TRIVIA---6

Good Timing—Right Place at the Right Time

The singing group, Buena Vista Social Club, gives a concert once a month in Havana, Cuba. How lucky to be in town during that day! The concert is given in a huge hall at the Hotel National, built in 1930. We had time before to enjoy the lovely grounds and exquisite lobby of the hotel.

Dead Birds

On Midway Island we saw several dead birds, many with their insides exposed. Sea birds eat what floats on the water and until a few years ago it always was sealife. Now people carelessly throw junk in the water. Plastic is light, floats and comes in all kinds of pretty colors. The birds eat it. They can’t digest it, feel full, don’t eat, and die of starvation and dehydration. Bic lighters deliver a double whammy as they are plastic and also contain toxic fluid.

Smart Monkey

I nearly tripped over a scampering monkey as I came around the corner of one of our Kenyan lodges. I sat on the lovely patio and watched this monkey run into the coffee room, steel a sugar packer, run off to the lawn and thoroughly enjoy his stolen treat. He was pretty cute!

Walking the Wall

The ancient wall surrounding Dubrovnik, Croatia is about a mile around. The wall has withstood assaults for centuries including the most recent 1990s war.

It was a very hot summer day when we climbed the many steps—wish I had counted them—to the wall. The wall varies in width and has a few undulations as well as an occasional step or two. One either walks or stops to enjoy the view as the footing is not a smooth one and who wants a fall!

Being in no hurry we strolled the wall stopping often to enjoy the scenery of both the ocean and the back yard gardens and hanging laundry in the yards of those who live within the walled city.

Sheep Dog Demos

Sheep dog demonstrations are popular all through Britain. Having seen several, I wasn’t too excited about the one in Stirling, Scotland. My mistake! We learned the characteristics of several different dog breeds as they performed on their perches.

Outside we watched a dog worry ducks instead of sheep. We learned a couple of years before thousands of sheep were destroyed because of hoof and mouth disease. Ducks were substituted and because they worked out so well it has continued. It was a hoot!

Gibbs Light

The 117-foot high Gibbs Lighthouse in Bermuda was built in London in 1844 and has been in service since 1846. Sitting on a hill 245-feet above sea level makes its beacon 362-feet tall. Its beam can be seen 25 miles out to sea. It was automated in 1964.

It’s a climb up 185 steps to the platform that provides a fantastic 360 degree view of the island. The lighthouse swayed under the wind, so I side-stepped around the balcony with my back hugging the wall.

Asked to Leave

One evening in Scarbourgh, England we were walking down the cliff via the stairs vs ramp or electric lift when we ran into a fellow hiker walking up the stairs.

“I just got thrown out of the Grand Hotel,” he said unbelievably.

“You’re kidding,” we answered in unison.

“No, I’m not.”

Since we had an excellent view of the Grand from our hotel window, seeing it was the main reason for our jaunt off the cliff. We walked into the Grand lobby, made a right turn when we were approached and asked, “Do you have a room in the hotel?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry, only residents are allowed after 6PM. You may come back any time during the day before that.”

We’d seen what we had come to see and confirmed what we had heard, ‘that the Grand wasn’t so grand anymore.’ We left peacefully, chuckling to ourselves. There’s a first time for everything!

TRIVIA---5

Beehive Huts

On the Dingle peninsula in Ireland we stopped to visit some beehive huts. Made of stone in the shape of a beehive they date back to the 5-6^th centuries. They were in remarkably good condition and amazingly large inside.

Ice Breaker

Although we were in Russia in June, the ship ran into ice. The captain 


had to lay anchor while we waited for an ice breaker to arrive. We stood 


on deck watching huge chunks of ice float by as the ship followed the 


ice breaker to an alternate route and clear water. We missed a couple 


of scheduled ports of call, but the captain added a couple of different ones.

Foot Binding

In China we had a pleasant visit with a 90-year-old woman who had had her feet bound when she was five years old. The 1000-year-old custom of foot binding was outlawed in 1911, but was practiced in rural areas for some time longer. Foot binding started with concubines in the imperial court and spread to the city, then to rural areas. Tiny feet showed high class. The thinking was that wealthy women would have servants to address their needs. Bound feet made a woman less mobile and therefore under control of the male. Able to walk only short distances, she was unlikely to get into trouble. Curling the toes under, they eventually grew into the foot and were quite painful.

A Small House

Probably the biggest attraction in Ambleside, England is the bridge house, the country’s smallest house. The stone structure spans the river and is only a few feet wide. Originally built to store apples, the water running in the river below kept the structure cool.

Bridges

The 101 islands making up St. Petersburg, Russia, are connected by 380 bridges. Each bridge is different and range from a footbridge to the high palace draw bridge Many display a variety of statuary, towers, obelisks and grilled fences. The wrought iron designs and work are beautiful, and the variety is amazing. They are art themselves. The bridges are as interesting as the well known sites.

 Camel Train

It is a long overnight train ride from Adelaide to Alice Springs in the Australian outback. Once upon a time, camels made the 980 mile run so it acquired the nickname, camel train.

With modern technology, the camels have been replaced with a train called the Ghan train, after the original Afghanistan camels.

Much of the ride is over boring flat and desolate terrain, so it was good to make the trip at night. The train was comfortable. Each of us had a cabin to our self, so we enjoyed a bottom bunk, a real plus for seniors!

It was a smooth train ride and sure beat a long bus ride. The train left after the dinner hour and arrived early morning, so meals were before and after the trip.

Trolls

Trolls are to Norway what leprechauns are to Ireland. Norwegian trolls live in the mountains, and stories about them abound. Children grow up hearing troll stories, many of which teach a lesson.

Trolls are popular items in gift shops. Some are pretty ugly and others are rather cute. I couldn’t resist photographing several three-foot high ones outside of various establishments.