tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11900734976623545202024-03-13T14:40:38.259-05:00Angie Kay DilmoreAdventures of a Yankee in Cajun CountryAngie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-22425331836603370652020-07-16T17:11:00.000-05:002020-07-16T19:31:03.528-05:00Summer 2020 Road Trip -- Exploring a Swath of the National Park System<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's the Summer of COVID-19. The summer of road tips. Because who is crazy enough to get on a plane in the middle of a pandemic? So somewhat spontaneously (we had a week or so to plan), Bob and I packed up our car and headed northeast. We had two weeks in June to see as much as we possible could. Tent camping the whole way. What better way to social distance!<br />
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As a family, we love the National Park System, and there's so much in this beautiful country we haven't yet seen. Because of the virus, campgrounds and amenities were basically closed within the National Parks, so we were relegated to state and private campgrounds for accommodations. While it wasn't always easy to reserve campsites, we made a gazillion phone calls and made it work.<br />
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Our first stop was the lovely <a href="https://gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon">Cloudland Canyon State Park</a> in Georgia but near Chattanooga, TN. We had a private walk-in site and felt like we had the whole woods to ourselves. (See photo above.) It rained that night but not before we got our tent set up and dinner finished. And s'mores. So we were fine.<br />
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The next day, we briefly explored Chattanooga. It's rather touristy in the ways they capitalize on the surrounding natural beauty, but we went to Rock City anyway.<br />
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Man-made waterfall</div>
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Garden Gnomes are cute.</div>
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When we tired of the cheesiness, we headed for Cherokee, NC at the southern base of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.<br />
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We stayed at a private campground called River Valley, geared primarily to RV campers, but there were a few tent sites and we had a nice time there. Very clean, mostly nice campers.<br />
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First stop, Mingo Falls. And we couldn't wait to see what came next.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm">Park</a> offered one stunning vista after another. We couldn't get enough of it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bucket list, even though the hike was short.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lunch break in a picnic area</span></div>
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After two days exploring this national treasure, we hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove (and drove and drove), twisting and turning, oohing and aahing at every overlook. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm">Parkway</a> is part of the National Park Service.<br />
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We timed the trip right to see plenty of wildflowers. Mountain laurel was the most prevalent, but we also saw flaming orange azaleas and the stunning rhododendron (below).<br />
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That night, we stayed at <a href="https://www.ncparks.gov/stone-mountain-state-park/home">Stone Mountain State Park</a> near Roaring Gap, NC. We arrived late in the evening and left early the next morning. So I can't say much about it, other than a symphony of cicadas serenaded us all night long.<br />
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The next day, we needed to complete our drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) and make our way to the northern end of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Long day of driving. But more natural beauty. This popular stop along the way, Mabry Mill, is the most photographed spot along the BRP.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Trickling streams are everywhere in the mountains.</span></div>
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We stayed two nights at Shenandoah River State Park in Virginia and spent one whole day exploring Shenandoah.<br />
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The hills are smaller on this end, more vistas of farmland.<br />
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My hometown, Connellsville, Pennsylvania was the northern terminus of our road trip. After a few wonderful days of visiting family, we headed back south. First stop was New River Gorge, West Virginia, a National River and of course, part of the Park System. Despite overcast skies and terribly hard rain during our second night there, we loved this area!<br />
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<a href="https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm">The Gorge</a> is best known for this impressive bridge -- the longest steel span in the western hemisphere and the third highest in the United States.<br />
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We hiked a lot, in the valleys and along the ridges. It was all breathtaking. I love being in the woods; lush green and cool, water rushing everywhere.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me in my happy place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hiking Endless Wall Trail</span></div>
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Next stop, another pleasant, quiet state park -- <a href="https://www.tnvacation.com/local/sequatchie-foster-falls-recreation-area">Foster Falls, TN</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It was a week of waterfalls!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">He makes the best campfires.</span></div>
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To navigate through the northwest corner of Alabama and much of Mississippi, on the advice of several friends, we opted to traverse the Natchez Trace, another National Parkway. We had heard this road was a pretty drive, but did not realize until we got there that it's a road like the BRP. What a pleasant way to travel! Quiet easy driving, no trucks, no traffic. And scenic. Apparently, I was done taking photos by this point, as I have none of Natchez Trace. Or maybe after the peaks of the Appalachians, comparatively flat Mississippi doesn't thrill quite the same way. But if you're ever headed that way, we highly recommend the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm">Trace</a>.<br />
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The last night of our road trip was a huge disappointment. Mississippi was shut down due to the virus more than any other state we were in, and even their state parks were closed. Our only option seemed to be a Yogi Bear Campground. (In hindsight, a hotel would have been more peaceful and less expensive.) Now, I understand Bob and I are not their target demographic, but Yogi Bear was a nightmare. Crowded, noisy, not well-maintained, and zero social distancing. That is all I can say about that.<br />
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But we didn't allow that one night to detract from an otherwise fantastic vacation!</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-50000336810536236912019-11-04T11:06:00.000-06:002019-11-04T12:49:00.184-06:00Melrose Plantation, Natchitoches, and a Cruise on the Cane River<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The great thing about getting (a little) older is that you get to do things with older folks. Fun things! The <a href="https://www.mcneese.edu/leisure/sage">Sage Series</a>, through McNeese State University's Leisure Learning program and geared to the senior set, is an example. Each semester, they offer a handful of interesting lectures, usually on some aspect of Louisiana culture or history. And there's a bus tour to some fascinating destination. This semester, it was <a href="http://www.melroseplantation.org/">Melrose Plantation</a> and <a href="https://www.natchitoches.com/">Natchitoches</a>.<br />
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I always get excited to explore places I've never been before; and while I had been to Natchitoches numerous occasions from 2010 to 2013 while our son attended high school there (see posts <a href="https://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2010/01/natchitoches-and-louisiana-school-for.html">here</a>, <a href="https://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2010/06/natchitoches.html">here</a>, and <a href="https://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2012/12/natchitoches-festival-of-lights.html">here</a>) I had never been to nearby Melrose Plantation. It is definitely worth a visit!<br />
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<img alt="A101abc.jpg" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52cc6f59e4b065c5e52a8760/1391548084950-WTTOETHRN9QJ5VGLWTPA/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kPdxMgniWdIBSQODW3OlpqJZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PI-cCGT_N1upKN5ztz0r6PZjkDpUopkGgwBHIIHA-xpJQKMshLAGzx4R3EDFOm1kBS/A101abc.jpg?format=1000w" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Big House</span></div>
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The history of Melrose is intriguing. It was built by Louis Metoyer, the son of freed slave <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">Marie Thérèse Coincoin (pronounced quA-quA) and her partner </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer, beginning in 1810 with the construction of some of the outbuildings on the property. Construction of the Big House began in 1832.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">After a 34-year ownership by the Hertzog family, the plantation was purchased by the Henry family, where John Henry and his young wife Cammie made their home in 1899.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">This plantation is very much in the boondocks, and I suppose Cammie longed for companionship. She was known for inviting artists and writers to her home for extended visits, sometimes years at a time. Melrose became a center for creativity. Cammie herself was a gifted quilter and weaver. While strolling the grounds, I imagined what it might have been like to spend time there for a writer's retreat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cammie Henry</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">Melrose's greatest claim to fame may be that it was home to renowned folk artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementine_Hunter">Clementine Hunter</a>. From the age of 12, Clementine worked on the plantation, first as a field hand and later a housekeeper and cook. Exposed to the talents of visiting artists, Clementine discovered discarded paints left by the artists and began painting. She painted what she knew -- namely plantation and rural Louisiana life in the mid-20th century. Her paintings tell the stories of her life experiences and the people in her world. She claimed to have known the names of every person portrayed in her extensive collection of paintings, occasionally inserting herself into the scenes. She painted on anything she could find -- cardboard, wood, clothe, and canvas, when she could get it. Her large murals in the "African House" on the property are especially fascinating. </span><br />
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<img alt="Related image" src="http://www.gilleysgallery.com/images/RamseyHunter_wKitten.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(from Gilley's Gallery)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">Today, Hunter is recognized internationally as one of the most famous African American folk artists in the United States. She died in 1988, at age 101, after completing thousands of works of art. Her work is viewed by over 15,000 visitors annually at Melrose Plantation.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">After Melrose, the busload of us ate lunch at the quaint Cane River Commissary.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Natchitoches is known for meat pies. And most all of Louisiana is known for gumbo!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">Once in Natchitoches, there was an hour or so to explore the Front St. shops and then we enjoyed a pleasant river boat cruise on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Boat-Service/Cane-River-Queen-Riverboat-2310542239216641/">Cane River Queen</a>. Some may not know, the Cane River is technically the 35-mile Cane River Lake, an oxbow cut off from the Red River in the mid-1800s by the removal of a 100-mile long logjam north of Natchitoches.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "brawler"; font-size: 15px;">So, funny story . . . on the drive back to Lake Charles, we made a pit stop at a Love's gas station. As we filed through the door, we heard over the loud speaker, "Attention, Code Orange, Code Orange!" Curious what a Code Orange is, we asked an employee in the ladies' room. She said it signals the arrival of a tour bus! Ha, ha. All hands on deck!</span></div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-16808730968996611182019-08-04T17:28:00.002-05:002019-08-04T17:28:57.431-05:00Asheville, N.C. -- Hip Meets Hippy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Of the three cities we visited on our vacation this summer, <a href="http://www.exploreasheville.com/">Asheville</a> was my favorite. We arrived on a drizzly Thursday afternoon, stopping first at the visitors' center, where we discovered there is WAY more to see and do in Asheville than we had time for. But just being there was a dream come true for me -- a place that had been on my to-visit list for a couple decades or more.<br />
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Asheville has a laid back, easy-going, retro, casual hippy kinda vibe. In fact, on more than one occasion, we saw folks smoking pot in public, quite openly with no reason to hide it, despite the fact that, from what I read online, that's not exactly legal. The town feels very diverse, open and welcoming. The shops and restaurants express that sense of diversity, so much so that it's really hard to decide where to dine -- there are so many fascinating choices -- especially when we only had two days in the area.<br />
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Asheville thrives in a quirky awesome way. A college town full of coffee shops, ethnic eateries, street performers, candy and ice cream shops, vintage clothing stores, bookstores, CBD oil and head shops galore. Bob and I loved the <a href="http://ashevillepinball.com/">Asheville Pinball Museum</a>, where for a reasonable fee, you can play pinball all day. We didn't have time to play all day, so we briefly walked around basking in vintage arcade nostalgia. And I was thrilled to stumble across a <a href="http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/">Ten Thousand Villages</a> shop (I'm a Ten Thousand Villages distributor through my church, <a href="http://firstpres-lc.org/">First Presbyterian Church Lake Charles</a>.) I was told this Asheville store is the largest brick and mortar Ten Thousand Villages in the country.<br />
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We stayed in a delightful inn called <a href="https://abedofroses.com/">A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast</a>.<br />
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Hosts Bill and Emily McIntosh ensure their guests have a wonderful stay, and their breakfasts are amazing. Marmalade-stuffed french toast, anyone?<br />
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Once settled in our room, we began exploring, with dinner the ultimate goal. Asheville is known for its <a href="http://ashevilleblog.com/asheville-brewery-list/">many breweries</a> (<i>many</i> is an understatement; there are literally dozens, if not a hundred in the region), and we found <a href="http://www.wickedweedbrewing.com/">Wicked Weed Brewery</a>. We shared a large flight and a soft pretzel. In this photo, you see what's left of the mustard, apple butter, and cheese dips.<br />
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Besides the vibe and diversity, another reason I love Asheville is because it is in the mountains. The <a href="http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/">Blue Ridge Parkway</a> hugs the town's eastern and southern borders. And as much as I wanted to further explore Asheville proper, I couldn't wait to get into the woods -- my happy place. No where else is my soul at such a degree of peace than surrounded by trees in a vast green forest. We hiked and drove several miles along this 469-mile national treasure.<br />
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The rhododendron . . .<br />
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and mountain laurel were in bloom -- two woodland plants that I love from my home state, Pennsylvania, and do not grow in the south (that I'm aware of) and I miss them.<br />
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As we descended back into Asheville, we spotted this black bear foraging roadside. Pretty exciting for me, as it was the first time I'd ever seen a bear in the wild.<br />
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We were told by more than one local that Asheville has become gentrified over the past several years. Which is another way of saying it is not as reasonably priced -- be it housing, dining, or shopping -- as it once was. But I'd go back in a heartbeat. And indeed, I plan to. There are so many places I have yet to explore, ie <a href="http://www.riverartsdistrict.com/">River Arts District</a> and <a href="http://townofmontreat.org/">Montreat</a>. And, more breweries.<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-457481186590048022019-07-12T15:58:00.001-05:002019-07-12T16:04:41.108-05:00Charleston, S.C. -- Historic Meets Hip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Continuing on our summer vacation, we drove from Savannah, GA to <a href="https://www.charlestoncvb.com/">Charleston, SC</a>. This second city on our tri-town trip surprised me. I expected lots of history, old buildings, statues in tribute to old war heroes, much like Savannah. What I didn't expect was the progressive nature of the city. While holding on to their historic legacy, they also have a firm grasp on urban revitalization, restoration, and re-purposing. The stellar Visitors Center resides in an old train station. There's free bus transportation, numerous bike share companies, sunscreen dispensers and in-ground doggy do-do receptacles in city parks, and an obvious commitment to recycling. There's a hip vibe, with trendy rooftop bars and coffee shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and breweries housed in once-abandoned buildings.<br />
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Because we only had a couple days in each city, we basically stayed in Charleston's historic Downtown Peninsula. The riverfront is a popular shady place to play and pass the time. Nearby is the delightful seafood restaurant, Fleet Landing, located in what was once a navy supply depot. Crab is a popular menu item in these parts. We had She Crab Bisque and Crab Cakes.<br />
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Little has changed in the post office, except maybe the Wanted posters and the price of a stamp. Such attention to detail! It's an excellent example of historic preservation. And the <a href="https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/discover-the-postal-museum">Postal Museum</a> is aptly located within the post office.<br />
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As we strolled through the old city blocks, we happened upon an enchanting section of Church St. Ambling along, we caught glimpses of backyard gardens and southern charm through decorative wrought iron gates.<br />
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One of our favorite things to do in Charleston was to discover the "secret" alleyways between buildings and spontaneously duck in and explore, just to see where they lead. We found such unexpected beauty and whimsy. In other cities, these hidden spaces might be relegated to parking or garbage cans. But in Charleston, residents landscape them with lush shade-loving plants and quirky curiosities.<br />
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Charleston is known for its history, but it is also an artsy town. Quite coincidentally, we were there during their annual arts festival, <a href="http://www.piccolospoleto.com/">Piccolo Spoleto</a>, a two-week long multi-faceted arts extravaganza with hundreds of performances of music, dance, theater, and visual arts. (Which could explain why we had such a hard time finding accommodations!) We browsed a fine arts exhibit in a city park and boarded the Carolina Queen for a blues concert/sunset cruise.<br />
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<a href="https://www.charlestonadventures.com/">Charleston Harbor Tours</a></div>
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And it's science-oriented -- there's the <a href="http://geology.cofc.edu/natural-history-museum/">Mace Brown Museum of Natural Histor</a>y (the first natural history museum in the country, I read) and the <a href="https://scaquarium.org/">South Carolina Aquarium</a>. We didn't have time for either of these.<br />
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But we did check out the <a href="https://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/">City Market</a>. Handmade baskets such as these, made in the Gula tradition, surely define the Charleston craft culture. Basket weavers hawk their wares throughout the city, especially in the City Market. These works of art are exquisite, unique, and the artists are engaging.<br />
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<img alt="Image result for charleston basket weavers photos" height="300" src="https://www.ahoycharleston.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/sweetgrass.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo from <a href="https://www.ahoycharleston.com/the-unique-lowcountry-art-of-sweetgrass-basket-weaving/">this website</a>.</span><br />
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Other memorable sights . . . historic cemeteries and colorful architecture.<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-71535780135526186562019-06-30T18:00:00.002-05:002019-06-30T18:01:19.972-05:00Tybee Island, Georgia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On our way from Savannah to Charleston, S.C., we detoured east and spent a few hours on Tybee Island. I had heard of <a href="https://tybeeisland.com/">Tybee Island</a> before, primarily as a destination wedding hot spot. And true, we did see a few pop-up chapels. The beach area was crowded and smaller than I expected, But it was a Sunday in June, after all. We saw the usual businesses you'd expect to see in a coastal town that thrives on tourism -- sundries and souvenirs, pizza shops, and ice cream parlors.<br />
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The main attraction for Bob and me was the <a href="https://www.tybeelighthouse.org/">Tybee Island Light Station and Museum</a>. Originally built in 1773, this site is one of the best preserved Light Stations in the country.<br />
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Prior to the installation of electricity in 1933, the light required three light keepers to maintain the flame. The museum is comprised of the light house grounds and the well-restored buildings -- the Head Keeper's Cottage and two Assistant Keepers' cottages, and a summer kitchen. The gift shop is housed in what was once a three-car garage. Besides the light itself, my favorite building was the Head Keeper's Cottage. The Keeper and his entire family lived on the grounds. For a "cottage" it was quite spacious and comfortable. It was easy to imagine a family living there in the shadow of the lighthouse.<br />
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Bob and I climbed the 178 steps to the top.<br />
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The view was worth it.<br />
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Of course, we couldn't go to Tybee Island without a stroll along the beach. We found a fun swing overlooking the ocean.<br />
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Next stop, Charleston, South Carolina.</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-87570705526478636282019-06-23T21:14:00.000-05:002019-08-04T19:39:12.937-05:00Savannah -- Historic Meets Haute<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bob and I went on a vacation earlier this month. We jam-packed a three city tour into one week. A bit of a whirlwind, and not the least bit relaxing, but we saw and did a lot, waked miles and miles, and had a lot of fun. We flew from Houston into Atlanta, rented a car, and drove to Savannah, GA.; Charleston, SC, (after an afternoon on Tybee Island); Asheville, NC; then back to Atlanta, making a giant circle. We had never been to any of these cities prior, so it was a much-anticipated adventure. All three of these cities were completely different, and we loved each one.<br />
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Savannah exudes southern charm and hospitality. We checked into the <a href="http://www.savannahbnb.com/">Savannah B&B</a>, a delightful inn on a quiet street in the Historic District, got the grand tour of the inn, and settled into a cozy, comfortable room all the way at the top of two long circa 1853 staircases.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Savannah B&B Inn</span></div>
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It was late in the afternoon when we arrived in Savannah, and we were eager to explore. First stop, <a href="https://www.savannah.com/forsyth-park-3/">Forsyth Park</a>, right around the corner from the inn. Oak trees and spanish moss, shade from the heat, park benches for resting and enjoying the natural beauty . . . it was prettier than we could have imagined.<br />
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This fountain is the focal point of Forsyth Park and an icon of Savannah culture.<br />
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Savannah has a free bus system that took us to the waterfront. We strolled River Street, perused the craft vendors, marveled at the centuries-old, onyx-colored cobblestones, and found fantastic gelato at <a href="https://www.riverstreetsweets.com/">River Street Sweets</a>.<br />
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Savannah B&B says good morning to guests with a fabulous breakfast buffet. We dined on the patio overlooking lovely courtyards, then returned to Forsyth Park because we'd read about a Saturday morning farmers' market there. We found a surprisingly wide variety of vendors. Loved it! Unfortunately, because we were traveling, we couldn't buy much. I DID buy a glass of fresh-pressed watermelon juice!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bags and bags of Georgia peaches</span></div>
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One of our favorite things about Savannah was the 22 squares of green space dotting the neighborhoods at every other turn. Parks add so much to the quality of life in a city.<br />
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It was hard to know what to do and see when we only had two days in this delightful city. We toured the <a href="https://www.telfair.org/visit/owens-thomas/">Owen-Thomas House</a>, and the awe-inspiring <a href="https://savannahcathedral.org/">Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.</a><br />
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We went to <a href="http://www.savannahcitymarket.com/">City Market</a>, where I ate grilled grouper and drank peach sangria. We explored the shops along Bull St., sampled chocolates at tony <a href="http://www.chocolatat.com/">Chocolat by Adan Turoni</a>. A highlight of the day was a carriage ride through the town -- history, humor, and horses.<br />
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For dinner that night, we ate at <a href="http://www.crystalbeerparlor.com/">Crystal Beer Parlor</a>, recommended by our front desk hostess. She was spot on. It's a neighborhood joint but the line was out the door. We were seated sooner rather than later by opting to sit at the bar, where we chatted with the barmaid and watched a Tom Cruise movie on the TV over the bar. The beer selection was good and the food even better, but the standout was a freshly-baked soft pretzel the size of a platter.<br />
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Sunday morning, we had only a few hours to sight see before moving on. So we zigzagged through the <a href="https://www.visit-historic-savannah.com/victorian-district.html">Victorian District</a> and toured the <a href="http://sorrelweedhouse.com/">Sorrel Weed House</a>. It is supposedly haunted, but I didn't see or sense any spirits.<br />
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In my title, I referred to Savannah as haute because that was the vibe I got. It was fun and a bit frivolous, but folks seemed to dress up a bit more than in other tourist towns. I saw so many women walking around in high heels. I, of course, wore my tennis shoes.<br />
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Next stop, Tybee Island, on the way to Charleston.</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-75589548565281873772018-10-06T21:07:00.000-05:002018-10-06T21:10:18.836-05:00Germanfest, Robert's Cove, Louisiana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
All my life, from the time I was a child, I knew I was German. 100%, through and through. My ancestors on both my mother's and father's side immigrated from Germany to the U.S. So naturally, I assumed I was German. Until a year or so ago, when I took an Ancestry.com DNA test and discovered I'm actually 47% English/Wales, 22% Swedish, 20% Scottish/Irish, and a whopping 11% Germanic Europe. Hmm.<br />
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But that new knowledge has not lessened my fascination with all things German. And when I learned there is an annual <a href="http://www.robertscovegermanfest.com/">Germanfest</a> in the small rural farming community of Roberts Cove, La., just an hour east of Lake Charles, I knew I had to go!<br />
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Roberts Cove is home to a mere 175 families, yet each year, they host this festival and welcome thousands over the two-day event. Eric and I were among the throng today and we had a fun time.<br />
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Under the Main Tent, we heard German bands with their lively oom-pah-pahs and yodeling . . .<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Reminds you of an authentic German Biergarten, no?</span></div>
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and watched German dancing . . .<br />
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We ate German sausages, beef stew, potatoes, sauerkraut, fresh soft pretzels, and apple cobbler. And while Eric and I abstained due to driving, beer was definitely one of the main attractions.<br />
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There was also a display of antique tractors, a blacksmith demo, and a fun children's area.<br />
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The festival site is a cultural center that is home to the beautiful <a href="http://stsleoandedmund.org/stleo/">St. Leo IV Catholic Church</a> . . .<br />
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. . . a small chapel, a gift shop, and the community's German Heritage Museum.<br />
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Thank you, Roberts Cove. We had an enjoyable afternoon!</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-49609121190966722732018-08-26T19:00:00.003-05:002018-08-26T19:06:11.910-05:00Scotland, Part 2b, Glencoe to Inverness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Just pretend it wasn't two months ago that I posted Scotland, Part 1. I'm a procrastinator, I know. This blog post documents the second half of my family's trip to Scotland in June earlier this year.</div>
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We left Glencoe and continued north. There aren't many highways in Scotland, but we would have taken the back roads anyway. The scenery was spectacularly beautiful.</div>
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We drove through small towns like <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/fort-william/">Fort William</a>. And unexpectedly found the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2017/10/15/exploring-the-harry-potter-bridge-glenfinnan-viaduct-scotland/#7c8fa3018086">Glenfinnan Viaduct</a>, also known as the unforgettable railroad bridge that Harry Potter crossed on his way to Hogwarts.<br />
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A slight detour took us to <a href="https://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/mallaig.htm">Malliag</a>, a sleepy little seaside village on the Atlantic ocean.<br />
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A common sight in the Scottish Highlands.<br />
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Boats in Mallaig harbor.<br />
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The Jacobite steam train in Mallaig.<br />
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Next day, destination Inverness. But we naturally made stops along the way. The highlight of the day was a hike through Glen Nevis Gorge. We followed this trail . . .<br />
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to the spectacular <a href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/steallfalls.shtml">Steall Falls</a>.<br />
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And then our final day of sightseeing in Scotland. We all agreed, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness">Inverness</a> was our favorite part of the vacation. It has a fabulous old world vibe.<br />
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<a href="https://morayepiscopalchurch.scot/inverness-cathedral/">Inverness Cathedral</a><br />
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Inverness is situated on either side of tranquil River Ness. Several footbridges cross the water.<br />
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<a href="http://www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk/highland/inverness_castle.html">Inverness Castle</a>, which is still used today as a municipal building.<br />
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The seagulls are rather tame. Apparently, tourists provide a food source.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/about/uniquely-scottish/national-animal-unicorn/">unicorn</a> is the official animal of Scotland.<br />
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We planned our entire day around a trip to <a href="http://www.moraydolphins.co.uk/watch/chanonry-point.html#.W4M0auhKjIU">Chanonry Point</a> on Moray Firth. Supposedly, this location is one of the best places to see dolphins in the world (according to tripadvisor.com). As the tide comes in, so do the dolphins, and usually, quite a lot of them. They come in very close to shore and are known to leap and play and put on quite a show. Better than Sea World, right! That was the plan, anyway. We arrived early, so as not to miss the spectacle. A throng of people were already there, waiting, cameras ready. We sat on that beach -- and it was very windy and surprisingly cold -- for two hours, waiting to spot even one dolphin. Eventually, two or three dolphins moseyed up. No show. Most days they come, and some days they don't, it seems. It was the only disappointment of the week.<br />
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I suppose because it rains a lot and it is not scorching hot in the summer, the flower gardens in Scotland are stunning.<br />
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<a href="https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/">Urquhart Castle</a>, on the lovely Loch Ness, was the best preserved and most interesting castle we visited in Scotland.<br />
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The following day, we took four trains all the way back to Manchester, dropping Eric off in Glasgow. Playing cards helped pass the time. Until next time, Scotland!<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-17047742321478563452018-06-23T18:30:00.001-05:002018-06-23T18:37:13.090-05:00Scotland -- Part 2, Glasgow to Glencoe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
To celebrate Eric's pending graduation from University of Glasgow (he'll have a Master's in Computing Science, which is how they refer to Computer Science), Bob, Andrew, and I went to Scotland to visit him and enjoy a true family vacation. On our first trip there, last September, (minus Andrew, as he was in school) we focused on Edinburgh and Glasgow, because Eric had orientation that week and we didn't have time to venture far from the city. This time, after a day or so in Glasgow, we rented a car and made our way from Glasgow up through the Scottish Highlands as far as Inverness.<br />
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In Glasgow, I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of old and modern.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eric says the building on the left has the most floors of any multi-screen movie theater in the UK.</span></div>
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Next stop, Glencoe via a crazy twisty-turny road that runs along <a href="http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/">Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park</a>. It was a challenge for Bob, as he was new to driving on the left side of the road (and right side of the car), the road was very narrow, and the drivers coming from the opposite direction drove very fast, especially those driving large trucks and buses. But the scenery was stunningly beautiful.<br />
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Along the way, we stopped at <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/dumbarton-castle-p248621">Dumbarton Castle</a> . . .<br />
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and this charming <a href="https://www.facebook.com/auchentullichfarmshop/">"farm shop"</a> . . .<br />
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Before we got to Glencoe, we encountered a downpour. It was quite dramatic, and the most rain we saw the whole week.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Look at the grip on that wheel!</span></div>
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In Glencoe, we stayed at the <a href="http://ghlasdruim.co.uk/">Ghlasdrium B&B</a>. I didn't get a photo, but it was a friendly, accommodating place with a terrific <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_breakfast">full Scottish breakfast</a> made by our hostess, Maureen.<br />
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Glencoe is a very small town on the banks of Loch Leven in the heart of the Highlands. We kayaked there the next morning. Many thanks to Stuart (Stewart?) at <a href="https://www.rockhopperscotland.co.uk/">Rockhopper Sea Kayaking</a> for accompanying us on a great paddle!<br />
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Next up, Glencoe to Inverness!<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-54161267901870377022018-02-06T11:11:00.000-06:002018-02-06T11:19:50.835-06:00Hot Springs, Arkansas -- What's in your Water?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've lived in Louisiana for over ten years now and have wanted to visit Arkansas for nearly that long. And this past weekend, Bob and I finally made it there.<br />
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While I'd love to someday take a week or two and explore the whole state, we had but a weekend getaway, and we chose Hot Springs for our inaugural visit. Hot Springs is not only a town, but a national park within the town, and we love visiting national parks.<br />
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I had heard Arkansas is a beautiful state, lush and green, with mountains, rivers, and lakes. In February, it's of course quite brown and, at least on this particular weekend, rather cold. But we nonetheless had a fun time exploring the historic district and learning about the history of Hot Springs.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm">park</a> boasts an impressive 40 natural springs where water bubbles up out of the earth's surface at 143 degrees Fahrenheit. You can touch it, but only briefly.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Steam rising from a thermal pool behind our hotel.</span></div>
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For centuries, mankind has considered the mineral water to have healing powers. At the very least, it is relaxing to bathe in. And bathe they did! The town was built around public and private bath houses along Central Ave., also known as "Bath House Row."<br />
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<img alt="Image result for photos of bathhouse row, hot springs" src="http://donchilei.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/astounding-hot-springs-bath-house-row-in-collection-bathroom-accessories-set.png" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo by donchilei.com</span></div>
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The park's <a href="https://www.nps.gov/hosp/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm">Visitor Center</a> is housed in what was once the opulent Fordyce Bath House. It is now a bath house museum. The ranger-led tour was fascinating!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sitz bath on left. Steam box on right. Just your head sticks out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Needle Shower</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The ceiling in the bath house.</span></div>
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We stayed at the <a href="http://www.arlingtonhotel.com/">Arlington Hotel</a>, a grand old dame originally built in 1875. While currently in need of some renovation here and there, I overheard a couple people say the hotel is gearing up for a 30 million dollar upgrade sometime this year. I recommend it for its sheer gilded-age uniqueness.<br />
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Like most of the bath houses and hotels in the town, water from the hot springs is piped into the hotel. We had a room with the spring water coming right into our own private tub! Still so hot, we had to dilute it with cold water from the shower.<br />
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You can also drink the spring water from a spigot in the lobby.<br />
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The locals also love to drink the water. They line up at the filling stations scattered about the town with as many jugs as they can fit into their cars. One little old lady working in a gift shop told me it's the only water she drinks. I asked her if she felt healthier as a result. "Well, I'm 78 years old and I don't take any medicines," she said. Bob and I filled a couple jugs of our own to bring home.<br />
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The historic district naturally caters to tourists, with plenty of restaurants, candy and ice cream shops, art galleries, antique shops, boutiques, souvenir shops, and a couple (no surprise) soap shops.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I had to look up the word caldarium. It means a room with a hot bath, from ancient Rome.</span></div>
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Bob and I liked the Colonial Pancake House so much for breakfast Saturday morning, we ate there again Sunday morning!<br />
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Overall, and sadly, the town has been on the decline for decades. I guess the reason would be that modern medicine has replaced the need for thermal healing mineral water. Throughout the town, there are numerous buildings, once stately, but now abandoned and in disrepair. But some folks have done a good job at re-purposing the old grand bath houses. The Visitor's Center is an excellent example; as is the Superior Bath House Brewery. It's the only brewery in the U.S. located within a national park, and they claim to be the only brewery that uses hot spring water to make their beer. They offer an extensive beer menu, and they make a mean Reuben sandwich, as well as the best soft pretzels Bob and I have ever eaten!<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-76512067956390037052017-11-28T15:11:00.000-06:002017-11-28T15:11:23.311-06:00Scotland -- Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bob, Eric, and me in front of University of Glasgow</span></div>
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We went to Scotland this past September to help usher our son Eric into the next chapter of his life -- graduate school at the University of Glasgow. (Andrew was not able to accompany us due to school.) We flew from Houston to Manchester, England, (and may I say, we were more than happy with the excellent service on Singapore Airlines), and from there, a moor-jumper into Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-brah, we learned.) Highlights of our time there included the Haymarket District, Old Town, the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and St. Giles' Cathedral.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nicholson's Irish Pub</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Great beer in Scotland</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The average high temperature in Scotland is 51 degrees. It rains approx 200 days a year, and even when not raining, it is often overcast.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">To counter the gloom, you see lots of flowers and red doors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">At a kilt shop. The man purse is called a sporan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheese!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We spent barely a day in this enchanting town, and then on to Glasgow via train. Eric was on orientation the week we were there and had several events he needed to attend, so our adventures were limited to the city, but there is more than enough to see and do in this fascinating metropolis where old world collides with contemporary, a colorful mash-up of cultures, food, and languages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This part of campus is called the cloisters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">One of two main lawns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Murals abound in Glasgow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Botanical Gardens</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eric walks through this . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">or along the River Kelvin every day on his way to campus. Nice, huh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Outside of City Chambers -- their courthouse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Inside of City Chambers. All so ornate!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Old World meets contemporary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Random door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was once a church but has been re-purposed as a pub called the Oran Mor, home of A Play, a Pie, and a Pint, held weekdays at lunchtime.</span></div>
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These are a few of my observations while visiting Scotland:<br />
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<li>The people there are super friendly.</li>
<li>Despite that fact that we speak the same language, I barely understood a word they said.</li>
<li>Very few toilets work properly (based on my limited experience.)</li>
<li>Sunshine is rare, but so appreciated when it peeks through the clouds.</li>
<li>Their public transportation system is fabulous. No need for a car. Within the week, we traveled on a plane, a bus, two taxis, a train, a tram, and the Glasgow subway.</li>
<li>There are NO water fountains, ie the drinking kind, anywhere. Not even in the airports. ?? That baffled me. </li>
<li>Very few public restrooms have paper towels. Which could be related to the fact that they are... </li>
<li>very environmentally friendly. They are big on recycling, give incentives for people to bring their own bags for groceries, use public transportation, have water savers on all facets, etc.</li>
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This trip was but a mere introduction to Scotland. We plan to revisit next August to celebrate Eric's graduation, as well as enjoy a bona fide family vacation. Andrew included.<br />
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Please forgive me is this post is a wee bit late. And never mind it's been a year since my last post. I'll refrain from excuses.</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-51282135559154516502016-11-05T16:40:00.001-05:002016-11-05T16:40:55.637-05:00Zion National Park, Utah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the 7th and final installment of my Utah National Parks series. We concluded our two-week tour across southern Utah at spectacular <a href="https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm">Zion National Park</a>.<br />
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Zion offers some incredible awe-inspiring vistas, no doubt about it. But I have to say it was my least favorite park for only one reason. People. Too many people. Oh, the crowds. I'm not kidding when I say Zion felt like a nature-based amusement park. There are rides -- cars are not permitted in most of the park, so visitors get around on buses. And there are lines to stand in -- for the buses, the rest rooms, at the visitor center. And assuming you enjoy hiking, there are LOTS of things to see and do, for all ages and skill levels.<br />
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Speaking of skill and stamina, here and there throughout our trip, Bob and the boys would want to tackle a hike a bit too strenuous for mom. And I was fine with that. At Zion, they hiked the steep Angels Landing Trail. Not suited for those with vertigo or a fear of heights! As hikers near the summit, they cling to these chains, lest they lose their balance and topple off the narrow rim.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">They made it to the top!</span></div>
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While the guys hiked Angels Landing, I took my own pleasant lovely hike.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Look closely, you can see horses crossing the stream.</span></div>
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We had a bit of drama and excitement that day. Just as my guys ascended Angels Landing Peak, dark clouds moved in, and what started out as a beautiful sunny day soon became ominous.<br />
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I had finished my hike and got off a bus at the park museum when it started to sprinkle. A shower soon became a downpour with thunder and lightning. And my guys were on top of a mountain, out of cell phone range. Zion is known for being prone to flash flooding, so there was reason for concern.<br />
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Soon the buses stopped running due to flooding of some of the roadways in the park. Now even if the guys got safely off the mountain, there was no way to return to the campground. And I was stuck at the museum. This was my view.<br />
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All I could do was pray for their safety. Calm quiet creeks quickly turned into raging torrents like this.<br />
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Eventually, the buses resumed service and I hurried back to the campground and waited. After a time, my men returned, soaking wet and tired. We all piled into our tent, which fortunately did not leak, and while they napped, I thanked God for their safe-keeping.<br />
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The next day, Andrew and Bob set off on an excursion Andrew had been eagerly anticipating from the beginning -- hiking "the Narrows," or basically hiking a stream through a slot canyon. Not easy to slog through all that water, but they saw some cool sights. At times, the water was chest high. Bob wasn't taking photos during those parts.This hike can be particularly dangerous in a flash flood situation and can only be attempted on days when no rain is predicted.<br />
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Eric opted not to get wet and spent the day hiking with me. On dry land. We saw some beautiful sights, too.<br />
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So that concludes my series on our Utah National Park tour. It was by far our best family vacation to date. What has been your favorite family vacation?</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-41516485530099060162016-10-24T16:52:00.000-05:002016-11-05T21:52:08.914-05:00Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After visiting Mesa Verde, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Escalante, we thought we'd seen just about every kind of rock formation one could possibly see in southern Utah. But nothing could have prepared us for what awaited at <a href="https://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm">Bryce Canyon National Park</a>.<br />
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At Bryce Canyon, it is all about the <b>hoodoos</b>, also called fairy chimneys or earth pyramids. Honestly, we could not stop taking photos, we were so mesmerized by this unique landscape. For this post, it's best to let the pictures tell the story.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">They call this formation Thor's Hammer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We descended down, down these switchbacks to the bottom of the canyon. Getting back out wasn't as hard as I expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">They call this the Queen's Garden because it looks like Queen Victoria. It does, huh!</span></div>
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Other highlights at Bryce included cooler temps due to a higher elevation, amazing star gazing, the Milky Way in full view, and actual showers -- not something you find at most national parks.</div>
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-90156789994360579482016-09-26T16:53:00.000-05:002016-09-26T16:54:18.325-05:00Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In part 5 of my 7-part series on our Utah National Park vacation, I take you to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This <a href="https://utah.com/grand-staircase-escalante">website</a> calls this destination a "big empty playground for off-roaders, canyoneers, and regular old hikers." It is the size of the state of Delaware within the state of Utah, yet it was another one of those places I'd never heard of until this trip. We added this gem to our itinerary because Andrew wanted to experience hiking in slot canyons.<br />
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So we hired this off-road jeep driver to drive us an hour each way down a bumpy dirt road to the area with slot canyons with names like Spooky and Peek-a-Boo.<br />
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Long story short, we got a bit lost for awhile, and we didn't have time to see all we wanted to see, but overall, it was a fun day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It's was pretty muddy in spots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was a hard part.</span></div>
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Also nearby, we found Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. I had never seen petrified wood before, and had always assumed it was just wood that had turned into rock. But in fact, petrified wood is incredibly colorful -- red, orange, purple, yellow -- like unpolished gemstones. I was fascinated.<br />
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Next stop, Bryce Canyon, where we all took more photos than at any other park. Stay tuned and you'll see why!</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-37314987017390399952016-09-19T20:45:00.001-05:002016-09-19T20:47:37.077-05:00Capitol Reef National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Part 4 in my 7-part series on our trip to Utah's National Parks.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm">Capital Reef National Park</a></b> proved to be one of our trip's most unexpected pleasures. It doesn't have the wildly-popular reputation or following of parks such as Bryce Canyon or Zion. In fact, I'd never heard of this park prior to planning our vacation. But Eric had done some research on Utah's national parks and found it. From what he read, it sounded "pretty" and it had "orchards where we could pick our own fruit." So yeah, we added it to our itinerary.<br />
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National Parks are notorious for having hard-to-get campsites, unless you make reservations a year in advance. So we got up very early and left Moab and drove the couple hours to Capital Reef. It was one of those drives where you go and go and hardly see another vehicle. In other words, it is in the middle of nowhere! I suspect the remoteness of Capitol Reef is one reason it is less popular.<br />
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But we can tell you, it is worth the trip! Terrific hiking and scenic beauty. AND -- a true perk for an introvert like myself -- no crowds! The campground had plenty of grassy sites open. There were no crowds at the Visitors Center. We hiked trails without seeing a single other person. There were no lines for anything. Well, maybe a short line in the small gift shop that sold homemade fruit pies!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our brand new tent.</span></div>
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We followed this dirt road down, down to Capitol Gorge Trail. Beautiful!<br />
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Indeed, there were many orchards with all kinds of fruit. And it is true -- guests can pick to their hearts content. Sadly, we were there between apricots and apples. Nothing was ripe to pick.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hickman Bridge</span></div>
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Another thing we loved about this park was the ranger hikes and the evening ranger programs at an amphitheater next to the campground. It was all very personable.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunset over Capitol Reef. Serious drama!</span></div>
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And we saw this incredible rainbow. It touched the ground on both ends.<br />
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We had only planned to spend one night at Capital Reef, but we were so enchanted, we spent a second night. As we were leaving the park, I stopped in the rest room, looked in the mirror, and my shirt read, "boog si efil." So true!</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-21512706893773890602016-09-09T16:46:00.000-05:002016-09-09T16:46:14.674-05:00Canyonlands National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the third in our seven-part series of our summer trip to Utah's National Parks.<br />
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The interesting thing about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm">Canyonlands</a> is that it is divided into two separate sections -- Needles and Island in the Sky. On the map, they are geographically together, but a vast wilderness accessible only by serious backpacking divides them into two unique parks. I recommend a day to explore each.<br />
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We visited <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/needles.htm">the Needles</a> area first. Just prior to the park entrance, we found Newspaper Rock, an excellent example of ancient petroglyphs.<br />
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Once in the park, we were fascinated by these curious rock formations. We thought they looked like mushrooms.<br />
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This is why they call this part of Canyonlands "The Needles." You can see these from the park, but they are very far away. Hence the blurry photo. You can only see them up close by backpacking in over several days.<br />
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The clouds and weather were very dramatic that day. Actually, most days of our trip.<br />
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We came to one overlook and I got out of the car. I didn't close my door because I knew we wouldn't be long. And it was hot. Well, this crow and his buddy wasted no time entering the car and pulling everything out of the little garbage bag. They hit the jackpot when they found an apple core, which they dragged out of the car and ate.<br />
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The next day, we drove to Island in the Sky, which is the more popular area of the park and certainly the more scenic. On the way, we stopped at <a href="https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/">Dead Horse Point State Park</a>. We were there fairly early in the morning and enjoyed the sunrise. Spectacular!</div>
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Supposedly, this park is where they filmed the final scene in the movie <i>Thelma and Louise</i>, when they drove the car off the cliff.</div>
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Then on to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/islandinthesky.htm">Island in the Sky</a>. They call it that because it sits atop a high mesa, and truly is like an island in the sky. The scenery rivals the Grand Canyon.</div>
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Another cool arch.</div>
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Andrew planning his next shot. He's a good photographer.</div>
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Here we are high atop Elephant Rock. It's hard to get a perspective in the photo, but it was actually somewhat precarious. That is why we are sitting instead of standing!</div>
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I encourage you to click on the links for WAY better photos.</div>
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Next stop -- Capitol Reef National Park! One of our favorites.</div>
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-38134109548401224372016-08-28T21:17:00.000-05:002016-08-28T21:17:27.354-05:00Arches National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the second in a seven-part series on the national parks of southern Utah.<br />
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We left Mesa Verde and came to Arches National Park. We arrived late in the day, checked into our accommodations for the next four days (a tiny one-room cabin at <a href="http://www.highwaywestvacations.com/properties/archview">Archview RV Resort</a>, not far from the park), and ventured into nearby Moab to find some dinner. Moab is an interesting small town, very touristy. We were so busy exploring <a href="http://www.national-park.com/welcome-to-arches-national-park/">Arches</a> and Canyonlands, we didn't have time to enjoy the town, but there were lots of restaurants to choose from and they were all delightful.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Andrew, Eric, and Bob at Pasta Jay's Italian Restaurant, Moab, UT</span></div>
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The next morning, we awoke bright and early and headed to the park. Our first hike was to the popular Delicate Arch. Upfront disclaimer -- photographs greatly diminish the majesty of a place like Arches National Park. The only way to truly grasp the grandeur is to see the place in person. Highly recommended!</div>
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We saw many fascinating rock formations like this (below), massive monoliths of sandstone rock, weathered by water and wind and eons of time . . . </div>
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. . . and unbelievable structures like this Balanced Rock . . . </div>
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. . . but at this park, the arch formations steal the show. One of my favorites was this Double Arch.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Look closely at the people scrambling over the rocks in the foreground, like ants. Gives you a perspective on the humongous size of these rocks.</span></div>
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They call these arches The Spectacles. They look like eyes.</div>
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The next morning, the guys hiked a strenuous 10-mile trail called Devil's Garden. (I enjoyed a quiet morning at the campground.) Andrew took these photos. They had a great time and were exhausted when they got back.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A high narrow ridge, with steep drop-offs on either side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Like a window to the heavens.</span></div>
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One evening, we hiked through this dry creek bed. The setting sun adds drama to the beauty.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The sun setting through a small arch.</span></div>
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We were just getting started, so we didn't know it at the time, but Arches was high on all our lists of favorite parks.</div>
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-18003807994506651592016-08-24T17:03:00.000-05:002016-08-24T17:03:08.352-05:00Mesa Verde National Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been home from our family vacation for a week and a half, and have been wanting to blog and share our adventure with you, but the two-week trip was so remarkable, so many incredible places and sights and experiences, I've been at a loss to know how to begin. But I DO want to tell you about our trip. So I'll start at the beginning of our enchanting journey through the National Parks of Southern Utah.<br />
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After picking up Eric in Dallas, we drove through northwest Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we spent the night. In Albuquerque, we wanted to ride the <a href="http://www.sandiapeak.com/">Sandia Peak Tramway</a> -- we had a wonderful dinner at Sandiago's Mexican Grill (the cozy cafe at the bottom of the mountain), bought our tram tickets, waited in a long line . . .<br />
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And then right before it was our turn, this happened . . .<br />
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Disappointing, but we were fortunate. They shut the thing down; we'd have been stuck at the top of the mountain. Instead, we got our money back and found a hotel for the night in the pouring rain.<br />
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The next day, we headed north, cut northwest through a corner of Colorado, and into eastern Utah.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Passing the hours in the car.</span></div>
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First stop, Mesa Verde National Park. In addition to breathtaking sweeping landscapes (I could use that phrase for each park we visited), <a href="http://www.visitmesaverde.com/">Mesa Verde</a> is best known for these ancient puebloan cliff dwellings.<br />
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There are several scattered along the valley walls. This is likely one of the largest. Can you imagine what life might have been like living there?<br />
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Here are some examples of those sweeping vistas I told you about.<br />
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Next stop . . . Arches National Park.</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-18114267117394575982016-07-21T15:54:00.000-05:002016-07-21T15:58:57.945-05:00National World War II Museum, New Orleans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bob and I visited the National WWII Museum on a recent trip to New Orleans. I've always said, and it is still true, I love history. But war history, not so much. And thus, I never had an interest in going to <a href="http://www.nationalww2museum.org/">this museum</a>. But EVERYONE who has EVER been there just raves about how wonderful it is. So, as it was really hot and a little bit rainy that Saturday, we went. And indeed, the museum is fabulous. If you're into that sort of thing.</div>
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They offer several films. We watched Beyond Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks. In 3D. Yikes! Bob said, along with the general consensus, that it "was very well done." And who can argue? But for me, the explosions were considerably too loud, the flashes of light too bright. I closed my eyes for much of it. But near the beginning, when they commented on the large number of recruits from various small towns around the nation, the first place they mentioned was my little hometown of Connellsville, Pa.! I felt such pride.</div>
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Primary exhibits are separated into the two war theaters -- the European and the Pacific. I strolled through relatively quickly, and spent more time on the Pacific side. Maybe because the exhibit is newer? More likely because we went there first. But I didn't want to miss the European side. I guess I hoped I would spot my grandfather in the background of a photo or video clip. He served in France. Not surprising, I couldn't find him. The exhibit seemed to focus on the fighters on the front lines. Who'd be interested in a mechanic who kept the tanks and jeeps running, possibly at times in the heat of battle. </div>
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My grandpa. Wilbur G. Lowdermilk. He died about 15 years ago. Miss him!</div>
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I remember as a child, Grandpa spent nearly every Saturday afternoon watching war movies on television. But he never wanted to talk about it.</div>
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To be honest, I did learn a lot from visiting this museum. And isn't that the point! For examples:</div>
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<li>In the Pacific Theater, only one in five soldiers who died lost their life in combat. The other four died from diseases, ie malaria.</li>
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<li>Prior to WWII, the United States was not one of the top military powers in the world. We ranked 18<sup>th</sup>, behind Albania (or somewhere like that, as I recall). That was one of the most interesting things about the U.S. war involvement, to me – the way the country rallied together, like a giant team effort, and built planes, tanks, guns, ammunition at lightning speed. Men and women dropped everything and either joined the military or the work force. Everyone had a role. Quite impressive!</li>
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<li><span style="background: rgb(249 , 249 , 249); font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">419,400 U.S. citizens
(mostly military personnel plus a small percentage of civilians) died in WWII;
a staggering number, until you consider there were over 60 million deaths
worldwide. Approx. 7 million in Germany, 26 million in the Soviet Union . . . the
U.S. came into the war on the late side. But probably more importantly,</span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> aside from Pearl Harbor, the war
did not take place within our borders. What a difference, in terms of
casualties!</span></li>
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This was my favorite part of the whole museum. The "I Was There!" table, manned by a WWII veteran who is available to talk with visitors and answer questions. Now THIS is history. Living history. He was there! I don't know how many veterans volunteer to do this, but at the time we were there, we met Forrest Villarubia. He's 90 years old and served in the Phillipines. I thanked him for his service and asked if I could take his photo. He said yes, for the price of a hug. It was the least I could do.</div>
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Have you been to the World War II Museum? What did you learn?</div>
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-24655047123818742312016-07-11T13:28:00.002-05:002016-07-11T13:28:59.575-05:00Running with the Bulls, New Orlean's Style <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bob and I went to New Orleans this weekend to attend
the 10<sup>th</sup> annual San Fermin en Nueva Orleans Festival, aka the Running
of the Bulls, which coincided with <a href="http://www.bullrunpamplona.com/">the event</a> by the same name in Pamplona,
Spain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The festivities began Thursday evening with a
<a href="http://neworleanslocal.com/event/san-fermin-spanish-wine-dinner/">Spanish Wine Dinner</a> at the stately <a href="http://www.bourbonorleans.com/">Bourbon Orleans Hotel</a> . . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> . . . and was hosted
by “Governor Bernardo Galvez,” a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernardo_de_G%C3%A1lvez">Spanish military leader</a> and governor of colonial Louisiana from 1785-1786.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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In addition to fabulous Spanish food and wines, we were entertained by the talented guitarist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dsjazz">Daniele Spadavecchia</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are various pre-parties and post parties associated
with the festival, but the REAL party – the Running of the Bulls -- takes place
early Saturday morning. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">Bob and I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and walked from <a href="http://www.hotellemarais.com/">Hotel Le Marais</a> to the event site, <a href="http://www.sugarmillevents.com/sugarmillevents/HOME.html">The Sugar Mill</a>, across from the <a href="http://www.mccno.com/">Ernest N. Morial Convention Center</a>. The party had already started.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In true quirky New Orleans style, the "bulls" are roller
derby girls (especially New Orleans' own <a href="http://www.bigeasyrollergirls.com/">Big Easy Roller Girls</a>) from around the country who rollerblade after the "runners" and bop the runners' butts with big plastic or foam baseball bats. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">At 8:00 a.m. sharp, thousands of runners took off, pursued by over 300 roller girl bulls. “Running” is a misconception. Truly it’s more like an easy stroll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Look out!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The runners dress in traditional white pants and
shirt with a red sash and </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">bandanna</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. But the bull costumes steal the show. I love
their creativity!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hard to tell but it's a red dinosaur head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">An alien?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the one mile course (hey, it’s New Orleans in
July and it’s hot out there!) the party begins in earnest with more food, drinks, music, mechanical bull rides, a dunk tank, an Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://nolabulls.com/">This event</a> is a fundraiser for <a href="http://www.bethsfriendsforever.org/">Beth's Friends Forever</a> (a cancer victim fund) and <a href="https://animalrescueneworleans.org/">Animal Rescue of New Orleans</a>. Special thanks to the <a href="http://www.neworleanshotelcollection.com/">New Orleans Hotel Collection</a> for being a San Fermin sponsor and hosting the Spanish Wine Dinner!</span></div>
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-25953332158617226702016-06-23T15:18:00.000-05:002016-06-23T15:26:26.275-05:00Rikenjaks Brewing Company<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Rikenjaks Brewing Company in Lake Charles is open for business! This much anticipated
brew pub had beer enthusiasts on the edge of their bar stool for several
months. But their home brews Old Hard Head and <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Contraband Brown Ale were worth the
wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Supposedly they are still in their "soft opening" stage. But the place has been packed most every night for weeks; both inside the cozy bar and outside on the patio by the outdoor bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because they're so busy, the wait for food requires some patience. But on a recent visit, my family and I didn't mind because there's this crazy fun outdoor game area. And there's live music to listen to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We've only been there once so far to eat, but I think the food is good. The kids had burgers and Bob and I had fish tacos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And here's my new favorite beer, Old Hard Head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Out of town friends and family, come visit me and I'll take you to this fun place for good food and beer. (Locals, I know you've all already been there.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Located at 3716 Ryan St., Lake Charles, and online at <a href="http://rikenjaks.com/">rikenjaks.com</a>. </span><br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-38249155891635356932016-06-09T21:10:00.000-05:002016-06-10T07:41:51.110-05:00Swallow Falls State Park, Maryland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Everyone has places they consider favorites. We say things like, "It's one of my favorite places in the whole world," even though we've only seen a small fraction of the whole world. But if we define "the whole world" as our own personal limited experience of the world, well, then the expression works.<br />
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Swallow Falls State Park is one of my "favorite places in the whole world."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Muddy Creek Falls</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Rock formation at the base of Swallow Falls</span></div>
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I grew up in these woods; knew the rocks, the trails, the water intimately. My family camped there frequently, often with another family we were great friends with, the Flanders. In my youthful imagination, colorful mushrooms became umbrellas for fairy folk and hidden rock formations served as enclaves for elves.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me and my friend Chris Flanders hiking the trails, no doubt looking for fossils. I was maybe 14 years old. Or so?</span></div>
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As I grew older, I sensed God in the majesty; the rush of the river, the scent of pine and primordial decay, the glisten of dewdrops on pink rhododendron petals, the texture of cool green moss. The place became sacred to me.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Tulliver Falls</span></div>
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In my 20s, I took any friend who would go with me to this park. I wanted to share its beauty and serenity. I hadn't been there in too many years, and though I'm sure they were there at some point when they were very young, I had the pleasure of taking my sons to this favorite place last week when we traveled to Pennsylvania and Maryland to visit family and friends. My dad and step-mom Mary came with us.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">My Happy Place</span></div>
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Where's your favorite place in the whole world?</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-74800400981765825352016-04-30T07:54:00.000-05:002016-04-30T07:57:02.255-05:00Z is for Zydeco Music -- #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The "unincorporated community" (aka lots of crop fields and a few houses) of Plaisance, La., which I'd never heard of until I researched zydeco festivals, hosts the annual Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival.<br />
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The event got its start 34 years ago as a way to celebrate and preserve the rich history of zydeco music in Louisiana. Key instruments in this genre are the accordian and washboard. Zydeco is said to have originated with the French Creoles, but this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zydeco">Wiki link</a> suggests there are Atakapa (Louisiana native American Indians) and African roots, as well. All I know is the music is fun, upbeat, and people love to dance to the lively sounds. Check out this video by Chubby Carrier at a festival a few years ago.<br />
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One of my most fun experiences of zydeco happens every Saturday morning over in Breaux Bridge at Cafe de Amis's Zydeco breakfast. It's a blast! Read that post <a href="http://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2010/07/breaux-bridge-la_10.html">here</a>.<br />
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For more information on the festival, see their website <a href="http://www.zydeco.org/">here</a>.<br />
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And that, folks, concludes the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge!</div>
Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-29963486801656895542016-04-29T13:15:00.004-05:002016-04-29T13:15:55.845-05:00Y is for the Yambilee Festival in Opelousas, La. -- #atozchallenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been to Opelousas a couple times, but I was not aware they have such a passion for yams. The French, Spanish, and Acadians learned to eat sweet potatoes around 1760 from the Native American Indians who lived in Louisiana. The Sweet Golden Yam has been a stable on Louisiana dinner tables since then.<br />
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<img src="http://www.splendidtable.org/sites/default/files/styles/lede_image/public/yams_istockphoto.jpg?itok=NFvyJeya" height="228" width="400" /><br />
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This festival to celebrate yams and Louisiana farming has been an annual event since 1946 and takes place late November. I've often wondered if there is a botanical difference between yams and sweet potatoes. The festival website uses the words interchangeably, so I'm guessing not.<br />
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I've never been to this festival, but as I said, I've been to Opelousas. You can read about one adventure to the interesting historic town <a href="http://angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com/2011/05/opelousas-la.html">here</a>.<br />
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And I've eaten Louisiana yams. I love to buy them at farmers markets or roadside stands. They're very good!<br />
<img alt="2010_yambilee_poster.jpg" src="http://www.yambilee.com/images/stories/posters/2010_yambilee_poster.jpg" height="400" width="323" /><br />
For more festival information, check <a href="http://www.yambilee.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1">the website</a>.<br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1190073497662354520.post-74798465798215429952016-04-28T10:51:00.001-05:002016-04-28T10:54:58.364-05:00X is for the ThibodeauXville Fall Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Like I imagine many of my fellow A to Z Bloggers, I must stretch the parameters a bit to find a subject, in this case a festival, to write about that starts with the letter X.<br />
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Here in Louisiana, SO many words, especially last names and the names of towns, which are often one and the same, END in the letter X. It's the whole French influence and heritage thing. Words I never knew existed prior to moving to LA. But I can, after nine years, tell you I'm getting MUCH better at pronouncing said words.<br />
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One common last name is Thibodeaux (TIB-o-dough). The same name can also be spelled, depending on the family, Thibodaux. There's a town by the same name. The <a href="http://www.thibodauxchamber.com/">Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce</a> sponsors an annual event they call the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival. Thibodeauxville <span style="font-family: inherit;">apparently was the original name of Thibodaux. The event is held on the second Saturday of each November, and I read they have arts and crafts, music, a car show, and fabulous food. </span>Interestingly, no two food vendors can offer the same food. So I guess there is quite a variety! And there's a Louisiana inspired cook-off . . .<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> . . . and a "famous duck race" where </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 25.29px; word-spacing: 2px;">hundreds of yellow, rubber ducks float down Bayou Lafourche. Each duck is numbered and tickets cost $5 each. May the fastest duck win!</span><br />
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<img src="http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=HC&Date=20151112&Category=ARTICLES&ArtNo=151119890&Ref=AR&Profile=1319&imageVersion=Main&MaxW=728&logo=/images/watermark.gif&logoxpos=0&logoypos=0" height="267" width="400" /><br />
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Angie Kay Dilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12628570641814179997noreply@blogger.com2