Posts Tagged ‘travel’

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What battle am I talking about today?

July 31, 2013

This is the Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria, site of the Battle of Alexandria on July 31, 30 BC.   Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, Alexandria was one of the greatest cities in the world under European influence for over 300 years.  The battle, which pitted the forces of Octavian against those of Mark Antony, marked the end of Rome as a republic and the beginning of the empire.  Mark Antony’s defeat at the battle let to his suicide, as well as that of Cleopatra. Alexandria’s fortunes ebbed and flowed over the centuries under the rule of Europeans, Arabs and the Ottoman Empire at various times.  Modern Alexandria is a prosperous seaport and industrial center.

Ancient Alexandria

Modern Alexandria

Don’t get me started about the Library at Alexandria – you know how I get.

References:

Science & Society

Cambridge Ancient History

This is a re-posting.  Unfortunately, the current religio-political situation in Egypt is having negative repercussions across that country, including Alexandria.  Financial news from today.

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What am I remembering today?

July 20, 2013

One small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.  Happy anniversary, Apollo 11!

Thanks to Lights in the Dark for the nudge.

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What is tattoo Tuesday about?

July 9, 2013

We went to see the Tall Ships in the harbor this weekend.  In addition to thirteen beautiful ships, there were a number of tattoos in evidence at the event.  Here are a few of them.

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And some ship photos:

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What is tattoo Tuesday about?

July 2, 2013

tattoo cam

We just returned to the Western Reserve from our vacation to Maine.  I would like to say (lie) that we all got frisky and got tattoos, but no, that was not the case (the tattoo part, anyway).

Here is the lovely tattoo I captured that appears on one of my vacation companions.

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What is Tattoo Tuesday about?

May 28, 2013

kelleys island chart

Last week we took a road trip – a voyage, actually – to one of the off-shore islands in Lake Erie’s western basin.  Only a little over 4 square miles, Kelley’s is still one of the largest of the Lake Erie Islands.  The island was settled by Native Americans and then taken over by white settlers.  Signs of Native Americans still exist, such as Inscription Rock near the ferry dock, and mounds and earthworks on the island.

inscriptionrockcInscription Rock purportedly designed by Native Americans on Kelley’s Island

The primary industries were logging, quarrying and wine making.  I will never understand the logic of living on an island (an ISLAND!), then cutting off parts of it and selling it.  This is, however, what people did and are still doing on Kelley’s.  The quarries are impressive.  We watched a osprey float on the wind along the edge of the larger quarry stopping to stoop now and then after some kind of prey.  We never saw what he was after.

IMG_1920[1]Here’s a view of the quarry.

Now Kelley’s is mostly a vacation spot. In addition to boating, swimming, picnicking and pubbing, Kelley’s is a geologist’s paradise.  The limestone in the quarries is full of fossils.  I was after trilobites, but came up empty handed.  The trilobite, Isotelus, is Ohio’s official state fossil. And I felt silly writing that.

Isotelus_(Trilobite)Isotelus

We did, however, find a bunch of horn corals embedded in the limestone giving a glimpse into live at the bottom of the shallow ocean that once covered this part of Ohio.

horn coralHorn coral in limestone

Also impressive are the glacial grooves that were almost lost to the limestone industry, but are now preserved as a landmark.

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Kelley’s Island Glacial Grooves

The grooves were made during the last ice age when boulders at the bottom of the glacier scoured out these grooves out of the limestone as the glacier moved over the land.

Anyway – the topic of tattoo Tuesday is Trilobites.  I found this interesting article in Discover about people who are combating extinction (or at least commemorating extinct species) by getting them tattooed on their bodies.

Here are some trilobites:

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Here are some trilobite tattoos:

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What Mutiny am I Commemorating Today?

April 28, 2013
william-bligh
April 28 is the anniversary of the Bounty mutiny.  Bligh’s biography written here, indicates he possessed  high level of seamanship and was a loyal officer.  These characteristics earned him respect.  His irascibility and unbending nature also brought him trouble.
He fought under Nelson and earned his praise.  In 1801, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for his contributions to navigation and botany.
After his naval career, he served as Governor of New South Wales and had a tumultuous career in Australia, as well, due to his hot temper and insistence on carrying out the law.  He was eventually promoted to Vice Admiral and his claims in New South Wales were granted to his estate, providing well for his heirs.
A complex and interesting man.  Here are some quotes from Bligh’s logs:
The object of all the former voyages to the South Seas undertaken by the command of his present majesty, has been the advancement of science and the increase of knowledge.
In our passage from the Cape of Good Hope the winds were mostly from the westward with very boisterous weather: but one great advantage that this season of the year has over the summer months is in being free from fogs.

And I refer you to a post from 2012 on this subject.

A reconstruction of the ship Bounty was tragically lost in Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  This video shows the heroic efforts of the Coast Guard in rescuing the Bounty’s crew.  Fourteen crewmen were rescued; two, including the captain, were lost.

 

This  is a re-blogging of my 2013 post commemorating the mutiny involving my distant cousin.

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Where am I traveling?

April 11, 2013

mars

To Mars – at roughly and virtually 3 times the speed of light.

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From Universe Today – click here to take the trip.

Credit for this reference goes to Lights in the Dark

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What am I sappy cat blogging?

March 2, 2013

I’m still on vacation, so sappy cat blogging this week is following the vacation theme. I spent some time on Key West this week – a spot I have not visited before and liked quite well!

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These are some images of the Hemingway cats on Key West, Florida. There are a number of stories about how the cats, many of which are six-toed, came to the island, and how they came to be associated with Ernest Hemingway.

Click here for the link to the Hemingway museum and foundation on Key West.

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What is tattoo Tuesday about this week?

February 26, 2013

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I am traveling this week, so tattoo Tuesday is an interesting interpretation of a map of the world.  I am actually here . . .

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Right under the second little flamingo.  There was freezing fog at home this morning.  It was 84 degrees and sunny in Key West today.  Ahhh!

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Where am I traveling?

February 18, 2013

Last Saturday, I was traveling – first a meeting in Frankfort, Kentucky (a nice little town) and then to Cincinnati to visit friends.

While in Cincinnati, we visited the market and the Krohn Conservatory,  which offered a splendid breath of spring.

Here are the daffodils at the Krohn Conservatory. . .

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and here are the ones in my garden  . . .tracks3

Here are a few more photos from the Krohn:

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oranges

tapestry

The photo above reminds me of the Cluny tapestries.

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pink hydrangeas