tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19731635386485227062024-03-20T04:13:49.128-07:00GLOBETROTTING GRANDPARENTSTwo Canadians travel, explore, hike and have adventures around the world.
Here we share what we learn globally about places and people.Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-15837135971061258072016-02-18T12:32:00.002-08:002016-02-18T12:32:46.341-08:00Address Change!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTo-52xcTRM/U5U5u_vqkcI/AAAAAAAACJI/k_pKnqeCL9Q/s1600/Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTo-52xcTRM/U5U5u_vqkcI/AAAAAAAACJI/k_pKnqeCL9Q/s200/Go.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Please note that this blog is moving to:<br />
<a href="https://globetrottinggrandparents.wordpress.com/">https://globetrottinggrandparents.wordpress.com</a><br />
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Please go to the new site and click 'follow' to receive all new postings and travel along!<br />
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Thanks for your interest.Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-56093515559118476352016-02-15T11:21:00.000-08:002016-02-15T11:21:29.215-08:00Volunteering: To Pay or Not To Pay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4Aj7eDAgR0/VsIk15vV41I/AAAAAAAADLY/Wy-Qldiq7aE/s1600/Paid-to-Travel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_4Aj7eDAgR0/VsIk15vV41I/AAAAAAAADLY/Wy-Qldiq7aE/s400/Paid-to-Travel1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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That is the question, asked by fellow globetrotter Steph Dyson who is currently working in South America. I like her blog because it is informative and interesting. Not all about "what I saw and did today"...<br />
Her latest blog is about whether or not paid volunteerism is a good idea.<br />
Steph did not only share her own thoughts on this, but asked several experienced volunteer/travelers. I enjoyed reading their collective comments:<br />
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<a href="http://worldlyadventurer.com/should-you-pay-to-volunteer/">http://worldlyadventurer.com/should-you-pay-to-volunteer/</a><br />
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The long and the short of it is: it CAN be OK to pay, but it can also be perfect NOT to pay... It depends on the organization. You need to do your research and then decide what works for you personally.<br />
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Hope you enjoy reading Steph's blog.<br />
Happy travels!Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-67720793020753578412016-02-14T18:24:00.000-08:002016-02-14T18:24:04.010-08:00Housesitting Around The World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho2Yl_KQCPI/VsE2tPtO4II/AAAAAAAADLI/PCBV__cr0Io/s1600/12608734-worldwide-international-communication-concept-cloud-of-colorful-state-flags-around-blue-glass-earth-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho2Yl_KQCPI/VsE2tPtO4II/AAAAAAAADLI/PCBV__cr0Io/s320/12608734-worldwide-international-communication-concept-cloud-of-colorful-state-flags-around-blue-glass-earth-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you are interested in traveling but not living in campgrounds, hostels or hotels, here is an alternative. I enjoyed this article on the Lonely Travel site, complete with helpful links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/round-the-world-travel/best-of-round-the-world-travel/content/travel-tips-and-articles/how-to-house-sit-the-world.json">http://www.lonelyplanet.com/round-the-world-travel/best-of-round-the-world-travel/content/travel-tips-and-articles/how-to-house-sit-the-world.json</a><br />
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Happy travels!Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-68140417152901125962016-01-30T14:13:00.002-08:002016-01-30T14:13:24.391-08:00Social ConnectionsCheck out this article on Intrepid's new initiative to travel while helping others:<br />
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<a href="http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Urban-Adventures-launches-social-enterprise-tours">http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Urban-Adventures-launches-social-enterprise-tours</a>Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-40651777475807711822016-01-22T10:09:00.000-08:002016-01-22T10:09:05.136-08:00Fun Facts About Ethiopia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i325PqkfVdg/VOsCQVU7z_I/AAAAAAAACoE/dzZpCXDYd00/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i325PqkfVdg/VOsCQVU7z_I/AAAAAAAACoE/dzZpCXDYd00/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donkeys transport loads through the city</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8Gq6lElCb4/VOsCX7I9XwI/AAAAAAAACoU/CbkJVAq8Gew/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i325PqkfVdg/VOsCQVU7z_I/AAAAAAAACoE/dzZpCXDYd00/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8Gq6lElCb4/VOsCX7I9XwI/AAAAAAAACoU/CbkJVAq8Gew/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8Gq6lElCb4/VOsCX7I9XwI/AAAAAAAACoU/CbkJVAq8Gew/s1600/IMG_5717.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addis Ababa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Phj11u4Q-vU/VOsCT_VqUvI/AAAAAAAACoM/jutyLo4JQ64/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Phj11u4Q-vU/VOsCT_VqUvI/AAAAAAAACoM/jutyLo4JQ64/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women carry huge bundles of wood down the mountain to sell as firewood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hU4Yb4DvXBQ/VOsCgve4awI/AAAAAAAACoc/gS4ndma9jnM/s1600/IMG_5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hU4Yb4DvXBQ/VOsCgve4awI/AAAAAAAACoc/gS4ndma9jnM/s1600/IMG_5729.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A building under construction with bamboo scaffolding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yI8wUkafg_Y/VOsCkBAXTWI/AAAAAAAACok/5FcTXj_fKVs/s1600/IMG_5794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yI8wUkafg_Y/VOsCkBAXTWI/AAAAAAAACok/5FcTXj_fKVs/s1600/IMG_5794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goats for sale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmjKW9H5wFQ/VOsCpwDijZI/AAAAAAAACos/l1Kl-if5uPU/s1600/IMG_5862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmjKW9H5wFQ/VOsCpwDijZI/AAAAAAAACos/l1Kl-if5uPU/s1600/IMG_5862.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous traditional dress</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;">What I love about traveling to a place I have never been to, is this: it is like taking a blank, new </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">coloring picture. The outlines are there but nothing else. You can color it in any way you like... When I go to a country I have an idea of its outline. But the </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">colors come once I see it for myself. Once I get to meet people, taste food, smell the food, see the scenes - then the outlines takes shape and transform themselves into the real picture.</span></span><br />
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<b>Did You Know This About Ethiopia?</b></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>The currency is called ‘birr’ (burr)</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>The official language is Amharic</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>More than 70% of Africa's mountains are found in Ethiopia. Probably due to the high altitude in the country, Ethiopians are famous for being great long distance runners. Does the name Abebe Bikila ring a bell? He won gold in the 1960 Olympics when running the marathon barefooted. The female coach at school is a former Olympic athlete.</li>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>Lucy, the oldest human bones found on earth (3.5 million years old) were unearthed in Hadar. Did you know she was named ‘Lucy’ because the archealogists were listen to ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ that night?</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>Ethiopia is one of the only nations in Africa never to be colonized. It has been occupied by Italy and the Soviet Union but not colonized.</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span><i>Teff</i>, the grain used to make the Ethiopian staple <i>injera</i>, is an ancient grain believed to have originated in Ethiopia between 4000BC and 1000BC. It is the smallest grain in the world and rich in calcium and iron, and a good source of protein and fiber. It is a great gluten-free option and making a popularity come-back.</li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><br /></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">About 32% of Ethiopians is Muslim and just over half the population is Orthodox. Most Ethiopians fast for 100 days of the year, including each Wednesday and Friday. When they fast they don’t eat any dairy products, meat or sweets. Perhaps this is why so many people here are slender. An idea for North America?</span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">In a previous blog I mentioned the amazing coffee ceremonies. I am told that basically every house has a coffee altar and that each family has a coffee ceremony twice a day. </span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>The Ethiopian lion has black manes. I saw two of them at Born Free, a foundation dedicated to saving rescued and orphaned wildlife and, if possible, releasing them in the wild.</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>Coffee and cut flowers, especially roses, are a huge export item for the country. I’m told that most roses for sale in Europe were grown here.</li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I never knew before that Ethiopians not only have their own time but also their own calendar with 13 months.. (see previous blog about time)</span></li>
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<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;"></span>Addis Ababa means ‘new flower’. When Empress Taitu first came to the area of what is now the capital city of Ethiopia, she noticed lovely yellow flowers which she had not seen before. This new flower was mimosa. </li>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-59142858233764573872015-10-31T14:55:00.000-07:002015-10-31T14:55:19.977-07:00A Mysterious Mansion<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plxgkGYMTlI/VjU3GybdisI/AAAAAAAADGg/goUOWuKZsWQ/s1600/Emmaus%2Bhouse060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plxgkGYMTlI/VjU3GybdisI/AAAAAAAADGg/goUOWuKZsWQ/s400/Emmaus%2Bhouse060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in 1971</td></tr>
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When Kees and I got engaged, over 40 years ago, we spent a few days in South Limburg, our favorite part of The Netherlands. One day we were hiking along a narrow path lined with brambles. </div>
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Through the greenery we spotted a huge, very unique house. </div>
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We peeked through the blackberries and saw a red tile roof over a wide veranda with many arched openings. On the veranda, in wooden reclining chairs, were men reading. </div>
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Later we learned that this house was called Emmaus and that it belonged to the Catholic church, specifically to the cloister of Wittem. The priests came here for a day off, to rest, to read and the contemplate. One of the priests, an Italian architect, had designed the building. And many priests worked on the construction in the early 1900’s. The building really only consisted of one large room surrounded by an enormous wrap-around porch and a second story that was open on all sides serving as another porch. </div>
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Over the years, we often came back to this exact spot and we never failed to take a peek at “our” ghost house as we called it. It seemed bleak and deserted for many years and we often dreamed about what it might have been like if we had not emigrated to Canada and what if we had bought it and renovated it and ran a B & B here….? </div>
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During our previous visit to the area, perhaps a year ago, we noticed there was construction going on. The house was being renovated! </div>
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This time around, I googled for the house name: ‘Emmaus’ and discovered that the building was now privately owned, renovated and used as a small, exclusive meeting place for business leaders. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I contacted the manager to see if, by chance, there was a restaurant so that we could finally see this building inside. There wasn’t. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">However, because she liked the idea that we had been dro</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">oling through the hedges for so many years, she kindly invited us for coffee. And that is why, after more than 40 years, we got to see the house that has become so special to us. It is gorgeously renovated to modern day standards but preserving the old features: a grey stone floor, the arched windows, the enormous wrap-around porches. The old wall paintings that once flanked the altar are preserved under a thin layer of new walls. The ceilings are still towering and candles everywhere present a still serene feel to the house. It was so nice to be able to walk around without feeling like a spy! And we still wonder what might have happened to us and to that old house that we fell in love with so many years ago…. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i>'Hold fast to dreams,</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i> for if dreams die,</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i> Life is a broken-winged bird</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i> That cannot fly.' - Langston Hughes </i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://landhuisemmaus.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Emmaus-920x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Emmaus" border="0" class="attachment-home-feature wp-post-image" height="350" src="http://landhuisemmaus.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Emmaus-920x350.jpg" width="920" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house as it is now.</td></tr>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-71403330947820857422015-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:002015-10-27T20:16:43.368-07:00In Flanders' Fields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">Southern Limburg, the most southern tip of the most southern province of The Netherlands, is legally Dutch. But it’s landscape and atmosphere are more Belgium, with a hint of French and a dollop of German mixed in. It’s my favorite part of the country. </span></div>
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The architecture is typical: white stucco houses with dark wooden beams showing on the inside and out, usually with window boxes with cascading red geraniums under each window. The land here is not flat but very hilly. Gorgeous rolling hills of pastures with cows, interspersed with forests and tiny villages. Each village has a medieval look: narrow crooked streets lined with houses that lean in a tight circle around a pointy church. Sometimes the streets are so narrow that I was sure we were driving on a bicycle path but it always really was the street - just wide enough for the horse and wagon that used to come around the bend not long ago. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RToar38-VU8/VjA8CLMt2-I/AAAAAAAADGE/CwnOnSJSrYI/s1600/IMG_9816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RToar38-VU8/VjA8CLMt2-I/AAAAAAAADGE/CwnOnSJSrYI/s320/IMG_9816.JPG" width="320" /></a>We found a lovely little house to rent - a small brick building with a kitchen, tiny living room with fireplace and a small bed- and bathroom. Perfect for a week of hiking and writing.</div>
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I had wifi and a kitchen table so I happily worked away on overdue manuscripts and tedious editing. In the mornings I dropped Kees off at the spot of his choice from where he would hike that day. He savored these hilly hikes through foggy farm land and picturesque forests. </div>
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We’ve been so lucky: in nearly 3 months we had 3 days of rain.</div>
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We spent one lovely sunny Sunday hiking for the local ladies’ choir. They had organized a fundraiser walk. We enjoyed seeing many other hikers trudging among the cow patties. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EM1fOJGq8zU/VjA8Bkrzr5I/AAAAAAAADGA/D9jGv8-cKaE/s1600/IMG_9850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EM1fOJGq8zU/VjA8Bkrzr5I/AAAAAAAADGA/D9jGv8-cKaE/s320/IMG_9850.jpg" width="213" /></a>One morning I noticed I was driving right by the American Military Cemetery of Margraten so we paid a visit. The rows and rows of white crossed under bright red and yellow fall colors, were touching. To read the names of thousands of young American boys, who came from so far to help liberate a country they didn’t know…. It is a humbling and touching experience. Especially now that thousands of refugees are arriving in the country, many of them escaping war. When will we ever learn?</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-83162132652792459212015-10-08T11:05:00.000-07:002015-10-08T11:05:06.040-07:00Castles and the real Spa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One thing I love about traveling on our own, without having everything planned ahead of time, is the discoveries we make along the way.</div>
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But heading south into Belgium and towards Luxembourg we realized it was better to have a reservation, and thus a destination, rather than simply hoping to find a hotel or B & B by passing one along the road. That way we made too many stops where everything was full, and finally had to settle for a more expensive hotel room than we had planned. </div>
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Even though it is October and not so busy with tourists anymore, many villages seem to have festivals and celebrations, especially on weekends. </div>
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So I searched online (actually I mostly use <a href="http://orbitz.com/">orbitz.com</a> to make bookings) and discovered a gorgeous looking castle in a tiny village in the area we wanted to visit in the Ardennes. The castle looked like a fancy hotel on the website but the cost was half of what we would have expected. It fitted our budget so I booked a room.</div>
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When we arrived, we were most impressed with the huge, gray stone castle, complete with turrets and surrounded by a wall with a gate. I had expected snooty waiters and a regular hotel lobby. Instead, there was a small reception desk with a very friendly gentleman. Our room was large with high ceilings. A kingsize bed with memory foam, a nice bathroom. We have a fridge and a coffee maker in our room - more than we had in many other hotels on this trip. And a view onto the castle garden and fountain. It is dead quiet.</div>
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Breakfast is included in the cute restaurant in what seems to be the old wine cellar. Rather than being part of a hotel chain, this castle is owned by the county.</div>
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When you sleep between the thick stone walls of this castle, you are certainly surrounded by history. The original building dates back to about 1200, with the main building as it is now arising around the 1600’s. I love the history sheet we were given in “English” - referring to a colonel who lived here in 1647 - and I quote: “Its armorial bearings were twinned with those of his wife.” I can just picture <i>her</i> armorial bearings…</div>
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During World War II the castle was the headquarters of the US 18th Airborne Corps during the Battle of the Bulge. A sign states that General Eisenhower was here.</div>
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We enjoyed staying here and I highly recommend Chateau Harzé if you visit this area: <a href="http://www.chateau-harze.be/">http://www.chateau-harze.be</a></div>
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From Harzé it is a 25 minutes drive, among lovely rolling hills and picturesque villages, to the city of Spa.</div>
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Spa.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldq4By5czWg/VhavfTtT1vI/AAAAAAAADDE/RhBLqo_Oxdg/s1600/fond_slide_thermes_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldq4By5czWg/VhavfTtT1vI/AAAAAAAADDE/RhBLqo_Oxdg/s400/fond_slide_thermes_v2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The word is recognized worldwide as a synonym for health. My dictionary defines the noun ‘spa’ as ‘mineral water’ or ‘resort with water for bathing’. So, if you are this close to the REAL Spa, I decided we better visit. I also happen to love spa’s in the broadest sense. </div>
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Spa, Belgium has apparently been known for its healing waters since Roman times. Since Medieval times its waters have been used to cure illnesses. </div>
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In Spa, you can stay in the Radisson Hotel which has a vernicular (tram) to the resort. We, however, preferred ‘our’ castle in Harzé and drove to Spa this morning. You can buy a day pass or a 3 hour pass. We figured that 3 hours of soaking would be plenty. They have a smart system: when you pay your admission they give you a small plastic chip. It opens the turn style to go into the change rooms. It also opens a locker for your stuff, and fits into a wristband that you then wear into the pool. When you want to eat or drink something, you “charge” it to the chip in your wrist band. Once you are ready to leave, you pay the balance and ‘voila’ - the chip opens the exit for you.</div>
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The pool consists of an enormous glass dome over a huge pool of wonderful warm water. Just the perfect temperature. You can float and swim. There are edges with massaging water nozzles. There are flumes and spouts and bubble seats, even bubble beds on which you can relax. You can swim outside, through a strong jetted river. We’ve seldom been so clean. And so relaxed. </div>
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The only problem? I’m now spoiled for life by visiting the grandest ‘spa’ of them all.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thermesdespa.com/">http://www.thermesdespa.com</a></div>
Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-53918319204574974082015-10-07T11:20:00.001-07:002015-10-07T11:20:48.488-07:00Margriet's BOOK Blog: One Year Off by David Elliot Cohen<a href="http://margrietruurs.blogspot.com/2015/10/one-year-off-by-david-elliot-cohen.html?spref=bl">Margriet's BOOK Blog: One Year Off by David Elliot Cohen</a>: I don't know how this book ended up on my shelf. But, looking for a book to take along on my next trip, it seemed like a fitting titl...Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-61628267894519673372015-10-04T07:57:00.001-07:002015-10-04T07:57:20.108-07:00Walking down Memory Lane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kees’ love for the outdoors might have started when he was a little boy and his parents bought a piece of land in the forest to build a cottage. He has fond memories of leaving the city every weekend, working as a family building the cottage his parents designed. Of helping at the neighboring farm and of roaming the forest playing cowboys and indians and looking for seedlings to plant around the cottage.</div>
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The cottage in the woods was a place where his family spent weekends and holidays, walking and exploring. They named it ‘Keverhut’, or ‘Beetle Cottage’. This name came about because of his father’s hobby of collecting every possible species of beetle that lived in the Netherlands. In fact, after his death, his extensive collection ended up in a museum and is still on display there today. Kees and his younger brother were paid a penny for every beetle they caught and brought home. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"That's where we used to live!"</td></tr>
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Today, Kees still loves roaming forests and exploring nature. He especially likes long distance hiking, and trail systems in the Netherlands are among his favorites. Recently he was googling for trails and walks in Holland when he noticed one called the ‘Keverhut walk’. Curiosity peaked, he contacted the local walking club coordinator to ask where they got the name from. This particular walk circled the exact spot of his family’s former weekend home, even though the name of the cottage had been changed by new owners 40 yeas ago. The coordinators had no idea where the name came from so Kees told them the story.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kees with the trees he planted 60 years ago!</td></tr>
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They were thrilled and invited us to join them on one of the ‘Keverhut' walks when we were in the Netherlands this time around. Last Saturday morning we gathered, in a sun dappled forest, with childhood friends and with members of the local walk - and running club, for the Keverhut Run / Walk. The local newspaper even ran an article about it. As we walked, we refreshed memories and marveled at the seedlings that Kees had planted some 60 years ago. They were now solid maples and birches that lined the area around the spot where his memories still roam.</div>
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Unfortunately, the original cottage the family built had burned down 2 years ago and a much larger and modern house was being constructed on the site. But the surrounding area and the trees, even though 60 years older and bigger, were still all there and still brought back many cherished memories. </div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-49270447294751161472015-09-27T11:24:00.001-07:002015-09-28T11:20:28.401-07:00Who Knew.... Miscellaneous Things We Learned Along The Way<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brasov, Romenia</td></tr>
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Best pizza: in a small pizzeria in Bucharest: thin crust, hand made, tasty. $4 for a large one.</div>
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Worst pizza: in Emmen, Netherlands. Ordered the pepperoni pizza but had no pepperoni on it at all!</div>
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Who knew people are still allowed to smoke in restaurants, coffee shops and all public places in Romania. </div>
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Who knew that Romanian is very, very similar to Italian. They sound and gesture just like Italians and the words look very similar, ‘formaggio is cheese’, etc.</div>
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Did you know that both Romania and Czech Republic do not use euros (yet)? The first has ‘leis’ or RON, the latter uses Czech koruna.</div>
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Bran Castle in Romania apparently stood model for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The author was never there but the castle is now famous as Dracula’s castle and you can buy bloodsoaked vampire teeth in the gift shop. I bought a hand embroidered blouse instead, as my Romanian souvenir.</div>
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If you travel on trains in The Netherlands you can select the ‘Silence’ car where conversations and cell phones are not allowed. A real treat, especially after spending 3 hours on a train in Romania next to two ladies who rattled like absolute waterfalls, nonstop.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Bakeries in Czech Republic and Romania produce breads, croissants and pastries second to none. </span></div>
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The Romanian railway system (especially the rolling material) reminded me exactly of the Märklin model train designs I had as a boy 60 years ago. </div>
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Watch out when getting into a taxi in Romania. The fare per kilometer is noted on the fender outside of the taxi. But fares (per kilometer) differ between companies by as much as 400%. Check before you get in any taxi.</div>
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The Czech Republic is very ‘western’, modern and clean. Romania is still stuck in the 20th, or even 19th century with a broken down infrastructure. Prague has many beautiful old buildings which have been restored and are maintained. Bucharest too, has many old buildings but unfortunately not many are maintained and allowed to disintegrate. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMnSrlPAOO0/VgmBAaAlk5I/AAAAAAAADAo/Fp25D7wi_5Q/s1600/IMG_9630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMnSrlPAOO0/VgmBAaAlk5I/AAAAAAAADAo/Fp25D7wi_5Q/s320/IMG_9630.JPG" width="320" /></a>Compared to North American standards the food is excellent and cheap both in the Czech Republic as well as Romania.</div>
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Who knew that the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heyn is all over here, too? ‘Albert’ was the supermarket of choice in Czech Republic. C & A clothing stores are everywhere too. And Starbucks carries ‘stroopwafels.’ Let’s hope that those wonderful syrup wafers will reach North American Starbucks, too, soon.<br />
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Who knew we couldn't afford to eat in Brussels' restaurants? Coffee alone is double from what we've seen so far.</div>
Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-19824995978892698782015-09-21T11:47:00.001-07:002015-09-21T11:47:43.119-07:00Czech Your Wallet - and other Misadventures<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cesky Krumlov</td></tr>
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One morning in Prague, we boarded a bus for a three hours ride to a village in southern Czeck Republic, on the border with Austria. For 15 euros, we bought tickets on a comfortable, airconditioned bus. We mostly wanted to see what the Czech countryside looked like. </div>
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Through rolling, green farm fields we reached the UNESCO World Heritage Village of Cesky Krumlov: <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/617">http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/617</a></div>
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The castle on the hill dates to the 13th century and the lovely village is like that from an old world picturebook, with crooked cobblestone streets and little shops leaning into each other, all conspiring to lure tourists inside and dazzle them with souvenirs. </div>
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We resisted most of the temptations but did have coffee and apple strudel on the edge of the Moldau. The very second we started our stroll through this medieval village, an elderly lady approached us, asking if we spoke German or French or Dutch. I told her we did. She gestured wildly, explaining that she couldn’t find her friends back and that their bus was almost leaving. After some questioning we found out that she had left a friend on a patio while she was going to look around the village. But which patio? She remembered seeing the castle on her left and coming across a bridge. The village is full of patios and bridges but we decided to see if we could help her to find her friends. </div>
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We walked down one alley, traipsing through puddles, the Moldau on our left and the castle up on the hill. Finally we spotted a patio that she thought looked familiar. But no friends. A waitress explain in Czech and broken English that her friend had left for the bus. </div>
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Rosalie, as she was called, told us many memories and stories as we walked along, but no recollection of where she had to catch the bus. Kees decided to sprint ahead and let the bus driver know that she was coming. She did remember the tour company but there are at least three bus parking areas around the town. Kees took off - I yelled a Plan B as he left. Just in case we’d never find each other again.</div>
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So Rosalie and I trudged, arm in arm, across bridges and through alleys. I dragged her up steep staircases toward the castle. Through the courtyard. “I was here this morning,” she’d say. </div>
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“Good,” I thought, “at least she came this way.”</div>
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She was panting and puffing and I thought she’d collapse right there and then. No sign of a bus or a parking lot.</div>
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Across another bridge, up more staircases. “I’m 84, you know,” she puffed. But she kept on trudging.</div>
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I asked in a shop “Where are the bus parking lots?”</div>
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They pointed and gestured - a long way away.</div>
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We went through the castle grounds and found more long roads around. No Kees in sight. No bus in sight. I finally spotted a car with a lady in it and ran over. “I don’t know this lady,” I explained, “but she can’t walk much further and she’s going to miss her bus!” </div>
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“I’ll drive you,” the lady said.</div>
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We got in and this kind lady drove us way around, across the main road and to a bus parking lot! A frantic, white haired lady with a cane spotted us and came running! </div>
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“Don’t tell her what happened!” hissed Rosalie, kissing me on both cheeks.</div>
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The bus driver had been at the intersection on the look out for our missing lady. He,too, kissed me on both cheeks for returning what he had lost so carelessly. They should not let little old ladies loose in this medieval town without a map or a phone number for a taxi! </div>
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We saw the entire village in record time while racing around with Rosalie. But we did relax over a nice dinner in a "medieval castle" that night. What do you eat for dinner in a castle in Czech Republic? Why, wild boar of course!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild boar for dinner</td></tr>
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At least this chapter had a happy ending. Unlike the adventure we had in Prague itself. </div>
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When we moved into the Old City, we took the metro. Pulling our little suitcases, we came up from bowels of the city onto a large square hemmed by ornate buildings. As soon as we stopped to look around and get our bearings, a guy approached us and asked if we wanted to exchange money. Of course we looked like total tourists.</div>
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“No thanks,” we waved and briskly walked away. Ten minutes later we had found our hotel and Kees discovered that his wallet was gone. “That guy!” we both said.</div>
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Kees hurried back but of course, no one was there. We spent the next several hours canceling credit cards. It was no problem and everyone was very helpful. Within ten minutes of having the card stolen, a cash withdrawal was already made. We found out at which ATM and spent the rest of the afternoon at a small police station. We hope they will actually follow up by finding the guy on the ATM’s video. The police were very thorough and helpful. The worst thing now is a missing driver’s license but that, too, can be replaced.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local tradititional pastries</td></tr>
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What we learned from this mishap was that we had done the right thing by only carrying one or two credit cards in the wallet and keeping another card in a different place. Keep your passport separate from a wallet and behind zippers! Velcro isn’t good enough for professional pick-pockets! Keep a piece of paper with your account numbers but also with your social security number handy. And 1-800 numbers to call if needed. We were grateful to have money on our Skype account so that we could use our own laptop to phone.</div>
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Live and learn… </div>
Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-76608366034770973062015-09-02T09:33:00.000-07:002015-09-02T09:33:48.834-07:00A Small Country for Small People: The Netherlands with Children<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DimrfX_9kOg/VeciSdP_NZI/AAAAAAAAC5k/mOv6T6aOkrg/s1600/IMG_8745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DimrfX_9kOg/VeciSdP_NZI/AAAAAAAAC5k/mOv6T6aOkrg/s400/IMG_8745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amstel Park in Amsterdam has a huge playground, including this giant furniture!</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The Netherlands is likely one of the best countries in the world to visit with children! There are so many special facilities and attractions for kids, that it is hard to select just a few.</span></div>
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It already starts at the airport: Touch Down restaurant offers pancake and chocolate milk together with the best views on planes taking off and landing from the Panorama Terrace. There are also playgrounds and family washrooms throughout this attractive airport.</div>
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Once in the country, there are restaurants everywhere with elaborate playgrounds. It is very common to find special children’s menu’s. Attractions are too numerous to mention in one article, including Artis, a well established zoo in the heart of Amsterdam or tropical swimming pools everywhere. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Amstel Park, Amsterdam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A train playground</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playgrounds everywhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge jungle gym in Ouwehands Zoo</td></tr>
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We chose to visit a larger zoo called Ouwehands Dierenpark: <a href="http://www.ouwehand.nl/english">http://www.ouwehand.nl/english</a></div>
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Ouwehands has roomy pathways through various parts of the zoo that each have a specific theme like ‘jungle’ or ‘bears’. Almost every section has an extensive playground so that you are not just walking from one animal to the next but kids can climb, swing and slide everywhere. In fact, the zoo includes one of Europe’s largest indoor playgrounds, complete with a pirate ship, sand and water playpark. A small train takes you around a portion of the zoo - all at no additional cost. When you arrive at the zoo you can rent, for a small fee, a wagon to pull the kids in all day.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant shaped slide in Ouwehands Zoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real monkeys on the loose in Apenheul!</td></tr>
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We also visited a park we remembered fondly from the past: Apenheul: <a href="http://www.apenheul.com/">http://www.apenheul.com</a> </div>
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Apenheul features monkeys and primates of all shapes and sizes. The unique feature is that the smaller monkeys are not in cages but loose throughout the park.They might sit on your shoulder or swing from branches just inches away.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A free carousel ride in Apenheul</td></tr>
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However, this time around the park was incredibly crowded, making it difficult to even walk on the paths and to see any animals. This was due to the fact that holiday time in The Netherlands is very concentrated. Most people get a specific time of the summer during which they can go on their annual holidays. Two of the three regions overlapped during August so 2/3 of the country still had school holidays and were making the most of the last warm summer days. </div>
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A major attraction for kids in The Netherlands is Madurodam: <a href="http://www.madurodam.nl/en/">http://www.madurodam.nl/en/</a></div>
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This miniature city features well known Dutch buildings and scenes, roads, trains, even a ‘working’ airport - all built in miniature. You can hear a street organ and see lights inside houses. We chose not to visit this site, this time around, because we weren’t anywhere near the vicinity and also because our grandsons, at 3 and 5, are a bit young. You can’t touch much in this ‘eyes only’ attraction. But when our own kids were around 9 years old, they absolutely loved it and it was definitely worth a visit</div>
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In The Netherlands you can rent bikes everywhere: at hotels, at train stations and, of course, at bicycle repair shops. You can rent bicycles with a child’s seat on the handlebars and/or on the luggage carrier behind you so that you can ride with two children on your bike. But you can also rent a bike trailer in which the kids can sit. Or, best of all, you can rent a ‘bakfiets’ in which the children sit in a wooden container in front of you, in seatbelts: </div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://bakfietshuren.wordpress.com/">https://bakfietshuren.wordpress.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.black-bikes.com/nl/bikes/bakfiets-huren-amsterdam/">http://www.black-bikes.com/nl/bikes/bakfiets-huren-amsterdam/</a></span></div>
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Overnight accomodations can also be specifically attractive to children. We stayed in one resort, a park with cottages close to the beach in Noordwijkerhout. They are part of this chain: <a href="http://soleil.topparken.nl/en/">http://soleil.topparken.nl/en/</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas the Train offers children a free ride in a bungalow park in Lochem</td></tr>
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The bungalow had everything we needed, complete with dishes and bed linens, a fridge and dishwasher. Outside we had our own lawn with lawn furniture. The restaurant had both an indoor and outdoor playground. And the resort had an indoor swimming pool with waterslide, included in the price of staying overnight. When we ordered a children’s menu, the kids also receive their choice of gift ( in our case felt markers and a pirate gun with gold coins).</div>
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All in all a very successful place to visit with children!</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-84220465207540140752015-09-01T09:12:00.002-07:002015-09-01T09:12:41.668-07:00Amsterdam for Smarties<br />
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<a href="http://www.fietsen.123.nl/thumbs/824x600c/2012-11/fietsers_amsterdam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mi" height="232" src="http://www.fietsen.123.nl/thumbs/824x600c/2012-11/fietsers_amsterdam.jpg" style="margin-top: 27px;" width="320" /></a>This city of over 800,000 people has enough dummies. So let's look at how to enjoy this world renowned historic city as a smart tourist.<br />
Did you know that the city has the same number people as it has bicycles? Ever wondered what over 800,000 bicycles in a city look like? When they rent them to tourists, amazing things happen - as you can see on any bike lane or intersection in the centre of this busy city. It's a miracle that not more people get killed each day as they jump in front of bikes, get hit and run over... It's fun to sit back and watch the Dutch as they maneuver traffic, traffic lights, speeding trams and hordes of pedestrians all while carrying children, instruments, groceries, and dogs on their bike AND while texting!<br />
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Rather than jumping on a bike right away, it's a good idea to get a sense of the layout of the city's spiderweb-shaped centre by jumping on a boat. Taking a canal cruise will give you a feel for the water, the narrow roads, the tall houses and the history of this world heritage site. I learned all sorts of interesting facts, such as word origins, historic facts about trade and taxes and politics, as well as useful information on where to eat and which museums to visit. There are different companies to choose from and their cruises are slightly different. We used this one: <a href="http://www.amsterdamcanalcruises.nl/">http://www.amsterdamcanalcruises.nl</a> and enjoyed the personal headsets and the tour of not just the inner city canals but also across the IJ and past the Scheepvaart Museum (ship industry).<br />
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Because we had our extended family with us, on this particular trip to Amsterdam, we rented a house rather than a hotel room or hostel. The house had typical narrow staircases up three floors and offered 3 bedrooms and a kitchen, allowing us to make our own meals. A blue AH is the symbol for Albert Heyn, one of the largest supermarket chains in the Netherlands. They usually offer fresh bakings as well as many ready made meals. So lunch and supper were easy.<br />
<img alt="Image result for AH" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" height="200" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="riKvRGG86I2JVM:" src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="height: 199px; margin-left: -2px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: 0px; width: 189px;" width="189" /><br />
To get around Amsterdam, and indeed the entire country, the smartest thing to do is to immediately get an OV Chip card. OV means public transit: <a href="https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/home-1.htm">https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/home-1.htm</a><br />
If you will be traveling throughout the country, be sure to read this: <a href="http://www.amsterdamtips.com/tips/ov-chipkaart.php">http://www.amsterdamtips.com/tips/ov-chipkaart.php</a><br />
Initially you have to pay 7.50 euros to obtain the card but it pays off since each ride using the card is almost half the cost of paying for individual tickets. You can use this card like a credit card by putting money on it and paying for all public transit: trams, busses, trains and more. You can even rent OV Chip bicycles using this card, at certain real stations.<br />
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Another smart thing to do is to plan your travel by using this website: <a href="http://m.9292.nl/en">http://m.9292.nl/en</a> (Notice that these websites are in English!!) Here you enter your starting point, your desired destination, date and time of travel and voila! The site presents you with all options and easiest ways of getting there. If a schedule in Holland says that the train will depart at 10:32 AM you can pretty well bet on it to depart at 10:32 and not a minute later.<br />
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If you will spend more than a day in Amsterdam, you might want to invest in a museum card: <a href="http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museumkaart/">http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museumkaart/</a><br />
This will allow you unlimited, and faster, entrance into many museums including the fabulous Rijksmuseum with its Rembrandt paintings where you can spend more than a day; also the Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank House and many more.<br />
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So, what's keeping you? Come and visit Amsterdam and, while you are here, be sure to spend more time in this hospitable, interesting country below sea level!<br />
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<br />Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-31884136409979808672015-06-06T22:19:00.000-07:002015-06-06T22:19:41.105-07:00Lavender, books, bed and a hot tub!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, after meandering for 2,000 KM through Washington and Oregon, we just found the best B & B anywhere!<br />
We tried other islands...<br />
We tried the coast, the valleys, the foothills...<br />
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We stayed in lovely places with gorgeous views or in fun locations.<br />
But, until now, we had not found a place on 5 acres, surrounded by glorious flowers and rows of lavender. A place that has kingsize beds, memory foam no less! A hot tub on the deck... AND it is under $100 per night, including breakfast.<br />
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Maybe you guessed it?<br />
We are home again! :-)<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdfQgW7WrEg/VXPTdeu7_lI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/jVtSGnDXaS0/s1600/pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdfQgW7WrEg/VXPTdeu7_lI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/jVtSGnDXaS0/s400/pond.jpg" width="400" /></a>At Between The Covers Booklovers' B & B we really do live in paradise. I picked strawberries and even a few early raspberries from the garden today. Hummingbirds came to drink when I watered the veggies.<br />
The ducks and chickens happily waddled around the garden tonight.<br />
We just brought a basket of muffins, homemade granola, yogurt with organic strawberries and cantaloupe to our guest. I'd love to stay here, too! :-)<br />
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O wait, I can. But I DO have to do all the weeding.<br />
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If YOU would like to stay here, check out: <a href="http://www.betweenthecoversbandb.com/">www.betweenthecoversbandb.com</a><br />
or join us on Facebook: <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.600000381469727px; text-indent: 2px; white-space: pre;">Between the Covers, Booklovers' B & B</span><br />
<br />Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-69558740613215553502015-06-04T21:48:00.000-07:002015-06-04T21:50:34.165-07:00A Historic Mill and Backroads to Buckley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srMCeRdxg_w/VXEorjM4f-I/AAAAAAAAC2s/ImsFQjYo6co/s1600/IMG_8214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srMCeRdxg_w/VXEorjM4f-I/AAAAAAAAC2s/ImsFQjYo6co/s400/IMG_8214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Our last stop in Oregon was at one of our favorite places: <b>Thompsons Mills State Heritage Site</b>.</span></div>
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We lived here for several years when Kees worked with Oregon State Parks and when the state had newly acquired this historic property. The mill was one of the first industries in the state of Oregon, build in the mid 1800’s and has a rich history of grinding and storing grains for farmers of the area. The 2 storey mill building was constructed with wooden pegs, impressive silo’s held the grains and, inside, an amazing system of pulleys and ladders is powered by the water of the Calapooia River. Once the mills start grinding, the entire building comes to live. It is a sight, and sound, to behold. </div>
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If it was once lovingly built, it has now been just as lovingly restored to its old glory. Park rangers and hosts made it possible for the mill to operate, and demonstrate, again. </div>
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I had the privilege of helping to restore the millkeeper’s Queen Anne house, built around 1900, to the proud home it once was, boasting electricity as one of the first homes in the state.</div>
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When we moved in, windows were broken, blackberries had worked their way in through the walls and rats infested the walls. It took years to restore the original wainscoting, the ceiling trim and corner pieces. To get the transom windows to work again and to figure out what color paint and wallpaper might once have been on the parlor walls. I cooked on the wood stove in the kitchen and we had new pillars turned to support the porches. It was an exciting time to live in Shedd, Oregon.</div>
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Now you can visit here, too, and see how the mill operates. Plan on spending several hours walking around outside and in the visitors’ centre, playing with several hands-on displays. And then treat yourself to lunch in the newly refurbished Shedd Cafe! A great menu at - almost - prehistoric prices… </div>
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Check out these videos of the Mill:</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtvbDNzwyrQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtvbDNzwyrQ</a><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPhjmzjlOZg">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPhjmzjlOZg</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://sheddcafe.com/">http://sheddcafe.com</a></span></div>
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After our visit, we had to head north again. But instead of driving the I-5, which have done hundreds of times, we opted for back roads. I love finding a way on the map, through tiny towns, to make it to our destination without hitting major roads. We drove through towns we’d never even heard of.</div>
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At the foot of the Cascades we are now winding our way back to the Canadian border. We had dinner in a fantastic, brand new restaurant: Giorgio’s on Main in the town of Buckley, WA. </div>
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Modern and stylish with great staff, best pizza ever, decent lobster ravioli and great tiramisu. Check them out if you are in the greater Seattle area and looking for a day trip with dinner: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgiositaliankitchen?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/georgiositaliankitchen?fref=ts</a></div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-6793176290971310902015-06-03T21:43:00.000-07:002015-06-03T21:43:09.998-07:00Driving from Newport to Eugene, Oregon<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret Garden B&B in Eugene</td></tr>
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There are different ways to get from Newport on the coast, to Eugene in the Willamette Valley. </div>
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Our favorite way is to drive south along the 101, along the cute little town of Yachats, by the Sealion Caves, past Cape Perpetua, with its gorgeous tidal pools and visitor’s centre. </div>
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But this time it was raining, a miserable cold drizzle and fog. So we opted for Hwy 34 along the Alsea River. </div>
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This is a drive through a rhapsody of green: tall woods, moss covered branches, towering ferns. You end up in Corvallis, a small town with a university and funky stores and pubs. We had lunch at New Morning Bakery, did some chores, some shopping and then drove along backroads, through impeccable Mennonite farm country to Eugene.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast at The Secret Garden</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">In all the 40+ years we’ve been coming here, we have almost always either lived here or stayed with friends. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">This time we booked a B & B right next to the campus. It exceeded all of our expectations: The Secret Garden is a huge heritage house surrounded by greenery. We are kiddy corner to the campus and love roaming the paths that we walked here when Kees was a student. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">Many of the restaurants and shops remain unchanged.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
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We have been having Italian dinners at Mazzi’s for over 40 years. Smith Family Bookstore, Prince Puckler’s icecream, and many other places have been here forever it seems.</div>
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Our room in the B & B is lovely, with a large private bathroom. Breakfast is served in a beautiful parlor with flowered porcelain dishes. We highly recommend this place if you ever want to stay in Eugene - same cost as an impersonal hotel room but with lots of character and charm.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymmLD3ckgGU/VW_VqvTFfoI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/SnzVXKv3HMI/s1600/IMG_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymmLD3ckgGU/VW_VqvTFfoI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/SnzVXKv3HMI/s320/IMG_0669.JPG" width="239" /></a>We spent time at both locations of Smith Family Bookstore today, browsing the endless piles of books scattered everywhere. This is book heaven. And they have most titles that you might be looking for. It’s amazing they can even find them among the teetering stacks of books. I was delighted to finds two of Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country Doctor titles. And Kees found some nice travel titles.</div>
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We had dinner at one of our old favorites: the Oregon Electric Station. The pub has comfy chairs and nice food.</div>
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Tomorrow we’ll be homeward bound.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Websites</b></span>:</div>
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<a href="http://www.newmorningbakery.com/">http://www.newmorningbakery.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.oesrestaurant.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">http://secretgardenbbinn.com</span></div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-56731907689852711782015-06-03T11:57:00.000-07:002015-06-03T11:58:09.150-07:00Anacortes to Newport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPwNR0kL2t0/VW9NgrA6SSI/AAAAAAAAC1k/QNWZ-NFJyWs/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPwNR0kL2t0/VW9NgrA6SSI/AAAAAAAAC1k/QNWZ-NFJyWs/s320/IMG_8165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then we steamed out of town on our way to Anacortes. No orcas or whales but the ferry did have to slow down for a deer swimming off the bow…</div>
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From Anacortes we drove south to the Port Towsend ferry - a crossing of 20 minutes.</div>
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From there is was south and west across the Olympic Peninsula, with views of Mt Olympus, Mt Baker and Mt Rainier most of the day. Gorgeous time to drive here as the fields are green and the abundant rhododendrons are still blooming.</div>
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Having lived here, the US always feels like a comfortable, old pair of shoes we slip on again. But the differences with Canada are always apparent to us. The people so jovial and kind - yet everywhere are signed for guns for sale. One store boasted a huge sign: “Guns for sale, new and used, the tools of freedom”. </div>
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I notice many more drive-by coffee shops. It’s nice to have dinner, in a typical American diner, for under 35.- including wine and beer for two. And I love being able to pick up a bottle of wine in Safeway. Bought a bottle of Barefoot Moscato for 4.- today!</div>
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We drove many backroads south through Washington, ending up at the 6 KM long (!) Astoria bridge. Can’t help wonder what Lewis and Clark would think if they saw this amazing structure connecting the north and south shores of the Columbia River at its mouth just before the Pacific Ocean. </div>
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Sauntering (can you ‘saunter’ in a car?) through small villages along Oregon’s Highway 101, we past the Haystack Rocks at Cannon Beach, the picture perfect beach of Manzanita and the green pastures around Tillamook. Here you can travel on a steam train, visit the cheese factory and an aviation museum.</div>
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We continued to Depoe Bay, which seems to have changed its slogan from ‘world’s smallest harbour’ to ‘whale watching capital of the world’. The latter does seem more attractive, even if it may be debatable. We always stop into The Leather Store, here or in Newport. Leather briefcases, belts and much more at low prices.</div>
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Three miles north of Newport we finally reached our destination for the next few days: Moolack Shores Motel. For many years we drove by this place and often said that “one day we should stay there!” Today we finally did. And it beat my high expectations.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our room</td></tr>
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We have a corner room with large windows looking out over the Pacific Ocean. The motel is directly over the beach, with a private balcony. We have a lovely room with a small kitchen and bathroom. I’d like to pack up all the Hawaiian yard sale junk that decorates the room and take it to the nearest thrift store: there are parrots dangling over the bed, pineapple shaped lamps and mirrors and gawdy lamps made from shells. But the location and view make up for the decor. </div>
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Unfortunately, the next two days turned cold and rainy. We enjoyed sitting on our private deck for the first afternoon but after that it was cold, wet and miserable. You just never know on the Oregon coast. But how nice to have a (fake) fireplace, wine and a laptop to get some work done.</div>
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We had dinner at the best steak house in town: Szabos looks like an old wild west saloon, inside and out. But they serve the best darn steak dinners for under 14.- Highly recommended.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Websites</b></span>:</div>
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<a href="http://moolackshores.com/">http://moolackshores.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.szabossteakandseafood.net/">http://www.szabossteakandseafood.net</a></div>
Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-48899120778776778172015-06-01T21:24:00.004-07:002015-06-01T22:10:32.184-07:00Seven Days - from Salt Spring to San Juan to Oregon and back.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; text-align: center;">We were ready for a break from weeding, chores and cleaning rooms.</span><br />
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So off we went to Oregon, hoping to explore backroads and places in between we had not yet seen.</div>
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We made reservations on the Washington State Ferry from Sidney, BC to Anacortes, WA. Since we had to take the Fulford ferry to get there, we were hours too early. But it was nice to suddenly sit in the sun and read a book. We both felt too tired to do much else. I guess once you stop working, it hits you.</div>
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It is interesting to note how different Washington State ferries are from BC ones: no fancy gift shops, no wifi, no luxurious buffets. Fare is cheaper: 107 Canadian versus 61 US from Vancouver Island to the main land. As we have been telling BC Ferries: you are not a cruise ship but a link in our highway system….</div>
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We chose to spend the first night in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. We had stopped there several times before but never stayed to explore the island. Now we were there by 1 PM and spent the afternoon driving around the entire island. San Juan seems very similar in size and landscape to Salt Spring - but not nearly as artsy. My favorite stop: Snug Harbor’s marina and coffee shop.<br />
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I had booked a hotel online. I am still not sure if the choice was right or wrong. I had only been able to find very expensive places until I came across The Orca Inn on the edge of town. Booked a room for 68.- It was certainly the most affordable price. And the room was very clean, and it was very quiet at night. But the room was only 2 steps wider than the queensize bed. It felt a bit like sleeping in a drawer. The hotel was comprised of 9 double wide mobile home type building, each with 12 rooms cramped into them. Tiny but clean and it had a clean bathroom and shower. Really it was all we needed to sleep there, which was good ‘cause there isn’t even a chair to sit on. </div>
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We walked around town, up and down hill. Enjoyed the shops and cafe’s. Had a nice happy hour on the patio of Friday Harbor House - great drinks and a perfect spot to sit. But the servers were snooty and were not impressed that we only drank and didn’t eat dinner there. </div>
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We stopped in The Backdoor Kitchen restaurant because the ads for it were attractive. But a main course was USD 30 and up. We left and found a cozy place called The Rumour Mill, with decent food at almost half the price.</div>
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The Bean Cafe served good coffee and breakfast complete with fast wifi. We walked by several nice shops and cafe’s but Salt Spring wins, hands down, as far as galleries and funky shops are concerned.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Spee2940JnM/VW0udNrYlJI/AAAAAAAAC1E/iJQ4i3g6lus/s1600/IMG_8179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Spee2940JnM/VW0udNrYlJI/AAAAAAAAC1E/iJQ4i3g6lus/s320/IMG_8179.JPG" width="320" /></a>What always amazes me if the number of cyclists on these islands. Tourist organizations seem to promote the Gulf and San Juan Islands as bicycle heaven. And they could be. But, in my eyes, they are a far cry from the ideal place to cycle. The roads are hilly and windy with almost non existent bicycle paths or even shoulders. Plenty of traffic makes it less than safe. Yet bicycles come off the ferries by the dozens. The islands truly should look at finding a way to create a safe infra structure for these cyclists who bring buckets of money on their 10 speeds.</div>
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Next blog: San Juan to Oregon coast</div>
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<b>Websites</b>:</div>
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http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/</div>
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http://www.orcainnwa.com/?utm_source=Pillar%2BMarketing%2B%2F%2BSan%2BJuan%2BSites&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Pillar%2BMarketing%2B%2F%2BSan%2BJuan%2BSites</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-2677282673603637152015-03-23T19:24:00.001-07:002015-03-23T19:24:37.133-07:00How to Travel and Clean out Cupboards at the same time!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2oLLBqKbkoc/VRDGQLCEwsI/AAAAAAAACyw/SdcQzrFiAfQ/s1600/IMG_7895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2oLLBqKbkoc/VRDGQLCEwsI/AAAAAAAACyw/SdcQzrFiAfQ/s1600/IMG_7895.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying home the firewood</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">It took about 40 hours to get home! We left Pangani, Tanzania in a small bush plane from a dirt runway. Spent many hours at Dar Es Salaam airport, which might just be one of the worst airports in the world. No place to sit, no place to eat… Hot, muggy, ánd a leaking ceiling. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">The one good part was the airline agent who checked us in. We decided to splurge on a seat upgrade but - typical - the credit card machine wasn’t working. The agent came to find us later because he felt bad. And gave us the upgrade for free.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Once we got on board, we flew to Amsterdam where we had a hour and a half to board the next plane to the next continent: Seattle, USA.</span></div>
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There we had a hour and a half to make the flight to Victoria, Canada.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sizZnBOQGyQ/VRDI6Pg3e8I/AAAAAAAACzE/tRcmQLCdYic/s1600/IMG_6994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sizZnBOQGyQ/VRDI6Pg3e8I/AAAAAAAACzE/tRcmQLCdYic/s1600/IMG_6994.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a>We did a lot of security and immigration checks in two days… Take your laptop out, take off your shoes, belt, jacket… Liquids in a ziploc bag… I always wonder who watches those full body scans… </div>
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Thanks to religious extremists in the Middle East, I can no longer take my hand lotion on a plane. But then they give you a plastic knife and a steaming piece of rubber meat to cut in a little plastic plate that slides across the plastic tray. Not sure which one is more dangerous… For two days we had unidentifiable veggies, brown things covered in sauce and a square of something. Airline food is a contradiction in terms.</div>
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I traveled to Africa with a large suitcase full of children’s books and clothing. I gave the books to Ethiopia Reads, an organization to provides books for children in small local schools. In Ethiopia I gave a bag of clothes to a street woman and the suitcase itself to the cleaning lady in my hotel. Both were thankful beyond words. </div>
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In Kenya I took clothes, books, stickers, pencils and some other little things to an orphanage. I also left clothes in my hotel room when I left.</div>
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The last clothes and shoes I had with me, I left upon leaving the last hotel: a scarf, a beach towel, a cap, a rain poncho. All of the things I took to Africa were things I was ready to part with. Instead of getting rid of them at home, ad instead of taking my best clothes, I took things I could discard along the way. I took shoes that were still fine to use but I’d had them for years. I took good clothes for my work in schools, but shirts I was ready to part with. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCd4miCI_MU/VRDJmncesdI/AAAAAAAACzQ/2zngRh2omvE/s1600/IMG_6243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCd4miCI_MU/VRDJmncesdI/AAAAAAAACzQ/2zngRh2omvE/s1600/IMG_6243.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>Not only did this make a lot of people very happy along the way. It also meant I had no laundry when I came home. On the return trip I used an expendable nylon bag to carry home my souvenirs! Cabin luggage only and no waiting for checked bags anywhere.</div>
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So, now we are back home sharing photos of zebras and lions with Nico and Aidan. And reflecting on our amazing trip of a life time. We are glad we asked Mambulu Safaris to do our bookings for us. Not only did they do a fantastic job finding us the most suitable places to stay, they arranged all of the little details. When you arrive at an airport in Africa, how do you get to your lodge? Do you have to agree on a taxi price before getting in? Do you tip?</div>
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We didn’t have to worry about any of that. We were greeted, upon each arrival, by someone with our name on a sign. They took us to the car, helped with luggage and even with getting visas, etc.</div>
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Not only that, but upon our first arrival in Tanzania they gave us emergency cards with phone numbers and arrangements to contact Flying Doctors IF we ever needed it. Thanks goodness we never needed it, but it was great to know everything was thought of. </div>
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Asanti sana, Mambulu, for a fantastic experience!</div>
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<img alt="Mambulu! Safaris" src="http://www.mambulu.com/images/stories/template/mambulu_logo.png" /></div>
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http://www.mambulu.com</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-8676911586045582312015-03-21T01:01:00.000-07:002015-03-21T01:01:12.090-07:00Paradise Found<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">After working for 3 weeks in schools, with hundreds of kids each day, and after bumping around the hot, dusty interior, we had decided that we would conclude our time in Africa with a few days on the beach.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
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Zanzibar had long been on our bucket list. In fact, Zanzibar was on the top of my bucket list, having seen photos of white beaches and aqua marine water. However, the more we read about it, the less attractive it sounded. Busy and crowded with 1.5 million people, a plethora of shops, restaurants, vendors, disco’s, bars…</div>
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Our travel agent, Mambulu Safaris, offered an attractive alternative: Pangani. No one I asked about it had ever heard of it. But what we read online sounded just like what we were looking for: white beaches, palm trees and warm water.</div>
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Turns out it was a good decision to come here. Pangani is paradise found! There is nothing to do. Which is exactly what we wanted. We are in the lovely The Tides Lodge (<a href="http://www.thetideslodge.com/)">http://www.thetideslodge.com/)</a>, a perfect place to relax and enjoy solitude, or for families with children to come to the beach - although at high tide the beach disappears. </div>
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Getting here is an adventure in itself: we flew from Arusha to Tanga on a tiny plane, with 6 people on board. After Tanga it was another 20 minute flight to Pangani. To our amazement, the pilot buzzed a dirt strip in the middle of sisal plantations. This told the local kids on their bicycles to get off the air strip. We landed on bumpy dirt and, under one tree, was a car waiting for us. No airport, or anything else. </div>
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We have a spacious bungalow with immediate beach access. A king size bed, a large bathroom with a warm shower, lounge chairs outside on our own little patio overlooking the Indian Ocean. I truly feel like I’m in heaven…</div>
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The little restaurant serves meals and drinks: seafood straight from the ocean caught by the local fishermen. And piña coladas made from fresh pineapple and coconut.</div>
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We are forced to sit and read books all day! An amazing luxury… And if we really need to do something, we can swim in the bathtub-warm Indian Ocean or walk the beach and chat with local fishermen who are hauling in their nets. We watched some of them carve a new boat from a mango tree. Amazing! They hollow out this huge trunk with simple axes and tools. It takes 5 weeks to make a boat this way.</div>
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Or we can take a bike or a kayak if we want to do something. We are the only guests, at the end of the season, and revel in peace and quiet for a few days. </div>
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There are, however, perils in paradise. The sign in our room reads:</div>
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“Sitting under coconut trees can be dangerous. We advise you not to lie under a palm tree as coconuts can cause serious damage, injury and even death.” There are further warnings against sun burn (I know, having turned 50 shades of red and brown), and jelly fish. So far though, we are surviving.</div>
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The entire resort, as well as the nearby village, seems to be biodegradable: walls, roofs - everything is made from local wood and braided palm leaves. The rugs, the placemats, the coasters, the soap dishes, even the tissue box covers are made from grasses or coconut wood. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--l2U9YcJkwE/VQ0ke0ufl7I/AAAAAAAACyU/dtA5jp-Wgms/s1600/IMG_7891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--l2U9YcJkwE/VQ0ke0ufl7I/AAAAAAAACyU/dtA5jp-Wgms/s1600/IMG_7891.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>We watch local women walk the beach to gather anything for supper - perhaps some clams washed up in the weeds. They cut fallen palm fonds and stack them into bundles, to carry home on their heads to use for firewood or to fix the roof. Two little school boys walk the beach, on their way home every day. Each one carries a coconut on his head.</div>
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The waiter just walked from the restaurant to the beach where some fishermen were fishing. He picked something from the net, walked back and grinned “Calamari for lunch!” It doesn’t get any fresher than that. We’ve had nothing but fresh prawns, snapper and crab for lunch and dinner…</div>
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While The Tides Lodge is wonderful, I would check on the condition of the beach before coming next time. The sea is rapidly undermining the shore, eating away at sand and palm trees. We hear the high tide pounding all night and I worry at the rate at which the shore is disappearing.</div>
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And now, on the very last day of our amazing time in Africa, the wet season has arrived. Amazing tropical showers pour down once in a while, drenching everything. Time to go home.</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-49378619757412343702015-03-20T04:41:00.001-07:002015-03-20T04:41:15.297-07:00In Search of Rhinos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Ngorogoro Crater</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We left our lodge at 6 AM, driving along a cloud laden rim of the Ngorogoro crater. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We had heard about and read about this legendary place all of our lives. To finally see it in person was pretty overwhelming.</span></div>
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The bumpy track descended quite steeply into the Ngorogoro Crater. </div>
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Suddenly a large herd of wildebeest came spilling over the rim and down the slope. Like a dusty river, they stream down toward the white valley floor. Not all of them made it. </div>
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We soon came across several hyenas who had caught one of the wildebeests and were tearing it apart, even before it was fully dead. Faces dripping with blood, they enjoyed their early breakfast. The sight is nearly enough to make you a vegetarian…</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyenas with a fresh kill</td></tr>
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We continued down.</div>
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The name Ngorogoro comes from the Maasai word for ‘clanging bells’, the sound made by the bells on their cattle. The Maasai here still have the right to roam and graze their cattle in certain areas of the crater. </div>
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The crater floor teems with wildlife: enormous herds of gazelles, wildebeest, zebra and buffalo. We spotted first a few lone male lions and then a pride of some 14 lions lazing on the rocks.</div>
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We saw cranes, storks and birds of all sizes and colors.</div>
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Warthog families graze the plain and hippos wallow in the shallow waters. Elephants crossed the fields in search of grass and water. The place seems like a regular Noah’s Arc, but with many more than just two of each kind.</div>
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But the most amazing sight of all, in this specific place, came before too long. Only 45 black rhino’s live in the crater and we spotted 4 of them! We were so very lucky to see these enormous beasts lumber along. They came pretty close. Our guide said that he often is on trips where they are not spotted at all, or at a great distance. But we were so lucky that two of the rhinos came closer and we were able to take good photos of this rare, endangered animal, of which there only are an estimated 5,000 left in the world. When will people ever learn?</div>
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In the afternoon we hiked, accompanied by a ranger with a large AK 47 rifle, along the edge of the crater, some 2,400 meters above sea level. The crater’s edge winds along for 74 KM and is about 600 meters higher than the crater floor. Even from this height we could spot herds of buffalo and elephants. As we walked, more and more Maasai materialized out of the woods. Women were cutting and gathering wood to bring home in bundles on their heads. Men and boys herded goats and cows. They all grinned and waved at us, sometimes staring more at us then I wanted to stare at them. Tall and skinny, with many beaded necklaces, they are beautiful, ebony people.</div>
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The walls of the crater are covered in lush, tropical forest. Some animals come and go as they please while others remain in the safety of this reserve. It has been amazing and a special privilege to visit this sanctuary. It felt like a peek inside the garden of Eden…</div>
Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-41677216276017275542015-03-19T06:29:00.002-07:002015-03-19T06:43:27.915-07:00Spelling Mistakes and Other Confusions: from free drinks to elephant pups!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
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Speaking several languages and a few words of Swahili now, has not helped with misunderstandings and confusions...</div>
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At Kati Kati camp we were told that beer was four dollars and soft drinks were free. When we went to pay, after 3 days, we discovered that the ‘free’ was 'three'…</div>
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We asked for a wake up call at 5:50 but they came knocking at 5:15 because they misunderstood…</div>
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During our visit to Oldevai Gorge we found out that the name really is Oldupai but a German scientist mispelled it many, many years ago. </div>
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This world renowned valley where mankind’s oldest traces have been found by the Leakey’s, is a dusty, wind swept place. We expected an impressive museum, possibly built by Unesco. Instead we found one lonely Maasai guy manning a little gate. Once we entered the compound, there was a rinky dink old museum with old, faded photos on the wall. </div>
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The story remains impressive: of how the Leakey’s and other archeaologists have unearthed, so to speak, the oldest footprints of humans found on earth: 3.5 million years ago a father, son and mother walked in this valley leaving tracks in volcanic ash. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cradle of civilization</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">It took me a while to figure out that the park ranger, who took us on a guided hike along the edge of the Ngorogoro crater, was not talking of cooking when he mentioned the Maasai kettles. Turned out he meant the Maasai’s cattle.</span></div>
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He also kept talking of elephant pups. After a while I wondered if he really didn’t know that baby elephants are called ‘calves’, not pups. But then he poked in huge elephant droppings and I realized he was talking about the multiple poop of elephants… </div>
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Interestingly, he explained that the partly digested, dry dung contains a lot of bark, plants and grasses that are medicinal. He said “we burn the pups (poops…) and put a blanket over our head to inhale the smoke to cure illnesses….” Suddenly, my grandmother’s bowl of menthol steam that I had to inhale as a kid did not seem so bad anymore…</div>
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The many ‘bastards’ flying around Serengeti turned out to be buzzards… </div>
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But the story that crowns it all was one I was told by a lovely lady who came home one day and her housekeeper, a proper Christian woman, told her in a loud voice that the fucking machine wasn’t working… “What?” she gasped. “Yes,” the housekeeper repeated very annoyed, “the fucking machine isn’t working.” It took a while until she finally showed her the machine in question that she understood it was the ‘vacuum machine’…<br />
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Language barriers.. You gotta love’ em.<br />
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-69295586457666406742015-03-18T02:11:00.003-07:002015-03-18T02:11:58.974-07:00The Circle of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">For two days we managed these early morning game drives, getting up at 5:30 to leave at 6 AM. We watch lions on the prowl, closing in on buffalo and wildebeest but not managing to make a kill. We watch a croc grab a wildebeest and try to drown him. But, after a long while, the wildebeest wins and escapes back to the herd, leaving one cranky, hungry crocodile to look for a new breakfast.</span></div>
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Another wildebeest was not so lucky and got stuck in the thick mud, dying a slow death but supplying food for many animals who were patiently waiting.</div>
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We watch days-old zebras and wildebeest gallop alongside their mama’s and an old, lonely lion wander the plains. This is ‘The Lion King Live’ and a bit surreal.</div>
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Many animas gathered at waterholes, ever weary for predators hiding in the tall grass. The lions, perhaps, seem to have the best camouflage of all - looking like heaps of hay in the waiving yellow grass. All animals are vastly different, yet they all blend in perfectly in the same environment: the sand colored cheetahs with their spots of shade are hard to see. The pattern on the giraffes is just like that of shadows cast by the branches of the acacia trees they browse. We are lucky to see three caravels, very rare cats with pointed, tufted ears.</div>
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In the cool, morning hours no flies bother us. But by noon, especially near trees, I become an all-you-can-eat buffet for tetse flies. We drink gallons of water all day and night. But if you have to pee during a game drive, you have a problem. There are not many spots where you can safely get out of the car… a lion or leopard can literally be behind any little hill. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simba</td></tr>
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We stopped by the Maasai Kopjes, a rocky place almost exactly in the center of Serengeti. To me, it looks identical to Pride Rock in The Lion King. I can just picture Simba on top of the tallest, straight rock looking out over the plains. We’ve seen sly, old Mufasa stalking. We’ve also met Poomba and Timone in person! The circle of life continues here: the Serenget shall never die.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xtugq4m66v0/VQlBAxSYW-I/AAAAAAAACvk/953g8NWikEs/s1600/IMG_6562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xtugq4m66v0/VQlBAxSYW-I/AAAAAAAACvk/953g8NWikEs/s1600/IMG_6562.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poomba</td></tr>
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We enjoy learning from one of the young men in Kati Kati Camp (meaning ‘centre of Serengeti’). He is Maasai and told us in detail how he and 14 other young men from his village, set off into the bush for their coming of age initiation. Each brings a cow. They burn a stick into a spear and that is all they own. They may face lions, or elephants or any other dangers. And they live solely on blood, milk and meat. No water…! No alcohol, no women. These young men dress in black blankets, for this special period, and have faces painted black with white stripes. We see them, occasionally, on the side of the road as they wander the countryside. They have strict rules of conduct and serve almost as wildlife wardens when they see any poaching or illegal hunting. </div>
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This young man, who was a waiter at the camp, told us he wants to be an animal doctor. He has vast knowledge of traditional medicine and wants to learn more about modern medicine for animals. He has a meeting at the college in Arusha soon to see if they will let him continue his studies. “But I may have to sell another cow to have enough money,” he says wistfully.</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1973163538648522706.post-13703554043154375862015-03-17T08:18:00.000-07:002015-03-17T08:18:13.194-07:00Serengeti: the endless plains<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2e3NdSNgPs/VQhEGSX-0EI/AAAAAAAACuI/abS-TmuKw9k/s1600/IMG_7243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2e3NdSNgPs/VQhEGSX-0EI/AAAAAAAACuI/abS-TmuKw9k/s1600/IMG_7243.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant herd</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(37, 37, 37); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #252525; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">On Tuesday morning we left after breakfast after making a donation to the Lodge’s African Roots Foundation. With very little money they make a huge difference in the lives of the Maasai by supplying them with water containers and a filter. Where the Maasai used to rely on tick brown water from a nearby pond, from which all cattle also drink, they now scoop that water into the filters and out comes crystal clear drinking water. This simple tool has drastically reduced illness among the Maasai.</span><br />
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ARF also runs other projects, always aimed at improving the lives of people while protecting the natural environment. This is a great cause for individuals and schools to support.</div>
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Check out: <a href="http://africanrootsfoundation.org/">http://africanrootsfoundation.org</a></div>
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I knew that the Serengeti was a long way from home. We flew and drove for many days to visit this lifelong dream of ours. But no one told me it would involve hundreds of kilometers on the worst bumpy, dusty, rocky tracks… Bone jarring, teeth rattling miles of washboard tracks…. Everything in our car is covered in a layer of dust.</div>
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The good pavement ends abruptly at the entrance gate to Ngorogoro Crater. The view of the crater is spectacular, with not much human influence in sight.</div>
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After that the track continues across hills and plains, up onto ever higher escarpments until we are at 2,400 meters. Once you reach Serengeti all you see if flat endless grasslands. Serengeti means 'endless plain' in Swahili, a very appropriate name. We were anxious to take a photo of us at an entrance gate of this world famous park. All we saw was a crooked little wooden sign. No fancy visitors centre, no impressive entrance to one of the most well known national parks in the world.</div>
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But here we were, finally, in the Serengeti! I did have goosebumps to finally see this place with my own eyes.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Eb6VO5kgw/VQhEIudDa9I/AAAAAAAACuY/3di3Suogibo/s1600/IMG_7402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7Eb6VO5kgw/VQhEIudDa9I/AAAAAAAACuY/3di3Suogibo/s1600/IMG_7402.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a>Without the first half hour we saw four lions. And then the impala. Herds of them. More and more animals until, on the second day, we caught up to the migrating wildebeest and zebras. Thousands of them, sometimes grazing and drinking and running in different directions, yet always streaming toward the same unseen destination. Their ancient pattern follows calving, moving with the seasons to food and water. Thousands of dusty bodies moving in a river of animals across the plains.</div>
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Elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs… the plains are teeming with wildlife.</div>
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The baboons are fun to watch as whole troops walk by. The young ones climb trees and pester the old ones. The tiny little ones ride cowboy style on their mothers’ backs or cling to their front. They stop, eat seeds, swing from bush to bush and walk along.</div>
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We have watched many prides of lions. Often a dominant male with several lionesses and young ones. We watch them stalk buffalo and wildebeest, hoping to separate one to hunt. My favorite pride was reclining on rocks that looked exactly like Pride Rock in the Lion King.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JI8tFEFvnPU/VQhEG07r1uI/AAAAAAAACuM/SEaXaeQ3q0k/s1600/IMG_7268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JI8tFEFvnPU/VQhEG07r1uI/AAAAAAAACuM/SEaXaeQ3q0k/s1600/IMG_7268.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kati Kati Camp</td></tr>
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I woke at 4 AM to the grumbles of a lion and the call of hyena. At 5:15 we woke up and headed out to watch the savannah come to live with the first rays of sun.</div>
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I asked, in camp, if they’ve had any animals nearby. “Yeah, last week a cheetah killed a wildebeest by tent #5,” was the response.</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">The numbers in Serengeti</span>: 14,500 square KM</div>
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300,000 zebras</div>
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Over 2 million wildebeest!</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Swahili</span>:</div>
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Jambo - hello</div>
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Asanti - thank you</div>
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asanti sana - thank you very much</div>
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karibu - welcome, you’re welcome</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcqTyj0jpZQ/VQhFXbp9mzI/AAAAAAAACuk/vwRQQTvDDUQ/s1600/IMG_7585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcqTyj0jpZQ/VQhFXbp9mzI/AAAAAAAACuk/vwRQQTvDDUQ/s1600/IMG_7585.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheetahs in the Serengeti</td></tr>
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karibu sana - you’re very welcome</div>
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pole - sorry</div>
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pole pole - slow!</div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Maasai</span>:</div>
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supai - hello</div>
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ashe neleng - thank you</div>
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shuka - Maasai blanket</div>
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Margriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798258330690361062noreply@blogger.com1