The Green Flash

Ah, the elusive "Green Flash." Many a sailor has stood quietly at sunset gazing at the horizon as the sun slips lower, lower, waiting for the very second it disappears to see a green flash of color, reputed to be the last sign of the sun for the day.

A San Diego State website gives the following comment about seeing it: "A major problem for people who have never seen a green flash is not knowing what to look for. Flashes are not always green; they are not a “flash” in the sense of a sudden burst of brightness (except at sunrise). They do not (usually) light up the sky, but are often small and inconspicuous."

The website also references an article at the Wilson Observatory that explains that this flash is: "... an atmospheric refractive phenomenon where the top edge of the Sun will momentarily turn green. It is seen rarely by the naked eye, primarily because it requires specific conditions to occur, but also because it requires the observer to know what to look for. Despite the name, there is no "flash"; the event only lasts from a fraction of a second to at the longest, a few seconds." The "rarely by the naked eye" part would explain why despite hours of watching over time I have yet to observe this phenomenon!

For those of you who plan to travel where you will have a view of the ocean at sunset, such as in Tahiti, Hawaii or the Cook Islands, do some reading, get your digital video camera, and see if you can glimpse the elusive green flash!

Our cousins Michael and Barbara have left their house behind and have set sail for the next two years or until their money runs out, whichever occurs first.

Their home for that time is Astarte, pictured above. They left Tampa and took the thorny path across the Gulf Stream and along the Bahamas and are now in the Turks and Caicos, headed at some point for the San Blas Islands, off the Caribbean coast of Panama.

Visitors are welcome, they say, and may choose the location or the date but not both. Such is the life of cruisers!

So far, they are currently in the Turks and Caicos, islands further along the "thorny path" (just north of the Dominican Repubic) and a great destination for vacations and honeymoons!

Poutine

Ah, Poutine! This "quintessential Canadian comfort food," which consists of French fries topped with cheese curds and covered with brown gravy, sounds about as appetizing to me as pork rinds. However, at Angie's Kitchen in Waterloo, Ontario, Angie served up a plate of these (well, actually minus the cheese curds) that would put a smile on nearly anyone's face. Alas, Angie has passed on to that great kitchen in the sky, but her grandchildren are still serving up the local favorites.

One of the best things to do in Paris is simply wander to see what awaits you around the corner, and just around the corner and across the footbridge from Notre Dame, on the Ile St. Louis, (31, Rue St Louis en l'ile to be precise) you will find what is reputed to be the best ice cream in the city at Berthillon's. Rumor has it the ice cream is divine at any time of year!

Loreto in Baja, Mexico

The Baja peninsula has much to recommend it - accommodations range from luxurious resorts to primitive camping and include just about everything in between.

The most visited destination in Baja is Los Cabos - also known simply as "Cabo" - at the southern tip of the peninsula. It is know for its charming boutiques, courtyard restaurants and accommodations ranging from quaint to luxurious. Favorite activities there are sport fishing, golf and sea kayaking as well as relaxing and partying.

For those who seek a quieter experience, just up the Sea of Cortez is Loreto, a much smaller and less developed town. Here you will find charming hotels and some new resorts. Across the bay is the Loreto Bay National Marine Park where you may catch sight of dolphins or whales in season. It's an easy paddle from one island to another and over the course of several days you may stay on the usually uninhabited Danzante or Carmen Island. Spend a night and wake to the sound of pelicans just offshore as they dive for breakfast.

El Avion, Costa Rica

Here's a little slice of history for you - in Manuel Antonio,Costa Rica, sits a Fairchild C-123 formerly owned by the CIA. Connected to the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980's, the plane is now a restaurant known as El Avion.

Once involved in clandestine operations, El Avion nows serves up food and beverages! Check out the video on YouTube at El Avion.

A different view of Mexico

Most tourists to Mexico have their feet firmly on the ground, but not all.

El Potrero Chico, south of El Paso, Texas, is a destination for rock climbers from all over the world. Had you visited over the Christmas holidays you would have met climbers from Canada, the US, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and even Mexico itself!

If hanging by a thread from the heights is not your interest, you might want to consider a vacation to Loreto on the Sea of Cortez in Baja. Loreto Bay is a charming town (the resort is outside of the town itself) that looks out on a marine preserve. Visit at the right time of year and you could see migrting whales! Visit at any time of year and have a wonderfully relaxing vacation.

Tango on the Seine

One of the delights during the summer in Paris is to simply walk the quais along the Seine in early evening. You will find Parisiens having picnics, walking, dancing, and generally enjoying the weather.

The night this picture was taken we passed several areas where people were practicing their dance steps to a boom box. This older couple had an air about them that took them to a whole different level - the gentleman with his snappy hat moved smoothely and almost aloofly from his partner while she floated over the stones of the quai. The photo caught them as the music finished and an appreciative group of observers applauded.

The Statue of Liberty, like lot of ladies, has a most interesting history. She was to be a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Designed in France by sculptor Frederic August Bartholdi, the structural aspects were carried out by none other than Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower!

The Statue was fabricated in France and shipped in over 200 crates to the US to be assembled on a pedestal contructed by the US. There were funding issues on both sides of the pond resulting in a 10 year delay before the dedicaton on October 28th, 1886.

One of the many museums in Paris has a life-size index finger from the original design - photo above - as well as plans and a model. For purposes of perspective, the young man in the white shirt behind it is 6'3" - this is one big finger!

Paris is a favorite city to visit, one with a surprise at every turn and more museums than you can take in during a visit. For maximum enjoyment, walking is the best way to travel around the city.

Winter wedding wonderland

Saturday afternoon our friends Wally and Katherine were married at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon. While more people seem to associate weddings with warm weather than snow, the views of the mountain are pretty magical. Our friends are taking off for a warm weather honeymoon in Bonaire to go SCUBA diving, though, so they aren't totally tied into snow!

More and more couples seem to be choosing the option of destination weddings with a very small number of guests (sometimes even no guests!) followed by a party after they return from their honeymoon. That way they have the intimacy of a small wedding but still have the fun of a big party.

Favorite destinations for weddings are Hawaii, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. It's always best to do some research to find out if weddings in your destination will be recognized in your own country. For example, many couples love the idea of getting married in Tahiti but the US doesn't recognize the marriage. For that reason, these couples will often have a civil ceremony in the US before taking off for the South Pacific.