Tag Archives: photography

My Canadian Rockies Trip, Part 1: Calgary and Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump

In June, my son and I took a trip to the Canadian Rockies that included Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Park, three scenic parks I had on my “to do” list for a long time. Time to “do” it. We looked forward to seeing majestic, snow-capped mountains, rapidly receding glaciers, pristine jeweled lakes and the fabled wild life. We were not disappointed.

This trip was organized by Caravan Tours. We had done other trips with Caravan and were comfortable with their itineraries, organization, motor coaches, hotels and meals. This particular tour is a popular one and sells out quickly. So, we took precautions to book early, in fact, as soon as it was announced, a wise decision as it later turned out. It was quickly sold out.

AC 585 from Newark to Calgary — Our Air Canada flight to Calgary.

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On Planning for and Enjoying Retirement

After twenty-two years in the US pharmaceutical industry, I was laid off. I remember that day very well— a bleak winter morning rendered bleaker by the verdict, a devastating blow. No job, no regular pay checks, no routine or fixed schedule in my life. How will I manage? It was disorienting.

What should I do now, I pondered. Get another job? With my background and experience that would not be too difficult. But, do I want to? Same old, same old did not appeal to me. Why not try something different. But what? Decisions, decisions!

On my patio with a book and a drink. — Relaxing on my patio with a book under the flowering Japanese Cherry tree in spring.

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A Walk, Fall Foliage and the Schofield Covered Bridge, Tyler State Park, PA.

On the Deck of the Kalmar Nyckel: Replica of a Historic, Sailing Ship.

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How did it feel living crammed together in a small sailing ship as it tossed about in the Atlantic Ocean with gale-force winds howling around on the endless journeys bringing emigrants to the New World hundreds of years ago? To find out, I took a trip to the Kalmar Nyckel, a full-scale replica of just such a ship that brought the first immigrants from Sweden in 1638 AD.

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My Mexico Trip, Part 9: Captivating Chichén Itzá—And why it is one of the New, Seven Wonders of the World.

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Continued from: My Mexico Trip, Part 8; Merida.

Today we will be visiting Chichén Itzá, the crown jewel of our trip. The organizers have wisely kept the best for last. It is a UNESCO heritage site and in 2007 was selected as one of the new, seven wonders of the world. In brief, a place worth seeing.

Chichén Itzá, located in the state of Yucatán, Mexico, was first settled by the Maya around the sixth century AD. The name means “Mouth of the well of the Itzá”. It was later abandoned, and then settled by the Toltecs who came from the central highlands. The site therefore exhibits a mix of the two cultures as depicted in the architectural styles and carvings. This fusion led to the veneration of the Toltec deity Quetzalcóatl (the plumed serpent, aka Kukulcán in Maya) and Chac-mool (the Maya rain god). Their images were everywhere. Chichén Itzá was at its height from 700 to 900 AD. It was finally abandoned in the fourteenth century. The reason is still a mystery.

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