QUICK ... Faster .... We are being followed .....

A number of years ago while driving in the Dolomites of Northern Italy

I looked in the mirror of our rental car and saw this.

I tried to see if there was a logo on the side of the vehicle but no luck.

To this day, I am not sure of what I saw or if I saw it.

 

Paris Baking Class for the Young and ...

        Took our granddaughter to Paris and asked her to plan something special for herself. Other grandkids have chosen other adventures, but this grandchild chose a backing class. It was in English, but in the art of French cooking. I posted a photo of this after the class and my cellphone went off. I good friend from our hometown in the US sent a text to say that they, as I family, had taken the same class. It is a small world. As for me, I can cook Top Ramen, but I did enjoy watching the kids while sipping some French wine

The Transit Station in Seville: The art of getting lost

    Seville is one of Spain's great cities. It is very walkable to see the sights and visit with locals. We, being bold, often just go for walks. What is the most that can happen? In the narrow winding back streets you can get lost or you can discover something wonderful. This is the Transit Station. You cannot see the scale here, but it is over several stories high. After sitting in the shade (Seville is warm in the summer) we used our seasoned sense of direction to get hopelessly lost. In a narrow walkway we saw someone to ask how to get back. Our best Spanish at the ready, we asked him. Turns out that he was an English Ex-pat and served as a shepherd. Without him we might still be there.
 

Gibraltar: more than a rock

        You may recall that England and the colonies were at war in the 1770's. England held the entry to the Mediterranean Sea by controlling the small piece of land called "Gibraltar". It order to keep the patriots (and French) from attacking they began drilling tunnels in the rock. At various places in these tunnels they created openings for their cannons. Today, a visit to the Rock includes walking these tunnels. I was surprised that this huge place was much like Swiss Cheese.

(In top photo you can see Spain and the runway for the airport.)
 

Don't Monkey Around

                Isn't he cute? Let me tell you a story about my encounter with a baboon. We had been hiking along the rim of the  Zambezi River in Zambia and happened upon a shack selling cold drinks and snacks. Given the heat, we stopped. Two folks sat across from me working on a bag of Oreos. I was across from them on the bench having a Coke. Suddenly from out of the thicket a baboon of about 100 pounds charged us. He was at my back so I did not see him. He saw the cookies and I was in his way. He hit me full force and knocked me a fair distance and the women across jumped back leaving their Oreos behind. That's all he wanted. As I dusted myself off and felt for bruises, the man at the shack came out with a broom and shouted at the baboon who took the Oreos into the bush. The young man smiled and said, "It's okay. He does it all the time." Not so or at least not me.

 

The Smoke That Thunders: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

        "The Smoke That Thunders" is what it is called in the local languages. It is fitting. A visit to Victoria Falls will be long remembered. A few of our party took a helicopter flight over the falls and then down the Zambezi River canyon. Others hiked along the edge of the drop. You can visit it from the Zambia or Zimbabwe sides. You need a low-cost visa to get into Zimbabwe. Indeed the smoke thunders. You will know you are there a long time before seeing it. For your visit bring along fresh water and a poncho. The poncho is needed if you don't want to get wet... you will still get wet.
 

Amsterdam Bridges

    We hear a good deal about the canals of Amsterdam. They do make the city unique, but we forget that with the canals come bridges. Depending on the channel these bridges may be stationary or open wide to allow barges through. The one above swings up out of the way. Both canals and bridges make a water tour interesting in Amsterdam.