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Buffalo Bill at the End

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Buffalo Bill at the End
vacation sell off
Image by Pete Zarria
Harry Tammen was a co-founder of the Denver Post. He was also a rat bastard. Tammen wanted to own a circus so he conjured up the Sells-Floto Circus. He wanted a name to help promote it. He had a chance to ensnare Buffalo Bill.

Buffalo Bill was an easy touch for a friend or anyone. He was very generous. In North Platte, when a new show came in, the kids would all go find what bar Bill was drinking in and ask to go. Cody always took care of them. He loved children and get rich quick schemes.

Bill had interest in a couple of mines in Oracle, AZ, he sunk 0,000 dollars into them for nothing. He was robbed. He needed cash and Harry Tammen loaned him ,000 and bought his soul in 1911 after a tough year for the Wild West with Pawnee Bill Lillie, his partner by then.

Bill continued to work the last few years of life. All he was required to do was salute the crowd from the saddle. He was so old by this time and his back so wrecked by decades of horse riding, he couldn't even mount a horse by himself. An aide would put him up in the saddle, a curtain would fall. Then the aide would take him off. A sad end to one of the most celebrated Americans in history. He died in Denver 1917.


The End of the Trail
vacation sell off
Image by Pete Zarria
This is just a couple of years before he died in 1917. He was forced to keep working up to near the end.

Harry Tammen was a co-founder of the Denver Post. He was also a rat bastard. Tammen wanted to own a circus so he conjured up the Sells-Floto Circus. He wanted a name to help promote it. He had a chance to ensnare Buffalo Bill.

Buffalo Bill was an easy touch for a friend or anyone. He was very generous. In North Platte, when a new show came in, the kids would all go find what bar Bill was drinking in and ask to go. Cody always took care of them. He loved children and get rich quick schemes.

Bill had interest in a couple of mines in Oracle, AZ, he sunk 0,000 dollars into them for nothing. He was robbed. He needed cash and Harry Tammen loaned him ,000 and bought his soul in 1911 after a tough year for the Wild West with Pawnee Bill Lillie, his partner by then.

Bill continued to work the last few years of life. All he was required to do was salute the crowd from the saddle. He was so old by this time and his back so wrecked by decades of horse riding, he couldn't even mount a horse by himself. An aide would put him up in the saddle, a curtain would fall. Then the aide would take him off. A sad end to one of the most celebrated Americans in history. He died in Denver 1917.

Cool Vacation To Go images

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Tourneau clocks
vacation to go
Image by Ambernectar 13
The clocks at Tourneau in Water Tower Place...

...the place to go if you want to know what time it is in Milan or Sydney ;o)

www.shopwatertower.com/

www.tourneau.com/Tourneau/


P1030746 - high tea invitation
vacation to go
Image by Ambernectar 13
we got an invite to a high tea...

...we didnt go because it clashed with the Ice show (I queued half an hour to get those tickets!).

Christina Perri Kicks Off Her First Official U.S. Tour, Playing to a Packed House at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

A few nice vegas deals images I found:


Christina Perri Kicks Off Her First Official U.S. Tour, Playing to a Packed House at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
vegas deals
Image by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, July 16, 2011 - Christina Perri played to a packed house at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was the kick-off of her first official U.S. tour.

In July 2010, a struggling singer-songwriter and musician named Christina Perri had a life-changing moment when she was asked to perform a song she had written, a defiant break-up anthem called “Jar of Hearts,” on the Fox show So You Think You Can Dance. The raw, emotional quality of her performance connected with viewers and catapulted the 24-year-old Philadelphia native into the public eye. “Jar of Hearts” went on to sell a million downloads and land Perri, who was then supporting herself as a café manager in Beverly Hills, a deal with Atlantic Records...continue reading more on Christina Perri.

See photos here from the Christina Perri Meet & Greet and private show with Mix 941 that took place earlier in the day at Marquee Nightclub's Boombox.

For upcoming shows and events at The Cosmopolitan see the Events Calendar.

Find The Cosmopolitan on...
Twitter: @Cosmopolitan_LV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCosmopolitan
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheCosmopolitanLV
Website: www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com


Mini Bar in Suite of Aria
vegas deals
Image by Calgary Reviews
For your own Las Vegas experience, find great Las Vegas Specials with Las Vegas Deals. To see how Aria was, see the review of Aria Resort & Casino

Nice Vacation To Hawaii photos

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p1030061
vacation to hawaii
Image by orayzio

Cool Vacation And Travel images

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100_2051
vacation and travel
Image by theplaz


Royal Ontario Museum - old and new
vacation and travel
Image by Al_HikesAZ
This is the Royal Ontario Museum - the original and The Crystal by Libeskind added in 2007.
We visited Toronto for the wedding of our niece.

www.rom.on.ca/visit/tourism.php
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ontario_Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's largest museum of world culture and natural history located in Toronto, Ontario.[1] It is one of the largest museums in North America, welcoming over a million visitors every year.[2] The museum is located north of Queen's Park in the University of Toronto, with its main entrance facing Bloor Street.

Founded in 1912, the museum has maintained close relations with the University of Toronto throughout its history, often sharing expertise and resources.[3] The museum was originally under the direct control and management of the University of Toronto, until 1968, when it became an independent institution.[4] Today, the museum is Canada's largest field-research institution, with research and conservation activities that span the globe.[5]

With more than six million items and forty galleries, the museum's diverse collections of world culture and natural history are part of the reason for its international reputation.[5] The museum contains notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history. It also houses the world's largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale with more than 150,000 specimens.[6] The museum even contains an extensive collection of design and fine arts. These include clothing, interior, and product design, especially Art Deco.

The Crystal
"The Crystal", new entrance of the ROM

The new main entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum, Daniel Libeskind's The Crystal, first opened in 2007.[27] The Deconstructivist crystalline-form is clad in 25 percent glass and 75 percent aluminium sitting on top of a steel frame. The Crystal's canted walls do not touch the sides of the existing heritage buildings, used to close the envelope between the new form and existing walls. These walls act as a pathway for pedestrians to safely travel across "The Crystal".

The building's design is similar to some of Libeskind's other works, notably the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the London Metropolitan University Graduate Centre, and the Fredric C. Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum.[28] The steel framework was manufactured and assembled by Walters Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario. The extruded anodized aluminium cladding was fabricated by Josef Gartner in Germany; the only company in the world that can produce the material. The company also provided the titanium cladding for Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.[23]

The overall aim of The Crystal is to provide openness and accessibility, seeking to blur the lines between the threshold linking the public area of the street and the more private area of the museum. The goal is to act as an open threshold where people, as well as artifacts, animate the space. The main lobby is a three-story high atrium, named the Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court.[29] The lobby is overlooked by balconies and flanked by the J.P. Driscoll Family Stair of Wonders and the Spirit House, an interstitial space formed by the intersection of the east and west crystals, intended as a space of emotional and physical diversion.[30]

On June 1, 2007, the Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, attended the Architectural Opening of the "Michael Lee-Chin Crystal".[31] This caused controversy because the public opinion had been divided concerning the merits of its angular design. On its opening, Globe and Mail architecture critic Lisa Rochon complained that "the new ROM rages at the world," was oppressive, angsty, and hellish, while others (perhaps championed by the architecture critic at the competing Toronto Star, Christopher Hume) hailed it as a monument.[32] Some critics have gone as far as ranking it as one of the ten ugliest buildings in the world.[33] The project also experienced budget and construction time over-runs,[34] and drew comparisons to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for using so-called "starchitecture" to attract tourism.[35]

In October 2007, the Lee-Chin Crystal was reported to have suffered from water leakage causing concerns due to the building's resilience to weather, especially in the face of the new structure's proximate first winter.[36] Although a two-layer cladding system was incorporated into the design of the Crystal to prevent the formation of dangerous snow loads on the structure, past architectural creations of Daniel Libeskind, (including the Denver Art Museum) have suffered from weather-related complications.[37][38]

Installation of the permanent galleries of the Lee-Chin Crystal began mid-June 2007, after a ten-day period when all the empty gallery spaces were open to the public.[39] Within The Crystal, there is a gift shop, C5 restaurant lounge, a cafeteria, seven additional galleries and Canada’s largest temporary exhibition hall. The galleries added to the Crystal gave different aspects to the ROM; fascinating visuals, architectural artifacts and environment, art, correspondence between object and space, as well as stories within the visuals.[40] The C5 restaurant Lounge is an award winning designs firm lI BY IV Design Associated Inc. This Mexican cuisine restaurant allows people to experience Mexico through taste, as well as live music.[41]

IMG_0950

Spot the gator

Check out these vacation spots images:


Spot the gator
vacation spots
Image by Doug Waldron
You may have to view large to spot the gator.

This guy was watching us as we rode our bikes past. Photo taken while in motion; no way was I going to stop!


Unknown Vacation Spots
vacation spots
Image by suzyq212
Punta Gorda, Florida---known as The City of Hibiscus


Ladybugs Vacation Spot
vacation spots
Image by jfernsler

Cool Vacation Beach Resort images

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Beach jai alai
vacation beach resort
Image by newwavegurly


Sunset 13
vacation beach resort
Image by mysticalangel


Paras Beach Resort
vacation beach resort
Image by Roslyn in Starfish Island

Mexico 2013

Some cool vacation to mexico images:


Mexico 2013
vacation to mexico
Image by tonitunes
Mexican Vacation with Greg & Kat June 24 to July 3, 2013


Mexico 2013
vacation to mexico
Image by tonitunes
Mexican Vacation with Greg & Kat June 24 to July 3, 2013

Cool Vacations In images

Check out these vacations in images:



Bison
vacations in
Image by donjd2
Scene from our Vacation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks


Craigmillar Castle view
vacations in
Image by jacklail
A view of out a stone window opening at Craigmillar Castle near Edinburgh, Scottland. Photo from our vacation in Scotland, May 26-June 2, 2007.

Nice Resort Vacation Club photos

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Krystal International Vacation Club (KIVC) Cancun
resort vacation club
Image by Krystal International Vacation Club

Nice Resort Vacation Rentals photos

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DSC02851, Montbleu Hotel and Casino, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada
resort vacation rentals
Image by jimg944
From LakeTahoe.com: Welcome to Lake Tahoe.com where we have everything you need to guide you through the vacation of a lifetime. Lake Tahoe has it all. If you're looking for Lake Tahoe lodging you can browse thousands of Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals, from almost every vacation rental company in the Lake Tahoe Truckee area. Our selection includes ski leases, homes, cabins and condos, all available for your perfect vacation.

You can also browse our guide to Lake Tahoe Hotels, which covers everything from the large casino hotels and resorts in South Lake Tahoe, to the more rustic lodges of North Lake Tahoe and the "West Shore".

If you enjoy being outdoors during the summer, Lake Tahoe is the perfect playground. Lake Tahoe golfing consistently ranks among the best in the country. Check out Golf Tahoe for a complete guide to Lake Tahoe golf courses. In addition to golfing we have boating, kayaking, jet skiing, beaches, campgrounds, mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing just to get started. Don't forget about all the shopping and dining options we have as well. To get all your area info please visit TahoeGuide.com, the Ultimate Lake Tahoe Vacation Planner

Do you love winter and lots of snow? Well you've come to the right place. The Lake Tahoe Area is one of the world's premier skiing and snowboarding destinations, with 16 ski resorts to choose from!. Visit the Lake Tahoe Skiing Guide at SkiTahoe.com for all your ski and snowboard resort info. We also have snowmobiling, and be sure to get out and enjoy the serenity of snow shoeing, you won't regret it.

We know what you're saying, what about the nightlife. Of course we have nightlife. In addition to all of the wonderful outdoor activities, Lake Tahoe is also famous for it's casino action. Get out and try your luck or enjoy a wonderful night of entertainment. Lake Tahoe Casinos range from "Vegas style" full service Resort Casinos with world class show venues in South Lake Tahoe, to smaller intimate "Tahoe Lodge" style resorts in North Lake Tahoe. For a complete list of upcoming live music, shows, and festivals, visit our Lake Tahoe Events Calendar.


DSC02792, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA
resort vacation rentals
Image by jimg944
From LakeTahoe.com: Welcome to Lake Tahoe.com where we have everything you need to guide you through the vacation of a lifetime. Lake Tahoe has it all. If you're looking for Lake Tahoe lodging you can browse thousands of Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals, from almost every vacation rental company in the Lake Tahoe Truckee area. Our selection includes ski leases, homes, cabins and condos, all available for your perfect vacation.

You can also browse our guide to Lake Tahoe Hotels, which covers everything from the large casino hotels and resorts in South Lake Tahoe, to the more rustic lodges of North Lake Tahoe and the "West Shore".

If you enjoy being outdoors during the summer, Lake Tahoe is the perfect playground. Lake Tahoe golfing consistently ranks among the best in the country. Check out Golf Tahoe for a complete guide to Lake Tahoe golf courses. In addition to golfing we have boating, kayaking, jet skiing, beaches, campgrounds, mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing just to get started. Don't forget about all the shopping and dining options we have as well. To get all your area info please visit TahoeGuide.com, the Ultimate Lake Tahoe Vacation Planner

Do you love winter and lots of snow? Well you've come to the right place. The Lake Tahoe Area is one of the world's premier skiing and snowboarding destinations, with 16 ski resorts to choose from!. Visit the Lake Tahoe Skiing Guide at SkiTahoe.com for all your ski and snowboard resort info. We also have snowmobiling, and be sure to get out and enjoy the serenity of snow shoeing, you won't regret it.

We know what you're saying, what about the nightlife. Of course we have nightlife. In addition to all of the wonderful outdoor activities, Lake Tahoe is also famous for it's casino action. Get out and try your luck or enjoy a wonderful night of entertainment. Lake Tahoe Casinos range from "Vegas style" full service Resort Casinos with world class show venues in South Lake Tahoe, to smaller intimate "Tahoe Lodge" style resorts in North Lake Tahoe. For a complete list of upcoming live music, shows, and festivals, visit our Lake Tahoe Events Calendar.

King of the Past

Check out these vacation resort in florida images:


King of the Past
vacation resort in florida
Image by Scottwdw
I wonder if the Cast Members who work behind the checkout in the Zawadi Marketplace store at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge resort feel they are being looked after by one of the Kings of the Past.


Tranquil
vacation resort in florida
Image by Express Monorail
I’m not going to lie, this is one of those pictures that every time I look at it, I wish to be back there. Of all the French Quarter pictures I took this is my favorite. I intentionally chose f/2.8 at 200mm to create a shallow depth of field. I hoped that it would make for a sort of dreamy like photo. Also, this is one of the many that I lost the RAW file and I remember choosing “shady” as the white balance as this scene was in fact in the shade. The colors seem a little on the warm side but I think, if nothing else, it gives the image an inviting feel. I had to wait a few minutes to make sure no one was in the image. At 200mm there is quite a bit of depth compression so this path is a lot longer than it looks!

I instantly fell in love with this resort… it is truly beautiful. I’m not good at writing reviews so hopefully my pictures (I have a few more good ones) do the talking.

*PLEASE CHECK IT OUT LARGE ON BLACK*
___________________________________________________________________

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter, Walt Disney World Resort

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you're having a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah day!


Saucepots
vacation resort in florida
Image by jazzijava
In the one-bedroom suite at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa in Orlando, FL. There was also a large pot above the stove.

Blow me away

Some cool vacation spots images:


Blow me away
vacation spots
Image by Let Ideas Compete
Somewhere out in the Stockholm archipelago. Given the size of the hill, I suspect it's rather close to Stockholm, say near Nacka.


Island Cargo Carrier
vacation spots
Image by Let Ideas Compete
On the island of Ornö, Sweden.

Christina Perri Kicks Off Her First Official U.S. Tour at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

A few nice vegas deals images I found:


Christina Perri Kicks Off Her First Official U.S. Tour at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
vegas deals
Image by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, July 16, 2011 - Christina Perri played to a packed house at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was the kick-off of her first official U.S. tour.

In July 2010, a struggling singer-songwriter and musician named Christina Perri had a life-changing moment when she was asked to perform a song she had written, a defiant break-up anthem called “Jar of Hearts,” on the Fox show So You Think You Can Dance. The raw, emotional quality of her performance connected with viewers and catapulted the 24-year-old Philadelphia native into the public eye. “Jar of Hearts” went on to sell a million downloads and land Perri, who was then supporting herself as a café manager in Beverly Hills, a deal with Atlantic Records...continue reading more on Christina Perri.

See photos here from the Christina Perri Meet & Greet and private show with Mix 941 that took place earlier in the day at Marquee Nightclub's Boombox.

For upcoming shows and events at The Cosmopolitan see the Events Calendar.

Find The Cosmopolitan on...
Twitter: @Cosmopolitan_LV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCosmopolitan
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheCosmopolitanLV
Website: www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com


Christina Perri Kicks Off Her First Official U.S. Tour at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
vegas deals
Image by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, July 16, 2011 - Christina Perri played to a packed house at Book & Stage at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was the kick-off of her first official U.S. tour.

In July 2010, a struggling singer-songwriter and musician named Christina Perri had a life-changing moment when she was asked to perform a song she had written, a defiant break-up anthem called “Jar of Hearts,” on the Fox show So You Think You Can Dance. The raw, emotional quality of her performance connected with viewers and catapulted the 24-year-old Philadelphia native into the public eye. “Jar of Hearts” went on to sell a million downloads and land Perri, who was then supporting herself as a café manager in Beverly Hills, a deal with Atlantic Records...continue reading more on Christina Perri.

See photos here from the Christina Perri Meet & Greet and private show with Mix 941 that took place earlier in the day at Marquee Nightclub's Boombox.

For upcoming shows and events at The Cosmopolitan see the Events Calendar.

Find The Cosmopolitan on...
Twitter: @Cosmopolitan_LV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheCosmopolitan
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TheCosmopolitanLV
Website: www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

Cebu Vacation - 16

A few nice vacations images I found:


Cebu Vacation - 16
vacations
Image by Daniel Y. Go
A beautiful lady waiting for me @ the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort, Cebu - Day 2
Short Vacation with my family, March 28-30, 2011

Alone on the Beach in the Evening

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Alone on the Beach in the Evening
vacations on the beach
Image by Michael Bentley


Pebbles on the shore
vacations on the beach
Image by Jon Evans

The Orange Tree Golf Resort - Gazebo

A few nice resort vacation images I found:


The Orange Tree Golf Resort - Gazebo
resort vacation
Image by ShellVacationsHospitality
The Orange Tree Golf Resort


The Orange Tree Golf Resort - Pool
resort vacation
Image by ShellVacationsHospitality
The Orange Tree Golf Resort


The Orange Tree Golf Resort - Exterior
resort vacation
Image by ShellVacationsHospitality
The Orange Tree Golf Resort

Nice Resort Spa Vacation photos

Some cool resort spa vacation images:



Flags
resort spa vacation
Image by Daniel*1977


Ko Olina DVC-Aulani Update 2011-05-19
resort spa vacation
Image by coconut wireless
If I understood Samantha Brown correctly, this is where the spa, Laniwai, will be located.

Cool Vacation Village images

A few nice vacation village images I found:


Canyon Village Destination
vacation village
Image by SeattleRay
Scenic spots to view at this destination location are: Upper Falls, Uncle Tom's Trail, Clear Lake, Yellowstone River, Artist Point, Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Grand View, Inspiration Point, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Canyon Village Visitor Center and Canyon Lodge.

There is the gallery of 18 outstanding Flickr pictures that were taken at the Canyon Village destination. The gallery pictures follow this map route and show some of the scenic highlights that can be viewed at this destination location.

The 18 Interesting and unique Yellowstone National Park pictures at this destination can be viewed by clicking on the gallery link below.

View a gallery of 18 pictures taken at the Canyon Village Destination.

Or you may wish to select from another of the 22 Yellowstone routes and destinations. Or, you may want to experience the four seasons of both the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Four maps are also available.

All of the galleries that contain 540 Interesting and unique Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park pictures can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

Tour all of Yellowstone or experience a Yellowstone or Grand Teton season. Review a map.

Enjoy.

You can view the original version of this map here.

Permission to use given here.


Lakeland Village pier
vacation village
Image by glenngould
Rob and I played here as boys. We were here before Lakeland Village. It used to be a meadow with a couple of dirt roads. Bikers would come here in the 60s. Hells Angels. Some drinking. Just a lot of yelling and playing. They weren't so bad...didn't seem so anyway.


German Village
vacation village
Image by Tjflex2
Small town along the Rhein

Cool Vacation Resort In Florida images

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Holiday Inn Resort Hotel, Pensacola Beach
vacation resort in florida
Image by Innisfree Hotels
holidayinnresortpensacolabeach.com/. The Holiday Inn Resort Beachfront Hotel is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in beautiful Pensacola Beach, Florida. Our guests enjoy captivating views of emerald green waters and miles upon miles of sugar white sand blanketed by the Florida sun. The hotel is centrally located and walking distance from restaurants, night life, shopping and recreational activities. We are only a 30 minute drive from the Pensacola International Airport.

Photographic credit

Check out these vacations for cheap images:


Photographic credit
vacations for cheap
Image by kevin dooley
1. Order cheap camera from Ebay, and buy good film online.

2. Go on vacation at nice place, wait until sundown, and take picture--point and click.

3. Take to local camera shop, tell them to develop it "xpro".

4. Take home my disk with image, crop it, and put on Flickr.

For this I should get credit as a photographer?

Wow, tough job...

Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim (cropped) with Kodak Elitechrome EBX 100 XPRO.
(FP Explore... without posting to any groups, interesting...)


IMG_2078
vacations for cheap
Image by Wootang01
9.4.09
The flight arrived on time; and the twelve hours while on board passed quickly and without incident. To be sure, the quality of the Cathay Pacific service was exemplary once again.

Heathrow reminds me of Newark International. The décor comes straight out of the sterile 80's and is less an eyesore than an insipid background to the rhythm of human activity, such hustle and bustle, at the fore. There certainly are faces from all races present, creating a rich mosaic of humanity which is refreshing if not completely revitalizing after swimming for so long in a sea of Chinese faces in Hong Kong.

Internet access is sealed in England, it seems. Nothing is free; everything is egregiously monetized from the wireless hotspots down to the desktop terminals. I guess Hong Kong has spoiled me with its abundant, free access to the information superhighway.


11.4.09
Despite staying in a room with five other backpackers, I have been sleeping well. The mattress and pillow are firm; my earplugs keep the noise out; and the sleeping quarters are as dark as a cave when the lights are out, and only as bright as, perhaps, a dreary rainy day when on. All in all, St. Paul's is a excellent place to stay for the gregarious, adventurous, and penurious city explorer - couchsurfing may be a tenable alternative; I'll test for next time.

Yesterday Connie and I gorged ourselves at the borough market where there were all sorts of delectable, savory victuals. There was definitely a European flavor to the food fair: simmering sausages were to be found everywhere; and much as the meat was plentiful, and genuine, so were the dairy delicacies, in the form of myriad rounds of cheese, stacked high behind checkered tabletops. Of course, we washed these tasty morsels down with copious amounts of alcohol that flowed from cups as though amber waterfalls. For the first time I tried mulled wine, which tasted like warm, rancid fruit punch - the ideal tonic for a drizzling London day, I suppose. We later killed the afternoon at the pub, shooting the breeze while imbibing several diminutive half-pints in the process. Getting smashed at four in the afternoon doesn't seem like such a bad thing anymore, especially when you are having fun in the company of friends; I can more appreciate why the English do it so much!

Earlier in the day, we visited the Tate Modern. Its turbine room lived up to its prominent billing what with a giant spider, complete with bulbous egg sac, anchoring the retrospective exhibit. The permanent galleries, too, were a delight upon which to feast one's eyes. Picasso, Warhol and Pollock ruled the chambers of the upper floors with the products of their lithe wrists; and I ended up becoming a huge fan of cubism, while developing a disdain for abstract art and its vacuous images, which, I feel, are devoid of both motivation and emotion.

My first trip yesterday morning was to Emirates Stadium, home of the Arsenal Gunners. It towers imperiously over the surrounding neighborhood; yet for all its majesty, the place sure was quiet! Business did pick up later, however, once the armory shop opened, and dozens of fans descended on it like bees to a hive. I, too, swooped in on a gift-buying mission, and wound up purchasing a book for Godfrey, a scarf for a student, and a jersey - on sale, of course - for good measure.

I'm sitting in the Westminster Abbey Museum now, resting my weary legs and burdened back. So far, I've been verily impressed with what I've seen, such a confluence of splendor and history before me that it would require days to absorb it all, when regretfully I can spare only a few hours. My favorite part of the abbey is the poets corner where no less a literary luminary than Samuel Johnson rests in peace - his bust confirms his homely presence, which was so vividly captured in his biography.

For lunch I had a steak and ale pie, served with mash, taken alongside a Guinness, extra cold - 2 degrees centigrade colder, the bartender explained. It went down well, like all the other delicious meals I've had in England; and no doubt by now I have grown accustomed to inebriation at half past two. Besides, Liverpool were playing inspired football against Blackburn; and my lunch was complete.

Having had my fill of football, I decided to skip my ticket scalping endeavor at Stamford Bridge and instead wandered over to the British Museum to inspect their extensive collections. Along the way, my eye caught a theater, its doors wide open and admitting customers. With much rapidity, I subsequently checked the show times, saw that a performance was set to begin, and at last rushed to the box office to purchase a discounted ticket - if you call a 40 pound ticket a deal, that is. That's how I grabbed a seat to watch Hairspray in the West End.

The show was worth forty pounds. The music was addictive; and the stage design and effects were not so much kitschy as delightfully stimulating - the pulsating background lights were at once scintillating and penetrating. The actors as well were vivacious, oozing charisma while they danced and delivered lines dripping in humor. Hairspray is a quality production and most definitely recommended.


12.4.09
At breakfast I sat across from a man who asked me to which country Hong Kong had been returned - China or Japan. That was pretty funny. Then he started spitting on my food as he spoke, completely oblivious to my breakfast becoming the receptacle in which the fruit of his inner churl was being placed. I guess I understand the convention nowadays of covering one's mouth whilst speaking and masticating at the same time!

We actually conversed on London life in general, and I praised London for its racial integration, the act of which is a prodigious leap of faith for any society, trying to be inclusive, accepting all sorts of people. It wasn't as though the Brits were trying in vain to be all things to all men, using Spanish with the visitors from Spain, German with the Germans and, even, Hindi with the Indians, regardless of whether or not Hindi was their native language; not even considering the absurd idea of encouraging the international adoption of their language; thereby completely keeping English in English hands and allowing its proud polyglots to "practice" their languages. Indeed, the attempt of the Londoners to avail themselves of the rich mosaic of ethnic knowledge, and to seek a common understanding with a ubiquitous English accent is an exemplar, and the bedrock for any world city.

I celebrated Jesus' resurrection at the St. Andrew's Street Church in Cambridge. The parishioners of this Baptist church were warm and affable, and I met several of them, including one visiting (Halliday) linguistics scholar from Zhongshan university in Guangzhou, who in fact had visited my tiny City University of Hong Kong in 2003. The service itself was more traditional and the believers fewer in number than the "progressive" services at any of the charismatic, evangelical churches in HK; yet that's what makes this part of the body of Christ unique; besides, the message was as brief as a powerpoint slide, and informative no less; the power word which spoke into my life being a question from John 21:22 - what is that to you?

Big trees; exquisite lawns; and old, pointy colleges; that's Cambridge in a nutshell. Sitting here, sipping on a half-pint of Woodforde's Wherry, I've had a leisurely, if not languorous, day so far; my sole duty consisting of walking around while absorbing the verdant environment as though a sponge, camera in tow.

I am back at the sublime beer, savoring a pint of Sharp's DoomBar before my fish and chips arrive; the drinking age is 18, but anyone whose visage even hints of youthful brilliance is likely to get carded these days, the bartender told me. The youth drinking culture here is almost as twisted as the university drinking culture in America.

My stay in Cambridge, relaxing and desultory as it may be, is about to end after this late lunch. I an not sure if there is anything left to see, save for the American graveyard which rests an impossible two miles away. I have had a wonderful time in this town; and am thankful for the access into its living history - the residents here must demonstrate remarkable patience and tolerance what with so many tourists ambling on the streets, peering - and photographing - into every nook and cranny.

13.4.09
There are no rubbish bins, yet I've seen on the streets many mixed race couples in which the men tend to be white - the women also belonging to a light colored ethnicity, usually some sort of Asian; as well saw some black dudes and Indian dudes with white chicks.

People here hold doors, even at the entrance to the toilet. Sometimes it appears as though they are going out on a limb, just waiting for the one who will take the responsibility for the door from them, at which point I rush out to relieve them of such a fortuitous burden.

I visited the British Museum this morning. The two hours I spent there did neither myself nor the exhibits any justice because there really is too much to survey, enough captivating stuff to last an entire day, I think. The bottomless well of artifacts from antiquity, drawing from sources as diverse as Korea, and Mesopotamia, is a credit to the British empire, without whose looting most of this amazing booty would be unavailable for our purview; better, I think, for these priceless treasures to be open to all in the grandest supermarket of history than away from human eyes, and worst yet, in the hands of unscrupulous collectors or in the rubbish bin, possibly.

Irene and I took in the ballet Giselle at The Royal Opera House in the afternoon. The building is a plush marvel, and a testament to this city's love for the arts. The ballet itself was satisfying, the first half being superior to the second, in which the nimble dancers demonstrated their phenomenal dexterity in, of all places, a graveyard covered in a cloak of smoke and darkness. I admit, their dance of the dead, in such a gloomy necropolis, did strike me as, strange.

Two amicable ladies from Kent convinced me to visit their hometown tomorrow, where, they told me, the authentic, "working" Leeds Castle and the mighty interesting home of Charles Darwin await.

I'm nursing a pint of Green King Ruddles and wondering about the profusion of British ales and lagers; the British have done a great deed for the world by creating an interminable line of low-alcohol session beers that can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner; and their disservice is this: besides this inexhaustible supply of cheap beer ensnaring my inner alcoholic, I feel myself putting on my freshman fifteen, almost ten years after the fact; I am going to have to run a bit harder back in Hong Kong if I want to burn all this malty fuel off.

Irene suggested I stop by the National Art Gallery since we were in the area; and it was an hour well spent. The gallery currently presents a special exhibit on Picasso, the non-ticketed section of which features several seductive renderings, including David spying on Bathsheba - repeated in clever variants - and parodies of other masters' works. Furthermore, the main gallery houses two fabulous portraits by Joshua Reynolds, who happens to be favorite of mine, he in life being a close friend of Samuel Johnson - I passed by Boswells, where its namesake first met Johnson, on my way to the opera house.

14.4.09
I prayed last night, and went through my list, lifting everyone on it up to the Lord. That felt good; that God is alive now, and ever present in my life and in the lives of my brothers and sisters.

Doubtless, then, I have felt quite wistful, as though a specter in the land of the living, being in a place where religious fervor, it seems, is a thing of the past, a trifling for many, to be hidden away in the opaque corners of centuries-old cathedrals that are more expensive tourist destinations than liberating homes of worship these days. Indeed, I have yet to see anyone pray, outside of the Easter service which I attended in Cambridge - for such an ecstatic moment in verily a grand church, would you believe that it was only attended by at most three dozen spirited ones. The people of England, and Europe in general, have, it is my hope, only locked away the Word, relegating it to the quiet vault of their hearts. May it be taken out in the sudden pause before mealtimes and in the still crisp mornings and cool, silent nights. There is still hope for a revival in this place, for faith to rise like that splendid sun every morning. God would love to rescue them, to deliver them in this day, it is certain.

I wonder what Londoners think, if anything at all, about their police state which, like a vine in the shadows, has taken root in all corners of daily life, from the terrorist notifications in the underground, which implore Londoners to report all things suspicious, to the pair of dogs which eagerly stroll through Euston. What makes this all the more incredible is the fact that even the United States, the indomitable nemesis of the fledgling, rebel order, doesn't dare bombard its citizens with such fear mongering these days, especially with Obama in office; maybe we've grown wise in these past few years to the dubious returns of surrendering civil liberties to the state, of having our bags checked everywhere - London Eye; Hairspray; and The Royal Opera House check bags in London while the museums do not; somehow, that doesn't add up for me.

I'm in a majestic bookshop on New Street in Birmingham, and certainly to confirm my suspicions, there are just as many books on the death of Christianity in Britain as there are books which attempt to murder Christianity everywhere. I did find, however, a nice biography on John Wesley by Roy Hattersley and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I may pick up the former.

Lunch with Sally was pleasant and mirthful. We dined at a French restaurant nearby New Street - yes, Birmingham is a cultural capitol! Sally and I both tried their omelette, while her boyfriend had the fish, without chips. Conversation was light, the levity was there and so was our reminiscing about those fleeting moments during our first year in Hong Kong; it is amazing how friendships can resume so suddenly with a smile. On their recommendation, I am on my way to Warwick Castle - they also suggested that I visit Cadbury World, but they cannot take on additional visitors at the moment, the tourist office staff informed me, much to my disappointment!

Visiting Warwick Castle really made for a great day out. The castle, parts of which were established by William the Conquerer in 1068, is as much a kitschy tourist trap as a meticulous preservation of history, at times a sillier version of Ocean Park while at others a dignified dedication to a most glorious, inexorably English past. The castle caters to all visitors; and not surprisingly, that which delighted all audiences was a giant trebuchet siege engine, which for the five p.m. performance hurled a fireball high and far into the air - fantastic! Taliban beware!

15.4.09
I'm leaving on a jet plane this evening; don't know when I'll be back in England again. I'll miss this quirky, yet endearing place; and that I shall miss Irene and Tom who so generously welcomed me into their home, fed me, and suffered my use of their toilet and shower goes without saying. I'm grateful for God's many blessings on this trip.

On the itinerary today is a trip to John Wesley's home, followed by a visit to the Imperial War Museum. Already this morning I picked up a tube of Oilatum, a week late perhaps, which Teri recommended I use to treat this obstinate, dermal weakness of mine - I'm happy to report that my skin has stopped crying.

John Wesley's home is alive and well. Services are still held in the chapel everyday; and its crypt, so far from being a cellar for the dead, is a bright, spacious museum in which all things Wesley are on display - I never realized how much of an iconic figure he became in England; at the height of this idol frenzy, ironic in itself, he must have been as popular as the Beatles were at their apex. The house itself is a multi-story edifice with narrow, precipitous staircases and spacious rooms decorated in an 18th century fashion.

I found Samuel Johnson's house within a maze of red brick hidden alongside Fleet Street. To be in the home of the man who wrote the English dictionary, and whose indefatigable love for obscure words became the inspiration for my own lexical obsession, this, by far, is the climax of my visit to England! The best certainly has been saved for last.

There are a multitude of portraits hanging around the house like ornaments on a tree. Every likeness has its own story, meticulously retold on the crib sheets in each room. Celebrities abound, including David Garrick and Sir Joshua Reynolds, who painted several of the finer images in the house. I have developed a particular affinity for Oliver Goldsmith, of whom Boswell writes, "His person was short, his countenance coarse and vulgar, his deportment that of a scholar awkwardly affecting the easy gentleman. It appears as though I, too, could use a more flattering description of myself!

I regretfully couldn't stop to try the curry in England; I guess the CityU canteen's take on the dish will have to do. I did, however, have the opportune task of flirting with the cute Cathay Pacific counter staff who checked me in. She was gorgeous in red, light powder on her cheeks, with real diamond earrings, she said; and her small, delicate face, commanded by a posh British accent rendered her positively irresistible, electrifying. Not only did she grant me an aisle seat but she had the gumption to return my fawning with zest; she must be a pro at this by now.

I saw her again as she was pulling double-duty, collecting tickets prior to boarding. She remembered my quest for curry; and in the fog of infatuation, where nary a man has been made, I fumbled my words like the sloppy kid who has had too much punch. I am just an amateur, alas, an "Oliver Goldsmith" with the ladies - I got no game - booyah!

Some final, consequential bits: because of the chavs, Burberry no longer sells those fashionable baseball caps; because of the IRA, rubbish bins are no longer a commodity on the streets of London, and as a result, the streets and the Underground of the city are a soiled mess; and because of other terrorists from distant, more arid lands, going through a Western airport has taken on the tedium of perfunctory procedure that doesn't make me feel any safer from my invisible enemies.

At last, I saw so many Indians working at Heathrow that I could have easily mistaken the place for Mumbai. Their presence surprised me because their portion of the general population surely must be less than their portion of Heathrow staff, indicating some mysterious hiring bias. Regardless, they do a superb job with cursory airport checks, and in general are absurdly funny and witty when not tactless.

That's all for England!

Nice Resort Vacation Rentals photos

A few nice resort vacation rentals images I found:


Holiday Inn Resort Hotel, Pensacola Beach
resort vacation rentals
Image by Innisfree Hotels
holidayinnresortpensacolabeach.com/. The Holiday Inn Resort Beachfront Hotel is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in beautiful Pensacola Beach, Florida. Our guests enjoy captivating views of emerald green waters and miles upon miles of sugar white sand blanketed by the Florida sun. The hotel is centrally located and walking distance from restaurants, night life, shopping and recreational activities. We are only a 30 minute drive from the Pensacola International Airport.


Holiday Inn Resort Hotel, Pensacola Beach
resort vacation rentals
Image by Innisfree Hotels
holidayinnresortpensacolabeach.com/. The Holiday Inn Resort Beachfront Hotel is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico in beautiful Pensacola Beach, Florida. Our guests enjoy captivating views of emerald green waters and miles upon miles of sugar white sand blanketed by the Florida sun. The hotel is centrally located and walking distance from restaurants, night life, shopping and recreational activities. We are only a 30 minute drive from the Pensacola International Airport.

Brighton, England

Check out these vacation spots images:


Brighton, England
vacation spots
Image by istorija


Heading For a Dip
vacation spots
Image by istorija
Brighton Beach, England


Brighton Beach, England
vacation spots
Image by istorija

Fred - with the boys

Some cool vacation and travel images:


Fred - with the boys
vacation and travel
Image by CharlesFred
Happy Birthday, Fred!



OGG > OAK #flight #travel
vacation and travel
Image by davitydave

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