Recently I asked you to tell me about your dream vacation. I told you that my dream vacation involves a trip to England and walking out of my visit to the Crown Jewels with a tiara hidden in my messy pink and blue streaked hair.
"Ignore the woman with the tiara in her messy pink and blue streaked hair" will be the subliminal message I send out psychotically or psychedelically or something -- I can't remember the word I want. You know, when you send out a subliminal message to people about tiaras.
Whatever.
I think I've also asked you before about the best vacation you've ever taken, but now I want to know the following:
What's the most interesting thing you've seen while traveling?
This question is a bit of a toughie for me because I've seen a lot of cool museums and famous homes. Before White House visits became more restricted because of terrorism, we went to the White House shortly before Christmas. George H. W. Bush was president. The tree was decorated in a Nutcracker theme and no, I do not mean your balls, I mean the ballet, and at every turn we encountered a different group playing instruments or singing.
That night was lovely. The snow was falling. Not many people were out and about so the line was short and it moved quickly. Ah, what a delight that was.
But I can't say we were really traveling then because we lived a mere 16 miles from the White House.
I'll answer with something we saw while on a trip to Vermont and Quebec. Dr. X had business in the Stowe area and in Montreal. The kiddles and I went along for the ride. We toured Ben and Jerry's and marveled at the beauty of the Vermont mountains. Initially we checked into a hotel with an ant trail going through the bathroom -- yes they were walking across the floor two by two by two as if they were headed for the ark, hoping desperately they could all get in -- so we moved to the Trapp Family Lodge. That was a joy, and I felt a great desire to make the curtains in our room into play clothes for all of us, but Dr. X and the kiddles held me down and wouldn't let me do it because I can't sew.
Anystowe, as we drove toward Quebec, not long before we would cross the border into Canada, we saw a sign that said "Lipizzan Stallions: Visit Us." We pulled over and there were all these incredibly gorgeous Lipizzan stallions that travel to put on shows. Some people call them dancing horses because they can perform such amazing moves.
They were tethered under a very large tent, taking a rest from their journey.
It was an ahhhhhhhhhh moment. I choose the stallions as the most interesting "thing" I've seen while traveling because it was unexpected and thrilling. What a marvelous surprise to just be driving along and find them.
Now, how about you? What's the most interesting thing you've seen while traveling?
I eagerly await your fascinating responses.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
 |
| Our view of the mountains from the von Trapp family lodge. |
Pompeii. Hands down. The mere fact that the paintings are still on the wall, in vibrant reds, the clay pipes in the walls of what's left of the homes, the areas of the market that would be their equivalent of "fast food". It was really remarkable. And then of course the excavated "remains" of the people. They poured casts into the solidified lava... the expressions of faces, the family dogs protecting the children... simply amazing.
ReplyDeleteHow strangely fascinating, Juli.
DeleteOH! And same trip... an embassy was bombed 70 miles south of Rome while we were there... our last day we were on the tops of the Spanish steps and watched the Italian army "prepare" to protect the borders. Armed men marched through the streets, it was so surreal, terrifying, and humbling all at once.
ReplyDeleteThe Hurricane was in Rome when the U.S. invaded Iraq. Her hotel was quite near the Vatican. The Pope denounced the war, and many Italians hung rainbow-striped "PACE" flags from their windows. The Hurricane returned with one of the flags, which cost a few euros. I had the flag framed, which cost $450, and it's hanging in my living room until The Hurricane settles down and wants it back. Hurricanes travel a great deal and move very quickly, as you can imagine.
DeleteMrs. Chatterbox and I were visiting Stonehenge and all of a sudden a few women through off their coats and started dancing around the monument. They were naked and covered in blue paint. Evidently, it was a Druid holiday of some sort. I was so startled that it wasn't until after the police hauled them away that I realized I hadn't taken any pictures.
ReplyDeleteStephen, I think you should win some sort of prize for the most unusual sighting during a trip. How I wish you had taken photos, but I understand you were rather taken aback.
DeleteBud & I saw the Lipizzans at their home in Austria--AMAZING & GORGEOUS!! But it always bothers me when a horse is more graceful than I am!
ReplyDeleteI just remembered the Hellbrun Palace in Salzburg, Austria. Centuries ago the owner installed water jets e4verywhere, including at a large dining table, so all visitors are guaranteed to get sprayed by surprise. LOTS OF FUN!!
ReplyDeleteNow that's an interesting idea, fishducky. I'd like to do that in my house to keep me cool during the Florida summer.
DeleteWe saw the Lipizzan Stallions when we lived in Santa Fe; you are right, they are beautiful and they "dance" so well; I remember their performance years later as dazzling.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to remember the most interesting thing I've seen on vacation; nothing immediately comes to mind but in looking back at our various trips over the years, one thing that stands out as a great memory is at the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival, watching over 800 balloons being lifted off the ground in various shapes and sizes and seeing them all floating in the sky; that was very impressive to me!
betty
When I was a reporter I wrote an article about some folks who went to that balloon festival every year. The pictures they showed me were beautiful.
DeleteOne event I remember was from our trip to the middle east about 20 years ago. Israeli warplanes firing rockets and machine guns into Lebanon. That was a bit too "interesting."
ReplyDeleteOn that same trip, we became walking targets in some Palestinian childrens' "stone throwing practice" for the day. Also "interesting."
Those events are a little too interesting, Rob-bear. Did you growl at the children and lumber off?
Deletenow that's a big question. i've seen many things. i usually enjoy the different landscapes and weather in the places that i've visited.
ReplyDeletei also like watching people in the trains, shops, parks, anywhere. once, i saw two ladies in a fight at a train station in paris. pulling each other's hair and kicking. real drama.
i love the great ocean road in australia and the animal sanctuaries that they have there.
love the old churches in france and england. i was mesmerised by the eiffel tower. the sandstorms and the landscape in the middle east fascinate me too.
What lovely memories you have, Jaya. That fight sounds wild. The Hurricane loves to visit cathedrals in Europe to see the artwork.
DeleteOh, I would live to see those horses! They're so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy most interesting thing would be the amazing Mayan ruin city of Tikal, Guatemala. It is literally an entire city of ruins.. Some of the temples go above the tree lines, and even the clouds. One morning, we got up around 4am to hike to one of the temples to climb the steps and sit at the top for the sunrise. It was breathtaking.
Oh, how beautiful that sounds, Kianwi. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteLet's see. I think the most interesting thing I've seen was underwater in Lake Huron. It was a shipwreck. Inside, the cups and plates and utensils were still sitting on the table, looking like nothing had happened. It was very cool (and also very cold - the water temperature was 43 degrees!).
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting, Sherry. Did anyone survive the wreck? How long since it took place?
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not as interesting as Pompeii but I loved skiing in Lake Tahoe and getting to cross over from Nevada into California just by skiing down a slope. Very cool. And looking out at the lake from 10,000+ feet up is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't break any bones while skiing, did you? Just wondering, sexy lady.
DeleteThe female cop pulling her gun on me in Boston, Massachusetts, that really caught my attention. Oh, and dolphins leaping out of the sea alongside the ferry coming back from Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel.
ReplyDeleteI remember you writing about the cop. Do women threaten you with guns regularly? The dolphins would be so cool.
DeleteFor me it's a toss up between many places--but maybe visiting The House On The Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin or the Crystal Cave near Spring Valley, Wisconsin. Seeing the ocean for the first time in Florida was awesome, too. Oh, and I remember feeding prairie dogs alongside the highway when I was a kid--Montana or Colorado, maybe? Walking up in shorts to touch a glacier on that trip, too. Oh, forget it. I find everything fascinating. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's all fascinating, isn't it? I think we're blessed with the faith and the happiness of children. I don't know what The House On The Rock is, but I saw Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water in Pennsylvania. That is a way cool place.
DeleteTechnically it's not a typical 'traveling' story as we were moving there, but when we first moved to Edinburgh we wandered into the city center on our first evening. There were people absolutely everywhere facing Edinburgh Castle and we soon were amazed at the stunning fireworks display shot off of the Castle to live music from an orchestra. The highlight for me was the huge fiery "waterfall" created with fireworks down the side of the rocky hill that the Castle was on. It was an incredible sight for our first day in a new country and we later found out that it was an annual event that celebrated the end of The Fringe Festival (which was another incredible experience!).
ReplyDelete