Thursday 13 - Wonderful Places I've Seen - Septtember 26, 2013

I haven't participated in this meme before but it seems like fun.  Each Thursday,
you pick a theme and list thirteen things about it.  I can do that, I'm sure!

My very first time to participate, I thought I'd write about thirteen wonderful
places I've seen - though I don't have photos with me, here in India, to depict
all of them.

1.     The Taj Mahal in Agra, India - the Unesco World Heritage site which was
         built by Shah Jahan, for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving 
         birth to their 14th child

from Bing Images, domain free

The Taj Mahal

An architectural treasure,
A tribute to true love,
It almost seems to glow,
From a full moon above.

Made of pure white marble,
Mumtaz Mahal lies here,
With Emperor Shah Jahan,
Resting very near.

Such overwhelming beauty,
Reflected in its pool.
Its minarets standing guard,
Over India's treasured jewel.

Built on the River Yumana,
The Taj is an exquisite sight,
Symbolic of love for centuries,
Inspiring poets to write.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2008 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved.  . 

2.     The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok,

        Thailand.- he is 15 m high and 47 m long

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Bangkok, Thailand

What is that you contemplate
As the crowds go passing through?
You lie in gilded splendor,
With nothing else to do.

Is there meaning to your dreamy face.
Could it be nirvana near?
Can you hear the faithful praying,
As they bow before you here?

Though you lie alone, Wat Pho is filled,
With Buddhas large and small,
A thousand other figures here,
So you are not alone at all.

Your surroundings are exotic,
Chedi graceful and serene,
A vast temple of great beauty,
A never forgotten scene.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright ©  1997 

3.     Iguazu Falls - on the border of Argentina and Brazil, was named as one

        of the winners of "The New Seven Wonders of Nature" - rent "The 

        Mission" with Robert de Niro which shows the splendor of the falls

from Bing Images, domain free

4.     Mysore Palace in Mysore in southern India - the official residence of the 

        Wodeyars who ruled Mysore for over seven centuries

5.  The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa, Italy is a freestanding bell tower that

      began to lean during construction.  The ground was too soft on one side

      to support the tower's weight.

6.     The Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, in Kyoto, Japan is officially named

         Rokuon.  It is a Zen Buddhist temple built in the midst of classical

         gardens with a reflecting pond.  It is part of a World Heritage site.

7.     The Sydney Opera House, in Sydney, Australia is also a World Heritage

         site looking out at Sydney Harbor.  It is a multiple venue site and is one 

         of the world's most famous performing arts centers.

from Bing Images, domain free

8.     Butchart Gardens is a National Historic Site of Canada, located at

        Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, near Victoria.  It receives over a

        millions visitors a year.

from Bing Images, domain free

9.     The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California is one of the most

         internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco.  The American 

         Society of Civil Engineers named it one of the Wonders of the Modern

         World.  I crossed this bridge, as a visitor from New Orleans when I was

         eighteen.  I'll never forget the thrill I felt - because I feel it every single 

         time I travel over it - and I have hundreds of times in the 35 + years 

         I've lived in the San Francisco area.

10.   Senso-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, located in the Asakusa

         area.  Next to it is a Shinto shrine.

11.    The Byodo-In Buddhist Temple on the island of Oahu in Hawaii is 

          a replica of a 900-year-old temple near Kyoto, Japan.  It is set in

          beautiful gardens, with the Ko'olau Mountains behind.  It has a

          9 foot Buddha and a three ton brass peace bell.  I see it every

          time I am on Oahu since it is in Kaneohe, about fifteen miles from

          Honolulu.

from Bing Images, domain free

12.    La Boquerria - (  Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria )  located on 

          La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain is my favorite of many markets I've

          visited about the world.  The produce and vegetables are so 

          artistically arranged and there are wonderful spots inside to have a

          quick meal of Padron peppers or calamari, or to sip a glass of

          Spanish wine.

13.    The Acropolis of Athens, Greece is an ancient citadel that looks out

          over the city, reminding all of its importance to history and the world.

I have been blessed to travel about much of the world so I could easily do

another post about thirteen wonderful places!!!

I am participating, for the first time in 

Thursday 13

Check it out and jointhe fun!

  

, 

Camera Critters #185 - Mijas Taxis - October 22, 2011

Camera CrittersI thought these mules ( donkeys ) in Mijas, Spain were delightful!

I am participating in Camera Critters.  Check out the site and add your own

critter photo to join in the fun!

Mellow Yellow Monday #137 - Individual Paella in Barcelona - September 5, 2011

Rarely a day passes that I don't think of my two favorite places -
Barcelona and India.  Today, for some reason, since breakfast, I've been
remembering my paella feasts in Barcelona!

I'm participating in Mellow Yellow #137 -

check out the site and add your yellow photo to join in the fun!!

The Weekend in Black and White - Barcelona Scenes - July 31, 2011

Barcelona is one of my favorite cities in the world - beautiful scenery,
an area rich in history and culture, activities to fill every minute of your
day and night, wide avenues to stroll, lovely plazas, warm and friendly
people, delicious food and wine, including Mediterranean seafood of
incredible variety.  Very different from the rest of Spain, Catalonia is
a treasure that should not be missed.  Now that I have retired, I don't
know if I will ever be able to return but memories of  past visits are
never far from my mind.

Barcelona has so many beautiful buildings with wrought iron trimmings.

 

Gaudi's famous Sagrada Familia, a work in progress.

One of the many stalls at La Boqueria, the fabulous La Rambla market.

One of the many sights one sees on La Rambla.

I am participating in The Weekend in Black and White - check

out the site and add your own post to join in the fun!

Camera Critters #160 - Barcelona Cutie - April 30, 2011

Barcelona is one of my favoirte of all cities in the world and I have been so
fortunate to visit there several times in my life.  I usually stay near La Rambla/
Las Ramblas, the street that runs from Placa de Catalunya toward the harbor. 
There are many hotels, restaurants, and shops and, of course, many tourists AND
pickpockets so one must be wary while enjoying all that the street has to offer.

Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria or La Boqueria is my favorite market in the
world.  It has everything you might imagine and is a photographer's paradise. 
 I always have lunch at one of the little spots within its walls - octopus or padron
peppers sauteed in olive oil - ummmmm!!!

All along the street, one encounters street artists, mimes, birds and animals of
all kinds.  This little dog is but one of many I saw one day.  He reflects the
festive mood of Barcelona!

I am participating in Camera Critters!  Check out the

site and add your entry to join in the fun!



Two for Tuesday - Metal and Glass - March 8, 2011

This is my first time to participate in this meme which is a venue to give amateur
photographers a place to display and share their photography.  Perhaps some of
you might like to participate.  Each week, a double theme will be posted.
 The themes will be opposites or antonyms. There will be a couple of options when
it comes to posting photos:


You may post a single photo that captures both themes.

You may post a single photo that captures one of the themes.

You may post two photos capturing one theme in each photo.

For more information, check out the rules at Two for Tuesday and join in the fun!

This interesting building in Barcelona, Spain has many glass windows and metal pointed
spikes atop its gables.  I thought it was quite beautiful.
 



Ruby Tuesday, Flowers of Marbella, Spain, February 8, 2011

Marbella, Spain is a beautiful vacation spot on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia.  It is

enjoyed by the rich and famous, many of whom arrive by yacht.  It has luxury hotels

and condos, excellent restaurants, golf and tennis and all kinds of water sports.  I

came by cruise ship on a transatlantic crossing, disembarking in Malaga and spent

three lovely days there, enjoying this ancient Spanish city and the towns nearby.

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday - check out the site and join in the fun.

Mellow Yellow Monday - Night Scene in Malaga, Spain - November 29, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday - Night Scene in Malaga, Spain - November 29, 2010

Malaga is a beautiful Andalusian city on Spain's Costa del Sol, on the shores of the

northern Mediterranean.  It is one of the world's oldest cities, founded by the Phoenicians

about 770 BC. 

Its moderate climate, even in the winter months, make it a very popular tourist

destination, along with its many historical and cultural venues.  The city is a showplace

of various architectures.   Having been occupied by the Moors and under the influences

of both Islam and Christianity, Malaga's churches and buildings reflect tht influence.

Pabo Picasso and Antonio Banderas are but two of the famous sons of Malaga. 

I regret not spending more than 24 hours here at the end of my Mediterranean cruise. 

We were at a lovely little hotel right near the heart of town which was so convenient to

everything and we needed, at the very least, another two days, to properly see the

historic sights and to enjoy Malaga's charm and ambiance.  If there is ever a next time,

I'll plan appropriately!!

Malaga Cathedral at night

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - come join in the fun!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1laga

Bits and Pieces, Sunday, October 3, 2010

Bits and Pieces, Sunday, October 3, 2010

It is well after midnight and here I sit at my computer in Daly City, California, thinking

longingly of this date, for the past two years, when I was snuggling in my bed at the
Hotel Napoleon in Rome, Italy.  I will have to get off an email shortly to Roberto Cioce,
the general manager so he doesn't forget me.  He and his staff made my stays there
truly memorable and the most delightful hotel visits of my life.

My birthday flowers from Roberto Cioce of the Hotel Napoleon, Rome, Oct 3, 2008

My 40th birthday, I was in Paris, France.  That wasn't the best trip of my life but I won't
go into those details here.  Suffice it to say, I would have been much better off if I had
made that trip alone instead of with the traveling companion I had.  It was a most
unpleasant week as we visited Paris, then made our way down the Atlantic coast,
across southern France, and back up through the western part of France to Paris again.

For my 55th birthday, I was on a Mediterranean cruise with my beloved friend, Brenda

Garison, and saw Venice for the first time..  We dined with the charming Captain
Ronson the night before I turned 55 and he invited us to the bridge to sail down

the Grand Canal into Venice the following morning. What a special birthday gift that
was!  A few days later, we were on the magical Greek island of Santorini where I
rode this poor donkey up the steep cliff for a wonderul meal and views of a sparkling
blue sea below us.

Climbing up the hillside in Santorini, Greece

My friend, Sherry Arndt and I did a cruise from Ensenada, Mexico to Honolulu, Hawaii

in mid September 2007 so I was able to celebrate a very special aloha birthday with

Warren Fukushima, my friend of almost forty-six years. 

At the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu with Warren Fukushima

Last year, four friends ( two from California, one from Texas and one from Florida ) went

with me to celebrate my birthday in Rome and to do a six day Mediterranean cruise with

an overnight stop at the end in Malaga, Spain and four nights in Barcelona before flying

home.  Since that time, I've pretty much stayed close to Daly City. 

Cheers from the Piazza Navonna in Rome

So, no travels for me this year - but I did get a trip to New Orleans for my 45th nursing

school reunion which will take place October 15 - 17.  I'll stay for five days which will
give me a little time to visit with classmates who live in the area and to eat some
wonderful Creole cuisine.  That's one terrific birthday present.  Also, this morning,
my youngest son, Jeremy, and his lovely, Katie, took me to Verizon and gave me
a new Droid 2 for my birthday.  I have been playing with it all day and, maybe, just
maybe, by the time my next birthday rolls around, I may have mastered all the exciting
and fun things this new phone can do. 

I want to thank Ann of Retired and Crazy, a lovely woman, across the "pond" in England

for giving me this Versatile Blogger Award.  Ann's husband, Davy, died earlier this year

after a long illness but she continued to write and endeared all of us to her with her wit,

stoicism and stamina against the "system" while continuing to care for the man she loved

in the last days of his life.

I'm to tell you eight things about me that are not generally known which may be a bit hard

since I did this for another post earlier this year.  I looked for it but, thus far, haven't located

it so, forgive me, if there is repitition.

1 - My brother was born in Salzburg, Austria.  We lived there from the time I was three,

      until I was six-years-old.  My dad was an Army Infantry Lt. after the war.

2 -  I was named after Carmen Miranda.  My mother loved that Portuguese-born

       Brazilian singer, dancer, and Hollywood film star popular in the 1940s and 1950s.    

3 -  In my high school's powder puff football game, my senior year, I played left tackle.  I

       was tall and skinny and my nickname was "lanky."

4 -  I don't like sea urchin.  I've tried eating it several times but it still doesn't appeal to me.

5 - I just discovered the t.v. series, "Dexter" and I am an addict.  We don't get Showtime

     but I stayed up two nights in a row for twelve hours watching the first two seasons

     "live"  on Netflix, then ordered the next two seasons on disk.  I am almost tempted

      to get Showtime so I can watch season 5!  If you live near me and get Showtime,

      can I come over to your house and watch it with you?

6 - I love raw oysters.  I can finish off several dozen by myself, with a sauce of catsup,

      lemon juice and horseradish.  I am so hoping that the oysters weren't damaged

      by the leaking BP oil so that I can enjoy them during my visit to New Orleans.

7. - I am not a good swimmer.  As much as I like cruising, I prefer swimming in a pool

      to ocean swimming, because I don't swim well against waves, current, etc.  Also,

      I don't  like creepy, crawly things around my legs and body.

8 -  I have never had a moving violation for speeding, running a red light or anything

      of that kind.

My next challenge is to pass this award on to 8 other worthy bloggers. I do realize

that, very often, people do not wish to participate in this type of activity so please

speak up.  After much thought I have selected the following:

1- http://redpinemountain.com/

2 - http://steveroni.blogspot.com/

3 - http://www.siromade08.com/

4 - http://fickleinpink.blogspot.com/

5 - http://woonietest.blogspot.com/

6 - http://smile-windie.blogspot.com/

7 - http://www.cultofdeception.blogspot.com/

8 - http://goaskkatie.blogspot.com/

It may take me a day or two to get all the comments tallied and to have the drawing for

my blogaversary giveaway.  I want to thank everyone for participating!  I will contact you

with the winner's name as I will need a mailing address.

Red Is... Alphabe Thursday, Rainbow Colors, Red, July 29, 2010

Red Is... Alphabe Thursday, Rainbow Colors, Red, July 29, 2010

Well, we finally made it through the alphabet in Miss Matlock's classroom and it was great fun.  I think we all did very well and we learned a great deal from each other.  I thought we'd get a break but, oh, no, not with our teacher.  She has us right back in the classroom, doing colors now.  When will we get any play time in this summer??

This week is the color red.  I am not sure what to write about red.  I think I'm just going to

go through my picture files and try to find some red pictures.  Some of these you may have

seen before in my blogs.

This delicious Dungeness garlic crab was dinner one night at San Francisco's Crustacean Restaurant.  My son Jeremy and I both had one and there was nothing left on the plate when we were done but a pile of shells.  It was absolutely delicious.

Red and white floral display at the Intercontinental Hotel, Miami

A lovely red rose

Sensoji Temple in Tokyo

A crab at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market

Robin red breast

Red Bloody Mary

Strawberries at La Boquerria Market in Barcelona, La Rambla

Red winter berries

Red Is....

Red is...

the color of fiery flames,

of rageful anger full of disdain..

of passionate lovers sipping champagne.

Red is...

the color of chilis that blister one's tongue,

a sexy lipstick that make us feel young,

the wildest of lyrics that haven't been sung.

Red is...

a feeling of power that goes to one's head,

the violence of warfare that leaves thousands dead,

the hundreds of battlefields where soldiers have bled.

Red is...

a sign of emergency and a need to take care,

one should go cautiously if there is a red flare,

is often a sign that one should beware.

Red is...

the color of love and celebration,

it can be a source of stimulation,

and can liven up any presentation!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2010 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved

 

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday, Rainbow Colors - why don't you?