This was only our "place" for three nights. But it came with a nice beach and great food (as pictured yesterday). One of the things I try to do when I plan our foreign travel is to get to places that aren't overwhelmed by American tourists. Being an American, I don't mind other Americans. But if I want to go to some place exotic just to be swarmed by other Americans, the Mall of America is closer and cheaper.Corsica is certainly off the beaten path - especially in early June, when Deb and I were there. The hotel's name is the Hotel Abbartello, and it is on the West coast of Corsica. I think we paid about $80 per night for a nice room, a nice beach and food that was locally renowned.
Let Them Eat Quiche
I am paraphrasing Marie Antoinette's famous words in the title, though many historians say she never uttered her infamous line ("Let them eat cake.") Since she was Austrian-born, if she had said anything at all when she was told that angry peasants were at the palace gate demanding bread, she might have said, "Let them eat kuchen." The words "quiche" and "kuchen" are actually related. And, as long as I'm free associating, you might be interested in knowing that kuchen is the official dessert of the State of South Dakota. And, while I'm at it, milk is the official drink of North Dakota.But what you are looking at in this photo is salmon quiche served at the restaurant of the hotel Deb and I stayed at while visiting Corsica, France, a few years ago. Corsica, of course, is the birthplace of Napoleon. Corsica is the name of a car, too. Did you know that both of our sons each had a silver Corsica? . . . .
Life Force
These daffodil leaves are still tinted yellow from their journey from the bulb through the cold earth to reach sunlight. I won't philosophize, though. Instead, I'll just present this uncharacteristic photo of nascent daffodils.
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More Plant Sex Appeal
I'm guessing pollination is the reproductive process this plant uses. And I'd say it pollinates with panache! (Though it's best to avert your eyes when it happens.)
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Thorny Problem
in Nature
This dangerous looking cactus was lurking only a few feet away from the "Fuzzy Logic" cactus I posted a few days ago. No doubt both designs are effective in keeping their native predators at bay. But talk about contrast!For those interested in details the name for this is the Cowhorn Euphorbia and it comes from South Africa. We found it in a botanical garden in California.
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Pardon Me, TS Eliot
in Nature
The poet TS Eliot said that "April is the cruelest month" but I can't really agree with him on a day like today. There was a sliver of a moon in the east as the sun rose to a crystal clear dawn. There is the promise of warmth in the rising sun.After months of looking out at the monotone landscape of our back yard, I now see the hint of green. And, in these delicate, pale purple Snow Glories growing in my wife's garden, there is the promise of better things to come.
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Crate and Barrel
This isn't a photo of a crate and barrel, of course. But that's the name of the store I took it in. I was in Chicago a few years ago wandering around with my camera and I thought this store would provide some interesting possibilities. I took a few before one of the employees told me to stop. I guess my photos were stealing the soul of their glassware.
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Biker Blue
I am in the process of going through "old" photos and I came across this one, which was taken in Keystone, SD, several years ago during the famous "Biker Week," aka The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
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A Walk On the Moon?
in Travel
This is clearly not the moon. It is the kind of terrain you will find at South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. If you have never been to Hawaii, I hope you get to the Big Island because there are such amazing contrasts. It has lush, tropical rain forests, and nearly barren, wind-swept areas like the one pictured here. And it has everything in between, including rolling cattle ranches.This photo was taken very near the famous Green Sand Beach, which our son Jon took us to several years ago. Getting there was difficult but well worth it. I doubt I would have gone if it hadn't been for Jon. It is also close to the spot where you can jump off the most southern point in the US.
Bleeding Heart
in Nature
We're not quite this far into spring yet - we'll have bleeding hearts in another month, I suppose. But I couldn't resist posting something green and flowering.
Swan Dive
Some peered cautiously over the edge (me). Some jumped in feet first (Brian). And one did a swan dive (nicknamed "Grom.")This was taken at a place called South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii. I don't know Grom's real name but I do know that he was very athletic and half crazy, from what my son Jon told me.
The Distant Past
I don't know if 1958 counts as "the distant past." But for me it does. I found this photo as we were culling pictures from my recently deceased aunt Gladys' photo collection. Pictured from left to right: Clarence (my dad), Harold (Dad's brother), Mary (Harold's wife, Mildred (Dad's sister), Gladys (sister) and Bernice (my mom). Front row: me.Do you like the suspenders? They were apparently fashionable because I have seen more than one photo of me and my brother wearing suspenders. Or maybe my mom just bought pants that we could grow in to?Anyway, this photo was taken in Sioux Falls outside the visitors' center of John Morrel Meat Packing Company.