tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18459710916254313702023-11-16T01:33:18.835-05:00Marhaba wa AlohaAn online travel journal of my summer in Jordan and anything else that comes to mind.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-11313329758597390722013-06-26T03:28:00.000-04:002013-06-26T03:28:45.110-04:00CitiBike in Cartoons 1: Exclusive Rights<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBs9bcCo1OmU89QLrGk2b_dpMCAATwFkstaqJoQT3mOpO7_LwGm6yEzO7IvmwBoCjtOT7M_DGf0w1fNTs211OxIXP8dWzVXhhpr4Y4S9kN9zpYxNrTesXU4mJChTTfmfh1gwZFT7-CglX/s1600/Citibike+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBs9bcCo1OmU89QLrGk2b_dpMCAATwFkstaqJoQT3mOpO7_LwGm6yEzO7IvmwBoCjtOT7M_DGf0w1fNTs211OxIXP8dWzVXhhpr4Y4S9kN9zpYxNrTesXU4mJChTTfmfh1gwZFT7-CglX/s1600/Citibike+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwlA3nZUjS3c5AZhm7HxIcyGVHKeGQne0V4SJZXvZ482KWTHjTYKELAuNNyjXQBhCWvr0JzNcxcltC0Yq9foEgOt-qWKnR3cUpRsXUrj_x6KgtznkPl3-OC5j7h8gnY5N7CPKGTziiYuZ/s1600/Citibike+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwlA3nZUjS3c5AZhm7HxIcyGVHKeGQne0V4SJZXvZ482KWTHjTYKELAuNNyjXQBhCWvr0JzNcxcltC0Yq9foEgOt-qWKnR3cUpRsXUrj_x6KgtznkPl3-OC5j7h8gnY5N7CPKGTziiYuZ/s1600/Citibike+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-36576516086221576142013-06-11T00:27:00.000-04:002013-06-11T00:40:27.346-04:00Moegyo Burmese Food Fair<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, I went to the <a href="http://blog.moegyo.org/2013/05/moegyo-6th-annual-burmese-food-fair.html">6th Annual Moegyo Burmese Food Fair</a> at Aviation High School in Queens. As you don't often find Burmese food in Manhattan, I was looking forward to trying a new type of cuisine.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
If you'd like to learn more about Burmese cuisine, please <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_cuisine">read this</a>.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
The fair is an annual fundraiser for the Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation, which was founded in 2008 to provide relief to victims of a tropical cyclone. From the Foundation's website,<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><i> "Moegyo's mission is to provide humanitarian aid and to help people rebuild and improve their lives and </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><i> societies. Our current focus is to help orphans and disadvantaged children in poorest parts of Myanmar."</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you're interested in learning more, the Foundation's website is <a href="http://www.moegyo.org/about-the-foundation.php">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To purchase food at the fair, you had to buy tickets ($1 per ticket) from a table set up near the entrance, and then exchange the tickets for a dish. Dishes ran from 2 tickets (drinks), to 4 tickets (sides/salads/some mains), to 5 tickets (main dishes).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought 20 tickets, and here is some of the stuff that I sampled or otherwise saw.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66sZIeOgEwpyUPfQLMxtBrthyDVqelP6J7qataVxYRtkNLoHVlwnR907K-hR1qSy-ESAyKYJOwXxahyphenhyphenI03wCvxHi98Dtc3dfzcc7__83AoQMkgyBj4VIY4Suc-oxcg0IWz44rHZGwTGOr/s1600/IMG_20130609_125916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66sZIeOgEwpyUPfQLMxtBrthyDVqelP6J7qataVxYRtkNLoHVlwnR907K-hR1qSy-ESAyKYJOwXxahyphenhyphenI03wCvxHi98Dtc3dfzcc7__83AoQMkgyBj4VIY4Suc-oxcg0IWz44rHZGwTGOr/s1600/IMG_20130609_125916.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Entrance to the Fair. As you can see, there were a lot of people already there.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2hax7ZhFwn2NCNfVaM8xwOYyNQ_NqwLCxfcSmJuL1E4FApHPHJSXFDEuUWJFXW9OOlHcudqLahbBMjtTAr49Oz72MOKtSEJOv5r8FGQnv2dpYQADN5kLuQ74WQY340pPwvCTPkuMAlXF/s1600/IMG_20130609_130104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2hax7ZhFwn2NCNfVaM8xwOYyNQ_NqwLCxfcSmJuL1E4FApHPHJSXFDEuUWJFXW9OOlHcudqLahbBMjtTAr49Oz72MOKtSEJOv5r8FGQnv2dpYQADN5kLuQ74WQY340pPwvCTPkuMAlXF/s1600/IMG_20130609_130104.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO9wztr38DlY69zg_sRkTU_9KdwV-cLpcur7y2RHj4ZIKyfytSo_s_e6Fibm7swacyuYDmaayGcN3YLWMb3VHXZC0qFGyY1SnhfCcxyFQ8ctWZUVs5mWfBL-nzWLiwXJoxqWzB3sFupQ3/s1600/IMG_20130609_130438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO9wztr38DlY69zg_sRkTU_9KdwV-cLpcur7y2RHj4ZIKyfytSo_s_e6Fibm7swacyuYDmaayGcN3YLWMb3VHXZC0qFGyY1SnhfCcxyFQ8ctWZUVs5mWfBL-nzWLiwXJoxqWzB3sFupQ3/s1600/IMG_20130609_130438.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I believe this was Bhamo Meeshay - rice noodles with "a light meat sauce, brown tangy rice flour gel, soy sauce, chili oil, and garnished with crisp fried onions, and coriander [cilantro to us Westerners]". Also had some pickled mustard greens.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSLLI-blF8xwnWzsq6cUfyRmHVQ3L3lJD3cSsPLIqfU4jg7cHE7rlesiHNdL5iVBm2EC27OkzdJ9MLGlSnlf4eBJjZLgLCdQmssTdn0Nq5-KKPOOZ210HU5UEBtPRdEDYsCRwK3xIysa0/s1600/IMG_20130609_130604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSLLI-blF8xwnWzsq6cUfyRmHVQ3L3lJD3cSsPLIqfU4jg7cHE7rlesiHNdL5iVBm2EC27OkzdJ9MLGlSnlf4eBJjZLgLCdQmssTdn0Nq5-KKPOOZ210HU5UEBtPRdEDYsCRwK3xIysa0/s1600/IMG_20130609_130604.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I couldn't quite bring myself to try the goat intestines. I'm claiming this was because of all the other tasty dishes I wanted to try, but in reality I wimped out.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8Z2A56Qj9zK0p8srdwL0AsYYG3vf5r7ZE_p7LB1KysAiUPXYP_g3s6MHgv4SyHK-kI6HOYsi3cY4H69rboY1MJdqe6OCmwO4pKFg_Oy_QL-acKNWOZHfyfcmidvp6YEP0OdbN4y-C2I9/s1600/IMG_20130609_131025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8Z2A56Qj9zK0p8srdwL0AsYYG3vf5r7ZE_p7LB1KysAiUPXYP_g3s6MHgv4SyHK-kI6HOYsi3cY4H69rboY1MJdqe6OCmwO4pKFg_Oy_QL-acKNWOZHfyfcmidvp6YEP0OdbN4y-C2I9/s1600/IMG_20130609_131025.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is Balachung, a side dish made from dried shrimp, crushed chilis, and crispy fried shallot and garlic. Sounds like you just put some on rice and eat it, but it resembles XO sauce to me so I'd guess that you can use it for the same purposes.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcKqMT-SzAIsdfhQdWiDQ7SBtXvLW41xY5HrzIUPViJRsKhBY9I3Pc8BNgW8Rp8LOTCdDZiUYRKd1jQHcOXVgZAZu9mC3osy5bSVwCwSVqCvrCetpzMDc5N-lukYPoPCWPHSP4wc6ZDB9/s1600/IMG_20130609_131150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcKqMT-SzAIsdfhQdWiDQ7SBtXvLW41xY5HrzIUPViJRsKhBY9I3Pc8BNgW8Rp8LOTCdDZiUYRKd1jQHcOXVgZAZu9mC3osy5bSVwCwSVqCvrCetpzMDc5N-lukYPoPCWPHSP4wc6ZDB9/s1600/IMG_20130609_131150.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>This is dried tamarind leaves and dried shrimps. The lady who sold it to me said that it has a sour and fermented flavor, and that it was a seasonal dish as tamarind leaves have to be harvested before the monsoons begin (which is soon).</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7TItDgrkMUMg-SJuI_aivr0MwoGPqMjYSgVsHl1qDS1IwrtTDyqYK2QT4E7F5PCey2Mm77zpKuWUrJoW_vG3T-2GQT8-ZQPdMx-D8FjG0KN-ngBQGMooG7fLzHLBtbj9IWRFQX67Y-fk/s1600/IMG_20130609_131406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7TItDgrkMUMg-SJuI_aivr0MwoGPqMjYSgVsHl1qDS1IwrtTDyqYK2QT4E7F5PCey2Mm77zpKuWUrJoW_vG3T-2GQT8-ZQPdMx-D8FjG0KN-ngBQGMooG7fLzHLBtbj9IWRFQX67Y-fk/s1600/IMG_20130609_131406.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They're making Falooda, a "rose flavored milk shake with tapioca pearls and other condiments".</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HotzlcqxXp78eeBDKU6GpZBGEQnW5_e4QV2O3EUYTDC4Cq7UiiBCj1LOcARl0auxg4UqPfQiQ2PJzfsWQ75oeTbylygXK9AEyIYqadaNhaJyW2Ncd3Vv-Bp6TER440UoYADqikXjL1Pj/s1600/IMG_20130609_131528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HotzlcqxXp78eeBDKU6GpZBGEQnW5_e4QV2O3EUYTDC4Cq7UiiBCj1LOcARl0auxg4UqPfQiQ2PJzfsWQ75oeTbylygXK9AEyIYqadaNhaJyW2Ncd3Vv-Bp6TER440UoYADqikXjL1Pj/s1600/IMG_20130609_131528.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>They're making Yaykay Thote, which is a Burmese shaved ice dessert similar to the Taiwanese shaved ice that you can find in Chinatown and Flushing.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev8y0R9gb1uB8NzVZhXCeExohjQEbdJTEEzDbqJFRXWCq-JBlFvLoHnbfiJcg4yANF1j8jdrL6Sik6T4rMhVxebAomCxdUYES0xVhL-8ZZRXRsiX5R_nF2pLsKNHUfU7e9YNTWLZrTrsV/s1600/IMG_20130609_132239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgev8y0R9gb1uB8NzVZhXCeExohjQEbdJTEEzDbqJFRXWCq-JBlFvLoHnbfiJcg4yANF1j8jdrL6Sik6T4rMhVxebAomCxdUYES0xVhL-8ZZRXRsiX5R_nF2pLsKNHUfU7e9YNTWLZrTrsV/s1600/IMG_20130609_132239.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is the salad action station/ There were two choices at this table: Gyin Thohk, a ginger salad with crispy split peas, peanuts, cabbage, tomato, and other stuff; and Laphet Thohk, a preserved tea leaves salad with crispy split peas, sesame seed, peanuts, crispy fried garlic, cabbage, tomato, and a touch of peanut oil. They also had an option to get your salad made with SPICY dried tea leaves, which I didn't realize until after I got my order. Darn.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv5oTUvb__Rr0_xojqL0B-7KnL2m57ggeB_wYKCfx03Kb84G7tsPFRjCL9T64qgo163nzgGBqy5hyTPFG7TdWy9MD2PRhXST85ripWIa4IAKLLrDtMXHuLGg_yxx9U_LzTe1IH58bvtvO/s1600/IMG_20130609_132502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAv5oTUvb__Rr0_xojqL0B-7KnL2m57ggeB_wYKCfx03Kb84G7tsPFRjCL9T64qgo163nzgGBqy5hyTPFG7TdWy9MD2PRhXST85ripWIa4IAKLLrDtMXHuLGg_yxx9U_LzTe1IH58bvtvO/s1600/IMG_20130609_132502.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I tried the Laphet Thohk. It tasted great, especially with some diced Thai chilis on the top and a squeeze of lime. I think I'm going to try making this at home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8btEnh-vBHFHWP8ZISebfTU-s2g5dVNXccr5SID5ArtAbWbsLOUyTVr_jUGa2ZbNgLpjdIW6UkuQdn3VUlolV_UVt4a-TZ3lh2Nn3Bwow8Ce5sgxSSwWWRkTV9Al_nT4h7o1SfBw8eEd/s1600/IMG_20130609_133114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8btEnh-vBHFHWP8ZISebfTU-s2g5dVNXccr5SID5ArtAbWbsLOUyTVr_jUGa2ZbNgLpjdIW6UkuQdn3VUlolV_UVt4a-TZ3lh2Nn3Bwow8Ce5sgxSSwWWRkTV9Al_nT4h7o1SfBw8eEd/s1600/IMG_20130609_133114.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I got some Shar-Labat Yay, or "basil seed cream soda" to drink. Despite the deep green color and the basil seeds, which looked like roe or caviar, the drink tasted like cream soda.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was a great lunch for a great cause. Can't wait until next year!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-65013574617001442832013-06-10T18:15:00.000-04:002013-06-10T18:15:29.526-04:00FIGMENT 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's some photos that I took last Saturday at the <a href="http://newyork.figmentproject.org/long-term-exhibitions/">FIGMENT outdoor art installation</a> on Governor's Island. The FIGMENT display was interactive, and included a "mini-golf" course. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_etYnYLwWB42Rr-v8znluG2pK1LAn9zYp3Vliivy5R-vZoON0Mivg1HStMyBYEAyZn0x_q9VUx4TIxXL-t_yiMz6T3Vyf1P2KdeFk7JirWuogL51DkNoWwATHiCoUXZ8QvNKyil7DOlnv/s1600/IMG_20130608_164321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_etYnYLwWB42Rr-v8znluG2pK1LAn9zYp3Vliivy5R-vZoON0Mivg1HStMyBYEAyZn0x_q9VUx4TIxXL-t_yiMz6T3Vyf1P2KdeFk7JirWuogL51DkNoWwATHiCoUXZ8QvNKyil7DOlnv/s1600/IMG_20130608_164321.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qdgiCgfDkmMX3bjW3e9_0_fs4Y4rCCk-S1rhXuVLOiX_e1qLhCBA0h3DD9o_egMr1f7kqGcfiotgHrTLWCr8Nfqxa8XAVBDRn5l7fOgTBljw6zaFqoAKt5-LXY13PNcEzcWY49AbHN7X/s1600/IMG_20130608_171247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qdgiCgfDkmMX3bjW3e9_0_fs4Y4rCCk-S1rhXuVLOiX_e1qLhCBA0h3DD9o_egMr1f7kqGcfiotgHrTLWCr8Nfqxa8XAVBDRn5l7fOgTBljw6zaFqoAKt5-LXY13PNcEzcWY49AbHN7X/s1600/IMG_20130608_171247.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9bh_b68Dvoqjp0X_-yiH7IHLCI6Fro6RpW3VRqKZjPHxKKZylAhxdbFiPppuC2zy16UYmbB14an4r4kskXy_y8G37I6qQBTbLOHpRMEw97OvqVSIu0QZQVdTzZpmS9NuBgamIjEe-Dsj/s1600/IMG_20130608_165655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9bh_b68Dvoqjp0X_-yiH7IHLCI6Fro6RpW3VRqKZjPHxKKZylAhxdbFiPppuC2zy16UYmbB14an4r4kskXy_y8G37I6qQBTbLOHpRMEw97OvqVSIu0QZQVdTzZpmS9NuBgamIjEe-Dsj/s1600/IMG_20130608_165655.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3sx9SUaCd_A3CaNd4kOSr2mwYVGvtgFTgDtsboKqbs4poC7J11ijduMx-d_NZ_PCfEM6Zh3xB7sxAxP5XRKgX6RCGIHYD3zfCyHohk9LwA1Wp6wjS3NBbUssqySuBAVOMbaxl0N7I2AN/s1600/IMG_20130608_170109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3sx9SUaCd_A3CaNd4kOSr2mwYVGvtgFTgDtsboKqbs4poC7J11ijduMx-d_NZ_PCfEM6Zh3xB7sxAxP5XRKgX6RCGIHYD3zfCyHohk9LwA1Wp6wjS3NBbUssqySuBAVOMbaxl0N7I2AN/s1600/IMG_20130608_170109.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
For the full album of my photos, please see <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/118156261662126089389/albums/5887971400403623329">this link</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-69386025566332241312013-06-09T02:38:00.001-04:002013-06-10T18:16:24.090-04:00RAMPS! Ramps and Tilefish Crudo, Ramp Pesto, and Ramps Ice Cream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://southernfood.about.com/cs/ramps/a/ramps.htm">Ramps</a> are my favorite vegetable. I love the slightly sweet, slightly garlicky, slightly oniony bulbs. I love the peppery garlicky leaves raw. And I love the mellow, sweet, leeky flavor of the leaves when they're wilted. I especially like how ramps are the first wild green vegetable that is generally available during the year - in NYC, they are in season for just a few short weeks in April and early May.<br />
<br />
And it seems that I am <a href="http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/04/the-history-of-ramps-popularity.html">not the only one</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY8ehjnkd-7CZpAFt-UA6ih8zq7meqXz6bRuW-0k3NsLO57K9FB2JUfKCCECzghYXZlRNr8hnOUg52TR3eHT9DyVZlsysCcCMw59YOJeJ4xbcCklPhRPtYFO9M4606E9xZVrV8ZxN-HvC/s1600/IMG_20130415_140125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY8ehjnkd-7CZpAFt-UA6ih8zq7meqXz6bRuW-0k3NsLO57K9FB2JUfKCCECzghYXZlRNr8hnOUg52TR3eHT9DyVZlsysCcCMw59YOJeJ4xbcCklPhRPtYFO9M4606E9xZVrV8ZxN-HvC/s1600/IMG_20130415_140125.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ramps (and some spring garlic too)</i></div>
<br />
Over the past few years, I have explored new ways of using ramps in my cooking. My standby dish has been to make <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Chicken-Ramps-and-Potatoes-103313">Roast Chicken, Ramps, and Potatoes</a>. Last year, I made <a href="http://www.chow.com/recipes/10490-pickled-ramps">Pickled Ramps Momofuku-style</a>. The bulbs and chopped leaves were always great sauteed in an egg scramble with bacon, and the leaves always added a surprisingly large amount of body to soups and stocks, even Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup whenever I caught an early spring cold.<br />
<br />
This year, I decided to get more creative, and used ramps in:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>a tilefish crudo with meyer lemon;</li>
<li>a simple pesto;</li>
<li>ice cream;</li>
<li>a vichyssoise with bacon and sour cream;</li>
<li>a semmen knodel (German bread dumpling).</li>
</ul>
<div>
The first three items are covered by this post. The next two will follow in a separate post.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*****</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Ramps and Tilefish Crudo with Meyer Lemon</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqk2oKClrUe9EwnjYg8XXabPqwIjJrtGHtUZdvN9_oqR_rBx_6RlctnXmuXKi7CbG0coqFsbNe39jugsPwXlTVA3CHhKySKjyZC9Li1fP1ARjeRGL8QHjTwWdg2PDePRRIeQt3eUyeciw/s1600/IMG_20130424_201836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqk2oKClrUe9EwnjYg8XXabPqwIjJrtGHtUZdvN9_oqR_rBx_6RlctnXmuXKi7CbG0coqFsbNe39jugsPwXlTVA3CHhKySKjyZC9Li1fP1ARjeRGL8QHjTwWdg2PDePRRIeQt3eUyeciw/s1600/IMG_20130424_201836.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
I'm not sure why I thought of making this dish. I think that I was reading the crudo recipe in my copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Grill-Mario-Batali/dp/0061450979">Mario Batali Italian Grill</a> and thought, why not ramps?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found a couple of references to raw fish crudo using ramps, mostly pureed or pickled, on Google, but no recipes. So I decided to revert to basics - a neutral white fish, salt, and citrus to go with the ramps. I figured that the peppery flavor of raw ramp leaves would stand in for the hot peppers often used in a crudo/ceviche. I also thought that Meyer Lemon zest would accent the sweetness of the fish, and that a simple Meyer Lemon and extra virgin olive oil drizzle would be sufficient to complete the plate. I also added some flash pickled ramps for presentation and as a vinegary contrast to the sweet, rich crudo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think that fluke would have been the best fish to use, but the fish stand only had fresh tilefish that day. The fishmonger worried that tilefish would be too tough of a flesh for crudo, but when sliced thinly, it worked fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's the recipe:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 medium tilefish fillet - about 1/3 lb.</div>
<div>
6-8 ramp leaves, washed and sliced in half horizontally (so 12-16 pieces)</div>
<div>
Zest of 1 Meyer Lemon</div>
<div>
Squeeze of Meyer Lemon juice - maybe 1-2 tbsp?</div>
<div>
1 or 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil (same amount as the Meyer Lemon juice)</div>
<div>
Kosher or sea salt</div>
<div>
6 pickled ramp bulbs (optional) (used white vinegar, salt, sugar, cumin, mustard seed)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Remove pin bones from fish with tweezers or fingers. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer for about 30-40 minutes before using.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Get out a large plate/serving platter. Arrange sliced half ramp leaves on plate. Remove tilefish from freezer, and, using a very sharp knife, cut the filet into thin slices no more than 1/4 inch thick and about 2 inches long. Place each piece of fish on a ramp leaf, and sprinkle a bit of lemon zest and a few crystals of salt on top of each piece of crudo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mix the Meyer Lemon juice and olive oil in a separate container and drizzle on top of the crudo pieces.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enjoy!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*****</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Ramp Pesto</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B8lvTl00RCe73Uty4JjKyUCFzBwfbqYGdX5fUbb-Vzo-Mp1-E5da1FyNds1lBXcehOe1_aMd9QbVAOeqMn1DI2vDoKom1x-qhoJAhUWqWKxaGpsEnIIpH4rqocH7RgjIJLfKSyx4ifpL/s1600/IMG_20130512_223917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B8lvTl00RCe73Uty4JjKyUCFzBwfbqYGdX5fUbb-Vzo-Mp1-E5da1FyNds1lBXcehOe1_aMd9QbVAOeqMn1DI2vDoKom1x-qhoJAhUWqWKxaGpsEnIIpH4rqocH7RgjIJLfKSyx4ifpL/s1600/IMG_20130512_223917.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
No recipe here - just make a basic pesto, except substituting raw ramp leaves for basil leaves. Note: I toasted the pine nuts before adding them. I think that walnuts or even sunflower seeds could work in the pesto if you don't have pine nuts handy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The pesto is quite strong and packed with a peppery, garlic flavor. It also has an amazing bright green color that reminds one of spring.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>How to use it? </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I enjoyed it:</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>spread on fresh mozzarella cheese and served with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar in a replacement caprese salad;</li>
<li>as a crust for fish either sauteed in brown butter or baked in the oven (works especially well on skate);</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BcVv9Unvs1hQrOaLFgUACrKkYOI9eCqrnwtMMFFfHJwTWLEhP1CLGQnsp3zYA4PNvqqzCBv-uZri52jmXxAKFgosCvBF6g-vznMgh7Q2VqEiRHGdl8XPoCC-FMjrqViYzSgZtCBAF-W0/s1600/IMG_20130518_013650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BcVv9Unvs1hQrOaLFgUACrKkYOI9eCqrnwtMMFFfHJwTWLEhP1CLGQnsp3zYA4PNvqqzCBv-uZri52jmXxAKFgosCvBF6g-vznMgh7Q2VqEiRHGdl8XPoCC-FMjrqViYzSgZtCBAF-W0/s1600/IMG_20130518_013650.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>as a sauce for some grilled squid marinated in lemon zest, olive oil, and dried oregano.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQPBgs9lF5wRopvJhLpbt1OEIx627fx08QTd1QhkFPiM1cjLrDna5uWGcsDqKL1s-drzFjDGA20ZXOX8S13yVUbUC_dRlLk_M4UGa9oelpH6YiFB8ztFaccCzs4JBtcMRZKUCJ73YbvdC/s1600/IMG_20130523_002521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQPBgs9lF5wRopvJhLpbt1OEIx627fx08QTd1QhkFPiM1cjLrDna5uWGcsDqKL1s-drzFjDGA20ZXOX8S13yVUbUC_dRlLk_M4UGa9oelpH6YiFB8ztFaccCzs4JBtcMRZKUCJ73YbvdC/s1600/IMG_20130523_002521.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Be creative!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*****</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Ramps Ice Cream</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aXRWq_DYRzVDZpZPUZP4M0Wga5E0p0ZBVp5fBf1Pdn7B8q6neXkss4aG17ng0WcM7uoFT5fKS7gX1qOGNlVvBaiFmwzIbkP-4y3pP9kAm3LjD6n62mUxqmMFsQbAIP2QqLI3VAr7RPRM/s1600/IMG_20130510_000237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aXRWq_DYRzVDZpZPUZP4M0Wga5E0p0ZBVp5fBf1Pdn7B8q6neXkss4aG17ng0WcM7uoFT5fKS7gX1qOGNlVvBaiFmwzIbkP-4y3pP9kAm3LjD6n62mUxqmMFsQbAIP2QqLI3VAr7RPRM/s1600/IMG_20130510_000237.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
I had bought a Cuisinart ice cream machine a couple of months ago using a gift card sent to me as a replacement Christmas present (thanks Dan and Sab!). Since then, I've been trying to think of somewhat unconventional ice creams to make, hopefully using seasonal ingredients.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, I like savory ice creams and sorbets,,,as well as ramps...and ramps and eggs are a classic pairing...and ice cream has eggs...so maybe ramps could be used for ice cream???</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recipe (makes 1 pint):</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 cup heavy whipping cream</div>
<div>
1 cup buttermilk (can also use whatever other kind of milk you want - I figured buttermilk would help reduce the richness of the ramps and egg yolks)</div>
<div>
1/3 cup sugar</div>
<div>
3 large egg yolks</div>
<div>
pinch of salt</div>
<div>
20-30 ramps (bulb and white part only - save the leaves for pesto!) diced.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) in saucepan, add 1/2 cup cream, buttermilk, salt, and sugar. Bring sweetened milk to verge of boil at medium heat and add ramp bulbs, turn off heat and steep for 15 minutes. Repeat this process once more. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2) in small bowl, add and beat the egg yolks. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3) in larger bowl (Bowl #2), add rest of cream, and place Bowl #2 in an ice water bath (Note: this is probably optional - you can probably add the cream to the saucepan at the beginning - keeping the extra cream in an ice water bath is intended to help stop the hot custard from continuing to cook).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4) Bring mixture in saucepan to verge of boiling again. Add some of mixture to bowl containing egg yolks, while beating the egg yolks to prevent cooking. Add a bit more and beat a bit more. Pour contents of the egg yolk bowl back into the saucepan with the remaining sweetened dairy/ramp mixture. Bring to light simmer on medium-low heat and stir for a few minutes until custard begins to thicken (passes back of the spoon test).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5) Pour custard into Bowl #2 containing the chilled cream and stir together. (This step can be omitted - see Step 3 above). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6) Let sit in ice bath until ice cream base reaches room temperature, then put in freezer for about 1 hour, or just stick it in the freezer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7) Process the cooled ice cream base in your ice cream maker. Stick completed ice cream back in freezer overnight - the flavors come together this way - it tastes better after sitting than if you eat it fresh.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How does it taste?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Like ramps! It's actually a pretty strong flavor - I left the chopped (and now candied) ramp bulbs in as I was afraid that the ramp flavor would be weak without them (and besides, why waste the bulbs?). If you want a lighter flavor, strain the bulbs out of the ice cream base before cooling - I think that you'll still get the flavor of the ramps infused into the custard base even without keeping the bulbs. I note that I used about 25-30 ramp bulbs for about a pint of ice cream (as I wanted to ensure the ramp flavor got infused during the steeping process). So if you want a mellower flavor, you could also use less ramps. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Note: it SMELLS like ramps, too. This may be offputting to some people, I suppose.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The ice cream has a medium sweetness. The buttermilk makes it a bit lighter than the ordinary super-rich egg custard-based ice cream, and also adds a slight tang. Otherwise, it tastes and smells strongly like sauteed ramps (a bit sweet with an oniony garlicky kick). The ramp flavor kind of melts into the cream. Definitely a savory as opposed to sweet. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo31ArOhvJ9zqFp8SpDcpH5HrhYbrQRe8nRnm_RRYFHS2-l4C8umWAyiLxQmlCBf8jQcX3lAmxPDaW9QoCQQP1h6EhLiZaCyQEu_dalNNy6F_Yh2LGFvZyltK3Su2dOKhO5oeMp4VrWTOZ/s1600/IMG_20130509_004113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo31ArOhvJ9zqFp8SpDcpH5HrhYbrQRe8nRnm_RRYFHS2-l4C8umWAyiLxQmlCBf8jQcX3lAmxPDaW9QoCQQP1h6EhLiZaCyQEu_dalNNy6F_Yh2LGFvZyltK3Su2dOKhO5oeMp4VrWTOZ/s1600/IMG_20130509_004113.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ramp bulbs steeping in buttermilk, cream, and sugar.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHAtWPeR3Of0XcfOK7MprkXPU3gh0XhcbuGrXM_MZeeyFr4I7tRuTIQ8j4zHTBJMutWIhj_TUUfeX0bmf32pEfP4bsZUcK8-SXJ_TlyxCXSfcBz-spNRqzUfCKbOA7bt4FiMeKxVB9wlI/s1600/IMG_20130509_030934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHAtWPeR3Of0XcfOK7MprkXPU3gh0XhcbuGrXM_MZeeyFr4I7tRuTIQ8j4zHTBJMutWIhj_TUUfeX0bmf32pEfP4bsZUcK8-SXJ_TlyxCXSfcBz-spNRqzUfCKbOA7bt4FiMeKxVB9wlI/s1600/IMG_20130509_030934.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJJ-RPVGjrIch_4oo-A9jtrhOsMmOWqqfApn1mAGEVcuuXniasXVf_t6NWDpk_HKbWNrEzWUBtpdO-76sfg-Pw2wllZG_uSawkUhtqz4PHsbuQv8GgTX2cni_55rRPwJnNx0_0oHwx5C/s1600/IMG_20130509_032037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQJJ-RPVGjrIch_4oo-A9jtrhOsMmOWqqfApn1mAGEVcuuXniasXVf_t6NWDpk_HKbWNrEzWUBtpdO-76sfg-Pw2wllZG_uSawkUhtqz4PHsbuQv8GgTX2cni_55rRPwJnNx0_0oHwx5C/s1600/IMG_20130509_032037.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Too bad - gotta wait for next year!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-46254274717460983042013-06-09T01:09:00.000-04:002013-06-10T18:16:46.044-04:00Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream and Compote<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhNZ2LKLEFPDdyxdn-obwwyq8S587YDkEPgp88Sty_4askuGi3EG2QVjQw9o_pYWODPeGAt2TXv-2oG0nnVml4Ud9Kfs_hFqcbX3DZfqhJZyfaBIde_Wdt3xSk9N0psHFYUqfiSo823AG/s1600/IMG_20130530_004334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhNZ2LKLEFPDdyxdn-obwwyq8S587YDkEPgp88Sty_4askuGi3EG2QVjQw9o_pYWODPeGAt2TXv-2oG0nnVml4Ud9Kfs_hFqcbX3DZfqhJZyfaBIde_Wdt3xSk9N0psHFYUqfiSo823AG/s1600/IMG_20130530_004334.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's early June, which means that it's strawberry and rhubarb season here in NYC. Having picked up some of each at the <a href="http://unionsquaregreenmarket.tumblr.com/">Union Square Greenmarket</a>, I wanted to try to use them in something a little more creative than the usual pie. Then I saw my ice cream maker sitting in the kitchen begging to be used.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Idea: <span style="color: red;"><i><b>STRAWBERRY RHUBARB ICE CREAM</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured that my plan would be to try to create a strawberry-rhubarb mixture/preserve to add to a typical ice cream base. I remembered the cape gooseberry/poha berry compote that I made last autumn and thought that it might be a good idea for the fruit component of the ice cream base. But how much strawberries vs. rhubarb to use? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, I found the following recipe online:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://umamigirl.com/2013/04/rhubarb-strawberry-compote.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://umamigirl.com/2013/04/rhubarb-strawberry-compote.html</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also thought a little spice would make the flavors stand out a bit more, and decided on ginger. My final recipe is below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDw4-H505Pz84eCnfH2w450HikLvljXfObUTTzYbScHRn3X54eXxE-uKXlHlHSi9AYSWG5tQlmE_ArolmRKATfnVSyNfKjvhE_YSqwIEcQU4Bni1esHgPnVW8LJt6ppICzZCokwMczTu/s1600/IMG_20130530_005009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDw4-H505Pz84eCnfH2w450HikLvljXfObUTTzYbScHRn3X54eXxE-uKXlHlHSi9AYSWG5tQlmE_ArolmRKATfnVSyNfKjvhE_YSqwIEcQU4Bni1esHgPnVW8LJt6ppICzZCokwMczTu/s1600/IMG_20130530_005009.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote (w/ Ginger)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb rhubarb stalks - cleaned and chopped horizontally into small pieces - 1/2" or 3/4" in length</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb strawberries - washed, dried, and cut in half (this should be about a pint and a half)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup light brown sugar (cane sugar/turbinado works too)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2-3 very thin slices of ginger from the root (optional)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp of fresh vanilla (or a small amount of vanilla extract)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all of the ingredients in a large sautee pan/wok over medium high heat until the mixture comes to a heavy boil. Then, reduce heat to medium low and let the mixture simmer down until the water has been released from the fruit and evaporated and it reaches the consistency that you want. Skim off any foam/scum that develops, or mix it back into the simmering mixture. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. Can be eaten immediately or stuck in fridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: you can also boil down in a saucepan, but this will take much longer to cook as the surface area to volume ratio is lower, and thus the water won't evaporate as quickly. I learned this the hard way, as my compote took 40 minutes to simmer down to a decent consistency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YDZp8tKZOiUIq5SVupNoS1cG121W73tmWoFjqVJGLVc9jTlC8GA3JS7N-sqYV26gw_xL0eW3z2ef3AWqA3qBcP8KAafMhk_qU-srOcbUDDO9626rnSskZLUc9_VkQnwhxFzrUkVa6vf5/s1600/IMG_20130529_230439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YDZp8tKZOiUIq5SVupNoS1cG121W73tmWoFjqVJGLVc9jTlC8GA3JS7N-sqYV26gw_xL0eW3z2ef3AWqA3qBcP8KAafMhk_qU-srOcbUDDO9626rnSskZLUc9_VkQnwhxFzrUkVa6vf5/s1600/IMG_20130529_230439.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSpvl-KfXg8LMogjJ9f-v11VKnqOKEWBljbmsHJBcS0-C7hUZija9nqIj47LoSHSYiRU4kQX2Y1E1aq2X5aGFqiso43J47qkloH_tQxstz7es8p5XsPxHuYNGfVnDmssTrkrPU_5gW1Ib/s1600/IMG_20130529_232808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSpvl-KfXg8LMogjJ9f-v11VKnqOKEWBljbmsHJBcS0-C7hUZija9nqIj47LoSHSYiRU4kQX2Y1E1aq2X5aGFqiso43J47qkloH_tQxstz7es8p5XsPxHuYNGfVnDmssTrkrPU_5gW1Ib/s1600/IMG_20130529_232808.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ingredients loaded...</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqw1U0BXRqxUsRVC2mMMVoZYvHikp3bi_zHNxrJqie1FhmC6c066A5UQzUGgRcGDdKqQBvBJxOAM6G1gGoX_yzwz7eH8Hk1KI5h511UeBU8PZtcaJp26MQTT0d-4oNAHdR2TeldSM8CxH/s1600/IMG_20130529_233431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqw1U0BXRqxUsRVC2mMMVoZYvHikp3bi_zHNxrJqie1FhmC6c066A5UQzUGgRcGDdKqQBvBJxOAM6G1gGoX_yzwz7eH8Hk1KI5h511UeBU8PZtcaJp26MQTT0d-4oNAHdR2TeldSM8CxH/s1600/IMG_20130529_233431.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Simmering...</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FFTHR2Tud4Mcme39C8Ylw4d0cUDsZq_vZOZySRj0GpeHQVV5FFwP34Rb5kj1Ylz-fvA17hoYxE_akqdkJbdctpAflS59Ic5BSjw8grqhH2sM2PB6KcjX4ksIbyQgoJa_KqH2cXYlrjPS/s1600/IMG_20130529_235021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FFTHR2Tud4Mcme39C8Ylw4d0cUDsZq_vZOZySRj0GpeHQVV5FFwP34Rb5kj1Ylz-fvA17hoYxE_akqdkJbdctpAflS59Ic5BSjw8grqhH2sM2PB6KcjX4ksIbyQgoJa_KqH2cXYlrjPS/s1600/IMG_20130529_235021.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Near end of simmer.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> *****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then took some of the cooled compote and made ice cream using the following recipe:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUu9TtXEnxSyQPUGI3TXCGy8ohLK-_y420gCmUxUt5j3J_52hNudUMijYGhrUgmfiWHgoReHxbSkzz-4MKj4ZSjnsnc_aZWrG2xLBAni8d7MjAuMjbL2uoAuYOJwNXz3vHcavtJCJ6Qjm/s1600/IMG_20130530_100054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUu9TtXEnxSyQPUGI3TXCGy8ohLK-_y420gCmUxUt5j3J_52hNudUMijYGhrUgmfiWHgoReHxbSkzz-4MKj4ZSjnsnc_aZWrG2xLBAni8d7MjAuMjbL2uoAuYOJwNXz3vHcavtJCJ6Qjm/s1600/IMG_20130530_100054.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Cream</b> (makes approx 1 qt)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 3/4 cups of Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (3/4 cup of which is reserved in a mixing bowl over an ice water bath)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup whole milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 egg yolks (large eggs)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sugar (cane or white) - Note: In order to avoid oversweetening, I probably would start with 1/4 cup, then keep adding to taste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dash of vanilla/extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Basically, the ratio of dairy to Compote to sugar is 3.5/3.5/1 - so if you want to use soy milk (or ultra soft tofu could work too, I'd imagine), I'd just follow the ratio (or you could just freeze the compote w/o any dairy - may be somewhat tart, though).**</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the cream, the Compote, the milk, and the sugar over medium low heat. Heat until just barely at a simmer. While heating, beat the egg yolks in a small bowl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When dairy/Compote mixture is barely at a simmer, add the egg yolks via "tempering", by pouring some of the mixture into the egg yolks while beating them, repeating once or twice more, then pouring the egg yolk + dairy mix back into the remainder of the dairy/Compote mix. Stir together, then let simmer slowly until custard thickens (coats back of spoon test). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, pour the hot custard base into the chilled bowl holding the remaining 3/4 cup of cream. Stir together. Let the custard sit in the ice water bath until near room temperature, then stick in fridge to finish cooling. Add ice cream base into ice cream machine and follow instructions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a fun finish, add sliced fresh strawberries to the ice cream during the last minute or two of churning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNZ1QSyb4fqZ3M-DaxQsUKGSSSFhphbFy1UjOBWFbbq1h235YHKlBUKnJMRhABaKFsKJyofizY2Z2ygE8LzWLiEO9Omq5Mq_JdGs8Fvd72CK8x-o-0jL_GNPzAmRSSxhf6zi7VOO8YWVi/s1600/IMG_20130530_014549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNZ1QSyb4fqZ3M-DaxQsUKGSSSFhphbFy1UjOBWFbbq1h235YHKlBUKnJMRhABaKFsKJyofizY2Z2ygE8LzWLiEO9Omq5Mq_JdGs8Fvd72CK8x-o-0jL_GNPzAmRSSxhf6zi7VOO8YWVi/s1600/IMG_20130530_014549.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The verdict?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The compote tasted fresh and slightly more tart than sweet, which is what I wanted. The ginger adds a bit of a spicy surprise to the flavor. It is great with cream cheese on a bagel, or as a cheesecake sauce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ice cream was very smooth and blended, and tasted almost like a berry smoothie. Unfortunately, the ginger flavor got lost in translation, but it was still a very tasty ice cream anyway. The ice cream remained softer than the norm, even after freezing.</span><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-36313671728614471092012-11-28T02:12:00.000-05:002012-11-28T02:12:17.282-05:00Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My old friend Jed was in town for Thanksgiving weekend and wanted to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here are some pics and commentary:<br />
<br />
We arrived about 20 minutes early and walked to 70th Street and Central Park West. The crowds were already significant. Here are photos looking forward and backward at the crowd.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlcjj_CimlH3-byEIi4LiOrF4oEB53xRMFs2TLXNS7V4vUjgCnu6y7ItG4N07DMapgYGkA82EqDEw-WXm6CNNUbtBboEqy-YC_Nm0tuoFjv0MNVEr9khx3QiT84J8vdVZ28euBGqAp400/s1600/DSC03226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlcjj_CimlH3-byEIi4LiOrF4oEB53xRMFs2TLXNS7V4vUjgCnu6y7ItG4N07DMapgYGkA82EqDEw-WXm6CNNUbtBboEqy-YC_Nm0tuoFjv0MNVEr9khx3QiT84J8vdVZ28euBGqAp400/s320/DSC03226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSE55dneyMgPSugoQz1L1emJI46QTYw-g0dkBUhN4gcTY8-2lfk-hqzoYWK523746gI0H3RI0gGMhP9uzP4QnhJRcrBtwXzF0rCA4BsN1sEi_ZzskofJWa74vu6mtR3BJCtxs2pvpKn2O/s1600/DSC03227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSE55dneyMgPSugoQz1L1emJI46QTYw-g0dkBUhN4gcTY8-2lfk-hqzoYWK523746gI0H3RI0gGMhP9uzP4QnhJRcrBtwXzF0rCA4BsN1sEi_ZzskofJWa74vu6mtR3BJCtxs2pvpKn2O/s320/DSC03227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Kiddies' balloons taking flight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlcHsI1IWkMwqaZ-XVDHvEQQqU2o8ob0G_cN8PeXCDwg4hX3XQpjrauvknlWn3eiVTKe4pX0TFf5-ky6OfMMNjai7BYuxDekDko4wCPvY-Oj_Xl3EeKUuR1KgnyhipJsfQd4v9VB519jc/s1600/DSC03231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlcHsI1IWkMwqaZ-XVDHvEQQqU2o8ob0G_cN8PeXCDwg4hX3XQpjrauvknlWn3eiVTKe4pX0TFf5-ky6OfMMNjai7BYuxDekDko4wCPvY-Oj_Xl3EeKUuR1KgnyhipJsfQd4v9VB519jc/s320/DSC03231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The parade begins!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFMBtV9NfzydXnU5pNjNHRWpsrlvgDl6DVlk6UE2Ro2u83xk3NyZnUTKhm9yR88dCui2XnZg7kzLFmsDWojwWpmVYuu7_xBIVasQ8fAnmIMWA7IrRJ9mV4u4uuG0_kJVLpYm6dXIt5rsB/s1600/DSC03234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFMBtV9NfzydXnU5pNjNHRWpsrlvgDl6DVlk6UE2Ro2u83xk3NyZnUTKhm9yR88dCui2XnZg7kzLFmsDWojwWpmVYuu7_xBIVasQ8fAnmIMWA7IrRJ9mV4u4uuG0_kJVLpYm6dXIt5rsB/s320/DSC03234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAntkkBW_s4jfJY8fel5hBRolBEPX_cpPXBxzN4W3vqVe71wgPNN7KQM_w1iSdC_k714SKALGWd8Ql14Q5zpTIavcmjkASrxso7TBWaR4qn1hvcO_oyRP2L1bnDh7WSn6jO8r_uf7rDtJj/s1600/DSC03237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAntkkBW_s4jfJY8fel5hBRolBEPX_cpPXBxzN4W3vqVe71wgPNN7KQM_w1iSdC_k714SKALGWd8Ql14Q5zpTIavcmjkASrxso7TBWaR4qn1hvcO_oyRP2L1bnDh7WSn6jO8r_uf7rDtJj/s320/DSC03237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuUSsTQ2HGD7be13i-lTsQjxluPcmFLbEWShUm1kjbJgmz67KAWzttLHDAnockTPV3cc1wQJcXaMf8CST13DI5b_TDvFzPAAvb9Yl6N83p_NX9Av86IP7j-DsDvPktUAOdPznqhvTccTn/s1600/DSC03238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuUSsTQ2HGD7be13i-lTsQjxluPcmFLbEWShUm1kjbJgmz67KAWzttLHDAnockTPV3cc1wQJcXaMf8CST13DI5b_TDvFzPAAvb9Yl6N83p_NX9Av86IP7j-DsDvPktUAOdPznqhvTccTn/s320/DSC03238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hello Kitty with plane was a new balloon this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8F8s1MznH83fiHYQDa9BS9nZLBIznC-7mxuHnjEVsGTug2iot7bKvoweehjCV57vsmoMqeGU32fw8OluTwDnjK-0aatahSo3JGh3JQb506t_ibYPatIRjmmeAoaq4skbFBz_iLEr6mbj/s1600/DSC03239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8F8s1MznH83fiHYQDa9BS9nZLBIznC-7mxuHnjEVsGTug2iot7bKvoweehjCV57vsmoMqeGU32fw8OluTwDnjK-0aatahSo3JGh3JQb506t_ibYPatIRjmmeAoaq4skbFBz_iLEr6mbj/s320/DSC03239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7tay8CJlhvqHlwThMwZm5WXGEaHr_iDqZJac1iFvbGIdRsK0ssqJof-B6HzUEFgQmKTOFvIQkQ4PvVB4sZUU4DJk0Sj-XKygtPu-ReGo1FyHb0AHzL1Zq-vtn1lC6U8a8pflwUZTXCUL/s1600/DSC03240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7tay8CJlhvqHlwThMwZm5WXGEaHr_iDqZJac1iFvbGIdRsK0ssqJof-B6HzUEFgQmKTOFvIQkQ4PvVB4sZUU4DJk0Sj-XKygtPu-ReGo1FyHb0AHzL1Zq-vtn1lC6U8a8pflwUZTXCUL/s320/DSC03240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Pilgrims.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnPiuQw6TaR42V8LV6fxFilZjKhqZDXXK2wkONUZSmaJGZm9d5AlCd2tWP4S9_fnJt4Wwz3JzL6duY0ccXh1A-Km2JHVnZpCuOGvufl9hUBpvizItFGr4Lwuwg1y0QJWKxzYmJWAUtjMF/s1600/DSC03242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnPiuQw6TaR42V8LV6fxFilZjKhqZDXXK2wkONUZSmaJGZm9d5AlCd2tWP4S9_fnJt4Wwz3JzL6duY0ccXh1A-Km2JHVnZpCuOGvufl9hUBpvizItFGr4Lwuwg1y0QJWKxzYmJWAUtjMF/s320/DSC03242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60qOpQXs0JbPdNF6ck6hzxZKm3KmB2dC-mCH2_Ex-KjsIaBvfwZE3vBqh5KgPFWoAd7bD4LTfylOVFFNI0phR5Q8tKe3nVoKXYdrmPn77NbFmMzrYhKOB-Hq9i70U78d1r7b0HnQNURx7/s1600/DSC03243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60qOpQXs0JbPdNF6ck6hzxZKm3KmB2dC-mCH2_Ex-KjsIaBvfwZE3vBqh5KgPFWoAd7bD4LTfylOVFFNI0phR5Q8tKe3nVoKXYdrmPn77NbFmMzrYhKOB-Hq9i70U78d1r7b0HnQNURx7/s320/DSC03243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One thing that I've always liked about the parade is how the floats and balloons progress from autumn/Thanksgiving themes to winter/Christmas themes. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cnEweq6J7f6ojem0lJRFV9y2xsDrS7AiWhQ7erz2Fbu_ywMLRyfkaasY64f7g0fjz__PPNm-u9CA1sIusSxgB5lNiYuR6i0AiT4fMTyW2_-MeIjs87o1Nmzp90drbLxBZZw8VQtads82/s1600/DSC03244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cnEweq6J7f6ojem0lJRFV9y2xsDrS7AiWhQ7erz2Fbu_ywMLRyfkaasY64f7g0fjz__PPNm-u9CA1sIusSxgB5lNiYuR6i0AiT4fMTyW2_-MeIjs87o1Nmzp90drbLxBZZw8VQtads82/s320/DSC03244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziToKYg7ftFNrokLxlq9iUhCCuOrFystCqF8BDMSxyJHAn0nt-H33m1_-PPwykRmwu7SgobX_OQ4NYoffGQd4f5p8mJWmbioNCXsilkPUDNlD2aH6Ewd6s3sK3caNAwFQt7fl1QwNUQap/s1600/DSC03246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziToKYg7ftFNrokLxlq9iUhCCuOrFystCqF8BDMSxyJHAn0nt-H33m1_-PPwykRmwu7SgobX_OQ4NYoffGQd4f5p8mJWmbioNCXsilkPUDNlD2aH6Ewd6s3sK3caNAwFQt7fl1QwNUQap/s320/DSC03246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the turkey!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmCNdxO-iaF-SZLInmfmTif3Q8IAHtLf4c1YW1JKsofppDpxoHmyZ7wtSc7Ovd0a1tX6sDL8sZkqbp8gQCnYuEyxfrf005Vc5hWNF-CeUfXoIHHWC7U1zz4fw5v23yC7cXX8dDdzEl5EE/s1600/DSC03247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmCNdxO-iaF-SZLInmfmTif3Q8IAHtLf4c1YW1JKsofppDpxoHmyZ7wtSc7Ovd0a1tX6sDL8sZkqbp8gQCnYuEyxfrf005Vc5hWNF-CeUfXoIHHWC7U1zz4fw5v23yC7cXX8dDdzEl5EE/s320/DSC03247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWa3NcMxKQFY52lmwQyD0nVO3igBJF-klr3rCdpFeyNDoZ5ERU8HZEcwpL8qat6e5Ny3mVGvn-JEkZBgqKtWjeDsHhGaVufaIUj3hrA1M-y47SBgXGEgH_YUqapPi5Pe525uZvjQ47-8AK/s1600/DSC03248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWa3NcMxKQFY52lmwQyD0nVO3igBJF-klr3rCdpFeyNDoZ5ERU8HZEcwpL8qat6e5Ny3mVGvn-JEkZBgqKtWjeDsHhGaVufaIUj3hrA1M-y47SBgXGEgH_YUqapPi5Pe525uZvjQ47-8AK/s320/DSC03248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Call me maybe?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrnw_DXPgUYY7baoD_9xeBMkf_4QTHOzOXiL73jnpwHFGA9Nw9uZ2hlZgB1sO_SawFCSReTs-HBpT7ne4ypTScDCvOEjuJ63SpJh4LMxD5humeFxGJj8RfrS6_hmknL7sOVs8bB-_ewH8/s1600/DSC03251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrnw_DXPgUYY7baoD_9xeBMkf_4QTHOzOXiL73jnpwHFGA9Nw9uZ2hlZgB1sO_SawFCSReTs-HBpT7ne4ypTScDCvOEjuJ63SpJh4LMxD5humeFxGJj8RfrS6_hmknL7sOVs8bB-_ewH8/s320/DSC03251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If there's a football...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qrNpxroFVDa-AybToKHNoEq3Qv-YK7cD-U4eLLxspK70spFccQcWsJ9DRRPE4NKi6a3V-3p5wkX88ilQTQ9tbnQZamKSucgJK0gmAtyrRHPaJyEXPyM39w5OjSLMG8NFpklTILdqplYg/s1600/DSC03252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qrNpxroFVDa-AybToKHNoEq3Qv-YK7cD-U4eLLxspK70spFccQcWsJ9DRRPE4NKi6a3V-3p5wkX88ilQTQ9tbnQZamKSucgJK0gmAtyrRHPaJyEXPyM39w5OjSLMG8NFpklTILdqplYg/s320/DSC03252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Good 'ol Charlie Brown can't be too far behind!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZcCIkeB0aCAFO7Kckc34c7u7g1I5q2TVqMnC2px1S8wlmtU-hV2sHzXWM7jdMBHhFO3vhNlQeKCY77qyEBCb9wLMUqvnfMhE-J4iERjTK7NHW-zbe2ZCRqCi7UsI80EvSvMj2tWmrjWH/s1600/DSC03253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZcCIkeB0aCAFO7Kckc34c7u7g1I5q2TVqMnC2px1S8wlmtU-hV2sHzXWM7jdMBHhFO3vhNlQeKCY77qyEBCb9wLMUqvnfMhE-J4iERjTK7NHW-zbe2ZCRqCi7UsI80EvSvMj2tWmrjWH/s320/DSC03253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC07jZReEn90trXoQ1-bA7uiQpuHL3q-w8w7tXrOPXKn1Jyc3VkEabUcJfodymulP6LawvE4XLfTleqZgp8I5aOSwN8NH46h9yebejfjdh9mkGcOH18BFTJeTJAlhxxTQ1wEGdXkJaMQ24/s1600/DSC03254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC07jZReEn90trXoQ1-bA7uiQpuHL3q-w8w7tXrOPXKn1Jyc3VkEabUcJfodymulP6LawvE4XLfTleqZgp8I5aOSwN8NH46h9yebejfjdh9mkGcOH18BFTJeTJAlhxxTQ1wEGdXkJaMQ24/s320/DSC03254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpuvU6Q4n1T2bceja5RGjWEfTP0iPDhO-97LKnlLPIT_Wqq0HiAWUX0ev0fDDTj7un1S6z97CmYs3iD_O7NgYHfS03qXyJSd5zOCn3r3UMvrRY5Ble79IVJ8CBVYmbUAdoh_j_Wl9sv9t/s1600/DSC03255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpuvU6Q4n1T2bceja5RGjWEfTP0iPDhO-97LKnlLPIT_Wqq0HiAWUX0ev0fDDTj7un1S6z97CmYs3iD_O7NgYHfS03qXyJSd5zOCn3r3UMvrRY5Ble79IVJ8CBVYmbUAdoh_j_Wl9sv9t/s320/DSC03255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpyItrRNfqso1slGcIvyKqcWN1a_cuVFDX703ppLS3uLpTQjfILfyT03HcKyZF2M90780VTXovzasuDQdBua-6noyKIGPPU5azFqqidsFThm3kfHBa5R76-TYUd5jT7j5FDkjmVhCjjuu/s1600/DSC03257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpyItrRNfqso1slGcIvyKqcWN1a_cuVFDX703ppLS3uLpTQjfILfyT03HcKyZF2M90780VTXovzasuDQdBua-6noyKIGPPU5azFqqidsFThm3kfHBa5R76-TYUd5jT7j5FDkjmVhCjjuu/s320/DSC03257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Next to President Obama, the yellow guy in the float pictured below is probably the happiest about the election results.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqjsAy2bQQwWDiL5Hg1-Vt6vjmE33kii9-WUBn-7BnsXdfQlfAiH3XoogQGes732jiUp0jvbIAl6KUQFMdVqAmbEHfDam9LMzv0tuYaXlupnFLE-oOIzRNl0aPgjzsknbT0VAnQOmj0wn/s1600/DSC03258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqjsAy2bQQwWDiL5Hg1-Vt6vjmE33kii9-WUBn-7BnsXdfQlfAiH3XoogQGes732jiUp0jvbIAl6KUQFMdVqAmbEHfDam9LMzv0tuYaXlupnFLE-oOIzRNl0aPgjzsknbT0VAnQOmj0wn/s320/DSC03258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Kung Fu Panda.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2HFxg7ZRra5ZbWjk4DqaqjQrcmd1bKCnMz0dVfXkTk6W6ZkTHm5L1tCo7XBt8xYoi69qNZvPxFFYNJLo0Pl7dwTQ0sIB-ONmTmP2QPeUA69lhmeK8MkNJAMs1jQNQpLGOJtSrMDa6F7n/s1600/DSC03260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2HFxg7ZRra5ZbWjk4DqaqjQrcmd1bKCnMz0dVfXkTk6W6ZkTHm5L1tCo7XBt8xYoi69qNZvPxFFYNJLo0Pl7dwTQ0sIB-ONmTmP2QPeUA69lhmeK8MkNJAMs1jQNQpLGOJtSrMDa6F7n/s320/DSC03260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUlW7UPRsrKQ13D6V6BSE5ibEAZOWH8psCLfvqzlQ6yqYxYNgKecvBtFVOcnaY4zkGXAT9UqyfYrDrh8jnGr3tG7qo_JSDGuxic9QcRk_OJFEKmetLHrPDADI3sKHDmVss-B-5L_CgyU8/s1600/DSC03261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUlW7UPRsrKQ13D6V6BSE5ibEAZOWH8psCLfvqzlQ6yqYxYNgKecvBtFVOcnaY4zkGXAT9UqyfYrDrh8jnGr3tG7qo_JSDGuxic9QcRk_OJFEKmetLHrPDADI3sKHDmVss-B-5L_CgyU8/s320/DSC03261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Roots - I remember them playing at Mason Day before they hit it really big.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzU9_X6zG2x_Lp1c_729bNQknryn0WOIgYb7StqWy_80FWcSDQo35cm05zCnHrClmmIFhrAEDDebhpEu2XRwWnI4h6p5vPYpW_260rvSUiGH3_4ptpDte5yxKfx9iAM94uaqZ_UEsObi4/s1600/DSC03262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzU9_X6zG2x_Lp1c_729bNQknryn0WOIgYb7StqWy_80FWcSDQo35cm05zCnHrClmmIFhrAEDDebhpEu2XRwWnI4h6p5vPYpW_260rvSUiGH3_4ptpDte5yxKfx9iAM94uaqZ_UEsObi4/s320/DSC03262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Make way for ducklings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywTjNzS0aFQF4jBdRNM5X78__uQtkHk9woAzIXL5Hbm3OxIlmUYE6nRJcuy1lQPZhbf8z8wJUgVxz8raO3yQR-YpLtoKkPJgmf85WJ1NX6cuFHdB4nptoB4NVgAW8CmLsKT1M2mf5WJha/s1600/DSC03263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywTjNzS0aFQF4jBdRNM5X78__uQtkHk9woAzIXL5Hbm3OxIlmUYE6nRJcuy1lQPZhbf8z8wJUgVxz8raO3yQR-YpLtoKkPJgmf85WJ1NX6cuFHdB4nptoB4NVgAW8CmLsKT1M2mf5WJha/s320/DSC03263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpnJ9IDRA1Q9D2dNspPR5gPJ0hjNmM9zwe4kipOlx6grJWqEZG-sxapvaVqPgJv-efZoQGw3lkM5sQBaVym7HeH1xtLv4ACm9XH9TRnfOhNLUJhLZjdAiN1b_jq_2Ls_p3YdbSlaGI_xL/s1600/DSC03264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpnJ9IDRA1Q9D2dNspPR5gPJ0hjNmM9zwe4kipOlx6grJWqEZG-sxapvaVqPgJv-efZoQGw3lkM5sQBaVym7HeH1xtLv4ACm9XH9TRnfOhNLUJhLZjdAiN1b_jq_2Ls_p3YdbSlaGI_xL/s320/DSC03264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Some monkey that isn't Curious George.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BXgSHDiuuNw6AOkcDhWU4eWbQcAApllWW_3ogDy70GxBDWaqWMTnEGNtW_o-m_iU0Y_RYk-6hlAtDWwNjwC07qo3fKiDvKhM7V-KQJcEbFWtbZyUJ4MkMFQwINQcmYF3CNfaKuAcHOvl/s1600/DSC03265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BXgSHDiuuNw6AOkcDhWU4eWbQcAApllWW_3ogDy70GxBDWaqWMTnEGNtW_o-m_iU0Y_RYk-6hlAtDWwNjwC07qo3fKiDvKhM7V-KQJcEbFWtbZyUJ4MkMFQwINQcmYF3CNfaKuAcHOvl/s320/DSC03265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih9cYm_8En2-9SjFdYQ74dCQbyKTa8BkkWY8bjpCbhOTpT0Ijmog9BeNP4YsO-_aA8spnD0z2Tz8GlCiF_c3l-o1BN1fs6AUuHpYRE8wQhsTqp5zUxOSb9Dc08m0qBzJEQIZsUN0zySAB/s1600/DSC03267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih9cYm_8En2-9SjFdYQ74dCQbyKTa8BkkWY8bjpCbhOTpT0Ijmog9BeNP4YsO-_aA8spnD0z2Tz8GlCiF_c3l-o1BN1fs6AUuHpYRE8wQhsTqp5zUxOSb9Dc08m0qBzJEQIZsUN0zySAB/s320/DSC03267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AK86-qXH2KQZeA4h3MZBmO85kqcDI6CqsQhIEOe0tjC5Wj1HnE4A7-kSmiyaxAqTaSuLlXqBL2ilUDv69uB5nhujtMZ_hg3VJvk5JPT1KymT73WDyDkPXeK91UWTUXMRVzQO80QgP8MZ/s1600/DSC03268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AK86-qXH2KQZeA4h3MZBmO85kqcDI6CqsQhIEOe0tjC5Wj1HnE4A7-kSmiyaxAqTaSuLlXqBL2ilUDv69uB5nhujtMZ_hg3VJvk5JPT1KymT73WDyDkPXeK91UWTUXMRVzQO80QgP8MZ/s320/DSC03268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tSBuNvyoQH9Q_ulEJ4AvGJtaAYC2-AEgag9MsSJpdYSN9X4aTjQE50FRvFaqZzXiK0nXYI6STr7ZCowbb2B902-mLEhFnHyP6P3i7o0BKjXnOyrwIAv5vt_NtOVssQE-DGdX2HerO7yZ/s1600/DSC03269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tSBuNvyoQH9Q_ulEJ4AvGJtaAYC2-AEgag9MsSJpdYSN9X4aTjQE50FRvFaqZzXiK0nXYI6STr7ZCowbb2B902-mLEhFnHyP6P3i7o0BKjXnOyrwIAv5vt_NtOVssQE-DGdX2HerO7yZ/s320/DSC03269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EBhN4YmV6ixxRuX0DCCwXBVDiYLqdvyqRFNa_SBGWdfSNDeoKKN920FvqhR2BNv8kRzBJ_x4DIuz1xJ1zaZYtiQfkL9ASF8kifOvx7lsJNikcxAt6ERKXcmhG47KTsTvaUlScM-P364v/s1600/DSC03270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EBhN4YmV6ixxRuX0DCCwXBVDiYLqdvyqRFNa_SBGWdfSNDeoKKN920FvqhR2BNv8kRzBJ_x4DIuz1xJ1zaZYtiQfkL9ASF8kifOvx7lsJNikcxAt6ERKXcmhG47KTsTvaUlScM-P364v/s320/DSC03270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yCxgVpX1Ji6PCbya8_d-Xpw14_mC2GITHXp8AWQ4eZPRmYkjhWM0ChbrX4T9ZFlIcZr04yst7h9HxXvq7JV6k99blHOZlO8HPD9kCRyV5y5EanlpIs9_-nAXOhJ8VMO2CWZVJy3hvIWe/s1600/DSC03271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yCxgVpX1Ji6PCbya8_d-Xpw14_mC2GITHXp8AWQ4eZPRmYkjhWM0ChbrX4T9ZFlIcZr04yst7h9HxXvq7JV6k99blHOZlO8HPD9kCRyV5y5EanlpIs9_-nAXOhJ8VMO2CWZVJy3hvIWe/s320/DSC03271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlp2DuJDHTkUHtR0SQd9pV423SXNPtXjrwko5WdGSOiku-xot_aI1AvYN7joZFTIThH5gym4NWjMUyInr3zU14HUXVULqjVZvWPeB-8P58V6KbBHv_Rbc2_8pe3KGao4OVDoXQ3798Jcf/s1600/DSC03272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlp2DuJDHTkUHtR0SQd9pV423SXNPtXjrwko5WdGSOiku-xot_aI1AvYN7joZFTIThH5gym4NWjMUyInr3zU14HUXVULqjVZvWPeB-8P58V6KbBHv_Rbc2_8pe3KGao4OVDoXQ3798Jcf/s320/DSC03272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Spidey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kRqb3mBYC8X5m-EURMkRWJ1m9yE5Am5auMAF2eF-9L4p1bwSdGKIGQmOUCJBy0Jr1FWgFbl-dvlFVxDg479n_javlH9L5JePGSGJGxPz4VZLdaf3tyMPfV0gu8Ugujq8T79TkoBiZxYT/s1600/DSC03273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kRqb3mBYC8X5m-EURMkRWJ1m9yE5Am5auMAF2eF-9L4p1bwSdGKIGQmOUCJBy0Jr1FWgFbl-dvlFVxDg479n_javlH9L5JePGSGJGxPz4VZLdaf3tyMPfV0gu8Ugujq8T79TkoBiZxYT/s320/DSC03273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdnBkd2575VlG-28JVfxHxez7niiverdOtQIFQrJVw1lkP2AbSDXLxECOl-1guJ_gVnqjvbMAsg4Ih6ZrK9HVnQAcp-GC1DxaHhtbHeEVC1KzXwm_ONsZMPdhKtMlgVaz_7sz2HvN7fjq/s1600/DSC03274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdnBkd2575VlG-28JVfxHxez7niiverdOtQIFQrJVw1lkP2AbSDXLxECOl-1guJ_gVnqjvbMAsg4Ih6ZrK9HVnQAcp-GC1DxaHhtbHeEVC1KzXwm_ONsZMPdhKtMlgVaz_7sz2HvN7fjq/s320/DSC03274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Random boy band - Macy's always busts out the C- and D-list celebrities for the parade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25d7a2ivvJslfr30i8mjA7kgT5fN12SnxSramgl-OH1DJUrdf6ycCrhDsQMgsho9sDtPRqNKok2OgcYiVlA0RSiKhOCtFA3B5y9Trmyc6JMDZeFEO69OvQEjo5lZJPJ4O3fJDb0Z3dHx9/s1600/DSC03275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25d7a2ivvJslfr30i8mjA7kgT5fN12SnxSramgl-OH1DJUrdf6ycCrhDsQMgsho9sDtPRqNKok2OgcYiVlA0RSiKhOCtFA3B5y9Trmyc6JMDZeFEO69OvQEjo5lZJPJ4O3fJDb0Z3dHx9/s320/DSC03275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0Z6eQs1iTQQ9x6EKwHvXKVRzt3cWoxWqQaOG33ebcQoq79w4PFS6wa73H4sTgWOP9A_1_uWO5bDRsjav6yolrGjPHoxkSubIGskQuWISHI7YQqz_ysalp9UCWc4yg_Dus5ozJQ_bvEq/s1600/DSC03276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieP0Z6eQs1iTQQ9x6EKwHvXKVRzt3cWoxWqQaOG33ebcQoq79w4PFS6wa73H4sTgWOP9A_1_uWO5bDRsjav6yolrGjPHoxkSubIGskQuWISHI7YQqz_ysalp9UCWc4yg_Dus5ozJQ_bvEq/s320/DSC03276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Pikachu.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXescqTAGR-7GlSqYEoAZGiwePjX29xgL8uGcRINNzvw5ze0D9kBNwn7oAxjLQbwOytffahS-qath9mMOGlL3cSK2Qq5i0GESdeMwGoQhvLcPVBWWaUGCsClBhf5SeoeulXX0K6wihP-O/s1600/DSC03277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXescqTAGR-7GlSqYEoAZGiwePjX29xgL8uGcRINNzvw5ze0D9kBNwn7oAxjLQbwOytffahS-qath9mMOGlL3cSK2Qq5i0GESdeMwGoQhvLcPVBWWaUGCsClBhf5SeoeulXX0K6wihP-O/s320/DSC03277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - are they still around?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_MePDOP_IPqJxaT1-NQSeU50zPSfK9QjjyY605oktI65wIwz8LacHZzAnnbNYJTbjS5fOlGvSg3PkJ_798AD-cmUu8b8LU3b0JAiJhEwKoM-5QiVNG7SisJQXnuT974Z-M0GNZb_az_q/s1600/DSC03279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_MePDOP_IPqJxaT1-NQSeU50zPSfK9QjjyY605oktI65wIwz8LacHZzAnnbNYJTbjS5fOlGvSg3PkJ_798AD-cmUu8b8LU3b0JAiJhEwKoM-5QiVNG7SisJQXnuT974Z-M0GNZb_az_q/s320/DSC03279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_CODVTYD1fbZF694nJP3hmZlR5Zyk64PacDQDYr6KZOOLCEl4OIwJgLXLrbAU4BQENwLg9HCYpVRn_r9DCMiLmmwOmrjmB7z_A4PqMA0XgHrmmBxotTO_hCqvgEonK_X4ozrAjc1wkgl/s1600/DSC03280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_CODVTYD1fbZF694nJP3hmZlR5Zyk64PacDQDYr6KZOOLCEl4OIwJgLXLrbAU4BQENwLg9HCYpVRn_r9DCMiLmmwOmrjmB7z_A4PqMA0XgHrmmBxotTO_hCqvgEonK_X4ozrAjc1wkgl/s320/DSC03280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80_4A4zJSf2fCoUsylOnJirSRRDyyiVQUKCN2hJVszYVkAjTXZs6xoo-CiapAuRx6vYjFe12Zcgw21LK0ntEf0ITfQffv_zrwbfFUhodBlPFwB5cqxg1jtz2cr6VOSEZ3Zbp4K8C54uei/s1600/DSC03281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80_4A4zJSf2fCoUsylOnJirSRRDyyiVQUKCN2hJVszYVkAjTXZs6xoo-CiapAuRx6vYjFe12Zcgw21LK0ntEf0ITfQffv_zrwbfFUhodBlPFwB5cqxg1jtz2cr6VOSEZ3Zbp4K8C54uei/s320/DSC03281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Spongebob.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PO0VauH6davZzLpQoRSXR2mwL6nEMCFD_kZnQiSWWferhpDNI0zoaEoQwWOmXzB2Pfva0DTEw2i8Am_nnO57-loUJLEPkDjZxEkYOkHibjSdkg5fZJsR9NJn4Ov4EDpiozsOHHYEpr2A/s1600/DSC03282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PO0VauH6davZzLpQoRSXR2mwL6nEMCFD_kZnQiSWWferhpDNI0zoaEoQwWOmXzB2Pfva0DTEw2i8Am_nnO57-loUJLEPkDjZxEkYOkHibjSdkg5fZJsR9NJn4Ov4EDpiozsOHHYEpr2A/s320/DSC03282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Shadow of Spongebob.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Bn923qpkAth8unBlolx3NLQJ0j4OGpNdmKqF2Uz9hH2ysb6NL9S8D9C1N8RPqFIASO0o_jJN3Mvv2qwkq7kvmZrnLX9FUQtO0v1Ooz9_ue6uHkv6wCrN73FDKOXs98_CyPXWbwAJmVMl/s1600/DSC03283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Bn923qpkAth8unBlolx3NLQJ0j4OGpNdmKqF2Uz9hH2ysb6NL9S8D9C1N8RPqFIASO0o_jJN3Mvv2qwkq7kvmZrnLX9FUQtO0v1Ooz9_ue6uHkv6wCrN73FDKOXs98_CyPXWbwAJmVMl/s320/DSC03283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi668bh6DlSxpsargSgMY0oybJjRA5dMbxcdJH_kXii-OWwpCnwmkl7pvV_xnWXaHUC1a8CkN6Q2fCYpSr6mHWs7LelrZUJiPSuSjDmDUdi2Bh82jJ4u-vHNHcEucBFUYfr1720NL-vdBvX/s1600/DSC03284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi668bh6DlSxpsargSgMY0oybJjRA5dMbxcdJH_kXii-OWwpCnwmkl7pvV_xnWXaHUC1a8CkN6Q2fCYpSr6mHWs7LelrZUJiPSuSjDmDUdi2Bh82jJ4u-vHNHcEucBFUYfr1720NL-vdBvX/s320/DSC03284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYkqeZps5GSGMAeEBPFA3KN7ATGKbJbCfkGTqoB85VXfQOQL5sA5jJg_Mu6nYCPEI-tZJXvVco9dXKd56Ea4Uc5sVvLf4RmHWXczYO1_2i99dfdLRlcOtNzzXsw81AnzMgUcaKZL5kNz6/s1600/DSC03285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYkqeZps5GSGMAeEBPFA3KN7ATGKbJbCfkGTqoB85VXfQOQL5sA5jJg_Mu6nYCPEI-tZJXvVco9dXKd56Ea4Uc5sVvLf4RmHWXczYO1_2i99dfdLRlcOtNzzXsw81AnzMgUcaKZL5kNz6/s320/DSC03285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It's Papa Smurf - why is he holding a microphone?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PdSeA1q71hDUyeSFcs_fIqDwVTyYL8EMgFXbPRzFb_R0MCzkZhi0AUdq91H8_BPR1O1KOR5UZYH1Gw_wlLA0IO3KsAeS9ZU-2-QFatkiVeOKQT_sczT4E26bGD3160ZfGHEOnUDVHzNU/s1600/DSC03287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PdSeA1q71hDUyeSFcs_fIqDwVTyYL8EMgFXbPRzFb_R0MCzkZhi0AUdq91H8_BPR1O1KOR5UZYH1Gw_wlLA0IO3KsAeS9ZU-2-QFatkiVeOKQT_sczT4E26bGD3160ZfGHEOnUDVHzNU/s320/DSC03287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH8kCn2K0Z3srAyW5unPTfjT3vntM9R67bN7WSf1EeyKbJWAtqBYvwovrFxP05W4XQb46uX1dBM_1WcJc8ZlPltKnfFA815JGKFczgSRSkqJVb8Moe3XJvb0nPb8ke2F-zvnqXnylpx-4/s1600/DSC03288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH8kCn2K0Z3srAyW5unPTfjT3vntM9R67bN7WSf1EeyKbJWAtqBYvwovrFxP05W4XQb46uX1dBM_1WcJc8ZlPltKnfFA815JGKFczgSRSkqJVb8Moe3XJvb0nPb8ke2F-zvnqXnylpx-4/s320/DSC03288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Smurfette, you've still got it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w0f6qBH8kmQg4Qwd-ZOr_w_KPa3bp56Kf0k7QWI2QtKi3V7e3i4kPMZFCitfrWXbU0GZVDSvgrhvVSt01aXE9IJwbvXhrNQc6ob9k0yCdubcSOKHrwVsAzqp2kSxIuRNNULiNoGe7CXL/s1600/DSC03289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-w0f6qBH8kmQg4Qwd-ZOr_w_KPa3bp56Kf0k7QWI2QtKi3V7e3i4kPMZFCitfrWXbU0GZVDSvgrhvVSt01aXE9IJwbvXhrNQc6ob9k0yCdubcSOKHrwVsAzqp2kSxIuRNNULiNoGe7CXL/s320/DSC03289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg105lWMYVhRR9wK0CpVGHkAUyXE788UScg_meGyWGjRIRalNdx81M7JlYttzfWBExUzeGlz04tnhvzu0VzV9klfNwYb2dY_A3FDkzedcJ2CVXGVcT42QRgrpzPrJej6QMwC0K9C63EF88S/s1600/DSC03290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg105lWMYVhRR9wK0CpVGHkAUyXE788UScg_meGyWGjRIRalNdx81M7JlYttzfWBExUzeGlz04tnhvzu0VzV9klfNwYb2dY_A3FDkzedcJ2CVXGVcT42QRgrpzPrJej6QMwC0K9C63EF88S/s320/DSC03290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Jed enjoying the festivities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi4z4hoXcAOrBjn__rtnRVXClyXe9xHxr1j8SWebmStsFYoPP86s8a3GRMJjm7VpFtIb42JtDP-OOHpcp2bHF3qT8s9-fxpPhLDw1ejx50UI5xkdf5y3xA01MSyJHpw-813UUiUKQTbls/s1600/DSC03291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi4z4hoXcAOrBjn__rtnRVXClyXe9xHxr1j8SWebmStsFYoPP86s8a3GRMJjm7VpFtIb42JtDP-OOHpcp2bHF3qT8s9-fxpPhLDw1ejx50UI5xkdf5y3xA01MSyJHpw-813UUiUKQTbls/s320/DSC03291.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Each year, a modern artist is tapped to design a balloon for the parade. This year's artist was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAWS_(artist)">KAWS</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFt7vUaqjoU24elWRRRxstqa3ror2Z2_iQHJK7-RgpHeoAEZEQx6Mr9DeReUZEOeI-wazsdwrz4iHbHorBLNOvUryGLaOUbUVmuSn5JVgmUvyG0zf5nEXT4qZKlMRTSXAOC-NrFd7t_xol/s1600/DSC03292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFt7vUaqjoU24elWRRRxstqa3ror2Z2_iQHJK7-RgpHeoAEZEQx6Mr9DeReUZEOeI-wazsdwrz4iHbHorBLNOvUryGLaOUbUVmuSn5JVgmUvyG0zf5nEXT4qZKlMRTSXAOC-NrFd7t_xol/s320/DSC03292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0x32LW68JvF9IoZymoPSqPsyEoAKb7HkQW3kEtaBQf80AyFxL-9TBS5TLSPwQT7lsIGBcQ0EtBEZ4e5ePOxSyQtmsstrQqMwE_bn-ZX3Tf3BzPu-QQL4bKtQQdcd-lke8CF7uUeMXAM2/s1600/DSC03293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0x32LW68JvF9IoZymoPSqPsyEoAKb7HkQW3kEtaBQf80AyFxL-9TBS5TLSPwQT7lsIGBcQ0EtBEZ4e5ePOxSyQtmsstrQqMwE_bn-ZX3Tf3BzPu-QQL4bKtQQdcd-lke8CF7uUeMXAM2/s320/DSC03293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t3p3wPXSN22tl8PSO7Z-kXN7JjOoHYKb6VLuNQiIABURNBzT2R9r9gUtyBvkTNoOgC4zq-d3M9RuTRxfo5YuKgayxxPkEETAunRSS7ShTPxhCKRwTau2tk2jLQsKT1CdiVMizTd7Ji-a/s1600/DSC03294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t3p3wPXSN22tl8PSO7Z-kXN7JjOoHYKb6VLuNQiIABURNBzT2R9r9gUtyBvkTNoOgC4zq-d3M9RuTRxfo5YuKgayxxPkEETAunRSS7ShTPxhCKRwTau2tk2jLQsKT1CdiVMizTd7Ji-a/s320/DSC03294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This one's for Sandra in Jordan - the Wimpy Kid.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhSgn8MQixf0H4J94c1ZWALY8-uwLXlNaU4uhbk0TQKg51p82peLCcO8mc-4Fd7eAoikjWRJOPrtn4ykcJ2KVo9aEWs7gD_TYuxos8zH4v1hcMFk7JXzPivaDY4urVzWfhk923xqg6g-J/s1600/DSC03295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhSgn8MQixf0H4J94c1ZWALY8-uwLXlNaU4uhbk0TQKg51p82peLCcO8mc-4Fd7eAoikjWRJOPrtn4ykcJ2KVo9aEWs7gD_TYuxos8zH4v1hcMFk7JXzPivaDY4urVzWfhk923xqg6g-J/s320/DSC03295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf4rsSpWbmQlvA2YPBNcmQ1P1H0XmOuAYPVGNwqbUx_3L2zYjPLAQYv9sdk_n7suAyBMvf9ynbm4d9ZivxmFh5-zccB55dRj7-nhFeP8jNAB4Gf40DSLULqF_3Sb-RtLU71RP12yxYtrx/s1600/DSC03296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf4rsSpWbmQlvA2YPBNcmQ1P1H0XmOuAYPVGNwqbUx_3L2zYjPLAQYv9sdk_n7suAyBMvf9ynbm4d9ZivxmFh5-zccB55dRj7-nhFeP8jNAB4Gf40DSLULqF_3Sb-RtLU71RP12yxYtrx/s320/DSC03296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The interesting thing about this caterpillar is that it is made up of individual balloons that are not attached end-to-end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2ual0QIcDD9q8fQsZD9cudcEhkjKXTlURY85RgN06bfpvg7Rw-aWaNtfiarlxPZVRDhbzbs-7WIOgjZ6F8BMvW0DZwFXKrjy3SnaqV32dEA4IoEE9hCnfZdzE4PsG0ndd7buC9QD73Z/s1600/DSC03297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2ual0QIcDD9q8fQsZD9cudcEhkjKXTlURY85RgN06bfpvg7Rw-aWaNtfiarlxPZVRDhbzbs-7WIOgjZ6F8BMvW0DZwFXKrjy3SnaqV32dEA4IoEE9hCnfZdzE4PsG0ndd7buC9QD73Z/s320/DSC03297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk_543d_DANcmHSu22REQzoEPOdQkUfh2x_lyW8VNkeIcYUawSwifDuj6dOcXHeyEDVhX81DN_StdNtYNNalR92fl-uEuxlwEsOebeO2XHk3p42WdtyfrJ-WZnjkSAnMB-06ABQ3GtusX/s1600/DSC03298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk_543d_DANcmHSu22REQzoEPOdQkUfh2x_lyW8VNkeIcYUawSwifDuj6dOcXHeyEDVhX81DN_StdNtYNNalR92fl-uEuxlwEsOebeO2XHk3p42WdtyfrJ-WZnjkSAnMB-06ABQ3GtusX/s320/DSC03298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Another staple of the Macy's parade is the use of corporate mascots - here, we have the Kool-Aid Man.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JMu9vAcmZkBkKBnCKZUBkwmZ4IOajmwbQBuIBFuvFm2DrgENffoBDhw1s5cC01KEAPtWnP5F4zivCTP8VKUFCMQlvmmunouoNbassDEhvwv5wfR8un_cQkFUQQNRGOYaUoxmmpCXLv5T/s1600/DSC03299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JMu9vAcmZkBkKBnCKZUBkwmZ4IOajmwbQBuIBFuvFm2DrgENffoBDhw1s5cC01KEAPtWnP5F4zivCTP8VKUFCMQlvmmunouoNbassDEhvwv5wfR8un_cQkFUQQNRGOYaUoxmmpCXLv5T/s320/DSC03299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD43DLwzx6-JUZcVCttEdL4OdYOiXhG4c39fIYTonXlCe8qbPp6XjwWO6mwBEbjHs1jgx35BGxpr3LbqyHEshk9T07S4diPg_0SAjeMTthEOLnbgWO2N2Jf-ikVstSyZWgU2gMI97zUkP/s1600/DSC03300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD43DLwzx6-JUZcVCttEdL4OdYOiXhG4c39fIYTonXlCe8qbPp6XjwWO6mwBEbjHs1jgx35BGxpr3LbqyHEshk9T07S4diPg_0SAjeMTthEOLnbgWO2N2Jf-ikVstSyZWgU2gMI97zUkP/s320/DSC03300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's Mickey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66LxiETyLBdktr3YAZw71QMNGzhH9dnz41GwTn8cMYMC_2Y6onJaK9-s9AWt7AhAepsU11Mi8cqnvnJpcjDjRmx0exaIiJSe51kV6I1e2juUYZf6EddP9padA_sLg8SBdsq9NY_psTpfx/s1600/DSC03301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66LxiETyLBdktr3YAZw71QMNGzhH9dnz41GwTn8cMYMC_2Y6onJaK9-s9AWt7AhAepsU11Mi8cqnvnJpcjDjRmx0exaIiJSe51kV6I1e2juUYZf6EddP9padA_sLg8SBdsq9NY_psTpfx/s320/DSC03301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt7shb2oi3sP5Xa8_JryZPbTCHl-tClrSGNFjWHRz1yam3H33ECdqPykUzV_0CqzTtwioJRBml2OM2hYQZNsBWfp3gI5XNbplw0NvYAZ82twIaFzZ192oDUm6WLZC6z8N5cS7xXeXtWPZ/s1600/DSC03302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt7shb2oi3sP5Xa8_JryZPbTCHl-tClrSGNFjWHRz1yam3H33ECdqPykUzV_0CqzTtwioJRBml2OM2hYQZNsBWfp3gI5XNbplw0NvYAZ82twIaFzZ192oDUm6WLZC6z8N5cS7xXeXtWPZ/s320/DSC03302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfd5L9TyP57Z1s9l-4l5j7u7RWC8utC8dJfCKv8YF2TNjKmbEN-9gWH8BzEPgljO6nOad3hmKGC6SWqwGrCYx5_7o0XyDbELFu5utlrdH4uwqpF0MFfF_LlI8sWVvLzBm-ThQ4vGdUvgL/s1600/DSC03304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfd5L9TyP57Z1s9l-4l5j7u7RWC8utC8dJfCKv8YF2TNjKmbEN-9gWH8BzEPgljO6nOad3hmKGC6SWqwGrCYx5_7o0XyDbELFu5utlrdH4uwqpF0MFfF_LlI8sWVvLzBm-ThQ4vGdUvgL/s320/DSC03304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG88NIwzaecLEnc-xfi_ka3FN83CvridbX03bm0CETuzwaq9VXIK_YnWD5KkOkbSwWV206CNHKlL3zd-I1H271T0zndMOmiH8Mj_gxn32PQIDCQZBJtWOrpMSV-HAaUqnygPTseVkEg0_p/s1600/DSC03305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG88NIwzaecLEnc-xfi_ka3FN83CvridbX03bm0CETuzwaq9VXIK_YnWD5KkOkbSwWV206CNHKlL3zd-I1H271T0zndMOmiH8Mj_gxn32PQIDCQZBJtWOrpMSV-HAaUqnygPTseVkEg0_p/s320/DSC03305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQAjeXQTz4LJnAcQIKR2-iHNJ73kovoPDd8xP6QvSPgQdb_3fKRXvTb50O37N4PJXzGxV1U-vNGhFvd_ZRytkmlKLe0LLAahEP8_Xi-WrR3D0uXSP20I0rlVxOXwlCMcNa3TKOQVOsTgF/s1600/DSC03306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQAjeXQTz4LJnAcQIKR2-iHNJ73kovoPDd8xP6QvSPgQdb_3fKRXvTb50O37N4PJXzGxV1U-vNGhFvd_ZRytkmlKLe0LLAahEP8_Xi-WrR3D0uXSP20I0rlVxOXwlCMcNa3TKOQVOsTgF/s320/DSC03306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz4BaPa8PwxzWF_Pya5M6ybR7zsm9VYrJRUe-qBMd6Pd4U7JnZnli7XGRLBNauq5dICAFGkyxKPsQCI4c93d7RU1DcUaSDW6dEhGsMZdIvGd3sfLyOr4rHNhfGhchdT8ION_XusHP8AIZ/s1600/DSC03307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXz4BaPa8PwxzWF_Pya5M6ybR7zsm9VYrJRUe-qBMd6Pd4U7JnZnli7XGRLBNauq5dICAFGkyxKPsQCI4c93d7RU1DcUaSDW6dEhGsMZdIvGd3sfLyOr4rHNhfGhchdT8ION_XusHP8AIZ/s320/DSC03307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Can you find Kareem?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbDTnvYylyF75nDO6tmsv_0_sQuGr884YeWcm3v-QK_ZTWfehgKCB_ZXwAb7wt-hNpcTZb-9qM_udRDST0kKKNj0TWJiKT2wbJ8fesfwE0tIBBMJQF3LOny8g-wWmkK1P7ry-51QWWvNF/s1600/DSC03308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbDTnvYylyF75nDO6tmsv_0_sQuGr884YeWcm3v-QK_ZTWfehgKCB_ZXwAb7wt-hNpcTZb-9qM_udRDST0kKKNj0TWJiKT2wbJ8fesfwE0tIBBMJQF3LOny8g-wWmkK1P7ry-51QWWvNF/s320/DSC03308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTCNtmmcznqX23xD5Bm-FAyho23yGLbt1Y3rTYsBqCFTwgFWan1eM2FBwGLNmI1fd00_AP6ouhmNbX_EWct0jL5qQ0vfDKmA7z4CH6UfCZrI6EQ207kU5EtbF3i-40IMgyeHNisKm4jXO/s1600/DSC03309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTCNtmmcznqX23xD5Bm-FAyho23yGLbt1Y3rTYsBqCFTwgFWan1eM2FBwGLNmI1fd00_AP6ouhmNbX_EWct0jL5qQ0vfDKmA7z4CH6UfCZrI6EQ207kU5EtbF3i-40IMgyeHNisKm4jXO/s320/DSC03309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The U.S. Women's Gymnastics team. I wonder if Mckayla was impressed?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yFsp2K2Hey4seqWaed0jNbWjV3O3_iQRBYBEf9p3tuGNQnmNr52ZM3lujFOpwScPVoUhLowrQD5ei3EEMC4TjPjn5X1exYy2griryR_jk6vrU6uda7PDpKcoVV08hS3zTiqUhPSBUTEh/s1600/DSC03310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yFsp2K2Hey4seqWaed0jNbWjV3O3_iQRBYBEf9p3tuGNQnmNr52ZM3lujFOpwScPVoUhLowrQD5ei3EEMC4TjPjn5X1exYy2griryR_jk6vrU6uda7PDpKcoVV08hS3zTiqUhPSBUTEh/s320/DSC03310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's my man Ronald.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhzVRlcKNL2Y3BwTXGlwf-jzpM1fhFaJS8kGWDXzcgjFS9o2Xe6cNrXfsKN7rMNaA9jQXNHAzyVQ3fijZAGaKLvOtVSrGJAhEHvNn4nstrRWX_7iecPSAgkiN7-0H7ArNR6cw4_967Fhg/s1600/DSC03311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhzVRlcKNL2Y3BwTXGlwf-jzpM1fhFaJS8kGWDXzcgjFS9o2Xe6cNrXfsKN7rMNaA9jQXNHAzyVQ3fijZAGaKLvOtVSrGJAhEHvNn4nstrRWX_7iecPSAgkiN7-0H7ArNR6cw4_967Fhg/s320/DSC03311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
His balloon looks a little beat up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEn1r4u-rEuYQrzjsq4a3awz1Y-R_6qZ8YODY9F_5s_6s1v4YvewataMIztzQhktIpQ9hn8ZZDwuQ1oCoglALqJspgwWepYsKVUHVpHaz2L0j_bK7zAD2jM0rkqzfO9nxKUg7Krmv2_M9/s1600/DSC03312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEn1r4u-rEuYQrzjsq4a3awz1Y-R_6qZ8YODY9F_5s_6s1v4YvewataMIztzQhktIpQ9hn8ZZDwuQ1oCoglALqJspgwWepYsKVUHVpHaz2L0j_bK7zAD2jM0rkqzfO9nxKUg7Krmv2_M9/s320/DSC03312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Another mascot - Mr. Peanut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NC2OGk-pyq0qHHseTUJLXfsCBJlex5lCq2GEww0f_-BXqXVo5hLmKfD5dLfBqPrCF4jgfIUVg3jzjS_Fvve84A74bvbwhHBIJR7-WHmZ9CjGGc_XDTSytNm-P3USIDP9suLlVNB-shos/s1600/DSC03314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NC2OGk-pyq0qHHseTUJLXfsCBJlex5lCq2GEww0f_-BXqXVo5hLmKfD5dLfBqPrCF4jgfIUVg3jzjS_Fvve84A74bvbwhHBIJR7-WHmZ9CjGGc_XDTSytNm-P3USIDP9suLlVNB-shos/s320/DSC03314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_i5n-r1_-R4JJHarmVtisNQLVzzmGCXLcRjQAPQZp0LHvOP2ooZvLjVwCvgIKbL5u-0WkvesNkL0GQF7OQrYZvoABe9ZZ2hC-KyvdroFqpMYyQMPCTZOhG_7ZCcyZXVBndAZd6kTSShG/s1600/DSC03316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_i5n-r1_-R4JJHarmVtisNQLVzzmGCXLcRjQAPQZp0LHvOP2ooZvLjVwCvgIKbL5u-0WkvesNkL0GQF7OQrYZvoABe9ZZ2hC-KyvdroFqpMYyQMPCTZOhG_7ZCcyZXVBndAZd6kTSShG/s320/DSC03316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And here's the Pillsbury Doughboy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJgmD0diYlA1kd30CyKRL8sFVfIk6ek3dksmU6izHTX17E7SZhpuFZq31HPWWWaC-uQ9PAz5SUtwmytQC5J1CMpSG7wZfsmWVaLWQFPeMA47vpEEhR05dLpsc7WIUdgZ6zl1G7HVo5KlK/s1600/DSC03318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJgmD0diYlA1kd30CyKRL8sFVfIk6ek3dksmU6izHTX17E7SZhpuFZq31HPWWWaC-uQ9PAz5SUtwmytQC5J1CMpSG7wZfsmWVaLWQFPeMA47vpEEhR05dLpsc7WIUdgZ6zl1G7HVo5KlK/s320/DSC03318.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Doughboy's had some work done - probably multiple lipos and a removal of excess skin or two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBne22nyR4VPQx1moThyPfsnsJlzIZluG2c3VeH5qycHMcKq3NUjbpPAd20tbPfig6DpH6Pz0YttoeiIw8gEDzLMHuq6F4Dxp6R2N6cNKXicmOvWTlSUM40OJc5JZvnRYxI6GJLCTJFRLR/s1600/DSC03319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBne22nyR4VPQx1moThyPfsnsJlzIZluG2c3VeH5qycHMcKq3NUjbpPAd20tbPfig6DpH6Pz0YttoeiIw8gEDzLMHuq6F4Dxp6R2N6cNKXicmOvWTlSUM40OJc5JZvnRYxI6GJLCTJFRLR/s320/DSC03319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR0V7lMjaleiJRB8NxM3bD1KRDZDnbHvL1D0_Fq50vSC1pX2BNTDyuyWPn4qOUSCJvFs89w1r2PzgqOUNV8V80Tt5uSWDoyYh_S306U0A6TJy0gATmhv6eMM6H5Nzl5lVkGUbuSyY99il/s1600/DSC03321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR0V7lMjaleiJRB8NxM3bD1KRDZDnbHvL1D0_Fq50vSC1pX2BNTDyuyWPn4qOUSCJvFs89w1r2PzgqOUNV8V80Tt5uSWDoyYh_S306U0A6TJy0gATmhv6eMM6H5Nzl5lVkGUbuSyY99il/s320/DSC03321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Christmas ornament - means that the parade is ending soon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM4S8vvEI0jP53T0KVnXtSHcU56-QiATojtksVA1-jhw31t5K7tpv-lhLEmWqynQYSh5trNI7nj7HiW-yzw4iTq9QADm4XWKpa3q8RyYW0vMiVdrEE0O645ELQudqaR1D2J_o4NmrM5zF/s1600/DSC03322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioM4S8vvEI0jP53T0KVnXtSHcU56-QiATojtksVA1-jhw31t5K7tpv-lhLEmWqynQYSh5trNI7nj7HiW-yzw4iTq9QADm4XWKpa3q8RyYW0vMiVdrEE0O645ELQudqaR1D2J_o4NmrM5zF/s320/DSC03322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA4pvD_uJWhiMJpoBWwJ2VAqIbmtbJt_tuVDyTk-DHCLkwQuOQuH4mlpX6I7Ovkfs4KvPOeLs0oVbflBdt9kqHWP56CUlWGQxF6dmN6GmE24lMunUbkItT3cYKsgtfI9yT7PL_L3IdyH7/s1600/DSC03324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA4pvD_uJWhiMJpoBWwJ2VAqIbmtbJt_tuVDyTk-DHCLkwQuOQuH4mlpX6I7Ovkfs4KvPOeLs0oVbflBdt9kqHWP56CUlWGQxF6dmN6GmE24lMunUbkItT3cYKsgtfI9yT7PL_L3IdyH7/s320/DSC03324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
AF-LAC!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxO5On4HBmrK-weX9RqBhbvIXRwz-G2KgTnd45VY0XMubnQv_ageFP1Fycfid6MVlDXyFXt21CffQzemMZEMLrxJlyCaUOzdrCajBa3CoHsEH1uj4SPjf91qu91TcqZm90SKaBpAy_98z/s1600/DSC03325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxO5On4HBmrK-weX9RqBhbvIXRwz-G2KgTnd45VY0XMubnQv_ageFP1Fycfid6MVlDXyFXt21CffQzemMZEMLrxJlyCaUOzdrCajBa3CoHsEH1uj4SPjf91qu91TcqZm90SKaBpAy_98z/s320/DSC03325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi17wGliXV1fwlcwO3zGeZv-gflJcw_aDAibdixy9JVvjUjrsPFr2NddqGri8qBkbgAuUal6M-8A0MfNYsomkWgDD66DkO5tHH_ziuK6GIOREWvi-GioVSLDfRT1ElxnkjHzsscrWgaWOX/s1600/DSC03326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi17wGliXV1fwlcwO3zGeZv-gflJcw_aDAibdixy9JVvjUjrsPFr2NddqGri8qBkbgAuUal6M-8A0MfNYsomkWgDD66DkO5tHH_ziuK6GIOREWvi-GioVSLDfRT1ElxnkjHzsscrWgaWOX/s320/DSC03326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28F16Q04f9ZUucq4IVrBBwLPaqREntrtyTMuKJ9Dj-u4OVYPjdGcINsAuwxXewu7dWRowpSK2ZXaYPVWZsDZMKBB4f9aEK_kRUoBODJc3fSR5ibieEAr7LVzrzSz4jh2q6SXvp_Ud48WC/s1600/DSC03327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28F16Q04f9ZUucq4IVrBBwLPaqREntrtyTMuKJ9Dj-u4OVYPjdGcINsAuwxXewu7dWRowpSK2ZXaYPVWZsDZMKBB4f9aEK_kRUoBODJc3fSR5ibieEAr7LVzrzSz4jh2q6SXvp_Ud48WC/s320/DSC03327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6JdBclU23FYUlqsmqcjqb8oj8-2MxulGdXDQs6iNDC05MPS3ks_1dMGZIBOAwUoiq3Y6R5WLFrm7nlhl655WCH77rTdtfZf6kd31uLynD1VDxWmE8Pft-U3keDOLvJLdxcCI0qqvs9AA/s1600/DSC03328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6JdBclU23FYUlqsmqcjqb8oj8-2MxulGdXDQs6iNDC05MPS3ks_1dMGZIBOAwUoiq3Y6R5WLFrm7nlhl655WCH77rTdtfZf6kd31uLynD1VDxWmE8Pft-U3keDOLvJLdxcCI0qqvs9AA/s320/DSC03328.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPYuatCyTkv1fEwO9_220quA0UyraH1gwvnJozG16rCTzGdxmeKc8KLcicyr9kNuZt9b2T49Y7FLIMcqVWEktjTdwJocq7wUK5dEYCS-iEQ16ABxndfhg3e9KwTy6t_tSGOnfDFdtjoa0/s1600/DSC03329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPYuatCyTkv1fEwO9_220quA0UyraH1gwvnJozG16rCTzGdxmeKc8KLcicyr9kNuZt9b2T49Y7FLIMcqVWEktjTdwJocq7wUK5dEYCS-iEQ16ABxndfhg3e9KwTy6t_tSGOnfDFdtjoa0/s320/DSC03329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sXdh9Z1DVQ1mHevZEQOohfMTbEZSROpJdrQQiDQvHaml1SQ0-eAuBcn_m8v5WYcYhnqry05AtL1p2KK1o52ddmXz-CFVCIjLpIO2fOOQPQdOKNe9dGffAF8r3WWsoKI1_SHCLQKVm1N6/s1600/DSC03331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sXdh9Z1DVQ1mHevZEQOohfMTbEZSROpJdrQQiDQvHaml1SQ0-eAuBcn_m8v5WYcYhnqry05AtL1p2KK1o52ddmXz-CFVCIjLpIO2fOOQPQdOKNe9dGffAF8r3WWsoKI1_SHCLQKVm1N6/s320/DSC03331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_9cFFfS1xth6Ah7TddSh_BfoTXY4jvjgqeaCinpHhXJ7AymwPR5ph-2RKeYj0wVO1GEETc_FaDY45a_7_-6vP1QabdcdahxXqkhvc79atwA4wMrsRQvU0YhdOItDZMNoYEKeJ4GNc0QD/s1600/DSC03332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_9cFFfS1xth6Ah7TddSh_BfoTXY4jvjgqeaCinpHhXJ7AymwPR5ph-2RKeYj0wVO1GEETc_FaDY45a_7_-6vP1QabdcdahxXqkhvc79atwA4wMrsRQvU0YhdOItDZMNoYEKeJ4GNc0QD/s320/DSC03332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To infinity...and beyond! (He must've been referring to sequels).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Zym0a4QPtZ2nrb_BGciMf-iZ9ubaFenGvC1FiGEuklbB6E8IlqUsQmKTVh9PF7u_7zFDhUMnPkzznZGqBNlXjVRZvvIMTW5OL7PzaN-eQlfw66vo__vJKFMFmwzcL7-W0am9Cn4lW1N/s1600/DSC03333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8Zym0a4QPtZ2nrb_BGciMf-iZ9ubaFenGvC1FiGEuklbB6E8IlqUsQmKTVh9PF7u_7zFDhUMnPkzznZGqBNlXjVRZvvIMTW5OL7PzaN-eQlfw66vo__vJKFMFmwzcL7-W0am9Cn4lW1N/s320/DSC03333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fo3oDcNrrHCP2GAUQH4aU4AAxD4OQmXKm6vqtw9E9PfjeBWvSg0D5d0JgJnvKa9862HtpuIqgZOCATgcA6DnV38MwF-q5Svr0njVXs1u94rYOYKJpfuw3eRyv6TO_1nzG_CzS1yLPBsW/s1600/DSC03334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fo3oDcNrrHCP2GAUQH4aU4AAxD4OQmXKm6vqtw9E9PfjeBWvSg0D5d0JgJnvKa9862HtpuIqgZOCATgcA6DnV38MwF-q5Svr0njVXs1u94rYOYKJpfuw3eRyv6TO_1nzG_CzS1yLPBsW/s320/DSC03334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzLLAd9LoJIc5XzxCLrO-KGw61tsH_WkhparY36i2OwyXvYib9V2GLTRMpQEDRhpakZNTTXFjY4LSXB4L38klfhMEkhm-ejpxNDs7QNVsnVAJ5n86NUs4eX-XFVAUeMB86M0M07HpPrr-/s1600/DSC03335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzLLAd9LoJIc5XzxCLrO-KGw61tsH_WkhparY36i2OwyXvYib9V2GLTRMpQEDRhpakZNTTXFjY4LSXB4L38klfhMEkhm-ejpxNDs7QNVsnVAJ5n86NUs4eX-XFVAUeMB86M0M07HpPrr-/s320/DSC03335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDFhNb7rjIxWeKrxuvAyEyLkeggohTboaTIJPhr1iThtRtE4PpB0NQthXBc0a9eQU3i0x9QbSZR60FfHz71FEzRHDQRwQRN1vwkKhjxEfmbhY90TLkzlNz1rukorPa4Q1cNXQWd8ItX8n/s1600/DSC03336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDFhNb7rjIxWeKrxuvAyEyLkeggohTboaTIJPhr1iThtRtE4PpB0NQthXBc0a9eQU3i0x9QbSZR60FfHz71FEzRHDQRwQRN1vwkKhjxEfmbhY90TLkzlNz1rukorPa4Q1cNXQWd8ItX8n/s320/DSC03336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYffrT63Vr1pnA31rF4nBi5C3U6umoS6DqWLe-KBdPB_bAtR3cCGKZHFTh1q9bY-ehGyeQYzAaJgTetyWEV5tlYFZnlbULH2lAx1Pqx4tkU-1Cg10Ipuq91ZdjHQ33h6Q7nqznSDRO8Wn/s1600/DSC03337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYffrT63Vr1pnA31rF4nBi5C3U6umoS6DqWLe-KBdPB_bAtR3cCGKZHFTh1q9bY-ehGyeQYzAaJgTetyWEV5tlYFZnlbULH2lAx1Pqx4tkU-1Cg10Ipuq91ZdjHQ33h6Q7nqznSDRO8Wn/s320/DSC03337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's Virginia O'Hanlon, the little girl whose letter resulted in the famous editorial, <a href="http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/">"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"</a>. Which she believed for about five years until her parents told her that it was Dad all along.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU6IrlxAPNW3a1ixx3fHEdoUr7o8jOoLISasZI4q6cBS5Ujg1Qc1HDpHQgt_xMZ5zY3DExOqaP2xyvMykk39HtZn4AMP8yWxGcBVl6syRTEA2vBeIXZrHkOeOz4oj68jiOfsS0KTfcwCY/s1600/DSC03340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHU6IrlxAPNW3a1ixx3fHEdoUr7o8jOoLISasZI4q6cBS5Ujg1Qc1HDpHQgt_xMZ5zY3DExOqaP2xyvMykk39HtZn4AMP8yWxGcBVl6syRTEA2vBeIXZrHkOeOz4oj68jiOfsS0KTfcwCY/s320/DSC03340.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Great detail on the balloon - the letter is addressed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMbNPQJ76f6MHjjrnMBVTbr9oH7MCkEoKWIrU1f8cuTY-cFFhk5om_5JDNlofLxpg9d2J1H7waP98InXSMY-kBC1qwDr3hE5anNHCaUMB-RdRTdwLFyJ3agomiZmPJUrAEgA5Kg_gOL0U/s1600/DSC03341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMbNPQJ76f6MHjjrnMBVTbr9oH7MCkEoKWIrU1f8cuTY-cFFhk5om_5JDNlofLxpg9d2J1H7waP98InXSMY-kBC1qwDr3hE5anNHCaUMB-RdRTdwLFyJ3agomiZmPJUrAEgA5Kg_gOL0U/s320/DSC03341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When the elves show up...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm-tLsP5bN08neeW1XzMtL2u8qi46GWkxdYUNF2nuFl6657DonTAjwata9lZEumkZvWiRP6xJVp33Ae_aspZUm8LGO4NQxOa2EKSzHY7rcEW2S8l371r3J28HYeUaDhKPRO_vp_kGY1Uk/s1600/DSC03342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlm-tLsP5bN08neeW1XzMtL2u8qi46GWkxdYUNF2nuFl6657DonTAjwata9lZEumkZvWiRP6xJVp33Ae_aspZUm8LGO4NQxOa2EKSzHY7rcEW2S8l371r3J28HYeUaDhKPRO_vp_kGY1Uk/s320/DSC03342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
That means that Santa can't be too far behind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHsi3UCpGAdlbsC8iaVjr1c9UTvLEhVjZEdAQbidD5fRrhWpa3tynS2_ih5WZPyVjy2xluLvLzCYkDsinZ2wla6T5v4hwWBLG5gPQS3JkP419iBoRo7D0bJ-iyacU6s7xlfUfRMb8RoZf/s1600/DSC03343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHsi3UCpGAdlbsC8iaVjr1c9UTvLEhVjZEdAQbidD5fRrhWpa3tynS2_ih5WZPyVjy2xluLvLzCYkDsinZ2wla6T5v4hwWBLG5gPQS3JkP419iBoRo7D0bJ-iyacU6s7xlfUfRMb8RoZf/s320/DSC03343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The best part was when a mom told a girl, "we're going to see him tomorrow at Target!"<br />
<br />
Macy's marketing = epic fail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstvVJ_crK9ir5kvzVpl0YrwTKwVsU4j_wKGblBjKRmU96ZUnZQlZ7prqMRePdIiIm90CNuY8qO-VJI7h5gV7RRuLENxlAFvznb6-s-7-yW2ma9x3ojpz15mu5wXUUZdc2SEAMiQF4KpU3/s1600/DSC03349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstvVJ_crK9ir5kvzVpl0YrwTKwVsU4j_wKGblBjKRmU96ZUnZQlZ7prqMRePdIiIm90CNuY8qO-VJI7h5gV7RRuLENxlAFvznb6-s-7-yW2ma9x3ojpz15mu5wXUUZdc2SEAMiQF4KpU3/s320/DSC03349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEIbWgMtun8aFtgG_rNHSoIMPHE-Z-fvDYi18auDZ6J6OcVBlS10d7CngqKEEsOaa9EdKvuIVb7pCyCxFIRTWm_HPONyJHVZqSxVm0xoNFg9TyivGLkeDrtfReklk-Gre9V5RydgX6510/s1600/DSC03350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEIbWgMtun8aFtgG_rNHSoIMPHE-Z-fvDYi18auDZ6J6OcVBlS10d7CngqKEEsOaa9EdKvuIVb7pCyCxFIRTWm_HPONyJHVZqSxVm0xoNFg9TyivGLkeDrtfReklk-Gre9V5RydgX6510/s320/DSC03350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
"Merry Christmas, <b><u>now start shopping!</u></b>"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXq4W3ou16NRmjdsIlRTJ1S6HWXapV_0sBjcCsjdEkRetOA9kj6tAhzAAybH4e_OD1qUSv5FQvy6jc0soH3aaqGuceCBYzZoMDUhLLup9TGhnHIG8aUkYaGDGdHcCh5uGjnzwueuGR-py/s1600/DSC03351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXq4W3ou16NRmjdsIlRTJ1S6HWXapV_0sBjcCsjdEkRetOA9kj6tAhzAAybH4e_OD1qUSv5FQvy6jc0soH3aaqGuceCBYzZoMDUhLLup9TGhnHIG8aUkYaGDGdHcCh5uGjnzwueuGR-py/s320/DSC03351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-43923114382459492602012-11-27T23:38:00.000-05:002012-11-27T23:38:01.293-05:00Blast from the Past - Christmas in New York 2011 - Part II - Macy's<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yeah, well, I never finished the Christmas 2011 holiday window display posts, so I'm hoping to catch up before I visit the 2012 displays. Think of this as a flashback from the Ghost of Christmas Windows Past...<br />
<br />
Now, on to the Main Event!<br />
<br />
<b>1) Macy's</b><br />
<br />
I went to Macy's the Wednesday before Christmas. It was a beautiful afternoon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SRY-g775WYHgmmv2WTQZ0PyvNgmM_lrTIFWG7h9xndShLfOvF7Mmo_JBjbrrydicKLrP14AdFRtdsWSIUnQQ5Zh5QTPwMXnWOsjr1i-wB2rGXQLOe8pIcQftgBA1v2zhb0Tr5lwCUYuj/s1600/DSC02931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SRY-g775WYHgmmv2WTQZ0PyvNgmM_lrTIFWG7h9xndShLfOvF7Mmo_JBjbrrydicKLrP14AdFRtdsWSIUnQQ5Zh5QTPwMXnWOsjr1i-wB2rGXQLOe8pIcQftgBA1v2zhb0Tr5lwCUYuj/s320/DSC02931.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBAH3FAF_hCWzuPKrU2nNqVoHhe2XwcGAu1yLvM5cGxk3ihr9k-qVXfDgN5PVD1UqmDkn2kfxAGbsiuwNpvR7qZhELGWuKiaRGGAOXgEJnURqJgmLoLQnxK8KilIUBDfQpenzm-7tXHc7/s1600/DSC02932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBAH3FAF_hCWzuPKrU2nNqVoHhe2XwcGAu1yLvM5cGxk3ihr9k-qVXfDgN5PVD1UqmDkn2kfxAGbsiuwNpvR7qZhELGWuKiaRGGAOXgEJnURqJgmLoLQnxK8KilIUBDfQpenzm-7tXHc7/s320/DSC02932.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRYXBJN3mJhdklIQQZazVxS1yCvUUz346CqWD2dFRNDQS-Bd4mI00wuiURlFB5kndnJjICUKU7YSqhE5-FOapHa1Wj2HMdm71c8Dbvblnc-auaGu_VxEw_plmAi-kn-PMBWBuUth0qG8z/s1600/DSC02936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRYXBJN3mJhdklIQQZazVxS1yCvUUz346CqWD2dFRNDQS-Bd4mI00wuiURlFB5kndnJjICUKU7YSqhE5-FOapHa1Wj2HMdm71c8Dbvblnc-auaGu_VxEw_plmAi-kn-PMBWBuUth0qG8z/s320/DSC02936.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The store window display had some kind of weird storyline behind it that I didn't quite comprehend. Something about a galactic winter spaceship or something...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxDvTQHkSxX6MjLb4w8HzrqM5gEN3f9_gTRz3OHADjS1G2dr9ECaUWgxgAYMlDCy5-O9mQMNI-dx1DSZsMFQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dygzXU8kGPS5kQhG0b_Y0x3WgusIuLlNwqj4D8X2FWMfkbkJuEPMFhi7D9_uqQRUZTjx537e_couyiRtQeX5A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJCjyhixJ1X0a5MZtadRVXSvJQftTNXC9IMyXozWkyXvce3owyeTYAWU5VG7zm5UYnE0Hv9kCF25N3E3WwOQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXO2skNPedX6nMaHShR4HUFgBDGOPgU9GYj56E9u0-BZq75EUPLGbUTUCjlxoy-yrEFj_eI8nOTMHzBy3_2A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8mU8VKFoidU5_V5uTHKiwxZ5eSnIYCbE_RteH-hQJ5uVN0Bhc1JYr_9tQgrsTlyDt1-Y1JJ0bUSum8CXTdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9OjtmlTR09nIqtQB-ICuDeVRfhNvATrKrLtdKvjMai5ljAzj1MDGM_w0qMnmZVMwBwOeOv3UaAO83PI73iQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
There was an interactive area where the public could make a decoration.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQdgIoRPWJ2m-kVLdp0rwY9tqfArCSZzkfvsE01Y2gIeUHXdwA9dDuSGgN-f6qEqpiP9YHhje0jcRGi0PL4H3mhRMxqDVm-uxsM8_PmG0a7EFjq-STspz7WzgyAXHAwS9PBQOFudCQP17/s1600/DSC02939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQdgIoRPWJ2m-kVLdp0rwY9tqfArCSZzkfvsE01Y2gIeUHXdwA9dDuSGgN-f6qEqpiP9YHhje0jcRGi0PL4H3mhRMxqDVm-uxsM8_PmG0a7EFjq-STspz7WzgyAXHAwS9PBQOFudCQP17/s320/DSC02939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PYH29lkb_C8jg-q5Yns9h0ykPLQIq4tVIQgIlAPVQJPDeuCNFQINiRo67xOy8EGZuXdnhC4FR223-Q4P2fgvZ9aUgFXCfU3DJPifzRgYkcLWyvKxZHtZ3egyGShnWBKVcDt38KjgfPm_/s1600/DSC02945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PYH29lkb_C8jg-q5Yns9h0ykPLQIq4tVIQgIlAPVQJPDeuCNFQINiRo67xOy8EGZuXdnhC4FR223-Q4P2fgvZ9aUgFXCfU3DJPifzRgYkcLWyvKxZHtZ3egyGShnWBKVcDt38KjgfPm_/s320/DSC02945.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-23962674015392856902012-01-05T01:41:00.000-05:002012-01-05T01:41:45.799-05:00Christmas in New York - Part I - Gingerbread at Le Parker Meridien<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is the first part of my photos from my annual NYC Christmas shop window viewing expedition. However, this post doesn't contain photos from shop windows, rather, from a exhibition of gingerbread houses and other creations at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Midtown West. The hotel asked several restaurants and artists to get creative with gingerbread - here are some of the results.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQriEhAWRloa9bKWBmc5o2kW7j-n1YPv4n3CgbBx32E7D9kvW3rZuVaypgYVV6r2wfKBhE8dbcDli5WNimvSCzYkOfjeF0tlYi6PwPvLJyKAeOhzjdgd27_42OoGXaOaRSTdqgDfBuG0o/s1600/DSC02909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQriEhAWRloa9bKWBmc5o2kW7j-n1YPv4n3CgbBx32E7D9kvW3rZuVaypgYVV6r2wfKBhE8dbcDli5WNimvSCzYkOfjeF0tlYi6PwPvLJyKAeOhzjdgd27_42OoGXaOaRSTdqgDfBuG0o/s320/DSC02909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gingerbread typewriter. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Of note were the scattered words in the display - "NY", "FUN", "USA", and of course, "OWS".</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8rtntmpTeA803dDsT70N9PHF95S6KBYaRfKdRTcxrhPoJIQAvqkcMC-25R0S3PCGG4OVzoqCyszbsjzjeNZLS5M34b3oyJKxd9Io4rFE4-YWUv_MX3ZpqerrtvG1I76vHzN1hRASqGVT/s1600/DSC02910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8rtntmpTeA803dDsT70N9PHF95S6KBYaRfKdRTcxrhPoJIQAvqkcMC-25R0S3PCGG4OVzoqCyszbsjzjeNZLS5M34b3oyJKxd9Io4rFE4-YWUv_MX3ZpqerrtvG1I76vHzN1hRASqGVT/s320/DSC02910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Side view</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hr2AJUYe7uvL2NNIjE-uhACN6L4n3bSxmG7gOFaoCwSQnVGw6wLv11isXwL15XTl-9q689xf4DTs6j1Iho3ojo2Ok1ovkn-tgX-BafVesmYDoSYYSYywGI5qNQ8PlSTDwqwsRYf7P5Y0/s1600/DSC02911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hr2AJUYe7uvL2NNIjE-uhACN6L4n3bSxmG7gOFaoCwSQnVGw6wLv11isXwL15XTl-9q689xf4DTs6j1Iho3ojo2Ok1ovkn-tgX-BafVesmYDoSYYSYywGI5qNQ8PlSTDwqwsRYf7P5Y0/s320/DSC02911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This display is of a gingerbread Le Parker Meridien hotel.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They did a good job of showing the division of space in the lobby between front desk area, and lobby bar/lounge. There was even a miniature Burger Joint.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEIf6lYdO2tp7wnJrEhdy6ZPhyphenhyphenEJ1EPBwBxBcZiueDH_e14qydKB8yXdFVZ4JqeSQMauz9n4fpmqJ6d-W-2mN4acLzXyv-XAAXC5xeBMQXFaJ5PVSsRhDBU32yYfFGo8QB9iTHzrzlrBC/s1600/DSC02912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEIf6lYdO2tp7wnJrEhdy6ZPhyphenhyphenEJ1EPBwBxBcZiueDH_e14qydKB8yXdFVZ4JqeSQMauz9n4fpmqJ6d-W-2mN4acLzXyv-XAAXC5xeBMQXFaJ5PVSsRhDBU32yYfFGo8QB9iTHzrzlrBC/s320/DSC02912.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hotel rooms (which exist) and top floor spa/pool (which, AFAIK, don't).</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv_4_Zs0JSmSe5CcuSMaR13NE1XvvUkUp_S8Q5tAUxXlO47QaHrv1mMzOzOpB5yHYKEQfbbsiGQreVqHNQnoz6fq_OlD9v_iJUOzpDGkN9stsbwDmYE-ylIBwk-D32hjxUS0Ske-aoC11/s1600/DSC02913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv_4_Zs0JSmSe5CcuSMaR13NE1XvvUkUp_S8Q5tAUxXlO47QaHrv1mMzOzOpB5yHYKEQfbbsiGQreVqHNQnoz6fq_OlD9v_iJUOzpDGkN9stsbwDmYE-ylIBwk-D32hjxUS0Ske-aoC11/s320/DSC02913.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't remember what this was supposed to be.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_AOfHbnr_X9gWhb5Jp_OeiiiVYa5YS5VQ3zF2LQEeKGgbbXyG5P3xl01S1F9Bqy0OCjPPtgHBv2YHWQB55JWpWyVFzO3IxHF4uG5fLx0HkeMsRs-n5ElN2TLhgFKRAymqJnmy04vq5AD/s1600/DSC02914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_AOfHbnr_X9gWhb5Jp_OeiiiVYa5YS5VQ3zF2LQEeKGgbbXyG5P3xl01S1F9Bqy0OCjPPtgHBv2YHWQB55JWpWyVFzO3IxHF4uG5fLx0HkeMsRs-n5ElN2TLhgFKRAymqJnmy04vq5AD/s320/DSC02914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Chocolate pond and pretzel railings along the path.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpZlPyOzZDgUoU4TfKvWp7147z14QWM0Wrmbe1mX-r627oqzrc9S8DzNfJGgua2z0QQUsOKvK77rtrYtQ69O-_VnmPKsIkTAaCx_3A-6s_CRu6IFPaya68hs4UOUrgeOyXrQW8vZy-i-d/s1600/DSC02915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpZlPyOzZDgUoU4TfKvWp7147z14QWM0Wrmbe1mX-r627oqzrc9S8DzNfJGgua2z0QQUsOKvK77rtrYtQ69O-_VnmPKsIkTAaCx_3A-6s_CRu6IFPaya68hs4UOUrgeOyXrQW8vZy-i-d/s320/DSC02915.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Tick, tock, just a clock.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB5_fqs4LjY-chrQG3X-e96FrSd7lXZxso1eSdCVMXcFCLhx7k141j5wrHPbDoim5LgD3Di4in0AFZxAK44hAW1jBbQaFdKnQPJ4KwjAasvD1P5A3AW0vAxxS9dK5I8wCKQO7tLdI_DYP/s1600/DSC02916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglB5_fqs4LjY-chrQG3X-e96FrSd7lXZxso1eSdCVMXcFCLhx7k141j5wrHPbDoim5LgD3Di4in0AFZxAK44hAW1jBbQaFdKnQPJ4KwjAasvD1P5A3AW0vAxxS9dK5I8wCKQO7tLdI_DYP/s320/DSC02916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Supposed to be a haunted house, or something? In any case, I liked the detail.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMisnbnamcW_O8HDliHnJIYrz-CNqOYfFUiP-etlv4l8ure5go_zLyXIM6nhS7YfVREn1Sty4bpRUCxVBQEne7LIX-te47HKkVMgOz59tTPduUSuudocD5EdcmY_BPSLPhczYlIKEkME2/s1600/DSC02917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMisnbnamcW_O8HDliHnJIYrz-CNqOYfFUiP-etlv4l8ure5go_zLyXIM6nhS7YfVREn1Sty4bpRUCxVBQEne7LIX-te47HKkVMgOz59tTPduUSuudocD5EdcmY_BPSLPhczYlIKEkME2/s320/DSC02917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8EIKHts0W8djdow4l9snlNLuMCddPwGHTTx4yOLr70qMc5PhecsXSVk9DzYXO_YWeirJGFqcPKBhJp1ukHsEMm6UGqKQ0qHXmRKzisib6p9ZRHdj0sUP1g7Yy9LSC95cAHhZr9C7llr0/s1600/DSC02918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8EIKHts0W8djdow4l9snlNLuMCddPwGHTTx4yOLr70qMc5PhecsXSVk9DzYXO_YWeirJGFqcPKBhJp1ukHsEMm6UGqKQ0qHXmRKzisib6p9ZRHdj0sUP1g7Yy9LSC95cAHhZr9C7llr0/s320/DSC02918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>View from above.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z4uurLJQ8nKe8WNRJzjUvkkAPSchaiKhvnohriVOnCnv2t9-LoMFqqQr7mc9T9mDXpdyNwWszmFh5iJ-7qb7bPg9VZ1-TCJJLVqrpBt9nUQOBGFIkEpwxsKHPLgP4DoHZgS7nwh-wQ7s/s1600/DSC02919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z4uurLJQ8nKe8WNRJzjUvkkAPSchaiKhvnohriVOnCnv2t9-LoMFqqQr7mc9T9mDXpdyNwWszmFh5iJ-7qb7bPg9VZ1-TCJJLVqrpBt9nUQOBGFIkEpwxsKHPLgP4DoHZgS7nwh-wQ7s/s320/DSC02919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's a display playing off of Occupy Wall Street.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHOJcryJ9pgydZPuHZq8mPOgRXAIAxfH2iaxdsHKpdNgKS1u3vogwVz7DIVPhopguasMle7WE-wqd0CWIidT9ZWB2N4Xow4hCtxrUAz0tSgl6FGdzCmoiHcMsuKedpo8Fph_Yri4JhdSj/s1600/DSC02920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHOJcryJ9pgydZPuHZq8mPOgRXAIAxfH2iaxdsHKpdNgKS1u3vogwVz7DIVPhopguasMle7WE-wqd0CWIidT9ZWB2N4Xow4hCtxrUAz0tSgl6FGdzCmoiHcMsuKedpo8Fph_Yri4JhdSj/s320/DSC02920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhhen612VrwYr7T0WBiBLSM8EzAItLQwHbrK1Fmdn5vpEqF6yHdesEhf2P18gLqUjmEYeZf_CbNsfSR4MvSXKm18LqTUST7Fok6fwNxXmDnftP-77xUG1OVF2Jt9qOE3Q5zYVtD_iJ2sM/s1600/DSC02921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhhen612VrwYr7T0WBiBLSM8EzAItLQwHbrK1Fmdn5vpEqF6yHdesEhf2P18gLqUjmEYeZf_CbNsfSR4MvSXKm18LqTUST7Fok6fwNxXmDnftP-77xUG1OVF2Jt9qOE3Q5zYVtD_iJ2sM/s320/DSC02921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>99% Dark Chocolate - cute.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-P4I6uk-Qr413Df4rhG2CBgL6BlXkJmH8vhyphenhyphenzxiknWuvcAAXhQ18zYl3rZukzAaZILD3EIxc0Y1w9l3-qyYQAgeawFBnYGRzTGECxq3y8X-OQdb8GmdzY2n6PTirxfRHqBg70J9ZsNLz/s1600/DSC02922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-P4I6uk-Qr413Df4rhG2CBgL6BlXkJmH8vhyphenhyphenzxiknWuvcAAXhQ18zYl3rZukzAaZILD3EIxc0Y1w9l3-qyYQAgeawFBnYGRzTGECxq3y8X-OQdb8GmdzY2n6PTirxfRHqBg70J9ZsNLz/s320/DSC02922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhjT4nI9DOKpbyvKVoqnEPoWdGFj_HyRNNYwWynIf9ngnIZWfpjZocrtpXk40_f4uRT5mhI-TAc90fbOVNr-xFyW9ojZVBzg0cr_AwzgHoGbB2Y58N_hii8TdVPM4fhKfpAoN7x10POFe/s1600/DSC02923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhjT4nI9DOKpbyvKVoqnEPoWdGFj_HyRNNYwWynIf9ngnIZWfpjZocrtpXk40_f4uRT5mhI-TAc90fbOVNr-xFyW9ojZVBzg0cr_AwzgHoGbB2Y58N_hii8TdVPM4fhKfpAoN7x10POFe/s320/DSC02923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR6I4Kvzq99AF7o0Dc4-UISkj3XvtQKUAJqCLsEb2bBDgNUJuD77QYxmLcTPTEYU7AE2j8iRtSKiiJ6uYZKpWY1Ph1PWOeDvRGyA35Oste8vemV0MPUoHz2eB5bVbhHkvMbKfX9x5tPu4/s1600/DSC02924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR6I4Kvzq99AF7o0Dc4-UISkj3XvtQKUAJqCLsEb2bBDgNUJuD77QYxmLcTPTEYU7AE2j8iRtSKiiJ6uYZKpWY1Ph1PWOeDvRGyA35Oste8vemV0MPUoHz2eB5bVbhHkvMbKfX9x5tPu4/s320/DSC02924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiQkhfRhRCGO0MxeQWZ7aFF0vlqj71bIt-QeD_4kraQnEWPZwfE_cYtdY1kGnoFuclX9Z6m3E9v0Ffalh6b_i3mJpXMc8O1Jomihj0FGs8vWrnBznd99cvQCILmbSBdOlVQJfqK440WzS/s1600/DSC02925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiQkhfRhRCGO0MxeQWZ7aFF0vlqj71bIt-QeD_4kraQnEWPZwfE_cYtdY1kGnoFuclX9Z6m3E9v0Ffalh6b_i3mJpXMc8O1Jomihj0FGs8vWrnBznd99cvQCILmbSBdOlVQJfqK440WzS/s320/DSC02925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This was by far the best part of the exhibit, IMHO. Rudolph lives!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyzE_KJAK6J-O_R9zQB7OiadfaGOEZaYytx4rUAHDzoKqDYJyNEC41IFu74hetSj0QT3ULvJU_0aG6zcoMrcxVqmsD3tdg4RrmtWfsA-I4AGodNhhPZJsRjCDBqfB0jVIYXULPZe1Q9xP/s1600/DSC02926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyzE_KJAK6J-O_R9zQB7OiadfaGOEZaYytx4rUAHDzoKqDYJyNEC41IFu74hetSj0QT3ULvJU_0aG6zcoMrcxVqmsD3tdg4RrmtWfsA-I4AGodNhhPZJsRjCDBqfB0jVIYXULPZe1Q9xP/s320/DSC02926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwAagnVr9hky7fX5Unw9YuU-YHD3OostM-YV4_NruVSvI09uwBqP3U6WBoveel1hMQzVH8TqTHJojHfnX_byb0vpsb0p4n2nGgJiz7Rhrin9IxQkNy3EAuq0QBmce81_hFDRQnLOvZuz2/s1600/DSC02927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwAagnVr9hky7fX5Unw9YuU-YHD3OostM-YV4_NruVSvI09uwBqP3U6WBoveel1hMQzVH8TqTHJojHfnX_byb0vpsb0p4n2nGgJiz7Rhrin9IxQkNy3EAuq0QBmce81_hFDRQnLOvZuz2/s320/DSC02927.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I liked the M&M roof shingles - red and green, of course.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfIV-oGeyurGbN1hgt-v2V7Svb3943UNut8OI_GxjDdj1dKL5Cbjf6XMpr4cqFfYgABdSwXK2htQAW_p00r-Pz0YX1j__RxHV-yijSJkgYt_hAzsvsVRTk-qPRIPsEj97cW3xXCxcJqSv/s1600/DSC02928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfIV-oGeyurGbN1hgt-v2V7Svb3943UNut8OI_GxjDdj1dKL5Cbjf6XMpr4cqFfYgABdSwXK2htQAW_p00r-Pz0YX1j__RxHV-yijSJkgYt_hAzsvsVRTk-qPRIPsEj97cW3xXCxcJqSv/s320/DSC02928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSET_wekIbm_EPqbJH4hHa2QS0O4QHZkbEJIweTByqpzmUHJnei7hyvrdIo-pHEW1chhloy2N9eRTFTfdYLiEVcxSqFFzsRj2kzHJg4wzDWP4xWe8IPbTw2GP90gWafnLtE8rAS4Mmrdw/s1600/DSC02929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSET_wekIbm_EPqbJH4hHa2QS0O4QHZkbEJIweTByqpzmUHJnei7hyvrdIo-pHEW1chhloy2N9eRTFTfdYLiEVcxSqFFzsRj2kzHJg4wzDWP4xWe8IPbTw2GP90gWafnLtE8rAS4Mmrdw/s320/DSC02929.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8GLeO6gB1vVqtW4t4l-AsmcFCRbx6G1v-BuCJRbHBNQHgYQwK5UOjig-I4h4j4DXX2cY1dvsThhhX3Qgz0HqLkFHLjAfREzHyFBoRw3yDeTzv8g4cMAGLh1atgmdDzitIVZyNoVzUC09/s1600/DSC02930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8GLeO6gB1vVqtW4t4l-AsmcFCRbx6G1v-BuCJRbHBNQHgYQwK5UOjig-I4h4j4DXX2cY1dvsThhhX3Qgz0HqLkFHLjAfREzHyFBoRw3yDeTzv8g4cMAGLh1atgmdDzitIVZyNoVzUC09/s320/DSC02930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Doublemint gum roof shingles!</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-91424417656823240072011-10-03T21:54:00.001-04:002011-10-03T21:57:52.437-04:00Harlem Restaurant Review - Jimbo's Hamburger Palace<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So, I moved to central Harlem last week and from time to time will post about some of the things I experience here.<br />
<br />
***************<br />
<br />
<b>Jimbo's Hamburger Palace</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<i>Various Locations in Harlem - I visited the one at 535 Lenox Avenue (Lenox Avenue between 136th Street and 137th Street)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuV4PkqLFsrVWE7jcfH4Xk_SA5Niq_okVgQDgZYqqaMaHjlXcKiLHjEi4HsSBPPgElmdgEyldDg-CsDeK_Ub0y7BGS_kJ2aHaiGk36EwNGhdxwE6P6wYAaArxCIpyt-TTR3bGfAs89mMM/s1600/IMG_20111003_170945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuV4PkqLFsrVWE7jcfH4Xk_SA5Niq_okVgQDgZYqqaMaHjlXcKiLHjEi4HsSBPPgElmdgEyldDg-CsDeK_Ub0y7BGS_kJ2aHaiGk36EwNGhdxwE6P6wYAaArxCIpyt-TTR3bGfAs89mMM/s1600/IMG_20111003_170945.jpg" /></a></div><i><br />
</i><br />
It was a rainy afternoon and I was in the mood for a good burger. Jimbo's got decent reviews on Google and is located close to the apartment, so I decided to try it out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K9FghDGgTky7DkxtnVs58c8UQF7_7s60NCpBjcPIICCdfbG0voYZOB_5-XbnE_M83GeXHmI-_6DqmVnI6Ipws7aVy4RJS_LGgtWbCZ5omR_WM0I80Jc0KhLkPJPfyeUwc_ymW3yzXl7g/s1600/IMG_20111003_171000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_K9FghDGgTky7DkxtnVs58c8UQF7_7s60NCpBjcPIICCdfbG0voYZOB_5-XbnE_M83GeXHmI-_6DqmVnI6Ipws7aVy4RJS_LGgtWbCZ5omR_WM0I80Jc0KhLkPJPfyeUwc_ymW3yzXl7g/s1600/IMG_20111003_171000.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Hmmm, the sign outside the door lists a lot more food options than burgers, which conspicuously shows up <i>after</i> eggs and omelets - not exactly a good sign for what is supposed to be a burger place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4vytelUZGQi5Fb1uZD74IrNcQgbQYqUMqLzMR32MAZNgZ9I-ZqR7Jf0jt8WlSaSlbca8FTu9sVoTXhLCKtvwHXpH1GPHHPreRLC804YHIUAhrZFIQNohVVBZ8thcpmpMsI3yzkH-WAvH/s1600/IMG_20111003_171232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4vytelUZGQi5Fb1uZD74IrNcQgbQYqUMqLzMR32MAZNgZ9I-ZqR7Jf0jt8WlSaSlbca8FTu9sVoTXhLCKtvwHXpH1GPHHPreRLC804YHIUAhrZFIQNohVVBZ8thcpmpMsI3yzkH-WAvH/s1600/IMG_20111003_171232.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Here's Jimbo's from the inside. Jimbo's had an old diner feel to it, with a long bar table wrapping around the kitchen, which primarily consisted of a large griddle and a couple of fryers. Opposite the bar table were a bunch of small dining tables and chairs. A Latina waitress loitered near the end of the bar, and 3 Latino cooks were busy behind it.<br />
<br />
The menu was lit up in white lettering on a red background with photos of some of the food showing. It looks like they serve the full gamut of diner food that can be prepared with help of a griddle, from breakfast sandwiches (eggs), to omelets, to tossed salads, to hot and cold sandwiches (including a cold (not grilled) cheese sandwich), AND fried fish (I'll have to try that sometime). And, of course, burgers.<br />
<br />
The burger choices included the basics - hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, and the like - and came in a 1/4 lb patty size. For 60 cents more, you could get the 7 oz size. You could also order the burgers "deluxe" (i.e., as a meal, with fries - drinks were extra).<br />
<br />
I ordered a cheeseburger deluxe with the works, cooked medium, with a medium 7-Up (or in Jordanian Arabic, "Seven"). It cost $8.25.<br />
<br />
The burger was cooked on the griddle and the bun (packaged) was toasted on same. The cook did press down on the patty a few times (boo!). The works included shredded lettuce, a few slices of tomato, ketchup, and mayo. The fries were of the frozen variety, but straight out of the fryer and in a large quantity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjGygb89RTd7yhBLJTmIc1z_ZHaUy_1C87XXkiRU-11ummwN_0JguEFBwKFntXV8Him27f83BjwB7Xr3ZlU-Ys5aPty9hcCZHZZawisRAhRSNmwqxD0zIHLt9mFBG1pX4uqYozgnBpApy/s1600/IMG_20111003_172609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjGygb89RTd7yhBLJTmIc1z_ZHaUy_1C87XXkiRU-11ummwN_0JguEFBwKFntXV8Him27f83BjwB7Xr3ZlU-Ys5aPty9hcCZHZZawisRAhRSNmwqxD0zIHLt9mFBG1pX4uqYozgnBpApy/s1600/IMG_20111003_172609.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The burger was slightly overcooked, as the patty was rather thin, but it still tasted pretty good. The only issue for me was that the bun top disintegrated some during eating. <br />
<br />
The verdict? Not In-n-Out or Burger Joint quality, but still pretty decent. It did cost $8.25, which is a lot, but you get a lot of food. I may try the grilled cheese sometime.<br />
<br />
6.5 or 7 out of 10.<br />
<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-77224827466652784882011-09-11T23:55:00.000-04:002011-09-11T23:55:50.130-04:00Ten Years - Remembrance and Renewal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yesterday, I walked around Battery Park and the World Trade Center site to see what was there to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.<br />
<br />
The day started off cloudy with a threat of rain, but cleared up by the time I got downtown. <br />
<br />
What I saw was an interesting juxtaposition of remembrance and renewal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0UGbnm44yvdxFhRpp1u96W_wgbHTlNv7-u2kgmivZTyDypPRx8Dqi7C8nDohklSBxA3uRPnL2S_yGEXsxA3389XrBH_FBpG7U7JZDg7B5oUzslbK6hTJVvTw_KQYBXWHqwoddAJ1fPwO/s1600/DSC02819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0UGbnm44yvdxFhRpp1u96W_wgbHTlNv7-u2kgmivZTyDypPRx8Dqi7C8nDohklSBxA3uRPnL2S_yGEXsxA3389XrBH_FBpG7U7JZDg7B5oUzslbK6hTJVvTw_KQYBXWHqwoddAJ1fPwO/s320/DSC02819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>An urban garden being planted in Battery Park</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3huhPEVNaN8nf-GCOeEfGpoEbZYHH_57XMMhvw7VCdgrkzzNh6ShvJAf3V-BCjgxtrqYaVN1yw36iTp2t5hSVW0E0VjTjB9UkcSJx7hd4cvUKuXAsx-eY6bdk-LflHVowExQAaJ5g_Ny-/s1600/DSC02820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3huhPEVNaN8nf-GCOeEfGpoEbZYHH_57XMMhvw7VCdgrkzzNh6ShvJAf3V-BCjgxtrqYaVN1yw36iTp2t5hSVW0E0VjTjB9UkcSJx7hd4cvUKuXAsx-eY6bdk-LflHVowExQAaJ5g_Ny-/s320/DSC02820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The commemoration in Battery Park was the "Remembrance Field of Honor",</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>a field where each flag represented a life of someone who died in the attacks.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXba_BJQ7HF9F7XwZUtibmigJyVL0R_ChHSsA1RLIYEThAmG7NX-iFaZaRE0y-JIDIvDwWjlYH_QP9GS2qWcRWWYoJuRnXfa3SUit5cM0F_8nRbR6K7xkB_kpE2Bcu2IwyImBwNrJbqR/s1600/DSC02821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXba_BJQ7HF9F7XwZUtibmigJyVL0R_ChHSsA1RLIYEThAmG7NX-iFaZaRE0y-JIDIvDwWjlYH_QP9GS2qWcRWWYoJuRnXfa3SUit5cM0F_8nRbR6K7xkB_kpE2Bcu2IwyImBwNrJbqR/s320/DSC02821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiGJ3YpUey-SkXk2SvTKmrni0FTqCs8V8of0azP8j7XPqC-UY6hix_vm5HYHGrElHAJyaILRQVEstv82xsky-N-ySOAFJObiykcopzV-q8N1pUGWi-b9uAPHRwrGqlLDFIjcaBfxbo2az/s1600/DSC02822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiGJ3YpUey-SkXk2SvTKmrni0FTqCs8V8of0azP8j7XPqC-UY6hix_vm5HYHGrElHAJyaILRQVEstv82xsky-N-ySOAFJObiykcopzV-q8N1pUGWi-b9uAPHRwrGqlLDFIjcaBfxbo2az/s320/DSC02822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The stripes of each flag consisted of the names of the deceased.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8i567jQ4wKgx-JFi-GFA9GZ99cMMyMPKMxw-sgh8F5nZp_V3fyELRvDZGpW2AEPOcjTaeRM91xOoVQpBdUdj8W02hqfMob0P3_rpr_Fw2BUuTpbwIgiFDFL_gjUCihxzSynTFOAlZlvF/s1600/DSC02823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8i567jQ4wKgx-JFi-GFA9GZ99cMMyMPKMxw-sgh8F5nZp_V3fyELRvDZGpW2AEPOcjTaeRM91xOoVQpBdUdj8W02hqfMob0P3_rpr_Fw2BUuTpbwIgiFDFL_gjUCihxzSynTFOAlZlvF/s320/DSC02823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkKNJHbdmUlNw9WpMDkHa9vMafXUnsgo-SfeUulr30pLhXDaf52XGyQD0tFEuBCxazd6vNZTU0FD8Y1ds5yqv8Fi1HhB7WPcdkRMiRcKU6U1_HHItF3mWVD0VqL8i1ArD7F8fdnX_qQtG/s1600/DSC02824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkKNJHbdmUlNw9WpMDkHa9vMafXUnsgo-SfeUulr30pLhXDaf52XGyQD0tFEuBCxazd6vNZTU0FD8Y1ds5yqv8Fi1HhB7WPcdkRMiRcKU6U1_HHItF3mWVD0VqL8i1ArD7F8fdnX_qQtG/s320/DSC02824.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the background is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sphere">The Sphere</a>, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>a sculpture that once stood in the plaza between the Twin Towers</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBHs7corZztIEo_InSTWPrvAJt7_I3Ngnffx8PP0maXl1jevJXJds8eIpnuGwX97gUWnhStf6VCOt_7nJbzkzYjbu5LchOWc6k-wfFM9AiGyy334YaobC32OdpJH_rSAHMNHXktd9Rhfk/s1600/DSC02825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBHs7corZztIEo_InSTWPrvAJt7_I3Ngnffx8PP0maXl1jevJXJds8eIpnuGwX97gUWnhStf6VCOt_7nJbzkzYjbu5LchOWc6k-wfFM9AiGyy334YaobC32OdpJH_rSAHMNHXktd9Rhfk/s320/DSC02825.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lady Liberty and tourists heading for the ferry to Liberty Island</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmOyYlm-jotlV6HGDDjFcb7HPaYtMhoKjRMl0w7C9FBo1aSgt4ZcfTylutMQmT7tJmgaLjvQw00SmN6brVOzaD0zX4ngHIdb45vaVXeemfUIhc1TFGUvz4iGmsg6IP4mCJKFxnQjvCyD2/s1600/DSC02826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmOyYlm-jotlV6HGDDjFcb7HPaYtMhoKjRMl0w7C9FBo1aSgt4ZcfTylutMQmT7tJmgaLjvQw00SmN6brVOzaD0zX4ngHIdb45vaVXeemfUIhc1TFGUvz4iGmsg6IP4mCJKFxnQjvCyD2/s320/DSC02826.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>After leaving Battery Park, I walked north towards the World Trade Center. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the distance is the skeleton of the new 1 WTC, the "Freedom Tower".</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a12lsORi6H9Qxj4aIgCdvixVyLQIOlzGLUjA0iSzwfuj4GhVfQvmvxwcygt4_kx4ZP-v4H9TzP0joqQScK-61wUa0B6V_mf3ULmuR4dNWcYUnIq6YdDbxl-dvY4grnxHgPAP_OkKgXQk/s1600/DSC02827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a12lsORi6H9Qxj4aIgCdvixVyLQIOlzGLUjA0iSzwfuj4GhVfQvmvxwcygt4_kx4ZP-v4H9TzP0joqQScK-61wUa0B6V_mf3ULmuR4dNWcYUnIq6YdDbxl-dvY4grnxHgPAP_OkKgXQk/s320/DSC02827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUtvhWMbCCirB69CsCTmfYnuMzqnNq5KJKEu5nH0e6tqkw28_Rr7V01A-AHdiiFeWEzOZxa0FXQPc9d0e9cD4zBu_bbWwcmKJZUmX2kFw2HvKfX9rbbZ-Auoq4nj0GmmwYqqcFwC5FmVJ/s1600/DSC02828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUtvhWMbCCirB69CsCTmfYnuMzqnNq5KJKEu5nH0e6tqkw28_Rr7V01A-AHdiiFeWEzOZxa0FXQPc9d0e9cD4zBu_bbWwcmKJZUmX2kFw2HvKfX9rbbZ-Auoq4nj0GmmwYqqcFwC5FmVJ/s320/DSC02828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Just outside of Battery Park on the north sidewalk was a remembrance wall constructed by Manhattan Community Board 1, as part of their "Hand in Hand" remembrance. Cards were left so visitors could post messages on the wall.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo2QI4bs8PR2CuYRSab3Qvp0jOjl1BPDLs6nweDX-rNcOPlJFymVHix6XLbItiIcg9aEbbHAwXPriMF5b6x88PyA65zGKsskeyz9OuzPLyHVHgZqTHcKCK-hfa0llvuml4q4mkg6MbSra/s1600/DSC02829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo2QI4bs8PR2CuYRSab3Qvp0jOjl1BPDLs6nweDX-rNcOPlJFymVHix6XLbItiIcg9aEbbHAwXPriMF5b6x88PyA65zGKsskeyz9OuzPLyHVHgZqTHcKCK-hfa0llvuml4q4mkg6MbSra/s320/DSC02829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4deM1_N2i7NgWRnQInbs_ZXiL5pq7mt5N89_9csQVnilyqVFk8tcazIjQUYl7B36X_lprF2X7KiD7_numjRb3wNMMPlv8nDg8tPHQYCoX3nlJnVMB1IwdvN-mXtf_8Lonzm2nn2BWWVDC/s1600/DSC02830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4deM1_N2i7NgWRnQInbs_ZXiL5pq7mt5N89_9csQVnilyqVFk8tcazIjQUYl7B36X_lprF2X7KiD7_numjRb3wNMMPlv8nDg8tPHQYCoX3nlJnVMB1IwdvN-mXtf_8Lonzm2nn2BWWVDC/s320/DSC02830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqA2KIn-Ne8KdBFnYk3Z_uscuLxaA04Qzu6AtRZpb5iKNOV-aJWRdvpcNFSZ8n0KkesKNYCBI9Uk-mvmZxQCnh2ThcfURJpF1k1iBdeX9xxwu9eYLBkPYezPoVLX29i_T6vA7DNxRAwG8v/s1600/DSC02831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqA2KIn-Ne8KdBFnYk3Z_uscuLxaA04Qzu6AtRZpb5iKNOV-aJWRdvpcNFSZ8n0KkesKNYCBI9Uk-mvmZxQCnh2ThcfURJpF1k1iBdeX9xxwu9eYLBkPYezPoVLX29i_T6vA7DNxRAwG8v/s320/DSC02831.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Freedom Tower, and hey, my old apartment building on the right!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5MoXPZZwvAG3xl7Bjau7Gvqa_azSm2kaWzw6M_TIxIYysMgdQQN79r0uv_e2AzRG48OoXH57gEb3FRe65iYLOYN-HGIBDnv-nEdwLTcsXrAWFHjAZwkp8sbxiXsWSG9n0gMu4hqF8mLw/s1600/DSC02832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5MoXPZZwvAG3xl7Bjau7Gvqa_azSm2kaWzw6M_TIxIYysMgdQQN79r0uv_e2AzRG48OoXH57gEb3FRe65iYLOYN-HGIBDnv-nEdwLTcsXrAWFHjAZwkp8sbxiXsWSG9n0gMu4hqF8mLw/s320/DSC02832.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKnOqSSZG52zytEXLB75TmtXmiVA8cSCw6glkWvWilY4w32uzaj2-Jfp1ymOMhr-lFkM3wy-lBkOQSb7mZmC7H9CIWGn83_1Ki1Wlz2_erEgquoJfMFg7PAVwcwymlgodWUok9PfWL7Da/s1600/DSC02833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKnOqSSZG52zytEXLB75TmtXmiVA8cSCw6glkWvWilY4w32uzaj2-Jfp1ymOMhr-lFkM3wy-lBkOQSb7mZmC7H9CIWGn83_1Ki1Wlz2_erEgquoJfMFg7PAVwcwymlgodWUok9PfWL7Da/s320/DSC02833.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Certain of the streets were already closed to traffic in preparation for </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the official ceremonies on the 11th</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXnnlsym-5mGVlCYLM7xl90w7bgUaUaBK7TDhWfkV5QxKvGKzRiUWH0gC7skgAUWbMsVohFq_L6apkPuu9NkmMaB7BI-dFnECfp1dcY3JMXU-wiostvgiSUaW-HbvEZtJ8RoZGvY1DBHx/s1600/DSC02834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXnnlsym-5mGVlCYLM7xl90w7bgUaUaBK7TDhWfkV5QxKvGKzRiUWH0gC7skgAUWbMsVohFq_L6apkPuu9NkmMaB7BI-dFnECfp1dcY3JMXU-wiostvgiSUaW-HbvEZtJ8RoZGvY1DBHx/s320/DSC02834.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>At the WTC site. The Freedom Tower and Number 7 World Trade Center. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Freedom Tower sits atop what is essentially a block of concrete that is intended to protect against attacks to the base of the building.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA3Fr9iaCbhcuC_8dy8YJE0fI36y7qhO4Pe0KAlxdHtzV8UastY6wcoTptkI6d35MQAyK4g-lqwxL3ZT4N4hvAcYFZm2inmY6qoK5lRZ671tU_rLWvcxzynvok7skXOJfiN0p7JPiMVgT/s1600/DSC02835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA3Fr9iaCbhcuC_8dy8YJE0fI36y7qhO4Pe0KAlxdHtzV8UastY6wcoTptkI6d35MQAyK4g-lqwxL3ZT4N4hvAcYFZm2inmY6qoK5lRZ671tU_rLWvcxzynvok7skXOJfiN0p7JPiMVgT/s320/DSC02835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xfcvFp6MeZ6MKraJBj4qXKE7rpVtHjZWpEVhzOk79fiG8wyGS6wRYkK1HHsjd4qOZqy6gTBzkuY5rau4uTkT0cqaY4-XCgccW8xmXSSo1Ptx0bORvpvZTN4Xz6L2T0TzhXiD20_danX3/s1600/DSC02836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xfcvFp6MeZ6MKraJBj4qXKE7rpVtHjZWpEVhzOk79fiG8wyGS6wRYkK1HHsjd4qOZqy6gTBzkuY5rau4uTkT0cqaY4-XCgccW8xmXSSo1Ptx0bORvpvZTN4Xz6L2T0TzhXiD20_danX3/s320/DSC02836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>A look through the "looking glass" (really a blue netting surrounding the construction site) </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>at the pit that still remains, ten years later.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>At least the rebuilding finally seems to be underway in earnest.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ggkf25opmzkg9FpZ38_GwLZ4rRHabP3_l-cihlCOG2S2_gCnQm_tbD7nQlNzprrCRmO_A7Mdpq-GC_0fiyYvh99aAHYlny8S8UmZo-F7krb939oT4sdIFVT6BZkTXsnzkLyD46FIPgZ/s1600/DSC02837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0ggkf25opmzkg9FpZ38_GwLZ4rRHabP3_l-cihlCOG2S2_gCnQm_tbD7nQlNzprrCRmO_A7Mdpq-GC_0fiyYvh99aAHYlny8S8UmZo-F7krb939oT4sdIFVT6BZkTXsnzkLyD46FIPgZ/s320/DSC02837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Behind the firehouse for FDNY Ladder Company 10, where a makeshift memorial to the firefighters who lost their lives that day is erected. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>To my knowledge, the official memorial will not pay special mention to the firefighters and police officers who dies in the rescue effort. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Politics...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkhlUwpU4x0Zpd3Tkz4siNcvYntYCNfD_QnJ-YUzlqshOTrXZOVcgQ1nsrXlunnW-T9Vy15Eu2-Xw6s3xL40M1knPYrunkcY5ZR4q8rdG2xVwmxGQB00pR44cX1ML2FRMzMAHZlFTlyEF/s1600/DSC02838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkhlUwpU4x0Zpd3Tkz4siNcvYntYCNfD_QnJ-YUzlqshOTrXZOVcgQ1nsrXlunnW-T9Vy15Eu2-Xw6s3xL40M1knPYrunkcY5ZR4q8rdG2xVwmxGQB00pR44cX1ML2FRMzMAHZlFTlyEF/s320/DSC02838.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Another of the new World Trade Center buildings (not sure which this is).</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2_uF4oPdn3rstrfSYszToDgfmls593w9_LEkcVHTaFCtpbH8lttMbXe8Ve4BSyTsgb70zi8tSsczYtA4N3plVF690wsvu31DxtxgH_h7WwqgQnBQxKUuwnKj7Az4HYZrAy9SzUpi_21p/s1600/DSC02839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2_uF4oPdn3rstrfSYszToDgfmls593w9_LEkcVHTaFCtpbH8lttMbXe8Ve4BSyTsgb70zi8tSsczYtA4N3plVF690wsvu31DxtxgH_h7WwqgQnBQxKUuwnKj7Az4HYZrAy9SzUpi_21p/s320/DSC02839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Remembrance - memorial on side of Ladder Company 10 firehouse</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rRtYYTgzU6UxzDH3bFzKGMin2O0tpDHATFi8bNsRcRQzpJISQGbsZ7HX_G5ENDZpp9oeA5kJ-yN7TdEAJsPuNN-NUksy2xc4ZeR7ijm8WXArm0SQVpAJzmapbuYRp3nOx62dyHMxgH51/s1600/DSC02840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rRtYYTgzU6UxzDH3bFzKGMin2O0tpDHATFi8bNsRcRQzpJISQGbsZ7HX_G5ENDZpp9oeA5kJ-yN7TdEAJsPuNN-NUksy2xc4ZeR7ijm8WXArm0SQVpAJzmapbuYRp3nOx62dyHMxgH51/s320/DSC02840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkO15vwZrPmGFq2fPcI9RHV3V_kdWKMkRYE87ATEZjjC9R4hPUtQlNNS5J2vTe2_aPmjXZU0cjZxHfYfNn2JexcLQpnagCmgz6NqVlG-MhEd6Txd-YFiMIGU98KXusOtcH0kavGEwfRMr/s1600/DSC02841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkO15vwZrPmGFq2fPcI9RHV3V_kdWKMkRYE87ATEZjjC9R4hPUtQlNNS5J2vTe2_aPmjXZU0cjZxHfYfNn2JexcLQpnagCmgz6NqVlG-MhEd6Txd-YFiMIGU98KXusOtcH0kavGEwfRMr/s320/DSC02841.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's a depiction of what the finished memorial will look like. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm not a fan - it looks too empty, like a gaping scar, or a sign of defeat.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The original World Trade Center was a place of vitality and life, of the hustle and bustle of commerce and people trying to better their lives. I wish the memorial design had paid more tribute to that.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Also, if we're just leaving the holes in the ground, why has it taken over ten whole years to finish?</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikogm8Wmu-oBApaXqnqE5rH6AZJqbuUvJbO7f5iqNNRGl7kNlKTbmkCgSODp2NJ20v_n1c9r3y_utg9X6OfqkclTSfkdXRh5lrqB_ZRGqkCaqvFAJlUVcl_wQ8lQ0CIgOGEAcS7A9H7X69/s1600/DSC02843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikogm8Wmu-oBApaXqnqE5rH6AZJqbuUvJbO7f5iqNNRGl7kNlKTbmkCgSODp2NJ20v_n1c9r3y_utg9X6OfqkclTSfkdXRh5lrqB_ZRGqkCaqvFAJlUVcl_wQ8lQ0CIgOGEAcS7A9H7X69/s320/DSC02843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The memorial is opening? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Maybe there was a typo on this sign and they meant to say "9/12/21".</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishMq-zf3NryAev_9Tf8WT3cssfVp5P62f2dpa-wQjnyiVvLC_g-ZK62saJB8se1pgJi9zxuKbItgFC0ucbo2uyh-V102-SuVZBJfZHC0xhoajr33U76gDxLyfKjjLJjS3SlWKs_EIyhAS/s1600/DSC02844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishMq-zf3NryAev_9Tf8WT3cssfVp5P62f2dpa-wQjnyiVvLC_g-ZK62saJB8se1pgJi9zxuKbItgFC0ucbo2uyh-V102-SuVZBJfZHC0xhoajr33U76gDxLyfKjjLJjS3SlWKs_EIyhAS/s320/DSC02844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>St. Paul's Chapel, across the World Trade Center.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINKGVJgE1qbR-awQJphlrbJgNdTtGlGrKKPgm3EKvOV5HFlr2rZRq23DoF4bkCxkEM6rmcPYV8Fp-AONl4FNENuyKyyY4SJ9k3goaqdfDc7bQpmFEgqssFgRDug5Pbnx-oELKjrRNnE_1/s1600/DSC02845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINKGVJgE1qbR-awQJphlrbJgNdTtGlGrKKPgm3EKvOV5HFlr2rZRq23DoF4bkCxkEM6rmcPYV8Fp-AONl4FNENuyKyyY4SJ9k3goaqdfDc7bQpmFEgqssFgRDug5Pbnx-oELKjrRNnE_1/s320/DSC02845.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>On September 11, 2001, this courtyard was filled with rubble, debris, ash, and smoke from the attacks.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gBYnzNl55bRJsHZqpxDY8FUOohI7dIh8C-SfFS8YlaAy4eunFhKgltilPc8gg82Ds86f1igRm_NWhJSjiDwBCaWhTGIM6_zjrMNZzgcwS_3t4vlktOCaNaor1wtFdkFeu9ZSnnd_0Q7t/s1600/DSC02847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gBYnzNl55bRJsHZqpxDY8FUOohI7dIh8C-SfFS8YlaAy4eunFhKgltilPc8gg82Ds86f1igRm_NWhJSjiDwBCaWhTGIM6_zjrMNZzgcwS_3t4vlktOCaNaor1wtFdkFeu9ZSnnd_0Q7t/s320/DSC02847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Now, ten years later, it is filled with smoke from a different source - a cookout.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">**********</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So it's been ten years. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I still remember waking up that day, around ten to 9, and running into my roommate Paul in the kitchen. He was on his way to class. "Hey, you have a TV, right? You should check out the news - some idiot crashed a small plane into the World Trade Center." Hearing this, I took my bowl of raisin bran into my room and flicked on my 13" Hitachi to Fox 5. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I munched on my cereal thinking about the day ahead, only half paying attention to the talking heads jabbering in the background.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then the second plane hit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's when I knew. I think that's when we all knew.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I quickly dialed my parents in Hawaii, thinking that the phone lines would soon be jammed. I remember waking them and telling them to turn on the news. I remember speaking to them for the next two hours, with my eyes glued to the TV and my fingers frantically changing from station to station. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember Paul coming back to the apartment, shaken, saying that classes had been cancelled and that he saw the tower collapse.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember walking around the neighborhood. I remember thinking it was like a post-apocalyptic movie, where people were walking around dazed, or huddled in small circles around TVs and radios, or telling each other the latest reports and rumors.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember the rumors - the White House was attacked, a bomb went off in front of the State Department, new rumors were born by the minute.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember that I had a job interview on the 86th floor of one of the towers scheduled for the next day. I remember trying to see if that law firm made it out okay. By a stroke of serendipity, I flipped onto a station at 3:30 pm that afternoon - they were interviewing an older gentlemen from that very law firm - he was in the tower for the 1993 bombing, and the second he heard that the first plane hit, he gathered everyone and evacuated the building. They had made it out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember seeing the fighter bombers flying overhead. I had never seen one in flight before.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember us trying to donate blood at the nearest hospital, thinking at first that we had to do <u>something</u> to remove the feeling of helplessness, but then, as the feeling turned to one of duty and resolve, simply that we had to do <u>something</u>. I remember the line being six blocks and four hours long.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember the candlelight vigils, the memorial Masses, the email listservs soliciting and organizing help for the relief effort, the bulletin board at the NYU gym where requests were posted for the students whose downtown dorms were evacuated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember thinking about my brother Eric, who had finished basic training for the Marines but a week beforehand, and wondering what was to come for him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember that for a few weeks, the city seemed subdued - dazed, in shock, saddened, and alert. I remember wondering when that feeling would end.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">...and I remember when I was on the subway in late October when a man was trying to hold the door open for a woman running towards the train. As she got on board, she turned to the man and berated him, "stop holding the door! The train won't move!" His response? "I was trying to be a gentleman, you MORON!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">...at that point, I remember knowing that New York City would be fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">**********</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">P.S., God works in mysterious ways.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Gospel at Mass today, September 11, happened to be where Jesus told Peter that he had to forgive, not just seven times, but 77 times.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Forgiving the petty slights we receive in our daily lives is tough enough - how do we forgive the most horrendous acts? Why does God, who loves us unconditionally, allow them at all? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in college, I gave a lot of thought to theodicy - the problem of evil and its existence - or why does bad things happen to good people in a world with a loving God? The only thing in the Bible on the point, the Book of Job, is unsatisfying, basically God saying "who are you to question me? You don't know what I do. Here, let me give you a new wife and possessions." Neither is the view that without evil and suffering, we wouldn't appreciate goodness or happiness - that's a crock and is refuted by observation. Look at an infant who coos happily when receiving the loving attention of its parents - it knows it is happy. Does it need to be beaten so it truly appreciates the good times? After much thought, I came to the view that evil is allowed because we are afforded free will in our individual lives. However, it does not mean that God abandoned the world. We can choose good as well as evil. And while God allows free will in our individual actions, the rules of the cosmic game are ultimately rigged to result in a final outcome that serves to glorify God and bring us closer to him. Maybe forgiveness is a correcting mechanism that keeps the universe heading toward that outcome.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the past, I prayed for peace for the victims and their families, and for justice for the perpetrators. I think I'll start praying for mercy instead.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4ItzM-tjd0ywyr2-dIjVHTWLSEWR3YPgWRGikEU6E9irWm1xqrgvIvokOkZDPbUo1GdohaVqmasSBXVpDikaPKIR6TPR2DgZJJ_iMZsroBzmPMcML4y23PAhrzqlKm3Imhb7VDOXG_eq/s1600/DSC02846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4ItzM-tjd0ywyr2-dIjVHTWLSEWR3YPgWRGikEU6E9irWm1xqrgvIvokOkZDPbUo1GdohaVqmasSBXVpDikaPKIR6TPR2DgZJJ_iMZsroBzmPMcML4y23PAhrzqlKm3Imhb7VDOXG_eq/s320/DSC02846.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-78236375562578006642011-08-27T04:29:00.000-04:002011-08-27T04:29:17.788-04:00The Credits - Family and Friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is a quick post thanking the people who made my trip to Jordan possible, and so worthwhile:<br />
<br />
<u>My Jordanian Host Family and Roommates:</u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdwxfVhkuePCf8SK4mCLWe7ahzGYJWFx_bqfywTSIhkUAd8CTpGgyeNWz4SiPomULYQ6qV9t9zC_sHbWFnfC8blZnXYnFzgXg8qcPpFGIHFipcDtisQryU5GgVnuvEAalFyxaeUWvGJ9k/s1600/DSC02776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdwxfVhkuePCf8SK4mCLWe7ahzGYJWFx_bqfywTSIhkUAd8CTpGgyeNWz4SiPomULYQ6qV9t9zC_sHbWFnfC8blZnXYnFzgXg8qcPpFGIHFipcDtisQryU5GgVnuvEAalFyxaeUWvGJ9k/s320/DSC02776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>From L-R: Me, Sittii (Host Grandma, aka "Mama"), Sahel (Host Brother), </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Matt (Roommate #2), and Hala (Host Mom)</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf-max1AAVMFeQy4biKIfdYUw5J3EP59n5eci9fxmyS0MrD-L4wHUbUzvpeuOCuWKdfrC_77BWYXi_zHI4LaX9UCkkF_B457RV43k5UM_9MVPNG1StAGCYHv-69AllppsWp-dO7QZJ1Qy/s1600/DSC02677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf-max1AAVMFeQy4biKIfdYUw5J3EP59n5eci9fxmyS0MrD-L4wHUbUzvpeuOCuWKdfrC_77BWYXi_zHI4LaX9UCkkF_B457RV43k5UM_9MVPNG1StAGCYHv-69AllppsWp-dO7QZJ1Qy/s320/DSC02677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's one with Hala, me, Sittii, and Chris (Roommate #1)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX4R6FhnRl81S7l50g-OW4L8HAT7hrXq3gz7cACqtpK193P75lY20vDrFfWXyrvCJZQTSNitO0KgjDTmil_ZWmn6BZvuAQb0fPmqVRh9lVQQbXd7QsuyLhpPP3Drtcmw8rzgbVvL4ae1c/s1600/DSC02778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX4R6FhnRl81S7l50g-OW4L8HAT7hrXq3gz7cACqtpK193P75lY20vDrFfWXyrvCJZQTSNitO0KgjDTmil_ZWmn6BZvuAQb0fPmqVRh9lVQQbXd7QsuyLhpPP3Drtcmw8rzgbVvL4ae1c/s320/DSC02778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's Me, Anna (Our Family's Housekeeper), and Matt</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">My host family and roommates were great. In the case of my host family, they were welcoming and went over and beyond what I had expected, and helped mightily in introducing me to Arab culture and food, and the Arabic language.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Hala</b> - is my host mom. She is gracious, outgoing, and worldly, with a bit of sass (the good kind). She isn't afraid to say what she thinks, and always went the extra mile to accommodate Chris, Matt and I. She is currently working part time as an office manager, and enjoys travelling and meeting people. She has traveled to much of Europe, Australia, and all over the US.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Sittii</b>, or as the family calls her, Mama - is Hala's and Sahel's mom, and is our host grandma. She is extremely nice, a fantastic cook, expert Sheddeh (card game, similar to gin rummy) player, and is the matriarch of the part of the family that lives in Amman (the family's roots are in Karak, in southern Jordan). </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Sahel </b>- is our host brother. He enjoys talking about life and cars, and joking around with Chris, Matt, and I. He is a fan of Bollywood and action movies (not mutually exclusive categories), and discovered a love of karaoke during the summer. His background is in hotel management, but he currently works in marketing/inventory management at a high-end housewares company down the road.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Anna </b>- is our housekeeper. She is from Indonesia and has been living with the family for about two years. She is trying to learn English and Arabic.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Abeer </b>- is Hala's and Sahel's sister. She is married to <b>Khalil </b>and is the mom of <b>Sandra </b>and <b>Sara</b>. Abeer is also very nice, and took an interest in my studies and attempts to progress in my Arabic proficiency. She also is the mom of 12 year-old Sandra and 7 year-old Sara, which led to one interesting conversation in particular about whether kids appreciate what their parents do for them (a conversation that I've certainly heard before in the US). I think the answer is, yes, but they won't admit it to you (or themselves) until they are a lot older. Khalil is a cool guy, and he taught me about feeling "zain" (although I still prefer Orange...). Sandra is a champion swimmer, and an avid reader of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Sara is a pretty typical cute 7-year old. </li>
</ul><div>From time to time, other friends and family would drop by to catch up and/or play some Sheddeh. It was great meeting all of them.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Chris </b>and <b>Matt </b>- were my roommates for the first and second months of the summer. They were both cool and great to be around. Known for his trademark "yaanii...heh heh" catchphrase, Chris lives in Brooklyn and worked at the Arab-American Association in NYC. Therefore, he was probably the closest to fluent among the students in the program. He is beginning doctoral studies on Arab reformist thinkers from the beginning of the 20th Century. Matt is a rising sophomore at Northeastern University (go CAA), majoring in Chemistry with sub-specialties in Physics AND Arabic (ouch). Matt threw himself into learning about the culture and language in Jordan and is a good kid (despite letting the cabbies get away with a few scams).</li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><u>Aziz and His Family</u>:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BEVbUPWdFucbWgreAojERVG4hPYMNzVC_JUpZZ1v1lfpuyAc5crV4C0KBdtRZWadLS9cg1PxkINgPigU9dQszG_lHDYgiYG3OonYFv6BltHlRnRfV3-YmoNTnz7JV6ik9f8nucP5TXRQ/s1600/DSC02759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BEVbUPWdFucbWgreAojERVG4hPYMNzVC_JUpZZ1v1lfpuyAc5crV4C0KBdtRZWadLS9cg1PxkINgPigU9dQszG_lHDYgiYG3OonYFv6BltHlRnRfV3-YmoNTnz7JV6ik9f8nucP5TXRQ/s320/DSC02759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Me, Aziz, and the hubbly bubbly</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Aziz</b> - is my language exchange partner. He is around the same age as I and is studying English at AMIDEAST, where he is at the top of his class. He is an accountant, but is interested in studying abroad, either in the US or Australia, with the eventual goal of teaching. Aziz is very gracious and family-oriented, and was nice enough to treat me as part of his family despite the fact we only met a few times. He has a delightful young daughter, Huda. He lives southeast of Abdali (I believe), near the Saqr Mosque.</li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><u>AMIDEAST Instructors</u>:</div><div><br />
</div><div>The instructors at AMIDEAST, on loan from the Qasid Institute, were top-notch.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1DZ8WO-kTiVFpIMfWSKn70IJhBNadHARuOVs_glkO83v1gvUnuIUM7eAOjMvioQpbUWvc-zTNGPkW1fZqHTyh3b7_7coG5AevN1WvAyX00M7XonrjmSRnr_sYfJiTK-lEJ2WKto9IKEX/s1600/DSC02761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1DZ8WO-kTiVFpIMfWSKn70IJhBNadHARuOVs_glkO83v1gvUnuIUM7eAOjMvioQpbUWvc-zTNGPkW1fZqHTyh3b7_7coG5AevN1WvAyX00M7XonrjmSRnr_sYfJiTK-lEJ2WKto9IKEX/s320/DSC02761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Me, Brian, and Ustaadh Amer - </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>matching outfits and matching thoughts of smoking chicken in Honolulu</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrA_xi70RFWWFyYV35uq87v6JIUDdeS2R6UaWeE3k5nvzTv5eTKuEom8rgjUS8cber_EBq-4Qg43yzij8JJMfd_R6EXZAUE5Ku_uFazGynQG189LufqRTF22kb_aSxNG2xGdvVc-3g1Zc/s1600/DSC02762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrA_xi70RFWWFyYV35uq87v6JIUDdeS2R6UaWeE3k5nvzTv5eTKuEom8rgjUS8cber_EBq-4Qg43yzij8JJMfd_R6EXZAUE5Ku_uFazGynQG189LufqRTF22kb_aSxNG2xGdvVc-3g1Zc/s320/DSC02762.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ustaadha Bayan and her class (minus Maddie) -</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>What's with the lighting? I look like I'm part of a cult (the cult of Bad Shabaab)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Ustaadh Amer</b> - was responsible for the grammar lectures in our MSA classes. He knows his stuff and is very responsive to student requests. He also liked to laugh a lot and found humor in many things, such as smoked chickens and the stampede scene in The Lion King, and he has a dream of visiting Honolulu someday. I used to like to try to think of outrageous things to say to see if it would set him off.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Ustaadha Bayan</b> - was primarily responsible for the language lab exercises in our MSA classes. This summer was her first summer teaching American students and it took some time for she and us to find a rapport, but things worked out in the end. I think the other students tended to identify with her the most as she was close to their ages. We tried to make it a point to nurture the internal Gangsta' (or Bad Shabaab) she had locked inside of her conservative exterior.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Duktuur Ali</b> - taught the Colloquial Arabic course during our second month. His classroom style is to be very animated, and he was a walking Arabic iTunes library, given how often he'd break out a song lyric in class.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div><u>AMIDEAST Staff</u>:</div><div><br />
</div><div>We had a terrific staff in Amman that made things flow quite smoothly for us. <b>Hala</b> was our mother hen, always there for advice. <b>Subhi </b>was the suavest jack-of-all-trades that you could find. <b>Mohammed </b>was the go-to fix-it guy, and did heroic duty trying to save my camera, which died on my second day in Jordan. <b>Nagwan </b>was always there to lend a hand as well. Thanks all for all you did.<br />
<br />
<u>AMIDEAST Students</u>:<br />
<br />
It was fun, y'all (even if none of you understood the true scope of my work). Good luck in the future. Don't be bad shabaab.<br />
<br />
<u>Others</u>:<br />
<br />
In no particular order, thanks as well to all of the people I met during the summer, including Ranim Elborai (I need to try that ice cream sometime); the cops at the Public Security Directorate down the road on Mukhabarat Street, for the time spent BS'ing; the crew at Titanic Tours, in particular our tour bus driver and tour guide on our Petra/Wadi Rum/Aqaba weekend; Ammun and the rest of the conflict resolution students; Samuel and my other friends from the Hash; John at the Cafe Paris karaoke nights, even if you never found a version of "Friday" that we could sing; the guys at Ward & Kebab and Lebnani Snack; Creepy Kwifiyyeh Guy; the people on the party buses; the guys at Tropical Desert Tours for a great time in Wadi Hasa; Saneh the barber for a great haircut; the security guards and rest of the staff at AMIDEAST; the lady at the school supply store off of Wakalat Street who kept breaking my 50 JD bills; the relatives and friends of my host family who were nice enough to try to converse with me despite my beginner-level Arabic; the vendors I met in Jabal Hussein; the rest of Aziz' family and the fruit vendor we visited; the cabbies; and last but not least, Iman Maiki and Marwa Elborai, who first pointed me in the direction of Jordan for my study abroad.</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-53450850752603947532011-08-13T13:28:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:28:38.059-04:00Ramadan Drummer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here's audio of <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/misaharaty.htm">al-misharaty</a>, the drummer that wakes the neighborhood up before dawn so that they can eat the pre-fast meal of SuHuur during Ramadan. It is a tradition that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. The Syrian tradition is to blast a large cannon, but cities have grown too large for that. Some would say that the cities also have outgrown the drummer, but I'm glad some of the old traditions still survive.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyaqYh-DcJzYCHrjh1b3ZwKv4PqH5tg2RKBu9DbGg3hSH4oSM9ErG13eQm_r_qGqL6RJkMG4HndVX2scRgCmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe he is saying the traditional chant of "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #272727; line-height: 16px;">Es ha ya nayem…Wahed el dayem...", or "awake, oh sleeper, and praise Allah".</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #272727; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #272727; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #272727;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">********************</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #272727;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #272727;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">This post concludes my regular blogging from Amman, up next, The Credits, a little thank you to those who made my two months in Jordan so enriching.</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-18881466686795550702011-08-13T13:12:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:12:39.210-04:00Graffiti<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here are some shots of graffiti that I took during my trip. Most graffiti in Amman are advertisements, but some had more artistic content or social commentary.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwbAU6o1gkhWRXtroqArhBl0USdxT6pH0n6jCiy6wrclPBFUdlUAPzpfQdQmsEH3OCEf5A1UUSNAlEfWM9xCCwD570yzl21g0uncHsn0Umephh9mJpKJzB49aUMPcOvsD9NXtPKeG4iy-/s1600/DSC02571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwbAU6o1gkhWRXtroqArhBl0USdxT6pH0n6jCiy6wrclPBFUdlUAPzpfQdQmsEH3OCEf5A1UUSNAlEfWM9xCCwD570yzl21g0uncHsn0Umephh9mJpKJzB49aUMPcOvsD9NXtPKeG4iy-/s320/DSC02571.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0HsGPBzVQXsbNddKwaAUtUUwzW31vi9Be5weSMLGCcTB_gqKwRAiYjjVBI3uaFVML0ZNAj2bsF1St5BEFdJ-Q3Sk7Te70AyhCrLRxrBrAiB0IHkFX6w0zNcyvzOZFLmLPF1lSdUJwnZH/s1600/DSC02701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0HsGPBzVQXsbNddKwaAUtUUwzW31vi9Be5weSMLGCcTB_gqKwRAiYjjVBI3uaFVML0ZNAj2bsF1St5BEFdJ-Q3Sk7Te70AyhCrLRxrBrAiB0IHkFX6w0zNcyvzOZFLmLPF1lSdUJwnZH/s320/DSC02701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzJ-JfjlQ-2trYM7YOYaS96tDPfwlZDFlg9Zn7PAopTZPsH0QzKWRAHjzgk9y0IvvAKv89lZZ-vxo6nl5dxZKIgTQ6jb5rVxIMQ7ez1hfIqySYwB1u-QJTfrxTKmHffMKpF6ferr1vfI3/s1600/IMG_20110808_114824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzJ-JfjlQ-2trYM7YOYaS96tDPfwlZDFlg9Zn7PAopTZPsH0QzKWRAHjzgk9y0IvvAKv89lZZ-vxo6nl5dxZKIgTQ6jb5rVxIMQ7ez1hfIqySYwB1u-QJTfrxTKmHffMKpF6ferr1vfI3/s1600/IMG_20110808_114824.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnBRyeKLJoRSvI45lynirYVAgGrOdhrQit8Qow2g7Uri_a16A5CKsw5TCb_1devymCcX7OgHw38PVr9qEv7BWOaaiIiQxdD9d4KCi1aQEUPb_aJeVocniXdDvfKI85l8KKWznkINCGbiS/s1600/DSC02429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnBRyeKLJoRSvI45lynirYVAgGrOdhrQit8Qow2g7Uri_a16A5CKsw5TCb_1devymCcX7OgHw38PVr9qEv7BWOaaiIiQxdD9d4KCi1aQEUPb_aJeVocniXdDvfKI85l8KKWznkINCGbiS/s320/DSC02429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-88549812254798548552011-08-13T13:08:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:08:23.046-04:00The Hash<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here are some pictures from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/6206282823/?ref=ts">Hashemite Hash House Harriers</a> run from last Monday, which took place south of Amman around the YMCA.<br />
<br />
Among the notable moments were a traffic accident at the beginning of our run (not pictured), and running through some beduin camps.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvvZxLfEdzOWSCcIGX3lGJWkwdwhNKy-zI-q5JnNCbGUkFuwon1YRvAc1iQHyrmpkKbCLj1cwV_8Fkmr5OqIwhhdEhioB2haB1lbpuiROEqCSUCw4BAhe4SHkM5bU24_vQzbGMSEaoo0p/s1600/IMG_20110808_113058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvvZxLfEdzOWSCcIGX3lGJWkwdwhNKy-zI-q5JnNCbGUkFuwon1YRvAc1iQHyrmpkKbCLj1cwV_8Fkmr5OqIwhhdEhioB2haB1lbpuiROEqCSUCw4BAhe4SHkM5bU24_vQzbGMSEaoo0p/s1600/IMG_20110808_113058.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCEc3dwj9YXSBxaJvdUZcasr2shQNtrgtRQNEYVi1u2vfIzMtPNejonraNmapyirM9eWsdW-bN0-o5-E6LdPX-z9Nmz3beyGbtT3Q0ufOoHo-krUhDknacpcD5dY9Kiuz5OfUoSHgdHpB/s1600/IMG_20110808_113422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCEc3dwj9YXSBxaJvdUZcasr2shQNtrgtRQNEYVi1u2vfIzMtPNejonraNmapyirM9eWsdW-bN0-o5-E6LdPX-z9Nmz3beyGbtT3Q0ufOoHo-krUhDknacpcD5dY9Kiuz5OfUoSHgdHpB/s1600/IMG_20110808_113422.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nJtYo4ET39gugcaVvurnPYUzQWLLOOQI47Lm8xvHrP2gayNClS9U5zY35aaxkba_LxMGImvfdF8gtcpbOZA1ytGI8wG5ueN1O0429fbmBqWPMWq_U5j0kdmJVDsaTs6U6ZvdiwDanXyC/s1600/IMG_20110808_113534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nJtYo4ET39gugcaVvurnPYUzQWLLOOQI47Lm8xvHrP2gayNClS9U5zY35aaxkba_LxMGImvfdF8gtcpbOZA1ytGI8wG5ueN1O0429fbmBqWPMWq_U5j0kdmJVDsaTs6U6ZvdiwDanXyC/s1600/IMG_20110808_113534.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0EwWY9RwglcQsmQsaa6tW_qUlIwiTcNmZSZaYE5WewALMOJqKtnon9Aj5mchi_fQb9FhJlzxnQuhGezD1E6UzKu3qvVPFW12cJe60cq-Zi9VbmM-AHBqnA0ehXUHhRD2P9DvL6zcTks_/s1600/IMG_20110808_115907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0EwWY9RwglcQsmQsaa6tW_qUlIwiTcNmZSZaYE5WewALMOJqKtnon9Aj5mchi_fQb9FhJlzxnQuhGezD1E6UzKu3qvVPFW12cJe60cq-Zi9VbmM-AHBqnA0ehXUHhRD2P9DvL6zcTks_/s1600/IMG_20110808_115907.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9uf5MzsHgf_zUbnv4ctZFsLVQU2tPsasIyxs8hDEnqRpsrrNTLfNX-LYd_0ER1nnzqG8gYDysbvL7xCW6CTFd5pZn0qY2NcIEypnVPVlIxKxn-Xg5t2_7fxMpGYR0tZ2gnDRRsQQDPO3/s1600/IMG_20110808_120541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9uf5MzsHgf_zUbnv4ctZFsLVQU2tPsasIyxs8hDEnqRpsrrNTLfNX-LYd_0ER1nnzqG8gYDysbvL7xCW6CTFd5pZn0qY2NcIEypnVPVlIxKxn-Xg5t2_7fxMpGYR0tZ2gnDRRsQQDPO3/s1600/IMG_20110808_120541.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4yYG9__8BrswPoOeJX2m3Ggsb_K_sZOEysmkXsVfjf8X6du6WJUEZExSABo4kpEFat28q-8jfJ1xZyBdA3XHzkdmQuApBTG0bMDW9Nb8njDFlkZ9D1mA5yfUkDC6oByTYS4U40wBpMLw/s1600/IMG_20110808_121931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4yYG9__8BrswPoOeJX2m3Ggsb_K_sZOEysmkXsVfjf8X6du6WJUEZExSABo4kpEFat28q-8jfJ1xZyBdA3XHzkdmQuApBTG0bMDW9Nb8njDFlkZ9D1mA5yfUkDC6oByTYS4U40wBpMLw/s1600/IMG_20110808_121931.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-19965409371931328212011-08-13T13:04:00.000-04:002011-08-13T13:04:49.217-04:00Last Night in Amman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Thursday was Matt's and my last day in Amman, and the evening was spent with family and friends.<br />
<br />
We ate a special dinner that Sittii prepared for us, مقلوبة (maqluuba), or "upside-down" dish, a special casserole of chicken, eggplant, cauliflower, rice, and spices, that is cooked with the chicken at the bottom, so that it is served upside-down (with the chicken on top):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9q5PtZtmYMHCRkutDx3d9oE4ZtU7cmq4PE2-jpAVpgias9SEoQwaPJX1kSHiw-CsxtR02dpf3psi0CSgiMYyPj4rIlNBi4vesWGvcbtJxJAgC4RozNu2sSOka3PvlcalHYjp127CnYG5/s1600/DSC02772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9q5PtZtmYMHCRkutDx3d9oE4ZtU7cmq4PE2-jpAVpgias9SEoQwaPJX1kSHiw-CsxtR02dpf3psi0CSgiMYyPj4rIlNBi4vesWGvcbtJxJAgC4RozNu2sSOka3PvlcalHYjp127CnYG5/s320/DSC02772.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2yKsZcZdAzDN5F-66MsTT5cYbO56WKlQ_FPoP6tjFkjCagwu0LSGL2dhSD6bNb8VJiYU3_YZ4EDf8higGoA8dNTSu3b8RkB3CPwfYqSH-vAPGI7ytjP5qSXh8nWqqNT84lMPyV5h_8YA/s1600/DSC02773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2yKsZcZdAzDN5F-66MsTT5cYbO56WKlQ_FPoP6tjFkjCagwu0LSGL2dhSD6bNb8VJiYU3_YZ4EDf8higGoA8dNTSu3b8RkB3CPwfYqSH-vAPGI7ytjP5qSXh8nWqqNT84lMPyV5h_8YA/s320/DSC02773.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC1T_fEHhA0izIQ96yhZvr7ZJFHDelhoBJlsm7VM2ktdWSPS8myf6lOSY_6I9r8Igcy8il0ViKVjNQRi-GdmdImqeYh5Cfiy8t8S3AxEA5spRbRWj4ZbYFj0BeaJmfGKI02YDbuw5hbjh/s1600/DSC02774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiC1T_fEHhA0izIQ96yhZvr7ZJFHDelhoBJlsm7VM2ktdWSPS8myf6lOSY_6I9r8Igcy8il0ViKVjNQRi-GdmdImqeYh5Cfiy8t8S3AxEA5spRbRWj4ZbYFj0BeaJmfGKI02YDbuw5hbjh/s320/DSC02774.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Then we took some pictures with the family, before scrambling off to Jabal Hussein. I needed to buy an extra suitcase, and Matt was on a mission to find a bottle of mango juice. We managed to find both, as well as some additional fireworks (small roman candles) and one last bottle of tamar hindi.<br />
<br />
The fireworks were pretty cool. Some of them made the car alarms go off in the neighborhood. The last one, called "Super Blitz", or "Magic Blitz", was shaped like a large ground bloom flower. It started by acting like one, until it suddenly zoomed 20 feet into the air and exploded into an aerial display. Quite the finale.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_NQNKSlQbSeZH2MoaPoxASOVab27s8RegmdM76MqwoqtpHqJIb7GDF7gztCRaqWs1R5fsCaWglhUfZrvXGzJVcPu5AhJplgeTgNSSL96x0tE_v-Nmdh43xwkwLsEEqFvO-wGoXD8tCi/s1600/DSC02779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9_NQNKSlQbSeZH2MoaPoxASOVab27s8RegmdM76MqwoqtpHqJIb7GDF7gztCRaqWs1R5fsCaWglhUfZrvXGzJVcPu5AhJplgeTgNSSL96x0tE_v-Nmdh43xwkwLsEEqFvO-wGoXD8tCi/s320/DSC02779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Matt in action</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was time for packing. At around 12:30, my language exchange partner Aziz and his brother Maen dropped by to present me with a kuffiyeh and say farewell.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVvuinLtXSDScIXwtpMBP7WWgbWrlAGYToWUsmUn3iL82gLwyxZIT-4oz_ohqxwPdNP_PylXhwzos7CMGNS4sgm7t6bIxZHaU9DqL5QzRvvJdqkx5iFZtan6UqEXSCDXNT_3AxaBhM3Sy/s1600/DSC02782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVvuinLtXSDScIXwtpMBP7WWgbWrlAGYToWUsmUn3iL82gLwyxZIT-4oz_ohqxwPdNP_PylXhwzos7CMGNS4sgm7t6bIxZHaU9DqL5QzRvvJdqkx5iFZtan6UqEXSCDXNT_3AxaBhM3Sy/s320/DSC02782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Aziz and I</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiJCVgZr9v6iaJR3nKPjsZWcQc1QM_sNUwa2qG1519PCkLMH-Wr4q-O4yLsCSpDJgziWsmQ7lH3PrbmacahZwGGx5YmCPd9WNCO0_Oa3oHgl1daC_UdbQLZrVWAarks6eYcdOmlL9ad1f/s1600/DSC02784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiJCVgZr9v6iaJR3nKPjsZWcQc1QM_sNUwa2qG1519PCkLMH-Wr4q-O4yLsCSpDJgziWsmQ7lH3PrbmacahZwGGx5YmCPd9WNCO0_Oa3oHgl1daC_UdbQLZrVWAarks6eYcdOmlL9ad1f/s320/DSC02784.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Maen and I</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After they left, there wasn't too much time left for packing before Matt's airport taxi showed up at 3 am, the Ramadan drummer began waking people for SuHur at 3:30 am, and my taxi arrived around 6:30 am.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-418032377302557772011-08-13T12:45:00.000-04:002011-08-13T12:45:16.291-04:00Desserts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Some dessert pics:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN_k0ySz0vV1NZi2E72oPtQGWd5AANTHfCqqqBwz-qQBtSpVgsXQTOq0Zg-RPTpl_Kcypz5koZGFT9xa4dYcErcryHHuHMUChehmKuzC-IiLj34BSE1ttI9RLn5Uv8aUnfUS5iLt67XeK/s1600/IMG_20110807_161845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN_k0ySz0vV1NZi2E72oPtQGWd5AANTHfCqqqBwz-qQBtSpVgsXQTOq0Zg-RPTpl_Kcypz5koZGFT9xa4dYcErcryHHuHMUChehmKuzC-IiLj34BSE1ttI9RLn5Uv8aUnfUS5iLt67XeK/s1600/IMG_20110807_161845.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dessertssweetspastries/r/ummali.htm">Umm Ali</a> - kind of like a bread pudding, made with condensed milk and nuts</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sahel and I enjoyed this at Mecca Mall</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryeydUcjN6k95JxCHV_Ew_GjSVxNiNMImRMJ_rSxJRbPJ5CZxDDnv3U400d5GJksU-Vh4zCGccB2FRchTMwC4ryJWzkQpkF_bauY4gMsl84sQlhsZkQ19kWnwDZ4cUWv4kzg2aDsnpX8a/s1600/IMG_20110809_154907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryeydUcjN6k95JxCHV_Ew_GjSVxNiNMImRMJ_rSxJRbPJ5CZxDDnv3U400d5GJksU-Vh4zCGccB2FRchTMwC4ryJWzkQpkF_bauY4gMsl84sQlhsZkQ19kWnwDZ4cUWv4kzg2aDsnpX8a/s1600/IMG_20110809_154907.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fresh كنافة (knaafeh) at Habibeh's downtown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Knaafeh is basically a dessert made up of cheese or creme, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>topped with bits of puff pastry, pistachios and sugar syrup. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes, it's as good as it sounds.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvsqcQ7HCXhd1XOtjKb0l-5bM3I2zoWNup4h-BDhlPRoVOcpjMdULuQZzQnNcSzK_JIm-7ntIqzsW_pA0TCg66KiAxAaS3Re9XDrQOLonIRu_DFrATr7gWfXMbHMr-KyVdAnRxHMXjQme/s1600/IMG_20110809_155113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvsqcQ7HCXhd1XOtjKb0l-5bM3I2zoWNup4h-BDhlPRoVOcpjMdULuQZzQnNcSzK_JIm-7ntIqzsW_pA0TCg66KiAxAaS3Re9XDrQOLonIRu_DFrATr7gWfXMbHMr-KyVdAnRxHMXjQme/s1600/IMG_20110809_155113.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's the knaafeh</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-67884117406224254532011-08-13T12:38:00.000-04:002011-08-13T12:38:14.144-04:00Around the House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here are a few photos I took of my home in Amman.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZ5lnrGknqcs8dLGo90G2nSrZUtOo3434kGA3_IcqgDMrsaaO6Zi6tgeRuEv4tweXwarIn-NGefxytDz2kx97Mmov_knW33sMVXlQV_46T9H3WSDFgDomYil2V4pFfIYaFmMO1ccb2BG/s1600/DSC02763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UZ5lnrGknqcs8dLGo90G2nSrZUtOo3434kGA3_IcqgDMrsaaO6Zi6tgeRuEv4tweXwarIn-NGefxytDz2kx97Mmov_knW33sMVXlQV_46T9H3WSDFgDomYil2V4pFfIYaFmMO1ccb2BG/s320/DSC02763.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>View from out front</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaSUg0kaNFN5jpChtJh1fVgCML6YsUF4LETWN0qLvwx5M_T56ebxpT18rj5NfLSEyNZ7P2SSrlnRGAtXyqkpMDN5MQqN9HRgXgVWIUaxcbZTZxKWFc-gR_sTlwmOwNvSRnWJ5RBr4wNBq/s1600/DSC02764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaSUg0kaNFN5jpChtJh1fVgCML6YsUF4LETWN0qLvwx5M_T56ebxpT18rj5NfLSEyNZ7P2SSrlnRGAtXyqkpMDN5MQqN9HRgXgVWIUaxcbZTZxKWFc-gR_sTlwmOwNvSRnWJ5RBr4wNBq/s320/DSC02764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Swingset in the courtyard</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADdmTc77eKkIDIS3VNRrb1b9QC-5Bm_2Cz8aO7keW7gx3tmhoWdudn75gvRCKBrhop6Ws5tf9aa-TcIrY93SmwUtrpHcaQA_PcFM87E4T48Fr528YnNE54viwdaLp98ycEotL7snTjmx/s1600/DSC02765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ADdmTc77eKkIDIS3VNRrb1b9QC-5Bm_2Cz8aO7keW7gx3tmhoWdudn75gvRCKBrhop6Ws5tf9aa-TcIrY93SmwUtrpHcaQA_PcFM87E4T48Fr528YnNE54viwdaLp98ycEotL7snTjmx/s320/DSC02765.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Around the house, there is an orchard of fruit trees and herbs - here's a sage bush</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFpw9XZ_hU-AItInWueCVOWQt2fHhULnlJrpYFJaB48dVspBTNHgXymtcgYCRYyPqhm7FIjGGjSLnzYQLJn7BXkPYKqFIVUgS4AAptXdGc3cTiApJ_YDnpc54pfNQt3YwlTpJoycJTR2I/s1600/DSC02766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFpw9XZ_hU-AItInWueCVOWQt2fHhULnlJrpYFJaB48dVspBTNHgXymtcgYCRYyPqhm7FIjGGjSLnzYQLJn7BXkPYKqFIVUgS4AAptXdGc3cTiApJ_YDnpc54pfNQt3YwlTpJoycJTR2I/s320/DSC02766.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>View of the backstretch</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdA3XZo0mtcZpfEosT4VeDfWyvds75QROJ0tVmwCQdoZXwlV5Kkoh9Rdab7qe8Bt_RhbmqH7mPaIqHlhpWQwqoBaMytqCeN7ADBIBoChF0Usfa10x-A1rb-Gil_q3nHgy0fh0t4Y3G8A/s1600/DSC02767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jdA3XZo0mtcZpfEosT4VeDfWyvds75QROJ0tVmwCQdoZXwlV5Kkoh9Rdab7qe8Bt_RhbmqH7mPaIqHlhpWQwqoBaMytqCeN7ADBIBoChF0Usfa10x-A1rb-Gil_q3nHgy0fh0t4Y3G8A/s320/DSC02767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Plum tree</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8nWk_rES4HnvEJ03HXadUrssDWSrnEKXy-oXiatewXjVbmWE9FWjEYCOiUXxLZv-8mjmj509lsXBFpQ4JfHvhj6HJsJdPvoPIVWm18x7JoBLCtvzklNxThJPdAT2H_0Tfxc4_2QwsBnj/s1600/DSC02768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8nWk_rES4HnvEJ03HXadUrssDWSrnEKXy-oXiatewXjVbmWE9FWjEYCOiUXxLZv-8mjmj509lsXBFpQ4JfHvhj6HJsJdPvoPIVWm18x7JoBLCtvzklNxThJPdAT2H_0Tfxc4_2QwsBnj/s320/DSC02768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mint</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuJhTBzdNmJ5RjEDdkkrbSfFNzs9hHzeN43YOm9c5yejUIRdt83aaRyJ_JE97quKrEbWdu2nLS2fxWGSkP0xZuZfiHex4G2k0aIZSsw9JNMx0xaWZGfZN2d0VOer0f-FGr_Lse9sVHxaF/s1600/DSC02769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuJhTBzdNmJ5RjEDdkkrbSfFNzs9hHzeN43YOm9c5yejUIRdt83aaRyJ_JE97quKrEbWdu2nLS2fxWGSkP0xZuZfiHex4G2k0aIZSsw9JNMx0xaWZGfZN2d0VOer0f-FGr_Lse9sVHxaF/s320/DSC02769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The front yard</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SHGVnDF0Wr8qaTEihUgvmANz14YkIs5OoLa9ca3OyLdIUn7V6tYmOZCEbVexrJU_3XDbk0OyiFYCm_uzCazWaRt2HFzSxGRM2dFfwm5fvI9ykjyi6dD8N_LfKk9EG3dhHukI7m3daHj3/s1600/DSC02771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SHGVnDF0Wr8qaTEihUgvmANz14YkIs5OoLa9ca3OyLdIUn7V6tYmOZCEbVexrJU_3XDbk0OyiFYCm_uzCazWaRt2HFzSxGRM2dFfwm5fvI9ykjyi6dD8N_LfKk9EG3dhHukI7m3daHj3/s320/DSC02771.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sometimes, you have to stop to smell the rosemary</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-79134791937298551752011-08-13T12:26:00.000-04:002011-08-13T12:26:40.843-04:00Strays<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Amman would not be Bob Barker's favorite city.<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUk5yUGfKVJykXmX11pXCIvgjEFqEWLJwJHixfgqitilbPkpgRylwl8VCudOqKMV0acu1d08i3HLSmYEn8Og7EY1Edz0RmVZa9uRckz2mBv-OzaMJ1lxbR4ICoxFNpRybc9UmcgIF8amR/s1600/DSC02729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUk5yUGfKVJykXmX11pXCIvgjEFqEWLJwJHixfgqitilbPkpgRylwl8VCudOqKMV0acu1d08i3HLSmYEn8Og7EY1Edz0RmVZa9uRckz2mBv-OzaMJ1lxbR4ICoxFNpRybc9UmcgIF8amR/s320/DSC02729.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>There are a lot of stray cats that live in the streets. The residents often put food out for them.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SQl9Txay3xWWijm9n20xITLpKs0DnxjQWb0Aj344CeM-23PMwh0_ePS2vkpOERKKGiFp3etokatIuzTpzY9q8sf4dxINGVQaMZLSthqw6assHYgCsfivV_vEymLuGDwByii2A6zDLqp2/s1600/DSC02754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SQl9Txay3xWWijm9n20xITLpKs0DnxjQWb0Aj344CeM-23PMwh0_ePS2vkpOERKKGiFp3etokatIuzTpzY9q8sf4dxINGVQaMZLSthqw6assHYgCsfivV_vEymLuGDwByii2A6zDLqp2/s320/DSC02754.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqC9wsu9QD63y9A0nLjPm-kRPK-KbKfGrtjvmrw_l1lR1kOk3oVxfyZZPy8fKsFkTJhZbB8udxONk_3Sw2_ZJ-jcTUIeAx1rO0P1Wx7SgCKLrOzTjqYKaydOy3rui-uoFS1LcBxXs09nG/s1600/DSC02756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqC9wsu9QD63y9A0nLjPm-kRPK-KbKfGrtjvmrw_l1lR1kOk3oVxfyZZPy8fKsFkTJhZbB8udxONk_3Sw2_ZJ-jcTUIeAx1rO0P1Wx7SgCKLrOzTjqYKaydOy3rui-uoFS1LcBxXs09nG/s320/DSC02756.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's the black cat that kept running into the house, much to our housekeeper's dismay</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy297LCTdB6bvObZfEYT02FK7Ht52CyROJ0tFWfcpPT9Ovah1M5XDLV7i8_VK2G3cMlnDgR3ChiBTT-W1KgMjldlyuDKNjcpU-H0-DN7Fk4WeZGvyjYibDL9iuvltgXcq5t6qc5SjKIfGO/s1600/DSC02755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy297LCTdB6bvObZfEYT02FK7Ht52CyROJ0tFWfcpPT9Ovah1M5XDLV7i8_VK2G3cMlnDgR3ChiBTT-W1KgMjldlyuDKNjcpU-H0-DN7Fk4WeZGvyjYibDL9iuvltgXcq5t6qc5SjKIfGO/s320/DSC02755.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>One thing that I did note is that there are not a lot of dogs in Amman. I think that dogs are considered to be "dirty" animals, as opposed to cats.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-293303955410042562011-08-11T06:15:00.000-04:002011-08-11T06:15:19.766-04:00Jabal Hussein<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Last Friday night, I went to Jabal Hussein, the neighborhood/hill located to the north of Abdali, in order to look for a backpack for my trip to Wadi Hassa (previously blogged).</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Jabal Hussein is known as a shopping district for regular Jordanians, especially for clothes.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I left around 8:30 pm, so the streets were still pretty empty as everyone was celebrating Iftar. After joking around with the local cops, I walked towards Jabal Hussein.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ4xeVk1XkLq7HzRTuL8wV0QqciQ7YAc8LdTiOi8i2lykoAhGnfRN8ICCzjxmbowQ0N5XmAfemNEpX5C8L_43aX6vVlsgXNgZwvBQMBh-AVER1G1LLgeMyIH4Trg8IGdupF85jFHKTnKy/s1600/DSC02731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ4xeVk1XkLq7HzRTuL8wV0QqciQ7YAc8LdTiOi8i2lykoAhGnfRN8ICCzjxmbowQ0N5XmAfemNEpX5C8L_43aX6vVlsgXNgZwvBQMBh-AVER1G1LLgeMyIH4Trg8IGdupF85jFHKTnKy/s320/DSC02731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The roads are still empty</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlaFmYzJkVMXC4wGph1ycUkDQ9YAYep_ZdWZ7TlYxWDcPOI2S9zBebKpn3eWjxm5sAG1tqz_zWvZXRCsauQWVZDF2KdlUKdT28puZyDkmQDql08jNzDmiYBc-66TU-E8pJeuMnlHWpBgy/s1600/DSC02732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlaFmYzJkVMXC4wGph1ycUkDQ9YAYep_ZdWZ7TlYxWDcPOI2S9zBebKpn3eWjxm5sAG1tqz_zWvZXRCsauQWVZDF2KdlUKdT28puZyDkmQDql08jNzDmiYBc-66TU-E8pJeuMnlHWpBgy/s320/DSC02732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bakery</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKflBr-pkbO38RfMkMB7iPOyXarVAmuMhaSW4VO4hxMamxKqhMMMeuAqQegTmjN29E5pIY45Hc5Q4fN8m0qrmSW0_CVwvh7lc4smjP68CHsNBdyQQCCJe5KQLuNdw-doRSnDUYpKb-FATg/s1600/DSC02733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKflBr-pkbO38RfMkMB7iPOyXarVAmuMhaSW4VO4hxMamxKqhMMMeuAqQegTmjN29E5pIY45Hc5Q4fN8m0qrmSW0_CVwvh7lc4smjP68CHsNBdyQQCCJe5KQLuNdw-doRSnDUYpKb-FATg/s320/DSC02733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mannequins - trying out for a Robert Palmer video</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipn6FzZKi4c3la6_e7BjHJQLB33w5J66gRgDiRmqxc20BAfE1RPFSJ5ErlRUq9Z6huAdIyl29TQm5nEhyjHEk7Q1usVJCIRdhnYpApQIqRdCJsnv4T6nylgOutc13V1uSXwyYEDCH47hzc/s1600/DSC02735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipn6FzZKi4c3la6_e7BjHJQLB33w5J66gRgDiRmqxc20BAfE1RPFSJ5ErlRUq9Z6huAdIyl29TQm5nEhyjHEk7Q1usVJCIRdhnYpApQIqRdCJsnv4T6nylgOutc13V1uSXwyYEDCH47hzc/s320/DSC02735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The main traffic circle in Jabal Hussein - things picked up as it got later</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgRsyqEly__JEq-h2NEfSJIpQSfPr4int2VKd0tfgQVQarHeVcpUFAXkMizZhgJgl_GNNpAMGR2IUsGr41sIzFROu4b5tqo15zaETfbgbjj9_jSuDKlJj6UhuxHMH14ZERppUrapVB7Fu/s1600/DSC02736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgRsyqEly__JEq-h2NEfSJIpQSfPr4int2VKd0tfgQVQarHeVcpUFAXkMizZhgJgl_GNNpAMGR2IUsGr41sIzFROu4b5tqo15zaETfbgbjj9_jSuDKlJj6UhuxHMH14ZERppUrapVB7Fu/s320/DSC02736.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Street vendors preparing for the night</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeRYlSsU2NGlPV2daVB4MG05G6o-ie5AphKPp8oOC89Noh3bsOF_MV97YLIYK5PkwG1KLgxhKoE4SIjK0bOPfxLyK20gJX7FiDBtBoIuLLypye8kHRf8h27a8xPomY0xRcEQGZr3Ca63M/s1600/DSC02737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeRYlSsU2NGlPV2daVB4MG05G6o-ie5AphKPp8oOC89Noh3bsOF_MV97YLIYK5PkwG1KLgxhKoE4SIjK0bOPfxLyK20gJX7FiDBtBoIuLLypye8kHRf8h27a8xPomY0xRcEQGZr3Ca63M/s320/DSC02737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3tG7xELIxXiuBGw5NVXfAEE1nMXT08HAG7Elkdq-iK2zhsJ0IHi1T7TV4InMGQaSIhtHG2AQQ-nzx395ZaVNmympIdUynMkD4-rGEbXoN3CNUVZ-aoEEXDWsUdbJXiXmPJ7flilKNUMl/s1600/DSC02738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3tG7xELIxXiuBGw5NVXfAEE1nMXT08HAG7Elkdq-iK2zhsJ0IHi1T7TV4InMGQaSIhtHG2AQQ-nzx395ZaVNmympIdUynMkD4-rGEbXoN3CNUVZ-aoEEXDWsUdbJXiXmPJ7flilKNUMl/s320/DSC02738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>After buying the backpack (no John Cena, sadly), I walked around the area </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>and met this group of street vendors selling small carpets. They bought me a coke!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14kyICDOTBCqvBWtGGUeg7fadOhEZjKjC1ngjAHPCoddNtVMSEIHrbziJoESKKuapVlI7gER6Bdi3jSM_687RzcjCxrR-MntgtelDDrBEEqC_xvg7pl6MkWxANyStv7XD31pu-u_gg6yU/s1600/DSC02739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14kyICDOTBCqvBWtGGUeg7fadOhEZjKjC1ngjAHPCoddNtVMSEIHrbziJoESKKuapVlI7gER6Bdi3jSM_687RzcjCxrR-MntgtelDDrBEEqC_xvg7pl6MkWxANyStv7XD31pu-u_gg6yU/s320/DSC02739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HNwz2tQ9USL-k3A9tAXc7I7A0taoQjLzSKZOqKQ0zH9C0jwopP1PlDQ9L4Q1irQte3BprBRG8Xre2TD__hC3V57RhHi3IG51-0eD91X29JCVy5KJywlYbeiJcMdTMds34cBHN72QTTeI/s1600/DSC02740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HNwz2tQ9USL-k3A9tAXc7I7A0taoQjLzSKZOqKQ0zH9C0jwopP1PlDQ9L4Q1irQte3BprBRG8Xre2TD__hC3V57RhHi3IG51-0eD91X29JCVy5KJywlYbeiJcMdTMds34cBHN72QTTeI/s320/DSC02740.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Isn't this Haram?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRfheD52lQb5zfStsk7ix63XiLz4RWHiQfPYc01sz-tL4x3AmttsSedOG_0148b6wMEKMmarAN0gRN13Ur1DITDwiedhq9YaI_heE7nB6nr2S7wjhexDojKPezZCeqnPo06iIqnc28KDX/s1600/DSC02741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRfheD52lQb5zfStsk7ix63XiLz4RWHiQfPYc01sz-tL4x3AmttsSedOG_0148b6wMEKMmarAN0gRN13Ur1DITDwiedhq9YaI_heE7nB6nr2S7wjhexDojKPezZCeqnPo06iIqnc28KDX/s320/DSC02741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the street vendors sold toys, others sold clothes, or towels, or carpets, or even perfume</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2WKXgJXhZZZO12_cqLgjCuR-DtYzYUIaQ2merN0URgmzhXMMUKvKuklRZfa1L3JfXGxPwU0n-ylpv_7r3jZCV4xLtSAIrBMFV3MyaZm86L_kwDSfu5w-6oZK-bGydXViawP8fvaTTEoJ/s1600/DSC02742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2WKXgJXhZZZO12_cqLgjCuR-DtYzYUIaQ2merN0URgmzhXMMUKvKuklRZfa1L3JfXGxPwU0n-ylpv_7r3jZCV4xLtSAIrBMFV3MyaZm86L_kwDSfu5w-6oZK-bGydXViawP8fvaTTEoJ/s320/DSC02742.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Turns out that this shop is a perfumerie - </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>I was invited in and shown a few samples. No sale.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq9oIIK0GnlsR17t5nCvMysM4pEY1JZCzXp87ahddRiGKTMmXuF9g0Xr3OwibylcXG6WNcLAXlslWar8o4pGZJI1v1jPdxkIEbsuVNx-RftpydVfj7gNasP8bEPUrJN5hcC0lcnYV6WLY/s1600/DSC02745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq9oIIK0GnlsR17t5nCvMysM4pEY1JZCzXp87ahddRiGKTMmXuF9g0Xr3OwibylcXG6WNcLAXlslWar8o4pGZJI1v1jPdxkIEbsuVNx-RftpydVfj7gNasP8bEPUrJN5hcC0lcnYV6WLY/s320/DSC02745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Scored some cheap fireworks from a street vendor.</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-51322857593922174392011-08-11T05:39:00.000-04:002011-08-11T05:39:21.408-04:00Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism Site, and the Dead Sea<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Big catchup post here.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The Saturday after the night of the three weddings was the date of our planned excursion to Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">First up, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madaba">Madaba</a>, a Biblical and early Christian and Byzantine city that was rediscovered and resettled in the 1800s. Madaba is known for its early Christian churches, which contain beautiful mosaics.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-EuF4vIdweuRsqLzMYumyM7IfM0Uphtm0UFboND9JPrXcyjxMidGdTXdeMtyN8G0tQrWFPk64FUs4jz634-Y9EGI6IadzExEu-8ZcBnEAYLJ74RrkOirEeKhwhAy6PjOvrnc0sTSXdL/s1600/DSC02566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-EuF4vIdweuRsqLzMYumyM7IfM0Uphtm0UFboND9JPrXcyjxMidGdTXdeMtyN8G0tQrWFPk64FUs4jz634-Y9EGI6IadzExEu-8ZcBnEAYLJ74RrkOirEeKhwhAy6PjOvrnc0sTSXdL/s320/DSC02566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-EuF4vIdweuRsqLzMYumyM7IfM0Uphtm0UFboND9JPrXcyjxMidGdTXdeMtyN8G0tQrWFPk64FUs4jz634-Y9EGI6IadzExEu-8ZcBnEAYLJ74RrkOirEeKhwhAy6PjOvrnc0sTSXdL/s1600/DSC02566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI-EuF4vIdweuRsqLzMYumyM7IfM0Uphtm0UFboND9JPrXcyjxMidGdTXdeMtyN8G0tQrWFPk64FUs4jz634-Y9EGI6IadzExEu-8ZcBnEAYLJ74RrkOirEeKhwhAy6PjOvrnc0sTSXdL/s320/DSC02566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvvlJ56wd6ETc9-6HXCUdw6442auPRl3nezhEz87NRTpgyMXyUWp92N_B1W8TralIUAd9UZaw-lcdhyVd4kZIduGOnPiH0N-osPsrxlLiUTfgBhPTbbTDBjeusGF2dmU9ao9LH5rPYKhP/s1600/DSC02567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvvlJ56wd6ETc9-6HXCUdw6442auPRl3nezhEz87NRTpgyMXyUWp92N_B1W8TralIUAd9UZaw-lcdhyVd4kZIduGOnPiH0N-osPsrxlLiUTfgBhPTbbTDBjeusGF2dmU9ao9LH5rPYKhP/s320/DSC02567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRtGVxIe0aUA8Xz_2QiT_pOpUjM-lVINHQlhOgRGlPWtB1WqDyuMN1adLSIkNAmLHbs58S9Y-0QETw2lKMiAxmNBvIuN96_Iv_T4AMapofGgv7wBNK263Y5DXSUq_oueUWf5HZSKjqK2l/s1600/DSC02568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRtGVxIe0aUA8Xz_2QiT_pOpUjM-lVINHQlhOgRGlPWtB1WqDyuMN1adLSIkNAmLHbs58S9Y-0QETw2lKMiAxmNBvIuN96_Iv_T4AMapofGgv7wBNK263Y5DXSUq_oueUWf5HZSKjqK2l/s320/DSC02568.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Church of the Map</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRonVVFaxh9Wl8LRA-WyBEAAqPuphTxzqg6ePuV9ERQ0KLC4HIUoHmvtrxZ8GtpPrlLqKsaTBvUtvAWUUYduV23l4XRrdD0eEwBU9IDOVK37wUBWJI4xjYqCpSGcxhhniEVjNIemlml81/s1600/DSC02569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRonVVFaxh9Wl8LRA-WyBEAAqPuphTxzqg6ePuV9ERQ0KLC4HIUoHmvtrxZ8GtpPrlLqKsaTBvUtvAWUUYduV23l4XRrdD0eEwBU9IDOVK37wUBWJI4xjYqCpSGcxhhniEVjNIemlml81/s320/DSC02569.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO6IIYWqaSInRl8NngJ4aXjOsetsYqL9O9q1zupx89XtubQEuG6dHh7DJGaimnMQFCdP6xXixRAK6KefP2zoKDxuDLnc5clP2V9EwfNkxWDOPHxUELm_ZDmdmO98ceAUesAdXDyM2HNEn/s1600/DSC02570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSO6IIYWqaSInRl8NngJ4aXjOsetsYqL9O9q1zupx89XtubQEuG6dHh7DJGaimnMQFCdP6xXixRAK6KefP2zoKDxuDLnc5clP2V9EwfNkxWDOPHxUELm_ZDmdmO98ceAUesAdXDyM2HNEn/s320/DSC02570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The map in the Church of the Map - a mosaic depicting a map of the ancient world</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo_tpKyOiy7Eds2EtxbAWWGk-3wHtOFcmcFKxruKi_mJBrkjA4bJdJVIfT9EHGgn3l0kqG0sbRHPygfwnuONkRxEARSkp_Yt8FeyQwyVZmZqTjAWt_ZSJXQXAYzXE5WWYdruqKkG_f85G/s1600/DSC02572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo_tpKyOiy7Eds2EtxbAWWGk-3wHtOFcmcFKxruKi_mJBrkjA4bJdJVIfT9EHGgn3l0kqG0sbRHPygfwnuONkRxEARSkp_Yt8FeyQwyVZmZqTjAWt_ZSJXQXAYzXE5WWYdruqKkG_f85G/s320/DSC02572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Frankfurter Supermarkt!</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPtt-onrzIVB_MsNocZJGIjonCcCTQemFRjv6gvM3pZrBNt70amDDEjzQ8U4JH_59kcbHQ2V5hWSEh6AHVOvjReQpQIJume9gqhosDyReo-9WBiKmD-2UauMVD1Lj_IFqv-jJEvGyLvVY/s1600/DSC02573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPtt-onrzIVB_MsNocZJGIjonCcCTQemFRjv6gvM3pZrBNt70amDDEjzQ8U4JH_59kcbHQ2V5hWSEh6AHVOvjReQpQIJume9gqhosDyReo-9WBiKmD-2UauMVD1Lj_IFqv-jJEvGyLvVY/s320/DSC02573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>From the road to Mount Nebo - Jordanian countryside</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Nebo_(Jordan)">Mount Nebo</a> is where the Bible says that God let Moses see the Holy Land before he died. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPs4gjn126-HswpBaXfqifz9wOD04hqJf4wnhf8eVzUOcr1G0YMV4bC4DJVeVhzC103QHa_roynuABxgNvm52fDT7HidFE88EwktIZ4asOgOWVEttY06vnNeAWIUS2U3TFdizqqOq6T5i/s1600/DSC02574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPs4gjn126-HswpBaXfqifz9wOD04hqJf4wnhf8eVzUOcr1G0YMV4bC4DJVeVhzC103QHa_roynuABxgNvm52fDT7HidFE88EwktIZ4asOgOWVEttY06vnNeAWIUS2U3TFdizqqOq6T5i/s320/DSC02574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJb9lWqcG9PjimpWBKn8tDv7AU98qoGuZcgOQ01v0IBFsAMvFJ7lt7Yo7bfLkOsAKp0fqulfaTPfFdZdqM_sFa8kdeJeVRtq65fN5tVwnuzRGAJH6qVZze_jJn-49cwi9oz1_7ANrqQcT/s1600/DSC02575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJb9lWqcG9PjimpWBKn8tDv7AU98qoGuZcgOQ01v0IBFsAMvFJ7lt7Yo7bfLkOsAKp0fqulfaTPfFdZdqM_sFa8kdeJeVRtq65fN5tVwnuzRGAJH6qVZze_jJn-49cwi9oz1_7ANrqQcT/s320/DSC02575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>View of the Dead Sea</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5zCwi6G_L7t5lW-pcqCV6x_fqR43egDcC_Nzmgj8MEupz5sSt1cCMLs0lrrxKCg0F5GwNFtInYecJcOdDXJUbhUKSNWaZhruU3PkLiKbcMNTzd_oR7xeWZKreRKgVf2P41II1ki94jX4/s1600/DSC02576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5zCwi6G_L7t5lW-pcqCV6x_fqR43egDcC_Nzmgj8MEupz5sSt1cCMLs0lrrxKCg0F5GwNFtInYecJcOdDXJUbhUKSNWaZhruU3PkLiKbcMNTzd_oR7xeWZKreRKgVf2P41II1ki94jX4/s320/DSC02576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8URlY8BtoWpDbrcCVBOPYpVuEWQRwruBQExt9WrMHql_KUFzL4c3G3KWzC9k9AVKY4KmfSTgdUpxIJThmYfWCRqQkLOLg0HGq869SZirZtX396jz8FLDSLRkihJjmPB7xYcymTJD-FVB/s1600/DSC02577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8URlY8BtoWpDbrcCVBOPYpVuEWQRwruBQExt9WrMHql_KUFzL4c3G3KWzC9k9AVKY4KmfSTgdUpxIJThmYfWCRqQkLOLg0HGq869SZirZtX396jz8FLDSLRkihJjmPB7xYcymTJD-FVB/s320/DSC02577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the way to Jesus' Baptism Site</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_O5O5q5btk7K36z5FxBY2-F5Ifi8nSjW2aNvdC375HkzR-wdubKEgQbiqo0UMpdGvFKe1BMCnLLMNDhg3hG0u0ZOJCjH4dHncbY_qiSPUhIHiM16yv7FFCAA-fEAF64X7mMGSsZB8u4S/s1600/DSC02579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_O5O5q5btk7K36z5FxBY2-F5Ifi8nSjW2aNvdC375HkzR-wdubKEgQbiqo0UMpdGvFKe1BMCnLLMNDhg3hG0u0ZOJCjH4dHncbY_qiSPUhIHiM16yv7FFCAA-fEAF64X7mMGSsZB8u4S/s320/DSC02579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmHzezUIhB_V5OVjco9CSiUYF1wG_KyKbF5F-AOLbu8H0eOrDnGGZ7eJs3o9aDIoc5etXA7PCdCg7CFStemdYBsr5Irs4l0uLJY-YMFI9TLtU0kD-5TSNC2z3cG4R7NaAZZBo4nco35D3/s1600/DSC02581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmHzezUIhB_V5OVjco9CSiUYF1wG_KyKbF5F-AOLbu8H0eOrDnGGZ7eJs3o9aDIoc5etXA7PCdCg7CFStemdYBsr5Irs4l0uLJY-YMFI9TLtU0kD-5TSNC2z3cG4R7NaAZZBo4nco35D3/s320/DSC02581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Knocked out</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" dir="ltr" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jesus' baptism site was the next stop. It is located in the Bethany region, on the River Jordan near the border with Israel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R6-ScXD-dxCUTaLydi1CEv-c_tCcap6l6MDYfItBTQjs9Xm6yTWDHpmr7TOJfpZ4gOsnhvMaCIBwTB2gSiETyNS0oP_c5xwn6dPWedMY5VyCqghBzsKICKKidZV0F9WW_LH1ApgoVGmP/s1600/DSC02582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R6-ScXD-dxCUTaLydi1CEv-c_tCcap6l6MDYfItBTQjs9Xm6yTWDHpmr7TOJfpZ4gOsnhvMaCIBwTB2gSiETyNS0oP_c5xwn6dPWedMY5VyCqghBzsKICKKidZV0F9WW_LH1ApgoVGmP/s320/DSC02582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Map of the Baptism Site</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMPl4gq4nGRlUfCztZq51NKjhnAhyphenhyphenab56PjJUI-z8RWfa81CQCjpz4ZMRFERsDzhz_OH6zJfhFuEY24w-CiUw3Z0oZWzFbfWV1Bv7i77V_1qAohyphenhyphenXmlGqposQraFQ9j_r88nbqtklSKFk/s1600/DSC02583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMPl4gq4nGRlUfCztZq51NKjhnAhyphenhyphenab56PjJUI-z8RWfa81CQCjpz4ZMRFERsDzhz_OH6zJfhFuEY24w-CiUw3Z0oZWzFbfWV1Bv7i77V_1qAohyphenhyphenXmlGqposQraFQ9j_r88nbqtklSKFk/s320/DSC02583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The River Jordan - or what's left of it.</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The river is mostly dried up due to water being diverted for irrigation.</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdon0MPiDc-DGhnI1ZimEoRKbCt-IC92qDV_JzQHUDfUiLFIPGRHfnPEc6VbdasRPeza-m1sqXJnW6OKnUunu-7PFDVmolOOMO8g2uoQ2jVmSrNIwXaM1VZnMNLRnYDacZJgN5vMR4Eb0l/s1600/DSC02584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdon0MPiDc-DGhnI1ZimEoRKbCt-IC92qDV_JzQHUDfUiLFIPGRHfnPEc6VbdasRPeza-m1sqXJnW6OKnUunu-7PFDVmolOOMO8g2uoQ2jVmSrNIwXaM1VZnMNLRnYDacZJgN5vMR4Eb0l/s320/DSC02584.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's the original baptism site. </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>There's a "new" baptism site about 1/2 km away where the river still flows.</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlsNCdRo8YIFcY9Ph7kHLN1xmEuHq1w3mup1AAybHfDuuaqC3kpYebwyqV4EIsW7M0-Awt5tdfbEPacOdJg47ZwQRO745XjD4JyDBXgRePJcuX5AQdSVmuAsM_IypgxWiTtDLVJEGucjd/s1600/DSC02585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlsNCdRo8YIFcY9Ph7kHLN1xmEuHq1w3mup1AAybHfDuuaqC3kpYebwyqV4EIsW7M0-Awt5tdfbEPacOdJg47ZwQRO745XjD4JyDBXgRePJcuX5AQdSVmuAsM_IypgxWiTtDLVJEGucjd/s320/DSC02585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Various Christian denominations have built churches near the site</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyh-njdqUqTejGJfQFVV33C_HpeDmvxSLLOBDKWyk9ThbCBGUub0ZmtNUzRZlan8qqJGd9EMjOk9_1IlNzsyCsxEWishDgGVayLqpt2HDIq8J3KJhiHjxKVv5PY3WHQVinlC3CQYZe54B/s1600/DSC02586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyh-njdqUqTejGJfQFVV33C_HpeDmvxSLLOBDKWyk9ThbCBGUub0ZmtNUzRZlan8qqJGd9EMjOk9_1IlNzsyCsxEWishDgGVayLqpt2HDIq8J3KJhiHjxKVv5PY3WHQVinlC3CQYZe54B/s320/DSC02586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8nOgFo302rbZvzXVpVyG__Ijz6nz47WdijcAa94Xd9LvA5xJYylDQ8ES3-DX17sfIyFogG8MuOPjiyizefsr2-eCrseCbBb9Ai0uLOgA08pgis54yLRcab4l0tqWybDQyNuENK2zTPex/s1600/DSC02587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8nOgFo302rbZvzXVpVyG__Ijz6nz47WdijcAa94Xd9LvA5xJYylDQ8ES3-DX17sfIyFogG8MuOPjiyizefsr2-eCrseCbBb9Ai0uLOgA08pgis54yLRcab4l0tqWybDQyNuENK2zTPex/s320/DSC02587.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm going down to the River Jordan...</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>at the new baptism site (and international border with Israel)</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">These next two pics sum up well the relative economic conditions of the two countries. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">First, Israel...</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tikvAm00oULeluWKfa3K5HECPKXTWNBJW06wTHVaDCQrnkJWWKuDhzth1NCU_ToWq67SpNRRQYAi3SUEtExsE_WGOUfEZ_AFJDu0GyX0FfnWaXAJDsQ4xoFlJxEHRPngxtWDWD2sOiCi/s1600/DSC02588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tikvAm00oULeluWKfa3K5HECPKXTWNBJW06wTHVaDCQrnkJWWKuDhzth1NCU_ToWq67SpNRRQYAi3SUEtExsE_WGOUfEZ_AFJDu0GyX0FfnWaXAJDsQ4xoFlJxEHRPngxtWDWD2sOiCi/s320/DSC02588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">and here's Jordan...</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfl7WrXmUwDfXGHVAZLrOo3pWocwPTxVgwFO9F4tL5d2WyKln3obUVGsxaUE-r2pz5KK-cov72YjQzg8LHoREk17KM76es-ck6vL-HljRffYPsWHA_y6EwdGsUITwvLAMGYPamcyMAnoC/s1600/DSC02589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfl7WrXmUwDfXGHVAZLrOo3pWocwPTxVgwFO9F4tL5d2WyKln3obUVGsxaUE-r2pz5KK-cov72YjQzg8LHoREk17KM76es-ck6vL-HljRffYPsWHA_y6EwdGsUITwvLAMGYPamcyMAnoC/s320/DSC02589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The last stop was the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The air was scorching (probably around 105 degrees).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-LtcbFnEukEyVBLMRXj0amX8fM6dDm7JHUevN-9RU3gQno1ZUMe8LYCDah2FJlxQNJBUijyI3uYb9pVQgbFs6tROpBYI6LrMtUMSvgMYJYhyphenhyphenQSokC1CJCovYo8tutOw2BlBF6ySvwLaq/s1600/DSC02590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-LtcbFnEukEyVBLMRXj0amX8fM6dDm7JHUevN-9RU3gQno1ZUMe8LYCDah2FJlxQNJBUijyI3uYb9pVQgbFs6tROpBYI6LrMtUMSvgMYJYhyphenhyphenQSokC1CJCovYo8tutOw2BlBF6ySvwLaq/s320/DSC02590.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Amman Beach is the public beach. Along the Dead Sea are a lot of resorts, with more currently under construction. Bananas are also grown here on farms, together with the ubiquitous olive trees. Amman Beach has a great buffet.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-62uFuoI0aODuEm0UbfGt5kr3gvT-tdK51pAUwZQLIyOzV0cMhMnhyE9I42nbE2f100jSasW6cOciFMWRgc0pieSLT_G0U-IPS2DmSODjmEn8tuUihq8ViU9SFzgxOaQHyzAsXKhl_eOA/s1600/DSC02591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-62uFuoI0aODuEm0UbfGt5kr3gvT-tdK51pAUwZQLIyOzV0cMhMnhyE9I42nbE2f100jSasW6cOciFMWRgc0pieSLT_G0U-IPS2DmSODjmEn8tuUihq8ViU9SFzgxOaQHyzAsXKhl_eOA/s320/DSC02591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The sign seems to say that the <u>water</u> is 95 degrees?!</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkTf-M1MGsqVgYLU_VxmO63Ep8VE5dJeEg0umZ7CVD-0H0n1FuBUIItFn4njIE1hyasXNAQYeFbQjVWCbOiTiZK8dwEcx7ngt4yQZZTyayUVfxyqPvvEvVLT4s6EDgZDY3UdS_AD22Kz2/s1600/DSC02592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkTf-M1MGsqVgYLU_VxmO63Ep8VE5dJeEg0umZ7CVD-0H0n1FuBUIItFn4njIE1hyasXNAQYeFbQjVWCbOiTiZK8dwEcx7ngt4yQZZTyayUVfxyqPvvEvVLT4s6EDgZDY3UdS_AD22Kz2/s320/DSC02592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the Dead Sea - I tried tasting the water - </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>it tastes BAD, like how you'd imagine battery acid to taste - </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>not my brightest idea</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxR78dlt1jDJPyqZaBPTk_wZ_-d1lOT42fsXXrhcjnkC-jWj7aPHR_pBb4F0gg4H88auHRpoCE2hWclrZ7zi7SG6wYJBApM-nZfAe3LiuQ-0iXDbpqRc7Tl8ivAqjxL7M1P91ukNhVGBd/s1600/DSC02594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxR78dlt1jDJPyqZaBPTk_wZ_-d1lOT42fsXXrhcjnkC-jWj7aPHR_pBb4F0gg4H88auHRpoCE2hWclrZ7zi7SG6wYJBApM-nZfAe3LiuQ-0iXDbpqRc7Tl8ivAqjxL7M1P91ukNhVGBd/s320/DSC02594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Buoyance</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ThpTfcH4wU52hzRKtJ0jTU4GCJ4yIVgIVKRNlTmukIwBRreuc5O7Ul3bmifPifsaM2ZfjBz8diCLJ1gt-2Ju6A2f3SsQCIZkKhW9kCtMZIqmy5XICGkwBkGMJL4fZjxW_PGbt4LsOiyj/s1600/DSC02596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ThpTfcH4wU52hzRKtJ0jTU4GCJ4yIVgIVKRNlTmukIwBRreuc5O7Ul3bmifPifsaM2ZfjBz8diCLJ1gt-2Ju6A2f3SsQCIZkKhW9kCtMZIqmy5XICGkwBkGMJL4fZjxW_PGbt4LsOiyj/s320/DSC02596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz5WvpMmgyUY9DmYudN1paUIG0kfR0by4gz_mQ94IA0vJSKfyZwVSoLg2Lxlrx8OENUNtzzrGj-g35DZUh1EqqtAi279qDTcrg9xtIYm3f9tg0C0hMEZqHG4vzc5dfrI4hUV_oBREkTH/s1600/DSC02597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz5WvpMmgyUY9DmYudN1paUIG0kfR0by4gz_mQ94IA0vJSKfyZwVSoLg2Lxlrx8OENUNtzzrGj-g35DZUh1EqqtAi279qDTcrg9xtIYm3f9tg0C0hMEZqHG4vzc5dfrI4hUV_oBREkTH/s320/DSC02597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the students layered on the Dead Sea mud, which is supposedly therapeutic. It definitely helps with the heat and keeps the salt from inflaming every little nick on your body.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
We ended the afternoon spending a couple of hours by the pool, where the water temperature was a more refreshing 85 degrees or so.<br />
<br />
Another busy and fun day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-34159873316719948792011-08-10T09:23:00.001-04:002011-08-10T09:23:48.357-04:00More Ramadan Stuff<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURtciRDRXz9rcaqWbsybMWr_59YRKsJykobRapvuNCfoWmjBJ78qnMazznhR5iJP8cTvLAG_FRIkp6o8Rk2q0g4Yfzs7Q-R4tDvxwds8QMwfTnZq04sOlHJcM11X_ah_tHrZ9MmIXN_em/s1600/DSC02750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURtciRDRXz9rcaqWbsybMWr_59YRKsJykobRapvuNCfoWmjBJ78qnMazznhR5iJP8cTvLAG_FRIkp6o8Rk2q0g4Yfzs7Q-R4tDvxwds8QMwfTnZq04sOlHJcM11X_ah_tHrZ9MmIXN_em/s320/DSC02750.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gNslYNs9fcz0ZZGEJQaGPRKvfjOdzWs2rjm6FRGeR4rMpknU_lOEgghODxofyT3yqa1aKS7M-hStt6_YJwXD7iBDDo6GXM5xxezLLmfKu8M-dp_bcioBe1FkBoFBzI289VWObC3mN_sO/s1600/DSC02751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gNslYNs9fcz0ZZGEJQaGPRKvfjOdzWs2rjm6FRGeR4rMpknU_lOEgghODxofyT3yqa1aKS7M-hStt6_YJwXD7iBDDo6GXM5xxezLLmfKu8M-dp_bcioBe1FkBoFBzI289VWObC3mN_sO/s320/DSC02751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY5V78BcQbc6PKPCGC6Y_5EbrJeyOmdwWYdUSbsCTje30oRRZuMy__N-wFYOFm58UgOfjz4jAIf9cAQn0rGeVX8SwRZr0GCMruCdSabiXm5kaFJTOuaeaDEv_j8Zp3vGsAEPcNmLPNT4Y/s1600/IMG_20110805_071017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY5V78BcQbc6PKPCGC6Y_5EbrJeyOmdwWYdUSbsCTje30oRRZuMy__N-wFYOFm58UgOfjz4jAIf9cAQn0rGeVX8SwRZr0GCMruCdSabiXm5kaFJTOuaeaDEv_j8Zp3vGsAEPcNmLPNT4Y/s1600/IMG_20110805_071017.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbOZeEzqYK1CXN08ljGCA_6jfmeoM0CdVweU9vRWIiJ7hZiNKmfZQsuRjIhM4BSNx_Ds-opZdb4-lq9ILLJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Post-Iftar evening prayers</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-63900556430191165322011-08-10T09:08:00.000-04:002011-08-10T09:08:03.446-04:00Musical Trucks - Part Two<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I got the vegetable truck!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxdYtePj_tQZVgVes8vm52W0NLQRJrg00UD4GbkXYbDPsLLpJWKtfV7SAnLQqsg1e2OhkltC0kGRZpXQ5R3iw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxUjWWTKrTyTbVCWxRjx9pDOCALc5IUodolMACQOdHmJ3WL5mwBkYXMCa6wkDQw8LJEcy5iKsj5QjL3CaavzA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-43460341518992651372011-08-10T08:56:00.001-04:002011-08-10T09:10:40.828-04:00More Random Pics<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Taken from around Amman...</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTO2oqr7M2MBZSp0v-OfwkGDOAExsVEUp_9xugB5LcKl1YbxVV7wHCOJjgD9rEBdFqruGGYusOAqfYRUCi530Doeg6073t-8Y8bj0pNJIY8HQVO-r4ua-NDg4_9ffFf09aOKZnsN-waNk/s1600/DSC02744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTO2oqr7M2MBZSp0v-OfwkGDOAExsVEUp_9xugB5LcKl1YbxVV7wHCOJjgD9rEBdFqruGGYusOAqfYRUCi530Doeg6073t-8Y8bj0pNJIY8HQVO-r4ua-NDg4_9ffFf09aOKZnsN-waNk/s320/DSC02744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>I think I'll pass on the 4th item on the argileh menu...</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViYIeyqvLSRaalG08eGwXcr35s0yGB0fMjhRoIjmH5lICdQZhORtTPlCICA_woW5dYGG3qNwkmJR2J2_Qbew1HuL9l612EuMYm-1RRL9cbGaK1Hkyq9OVIaYo5NM91bAmEh3dEptui5gu/s1600/IMG_20110805_080444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViYIeyqvLSRaalG08eGwXcr35s0yGB0fMjhRoIjmH5lICdQZhORtTPlCICA_woW5dYGG3qNwkmJR2J2_Qbew1HuL9l612EuMYm-1RRL9cbGaK1Hkyq9OVIaYo5NM91bAmEh3dEptui5gu/s1600/IMG_20110805_080444.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>So they didn't like it here, either...</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z9uE6dBqFFll_IZhX9191SrhrU72H8qbtFDCu9Z4xgsBUUJusZ_Btk07XjS97W7qUyeMmzqShJ0K6-XSSenvwIeMH5e3TfWDw38i8YcqUGN74zfInWv9yKvq8-nSQYsFtqb6nj-t1zZc/s1600/IMG_20110729_143355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z9uE6dBqFFll_IZhX9191SrhrU72H8qbtFDCu9Z4xgsBUUJusZ_Btk07XjS97W7qUyeMmzqShJ0K6-XSSenvwIeMH5e3TfWDw38i8YcqUGN74zfInWv9yKvq8-nSQYsFtqb6nj-t1zZc/s1600/IMG_20110729_143355.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beekeeper's stand, Souk Jaara</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoDk9zzOHZZWyNhdgDtZ9-BcAYUHAYqAz5Hxn-qFuQg493ee0UQ6c_ybfZqTTGNLciqte-fJ1SitEIDidGddpAuRlxA0UlRPiDV1mdzwWyb85n_uASJV96_D8Pqzm0G3ah1-s5iqsbUpO/s1600/IMG_20110729_140910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoDk9zzOHZZWyNhdgDtZ9-BcAYUHAYqAz5Hxn-qFuQg493ee0UQ6c_ybfZqTTGNLciqte-fJ1SitEIDidGddpAuRlxA0UlRPiDV1mdzwWyb85n_uASJV96_D8Pqzm0G3ah1-s5iqsbUpO/s1600/IMG_20110729_140910.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>15-year old painter, Souk Jaara</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hqU6TMNVTLTbfkrxhwYPj-BdaTMsj5W1M2PULHRBxWb6E9WgD-ukTMAPiNPrERaULAXZcZ1ncwc4g3C5IAomyA2zmKPgqoBMHCFw8J1aJGl4uK4OntbC97q_muQwRxKTfRsj280mhP8p/s1600/IMG_20110729_144455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hqU6TMNVTLTbfkrxhwYPj-BdaTMsj5W1M2PULHRBxWb6E9WgD-ukTMAPiNPrERaULAXZcZ1ncwc4g3C5IAomyA2zmKPgqoBMHCFw8J1aJGl4uK4OntbC97q_muQwRxKTfRsj280mhP8p/s1600/IMG_20110729_144455.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rap throwdown I witnessed on Rainbow Street. </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The big guy in the middle was taking on challengers who wanted to step up, both in Arabic and English.</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IFTDsOvoWlemLVJid1RnG0BJiG_RDxL4_3DA1Rd3dFm3xJKFn7vGpZhTNWBfjpXYJ_kxbXULgjpitBXErXaCquyKlZTrHqIW2k1iIqYGyH-eoBzuxnqUk9DNYQUp7pt7BSLZNYhiYICf/s1600/IMG_20110728_133644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7IFTDsOvoWlemLVJid1RnG0BJiG_RDxL4_3DA1Rd3dFm3xJKFn7vGpZhTNWBfjpXYJ_kxbXULgjpitBXErXaCquyKlZTrHqIW2k1iIqYGyH-eoBzuxnqUk9DNYQUp7pt7BSLZNYhiYICf/s1600/IMG_20110728_133644.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wait...they have this here?!</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>I guess this confirms my suspicion that there's no pork in SPAM.</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWPAXBef15NUYs3Cj6W8vGwByLJ0fcY7TwUFOSH8Yz2q9jQwCWTPB0JNqoWQr8AoSANNoYKCgAbMoMvAsPNpOQC-7vKt5nJiTm0IFqKW0cs8LYtAmwpyWTC22-K7mobI4qf6DGu-EleZU/s1600/IMG_20110807_155823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWPAXBef15NUYs3Cj6W8vGwByLJ0fcY7TwUFOSH8Yz2q9jQwCWTPB0JNqoWQr8AoSANNoYKCgAbMoMvAsPNpOQC-7vKt5nJiTm0IFqKW0cs8LYtAmwpyWTC22-K7mobI4qf6DGu-EleZU/s1600/IMG_20110807_155823.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>What a whirling dervish looks like from above.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-91372251440325754692011-08-10T08:44:00.000-04:002011-08-10T08:44:22.946-04:00Wadi Hassa<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Last Saturday, a group of us Amideast students took one final trip outside of town, to <a href="http://tropicaldeserttrips.com/WadiHassa.aspx">Wadi Hassa</a>, a river (well, stream) valley located in the dry southern part of Jordan, 2.5 hours south of Amman and just south of Karak.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">The trip was a water hike through a part of the upper canyon. After our bus ride down together with the rest of the tour group (a few other students and a group of locals), we began by hiking down to the valley then riding a small natural waterslide into a pool, and continued from there. A good 60-70% of the hike was spent swimming, wading, and fording the river, with the rest hiking through bamboo jungle and rockscapes surrounding the river. There were several places where we could stop and swim, a few waterfalls to go under, a couple of caves, a bamboo jungle in which we slithered through the shallow water like Rambo, and some ledges that we had to jump off of, including one that was around 10-12 feet high. With all of the water, we never got too hot. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Much to my surprise, there was not a lot of wildlife there. We saw some river/cave crabs (about the size of a small a'ama crab) and one small salamander or lungfish that was clinging to a rock near a waterfall. There were also many red dragonflies, a few hornets, and a Biblical swarm of flies. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Also ants, as I found out when I put my bag on top of their nest during our lunch break.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, none of us had a working waterproof camera, so the only pics I have are of the area around the bus that I took post-hike with my phone. Aaasif.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">On the way back, we did the party bus routine again. Dumb Americans we.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Good times.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwMs72eXo0gKpsTvub1gDfu9YK6DmuRr_758UgJgXD7yR6JLJZASgdTwNdKhtK9Z0O3mJrTY_VyM_w94dw836bdLjb9IeQZllAKbz_1BcGw4O9t3VM2U_69SblcJ6Rck9AvZJA5TLbw84/s1600/IMG_20110806_102123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwMs72eXo0gKpsTvub1gDfu9YK6DmuRr_758UgJgXD7yR6JLJZASgdTwNdKhtK9Z0O3mJrTY_VyM_w94dw836bdLjb9IeQZllAKbz_1BcGw4O9t3VM2U_69SblcJ6Rck9AvZJA5TLbw84/s1600/IMG_20110806_102123.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Da bus</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFlqCNBAGRqqS_-3tE4P0e7H6tGtaN7MFXMplqlIhjjwBhnvtX7BX3YTdBavbyC7026qsPggJQFz1YMgQrJmbL9KlzKQSM6b_LVE7p3GsjqiMC-Z1ojTrCvR7DcDs4PN8823s9Qk_9AlD/s1600/IMG_20110806_102314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFlqCNBAGRqqS_-3tE4P0e7H6tGtaN7MFXMplqlIhjjwBhnvtX7BX3YTdBavbyC7026qsPggJQFz1YMgQrJmbL9KlzKQSM6b_LVE7p3GsjqiMC-Z1ojTrCvR7DcDs4PN8823s9Qk_9AlD/s1600/IMG_20110806_102314.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt4s90VNE-DBv6TlFNczctsR5n0IHnTuWlh2DODFiICLo9p91MXL1aXJ9HIB3LjF24wnuTX5103PfB21yDS07Hy-606ky16ap4U-Zu2nImq7lsy3ChIcdrkxwSwRj7jkGmdmcCi1Pye8F/s1600/IMG_20110806_102347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt4s90VNE-DBv6TlFNczctsR5n0IHnTuWlh2DODFiICLo9p91MXL1aXJ9HIB3LjF24wnuTX5103PfB21yDS07Hy-606ky16ap4U-Zu2nImq7lsy3ChIcdrkxwSwRj7jkGmdmcCi1Pye8F/s1600/IMG_20110806_102347.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>The valley in the photo is Wadi Hassa</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUROoCQx99pME7VJqCArG__Pt7S8cBdbbqClva1y5dEy34MIa4Afi5uC2wCI3IG1A5AWyri1yuIsPQgR6mNqZzEbbtmB38Ky9Y1L_y906QYQadxKrrSJUbVxLuWSY0_m78KGCxS6zI0kQV/s1600/IMG_20110806_103049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUROoCQx99pME7VJqCArG__Pt7S8cBdbbqClva1y5dEy34MIa4Afi5uC2wCI3IG1A5AWyri1yuIsPQgR6mNqZzEbbtmB38Ky9Y1L_y906QYQadxKrrSJUbVxLuWSY0_m78KGCxS6zI0kQV/s1600/IMG_20110806_103049.jpg" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1845971091625431370.post-6335440954558370472011-08-07T09:31:00.002-04:002011-08-07T09:34:09.054-04:00Ramadan Stuff<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">So Ramadan has arrived.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Living with a Christian (مسيحي) (mesiiHii) family, not too much has changed at home. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">However, some things are different around the city.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"></div><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>First of all, it is illegal to be seen eating or drinking in public during the hours when the Muslim population is fasting (i.e., between sunrise and sunset), and it is also illegal, or at least deeply disrespectful, to be openly carrying food around during those hours. Generally, no booze, either (you should have seen the long lines at the duty-free shop on the last day before Ramadan when everyone tried to stock up), but there are limited exceptions.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>Tied into the above, most restaurants and bakeries, and many grocery stores, are closed during the day. Those that are open may only carry a reduced inventory of items. For example, only stocking tamar Hindi (tamarind drink) or qamar al-diin (apricot drink) and qataayef (Ramadan pancakes), rather than a full selection. Some fast-food places allow carry-out or delivery after 2 pm (for example, we ordered Ramadonald's last week).</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>The above has probably resulted in the biggest impact on Amideast students, in that going out for lunch or a post-class fruit cocktail is now out of the question, and that our intraday eating and water-drinking are now confined to the student lounge and home.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>Shops generally are open only for reduced hours (generally 10-3 or 10-4 during the workweek, and 2:30-4:30 and after 9:30 pm on Fridays). My roommate Matt and I made the mistake of trying to go to Mecca Mall at noon on Saturday, only to find that the stores didn't open until 2:30, which led to us sleeping on the couches at the Starbucks (which remained closed even after 2:30).</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>There is a little less traffic on the streets during the day (the morning commute to Amideast takes around five minutes less during Ramadan than before). From 7 pm to 9 pm or so, there is almost no traffic, including taxis, on the streets because most people are at home preparing for and celebrating al-ifTar, the breaking of the Ramadan fast.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>In some neighborhoods, you can hear <a href="http://arabicartsforum.blogspot.com/2010/08/el-misaharaty-ancient-ramadantradition.html">someone drumming and yelling/singing</a> to wake people up for al-suHoor, the morning pre-dawn meal. I could have sworn that I heard someone last Friday morning, but it could have been REM (the dream, not the band). If I can catch someone doing it, I'll try to record and post it.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>There is supposedly special programming on TV, but I haven't seen much of it yet.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>Kids play fireworks at night. From the sounds of things and my attempts to buy some off the streets, it seems that the main fireworks are small spark fountains and firecrackers, with some louder cherry-bomb-eqsue stuff mixed in.</li>
</ul><ul dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><li>Some stores and homes are decorated with lanterns, and/or crescent and accompanying star combinations, which are often lit up at night. It seems that Ramadan decorations <a href="http://www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=39709">are increasing in popularity</a>, although they are not nearly as ubiquitous as Christmas decorations in the US.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH5vc7aMJhLt1I4KCTY3tSO1Fz9jX3RRALHW-44g0OgTi-iMqo6j3tZciNWIr0xVO2xMMue9scVngjjX_A9GmSFFTx_M7_eq_xrwwo4gUwDzCHPNVPs_omEMG8NQFKndEtqVvgcATSg1j/s1600/DSC02726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH5vc7aMJhLt1I4KCTY3tSO1Fz9jX3RRALHW-44g0OgTi-iMqo6j3tZciNWIr0xVO2xMMue9scVngjjX_A9GmSFFTx_M7_eq_xrwwo4gUwDzCHPNVPs_omEMG8NQFKndEtqVvgcATSg1j/s320/DSC02726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some Ramadan decorations on the outside of a small restaurant in the neighborhood</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvhYIneJAcsaQzA784x8sM8R_JKB2fOHzxc3GpnccpYaKco8y3C3JShhblDPElOaW8qgKfic0pw-OxewQ7NT_L62-WbPm2E5pKkNTwZKo0zhVcMVY3USbpE9ss4RqHcF5irtq7zIRzOZD/s1600/DSC02728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvhYIneJAcsaQzA784x8sM8R_JKB2fOHzxc3GpnccpYaKco8y3C3JShhblDPElOaW8qgKfic0pw-OxewQ7NT_L62-WbPm2E5pKkNTwZKo0zhVcMVY3USbpE9ss4RqHcF5irtq7zIRzOZD/s320/DSC02728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>قطايف (qaTaayif)</i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>Qatayef, or "Ramadan Pancakes" - </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>these are small pancakes that are filled with either a sweet white cheese and cinnamon, </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>or with a mix of walnuts and other sweet things, </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>and then fried or baked, </i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><i>and served with a sugar syrup that is used as a drip or drizzle</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06428982411824320517noreply@blogger.com0