Get update alerts
Locations
- .All Trips
- Art
- Car Culture
- Central America/Caribbean
- Food
- Food Tour
- Pic of the Week
- Sl;ovenia
“Pic of the Week”, December 13, 2019: Radovljica Chocolate Festival
I was unaware that the small city of Radovljica, home of Slovenia’s famous bee-keeping Museum, was home to a chocolate festival until I saw this piece of street art sitting near the main town square.
I did a little research and found this event is fairly new, starting in 2012. It is held over a weekend in early April of each year, usually on the weekend after Easter. Chocolatiers from all over the country and some from neighboring countries show up and feature their wares. You can buy “tasting” coupons that let you sample the delicious assortment of chocolates. My mouth waters just thinking about it (confession — I am a lover of fine chocolate)
Besides palate tempting displays …
.All Trips / North America / Western Canada / Yukon
Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory
One of the more remote regions on the North American continent is Kluane National Park, located in southwestern Yukon, 160 kilometres west of Whitehorse. It’s minimally accessible by car and has few hiking trails, most of which are near the outskirts of the park. The park’s backcountry is largely inaccessible except to rugged individuals who like to blaze their own trail. The best way to see Kluane’s backcountry is by plane (on a clear day). It’s a very beautiful but rough landscape, filled with tall peaks, roaring rivers and glaciers.
Alaska Highway and Kluane National Park
The town of Haines Junction is at the convergence point of the two highways that skirt Kluane National Park and Reserve, namely the Haines Highway heading north from Haines in the …
“Pic of the Week”, December 6, 2019: Fresh Snow in the Mountains
I love driving through the mountains. Perhaps no season in the mountains is more memorable than winter. The fresh snow on the Rocky Mountains in the Crowsnest Pass and soft light were quite lovely.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
.All Trips / Florida / North America
(Still Another) Gallery of Gators
Several years ago I did a blog post on alligators, which featured photos of some fine specimens I’d encountered in the Everglades, as well as a brief discussion of their life history. I’ve not a lot to add to that, but I did learn something interesting during my recent trip to the River of Grass. Alligator mothers protect their young hatchlings for up to 2 years. I had no idea that the maternal instinct was so strong in these reptiles. It makes sense for the survival of the species, because baby alligators are at the bottom of the food chain. The photo of a mother and her hatchlings below prove it.
Mother and baby alligators, Shark Valley
You won’t see alligators at every stop in the Everglades, but …
.All Trips / Asia / Food / India
A Day in the Chandni Chowk Market, Delhi
One of the oldest markets in Delhi — and perhaps the busiest in all of Asia — is Chandni Chowk, which is close to Delhi’s Red Fort. The market was, in fact, originally designed in the 17th century by Mogul Shah Jahan (who was later to build the Taj Mahal) so that his favorite daughter would have a place to shop near their home in the Red Fort. The shopping area originally had around 1600 shops, but has been completely rebuilt over the centuries and is now an extensive and expansive market area.
Chandni Chowk’s market is known for is its great variety and authenticity: food (especially street food and sweets), clothing (sarees, suits), electronic items, shoes, books, jewelry, car parts …
Tagged Chandi Chowk, Delhi, food, Market
“Pic of the Week”, November 29, 2019: Stumbling onto a Jain Parade, Delhi
While walking the streets of Old Delhi, we encountered this unexpected parade. A group of people playing instruments, carrying a few floats, and seeming to have a good time.
Our guide told us that it was a parade of Jains — people adherent to the ancient Indian religion of Jainism. I don’t know much about the faith except that along with Hinduism and Buddhism, it is one of the oldest religions in Asia, dating to the 6th century.
There are many festivals in the Jain faith and we thought it likely was a celebration of one of these. Unfortunately I’ll never know.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
.All Trips / Florida / North America / Southeastern USA
A Moving Visit to the Holocaust Memorial of Miami Beach
As with most visits to sites dedicated to remembrance of willfully destroyed human lives, a stop at the Miami Beach Holocaust memorial will likely leave you somewhat moved, disturbed and drained. I guess that’s the point of it. For example, my first reaction when I saw the memorial’s imposing arm reaching up to the sky was that it was a sign of defiance and victory — the spirit of the Jewish people couldn’t be defeated by the Nazis. Instead, I was saddened to learn the arm was symbolic of millions of tattooed arms that were grasping for help in their despair as they were dying, and there was no relief to be found.
It may seem a little odd that there …
“Pic of the Week”, November 22, 2019: Street Art sampler, Winnipeg
A few of the murals I saw while driving around Winnipeg this past summer. Over the years the number and quality of these has shown an appreciated increase throughout the city.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
