TRIVIA---9

The Bell Concert

At a monastery in Yaroslavl, Russia, we were lucky to be there when a bell ringer was on the premises. In 1929 all bell ringing in the country stopped, and it was not until 1991 that they could be rung again.

This talented bell ringer had numerous bells of different sizes and sounds strung in a couple of rows about 6-7-feet wide. Each bell had a string attached. He produced the most beautiful music by pulling the strings, which he grasped in his hands. It was unbelievable and something I had never seen before.

The Cat and the Rat

Just as we were about to descend the stairs to the crypt in a Dublin, Ireland church I spotted a sign under a shadow box. I stopped to look at the mummified cat and rat in the frame and to read the sign. It seems in 1860 these animals got stuck in one of the organ pipes. It did not say when they were found. I guess that cat really wanted to catch that rat!

Elusive Leopards

Leopards are nocturnal animals and often people miss them completely when on safari. Early one morning, a beautiful specimen crossed right in front of our van on his way to sleep after the night’s hunt.

One afternoon we spotted a couple of leopards up on a hillside, their coats camouflaged by the rocky bush-covered terrain. The sun shining on their gorgeous coats afforded us a good view and great photo op. As we watched in awe, suddenly the male mounted the female and we knew we were watching a mating pair. Afterwards the female rolled over on her back like a contented playful kitten. Suddenly, they disappeared. Talk about exciting!

Great Idea

It seems everywhere I went in England public toilets could be found in large car parks (parking lots). We found these free-standing permanent buildings consistently clean and well supplied. What a smart idea!

Fine Point of Cigars

At a Cuban tobacco factory I learned that some cigars use full leaves, others use the tobacco scraps for the filling. The cigars are placed in special holders and then pressed for 16 minutes. Following that, the ends are cut, the final wrap applied and the ends fixed. The bands are applied elsewhere.

Because women are more precise and particular, only women remove the main vein of the tobacco leaf, splitting it in two. There is a technique to getting the vein out in one piece. Workers have a quota of 125-180 cigars a day, depending on what area they are working. This small factory produced 10,000 cigars a day, half of which are exported.

Cigars can vary within the same brand. Workers are given two cigars a day plus one box a month. Workers often sell these cigars, but we were cautioned not to buy cigars off the street.

Apples

Australia grows 250 varieties of apples, many in Tasmania. Much of the apple crop is exported to Japan.

In Labrador figgy duff is a yummy warm  steamed pudding/cake with a warm sauce .