Trivia

Barracuda Showdown

While snorkeling over a colorful aquarium-like reef in Belize I suddenly came face to face with a barracuda, albeit a small one. I floated motionless on top of the clear water, but I was unable to stare down the probably surprised barracuda. Eventually, I slowly backed off leaving the fish to go his own way.

Cut in the Mountains

Going through a cut in the Himalayas to get to Tibet was a bit scary. I swear the wing tips neatly brushed the mountain sides. I’m sure this was more my perception than actual fact.

Pandas

I visited a panda sanctuary in Chengdu, China. We were so lucky to see the pandas playing. It was like they were mugging for the cameras. The facility has had good success with a large survival birthrate. Pandas are indigenous to China and have been endangered since 1949.

Solitary animals, the female is fertile only 2-3 days a year. Their bamboo habitat is disappearing. The sanctuary, established in 1990, is large, but plans to increase its size several fold. Moats kept the pandas safe and inhibit visitors from touching and petting the pandas.

The Irish Drum

The Bodhran Irish drum is constructed from a laminated, shallow, round, wooden frame. In most cases the frame is reinforced with center wooden crossbars. Ireland is one of six Celtic regions that utilize the Bodhran Irish drum. Styles and techniques vary. Goat or, calf skin covers one side of the drum that is struck with the hand or a stick called a tipper. The stick varies in shape and size depending on the style of the player or the player’s region. Various shifts of timbre and pitch is achieved by manipulating the hand or fingers, on the underside of the skin

Money Exchange

Literature cautions about exchanging money on the street anywhere, but it was pretty adamant in Peru. You can imagine our surprise when at the desk of our Lima suburb hotel, we watched the receptionist step outside to the street with our US currency and return with Peruvian Sols!

A Respite

Between the walking and sightseeing we stopped late one morning at Bewley’s Oriental Café for Irish coffee and a pastry. Bewley’s coffee and tea was founded by Quakers in 1842. Stain glass windows and marble top tables decorate the café on Grafton Street in Dublin. The place was crowded, but we were lucky to find a small round table for two just as a couple was leaving. The pastries in Ireland were scrumptious. I really enjoyed too many of them, and it seems they all landed on my hips

Mosaics

One can find beautiful intricate mosaic murals all over the world. In Europe mosaic roofs are a special treat. St. Stephens in Vienna is well known. Two such colorful  roofs in Croatia and the gorgeous roof at St. Matthias Church in Budapest are others that quickly come to mind. In Europe some of the most beautiful architecture is well above eye level. Don’t forget to look up!