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Showing posts from March, 2014

Chasing the ancestors in Scotland

Today we are going back in time...almost twenty years to be precise.  In early June of 1994 I headed north to the county of Sutherland in the north of Scotland.  At the time I was very much into family history and wanting to know more about the Scottish blood than runs inside my veins.  My great great grandfather left Scotland for Canada when he was a young lad of 8 in 1815 - I suspect but I don't know for sure that it was as a result of the Highland Clearances. I assume he left with his parents but he could have been beamed down for all I know..finding his parents has remained a mystery for me.  I know several possibilities but nothing definite - the search goes on. (although I must admit it has been abandoned for quite a few years now)  I had been told by family members several years before that our family was originally from Dornoch, Scotland so off I went. I didn't discover anything pertinent to my family but I certainly had a wonderful time and discovered a much over

Life and art in the 7th ward of New Orleans

It's no secret that I am a big fan of Airbnb.  The opportunity to stay in local residents' homes and experience a taste of what it is like to live in a city is invigorating for me.   In fact when I do research for an upcoming trip I always check airbnb first. So when we decided to go to New Orleans we both wanted to do it on a budget.  I discovered a darling little shotgun house in the 7th ward that got rave reviews.  Both June and I thought it looked awesome so I went ahead and booked it.  We never regretted our decision.  Miriam, our airbnb host was a sweetheart and the house was spotless. We were able to walk or take a bus to the French Quarter.  In the evening we would normally get a ten dollar taxi ride back to our little home.  I loved the diversity of the neighbourhood. So here we go on another walk...around the 7th ward and into the beginnings of the Treme neighbourhood.  Above is the house where we stayed...so full of character.  We loved it!! What seems to

How to get your eating on in New Orleans

Now I get to talk about my favourite thing...food!  We certainly didn't starve ourselves during my recent stay in New Orleans.   I have to tell you a sad little story here.  On my first trip to New Orleans in 2004 I was experiencing the beginning effects of gall stones (not that I knew that at the time) and was not feeling well (in fact I got out of my sick bed to fly there).  So needless to say I could not enjoy the food...can you imagine going to New Orleans and not being able to eat. (much).  It was tragic. I more than made up for it in 2010 and 2014 however! Some of the "must haves" in Nawlins....beignets.  Beignets are fresh and warm donut type pastries covered with icing sugar.  YUM!  And of course that HAS to be accompanied by a cafe au lait. It is impossible (for me at least) to look the least bit dignified while eating these delicious little bits of heaven.  Icing sugar all over the face and clothes!  Cafe du Monde is the favoured place to go - this trip was th

A walk in Central Park in the snow

Central Park is one of the highlights of New York City - for me anyway.  In this city of concrete and skyscrapers there is this beautiful huge piece of green....er....well white this time around actually.  First of all though a bit of information about Central Park:  the park is 843 acres or 6% of Manhattan acreage.  It is six miles from north to south and half a mile across.  Approximately 40 million people visit Central Park every year, there are 24,000 trees and 9,000 benches which if placed end to end would go for seven miles.  Are you impressed yet?  275 species of migratory birds stop off in Central Park, there are 7 ornamental fountains (and 150 drinking fountains) and 36 bridges and arches.  Whew!  So come for a walk with me in Central Park - but be careful...it's slippery! Thought this would look cool in sepia! Always the skyline in the distance... I love this shot for some reason - I just wish the man had had a dog with him! Wollman Rink

Visiting the 911 memorial in New York City

I think we all remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard about the devastating attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  It was horrific watching these huge towers crumble to the ground knowing the huge loss of innocent lives. None of us could comprehend how human beings could be so evil.  My heart ached for the innocent people on that plane who thought they were going on a business or pleasure trip with no idea they were being used as such a destructive weapon, the terrified people in the buildings who jumped to their deaths rather than burn, their devastated family members coping with such a tragic loss and the brave firefighters, police and dogs who lost their lives saving others.  In 2005 I had wandered past the demolition/construction zone of the World Trade Center site.  I must admit I hadn't followed the progress too closely - hearing vaguely of a tower to "replace" the World Trade Center.  When a few friends suggested I go there