LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW

SOMETHING NEW

Everywhere I travel I try to find and learn something new. In Slovenia I was rather fascinated with the roofed hay-drying racks. They are unique to the area and  very different from how  hay is dried in Texas. The racks are spotted all along the fields. Under the roof are three or four boards of perhaps 2 X 6 or 8 inch and the length of the roof. Hay is simply strung or hung over the boards like a grass skirt to dry. I never could determine what happens to the hay when it is dry, so your guess is as good as mine.

It seems all Adriatic cities have promenades and the one in Zadar, Croatia is tree lined. It was a beastly hot day, but a sea breeze made the walk to the wave organ bearable. The original purpose was to extend the sea wall to accommodate cruise ships. The wave organ was a wonderful and creative bonus. Thirty-five horizontal pipes of various lengths and widths lie in the Zadar channel. Holes in the concrete pier whistle as the waves hit the pipes below. It creates a sound similar to that of blowing across a cola bottle. It was delightful to listen to the unusual concert created by the waves. It is the first wave organ in the world and I’d guess as the news about it spreads it will not be the last. Several rows of steps/seats to the water's edge are available so one can enjoy the tranquility and concert. Many sit here to watch the sun set.

It’s kind of fun to be able to see and learn about the first of something. I saw one of the first water ballets at the Orchid Gardens in Rotarura, New Zealand. Built in 1985 at a cost of 1.3 million dollars, the water organ contains 700 pipes and has 14 pumps. The pipes,  made in Germany,  cost of $250,000. Water shoots dramatically from the pipes simulating a ballet while the whole performance is set to computerized music. I was so fascinated that I had to sit through the performance a second time.
Today many people call such performances dancing waters and they are pretty common, seen in many places.

HIGH TEA

A FUN HIGH TEA
Since I’d had an exquisite high tea fifteen years before  in the crystal ballroom of the  Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, I was not too excited to have high tea in the hotel’s lobby, the new venue. After considerable inquiry we elected to have our tea at the Point Ellice House.

Tea was served in the old carriage house. We sat at our table with linen tablecloth for nearly two hours enjoying finger sandwiches, sweets, scones and all the tea we wanted.

Our server told us, “During the 19th century this area was full of lovely Victorian homes where the gentry and well-to-do people lived. This Italianate cottage,  built in 1861,  was enlarged and landscaped between 1875-89. Peter O’Reilly was Irish and a government official. He and his family, including four children, moved into the house in 1867.

“The O’Reilly family occupied the home for 106 years. The family kept extensive records and never threw anything away. There are over 10,000 Victorian objects in the home.”

Mrs. O’Reilly apparently wrote a cookbook. Except for hot cocoa and candy or bon bons, chocolate did not exist in Victorian cooking. There was no such thing as brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or chocolate cake.

One daughter, Kathleen, was an accomplished artist and several of her paintings hung in the home. In 1975 the Provincial Government bought the property.

After tea before  touring  the house we were given ear phones and battery pac. A Chinese houseboy told the family’s story.  Periodically he was interrupted by the English parlor maid with some tid bit of family information. What a creative and imaginative way to tell the story! It was dilightful.

The Victorian grounds were lovely but different than many we’d seen. It was a fun, interesting, and informative  way to spend our last afternoon in Victoria, British Columbia.