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mediaevalmusereads · 3 years ago

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Black Sun. By Rebecca Roanhorse. New York: Saga Press, 2020.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Genre: fantasy

Part of a Series? Yes, Between Earth and Sun #1

Summary: In the holy city of Tova, the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal, but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse, a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world. Meanwhile, a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship, Xiala, is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man’s mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless, the passenger, Serapio, is a young man, blind, scarred, and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows, when a man is described as harmless, he usually ends up being a villain.

***Full review under the cut.***

Content Warnings: blood, violence, gore, body horror, drug/alcohol use, self-harm, suicide, mutilation, reference to child sex slavery

Overview: I came across this book while looking for fantasy novels set in non-European-inspired worlds. I got really exited about the premise: a pre-Columbian, indigenous-inspired story? With multiple perspectives? And crows? It sounded great! Unfortunately, I couldn’t give this book more than 3 stars for a number of reasons: I felt like the writing could have been a little bit better and that character motivations could have been more clear; and I ultimately didn’t feel like the story was a true race-against-the-clock until the end. While I’m intrigued enough to pick up book 2 in the series, I do wish this book had done a little more to make me feel connected to the plot and the characters.

Writing: Roanhorse’s writing reminds me of some New Adult prose styles: it feels straight-forward, clear, and well-balanced, but sometimes tends to tell more than show, especially when it comes to emotion. I really liked that I could follow the prose without issue, but I often felt like Roanhorse was dumping some info on me and expecting me to absorb it right away. For example, Xiala (one of the protagonists) tells us that she’s always felt like an outsider and that’s why she has such an immediate connection with Serapio (another protagonist), but I didn’t exactly feel that. There were also some worldbuilding details that seemed to be inserted to flesh out the world - which was great - but ultimately didn’t feel relevant to what was going on in the plot.

This book is also told from multiple perspectives and flashes forward and backward in time. While I personally was able to follow the voices and time skips just fine, some readers might find it a challenge.

Also, without spoiling anything, the end of this book seemed to rush by WAY too fast, and I honestly didn’t feel like most of the book was building to it.

The worldbuilding, however, was wonderful. I really liked the way Roanhorse described the look and feel of everything from the tastes, smells, sights, etc. and I loved how diverse and rich everything felt. While I don’t know enough about various Indigenous groups to comment on whether or not the cultural elements were incorporated well, I did like that various populations didn’t seem to be monoliths and varied in terms of social structure, dress, and custom.

Plot: The plot of this book follows two-ish threads: in one thread, Xiala must get Serapio to the city of Tova in time for “the Convergence,” a time when the celestial bodies are aligned AND there’s a lunar eclipse. In the other, Naranpa must navigate a plot to oust her from the priesthood while also dealing with rising opposition from clan Carrion Crow (and their cultists, with whom Okoa is involved).

Because of the many POV characters and the flashbacks in time, it was difficult to feel any sense of urgency in either plot thread. Xiala and Serapio’s thread was a travel narrative, and most of the conflict stemmed from the fact that the crew just straight up did not trust Xiala. At first, I thought we were getting a narrative where the crew mistrusts Xiala because she’s Teek, but then they appear to be ok with her in what was a pleasant subversion of my expectations. But then something happens and we’re back to what I expected, and it proves inconvenient for getting Serapio to Tova in time. Because I didn’t feel like I had much of a reason to want Xiala and Serapio to succeed (Serapio’s motivations are mysterious and Xiala mostly wants wealth), I felt pretty “meh” about them potentially missing their deadline. I would have much rather seen Xiala (and perhaps the crew?) be challenged and grow from the setbacks she experiences at sea, and for her to become more personally connected to Serapio so the journey shifts from one done to earn untold wealth to one where Xiala wants to help her friend (even if said friend ends up being deceptive).

The Tovan plot is likewise a little “meh” because there wasn’t a huge sense of urgency or suspense. I felt like I didn’t know the clans enough to feel strongly about their politics (aside from understanding that killing people is bad in the abstract), nor did I have a concrete reason for wanting the institution of the priesthood to remain (once I learned more of their history and the fact that most priests - called “Watchers” - would rather be elitist than minister to the people).

Perhaps that’s why I felt a little underwhelmed by the plot as a whole: while things certainly happened, I ultimately didn’t feel like they impacted the characters’ inner lives much, or if they did, that evolution was told to us more than shown. While I understand that Black Sun is the first book in a series, I still would have liked the plot to have more of an impression on the characters.

Characters: I think it’s safe to say that this book follows 4 main protagonists: Xiala (a Teek sea captain who fills the Han Solo archetype), Serapio (the mysterious blind man with crow-themes magic powers), Naranpa (the Sun Priest who struggles against traditionalists to make the priesthood more active in people’s lives), and Okoa (the son of the murdered Carrion Crow clan matriarch). While I liked all of these characters, I do wish they had been a little less dependent on archetypes (lusty sea captain, Chosen One, etc). Maybe things will change as they develop in later novels, but for now, they’re fun and certainly likeable in their own ways, but not mind-blowing.

Xiala is likeable in that she’s a hot mess with a heart of gold. She drinks, swears, and gets into trouble, all in the pursuit of earning enough wealth to make a living. She is also Teek - a member of a (rumored) all-female island clan, whose members have special sea-based magic. I liked Xiala’s connection to the sea and the way she communicates her people’s stories and cultural values. However, I do wish she was challenged a little more to want something more than material reward.

Serapio is an intriguing character in that he fits the archetype of dark, mysterious Chosen One. While I appreciated that he wasn’t a gruff loner (instead, he seemed eager to connect with people while recognizing that his appearance might unsettle them), I also think his backstory is a little too “edgy” for my tastes. His motivations were somewhat shrouded in mystery, which made it hard to know whether or not I wanted to root for him to succeed, but because he’s not a complete jerk, I found him interesting enough.

The connection between Xiala and Serapio could have been a lot stronger than it was. While I liked that they bonded over their “outsider” statuses, I ultimately felt like this was told to us rather than shown. Thus, when they kind of sort of “get together” later in the novel, it doesn’t feel earned. I didn’t understand what Xiala saw in Serapio other than his physical attractiveness and (maybe?) feeling like he didn’t treat her as a foreigner. While fine, I wanted Xiala to be more attracted to Serapio’s personal qualities, not just that he was nice to her. Same thing for Serapio: I didn’t get the sense that he had genuine feelings for Xiala personally, just that she was intriguing because she was Teek.

Naranpa, the Sun Priest, was an interesting figure in that she was caught up in the politics of the priesthood. While I liked watching her navigate the various setbacks and conflicts with traditionalists, I ultimately wish I had been given a more compelling reason to root for Naranpa to succeed. Trying to make the priesthood more hands-on and philanthropic is all well and good, but it felt too abstract. I wanted Naranpa to have more personal stakes - because she comes from the “gutters” of the city, is she more invested? But if so, how does she reconcile that with her decades-long absence from where she grew up? There was a little of that, but ultimately, I didn’t feel like I had a reason to want the priesthood to continue. I didn’t understand why Naranpa was so attached to the priesthood as an institution; why didn’t didn’t she cut her losses and go elsewhere?

Okoa is something of a late addition. His perspective doesn’t appear right away, but I think that worked out fine, considering when it appeared. Okoa is a warrior who finds himself torn between keeping peace between his clan and the Priesthood and joining a rebellious cult who wants to restore the old religion and seek revenge against the Priesthood for past trauma. While I think his perspective was important, I didn’t personally feel invested in this plot or Okoa’s dilemma. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t feel like the rebels were treated as having a real grievance; we’re told about the past and told that it was harmful, but because we don’t get the perspective of someone dedicated to the Cause, I didn’t feel like I could sympathize with it. Okoa himself is resistant, calling the rebels “cultists” and saying that though he understands their grief, he doesn’t want to support violence. Perhaps if Okoa felt threatened by the cultists, or if their cause was a true threat to the stability and well-being of the clan, then I could feel more involved. But as it stands, Okoa was somewhat wishy-washy, and I couldn’t quite understand the stakes to make his indecision feel justified.

Side or supporting characters were interesting. I really liked that Roanhorse included plenty of queer characters, including trans and non-binary/third gender characters who use pronouns like xe/xir. My favorite was probably Iktan, the head of what is essentially the assassin’s branch of the priesthood.

TL;DR: Black Sun is an intriguing fantasy with intricate worldbuilding and premise. While I personally felt like the inner lives of the characters could have been more developed and the plot more compelling, I think this book (and author) will satisfy many fantasy lovers, and I look forward to picking up the next novel in the series.

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sirtadcooper · 4 years ago

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🎨 (ah i just saw this! if it’s not too late!!!)

Nik, thank you so much for sending this! It’s probably escaped everyone’s notice by now but this ask game actually expects me to pick one of your latest ten edits. I just thought that was worth pointing out because that is not happening with anyone else and it’s certainly not happening with you. I also usually try to put them vaguely in order of preference but not this time because they are all my preference.

SUN and MOON - Only the first edit I am going to review and already a Masterpiece. The gif layering! The animation! The use of colour! It’s all so pretty and well thought out. The first gif is probably my favourite of the four, it’s just so neat. The falling snow with the yellow filter over it almost looks like sparks, it adds to the pretty.

DIN DJARIN + Troubled Birds Memes / GROGU + Troubled Birds Memes - There are memes and then there are Memes and both of these posts definitely fall into the latter category. When I saw that gifset of Din and the troubled birds for the first time I was laughing so much, I was so tickled by the idea and how well chosen the quotes were. You have managed to have gifs with impeccable comic timing! The way that on some of them the whole quote doesn’t appear until just the right frame... ugh, it’s perfect.

I want more... and I know I shouldn’t. - I love the text effects in first and last gifs, the unexpected use of pastels in association with Darth Vader of all people! It works! The big letters in the boxes are really neat. The layering of scenes is perfectly done. They both bookend that glorious middle gif with the rippling water. I... I don’t know how you did that but it’s incredible.

KELLY MARIE TRAN - Oh how I love this! The way that you’ve picked a colour palette and stuck with it is fantastic. The second panel with the TVs is great and probably my favourite part, just such a clever idea and it’s coloured so well. The first and last panels with the torn paper to tie them together are really pleasing and how could I not mention her gorgeous angel wings and halo in panel three? This is just wonderful. It’s what she deserves.

Day 7: Free Choice - The way these panels are all so different in style and yet they go so perfectly together... I’m in awe. You just have a great instinct for positioning things within a space and using colour to its full potential. You’re amazing.

“Beopero? That’s how they say Pedro… on Mars?” - As usual I don’t know how you did this but I love how it’s animated. Just takes this post to a whole other level! The little “like” heart that pops up, the incredibly realistic swiping animations, and the cute videos! Excellent choice of posts as well and I love how you have coloured them.

Escalating degrees of laughter/wheezing - Gosh this gifset makes me smile so much! I love that I have something in common with Pedro, and that’s the wheezing and rocking back and forth when I am really laughing. I love that you have told the story of Pedro’s laughter, it’s not just a random collection of moments of him laughing, it’s in order of his self control. You’ve really thought about this. That’s very galaxy brain of you.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Agent Whiskey) - Sometimes on Tumblr.com an edit is so good, you remember the first time you saw it no matter how many more times you come across it. This is one of those times. This was my first time seeing rotating text like that and it blew me away. You know the best part? It’s seamless. These boots are made for walkin’ just goes around and around and Whiskey in the background just goes around and around and you don’t know where the gif actually begins. That’s brilliant. The text animation on all of these gifs is inspired but it’s the first gif that lives in my mind rent free.

“How would you like to ride home on a real cowboy?” - You... *through tears* made this. I love that you have used a more muted colour palette this time around - I associate a bright blue with Whiskey so strongly, it’s refreshing to see other colours with him. The ye olde Western style just works so well here. Each of these posters has clearly taken a lot of time and effort. I think my favourite is the first, it was just so unexpected but wonderful!

“They all hate you, Mando, because you’re a legend.” - This colour palette! The little animations! The glitching helmet! Wee Grogu and Din with shadows that overlap... oh the Symbolism. This is just perfection.

“Sometimes you gotta do bad things to catch bad people.” - Your poster series is beautiful! This is another favourite of mine. I love that the colour palette is the colours of the Columbian flag. His own words on his skin on the fourth one as he struggles to carry the weight of them... really powerful. The colourful silhouettes on the third, the way they move! And the relatively simple first one with that bright red. The use of black and white and shades of grey throughout, like Javi’s morality... Yes. This is the good stuff.

Purple Rain - Fun fact! This was the first edit of yours that I ever saw (on 11th March, please write down our anniversary for future reference) and I loved it! It was so creative, I thought. Using the photo of him in the water was very clever. I naturally have a soft spot for this one. :)

If you don’t accept me for who I am with my frog then… go away. - This post baffles me. Where are the notes!? I thought this was funny! Din loves him despite the warning signs frog. The frog in Tom Holland’s mouth has mysteriously disappeared recently... Grogu has declined to comment.

trust me, i went to college - Just a big “YEAH!!!” for this post. You have captured my thoughts completely. Why he so broaaaaaad? I love his floof. His happy crinkles. This!!! Yeah, this is a Good Post.

So, Nik, I have made it to the end of your creations tag. I have written this very long essay for you. Your creations here, what you can do with Photoshop, is just incredible. I barely mentioned how perfect your colouring always is but that’s because it constantly gets overshadowed by the creativity you pour into each of your posts. You’re always experimenting, trying something new, surprising us. You have just got a talent for this. You’re an inspiration to me and, I’m sure, many others. I wish you and your Photoshop program a very good day. :)

creators send me 🎨 and i’ll tell you my favourite of your last ten creations and why

#sith-maul #ask #i'm sure there are a million typos in this haha #it's the Gushing it messes with my brain #but i wrote every word of this for the love of nik!#🎨 reviews

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thebachelordiaries · 8 years ago

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Getting Out The Campzone: The Bachelorette Season Premiere Recap

Sweet. Sour. Sassy. Classy.

That’s our girl, Rachel.

Rachel is more beautiful than Cinderella. She smells like pine needles and has a face like sunshine.

The journey for Rachel to find a mate is officially underway and even though these men were hand-picked for her, she will still need to weed through the losers to find the love of her life.

And there are losers galore: a ticklemonster, a Whaboom! guy, an aspiring drummer and a dude named Jamey who hates women.

Some of these aforementioned were among the lucky few to get their own video packages.

-Kenny is a father to his beautiful 10-year-old daughter by day, and a professional wrestler called the “prettyboy pitbull” by night. So essentially, he barks, he bites and he’s good at cuddling.

-Jack Stone is a lawyer from Texas who has the potential to be the world’s most boring speaker right behind Ben Stein. His mother passed away from cancer when he was in high school, so he has a tragic story. The best part about him is that he has a labradoodle.

-Alex is a self-described beefy nerd. He says he likes to hit the weights at the gym but also code on the computer. He grilled some kebobs with his Russian mother, who said in Russian that he is only allowed to kiss Rachel on the cheek.

-Mohit is a startup guy, so I am assuming he must be really good at ping pong. He likes to bollywood dance with his family, and they all seemed like a fun family to be around.

-Lucas, aka Whaboom! I respect his dedication to the brand, but he’s going to have an aneurysm shaking his head that aggressively one day, and I don’t want to witness it on my television screen.

-Blake says he’s a personal trainer but his bio says drummer boy, so I already can’t trust him. Blake claims that since working out increases his testosterone, he is great at sex. I’m sorry but I don’t care about his (probably small) penis.

-Diggy is a nickname this man (I don’t know his real name) received after someone complimented his style. “Hey, I like your digs,” they said. Some may say having 500 pairs of shoes is materialistic, but Carrie Bradshaw would say it’s a lifestyle.

-Josiah probably had the most heartbreaking story. At age seven he cut his dead brother down from the rope he used to hang himself. As a troubled youth, he decided to get into crime and was arrested at age 12 for burglary. He was inspired by the people who helped him turn his life around, so he became just like them. Now he is a prosecuting attorney at the same center that helped him. How can that story not warm up your heart?

The Squad Gets Back Together

Usually the show brings in former Bachelorettes to give advice to the new one. Instead, they brought in some of Rachel’s friends from The Bachelor like Whitney, who tried to convince us that she actually knows how to speak. I for one am not buyin’ it.

The robot pretending to be Whitney said she heard the second guy Rachel met on After The Final Rose has bad intentions. It was either Blake or Greg. I am unsure.

This is Raven adorably getting emotional when discussing Rachel’s journey to find love.

Imagine Rachel did get to meet the former Bachelorettes, though? Her, Andi and Kaitlyn could all go into a corner and talk shit about Nick Viall. I would love to be a fly on that wall.

Limo Entrances

I am going to discuss ones that deserve discussing. Obviously the first person out the limo is typically a big interest of the lead and that person usually (not always) plays a big part in the season. Let’s meet first-out-the-limo guy and everyone else worth talking about:

Peter, aka “Daddy,” was first out the limo. I normally wouldn’t like a guy wearing an outfit that belongs on a waiter in Las Vegas, but Peter can wear anything. I just want to thank him for existing.

He looks like a movie star from the 1940s. Is this love at first sight?

Bryan went up to Rachel and started speaking Spanish. Apparently he’s a Columbian guy who called himself “trouble.” I’m into it, and apparently so is Rachel.

Will came out the limo as Steve Urkel, slipped on the ground and said “Oh, did I do that?” He ran back into the limo and came back out as Stefan Urquelle. It was probably the most creative limo entrance ever. Rachel got the reference right away because she’s Rachel. Will is probably already in love.

Fred had the most hilarious entrance I’ve ever seen. Rachel was his camp counselor 15 years ago, so he brought out a yearbook and showed old pictures of him and Rachel. Rachel said Fred was a bad kid growing up. Most people get friendzoned at some point in their lives. Some even get sexzoned. Fred, however, got campzoned. What will it take to get Fred out of the camp zone? Stay tuned...

Jonathan, in typical ticklemonster fashion, tickled Rachel. Apparently he is a doctor in real life. I feel like tickling someone is some sort of violation. Like I said earlier, we will see this guy on the sex offender registry in due time.

Alex came in with a vacuum and I literally JUST understood his reference as I am typing it out. His entrance was an homage to Rachel dancing while vacuuming in her video package on The Bachelor. Well played, sir, well played.

Matt wore a penguin outfit and was quite adorable. He explained that penguins mate for life, which is what he says he wants to do. He said he’s gonna “waddle right into her heart.”

Mohit used the most basic best man wedding speech in existence as his opening line. If you didn’t work at a wedding hall for three years and haven’t heard this at basically every wedding ever, let me explain. Almost every best man at a wedding has the groom put his hand over his wife’s hand. He then says “This is the last time you will ever have the upper hand in the relationship. Enjoy it.” Negative 10 points for originality.

Lucas, the Whaboom! guy, was all sorts of extra. First he rolled down the window with a megaphone and did his best Bruce Buffer impression. I didn’t want to know that Lucas has one testicle bigger than the other, but now I do. What will I do with this source of information? Suppress it, probably. Lucas then shows us what Whaboom! really means, and it’s not pretty. Let’s just say there’s a reason why Lucas looks like he is recovering from a stoke. Whabooming! is a violent activity.

My reaction after witnessing what a Whaboom! is.

The Goings On In The Mansion

Some worthwhile observations...

Blake is clearly this season’s villain and Whaboom! guy is the token weirdo for the first few episodes. Blake’s presence already annoys me. He’s no Chad. Chad was at least funny.

Mohit took one for the team and was the one who got completely hammered on night one. He was so drunk that he grabbed someone else's drink out of their hand and started drinking it.

Josiah, Alex and DeMario have already developed a friendship. I hereby name them the “Goon Squad” for being a bunch of clowns. DeMario keept calling Rachel his future wife and Josiah was announcing that he probably will get the first impression rose. I believe at one point Josiah asked, “Who has had time with my wife?” Alex is just guilty by association.

Fred by far had the best interaction with Rachel:

Rachel: “Frederick. I can’t”

Fred: “Yeah, you can.”

Rachel says she knew Fred as a third grader and can’t get past that memory. If the guy is hot enough, I think she could do it. If she can’t get past it, that probably means she’s not interested and Fred will remain forever in the Campzone.

Bryan pulled Rachel to the side to have a private talk. Right out the bat, Bryan tells her he is 37 years old, wants something serious and doesn’t want to waste her time. Oh, he also says “I’m good with my hands.” Ya know, because he’s a chiropractor.

Just showing some appreciation for Bryan’s face.

The two were flirting back and forth. It felt really genuine like they met at a bar or something. Bryan just went for it and grabbed her face to give her an aggressive face readjustment. A+ for grabbing her face like that. You go, Glen Coco.

Peter said in an ITM that he likes Rachel because they both have a gap in their teeth and honestly that is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. He brought chocolate from Wisconsin for her and she confessed that she didn’t like chocolate but said she would eat it anyway. Why? Because Peter is fine as hell so you gotta do what you gotta do.

I also observed that Kenny is hilarious. For example, this line: “If she chooses Whaboom! guy, we need to re-examine what we think is fly.”

When the time comes for Rachel to give out her first impression rose, she doesn’t give it to the over-confident Josiah, she gives it to Bryan. They kiss again with a hammered Mohit accidentally witnessing the entire thing.

Here’s a shot of them kissing that didn’t look like Bryan’s tongue was searching for the Chamber of Secrets down Rachel’s throat.

Good thing Mohit was blackout drunk so he was likely physically incapable of snitching. Too bad Bryan later snitches on himself on the Ellen date.

Rose Ceremony

The first rose is always super important. That person usually plays a big part in the season.

Peter got the first rose. This, on top of him being first out of the limo, is pretty big. Producers are pushing Peter on us hard.

Will aka Stefan got the second rose. Soft-spoken Jack Stone got the third. I think Anthony, the deep-thinking bald guy, got the fourth rose.

Producers picked Whaboom! guy to stay to 1. entertain us and 2. piss off Blake. I’m just scared Lucas is going to hurt his neck Whabooming! At least Bryan will be there to work his chiropractor magic if need be. Imagine getting adjusted by Bryan? There is no way I’d be able to relax.

By the time several of the guys get eliminated, it’s daylight outside. It looks like it’s around noon.

Blake K. the hot asian went home. Apparently he asked to leave early because his grandfather is sick. Dammit, ABC, put him on Paradise. He might be too good for the show, but I still need to see more of him.

Grant, the ugly Dan Humphrey also went home.

Follow me on twitter, @thebachdiaries

Another eliminated guy cried about how he spent so much money on outfits and now no one will be able to see them. It was kind of funny but, I hate that I was able to relate to this so much.

So there you have it folks. The real fun starts on Monday once the group dates are underway. I also promise the upcoming recaps won’t be the length of a short novel. I need to get back into my blogging groove.

Prediction Corner: Top 5

Peter

Bryan

Kenny

Will

Jack Stone

Who do you think will get the 1-on-1 next week?

#the bachelorette #rachel lindsay #chris harrison #abc #photo credit: ABC

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

The post Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is courtesy of:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Yesterday, after our lovely Austrian breakfast we went downtown to the Chicago Cultural Center, the main downtown information hub for tourists, to ask some questions about the Pullman Historic District, a planned industrial community, built in the 1880s by industrial magnate George Pullman, creator of the famous Pullman sleeper cars. We figured this would be an interesting place to visit since it brings together architecture, social and industrial history, and it would really give us insight into one of the most interesting personalities of Chicago's history.

To get more information about this neighbourhood we talked to one of the volunteer greeters who staff the Chicago Cultural Center and offer their local expertise to visitors free of charge. The Chicago Greeter program today offers 150 greeters speaking 20 languages and the Greeter program is one of the best ways of getting to know the city through the eyes of a local resident.

As a matter of fact, I had registered electronically for a Chicago Greeter Tour prior to my departure, but something had gone wrong with my registration and as a result I was not assigned a greeter. The good thing is that the City of Chicago also offers "InstaGreeters" - local volunteers / experts who take people on downtown walking tours without the necessity of a prior registration.

This is how we happened upon our very own personal InstaGreeter tour: Chicago Greeter and local expert Don talked to us a bit about the Pullman Historic District, but the more we talked, and the more he saw that we were really interested, he asked us whether we wanted a 20 minute tour of the Chicago Cultural Center. Considering that this is a Chicago landmark we readily agreed.

The Chicago Cultural Center was originally dedicated in 1897 as the city's original Public Library. It is an impressive limestone-faced building with intricate details, marble staircases, patterned ceilings, beautiful floor mosaics and two impressive stained glass domes. The cupola on the south side of the building is the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome.

Today the Cultural Center houses one of the city's Visitor Information Centers , various galleries, exhibition and meeting spaces, the Landmark Chicago Gallery which displays photographs from the permanent collection of Chicago landmarks, the 294-seat Claudia Cassidy Theater as well as the Studio Theater and various other facilities. You can even get married inside the Chicago Cultural Center.

Designed in the beaux-arts style by the Boston firm Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, the Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1897 and dedicated as the city's original Chicago Public Library. Completed at a cost of nearly $2 million, this remarkable monument was inspired by the neo-classical style of the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893.

To start off, Don told us that the name of the city of Chicago is an Indian word for "stinky onion swamp". He also explained that Chicago is a city of superlatives: 3 of the world's 10 highest buildings are located here. Chicago is also widely considered to be the birthplace of modern architecture and a living museum of architecture, showcasing some of the world's most famous architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry.

Chicago likes to do everything big. The world’s largest public library is located here: the Harold Washington Library Center houses 2 million books. Chicago is also home to the largest building in the United States (excluding the Pentagon): the Merchandise Mart has 90 acres of floor space, housed in an Art Deco landmark. Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is one of the world's largest fountains. Chicago also has the only river in the world that flows backwards. Engineers reversed the Chicago River in 1900 for sanitary purposes. Here's another interesting fact: Chicago also has the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw.

Our local expert Don took us through the building and showed us the two stained glass domes, the exhibit halls, the photo collection of Chicago landmarks, and to keep going along the line of superlatives, Don gave us a brief synopsis of Millennium Park, located right across Michigan Avenue from the Chicago Cultural Center. The idea for Millennium Park was conceived by famous mayor Richard M. Daley, and with the help of private sector donations Millennium Park has become one of the most impressive outdoor venues anywhere. The project cost $495 million, of which $220 million were financed privately.

Our Chicago Greeter Don, a former vice-president at Motorola, is very knowledgeable about the history of Chicago and very passionate about his city. His pride in his city is obvious, and there is a lot to be proud of. For me, Chicago's waterfront including Grant Park, the lakefront trail and its beaches are some of the most awesome features of this city. In total Chicago has more than 7300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 33 beaches, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, and it's not surprising that Chicago has won numerous awards including "Best City in the World" and other accolades.

With Don's help we got a great overview of the Cultural Center and a bit of insight into Chicago's interesting history. It was the perfect preparation for our tour of the Pullman Historic District, an industrial community created by George Pullman, an industrial despot, yet a foresightful social entrepreneur who, according to Don, was universally despised.

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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squashsiteblog · 7 years ago

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Weymuller Qualifying Round One

Linda Elriani reports, photos by Jean Ervasti

The 5.30pm match was between #1 qualifier from Egypt and world # 24 Heba El Torky against Milou van der Heijden the world # 41 from the Netherlands. Heba is 3-0 up in the head to head so Milou was definitely going to try and change these statistics.

It was such a fun match to watch with the differing styles and waiting to see who could force their game plan over on the other. Milou was varying the pace so well and keeping ball tight and deep and attacking at the right moments. In the times that Milou didn’t get the ball tight enough Heba was straight onto it and putting the ball away short. It was so important for Milou to keep the ball away from the middle and in the end she managed to contain Heba and come through in a great and very closely contested match to win 3-1 in 40 min… 11/9, 7/11, 11/9, 11/7.

When I asked a beaming Milou how she felt after her match she said "Yes, of course very happy. It was up and down, in the sense that she had patches where she played such great shots, but if I stuck to my game plan right I felt I was in control. I’m just very happy that I managed to keep my focus throughout the whole match. A very positive first Carol Weymuller!!”

The second 5.30pm match was between Maltese Colette Sultana and Egyptian’s Nada Abbas who is already ranked world #31 at 17 years old. Nada is our youngest competitor in the Weymuller this year by 3 years! Colette recently graduated from Columbia and is now embarking on her pro squash career. Colette is currently world # 100 and she told me that Malta only has 10 squash courts in the whole country!!!

The fact that Nada is young certainly didn’t stop her from looking very experienced and she managed to dominate the T and put Colette under maximum pressure. Nada won her match 3-0…11/2, 11/8, 11/4 in 17 minutes.

Nada said afterwards "I’m happy to get through. I didn’t start the season well so I’m happy to win 3-0. Tomorrow I have a tough match so hopefully I will play well again and win. It’s a good start for the tournament.”

The 6.15pm match on the east court was between Mayar Hany, world # 27 from Egypt against Canada’s Nicole Bunyan, who is the world # 62. Nicole is based in NY and trains at the Princeton Club in Manhattan. It was first time to compete in the Carol Weymuller tournament for both players and it’s always fun to see new players competing here in Brooklyn.

There was a great creativeness and control in Mayer’s play and this evening Mayer’s efforts to control the T and move her opponent around the court paid off. The score didn’t depict the effort levels and quality of the rallies and Nicole gave 100% effort in her battle to get into the match. Even though Nicole pushed hard Mayer came through in 3-0… 11/1, 11/4, 11/4.

A smiling Mayer said to me "I’m so happy to qualify to the 2nd match. It’s my first time here and I’m looking forward to it”

The second 6.15pm match on the west court was between Egyptian Nadine Shahin who is world # 30 and Columbian Catalina Peleaz who is ranked #61 and is the top ranked Columbian in the world.

When Catalina didn't keep the ball tight Nadine was able to put the ball away as she has great touch, but there were still some great and challenging rallies and Nadine came through in three in 21 minutes 3-0….12/10, 11/3, 11/8.

Nadine said "At first I was a bit nervous and I missed a few shots in the front. She was attacking right from the start. We have played many times on tour and we know what to expect. I knew it was going to be a tough match and wise words from Nour El Tayeb gave me some confidence. Catalina is a dangerous player so I am happy to beat her in three.”

The first 7.00pm match we had Mexico’s veteran player Samantha Teran, who is currently #36 in the world playing Anna Kimberley from England who is ranked 104 in the world. Samantha’s experience definitely shone through against the young English player with 15 years more experience under her belt! Sam won in 3 in 22 min, 11/4, 11/5, 11/5. Samantha said after her win "I’m feeling really good and happy to be back. I love to play this tournament, I have been playing it for a lot of years now! I adapted myself really well to the court and tried to hit the ball to the glass side wall and keep the rallies as long as possible. I’m happy to play again tomorrow and to get through today.”

There was a very enthusiastic crowd at 7.00pm on the championship court when home grown Haley Mendez, world # 55, played Belgium’s Nele Gilis who is ranked world #26. Haley has grown up playing and learning squash at the Heights Casino and so when she plays here she seems very comfortable and certainly gets some incredible support. Haley did herself proud and managed to push Nele hard and make her feel the pressure of playing someone with a home advantage. In the second game Haley really controlled the T and used her attacking short shots so well. In the other games Nele managed to retrieve so well and not let Haley keep the T the way she wanted and needed too. It was the longest match of the evening and Nele came through in the end 3-1…11/5, 5/11, 11/5, 11/8 in 48 minutes.

A relieved Nele said afterwards "I’m feeling good and happy that I won. I knew that she was the home hero and I knew that everyone was going to be on her side and I was on my own. So I tried to zone it out and stay focused on my game. I’m excited to play Sam tomorrow. It’s my first time here and it has a homely and cozy vibe and I like playing here.”

I also spoke to Haley after and when I asked her how she felt about her match she said “I guess it’s encouraging that I was right in there with the world #26. There were definitely some long physical rallies that I was feeling at the end of the 3rd game, but the crowd was awesome and really helped me to dig in and push till the last rally. It was really exciting to get into this Weymuller on my own ranking and without a local spot or wildcard, which is a huge step in the right direction, so while I am disappointed not to win a match, there was a lot of positives to take away and I’m looking forward to next year.”

The 7.45pm match on the west court was between Canada’s Danielle Letourneau who is world # 45 against Egypt’s #2 qualifier Mariam Metwally and world #23. This match looked all set to finish in 3 games until Danielle found her rhythm. Danielle showed guts and determination when her back was against the wall but finally fell short in the fifth game 11/7.

This was the only five setter of the evening and Mariam squeezed through 3-2…11/9, 11/8, 12/14, 5/11, 11/7.

When I asked Mariam how she felt the match went, she said "I was feeling comfortable in the first two games and in the third I was leading and had one match ball. I lost a bit of focus and she wasn’t feeling the pressure so she was playing everything and her shots were going well. I got nervous in the fourth game, I don’t know why but I was feeling sleepy and changing my whole game so that means I wasn’t focused. When I came out, Raneem and Nour were relaxed and told me to enjoy the match and not play her game and loose shots and put her under pressure and be in control and not just defend. The last game I played well and was 10-3 up and I felt it was done, and then lost focus but still won in the end. Tomorrow is a new day and a new plan, so hopefully it’s going to work 100% tomorrow.”

The 7.45pm match on the east court was between Egypt and world #35 Kanzy Emad El Defrawy against Kiwi Amanda Landers-Murphy who is world #43 and a New Zealand team mate of Joelle King who is world # 10 and #5 seed here at the Weymuller. It was a great and very closely contested match with both players vying for the T. The third game was the turning point of the match, with Kanzy clinching that game 11/9 and even though it was 5-5 in the fourth Kanzy did some amazing gets and Amanda made a couple of errors and before we know it Kanzy had come through to win in 44 min 3-1….11/6, 9/11, 11/9, 11/6.

When I asked Kanzy how she felt, she said straight away."I’m feeling fine, usually when I play in this tournament I have an easier 1st match and when I saw the draw and I saw it was the toughest match, at first I was nervous and then I decided to use it the other way round and make the most of it. I haven’t played a tournament for a long time so this was perfect to get me ready for tomorrow. I’m definitely happy to get through and I’ve always qualified and lost the 1st round so I’m looking to do better. It’s an all Egyptian match tomorrow and with half the draw being Egyptian, it unavoidable. I got physically and mentally challenged and this will set me up well for tomorrow.”

It was a truly fantastic evening of squash to start off the 2017 Weymuller. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to the final round of the qualifying tomorrow.

We have our Weymuller@Lunch luncheon at noon followed by the first qualifying match at 1.30pm. The rest of the qualifying matches run from 5.30pm in the evening. We are looking forward to hearing Nour El Sherbini speak at our luncheon tomorrow so our members can hear about her inspiring and successful squash career.

Good luck to all the players for their upcoming matches.

Tonight's results:

5.30pm Milou van der Heijden beat Heba El Torky 3-1…11/9, 7/11, 11/9, 11/7. 5.30pm Nada Abbas beat Colette Sultana 3-0…11/2, 11/8, 11/4. 6.15pm Mayar Hany beat Nicole Bunyan 3-0…11/1, 11/4, 11/4. 6.15pm Nadine Shahin beat Catalina Pelaez 3-0…12/10, 11/3, 11/8. 7.00pm Nele Gilis beat Haley Mendez 3-1…11/5, 5/11, 11/5, 11/8. 7.00pm Samantha Teran beat Anna Kimberley 3-0…11/4, 11/5, 11/5. 7.45pm Kanzy Emad El Defrawy beat Amanda Landers-Murphy 3-1…11/6, 9/11, 11/9, 11/6. 7.45pm Mariam Metwally beat Danielle Letourneau 3-2…11/9, 11/8, 12/14, 5/11, 11/7.

Tomorrow's matches are:

1.30pm Milou van der Heijden VS Nada Abbas 5.30pm Mayar Hany VS Nadine Shahin 6.15pm Nele Gilis VS Samantha Teran 7.00pm Mariam Metwally VS Kanzy Emad El Defrawy

#weymuller

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foamingkitty · 7 years ago

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Weekend Getaway: Mexico City

Annika Lehtonen is originally from Finland. She went to Mexico in 2008 for a short 6-month internship after finishing her university degree in Madrid, Spain… and those six months turned out to be nine years (and counting) in Mexico! She’s married to a Colombian man and now has two young children. She has a demanding day job in fashion and her husband has a startup company. Despite the everyday craziness, she tells us she tries to enjoy travelling with the kids as much as possible. As foreigners, Mexico City has been their own “little” macro travel destination during these busy years with children and they felt like they got to rediscover the amazing city after they had children. We were so excited when Annika got in touch and offered to share her family-friendly tips for exploring Mexico City.

While this city might not be the first to come to mind when thinking about family holidays, it is totally worth extending your Mexican holidays to spend a weekend here. As a huge city, it has everything to offer, besides very pleasant weather and extremely friendly locals. Here is Annika’s guide for a weekend getaway to Mexico City:

Street Art tour & Playground Hopping: I have a hyper active 2-year-old and walking 10-month-old and I can assure you there is no better way to feed them art than just walking around this city where every other neighborhood wall is a constantly changing art exhibition. Street Art Chilango organizes curated street art and graffiti spotting walking tours every Saturday, leaving from the street corner of Alvaro Obregon and Orizaba in Colonia Roma, at 11:30 am. If you can’t see yourself or your wild monkeys behaving well enough for a tour, don’t worry, many of the most amazing street art paintings are next to the best playgrounds of the city:

-Parque Pushkin (Av. Cuauhtémoc s/n, Colonia Roma Norte) -Parque Lincoln (Emilio Castelar 163, Colonia Polanco) -Parque de Los Venados (Eje 7 Sur Municipio Libre, División del Norte y Vértiz) -Parque Infantil la Hormiga (Av Constituyentes s/n, Colonia San Miguel Chapultepec)

Xochimilco: The floating gardens of Xochimilco are hard to describe but easy to enjoy! You will love this magical Mexican experience where you ride through the green canals on a rented colorful flat-bottomed boat (trajineras). Just sit back, enjoy the colors and listen to the mariachis swinging on the boat next to you. Kids will be busy eating steamed corns and spotting their name on the boat arches. Xochimilco is one of the UNESCO´s World Heritage Sites and popular among locals and tourists, especially on Sundays.

Teotihuacán: One should not leave Mexico without visiting pyramids. One of the most impressive sites, Teotihuacán, is just one hour driving from Mexico City center. Depending on the season, it can get really hot so remember to bring hats, sunscreen and plenty of water. Teotihuacán was the largest city in the pre-Columbian America, most well-known for its Sun and Moon pyramids, on top of which you can actually climb. No better way to tire active kids! Stroll around the site by yourself or take a guided tour from the entrance gates.

Historic centre: There are more than 21 million inhabitants in Mexico City and you can meet all of them downtown, in the historic center. Or so it feels, at least! For the Aztecs the main plaza, Zócalo, was the center of the universe, the magical spot where everything from good and bad, ugly and beautiful, holy and unholy was met. For today’s Mexicans, Zócalo and the Historic city center still hold an important meaning. The downtown today is above all a merchandising and political hotspot rather than a residential area. You´ll notice that each block here has a specialty in what they sell; one street is full of tiny shoe sops, other one specialized in wedding dresses, the next one in jewelry, etc …

Spots to visit downtown: – Zócalo and Templo Mayor for sightseeing – Palacio de Bellas Artes and Alameda Park for people watching – Torre Latino for The View over the city – Restaurante Azul Histórico for a great lunch

Lucha Libre: Once in a lifetime experience, especially with slightly older kids, is experiencing a Mexican wrestling match, Lucha Libre in Arena Mexico, close to La Condesa neighborhood. Lucha libre is definitely more entertainment than sports, but it is fun to live the atmosphere and observe how the locals get really emotional for their favorite luchadores. The neighborhood near Arena Mexico (Colonia Doctores) is not the prettiest but definitely not dangerous either. Take Uber to the arena and back, just to be on the safe side. The tickets are sold at the kiosk outside (taquilla) on match days Tuesdays and Friday, or online (www.ticketmaster.com).

EAT

Everything comes down to food in Mexico. My husband tells jokingly that you can’t throw a coin without hitting a taco booth or a tamal cart. That’s no joke, actually. Just observe how the vendors in the nearest street corners rotate; in the morning come the fresh juice and fruit guys, a little later tortas (sandwiches) and Mexican cafe de la olla (pot coffee with brown sugar and spices). Lunch hour packs nearby office workers for tacos and panuchos (bean filled tortillas). Then come the mango cart offering delicious fruit and chili sauce combo. Along with the night traffic you’ll hear the guy on a bicycle calling for hot Oaxacan style tamales (steamed corn dough with sweet or savory fill wrapped in a corn leaf) and esquites, hot chili flavored corns sticks. So yeah, Mexican food is so much more than burritos and tacos. They don’t call traditional Mexican food “antojitos”, little cravings, for nothing. Traveling with kids, it’s such a relief to have such a wide variety of easy finger food to choose from and fresh vegetables and fruit everywhere, at anytime. I mean, show me a kid who refuses to eat mushed avocado (guacamole) and sandwiches (tortas)? If you can´t handle spicy, ask your plate “sin picante”. For a little descanso (break) from Mexican food, remember that the city is big enough to house restaurants from all parts of the world.

Breakfast -El Moro (. The one and only churro place in Mexico. Check the nearest location here. -Lardo (Augustin Melgar 6, Colonia Condesa). Where do I start? Well, it’s just the best brekkie place in the center- eastern part of the city. Mexican food with a twist. -Monsieur Croque (Av. Tamaulipas 39, Colonia Condesa). Adorable little venue specialized in croques (French breakfast toasts). Vegan and vegetarian friendly. Try also the avocado toasts! -Eno (Petrarca 258, Colonia Polanco). If you are looking for an excellent, fuss free breakfast in Polanco, Eno is your choice. Owner and Mexican super star chef Enrique Olvera is ranked as one of the best chefs in the world. His Michelin-star restaurant, Pujol, is right next door.

Lunch -Hamburguesas a la parrilla. (Colima 41, Colonia Roma Norte) My husband didn’t let this article to go out without mentioning his favorite street booth. No kid will refuse to eat here, guaranteed. -Soul La Roma (Tabasco 101, Colonia La Roma Norte). Delicious comfort food. -Dulcinea (Tabasco 46, Colonia Roma Norte). Bunch of cozy local quality restaurants under one roof. -Entremar (Hegel 307, Colonia Polanco). Hands down the best seafood pleace in town.

Dinner -El Parnita (Yucatan 84, Colonia Roma) Trendy yet kid friendly (fast service!) taco place, excellent for nursing your hipster mama soul. -Huset (Colima 256, Colonia Roma) Don’t get confused by the Scandi-sounding name, Huset doesn’t serve lax buffet or smorgosar, but dishes inspired by real Mexican country side flavors. The restaurant is set up in a small backyard space, open air and beautiful decoration. -Dulce Patria (Anatole France 10, Colonia Polanco). Want to go out and eat in one of the 50 best restaurants of Latin America, not spend a fortune or leave hungry after microscopic plates? Dulce Patria in Polanco serves excellent Mexican haute cuisine and welcomes families.

STAY For a home-away-from-home feel and to make life easy with kids, we personally prefer to stay in short term rentals when traveling. Besides AirBnB and Booking.com, check my husband’s company (coming soon!) for listings in Mexico City. Beautiful, safe and easygoing neighborhoods in Mexico City are Cuauhtémoc, Polanco, La Condesa and La Roma. Polanco is a little more upscale and quieter than SoHo like Condesa or hipster-y La Roma. Cuauhtémoc is just a hop skip and a jump away from the Historic City Center and full of nice restaurants. Uber and Cabify are very popular and safe options for moving around the city. If you want to get adventurous, hop in the world’s second most crowded metro (!) or give Ecobici city bikes a try and take the city driving like a real chilango.

Hotel options: Camino Real Polanco Hotel Downtown Hotel Condesa DF

SHOP

La Ciudadela (Calle Baldeares s/n, Colonia Centro) La Ciudadela is the biggest arts and crafts market in Mexico City, four blocks away from Alameda Park in the historic center. Watch out, as it is like a visit to Ikea, you just never leave empty handed! Worth looking for the most amazing Huipil blouses and dresses, colorful wool blankets, Oaxacan alebrijes (decorated animal figures) and Huichcol beadwork. Tianguis Tianguis are traditional Mexican open air markets or bazaars. Check out the best of them in:

Polanco On Saturdays, in Polanco there is a great street market (or “Tianguis de Sábado”) around Parque Lincol (Emilio Castelar 163) from 9 am to 4 pm. There are many amazing stalls selling handmade products and a Farmer´s Market section with fresh fruit, cheese and meat.

La Lagunilla About ten blocks away from the main square Zócalo you´ll find La Lagunilla tianguis (Allende s/n, Colonia Centro. This is the best choice for bargain hunt. Selling everything from witchcraft items (!) to healing crystal and antiques, La Lagunilla is definitely the most crowded, unpolished and authentic of the city’s bazaars. Watch out for pick pockets and massive crowds on Sundays. Open every day from 10am to 5pm.

San Angel & Coyoacan Bazaar Sábado in San Angel (San Jacinto 11, Colonia San Angel) is a tianguis specialized in fine art in the southern part of the city. Along with the Coyoacan bazaar (Ignacio Allende s/n, Colonia Coyoacan), it is the oldest market place in the city. San Angel and Coyoacan used to be their own pretty and colorful villages next to Mexico City, but as the capital city expanded they’ve been swallowed into this massive hyperpolis.

The post Weekend Getaway: Mexico City appeared first on Babyccino Kids: Daily tips, Children's products, Craft ideas, Recipes & More.

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#kid games toys

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profoutofoffice · 8 years ago

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San Jose, Costa Rica: 18-28 February 2017

Just a short hop from my hotel to the Gatwick shuttle and sanctuary. Sorry sir the lounge does not open until 7. What! Brother Johnson he caught a plane and he got on it. During the flight I watch “inferno” as a prelude to visiting a Costa Rican volcano as well as inspiration for writing my presentation. A simple plot – professor meets beautiful woman, biodiversity loss, betrayal, seek and find, EBSA descriptions, you decide. It’s an 11 and a half hour flight. Still 5 hours to go. Over the Sargasso Sea the Captain switches on the seatbelt sign. Bumpyness ahead. Toilets out of bounds. The grey bag says ‘if used for air-sickness please hand to cabin crew’. Charming - and anyway I have written a detailed ‘to do’ list all over mine. The time difference means I arrive at the San Jose mid-afternoon. Then disaster. As I try to pay the taxi it transpires I have been exchanged Colombian pesos instead of Costa Rican Colons. Taxi driver he say no. Fortunately the hotel staff are lovely and I am escorted via the cash point to my room. King Leisure. We like that. And Moneycorp arrange an instant refund – brilliant. Plenty of time for a Spanish stroll. Who with? Sister Sue?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5LveBIjg3o

So what was achieved?

Crowne Plaza Corobici – the place where great things happen. Like what? Sustainable Ocean Initiative intensive roundtable discussions, many post-its, challenges and solutions, sharing experiences and waking up very early. Plans and more plans, restricted uses, bans, degraded spaces, also rans, time’s against us, many hands, lift to safety, if we can. This workshop had plenty of energy and love in the room. Perhaps it’s the Latin way? This region has so much variety but there is clear ‘value added’ in a sub-regional approach. Strategic Environmental Assessment requires a paradigm shift to consider long-term risks and opportunities – sustainable pathways rather than permissions to proceed.

But what about Costa Rica itself – how was it?

Luxuriant vegetation, friendly people, chaotic traffic, world class coffee, sunshine bouncing off the pavements. I took a cheeky trip to Poas Volcano. An eruption may be building. Could happen anytime. Bet in play now. Not on a Sunday surely. On the path near the crater it says ‘in case of volcanic activity keep calm’. You cannot be serious. ‘People of Pompeii, stay calm, remain in your houses’. My daily routine of a swim, industrial quantities of fresh fruit, sharing information, beers and good company has taken its toll. To keep up spirits my buddy Erick brought a new gift each day – coffee, a book, fruit, new ideas, a smile, most excellent. Time to escape for the weekend. First we head for the museum de Oro – pre-Columbian beautiful detailed pieces, constellation of symbols and meanings especially frogs and contemporary art; a quick roam around central San Jose and delicious supper in Barrio Escalante near my Spanish-style B&B. at

Sofia restaurant. Next day I cramp the style of my CBD buddies (5’s a crowd!) and we head to scenic Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast. Monkeys, raccoons and soft warm water to swim in. Sunday’s treat was a walk around my Barrio to photograph graffiti on crumbling walls. Rattle of the early morning train – three poops of the horn. Kick back and enjoy a lingering coffee at Pandeli, calming classical guitar music, lovely simple wooden deck with an orchid on each table and napkins in a coffee tin, fun orange cups, in the back kitchen a hive of activity, small army of staff in blue trousers and white t-shirts and aprons serving a peaceful Sunday clientele. Look harder outside to see metal fences, razor wire, padlocks and metal grilles. The calm belies a subtext of insecurity on the breeze behind the banana leaves. Sparrowfart start and back to Blighty.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

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Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is republished from:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is available on:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

The blog post Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is available on:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is courtesy of:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is available on:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center was originally seen on:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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emergencyplumberschicago · 6 years ago

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Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

The blog post Hello From Chicago – Part 4 – A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center is available on:

Hello From Chicago - Part 4 - A Personal Tour Of The Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago, Arlington House, Sunday, October 23, 2005, 6:15 am

Armed with a bit of background knowledge we were looking forward to our exploration of Pullman's social experiment.

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