tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84931028064919804472024-03-12T23:38:40.375-07:00Gateways and JourneysCybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-45463549923339855762014-01-18T15:57:00.002-08:002016-04-13T00:35:09.786-07:00Travelling in winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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winter crossing though the gulf island in the strait of Georgia from Victoria to Vancouver on the mainland<br />
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Next to Vancouver Island my next favourite place just happens to be where my brother lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, between the two lakes, embraced by the mountains and the meeting place of the winds. <br />
They actually enjoy winter there and it was lovely to get away from the damp fog of the west coast with it's rainy storms and head into the interior of BC where they have fog too in winter (because of the lakes) but it is a frosty fog!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">and so we headed off on a misty morning to the mountains close by, passing fields and sleeping orchards, </span><span style="font-size: small;">cows and horses grazing as the sun shone through the fog illuminating the landscape, and onward, down graceful roads until</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">we come to The red bridge</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and finally we see snow!!!</span></td></tr>
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and along the creek <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apex Mountain!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">but no fresh snowfall as it has been warm this winter. The lodge is a great place to have lunch and a pint. As you watch the skiers and snowboarders in graceful glide down the course it has a zen feeling of peace through motion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The beautiful ice skating path</span></td></tr>
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I post processed this photo to look like an illustration from a fairy tale but it looked like that anyway!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VB_Mz5624lg?list=PLAg1fTkezPuWMVUL3aKKo1qjheR4CxZWt" width="560"></iframe>Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-73670662137028989492014-01-07T22:44:00.002-08:002014-04-13T13:13:09.839-07:00An afternoon at Fort Rodd Hill<br />
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<audio autoplay="autoplay" controls="controls" height="10" style="height: 33px; width: 267px;" width="100"><source src="http://www.mediafire.com/download/jg56tiriww8iyjw/Cat_Stevens_-_Oh_Very_Young_-_YouTube2.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to view this media content.</audio> Oh very young by Cat Stevens (Jusuf Islam)</div>
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This is a beautiful song by Cat Stevens and as I watched the girls explore every nook and cranny, the tunnels and the hills with such enthusiasm I remembered what it was like when everything was an adventure. Then we become older and bogged down with the mundane, the cares of struggling to keep an identity in a technological age and in the burdens of our own self importance, forgetting who we once were - pure beings dancing through the music of our encounters.. I may not be able to run up the hill with quite as much wild abandon but I pray I haven't been so tamed that my mind has not lost the wonder of reaching the summit in triumphant wave of the deed to those below..</div>
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So "very young" thank you for letting us dance awhile with you through this historic landmark of Fort Rodd!!</div>
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Fort Rodd was established in 1896 as part of the Esquimalt Naval Base located at the mouth of Esquimalt harbour. The Fisgard Lighthouse had been already standing since 1860 and it became the beacon for the Royal Navy as well as many a sailing ship in it's day.<br />
The west coast of Vancouver Island had treacherous rocks and tides and many ships went down in what was known to sailors of the day as "the graveyard of the Pacific." A book was written about it by local author and former cable station operator, the late R.B. Scott called "Breakers Ahead."<br />
In World War II it was active as one of the armed look out stations (also at Macaulay Point) in case of a Japanese attack. <br />
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Gateway to the grounds </div>
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The grounds are beautiful with the Olympic mountains across the strait and lots of wildlife in the surrounding woodlands and lagoons</div>
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dancing at the lagoon</div>
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is it loaded?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtVQYt6w70pw9C2yhT0JYU-DVYiLC52w-CWZq0dkZ8mP2dAKgl2AkOCd0ANoDakhIVxZwc2nEAy7gF38JctpS-saq3en9_pOCwiyRkLXqVPO4wVg2x9IllZHRP-Lr2pQQNymiJCURVO1J/s1600/old+stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtVQYt6w70pw9C2yhT0JYU-DVYiLC52w-CWZq0dkZ8mP2dAKgl2AkOCd0ANoDakhIVxZwc2nEAy7gF38JctpS-saq3en9_pOCwiyRkLXqVPO4wVg2x9IllZHRP-Lr2pQQNymiJCURVO1J/s1600/old+stove.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Life in the old fort<br />
activated recordings tell us the stories of those who lived here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAWRoBoqoEckBP46pu7IQ9G7HFI8Pq6V92Ammo2yD-Q6McAvsJa3uC3bJRuoBLsxubCLEE_IyIXiMauouL2Tz9M1B6MxrlGaxb5uiTEaA-tG0Ze_wrX0ajOen2QNSlC_rvSPav5GtgpNM/s1600/tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAWRoBoqoEckBP46pu7IQ9G7HFI8Pq6V92Ammo2yD-Q6McAvsJa3uC3bJRuoBLsxubCLEE_IyIXiMauouL2Tz9M1B6MxrlGaxb5uiTEaA-tG0Ze_wrX0ajOen2QNSlC_rvSPav5GtgpNM/s1600/tunnel.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Infinity lies beyond but how to get there!!?</span><br />
Old tunnels and magazines with rows of disarmed artillery shells lie under the hill<br />
and wonderful hide and seek</td></tr>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMCQZ5ZvH6neSLFpFYcPa2gj6BKrLN2bybhlF-9iyHirfGq87-qac-1Gc95PT6_86nN5F8ZBIUM2T6HovXh1GmZqSIss5nBseK9MHjwo1XBCCGfIFi_h4KfAFpMipmt3wcblDjAAwNdjg/s1600/106_7_8_tonemappedwindow.jpg" height="320" width="212" /><br />
<span id="goog_1026812610"></span>The lighthouse inside is cosy with lots of charts lying around and a tea kettle on the old wood stove as though the lighthouse keeper just stepped out to check the wind vane. Here I got an interesting effect through the window with a ghostly reflection of the opposite coastline.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6N0sr_BtUVdMjCg4r-moAXenzaR_NtHQnk3yVcMqK7ToWl4ih50GNVoQjfcHug4ocFis1iddTtyvcSLApz3KIvxtccXzhYpj8_PDw3myR-eNTb-by55mQSeWC0McJKeeTUwPizMkAOU/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6N0sr_BtUVdMjCg4r-moAXenzaR_NtHQnk3yVcMqK7ToWl4ih50GNVoQjfcHug4ocFis1iddTtyvcSLApz3KIvxtccXzhYpj8_PDw3myR-eNTb-by55mQSeWC0McJKeeTUwPizMkAOU/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6N0sr_BtUVdMjCg4r-moAXenzaR_NtHQnk3yVcMqK7ToWl4ih50GNVoQjfcHug4ocFis1iddTtyvcSLApz3KIvxtccXzhYpj8_PDw3myR-eNTb-by55mQSeWC0McJKeeTUwPizMkAOU/s1600/ghost.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6N0sr_BtUVdMjCg4r-moAXenzaR_NtHQnk3yVcMqK7ToWl4ih50GNVoQjfcHug4ocFis1iddTtyvcSLApz3KIvxtccXzhYpj8_PDw3myR-eNTb-by55mQSeWC0McJKeeTUwPizMkAOU/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 208px;">ghosties and ghoulies</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6N0sr_BtUVdMjCg4r-moAXenzaR_NtHQnk3yVcMqK7ToWl4ih50GNVoQjfcHug4ocFis1iddTtyvcSLApz3KIvxtccXzhYpj8_PDw3myR-eNTb-by55mQSeWC0McJKeeTUwPizMkAOU/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 208px;">and those who find entering and exiting by windows infinitely more interesting than by ordinary doors</a><br />
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It is said that the Lighthouse and grounds are haunted and paranormal investigations are carried out here by local ghost hunters.<br />
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who goes at the darkened window!!?<br />
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Esquimalt Lagoon Beach next to Fort Rodd </div>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-88818513707835452014-01-02T13:49:00.002-08:002014-01-18T21:33:55.197-08:00Happy New Year from the Butchart Gardens!! Victoria BC<br />
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One of the most beautiful gardens in the world and an absolute delight at Christmas, ablaze with lights and full of fanciful magic. (12 Days of Christmas). <br />
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For more of the <strong><em>light fantastic</em></strong> click on link or the photo<br />
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<a href="http://dreamshadowexcursions.blogspot.ca/2013/12/happy-new-year.html">http://dreamshadowexcursions.blogspot.ca/2013/12/happy-new-year.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://dreamshadowexcursions.blogspot.ca/2013/12/happy-new-year.html"><img alt="For more of the light fantastic click on the photo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCzykhOPMykVGn11J00XzcHvb5gkuTvzkKxM5Wm2QKdtKZ5a9UuV3CXc2gbrg19uNCrmbSombIBo9BlHZeMGxWo0PAFsizwVSUMZgfT3ACV1Thak04B-PEMfeUSG2Yz4F7aOpFcrsTnE/s320/fountainbutchart-TWINKLE.gif" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-10172620030079785922013-08-31T06:12:00.001-07:002020-08-07T18:13:08.906-07:00More journeys ( a beginning in Scotland)<span style="font-size: x-small;">My nut brown maiden or brown haired maid ( Gaelic version) by the Rankin Family, a song my grandfather sang to me in Gaelic when I was small.</span><br />
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<b>(
For newer journeys check out my wordpress blog)</b><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;">It was the summer of 2013 when my daughter </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">and I took a wonderful journey together....</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><strong>that took us through 4 countries by bus, train boat and plane.</strong></span><br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F102874529618396328903%2Falbumid%2F5965295290721764465%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">......and where we visited with</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"> Sara, Amy, Ian, Ben, kids, Keith and Carol, Andrea, and Jennifer - our family, and many friends who gave us a wonderful welcome and grand hospitality ....</span>.</em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #990000;"><strong>.....and so we begin in Bonny Scotland</strong></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="color: #990000;">After flying into Glasgow we boarded a bus and headed right to</span></span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0BVt-sTmyULShqBLQWYz-boFjW3Z4Cl1JMbX4yhch2KR_hzLcTvouQ22RiRloLAjVdW6opjBz1plRgTSDHxXZqX_mkAQ-0hkH4OSprI4i2RXyIR-VIF5bOeN9N9wfyOoETWx_SoHaM/s1600/195A.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn0BVt-sTmyULShqBLQWYz-boFjW3Z4Cl1JMbX4yhch2KR_hzLcTvouQ22RiRloLAjVdW6opjBz1plRgTSDHxXZqX_mkAQ-0hkH4OSprI4i2RXyIR-VIF5bOeN9N9wfyOoETWx_SoHaM/s320/195A.JPG" width="320" /></a><strong> <span style="font-size: large;">Edinburgh</span></strong><span style="font-size: large;">,</span> I am sure one of the most charming towns in the world!! The hill in the distance seen here is Arthurs' Seat in Holyrood Park</div>
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Edinburgh Castle</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzpcTggGFcdwG2e1rHqGg1vvHBA8anP4ou1-Gfu7rlvSzzzGwetmorhksfWmSiHYiG9LHFeuLY__icC_27XEWvEsg4ZVVyaLGekf6zJ2GMKVCQKk5f2AZgl4EUtWuMtNHvVZCgltQHcY/s1600/032_tonemapped.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQKNvHMt7rk6XLsqf1N3dJzRgQNOdtFY_W30LsZO-S7Jrt6xmuwWoRjbZQF4uto1OvJ2MX3iceJyo7te417B-DBQ35z0F-Z4oZNNm61kkBWB_Yq_ZCMm-pLCW5up7yl8Ruud0j9KC0z0/s1600/royal+mile2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQKNvHMt7rk6XLsqf1N3dJzRgQNOdtFY_W30LsZO-S7Jrt6xmuwWoRjbZQF4uto1OvJ2MX3iceJyo7te417B-DBQ35z0F-Z4oZNNm61kkBWB_Yq_ZCMm-pLCW5up7yl8Ruud0j9KC0z0/s320/royal+mile2.jpg" width="309" /></a> This wonderful historic castle is home to the Military Tattoo of Scotland as well as to a wonderful medieval town that winds down the hill along the "Royal Mile" to the Holyrood Palace at the foot.<br />
Princes Street Gardens are below the castle also and a green oasis for people on lunch breaks or out for a stroll.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Robbie Burns Monument, poet darling of Edinburgh society of the 1700's and today</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>"and there's a hand my trusted friend</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>and give a hand of thine</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>We'll take a cup of kindness now</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><em>for auld lang syne.</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: small;">It's a bit of a climb but not as high as Calton Hill which is across the road and has Nelson's Monument perched atop. Great Views of the city!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: small;"> on the Firth of Forth!</span></em><br />
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The North Sea Promenade a short walk from our hotel in Edinburgh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><u><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYUqIyf_0BS76eO3XLhxZqo8-NklmSx736JZuuyMlzqSTEyCC26qQpvj2EuAICjlqXNyURuEyHO5HZzO9YoSEWPwvihhyphenhyphencaHC1sNd1dIUWCEd0bd7XJmen1lKB4BcTTS_iizlLT7cvQ/s400/162.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /> </u></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Mysterious Rosslyn Chapel outside of Edinburgh</u></span></td></tr>
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of Holy Grail and Knights Templar fame, conspiracy and secret passages, though it must be noted that it was built long after the disgraced Knights had been disbanded (1392) and the crusades had been long over, but as the custodian of the chapel said, books written about Grail mysteries (Holy Blood, Holy Grail and The Da Vinci Code), come to conclusions by saying "it is almost certain that....." which really means it is not certain at all! <br />
Built by Sir William St. Clair (Sinclair), last prince of Orkney in 1446, it does contain the tomb of an earlier William St.Clair, Knight Templar who died in Spain in 1336 fighting the Moors while attempting to bring the heart of Robert the Bruce to the Holy Land for burial.<br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">Perthshire and Kinross</span></u></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5q0pcx8VCMUK-5IK4d5ohoDsNMfks6ruZy7k6Tsc2KeAWG62ACqxGL_eq0TLLxBEArIURchnUXamVt7EfQvxydBrTI5agQfIv0WVU-_O7S3nbnWdsJimV1OmFPmKfOISc3PC3NUX-fo/s1600/balmoralway%252C+blairgowrie.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5q0pcx8VCMUK-5IK4d5ohoDsNMfks6ruZy7k6Tsc2KeAWG62ACqxGL_eq0TLLxBEArIURchnUXamVt7EfQvxydBrTI5agQfIv0WVU-_O7S3nbnWdsJimV1OmFPmKfOISc3PC3NUX-fo/s200/balmoralway%252C+blairgowrie.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balmoral View, Blairgowrie<br />
of Robertson fame<br />
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two brothers<br />
Tom and Davey </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Black Watch Museum in Perth, Scotland the Brave</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">( David Robertson's old regiment where he served in both Africa and India, his name is written there)</span><br />
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at Scone Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAsCs2OeLvKlX23V2jb4-e_aMI-ImNhbS67IuFcJrW871wBXCViGJqyLRBXE5MhbuhK4HRXe5CUlxaTGaq1zAavKVeCxBg9i5HvkUqOEIor05qUuW3Q-tC6s4AXhTjOZI6iYMjQ4ANLQ/s1600/293A.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAsCs2OeLvKlX23V2jb4-e_aMI-ImNhbS67IuFcJrW871wBXCViGJqyLRBXE5MhbuhK4HRXe5CUlxaTGaq1zAavKVeCxBg9i5HvkUqOEIor05qUuW3Q-tC6s4AXhTjOZI6iYMjQ4ANLQ/s320/293A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Maze at Scone Palace in Perth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">once home to the stone of destiny(now in Edinburgh), rightful throne of the Scottish Kings</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"whom we invite to see us crowned at Scone"- Macbeth</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over Tay River in Perth</td></tr>
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beautiful home in Perth<br />
the gardens of Scotland are like Victoria gardens<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRoVKsEy-4OnMN7FuCSHTA5RUFTGuNO2WU0X79uvTIks-0cMwtUO6ZSGQ2xG5lyTO2yoc2UNl8-t9XzVUedSaixPckN9seuUZbWIXwDefq47rpyyzcXRn6eIm6YIq-FmXq0DMUay1ueg/s1600/260.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRoVKsEy-4OnMN7FuCSHTA5RUFTGuNO2WU0X79uvTIks-0cMwtUO6ZSGQ2xG5lyTO2yoc2UNl8-t9XzVUedSaixPckN9seuUZbWIXwDefq47rpyyzcXRn6eIm6YIq-FmXq0DMUay1ueg/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRoVKsEy-4OnMN7FuCSHTA5RUFTGuNO2WU0X79uvTIks-0cMwtUO6ZSGQ2xG5lyTO2yoc2UNl8-t9XzVUedSaixPckN9seuUZbWIXwDefq47rpyyzcXRn6eIm6YIq-FmXq0DMUay1ueg/s1600/260.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRoVKsEy-4OnMN7FuCSHTA5RUFTGuNO2WU0X79uvTIks-0cMwtUO6ZSGQ2xG5lyTO2yoc2UNl8-t9XzVUedSaixPckN9seuUZbWIXwDefq47rpyyzcXRn6eIm6YIq-FmXq0DMUay1ueg/s1600/260.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8uwT1cNesOUl9eXCxxo4p6GwPJvWA3NhAtUJLQrMzwukkau-_JSoHhCkDzwjku_BBlo3m8M-Yj8FjGjwnYmvfTmYVvzjrGIr7oejeRKhXdtzC19pYUO9HqLTyhmaRoacDJIPeuMPSl4/s1600/225A.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8uwT1cNesOUl9eXCxxo4p6GwPJvWA3NhAtUJLQrMzwukkau-_JSoHhCkDzwjku_BBlo3m8M-Yj8FjGjwnYmvfTmYVvzjrGIr7oejeRKhXdtzC19pYUO9HqLTyhmaRoacDJIPeuMPSl4/s1600/225A.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; height: 211px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 525px;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8uwT1cNesOUl9eXCxxo4p6GwPJvWA3NhAtUJLQrMzwukkau-_JSoHhCkDzwjku_BBlo3m8M-Yj8FjGjwnYmvfTmYVvzjrGIr7oejeRKhXdtzC19pYUO9HqLTyhmaRoacDJIPeuMPSl4/s320/225A.jpg" width="320" /> </a><br />
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fields of wild lupin</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2joLJ9CUWEzrUC4kTXBwLd-WmlJkqDQZ6PN8Nh9Hnxl5dTJ8kNcpR_WMDefM6ypvHPTT9HwjqcHjYLpe3oYJBsFLypRRKcuHJI25mtUiuhC4dfbj5x0gAvHHUmMJ79IBNenKpBMUqwJ8/s1600/243.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2joLJ9CUWEzrUC4kTXBwLd-WmlJkqDQZ6PN8Nh9Hnxl5dTJ8kNcpR_WMDefM6ypvHPTT9HwjqcHjYLpe3oYJBsFLypRRKcuHJI25mtUiuhC4dfbj5x0gAvHHUmMJ79IBNenKpBMUqwJ8/s1600/243.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2joLJ9CUWEzrUC4kTXBwLd-WmlJkqDQZ6PN8Nh9Hnxl5dTJ8kNcpR_WMDefM6ypvHPTT9HwjqcHjYLpe3oYJBsFLypRRKcuHJI25mtUiuhC4dfbj5x0gAvHHUmMJ79IBNenKpBMUqwJ8/s400/243.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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the crannog on Loch Tay</div>
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Bronze age dwellings (reconstruction)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Inverness, Gateway to the Highlands</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5QLerZTtoaJseZfkX-WMj8D2KjJhNpP2UtaBt1Hc_D7d1kO8lVM9bEciqPhbclI7KjScHwDu_o0matXMYnsOUcSdhAAruLHcuZe_VAycFYrZXuNHkiofE84Be19H4gomMuDAq9ER7EY/s1600/the+River+Ness2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5QLerZTtoaJseZfkX-WMj8D2KjJhNpP2UtaBt1Hc_D7d1kO8lVM9bEciqPhbclI7KjScHwDu_o0matXMYnsOUcSdhAAruLHcuZe_VAycFYrZXuNHkiofE84Be19H4gomMuDAq9ER7EY/s1600/the+River+Ness2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The River Ness in <b>Inverness</b></span></td></tr>
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<img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymZIqSjcBqohsCeY9slZ40jNKcUbeYsYLRh_lVnMGbIOhpSz34FNC34fmD8A0coCNFXvchuEDV2Zg98x4jQAoTRgy4mZ5HV8uc8rIPNYBlhvpRjIUHjoQ7ESTyVsMOZ5LKfEqmkS973c/s320/RJinverness.jpg" width="320" />overlooking the River Ness</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcFgtL30c_rGlg3q4tDQZAt52-0ydjVsse2i4AfdZCB9pWf6HHtAFunO_CwOGIFsNJ-d-uFw2FmgvCdv5hcwUaJYij9wUZARJczjg6EUaCa8uinRtK8GMeB3FxX0rVrMvdniZXWTCnrg/s1600/730.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcFgtL30c_rGlg3q4tDQZAt52-0ydjVsse2i4AfdZCB9pWf6HHtAFunO_CwOGIFsNJ-d-uFw2FmgvCdv5hcwUaJYij9wUZARJczjg6EUaCa8uinRtK8GMeB3FxX0rVrMvdniZXWTCnrg/s320/730.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">the Scottish Thistle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQJuShKPSwP-EGqa0JrIvV_4jlKyzqNCG445vEU9jYhPbAtQ6E5n0GucnCcSb9RpIlF3mZP4UQ9SIknQ7sxFoRdP00EVRXc37rfWv2aNhk3_gtNh1X5_GHECX0oaeqX1pkLa9lF-DebE/s1600/382.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQJuShKPSwP-EGqa0JrIvV_4jlKyzqNCG445vEU9jYhPbAtQ6E5n0GucnCcSb9RpIlF3mZP4UQ9SIknQ7sxFoRdP00EVRXc37rfWv2aNhk3_gtNh1X5_GHECX0oaeqX1pkLa9lF-DebE/s320/382.JPG" width="213" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0vsdL0u1oDGdz0SsWfnBtb_olSOmpOcsu-HwGXuwPtGvQOHTBR30aSeZlEqSqfIaLSrkUC1e3invuFRNJPBrD9nFyD75rvq2jqh1E2dboi1WskgcuHmTVIgw78q_C_okldSYQII9K5M/s1600/IMG_7525-MOTION.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0vsdL0u1oDGdz0SsWfnBtb_olSOmpOcsu-HwGXuwPtGvQOHTBR30aSeZlEqSqfIaLSrkUC1e3invuFRNJPBrD9nFyD75rvq2jqh1E2dboi1WskgcuHmTVIgw78q_C_okldSYQII9K5M/s320/IMG_7525-MOTION.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">the national animal of Scotland</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm sure they are hiding in the glen</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The last great battle at Culloden in 1746, fought just outside Inverness, was the final defeat (and slaughter) of the outnumbered and out weaponed "Jacobites" ( mainly Highland Catholic supporters of King James of the Royal Stewart line), forever placing Scotland under England's rule, thus beginning the highland clearances (land robbery)and a brutal repression which forced many to leave and seek fortune in the new world. Bonnie Prince Charlie, heir to the throne of Scotland and the last Jacobite hope fled to France with the belief that he would return to take his rightful place as king when the Scots once again rallied. But the clearances broke the back of Scotland. It never was to be and he died in exile but the hope remained and was written in poignant songs like "The Skye Boat Song" and "Will Ye No Come Back Again." Flora MacDonald, is the Jacobite heroine who at great personal cost helped him escape the English and her statue stands overlooking the River Ness. One hundred years later the Scots maintained their courageous and fierce reputations fighting for the English in regiments such as the famous Black Watch.</span><br />
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<audio controls="controls" height="10" style="height: 30px; width: 248px;" width="100"><source src="http://www.mediafire.com/download/nx3gycg3vlpb9r3/The_Corries_Will_ye_No_Come_back_Again__Joy_of_my_Heart_-_YouTube1.wav" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to view this media content.</audio>
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Will ye no come back again by the Corries<br />
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Flora MacDonald's monument</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSk1dFQrzh5tQITF70Kv5EitKAGG5xEAfKHxrjBzll89z-hIYhXVPIb5sqXgQ7e4sResNoGE2skphOLE9nFzl9YKaU_ON3ra1Ukk7fR0dFfMacCAi5SQieYX08rmjXf24iPYpWAyDiK_g/s1600/373A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSk1dFQrzh5tQITF70Kv5EitKAGG5xEAfKHxrjBzll89z-hIYhXVPIb5sqXgQ7e4sResNoGE2skphOLE9nFzl9YKaU_ON3ra1Ukk7fR0dFfMacCAi5SQieYX08rmjXf24iPYpWAyDiK_g/s320/373A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">on the <strong>Moray Firth</strong>- you will rarely see such skies!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy7sc2btAWWbDBHNBcw7WkDerPZAfNTqylWYUGNaXqq3ERaGLkzzj3U3J_tipplWAJ5dIvAvGi0W1CvzlMNzi4zllaDhQkQK_it9ULPjoTjx9mIupQloefMnldq2l3dx0ga2rtr_Afio/s1600/lochness+monster2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy7sc2btAWWbDBHNBcw7WkDerPZAfNTqylWYUGNaXqq3ERaGLkzzj3U3J_tipplWAJ5dIvAvGi0W1CvzlMNzi4zllaDhQkQK_it9ULPjoTjx9mIupQloefMnldq2l3dx0ga2rtr_Afio/s1600/lochness+monster2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy7sc2btAWWbDBHNBcw7WkDerPZAfNTqylWYUGNaXqq3ERaGLkzzj3U3J_tipplWAJ5dIvAvGi0W1CvzlMNzi4zllaDhQkQK_it9ULPjoTjx9mIupQloefMnldq2l3dx0ga2rtr_Afio/s1600/lochness+monster2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy7sc2btAWWbDBHNBcw7WkDerPZAfNTqylWYUGNaXqq3ERaGLkzzj3U3J_tipplWAJ5dIvAvGi0W1CvzlMNzi4zllaDhQkQK_it9ULPjoTjx9mIupQloefMnldq2l3dx0ga2rtr_Afio/s1600/lochness+monster2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzy7sc2btAWWbDBHNBcw7WkDerPZAfNTqylWYUGNaXqq3ERaGLkzzj3U3J_tipplWAJ5dIvAvGi0W1CvzlMNzi4zllaDhQkQK_it9ULPjoTjx9mIupQloefMnldq2l3dx0ga2rtr_Afio/s320/lochness+monster2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">after blethering on about this for ages she totally missed the wee creature as we headed down the channel on the Jacobite Queen to the loch</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBH99n8isw9NO4ci3FQvfZqcQ2UZOw-rKNoDDCWXc-koljUb-lf7iEV9BcKAwQJR0K_sfQytcTy_UzIe-jErdc7PyxdiPC-fv7JuC5Nlq8U8ZvX5H8dL5D6SXpfVoMahRWvHbdPSp9tk/s400/lochness2abc.jpg" width="178" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrpArEKvK5uI6gXAJ9Ma9O5NjSymPY8ylU5kNODa2lCBad_akDthYJk_N6dXoooAA33tBR-8qKNtB-pgQz28TlxV3rFZ6NVw1UfN0a_LLC8BVRxbDm6zePuAJjvtxfQaFPbs7dzrLQsc/s1600/loch.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrpArEKvK5uI6gXAJ9Ma9O5NjSymPY8ylU5kNODa2lCBad_akDthYJk_N6dXoooAA33tBR-8qKNtB-pgQz28TlxV3rFZ6NVw1UfN0a_LLC8BVRxbDm6zePuAJjvtxfQaFPbs7dzrLQsc/s320/loch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
a dramatic study of <strong>Loch Ness</strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1n-isihDnnomXFc_kQi5-iAv40Ik-jxAYO7yq2CVLEdpbuhEsDA0kOFJraKc9xSFEiobMBnvFZP_MdkG4GhWsrO1p6nxyGgLv_YRd71QwLkHQQdaITkfNiLpTUbIBxxA-X7Rez5hD5k/s1600/436A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1n-isihDnnomXFc_kQi5-iAv40Ik-jxAYO7yq2CVLEdpbuhEsDA0kOFJraKc9xSFEiobMBnvFZP_MdkG4GhWsrO1p6nxyGgLv_YRd71QwLkHQQdaITkfNiLpTUbIBxxA-X7Rez5hD5k/s400/436A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Urquart castle ruins on Loch Ness</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After being fought over by warring clans since the 13 the century it is finally blown up by the English to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Jacobites</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">for an immersive experience at the castle with MacCrimmon's </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Lament - cha till mi tuile or <em>he will return no more</em></span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy6aksGB6lBpSej6Qbb6u_adJOjTMUpWea1BpYFeO56iWj6SCQh3q0evOjZw06-3b6miuBsCP5py5MoohOW9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDx274z4KgHDhGqWRp35ibbiaR5jymqn0K3JlZ6AB9AFERZ9W5FT-_uu3070QR05l-9z6-PVTfMkLv-8EMDwz7LQaAhvVkhOo2mN3uCDm7uB_nOBLCw1vrBT2qSJS-fW-zQl8wuqrWxU/s1600/lochness_tonemappedbest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDx274z4KgHDhGqWRp35ibbiaR5jymqn0K3JlZ6AB9AFERZ9W5FT-_uu3070QR05l-9z6-PVTfMkLv-8EMDwz7LQaAhvVkhOo2mN3uCDm7uB_nOBLCw1vrBT2qSJS-fW-zQl8wuqrWxU/s320/lochness_tonemappedbest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<audio controls="controls" height="48" style="height: 16px; width: 141px;" width="300"><source src="http://www.mediafire.com/download/ov4n1819u9vuyao/The_Skye_boat_song._The_Corries_-_YouTube1.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to view this media content.</audio>
The Skye Boat Song<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Into the Highlands</strong></span></td></tr>
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The Abbey at <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">Fortrose</span></em> built around 1100
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<strong>The Anderson Restaurant on High Street is a must!</strong><br />
the best lamb burgers in all Scotland - and a guid glass of highland Scotch<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <strong>Fortrose</strong> (Rosemarkie), Ross & Cromarty</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">and on past the village of Dornoch where the last witch ( probably a poor soul suffering from dementia) was burned in 1715.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Awga2L7stFsfoKVzwDJJwaX1-Zetg0AVoieaRDRuKq5MQwyoHD0hMwz9B6tURMDLlNJIDCWED99COSqp0-ESVK1U3smkfjXK97PYswqbztOL2k1TsUbSsLk1d6G3B65ZMsJYKz2N78/s1600/pictishfortblkwhite..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Awga2L7stFsfoKVzwDJJwaX1-Zetg0AVoieaRDRuKq5MQwyoHD0hMwz9B6tURMDLlNJIDCWED99COSqp0-ESVK1U3smkfjXK97PYswqbztOL2k1TsUbSsLk1d6G3B65ZMsJYKz2N78/s320/pictishfortblkwhite..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pictish fort in Highlands, those fierce undefeatable barbarians that Hadrian built a wall against to keep them contained in the North ( and don't forget the story of Heather Ale!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">and along the shining North Sea coast, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">from whence came the viking longships, a sliver of silver on the horizon, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and a poet's song as the sky spills light onto the grey sea</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> through Sutherland and Caithness to</span></td></tr>
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the port of<strong> John o' Groats</strong> and on through the Pentland Firth to the Orkneys</div>
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link to the AMAZING<br />
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<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/p/orkneys-and-on-to-ireland.html"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Orkneys</strong></span></a></div>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-69128931057548065642013-07-01T17:52:00.001-07:002016-04-13T00:07:07.731-07:00The Okanagan Valley, BC June 2013Our trip to my brother's place in Penticton in the Interior of British Columbia. <strong>( click on photos for full image slide show)</strong><br />
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Well known as wine and orchard country, and much drier than the rainforests of the coast, the region is resplendent with lakes, hills, valleys and mountains that are dotted with prickly pear cactus, silver and purple sage bush and wild flowers. Pine and Spruce trees cover some hills while golden brown antelope grass covers the drier areas. The main lakes are Okanagan( meaning Big Head) and Skaha ( meaning either dog or horse depending on dialect perhaps). The area is rich in the smokey fires of legends and myth and steeped in the spirituality of earth sacredness. "Ogopogo" or Naitaka (lake demon) swims the waters of the Okanagan and a few have seen him. I think he is related to the one in Loch Ness so perhaps "caverns measureless to man" and a "sunless sea" join the two lakes through the center of the earth.<br />
Many ranches and little farms dot the sweeping landscape with a few small towns tucked away between shadow and light. The weather and landscapes are dramatic and changeable with hot summers and cold winters. There is good skiing at Apex mountain and local astronomers gather on Mount Kobo every year to stargaze. The impressive Radio Observatory is near White Lake and sweeps the cosmos for extraterrestrial song and the hum of creation. There is also a good fossil area in the White Lake Formation region for early Cenozoic vegetation. I found several large rocks with natures' graceful brushwork of carbonized ferns in the shale from 50 million years ago. They are now sitting in my living room and on my deck garden!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEgPoeRLlyhZc3k5DR-TM3UCxuDMloZXMQDcPpFt27KT9fv1yJ5Uw1z6fP9XLBJCnfBZ3zNK2WGjNhXKjtqU8z9X_F8En3GHLsxzapr6WfiF61O2U6D83PEGUpP6gVDT_bkhMBXYUuPw/s1600/valley_tonemapped2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hills and Valleys, light and shadow</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc5j_Fb4npJD812sVzsZYiOZSeAI5h3sUgCGVhTJdWcE5pMpvwdrEa4KzjTz53ATwI4SF_JJDij44ckLo-p5G3_b9Vy_9X9KyjZAKWb2zVsXVELtv1E5I1jOFcRbRsrggYUOTJP6S4jQ/s1600/bluff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc5j_Fb4npJD812sVzsZYiOZSeAI5h3sUgCGVhTJdWcE5pMpvwdrEa4KzjTz53ATwI4SF_JJDij44ckLo-p5G3_b9Vy_9X9KyjZAKWb2zVsXVELtv1E5I1jOFcRbRsrggYUOTJP6S4jQ/s320/bluff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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windswept sky</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1VUIUdkIeWOiicW4EPyp45Ji4pu_mcaAoDhUZrNuua7MD1OHpBR6CsnreHc5oa1zF1i1A-0BLVaser8G2cEwApd7biBf2J4BR8rLf1fiNcwRqJnN8FyCZRap6r6Lr1Db229k9QX3LJI/s1600/valleylight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sudden storms and illuminated landscapes<br />
as seen from my brother's house</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKppk9MRYdYD07QHV-rRh-xVCL0EfCJtOAODUZkVCjm31Yq_kK3ylXbEBzaKy0aHSm8kc3kpjBahyphenhyphen9YnEfkk5o1O8G88qJZqSH8TRlbMDgz3Gg89M9auQVrgQL6IJieyWO9ylpq4GCaIA/s1600/houseonbluff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKppk9MRYdYD07QHV-rRh-xVCL0EfCJtOAODUZkVCjm31Yq_kK3ylXbEBzaKy0aHSm8kc3kpjBahyphenhyphen9YnEfkk5o1O8G88qJZqSH8TRlbMDgz3Gg89M9auQVrgQL6IJieyWO9ylpq4GCaIA/s320/houseonbluff.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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House on the bluff</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJc4zvtV0NDvi1b2cwYJXGLIq7z00tOf3LR_is1XtWpVqe9P4uCJZJ5DEBxE_XvqGrZQx_lCXvFgTVsWDNSagz6r9gH4B193CSrbAIEixUQcglE0i116ZrKpcnujQxU1T7qwuziGHbYA/s1600/Skaha3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJc4zvtV0NDvi1b2cwYJXGLIq7z00tOf3LR_is1XtWpVqe9P4uCJZJ5DEBxE_XvqGrZQx_lCXvFgTVsWDNSagz6r9gH4B193CSrbAIEixUQcglE0i116ZrKpcnujQxU1T7qwuziGHbYA/s1600/Skaha3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJc4zvtV0NDvi1b2cwYJXGLIq7z00tOf3LR_is1XtWpVqe9P4uCJZJ5DEBxE_XvqGrZQx_lCXvFgTVsWDNSagz6r9gH4B193CSrbAIEixUQcglE0i116ZrKpcnujQxU1T7qwuziGHbYA/s320/Skaha3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJc4zvtV0NDvi1b2cwYJXGLIq7z00tOf3LR_is1XtWpVqe9P4uCJZJ5DEBxE_XvqGrZQx_lCXvFgTVsWDNSagz6r9gH4B193CSrbAIEixUQcglE0i116ZrKpcnujQxU1T7qwuziGHbYA/s1600/Skaha3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">Lake Skaha at sunset</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFer645sjb3gV2U7iMfogptwrXQhu1hXLADphcv_e4EbMMsgBqwtqlpFNk066zqwyyqt1hufBquZrzJehzk2w015Wv17fnrneiVB3tw4Erc12EhvjTeA3g-A8A850Syjp8nzvJXaZBG4/s1600/054a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFer645sjb3gV2U7iMfogptwrXQhu1hXLADphcv_e4EbMMsgBqwtqlpFNk066zqwyyqt1hufBquZrzJehzk2w015Wv17fnrneiVB3tw4Erc12EhvjTeA3g-A8A850Syjp8nzvJXaZBG4/s1600/054a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFer645sjb3gV2U7iMfogptwrXQhu1hXLADphcv_e4EbMMsgBqwtqlpFNk066zqwyyqt1hufBquZrzJehzk2w015Wv17fnrneiVB3tw4Erc12EhvjTeA3g-A8A850Syjp8nzvJXaZBG4/s320/054a2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFer645sjb3gV2U7iMfogptwrXQhu1hXLADphcv_e4EbMMsgBqwtqlpFNk066zqwyyqt1hufBquZrzJehzk2w015Wv17fnrneiVB3tw4Erc12EhvjTeA3g-A8A850Syjp8nzvJXaZBG4/s1600/054a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">a rapt audience "E.T we hear you!"</a><br />
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Vineyards and Orchards in fullness</div>
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"Joy to the world, all the boys and girls, ... BC has a mighty fine wine"</div>
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This prayer is part of a nine-day Navajo ritual called the <strong>Night Chant.</strong></div>
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<em>In beauty may I walk.<br /> All day long may I walk.<br /> Through the returning seasons may I walk.</em><br />
<em>Beautifully will I possess again.<br /> Beautifully birds . . .<br /> Beautifully joyful birds</em><br />
<em>On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.<br /> With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.<br /> With dew about my feet may I walk.</em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A night in the forest</span><br />
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<em>With beauty may I walk.<br /> With beauty before me, may I walk.<br /> With beauty behind me, may I walk.<br /> With beauty above me, may I walk.<br /> With beauty below me, may I walk.</em><br />
<em> With beauty all around me, may I walk.</em><br />
<em>In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.</em><br />
<em> In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.</em><br />
<em>It is finished in beauty.</em><br />
<em> It is finished in beauty.</em><br />
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A Navajo Indian Prayer of the Second Day of the Night Chant (anonymous) <br />
<em>dedicated to my nephew, David who graduated this June in keremeos and in honour of his own connection to the first nations.</em><br />
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<em>These singers from the Similkameen Valley blessed the graduates. </em>Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-31290122023737645852013-06-22T08:10:00.004-07:002013-06-22T08:10:58.628-07:00Intrepid travellers alertcheck in later this summer for our journey coming up to Scotland and the Orkneys, Ireland and Newgrange, Glastonbury, Paris and more!!Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-50242484912210948822012-02-17T21:09:00.000-08:002014-10-22T18:19:45.867-07:00My Mayan Quest and Journey to the Yucatan 2012<br />
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(Links to each new destination at bottom of page or on sidebar<br />
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I arrived at my hotel in Cancun very tired after the flight and late in the afternoon but by the next day I was eager to explore. At one of the many tourist kiosks I found that there was a small archaelogical site at Punta Sam that was easy to get to by public bus so I girded myself with backpack, camera and spanish phrase book and boarded the Ruta 1 bus to my destination. It turned out to be a lovely site, off the beaten path and with the added attraction of few tourists. Don't forget to always bring (bottled) water with you wherever you go and comfortable shoes.<br />
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El Meko <br />
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One Visitor of three there that day (one was the iguana)<br />
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-91095911016572527532012-02-16T10:50:00.001-08:002014-02-15T13:31:09.308-08:00sunbathers<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
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My hotel was very pleasant and the beds comfortable although the bathroom was a little tired looking and the jacuzzi tub didn't work. It was on the lagoon side of Cancun as opposed to the ocean but with very pretty gardens. By 6.a.m. the mornings were full of jungle bird song and by the lagoon some unexpected guests were sunbathing.<br />
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and by tour bus (tours from hotel) to <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tulum and Coba </span></strong></div>
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(click on links for next chapters)</div>
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<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/tulum-and-coba_3797.html">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/tulum-and-coba_3797.html</a></div>
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<audio autoplay="autoplay" controls="controls" height="10" style="height: 33px; width: 267px;" width="100"><source src="http://www.mediafire.com/download/nxn2t3xpclu1yjp/mayanketzal.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to view this media content.</audio>Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-65908855222839647522012-02-15T09:50:00.000-08:002012-07-22T21:41:09.928-07:00A Day in Tulum and Coba<br />
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Gateways and doors were sacred spaces to the Mayans who believed that when you passed through you were entering into another dimension of the world and of life.<br />
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Not far from Cancun, on the Mayan Riviera, Tulum was built in the post classic period of the Mayan and as their civilization was declining. It's beauty lies partly in the wonderful setting and turquoise beaches of the Caribbean.<br />
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Coba is an older city through which the Sac be (white road) connected to other cities of the Mayan world like the roads of Rome. It runs for 100 km through the jungle. With palaces, temples and ball courts Coba was one of the largest Mayan cities but not as restored as other sites such as the well known Chichen Itza. I gathered my courage and strength and climbed the crumbling, perilous pyramid steps in the humid heat and got a touch of vertigo. Descending is much more daunting as you can imagine one misstep and your broken body lying far below, a sacrifice to the merciless Chac Mool.<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div>
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riding the sac- be (white road</div>
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And on to the the ADO bus station ( dowtown Cancun) to <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Valladolid and Ek Balaam</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral in Valladolid</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Cenote Zaci</td></tr>
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Valladolid is old and charming and I stayed at El Meson del Marques, a lovely colonial looking hotel, reasonably priced with courtyard, fountains and a great restaurant in front of the main Plaza of town. Walking down the narrow streets the following day a taxi driver was shouting "Ek Balam! Ek balam!! It sounded like arabic (al kabam?) to my untrained ear as opposed to Spanish, but it turned out he wanted to take me out to the most fantastic ruins by the same name which translated means "Star Jaguar;" perhaps the name of the king whose tomb was found there. Again, with a thought of adventure and a little faith I hopped into his car (always under the protection of Jesus or Mary who either ride the dashboard or are displayed reverently in almost every type of vehicle), and for the fare equivalent of maybe 5 dollars headed out into the countryside at break neck speed. Though not as well known as Chichen Itza I'm so glad I decided to go!! The beautiful glyphed and fantastic carved facade of the palace/tomb was in perfect condition as were the ball courts as though the players had just left to go celebrate- or cut off the heads of the losers- they didn't believe in handshakes or "well played old chaps" type of sportmanship!! I couldn't help but think of my brother and his basketball and soccer team. I wondered if threatening them with decapitation would make them play a better game!!<br />
There is also a cenote close by called Xanche with rapelling and zip lines for the daring.<br />
Within walking distance of my hotel was the beautiful Cenote Zaci in a park like setting and right off <br />
Calle 39. <br />
Today the Mayan people are mainly Catholic, sweeter than honey and as honest and helpful as you could wish. Everyone drives like a maniac though and my taxi had only one half seat belt but I was still charged full price. <br />
At night the streets have a carnival atmosphere with people on the go, smells of food, hawkers and music blaring and some times cars with loud speakers drive by advertising God knows what as I don't speak Spanish yet. In the afternoon a marching band played in the plaza outside my window every day so I was allowed no siesta!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomb of Ek Balam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the pyramid, farewell to Kukulkan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning in Valladolid</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The beautiful cavern -Dzitnup Cenote</strong></span></div>
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<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/descent-into-magical-cavern.html">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/descent-into-magical-cavern.html</a></div>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-39516559531404995102012-02-13T22:51:00.000-08:002013-06-17T08:32:49.960-07:00Descent into a magical Cavern at Dzitnup <br />
Caves, caverns and cenotes were sacred to the Mayan, and the transition points between the physical and the spiritual world, - today cenotes are more like local swimming holes but still enchanting.<br />
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This was all I had imagined!<br />
Not too far from Valladolid and the most mysterious and beautiful of all cenotes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ajlfdtlCgTXUZRxdFTfx5PzSTWbhqdBdeM3Rz3M2dWnNtGtnBpE7tz1oRfd_j5g_Q_sYriz8x8-7ke8C_Otk0g5739j_WvqI_X1OJOKTFHytpnWh-SY7EcVY6V_czTcSkyu0OAZf_-0/s1600/dzitnipsunlight2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ajlfdtlCgTXUZRxdFTfx5PzSTWbhqdBdeM3Rz3M2dWnNtGtnBpE7tz1oRfd_j5g_Q_sYriz8x8-7ke8C_Otk0g5739j_WvqI_X1OJOKTFHytpnWh-SY7EcVY6V_czTcSkyu0OAZf_-0/s320/dzitnipsunlight2.jpg" width="180" /></a>Yes, I swam in the very cool waters where little blind catfish dart around your toes! Dipping my feet in slowly I felt it must be a similar experience to entering the sacred waters of the Ganges in India.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ttiqt7nBOFuJ9oaeH7ObnNfN24DWOEl5tEbSAyNFRkdhE3toFhm6W7PzCDqPVt83k4l3G3utteaQbWffWy2GjdyUJshzWo2Y8jMfGD8arKkupg9uH4h1zX0mBF46QyOJGQVnl2HPveU/s1600/cenotepool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ttiqt7nBOFuJ9oaeH7ObnNfN24DWOEl5tEbSAyNFRkdhE3toFhm6W7PzCDqPVt83k4l3G3utteaQbWffWy2GjdyUJshzWo2Y8jMfGD8arKkupg9uH4h1zX0mBF46QyOJGQVnl2HPveU/s320/cenotepool.jpg" width="320" /></a>You can find transportation to both Ek Balam and Dzitnup at two separate taxi stands on Calle 44. Ek Balam taxi is 2 blocks north of C39 and Dzitnup a block or two south toward C 41.<br />
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Again the bus station to <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Chichen Itza!</span></strong> and where I learn more about Mayan spirituality.<br />
<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/chichen-itza.html">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/chichen-itza.html</a>Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-41755025286684269712012-02-12T16:08:00.000-08:002013-02-22T15:05:04.228-08:00Chichen Itza<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had to laugh when I saw this sign as I frequently stay at this hotel in the Interior of BC. The bus from Valladolid (with the ADO line you have the choice of first class) was very full and you are treated to mariachi music the whole way, so no napping there either. It arrived at Chichen Itza late morning but I needed to find a hotel first and refresh so I ended up taking another cab (3 dollars US) to the little town of Chichen Itza where the first place I found was a Best Western!! After changing clothes and a shower I headed back to explore along with the hundreds of tourists that flock there. You must take advantage of one of the guides which await you if you want to learn about the place which is huge and divided into 3 areas; Old or pre classic Chichen, Central which contains the observatory ( my favourite) and the North group which contains, the ball courts and the Pyramid of Kukulkan with it's wonderful creeping serpent of the Equinox light! <br />
In Mayan belief the serpent symbolized movement and change. The Mayan understanding of the cosmos and of numbers along with their calendar (called the long count) was profound and their lives, customs, poetry, art and buildings were bound up in the sacred mystery of time, the stars and the seasons. Their entire lives were lived in sacred ritual.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugXQtOW1RjOlxmDuzO2H1g1i-oGYEErZ53o6T1ClPGD37WAdayDOXeze9f2p3IVcJyiq1WrVTMl-fYIRDLaSxqnUqAFP9iOWxUumy0kXjO9RghMG3CwwJeNBufMjrcVG2jK9TQQazSpc/s1600/smtemple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugXQtOW1RjOlxmDuzO2H1g1i-oGYEErZ53o6T1ClPGD37WAdayDOXeze9f2p3IVcJyiq1WrVTMl-fYIRDLaSxqnUqAFP9iOWxUumy0kXjO9RghMG3CwwJeNBufMjrcVG2jK9TQQazSpc/s320/smtemple.jpg" width="320" /></a> Chichen Itza means " the mouth of the wizard's well." Guides usually ask for 4000 pesos or 40 dollars for up to four people and the tour takes a couple of hours. I was lucky to get a guide who explained the spiritual aspect of the Mayan beliefs and the significance behind their symbols and numbers. The wizard's well (chen) is a cenote at Chichen Itza where human bones have been found by archaeologist divers. Blood rituals and finally human sacrifice played a large role in religious ceremony especially in the later period of the Maya. <br />
At night there is a narrated light show that begins at dusk. Bring an umbrella as it sometimes rains. Lightening and thunder were added to my light show the night I was there.</div>
I had a bit of serrendipitous good fortune too as when I arrived pre dusk there were few people on site and one of the workers took me into the grand caracol (observatory) or "snail" (called so because of the shape) where the public is no longer allowed entrance. It has two outer doors and a circular corridor in the interior with two inner doors - something to do with the solstices and the four cardinal directions? I placed my hand in greeting on the ancient hand that is imprinted on the outer wall of the "snail" and went inside. From there I watched the death of Kukulkan, the feathered serpent, in the form of the setting sun who would be reborn in the morning. The four cardinal points of east, west, north and south are in all Mayan buildings including their houses and are called bacabs. They symbolize the four jaguars that held up the sky.<br />
It was a dream come true for this amateur astronomer as this building captured my imagination when I was very young. I tried to imagine Stephens and Catherwood coming out of the jungle and upon this for the first time in the 1800's.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh great Kukulkan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream come true</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The witches well or cenote at chichen itza<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">and on to</span> <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Merida</span></strong> <span style="font-size: small;">where more adventures await.</span><br />
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<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/from-merida-to-la-ruta-puuc-labna-uxmal.html">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/from-merida-to-la-ruta-puuc-labna-uxmal.html</a></td></tr>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-27365582225919431822012-02-11T22:14:00.000-08:002012-08-27T21:24:51.691-07:00Merida<div style="border: currentColor;">
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Merida is another bustling colonial town, and bigger than Valladolid. The streets are narrow and crowded and even at cross walks cars always seem to have the right of way. In the spacious square the Cathedral is the focal point and the plaza itself is full of trees and flowers as well as people socializing, relaxing or selling goods. Surrounding the park are many shops and cafes. Policemen blow their whistles frequently as they direct traffic in this part of the city.<br />
I browsed a bookstore and bought the English version of the Popol Vuh (one of the few surviving codices of Mayan written literature) and spent time in a beautiful art gallery and bought an opal pendant representing a stylized Kukulkan. The churches are beautiful and some of them are a fusion of Mayan and Catholic tradition.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"> "On to <strong><span style="font-size: large;">La Ruta Puuc and the Lol tun caves</span></strong>"</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2012-02-11T22:14:00-08:00&max-results=7">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2012-02-11T22:14:00-08:00&max-results=7</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">(also in archives)</span></div>
Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-83124048239670121732012-02-10T22:37:00.000-08:002013-02-22T15:02:56.408-08:00On to La Ruta Puuc, Labna, and the Lol tun caves. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Mayan Palace at Sayil- dark day, dark gods</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doorway to Labna</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Jaws of Kulkulkan</td></tr>
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These ruins are about a 2 hour drive from Merida. </div>
They are beautifully restored and are in a beautiful park setting. Our guide translated in both English and Spanish the various depictions on the buildings of serpents, jaguars, turtles, the diving or descending god and the rain god Chac with the long nose. When the nose is up it was a supplication and when down it signified the blessing of rain. <br />
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-8681396851089060132012-02-09T23:49:00.000-08:002014-02-15T13:35:57.414-08:00Magnificent Lol tun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Descent into Xibalba</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caverns measureless to man</td></tr>
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Lol tun means flower stone. Sacred to the Mayan since pre classic times it was the crown of my journey to this region. Caves were doorways to the terrible underworld called Xibalba but also the place where life began according to their mythology and where the hero twins defeated the lords of the underworld in a ball game. There are signatures of hand prints on the walls of this cavern where areas are still being opened up as more is discovered. My guide was Pablo who showed me the musical stalactites that played an om like melody in two tones when struck with the palm of the hand.</div>
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I must have pleased the gods as I emerged unscathed and pondering the rituals and and terrifying visions the ancient Mayans must have experienced in this mysterious and dark portal of life and death, creation and destruction.<br />
This site is harder to get to than most but worth every bug bite as well as sore feet. Wear good hiking or running shoes and bring Deet spray. This site is part of a tour called La Ruta Puuc out of Merida but only leaves on certain days and only if there are enough people (min of four). Fortune again smiled as my group only had three (myself and a lovely Spanish couple) but was a go ahead anyway. Next time I will check into a possible bus ride there. </div>
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I felt blessed to have completed the quests I had set out for myself when I planned this trip and there was still more to come.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">intrepid spelunker</td></tr>
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<a href="http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/uxmal.html">http://gatewaysandjourneys.blogspot.ca/2012/02/uxmal.html</a></div>
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<audio autoplay="autoplay" controls="controls" height="10" style="height: 33px; width: 267px;" width="100"><source src="http://www.mediafire.com/download/mc1jm7331rttd07/jaguar_stomp_-_YouTube.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to view this media content.</audio>Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-47891653290519807192012-02-08T15:33:00.000-08:002013-06-18T16:04:51.832-07:00Uxmal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of the Wizard</td></tr>
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I got to this beautiful site by bus from the central Merida bus station. It takes a couple of hours to get there and is one of the most beautiful Mayan sites with the colossal Temple of the Wizard rising above the trees. There even were two Conneticut Yankees in the court of Uxmal. We met at the bus station and travelled together that day. One of them was a professional photographer and the three of us wandered the historic landscape together, climbed a pyramid, and got soaked in the jungle rain before stopping for lunch. In cavalier fashion gallant Sean offered me his rain coat and I took it. I unfortunately ran out of battery power and had to use my cell phone to take pictures. That alone separated the photographers from the shutterbugs. It was a huge temptation to sit on the Jaguar throne in the square that says sitting prohibited!! My two friends vanished briefly and I have been checking Dex's photo website to see if he has any occupied throne pictures but nothing yet. You won't see it here as I missed the shot!! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two Conneticut Yankees in the Court of Uxmal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">success!! and now bloody hell! we have to turn around and go back down (rain coming!)</td></tr>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8493102806491980447.post-66645091736459490722012-02-07T17:15:00.000-08:002013-12-07T09:35:15.181-08:00Isla Mujeres<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The final days of my journey. Isla Mujeres is a charming island with an interesting history. It is said that it was once a pirate stronghold and they kept their women there. Another story is that the Spanish found Mayan goddess worship specifically Ixchel the rainbow goddess of fertility on the island and named it for that. Still another story is one of unrequited love of a pirate captain who loved a woman who lived on the island but she never returned his affection.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea shell house ( it had a kind of Lemony Snicket feel to it!!)</td></tr>
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Cuba is only a few hundred miles off the coast and there is a military wharf on the island as well. In the restaurant there was a little waiting involved as the fish was just on it's way from the watery depths to be cooked! It was delicious but I wasn't sure what it was. I discovered that there are a number of ex pats living there year round and the houses are very imaginatively built!! Many houses are specifically for rental purpose. I spent an afternoon snorkeling but never found the boy who took my picture underwater!! That would have been fun to see.<br />
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I was so sad to leave this place and Mexico and vowed to return soon. I'm looking into rentals also so I can spend a bit more time. Next time I would like to visit the caves of Balankanche.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mujer on the isla mujeres</td></tr>
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Cybele Moonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10435712093763524754noreply@blogger.com0