HOUSE #1

 

Long overdue for an out-of-town excursion.

I stay in one place too long and my head gets mushy.

So, up and out early and into the car for a road trip into Wisconsin

Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut

Near modern day Luxor is where Thebes, or ancient Waset, was located.

It is the former capital city of Egypt throughout the New Kingdom (c.1570-c.1069BC)

And it's where you'll find the Valley of the Kings.

Karnak and Luxor

 

Covering about 200 acres, Karnak Temple is the largest

religious site in the world.

And I got to see it.

Houses of the gods

There are temples all along the River Nile.

Egyptian temples were places to worship the gods, but they

were also considered to be where the gods lived.

So, if a god were to live there, it had better be exceptional.

Mosques and Minarets

 

This is neither temple nor mosque,

but is the Cairo Citadel.

But, wait, there's more.

Pyramids

 

You can't go all the way to Egypt and not see at least one pyramid.

There's a law or something.

Eating my way through Egypt

 

It is wonderfully easy to get through my Egypt adventure

as a vegetarian.

And the mango drinks are the best!

Never pass up a fresh mango juice.

Back home and back to werk

Have returned from an amazing trip to Egypt.

Here is a sampling of some souvenirs I brought back.

Some alabaster figures, cheap canopic jar trinkets, beaded bracelets, 

wooden carved camels, a head scarf, and some leftover change.

Clarinetfest 2025

 

Clarinetfest, Fort Worth, Texas

Let's review.

Everything is bigger in July, and Texas

 

Well, Howdy there, pardner!

July went by in a blur.

Before I talk about Clarinetfest 2025 (probably in the next post) 

let's look back at July.

There was a lot.

Beware the 5th of November

 

Yes, I voted. Last week, actually.

Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.

Whistler and Vancouver

 

We've seen the lakes, let's get up close and personal with the mountains.

The Lakes

 

Lake Louise and Lake Moraine

I walked on a glacier!

 

Ice and water can be powerful forces.

Canada's Glacial Lakes, eh.

 

After packing up and picking up the hotel lodger, we

headed East, towards the Rockies.

My Canadian journey begins

Another vacation come and gone.

Here's the story:

King of the Road - Part 2

 

After packing the car and leaving the Pelican Spa room

key in the mail box because it was so early that the front desk wasn't even open yet, 

I turned the car towards the West. 

Destination: Gila National Forest

King of the Road - part 1

Time for a road trip.

But make it New Mexico

Into Zimbabwe

 

Bright and early, before the sun rose, we packed up camp and

headed to the Zimbabwe border.

Our guide had decided for us to be there very early because sometimes

it can take a long time to get through border control and he didn't want 

to lose a lot of time.

Chobe

 

We broke down the tents before sunrise and left the Nata Lodge.

Destination: Chobe National Park

Where we saw this adorable baby elephant.