Details:  The Great Sphinx of Egypt.
Egypt is one of the countries on my list of Top Ten Places to Go, and this photo is also a little foreshadowing of a post to come next week.
Photo credit:  SXC
 
 
 

Well, not just ice any more. . . .  It’s more like Stonehenge, and sled dog teams, and other animals and scenic depictions. 
That’s what happens when you turn professional ice-sculptors loose on a huge block of ice. 
You can see the process, as well as the results, at the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks Alaska, February 27th ““ March 25th.   
The process all starts the same way, with large square blocks of solid ice.  The results are as varied as they are spectacular, and represent the efforts of over 100 sculptors from around the world.  By March 10th, all competition will …read more

Polly want a cracker?
At the World Parrot Refuge on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, winged residents get lots more than a mere cracker.
This non-profit, educational facility operated by FLOPRS (”For the Love of Parrots Refuge Society”) provides a “Home for Life” for previously owned pet parrots.  Parrots have a very long life span, so it is very likely that they will have a need for more than one owner over their lifetime.  Many parrot owners fail to foresee or plan for this, making it increasingly common to have parrots turn up in shelters.  The Refuge is a home for life for …read more

Today is Admission Day for Vermont, our 14th state, admitted to the Union on March 4th, 1791.
Vermont is located in the northeastern part of the United States, an area typically referred to as New England.  With a colorful, independent-thinking history, Vermont was once an independent nation known as the Republic of Vermont.  Today, Vermont is a small state, both is total area, 45th of 50, and population, 49th of 50 (only Wyoming has less people).
Vermont is frequently called the Green Mountain State, although it is unclear where the name comes from.  One theory is that it is called that because …read more

Today is Admission Day for Florida, our 27th state, admitted to the Union on March 3rd, 1845.
Florida is located in the southeastern part of the country, with the Atlantic Ocean flanking one side, and the Gulf of Mexico the other.  Ponce de Leon named it, and many believe that it was in Florida that he claimed to have found his fountain of youth.
Before the formal declaration of Civil War, Florida seceded from the Union, and became a founding member of the Confederate States of America.  Full representation was restored in 1868.
For much of its existence, Florida was the least populated …read more

San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Boar (Lunar Year 4705), will begin on Saturday, March 3rd at 5:30 pm.  The parade will start at 2nd & Market, ending in the heart of Chinatown.  This parade is one of the few remaining illuminated Parades in the country, and is consistently named as one of the Top Ten Parades in the World.
This year’s parade promised to be no less spectacular than years past, with over 100 entries that include floats, elaborate costumes, fierce lions, firecrackers, and the newly crowned Miss Chinatown and her court.   You won’t want to …read more

I have an upcoming trip planned to Philadelphia, and was going through my resources trying to get ideas about where to stay, what to do and see, and, of course, what and where to eat.
I noticed that Sound About Philly has added a new walking and podcast tour, this one called Philly Noir.  It’s a walking tour that covers African American culture, history, and experiences (past and present), and includes food, the arts, history and sports.  There are 11 tour segments, and you can download, and then mix and match them based on your interests and time. 
Here’s a sampling of …read more

Today is Admission Day for Kansas, our 34th state, admitted to the Union on January 29th, 1861.
Kansas, a state that I’ve not yet visited, is smack dab in the middle of the country, and is, in fact, home to the geographical center of the contiguous United States.  Its capital city is Topeka, and its largest is Wichita.
Kansas was originally home to large numbers of Native Americans who hunted buffalo on the prairies.  After the Civil War, scores of immigrants moved to Kansas, turning the prairies into farmland.  Large in geographical area (15th), but small in population (33rd), Kansas today leads …read more

Today is Admission Day for Michigan, our 26th state, admitted to the union on January 26th, 1837.
Michigan is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes, only Lake Ontario is missing, and has the longest freshwater shoreline of all the states.  Because of this unique geography, the state boasts more recreational watercraft than any other.  Not surprising since an individual is never more than six miles from a natural water source.
Residents of Michigan reference their residency within the state claiming to be Uppers (also called “Yoopers”) or Lowers (also called “Trolls” because they live below the Mackinac Bridge), referring to …read more

If stalking your favorite celeb in Palm Springs at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic doesn’t suit you, here is an additional opportunity for star viewing ““ the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
The Festival opens this weekend, so you need to make plans today if you’ll need to travel or make hotel arrangements.  Opening weekend is always the busiest, so you may want to consider going later in the event, which runs through January 28th.  If you’re in the area already, it’s just a matter of transportation and tickets, both of which are do-able with a little effort.
Chances are, …read more