls for the right route), traversing ledges, climbing down through boulders, and trying to avoid mud holes. The hike ends at the Colorado River where you can clean off and even go swimming if you can handle very cold water. (2.5 miles RT - 3 hours)</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong>* If the weather is wet (or has been wet recently) you should avoid this canyon because of the narrows, mud holes, and slippery slopes. *</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-auM8wYfJnIA/VYNQPHJf8XI/AAAAAAAB_I4/1QeorOmpqjI/s1600/DSC03291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-auM8wYfJnIA/VYNQPHJf8XI/AAAAAAAB_I4/1QeorOmpqjI/s320/DSC03291.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-4JP5L9Rdc/VYNQPAUP__I/AAAAAAAB_Ig/7mvnbn-jZt8/s1600/DSC03295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-4JP5L9Rdc/VYNQPAUP__I/AAAAAAAB_Ig/7mvnbn-jZt8/s320/DSC03295.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ20H5r4jfA/VYNQPUR9SLI/AAAAAAAB_Is/r4GOHSXto4s/s1600/DSC03302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ20H5r4jfA/VYNQPUR9SLI/AAAAAAAB_Is/r4GOHSXto4s/s320/DSC03302.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnXHnP8tijg/VYLhzC6OuhI/AAAAAAAB_E0/APuqy_BaZj4/s1600/IMG_5247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnXHnP8tijg/VYLhzC6OuhI/AAAAAAAB_E0/APuqy_BaZj4/s320/IMG_5247.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQv7jpbBEho/VYLh5NuR9GI/AAAAAAAB_E8/SSxg-xh5GdM/s1600/IMG_5249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQv7jpbBEho/VYLh5NuR9GI/AAAAAAAB_E8/SSxg-xh5GdM/s320/IMG_5249.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_bN3iBOxEw/VYNOKbtgRUI/AAAAAAAB_IM/-ceb49ncPVY/s1600/PA060122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_bN3iBOxEw/VYNOKbtgRUI/AAAAAAAB_IM/-ceb49ncPVY/s320/PA060122.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Marble</span></st1:placename><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Hh6hs8cXcI/VYNTtJgXnFI/AAAAAAAB_JE/_9NVsfsJl4w/s1600/IMG_8025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Hh6hs8cXcI/VYNTtJgXnFI/AAAAAAAB_JE/_9NVsfsJl4w/s320/IMG_8025.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> Standard
Double</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> $90</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGJpr_r6ua8/VYNT3yQdYLI/AAAAAAAB_JM/3upNJbKb5tE/s1600/IMG_8010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGJpr_r6ua8/VYNT3yQdYLI/AAAAAAAB_JM/3upNJbKb5tE/s320/IMG_8010.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Camping – <strong>Lees Ferry</strong> <strong>Campground</strong></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 16.65pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">$16 per night / per site</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 16.65pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cost of admission is not included in camping fee</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 16.65pt; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">55 developed sites - no hookups</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0sLPg3Mjnw/VYQgu__a31I/AAAAAAAB_NU/IB8n1ZTA1eo/s1600/A1%252B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0sLPg3Mjnw/VYQgu__a31I/AAAAAAAB_NU/IB8n1ZTA1eo/s1600/A1%252B.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Thursday May 21 - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">LAKE</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">POWELL</st1:placename></st1:place>
NATIONAL RECREATION AREA</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfU5XOhwsto/VYLTX8u6UdI/AAAAAAAB--w/TEiW_6-Sq9g/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfU5XOhwsto/VYLTX8u6UdI/AAAAAAAB--w/TEiW_6-Sq9g/s320/IMG_5476.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 80, Low - 55, Chance of Rain - 10%</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATDLah1uGX8/VYNURLxHavI/AAAAAAAB_Ko/yrAUWMEW888/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATDLah1uGX8/VYNURLxHavI/AAAAAAAB_Ko/yrAUWMEW888/s320/IMG_8026.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
– <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Marble</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placetype></st1:place> Lodge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dLJvWczIEYk/VYNUAQiF2DI/AAAAAAAB_JU/N9xcTYteW2I/s1600/IMG_8013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dLJvWczIEYk/VYNUAQiF2DI/AAAAAAAB_JU/N9xcTYteW2I/s320/IMG_8013.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lunch
– Slackers in Page (Best burgers in town!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eg2qjvQqYJw/VYMLP66sIfI/AAAAAAAB_GE/-KDas-_ECyU/s1600/AA2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eg2qjvQqYJw/VYMLP66sIfI/AAAAAAAB_GE/-KDas-_ECyU/s1600/AA2.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Dinner
- Driftwood Lodge @ the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Powell</st1:placename></st1:place> Resort</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnmV71_NpS4/VYLT3_eJ1hI/AAAAAAAB-_o/duJmhc-6xCQ/s1600/IMG_5450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnmV71_NpS4/VYLT3_eJ1hI/AAAAAAAB-_o/duJmhc-6xCQ/s320/IMG_5450.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Highlights</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Navajo
Bridges</b> - The up-stream bridge is just for pedestrians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out the views of the river. You might
see a river trip passing under the bridge in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And look for condors resting on the rims.
Navajos sell jewelry and other Native American trinkets from makeshift stands
in the parking lots. A lot of the souvenirs looks nice, but is often pretty cheap, so
watch what you buy.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jabilmzKow/VYLUem-bTvI/AAAAAAAB_Ao/vjhU5CT1XX4/s1600/IMG_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9jabilmzKow/VYLUem-bTvI/AAAAAAAB_Ao/vjhU5CT1XX4/s320/IMG_5322.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhF7mLxVjTg/VYLVCc5LyMI/AAAAAAAB_BY/rn_LNrC1Tpo/s1600/IMG_5342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qhF7mLxVjTg/VYLVCc5LyMI/AAAAAAAB_BY/rn_LNrC1Tpo/s320/IMG_5342.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8opTyDszcc/VYLU-djiZGI/AAAAAAAB_BQ/nmfqONsPQgQ/s1600/IMG_5339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8opTyDszcc/VYLU-djiZGI/AAAAAAAB_BQ/nmfqONsPQgQ/s320/IMG_5339.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ao2S2J1LE/VYLiM-kMquI/AAAAAAAB_FU/_dV7TkiHX-o/s1600/IMG_5347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ao2S2J1LE/VYLiM-kMquI/AAAAAAAB_FU/_dV7TkiHX-o/s320/IMG_5347.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbxfHvPgGEE/VYLiG_TkQGI/AAAAAAAB_FM/G9aov5D0i1g/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbxfHvPgGEE/VYLiG_TkQGI/AAAAAAAB_FM/G9aov5D0i1g/s320/IMG_5350.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw5mdYKI7MQ/VYNURehQy1I/AAAAAAAB_Kk/phXwYNhe0ks/s1600/IMG_8063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw5mdYKI7MQ/VYNURehQy1I/AAAAAAAB_Kk/phXwYNhe0ks/s320/IMG_8063.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Highlights</u></b> – Navajo Land – Breathtaking views of the sandstone world of the Navajo.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo0w7CYt4RY/VYLdyiJJWUI/AAAAAAAB_CY/6jdiIaro-GE/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo0w7CYt4RY/VYLdyiJJWUI/AAAAAAAB_CY/6jdiIaro-GE/s320/IMG_5241.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVIV4XBsaK4/VYLd2cP_jMI/AAAAAAAB_Cg/EALZmUr5A_o/s1600/IMG_5245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVIV4XBsaK4/VYLd2cP_jMI/AAAAAAAB_Cg/EALZmUr5A_o/s320/IMG_5245.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NKaWnZzFvc/VYLiBukM49I/AAAAAAAB_FE/LaVh-yfJphM/s1600/IMG_5311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NKaWnZzFvc/VYLiBukM49I/AAAAAAAB_FE/LaVh-yfJphM/s320/IMG_5311.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Glen</span></b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Canyon</st1:placename></span></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Dam
and Bridge</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – Spectacular views of the river from the bridge. Daily
tours of the dam. And a great gift shop in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carl</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Hayden</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Visitor</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></b></st1:place>.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJZUcKVRLgE/VYNUSBzu5lI/AAAAAAAB_Kg/siOsDClTDnI/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DJZUcKVRLgE/VYNUSBzu5lI/AAAAAAAB_Kg/siOsDClTDnI/s320/IMG_8068.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUs0EeOs-04/VYLfAQqRpxI/AAAAAAAB_EI/8vJc0y4btXs/s1600/IMG_5369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUs0EeOs-04/VYLfAQqRpxI/AAAAAAAB_EI/8vJc0y4btXs/s320/IMG_5369.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5Bq-M5v4IE/VYLVG8X2lWI/AAAAAAAB_Bg/LHGqfuZXVow/s1600/IMG_5374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5Bq-M5v4IE/VYLVG8X2lWI/AAAAAAAB_Bg/LHGqfuZXVow/s320/IMG_5374.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dLiH49TG1U/VYLT64kCuTI/AAAAAAAB-_w/lJGuo4vNWHo/s1600/IMG_5373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0dLiH49TG1U/VYLT64kCuTI/AAAAAAAB-_w/lJGuo4vNWHo/s320/IMG_5373.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Swimming</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lone Rock
Beach, The Coves,</b> or to the left of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wahweap
Marina boat launch</b> by the resort.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xqccmLbhpL8/VYNV7e4M0NI/AAAAAAAB_LA/x51XiW9DiME/s1600/DSC03350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xqccmLbhpL8/VYNV7e4M0NI/AAAAAAAB_LA/x51XiW9DiME/s320/DSC03350.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-003keVCJ5Aw/VYLed8vg3KI/AAAAAAAB_DQ/dPADsYeNbFo/s1600/IMG_5421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-003keVCJ5Aw/VYLed8vg3KI/AAAAAAAB_DQ/dPADsYeNbFo/s320/IMG_5421.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_m8wHRVYrY/VYNV7bcHX4I/AAAAAAAB_K8/9p8GFYFi-Io/s1600/DSC03353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T_m8wHRVYrY/VYNV7bcHX4I/AAAAAAAB_K8/9p8GFYFi-Io/s320/DSC03353.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">To
get to <b><st1:placename w:st="on">Lone</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></b>, follow SH 89 toward Kanab for a
few miles and turn right at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Lone</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach</st1:placetype></st1:place>
where you can drive your vehicle right to the water’s edge and then swim.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uggQ9PJ-Mf8/VYNOIpRrdLI/AAAAAAAB_IU/m7lZCtESuY8/s1600/Lake-Powell-Arizona-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uggQ9PJ-Mf8/VYNOIpRrdLI/AAAAAAAB_IU/m7lZCtESuY8/s320/Lake-Powell-Arizona-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfC-XvqAIqM/VYLesSYzefI/AAAAAAAB_Do/kcBmSFY3oH0/s1600/IMG_5434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfC-XvqAIqM/VYLesSYzefI/AAAAAAAB_Do/kcBmSFY3oH0/s320/IMG_5434.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcr5tw3t5bE/VYLe1XrhsrI/AAAAAAAB_D4/9hIUEbL0bD8/s1600/IMG_5443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fcr5tw3t5bE/VYLe1XrhsrI/AAAAAAAB_D4/9hIUEbL0bD8/s320/IMG_5443.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sunset Cruise</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> (purchase tickets
in the Lake Powell Resort lobby)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eap_ZZG-e64/VYQkCWkg_2I/AAAAAAAB_Ng/LO_uFJ8kSyw/s1600/imagesCA9XR63H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eap_ZZG-e64/VYQkCWkg_2I/AAAAAAAB_Ng/LO_uFJ8kSyw/s1600/imagesCA9XR63H.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DTJTctUSNIk/VYLe6cBPLLI/AAAAAAAB_EA/7MmJ3M5Rku8/s1600/IMG_5444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DTJTctUSNIk/VYLe6cBPLLI/AAAAAAAB_EA/7MmJ3M5Rku8/s320/IMG_5444.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YO4LYR5Xr7Y/VYLUCD2ju5I/AAAAAAAB_AA/1qmqcqYh8Yg/s320/IMG_5459.JPG" width="240" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSiOd4OS-0/VYLenrJM_mI/AAAAAAAB_Dg/wsxFIhVcq0k/s1600/IMG_5428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSiOd4OS-0/VYLenrJM_mI/AAAAAAAB_Dg/wsxFIhVcq0k/s320/IMG_5428.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Lake</span></st1:placetype><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Powell</st1:placename></span></st1:place><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> Resort </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 2
<st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> $160</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmMCTvgZh3s/VYLekX8xRBI/AAAAAAAB_DY/6G9jBH2BfCs/s1600/IMG_5426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HmMCTvgZh3s/VYLekX8xRBI/AAAAAAAB_DY/6G9jBH2BfCs/s320/IMG_5426.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Wahweap RV and Campground </strong>– Centrally located at Wahweap Marina about ¼ mile from the shore of Lake Powell. Wahweap offers plenty of fun with a wide variety of </span><a href="http://www.lakepowell.com/play/powerboats--water-toys.aspx" title="Powerboats & Water Toys"><span style="font-size: large;">powerboats and water toys</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> from which to choose. You can also enjoy the restaurant, lounge, Wahweap Grille, Canyon Coffee and gift shop at the </span><a href="http://www.lakepowell.com/stay/lodging/lake-powell-resort.aspx" title="Lake Powell Resort"><span style="font-size: large;">Lake Powell Resort</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. This RV Park/Campground is also a great place to enjoy the winter solitude of Lake Powell.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Full Hook-Up Sites (139) - Loops A, B, C, D, F</span></strong><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">30 and 50 amp service, water and septic</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sites accommodate over 45', most up to 70'; only two vehicles per site; some double-wide spaces available</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Picnic table, charcoal grill and/or fire ring</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Restroom in each loop</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Coin-operated laundry and shower facilities located at the store</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Resort swimming pool and hot tub available to campground guests</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Free WiFi was installed at the campground. Connectivity varies due to our remote location, usage, weather and location in the park. WiFi is also available in the Lake Powell Resort lobby</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">139 sites with Full Hook-Ups</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">60 extra large Pull-Through Sites</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spectacular views</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Convenient store and gift shop at the campground registration office.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Late arrivals: A map and directions to your site will be posted on door of store.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tent Only Sites – Loop 1</span></strong><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Our non-hookup sites have picnic tables, fire ring with grill, and restrooms in each loop.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">9 outlying sites located between 20-80 yards from the parking area. Guests must pack in their equipment.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tent or Self-contained RV Sites (112) - Loops 2, 3, 4</span></strong><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Some sites can accommodate up to a 40 ft RV, there is limited extra parking space in the campground.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Our non-hookup sites have picnic tables, fire ring with grill, and restrooms in each loop.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Group Tent Area - Loop G</span></strong><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Six sites can accommodate 9 to 30 people per site</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">All sites have tables, grills and fire rings. Restrooms are centrally located in the Group area.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aK42lm2xnK8/VYNOInDBYBI/AAAAAAAB_H8/3Od_DBfeSBg/s1600/Lake%2BPowell%2BCamping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="259" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aK42lm2xnK8/VYNOInDBYBI/AAAAAAAB_H8/3Od_DBfeSBg/s320/Lake%2BPowell%2BCamping.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QW6SCVqLN8/VYLT-izGZeI/AAAAAAAB-_4/LxTjjhKTviQ/s1600/IMG_5447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QW6SCVqLN8/VYLT-izGZeI/AAAAAAAB-_4/LxTjjhKTviQ/s320/IMG_5447.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2299475692709000714.post-55457934836030927292015-06-27T07:03:00.000-07:002015-06-28T07:39:27.761-07:00BEST OF THE SOUTHWEST - The Kaibab Forest and the Grand Canyon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmB-fBTtGT8/VYAuSLdBraI/AAAAAAAB-yc/tpT_6LnG8tg/s1600/IMG_4334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmB-fBTtGT8/VYAuSLdBraI/AAAAAAAB-yc/tpT_6LnG8tg/s320/IMG_4334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><strong><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monday May 18 – <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">KAIBAB</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">NATIONAL
FOREST</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YpwuokvZ-VM/VYAucOo_HfI/AAAAAAAB-ys/OETH6MjsEUA/s1600/IMG_4328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YpwuokvZ-VM/VYAucOo_HfI/AAAAAAAB-ys/OETH6MjsEUA/s320/IMG_4328.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HRpGWjFndY/VYA0jQn9T7I/AAAAAAAB-0g/xj2AnZ5Zcpg/s1600/rock-formations-619064-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0HRpGWjFndY/VYA0jQn9T7I/AAAAAAAB-0g/xj2AnZ5Zcpg/s1600/rock-formations-619064-m.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 65, Low - 35; Chance of Rain - 30%</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwq0R3-QQNQ/VYAuXNdz2nI/AAAAAAAB-yo/EB_cvwl4X5w/s1600/IMG_4326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwq0R3-QQNQ/VYAuXNdz2nI/AAAAAAAB-yo/EB_cvwl4X5w/s320/IMG_4326.JPG" width="320" /></a></span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ybfWUli_bu8/VYA0ZbsG3gI/AAAAAAAB-0Y/2DSB2lgVz6k/s1600/zion-national-park-4-885289-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ybfWUli_bu8/VYA0ZbsG3gI/AAAAAAAB-0Y/2DSB2lgVz6k/s1600/zion-national-park-4-885289-m.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast
– Wildcat Willies Ranch Grill and Saloon in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Springdale (Pancakes!)</st1:place></st1:city></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6yenMi984yw/VYAzEytVjnI/AAAAAAAB-0M/0EnVMEIY5gY/s1600/wildcat-willies-ranch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6yenMi984yw/VYAzEytVjnI/AAAAAAAB-0M/0EnVMEIY5gY/s320/wildcat-willies-ranch.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Lunch
- <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Houston</st1:city></st1:place>’s
Trails End in Kanab (Chicken Fried Steak!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpOMnSwfRAM/VYAlKGZkLZI/AAAAAAAB-wo/X3ud4tdq-ag/s1600/IMG_4467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpOMnSwfRAM/VYAlKGZkLZI/AAAAAAAB-wo/X3ud4tdq-ag/s320/IMG_4467.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Dinner
- Kaibab Lodge (The Special!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMUOpFScJ8w/VYAnJWLbakI/AAAAAAAB-xQ/qq7P4uAJFOE/s1600/IMG_4575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMUOpFScJ8w/VYAnJWLbakI/AAAAAAAB-xQ/qq7P4uAJFOE/s320/IMG_4575.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Drive
SH 9 to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Carmel</st1:placename></st1:place> Junction. (13 miles) This is one
of the best drives in the Southwest, with a 1-mile-long tunnel with windows
blasted right through the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Check out the viewpoints along the way. And keep your eyes on the road
and your hands upon the wheel!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZZnS0w-Cho/VYA1Z_UOzhI/AAAAAAAB-00/-E2r1MZBhBI/s1600/miror-road-813688-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZZnS0w-Cho/VYA1Z_UOzhI/AAAAAAAB-00/-E2r1MZBhBI/s1600/miror-road-813688-m.jpg" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2guwDxgAtY/VYA04R5i_1I/AAAAAAAB-0o/ieECtxZag48/s1600/Z-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r2guwDxgAtY/VYA04R5i_1I/AAAAAAAB-0o/ieECtxZag48/s1600/Z-2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8r1kto4e2k/VYCVaH2UlrI/AAAAAAAB-60/j0FInAH2n-4/s1600/IMG_7906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8r1kto4e2k/VYCVaH2UlrI/AAAAAAAB-60/j0FInAH2n-4/s320/IMG_7906.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qB7SgH-exf0/VYCVadnSutI/AAAAAAAB-68/C0aslNSNn_Q/s1600/IMG_0537%2B-%2BTunnel%2Bleaving%2BZion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qB7SgH-exf0/VYCVadnSutI/AAAAAAAB-68/C0aslNSNn_Q/s320/IMG_0537%2B-%2BTunnel%2Bleaving%2BZion.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Take
Highway 89 south toward Kanab, past numerous roadside attractions like the house of pies and the incredibly cheesy Moki Cave. (17 miles)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOL8fAwZRa8/VYCVaKnm8BI/AAAAAAAB-7A/VY--G1WWQ0A/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOL8fAwZRa8/VYCVaKnm8BI/AAAAAAAB-7A/VY--G1WWQ0A/s320/IMG_7907.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8sufXOoNHG0/VYAwzAU_ixI/AAAAAAAB-zc/cqYjWEI_gdQ/s1600/IMG_4457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8sufXOoNHG0/VYAwzAU_ixI/AAAAAAAB-zc/cqYjWEI_gdQ/s320/IMG_4457.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xtHJegtkKRk/VYAugMyOf3I/AAAAAAAB-y4/2qv2Vt2TFms/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xtHJegtkKRk/VYAugMyOf3I/AAAAAAAB-y4/2qv2Vt2TFms/s320/IMG_4362.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKXQxPa9_II/VYAxoEYspFI/AAAAAAAB-zw/lOS19w3uLyE/s1600/IMG_4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKXQxPa9_II/VYAxoEYspFI/AAAAAAAB-zw/lOS19w3uLyE/s320/IMG_4470.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<u>Highlights</u> – Drive <strong>Forest Road 22</strong> just outside the east end of Fredonia on the right and follow the signs to <strong>Big Springs</strong> and <strong>Highway 67</strong>. This is a very good dirt road that is suitable for passenger vehicles in all weather. It will give you a rarely seen glimpse of an old growth Ponderosa Pine Forest with beautiful glacial meadows and wildlife galore. It will also save you 70 miles by not taking Highway 89. Check out the waterfall at the CCC-era <strong>Big Springs Forest Service Work Camp</strong>. There are signs on the right along FR 22 directing you to scenic viewpoints like <strong>Timp Point</strong> that offer spectacular overlooks above the <strong>Western Grand Canyon</strong>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbY1SV9l4Eg/VYAm5upKp9I/AAAAAAAB-xI/ruhIoKjdY6k/s1600/IMG_4484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbY1SV9l4Eg/VYAm5upKp9I/AAAAAAAB-xI/ruhIoKjdY6k/s320/IMG_4484.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao3j0_39Zdc/VYA3fHpOKxI/AAAAAAAB-1Q/PZTzbm86xMY/s1600/images1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao3j0_39Zdc/VYA3fHpOKxI/AAAAAAAB-1Q/PZTzbm86xMY/s1600/images1.png" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5XOySMizfM/VYA3ieUXkLI/AAAAAAAB-1Y/_jY0r3FGgEU/s1600/images2.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5XOySMizfM/VYA3ieUXkLI/AAAAAAAB-1Y/_jY0r3FGgEU/s1600/images2.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufdFFEjUTIg/VYA3ldJRwsI/AAAAAAAB-1g/NP7IiyNUrWs/s1600/imagesCA250PTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufdFFEjUTIg/VYA3ldJRwsI/AAAAAAAB-1g/NP7IiyNUrWs/s1600/imagesCA250PTS.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">When
you come to Highway 67, cross the road onto <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FR 611</b> and follow the signs to East Rim Viewpoint for some
spectacular views of <st1:place w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eastern
Grand Canyon</b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>(6
miles RT).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXplbWpA7tE/VYAmytlhrKI/AAAAAAAB-xA/Fm_OVzk1ab8/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXplbWpA7tE/VYAmytlhrKI/AAAAAAAB-xA/Fm_OVzk1ab8/s320/IMG_4518.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aswND3560_E/VYAyPei0j9I/AAAAAAAB-0A/FPGcshYvL_I/s1600/IMG_4495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aswND3560_E/VYAyPei0j9I/AAAAAAAB-0A/FPGcshYvL_I/s320/IMG_4495.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67QhDmAoUI8/VYAyEThkfII/AAAAAAAB-z4/-3IGeX3LsSM/s1600/IMG_4496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67QhDmAoUI8/VYAyEThkfII/AAAAAAAB-z4/-3IGeX3LsSM/s320/IMG_4496.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Hike</u> – 4 miles south of Carmel Junction is the turnoff to <strong>Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park</strong> (24 miles RT) – There is a splendid 1.5-mile RT trail that leaves from the observation deck overlooking the dunes. Check out the <strong>friendly garter snake</strong> and <strong>Sand Exhibit</strong> in the <strong>Vistor Center</strong>. ($8 entrance fee)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTn7TDfKfgE/VYAkD6lbH3I/AAAAAAAB-wQ/IBi5G84sof8/s1600/IMG_4397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTn7TDfKfgE/VYAkD6lbH3I/AAAAAAAB-wQ/IBi5G84sof8/s320/IMG_4397.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUZC9FzqvhU/VYAukB6W4jI/AAAAAAAB-zA/My8Z0RQKxNo/s1600/IMG_4416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUZC9FzqvhU/VYAukB6W4jI/AAAAAAAB-zA/My8Z0RQKxNo/s320/IMG_4416.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUlwU7fC650/VYAkOPE8osI/AAAAAAAB-wY/tGiGsYlpZec/s1600/IMG_4427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lUlwU7fC650/VYAkOPE8osI/AAAAAAAB-wY/tGiGsYlpZec/s320/IMG_4427.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcwEXvsc2nI/VYAqB9QHTDI/AAAAAAAB-yA/HLUdsSRERto/s1600/IMG_4438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rcwEXvsc2nI/VYAqB9QHTDI/AAAAAAAB-yA/HLUdsSRERto/s320/IMG_4438.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HP5I3B4q8iM/VYAqJCaXaqI/AAAAAAAB-yI/gWmDrVO8qmk/s1600/IMG_4446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HP5I3B4q8iM/VYAqJCaXaqI/AAAAAAAB-yI/gWmDrVO8qmk/s320/IMG_4446.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gas,
Guns, and Beer – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Judd Auto</b> on the
east end of Fredonia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJrCngdWfSY/VYAlO1nI5RI/AAAAAAAB-ws/Rn2rpv_goYo/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJrCngdWfSY/VYAlO1nI5RI/AAAAAAAB-ws/Rn2rpv_goYo/s320/IMG_4478.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlbTQ9FIj58/VYAqgUDylHI/AAAAAAAB-yU/iGYHrK3IYsg/s1600/IMG_4477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlbTQ9FIj58/VYAqgUDylHI/AAAAAAAB-yU/iGYHrK3IYsg/s320/IMG_4477.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NWNfzSfNyRc/VYAxGtc-evI/AAAAAAAB-zg/IXHwwtwZb3k/s320/IMG_4482.JPG" width="320" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3HFfWMqZ08/VYAxYbqP43I/AAAAAAAB-zo/4Kh_LMMPZ3k/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3HFfWMqZ08/VYAxYbqP43I/AAAAAAAB-zo/4Kh_LMMPZ3k/s320/IMG_4474.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3HFfWMqZ08/VYAxYbqP43I/AAAAAAAB-zo/4Kh_LMMPZ3k/s1600/IMG_4474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
</span><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Kaibab
Lodge</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> </span>C4 Eastview Unit - Cabin C</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> $150<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-imj8t2MxI58/VYAo66OVXWI/AAAAAAAB-x0/GRjp2RChmX4/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-imj8t2MxI58/VYAo66OVXWI/AAAAAAAB-x0/GRjp2RChmX4/s320/IMG_4541.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_Qt62VyfnI/VYAoXbv1TOI/AAAAAAAB-xk/lR2uBKQPG2s/s1600/IMG_4592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_Qt62VyfnI/VYAoXbv1TOI/AAAAAAAB-xk/lR2uBKQPG2s/s320/IMG_4592.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DoJnMZNYCOw/VYAogBRnDfI/AAAAAAAB-xs/nqRbjdqapO0/s1600/IMG_4585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DoJnMZNYCOw/VYAogBRnDfI/AAAAAAAB-xs/nqRbjdqapO0/s320/IMG_4585.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7WDor9_M20/VYCVaTMm5gI/AAAAAAAB-6s/dF3vPdwjzzI/s1600/IMG_7932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7WDor9_M20/VYCVaTMm5gI/AAAAAAAB-6s/dF3vPdwjzzI/s320/IMG_7932.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qd_MCxgvS4g/VY6rzpKbXpI/AAAAAAAB_fo/RKscWHLmloQ/s1600/IMG_7935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qd_MCxgvS4g/VY6rzpKbXpI/AAAAAAAB_fo/RKscWHLmloQ/s320/IMG_7935.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><o:p><strong></strong></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><o:p><strong>North Rim Country Store</strong> – Gas, Beer, Wine, Souveniers, and Camping Supplies (right across the highway from the Kaibab Lodge)</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYiB9KfFzig/VYAoMVOPHpI/AAAAAAAB-xc/tU4wsP_1rZI/s1600/IMG_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYiB9KfFzig/VYAoMVOPHpI/AAAAAAAB-xc/tU4wsP_1rZI/s320/IMG_4593.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJAwDSQV6Vo/VYAuxHoKjtI/AAAAAAAB-zQ/Hw6si8co_Ro/s1600/IMG_4597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJAwDSQV6Vo/VYAuxHoKjtI/AAAAAAAB-zQ/Hw6si8co_Ro/s320/IMG_4597.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">* There is a fee campground run by the Forest Service at Demotte Park, next to the Kaibab Lodge, but you are allowed to camp anywhere you like for up to 14 days in any national forest in America for free, unless it is clearly posted that you can't. It is the same for all Bureau of Land Management Lands. BUT, not Park Service lands. You have to always camp in a campground or obtain a backcountry camping permit to camp in a National Park. *</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tuesday May 19 - NORTH RIM OF THE <st1:place w:st="on">GRAND CANYON</st1:place></span></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CPgulu2WGK0/VYBAMzwfi1I/AAAAAAAB-4I/1oftnwVYUD4/s320/IMG_4874.JPG" width="240" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJcjHfB6VZw/VYBC7C4DM5I/AAAAAAAB-5A/KJmsuOken0I/s1600/IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJcjHfB6VZw/VYBC7C4DM5I/AAAAAAAB-5A/KJmsuOken0I/s320/IMG_5107.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsOCyk8Fns/VYA_h2row8I/AAAAAAAB-3I/dgyRjNsWI_Q/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLsOCyk8Fns/VYA_h2row8I/AAAAAAAB-3I/dgyRjNsWI_Q/s320/IMG_4793.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Weather
– High - 60, Low - 35; Chance of Rain or Snow - 30%</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHG5-u8n2SM/VYA_H7og79I/AAAAAAAB-2g/fPR4pkNbAwQ/s1600/IMG_4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHG5-u8n2SM/VYA_H7og79I/AAAAAAAB-2g/fPR4pkNbAwQ/s320/IMG_4723.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Breakfast
- North Rim Saloon</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ca5KEtqJho0/VYCWc9SLysI/AAAAAAAB-7E/FvF25q6fvw8/s1600/IMG_7960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ca5KEtqJho0/VYCWc9SLysI/AAAAAAAB-7E/FvF25q6fvw8/s320/IMG_7960.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Lunch
- Snacks or the Deli in the Pines</span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1D2rVF6Tc/VZAGv58W8aI/AAAAAAAB_ps/gwEusF0t_tM/s1600/DSC03258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SC1D2rVF6Tc/VZAGv58W8aI/AAAAAAAB_ps/gwEusF0t_tM/s320/DSC03258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pb01e3dZujw/VYCWdEghNGI/AAAAAAAB-7Q/kS-IzNhR4Uw/s1600/IMG_7951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pb01e3dZujw/VYCWdEghNGI/AAAAAAAB-7Q/kS-IzNhR4Uw/s320/IMG_7951.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Dinner
- North Rim Lodge Grand Dining Room (Make reservations in advance on-line)</span><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1koAnO_uuk/VYA_mVHSUSI/AAAAAAAB-3Q/Hbd7Cu4KCUk/s1600/IMG_4840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1koAnO_uuk/VYA_mVHSUSI/AAAAAAAB-3Q/Hbd7Cu4KCUk/s320/IMG_4840.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: large; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="color: red;">* </span></strong></span></span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><strong>There are no other
places on the North </strong></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><strong>Rim other than the Park </strong></span><strong style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">and the Lodge </strong></span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">that </strong><strong style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">provide
services. *</strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CN2H0VoAcq4/VYA_YDb02WI/AAAAAAAB-24/7Hbduz1pHlQ/s1600/IMG_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CN2H0VoAcq4/VYA_YDb02WI/AAAAAAAB-24/7Hbduz1pHlQ/s320/IMG_4768.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yx8wvpElwSA/VYA_dGfXNwI/AAAAAAAB-3A/huckUhJT53w/s320/IMG_4779.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh5SQEScFSo/VYBgaHW3TWI/AAAAAAAB-54/fDTx9X7wDj8/s1600/IMG_5219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh5SQEScFSo/VYBgaHW3TWI/AAAAAAAB-54/fDTx9X7wDj8/s320/IMG_5219.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Highlights – Drive to <strong>Cape Royale</strong>, the <strong>Walhala Anasazi Indian Ruin</strong>, <strong>Viewpoint Encantada</strong>, (where you can catch a rare view of the <strong>Colorado River</strong> below the <strong>Unkar Delta</strong>), <strong>Roosevelt Point</strong>, and <strong>Point Imperial</strong>. (45 miles RT)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cE3K35EJR9w/VYA5yHF-mLI/AAAAAAAB-1s/2K2xR3UdUEI/s1600/IMG_4602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cE3K35EJR9w/VYA5yHF-mLI/AAAAAAAB-1s/2K2xR3UdUEI/s320/IMG_4602.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJI1umfCdN4/VYBgU0SjOYI/AAAAAAAB-5w/RmSkn9sUO9g/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJI1umfCdN4/VYBgU0SjOYI/AAAAAAAB-5w/RmSkn9sUO9g/s320/IMG_4743.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nwajaYX9vrE/VYA517sT7UI/AAAAAAAB-10/VeqSwxRXp20/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nwajaYX9vrE/VYA517sT7UI/AAAAAAAB-10/VeqSwxRXp20/s320/IMG_4603.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-GuH51LqI/VYA54-S2tII/AAAAAAAB-18/jvX7sMSqSuA/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-GuH51LqI/VYA54-S2tII/AAAAAAAB-18/jvX7sMSqSuA/s320/IMG_4614.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Check
out the star show after dinner from the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Veranda
of the North Rim Lodge</b> overlooking the <st1:place w:st="on">Grand Canyon</st1:place>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eFJtY07EcA/VYA_sf5wqgI/AAAAAAAB-3Y/SJ6fHgZEvEc/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eFJtY07EcA/VYA_sf5wqgI/AAAAAAAB-3Y/SJ6fHgZEvEc/s320/IMG_4841.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqq6qcHagSI/VYBAChHcM8I/AAAAAAAB-34/z6cPA-g7BhI/s1600/IMG_4857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqq6qcHagSI/VYBAChHcM8I/AAAAAAAB-34/z6cPA-g7BhI/s320/IMG_4857.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Hikes</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Transept
Trail</b> – Mostly flat, along the rim, between the Lodge and the Campground.
(3 miles RT)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96nyHkpJzsM/VYBDDBdyodI/AAAAAAAB-5U/_chri9k1ulE/s1600/IMG_5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96nyHkpJzsM/VYBDDBdyodI/AAAAAAAB-5U/_chri9k1ulE/s320/IMG_5198.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Sunset
hike to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bright</b></st1:placename><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Angel</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Point</st1:placename></b></st1:place>
from the North Rim Lodge along a paved trail that has some short, steep
sections. (1 mile RT)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNJXTMZtxrQ/VYBCN54wvNI/AAAAAAAB-4Q/LQyaCxDiwJM/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNJXTMZtxrQ/VYBCN54wvNI/AAAAAAAB-4Q/LQyaCxDiwJM/s320/IMG_4910.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2LBkIivjzc/VYBCS_4A9wI/AAAAAAAB-4Y/zhLT17bQbdw/s1600/IMG_4933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2LBkIivjzc/VYBCS_4A9wI/AAAAAAAB-4Y/zhLT17bQbdw/s320/IMG_4933.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fjA5u3z97I/VYBCXnLGqbI/AAAAAAAB-4g/Aj9428-Sack/s1600/IMG_4959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4fjA5u3z97I/VYBCXnLGqbI/AAAAAAAB-4g/Aj9428-Sack/s320/IMG_4959.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
<strong><span style="color: red;">*</span></strong> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;">Remember that you
are at about 8,800 feet and the oxygen is thinner, so it is harder to breathe. *</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6BVtwtjMhAo/VYBCw4A3UOI/AAAAAAAB-40/3-D3C3BuuYI/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6BVtwtjMhAo/VYBCw4A3UOI/AAAAAAAB-40/3-D3C3BuuYI/s320/IMG_5006.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<strong>North Rim Campground </strong>– There is a full service campground about a mile from the North Rim Lodge, connected by several trails. <strong>Fees</strong> are <strong>$18-$25 per site per night</strong>. A maximum of <strong>2 vehicles</strong>, <strong>6 people</strong>, <strong>3 tents</strong> are <strong>allowed per site</strong>. (A vehicle, which is towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, fifth wheel, or a motor home pulling a vehicle, is considered two vehicles.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN063ZN1pbo/VYBn4TmR42I/AAAAAAAB-6Q/ZbtgkLKtXmQ/s1600/nrcg022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN063ZN1pbo/VYBn4TmR42I/AAAAAAAB-6Q/ZbtgkLKtXmQ/s1600/nrcg022.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">North
Rim Lodge </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"> </span>Western
Cabin for 4</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 2
<st1:place w:st="on">Queens</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"> $220</st1:place></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZh-HHDRPos/VYA_4IxiC-I/AAAAAAAB-3o/iyITVfuD2nY/s1600/IMG_4846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZh-HHDRPos/VYA_4IxiC-I/AAAAAAAB-3o/iyITVfuD2nY/s320/IMG_4846.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64GcS8uIAO8/VYA_8cW4cNI/AAAAAAAB-3w/mwyGyAFqaEo/s1600/IMG_4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64GcS8uIAO8/VYA_8cW4cNI/AAAAAAAB-3w/mwyGyAFqaEo/s320/IMG_4854.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O9Rp9tcrOM/VYBC0zy3AgI/AAAAAAAB-48/5tjL88mqR-I/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O9Rp9tcrOM/VYBC0zy3AgI/AAAAAAAB-48/5tjL88mqR-I/s320/IMG_5074.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7mhRwTsnF4/VYBC_3Nbe0I/AAAAAAAB-5M/9zphaZ2iVmg/s1600/IMG_5145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7mhRwTsnF4/VYBC_3Nbe0I/AAAAAAAB-5M/9zphaZ2iVmg/s320/IMG_5145.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0