Amazing animals of the Galapagos

The animals of the Galapagos have no fear of the tourists.  These little sea lions acted like they wanted us to pet them and got very close.

The guides cautioned us NOT to touch them.  Their mothers recognize their little ones by their distinctive smells and adding some 'tourist scent' would only confuse them.  They just look so lovable and cuddly it was very tempting!

Some of the animals are not so cuddly looking....more like prehistoric monsters.

A marine iguana

A land iguana

And some really wildly colored Sally Lightfoot Crabs!

Galapagos Giant Turtles

Never been anyplace where there was a need for a sign like this:

 But there definitely was on the Galapagos Islands!  The famous giant tortoises are well, GIANT!

This big male had posed for the tourists for several hours,  When a 'good looking' young female strolled by he gave chase....love was in the air!  The guides told us that even when the female is interested she runs away.  If the male has the strength to chase and catch her, then she knows that he is healthy and strong.  Good genetic material!  Unfortunately we left before we saw how this little love affair ended!

One afternoon I was sitting on the balcony of our room when I heard a rustling in the brush.  I wondered what was trying to sneak up on me!  YOU can probably guess what it was....

Yep an tortoise happily munching his way through the brush near the rooms.

Galapagos Islands are really a magical place!

Warsaw Ghetto Wall

Because I have read so many accounts of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II, I was most anxious to see it, as were most of our group.  Our Polish guide was somewhat reluctant to include this on our tour.  Our Fun For Less guides and our local guides discussed this most all of the day.  One conversation I heard between a fellow traveler and the local guide may explain his reluctance.  As they were talking our American friend referred to the concentration camps as "Polish  Camps".  The local guide was quick, and a bit angry as he pointed out that they WERE NOT Polish but German.  I do understand his concern that we not remember his country solely on the extermination camps.  Also the Jewish Ghetto was totally destroyed by the Germans so there is not really much to see.

I'm happy to report though that we did get to see a few locations.  Here is a marker showing where one of the walls of the ghetto once stood. The ghetto was about 1.3 square miles and the number of Jews who were forced inside the walls was about 350,000- 400,00.

Starvation and disease sent a great number to their deaths.  Thousands more were transported to death camps.  It was when the Germans made their final push to 'liquidate' the ghetto that a Jewish 'army' resisted..  For just under a month a small number of Jewish freedom fighters held off the mighty German army. In fact they actually expelled the Nazis from the ghetto for awhile.  In the end, of course, they were defeated and were killed.

One part of the original Ghetto wall survived and we were able to see that.

We also had a short visit to the garden located on the spot where the first armed resistance by Jews to the Nazi army took place.  The monument to the heroes of the resistance is pretty impressive.

"Though it be to die we will fight....not for ourselves but for future generations. Although we will not survive to see it, our murders will pay for their crimes after we are gone. And our deeds will live forever" Izhak Katznelson Ghetto Freedom Fighter - executed at Aushwitz.

Polish Bubbles

In the pursuit of HAPPINESS:

Don't expect the worst.

Happiness is a bubble 

and negative thoughts cause it to burst!

To the delight of children and tourists visiting the town squares of Warsaw and Krakow there were bubble makers aplenty!

These entrepreneurs had huge homemade bubble makers.  They were actually quite simply made from fishing poles and cord.

Several of us tried to buy the already made contraptions but nothing doing! Although they did say that anything was for sale at the right price!

I gave it a go!  It was not hard and was actually quite fun!  I wonder if I can find a pattern to make my own on Pinterest!

Fun and Culture in Minsk

Never thought I'd be spending a day in Minsk, Belarus!  When I was in high school  attending the Model United Nations I represented Belorussia.  It was easy to know how to vote on anything.  All I had to do was watch how the delegates from the USSR voted and do the exact same thing.  I never imagined that I would someday actually go to Minsk. 

When Nikita Khruschchev visited Minsk soon after World War II he asked to be taken to the old city.  When he was told that their old city had been destroyed by bombs during the war, his comment to them was 'well build another one'.  That is what they did!  And they work hard to make a visit fun for the tourists.  Two actors followed us around all day pretending to be a thief and the sheriff.  We learned the story of the thief's crime and subsequent rise to prosperity.  At the end of our tour there was an opportunity to join them in a traditional dance and a photo op. 

In America when taking a photo we might say, "1, 2, 3 CHEESE".  In Belarus they say "3,4" and then everyone shouts "Hohh!"

After all this fun we were ready for some culture so we went to the beautiful Bolshoi Ballet house. 

I learned that 'Bolshoi' actually means large!  The Soviets didn't like ballet at first as it was considered decadent. All that changed when someone wrote a 'socialist' ballet!  I don't know exactly what that would be like but if it worked that is great!  You can still see the soviet influence in the decorations of the great hall

It was so fun to see a rehearsal but we were not allowed to take photos.  One of the principle dancers seemed to be having a bad day.  She kept making faces and stopping in obvious distress.  After looking at the slippers they wear so that they can stand on their toes, I understand this distress.   Finally the director took her aside and talked to her for quite awhile attempting to comfort her.  I know that the term prima donna refers to the opera but I think it might apply here too!

And of course any self respecting Catalan would have to have their photo taken with St. Jordi - even if he is called by his Russian name!

Auschwitz

Auschwitz

Forever let his place

Be a cry of despair 

And a warning to humanity

 

Where the Nazis murdered

About one and a half million

Men

Women

And children

Mainly Jews

From various countries of Europe

Auschwitz - Birkenau

1940-1945

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana

Gratitude #13 - LHS Class of 1971

I'm so grateful for the amazing group of people that graduated from Lonoke High School in 1971.  When you live in a small town and go through school together you get close....and when you have had reunions every 5 years for the last 45 years you get even closer.

I often say that during the first reunions after HS graduation everyone worries about impressing classmates with how successful they have become.  By the time you are in your 50's and 60's and attend reunions you're just so glad to be alive and healthy and able to hang out for a couple of evenings with life-long friends.  Friends who knew you when you played little league and when you joined the band, who remember the class floats and the football games and who know the crazy, embarrassing stories of the teen-aged you!  Friends who have known you literally all of your life.  You just can't replace friends like that.

I loved it at our reunion when the photographer said, "OK, first I'll take one of all the 'boys' and this group of guys stepped out.  Even though they are gray haired and bald, to me they will always be the 'boys'!!!

And then the 'girls'!  Yes we are grandmas but still the 'girls' of the class of 1971.

 

Here we are the Lonoke High School Class of 1971 celebrating the 45th anniversary of our graduation from high school.

 I am grateful for each of them, the boys and the girls!!!