Culture and Travel with Viv

More Reasons to Fly

2007-01-19T18:05:00.000-06:00

Those Wonderful WingsFriends and family are spread across this world of ours.Son in San Francisco, then moved to Florida. Daughter in St Louis. Friends in New York and New Orleans.Mother and sister in Zimbabwe. Mother-in-law in South Africa. Brothers-in-law in Sierra Leone and Ghana. Niece in Spain. Aunt in England. Cousins in Canada and Scotland. Conferences in Australia, China, France. And so

Why I Fly

2007-01-19T18:02:00.000-06:00

I Fly to Travel. I Travel to Fly.I have to, it’s a passion, a need, an obsession. The travel ‘bug’ got me early---at age eight when I went by boat to England with my grandmother. The plane-as-travel-means ‘bug’ got me much later, as in southern Africa at that time air travel was expensive and not common for ordinary people. I only took my first plane trip in my 20s, but from that first thrust of

Food for Thought, and Thoughts of Food

2006-05-16T15:25:00.000-05:00

Food for Thought (1) or Thoughts of Food (2)Musings:These ideas are both true, we can’t really separate them out, although the former can be non-food related. Perhaps that’s food for the soul, which is just as important sometimes for a person as the physical, edible type.So, as some things nourish my spirit, psyche, soul, emotional strength---whatever you want to call it---so do others nourish my

Slow Driving Reveals the Unexpected

2006-05-16T15:18:00.000-05:00

Last summer I was on my way to Springfield, IL. Usually the trip takes abaout an hour and a half, but lots of road works caused very slow, one-lane driving for many miles, and it took twice as long. But that was okay. It forced me to almost “stop and smell the roses”. It’s not quite “stop and smell the roses’, but it IS “slow down and be able to appreciate the scenery”. Usually, we whiz along

You Have to Learn the Universal Language

2006-05-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

Clermont-Ferrand, June 2004We have a light lunch in a small café called ‘1900’ on Place d’Espagne (close to the lovely Romanesque Basilique Notre-Dame-du-Port) in Clermont-Ferrand. It’s Wednesday, a no-school day, and we are served by a young boy, about 13 years old---perhaps the owner’s son---who was very friendly and sweet. Joanna was charmed! We heard him speak to the father, a little worried

Mayan Temple Encounter

2005-11-08T17:32:00.000-06:00

Palenque: Encounter on top of Temple of the Cross, or Rod’s Hippy Friend (October 2003)The second afternoon at the site we just wandered around, absorbing more of the mystique and magic of the place. I (in spite of a fear of heights) managed to climb up the steps to the big temple in the Cross Complex, and there is a wonderful view out (as Kev and Rod said yesterday). Rod wanted to sit on a ledge

Troubles at Valencay

2005-11-08T17:26:00.000-06:00

Peacock Pooh on Shoe.Valencay is a stunning chateau in the Loire Valley, huge, gorgeous, ornate. The gardens and the estate are also enormous and beautiful. A thick green lawn sweeps across to the forest and down the hill to the vineyards. Brown and white spotted deer graze placidly in a pen, and peacocks strut around, their strange mewling cry following them. We trail one, trying for a really

Slow Driving

2005-07-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

Slow Driving, or The Unexpected Revealing Itself.I was on my way to Springfield, IL. Lots of road works caused very slow, one-lane driving for many miles. But that was okay. It forced me to almost “stop and smell the roses”. It’s not quite “stop and smell the roses’, but it IS “slow and be able to appreciate the scenery”. Usually, we whiz along the highway, hardly noticing anything. If we do

More Swimming Thoughts

2005-05-26T21:09:00.000-05:00

Chunks of Time:Most days I set myself a goal of 40 laps, or 1km. When we start, that seems like an impossible distance. I swim one lap, then 2, and think “No, I’ll never get to 40, that’s such a huge number”. But, I continue and next thing I’ve done 10, then 20, then 28, and 35. Two things have happened in this process: first, I’ve become very good at fractions, at adding and multiplying. Two

SWIMMING THOUGHTS

2005-05-01T15:08:00.000-05:00

#3 Relevance of the story of the Hare and the TortoiseAs I swim sedately up and down the lanes---breaststroke only---I ponder many things. Compared to many of the other swimmers churning along with their freestyle stroke I am rather slow, but I keep going gently, and suddenly (it seems)---actually about 50 minutes---I’ve gone more than 1km. I liken myself to the tortoise in the fable of the Hare

SWIMMING THOUGHTS

2005-04-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

#2.This makes me think of the concept of going back to the water, how water is so elemental. Water must be my element (is there such a thing as a sacred element for each person?) if I’m feeling so happy to go back into it. I have always loved being BY the water---next to a lake, a river, the sea. Walking, eating, sleeping close to water, especially running or moving water is especially peaceful

SWIMMING THOUGHTS

2005-04-20T21:08:00.000-05:00

Swimming Laps at the Urbana Aquatic Center#1.Who would have thought I’d settle into swimming so easily again! As a kid I swam constantly and quite well (won events/races in galas etc), and loved the water and the social aspect of our municipal pool in Rusape (Rhodesia), and later in Umtali (also Rhodesia) at high school: it was one of the places to hang out. But, somewhere along the line after

THE CARDINAL

2005-04-13T18:12:00.000-05:00

The CardinalWhat a privilege! I’m sitting on my back step on one of our first real spring days---warm, sunny, bursting with promise: a light breeze riffles the last of fall’s dry dead leaves, and the tops of the tall trees wave against the blue sky. They’re not green yet, but clusters of round balls signal buds about to burst. Birds chirp, cheep and sing and a small magnolia tree with lacy white

Urbana's Round Barns

2005-03-29T16:02:00.000-06:00

ROUND BARNS, URBANAThe three round barns sit atop a low hill rising behind the Vet Med Building on the south campus. “Hill” may be an exaggeration; it’s more like a slight elevation in the land. But, even a small rise is noticeable and noteworthy here, in flat central Illinois, slap-bang in the middle of the seemingly endless (and flat) plains and prairies. They stretch to the far horizon and

Exercising in the Armory

2005-03-22T21:30:00.000-06:00

THE ARMORYA great facility on campus. A vaulted roof over a huge indoor track, with central space for other activities. Go round 6-7 times for a mile, depending on the track.As I walk round and round I slowly relax and my thoughts start to move freely. I have to watch what’s going on around me and it’s fascinating. Mainly my thoughts wander over the following:-the point/value of exercise-all the

Allerton Park

2005-03-21T21:53:00.000-06:00

Brunch at Allerton ParkWe decide to try this one Sunday in late March, and what an amazing meal it was: everything from typical breakfast goodies, to soup, salads, meats and vegetables, and a fairly extensive dessert tray. Apparently, they offer the brunch most Sundays from after Thanksgiving until the end of March, serving up to 200 people per Sunday. The setting is lovely, in the big old

A Winter Poem

2005-03-15T17:07:00.000-06:00

Snowflakes settle NoiselesslyOn my faceWet and wild/Wind-whipped

OUT-TOUTING THE TOUT, Merida, Mexico, October 2003

2004-11-17T21:31:00.000-06:00

October 2003, Merida, Mexico. “I just want to practise my English…but come to my shop/my brother’s shop/my friend’s shop”, or, “I can speak a bit English. I want to practise and I can help you. I guide you in Merida”. These guys are very persistent, especially around the main squares, and most tourists have trouble resisting them. They trail around after you, and many people are afraid to be

“OUT OF OKLAHOMA” AFRICAN BOMA IN OKLAHOMA, March 2002

2004-10-26T21:23:00.000-05:00

“OUT OF OKLAHOMA” AFRICAN BOMA IN OKLAHOMA There’s a little bit of Africa in Oklahoma, if you know where to look. Wander down the hill in front of our friends’ house - fondly called the B&K - in the countryside outside the small town of Perkins. Nestled in a small clearing next to their 22 acres of woods is....a boma. Yes, a boma. A real African boma. The author of “Out of Africa”, Isak

View out to the chain of Puys (Volcanic Domes)

2004-09-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

From the top of the tower of the Cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand we get a sweeping view of the city across to the volcanic domes that this area is famous for. Other churches in the city and surrounding villages are also made from the same black volcanic stone. View out to the chain of Puys (

View of roof spire from top of tower

2004-09-23T16:47:00.000-05:00

One of the views from our climb up the cathedral tower. This black, volcanic-stone cathedral dominates the city's skyline. View of roof spire from top of tower Originally uploaded by Viv Mackie.

France: Miracle in Cathedral Tower

2004-09-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

Miracle in Cathedral Tower. Kev, Joanna, and I went up the Tour de la Bayette (Bayette Tower) of the Cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand---a steep climb up 250 shiny stone steps in a spiral staircase. The climb is well worth it, as we get a great panoramic view out over the city, the valley, and into the mountains. In spite of it being overcast we can see Puy de Dome clearly, and down onto the flying

Bistro Venitien

2004-09-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

Bistro Venitien in Clermont-Ferrand, central FranceThe bistro is on Rue Des Gras, a long cobble-stoned street leading uphill to the Cathedral. We sit at a table on the street, our view looking up to the cathedral and down across the valley to the Puy de Dome---is there any significance to the fact that the front of the cathedral looks straight across to the puy? Even in bright sunshine, the

After the Storm (see earlier post)

2004-08-03T18:20:00.000-05:00

Tree totally uprooted in storm; in the grove just over the raod from our house. after the storm Originally uploaded by Viv Mackie.

Courtyard at L'Etang

2004-08-03T18:17:00.000-05:00

A wonderful place for breakfast---sun, birds, roses, the sound of water. courtyard at L'Etang Originally uploaded by Viv Mackie.

Race for the Cure, St Louis

2004-07-30T18:32:00.000-05:00

A small part of the crowd of walkers, almost at the end of 5km! crowd at end Originally uploaded by Viv Mackie.

Race for the Cure

2004-07-30T18:29:00.000-05:00

Gathering before the race, framed by St Louis Arch before race Originally uploaded by Viv Mackie.

Meadowbrook Park

2004-07-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

MEADOWBROOK PARK in Urbana. July 21, 2004 This is a 130-acre park with a difference, beloved by the locals, including us! It has the usual facilities like picnic areas and a large field for ball play. But, the kids’ play structures are different to usual playgrounds – super-sized, and made of wood. Also unusual are the prairie and the Wandell Sculpture Garden, a series of large-scale outdoor

Summer Storm

2004-07-30T17:49:00.000-05:00

July 13th, 2004 WILD WEATHER. We have a severe weather warning this afternoon. The clouds build and gather, the winds blow more fiercely and we sense that a REAL storm is coming. The clouds get thicker and darker, inky blue-black, an ominous color. At around 4pm it’s as dark as dusk, with an eerie purple quality to the light. The winds lash and whip the trees, jagged lightning bolts crack down,

Race For the Cure

2004-07-30T17:47:00.000-05:00

June 12th, 2004. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure. If collective human energy can make a difference, then this event will help achieve change. We can feel the energy vibrating through the streets of St Louis, as 55,000-plus runners and walkers, and all the sponsors and organizers focus their efforts on this common goal: how to find a cure for this deadly disease,