Although back in Canada will try and post my daily journal and photos of our week holiday.....

24/02/10

Wednesday morning woke up to rain again thus any of my snorkeling trips cancelled but still the 7:30 AM knock at the door…”Yes we are going diving.” Number 3 and 4 of a series of package of six we purchased from local dive shop.

On her second morning of dives, I came along as a passenger. Brought some borrowed snorkel and mask and swam the surface while the others were down 30 – 40 feet. 8 am heading out on diving boat Amelia before her 4th dive  In to the water holding mask. ready for first dive. The captain Presley cationed me to stay near to the boat and at one point motioned madly for me to return,,,, hurriedly got out of water when snorkeling after warning of nearby Portuguese man of war jelly fish. …they had drifted in from the Gulf and tentacles leave red welts and burning stings!

All in all a great morning!

Wed afternoon, Amelia and I, umbrella in tow, headed to the harbour front at Lucaya about 15 minutes away from our resort. A combination of small colorful shops and booths, where the vendors offered you deals on hats to shells to jewelry, a walk along the harbour front with large private boats and fishing and diving tours. High tourist industry in the area.

Wed afternoon as weather still windy went driving to north of island thinking about possibly stopping at Paradise Cove. Arrived about 4 pm but with a fee for beach usage and cold conditions decided to turn around. This when we made an odd discovery….what appeared to be an abandoned site with a few rusty fishing barges and no longer used tourist or snack both we found mounds of conch shells amid the other detritus. It appears that this had been a dumping place for the fishing boats for the shells after their catch. Well Amelia is not kissing any sharks but we took a few shells of different sizes and s I spent next few days boiling conch shells in pots in the kitchen, scrubbing, bleaching and drying in the sun, maybe not as perfect as the ones in the shops, but good souvenirs.

LOVE...The Greatest Love Stories Ever Told, photos, what love means to xangans, the love of my life, I love...

on the above note I am submitting three photos

Food what else is a delicious love...here is a cold pasta salad with chicken I packed to the beach the other day!

Arm in arm... mother and daughter enjoying the last few days together at pelican Bay beach, Grand Bahamas

Photographing the photographer....a young couple asked us to take a few shots of themselves very much in love...

Island time and weather

Weather has certainly played a factor in planning activities such as snorkeling or diving….both Monday and Wednesday mornings woke up to rain, add wind to this and it is not safe to go out on the water for these trips.

On Monday afternoon we drove to a local beach as Amelia wanted to swim donned her wet suit, as the waves were high, My umbrella got blown backwards so decided to walk along the beach and  breakwater instead. Some of the shots here show the power of the ocean Also ran into a few pairs of shore birds that were obviously nesting. These trees long dead from being coated with wind and salt water make unique frames to the ocean view. But so do holes in the coral rock such as this one. Different patterns of rock and debris caught my eye.

As we have rented a car we headed Monday afternoon out to Garden of the Groves named after Wallace Groves the founder of Freeport. The parks guide Darren gave an excellent history not only of the gardens but the island as well….no municipal or provincial government but Grand Bahamas Port Authority, Independence was in 1973 from the British, but still a Commonwealth nation, with a parliament and governor general, as representative of the crown, similar to Canada. With many species of local and migratory birds, these gardens were lush with  colorful flowers, different types of trees, many wit medicinal purposes and tropical bushes (you know the ones we grow as house plants but 10x bigger), waterfalls and other unique features, such as a small catholic chapel, wooden sculptures dedicated to original Lucayan Indians of the area and  a labyrinth, which Amelia and I walked. This was a baby heron that would turn up for feeding at 3 PM…. Amelia had a fun time pretending to feed him. We finished up by have a late lunch of smoked salmon, salads and Sands, the local beer.

Tuesday morning dawned sunny and clear with a 7:30 AM knock on our suite door. Good weather, OK for diving and need to make a decision NOW. So she went off on a series of the first two of six dives, which included a mad drive to the dive shop to get there in time and yours truly getting lost driving back to the resort. At 11 AM I went on a noon hour snorkeling cruise….the water was warm and in a shallow coral reef, 3-15 feet, schools of baby blue angelfish and yellow and blue-stripped fish, flat red fan coral and rounded white shapes…it was amazing! Been quite a few years since I had donned a snorkel. The boats docked from the Lucaya harbour front with many colorful shops and hotels around. On the return trip viewed this large hotel and casino shaped like a cruise ship…really glad we are staying in a smaller setting.

As I sit here on a Monday morning in the bedroom of my suite with slated window louver I can hear the birds, gentle wind and rain. At the Freeport resort in Grand Bahamas, Amelia and I have a week time share that I traded in…. could be in Mountainside unit in Fairmont BC. When originally planned in mid-November….the idea was to hit her reading week from McGill and my return just from work in the arctic with some R and R and sun and water. Well I have yet this winter to hit work north but Bahamian temps in the 70s sure beats Canadian winter and snow!

The gentle rain this morning may mean a postponement of the boat and snorkeling trip but movement on a slower time pace is both what is needed on a holiday and here on the Island. BUT I know a week will be much too short.

So not in any particular order let me share some of our experiences:

Car rental, bikes and driving- although had booked a car through Avis in advance, mixed thoughts as to whether the right decision. Ran into some returning tourist from Nassau who said street were narrow crowded and often much traffic and an email to the resort said taxis available and pick up fro most activities….Still looking at the map Grand Bahamas is a larger island and a car would help getting around. Calling for Avis from the airport discovered they were located at another airport, so decided with a local company, better rates and a small jeep.

The key to all of this has been driving on the left hand side of the road, in a right hand drive vehicle and traffic circles! One finds oneself looking in the opposite direction as usual. The following signs give directions and warnings.

Yesterday I got out on one of the bikes from the resort for an hour or so, which allowed me on back paths from the resort, golf course trails, sidewalks, a chance just to observe the traffic circles and sideroads.

This Island was hit by a hurricane in September 2005 and with the downturn of the economy, as lush as the island is there is evidence of some of the more difficult times, with properties that have been foreclosed, half completed houses and this tower on the market.

I explored this one set of houses under construction and one can see the different building methods of blocks and cement.

The government and banking buildings were bright colors, lovely architecture and grounds, and here is a local police station.

Parrots and flowers; This fellow is near the entry way to the office and with a cocked head will often surprise you with a “ hello”. While for the most part vegetation is lush and green with fewer blooms being the winter season, one is surprised with many intense  and lovely colored blooms as some of my shots here.

Accomodation: Our unit is #111 on the main floor of a two storey circular complex.  The center area has small swimming pool and a hot tub …just a nice area to sit out. A one bedroom queen-size bed ( mine ) with living room and kitchen, it very much meets out needs. Amelia pulls out the couch and is under this heap of blankets. Internet connect is very sporadic so I am not sure if I will be able to down load my photos yet.

Travel: other than the panic around passport and traveler’s check and Amelia turning up by city bus at the wrong Comfort Inn Friday night in Montreal, everything else has gone surprisingly well. Didn’t bring the camera out until we landed in Nassau on the Air Canada flight at about 10 AM Saturday. A smaller airport we grabbed a meal at Wendy’s and stepped outside for abit, with frequent reminders, “ Keep an eye on your stuff, Mom! “

Flew a much smaller jet with Bahamair, a 35-minute flight to Freeport, which reminded me of similar sized travel in the Arctic. Unloaded and car rental done, head to pick up groceries at a larger warehouse center much like Costco, mostly imported produce, not much difference than what we would find at home. With having to import goods, the costs for the locals can be a strain; we have been told often relying on chicken and fish.

Amelia is a triathlete and vegetarian…so frequent small healthy meals, and currently avoiding many grains or fast foods….so we are eating healthy…no sugary fruit like drinks….but we did stop to get some local beer and wine.

The beach… well what can I say except blue, beautiful, hot and sunny and some burn spot despite lotion. Just spent two hours on Sunday, but was delightful swimming in shallow waters, salty in taste.

Amelia is hoping to get some deep-water dives and I have booked two snorkeling and boat tours, much will depend on weather….will keep you posted!

Enjoy your week, watch the Olympics and perhaps colder weather, ours will go much too quickly and it is back to work to pay the credit card expenditures!

Cheers, Bonnie

 I am packing for a week's vacation south and played lost and found between the bank and home: one passport, and $250 US cash and travellers cheques...found the first not the second despite retracing steps and going through piles of paper and fly in the morning! Will keep you posted.

LATER NOTE:All recovered but make sure you photocopy your passport and keep traveller's check numbers separate....

With the lengthening days and temps just at melting, both dogs are finding favorite spots in the sun on the back porch. These were taken about 4 PM and I like the striped patterns of the railing on Dysis. Of course there is nothing, more delicious, I suppose than laying on your back in the sun ...at least this canine thinks so!

Reflections of red on white

Red upon white, the singular splotch of intense colors in the now fading photograph, a reminder of that first meeting.

A tall, slender single rose, with petals yet to open, youth just budding, much like the hopes and aspirations of that 20 year old second year university student, in the design class, she had chosen as an  arts option in her engineering degree. Long stemmed rose with delicate spines hidden among the fresh green leaves. Thorns that are hidden, not evident until the flower is picked up and caressed, hidden to emerge for both protection and attack. Oh, her naivety or was it wishful thinking at that time? Tall slender crystal vase, edges fluted in silver, the promise of endless time, unchanging, aging gracefully. Had we, did we, would we? Set against a background of stark white, a soft velvet cloth was draped to absorb any reflective light, so photos could be taken from any angle, no surprise flashes, unwanted bright spots. The flashes in their relationship had been many; very few at first, often muted like the soft white cloth. Those flashes, those uprisings, times of temper, battles of intellect and times of passion, often the lifeblood of the relationship, the intensity of red upon white, but also the death knoll. How she longed for that intensity, but also knew it was a part of the past, like the sepia photo with curling edges. His seeming wisdom, sense of direction and artistic skill were mesmerizing to that young student. His intense blue eyes, slightly graying mustache, creased forehead with wayward lock of dark curly hair, she could almost feel it now, the memory of her fingers lightly brushing it away.

A single rose, red on white, that first meeting of student and  young grad instructor, so long ago and yet like but an instant ago.

Carefully, with gnarled arthritic fingers, she replaced the photo in the art book from which it fell.

He glanced up, pushing his reading glasses down, peering over with those intense blue eyes, beneath bushy white brows," Did you say something, dear? "

" No, just thinking," and smiling, as she again, glanced at the fresh single rose in the silver vase by the snowy window,... this gift of red on white that quietly appeared yearly in mid February.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ALL!

Amelia,  my youngest daughter, is now a nurse in training at McGill University in Montreal, coaching rowing, and running tri's

AND ASKING FOR YOUR SPONSORSHIP

below are the links....

Longer runs limited to weekends after busy work weeks these days, but I now have two happy and CLEAN dogs! A stint at "doggie day care " also included baths for both and the resultant curl up on the futon in my office.

Sunday afternoon run headed down a "closed trail" and ended up beneath the Whyte Avenue bridge. Thought the lines and perspective made some neat photos. Dogs of course were just happy to run and listen for mice beneath the snow.

Creatures of habit as we are: Left, center section, about a third of way back near the first pillar was “ my pew spot ” when I first started attending H. T. in early 2004. Found myself seated behind a tall, slightly grey haired man, in a tweed sport jacket, quiet, often pulling out reading glasses, taking notes during the sermon and toting a book from the university. Curiosity got the better of me and soon I found myself moved one pew forward. Syd had chosen this spot due to his hearing loss, made the hour bus trek Sundays, when the weather was not too cold or a university paper not imminently due. A man in his 50s, originally from C. he took an early retirement, gave up driving, decided to pursue at his leisure a second university degree in Arts. A prolific reader, among others, he had a keen interest in many religions from Taoism to Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

Much of our friendship involved the exchange of emails and thus, I will use some of his own words to give you some insights.

Please note the sardonic sense of humour!

"E’s sermons   I only catch bits and pieces of the sermon's but I think E's main point was around the transcendence of God, not sure I agreed with her conclusion but when you only hear 50% of the sermon, it is not polite to complain.

No, I think I'll reserve my thoughts on the sermons & limit my comments to folks like yourself.  I find that most ministers or priests are rather protective of their sermons and view any comment other than favourable as a slight.  In polite circles, there are some things one does not comment on when talking to a cleric… that is the content & intent of the weekly sermon. It is like asking a lady about her age, or asking a lawyer for legal advice or a physician for medical hints.

Engagements Yes, I can confirm that K and J are engaged.  There is an old Canadian and perhaps universal custom that when a young lady gets engaged, there seems to be the traditional "showing of the ring", So it became obvious when one entered the church that K either had a sore wrist or a new ring.  I don't know either J or K but they seem to be good people and are obviously very happy to be entering this new phase of their lives.  I do wish them the best. 

On the social fabric of the community, how visitors are treated and welcomed into the community.

Your comments remind me that religion is woven into the social fabric of the community.  The following quotation is from a book I studied last term, I think it supports your observation.  "To paraphrase Geertz, scholars of religion do not study churches, mosques, synagogues, and so on, they study in these religious environments, and what they learn is about life itself in these places not about "religion."  There is always an earthier ground for what happens in a sacred space, as my notes indicate.  The laughter in the old woman's eyes as she teased her husband with her sharp elbow during the novena, reflected the complexities of aging, the strains of retirement and the pleasures of a long life together. That this gesture took place in a shrine amid many other gestures, official and not, opened this space up to the rest of experience.  Religion cannot be understood apart from its place in the everyday lives, preoccupations and commonsense orientation of men and women." (Robert Orsi, Between Heaven and Hell (Princeton: Princeton University Press 2001) 167).

The point I'm trying to make, poorly it seems, is that church is more than about religion.  When I attend H. T. I see parents disciplining their children, I hear babies cry, I see the lady who has trouble with her sight being helped by her neighbour, I'm happy to see the person who hasn't attending services for a number of months, I say hello to the lady who sits behind me.  When I leave the service what remains is not the sermon or the message but the communion.

In small children one sees the miracle of life.  At church the C's granddaughter was just in front of me, she is just starting to walk and at that stage of exploring.  I confess that I did not follow the sermon as closely as I should because I was entranced at how this young person was being to learn and explore her world.

An easy solution to your Pharisee problem.  In the time of Jesus there were groups of people that today we would call political parties.  The Sadducee's were the Conservatives, the Pharisee's were the Liberals and the Christians were the NDP.  The Christians (NDP) were always saying bad things about the Pharisee's (Liberals) because they wanted the peoples support (votes).  Actually, this is not a bad metaphor though it does become rather tenuous if you start aligning Jesus with Jack Layton.

Trip to C. for a funeral …a wonderful old church, the service was well attended the family are long time members & have always been active in church affairs.  It was a cremation, thus no interment and thus more time for the reception… a happy occasion, few tears, much laughter a true celebration of a life well lived and of someone who was well loved by many people and will be missed.  There is something special meeting with and talking to people who you've known all your life, the shared experiences and common interests. 

Strathcona Farmers Market When you return to Edmonton we'll have to make a date to meet at the at 8:00AM in the morning and rather than empty stalls and depleted stocks, you can select produce that less than a few hours ago was still in the field.  Yes, a new experience where not only can you select the produce, but take it home make a nice salad for lunch & then you have the remainder of the day to enjoy.  I know, there are less people when it is near closing, in some cases the prices are lower, but to arrive at a market when you are still a bit sleepy and behold fresh juicy tomatoes and lettuce, then perhaps a visit to the Bee Bell Bakery for some fresh bread or rolls..... well, life does not get much better than that.! 

Small pleasures I don't claim to have discovered any secrets but I suspect there really isn't anything secret about happiness, it is simply enjoying life's small everyday pleasures and knowing they are important."

Towards the end of his life, Syd expressed profound attachment to the parish, to the fellowship  found there, and made a gift for the upkeep and/or enhancement of the building, as needed.

Syd died in November 2008 of pulmonary fibrosis.